November 2021 Panel (Vol 70. Iss 5.)

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RETURN TO NORMALCY

Volume 70, Issue 5

A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill and Winsor Schools

November 18, 2021

How Are High Schoolers Navigating Life Amidst the Global Pandemic?

By Jackson Kendall ’22, Angelina Li ’22, and Kevin Weldon ’24 Banner and Panel Staff

The Banner and The Panel staff working together to complete layout at the Winsor School

In recent months, both statewide and national COVID policies have changed immensely. Many businesses have reopened their doors to excited customers and social distancing guidelines have been eased. Schools are among those organizations greatly impacted by the shifting guidelines. In various aspects, our very own Winsor and Belmont Hill have both begun to phase into normalcy.

At Belmont Hill, this year feels more like the school we know and love. When we walked back on campus on August 30th, all students were required to wear masks indoors at all times with no exemptions for those who were vaccinated against Covid-19; however, social distancing requirements were relaxed. In similarity to the 2020-2021 school year, lunch normally consisted of sandwiches, chips, drinks, and dessert, choices in a “grab and go” format.

Until the 15th of November, Forms I-III ate lunch together between 12:05 and 12:45 in the regularly scheduled Upper School F-Block while Forms IV-VI were allowed to Luke Hogan ’22 grab lunch at any time between 11:30-2:00.

Continued on Page 10.

History In the Making: Michelle Wu Senior Interviews on the College Process the Chair of the Committee on Education.

Some major policies that Essaibi George championed during her campaign centered around public education and eqOn November 2, Michelle Wu be- uity. As an educator at East Boston High came the first female POC mayor of Boston School for 13 years, Essaibi George prioriafter Annissa Essaibi George officially con- tizes establishing school-wide safety precauceded. Both Michelle Wu and Annissa Es- tions and individualized special-learning saibi George programs made hisfor students tory, as this with disabilwas the first ities. Aside time in Bosfrom being a ton that the proud Bostwo final ton resident candidates and educawere women tor, Essaibi of color. EssG e o r g e abi George also advois the cated for first-genera- Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston CNN policies retion Amerigarding clican daughter of Polish and Tunisian immi- mate change and racial justice. grants. Born and raised in Boston, Essaibi While Essaibi George continued George is a graduate of Boston Tech, Boston to emphasize her family roots and her University, and UMass Boston, and a for- more “old school” traditions throughout mer Boston Public School teacher. She was her campaign, Wu ran a progressive one. elected as an At-Large Boston City Council- Wu continued to advocate for Green New or in November, 2015, where she served as Deal, free transit systems, and rent control.

Continued on Page 2.

By Daniel Bittner ’22, Alex Lo ’23, and Jessica Wei ’22 Banner and Panel Staff

Look Inside The Issue Winsor News 4 Reaction to Mental Health Suvey

Annie Fisher ’24 reflects on the mental health survey taken by all Winsor students.

Belmont Hill Arts 8 Artist of the Issue Read about Jacob Czarnecki ’22’s musical career within and outside Belmont Hill written by Daniel Bittner ’22.

Belmont Hill News 3 Student Senate Hopeful of Return to Pre- Belmont Hill and Winsor Arts 6 Covid BH Dune Movie Review

Class Officers Joe Puglielli ’23 and Luke Carroll ’22 write about the Student Senates’ plans.

Daniel Rashes ’22 and Tarini Dasari ’23 review the newly released movie Dune.

By Isabelle Fan ’23 and Brian Lee ’24 Banner and Panel Staff As historically successful college preparatory schools, Winsor and Belmont Hill have recently concluded another fall of helping seniors apply to college.

With Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) deadlines appro a ch i ng , seniors spent these past few months in the full swing of the application process.

As most of the seGraduation Caps niors find themselves nearing the end of the first wave of the college admissions process, we’ve decided to ask a few of them to share their experiences with the process at their respective schools.

As of now, Howard Huang ’22 explains that “most seniors have submitted EA, ED, or REA (Restrictive Early Action) applications to schools,” although they will

be continuing to write more regular decision applications and prepare for their interviews. Isabella Liu ’22 reports that she is “now working on essays for the deadlines coming up the quickest,” most of which are approaching throughout November and early December. The college application process is certainly tough and rigorous, especially amidst seniors’ involvement in challenging academics and a variety of extracurricular activiNYTimes ties. Some seniors such as Arec Keomurjian ’22 have been able to manage the balance between schoolwork and college apps. He tells us, “I think I have been able to manage my schoolwork and college preparations relatively well, making sure to take advantage of the free time I get. Doing a lot of the work over the summer helped as well.”

Continued on Page 15.

Belmont Hill and Winsor Arts 6 Belmont Hill and Winsor Arts 9 Community Members Exemplify Friends- Playlist of the Issue GIVE-ing Check out Isabelle Find out about members of both communities Fan ’23, Gigi Chu that exemplify Friends-Give-ing from Luke Ho- ’23, Luke Wagner ’22, and Kailen Richgan ’22 and Natalie Pan ’23. ards ’22’s favorite songs for this issue.

Belmont Hill and Winsor Sports 19 Boathouse Buddies

Howard Huang ’22 and Lauren Hogan ’23 talk about the camaderie between the Belmont Hill and Winsor crew teams when they share a boathouse on the Charles River.

Be lmont Hill & Winsor News

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Cont: History in the Making: Michelle Wu Continued from the front page.

Meanwhile, Essaibi George opposed the rent ideas and wanted to preserve many current aspects of Boston. Still, Essaibi George graciously celebrated Wu’s victory, commenting: “I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu. She is the first woman, the first person of color and as an Asian American, the first to be elected mayor of Boston. I want her to show the city how mothers get it done.”Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michelle Wu has quite an impressive background and set of qualifications for the mayoral position. A graduate of both Harvard University’s college and law school, Wu’s political career began when she became a city counselor in 2014.

The more progressive of the two finalists for the mayoral race, Wu has embraced a set of bold plans designed to improve Boston’s public housing situation, close the city’s racial gap, and address environmental concerns among other issues. With these broad goals, Wu has created a plan entitled “Boston’s Green New Deal,” (GND), an initiative to make Boston carbon neutral by 2040, build affordable houses, and even make most forms of public transportation discounted or free. Zoe Vittori-Koch ’24 did organizing work for Michelle Wu as a facilitator of Youth4Wu, a group was innitiated through Twitter by Winsor alum Lillian Gibson ’21.

Vittori-Koch commented, “​​ Wu’s Boston GND attracted support from young people not only because of the relevancy of climate change to our generation but also because of

the level of detailed research and intersectional focus that made the plan stand out.”

Throughout her campaign, Wu valued the support and ideas of young people. Vittori-Koch shared, “One of Youth4Wu’s most popular events was when Wu came into our zooms with teenagers for an hour and answered our questions on policy and what she would bring to the city as mayor. Even just the fact that Wu always remembered the names of the Youth volunteers and made sure to say hi revealed how she viewed young people as a valuable part of her campaign.”

Wu will officially become Boston’s first elected female and Asian-American to lead the city of Boston as mayor. Reflecting on the historic win, Hannah Mu ’24, a youth volunteer on Michelle Wu’s campaign, said, “I was initially drawn to volunteering for Michelle because she is the first Asian, specifically Chinese, woman that I’ve seen in Boston politics running for a position as high as mayor. Being Chinese myself, I feel hope that her being mayor will not only better represent the Asian American population in Boston, but also encourage more involvement from Asian kids and adults in local politics, especially given that political involvement is statistically low for Asians in America.”

However, with this win comes a set of potential questions. Vittori-Koch commented, “Nobody can be 100% certain that our new mayor will follow through on everything that she promised during her campaign, but I do know that the policy Wu brings will have come from

actually listening to all different people ing, “We are ready to become a Boston for in the community.” Mu also said of the everyone. We’re ready to be a Boston that potential questions, “I feel concerned doesn’t push people out, but welcomes all about how her being elected will be tak- who call our city home. We’re ready to be en with the current political climate, giv- a Boston where all can afford to stay and en COVID-19 and the consequent rise in to thrive. And, yes, Boston is ready to hate crimes against AAPI people. Will it become a Green New Deal city.” ☐ positively shift the perception of Asians in America, or will it do kind of the opposite, and subject Michelle as a center for racist people to push their agendas? I also question how she will execute some of her goals, such as her campaign to ‘Free the T’ and how she would fund that plan.”

Regardless of these potential concerns, Wu’s historical win remains one to celebrate. Vittori-Koch commented, “I’m looking forward to seeing what Michelle brings to the city, and I hope that she will serve as a model for elected officials when it comes to recognizing the importance of young people in campaign/organizing spaces!”

Reiterating the inclusiveness and progressiveness that have represented key facets of her campaign, Wu began her victory speech Annie Fisher ’24 Tuesday night by remark- Wu and Essaibi George

Boo Chapel Returns After a Two-Year-Long Absence

By Cameron Carey ’23 and Joshua Doolan ’23 Panel Staff On October 29th, Belmont Hill witnessed the return of Boo Chapel after taking a pandemic hiatus. The return of this great tradition at Belmont Hill displayed the creative endeavours of various members of the senior class. From the hilarious impressions of Mr. McAlpin, Doc Fast, and numerous other teachers to the display of costumes, Boo Chapel did not disappoint and roars of laughter pounded The Chapel. It was a great way to kick off the Halloween weekend.

The short chapel started with a light-hearted speech by school president Luke Carroll ’22 prior to the showing of a video made by members of Form VI.

Henry

B.

By Mac Bobo ’23 Panel Staff This past September, the Belmont Hill Alumni House hosted the 30th annual Henry B. Sawyer Jr. ’32 Golf Tournament, which raised over $286,720. All of the proceeds from the tournament will be directed towards Belmont Hill’s financial aid capacity, either through the operating budget or the endowment to establish Henry B. Sawyer Jr. ’32 Tournament Scholarships. These scholarships allow five Henry B. Sawyer ’32 Scholars to attend Belmont Hill. Although all Belmont Hill students have heard of the tournament, and many know for what purpose it is held, not many know of Henry B. Sawyer, the man in honor of whom the tournament was established.

Mr. Sawyer graduated from Belmont Hill in 1932, only the school’s sixth graduating class, and was a dedicated faculty member from 1936 until 1992. From Belmont Hill, he attended Harvard College and went

The video was a hilarious skit of a meeting between faculty members concerning the student Anthony Pellagrini ’22.

After the video, the many students who wore costumes marched up to the stage for photos and various “awards” related to their costumes. Some Dressed up students fill the chapel stage at Boo Chapel

students showed minimal effort with just a jersey over their sweatshirts or a Santa Claus hat on; however, others sought to impress with inflatable dinosaurs, astronauts and a host of other costumes. It was a great return to Boo Chapel, and it was yet another example of Belmont Hill finally returning to normal as the pandemic BH Communications comes to a close. ☐

on to serve for Saw yer five years under epitomized General George the best S. Patton in aspects of World War II. Belmont After arriving Hill: athback home letic and from war, Mr. academic Sawyer rejoined excellence, the school comcamaramunity, where derie, and he would teach compasLatin and Ension. “Mr. glish and coach Belmont football, baseHill”, a ball, and hock“man of ey. Mr. Sawyer honor”, and eventually came the defito serve as the nition of Corporator a “school of the School man” are and then Dijust some BH Communications of the ways rector of De- Henry B. Sawyer Jr. ’32 velopment and Alumni Affairs. in which he is described. To honor his According to all who knew him, Mr. legacy, members of the community, most

of whom are Belmont Hill alumni, gather annually at Concord Country Club in Concord, Massachusetts to celebrate his legacy and raise money to make possible Mr. Sawyer’s hope that those who could not afford it could attend Belmont Hill School.

This year’s tournament was especially successful, as the school was able to raise enough money to fully establish its fifth Henry B. Sawyer ’32 scholarship, meaning one more scholar will be able to attend the school at no cost. This tournament is only one of the ways Mr. Sawyer’s love for his school remains apparent in the community at large. Anyone can still see Mr. Sawyer’s panel on the left side of the side entrance to the Chapel, and the Henry B. Sawyer bench sits next to the Chapel overlooking the athletic fields. Moreover, the Belmont Hill community owes much of its culture of togetherness and working together to Mr. Sawyer. His exemplary service to the school community and the impact he has had on those within it is why The Panel has chosen him to be the Alumnus of the Issue. ☐

Sawyer

Jr.’s

’32

Legacy

Continues

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

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Student Senate Hopeful of Return to Pre-Covid BH

By Luke Carroll ’22 and Joe Puglielli ’23 Contributing Writers In the last Full Senate meeting before the newest representatives from Form I joined us, we discussed a variety of topics that could benefit school life. Form VI is seeking approval for a student Coffee Bar and expects good news soon. Seniors are also exploring possibilities for a “real” Camp Cody experience this coming Spring.

The Boo Chapel this year earned (what is said to be) a record number of costume-wearers who were featured in front of the Chapel. Look forward to a similar documentary-skit sometime in December and an action-packed holiday Chapel!

Party with a Purpose will be returning full force, and our newly-assembled BH team will be officially partnering with Dana Hall, NCDS, Rivers, and Winsor.

Think Pink, a fundraiser toward breast cancer research, was successfully executed this year. Shout out to Form V Senator Dan Moran and his amazing team. The Senate is also eager to work on this year’s Thanksgiving Drive led by Form III students and their class officers (Evan Dresser, Sam Caulfield, and Chris McEvoy).

We’re now only about a month away from Belmont Hill’s 99th year.

While there’s much to be grateful for in returning to normal (family-style lunches, panini presses, Chapels, mask-free life, and many other features of a regular year), much of the talk in the Student Senate has been about what can be new.

New also might mean the Belmont Hill Textbook Exchange (belmonthill.winsor.club)--thanks Winsor!--or a sports season waiver for seniors. And more often than not, it means the simple stuff, like changing the schedule for Strength & Conditioning or getting a new table in Goodband Commons.

But class officers are happy to do “new” whether big or small, and that’s been the focus of our work these past three months.

New also means student coffee, an outdoor ice rink in the Winter, brand new LOOP merch (under the leadership of Tommy Madden and Shane Kelly), or even just new food. This is where the Student Senate is putting all its energy, and as always we welcome new ideas from anywhere and everywhere to put to work.

Belmont Hill is likely to partner with DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended) again this year, which is a domestic violence center that serves victims of domestic abuse.

Last year, each advisory adopted a person to fulfill their Christmas wishlist, and we’ll be looking to do something similar to that as we gear up for the holiday season. Form V representatives (John Goguen, Daniel Drucker, Joe Puglielli, and Dan Moran) are taking the lead on these service initiatives.

Form IV had a successful class tug-of-

war event (the first of its kind at Belmont Hill) just a few weeks ago, and they look to schedule an event like it in the near future.

Form II had a Kahoot form-bonding activity, which was a big hit and an exercise in connecting peers together, and they will look for class-wide activities in the coming months.

Form II representatives Will Achtmeyer and Nathan Zhang continue to send out frequent newsletters to their form on all things Student Senate and what’s next for their class.

And while it’s not yet the New Year, everybody in the Student Senate is starting to look ahead toward Spring 2022.

Seniors are organizing venue options for their class for Prom and Form IV representatives (James Mullowney, Nolan Bibbo, Zach Khozozian) are putting together the first grades 9-10 Semi-Formal in years.

Optimism is running high for the next few months, and we’re all excited to see where the year takes our school—Happy Holidays from your school Senate! ☐

Chickens Return to BH Woodbury Returns to Chapel

By Cooper Nelson ’23 Panel Staff After a long hiatus this summer, Belmont Hill’s resident family of chickens has returned to campus. Taken care of by the Farmers Club, these chickens have been proud members of the BH community since 2017. The three chickens live outside the science building in their own newly renovated coop. They supposedly do have

The BH Farmers Club chickens names, but no members of the club can come up with them. A Panel article from 2017 named the chickens Cutlet, Parm, and Nugget, but an email from former club leader Henry Moses last spring named them as Karen, Felicity, and Cynthia (KFC).

The chickens spent the summer with Ms. Ruys, but their disappearance caused quite a stir last spring. The farmers sent a vaguely threatening email to the school asking for information on the chicken’s whereabouts. Later that day, Dr. Goldberg

replied, stating that the chickens were, in fact, alive, alongside a completely unrelated stock photo of four chickens enjoying the summer weather. Upon their return this fall, Dr. Goldberg graced the schoolwide email with more stock photos and thanked Ms. Ruys for hosting the chickens.

The Farmers Club feeds the chickens, keeps their coop clean and well-maintained, and collects the eggs that the chickens lay daily. The eggs serve as the farmers’ reward for the hard work of sus-

Luke Trevisan ‘24 taining the chickens. Most of the farmers prefer their eggs scrambled and I am told that Nugget/Cynthia lays the best eggs.

In addition to providing for the chickens, the farmers are also experimenting in crop farming, attempting to grow carrots. The Farmers Club is an extremely rewarding group to participate in whether you are interested in farming or not, and will yield delicious eggs as a reward! We look forward to a growth in the farmers club’s portfolio of offerings. ☐

Every year, Belmont Hill offers upper school students two opportunities to practice their public speaking skills in the Woodbury Speaking Contest. The Woodbury’s are a time when the school community is brought together to hear from multiple students offering a wide range of perspectives.

In the semi-final of the Woodbury contest this fall, six speakers, representing each form in the Upper School, presented their speeches with a wide range of topics.

In the first Woodbury Three Woodbury finalists chapel, junior Cam Connell gave an insightful speech about the importance of fiction and its potentially impactful role in each of our lives.

Nate Voss gave a hilarious speech about his misadventures in his previous middle school and the lessons he learned about the privileges of teenage boys compared to their female peers. With the last speech of the first chapel, junior Jack Abbrecht gave a thought-provoking speech about the im-

portance of asking questions and being comfortable with not knowing something.

The first three speeches proved an auspicious start to the fall Woodbury season.

Following the first chapel, the second group of speeches in the semi-finals were equally compelling. The first speech from senior David Carter detailed his time as a Boy Scout and his adventures hiking in the mountains.

Second came junior Luca Mezzanotte, who spoke eloquently about the trials of his grandparents and his dad’s fight with cancer.

Lastly, junior Josh Houston-Davis spoke about his often-meandering creativity and how that impacts his life experiences.

In the BH Communications finals, Jack Abbrecht, David Carter, and Cam Connell all reflected on the importance of slowing down and enjoying the day to day of life at school and beyond. Ultimately, Cam was declared the winner. Ms. Zener offered “congratulations to Cameron and the finalists for a wonderful round of speeches.” If you are interested in future public speaking opportunities at Belmont Hill, reach out to Ms. Zener for more information. ☐

how to play the piano.

Aside from his musical talents, Koame is also a talented soccer player and had a great season with the JVA team. When Koame is not in the music building or on the socBH Communications cer field, he

can be found in a wide range of classes. He is taking both AP European history and US history. He hopes to learn more about American history while he is here.

Koame has many aspirations during his time in America, “I am hoping to just have fun… because that is what it is mainly about, I hope to learn a lot more, but the most important thing is to just make friends”. Overall, Koame is an extremely outgoing person and wants to make the best out of his time in America. When asked for a final comment, Koame responded, “My goal is to meet as many people as possible, so please just come up to me and introduce yourself. I would love to meet you.”

Welcome to the community Koame! ☐

By Mac Bobo ’23 Panel Staff

Belmont Hill Welcomes Koame Kota from Capetown

By Lev Tolkoff ’24 Panel Staff Belmont Hill has the fortunate opportunity to welcome Koame Kota to Form IV through the school’s student exchange program. Koame joins us from Bishops School in Capetown, South Africa, where he is a student, athlete, and musician. For his first weeks in Massachusetts he lived with Sam Davis ’24 and Lucien Davis ’26; over Halloween weekend he moved to live with Alex Behn ’24 prior and will return to South Africa prior to Winter break.

An excellent musician, Koame plays a wide range of instruments such as piano, clarinet, the djembe drums, ukulele, and

m ar i mb a .

K o a m e also has a passion for singing; he has joined the B Flats and has already made a significant impact.

His musical passion started at the age of 4 when he l e a r n e d Koame Kota, middle

Winsor News

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Reaction to Mental Health Survey Semi 2021

By Annie Fisher ’24 Banner Staff

Last spring, Winsor partnered with Authentic Connections, an organization committed to improving school environments through data and feedback collected from students. Winsor has been working closely with the organization to identify areas for growth within the school and to consider what changes need to be made in order to better the community in years to come.

Suniya Luthar, co-founder and Chief Research Officer of Authentic Connections, began her research of student resilience with a focus on youth in “at-risk” situations.

When using well-funded suburban schools as a control group, Luthar discovered that students exhibited similarly high rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and rule-breaking behaviors in comparison to the “at-risk” schools that had previously been her subject. In observing these parallels, Luthar realized that academic pressures pose challenges to students’ mental and physical well-being. Expanding her outreach, she has since developed a peer-reviewed survey which allows highachieving schools to gather longitudinal data, compare patterns to the results of other schools, and determine correlation factors.

Winsor students took the survey in the spring of 2021, when the stress rates of most high-achieving schools were higher in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.

According to the survey results, Winsor students exhibited higher rates of anxiety, depression, and rule-breaking compared to other girls schools and regional norms.

60.4% of students said that Winsor has a high amount of work. However, 20.1% of students,

which was considerably lower than other schools, said that the work has low relevance.

Overall, the student’s main areas of concerns with respect to school were in regards to high academic performance, COVID-19 health concerns, and college applications. With these results in mind, some areas of improvement are volume of assignments, faculty emotional support for students, and faculty flexibility.

Following school closures last year due to the pandemic, drop in rates of anxiety and depression were observed in the majority of high achieving schools. Because the Winsor survey results were measured against norms that included the lower percentages from the spring of 2020, the benchmark unfortunately doesn’t accurately address the stress levels of Winsor students in comparison to other schools last spring. For this reason, the school will be distributing the survey again this spring of 2022, hopefully with more conclusive norms for comparison.

Regardless of the survey’s potential shortcomings, it is important to recognize improvements that can be made and to appreciate the support that the Winsor community has to offer. Shortly after the presentation was given, co-chairs of the Wellness Committee, Maita Mungah ’22 and Uche Ogbue ’22, hosted a forum during lunch for students to share their thoughts and concerns about the survey results. Ogbue commented, “The forum opened up a safe space where students could be honest about the different factors of Winsor that affect their mental health. It was a space where everyone’s voices were heard and appreciated.”

Students raised questions about how this new information would be received by the faculty and what would be done to further explore the issues discussed in the presentation.

Because this is the first Authentic

Connections survey that the Winsor community has taken part in, it can be difficult to pinpoint the root of the issues concerning mental health, whether it is specific to the grade level, the year, or other circumstances that may impact the results.

Ms. Labieniec, Winsor’s Institutional Researcher, said, “Even though I want to react to this and make sure... we’re taking this data seriously... I don’t want to jump to over-action from one data point either, because we could wind up trying to solve the wrong problem.” The faculty’s central focus appears to be trying to understand the source of these issues and to identify trends in the survey data. In terms of immediate action, Ms. Labieniec shared, “to process the survey, I’d want to talk to the faculty as well as other student leadership groups. The student equity board is a great group for that conversation, as are others. In fact, an update is that Ms. Ramos, Ms. Santos-Valenzuela and I have recently met to talk about how to process the information and next steps.’”

Change doesn’t happen overnight, especially when that change calls for a shift in culture. It can be intimidating to consider how the school can maintain the quality of a Winsor education while being aware of its students’ limits. Nonetheless, it is crucial that the school continues to ask questions, listen, and actively seek an understanding of its students that extends beyond their academic identities to include their individual selves. The Student Equity Board shared a positive take-away from the survey, saying, “Having [quantitative] figures helps us aim our work.” Although addressing the topic of mental health at Winsor may be a process that requires a great deal of patience, meaningful conversations, and hard work, it is absolutely essential. ☐

By Ella Pascucci ’23 Banner Staff

As December rounds the corner, Winsor students prepare for the annual Winter Semiformal dance, also known as Semi. Semi falls on Saturday, December 4, this year. Normally, all Upper School students congregate in the Winsor dining hall along with guests from Roxbury Latin, Belmont Hill, and other schools. However, COVID-19 has forced the administration to rethink some of the typical traditions, such as allowing guests.

Recently, Winsor sent out a survey to get feedback on what the students would like to see at this year’s Semi and what they feel are most important in maintaining the essence of their long held tradition.

The survey included four questions that asked students to rank the importance of certain aspects of Semi on a scale from one to five. The four topics included inviting guests, serving refreshments, separating classes into different rooms, and hosting a “traditional” Semi.

In response to the question regarding inviting guests, Catherine Macenka ’23 shared that she is “worried about the Winsor to non-Winsor guest ratio… The whole point is to meet new people, and if it’s just plus ones, I think it will be very polarizing.”

Similarly, regarding the question of separating classes, Coco FitzMaurice ’23 responded: “I think that all the classes should be together because Semi is a community event and a setting where students can talk to their friends from other grades.

When I was a freshman, I loved seeing the people from my sports team at Semi.”

Although most of Semi’s logistics are up in the air at the moment, more decisions will be made in the coming weeks! ☐

Interview with an Alumna Semester Away Students

By Jaya Kolluri ’24 Banner Staff

The Banner is more than just another club at Winsor. It is a platform that gives students the opportunity to learn new skills, make new connections, and create long-lasting memories.

The Banner allows us to expand our thinking about society and express ourselves in new and creative ways. “It’s so much more than just another commitment; it [develops] a new style of writing,” says Annie Adams ’21, former Banner Executive Editor and current freshman at Vassar College.

Looking back at her time at Winsor, Adams fondly remembers her journey from a staff writer in Class V to becoming one of the heads of The Banner in Class VIII. Mainly working within the News Pod, Adams recalls how she enjoyed interviewing different people and sharing more about their experiences through her articles. The Banner is not just a platform for writing, it also turns out to be a vibrant community, offering lasting memories

Annie Adams

at SYA Italy in the city of Viterbo. SYA gives

By Katya Agrawal ’23 and Gigi Chu ’23 students the opportunity to stay with a host Banner Staff family and study in a new country. Students As most Winsor students prepare also take weekly field trips to complement their for their usual winter and spring seasons academic schedules. Anderson comments, of papers, indoor sports, and the beloved “I love it here. I think it is one of the most hot chocolate machine, others are readying amazing experiences I have ever had the themselves to embark on a different journey: opportunity to do… every week we have what an exciting semester away in a new city. are called fieldwork days on Wednesday, which Semester away programs are typically means that we don’t have normal classes, but offered to juniors as an opportunity to explore we have an activity related to being in Italy. a different country or school within the United One Wednesday we went to pick grapes, and States. The programs that partner with Winsor we started making wine.” She also loves the are The Mountain School (TMS), School Year SYA community saying that, “I think that for Abroad (SYA), and The School for Ethics SYA specifically, staying with a host family has and Global Leadership (SEGL). However, been one of the best parts. Not only do I fully students may, upon Winsor’s approval, feel as if I have a family right now, but I know take a semester away at another program. that after this I will always have two families.”

Abby Glynn ’23 will be going to One student who went on a semester Vermont in the spring semester to attend TMS, away last year was Ava Hawkins ’22. She shares which houses 45 high school juniors every fall her experiences from her term at SEGL South and spring. In addition to a rigorous academic Africa, also known as ALA. For her, birthdays schedule, students also work on the Mountain were a highlight and a memorable tradition.

School’s farm and learn environmental skills. Hawkins says, “Birthdays would always begin Glynn said, “I think I am going to learn a lot with friends running into your dorm room more about the environment and nature. They at 12:00 am and singing the Kenyan happy require an environmental science class, and birthday song to you at the top of their lungs. you have multiple chances to spend time or Immediately after the serenade, everyone do activities outside such as hiking and skiing.” would pick you up and bring you to the Sarah Loose ’22 confirms these shower for a special birthday shower, with the predictions, and speaks on her time at TMS coldest water possible... Oftentimes, it can be from last spring. She talks about the daily hard to be away from family on such special schedules and having “classes on logs or the occasions like a birthday, and so the ALA fields outside when the weather allowed it, community really makes sure that people feel our environmental science class took trips loved and appreciated on their special day.” to analyze the landscape and researched Semester away programs are great ways how to tell the history of the land... we for students to make new connections, travel worked with the animals and the crops twice to new places, and immerse themselves in a a day during work period...we had study, different learning environment. As Hawkins dinner, free time after dinner for watching put it, “The world is truly such a large place. the sunsets, seeing the animals, stargazing In our Winsor community, it can be so easy to (the lack of light pollution made stargazing become absorbed in the daily life to which we are amazing), and hanging out with friends.” accustomed, but it is so important to take a step Vassar College Currently, Cate Anderson ’23 is studying back and look at the world in a broader sense.” ☐

for students and members. When asked about her fondest memory through her years in Banner, Adams said, “Our Banner layout lunches were the best, and everyone would be working on their separate [tasks] but always helping each other out. It really cultivated a strong sense of family.” The Banner continues to play an active role at Winsor, encouraging all of us to break through barriers and think out of the box.

Now, Adams is pursuing her journey in journalism as the Layout Manager for the Vassar Newsletter, building upon a strong foundation laid by her experiences in The Banner.

Now at Vassar, Adams says she still uses the skills she learned from working on The Banner. “It definitely gave me a different kind of writing to get used to, as writing an article can be very different than writing an English paper," she said.

The Banner epitomizes Winsor’s commitment to developing strong, confident leaders. By encouraging students to explore creative styles of writing, The Banner continues to shape Winsor's future. ☐

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Winsor News

Pa g e 5

Welcoming New Faculty to the Community!

By Gia Bharadwaj ’24 and Suzanne Pogorelec ’24 Banner Staff and Contributing Writer

The October issue of the Banner introduced three new faculty members to the Winsor community: Mr. Dauphinee, Ms. Tu, and Mr. Vierba.

In this issue, we will introduce Ms. Valenza, Ms. Valenzuela, and Nurse Su. After working from home for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Valenza is excited to join Winsor and return to the art studio in person. Learning with students in the workshop is, as Ms. Valenza put it, “like a dream come true” and she “feels like [she’s] back home” in the art rooms.

Previously, Ms. Valenza taught elementary aged students at Kingsley Montessori School, and she now shares her expertise with both Lower and Upper School students at Winsor. At Kingsley, Ms. Valenza said that she “helped students prepare art portfolios to apply to Winsor” and was consequently “very curious about the programming” at the school. In her classes, Ms. Valenza loves connecting with her students and said that she has been “impressed with students’ maturity and artistic skills.” In terms of her favorite classes to teach, Ms. Valenza loves sharing her knowledge surrounding animation, ceramics, and printmaking. When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Valenza also loves spending

From left to right: Ms. Valenza, Nurse Su, Ms. Valenzuela

Winsor

time cultivating plants and experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen.

Ms. Valenzuela is eager to begin teaching at Winsor. She previously taught biology and created a new health curriculum at Northfield Mount Hermon in Gill, Massachusetts. Her work included extensive teacher training, curriculum planning, and providing support groups for students. Upon arriving at Winsor, she was impressed with the strong foundation behind the health courses at the school and was excited that the school has “the structure and the resources and the commitment.”

She is “really happy to be here” and believes that with the current design of the wellness program at the school, “Winsor

is ready for more.” She is particularly interested in exploring the question of “What is wellness?” and hopes to continue conversations about prioritizing mental health in a high-achieving environment.

Nurse Su was interested in working at Winsor because she had been an administrator at her previous job, but did not work with students. Winsor balances Nurse Su’s administrative duties with student interaction, making it her “perfect job.” So far, Nurse Su’s experience here has been really good. She says, “I get to see a lot of different things, and I get to help with a lot of different issues.” Winsor’s sense of community and inclusion has stood out to her, especially after SASA’s assembly

performance for Diwali. “I don’t think anyone has ever even acknowledged Diwali as a celebration,” she explained, “and Winsor was just so open to it… that was really special to me.” Nurse Su has always worked in health; she particularly enjoys being a school and summer camp nurse because she can offer support without enduring the sadness of a hospital environment. Outside of her work in health, Nurse Su has a passion for dance, which she and her friends use to connect with each other. Ultimately, she appreciates the inclusive environment that Winsor offers and looks forward to helping students as much as possible.

We are grateful to have new faculty members at Winsor. ☐

helped [her] better understand the conditions of the working class in America.” Walsh also feels that she’s been able to enhance her “street smarts,” and now “understands that all labor requires skill and our economic system simply chooses to value certain workers less by paying us abysmal wages.” Walsh typically works on Friday nights and from 10:00 am to 11:30 pm on Saturdays, and as a result, “often feels too exhausted to start [her] homework!” After struggling a bit with balance and maintaining her grades, Walsh says she has “really improved her time management skills this year and [has] been able to practice more self-care.” Despite the challenges she has faced, Walsh is grateful that she “gets to meet some interesting people '' and learn from interactions with coworkers.

Since the school year began, Wang and Hannah Mu ’24 have been working at the

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in a program called Curatory Study Hall every Wednesday from 4:00pm to7:00pm. After being referred to the program by Gwen Castro ’24, and her softball program, BBASE, Wang says, The program has a focus on photography this year which has fed Wang’s passion for photojournalism, and she’s especially enjoyed talking with artists who have visited and are showcasing in the MFA or elsewhere. Wang’s favorite artist so far has been a MassArt student, Vanessa LeRoy, who works with cyanotypes of family photos, using her art for activism. Wang also notes that having collaboration opportunities–– has been a massive benefit of the program and an excellent outlet for social interaction outside of the Winsor Community. With her extra time spent in the MFA, Wang feels “a lot more connected to art in general,” carrying her newfound

knowledge into her and Mu’s conversations with Ms. Macaulay and their Advanced Drawing and Painting elective course this semester. Besides missing Wednesday volleyball practice and games, Wang has not had to give up much of her school involvement for her job and “definitely doesn’t regret anything” in joining this program. Overall, Wang values the “experience [she] will never get anywhere else.”

To anyone who “wants to pursue a job or an internship,” Wang’s advice is to “definitely go for it, but to know exactly what the constraints are to schoolwork and extracurriculars.” Walsh recommends “finding a workplace that has other student or youth workers that you can befriend, and trying to unionize your workplace!” Winsor’s working students remain diligent, and strive to normalize having a job outside of school. ☐

The Tales of the Working Women at Winsor

By Abigail Stephenson ’24 and Charlotte jones ’24 Contributing Writers As our community settles into the school year, we strive to balance sports, classwork, extracurriculars and, for some, jobs.

Calla Walsh ’22 and Ainsley Wang ’24 detailed their schedules and strategies for keeping on top of both school work and their jobs.

Walsh, a current senior, has been working for “as long as [she] can remember!”

At the moment, she works at both a jewelry store and a frozen yogurt shop in Harvard Square. She has also “earned money through political consulting, paid internships, and teaching a class on youth organizing,” and she believes the experience of working “has profoundly shaped her class consciousness and

Calla Walsh

Winsor Ainsley Wang

Winsor

Pa g e 6

Be lmont H ill & Winsor A rts

T he B anner / Panel

Belmont Hill and Winsor Correspondents Review Dune

By Tarini Dasari ’23 and Daniel Rashes ’22 Banner and Panel Staff

Belmont Hill: Based on Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is a veritable sci-fi epic that can’t quite engage. The film follows the noble Paul Atreides as his family relocates to Arrakis, a planet rich in spice, the galaxy’s most valuable resource.

The mining operations on Arrakis have long been overseen by the brutal House Harkonnen, but the Emperor reassigns such responsibilities to House Atreides due to Harkonnen’s constant strife with the planet’s native Freman people. Also found: space religion, soothsaying, magic pain boxes, floaty-slug-man, giant worms, and more.

Dune is very dense with lore, some of which is conveyed intelligibly, though one who has read the novel likely has the upper hand. Not quite impenetrable, the film’s intricate political relationships and religious mysticism can be followed by a novice such as myself, but they best pay attention.

Villeneuve is unquestionably one of the most talented living directors, known for his ability to bring great scope and beauty to rich stories in films like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. While not quite as stimulating as his latter two offerings, Villeneuve’s signature eye for grandeur is on full display in Dune. An immaculate visual feast, Dune is rife with cinematographic beauty and jaw-dropping visual effects.

The conjunctional use of astonishing practical locations adds verisimilitude to immense spectacle. Unfortunately, the story encapsulated by such exquisite craft is often as dry as the sands of Arrakis.

The opening title card ensures viewers that this film is only “Part One” of the story. That’s well and good, but for a two-

and-a-half-hour movie, Dune leisurely sets up a surplus of ideas that are ultimately left unresolved and underexplored by the time the credits roll. Its involved story is hampered by copious exposition. While necessary, such a need for extensive explanations distracts from its plethora of characters, resulting in a muddled dramatic experience. The central Atreidies family consists of Paul (Timothée Chalamet), his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson).

Their family dynamics were intriguing yet confusing. Jessica is the Duke’s concubine who has strong ties to the Bene Gesserit, a little-explored organization of politically influential… witches? She and Leto row about how much exposure Paul should have to this institution as their family enters a turbulent period. Isaac’s is the film’s standout performance, even though he feels miscast. I don’t quite buy him as a father to Timothee Chalamet, but his portrayal of the benevolent and wise ruler is charming and endearing, attributes that are not applicable to all the film’s leads His drive to protect his son and struggle to establish operations on Arrakis are character motivations far more compelling than most others in the film. He is ultimately sidelined in favor of his progeny as the story shifts to Paul’s journey for survival in the throes of a violent political conflict. The film is so bogged down by its own complexity that when it comes time to truly focus on its protagonist, I felt little attachment to him. Paul is doubtlessly the main character, but in a film that dillies and dallies across an entire galaxy, I had no connection to this boy whose life I was meant to fear for.

Stunning to behold yet requiring patience, Dune is a unique accomplishment that amounts to less than the sum of its parts. Dune can’t strike a balance between

explaining its story and telling it. While the drama may falter, there are exhilarating action set-pieces, bolstered by a unique score from Hans Zimmer. I enjoyed the film for its mind-boggling spectacle alone, but didn’t find myself invested in much else. Dune is an impressive adaptation of beloved source material, though it fails to effectively tell the story to fresh eyes. I’m interested to see what Villeneuve will do with the next chapter of the story, but for now, I am left underwhelmed by his first foray onto Arrakis. ☐

Dune Warner Bros. Pictures Winsor: Denis Villeneuve’s Dune hit theaters on October 22, and viewers, including me, had mixed feelings about it. First of all, nothing is explained. The setting is a diverse world, with multiple Houses or races, multiple planets, and an interesting plot line revolving around the harvesting of ‘Spice’, an entheogen that is also used as fuel for space travel. Although the world and its people are fascinating and original,

these qualities are the very reason why a thorough explanation of the entire world is needed. For most of the film, the viewer sees only parts of the world that are not expounded until halfway through the movie.

For example, in one of the opening scenes, the main character, Paul, is eating with his mother. His mother tells him to use ‘The Voice,’ a concept which only viewers who have read the books are familiar with.

After a few shots of inanimate objects paired with suspenseful music, a demonic voice suddenly erupts out of Paul, which definitely scared me! Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica, refers to ‘The Voice’ as a ‘Bene Gesserit skill.’ The Bene Gesserit come into the movie later, and it is clear that they are some sort of witches.

However, how their government functions, who exactly they are loyal to and why, how and why Lady Jessica is a Bene Gesserit, and many more questions remain partially or completely unanswered. The lack of explanation of these compelling but complex aspects of Dune’s world results in viewers having trouble keeping up with the movie, thus contributing to a not so enjoyable experience.

However, there are some redeeming qualities. First of all, Zendaya is in it.

Secondly, some of the camera angles and shots are well done. For example, they often zoom in on one object, which is usually a dying person, and in the background a blurry figure is doing some sort of important action. This shot both evokes an emotional reaction from the viewer as a result of seeing a person in pain, and it also creates a sense of unease and creepiness, because the background figure is usually a villain doing something sinister.

Although Dune has many, many flaws, it’s still an interesting and artistically wellmade movie, one that you and your family can enjoy— even if only by laughing at it. ☐

Community Members Exemplify Friends-GIVE-ing Claire, along with her other club members,

By Luke Hogan ’22 and Natalie Pan ’23 collaborated with Boston Area Gleaners. It Banner and Panel Staff is a non-profit dedicated to rescuing surplus farm crops for people in need. This event With Thanksgiving just around the highlighted “the impact that we as Winsor corner, it is the perfect time for us to cel- students and young individuals can have if ebrate students and faculty who have gone we are able to apply our intelligence, physical above and beyond to serve their commu- ability, and devotion to our communities.” nities this year. As readers will see below, Also, a Winsor faculty member who supporting others can look like anything The Banner would like to recognize for from community service to a seeming- their overwhelming Thanksgiving spirit ly small act of kindness that makes peo- is Mr. Didier. During a particularly hectic ple’s days. While there are many in our exam week for the junior class, Mr. Didier school communities who exemplify “giv- brought Bruegger’s Bagels for the students ing culture,” we were only able to high- in his global studies courses. He also held light a few. So, as we enter the Thanks- classes outside so that people could engiving season, we encourage you to take joy the fresh air. Lily Levitzky ’23 shared, a moment to reach out to those who have “When Mr. Didier brought us bagels that made a difference in your life this past year. morning, it really made my day. I felt esThe Winsor School is grateful to pecially appreciative because I didn’t eat have students like Claire Ackerman ’21. breakfast that day, so it was so nice that Ackerman comes from a strong Catholic a teacher had thought about our class.” upbringing, so she has always valued “dedAt Belmont Hill, there are multiple icating oneself to serving others.” She is co- students and teachers who make a differhead of both the Greater Boston Food Bank ence in the school community and in the Club and Boston Outreach Club, both of greater Boston area. Mrs. David, the longwhich have “reminded [her] of the power time nurse of Belmont Hill, has been leadof volunteering one’s time in collaboration ing the school through multiple community with friends and peers.” This past October, service projects including the renowned Belmont Hill Turkey Drive. Just prior to 2020, though, Mrs. David took a step back from the community service aspect of Belmont Hill prior to leading the health office through the challenges of COVID-19.

Many may know Mrs. David from the all-school emails where she outlined new initiatives and guidelines surrounding school protocols during COVID-19.

However, Mrs. David has been doing a lot more for not just the school, but for the Claire and Mr. Didier

Winsor

Belmont community. Mrs. David has been statistically, one of them will be diagnosed the chair for the Belmont Board of Health with breast cancer.” He has been effectively bringing awareness to this awful disease while simultaneously making a difference.

Most recently, his team opened up the Think Pink Store which allowed students and faculty to purchase merchandise – like

Donna David

BH Communications

throughout the pandemic leading the charge in lowering transmission in town.

She has dedicated herself to Belmont Hill and the Belmont community through all of her selfless work over the past few years.

Asked about Mrs. David’s impact on them, Arec Keomurjian ’22 stated, “Mrs. David has been so kind throughout my time at Belmont Hill through her role as the nurse, but she has also really supported the community through her community service projects and genuine care for students.”

Dan Moran ’23 has recently started the Belmont Hill “Think Pink” initiative to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. Moran has been leading this program after his speech relating his personal experiences to the issues. In his recent email, Moran encouraged the Belmont Hill community to “Just think of the 8 women you love the most– whether sibling, best friend, girlfriend, or teammate–

Dan Moran ’23

BH Communications

hoodies, t-shirts, lapel pins, and more – to support the Dana-Farber Breast Cancer Care and Research Center. “I really feel like the community is contributing to making change for those around the globe who suffer from this awful disease. I didn’t exactly understand the full implications of breast cancer until hearing more from the Think Pink team,” Howard Huang ’22 stated.

Thanksgiving is famous for delicious food and social gatherings with loved ones.

However, community outreach and being grateful for people that are constantly giving back to others are equally important. Claire put it well: “Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on how you are allocating your time to support your community.” ☐

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Winsor Arts & Lifest yle

Pa g e 7

Fall Artist of the Issue: Franchesca Vilmenay ’22

By Katina Handrinos ’25 Contributing Writer

This issue’s featured artist is Franchesca Vilmenay ’22, dancer and photographer!

Franchesca has been an invaluable part of developing the dance program at Winsor, and she also enjoys photography in Winsor’s many art classes. Here’s a look into Franchesca and her work:

and edited the photos myself, and I would What is your favorite Winsor performance?

I really enjoyed the Rock On say that was a really fun experience. performance last year. The crowd was really electric and it was the first big school gathering since we had come back from COVID. Outside of school, I used to do competition dance, and I had a solo once.

Being able to take up the entire stage and have the entire audience be engaged is really hard, but it was really awesome.

What is your favorite class that you have taken at Winsor?

My favorite class that I have taken at Winsor so far would have to be AP Portfolio, which I took last year. I was basically able to create my own projects, and I took about 15 photos. It took me a semester to finish, and I came up with everything Franchesca Vilmenay ’22

What do you love most about dance and photography?

What I love about both of them is that they’re both methods of storytelling. You’ve heard the saying a photo can say a thousand words, but I really saw this while taking my photos. Composition, editing, and lighting, and the way that you’re posing your model Winsor all add to the final product. And in dance,

the costume you wear, the choreography, and the lighting are all important. That’s really cool, that with both art forms you can really tell a story to your audience.

How has your family inspired you to pursue your passions?

In terms of dance, my mom was the one who put me in dance at four years old, and she was my right hand during recitals, competitions, and performances.

She was always there helping me with my hair and even my makeup. She’s my rock for dance. I also used my sister a lot for photography during COVID, because I was at home and couldn’t use other models. That was really inspiring.

Thank you, Franchesca, for sharing your experiences. We cannot wait to see what exciting things you will do in the future! ☐

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipe: Perfectly Pumpkin Pie

By Anna Halfman ’23 Banner Staff November Break is approaching, and we all know what that means: Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a time for being with one another; celebrating our families and traditions; and most importantly, eating delicious meals. While the turkey and mashed potatoes may be the first Thanksgiving foods you think of, let’s not forget about everyone’s real favorite: dessert.

The staple Thanksgiving dessert is pie, particularly pumpkin, which has a sweet and spiced taste and a gooey texture.

Pick your favorite, or make them both to combine different flavors. And don’t forget a scoop (or four) of ice cream to top it off!

Crust Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons butter, chilled 1/4 cup apple cider Filling Ingredients: 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ginger, ground 1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground 2 eggs 15 oz pumpkin puree 12 oz evaporated milk Crust Instructions: 1. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and

salt.

2. Cut in butter.

3. Add apple cider and gently mix.

Thanksgiving Dessert

4. Roll into the pie pan.

Filling Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 435° F. 2. Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves.

3. Beat in eggs.

4. Add pumpkin puree.

5. Stir in evaporated milk.

6. Add filling to crust.

7. Bake for 15 minutes.

8. Bring temperature to 350° F 9. Bake for 40 minutes.

We hope this dessert recipe brings some extra cheer to your Thanksgiving holiday. You can experiment with different ice cream flavors to top off your pie creation.

Ella Pascucci ’23 Good luck, and have a great Thanksgiving! ☐

Club Spotlight: The Wonderful Winsor Wildbots

By Audrey Wang ’24 Contributing Writer

mentors, Marlyse Reeves and Rachel Holladay, and one faculty advisor, Mr. Cox. Meetings are held from 4:00-8:00 pm every Friday, and 9:00 am-12:00 pm on Saturdays.

To optimize efficiency and encourage students to explore their interests in the multifaceted nature of STEM, the Winsor Wildbots have three subgroups: building, coding, and business.

The Winsor Wildbots are the Winsor School’s award-winning FIRST Tech Challenge Team #13620, composed of students from classes V through VIII. The team was founded in 2017 with a mission to uplift gender minorities in STEM, and since its creation, the team has become an active part of the Winsor and FTC communities.

FTC stands for the FIRST Tech Challenge by the organization FIRST, an international high school robotics competition.

The team has 37 student members, some of whom are highly committed to the club meetings and some of whom help from time to time. There are also two Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate student Winsor Wildbots

This way, they can ensure that team members are prepared for various careers in STEM beyond high school.

This season, club heads Abby Bohl ’22, Audrey Cheng ’23, and Liza Kuntz ’23 have decided to split the Wildbots into two separate teams that will work together to create two different robots, as FIRST allows only 15 active participants on each team during competitions and the Wildbots have over 30 members.

Therefore, the most logical option would be to register another team and work together for the majority of their meetings.

Co-head Cheng said, “We’re excited that so many Winsor students are interested in robotics! While it’s pretty overwhelming thinking of building two Winsor robots, coding for two strategies, and

designing two portfolios, having two teams gives everyone the opportunity to have an awesome FTC experience.”

Additionally, team member Alyssa Quarles ’24 said, “It’s definitely stressful to be doing double the work, but I’m really excited to see how this season will play out!”

This endeavor is overwhelmingly exciting, so stay up to date with the Winsor Wildbots by contacting the heads or checking out their website and social media!

Emails: audrey.cheng@Winsor elizabeth.kuntz@Winsor abigail.bohl@Winsor Website: ​​https://winsorrobotics.com Instagram: @winsorrobotics YouTube: Winsor Wildbots

☐

2021 Fall Concert Review and Winter Concert Preview

By Julia Bae ’25 and Amber Bai ’25 Contributing Writers

The 2021-2022 school year has brought a sense of normalcy to Winsor, partially due to the return of many traditions, including annual concerts. The Fall Concert in October was the first full in-person event this year; there were participants in all grades, and both students and faculty were able to enjoy the concert in the theater.

Lower School performances began with the Orchestra, which played “The Spirit of Adventure” by Michael Giacchino.

Lower School Chorus also shined on the stage, singing “I’ll Do Anything for You, Dear” by Lionel Bart and John Dyer Baizley from the musical Oliver!

Following these performances, Upper School ensembles further dazzled the audience with a wide array of productions.

Chamber Players mesmerized the audience with a quintet by Luigi Boccherini. Illumina

sang “Lift Every Voice” by J. Rosamon Johnson and James Weldon Johnson, as well as a Disney ballad containing songs from Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Mulan by Alan Mankin and Matthew Wilder. To end the concert, Senior Small Chorus performed an acapella mashup of “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars and “Just a Dream”

by Nelly that was created for Pitch Perfect.

The talent displayed in the Fall Concert, as well as the familiarity of the event, has created lots of excitement for the next annual concert: the Winter Concert, which will be held on December 12. One performer says, “It was great to have a live audience [during the Fall Concert], which we missed during quarantine, so I’m looking forward to performing in-person again in December!” Many classes are still discussing which pieces they will play, but regardless of what they decide on, we know we will enjoy performance. So save the date, and we can’t Illumina Winsor wait to see you at the Winter Concert! ☐

B elmont Hill Arts

Pa g e 8

T he B anner / Panel

Standout Musician of the Issue: Jacob Czarnecki ’22

By Daniel Bittner ’22 Panel Staff Of all the individuals who participate in Belmont Hill’s visual and performing arts, there is likely no one more passionate than Jacob Czarnecki ’22 of the B-Flats. Whether he’s practicing for an upcoming performance in the Prenatt music building or performing a solo in front of the whole school on a Friday morning, Czarnecki’s upbeat attitude and excitement towards singing is contagious to everyone listening, improving both the spirit of the B-Flats and the entire music department.

Although Czarnecki enjoyed music and singing prior to coming to Belmont Hill, he first experienced being a part of a major group in Form I as a member of the Glee Club. Crediting his instant passion for group-signing upon entering Belmont

Hill to the “always fun” Brother P, Czarnecki would later be inspired to join Belmont Hill’s B-Flats as he entered Form IV. In addition to his role in the B-Flats at Belmont Hill, Czarnecki has also pursued singing in his community. Having joined the choir of his local church a few years ago, Jacob says he has “improved and learned a lot” performing outside of Belmont Hill with different groups of singers. Ultimately, Czarnecki says his favorite parts of singing are the ability to “add your own flavor to a song” after memorizing the notes and lyrics.

Now a leader of the B-Flats as a senior, Czarnecki strives to continue signing well into the future. Although he may not be able to sing regularly with his local choir due to the potential location of his future college, he hopes to be able to join either a college a capella group or other choir after Belmont Hill. The Panel wishes Czarnecki well in all of his future musical endeavors. ☐ Jacob Czarnecki ’22

BH Commu-

Spicy Squid Game Review

By Aidan Lee ’24 Panel Staff As many know, Squid Game is a Korean drama on Netflix. The show is based around the experiences of Korean individuals in their endeavors to pay off their debts, a task that involves them playing classical Korean children’s games with a fatal twist.

Squid Game represents the intricacies of our society and how we view and treat those in debt. It focuses on the struggles of Seong Gi-Hun as he decides whether money is something worth risking his life for. The drama also demonstrates how money can undermine humanity, as the people par-

Squid Game

Luke Trevisan ’24 Netflix’s hottest new show

ticipating in the games begin to lose all morality. Through the lies and tragedies in the show, we get a sense of a completely devastated society, in which everybody will do anything for their own survival.

The show is completely riveting, with an interesting plot and dynamic characters. Other than the first two episodes, I believe that Squid Game deserves top marks for entertainment, and I believe that many others would agree; its worldwide recognition allowed it to become the #1 show on Netflix in 90 different countries. I strongly recommend Squid Game, as its shock factor and investing storyline provide for an entertaining experience. ☐

Netflix

Can’t Hurt Me Book Review by Luke Wagner

By Luke Wagner ’22 Panel Staff David Goggins recalls his life in a short and sweet autobiography titled Can’t Hurt Me. Growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood, Goggins dealt with racism and experienced struggles in learning. He was behind his grade level academically, which resulted in him changing schools many times during his early education. However, he was never really able to find a place he could call home.

After becoming overweight and depressed in his mid-twenties, Goggins decided that he needed to turn his life around. An upcoming Navy Seal trial served as his motivation, and Goggins dedicated his life to improving himself both physically and mentally.

Goggins tried three times to pass the Navy’s evaluation, succeeding on his third try and earning his spot as a Navy Seal. The book goes on to detail his unbelievable feats and successes, some of which are entirely inconceivable by readers. Goggins describes the times he ran for twenty-four hours straight with no training, competed in one of the hardest Ironman races, and set the world record for most pull-ups in a day (4,030), a record that sadly does not still stand.

My main takeaway from Can’t Hurt Me wasn’t the grandeur of Goggins incredible achievements, but his unrelenting drive and determination; grit and overcoming obstacles remain central to every chapter of the novel. Goggins highlights that no matter what you endure in life, you can overcome anything. He was knocked down all throughout his childhood and early adulthood, but he was able to come out on top because of his perseverance.

Goggins also focuses on how people don’t become successful overnight, and that it takes countless hours of practice to become truly great at something. He emphasizes that success requires being able to overcome immense adversity and that struggle is sometimes necessary for personal growth.

I recommend this book to everyone.

This novel changed my perspective about physical and mental strength; it made me realize there is always more in me, even when I think I have reached my limit. ☐

Can’t Hurt Me

Amazon.com

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Be lmont H ill & Winsor A Rts

Pa g e 9

Playlist of the Issue: Nov. 2021 Get the full playlist on Spotify – @bhpanel

For our first joint issue of 2021, we are excited to share some of our favorites for the season and from the summer. We hope you enjoy these songs as much as we do!

IZZY/GIGI Wasted Time - Vance Joy (Izzy)

With Spotify Wrapped coming out in just a month, there is something wildly satisfying about knowing the exact song that will be at the top of your “most listened to” tracks. “Wasted Time” has become my quintessential soundtrack to everything fall, and I’ve played it on loop for days on end. The sweet vocals, smoothly intertwined with the instrumentals, capture the warmth of the late afternoon sun and the bittersweet ache as seasons change and time continues to move forward without ceasing.

KAILEN/LUKE Jump the Turnstile TV Girl, Jordana (Kailen)

This song is from a joint album between indie pop band TV Girl and bedroom pop star Jordana. It’s perfect title, Summer’s Over, helps it fit the vibe of the final weeks of summer freedom. “Jump the Turnstile” is my favorite track, but every song on this record is an absolute bop, and I highly recommend checking it out.

Boys - Hippo Campus (Izzy)

Everytime - Boy Pablo (Kailen)

Place to Be - Nick Drake (Gigi)

All of My Love - Led Zeppelin (Luke)

Autumn Leaves - Chet Baker (Gigi)

Todo De Ti - Rauw Alejandro (Luke)

This song is like coffee to coffee addicts. From the bright vocals embellished with electric instrumentals to the colorful thrum of the beats, every component of this song culminates in a cool refreshing rush of adrenaline. As you chug through your day on minimal amounts of sleep, this song will break through the depths of your exhaustion and revive you for a few delightful minutes.

“Place to Be” comes from Drake’s final album Pink Moon. Drake’s poetic lines and beautiful strumming are a reflection of his brilliant mind and music, and the entire album itself is a wonderful work of art. Speaking of, the exquisite cover art was done by surrealist artist Michael Trevithick, and it’s definitely a picture to contemplate while listening to this song.

Now that we are nicely settled into the season, “Autumn Leaves” feels like the perfect piece for the setting and captures the bustling atmosphere of fall festivities. Baker’s rendition features his smooth and clean trumpet playing, leading the music into an orange haze of swing and electricity. The different versions of “Autumn Leaves” are endless, and its variety of moods and rhythms make it a great classic.

“Everytime” is a super soft-sounding song that I refuse to skip any time it comes on. Somehow, it has made it into my top ten songs on my Spotify Wrapped for the past three years.

Many of Boy Pablo’s songs have cool guitar riffs and goofy-sad lyrics that make it easy to just lie down on the floor and stare at the ceiling for a while.

So, give it a listen!

More of a “fall vibe,” this Zeppelin track takes a different approach from their previous albums. Its use of different instruments throughout the song, especially the synthesized violin in the middle of the song, makes it one of my favorites.

This song reminds me of the summer.

Everyone enjoys those three months when there are little to no worries, and you can just relax in the sun listening to some Spanish pop. While it might not be the most complex song, there is beauty in Alejandro’s simplicity, and I adore this sound.

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Be lmont H ill & Winsor C om mu nit y

T he B anner / Panel

Continued: Winsor and BH Phase into Normalcy

By Jackson Kendall ’22, Angelina Li ’22, and Kevin Weldon ’24 Banner and Panel Staff On October 18, with the entire school testing negative for COVID, masks were no longer required indoors (apart from those unvaccinated), except for during events in the chapel, due to the fact that Belmont Hill has a 99% vaccination rate.

Mr. Schneider explained at Friday Forum on the 15th of October that the Belmont Hill administration had devised a two phase plan on a return to normalcy. In Phase I, vaccinated students had the choice to not wear a mask in classes unless their teacher required them to, and hot menu items such as soup and burritos were featured on the lunch menu. Starting on November 15, Phase 2 began with lunch returning to family-style and students being able to remove

masks during the all-school David Brooks chapel meeting. Aidan Lee ’24 said, “I’m really excited to get back to sit-down lunch,” and with this long awaited return to normalcy at Belmont Hill, many of the students will return to the lunch they remember from two years ago, while for a few students, these changes will be new and their first introduction to the real Belmont Hill program. The reintroduction of lunch to the school will finally bring school back to normal and we are thankful to everyone helping to bring back the classic Belmont Hill experience.

On Pilgrim Road, the Winsor community has seen quite a dramatic shift in terms of COVID policies and restrictions.

Masks are required indoors at all times, but are optional in outdoor spaces. Classrooms are at full capacity, with desks and chairs moved back to where they used to be. Many students at Winsor have noticed the many

positive changes in our learning environment and are optimistic about the school year. Aleksaundra Handrinos ’22 commented, “This year at Winsor has definitely felt more normal than last! While we are still wearing masks, which feels pretty normal at this point, just the ability to spend time in spaces like the senior homeroom and the library reminds me of our pre-COVID time at school. I love spending my free blocks working with classmates and enjoying these spaces we missed for some time.”

Certainly, many community spaces at Winsor have been transformed since last spring, including the dining hall. There, food is served buffet-style, with a self-serve sandwich and salad bar—just like it used to be! Similar to Handrinos, Tia Sheth ’22 appreciates the reconnection of our community. As one of four SASS (Students Advocating for School Spirit) heads, she said,

“while Winsor never lost its community feel, on UTL, being all together for the pep rally felt like the past two years have only brought us closer together. With masks, without masks, being in person for school has made the Winsor School community feel alive and each day, I am grateful that this is not a normal senior year; it is more special.”

While Winsor continues to promote safety and health this new school year, we are incredibly grateful for all of the changes that allow us to stay connected with one another.

Both Winsor and Belmont Hill students are experiencing day-to-day lives at school that still reflect the unusual times we are living in, but that allow us to closely interact with our communities nonetheless. If we continue to prioritize our health and safety, we will make possible a school year filled with fun traditions, exciting events, and a return to normalcy. ☐

B elmont HIll Opinions

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

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Should Belmont Hill Administer Midterm Exams?

By Austin Curtis ’23 Panel Staff As COVID-19 began to creep its way closer into our daily lives and community so long ago, Belmont Hill had to adapt and thus part ways with some of the old traditions. As the workload became more complicated over the new dashboard system, and as zoom calls were the only way to talk with each other, we slowly lost simple parts of life that made it all the more worthwhile.

Classrooms, lunchrooms, outdoor and indoor spaces were all changing during this time, and the scramble to keep the community safe now meant giving up the dreaded midterms.

Midterms have a different meaning to different individuals depending on if you test well on them, but regardless of whether you study for a week or a day, it can be agreed that the cancellation of midterms was a huge sigh of relief for the students.

Already a stressful process, midterms’ difficulty would have been accentuated with the addition of a global pandemic, not to mention the classes which have condensed the curriculum into an untestable amount of material. However, as the age of masks gets

further in our rearview mirrors, the questions of what has withstood the test of the pandemic are being asked.

Should midterms come back? If

the break from those long night study sessions was restful, as with everything else that was cancelled because of the pandemic, Belmont Hill must inevitably

the long break. In order to do well on midterms, students must review the semester’s material. Students return from the break, having already taken midterms, with a solid foundation heading into the second semester. This mastery of the first semester’s material was absent last year because midterms were not administered. Another benefit is the shared struggle that the students are a part of as we study for our tests. We can all come together over the fact that midterms are sometimes pretty tough.

However, in a way, they help us become closer, as we all have to endure the grind together.

While Belmont Hill Belmont Hill Classrooms During the Pandemic BH Communications students would agree that you were to ask the boys around cam- administer these mid-year exams again. last year’s cancellation of midterm expus, you would be shocked that a school As much as we would all love them to ams was a pleasant break from the norwould even give a test so cruel after disappear and never return, it’s import- mal schedule, it is time for midterms to hearing their comments. However, de- ant to keep traditions going even after a come back. With the return of the best spite the hatred for this tradition, it’s setback like the COVID-19 pandemic. of Belmont Hill traditions, like cookies something that can’t be avoided. EvenOne benefit of midterms is the and milk and chapels, the more dreadtually, midterms had to return. While forced review of material heading into ed traditions must return as well. ☐

Does the World Rely Too Much on Social Media?

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff Varying social media platforms have taken the world by storm within the past decade. A recent study from Statista claims that there are over 3.78 billion social media users worldwide. This converts to an incredible 48% of the entire human population.

ly successful, as many people believe that they have become much more engaged with others. Additionally, as digital assets and technology become even more vital to normal life, social media is starting to replace traditional media with news-services. Grassroot organizations find much more success within the digital realm, especially on social media, because it allows them to grow their base of followers much

es its initial purpose in bringing people together by discouraging in-person interactions, while promoting online interactions. Although it has connected people who live thousands of miles away, in turn, it has made face-to-face relationships less meaningful and unim-

Executive Editors

Editors-In-Chief

Copy Editor

Online Editors

Arec Keomurjian ’22 Angelina Li ’22 Natalie Pan ’23 Andrew Bittner ’24 Isabelle Fan ’23

Arts Editors

Anna Halfman ’23 Daniel Rashes ’22 Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s Acquisitions Furthermore, Statista predicts the number of social media users to rise to over 4.41 billion global users by 2025. At the vanguard of this technological revolution is none other than Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and more.

A survey by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that around 90% of teenagers from 13 years old to 17 years old have one or more social media accounts with an average of nine hours spent on social media every day, highlighting the extent to which social media has overrun the lives of the younger generations.

Social media’s history has included both prosperity and controversy.

The initial goal of social media was to reignite relationships between people, thus making them closer. In some regards, this endeavor has been extreme-

BH Communications

more efficiently. Lastly, social media is simply a new form of entertainment, chiefly among the younger generations.

On the other hand, despite the numerous contributions to society, many hold a poor view of social media. They are not without reason, as social media also happens to be a breeding ground for unreliable information and conspiracy theories, perhaps imbuing certain views to an impressionable age group.

In addition, some people have formed an unhealthy attachment to it, causing procrastination or other issues. Some studies have been able to correlate increased social media use to depression and suicide. Finally, there is great loss in privacy for many people when using social media. Although polarizing, social media has played a decidedly negative effect on humanity.

Ironically, social media sabotag-

portant to many. This is clearly evident in the statistics shown above as unimaginable proportions of civilization have taken to this digital platform making reality less intimate. Modern culture has integrated social media too freely, undermining real human connection.☐

Sports Editors

Daniel Bittner ’22 Sophia Lin-David ’22

Graphics Editors

Annie Fisher ’24 Kevin Jiang ’22 Luke Trevisan ’24 Franchesca Vilmenay ’22

Staff Artists Chloe Chao ’23 Ella Pascucci ’23

Luke Hogan ’22 Howard Huang ’22 Jessica Wei ’22

Alex Lo ’23 Lidia Rodriguez ’23 Meredith Tangney ’23

Assistant Editors Daniel Cho ’23 Gigi Chu ’23 Drew Dummer ’22 Noah Farb ’24 Merhawi Ghebrelul ’23 Lauren Hogan ’23 Aidan Lee ’24 Brian Lee ’24 Christina Monroe ’23 Daniel Moran ’23 Luke Trevisan ’24 Kevin Weldon ’24 Davis Woolbert ’25 Daniel Xie ’24

Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Veronica Plata Samantha Simpson Tom Wensink Juliette Zener

Digital Media Editor Cooper Nelson ’23

News Editors

Katya Agrawal ’23 David Cho ’23

Opinion Editors Anika Banerjee ’22 Mac Bobo ’23

Photo Editors Tarini Dasari ’23 Alex Sousa ’22

Back Page Editors Jacob Czarnecki ’22 Ivy Eastland ’23 Abby Groom ’22 Jackson Kendall ’22 Charlie March ’22 Tommy Madden ’22

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill School. The Banner, renamed in 2019, is the official school newspaper of the Winsor School. The Panel and The Banner are the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel and The Banner belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel and The Banner encourage responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright © 2021 The Panel and The Banner. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editors-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

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Winsor Opinions

T he B anner / Panel

The Wednesday Late Start: Perfect or Pointless?

By Gia Bharadwaj ‘24 and Grace DeStefano ’24 Contributing Writers

This school year brought numerous changes to the Winsor community, including a new schedule with a 50 minute late start on Wednesdays. This change has incited more protest than expected; some students argue that the late start disrupts their schedules, and they would rather keep the community time block after first period.

However, the late start on Wednesdays benefits the Winsor community as it enables students to rest during the week and offers a smoother transition from the no-school-Wednesdays last year.

While the faculty does not get the same benefits as the students from the

late start, Ms. Kirwan still recognizes its positive impact on students: “I’m still here at 8:00 myself, but I think it’s awesome for the students… so many students do activities at Winsor and outside of school so that extra hour goes a long way.” Studies show that teenagers should be getting eight to ten hours of sleep every night.

However, getting that much can be very difficult for students who participate in extracurricular activities and live far away from school. Ms. Kirwan said that starting at 9:00 am “allows you to get an extra hour of sleep, or spend an extra hour with your family… it’s nice to know you have a buffer in the morning.” For students with busy schedules, an hour can make all the difference.

Jaya Kolluri ’24 appreciates the late start because she can now relax in the middle

of her week. “I think it gives us time to have a break in the morning, as opposed to waking up as early as we do every day,” she said.

Winsor is often stressful, and an additional hour of sleep can help many busy students remain energized throughout the week Some students believe that the Wednesday mornings complicate their schedules; Aoife Beswick ’24 commented that they often must walk to the bus stop on Wednesdays because their parents have time conflicts. “Having three classes in a row without community time to break it up is a lot,” they added.

Despite potential inconvenience, an extra hour before school still offers benefits to those with more flexible transportation.

Jaya said that the late start has not changed her schedule and has only helped her

so far; she occasionally uses this time to review her homework. Further, it is easier to handle three consecutive classes with an extra hour to prepare for school.

Kolluri’s only critique of the late start is that “it’s not too late, so it doesn’t give us too much of a change.” Meanwhile, Beswick suggested a longer snack to prevent the monotony of three classes in a row. Kolluri also remarked that after having no classes on Wednesdays last year, a full Wednesday this year would have been jarring.

Starting an hour late allows us to adjust from last year to a more traditional version of school. Ultimately, the late start offers benefits for several aspects of student wellness.

Though inconvenient to students like Beswick, it has become integral to maintaining balance in our community. ☐

The Conway Room Winsor

Are Semester or Mid-Semester Comments Better?

By Anika Banerjee ’22 and Sophia Lin-David ’22 Banner Staff

Among the many radical changes Winsor has implemented over the past few years, the switch in fall of 2019 from including report card comments in semester-end report cards to mid-semester report cards has been the most unsettling.

When the change was introduced at assembly, students across grade levels were in shock. The change initiated widespread discussion and debate over which timing of comments was better.

In the past, students have received midterm grades in November and March, and then full report cards with comments at the end of each semester. This system allowed students to view midterm grades as more of a check-in rather than a setin-stone evaluation, which causes less stress over each letter grade. Furthermore, students felt that by the end of the first semester, their teachers knew them well enough to write a report that reflected their academics more accurately.

As Ava Kee ’23 said, “I feel like by the end of the semester I have a very solid relationship with my teachers in and out of the classroom, which allows them to write more meaningful report card comments for me.” However, for semester-long courses, students felt that they were not able to apply any of their feedback, prompting

the switch to mid-semester comments.

Mid-semester comments were implemented as a way to distribute the timing of feedback that students get on their work. While grades are still given out at every quarter, feedback through qualitative comments at mid-semester allows students to better gauge how they are doing in classes beyond the letter grade earlier into the course. This year, however, there is another revision to the report card comment policy.

Class VII Dean and Upper School English teacher, Mr. Griffin, explains that at mid-semester, “every class gives out checklists, semester classes give out grades and comments, and yearlong classes present grades, but wait until the end of the semester to provide the student with comments.” In his comment, Mr. Griffin refers to department-specific learning goals that are evaluated on a four point scale ranging from “never” to “consistently;” the addition of checklists was implemented at the same time as mid-semester comments.

Despite the initial shock of a new comment system, students received the switch to mid-semester comments generally well. Yet, some still have ideas on how the report card comment policy could be refined even more. For example, Lexi Pellegrino ’22 thinks that “it is really important to see how you have grown throughout the semester, so two sets of comments would provide an adequate amount of feedback.”

Comments every quarter would create additional work for teachers and may not be the best solution for students to receive more frequent, qualitative

Report card cartoon drawing.

feedback; however, it will still be interesting to witness how the timing and also the frequency of student report card comments evolves at Winsor. ☐

Chloe Chao ’23

Winsor Opinions

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

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Winsor’s New Math Lab in the Connector

By Sophia Lichterfeld ’24 Contributing Writer

An exciting new addition to the Connector this year at Winsor is the Math Lab. The room is fitted with tables with pencils and markers, a wall with dry-erase wallpaper, and various math activities for students to try. Several fun and intriguing math designs can be found around the room, such as the clock with math equations that, when solved, yield the numeral that would be there on a standard clock.

Ms. Allen, an Upper School math teacher, reported that the department first thought of the idea of a Math Lab three years ago because they saw a need for more opportunities for individual meetings, as well as a space for students to explore or discover math concepts that interest them.

Last year, a version of the Math Lab was available through Zoom. But with ten people in the department office, a separate room was needed to secure a place for one-on-one meetings. Mae Myers ’24 has found great value in having this space. She commented that “the Math Lab was very secluded, and [she] felt [she] could completely focus on [her] work.”

This characteristic is especially important for those looking to make up tests in the Math Lab, such as Chloe

Chao ’23, who said that it did not “have many distractions and was usually quiet.”

Although a student going to the Math Lab may not encounter their own teacher, this aspect of the experience is hardly a problem. Ms. Allen noted that all Lower School blocks are covered by Lower School teachers, while during Upper School blocks, there are Upper School teachers available. She said that “it is great for students to see us all as teachers and problem solvers and we can help in any way.”

Many students have also found it useful to get a different explanation for some class material. Hearing another teachers’ teaching method is sometimes all it takes for a concept to really click and is precisely the possibility the Math Lab offers for any student who decides to go.

In addition, the space can also be used for individual meetings between students and their current math teachers.

Charlotte Astley Sparke ’25 remarked that she appreciates the chance to “ask questions that [she] did not get the chance to ask in class, check over work, and fix missing gaps in [her] knowledge by being one-on-one with [her] teacher.”

However, one downside some students have noted is that their free periods do not always overlap with the Math Lab schedule. Ms. Allen explained

Winsor Math Lab that the Math Department worked with the schedulers to figure out which block would be most advantageous to students by evaluating common free blocks, but it is very complicated to reach everyone.

However, the department is open to new ideas on how to make the space most helpful to the Winsor

Annie Fisher ’24 community. Particularly, they are looking into potentially opening early in the morning or later in the day after school.

The resources provided by the Math Lab are a truly valuable addition to Winsor’s academic support. For students wanting some more time to experiment with math, Ms. Allen advises, “Just stop on by!” ☐

What Do People Want from Winsor Semi?

By Caitlin Wang ’25 and Christina Gabrieli ’25 Contributing Writers The annual semi-formal dance is a fun Winsor tradition that many students look forward to every December, but unfortunately, it did not happen last year due to the pandemic.

As the date for this year’s semi, December 4, rapidly approaches, The Banner asked Upper School students to recall memories from past semi-formals

at Winsor and provide suggestions likes “when everyone dances together,” in a good idea, and Karina Peak ’22 thinks for what they hope to see this year. the Macarena and Cha-Cha-Slide dances. that “it would be awesome if it’s not just [one] grade, but maybe two grades together What has been your favorite part of previous Any recommendations for the upcoming if there is going to be that limitation.”

Especially because it has been a while since semi? semis and why?

Winsor students have had the chance to Among the students that we asked, participate in these kinds of school events, Though only some of the current high school students have gone to a we saw a common theme in their answers. we believe that this opportunity for getting semi, those who have been to one have Jacey Jiang ’25 is hoping for “really good to know each other is important, as it gives mentioned enjoying the dancing. Karina food,” and Meg Madison ’24 wants to students an exciting event to look forward Peak ’22 said that her favorite part of “invite schools other than Winsor.” to in the midst of a busy school year. semi was “hanging out and dancing with Additionally, Liza Kuntz ’23 believes that friends.” Similarly, Liza Kuntz ’23 most “really emphasizing the theme” would be What are implications of COVID on semi?

Graduating class of 2021 arriving to Semi 2019

Although we are aware COVID may restrict possibilities for semi, we still believe that it is possible to make the experience as exciting as possible while following social distancing guidelines to guarantee our safety. The plus-one guest policy is a great way to allow students to bring friends, while still avoiding too many people in one space.

However, we wonder whether there should be a COVID testing requirement for these guests. While the majority of Winsor students are vaccinated, it may be difficult to assess the situation of the plus-one guests. We also support the idea of separating different grades into freshman and sophomores on one night or room and the juniors and seniors in another. This way, students will still be able to socialize with others that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to.

The Banner is so excited to see what the organizers will come up with for this year’s semi, and we hope they will take some of our suggestions consideration! ☐ Winsor into

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Be l mont H ill & Winsor Opinions

T he B anner / Panel

The Debate of the Issue: Weighted GPAs

By Ashley Xu ’23, Lidia Rodriguez ’23, Luke Trevisan ’24, Lev Tolkoff ’24 Banner and Panel Staff PRO WEIGHTED GPA GPA, or grade point average, is the 0 to 4 scale that colleges use to assess the grades of students that are applying. It takes the grade that a student receives for each class and places them on a scale where A = 4, B = 3 and so on. Then, all the scores are averaged. That version is unweighted, whereas a weighted GPA takes into account what types of classes the students may be taking. In certain school settings for example, an AP course grade would add an extra 1.0 point and an honors class adds an extra 0.5, thus, students taking high level courses may reach upwards of a 5.0 GPA. However, some people argue that unweighted GPAs are better, despite the benefits of a weighted GPA. Weighted GPAs are better for students because they give them the credit they deserve for taking advanced classes. As mentioned above, weighted GPAs provide students with an extra 0.5 - 1.0 point depending on what type of advanced class they take. Say a student is looking to take two APs, two honors and one regular class. If they receive a B and four A’s respectively, they would have the same 4.0 GPA as a student who took all regular classes and achieved all A’s. The first student would have a GPA of 3.8 and the second a GPA of 4.0 in the unweighted scale. The main flaw of the unweighted scale is that it does not portray the extra effort that a more advanced student put in, in comparison to their peer. On the other hand, a weighted GPA properly depicts that image. While using the weighted scale, regarding the same situation, the first student would have a 4.4 GPA and the second would have the same 4.0 as before.

In this case, it does show the extra effort the first student put in and therefore is a better representation of the students themselves.

With the weighted GPA, it encourages students, who would otherwise take easy courses and get all A’s, to challenge themselves and take advantage of the advanced courses the school offers, thus providing them with a better education. For example, in sophomore year, students can start taking AP classes. Within a regular GPA system, the majority of students would take regular biology or history even if they could handle an AP class, but feel they do not want to take the risk of a harder class. However, with a weighted GPA, these students have the incentive to take an AP

class and get more out of it while pushing themselves to receive a better grade.

Some may argue that a weighted GPA might create an ultra competitive environment for students. If a student does not take the hardest classes the school offers, they may see themselves as behind other students who do. Even if that student gets similar or better grades than another student, they may have a lower GPA than them. However, this argument does not have much traction, because students who take advanced courses and are able to thrive should be rewarded.

It results in the students becoming more motivated to do a better job.

They may also say that a weighted GPA would diminish students who

Winsor versus Belmont Hill take less advanced classes. However, the weighted GPA takes this factor into account and students who take all regular classes will still be judged on a 1-4 scale as normal, while allowing students who take all AP and advanced classes to achieve a GPA higher than 4. It is the perfect balance that allows students to take risks in the nature of their classes, while also not hurting those who choose not to.

In conclusion, weighted GPAs are better because they more accurately display the effort given by students in comparison to their peers and also because it pushes students to do their best when they otherwise might take the easy road.

Also, despite the fact that they may fuel competition or diminish other students, it actually helps to drive motivation as well as boost the more studious students. All in all, weighted GPAs are more effective because they properly represent what the student has put into their grades. ☐

CON WEIGHTED GPA

Do you ever stress about applying to colleges or wonder whether you’re taking enough advanced-level classes? For many who are familiar with the college application process, grades are one of the major stressors. It’s no secret that many at Winsor want to attain the coveted 4.0 grade point average, but what if students had the option to go even higher than that?

At Winsor, students do not receive weighted GPAs, meaning that the highest GPA one can attain is 4.0 and receiving a specific grade in an Honors or Advanced Placement class contributes the same to one’s GPA as a standard class would.

And for a good reason. Although one

Luke Trevisan ’24 might think that a weighted GPA will reflect their academic rigor better in the context of college admissions, a closer look at its effects will show that this is not the case. In fact, weighted GPAs can actually have a detrimental effect on students. Thus, Winsor’s unweighted GPA policy avoids placing an unnecessary pressure on students that ultimately has no contribution to the college application process or students’ learning experience.

It might be assumed that a student with a weighted GPA has an advantage when they are applying to college because it will award them with an extra point for any Honors or AP courses they take. However, this advantage is merely illusory-- it does not actually matter whether one’s GPA is weighted or unweighted. GPA is simply a way to give a numerical value to the grades a student receives, and different schools have vastly different weighted GPA systems. Belmont Hill, for example, has

both an internal GPA measurement out of 12 points and an external measurement out of 4.5, while Nobles grades out of 11 points.

Therefore, colleges will actually manipulate a student GPA to collect the information they need in order to accurately compare applicants from different schools.

Some high-achieving students, such as those at Winsor, may view an unweighted GPA as a misrepresentation of their rigorous course schedule. However, colleges can see the rigor of the classes each student takes and the subjects in which they excel. Therefore, in the eyes of a college admissions officer, it does not matter if a GPA is weighted or not! So, if one way of measuring a GPA isn’t better than the other, why worry about filling your schedule with rigorous courses? Is it really necessary to reach for that one extra point on the GPA scale, which in the end, will not have much of an impact on one’s college application?

Moreover, weighted GPAs can increase the high amounts of pressure that students already feel to excel academically.

As weighted GPAs consider the number of AP or Honors classes taken, they may pressure students to take more challenging courses than they can handle. In the already stressful and competitive environment of schools like Winsor, this difference may very well lead to mental health issues or burnout, as students overwork themselves just for the sake of a slightly higher grade point average. Furthermore, with the college application process already feeling so cutthroat, a weighted GPA system could also foster unhealthy competition between students, as it would provide another place for comparison. This is the last thing that students need in their junior or senior years.

Together, these negative effects corrode the purpose of Honors or AP courses in the first place, which is to provide an opportunity for students to further their learning in particular subjects that they are more interested in. Motivation for taking these courses should stem from a genuine excitement to learn and shouldn’t be reduced to a single number. Thus, we believe Winsor’s decision of an unweighted GPA system is the right decision. It avoids placing excess pressure on students while fostering a healthy environment in which students can choose to take that extra step towards a more challenging course if they choose. ☐

Winsor And Belmont Hill Joint Clubs

By Ryan Fantasia ’24, Jaya Kolluri ’24, and Timothée Simonin ’22 Banner and Panel Staff

Winsor and Belmont Hill have considered each other brother/sister schools in many areas such as the joint prom, plays, and clubs. However, do our schools really get along well? Although the plays and prom have had great success in the past, something about joint clubs just doesn’t seem to click.

Here, we will take a look at one particular club that has held joint meetings across schools, Spanish, and the successes and drawbacks it has had in doing so.

Throughout the years, the Spanish clubs at Belmont Hill and Winsor have emerged as one of the only clubs to

consistently hold interscholastic events prior to COVID-19. Two years ago, the clubs joined to watch “Veronica”, a Spanish horror movie, just before COVID-19 hit. “We had a good turnout then,” says Belmont Hill Spanish teacher Mr. Steffey.

“I remember we had about a dozen from our school and a comparable number from Winsor, as well.” A few years before that, the clubs even joined to have a salsa dancing lesson, which attracted twice the crowd that the movie did, according to Mr. Steffey. COVID-19, in large part, halted the aspirations of continuing Spanish club meetings between the two schools last year, but this year, Belmont Hill Spanish club head Owen Gerah ’22 remains hopeful that the clubs will have interactions to some degree. “I’d love to have a joint club or two this year.

They’ve worked in the past, and people have really had fun,” he remarked. “But anything more would be hard to plan out.”

When asked her opinion on joining the Spanish clubs from both schools, Natalie Cooper ’24 said “I think that having a few shared club meetings would be really fun! However, I do enjoy the aspect of only Winsor students in our group so that we can create a closer bond of embracing Latin culture.” Cooper, along with many other students, notes the lack of bonding between our schools. Both Cooper and Gerah recognize the importance of creating a closely-knit group and would prioritize keeping such a group over expanding it.

The most successful interactions between the two clubs would be through infrequent meetings as they have done in the past.

Ultimately, it is hard to hold

weekly, even monthly joint club meetings.

The clubs that still manage to interact with each other have discovered the recipe for success, which is, ironically, reducing interactions between the clubs.

Finding the time of day to plan out and hold joint meetings simply is not worth it for many Belmont Hill and Winsor students. As Vanessa Paige ’24 remarked, “while it could be nice to collaborate with Belmont Hill for clubs, ultimately, it would be too much work, and I would prefer to focus on building a tighter bond with my peers at Winsor.” Among schoolwork, athletics, and other extracurriculars, Paige and many others already have enough on their plate and would prefer to have club meetings with students from their own school in the tight community they have created within each club. ☐

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Be l mont H ill & Winsor Opinions

Pa g e 1 5

Should Colleges Consider Legacies for Admissions?

By Caroline Friendly ’23 and Aaron Stanger ’24 Banner and Panel Staff For many seniors across the country, the college admissions process is well underway. The stress, turmoil, and excitement associated with this process are universal, but the circumstances under which individual students are admitted are very distinct. For most students, their admission is based on a combination of essays, grades, extracurriculars, and maybe test scores, but for others, admission can be granted based on one factor above all: legacy.

Within Ivy League schools, students whose parents, grandparents, or other relatives attended the same school make up between 10-16 percent of the student body. This discrepancy is most visible in the admissions process where Harvard, for example, has an acceptance rate of 33.6% for legacy students, as opposed to 5.9% for non-legacies. Is this practice really fair to similarly talented students who lack an alumni parent? We think not.

Legacy admissions offer a boost to colleges in academics and their finances. Colleges have defended their legacy admission program with the fact that children of alumni tend to be more well-prepared applicants in comparison to non-legacies. A Harvard

spokeswoman claims that an applicant’s leg- fects the legacy students themselves, but acy status “is one factor among many in the also all prospective students. With everyadmissions process.” But with statistics that one competing for a fixed number of spots, put a legacy at a decisive 25% advantage over some students are often rejected solely beother applicants, this one factor clearly adds cause they are up against prospective legacy a strong inequity to the admissions process. students. This practice also has a major effect on the diverSo why is sity of many top legacy not a pracinstitutions. In a tice of the past? survey conductMany schools also ed by The Daiclaim that legaly Princetonian, cy students are Princeton Univernecessary to keep sity’s newspaper, alumni dona15.8% of students tions and open up who respondspace for financial ed were legacies, aid and scholarand among those, ships to students 36.84 % disclosed who cannot afford an annual housea high-priced edhold income ucation. Howev$500K. er, a 2010 study Monopoly Hasbro above from the U.S News and World Report found This diversity does not only apply to sothat “there is no well-accepted systematic cioeconomic class, however. Legacy stuempirical analysis that establishes a caus- dents are often overwhelmingly white, al relationship between legacy preferenc- and this process of preferential treates and alumni giving behavior.” The study ment actively contributes to the racial also found that the high amount of alumni prejudices seen at many top universities.

But some legacy programs are declindonations from top universities is instead determined by the annual average income ing. On October 20 of this year, Amherst of a graduate of the prospective college. College announced an end to the admisThe concept of legacies not only af- sions preference that they have previously

given legacies. Additionally, graduates of top colleges are leading a new boycott, urging its fellow alums to “Leave Your Legacy” and no longer donate to their alma maters unless their legacy programs are disbanded.

Ultimately, the end of legacy in college admissions is a moral argument. Colleges must look past the few benefits and realize that it is time to give other applicants a fair shot at elite institutions. Natasha Warikoo, a professor of sociology at Tufts University, has studied views on college admissions, specifically pertaining to legacies. She stated, “I think there’s a growing movement among the wealthy in this country to recognize the undue privileges that they have.” If alumni themselves continue to push for racial and economic equality in society and their alma mater’s admission process, they will be able to change the trajectory of legacy applicants in institutions.

Currently, legacy applicants leave others at a disadvantage by leaving fewers spots for less economically privelaged and non-white students. By removing this part of the application, colleges would be able to build a more diverse student body while offering everyone an equal opportunity.

As movements such as “Leave Your Legacy” emerge, the legacy advantage in college admissions should become a practice of the past within the coming decades. ☐

but it’s not nearly as bad as I expected. I thought I would be a lot more stressed out than I am right now, and I think that’s because my class is genuinely willing to help each other out when it comes to the college process.” It is important to note that although Liu and Keomurjian had contrasting experiences with college stress, both seniors emphasized how the support of their peers was indispensable in getting them through the most emotionally demanding parts of applying to college.

Lastly, we asked the seniors if they had any advice to give to future seniors

they aren’t colleges that students at Winsor and Belmont Hill frequently apply to.

While this fall has been especially challenging for our seniors, we congratulate them for concluding this portion of the college process and applaud their perseverance throughout these past few months. Both Winsor and Belmont Hill have undoubtedly prepared our seniors well for their futures, and we wish them the best of luck as they transition into the next chapter of their lives. ☐

Continued: Class of ’22 Take on College Process

By Isabelle Fan ’23 and Brian Lee ’24 Banner and Panel Staff However, Liu had a different experience, as she admits,“I haven’t really been working on college apps too much, which is partially why I’m kind of doing everything last minute.

I’ve mostly been prioritizing school work and extracurriculars, and just finding time to work on college apps when I happen to be free.” Both seniors emphasize the importance of using free time wisely, as academics and extracurriculars pose a significant time commitment on top of college applications.

The seniors we interviewed agree that both Winsor and Belmont Hill have been extremely helpful in guiding them through the college application process. Keomurjian says that “the college counseling office has been very informative and helpful throughout the entire process.

They make sure all the documents are being sent on time and to the right places, and [they] are always available to answer any questions.” Erica Sahin ’22 shares a similar sentiment, describing how “all of my Winsor teachers have been incredibly supportive and understanding about the stress and timing of college applications.

On weeks when I was completely out of time and energy to focus on school work, I was able to move tests back a few days until I had time to properly study for them.” While both schools seem to provide adequate support for the seniors, the overall process is not perfect and there is still room for improvement. While Winsor and Belmont Hill share many similarities in the college process, the two schools diverge when it comes to the stress culture surrounding the topic of college. At Winsor, Liu admits that “there is definitely stress culture surrounding college, and I have contributed to it as well… I’ve heard that sophomores and juniors are thinking about the process really early on and are getting stressed about it, which is kind of worrying.” Meanwhile, Keomurjian reflects, “I do think there is a stress culture when it comes to college,

or any parts of the college process that they would have approached differently.

All four seniors stress the importance of starting college applications as early as possible, especially with supplemental essays. Although easier said than done, they also warn against the consequences of procrastination. Sahin recommends communicating with teachers to manage stress and deadlines, reminding students not to “worry about what everyone else is doing.” Huang also underscores the benefit of spending enough time to look for colleges that are the right fit, even if

Winsor Seniors studying in the Senior Homeroom

Franchesca Vilmenay ’22

Pa g e 1 6

HOCR

Be lmont H ill & Winsor Sp orts

Event

By Katya Agrawal ’23, Ella Pascucci ’23, and Daniel Xie ’24 Banner and Panel Staff

The 2021 Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) on the Charles River was a huge success for both Winsor and Belmont Hill crew teams! Athletes ranging from teenagers to seniors rowed in HOCR, a regatta that took place during the weekend of October 23. On Sunday, the Winsor and Belmont Hill crew teams rowed in the youth women’s and youth men’s events alongside numerous high school and club teams.

For Winsor, the day began with the Women’s Youth Four event. Rowers Imogen Cabot ’22, Evie Wells ’22, Coco FitzMaurice ’23, Oli Hochberg ’23, and coxswain Isabella Liu ’22 placed an impressive 8th out of 84 boats.

Next up was the Women’s Youth Coxed Quad event with rowers Austin Forrester ’23, Emeline Daley ’24, Amory Gordon ’23, Anissa Patel ’23, and coxswain Lauren Hogan ’23. The quad placed 29th out of 52 boats overall and 5th out of nine boats in the U17 category. Ava Kee ‘23 also participated in the coxed quad event as a member of the Narragansett Rowing Club’s boat which placed 14th overall and 1st in the U17 category.

Various Winsor alumni and faculty rowed in HOCR as well. Gevvie Stone ’03 rowed in the Women’s Master (30+) event and placed 1st out of 28 rowers. Another Winsor alum and current Winsor crew coach, Abigail Parker ’13, rowed in the Women’s Championship Singles. Parker placed

Belmont Hill Varsity 4+

T he B anner / Panel

Recap Winter Sports Preview

7th out of 18 rowers. Ms. Sarah Pelmas, Winsor’s own Head of School, also rowed in HOCR and placed 7th out of 11 boats in the Woman’s Master Eight (40+) category.

Belmont Hill also had a successful HOCR. The Men’s Youth Fours event came first with rowers Stephen Warming ’22, Howard Huang ’22, Andrew Bittner ’24, Charles Geddes ’22, and coxswain Brian Lee ’24. They placed 14th out of 84 boats, with a final time of just over 17 minutes and 47 seconds for the three-mile race. This time was less than 0.1 seconds behind Sarasota’s boat in the same event, to which Belmont Hill ranked 10 boats behind in the previous Head.

Next was the Men’s Youth Coxed Quads event with rowers Paris Liston ’22, Bennett Carroll ’23, Gabe Klug ’22, Ezra Lee ’25, and coxswain Max Glick ’24. They placed 25th out of 48 boats, with a final time of 18:14.818.

The final event that Belmont Hill took part in was the Men’s Youth Eights with rowers Alex Schmidek ’24, Luca Mezzanotte ’23, Michael Powers ’24, Will Yakoobian ’24, Duncan Kilbride ’24, Mac Bobo ’23, Nathan Pappas ’24, Luke Guleserian ’24, and coxswain Aaron Stanger ’24. The boat placed 77th out of 80.

Additionally, multiple Belmont Hill coaches rowed in the regatta. Coach Chris Richards rowed for Cambridge Boat Club in the Men’s Grand Master Fours, placing 1st out of 16 boats. Coach Stephen George rowed for Brown Alumni in the Men’s Senior Master Fours and placed 7th out of 27 boats. Lastly, Coach Graeme Calloway rowed for Riverside in the Men’s Club Singles and placed 9th out of 43 boats.

Overall, it seems that rowers from both Belmont Hill and Winsor had a fulfilling experience at HOCR to conclude the fall of 2021. According to Austin Forrester ’23 of Winsor, “2021 Head of the Charles was a huge success, and I am really looking forward to the upcoming spring and Carlos Ridruejo also the fall seasons!” ☐

By Clara Eikeboom ’23 and Luke Gulerserian ’24 Banner and Panel Staff

ing

it to Nationals in Philadelphia.

Likewise, the 2022 winter season looks to be an exciting one for Belmont Hill athletics. With most COVID-19 restrictions lifted, it seems that a return to normal is on the horizon. The Wrestling Team spent most practices in the weight room because traditional wrestling was not allowed due to social distancing. This year, the team hopes to win the Graves-Kelsey tournament, the ISL wrestling tournament, and send some athletes to the National Preps Tournament.

Although the basketball team had a much more standard season than wrestling, they would like to see a return to the top of the ISL. Likewise, the hockey team also looks to have a resurgent season after a difficult season and return to the glory of the highly successful program. The renowned Varsity Squash team, with an ISL title in the 2019-2020 season, will try to defend that title and perhaps even win the NEPSAC championship, a feat that the program has achieved many times in the past.

Both of Belmont Hill’s ski teams have ambitious goals this season. Captain of the Alpine skiing team Anton Schmitt ’22 aims “to defend our ISL title and take a shot at winning NEPSACs.” The Nordic skiing team also wishes to defend their Lakes Region Championship Title.

As both schools transition back into pre-COVID sports rules, all of the senior varsity captains are eager to participate in one last close-to-normal season! ☐

As fall sports wrap up, the Winsor and Belmont Hill captains of the 2021-2022 winter varsity sports are preparing for exciting seasons. Last year, because of the pandemic, these sports mostly had practices and very few, if any, games. However, many are using their pandemic experiences as motivation to play extra hard and enjoy precious in-person time with their teammates.

All of the Winsor varsity captains are looking forward to a more competitive season with actual games against other schools. Varsity Swimming Captain Delaney Holland ’22 explains that their hybrid season consisted of Zoom fitness, in-person fitness, and early morning practices.

This year, the team’s goals include “re-establishing the team culture and getting everyone on the same page,” especially with their new coach Rophe Mason.

Similarly, Varsity Ice Hockey Captain Julia Ryan ’22 states that last year, the team had “some practices on the turf, some in the basement, and some Zoom workouts.”

This season’s goals include qualifying for the EIL tournament and “foster[ing] a fun environment where all players…feel welcomed and excited to be a part of the team.”

The Varsity Basketball Captains, Aleksaundra Handrinos ’22, MaryKate Hart ’22, and Kelly Meagher ’22, explain that their season transitioned into masked “full team drills and contact scrimmages.” This season, the captains would like to “bond and gel as a team so that [they] can get back into the swing of regular games.” Likewise, Varsity Squash Captain Anika Banerjee ’22 states that last season the team transitioned into “court time fully masked and only one or two people on court.” Squash’s goals for this season include mak- Winsor Varsity Swimming

Kristie Rae Gillooly

BH and Winsor XC Teams Head into Championships

By Ryan Fantasia ’24 and Arec Keomurjian ’22 Banner and Panel Staff

The Winsor and Belmont Hill cross country teams finished off their seasons strong, with members of both teams setting several personal records (PRs) throughout the fall, achieving both individual and team success.

Led by captains Claire Ackerman ’22, Raina Sohur ’23, and Zoe Lewis ’22, Winsor Cross Country had an outstanding season, going undefeated in the EIL, and proving to be a formidable opponent in larger invitational meets. Winsor record-setter and standout Meg Madison ’24 has won every league meet and nearly every invitational that she has run in, typically by large margins; the rest of the varsity pack has worked in tandem to secure victories. Winsor Cross Country concluded their EIL season on October 20 in the annual all-girls dual meet against Newton Country Day School and Dana Hall, hosted by Winsor at Franklin Park. As usual, the race was led by Madison, who secured a Winsor record at the home course in an outstanding time of 18:46. The rest of Winsor’s varsity runners worked to displace NCDS and Dana Hall runners, earning victories against both teams and a seventh consecutive undefeated EIL season. Impressive performances by Brenna Thomas ’26 and Lewis solidified Winsor’s

victory as they passed key scorers from personal records and competitive races. Noother teams in the final stretch of the race. tably, Madison led the varsity race for WinAdditionally, the incredible kick of rookie sor, finishing in second place with a time of Iris Shen ’26 allowed her to earn a PR in 18:52 and Caitlin Wang ’25 earned a PR of every race by almost a minute each time. 23:31, finishing first for Winsor and 22nd On Friday, November 5, Winsor Cross overall in the JV race. Ackerman, Madison, Country co-hosted the EIL championship Pogorelec, Ryan Fantasia ’24, Sohur, Thomrace with Dana Hall at Franklin Park. Madi- as, and Toscani competed for varsity, while son paced the Caroline Shin race, securing ’26, Nora Fura first-place long ’25, Jacfinish with a ey Jiang ’26, time of 18:52.

Lewis, Nicole Winsor beat Hwang ’23, the compeShen, and tition handWang ran in ily, beating the JV race. r u n n e r - u p, B e l NCDS, by 19 mont Hill points.

All Cross Counfive of Wintry, led by capsor’s scortains James ers, Madi- James Donahue ’22 running at Groton BH Communications Donahue ’22 son, Serena Toscani ’25, Sohur, Suzanne and Thomas Romney ’22, also had a strong Pogorelec ’24, and Thomas finished with- season. James earned course records at nearin the top 15 of the race and were named ly every race, winning nearly every meet of ‘all-league.’ Winsor’s impressive per- the season and helping secure victories for formance earned a 6th consecutive the entire team. The team closed out the ISL and 17th total EIL championship title. season with a record of 12-4, having suffered While the team had less success at losses against the strong Milton, Groton, the Division I New England Championship Roxbury Latin, and Middlesex rosters. The race at Phillips Andover, finishing in sev- Milton-Groton-RL-BH meet was especially enth place, strong performances by both devastating, as the team lost two of their top the varsity and JV teams allowed for both five runners to injury, including the number

two runner Miles Sandoski ’24. However, the meet still resulted in some success for the team. Donahue shattered the 16:11 course record, running a spectacular 15:46 to win the race by 24 seconds. Additionally, Will Trautz ’27, Nate Voss ’24, Aaron Stanger ’24, Arec Keomurjian ’22, Davis Woolbert ’25, and Angus Harrison ’24 all earned PRs. During the ISL Championships held on November 5, the team ranked 3rd overall, avenging their losses to both Milton and Groton. James won the race by an extensive margin with a PR time of 15:09.76; he was only a few seconds away from setting another course record. Nearly everyone on the team set PRs, with several runners shaving 4050 seconds from their previous best times.

The New England Championships were less successful, with the team placing ninth after the loss of two top runners, Miles and Will, to injury. James proved yet again to be a formidable force in the world of cross country, placing second with a time of 15:36; the race served as his only loss of the season. He and Miles will continue training in hopes of qualifying for the Foot Locker National Champion, and The Panel wishes them the best of luck.

After a difficult season without any in-person meets due to COVID-19 last year, it is very exciting to see both the Winsor and Belmont Hill teams not only being able to race again, but also competing at a high level and succeeding in their respective leagues. ☐

Winsor Sp orts

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Pa g e 1 7

Athlete of the Issue: Aleksaundra Handrinos ’22

group and helps each other

By Camille Eckert ’24 and Mae My- through losses or bad days, ers ’24 reminding each other to Contributing Writers analyze mistakes and then When watching the Varsity Volleyball move forward. Coach Reynteam play, the bond between each athlete is olds describes Handrinos as clear. After every point, the group congre- “such a good player because gates in the center of their side of the court, she measures her success to strategize and encourage each other as by the success of her team.”

Also, for the first their teammates shout from the side lines. time, Handrinos she is now Captain Aleksaundra (Zas) Handrinos ’22 accompanied by her sishas a lot to do with the team’s supportive culter, Katina Handrinos ’25. ture and athletic success. As the outside hitEven though they are three ter on the varsity team since freshman year, Handrinos has led this year’s team to seven years apart in age, Zas says wins with boundless optimism, energy, and volleyball has definitely imgrace. We’re thrilled to congratulate her proved their relationship.

During volleyball seaon being the Banner’s Athlete of the Issue. son, the Handrinos sisters Handrinos describes the team enspend time together drivvironment as very positive and fun with ing home from practice, “everyone wanting the best for you.” Over see each other improve at the years the team has become a close knit a sport they love, and are pepper (passing) partners.

We interviewed Handrinos about volleyball, leadership, and her athletic career.

Aleksaundra playing volleyball

As captain, what is a goal for this season?

To work well with the other captains to ensure that the environment is maintained and continued and fostered.

Aleksaundra playing

Unique

How has being a student-athlete impacted your time at Winsor?

Senior Year is incredibly busy, but for me Volleyball is a stress reliever. It’s helpful to decompress after a What has been challenging this year with vol- day of work and college applications. leyball, and what’s something you’re proud of?

In the very beginning of the season, there Best piece of advice received from a coach? was the worry of playing normal vol- Hustle means run, from my middle school leyball together for the first time in two basketball coach. It seems obvious… but it’s years. Luckily, the worry got dispelled really about putting one hundred percent quickly. Then, we ran into a tough peri- into everything you do when playing… evod with two losses in a row, but we came erything else gets left behind at the door. back stronger to win the next. I’m proud of how the team came together, didn’t What’s your favorite pre-game snack?

A chocolate banana protein smoothKristie Rae Gillooly back down, and was still able to have fun.

Winter

By Emily Lutzker ’25 Contributing Writer Like many students at Winsor, I have always been mystified by the curling team. Not many people seemed to know anything about it, but I wanted to try curling. So, I was shocked when I learned that the club is no longer offered at Winsor. This discovery led me to wonder about Winsor’s most mysterious sports, including some of the athletics-related clubs that the Upper School has to offer.

In the past, Winsor has offered curling as a winter sport. According to the Director of Athletics, Sherren Granese, the curling club met at the Country Club in Brookline, as Winsor does not have curling facilities. Sadly, the Country Club is not holding its high school curling programs this year due to COVID-19. Fortunately, there is still hope for any prospective curling players; it is possible that there will be a day for curling rookies to try the sport, but it is unconfirmed.

In the meantime, there are a couple of brand new athletic clubs offered in the Upper School for students who wish to participate in a unique sport. One of these clubs is the Lifting Club, which is run by Ava Hawkins ’22. She describes the club as a community-oriented space for Winsor students to

Winsor Curling 2020

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Kristie Rae Gillooly

ie is my favorite for sure. It fills me up and it has great nutritional value. After I drink it, I feel very locked in to perform to the best of my abilities on the court.

With only a few more weeks in the fall season, WVVB is doing their best to make the EIL championship. Their improvement throughout their games has been a joy to witness, and the seniors have worked hard to make this season amazing. After a strange year, getting back to competition can be stressful, as well as dealing with the pressure of senior year, but Handrinos shined in her dedication and leadership. We are excited to see her on the basketball court this season!

The responses in this interview have been edited for brevity and clarity. ☐

Sports WVVB: Bump! Set! Spike!

introduce themselves to lifting and learn to use exercise to strengthen their bodies and minds. When I asked why she started the club, Ava explained, “I noticed how most of the time when people were coming into the fitness room, they were using the cardio machines, or you would find one person near the weights, and… it was just such a waste of resources.” As a result, she wanted to start a club to teach people how to lift in a supportive, comfortable environment. Grace Abbott ’22 reflected on the effect of working out with other club members, saying that it “definitely makes me push harder through the pain.”

Another athletic club at Winsor is the Yoga Club. The club heads, Nadia Piecyk ’22 and Zoe Wang ’22, started the club to “provide a break in the day for students to come in and destress.” A typical club meeting begins with a check-in on how members are doing, followed by a short meditation or yoga practice. The club focuses on mindfulness and practices yoga for the experience rather than performance. It also values the diversity of members and skill levels. Nadia and Zoe think that “yoga and mindfulness should not be exclusive practices.”

Aligning with this school year’s theme, the heads hope that the club can be “a component of improving student wellness.”

While we may not be watching any curling games this winter, it would be wrong to say that Winsor does not have any unique recreational offerings. Both the lifting and yoga clubs aim to be safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces for Upper Schoolers to expand their athletic repertoires. Additionally, both clubs are excited to grow and change with the Winsor community. The club heads encourage you to try them out– who knows, you may find the winter sport for you! ☐

By Katina Handrinos ’25 Contributing Writer

Volleyball hasn’t always been a part of the Winsor community. In 2016, Winsor students pushed to create a competitive volleyball team, and the program soon grew, with many students and coaches joining in subsequent years. Through interviews with both the coaches and captains of the 2021 Varsity Volleyball team, here is some insight into this sport and program!

How has the volleyball program changed/ grown over the years?

Head Coach Lisa Reynolds: First, we went from a club team to varsity, to varsity and JV, to varsity, JV and club mid, and then varsity, JV, and a mid team. The success of our founding playershas kind of set a standard where younger players want to be a part of it.

What would you want people to know about volleyball as a sport and the team in general?

Assistant Coach Rachel Webb: I think volleyball is just one of those sports where either you love it or you hate it. And once you get hooked, it’s in your soul. People

play it for 35 years and never stop working.

What is your favorite memory on the team?

Aleksaundra (Zas) Handrinos ’22: So many, but the moment of winning the EIL championship at Dana and the feeling once we won, the excitement, and the happiness that everyone was feeling, and hanging out afterwards as a team.

What would you want people to know about volleyball as a sport and the team in general?

Kayla Springer ’22: Fifty percent of the sport is literally just being a teammate, building up the team mentality, and even if you lose, you’re still with your teammates.

Leila Glotzer-Martin ’22: The nature of the sport fosters an environment of trust and love, in my experience. For the past three years, the team has been my family.

There are a lot of seniors on the team this year. How do you think that may impact the team in subsequent years?

Springer: I think there will have to be a rebuilding process, but there are so many people playing, the process will be much easier and it will be fun for more people.

Winsor volleyball has already grown so much since its recent beginning. The Banner cannot wait to see how the teams continue to develop in the years to come.

WVVB

The responses in this interview have been edited for brevKristie Rae Gillooly ity and clarity. ☐

B elmont Hill Sp orts

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T he B anner / Panel

Belmont Hill Athlete of the Issue: Mike Ahonen ’22

By Luke Trevsan ’24 Panel Staff

If you have been to any of the varsity football games this year, you’ve probably noticed a stand out player on the field for Belmont Hill. Mike Ahonen ’22 can do it all. As an offensive wide receiver, a defensive safety and a special teams kick returner, he is constantly making big plays for the team. As captain, he has also been able to show off his leadership skills by inspiring the rest of the team to always keep working. Nevertheless, he has still been able to score numerous touchdowns, intercept quite a few passes (with three in one game!), and was fearless enough to finish a tackle after his helmet had been ripped off.

Ahonen’s football career started when he was just eight years old. After joining the Belmont Hill team in 9th grade, he was welcomed into the caring but intense community that is football at our school. Ahonen joined varsity sophomore year and noted that it was “quite the reality check. The tempo and speed of varsity football was nothing like I had ever experienced.” The win over BB&N that year also helped to strengthen

Red

Sox

his passion for the sport. Since then, he has drastically improved his skills, from an already exceptional varsity athlete, and has become the stellar football player we see on the field today.

Now, he is a captain and has proven time and time again that Michael Ahonen ’22 making a tackle.

Drew Dummer ’22 he deserves the awesome position. After breaking his back, he needed three None of this came easy, however. In months in a brace as well as three months in sophomore year, Ahonen suffered a season physical therapy. Yet, this only strengthened ending injury that was a real blow to him. his determination and he was able to discov-

er how much he loved and appreciated the sport. Ahonen also saw last year’s restrictions as a hindrance to his football career.

The pandemic was tough on him because he saw the potential that the team had last year and regrets the lack of a complete season.

Ahonen isn’t just an athlete though.

Off the field he is able to showcase his leadership skills by being a head of the Peer Leaders. He takes lots of pride in leading the group and so he wants to do a good job. Along with helping younger students, he sees the group as an opportunity to get to know others and meet new people that he otherwise wouldn’t interact with.

Still, he is focused on the last game of the season, next Saturday, November 13 against Governor’s Academy. He said that he hopes to “end the season on a high note” and that the football team “shouldn’t let what’s happened so far determine what we do next”. After this season ends, Ahonen will take the winter off from any serious sports but will take back the reins of leadership and be captain of the track and field team in the spring. The Panel wishes Ahonen success in his future leadership roles and are confident that he will continue to be a star athlete. ☐

the Sox to have the starting pitching advantage in most games, even if none of the starters were a star. The bullpen performed a little better than expected which allowed them to hold most leads at the end of games, which because of the elite offensive production from the middle of the lineup allowed the Red Sox to win 92 games and secure the home wild card spot. They played an extremely intense wild card game against the Yankees in which Eovaldi outdueled likely AL Cy Young runner-up Gerrit Cole.

In the ALDS the Red Sox came out swinging the bats on fire with 14 runs in game two. Kike Hernandez was on fire on the series going nine for twenty and hitting two very important homeruns in crucial situations. In games four and five the Red Sox walked it off in dramatic fashion to send themselves to the ALCS where they met their eventual demise in six games against the Houston Astros. Even with the eventual sad defeat, the Red Sox outperformed expectations and the season was fun while it lasted.

The offseason will bring some unexpected twists but the Red Sox’s future is looking good and they will head into 2022 with the expectation of making the playoffs. ☐

With the conclusion of the World Series, the 2021 MLB season has come and gone. With so many great memories from the season, the World Series ending was nothing short of matching that. To recap who won each round in the American League, the Red Sox defeated the Yankees in the ALWC. The Red Sox moved on to play the Rays in the ALDS and won the series 3-1.

To see who would play the Red Sox, the Astros took on the White Sox. The Astros handled the series, to win 3-1. In the ALCS, both teams fought hard till the end, but evidently, the Astros defeated the Sox in 6 games.

In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cardinals on a walk-off home run to win the NLWC. The Dodgers moved on to play the Giants in the NLDS. This was a matchup of two heavyweight teams, who were atop the league all season.

The Dodgers pulled away, winning the series 3-2. The Dodgers were aligned to play the winner of the Braves/Brewers series, in which the Braves handled business, win-

ning in four games. The Dodgers were set up to play the Braves in the NLCS. Though the Dodgers were heavy favorites to win the series, the Braves won in six games, giving them their first World Series since 1999.

The season’s final games were between the Astros and the Braves. After the first two games in Houston, the series was tied 1-1 heading to Atlanta for three games. The Braves won two games, making the series 3-1. Hope was still alive for Astro fans, as Georgia sports teams have a reputation for blowing leads as of late.

The Braves ended that, by winning the World Series, their first time since 1995.

The 2021 MLB season has finally come to an end, with 29/30 MLB team fans sad. The regular season starts March 29, 2022. Lots will happen between then and now, but all baseball fans are excited for the season to reset all over again! ☐

club were elated when news came that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (P.I.F) had purchased the club. Not only did the negative presence of Mike Ashley disappear from the club, Newcastle United had become the richest team in the sport.

Newcastle United finally had the leverage to go beyond the style of play and results of a mediocre club. Just around the start of this century, Newcastle United was competing in the Champions League. In the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, the team finished runner up in the domestic league.

The club had ambition, breaking world record transfer fees to sign Alan Shearer, who would become the Premier League’s leading all-time goal scorer. This is the Newcastle United team that fans want back, a team filled with such excitement that set the stages for the movie Goal! There is much to believe that this rebuild project will lead to great success. Current club giants Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain both purchased by Middle Eastern countries are now regular Champions League contenders having been revitalized from struggling mid-table clubs by the new ownership. And, in the current era of soccer, wealth seems to

be a requirement to be a top team, so that the club can purchase any player at its will, as if to spend money is to solve its problems.

But there is more to the headlines of the Newcastle United takeover. While an overwhelming amount of club fans rejoiced at this event, many human rights activists looked at it with disdain. The P.I.F, although legally not associated with Saudi Arabia, as the club’s new owner has brought many concerns. It’s clear association with Saudi Arabia, a country that has many controversies pertaining to human rights and constant violence, puts into question the Premier League’s priorities. But, soccer like all other sports is a business. And so, by whatever means to achieve its goal, the club will spend as much money as needed. So, is this where soccer has come to “where dreams are built on money, and where there is no such thing as a price too high to pay” as Rory Smith, chief soccer correspondent of The New York Times noted. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case, but we can always find hope in the recent seasons of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, two teams of world class stadiums and big budgets but mediocre performances.

But, as things stand, Newcastle Unit-

Season

By Noah Farb ’24 Panel Staff The 2021 Red Sox were projected by most analysts and projection systems to finish below .500 and a distant fourth in the AL East behind the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays in that order. Although the Sox were expected to be better than last season, when they were 24-36 and finished with the fourth worst record in the league, no one expected them to make the American League Champion Series and have a real shot at contending for a World Series title.

General manager Chaim Bloom brought in under heralded players such as Hunter Renfroe, Kike Hernandez, and Garrett Whitlock among many others who came up huge throughout different points in the season. The most influential and unexpected reason for the Red Sox run was the amazing return of Eduardo Rodriguez from covid related issues last season, and even though Chris Sale was not amazing when he came back in late August, he provided a stabilizing force for the rotation.

Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta and Tanner Houck all were solid which allowed

Recap MLB

Playoffs

By Nick andersen ’24 and John Milewski ’23 Panel Staff

Recap

Newcastle United’s Takeover in Premier League

By Daniel Cho ’23 Panel Staff If you were watching the first five minutes of Newcastle United’s home game against Tottenham Hotspur you might be forgiven for mistaking it as a scene from the 2005 film Goal! In just the second minute of the game, the home fans erupted to Callum Wilson’s goal with an uproar worthy of a goal for the Champions League stage, for circumstances similar to the movie. But in reality, that goal was far from being as cinematic as that in the movie, where Newcastle had a chance at the Champions League, the most lucrative club team tournament; rather it was an ephemeral moment of joy for a dull team facing the gloom of relegation.

However, Newcastle United fans have more to cheer for, but they must need patience.

On October 7 this year, Newcastle United fans finally had something to look forward to. Under the ownership of Mike Ashley for more than a decade, Newcastle United persevered through a very underwhelming series of relegations and promotions. Fans frustrated by the owner’s lack of spending and commitment to the

ed still has much to do. In that game against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United would continue its failures: they lost 3-2.

Its manager Steve Bruce on that day managed a milestone 1000th game, but it would also turn out to be his last for the club. Fans booed after the final whistle and cried for his departure. Days later on October 20, 2021, by mutual agreement, Steve Bruce left the club and opened up about the chaotic scenes surrounding the club and his relationship to it: “I think this might be my last job ... It has been very, very tough. To never really be wanted, to read people constantly saying I would fail, that I was useless, a fat waste of space, a stupid, tactically inept cabbage-head”. Such is the cruel nature of sports, a grueling business that evaluates everything only on results. His successor is Eddie Howe, former manager of AFC Bournemouth known for relying on the development of young players not spending cash.

Newcastle United currently sits in the relegation zone at 19th place and as the only team yet to win a game in the Premier League. Their first step to glory, to be topfour in the league, to play in the Champions League, is to stay in the Premier League. ☐

Be lmont H ill & Winsor Sp orts

Novemb er 1 8 , 2021

Belmont

Hill

By Lauren Hogan ’23 and and Howard Huang ’22 Banner and Panel Staff The Belmont Hill (BH) and Winsor crew teams share a boathouse on the Charles River in Cambridge next to BB&N and the Eliot Bridge. Since Belmont Hill and Winsor generally do not practice at the same time due to scheduling differences, the teams rarely have any time to interact with one another, except on race days, or occasionally when their practices just happen to line up.

Therefore, despite the title of this article, “buddies” may be an exaggeration.

Rowing is a very difficult and time consuming sport. It requires optimal fitness, focus, and determination, leaving little time to socialize. As a result, even when both teams are at the boathouse together, they are more focused on getting on the water and prepping for regattas rather than socializing.

Since Winsor offers crew in the fall and spring while Belmont Hill only rows in the spring, for much of the year, Winsor is the only crew rowing out of the boathouse. Amory Gordon ’23, a rower on the Winsor coxed quad, explains, “we never really see the BH athletes. Both teams are highly focused on their sport and bringing their best selves to every practice.”

Belmont Hill rowers are sure to see signs of life over on the Winsor bay, whether they want extra Head of the Charles (HOCR) practice in the four plus, or they are preparing for a race on the Powerhouse in the spring.

and

Winsor

Pa g e 1 9

Boathouse

Buddies

A rower on the Winsor coxed four, ble. However, while tensions can get very Coco FitzMaurice ’23, said that while the high on the dock, the two teams are also, BH athletes usually go MIA, she “can al- usually, very supportive of one another.

This camaraderie was most eviways rely on Tiberius to show up.” Both dent during HOCR, where rowers, alums, Winsor and Belmont Hill have a “boatand parents of both BH and Winsor stuhouse dog.” Coach Stone (Winsor) never dents came to cheer on their teammates. forgets to bring her pitbull Hank on the Austin Forrester ’23, a rower on the Winlaunch, while Coach Richards (BH) always sor coxed quad, said that “it was nice lets his own Bernese mountain dog Tiberiseeing Belmont Hill come to cheer us us wander around the boathouse. Winsor on.

We miss seeing them in the fall searowers truly love seeing Tiberius at the boathouse; in fact, BH can usually find them doing circuit training around him.

Frequently, schools with both boys and girls crew teams will bring both of their teams down on the same weekend to race both schools at once. Then, both crew teams in the Winsor-Belmont Hill boathouse will unite against whichever New England Interscholastic Regatta Association (NEIRA) school thinks that they can defeat us.

Both crews share our victories.

On the other hand, the tensions grow, especially in regards to the order of launching boats. Everyone is focused on getting out on the water as quickly as possible so when both crews have to share the dock, delays are inevitable.

With so much focus and diligence exerted from both teams, rivalries are inevita- Winsor (top) and Belmont Hill (bottom) boats at HOCR

son.” Some of the Belmont Hill rowers showed up early to see the Winsor boats race in the morning and cheer them on.

Charles Geddes ’22, a rower on the BH coxed four, noted that “seeing Winsor row is always fun as we always see them practice but never see them race.” While BH and Winsor share moments of both camaraderie and tension, in the spring, the two teams will hopefully be able to interact more and truly become “buddies.” ☐

alumni, their families, and members of the Belmont Hill community to socialize, watch the games, and enjoy amenities like food and games like ping pong, inflatable bounce houses, and more.

Cross Country ran against St. Marks and won in a resounding 18-45. Football played an exciting game ending with a very close loss against Lawrence Academy of 2122. Soccer competed against the ISL projected winners BB&N, ending with a hard fought tie of 2-2. Students were decked out in their loop shirts and Belmont Hill merchandise to cheer on teams as they defended the hill.

At Belmont Hill, students were prepared for the full day of events by Loop heads Shane Kelly ’22 and Tommy Madden ’22. The Loop specialises in ensuring students come to cheer on their classmates at all games.

On Friday, students from all forms started the festivities with a dance party in the se-

on top of the Upper School competition.

Spirit Week costume awards like “Best Duo” and “Best Department’’ were also handed out. Stella MacLean ’24 said, “I had forgotten how exciting being together and watching every grade’s cheer is. It was one of my favorite traditions in Lower School, and it was awesome that we were able to bring back the fun and sense of community!”

Finally, following the national anthem from chorale, sports games began.

The volleyball, field hockey, and soccer teams at Winsor played at home. Around the time of JV games, it got dark enough that the field lights above the turf were switched on, and our teams got to play “Under the Lights’’ for the first time that fall.

Meanwhile, spectators enjoyed great food from the cafeteria staff as they cheered on all of our athletes with great enthusiasm and support. ☐

BH Communications

Belmont Hill School Homecoming versus Winsor School UTL Recap

By Austin Forrester ’23 Banner Staff As school kicks into gear, and the weather grows colder on Pilgrim Road and Prospect Street, both Winsor and Belmont Hill host exciting fall events that brighten up the long, dreary days of essays and unit tests. Despite their small student populations and the lingering effects of COVID-19 restrictions, both communities came out in full support of their sports teams with enthusiasm. However, while Winsor and Belmont Hill both host events tailored towards cheering on athletics, they take place a month apart, go by different names, and each have their own unique traditions.

Belmont Hill’s annual Homecoming event coincides with home games from the Football, Soccer, and Cross Country teams. The alumni house invites all

College

Football

By Matthew Flaherty ’24 Panel Staff College football this year has been complete anarchy. The Clemson Tigers have three losses, the most losses in one season they have had since 2014, and do not currently rank inside College Football’s Top 25. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have their first 8-0 start in program history and are currently sitting at number nine in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

This number nine ranking is the first time Wake Forest has ever been ranked inside the top ten in school history. Moreover, this is the highest the program has ranked inside the top 25 in the history of the school having a football team. When talking about the SEC, often referred to as the best conference in college football, the usual suspects are leading the way: the Georgia Bulldogs, number one in the nation, and the Nick Saban led Alabama Crimson Tide, number two in the nation.

Georgia is 8-0 and Alabama is 7-1, their

nior commons during Milk and Cookies.

At Winsor, Spirit Week dress-up days kicked off with Met Gala Monday, followed by “dress as something that starts with the same letter as your name” Tuesday, “anything but a backpack” Wednesday, Decades Day Thursday, and the traditional Friday theme, Red Day. Red Day culminated in a pep rally, which is usually held in the gym, but this year was held on the field in order to allow students to go maskless. To begin, Classes VII and VIII ran in, revealingelmo their class sweatshirts, and several music classes performed on xylophones and drums.

Finally, the most important part of the pep rally took place. Each grade prepared a “cheer,” which, despite the name, is really more of a dance routine. At the end of the performances, the Lower School received awards like “Most Spirited” and “Best Choreography,” while the seniors came out

Teams NFL

one loss coming from Texas A&M. However, although these two usual frontrunners are the two best-ranked teams in the nation, the order in which they are ranked is somewhat unique. Alabama is usually number one, and Georgia usually follows shortly after inside the top 10. The last time the Bulldogs were ranked number one in the country was in the 2008 preseason poll.

Additionally, the Heisman Trophy race is as wide open as it has been in a while.

The arguable frontrunner of the Heisman race coming into week ten is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. This comes as no surprise, as Alabama quarterbacks have a long-established track record of being at the center of the Heisman Trophy discussion. Another name to watch in the Heisman Trophy race is Michigan State Spartan running back Kenneth Walker III, coming off his notable performance against the Michigan Wolverines. With so many questions left to be answered, the last third of the college football season is sure to be exciting. ☐

Playoff

By Nick andersen ’24 and Cam Carey ’23 Panel Staff As the NFL season enters Week nine, the playoff picture is beginning to come into form. If the season ended today the Titans and Packers would earn byes through the Wild Card Round in their respective conferences. In the AFC, the six teams that fill out the remainder of the pack are the Raiders, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Steelers and Chargers. In the NFC, the Cardinals, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Rams, Saints and Panthers round out the top seven teams.

After a hot start for the Chargers, they have struggled after tearing the Ravens apart a few weeks ago, most recently losing to the Patriots at home who are right behind them in the playoff chase at 4-4. Probably the most surprising out of all the teams in the league is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture at the nine seed. At 4-4 they are behind the Patriots, Steelers, Chargers, all

Predictions

teams who were expected to be far inferior than the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs.

While in the AFC there is a ton of competition for wild card slots, the drop off in talent in the NFC is much larger. After the 5-2 Saints, the Panthers are holding on to the last playoff spot as a .500 team and after that there is the Vikings and 49ers, both of whom are under .500. While the back end of the NFC is not incredibly exciting, the top of the conference is filled with Super Bowl contenders. From the reigning champions, the Buccaneers, to the Cardinals, Packers, Rams and Cowboys, all of whom have no more than two losses.

As the season enters the winter months it will be interesting to see where these teams stand come the holiday season. ☐

Bac kPage

Pa g e 2 0

Fruit Flies Run Amok

By Caroline Shin '23

This fall, pests have been swarming the halls of the Winsor School.

The black spots you’ve seen floating around the room, good news! They are not a side effect of sleep deprivation; they’re the all too familiar Drosophila melanogaster, or fruit flies. As the name might suggest, these buggers are attracted to fruit, of which there is an abundance of in all corners of the school. From peach pits in the practice rooms, banana peels on the balconies, and mango in the MPR, the fruit remnants are everywhere; the fruit fly carnage is not far behind. Hoards of flies have been witnessed chasing students through the hallways. A recent survey of Winsor students found that the overwhelming majority, 73.9%, felt threatened by the fruit fly population. Clearly, these airborne insects are instilling fear into the day-to-day life of students. So what can you (yes, you!) do to mitigate this paramount issue? Kramos@Winsor sent an informative letter last week chock-full of fun facts and fun activities such as limiting fruit consumption to the dining hall and outdoors. Special attention was paid to the menaces who have discarded fruit remains in recycling bins! With these tips and the handy-dandy fly traps set by Mr. Crompton and his team, we soon will be saying farewell to our flying, fruit-feeding friends. ☐

Fruitflies invading Winsor

Chloe Chao '23

T he B anner / Panel

I attached a tail to a carabiner through a loop on the bag and wings.

For the neck, I took a piece of foam tubing (that I had in my basement, originally from Home Depot) and stuck it into the bag. For the dragon's face, I took a dragon mask that I had and taped it onto the end of the foam tube.” This costume was truly one of a kind, and we look forward to seeing more of Ms. Parsley's extraordinary creativity.

Ms. Parsley and Ms. Huntoon We also asked Ms. Joy, a health teacher, about her Halloween costume this year. After doing some research, she decided to dress up as the famous Donna Summer (a disco singer). She commented, “I had this

By Abby Whelan '25 and Serena fabulous fringe jumpsuit I wore for Toscani '25 my 25th birthday and wanted to Halloween this year was a make my hair big and fluffy. I took grand opportunity for both teach- one of my faux fur white coats out of ers and students to show their the closet and added some oversized creative skills by dressing up in a rhinestone sunglasses and boom– a variety of unique costumes. As a fit!” Ms. Joy’s style is undeniably way to celebrate their efforts, we special, and we can not wait to see asked a few of our favorite Winsor her future costumes! teachers to say what they dressed Finally, we talked to Ms. Qiu, up as. a Chinese teacher. She pointed out We first approached Ms. Pars- how much she loves to wear panda ley, a Lower School history teacher pajamas to trick or treat with her (aka the Queen of Spirit Week Cos- kids. She also mentioned that the patumes). This year, she dressed up as jamas are “super warm, so it worked a character from Game of Thrones, very well on chilly Halloween night.”

Daenerys Targaryen. She explained All of these costumes were to us the process of assembling the impressive and without a doubt, Halcostume and said, “I turned a black loween this year was a tremendous backpack into a baby dragon. success. ☐

Teacher Halloween Costumes

Day In the life of A Winsor Student (as imagined by a Belmont Hill student)

Day In the Life of Belmont Hill Student (as imagined by a Winsor Student)

By Jack Kendall '22 Early Morning: Wake up at 4:00 am to read and recite slam poetry; proceed to post Instagram stories that nobody will look at. Buy 12 dollar Starbucks coffee seen on Tik Tok that consists of 97% milk.

By Abby Groom '22 Early Morning: Rolls out of bed after accidentally oversleeping and throws on the uniform that’s been laying crumpled on the ground since yesterday (yikes– imagine having a uniform), runs out the door but runs back in after forgetting his backpack. Probably drives at least 30 minutes because Belmont is in the middle of nowhere.

Morning At School: Instead of taking notes in history class, go online shopping for clothing they will probably wear once in their life.

Morning At School: Half pays attention in classes. Participates in one of those dance circles because it’s game day, and the team is trying to get hype. Visits the Belmont Hill store to buy some more Belmont Hill clothes (since that’s the only clothing they wear outside of school).

Lunch: Ignore parents' fervent requests to not spend money off campus; go back to Starbucks for another 14 dollar drink. Conversation consists of structured, moderated discussion consisting of contemporary political issues.

Lunch: Eats, like, three sandwiches because he is trying to (probs unsuccessfully) bulk. Lunch conversations consist of only bad jokes. Tries to flex on girls he is snapping (but everyone knows they aren’t actually talking to).

Afternoon: Work on Harvard application before a big “pep rally” for their teams, which will go 0-5 over the weekend.

Afternoon: More classes. Barely makes it out alive from theater class.

After School: Don’t play a sport, go to the gym instead in which they only work out for 5 minutes and take mirror pictures for 45 minutes.

After School: Goes to their sport knowing they will probably barely touch the ball because they are bad, but they are forced into doing a sport every season.

Negative points if their sport is crew or cross country.

Evening: Wait in line at Zara all night because their mom is making them return all the clothes they bought during history class. Complain about all the homework they have but don’t do it; instead make TikToks.

Evening: After attempting some homework, they go down to the basement where they sit in front of their token “Saturdays Are For The Boys” banner and either scroll through Tik Tok or become a gamer.