October 2011 (60, 3)

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A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill and Winsor Schools

Successful class retreats for Forms I, III, VI

By Cole Durbin Panel Staff Belmont Hill has long been defined as a place of community, of friendship, and of brotherhood. As new boys join the classes each year, they find their place in this community, whether it is in a class, on a team, or in the school as a whole.

As a part of building this community, Forms I, III, and VI take class trips each year, chaperoned by the various advisers of their forms. From campfires and stories to ropes courses and canoeing, each trip has special aspects that make it unique to each form.

As a group of boys entirely new to both each other and Belmont Hill, Form I takes their trip to Camp Burgess in Sandwich, MA. Mrs. Hamilton, a Form I advisor and veteran chaperone, described the trip not only as a bonding experience for the new boys, but also as a chance for teach-

ers to get to know the students. it a good fit for the newcomers race and the low ropes courses.

“All of the students are to our school? Activities are fun, As each class progresses new to Belmont Hill, and this while also building the lifelong through their First and Secovernight trip allows the advi- skills of teamwork and problem ond Form years, a special bond sor team to learn more about solving, such as in the canoe is built within the class. With the group. It is a large admisa chance for the sion year falling in Form III, boys to get away it is sometimes from campus as a class and betough for new gin to form a boys to find bond and some their place in the class that new friendships.” has grown up Mrs. Hamtogether over ilton went on the previous to describe the two years. The trip as a valuForm III Beckable experience ett trip plays a for the group as major part in a whole, especialthis integration. ly because “the Started boys are starting about 25 years their Belmont Hill careers and ago, this trip will spend six was designed to years together.” be, in the words What is it of Form III head about Camp BurMr. Holly Gettings advisor gess and the Form Tredennick, “a I trip that makes Sixth formers participate in team building exercise at Camp Cody good way to as-

similate new students, while giving all boys another way to bind together as a class.” While it used to be a few nights at Chewonki, where students and faculty alike made their own meals and camped out, this proved to difficult, and the school later decided to move the trip to Camp Beckett.

He also notes that the school seeks to instill concepts of leadership and communication throughout the ninth grade year and through the Upper School, and this trip serves as a good opportunity to introduce these skills. In Mr. Tredennick’s 24 years of participation in the Beckett trip, he has “seen many boys learn important lessons about themselves and their classmates.”

The senior retreat to Camp Cody serves as a final bonding retreat for Form VI as they take on the task of leading the school.

The senior trip also serves as a fun respite from the demanding life of a student in the upper grades. continued on page 4 nytimes.com

Linde Wing opens at MFA

By Sophie Cyker Panel Staff The Linde Wing for Contemporary Art opened with a 24-hour celebration on September 17 and 18. The wing contains 250 works of contemporary art, including not only paintings and sculptures, but also modern media such as video art and design art. A particular favorite of mine was an exhibit consisting of neon signs and LED lights that created messages meant to be political and cultural statements. One work in this gallery was a board of light bulbs that formed a message, however the message would change as the light bulbs burnt out. The Linde Wing is also going to be used as a gathering space for modern culture, poetry readings, performances, lectures, and classes. The wing houses seven galleries, a theater, a new bookstore, and a restaurant.

The donations of the Linde family have also allowed the MFA to offer a new community arts initiative. Children from city after-school programs in neighborhoods such as Roxbury, Chinatown, and Blue Hills have the opportunity to work with professional artists to use art as a form of self expression. One project that the initiative has already completed is the family project. Children from these after-school programs create artistic representations of what they consider to be their family. The final products can be seen in the Ed-

ward Linde gallery of the Linde Wing.

This September, Winsor girls also were exposed to the exciting newer components of the MFA via the annual Virginia Wing Lecture. Elliot Bostwick Davis, the Chair of the Art of the Americas Wing, spoke to the school about the opening of the wing in November 2011. She described and showed pictures of the amazing works there, which are so easily accessible from our school.

The wing houses a range of American art, from ancient Native American pieces to modern works. The Linde and Art of the Americas Wings provide great opportunities for the Boston community to explore the world of art.

Like many 21st century teenagers, “fine art” doesn’t exactly pique my interest. I generally used to associate the term with old paintings and sculptures that I had heard of but never really wanted to see. Much to my mother’s dismay, I’ve often weaseled my way out of proposed visits

Joe Broughton

The MFA’s Elliot Bostwick Davis gave the Virginia Wing Lecture

News BHS International Trips Global learning at Winsor

to the nearby Museum of Fine Arts.

Recently, though, I gave in to her and agreed to visit the MFA and see the new Linde Wing. I expected to see the typical works that often bored me. Instead, I was introduced to a whole new form of “fine art.”

Instead of housing dull paintings and sculptures by artists that I had already learned about, I was able to see art composed of bright lights and colors, and to learn about artists and media that I had never heard of before. Within the Linde Wing’s many galleries, both permanent and temporary, every Winsor girl, whether she is artistic or not, will be able to find a photograph, painting, drawing, or sculpture that draws her interest.

The MFA is located near Winsor and offers free admittance to students 17 and under. A schedule of the available lectures, classes, and presentations can be found on the MFA website at www.mfa.org. ☐

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Being an athlete at Winsor False advertising

Prepared for hurricane?

By Kelly Chen & Anushree Gupta Panel Staff Extreme wind gusts and hours of rain ravaged the New England area late this summer; Hurricane Irene had finally arrived. Even though Boston did not suffer as much damage from the hurricane as other regions did, The Panel conducted a survey to investigate the Winsor community’s response to it.

Most of the student body was in the New England region when the hurricane passed and kept informed of its strength and impact through TV and online weather sources.

The National Hurricane Center began issuing warnings for states near the coast on August 20. Massachusetts declared a state of emergency and the MBTA shut down all metropolitan transportation. Accuweather, an online weather source, warned that the hurricane would produce “flooding rains, high winds, and widespread power outages.” Chelsea Cherenfant ’13 attested to the power outages, saying, “I lost electricity for five days; I was doing some of my homework by candlelight!” Ambika Nohria ’15, recounted a hec-

Arts p. 9 p. 10

Winsor Fall Concert Nathan Yuen

tic experience with the hurricane: “I was in India trying to fly home, but my flight got canceled due to the weather. We were scrambling to get home before school started!”

The Winsor School campus fared much better than those that suffered power outages due to fallen trees. There were no power outages, flooding, or damage to any of Winsor’s trees; Mr. Wonoski, the Maintenance Director, credited this luck to lighter rain and wind gusts than expected. Had the hurricane occurred during the school year, Ms. Stettler stated that school would have been canceled. Ms. Stettler mentioned that concern regarding the hurricane caused Winsor to re-assess the emergency supplies and plans; she was happy to report that Winsor does feel prepared.

While the hurricane had devastating effects across the country, several Winsor students noted some positive side effects.

Kate Brea ’13, who lost power during this time, said that she found a greater appreciation for nature: “I woke up in the morning to the sounds of grasshoppers, birds, and peeper frogs chirping.” Cherenfant added, “I appreciated having electricity much more after surviving without it for almost a week.” ☐

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Under the Lights Colton Bradley

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E ditoria l

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How do we vote for a dysfunctional government?

As I near my eighteenth birthday, it is hard not to think about the upcoming date of “adulthood.” Sure, there are those negative parts, like I can now be tried in a court of law, but the good far outweighs the bad – I can vote in the upcoming election. In a matter of a few weeks, I will have a voice in our nation’s government - a government that has unfortunately become a terrible accumulation of congressional gridlock.

Always the advocate for “rocking the vote,” I have awaited my eighteenth birthday for many years for precisely this voting privilege; nevertheless, recent activities in Washington have made me less eager to get involved.

What is happening to the United States? The longstanding champion of compromise and democracy has now become so politically partisan that Washington has flirted a little too much with budgetary default and government shut-down. Back in August, we narrowly avoided default with the passage of a mediocre bill that thrilled no one. So why did it come to such a close call with such a lousy solution? Because representatives and senators were so focused on partisan politics that they did not focus on creating the best bill possible for both parties.

New York Times writer and economic commentator Richard Thaler said of the incident, “If we want to balance the budget over time we are going to have to elect adults to Congress who are prepared to invest now in our country’s future and then, when the economy picks up, take the necessary steps to get spending in line with revenue.” I would have to agree with Thaler – we hope that we elect congressmen and women who will work together for the good of our nation, not individuals who are so wrapped up in defend-

ing their ideologies that they are incapable of compromise. ed Americans with the liberals. Republicans on the other Yes, we avoided the default last month and hand are increasingly critical of the protesters, calling them Congress eventually passed a bill, but commen- “jealous” anti-capitalists, according to The New York Times.

Thus once again, instead of considering the needs of the people, politicians are stuck in a de facto war between left and right-wingers. While Democrats are speaking sympathetically about Occupy Wall Street’s platform, the party

seems to be more concerned with garnering political support for the upcoming elections. Conversely, the Republicans just dismiss the protests altogether without attempting to rectify the situation. Once again, we have reached a stalemate.

As a student witnessing the product of a dysfunctional government, I feel utterly horrified that this is the type of political climate I will enter on my upcoming eighteenth birthday. In a nation where democracy is supposed to support the people through compromise, I fear that Washington has morphed into a competitive boxing ring in which simply winning is the goal, not finding a solution to our national economic crisis.

We need Washington to be stable – a place where the American people are at the forefront of every discussion. But what, as a bunch of young women with no experience besodahead.com yond High School, can we do? How can we assert our voice dations are far from deserved. They did the abso- in our nation’s political sphere? Before voting age, people lute bare minimum of what we elect them to do. can speak their minds in letters of petition or volunteer in Now, with the Wall Street protests that began in early political campaigns for flexible candidates. I urge everyone, October, Washington is once again faced with a partisan as they reach voting age, to register, stay informed, and get dilemma. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Com- their opinions out there. Advocate for a united governmittee came out in support of the Occupy Wall Street pro- ment in which Republicans and Democrats are working in tests. This support is partially intended to align disenchant- sync toward creating the best plans for America’s future. ☐ For a list of the presidential candidates, see Page 8.

Editorial

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Issues of sustainability in Belmont Hill’s policies The future of sustainability at Belmont Hill seems unclear now and it may well remain so unless we change our frame of mind about its significance.

Currently, the faculty are working with the Board of Trustees in long-range planning committees to discuss the future of the school.

Categories range from globalization to 21st century education to relations with neighbors of the community. While all of these certainly have merit, sustainability does also. Lodged in the agenda of the globalization group, the issue of sustainability is considered an aspect of globalization, not a self-contained area of interest. There is no doubt that sustainability and globalization are related (sustainability is a global concern after all), but sustainable practices occur most effectively at a local level.

Perhaps one should not blame the school for not addressing sustainability as a

separate issue. There are many worthy areas of concern and not all of them can have their own full committee. Furthermore, there is no true leader in sustainability on campus for such a planning committee—there is a Director of Global Education, Mr. Kolovos, and a Dean of Studies, Mr. Grant, but no “Director of Sustainability.” Again, no fault needs be assigned. Until recently, we had no extra-curricular club in the Upper School for students who care for the environment but now there is the Upper School Sustainability Group (USSG). Perhaps there simply was not enough student interest in the past.

Certainly the institution already does a lot in terms of promoting sustainability. We have waterless urinals on campus, light sensors that automatically shut the lights when no one is in the room, and soon will have solar panels on the Jordan Athletic Center.

The era of Harry Potter, from first book to global phenomenon “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.” Almost 15 years ago, those opening lines from Har-

ry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone began

to change a generation.

Now, all of the books are published, and the final movie, Harry Pot-

ter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, was released

this summer. With those major parts of the Harry Potter era now ended, we can look back and realize the impact that Harry Potter has had and continues to have.

When the first book was published in the UK on June 30, 1997, Joanne Rowling’s work had already been rejected by nine other publishers. Many of us have already heard her legendary “making-it-from-nothing” story: the struggling young writer with a whole new world imagined in her head, unemployed and piecing together her first manuscript with an old manual typewriter.

Fast forward to 2011, and, as many people have also heard, J. K. Rowling is richer than the queen of England. She is the founder of an entire Harry Potter dynasty which has expanded far beyond the original sevenbook series, including eight blockbuster movies which each grossed over 100 million dollars in box office sales, several supplementary books like The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages, eight video games, a Hogwarts Lego series, Potter Puppet Pals, and the interactive “Pottermore” website, among hundreds of other Harry Potter products.

Today, with so many obvious successes of Harry Potter behind us and so many more likely to come, we must keep in mind that back in 1997, it was hardly cer-

tain that Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s alty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and along with everything that is wrong in the Stone would even be accepted by a pub- understands nothing. world, there is also lisher. What if the book had not come out?

What if we had never known Harry Potter, or Hermione, or Ron, or Dumbledore, or Fred and George, or even Voldemort?

Well, first of all, the girls who dressed as a Hogwarts character during Spirit Week for “What You Want to be When You Grow Up” day would have needed different costumes. But honestly, try to imagine a world without Harry Potter. Of course, the The Leaky Galleries universe would still exist, and the earth would still orbit the sun, and gravity would still pull down, and we would all be just fine.

But I think we can all agree, whatever one’s taste for Harry Potter, that our generation and this time would be different. The world of Harry Potter represents much more than just the franchise of books, movies, Legos, and all of that. J. K. Rowling’s creations have left an indelible mark on this generation, on readers around the world, even on this century (dare we say millennium?). 500 years from now, what are the big events that people will list from the late 20th and and early 21st century?

Maybe somewhere on that list, which will include everything from 9/11 to the Great Recession of 2008, there will be mention of Harry Potter.

The Leaky Galleries It is not only the bad that is remembered.

The magic and the happiness that Harry Potter brought to our muggle world will be remembered as something good, something special. Towards the end of the seventh book, when Harry meets Dumbledore again, they discuss the power of love and good triumphing over the evil of Voldemort. Dumbledore explains, “That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to comprehend. Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loy-

Nothing. That they all so much that is good. have a power beyond And for those his own, a power beof us still waiting for yond the reach of any our Hogwarts accepmagic, is a truth he tance letters, no mathas never grasped.” ter how many years J. K. Rowlthe owls are overdue, ing’s world of Harry The Leaky Galleries just keep in mind anPotter has struck other thing Dumbour generation and our time so deeply be- ledore says soon after: “Of course it is hapcause it embodies those core values of “love, pening inside your head, Harry, but why on loyalty, and innocence,” reminding us that earth should that mean that it is not real?”☐

Executive Editors Emma Collins Astrid Pacini Andrew Raftery Joseph Troderman Arts Editors Ryan Baxter-King Andrea Zhu

Sports Editors Abby Giannuzzi Jonathon Goodman

Photo Editors Tucker Gordon Elise Green Alexander Haigh Augusta Winthrop

Editors-in-Chief Pranay Bose Bailey Scott

Online Editors Bernardo Pacini Robert Sayegh Catherine Walsh Assistant Editors Holly Breur Kevin Chen Cole Durbin Kate Elfers Eva Epker Charlie Feinberg Anna Kennedy Jacob Pagano

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Belmont Hill students in the USSG examining the composter

The Belmont Hill Panel is Now Online!

Copy Editors Matthew Czarnecki Abigail Gabrieli Anushree Gupta Ian Meyer News Editors Elizabeth Hiss John Patrick Thomas

Opinion Editors Kate Brea Joshua Lee

Faculty Advisors Katherine Hamblet Stephen Murdock Richard Morange

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So what is wrong with sustainability on campus if we do things already and no one is to blame for what we don’t do? The real issue is one of community’s outlook.

We can do all we want behind the scenes, but if people are not cognizant of those actions and do not care that they are happening, then all the good done has limited affect.

Belmont Hill is an academic institution that prides itself on having excellent academics, but more importantly, on instilling excellent values in its students. Yet as much as the campus succeeds in these regards, it still falls short in sustainability education.

Should students value the environment, on which all people in the world depend, less than the other things we spend so much time in teaching? While discussed in environmental sciences courses, environmental ethics, principals, and science are all interdisciplinary and need to be taught as such.

A sin of omission is still a sin, and it is the omission of environmental principals from our educational foundation which allows the casual attitude that currently permeates the community. Environmental issues are only important in environmental science class and trivial elsewhere is the message we currently send. The debate isn’t whether students need to push their peers to consider the environment more strongly in their daily actions or faculty need to teach sustainability across all fields. In order for sustainability to be truly important on campus, the effort needs to be jointly made.

What we do in the present creates the future and those choices are in our hands. The questions are simple ones: what do we consider important, how do we use our actions to shape the future— and how long are we willing to wait?☐

Recycling Policy at Belmont Hill Belmont Hill’s recycling is single stream. This means that anything that is recyclable can go in any recycling bin on campus, so although some bins may say “paper only” or indicate that they are for one material only, this is a holdover from a previous system. All recyclable products can go in those bins as well.

You can recycle: Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, telephone & soft cover books, direct mail/envelopes, paper (all colors, staples/paperclips are okay), paperboard (cereal/shoe boxes), milk/juice cartons, cardboard/brown paper bags, plastic bottles and containers (numbered 1-7), soda/juice/water bottles (glass or plastic), milk jugs, bleach/detergent containers, shampoo bottles, food containers (cottage cheese/margarine/yogurt), glass bottles/jars (any color), aluminum (pie plates/trays/foil, metal cans (tin/steel/aluminum).

You can’t recycle: Plastic bags (these can be recycled at many local grocery stores), food liners, unmarked plastics (laundry baskets/chairs/toys), window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, dishes, pyrex, ceramics, foam packaging, Styrofoam, hazardous materials or universal waste, recyclables containing food waste (make sure to empty any containers with food in them before recycling). ☐

Taking a stance on censorship In today’s world, the press, including The Panel, faces the large challenge of deciding the degree of censorship a publication can and will contain. Even we, in our English classes or history papers, have to deal with the questions, “How far can I go?”

“Can I really say this out loud?” “Is this appropriate?” and the like. In fact, censorship comes up all over the place—in places we would expect and places we would not.

Recently on The Economists’ Johnson blog, a publication, which I highly recommend reading, that discusses linguistics, the author deals with the issue of censorship in The New York Times and discusses whether by trying to not publish offensive words—racist, homophobic, or politically suspect words--the newspaper is, in fact, losing some of its informative power. If, he argues, The New York Times did not print President Obama’s “God damn America,” the reader would not be able to understand what in the world the article was discussing. When the anonymous author of this Economist piece contacted the New York Times on the subject of censorship, the Times responded with “We have long wrestled with the balancing act of giving readers all the information they need in order to understand a story while avoiding the use of offensive language whenever possible…” The conclusion this Economist writer comes to is that one should use discretion when dealing with such touchy, potentially offensive phrases and not beat the reader over the head, so to speak, and repeat the word over and over again.

Remember Winsor’s recent banned books month? What was it other than the library’s stand against censorship? Have you heard about the recently bowdlerized version of “Huck Finn” that exchanges every n-word with the word slave? The English department took a stance against censorship by not adopting this copy in its classes. As a quotation attributed to Voltaire reads, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” How far, students, will you go to defend free speech? How will you, Winsor, take a stance against censorship?☐

-News -Opinion -Sports -And an extended back page for the Belmont Hill community

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is 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 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 encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2011 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

(Winsor version coming soon)

My.HSJ.org

Censorship of Twain’s classic Adventure of Huckleberry Finn has proved controversial.

Winsor News

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Winsor encourages globalism with new programs

By Georgia Williams & Leila Vicinelli Contributing Writers Over the past few years, students may have noticed an effort within the Winsor community to create more global awareness within the school. This effort has become quite evident in the new mission statement: “Winsor prepares young women to pursue their aspirations and contribute to the world.” Through foreign exchanges and courses that focus on foreign cultures and different ways of life, Winsor truly is motivating its students to become a larger part of the global community and to experience multiple cultures. Director Rachel Stettler says, “Our graduates will need to be able to navigate many cultures, countries, and careers in their lifetimes. It is important that students learn about and begin to experience the world beyond Boston and the U.S., because it will define their lives.” Globalism and the importance of having a global perspective are now major components of student life at Winsor, but this is only the beginning. Winsor expects to continue to build the global mindset of its students, both in and out of the classroom. To ensure equal access and opportunity to engage in these cultural experiences, Winsor offers numerous travel grants and financial aid.

Since 2007, juniors at Winsor have taken a mandatory course in a non-western English and history field. The current options are African, Indian, and Middle Eastern history and literature. This graduation requirement is now seen as an essential part of the Winsor experience, broadening students’ horizons and enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures and to increase their global mindsets. Catherine Walsh ’12 says her non-western literature and history classes were “a really cool experience in a culture so different from our own.” The non-western requirement is a great way for students to learn in depth about a culture that is not

often covered in the standard English and history classes at Winsor and is becoming a more and more important part of the curriculum in today’s globalizing world.

This past year alone, Winsor students traveled to China, France, and Guatemala for home exchanges and service learning trips. In Guatemala students like Ella Belina ’14 did service work for eight days in the spring, including helping to build a school in the town of El Hato. The trip, she says, “taught me to appreciate everyday things I usually take for granted.”

Becca Manning ’13 went to China, where she stayed with a Chinese family and visited cities including Beijing and Pingyao.

She says she loved the trip because it “immersed me in the Chinese culture and language in a way I would never be able to learn at school.” In May, Winsor sophomores and juniors hosted French students from Lycée Victor Duruy in Paris, and in early June they traveled to Normandy and Paris for two weeks for a home stay with their exchange students. Susannah Howe ’14 says that she “loved having the chance to experience the culture firsthand.

I loved staying with the host family and spending so much time speaking French.”

In the past few years, Winsor has also been involved with trips to the Dominican Republic, India, Quebec, Jordan, and Italy, and many more trips are sure to come.

Asked what changes will be coming soon, Mr. Didier, the Director of Global Studies at Winsor, explained: “You’re seeing, every year, new trips, and again, we’re hoping in both Upper and Lower School to help push global issues even deeper into the Winsor curriculum. I think we do a fair job already, but we’re really hoping to do much more.” Indeed, this spring break, trips will be going to Italy and England. In England, students will discover and explore the locations and scenes of many of England’s most famous literary works. Mrs. Skeele enthusiastically described highlights from the trip such as planned visits to the moors of Yorkshire, the mansions of Bath, and

the streets of London, where students can walk in the footsteps of literary icons such as Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennet, and Oliver Twist. The Classics department will be leading a trip to Italy where students will explore the streets of Rome and Pompeii, among other places, and experience the culture, architecture, and history of the Romans through modern Italy. During the first two weeks of summer vacation in June, the art department will take students on an art and architecture-focused trip to Spain. The trip will include visits to art museums in Barcelona and Madrid and an exploration of the Alhambra in Grenada.

These trips are all a part of the school’s magnified focus on increasing global experiences for the Winsor student body.

Speaking about how globally connected Winsor girls are today, Mr. Didier

adds that Winsor is “still looking at offering more opportunities for girls to interact cross-culturally throughout the globe.

But also, I think that you can be global and remain in Boston… working with other socioeconomic groups, other ethnic groups, and things like that.” As Ms. Stettler says, “We aspire to be global in all aspects of the Winsor experience: from curriculum and content to assemblies and experiences.” Mr. Didier suggested that since Winsor has trips in association with non-westerns, foreign language classes, and English classes, then we should aim to bring this global experience into math, science and art classes. Looking forward, Winsor students can expect an even more global and well-rounded outlook on the world as the school prepares its graduates for global citizenship. ☐

Winsor students flock to the “Bird’s Nest” Stadium

Carol Renneburg

Best When I Grow Up Day Costumes: Lower School: Sophie Petrillo ’18 Upper School: Marnie Levin ’15 Faculty: Senora Bravo Best Disney Costume: Peggy Stuart Coolidge Sibling Squad Faculty: Ms. Labieniec

By Abigail Gabrieli Panel Staff At Winsor, students are taught to value their citizenship and reminded frequently to vote. The idea of being “global citizens” is often stressed in assemblies and in the curricula. This summer, two Winsor students–Corinne Candilis ’13 and myself, Abigail Gabrieli ’13­–decided to take this community ethos of political involvement even further and volunteer for political campaigns. Being a campaign volunteer was a fun, productive way to participate directly in the political process.

Candilis volunteered with Bob Massie, one of the Democratic candidates running against US Senator Scott Brown (R-MA). After being impressed by an appearance of his on PBS, she called his campaign office’s number and spoke with his campaign manager, signing up to volunteer twice a week for a few hours a day. During a typical day, she called voters and attempted to persuade them to vote for Massie. While she did have a script, voters occasionally challenged her with difficult questions, forcing her to improvise in response. “It was definitely hard the first couple of times, but it got easier,” she said, adding later that she found such improvisational, on-the-spot work demanding but rewarding. She also entered voter information into databases and addressed envelopes for mailings. Candilis concluded, “I’m probably going to volunteer again, because I want to keep gaining knowledge of how the political process works...

[It’s very important] to understand campaign tactics.”

I volunteered for John Connolly, who is running for re-election as At-Large City Councillor. After my father recommended him, I did some research on him myself and then, won over by his position on education, emailed his campaign manager. I volunteered for three days a week for two months. Like Candilis, I mostly did phone bank work, calling voters for six to seven hours at a time and, with the help of a script, trying to convince them to vote for Connolly. I also did some organization work, which involved locating voter contact information and entering it into a variety of databases, helped to address some mailings, and participated in occasional canvassing trips (i.e., trips to visit voters directly and pass out campaign information). I also took part in two events, serving as the campaign photographer at

Students tour the Eiffel Tower

Connolly campaign

City Councillor John Connolly campaign in Boston a graduation ceremony at which the Councillor spoke and attending a march for Mothers for Justice and Equality in Roxbury. I, too, found the work fulfilling and appreciated getting a behind-the-scenes look at the political process.

Both Candilis and I recommend campaign volunteering to students wondering how they can get more involved in politics. The time commitment was flexible, allowing both of us to pursue additional summer jobs as well. It was easy to find jobs close to home, allowing for reasonable commutes; after all, there are politicians seeking re-election every year in nearly every single town.

Calling voters for hours on end (and occasionally, on canvassing trips, speaking to them face-to-face) increased both of our interpersonal skills, helping us grow into

more effective communicators. Most importantly, though, working in politics - even at the state or municipal level taught us valuable lessons about the realities of the political process. Both Candilis and I feel that the skills that we learned during our summers will help us if we decide to volunteer for one of the presidential campaigns next year, an opportunity both of us are at least somewhat interested in pursuing. Overall, the experience definitely added to both of our understandings of politics and helped us to develop into more politically-aware global citizens. ☐ Shortly before The Panel went to press, Bob Massie announced his withdrawal from the US Senate race.

Fun in the sun at the freshman retreat

No one quite knew what to expect on the freshman retreat this year. School had only started a week before, and everyone was still adjusting to the unfamiliar and intimidating idea of being in the Upper School.

However, the time freshmen spent together at Craigsville Conference Center on Cape Cod was enough to kick off the year in a spirited and positive way. Activities varied from venturing to the beach and going for a swim in the cold New England waters to reflective journal writing and meditation.

“It was like a vacation; it was really relax-

Best Crazy Hair/Mismatch Day Costume: Lower School: Eva Westphal ’18 Upper School: Augusta Winthrop ’12 Faculty: Mr. Constant

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Students explore politics via campaign volunteering

By Bibi Lichauco Contributing Writer

Spirit Week Awards 2011

Winsor News

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ing overall,” remarked Surya Pandit ’15.

Going on this retreat really gave the students time to reflect and learn about themselves and their peers. The day’s loose structure allowed for a relaxed atmosphere where every girl could easily be herself. The Class V Dean, Ms. Parsley, says, “The goal of the retreat was for the class to have the opportunity to come together, especially the new girls, away from the pressures of school.” When it was time to load the buses and head back to Boston, everyone agreed that they wished the retreat would last longer. No worries though, because, as Maddy Batt ’15, says, “We have the rest of the year to grow closer and closer together.” ☐

Students wave Lower School goodbye

Georgia Williams

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Best Rendition of Jersey Shore: Anna Kennedy ’12 and Talia Weingarten ’12.

Best Group Effort: Mary Richardson, Talia Weingarten ’12, Evan Joy McLaurin ’12, Maia Raynor-French ’12, Erin Cohee ’12, Charlotte Tracy’12.

Most Random/Creative Costume: “Velvet Ryan, Hedgehog Wrangler” Best Department: History Department Red Day Costume Sweep: Jennifer Holthouse ’12 Spanish students strike a pose

winsor.edu

Freshmen bond on the beach

Surya Pandit

Freshmen take the plunge into Upper School

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Belmont Hill News

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Belmont Hill News

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Inspiring South Africa trip teaches good works

Belmont Hill community greets new faculty to campus C.J. Navins

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Jonah Loeb Ms. Navins has joined Belmont Hill’s English department and admissions team. She graduated from Williams College in 2001, where she earned a degree in history and played varsity soccer and lacrosse. Over the past several years, Ms. Navins has been actively involved in education—she has worked at Deerfield Academy, Milton Academy, and at Bottom Line, a nonprofit that provides free college counseling to Boston public school students. After attending graduate school at Harvard, Ms. Navins sought a position that would be a challenge. Belmont Hill was not a new name to her, as her brother is a graduate of the school and Mr. Melvoin was her under-ten soccer coach from her childhood in Wayland. So she seized the opportunity to teach and work at Belmont Hill. Besides her role in admissions, Ms. Navins will be teaching Fourth Form English and coaching First Form soccer. She loves how the faculty “wear many different hats” as teachers, coaches, and staff, and do it all with a dedicated enthusiasm. ☐

Stephen Carr A graduate of Belmont Hill’s Class of 1993, Mr. Carr returns as the new Director of Admissions.

He attended Amherst College, where he majored in American Studies and English, and spent several years working in San Francisco before moving back east. Since 2002, he has lived and worked at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Though he enjoyed his time at the Andover admissions office, and as varsity soccer and lacrosse coach, he was excited to learn of an opening at Belmont Hill. “The decision to pursue it was easy,” Mr. Carr explained, “I saw a great career opportunity at a great school that I firmly believe is in a powerful position to grow and prosper over the coming years.” Mr. Carr believes Belmont Hill has changed—for the better—since he graduated. He finds that there are more academic and extracurricular offerings, that the students have a wider variety of interests and life experiences, and that the school is more focused on the well-being of the community. But it certainly has not lost its best characteristics; the rigorous curriculum, the dedicated faculty, and the belief that character and integrity are paramount.

In his mind, all this adds up to a “warmth and positive spirit that seems to flow through the faculty and through the boys.” For now, Mr. Carr will be working full time in admissions, but he may return to coaching at some point. He is now part of a faculty and admissions team that he will “thoroughly enjoy working with day in and day out.” ☐

Seniors bond at Camp Cody

Class retreats

continued from page 1 As Form VI advisor Mr. Kaplan puts it, “What happens at Camp Cody stays at Camp Cody.” What he would reveal was the following: “For several years, we’ve taken a senior trip to fortify the bonds within the class and to identify some of the different types of experiences the senior year will bring; the pervading feelings and nervousness about applying to colleges; the emotions associated with leaving Belmont Hill and entering college; ideas of leadership in the school, and a host of other fun and interesting topics.”

Holly Gettings

The trip to Camp Cody allows the seniors and their advisors to get to know one another, mainly by working in small groups. The goals, challenges, and responsibilities of senior year at Belmont Hill are unlike any other year. This retreat helps in introducing these differences and in preparing the class for its year ahead.

Overall, three main reasons emerge as to why Belmont Hill year after year sends boys on these trips: preparation, maturity, and the building of relationships. Each year at this school proves to be unique, and from the Burgess trip all the way to the senior retreat, Belmont Hill works to prepare each boy to tackle the years ahead. ☐

Mr. Loeb comes to Belmont Hill as a Middle School English teacher. As a child, he attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. He went to middle school at both Choate and Kingswood-Oxford. Mr. Loeb was very busy in his high school days, playing varsity soccer, varsity baseball and running varsity track, in addition to playing drums in the jazz band. From there, Mr. Loeb attended Haverford College, where he spent a great deal of his time involved in music. Mr. Loeb hopes to continue to play and teach music this year as he will be supervising one of the rock bands as well as helping direct the ninth and tenth grade play in the winter. He is currently coaching the JV-A soccer team and looks forward to coaching a baseball team in the spring. Mr. Loeb is delighted to be a teacher at Belmont Hill as both of his parents teach at independent schools, and he is excited to meet new students and faculty members. ☐

New changes shape our school

By J.P. Thomas Panel Staff On a radiant morning, as the sun rises over the green fields of Belmont Hill, students awake at about 7, after a tiring late night of studying. They remember, however, that this is Thursday morning, and instead of falling back into the daily grind, they fall back asleep for another blissful hour.

We all, teachers and administrators, like making the lives of our students easier.

“Late Start” on Thursdays is among the more popular of the new policies that have altered life on the Hill. Others include such modern technologies as a wireless network and a more useful keyboard system, and a more circuitous “drop-off ” parking system that is more popular with the school administration than it is with students.

The most conspicuous change this year in the Belmont Hill lifestyle, however, is the “Late Start,” which has proved to be a welcome blessing for stressed students.

“Thursday late start is a terrific addition to the schedule,” said Fifth Former Colin Sargis. “The extra half-hour is crucial and allows us to catch up on our much needed sleep.”

Teachers applaud the change, too, saying that students are more attentive during Thursday classes. Along with providing more rest for students, the extra hour of sleep on Thursday gives teachers a regular block of time for meetings among themselves. The time slot, from 7:30 to 8:30, is used by teachers for full faculty meetings, academic policy sessions, and form-advisor conferences. In previous years, teachers would be obliged to squeeze these meetings into their busy schedules.

Although it may seem that the “Late Start” is a win-win situation for both student and teacher, there are drawbacks.

“The ‘Late Start’ causes some Upper Schoolers to miss a full lunch period,” said Head of School, Dr. Melvoin. “Secondly, it results in a chaotic Middle School lunch.

The “Late Start” also makes it difficult for an extracurricular to meet on Thursdays, because the open times to meet are hectic.”

At the end of the year, the faculty will review the “Late Start” policy and

determine whether to continue it next year.

Other major changes at Belmont Hill include new technologies: a wireless network, school-owned tablets, and the opportunity to use privately-owned laptops and tablets in classes. The school was able to become completely wireless this year because of a generous grant offered by an alumnus. This is meant to allow students to work everywhere on campus via private or school-owned computers and tablets.

The implementation of a wireless network has not been a complete success, however. Some students complain that they have difficulty in connecting their wireless devices to the network. Others find the new system advantageous and a peek into the future at Belmont Hill. “I now bring both my laptop and iPad to school,” said junior Joshua Lee, “and I have found it much more convenient. While the trend of bringing personal technology is not yet widespread among the student body, I definitely see it as the future of the school.”

The technological advancements will serve as a building block for changes to come.

For example, later this year, iPads will be used in art and math classes. “We are starting to make technological chang-

Mr. Leonardis sits on a shantytown doorstep and plays with two South African children.

By Charlie Feinberg Panel Staff In early June, ten Belmont Hill students, under the watchful eyes of Mr. Leonardis and Mr. Hegarty, had the privilege to travel for two weeks to Cape Town, South Africa. “It was an amazing experience I will never forget!” remembers senior Jeff Ott. On June 13, a bright Monday morning, Belmont Hill students arrived at Logan Airport and departed for a seven hour flight to Heathrow Airport, London. Then, the boys took a 10hour flight to Cape Town, South Africa.

Having time between flights, the group headed to Piccadilly Circus to see some of the London sights. Quickly, the guys began to bond and became a tight-knit group.

When they stepped off the plane, the Belmont Hill students were sur-

Photos Courtesy of Colin Sargis

Abdurezak Shemsu helps tutor a boy.

There was also a noticeable disparity prised by the climate of South Africa.

Most of the boys brought only shorts in regional differences, from the elite white and t-shirts, and they were all amazed suburbs to the inner city and townships that the temperature was in the mid-50’s. dominated by black Africans and mixed The first week in South Africa con- races. “It was definitely a different place, sisted of sightseeing and exploring the very segregated,” said Jack Kinlan, a junior.

During the secbeautiful city of Cape ond week the Belmont Town. “We went to many different places We had so much fun playing Hill students were at the with beautiful views, we soccer and just helping around Linawo Home for Orsaw baboons and awe- the house. Giving back to the phans, spending time some different birds women who worked for these and playing with many on a hike we took to young orphans was extremely young children who lost Cape Point,” Ott stated. their parents -to HIV rewarding.

While the geographical and AIDS. “We had so much fun playing soccer differences were apparent, the demographic difference of South and just helping around the house. GivAfrica was noticeable as well. It seemed to ing back to the women who worked for the group as a melting pot of several differ- these young orphans was extremely reent races and ethnicities, native Africans, warding,” recalled a student on the trip.

The Belmont Hill students also Dutch Afrikaners, and everything between.

Dominican Republic develops boys’ language and mindset

By Diego Fernández del Castillo Panel Staff

Apple

es, because we need to teach Belmont Hill boys to be able to live in a modern world,” said Mr. Bradley, Head of the Upper School.

“This means that students must learn to be able to do jobs that aren’t even invented yet.”

A welcome change this November is the cutting-edge key-card system that allows students to access certain doors, during specifically sanctioned off-hours. This high tech system also saves time by allowing a staff or maintenance member to open all the doors on campus by a press of a button, instead of swiping their card or using their key on every door. The more important benefit, perhaps, is that it makes the campus safer. The administration can determine who enters what building and when and lost cards can be instantly cancelled.

This year’s changes are steps toward a goal voiced by Mr. Bradley: “We all, teachers and administrators, like making the lives of our students easier.” ☐

visited a few South African schools, where they noticed a massive difference in education between different classes.

“It was really eye-opening,” says Kinlan.

The boys spent a night in a township, exploring the area known as Tambo Village.

There they were fed a traditional African meal by their host mothers. “After the night it was hard to say good-bye to the families, but it was really interesting.” says Ott. On June 25, the boys left Cape Town and flew to Johannesburg for a day on a safari and after this entertaining and exciting excursion into the bush the Belmont Hill boys began the long trip home.

“It was seriously life changing, one of the coolest experiences of my life,” recalls Ott. The boys from the trip wish to stay in contact with the children from the Linawo home and hope to raise money for the organization through fundraisers in the future. ☐

At the beginning of last summer, nine Belmont Hill students from Forms Three through Five, accompanied by language teachers Adam Harder and Nancy Montanaro, travelled to the remote village of Jarabacoa in the Dominican Republic. The primary purpose of the trip was to build a community center for the local people of Jarabacoa, which by the end of the week was built, painted, and roofed.

Another very important aspect of this school trip was to immerse the Belmont Hill boys in the Spanish influenced Dominican culture. Students were paired up and given a host family. For the entire week, they slept, ate, and lived along side their host father, mother, and siblings. This forced the Belmont Hill boys to speak Spanish, because the people of Jarabacoa were not fluent in English.

What surprised the students the most was the simplicity of the local people. All of them lived in modest, onestory houses and had very few possessions. “I was amazed at the humility of the people. The natives of Jarabacoa have almost nothing, yet to me they seemed like the happiest people in the world.

They live in houses with tin roofs which Courtesy of Patrick Brown was barely enough protection from the Patrick Brown and Matt Ryan enjoy their time with the natives of Jarabacoa

frequent rain storms common in Jarabacoa. It was as if I had entered a different world,” said Fifth Former Patrick Browne.

Despite the almost constant work and the time spent with their host families, the Belmont Hill students were still able to partake in some activities together.

“Jarabacoa is located in the middle of the jungle,” continued Patrick. “We went on two hikes, and there was a waterfall where we were able to swim. All in all it was a

I was amazed at the humility of the people. The natives of Jarabacoa have almost nothing, yet to me they seemed like the happiest people in the world. unique experience and I hope to return.”

Not only did they help out the community, but these students received a new view of the world. It’s increasingly common at Belmont Hill to hear about poverty and how students can make a difference. These nine students decided to take the initiative and travel to the remote village of Jarabacoa, where they not only witnessed poverty in very real terms, they did something that had a positive effect on the people they visited. ☐

Winsor Opinion

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For whom would Winsor girls vote if they could?

By Kate Brea Panel Staff How aware are Winsor students of the upcoming senatorial elections? For whom would we vote if we were old enough?

And what do our voting patterns mean?

According to a recent poll asking Winsor students for whom they would vote in the upcoming senatorial elections if they were old enough, 58% “have no idea who [the candidates] are.” 16% would vote for Scott Brown, 12% did not know for whom they would vote, 9% would vote for Setti Warren (who dropped out of the race after most of the votes were taken), and 3% each would

vote for Elizabeth Warren and Bob Massie.

The rest of the candidates received no votes.

That 58% of Winsor students don’t know who these candidates are might be disconcerting because we pride ourselves on being “globally minded” and knowledgeable about the world around us. However, it is very early on in the race and even many adults are not yet thinking about the election, which will be next November.

Most major polling websites have not taken polls yet; the results of the first poll taken on the upcoming senatorial elections only came out on October 1, and they showed candidates Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren neck-and-neck with each other. When candidates begin campaigning next year,

Winsor girls will definitely learn more about the values of the candidates individually and the percentage of Winsor girls who do not know who the candidates are will be lower.

These results suggest that that publicity is one of the most important, though sometimes underrated, aspects of a campaign.

When The Panel surveyed 32 Winsor students about whom they would vote for in the upcoming Senate elections, the results were consistent with the results of the study: the candidates about whom we have heard the most received the most votes.

As the incumbent Massachusetts senator in the next election, Scott Brown is a household name. Most, if not all, Winsor students have heard of him. Likewise, many

Winsor students who live in Newton know Setti Warren as the mayor of Newton. Since many Winsor students have heard of these two candidates but probably have not heard of the others, it is likely that these candidates’ popularity stems from name recognition.

The source of senatorial candidates’ success, according to the poll taken at Winsor, illuminates a helpful hint for Winsor students campaigning for leadership positions: at least at an early stage in an election, publicity is extremely important. If you are hoping to be elected to a position of leadership at Winsor, raising your hand more often in homeroom to suggest ideas or volunteering to lead the UTL cheer or to head a dance planning committee might certainly help your cause. ☐

Learn about candidates running for president!

Barack Obama

-current President of the United States -former senator of Illinois

Mitt Romney

-former governor of Massachusetts -previously entered the presidential race in 2008

Herman Cain

-currently a newspaper columnist -former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza

Rick Perry

-current governor of Texas and chairman of the Republican Governors Association

Michele Bachmann

Newt Gingrich

Jon Huntsman, Jr.

-current congresswoman, elected in 2006 as the first Republican woman to be elected into the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota

-currently a college professor and chairman of American Solutions for Winning the Future -former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

-former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and China -former governor of Utah

-known for riding his bike to meetings while in China

Ron Paul

Rick Santorum

-current congressman from Texas -previously entered the presidential race in 1988 as a Libertarian and in 2008 as a Republican

-currently an attorney -former senator of Pennsylvania

Obama on his candidacy:

Romney on his candidacy:

Cain on his candidacy:

Perry on his candidacy:

Bachmann on her candidacy:

Gingrich on his candidacy:

Huntsman on his candidacy:

Paul on his candidacy:

Santorum on his candidacy:

“The cause of making a lasting difference for our families, our communities, and our country has never been about one person. And it will succeed only if we work together.”

“Like you, I recognize that America’s economy is in crisis.”

“I am the only nonpolitician on this stage tonight.”

“I simply want to get America working again and make Washington D.C. as inconsequential in your life as I can.”

“I brought the voice of the tea party to the United States Congress.”

“In the spirit of 9/12 [the date of the debate], I hope to work with you to fundamentally, profoundly change Washington.”

“Yesterday, we were reminded how extraordinary this country is…Today, ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply divided.”

“My goal has always been to promote the cause of liberty and to obey the Constitution.”

“I won two elections [in Pennsylvania] without having to change my policies or my party to win.”

Photo Credits: whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia, thepanhandlepolitico.com, conservativedailynews.com, tpm.com, obrag.com, Wikipedia, wired.com, biographyzone.com

Winsor girls have begun to make trick-or-treating plans and have started to dig out their old Halloween costumes, knowing that Halloween is just around the corner. As girls try to figure out how to balance homework and trickor-treating, a question comes to mind: are teenagers too old to trick-or-treat?

Toddlers dressed up in big, plush dinosaur costumes are always greeted with smiles and candy, but often teenagers are perceived as troublemakers—rabblerousers trying to deprive the younger kids of treats. Ms. Ryan, English teacher and dean of the class of 2014, admits, “When teenagers just show up without costumes (or with thrown-together costumes) and grab candy, the magic is lost and the night is not as fun for little kids.” I am sure that the majority of trick-or-treaters have encountered obnoxious teenagers taking more than their fair share of candy, or stealing pennies from UNICEF offerings.

Are sports a central part of life at Winsor?

By Holly Breuer & Susannah Howe Panel Staff As we sat in assembly several Thursdays ago, more than a few looks of awe passed between students in the audience as Genevra Stone ’03—world-class rower and Winsor alumna—took the stage as the featured speaker. Her speech and several other speeches by current Winsor athletes were originally intended simply to inspire students and celebrate Winsor athletics. However, this first “sports assembly” of the year brought to light questions of whether or not sports are really an integral part of Winsor life and how they are valued in comparison to other commitments, especially other extracurriculars.

As several students explained during the assembly, the benefits of sports go far beyond physical health: student athletes learn lessons such as resilience and teamwork, and they have the opportunity to make friends from other grades.

Being a member of Winsor’s sports teams teaches us lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom. We learn what it means to support our teammates, to lead them, and to have their backs—no matter what.

Lindsey Ruggles ’14 concurs: “Sports are, socially, a very important part of Win-

Winsor varsity field hockey

Gus Freedman

sor—there’s something about being with the certain group of girls on your team for several hours after school every day, and winning and losing together, that brings us together in ways nothing else does.” At Winsor, athletics are not only about the score but also about the priceless lessons that teams teach, about the benefits of hard work, practice, teamwork, and trust.

But with a litany of tasks to complete every day—a full academic course load in

Should Winsor students hit the beach or the books?

It is easy to understand why many people are uncomfortable with the idea of teenagers trick-or-treating and possibly ruining the evening for the smaller kids. Veronica Lorenzini ’14, however, disagrees. She explains her perspective on Halloween as a teenager: “I think that we’re not too old to trick-ortreat... It’s fun to do with friends, and the candy is a plus. I don’t think trickor-treating is as important for us as it is for little kids; I think Halloween is more about hanging out with friends.”

In the fall, students are usually so busy with homework that it seems impossible to find time to see friends. Taking a night to walk around the neighborhood with your buddies may seem like a perfect solution. And, let us be honest, the free candy is certainly a plus. The bottom line is this: it is okay for teenagers to trick-ortreat as long as they are mindful of the younger kids, take the time to put together some sort of costume, and behave well.

So get out your costumes, Winsor girls—it is candy time! ☐

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addition to extracurricular clubs, arts, and sports—there are enormous demands on our time. Everything extracurricular seems to come second to anything academic, and, as the controversy about the changes in Chorale’s scheduling shows, students often have to choose between sports and other extracurricular activities.

Sports teach so many valuable lessons that it often seems to make sense to sacrifice other activities in order to par-

ticipate in athletics. However, many of these lessons and benefits are not unique to sports. For those in the arts, those activities have in many ways played the same role that sports do for other, more athletically-inclined students. Missed entrances or flubbed lines in the middle of a live show teach confidence under pressure and how to think on one’s feet. The arts enable us to make friends from other grades. They also teach time management—most athletes do not have to deal with a schedule as crazy as tech week of a school play. Not to mention all of the skills one learns from drama: creativity, speaking skills, and how to act non-awkwardly around boys.

We focus on sports and the performing arts because these have been the activities that play the biggest roles in our lives, but for other students, their passions might be community service, a science internship, debate—any of the countless extracurricular opportunities available to Winsor students. The point is that, even though sports play a central role in many students’ lives, there is plenty to do even if one chooses not to participate in sports.

As Allison McGuirk ’15 says, “As a Winsor student, academics, clubs, and sports can be hard to balance.” However, achieving that crucial balance is a fundamental part of the Winsor experience. ☐

By Holly Breuer & Alice Lu, Panel Staff

Too old to trick-or-treat?

By Lindsey Ruggles Contributing Writer

Winsor Opinion

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tibet-incense.com

David Sillitoe

For Winsor students, should summer be the third semester?

By Elizabeth Hiss & Alice Lu Panel Staff

“Please do not steal our candy!”

thepumpkinlady.com

ourfamilyworld.com

It is early June and after a hectic last few weeks of studying for exams and SAT subject tests, the first thing most Winsor girls want to do is to spend the brief summer vacation doing nothing. But can we really spend our summer break relaxing?

As high school students we devote much of our time during the school year to preparing ourselves for college and the rest of our lives. We spend hours studying to earn good grades and pile on extracurricular activities to add to our resume.

So after two semesters of these grueling activities, we get about two months to decompress and catch up on lost hours of sleep. But as we get older, it seems that the summer ceases to be a time for long lazy days and instead becomes a third semester of resume building—a time to get a job or an internship, or to

do volunteer work. There is an added pressure as we get older to fill our summer break with a myriad of activities.

This summer many upper school students took the initiative and decided to fill their summer breaks with meaningful experiences. Christina Schiciano ’13 had two jobs, working as a hostess at a golf club and as a sales assistant in a clothing store. “I decided to work because I wanted to have the experience of working and supporting myself,” said Schiciano. Erina Li ’13 saw the two months ahead of her as an opportunity to pursue something completely new and exciting which she could not fit in during the school year.

“I participated in a leadership summit in Philadelphia and went on a backpacking trip through Asia,” said Li. She says she was genuinely interested in these two programs, but she also recognized that they would be a nice addition to her resume.

Over the summer, Cheryl Hagan ’13 traveled to London for the London Cul-

tural Connections program where, she remembers, “we learned, but we also got to just hang out with each other and get to know each other.” According to Hagan, summer is “for both relaxing and learning.” English teacher Ms Chugani agrees with this sentiment; summer is a time to “expand learning from the school year and to relax, and I think that these two things are not necessarily at odds with each other.” She believes that summer should be for doing something different from what the school days present. Georgia Williams ’14 also spent her summer in an environment very different from our classrooms, yet intrinsically connected. She applied what she learned in French class during Winsor’s biennial French Exchange Program. Not all students traveled to faraway places, however. Michelle Peters ’12 interned at an immunology lab right across the street at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. These different activities corroborate the idea that summer is a time to try

something new, whether it is traveling to a foreign country or interning at a lab.

High school students also receive pressure from parents to take advantage of the empty summer days and fill them with valuable experiences.

When asked what they thought was the best use of the summer break, a group of Class V parents suggested going to camp or doing volunteer work. Similarly a Class VII parent said, “The summer is a great time to get some work experience, either through interning in a field that interests you or volunteering.”

When we start to think about our plans for next summer, however far away it may seem, I would advise that everyone remember that the break is two whole months long. Two months in which we can take a step outside the classroom and into the real world. I believe the summer is first and foremost a time of opportunity—a chance for each one of us to try something new. ☐

stencilkingdom.com

Belmont Hill Opinion

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Taking a holistic approach to specialization

Does Belmont Hill advertise itself as more racially diverse than it really is?

13%

Lawrence

16.5%

Brooks

18%

Belmont Hill

19%

BB&N

26%

Nobles

27%

Governers St. Georges

29.5%

30%

Roxbury Latin

32%

Groton

32%

St. Pauls

Milton

36%

The percent of racial minorities at various schools in the ISL. Four schools did not provide statistics when asked.

By Joshua Lee Panel Staff Take off your rose-colored glasses. Belmont Hill is not perfect. Students standing upon this Hill are constantly being held to high standards, carefully examined under the magnifying glass of character and virtue. Yet how often do these students look down to scrutinize the foundation on which they are standing? Belmont Hill wants nothing but the best for the members of its community, yet at times it becomes so entangled in bettering the school that it forgets some of the values and beliefs that have made it the institution that it is today.

Belmont Hill believes that a strong community cultivates diversity in a wide range of areas, yet, when considering the most common measure of diversity, race, Belmont Hill still has much room to improve. The student body sits near the bottom in the ISL in consideration of racial minorities and does not represent the world into which its students will enter.

The real issue though lies not in Belmont Hill’s lack of diversity, but rather in how the school portrays its diversity – or lack thereof. Belmont Hill’s website is laden with pictures and videos featuring a range of minorities one does not see when walking the campus. The reason the school does this stems not from a desire to deceive, but rather a desire to include. By showing itself in its best light, Belmont Hill believes that it can attract a stronger and even more diverse group of potential applicants.

Mr. Mahoney, the Director of Communications, chooses the pictures for the school website, and says that he definitely takes the race of students into consideration when choosing pictures to feature.

“Most certainly,” he said. “We want to show prospective students that this is a diverse place and that it [diversity] is an initiative that is important to the school.”

Like a business tries to sell its products, Belmont Hill is trying to sells the unique community that it fosters. Yet even the best intentions do not always lead to the best actions. Yonas Dinkneh, one of the heads of Students Actively Fostering Equality (S.A.F.E.), said, “I think that if they [Belmont Hill] were

to tell people that we are a diverse school it would be wrong, because that’s not 100% true.”

Showing the school as something is not, no matter for what reason, is not honest and is not in line with the values Belmont Hill has tried to instill in its own students for years. When the school decided to start representing the school in a way not completely accurate, it inadvertently left some of its integrity behind. Belmont Hill needs focus on creating a school in which prospective students could envision themselves instead of trying to project one.

Dr. Melvoin, the head of school, does not think there is anything wrong with this choosing of pictures, calling the practice “aspirational” and not “deceptive”. He argues that the school is featuring what

I think that if they [Belmont Hill] were to tell people that we are a diverse school it would be wrong, because that’s not 100% true. it hopes to be someday, not what it is today. Mr. Bynum, the Head of Community and Diversity, agrees: “Just because you see these faces of color [on the website] doesn’t mean that we have 50-50% people of color. That’s not what we’re arguing,” he said.

Yet the reasoning behind an action and how that action is perceived are two entirely different things; a picture may be able to say a thousand words, but it cannot convey meaning or intent. A prospective student browsing the school website will look at the diversity of students in the pictures and think that the school is diverse, not just that it wants to be.

“It’s always a double-edged sword,” Mr. Mahoney said. “You don’t want people [prospective students] looking at our website, thinking ‘I’m not going to fit in. Look at their website, they aren’t showing a mix of students.’”

Dr. Melvoin continued in justifying the school’s actions by comparing Belmont Hill to its peer institutions: “we’re no different than most other schools in the way we approach this.”

The rationalization that “most other schools do it” is a weak one, especially coming from Belmont Hill. Students at this school are directed to set individual goals

“Belmont Hill seeks a community that reflects the diversity of the larger world” -Belmont Hill website

Racial minorities at Belmont Hill

Racial minorities in the U.S. (2010)

41%

for their lives, pursuing them with zeal and hard work, no matter what others may say.

And yet Belmont Hill is justifying its actions by looking at how other schools operate? This is hypocritical and unethical. The school usually sets a great example in living out the virtues it preaches, but it takes far less time to degrade a reputation than it does to build one up.

So is Belmont Hill lying when it portrays itself as diverse? Maybe not, because the case could be made that Belmont Hill is diverse in areas other than race. For example, 30% of students at Belmont Hill currently receive financial aid, showing the strides that the school has made in economic diversity. Yet even Dr. Melvoin agrees that when considering diversity, a casual reader of the school’s website will think of race before other aspects, such as religion or economic standing.

“Yes, I think that it is the natural inclination,” he said, “but for our school, we want to look more broadly.” This is a fine sentiment, yet one that can hardly be conveyed easily to third-party onlookers; people will see black and white, not the fine details of gray that the school may be aiming for.

So if this is not lying, per se, is portraying the school as racially diverse deceptive? To an extent, yes, it is.

Belmont Hill’s diversity is still a long way from where it needs to be, though it has improved greatly over the years. I have no doubt at all that with the work of Dr. Melvoin, Mr. Bynum, organizations such as S.A.F.E., and the whole community, Belmont Hill will continue to increase the variety of students who call Belmont Hill home.

What worries me more is the moral issue that is raised when considering how the school is projecting itself. Belmont Hill has been trying to go so fast down the track to a stronger community, that is has raced past the virtues that have made it what it is today. Though it is now the norm in both schools and corporations to show only some select parts of the truth, if starts Belmont Hill falling into the trap of following the norm, what is next? The school needs to portray itself to the public more accurately, no matter what others do or say, staying on the course of high virtue that it has been on since its creation. ☐

What do you think?

Is Belmont Hill ethnically diverse?

Yes - 69%

19%

No - 31%

36%

I believe that the diversity at Belmont Hill is not extremely varied.

The school should try and seek out diverse students that embrace and believe in the Belmont Hill philosophy.

Racial minorities in the U.S. (2050)

47%

Population growth due to immigrants and their children in the U.S. (2050)

Pag e 1 1

Sports Specialization

False Advertising Rivers

Belmont Hill Opinion

How does Belmont Hill advertise its diversity?

Less than reality - 5% Accurately - 49%

More than reality - 46%

82%

I feel that Belmont Hill should not advertise itself as a diverse place necessarily, but rather as a place where you can be accepted Results and quotes were gathered from a random group of 80 Belmont Hill students

By Jacob Pagano Panel Staff When we hear of athletes who have “burnt out” or dealt with excessive and repeated injuries, the first idea that comes to mind is specialization. Often times, these athletes have been put under such great pressure to excel and to be offered a scholarship that one sport dominates their lives, unhealthily so. There are tangible risks associated with young athletes being exposed to such a specialization model. Likewise, the “Renaissance” athlete is important at Belmont Hill. Specialization is less valued; rather, well-rounded and diverse talents are the crux of a “good” athlete. All this is true.

But is it just sports specialization, or is there something more complex involved here? Maybe it’s not specialization itself, but how youth athletes focus on a particular event or position.

There is a proper way to approach one sport and pursue it wholeheartedly that is thoughtful and balanced. After all, there are many examples of tennis greats, long-distance runners and gymnasts who from a young age have adopted this model of proper specialization and have seen tremendous benefits accrue.

So is specialization inherently harmful? When young kids, middle-schoolers or pre-pubescent athletes, are exposed to extreme training regiments, the traditional fate of specialization is sealed;

indeed, burnout seems inevitable. When sport frequently results in failure. The first done properly, however, sports special- prerequisite for the success of sports specialization can yield immense benefits. ization is individual choice. In order Studies show us that doing one for that choice to be made, a player sport at too young an age and at too must have some understanding, high an intensity leads to injury and some true experience in a game. risk. The proposed solution of many Childhood must be a time of unis to move away from this practice structured play, a period of exand encourage an athlete to play a posure. Only then can an athvariety of sports, but others say lete understand what he or that it is possible to specialize she is getting into. Moreover, properly, to take a holistic apthe holistic method would proach to that one sport. This not only allow but require includes the cognitive, physical structured breaks, and social aspects of a game.

This acknowledges the importance of the role that sport plays in one’s life; it does not compromise mental or physical health.

The most prominent benemental down-time fits may be scholarship and physical rest. possibilities and the Sp e c i a l i z i ng joy of invidual achieve- m e n t in one sport can yield but perhaps the most resoundvery real benefits. An ing and lasting on an athlete’s life athlete who does it is gaining the ability to prepare, wisely—and effecto train, to ice, to heal—to take tively cross trains, a holistic approach to that one bikes, runs, lifts—can sport he or she loves, and to do eliminate the many it to the very best of their ability. risks associated with What constitutes a holistic overuse and cogapproach? First, an athlete must nitive burncommit himself; an external inout. Then, the fluence such as a coach or parent genuine benwho zealously encourages a football efits of mastery over one skill, one or soccer player to only participate in that sport, one move, will resonate. ☐

Working out and burning out: the dangers of specialization

By Arman Ashrafi Panel Staff Athletics have come to assume a monstrous role in the lives of many teenagers in America. At the same time, there is a growing debate about specialization in sport, from both professional athletes and our coaches here on the hill. Is it a positive or negative thing for young athletes? The most prevalent arguments heard against increased specialization heard locally are the potential health risks, the possibility of “burning out” and the contraction it poses to Belmont Hill’s goals and principles. For the developing athlete and student, many in coaching say this approach will not bode well for the future.

Students who do specialize can end up jeopardizing their own health, and sport-related injuries can hinder growth during the adolescent years. Mr. Kirby, the varsity track coach, stresses this point.

“If you apply the same stresses to your body repetitively and frequently, it is not healthy at all.” Some say that this is the price you pay to become a better athlete, but the argument is short-sighted.

First of all, athleticism can be enhanced by many different sports and techniques, not just by the repetition of one event.

It’s not worth it to risk your health for one sport if in the end, you may find yourself unable to participate in the very activity you find so compelling. Many kids feel, however, that they are forced to specialize because of the perception, as Mr. Richards, the varsity crew coach, puts it, “that you have to be playing yearround for colleges to look at you.” Despite the slim chances of being recruited, this hope remains a powerful emotional incentive at the level of play our teams

enjoy. Many others feel the ultimate goal of playing sports should not be that desire to be recruited, but the joy of applying yourself to the game, an activity which you find enjoyable and relaxing.

Another important point is that “burning out” has become a new norm

ply. Sometime towards the end of their high school careers or in the middle of college, these athletes hit that breaking point, and find themselves lost, stranded with no idea of what to do when the game has lost its appeal. Asked about the severity of this issue, Mr. Richards said, “I just think it’s crazy to have eight-, nine-, and ten-year-old kids playing the same sport all year; I don’t see

Athletes sound off Edward Coumbia Squash “When an athlete reaches his mid to late teens and feels in his core that he is connected to a particular sport, that he loves it with a burning passion, at that point he should be at liberty to put other athletics to the wayside. This does not mean totally abandoning other sports; rather, it means relegating them to casual fun, while elevating the one sport to a priority level entirely its own.”

Max Bell Football and Crew “Playing varsity football and rowing. I think specialization is necessary nowadays to keep up with the recruiting standard.

Kids simply cannot get better by playing a sport only one season a year to be at the level necessary to be a highly recruited athlete. That is not to say that it is a good thing. Kids get sport specific injuries from overtraining and sometimes these can be career altering or ending for that sport, but D1 sports are a year round training commitment.”

Cam Scari Cross Country and Wrestling “I kind of regret my decision not to specialize in wrestling though because I probably could have gotten good enough for it to help me get into school had I put more time into the sport, and I probably could have racked up some fairly noteworthy accomplishments, which may have made

I just think it’s crazy to have eight-, nine-, the extra training seem less burdensome. If and ten-year-old kids playing the same you’re true to yourself and you really think sport all year. I personally encourage the you have a shot to get into college for a rowers to try different sports in the fall and sport if you specialize, I would say go for it winter. assuming you like the sport.”

in high school athletes. Students who play one sport year round can end up running out of that passion and desire they once had in seemingly infinite sup-

the point in doing that.” When asked about specializing in crew, he said, “I personally encourage the rowers to try different sports in the fall and winter, those which physically push the boys in ways they won’t be while rowing.”

Lastly, many feel that the entire mindset of athletic specialization is in stark contrast to what Belmont Hill values: personal growth through new challenges, new things and participation in a variety of different activities, the development of a well-rounded personality and a broad range of skills. In athletics, these principles come down to the idea that playing one sport all year round might prevent a boy from finding his true identity. Moreover, in a social context, the athletes who specialize in only one sport can end up being surrounded by the same narrow group of friends for their entire high school or collegiate careers.

It all boils down to one question: ‘is it worth it?’ In the long run, it is just not worth all its potential setbacks, physically or socially. ☐

John Cresap Soccer, Cross Country Skiing, and Crew “Sports specialization is a non-issue.

Although there might be teams at Belmont Hill that are missing out some talent, if someone wants to specialize it doesn’t have any significant repercussions. If anything, it’s impressive that someone would dedicate all the time it takes to specialize.”

Joe McNamara Hockey and Tennis “I agree with people that say complete specialization is bad, but a little specialization is absolutely neccessary in hockey.

If you look at college and professional hockey, the overwhelming majority specialized by the time they were sophomores

Winsor Arts

Pa g e 1 2

Th e Pan el

Which new movies made the grade this summer?

Bridesmaids

By Anushree Gupta, Kelly Chen, & Sea- Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa Jay Van der Ploeg McCarthy Panel Staff Genre: Comedy Plot: About five bridesmaids’ wild journey Even though the sweet summer breeze to their friend’s wedding, including a is by now only a faint memory, on the bright crazy plane ride to Las Vegas and the least side, the plethora of films released during successful bridal gown fitting...ever. the summer can help us remember our va- Grade: A-. Wiig delievers an amazing cation. In the following reviews, we assess performance and Emmy-winner McCarthy movies ranging from action-packed sequels is hilarious throughout. and prequels to funny romantic comedies.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel Genre: Science-Fiction/Action Plot: Evil robots use special technology to try and take over the world, but good robots step in to save Earth from destruction and the human race from enslavement and death.

Grade: B. Although the acting was unimpressive and the plot was standard, dramatic special effects and good use of 3-D technology helped the film.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Stars: James Franco, Tom Felton Genre: Science-Fiction Plot: A scientist tries to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and, as a result, geneticallyenhanced chimpanzees rapidly gain intelligence, leading to inter-species war.

Grade: A. Stunning special effects, believable acting, and tender moments between ape and man are worth seeing.

IMDB

Bad Teacher Stars: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segal Genre: Comedy Plot: Irresponsible teacher tries to capture the attention of her wealthy colleague through sabatoge and seduction while trying to win "Best Teacher" award so she can afford plastic surgery.

Grade: B+. Funny moments, such as Timberlake's trying to sing badly and Diaz's playing dodgeball in four-inch stilettoes, made the film enjoyable. Although the quality of the acting was slightly disappointing, the well-written script and great comedic timing made up for it.

Crazy, Stupid, Love Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Steve Carell Genre: Romantic comedy Plot: Perpetual womanizer helps man going through a divorce rediscover his masculinity; hilarity ensues as the womanizer falls in love and Carell’s character tries to win back his wife.

Grade: A. There were engaging characters, great comedic timing, and an unexpected ending. And Ryan Gosling is always admirably dapper.

Hanna Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett Genre: Action thriller

IMDB

The next time you're looking for good films to watch, be sure to see these! ☐

Just as our tans fade and we fall back into the routine of school, TV shows begin their fall seasons to reward us (or maybe to distract us). Along with a bevy of new shows, many fan favorites like 90210, Gossip Girl, and Grey’s Anatomy return, in their fourth, fifth, and eighth seasons respectively. Although some people may think these plots have gone stale, the premiere episodes have shown that these veteran shows are just as good as ever.

90210 portrays the lavish lifestyles of a group of high school friends as they start college: Dixon and Naomi purchase new houses, Liam is planning to propose to Annie, and Silver and Navid are sharing an apartment. The episode delivers on the expectations of 90210’s faithful viewers, as the characters’ relationships remain

Who cares about school when there's gossip?

entertainingly over-dramatic and turbulent.

Gossip Girl, which left last season with a possible pregnancy cliffhanger, reopened with Blair planning her wedding to the prince of Monaco, Serena working on a Hollywood movie set, and Chuck and Nate partying on a yacht. The episode had the usual little moments everyone loves about Gossip Girl: gorgeous dresses, swanky parties, Dan's puppy-dog face, and even a return of the popular catch-phrase, “I’m Chuck Bass.”

The season is sure to have more scandal as the episodes progress. Although the cliffhanger is resolved that Blair is pregnant, she does not know who the father is; meanwhile, Chuck and Dan continue to pine for her.

Grey’s Anatomy also left last season on a cliffhanger, with the marriages of two main characters, Christina and Meredith, on the rocks. While Cristina and Owen reconcile in the season premiere, Meredith and Derek are still fighting, though ABC has promised to reconcile the couple as the season progresses. Their reunion will definitely be a scene to watch for the followers of Grey’s Anatomy.

Beautiful people, rocky relationships, and parties we can only wish to attend all provide a dramatic escape that followers are sure to find entertaining even as these shows age.

There are plenty of episodes to watch for new viewers as well.

If you need an excuse not to IMDB do your homework, turn on your television and tune in! ☐

Pag e 1 3

Mutants unite, first-class style

In recent years, comic book geeks (like this reviewer) have been delighted by the success of comic book movies. The previously-unseen levels of success that these films have been enjoying may be attributed in part to The Dark Knight’s artistic achievements and the advent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which have jointly brought comic books legitimacy in the eyes of many. This summer represented a high point in this trend, with the release of four new superhero movies.

Thor portrays the eponymous god’s coming-of-age during his banishment to Earth. Comic book fans had long worried about whether the character could be accurately depicted in a film, considering his famously archaic mannerisms,

Starspage.net

but the film generally celebrated, rather than mocked, its protagonist. With delightful secondary characters (including a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from fellow Avenger Hawkeye) and stunning special effects, Thor was a solid, though not remarkable, comic book movie.

X-Men: First Class depicted the formation of the X-Men and offered a more ambitious message. Thematically, the film used the mutants to discuss the dilemmas minorities face; the film’s ’60s setting invited comparisons to both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. because Magneto represented separationist thinking while Professor X advocated assimilation. While some theater-goers did complain about the film’s weak portrayal of female characters, overall X-Men: First Class was one of the most intellectually interesting films of the summer, providing far more substance

than the average summer blockbuster.

Green Lantern, which followed the reckless Hal Jordan as he became a member of a galactic police force and learned how to overcome fears, was the summer’s only disappointment. A confusing plot and bad acting from both the movie’s villain and Hal’s love interest doomed the movie, despite its hero’s interesting, original superpower (the ability to construct any object he could imagine). The film’s failure to adapt its source material faithfully - the characteristics it assigned Hal Jordan, its hero, were actually those of Kyle Rayner, a different Green Lantern from the comic series - further marred its box office performance, ensuring that even comic book fans were disappointed with the movie.

Captain America showed the adventures of Steve Rogers, a scrawny young man with an over-sized spirit who became super-soldier Captain America during World War II. The film avoided the pitfall of unthinking nationalism and

instead focused on Cap’s stubborn moral code. Furthermore, the movie showcased strong performances from all its principal actors and still found time, amidst all the explosions and chaos, to deliver an insightful message about wartime propaganda.

It also featured several wickedly funny moments, which made the film sparkle.

Captain America's earnestness made it engaging and refreshing, and, in the end, the best superhero movie of the summer.

The summer’s crop of superhero movies foreshadows what is to come next year, with the arrival of The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises, making 2012 the superhero movie year of the decade. Until those movies arrive, though, Winsor girls who enjoyed this summer’s movies should consider picking up a comic or two and following the adventures of newly-discovered heroes even further; a Newbury Comics store is just a thirty-minute walk fromWinsor, and the world of comics is always full of thoughtprovoking, action-packed adventures.☐

Teachers' summer readings

By Louisa Kania & Shea Necheles Panel Staff With so many genres lining the shelves of bookstores, there are always books for everyone. But with so many choices, it can often be daunting to pick out a good book. To help you choose, Winsor teachers from different departments have offered some of their favorite reads:

Returning TV shows to see

By Katie Weed & Andrea Zhu Panel Staff

Winsor Arts

New superhero movies zooming into theaters

By Abigail Gabrieli Panel Staff

Collider.com

IMDB

Plot: Trained by her father since birth to be the perfect assassin, Hanna is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a brutal intelligence agent and her team.

Grade: C. There was frequent violence committed by or aimed at a young child, and the dialogue moved slowly.

O c tob er 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

Senior Small an Joe d Small Chor us perform in Broughton fall concert

Thank you for the music!

By Alice Lu Panel Staff Ms. Brady’s percussion class welcomed students as they entered the Assembly for the annual fall concert on Thursday, October 13 with the pieces “Naya Binghi” and “Coyote Dance.” The percussion performance was followed by Descants’ “Go Gently into the Morning” and “A Wink and A Smile” conducted by Ms. Becker. Afterschool Chorale, with Ms. Taillacq conducting, took the stage and sang “‘Cross the Wide Missouri” accompanied by Michelle Peters ’12 on flute.

Small Chorus sang four songs. The first was “Wie will ich mich freuen” by Johann Sebastian Bach, sung in German, followed by “How Do I Love Thee,” a song based on the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Small Chorus ended by singing the classic “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz paired with a spirited performance of “Everybody Rejoice” from The Wiz with soloists Lena Afeyan ’13, Ming Lewis ’14, Katherine Gross ’14, and Evan Joy McLaurin ’12. Senior Small debuted with a fantastic rendition of the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back” soloed by Hadley Williams, Emma Finder, and Bailey Scott.☐

Teacher: Ms. Skeele Department: English Recommendation: A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter

by William Deresiewicz Summary: An “utterly charming story of how a young, immature, arrogant graduate student grows up and begins to understand himself better by learning to read and understand Austen.”

Reason: It is “just a delightful story” and “even if you’ve read Austen many times, it will make you want to read her again.”

Teacher: Mr. Bowman Department: History Recommendation: Killing the Cranes: A Reporter’s Journey through Three Decades of War in Afghanistan by Edward Girardet Summary: A “particularly interesting” book about Afghanistan from the viewpoint of a reporter who has travelled there for the past 30 years.

Reason: “Since we’re involved there now, it’s very very interesting to see what [Girardet’s] perceptions are about Afghanistan and having troops there," Mr. Bowman noted, again adding that he enjoyed Girardet’s perspective on Afghanistan and "whether or not foreign powers can do anything."

Teacher: Ms. Stern Department: Director of the Library

IMDB

Recommendation: State of Wonder by Ann Captain America always shields the world from evil Patchett Summary: A “suspenseful” novel about a pharmaceutical research scientist who gets sent on a mission into the Amazon jungle to find we love about Harry Potter: Hogwarts her former mentor, a woman who mysteriously

By Abigail Parker Castle, the spunk of Professor McGonadisappeared while working on the development Panel Staff gall, Neville’s developing bravery, and even of an extremely valuable new drug.

Oliver Wood, who had not been seen since Reason: It was “well-written but not dense” Only one important thing hapthe second film but was brought back for and “not a big challenge, but not fluff either.” pened this summer: an era came to a one brief moment for nostalgia’s sake.

Furthermore, it had an “interesting main close.

With the release of Harry Potter Like all the other Potter movies, this character” and a “fun setting.” and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July one had its deviations from the plot of the 15, Warner Bros. Pictures completed books, causing some confusion of the timeTeacher: Ms. Rawlings its retelling of the Harry Potter saga. line of Harry’s search for Ravenclaw’s diaDepartment: Science After ten years’ worth of mov- dem. The final scenes of the series, however, Recommendation: Status Anxiety by Alain de ies, the eighth film finally concluded were given the glory they deserved. While Botton the story.

Fans’ nostalgia was played some explanation of the plot was glossed Summary: A book that examines our up by the media in the months lead- over, no one could miss the poignant drama transition from aristocracy to meritocracy and ing up to the movie’s release; maga- that built up, accompanied by quiet, otherthe way in which people, desperate for love and zines published tributes to the series worldly music, as the final spells were cast. recognition of existence, seeks to prove their Harry Potter and the Deathly Halas it came to a close, and fatalistic billstatus through their material belongings. lows: Part 2 was a beautiful finish to the boards reminded us that “It All Ends.”

Reason : The book can be used to contextualize movie versions of the series that has enThe film itself was worthy of the both environmental science and the world at grossed the world for over a decade. Even buildup.

The movie series had many ups large, a world in which “over-consumption for those who, like me, have more proband downs: new directors, a new actor is a rapidly worsening problem that must be lems with the movie versions than complito play Dumbledore, and new dark, angaddressed.” sty scenes, but it ended on a high note. ments, the last film was a reminder of what The last film was arguably the best in the movies have added to the series. In the Teacher: Ms. Kerble the series. It brought back everything end, just as in the books, “All was well.” ☐ Department: Math Recommendation: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay Summary: An “awesome” book about a journalist who, when investigating the atrocities of French treatment of Jewish citizens during World War II, finds a personal connection that threatens to shatter her carefully-constructed world.

Reason: A well-written historical fiction book that “makes you learn a lot about history that you weren’t aware of.”

A spell-binding conclusion

With these suggestions as a guide, the overwhelming bookstore might seem a little less "[Potter] has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here" - S. Snape daunting on your next visit!☐

IMDB

Belmont Hill Arts

Pa g e 1 4

Th e Pan el

Sextant revival still going strong

by Kyle Wheeler Panel Staff

Bill Mahoney

Richard Greenblatt plays drums

Chapel showcases faculty

by Ryan Baxter-King Panel Staff On September 30th, the school gathered in the chapel for a short, fifteen minute concert. Four music teachers showcased their skills: Ian Carroll (tenor saxophone), Rich Greenblatt (drums), Matthew Wright (bass), and Dan Loschen (piano). These men played Miles Davis’s “Four” before transitioning to a second song. Joining them on this second piece were three senior musicians: Tucker Gordon (trumpet), Kyle Wheeler (baritone saxophone) and Chris Bean (drums).

It is only in the past couple years that students have started playing in the faculty chapel. While Paul Donelly (bass), Matt Pawlowski (saxophone), and Tucker played with them last year, it is still a relatively new phenomenon.

“In the past we had some outside musicians fill out the band,” Mr. Fiori recalled. The involvement of students in the traditionally teacherdriven chapel is an exciting signal about the growth of Belmont Hill’s music program.

The faculty music chapel is not the only indicator of the growth of Belmont

Over the course of last year, The Sextant, Belmont Hill’s Upper School literary magazine, staged a dramatic revival under the leadership of editors Joe Troderman, Andrew McNamara ‘11, and Ryan Baxter-King. Two years ago, The Sextant didn’t publish at all, and many on campus were concerned that with no evident student leaders, the literary magazine would cease to exist. In the face of that void, a dedicated group of sophomores joined with the only remaining staff member, Andrew McNamara, to rebuild the organization.

The team pushed out two issues, one in the fall and one in the spring, highlighting the work of many fantastic writers and photographers in the Belmont Hill community. However, they also knew that they needed something more to regain the attention of the community. Under the direction of Andrew Raftery (succeeding Andrew McNamara this year as the third student leader), the staff launched a website www.thesextant. net to better reach out to students, and to showcase other media, such as music and videos, which cannot be contained within the pages of a print magazine.

Looking forward, these innovators

Hill’s music department. Students have been edging into other programs that had previously been dominated by professionals. The music at Commencement used to be provided by a hired band, but for the past two years, it has been played by the school orchestra. Mr. Patterson has, in the past, included orchestral instruments in choral performances. Similarly, there may also be an opportunity for student musicians to play at the B-Flats’ Winter Concert.

Belmont Hill has traditionally been viewed as a powerhouse in academics and athletics. However, it would be foolish to overlook the arts community. Every day when we walk down the halls, we are surrounded by the most obvious sign of artistic talent: the thousands of panels lining the walls. It is to the school’s credit that it provides the opportunity for boys to be student-athlete-artists. That being said, the arts program can be overshadowed by the school’s reputation. If the school is to continue to grow its opportunities for students, the arts program deserves a degree of attention and investment.☐ The Most Recent Sextant Issues

Nathan Yuen continues music at Tufts

by Ryan Baxter-King Panel Staff

Nate Yuen in his senior year

Bill Mahoney

When Nathan Yuen graduated last year, he had amassed a considerable reputation and an impressive list of ‘firsts’ as one of the school’s top musicians. Within the school, he was in the first Belmont Hill Classical Ensemble. He was also a founding member of the smaller Chamber Ensemble.

He continued his participation through his senior year; “Nate had been a guiding force in our growing music program, and a role model for our younger musi-

have several ideas to expand the possibilities still further. To facilitate smoother collection, editing, and publishing (online and in the magazine), the staff has established a more well-defined structure of positions similar to that found on The Panel. This year, we can expect to see several contests organized around three

This year, we can expect to see several contests organized around three main categories: photography, poetry, and prose. main categories: photography, poetry, and prose. The contests will involve student submissions on a specific topic, with the winner guaranteed publication in the magazine. The Sextant’s heads are also in discussions with student editors at Winsor and Nobles about a possible collaboration on joint magazines for later this year.

Despite all these new programs and progress, the main directive of The Sextant remains to find and showcase creative student work. If you have any writing, be it fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, or if you have photos, videos or musical recordings that you wish to share, the staff would be happy to see your work. Contact any of the editors about your ideas.☐

George (Matt Hayes) and Emily (Susanne Howe), lost in love. There is the folksy warmth to the newspaper boy’s cries of, “Mornin Doc,” as he does his Thorton Wilder’s Our Town, the daily route and the wry comments of Mr. timeless, Pulitzer prize winning play, will be produced this year by Belmont There is the folksy warmth to the Hill and Winsor. Directed by Mr. MacLean, Our Town is the intimate story newspaper boy’s cries of, “Mornin Doc,” as he does his daily route.... that is sage, spiritual, and heartfelt. Grover’s Corners, the fictional village in New Hampshire, comes alive because seems so Webb as he reflects on Grover’s demoreal and the simple life depicted so poi- graphics. There is an air of deep nostalgnant. Populating the town are Howie gia that pervades the show reflecting the (Mack Clair) and his horse Bessie, the ephemeral nature of life, reminding us State Manager (Edward Columbia), and of the importance of the here and now.

Belmont Hill Arts

Tuesday, November 1: There will be a chapel for the Middle School featuring a number of Middle School Musicians.

Time: 8:00 AM

by Mark Thurner Panel Staff The Landau Gallery is a constantly changing and evolving resource for artists from all over the country and a place where we can view various types of interesting work throughout the school year. Over the past 22 years, artists with a wide variety of styles have displayed their best work on the walls and floors of the gallery, making it a truly nice spot to stop, to relax and think.

When the days get too busy or the work piles up, art can amuse, amaze or calm you, providing a break that is often sorely needed.

This year’s schedule has begun with a series of three artists who give us a realistic perspective on the small joys of the visual world. William Harting began the year with a show of photography, mostly in black and white; portraits and intimate Elizabeth Schaefer’s painting, Costa Rican Dracena Marginata

views of simple scenes. Having served as an editor at The Boston Globe for many years, Mr Harting has begun to concentrate on the visual world much more since his retirement, though he finds that this fascina-

tion with photography is a vein that has run through his life for some time, culminating, as he says, “in a considerable body of work.” He works solely on film, enjoying its beauty, its limitations and the challenge of translating his vision onto the paper.

October’s featured artist is Elizabeth Schaefer, with a show called “Flore of Costa Rica and Other Works”. Amazingly accurate paintings in acrylic on varnished paper, the work focuses on plant life and the natural world. Ms. Shaefer is fascinated by the balance of shadows in her work and takes her inspiration from nature’s everyday beauty.

Of distinctly photographic realism, the paintings have elicited amazement and perplexed looks of disbelief after the realization

Pag e 1 5

Upcoming events

Fall brings three artists to Landau

William Harting’ photograph

Thursday, November 3: The Middle School Fall Play, Beverly Hillbillies, debuts in the Kraft Theater. The play is open to all members of the community. Time: 4:45 PM Friday, November 4: Beverly Hillbillies, second night. Time: 8:00 PM Saturday, November 5: Beverly Hillbillies, final night. Time: 8:00 PM

sets in that these are indeed painted scenes.

The show runs through November 4, 2011.

In November, the Landau hosts a visit from distinguished photographer Joe Schatz.

Mr. Schatz is a nature and wild life photographer who has shown at Belmont Hill before and is currently on journey gathering more inspiration in the American and Canadian west. His work will hang from November 11 to the start of our winter break on December 16.

Stopping in the gallery isn’t a terribly time consuming or difficult taskbut the rewards can be great. So, if you ever find yourself in need of a break or simply just feel like viewing something beautiful, stop by Robsham and the Landau Gallery. Brighten your day a bit.☐

Sunday, November 6: The choral groups of Belmont Hill and Roxbury Latin participate in the Annual Choral Fest, which takes place in the Hamilton Chapel.

Community members welcome. Time: 7:00 PM. Thursday, November 10: Chapel featuring poet Peter Fallon. His website is www.peterfallon.com. Time: 10:15 AM. Friday, November 11: An Open Rehearsal will be held in the Hamilton Chapel. The rehearsal will feature a number of instrumental groups in addition to soloists preparing for the Senior District Festival.

Open to all members of the community.

Time: 6:00 PM. Friday, November 18: The Upper School Fall Play, Our Town begins a series of three performances, to be located in the Kraft Theater. Tickets can be reserved online Time: 8:00 PM. Saturday, November 19: Our Town continues. Time: 8:00 PM. Sunday, November 20: The cast of Our Town gives its final performance.

Time: 2:00 PM. Monday, November 21: The Woodbury Finals will be held today in an all-school chapel. Time: 8:00 AM.

Tucker Gordon

cians. He spent the past five years leading the group,” said Mr. Fiori in April 2010.

Outside of Belmont Hill, in the Spring of 2008, he became the first Belmont Hill student to participate in the Senior District festival, sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association.Two years later, he was the first Belmont Hill student to participate in the All-State festival. Auditions are only offered to the top players from each of the Massachusetts regions. At prize day his senior year, he received the Instrumental Music Prize and the Ensemble Award.

Nate started playing music early. At

age five, he began participating in a “kindermusic” program. He transitioned to violin when he was seven and eventually began playing the viola as his primary instrument.

Currently a sophomore at Tufts University, Nate is still involved in music. During freshman year, he played in the Tufts Symphony Orchestra, in the third viola chair. Unfortunately, he has been unable to continue with the orchestra this year. “I actually had to drop orchestra due to schedule conflicts this year,” he said. “I still do play guitar, electric bass, djembe and the drums with friends.”

At this point, he has not taken any music related classes at the university, but he hopes to in the near future.☐

By contrast, the Middle School play, Beverly Hillbillies follows the adventures of the Clampett family through the discovery of an oil field on their land and their new and wealthier life in Beverly Hills society. The old T.V. show satirized “civilized” American life and the joint Winsor-Belmont Hill production aims for the same humor with a similar tone of goofy insightfulness. It is rife with jocularity and ridiculous adventures that echo the hillbilly hilarity of the 1960’s sitcom. The production will be directed

by Ms. DeKenessey and will run from November 3, at 4:45 PM, to November 4 and 5, at 8:00 PM. Our Town will

show on November 18 and 19 at 8:00 and Sunday the 20 at 2:00. Both shows will be held in the Kraft Theater. Tickets can be reserved at belmonthill.org.☐

Two plays to premier in November

by Jake Pagano Panel Staff

O c tob er 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

Friday, December 9: The Fall Coffee House will feature a number of student musicians in a wide range of style. Time: 6:30 PM. Friday, December 11: Holiday Concert to be held at the Heritage Museum in Lexington. Time: 3:00 PM. Joe Schatz’ photograph, Natures Majesty

all photos courtesy of the artists

Senior musician transitions to composing styles of jazz composition and arranging.”

Tucker is the president of the Jazz music. “I’d never really been interested in writing jazz until I came here and stud- Band. He also writes pieces for the group, ied with Mr. Fiori, so that’s changed a lot and often performs his own pieces. BeFor many, music is merely something of things,” he says. Tucker now plays the sides playing in the Belmont Hill Jazz Band, Tucker plays at New England Conservato listen to, but for sixth former Tucker Gortory on Wednesday nights. “It’s a band don it is clearly something more. It is a pas- “I’d never really been interested in sion. He began his musical career with piano writing jazz until I came here and that brings together high school musicians lessons at age five, and since then he has been from all around New England, we rehearse studied with Mr. Fiori, so that’s an avid musician. After those early days of two hours a week, and have a couple perchanged a lot of things... [We] are formances, including a performance at piano playing, Tucker developed a fascination with Jazz. He continued this interest studying the techniques behind all Boston’s First Night celebration on New when he came to Belmont Hill as a freshman different styles of jazz composition Years Eve.” New England Conservatory is and joined the Middle School jazz band. a prestigious institution and this translates and arranging.” into their concerts. Community mem“I think I first became interested in Jazz during the summer after fifth grade,” trumpet in the Upper School Jazz Band, bers are encouraged to attend the concert. he says. He developed his knowledge and which he started in fourth grade, and is en“I don’t really have plans for the fuappreciation for this musical genre dur- joying the time he is spending on an inde- ture… I guess just keep playing and writing,” ing Mr. Fiori’s “Theory of Jazz” course in pendent study in music composition with he says We can expect many great things his sophomore year. The experience also Mr. Fiori. “Mr. Fiori and I are studying the from him and in the meantime, we can lissparked Tucker’s interest in writing of jazz techniques and theory behind all different ten to his great music right here at school.☐ Tucker Gordon Bernardo Pacini Panel Staff

Bill Mahoney

Winsor Sp orts

Pa g e 1 6

Th e Pan el

FALL SPORTS UPDATE

Winsor Sp orts

O c tob er 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

UNDER THE LIGHTS 2011 Senior secrets to spirit week

By Anna Kennedy & Catherine Walsh Panel Staff

By Holly Breuer, Sophie Cyker, Claudia Forrester, Caroline MacGillivray, & Leila Vicinelli Panel Staff

1. Assume it will rain.

2. Make sure your body paint is washable.

Crew:

Pag e 1 7

3. Prepare yourself for maximum sugar intake throughout the week.

4. Ensure that more than one person knows your cheer.

• Welcomes a novice roster of 13 this fall and two new coaches, Libby Boghossian and

5. If you’re in the Lower School, either be cute or do a backflip.

Katie O’ Driscoll.

6. Go off-campus and ride the T in your spirit garb: the more outrageous, the better.

• Works out weekly with the team’s trainer, Renville, who helps the team build strength

7. Take note: dress code does not apply for spirit week.

and speed.

8. Dress as a Communist, then have meetings with outside visitors (…Mr. Didier).

• Rowed beautifully at the Textile Regatta on October 2, placing fifth out of 38 boats in

9. Rotate Wildcat costume duties every 20 minutes (to maintain your sense of smell).

the varsity 8+ division and third out of 40 boats in the varsity 4+ division.

10. Get your UTL shirts early; otherwise you’ll end up with a dress, not a shirt.

• Has great leadership this year under co-captains Anna Kennedy ’12 and Bailey Scott ’12.

11. Make as a big a scene as possible when showing off your Junior apparel.

• Looks forward to rowing in the Head of the Charles, one of the world’s most prestigious

12. Know the name of your sibling squad.

regattas, on October 23. ☐

13. Attend at least one cheer practice BEFORE Friday morning.

UTL SCOREBOARD WINSOR

GUEST

Varsity Field Hockey

5

0

Varsity Soccer

0

2

J.V. Field Hockey

4

1

J.V. Soccer

0

1

Mid 1 Field Hockey

7

0

Mid 1 Soccer

6

2

Mid 2 Field Hockey

2

0

14. Don’t mosh. Just don’t do it.

Winsor crew prepares for Head of the Charles

Georgia Williams

15. Be chosen as Ms. Labieniec’s favorite cheer ever (cough, cough 2012). ☐

Cross Country:

HEAD OF THE CHARLES

• Welcomes eight new runners this year, resulting in a large team of 22.

Sunday October 23

• Opened the season with a perfect score, meaning that Winsor runners finished in all five top positions.

Winsor:

• Followed up with consecutive victories over Berwick, BB&N, Beaver, Concord, and

Youth Women’s 4+ at 10:52 a.m.

Youth Women’s 8+ at 1:47 p.m.

Lawerence Academy by over 20 points each time!

• Suffered a loss to St. Paul’s by only a single point in the team’s second meet but still remains undefeated in the EIL.

Belmont Hill:

• Looks forward to seven more meets in the coming months, including EIL champion-

Youth Men’s 4+ at 10:22 a.m.

ships (November 4) at their home course in Franklin Park. Go Winsor! ☐

Winsor-Belmont Hill Boathouse 5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge

Cross country co-captain McGrath ’13 leads the pack

Gus Freeman

Bailey Scott

Gus Freeman

Scottish field team from Marr College visits Winsor

Field Hockey:

By Joyce Zhang Contributing Writer

• Loves its senior co-captains Erin Cohee ’12 and Sarah Thomsen ’12!

• Triumphed recently over Berwick Academy 2-0 and over Concord Academy 6-0.

• Welcomes new players Natalie Sayegh ’15 and Arielle Mitropoulos ’15 to the team.

• Recognizes one team member after each game for outstanding play with the “Wildcat” award, which allows that player to take care of the team’s stuffed wildcat until the next game.

• Is determined to make it to the top of pool A in the EIL tournament, a goal sure to drive the Wildcats to achieve great things this season. ☐ Augusta Winthrop ’12 steals the ball from her opponent

Gus Freeman

Soccer: • Opened the season with league victories over Portsmouth Abbey and Berwick.

• Welcomes 11 new players, including four freshman, after losing 12 players from last year’s EIL championship team.

• Demolished Portsmouth Abbey and Boston Trinity, scoring a combined total of 20 goals and giving up none.

• Scored 24 goals in September under the leadership of high scorer Delancey King ’14, while goalkeepers Emily Morton ’12 and Caroline Ognibene ’14 allowed only six goals from opposing teams.

• Will play six more games at home during the months of October and November before defending their EIL title at Pingree on November 12. Go Wildcats! ☐ Kate MacLean ’13 takes a shot on goal

Georgia Williams

Gus Freeman

Marr College and Winsor swap pins after the game

Gus Freeman

On September 15, the Winsor varsity field hockey team welcomed the Marr College field hockey team from Troon, Scotland, for a friendly international match. The Scottish girls had a short tour of Boston before arriving at Winsor around noon and then observing two Winsor classes; the visitors were amazed by the relaxed nature of Winsor classes as well as the open relationship between students and teachers. After the school day ended, the Scottish girls separated from their hosts and prepared for the game.

Before the game even started, at least a hundred underclassmen, parents, and faculty had filled up all sides of the field in order to watch the special occasion. As it was an official international match, both teams’ rosters were announced and the national anthems were sung before the game started. Winsor students Lena Afeyan ’13, Katherine Gross ’14, and Bailey Scott ’12 sang the American national anthem live for all the spectators including the Winsor varsity and JV soccer teams practicing on the soccer field. Afterwards, pins and small gifts were exchanged by the teams. The Scottish girls gave each Winsor player a pin of a Scottish and American flag, a traditional Scottish handkerchief, and a water bottle.

In return, Winsor players gave the Scot-

tish girls Winsor pins and Winsor t-shirts.

Shortly after the pin ceremony, the game began. Instead of the regular two 30-minute halves in a standard high school field hockey game, the game consisted of three periods, each 20 minutes long, in order to maximize playing time for both teams’ players. The Scottish team had a very different playing style from that of many teams Winsor is used to; many of the girls had powerful hits rather than focusing on the type of passing game played in the EIL. The Scottish team was able to score one goal for each of the first two periods, but the Wildcats held them to a shut-out third period. Despite numerous offensive runs, Winsor was unable to find the back of the net, and the game ended after three periods 0-2 in favor of Marr College.

After the game, the Winsor and Scottish teams enjoyed dinner and socializing in the Winsor cafeteria. Defender Rebecca Williams ’13 says, “It was really fun playing against the Scottish team, and it was interesting to see that even though we are from different continents, we share the game of field hockey.” After spending the night with some Winsor hosts, the Scottish team left the next day for Rhode Island in order to continue their tour at the Lincoln School.

Overall, having a visiting team from Scotland was a great experience for all of the players; they were able to form new friendships, sharpen skills, and get a glimpse of a different culture through sport. ☐

Belmont Hill Sp orts

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XC getting even better

by Matt Czarnecki Panel Staff

Though the results have been mixed so far, the Belmont Hill cross-country team has worked hard to improve throughout the season and has developed a strong group of runners in the varsity line-up.

To begin the season, seven varsity and thirteen junior varsity runners went to the fifth annual Martha’s Vineyard Invitational in Oak Bluffs. On a blistering, sunny day, with temperatures soaring towards 90 degrees, the team ran very well on a challenging course, with Captain Ian Meyer and Ty Gill leading the

races in front of a Homecoming crowd here on the hill. Facing BB&N, Groton, and Thayer, Belmont Hill swept the top five places in the JV race, as Jake Pagano resiliently ran through pain to come out victorious. At the varsity level, Ian Meyer won handily, coming within a few seconds of the course record.

Six days later, the team journeyed to Concord to face Middlesex, St. Paul’s, and Milton. With a relatively flat course, many runners at both the varsity and junior varsity levels set personal bests on a picturesque day. It was an idyllic afternoon of running as Colin Power, R.J. Grant, and David Hincks joined multiple other members of JV in running the best race of their

Everyone had amazing races and the work ethic that our guys showed (and continue to show) set the tone for drastic improvements this season; we have a great chance to take ISLs if we keep up the hard work.

Conor Murphy throws a pass in the victory over BB&N

BHS football starts strong

by Jon Goodman Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill football team started off the season with a huge rivalry game against a formidable opponent. Buckingham Brown and Nichols was ranked as high as the fourth best team in the state by ESPN Rise magazine, and that was the first challenger of the year but Belmont Hill was more than ready for this game. It did not start out as planned, as BHS fell into a 14-0 hole in the first half, but the team showed resiliency and started their comeback in the third period. George McLaughlin put them on the board with a 14-yard run, followed by a two-point conversion from Conor Murphy to Eric Oberg, making the score 14-8. In the second half, the Belmont defense was impeccable, led by senior captain Brian Bowser and junior Dewey Jarvis, holding

We do things differently here at Belmont Hill and we showed what we do here can still beat teams.

BB&N to 0 points. McLaughlin also had a 12-yard run in the fourth (the two-pointconversion failed) to tie the game at 14.

With less than 2 minutes left, McLaughlin hit a 29-yard field goal to make it 17-14 in favor of Belmont Hill. An interception by AJ Barros iced the game, giving Belmont Hill a 17-14 win, a great come-from-behind start to the season.

Coach Kevin Fleming claimed, “This was my best opening win ever,” adding, “I have never pointed to one game and put this much pressure on my team to win a game before. I usually focus on playing well, but I really wanted to win.”

Coach Fleming had a tough task ahead of him, refocusing his team after such an emotional win. “I tried to state clearly, as of 5:15 on Monday, that the BB&N game was over. We needed to focus on St. Paul’s.”

The squad looked like they understood this message, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first half. The scoring came through the air and on the ground. Conor Murphy connected, to Mike Minihan for a 25-yard touchdown pass and for a 29-yard run

by George McLaughlin. The defense held

Bill Mahoney

charge in the varsity race. Captain Joe Troderman, along with Cam Scari, Jake Pagano, and Alex Bailey rounded out the top six. Kyle Wheeler ran a superb race for JV, justifying his advance to a key role on the varsity squad in league races.

After two weeks of vigorous training that included multiple long-distance runs, hill workouts, and speed training, the team traveled to Brooks for the first ISL league meet. Despite injuries, most notably a concussion suffered by Matt Czarnecki at the MV race, the team ran their hearts out on Brooks’ hilly course on an exceedingly humid afternoon. Ian Meyer triumphed with a time of 17:32, defeating two strong runners from St. Mark’s.

In the end, Belmont Hill defeated Brooks and Rivers, but St. Mark’s prevailed, finishing with five of the top seven runners.

On the following Saturday, determined to redress the previous weekend’s loss, the team won two fantastic

lives. At the varsity level, Ian Meyer ran an extraordinary race, achieving a remarkable time of 15:40. Several other varsity runners completed the 3.1-mile race in under 18 minutes. Captain Joe Troderman said about the race that, “Although we didn’t come through with the win, everyone had amazing races and the work ethic that our guys showed (and continue to show) set the tone for drastic improvements this season; we have a great chance to take ISLs if we keep up the hard work.”

Continuing the good work, Belmont Hill’s runners ran well at both the varsity and junior varsity levels in the two most recent races against St. George’s and St. Sebastian’s, two meets in only three days.

Under the guidance of Coaches Rice, Trautz, and Kirby, and the leadership of Captains Joe Troderman and Ian Meyer, the cross-country team looks to improve as the season continues, and to ably defend last year’s ISL title.☐

strong, continuing their shutout streak to 6 consecutive quarters. Although the game ended in a 14-0 win for Belmont Hill, Coach Fleming was not pleased. He remained critical of the offensive line’s performance, feeling that the team needed to improve each week and that this week, the offense had not improved as much as they needed to to maintain momentum.

With the St. Paul game behind them, Belmont Hill (2-0) faced a Nobles team with a 0-2 record going into the contest. Coach Fleming had stressed that the Belmont Hill squad could not let a team like Nobles hang around, and his team took his words to heart, starting with a first quarter touchdown from a 38-yard pass, Murphy to Barros, giving Belmont Hill an early lead of 7-0. That lead remained until the third quarter, when Mike Leary caught a 30-yard touchdown pass (from Murphy) and also returned an interception for a 50-yard touchdown. At this point it went to a 21-0 advantage. Adding to this lead with another touchdown catch by Barros for 25 yards and an 18-yard run by McLaughlin, Belmont Hill improved the season’s record to 3-0.

Coach Fleming added, “This is a special year (for me) and this is a great team. This team worked hard and the conditioning is showing.

Also the team has great senior leadership and great captains (Brian Bowser, Mike Minihan, Parker Mundt and Robert Perdoni).”

Belmont Hill traveled to St. Sebastian’s to take on an excellent Arrows squad. St. Sebs got off to an early start, taking a lead with a first quarter touchdown. However, Belmont Hill came back scoring two more times in the first half. Short runs by George McLauhlin and Matt Gustafson propelled Belmont Hill to a 14-6 lead at halftime. A quick touchdown

by Sebs made the game 14-12. A field goal by Mclaughlin extended the lead to 17-12. Several touch stands by the Belmont Hill defense ended the game. Belmont Hill improved to 4-0 with a 17-12 win, spoiling St. Sebastians’ homecoming.

The football season at Belmont Hill is off to a great start, and the team hopes to continue their success against St. Sebastian’s and the other great teams of the ISL, aiming at a league championship - perhaps even the coveted New England championship. The Panel staff wishes the team congratulations on everything accomplished so far and the best Cam Scari and Diego Fernández del Castillo sprinting at the finish of luck with the rest of the season. ☐

Belmont Hill Sp orts

O c tob er 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

Varsity Sports’ daily schedules John Sutherland Panel Staff The fall is a competitive season for Belmont Hill athletics, and varsity teams have many different strategies in prepar-

ing for the grueling challenges that they will face throughout the season. Some drills are universal to all the teams, such as fitness, but others are more specialized to each particular sport. This is an in depth look into how each of the varsity teams prepares for their match-ups each week.

Day of the Week

Varsity Soccer

Varsity Cross Country

Varsity Football

Monday

Some skill work and

Emphasis on speed runs

Running, lifting and film

drills but mostly fitness

(about 3.5 miles)

Prepare for possible

Emphasis on Hills (about

Hitting drills, individual

game scenarios, free

2.5 miles)

position work on tack-

Tuesday

kicks and scrimmaging

ling, blocking and some team work

Wednesday

Thursday

Games

Meets or on non-meet

Film review and focus

days, off campus runs

on the team, JV plays a

(5-7 miles)

game, lifting as well

Some fitness and empha-

Distance runs (4-5 miles

Kicking and special

sis on second team

at an easy pace)

teams; some work as a

Free kicks and passing;

Meets or on non-meet

Helmets only, and

preparation for game

days, yoga

mental preparation for

team Friday

Saturday’s game, not a lot of hitting

Soccer triumphs over the ISL

by Kevin Chen Panel Staff

With the season well on its way, Belmont Hill’s varsity soccer team is on a solid course. Having faced five teams already, St. Paul’s, BB&N, Rivers, Groton, and Nobles, the young team has a record of four hard-fought ties and one thrilling win. However, improvement is the name of the game as team members are beginning to adapt to working together as a group, and there are high hopes for a run for the title. As junior goalkeeper Danny Fischer states, “We’re expecting good things for us this year.

As a young team, we have great raw talent and the potential to improve. Although the league is tough, we’re ready to take on anyone coming our way.”

Captains Sebastian King and John Cresap are supporting the team with

their experience, while newcomers Josh Fischer and Tucker Hallowell are learning much and demonstrating their prowess. In four games, Josh Voto has led the team with six goals, and Josh Fischer has scored two. Recently, the team faced powerhouse Nobles, who led the league with a 5-0 record. The players and coaches treated this game with a playoff mentality, ready to fight Goliath in the season’s highlight match-up. Nobles drew first blood, scoring twice and leaving Belmont Tucker Gordon Hill scrambling to catch up. However, Striker Abdurezak Shemsu maneuvering around a Groton player senior striker Josh Voto came through with three spectacular goals, leading Belmont Hill to an amazing 3-2 finish.

With Nobles a notch on its collective belt, the well-bonded team looks

by Robert Sayegh forward to showcasing its full ability, over the summer in the past, but prePanel Staff and the season is beginning to gather fers regular practice at his own gym. speed. Tough opponents remain, but “I’ve been to a few camps but I genervarsity soccer is determined to continue ally don’t like them, it’s weird working to pursue the winning path it has set.☐ Most Belmont Hill students com- with coaches you have never met before.” mit themselves to one of the many difThree years ago, Colton suffered a ferent sports offered at school each stress fracture in his knee that required season, but at age seven, Colton Brad- surgery. It did not heal completely for alley found a love for Gymnastics and most six months. This was a setback for has devoted much time to it since then. him, but it did not stop him from conCurrently a Third Former at Bel- tinuing gymnastics after he had recovmont Hill, Colton practices every night, ered. “I have done it for a long time, and Monday through Friday, from five to I enjoy it,” he said. He has also suffered Scoring two touchdowns against BB&N, nine o’clock at Gymnastics and More in other, thankfully less severe, injuries over and one against St. Paul’s, Nobles, and St. Woburn. How does a freshman man- the nearly eight years he has been doing gymnastics. Among Sebastian’s, George McLaughlin has been a age to combine the vigorous acaare broken key component to the success of Belmont [Injuries] are just a part of gymnas- these demics at Belmont fingers and toes, Hill Football’s offense. Coming through on tics and will slow you down in some damage to growth Hill with such a countless occasions, the senior has battled consuming areas, but sometimes you just have to plates, and some past many a defensive line, often propelling time athletic commitbruises. “They are fight through them. the team to victory. Along with being a great ment?

In Form I, just a part of gymrunning back, he has excelled as a field goal he played sports nastics and will slow kicker. In both the BB&N game and the St. at school as well, but subsequently you down in some areas, but sometimes Sebastian’s game, he has kicked pivotal field stopped after it became apparent that you just have to fight through them.” goals, helping Belmont Hill come out victorifitting a seven hour school day and a Despite the injuries and all the ous. Not only has he kicked field goals, he four hour Gymnastics practice in every problems of an overcrowded schedule, is also the extra point kicker where he has converted all 9 of his attempts. George has day was more than enough on its own: Colton loves the sport and has no inbecome an excellent field goal kicker, using “It’s tough with schoolwork, I leave my tention of stopping. He actively comhis past experience from soccer. George has house at 6:40 am and don’t get home un- petes throughout the course of the year started off the season with great success and til 9:15 pm. My time for homework is af- in all six events of the all-around gymwe wish him well in the last few games in ter school and after gym, and I usually nast, attending about eight competiget it done.” In doing so, he has joined tions. In 2011, Colton placed took the his senior year. a small but distinguished group of ath- silver at states, seventh at regionals. In letes who are able to excel in an activ- 2010, he competed at the nationals event ity outside of school, while maintain- and placed 126 th in the entire country, ing a high degree of academic integrity. quite an accomplishment and proof He has attended extra camps that his commitment is paying off.☐

UA Athlete of the Issue

Bill Mahoney

Pag e 1 9

Athlete Profile: Colton Bradley

L ast L o ok

Pa g e 2 0

Th e Pan el

Top 10 Students/Faculty Likely to Leave School Midyear #10: Random First Former: Will leave school, but will come back next year. #9: Joe Troderman: Found guilty by association in last year’s dorm extracurricular activities. #8: Jeff Ott: Gets lost while following some rare birds in the Habitat.

William Stonestreet

John Power

Alex Bailey

Dr. Thompson

bnet.com Gorton’s Fisherman Jonathan Folsom

Ms. Conti

Pam Halpert

Quillen Bradlee

#7: Ms. P: George, Conor, and Minahan show up with a special guest, Patrick Bathon. She quits on the spot. #6: Jim Vesey: Whoops...Already left. #5: Mr. Butler: Finds the remains of Neissa’s experiment from last year. Publishes it and retires on the paycheck. #4: Pranay Bose: Chasing down whoever gave Adam Maleh mono (so he can get his first kiss too).

Mr. Sullivan

#3: Richard Mummolo: Finds a great new way to pad his resumé, and decides there’s no reason to go to school anymore. #2: Cam Scari: moneyforteen.com goes viral.

Having fulfilled his lifelong dream of entrepreneurial success, he drops out of school and moves to Spain. #1: Mr. Butler (the one who doesn’t wear a tie): After finally losing the battle against Transformice, leaves for a public school where he will not face such sophisticated resistance.

wikipedia.org

Will Golonka

moxietoday.com Finch (American Pie)

Winsor Picks

Spirit Week 2011

Party Rock ✓sorry Math Dept ✓17π/3 When I grow up... ✓Mr. Bowman Junior Apparel

✓F13RCE

Senior Apparel

✓x3

Students’ futures

✓The Jersey Shore

Body Paint ✓my bra is pink!

UTL

✓+++++++

collage by Elise Green and Agusta Winthrop