October 2014 (63, 3)

350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Permit #58555

Boston, MA

The PANEL

PAID

Belmont Hill School Volume 63, Issue 1

October 6, 2014

A Student Publication ofthe Belmont Hill School

BH Welcomes Resilient Ms. Rena Finder Outlays Harrowing Holocaust Tale Finder recalls seeing, at the age to rescue as many Jews as he could. murdered or forced on the Death New Instrumental Mack of ten, the Polish army look “as if The Nazis eventually evacuated the March. At this point Schindler nePanel Staff they were from 1776,” compared ghetto, moving its residents to the gotiated to build his own factory Music Director On the morning of Sep- to the superior German forces nearby Plaszow work camp. “Jewand camp in Czechoslovakia (inBy

By Spencer Kim

Staff Writer This year, we welcome Glenn into the Belmont Hill Mr. community as the Director of Instrumental Music during Mr. Fiori’s one-year sabbatical. In addition to leading the jazz bands and orchestra, he also teaches Music Technology and Theory of Jazz. Mr. Glenn comes to Belmont Hill from Oak Meadow School, where he was an Assistant Head of School for one year. Prior to that, Mr. Glenn taught music at Bancroft School in Worcester for fourteen years.

He also spent a few seasons as the Marching Band Director at the College of the Holy Cross. During his time as Marching Band Director, he brought the band to many different colleges, including West Point, Lehigh, Lafayette, Yale, Harvard, and Dartmouth.

Mr. Glenns interest in music began as a child growing up in Shelton, Connecticut. When he was six years old, his two older brothers joined a fife and drum corps, and he began playing fife as well. When he was introduced to band instruments in fifth grade, he had a choice between the two instruments his family owned: trumpet or clarinet. He chose trumpet, and has continued to play it throughout his musical career.

Mr. Glenn’s first intensive musical experience was at the Center for Creative Youth at Wesleyan University after his junior year of high school. During this experience, he lived on the campus of Wesleyan for five weeks and focused entirely on playing the trumpet, to prepare for college auditions. continued on page 6

Saucedo Succeeds Mr. Hoffman as Physics Teacher By

JJ Onyeukwu

Staff Writer Most of you are probably wondering who the new physics teacher is. Some of you are impressed by how well dressed he is and how smart he looks. Some of you are trying to figure out if you have previously seen him in an episode of The Big Bang Theory.

All of you are definitely asking how his last name is pronounced.

Mr. Skylar Saucedo joins the Belmont Hill community as the new physics teacher after a fouryear stay in Miami at the Palmer Trinity School. He takes up the mantel left behind by his predecessor, Mr. Hoffman, with open arms and an open mind, ready for the next chapter of his life. continued on page 3

Perry

tember 16, Polish-born Holocaust survivor Rena Finder shared her

story with the Belmont Hill community in a haunting, yet remarkable Chapel Meeting. Ms. Finder is the youngest surviving member of “Schindler’s List,” a group of 1098 Jews who were under the aegis of German businessman Oskar Schindler during the Holocaust. “I am a very lucky person,” explained Ms. Finder, and “I survived because of Schindler’s list.”

Born in 1929, Ms. Finder was raised an only child in a middle-class neighborhood in Krakow. As a child she was sheltered from the anti-Semitism encouraged by the Church and Polish government, but would hear stories that floated around the neighborhood stories that she did not understand. Ms. Finder said the turning point of her understanding of anti-semitism took place at the age of eight, when a girl threw a rock at her during recess, slandering her as a “dirty Jew.” Ms. Finder’s father worked as a traveling salesmen who often traveled to Germany, and would bring back tales of the fate of German Jews, and how members of the newly-formed Nazi party were “cold-blooded killers” who killed with no motive but religious discrimination.

On September 1, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland, launching World War II in Europe. Ms. -

walking down the streets of Krakow. The civil rights of Polish Jews were stripped, and they were declared enemies of the state, whose possessions and businesses were taken away. Shortly after, all Jews were given a week’s notice to move and Germans confined Jews aged twelve to fifty-five to ghettos. She recalls the migration into the ghetto as an “earthquake.” Ms. Finder’s father offered words of hope, assuring her that “somebody hear will what is happening to us, and they will come and save us.” But, her

grandparents

were

taken away by German soldiers, and herfather was kidnapped in the middle of the night on trumped-up treason charges, and never seen again by Ms. Finder or her mother.

Ms. Finder worked in a printing shop in the ghetto, where she first heard about Schindler, “a different kind of Nazi,” whom Ms. Finder described as her hero.

Aware of the Germans’ plans, Schindler became friends with high-ranking Nazi officials, aiming

ish children were not beautiful in the eyes of the Germans,” she told the school while explaining the horrors of her concentration camp.

Ms. Finder worked in Schindler’s Emalia factory, where he cared for his selected workers and sheltered them with food and accommodations. “Oskar Schindler was my savior, an angel sent to save our lives,” she remarked.

When the ghetto was liquidated, Schindler moved his factory to be next to the camp where his workers were sent. It was at this that camp Finder was forced to donate plasma to

be sent to German soldiers on the Russian front.

Ms. Finder noted this ironic cruelty; the Germans classified Jews as sub-human but required that Jewish blood be used to keep German soldiers alive. Ms. Finder remembers the winter of 1944-1945 as the worst of the century, with blizzards and constant freezing temperatures. Mid-winter, in 1945, when the Germans were on the cusp of losing the war, they emptied the camps; prisoners were either

stead of having “his” Jews shipped to the death camps). Ms. Finder was with a group of women whose train car was mistakenly diverted to Auschwitz. Heads were shaved, and the appearances of the prisoners changed to the point where Ms. Finder didn’t even recognize her mother. Schindler worked tirelessly to free “his” women workers and sent female secretaries to bribe Auschwitz officials into freeing them. His efforts were successful and these women were the only Auschwitz prisoners ever released from the infamous camp.

Ms. Finder worked in Schindler’s factory until the end of the war in 1945, staying in a “camp” built by Schindler next to his factory in Czechoslovakia. She vividly remembers Schindler gathering his workers to listen to Winston Churchill’s speech announcing the end of World War 11. At the age of sixteen, Rena Finder was finallyfree.

Ms. Finder ended the chapel with a memorable encouragement “each to Belmont Hill students and everyone ofyou has the power to make a change in this world. Be an outstander, not a bystander.” Special thanks to Facing History and Ourselves for giving the Belmont Hill community an extraordinary opportunity to hear this speaker, and thank you to Ms. Finder for her admirable bravery and heartwrenching tales that opened the eyes of students and faculty alike. □

Football Spoils BB&N’s Homecoming in Dramatic 17-14 leadership, and I know they are looking forward to the challenge.” kicked The victory, however, was quarter, Evan Chaletzky 19 field for the win. yard goal tempered by the somber news of a After a disappointing 2013 Members of the team were the passing of Winchester’s Patseason, the football team is off to a certainly ecstatic about the victory, rick Gill, a close friend to Captain start this Led but strong by a core year.

Harry Kraft said it best when Jack Tamasi. Fellow-Captain lan of returning starters, the team has he bluntly stated, “I don’t like BBN, Arthur said, “There is no question worked hard during the offseason and I’m glad we stuck it to them.” that Jack’s ability to play through to prepare for the challenges that the game despite the horrible Mr. Butler added, “I was extremeahead this with how the team season. As captain news he received that morning lay ly impressed Kraft think explained, “I played on Saturday. Everyone put inspired all of us to come together Harry lots of and put everything we had into in a great deal of effort preparing having juniors (current seto last for this and it nice to niors) having play season, was year gave every single down to get the win. into the The is win.

We remained cool after plays and get league very comguys good experience coming this year. I also think some of the and must make drives that did not go our way and we sure we petitive work guys put in in the spring and to week. are ready Our kept fighting until the very last play every should this senior class has excellent summer help us year.” provided snap.” Jack reflected on his friend, The team be“Pat Gill would the with have been proud season gan number of scrimof how we came a and fared together as a team mages, well against some and left everything out on the field.” strong teams, inThe team cluding perennial contender remains focused MilISL ton Academy. The the on games first game of the ahead.

Captain and quarterback year came at BB&N’s which homecoming, Harry Kraft says, “We had a good was an incredibly until, win Saturday but tight game with ten seconds we have a long left, Evan Chaletzky way to go and kicked a field goal lots of improvement ahead.” right over the BB&N The Loop support storms the field at BB&N following a failed Hail Mary attempt by the Knights □ By

Ben Rush & John Gosselin Staff Writers

Homecoming crowd endzone.

After an emotional day, Belmont Hill fought to a 17-14 victory.

While the scoreboard reflected an even matchup, the Belmont Hill defense stepped up to push the team through to the end, stopping the BB&N offense countless times and holding them to 14 points. With BB&N ahead by seven in the second quarter, Matt O’Neal tied the game with a four yard run.

Evan Chaletzky kicked the extra point to close out the second half, 7-7. BB&N came out after halftime to score another touchdown, only to watch O’Neal rip off a 35 yard run for a touchdown, and another

extra point by Chaletzky. With only ten seconds remaining in the fourth

BELMONT HILL NEWS

2

Ms. Vailas

Joins Science Department Senior Retreat Sets Tone for Year Ahead

Ms. Vailas, new to Belmont Hill this year, the science department as the youngest joins member of the current faculty, teaching one section of eighth grade IPS and one section ofninth grade Environmental Science. In addition to teaching, Ms. Vailas is a coach of the Varsity Cross Country team, and she will fill the role of coach for the distance runners ofthe Varsity Track team.

Ms. Vailas is a 2014 graduate of Dartmouth, where she majored in both Biology and English. While at Dartmouth, her academic and athletic achievements were sublime. Ms. Vailas took place in projects with Dartmouth’s Medical Humanities Institute, researching curriculum changes regarding the teaching of ethics and humanities in the medical field. She also participated in marine biology research through UNH, researching the little-known Channeled Whelks (found off of the shore of Marthas Vineyard), and was also a three-year captain of the Dartmouth women’s running teams, specializing in the 800 and 1600 events during the track season. Ms. Vailas started her track career in fourth grade, and began running cross country in middle school. Prior to college, Ms. Vailas had also played soccer and basketball.

Though her initial goal for a career was the medical field, Ms. Vailas found herself in interested in studying biology and literamore ture than the Dartmouth pre-med curriculum, and was inspired by a number of her teachers throughout high school and college to enter the teaching profession. Most notably, she was impacted by her English teacher in her sophomore year of high school and her advisor and professor from college, because she felt that they took a better approach to teaching, enthusiastically caring about the individual student, rather than simply delivering lectures mindlessly to a room of people. It was not until her senior year at Dartmouth that she fully decided to become a teacher, and joined an education course; in her later years at Dartmouth, she was especially inspired by Dartmouth’s Assistant Athletic Director to join the teaching profession.

In therealm of English, Ms. Vailas enworks of dystopian fiction, such as Aldous joys Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984. She studied dystopian fiction at college, and hopes to have the opportunity to teach an

English course related to the subject in the future.

Ms. Vailas met a number of Belmont Hill alumni at Dartmouth, and in her conversations with them, learned of Belmont Hill and what it has to offer. In her initial impressions ofBelmont Hill since she has been teaching here, Ms. Vailas says that it is not what she anticipated, all for the better: shehas been impressed by the respectfulness of her students and others in the Belmont Hill community, and the passion for learning that Belmont Hill students are known for.

Over the past few years, Ms. Vailas has taken advantage of three discrete opportunities to travel to Europe. After graduating from Manchester High School (in Manchester, NH, her hometown), Ms. Vailas spent ten days in Hungary, Austria, and Germany with her friends.

Because ofher family’s Greek heritage, Ms. Vailas has travelled to Greece with her family. During her time at Dartmouth, Ms. Vailas was selected to compete in England and Ireland with Dartmouth and Brown track runners against local English and Irish teams in a series of international track meets. Ms. Vailas says she hopes that she will be granted the opportunity to join a Belmont Hill trip as a faulty chaperone in the near future.

In her free time, Ms. Vailas enjoys reading, cooking, and running. She especially enjoys reading dystopian fiction and poetry. Ms. Vailas’s favorite movie is “V for Vendetta”, a 2006 political thriller and a work of dystopian fiction. She enjoys making and eating Greek food. Ms. Vailas says that she generally enjoys all music, but especially likes the country, pop, and dance genres.

Though Ms. Vailas’s internship at Belmont is Hill her first teaching job, Doctor Wachtmeister, Chair of the Science Department, has been nothing less than impressed with the work-ethic and teaching abilities of Ms. Vailas, stating “We really lucked out by hiring this woman...she is both an academic and an athlete.” Ms. Vailas can be seen early in the morning preparing for her classes that day, and she takes a genuine interest in learning from some of the senior members of the science department faculty, such as Mr. Trautz and Mr. McAlpin (who teach IPS and Environmental Science as well, respectively).

She often sits in on their classes to learn from the best in order to make an attempt at also becoming what Doc Wacht would call a “master teacher’ Ms. Vailas hopes to expand her subjects of teaching to include Biology and/or English as she continues her career here at Belmont HiILD

Colin Ward Staff Writer In the words ofthe esteemed Mr. Trautz, Dr. Davis is “an outstanding addition to the science department, the Little Bulldog.” Growing up in Delaware, Dr. Davis attended college at Williams, where she played defense on the varsity lacrosse team. She had a lotoffun playing lacrosse, and while at Williams found a passion for rocks. Majoring in Geosciences, she went on to graduate school at Columbia for 5 years to earn her Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Earning this degree involved spending time abroad, and Dr. Davis studied the Earth in places like Norway and Antarctica. She did

field work there, hiking for miles to collect samples of rocks in order to determine ice sheet history, and what happens over millions and millions of years of history. Her favorite memory from fieldwork occurred traveling and working in Antarctica, where Dr. Davis ended up wandering away from the group of scientists and found herself alone with a waddle of penguins, some of which were diving into the water. Keeping with the diving into water theme, Dr. Davis also remembers doing a polar plunge into the freezing waters.

She recalls, “I felt my heart pumping immediately,” as one has about a minute in water this cold before their body would stop functioning. Dr. Davis went to Norway after her

By

The Panel

Jake DeCaprio Panel Staff

m

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By

Josh Pradko

Staff Writer

A broken down bus on Route and 2 an early ER visit failed to stop the Sixth Form’s recent trip to Camp Cody from being a success. Each year, the trip aims to help seniors bond before they head into their pivotal final year, and to spur thought and discussion on serious topics facing them. On the first night, we shared the various highs and lows from our entire lives to our advisory groups. While sharing such personal things might seem strange, the activity was actual fascinating and expanded our mutual understanding. Dr. Michael Thompson spoke to us at length in multiple sessions about a plethora of topics: our form’s identity, our college prospects (and preparing for the possibility of failure), and the reality of leaving our homes. He shared one particularly interesting perspective- that of our parents as we move out. We rarely consider that our departure for college can be just as difficult, even more so, for our parents. We have been a large part of our parent’s lives for seventeen or eighteen years, so the void we leave in our homes might be significant. While these somber subjects were important for everyone to consider, there was a copious amount of fun to be had. The

weather was perfect (unlike our soggy trip to Camp Becket) and favorable for activities of all sorts. Two sagging old hoops were enough for several games of pickup basketball and knockout.

The fenced-in futsal court was a smash hit, allowing for athletes of all dispositions to try their skill with their feet.

The futsal court was where we got to know our new classmate, the Swedish phenom known as Filip, and where Emmett’s eyebrow would be struck open, necessitating stitches. There was also a roller hockey area to be enjoyed, and of course, there was the cool and beautiful lake which beckoned us to swim at all hours. One would have been hard-pressed to find someone not involved in some fun with friends.

On the last morning, the sixth form acted as witnesses to Dr. Melvoin’s very own Ice Bucket Challenge, an event both happy and extremely serious in nature. While it might have been fun to see the headmaster splashed, he reminded us of the urgent importance of the cause and how close to home the terrible disease ALS really is. Mr. Feldman, head form advisor and leader of the trip, expressed his satisfaction with the trip’s outcome of the trip. In retrospect, it was truly great to appreciate how cohesive and friendly our form has become as we start the last year of our Belmont Hill careers.□

The senior class poses for a group photo at the end of a memorable trip to Camp Cody.

Enivronmental Science Educator Dr. Elizabeth Davis Debuts at Belmont Hill By

Antarctic excursion, where she was north of the Arctic Circle studying how quickly glaciers had retreated since the last Ice Age. Dr. Davis also attended a few conferences during these years, mainly concerning science specific to Antarctica. She travelled all over the world, to places like San Francisco, Vancouver, and Spain, to present some ofher team’s findings. Describing these conferences as, “Science fairs on steroids,” she would stand at her group’s poster board and present the findings of their study. A lot of the conferences is networking, and it was good to talk to people about the projects,” Dr. Davis said.

Although she loved her time working in the field, Dr Davis always knew that she wanted “

teach, and this lead her to Wellesley College. While she originally wanted to conto

tinue her research, she soon

began to realize that she just wanted to teach, to focus solely on shaping young minds, and so she found Belmont Hill. When asked how the transition was from teaching at an all girls college to an all boys high school, Dr. Davis said it was “Very different, but in a good way.” The hardest transition though was how everything is brand new, from the increased structure in terms of the schedule compared to a college, to being in the science faculty office. Dr. Davis teaches Science 1 and AP Environmental Science, and be sure to say hello and welcome her into the Belmont Hill community.□

Wrestling Coach and Latin Teacher Dr. Davis Joins Faculty for a Second Spell By

Sebastian Themelis Staff Writer

The Belmont Hill faculty has added many new faces this year, but also some familiar ones. Joining the Latin department is Dr. Todd Davis, who previously taught at Belmont Hill in the late 19905. Dr. Davis is a local to the area, having grown up in Brockton and attended the Roxbury Latin School. It was there that he started learning Latin, and although he admits he didn’t enjoy it at first, he grew to love the language. Upon graduating, he went to Harvard and joined the wrestling team as a walk-on, starting for three years and becoming

captain in his senior year. He “had a great time” at Harvard, studying classics and also co-directing an organization that educated people about date rape and sexual violence.

Dr. Davis began his teaching career at St. Paul’s straight out of college, where he taught for one year, and learned a great deal about teaching, However, it wasn’t until he began teaching at Belmont Hill that he discovered his love for the profession. He taught classics at Belmont Hill for the next three years and helped out with the wrestling team until he decided to experiment in the world of business and marketing. He worked at a company in Watertown, so he was still able to help out with the wrestling team. After another year of its

finance, he decided he was interested in grad school and attended an inter-disciplinary classical studies program at Columbia, which was a culmination of literature, history, and art history/archeology. From Columbia, he taught at the Hotchkiss school for five years, and he is now back at Belmont Hill, teaching classics to Middle Schoolers and Upper Schoolers alike.

According to Dr. Davis, one of the main reasons he decided to come back to Belmont Hill was because he remembered the “treasured, outstanding colleagues” he met when hefirst taught here. Belmont Hill’s unified mission about working with boys is another characteristic of Belmont Hill he connected with, having come from a similar school. He is very

passionate about Ancient Greece and Rome, and considers himself an “ambassador for antiquity’ and tries to create a good energy in the classroom and makehis students curious about the subject matter. His favorite historical time period is Archaic Greece (750-450 BC), and he especially enjoys the Iliad, because it is one of the first classical books he fell in love with.

Dr. Davis currently coaches the 3rd Football team, and is looking forward to helping coach both the middle school and varsity wrestling programs in the winter.

He will surely have a lot to offer given his background in Latin, teaching, and wrestling. Surely, everyone at Belmont Hill is looking forward to having him back. □

BELMONT HILL NEWS

October 6, 2014

Dr. Tift

Joins English Department

By Alexander Afeyan

Staff Writer

This year, the English department welcomes a new face in Dr. Tift, who will be teaching American Literature, English 3, literature and Social Reflection, and Creative Writing this year. Additionally, she will be the faculty advisor for the Bell, and the Lyceum, the schools debate team. She is the daughter of Mrs. Tift, head of college counseling at Belmont Hill. Dr. Tift also has a son at the school, who is in Form 11.

She was bom on Long Island, where her parents were working as teachers, but at the age of seven, moved back to her fathers hometown of Macon, Georgia, where she spent much ofher childhood and teen years. She found her initial passion in editing, a field which she entered as a Copy Editor at Duke University Press. Then, she moved to New York to follow her passion for publishing and editing. There, she had several jobs, but the last and longest was at Random House Publishing, one of the largest publishing companies in the world, as an assistant editor.

She described this as “a really wonderful and exciting job.” In her position as assistant editor, she worked with many authors who were, while not the most popular ones, talented authors whose work was “the kind of writing she could really enjoy’ as they were not blockbuster authors. She was captivated by the atmosphere of publishing early in her career, with the overwhelming flow of ideas and writing it brought to her.

Although she originally thought she would be in book publishing forever, one day she was asked to assist in teaching a class for the first time, which was “an awakening for [her] of whatteaching was like.” This teaching experience occurred at Harvard, in the original Literature and Social Reflection class, from which Belmont Hills course is inspired. After she realized she had a passion for teaching, she got her masters degree at Boston University, while simultaneously teaching writing there. Having earned her masters degree, she started teaching at Falmouth Academy on Cape Cod, which Ms. Tift described as being both “similar to Belmont Hill in a lot of ways, [but] different in plenty ofways too.” From Falmouth Academy, she moved on to be the English Department Head at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham.

After this experience, she went on to get her Ph.D. in editorial studies from Boston University.

In speaking about her previous schools, she noted thatFalmouth Academy’s student body was one that was focused on developing a student’s reading and writing, while not sacrificing math and science. She described the students as

“talented, self-directed students that are just such a luxury for a teacher’ One similarity between Falmouth Academy and Belmont Hill was the implementation of the Harkness table in English rooms, which Ms. Tift greatly admires in a school.

The Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School was a place whereMs. Tift says she truly grewbecause of the opportunities given to her as department chair to interact with a diverse student body comprised of people from all walks oflife. The school differs from Belmont Hill in its emphasis on 7-day boarding. She says she felt “very needed there... academically [and] emotionally” She expanded that, because ofthe wide variety of skilllevel in one classroom at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, which did not offer honors classes, “it has been a luxury to come here and work with students who have been selected. Everyone here is bright, everyone here knows how to do the job of being a student” Finally, at the same time as her son chose to come to Belmont Hill, she accepted the position of being an English teacher at Belmont Hill, a school with which she was familiar because of her mothers long experience of teaching and counseling here. Having been a faculty child herself during her younger years, she thought it would be an excellent idea to allow her son the same opportunity at Belmont Hill.

In discussing the modern teaching style at Belmont Hill, using Harkness tables in lieu of desks and limiting classes to small numbers to allow for open discussion, she declared her support for the Harkness table as a tool in English class, saying that “[she] wants to hear from everybody every single class, and I love it when students are talking to each other, [and] responding to each other and not just to especially with English, where the class is about expressing yourself’ She also explained that she has had difficulty relaying the same deep level of understanding upon her students when teaching from a board without much classroom participation, reflecting the importance of Belmont Hill’s universal adoption of the Harkness table in English classrooms.

Finally, she discussed the use of technology in the classroom, which has been increasing at Belmont Hill recently, with the integration of Smart Boards and iPads into many classrooms at the school. She explained that she reads all her articles and newspapers electronically, and, although her teaching journals are hand-written, she foresees a day when even those will be digital.

Clearly, she has a huge breadth of experience in writing and English, gained from editing, teaching, and learning through advanced degrees, which she is already using to teach her many students at Belmont HiILD

me...

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Mr. Gagne, New Head of Food Service, Cooks Up New Ideas for Belmont Hill By

Alex Santangelo Staff Writer

Since his first day here, Mr. Dennis Gagne has truly made an immediate impact on the food quality and service at Belmont Hill. With innovative ideas ranging from home cooked meals to a s’more station on a table, Mr. Gagne is serious about instituting changes in how Belmont Hill approaches its food. With his extensive experience in the culinary field, Mr. Gagne has begun to shape the food service into the institution that Belmont Hill deserves.

Mr. Gagne began his culinary career as a chef for Marriott Hotels and then fifteen years ago began working for the food services parent company, Sodexo. He started his Sodexo career at Westfield University without much information on what he should exactly do, so he stuck to his knowledge of restaurant cooking and tried to bring it to the college campus.

Sodexo immediately noticed Gagnes potential and his career skyrocketed from there. Since then, he has been the head chefand director of food services at a variety of colleges and universities across the country. At one point he was the “district chef” for seventeen schools, in which his role included developing campus menus, special event menus, buying food, ensuring quality, etc. Most recently, he was head campus chef at the University ofAlbany which had a 17,000 person student body; however, over the summer, Belmont Hill contacted Sodexo inquiring for a solution for improving the food service. Mr. Gagne has taken the challenge head-on with passion and excitement.

If you take a look into the kitchen, Mr. Gagne is in full force in the kitchen instructing the staff and teaching them new methods.

His primary goal for this year is to “teach the team how to cook differently” He explained that the changes in cooking methods have been a “culture shock” for the kitchen staff, but most have taken it on with eagerness and zeal, while others have struggled to adapt. Mr. Gagne is seeking to utilize “scratch cooking” at Belmont Hill, meaning no more frozen meats or vegetables, canned sauces, or pre-made salad dressings. He is teaching the staff to prepare and cook everything at Belmont Hill so that the food has more of a “home cooked feel and taste to it”.For example, frozen meatballs will no longer be used; rather, the meat will be thawed out, seasoned properly, hand rolled, cooked, and used with a home cooked marinara sauce.

Mr. Gagnebelieves that this “approach is a better product for the Belmont Hill community’ Along with the new changes in cooking, Mr. Gagne has made it a priority to have as much food come from local farms as possible.

If the vendor cannot obtain food from local farms, he personally makes sure that the vendor finds the next closest option. Unlike previous years, Mr. Gagne does not yet have a menu cycle. Instead, he wants to start by going week to week to see how students and faculty respond.

He wants to have a “diverse menu, but not so far off the map that people won’t eat it.” Soon, he wants to have a survey sent out to the school to measure satisfaction and get some feedback.

He plans to be very responsive and innovative when it comes to campus feedback. Mr. Gagne wants to make the food at Belmont Hill a “conversation, not a backdrop to campus life.” He clearly has made a tremendous impact on the school thus far, and the Panel hopes that Mr. Gagne continues to do so and that he include student and faculty input as soon as possible. □

Newly Added Physics Instructor Mr. Saucedo Welcomed Warmly from Florida continued jrurn from yugc t>aee 1

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From the moment I saw Mr. Saucedo walk up to the front of the chapel after Dr. Melvoin had called his name, I knew he was different. Notbecause he was thefirst male to be called up after a number of consecutive new female faculty members. Not because he was the only teacher up there that would be teaching me.

And not because there was any major blemish in his inherent appearance. Many have simply noted how skilled and knowledgeable he looked.

Not that other teachers do not project this same mastery of their field, but all can agree that Mr. Saucedo has a certain glow that reassures those around him that he knows what he is doing.

“Teaching never gets easier, every single its the same set of challenges. Only a few year, things change so it never gets easier, but you get better at doing it every year’ It truly embodies the attitude and mindset he has toward teaching. As his student, I can tell that Mr. Saucedo has taught what he is teaching me now, many times before. Yet, he still does it with such fervid interest. No one is more excited about velocitytime graphs and kinematics equations than Mr. Saucedo. Though making the transition to Belmont Hill has been a long and hard process at times for him, Mr. Saucedo has always kept going because he has a true appreciation for Belmont Hill. He instills this mindset of working hard to get better in his students as they

work through long and hard labs and problems.

A self-described easygoing kid, Mr. Saucedo grewup in San Antonio, Texas, what he refers to as “a small, military, touristy type of town.” From a young age, he“loved to build and was a hands on, tactile learner”, which explains how he ended up here at Belmont Hill as a physics teacher and robotics instructor. He is the oldest ofthreekids and often served as the teacher andadviser ofhis younger siblings, Viplm’ncr tn

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his parents were at work. Though he inherited much responsibility at a youngage, he always had fun biking, camping, and hiking. Mr. Saucedo was at hisbest andfeltmost free whenhewas able to enjoyhimselfthrough exploration. In theshort time that hehasbeen at Belmont Hill, Mr. Saucedo has already transmittedthat love for exploration to his students as they now have a desire to discover the interesting intricacies of physics and mechanics.

The best advice Mr. Saucedo has ever received is to “never look at your neighbors plate to see ifthey have more than you, instead, look to see iftheyhave enough.” Mr. Saucedos rise fromhumble beginnings is perfectly illustrated by this quote and showcases a principle that should be considered by the students at a schoollike Belmont Hill.

Anyone who has had an opportunity to interact with Mr. Saucedo knows how kind he is. From understanding the rigor of senior Fall during lab deadlines, to agreeing to instruct clubs, to making time for this articles interview, Mr. Saucedo has proven just how much he would do for the people at this school.

He relays this advice to his students, hoping that they will not compare themselves to each other, but be the best they can be, and help each other when needed.

Saucedo found himself on his way to Mr. Belmont Hill after he and his wife searched for a better place to raise his five-month-old son. He states, “though we were closer to the beach [in Miami] and it was a nice climate, it just wasn’t a good fit for us. We wantedto live in a place where teaching is appreciated and where education is a priority on the top ofthe list Where the ideas are progressive and people live communally, and take care ofeach other, and this is it. Boston definitely fits the bill, there’s a lotofintellectual heritage here, in addition to natural beauty” Mr. Saucedo then went on to showhis lovefor Belmont Hill, “I was blown away by the sheer beauty of the school, the camaraderie, and the warmth between the students and faculty’ He has come to adore his

coworkers in the science department the most, “so we had our first science department meeting a couple weeks ago and it was incredible!

Everyone was very laidback and there were a lot of funny moments. I feel like I’m at home with family and at the same time, everyone does something pretty incredible and unique that contributes to the department and makes us cohesive.”

A moment of humor occurred when I asked him who he thought the victor would be in a fight between Mr. Trautz and Mr. Butler. “Um, are they fist fighting hand to hand or does Mr. butler have like a laser beam or something?” he responded. “I have a better question for you. Who would win in a fight? A Tyrannosaurus rex with laser beam eyes or a monkey with a pistol filled with armor piercing bullets taped to its hand? The monkey doesn’t know how to use the gun and the T rex has horrible vision.” I obviously did not have answer to his question. He later said thatthe Trautz v Butler fight would be closer than people would expect, because though Butler has TKO capability, Trautz has the stamina to out run him.

Mr. Saucedo is very excitedfor all of the experiences to come this year, but is still adjusting to the schedule, as “is hard to get things donewhen we have 35 minute blocks, but I love the long blocks.”

As a vegetarian, he says, “the salad bar is pretty rocking.” Overall, my fellow classmates and I have no doubt in ourminds thatMr. Saucedo will make a great contribution to the science department. □

BELMONT HILL OPINION

4

The Panel

Big Changes Coming for Standardized Tests; How Will It Affect BH Students?

By Jay

O’Brien Panel Staff

While the Scholastic Achievement Test--comreferred to as the monly wide SAT--generates a range of emotions in the students that take the standardized test, it is a rite of passage for many juniors and seniors at Belmont Hill and across the country. The SAT has been revised many times since it was first introduced in 1926, and, last May, the College Board announced that they have yet again redesigned the test, effective spring of 2016. The new test will no longer focus on measuring students’ aptitude, but rather highlight their college readiness based on topics actually taught in school.

Since the new test will not be administered until spring 2016, the redesign will only impact students in the current sophomore class and below. Still, many students, parents, and teachers have raised questions about the new test: how will it differ from the current exam; why did the College Board change the test; and how will the test impact Belmont Hill students?

For the past nine years, the SAT has consisted of three sections: math, critical reading, and writing all three scored out of an 800 scale. The proposed changes represent radical shifts from the version that has been used since 2005.

Overall, the amount of detail within the different types of questions, as well as

the methods of scoring, will be very different for students taking the new test, leaving teachers, many students, and parents wondering why the College Board felt the need to make such revisions.

Many have begun to speculate that that a reafor son the recent

nant test for students in New

England, there is no denying that nationally, the ACT has made inroads on the SAT’s former terrain. According to The Washington Post, 12 states have suffered a 10 percent decrease or more in SAT market share. The Post

changes to the SAT is. to counter the recent in surge

popular-

are all states where the ACT test is more widely used.”

In Massachusetts, recent years have witnessed a meteoric 80% increase in ACT tests taken. Jens Odegard, a junior at Belmont Hill, plans to take the ACT within the next year, since he believes “The that, ACT is a test that is more focused toward comprehension and reasoning as

ity of the ACT, another standard i z e d that test

compared to memorization. I believe it better characterizes student’s a

virtually all colleges now accept.

Ac-

potential

cording to

With the new changes to the SAT, College or hurt students? the Board also looks to eliminate content that is unrelated to classroom topics; College Board President David Coleman explains that both the SAT, as well as the ACT, “have become disconnected from the work of our high schools.”

It can be fairly coneluded that the

Mrs. Bobo, the CoDirector of College

to in

Vill modifications being made to the SAT ultimately help

Counseling at Belmont Hill, “Thirteen states have a contract with the ACT to use that as their standardized test mechanism. Just two states have a contract with the SAT. The bottom line is that the SAT has lost market share

“Over seven years, the decline in SAT test-takers exceeded 20 percent in 19 states, including drops of 59 percent in Michigan, 46 percent in Illinois, 37 percent in Ohio and 25 percent in Tennessee. Those notes,

nation-

ally.”

Mrs. Bobo noted that

succeed

college.”

College Board’s efforts to create a test centered around

though the SAT the p redo m i is

Jstudents’

class work reflects their dual intention to measure students’ college preparedness while also raising the SAT’s relevance and market share.

By the spring of 2016, the newly designed test will be put into place for all juniors and seniors. In order to respond to such changes, Belmont Hill will modify its method of preparing students for the standardized test. “We’re changing the sequence of our programming to get out ahead of the new SAT release,” said Mrs. Bobo, regarding the planned modifications to their approach. The Belmont Hill college counseling office plans to provide students with a greater exposure to both the ACT and the SAT, thus helping students understand which standardized test suits them best.

“We’re going to offer the students an experience that they otherwise could only encounter through a tutoring company,” said Mrs. Bobo. “That is to provide a diagnostic of which test they are more predisposed to before students even get into the actual testing sequence.”

Changing the methods of preparation among students for the SAT is clearly inevitable, so if Belmont Hill is able to successfully provide students with an accurate diagnostic to better suit the needs of the students, Belmont Hill scholars will have the opportunity to obtain better scores on either the SAT or ACT thanks to their advanced level of preparation. □

A Swede at Belmont Hill: Senior Exchange Student Filip Flenhagen Shares All ceived ASSIST’s full scholarship.

To begin with, I would Staff Writer like to answer a few quesFirst, I would like to intro- tions that you guys like to ask duce myself, and where I come me, just to make things clear: from. So, as you all might know, I am from Sweden. I live in a village Do you drive on the left side on outside of Malmo, and I used to go to a private school called ProCi- the road in Sweden? vitas Private Gymnasium. I have No, we drive on the right side, just always been interested in study- like you. ing abroad, and when the ASSIST program had a presentation at my school I was determined to take it Is Zlatan famous in Sweden? further. ASSIST is a non-profit or- Yes, he is very famous. Everyone ganization, based in the U.S., that works to “support outstanding in- in Sweden knows who he is and ternational students on one-year he has inspired a lot ofkids to scholarships at leading American start playing soccer, by showing independent secondary schools.”

The purpose of this exchange pro- that even a small country like gram is to create “life-changing Sweden (10 million people) can opportunities for outstanding in- produce one of the world’s best ternational scholars to attend and contribute to the finest American soccer players. independent secondary schools to promote mutual understanding, Haveyou been to the U.S. before? cultural interchange, and global have been to the four times, U.S. citizenship.” Determined to be a I part of this program, I completed all for vacation a couple of weeks. my application in the beginning of this year. A few months later I was admitted as one of the 75 Do you really get paid to go to European scholars, a fraction of school in Sweden?! all 1500 initial applicants who re- Except for food costs, we do not

By Filip Flenhagen

pay to go to any certain school.

Though, we

receive what is called

a student grant every month, so in

And the mostfrequently asked

question

of them alls Do you

have

beautiful, blonde and blue-eyed

a way we do actually get money to girls in Sweden ?

go to school.

I have to say yes on this one.

Swedish girls are known to be

What type

offood do you have?

good looking and I agree with

We have pretty much the same

that.

food as you have, maybe a bit more nutritious and healthy. I am

Impressions so far:

I have now been at Belmont for almost one month, and I Hill This is a typical Swedish dish that have had sufficient time to form a we eat together with mashed pota- legitimate opinion. I think thatBeltoes, cream sauce and lingonberry. mont Hill is an excellent school, with committed teachers, a united community including both faculty What type of music do you listen and students, extraordinary sport facilities, and a sense of professionto? alism tieing it all together. I really Since I got here I have been appreciated Camp Cody, a place amazed by how familiar the music where I got to see the senior class in a different environment. Some is. I guess we have pretty much of the other seniors may remember the same type ofpop, house, and my little speech about the class as ABBA, music.

Swedish country a whole, but for those who weren’t House Mafia, and Avicii are just a on the trip, I explained that I really was impressed by how you, a few ofSweden’s worldwide song group of 84 boys, were working artists. together so cooperatively. Even if you have a set of friends that you usually stick with, it was amazing

proud of the Swedish meatballs.

how friendly and social everyone is with each other. I felt like everyone in the senior class could easily talk to each other. Now, almost a month later, I still believe this, as not just the Sixth Formers but also the rest of the student body really seems to be strong groups of boys.

Belmont Hill differs from old school in many ways. First, my the dress code is very different with the jacket, tie, and chinos. I like the idea that this dress code creates a more professional environment.

Another difference is the fact that Belmont Hill is an all-boys school.

Next, the fact that your homework assignments are usually due the next day in Sweden we usually get a few days before we have to turn it in. The length of sports practice here at Belmont Hill differs from practices in Sweden. I used to practice soccer 5 hours and play one or two games every week. I am also used to later practices, where the times could be anywhere from 7 to 9 PM. It is foreign to me how everyone says “how are you?” just like saying “hi”. Lastly, the pace and the amount of reading that is required for every class is very different. I really have a great impression ol Belmont Hill, and I look forward to spending the next year with you! □ -

October 6, 2014

BELMONT HILL OPINION

5

Chew on This: New Lunch Director Brings Positive Changes to School Meals By

ment, a change that absolutely needed to happen. The most

Gabe Schmittlein

wholesale changes, though, have clearly come with the desserts. Nearly every returning dessert has seen significant improvements, but it is

Staff Writer

I’ll admit, when I showed lunch on the first up Thursday of school and two former staples of the salad bar, croutons and pita bread, were missing, I was worried.

It seemed that, without these ever-present constants of my lunchtime experience, my day would fall into a dreadful abyss of gloomy confusion. No Caesar salad could ever be the same without croutons, and certainly no tuna salad pita sandwich could even be made without the vital pita bread; however, when I returned to school on Monday, the croutons and pita bread had also returned. It seemed no less than a miracle that just days after these salad bar essentials had been lacking, they made their triumphant return. Many lunch staffs would have stubbornly maintained their initial decision, refusing to backtrack on themselves.

On the other hand, it is a sign of a wise staff to show enough humility to recognize a mistake when there is one and to fix it. For this, Chef to

It is a sign of a wise staff to show enough humility to recognize a mistake when there is one and to fix it. For this, Chef Gagne must be applaud-

ed.

Bill Mahoney

Students enjoying lunch at Belmont Hill Gagne must be applauded.

Honestly, though, nitpicking aside, the whole kitchen staff must be applauded for much more than just this act of consciousness. For starters, pun intended, the table-top appetizers have been a welcome addition to the Belmont Hill lunches. From garlic bread to miniature do-

nuts, to chips and guacamole, viously. New additions to the these smaller dishes have pro- menu have included the bufvided a nice contrast to the falo chicken calzone and the

larger portions of the

main

meals. The entrees have also undergone improvements, that, though more subtle than the rest of the changes, have not gone unnoticed. The food in general seems fresher and more diverse than it was pre-

thanksgiving-esque

turkey

sandwich, both having been huge hits in my eyes. Several returning dishes have been improved too, most noticeably being the burgers, which have been made remarkably larger in the height depart-

the new desserts that have been stealing all the headlines; the cheesecake has to be my favorite dessert so far, regardless of how badly it crippled me during soccer practice later in the day, while the parfait is my choice for most underrated dessert thus far.

Clearly, the kitchen staff, led by Chef Gagne, has made massive strides so far this year, and I know the entire student body is thankful for what improvements have been made. We look forward to the upcoming year of lunches with great optimism, for surely, this is just a taste of what’s to come, pun intended. □

Construction on Campus Proves Partially Problematic For Belmont Hill Students By

Jason Fischman Panel Staff

On August 28th, the first classes, hundreds of of day Belmont Hill students, both new and returning, came to school, prepared for the challenges brought on by academics, athletics, and all the other aspects of life at Belmont Hill.

Although everyone was aware that a new building was under construction, I don’t think many people recognized that there was also work being done across campus, specifically on the paths connecting the academic side of campus.

During the first few weeks of school, there was constant construction on these trails, making travel around campus very difficult.

The paths themselves had the

Overall, this has been a very busy year for construction at Belmont Hill. New flights of stairs were added over

the summer, new paths were done at the very beginning of the year, and an entire building is currently under construction.

removed, and only dirt trails remained. narrow to the Next paths, there were barriers rope preventing kids from going on to the grass areas, where new trees and grass were being planted. This led to severe traffic jams in the time between classes, making it difficult to get to class on time. A week or two into the school year, most of the paths

asphalt

were closed as asphalt was put down, making the traffic even worse on the few paths that remained open. However, just a month after school started, most of the work on the paths is done, they look great, and there are no longer any problems traveling campus. Although it would have been more convenient if construction on these paths could have been completed over the summer, it was not, and we had to cope with it for a month.

In the end, it was a mild annoyance, but the paths are completed now, and we have to realize all the construction is being done in the interest of improving the school. It is also important to realize that the steps from the chapel to the math building, and stairs heading down to the math building, were installed over the summer and are both very helpful, so there was work being done while we were gone.

My only other complaint about the paths is why they had to be redone this year, when they were perfectly functional before. Although I agree with the thought of redoing them, I do not think it had to be done this year, after two new flights of steps were added and there is an entire building under construction. The paths could have easily waited until next summer, when no one would have been impeded by their work. However, they are done now, so we should just appreciate how nice they look and put the difficulties of getting around campus behind us.

The other area of the

that has been somewhat irritating is the noise from the construction on the new building. Obviously, there is nothing that can be done about this, but it is very annoying when one is in class and the only thing they can hear is the noise from the construction site.

Sophomore Pat Shea said, “Although I realize that the construction is all being done to improve the school, I wish there was a quieter way to do it, because it can be very disconstruction

tracting when I am in class and the noises of the construction site drown out the teacher.” The new building is scheduled to be completed sometime around Thanksgiving though, so the distracting noises will stop soon.

Overall, this has been a very busy year for construction at Belmont Hill. New flights of stairs were added over the summer, new paths were done at the very beginning of the year, and an entire building is currently un-

Executive Editors John Driscoll Will Treanor

Arts Editor Brendan Pulsifer

Sports Editor Liam Foley

Editor-in-Chief Michael O’Neill

der construction. Although the work on the paths made travel around campus very difficult for a short period of time, they are finished now and look great. The construction on the new building is very loud and distracting at times, but I’m sure the building will be great when it is done, so we should just deal with the noise now, because all this construction will be done soon, and the benefits will outweigh all the struggles of it now. □

Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Juliette Zener

Copy Editor Matt Reppucci

Assistant Editors

Chip Daley

News Editor Sreehaas Digumarthi Opinion Editor Jay O’Brien

Jake DeCaprio Photo Editor Jamie Mazzio-Manson

Jason Fischman Mack Perry

Condolences to the friends

&

family

Online Editor Sreehaas Digumarthi

ofPatrick Gill. Rest in peace.

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper ofthe Belmont Hilland Winsor schools. The Panel isthe 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 aboutthe content shouldbe addressed directly to the editors. ThePanel encourages responsible opinion in the form ofLetters to theEditor. We reservethe right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2014 The Panel. Allrights reserved. No part of thispublication maybe reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

BELMONT HILL ARTS

6

Auspicious Start for B-Flats

hopes to perform at some of the same venues this year as they did in the past years,

venues such as various alumni, sporting, and concert events. There are indeed a select few performances that carry a particuBy Ranjit Thomas larly high prestige performing the National Staff Writer Anthem at Frozen Fenway, singing at the Belmont Hill’s own B-Flats is per- Boston Symphony Hall, and, of course, closhaps one of the most integral clubs to the ing the Winter Recital at Lexington Town Belmont Hill culture. Mr. Patterson has led Hall. This year, there has been significant his group of young musicians in enchanting personnel change to the group; although

Robison’s greatest source of joy. With a combination of hard work and a certain “chutzpah” that Mrs. Robison attributes to herself, she choreographed her first musical theatre show, Jesus Christ Superstar, at the young age of sixteen, only a year after she had started taking dance classes.

By Brendan Pulsifer Jesus Christ Superstar was not Mrs. Robison’s first experience in musical thePanel Staff atre, however. A year earlier, she was cast For the past few years, the actors5 as a chorus girl in a community theatre and directors in the Belmont Hill depart- production of Oklahoma. Even though ment have produced a wide range of shows, she played only a small role in the show, from light comedies, such as The Importance the show had a large role in her life. She of Being Earnest, to more dramatic shows, had such an incredible experience on stage including Murder Takes the Veil. Last year, that she took part in numerous commuwith the help of Mr. Maclean and Mrs. Da- nity theatre programs throughout high vis, the Belmont Hill and Winsor students5 school, both acting and choreographing. expanded their horizons and performed the In her high school yearbook, Mrs. Robison high intensity drama 12 Angry Jurors. This3 was named “Best Dramatist,” a title which year, Mrs. Robison, the new head of the Bel- she holds close to her heart even now. mont Hill Theatre Department, aims to take Mrs. Robison pursued her passion the actors in the Kraft Theatre completely out for the arts at the University of Oregon for of their comfort zone with a production of college, where she graduated with a B.A. in Shakespeare’s great tragedy Macbeth. Many Dance. From Oregon, she traveled back to York City and Hyde people might say it is crazy to put on a Shakespearean Park to look for work drama with teenagers, but on Broadway and in the Robison beHudson Mrs. River Valley. In strongly lieves that we can handle it.

New York, she was cast “Macbeth,” in a show alongside Bebe Mrs. Neuwirth, known for her Robison declares, “should not be beyond the grasp roles in Cheers and Frasier. of students here. I chose | After she got married in it because it ties into the 1 New York, the West Coast f curriculum drew Mrs. Robison back sophomore and it will make students | with her new husband, this actors.”

I time to Seattle. Among Mrs. Rogrow as bison has directed MacI the highlights of her West beth before, under much Coast residency, she was cirfeatured in a local seafood more challenging cumstances with only commercial and gained TV innovative status in a prosesgirls. Her Equity production of Macbeth at Belmont Hill sional production of Singin’ in the Rain.

After having two children, she and will contain the musical stylings of artists such as Nirvana and Britney Spears. her husband decided to reside in Boston.

Mrs. Robison comes to Belmont Hill She received a Master’s degree from Framthis year as a Form II and Form 111 Eng- ingham State University and began teachlish teacher, as well as the new head of ing English and directing shows at local the Theatre Department. She can be eas- high schools. Before Belmont Hill, she ily identified by her blonde hair, framed taught at several schools, including Millis glasses, and confident but friendly manner. High School, Dana Hall, Woodward High Born in Detroit, Michigan, Mrs. Rob- School, and, most recently, Needham High sion actually lived in California from her School. At all of these schools, Mrs. Robiinfant years until she turned nine, when son directed musicals and plays in addition her family moved to Hyde Park, New to teaching and, more often than not, she York. The move was prompted by her fa- chose a Shakespeare play. Now, thanks to ther, who took a job teaching mathemat- Mr. Kaplan, who introduced her to Belmont ics at Union College. It would not be her Hill, we welcome Mrs. Robison to campus. last move Mrs. Robison hopes to develop a strong apart from Michigan, California, and New York, she has also called theatre department, a challenging job at an Oregon, Washington, and now Massachu- all-boys schools with a strong emphasis on setts her home. Her somewhat itinerant athletics. She has already started by planning lifestyle can be attributed to her passion a trip to London in June for those interested for the arts, particularly dance and theatre. in theatre and Shakespeare. “Acting gives As a young child, Mrs. Robison got students confidence, well-roundedness, a involved with gymnastics “I’ve always cultural experience, and camaraderie,” she loved to move,” she says. It is not surpris- explains; “it involves taking a risk and looks ing, then, that she took up dance classes good on college resumes. When you’re an at age fifteen. Although gymnastics was actor, you’re part of a team just as much as a an enjoyable pastime, dance became Mrs. football player is. So why not try it out?” □

Mrs. Robison

Brings New Energy to Theatre

:

-

:

,

,

:

,

-

-

The Panel

The B-Flats perform a rousing number in chapel on Friday, September 26th. the chapel for years with music providing a relaxing and creative manner to commence the day. Having already performed twice within the first month of school, the Flats’ season kicked off on September 22nd with their exceptional performance of the Star Spangled Banner, an arrangement made by Mr. Patterson which the B-Flats use often.

As a uniquely dedicated club, the B-Flats meet every single day, rehearsing with the utmost diligence in order to bring their songs to perfection by showtime. The group

Wl

lam

Ga

lgan

only a mere three

seniors graduated last June, nine more enthusiastic new singers in the Upper School joined the club this year.

President Christian Little and Vice President Nate Trznadel share Mr. Patterson’s enthusiasm for the coming year. “We, the leaders of the B-Flats, are hoping that this year will be one of diverse and enigmatic music,” say Little and Trznadel. It seems that this group of highly talented musicians will exceed the high expectations set and will bring incredible music to Belmont Hill. □

Glenn Fills in for Fiori on Sabbatical continued from page 1 That year, he also taught himself to play the guitar. The summer after his senior year, Mr. Glenn took up the cello, and he later minored in it in college. Mr. Glenn attended Illinois Wesleyan University, earning a B. A. in Music and Political Science. His Music curriculum was largely trumpet performance and music history, and his Political Science focus was international politics.

Mr. Glenn trained entirely in classical music during his undergraduate studies, but he quickly realized that, as a trumpet player, he needed to be able to play jazz.

He spent a semester studying in Vienna during his junior year, and while he says that it did not specifically make him a better trumpet player, he was able to immerse himself in Vienna’s rich musical environment. After college, Mr. Glenn obtained his M.Ed. in Music Education at Penn State. Among the requirements for this degree were learning to play the flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trombone, violin, percussion, and piano.

This year at Belmont Hill, Mr. Glenn hopes to provide his music students with worthwhile individual challenges to help them become better musicians and gain a deeper understanding of themselves as individuals. Specifically for the musical ensembles, he hopes that the ensembles will be so well-prepared for the concerts that the musicians will not be at all anxious while performing, which will allow them, as well as the audience, to enjoy the concerts.

When I asked Mr. Glenn what he enjoyed the most about music and teaching music, he said, “I enjoy that it is a relentless challenge. Music doesn’t happen by itself, either in a practice room or in everyday life. I like teaching music because I believe that learning and teaching music requires continuous personal challenge, introspection, and self-improve-

ment, and that process is more rewarding to go through with people, rather than by

one’s self.” He also added that “another thing I really love about music, and teaching music, is that it’s real time. Just like in a game, meet, or match, the time arrives when everything has to come together to result in the best performance possible.

I find the preparation, problem solving, and personal energy involved in that process to be just as enjoyable as the concert.”

Mr. Glenn has two children, a fiveyear-old and an eighteen-month-old.

When he is not pursuing musical interests or taking care of his children, he enjoys keeping up with politics and international events. He also enjoys running, though he regrets that he has not been able to devote much time toward running since the birth of his children. Mr. Glenn loves to cook, and he prepares all of the family meals at home. His favorite dishes include homemade sushi and London Broil.

All of us at Belmont Hill are happy to have Mr. Glenn with us this year, and we wish him the best. □

INew I

-

-

-

Revised Schedule Provides More Opportunities for the Arts Armin Thomas Staff Writer

By

For the music program at Belmont Hill, there is hope that the new schedule, in particular the 75 minute block, will allow musicians more time to master their craft. Orchestra President George Hu said, “It’s going to help because it allows for longer rehearsal periods. Usually a 40 minute rehearsal period for musicians is going to be very short. Having one 75 minute rehearsal block per week is going to help the music gel together.” As a musician myself, I could not agree with him more.

Prior to the introduction of the new schedule, the musicians in the ensembles at Belmont Hill did not practice their

assigned in ensembles outside of school, so, with their busy schedules, they only looked at it for about an hour and a half a week. Out of every rehearsal, half of the time was wasted on unnecessary activity that should be done beforehand (tuning, stands, chairs, etc.) A longer block, even if only for once a week, will dramatically improve the quality of the music program at Belmont Hill.

The Orchestra, Jazz Band, and BFlats have each taken advantage of this new opportunity in their 75 minute blocks. Orchestral Conductor Mr. Glenn has already reported that the orchestra is making good progress on the pieces only three weeks into the year, something that could not be said at the same time music

last year. The Jazz Band has been performing strongly since the first day of rehearsals thanks to the new schedule.

The B-Flats are able to explore new areas of music, such as note reading and piano playing, thanks to the longer blocks.

All three large ensembles are making headway. The pace of advancement in the music program has quickened. The beacon of hope above the music building burns brighter than ever before. And with the new infusion of talent into the school, such as jazz band drummerScott Jackson, orchestral violinists Austin Kwoun, Kerby Roberson, and cellist Preston Adams, and a whole new host of amazing sophomores in the B-flats, the golden age of the music program is nearing its dawn. □

BELMONT HILL SPORTS

October 6, 2014

7

Fantasy Fever Takes Hold over Campus Soccer Team Kicks Off Year in Fine Fashion Fantasy football generates a feisty competitive atmosphere at Belmont Hill and it is easy to see why: the game is simple to play, is based around something that nearly all of us do anyways (i.e. following sports), and grants bragging right opportunities to winners. After all, what’s better than setting aside your unfinished homework, sitting down on your couch, ordering 24 buffalo wings, and flipping feverishly between the Pats game and the Red Zone channel? Fantasy football is so great because it is truly playable by every single person with a computer. It is a game where the star football player’s team could lose to someone who never played football or where someone with no knowledge of the sport could get lucky and auto-draft Rashad Jennings or Terrance West and make the playoffs while an owner who checks way too often could draft Adrian Peterson and RG3 and finish 7th. Fantasy football is both a game ofluck and of competition and the parity that exists in the game gives every participant an opportunity to be proud or disappointed in his team week to week.

Sixth former Sreehaas Digumarthi claims that although he considers football to be a “bunch of hoopla,” he still manages to enjoy participating in fantasy football leagues. Faculty members also join in on the fun: history teacher Mr. Smith claims that participating in fantasy football helps take some of the pain away from being a 2014 New York Giants fan.

While Fantasy Football is universally loved, there are certainly different sects of players and each group religiously argues that their league’s scoring or method of play is the correct style. The Panel Sports Editor welcomes the opportunity to arbitrate these burning controversies:

team boarded the bus to head to BB&N as the Loop, decked out in camouflage, urged

By Chip Daley

First, a question from a Second Former:

Panel Staff

“Hey Liam, love your columns; I was won-

The Varsity soccer team is off to a strong start to the season with an overall record of 3-1-0 (3-0-0 in ISL play). Yet the season really began in the middle of August as the team travelled to the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass for preseason camp. “It was exciting to get started,” claimed co-captain Josh Fischer, “we had organized many captain’s practices but this truly marked the beginning of our season.” Amongst the many games and exhausting practices, the boys enjoyed excellent bonding time and were able to start building team chemistry. “The pre-season camp was a great way to bring us together as a team,” said co-captain Emmett Gordon, “exposing our weaknesses and fixing them before the start of our season.” After tryouts and the final few preseason scrimmages, the final roster was set and the team was eager to get going. “We were both excited as captains to be leading the team and still are very excited about leading this group of guys in particular,” added Gordon.

The Belmont Hill soccer team, coached

by Senor Montoya and Mr. Holland, looked for its first win against a competitive Bridgton Academy squad. Unfortunately, the game turned out as a loss on the scorecard, but displayed some promise and allowed the team to evaluate itself before an extremely important ISL opening match against rival BB&N. “After what happened last year with the win being taken away from us, we were ready for revenge against another talented ISL team in BB&N,” remarked Fischer. “That week of practices was going to be very important for us and we worked even harder in order to put ourselves in a position to win this game in our final matchup as seniors with BB&N,” agreed Emmett Gordon. With the stage set for a legendary ISL opener, the

dering, is an

8-team

league cool?”

Any league with fewer than 10 teams should not be considered legitimate because each of the teams will have such a talented roster that a lucky draft will negate the need to use any strategy; 8 team leagues place too significant an emphasis on luck.

“Dear Panel, someone in my league just traded away Matt Stafford and Montee Ball

for Knile Davis and Matt Ryan,

I vetoed

it, should I have? Thanks, Worried League

Manager.”

No. While the owner who traded away Stafford and Ball is foolish, one must look at the trade from all points of view and it is reasonable enough to understand the Stafford and Ball owner’s rationale to pull the trigger. Do NOT veto unless a trade is blatantly unfair.

“Liam, should Iparticipate in a Point

Per Reception League or normal league?

Thanks.”

Both PPR leagues (where a player point for evcatch he and standard makes) scorery ing leagues are fun and I would recommend trying to join one of each. is awarded an additional

In closing, Fantasy Football provides members of the Belmont Hill community with great competition and entertainment; good luck to everyone for the remainder of their season! □

them on from their parking lot tailgate party and wished the team luck. After warming up, the game was underway. A hard fought first half left the Belmont Hill squad tied 0-0 with the Knights of BB&N. Just a short while into the second half, Filip Flenhagen played a beautiful ball behind the defensive backs; the ball first found Emmett’s knee then ended up in the back of the net. The Knights quickly answered with a counter of their own, heading home a goal to tie the game at 1-1. Yet, with time expiring and only minutes until the final whistle, Emmett Gordon played a through ball to Chip Daley’s foot, giving him the opportunity to find A Zenati crashing the net for the winning goal.

“There is nothing like beating BB&N at their field on their homecoming in my last game against them,” happily exclaimed team captain, Josh Fischer. When asked about scoring a goal in his last game against BB&N, Emmett Gordon modestly replied, “It felt awesome. I’m just glad we were able to get the win and avenge what happened last year.”

With the season just getting underway, the team is excited with such a big win early on in the season. On September 23, the team played Groton and a few goals early put Belmont Hill up 3-0 in the first half. Senor Montoya was able to provide every team member quality playtime in the second half as Belmont Hill cruised to a 4-1 victory. The following Saturday, the team faced a long road trip up to St. Paul’s. A few great scoring chances by forwards A 1 Zenati and Emmett Gordon were matched by equally great saves by the opponent’s goalkeeper. However, Emmett eventually prevailed for two goals and Belmont Hill held on through a tense second half to win 2-0. The soccer team is off to a great start, with a league record of 3-0-0, and looks forward to big tests against Rivers, Nobles, and Lawrence Academy. □

1

Liam Foley Panel Staff

By

Cross Country in the Running for ISL Champs Coach, Students Run to Help Cure Alzheimer’s

By William

Weiter

Staff Writer

After placing seventh in the ISL last Belmont Hill’s Varsity Cross Counyear, team seeks try redemption, striving to win the 2014 ISL Championship Race. With only one runner having graduated out of the Varsity’s top seven from 2013 and with the acquisition of three swift freshmen, the team’s aspirations have a strong chance of becoming a reality. Head coach, Mr. Trautz, remarked, “We have a strong team with a good balance of juniors and seniors and the addition of some excellent new Third Formers. I could see us going 12 and 3 this season and winning the ISL Championship.”

In addition, Arianna Vailas, three year captain of the women’s cross country team and two-year track and field captain at Dartmouth, joined the veteran coaching staff consisting of head coach Tyson Trautz and coaches Francis Kirby and Jessica Rice.

Coach Vailas commented about her experience coaching, “They are an exceptional group ofyoung men, and I truly enjoy spending my afternoons coaching them. The boys bring an energy and a sense ofhumor that are differentfrom the women’s team, which really makes coaching them a lot of fun. I also appreciate not having to coerce them into doing core; as one athlete explained, All you have to say is that it’s going to make us huge; all guys want to be huge.’ Maybe not for cross country runners...” Having been with the team for only a few weeks, Ms. Vailas has already had a positive impact on the program. Captain John Power remarked, “Coach Vailas has been a great addition to our coaching squad.

She has emphasized stretching and post-run workouts, two things that are going to help us improve our results. Coaches Trautz, Kir-

by, Rice, and Vailas set high standards for the team and have done a great job at keeping us healthy and making us faster every day.”

Despite the coaches’ best efforts, injuries continue to plague the team. Yohannes Mezgebu and Captain Alexander Hall are both currently injured, creating some gaps in an otherwise strong and solid pack; however, many new and veteran runners have stepped up to fill the void. Captain Alexander Hall commented, “We’ve had a lot of guys step up and put in good effort. I’m really impressed by our three new freshmen that are running varsity this year. Freshman John Pappo is impressively talented and he’s put down impressive times at our races so far.” In the team’s first race of the season, a quad-race against Tabor, St. George’s, and the perennially strong Middlesex, Pappo finished first for the team and fourth overall, helping the team beat St. George’s and edge out Tabor by one point.

Despite a strong group of runners, the Belmont Hill harriers were defeated by Middlesex, giving the team a current standing of 3-1. Even with the loss versus Middlesex, Coach Trautz believes that, “We have a real chance to win the league if we peak at theright time and keep everyone healthy.” The coaching staff is optimistic that Middlesex is within reach, especially under championship scoring, which favors Belmont Hill’s tight pack.

The veteran, venerable Coach Kirby commented, “It has been quite some time since I have seen a Belmont Hill XC running squad guided by so many capable veteran runners combined with an outstanding cast of very promising Third, Fourth, and Fifth Formers. This is a team that will peak just in time for the two end-of season championship meets, thus causing many an opposing coach a goodly number of sleepless nights as the season winds to an end in November.”D

in the background, while runners streamed in and lined up for registration; even strangStaff Writer ers were finding things to talk about togethOn Sunday, September 7, Coach er. Since the race was open to the public, well Rice, the part-time and very fast coach of over 200 people showed up, including six By

Jack Richards

the Varsity Cross Country Team, hosted a 5k race. The race, called Jog Your Memory, was in honor ofher mother who recently passed away following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The race was held to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, with every cent earned going towards the research. Because ofher years of generous service to the team, Belmont Hill provided tables and other amenities to help out with the organization.

The morning of the race had a verypositive atmosphere. Upbeat music was played

Belmont Hill XC runners; Chad Larkin and Chris Folsom, both seniors, and Fifth Formers Jake DeCaprio, William Galligan, William Weiter, and Jack Richards. Prizes were handed out to the best runners of various age groups, and, with a time of 19:05, Fifth Former William Weiter won first place for the U-19 runners. Despite the great prizes, the true incentive to run was because it is for a great cause. With a great turnout and generous donors, Coach Rice helped raise well over $40,000 for Alzheimer’s research. □

UA Athlete of the Issue By

Matthew Brach Staff Writer

Dago Picon-Roura has been defei and tight end for the Belmont Hill varsil UNDER ARMOUR team for the past three years and the team with excellentxplay wheneys ptemb on the field In his most recent Wha s the best thing about playing 27th against Grotoi recov ered a punt for a t< cau ght BY^rsity tball? touchdown pass from think the best thing about playing botball is the brotherhood you develop. 1 earn Q: How do you think the ft> ack in sophomore year I was scared to be do this year? >f varsity because there were so many big ]ql think the teams id it was such a different level offootball A: I and we may not have a lot of depth, but we dto Bth8 th and 9th grade. But after a couple oi number of kids tc> lot of start to see how close youreally are to al gd*a a good experience and I think we haw a~g< startm tho on the football team, whether you talk with all the seniors -1 mean, w< off, the field or not, and you realize that this year, which is the most we’v< ve their back no matter what happens and yo |ur back no matter what happens. □ so I think the seasons^lookin| ■

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LAST LOOK

8

The Panel

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We, the Back Page editors, are trying something new for this Issue of the Panel. If at any point in time, you find the content on this back page unfunny, please send any complaints you might have to our Editor in Chief, Michael

*

*

DISCLAIMER

*

O’Neill. However, if you ever find yourself chuckling, or even just releasing some air out us the credit we rightfully deserve.

of your nose (we’ll count that) give

Love, The Back Page Editors

Backpager Tries (and fails) To Have a Fun Weekend With Teachers; Students Rejoice •••oo T-Mobile

3G

47% !■

6:00 AM

Messages Mr. Butler <3

>

Contacts

•••oo

T-Mobile 3G

6:00 AM

Mr. Sullivan

47% ■

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Contacts

Hiya, Coach Butler!

What do you say we zip up to Maine for a guys weekend? Get ready for the 3 F’s: Fishing, Fun, and Friendship! Let me know what you think!

Hey, Sully! I have a math question for you!

What does you plus me equal? A great time in Maine! I’ve got a great plan. It’ll be a blast! Let me know what you think!

again, any thoughts on the guys weekend? Let me know!

Any thoughts on the guys weekend? Let me know!

I turned my read receipts off. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I am actively ignoring you.

through?

I don’t want to go alone again...

•••ooT-Mobile 3G

Messages

11:00 AM

47% ■

Adam Harder

>

Contacts

R u doing anythin this weeknd? 10l Butler and Sullivan said no?

Maine?

I’ll pass. Have fun by yourself again.

a

Hahaha. Good one bud!

Stop texting me.

151

Send

Backpage Editor Realizes the Magnitude of His Commitment To the Paper: My Letter of Resignation zr

wm nu

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Dear Back Page™ Fans, First off, how about that first joke a second ago? Funny right? For the record, I wanted it to be Mr. Curran texting the teachers, but that idea was vetoed. Anywho, I have a quick anecdote for ya. ‘Bout a week ago I was driving to the Panel meeting, decaf ice coffee in one hand, and an E-Cig in the other (my body’s a temple). My phone rang... and I answered. It was my

daughter, she just started first grade ‘bout a week ago. I heard her little voice whisper, "Papa, my baseball fishing trip play starts in five minutes, I’m playing Mike Trout

©!

Where are you,

Papa?” I was silent for a moment, ‘Tm on my way to the Panel meeting.” All I heard was a heartbroken voice whisper, "Oh, again?”

Hey, Andres why’d you tell me that really interesting story? Well Back Page™ fan, as your know this is my second Back Page™ for the Belmont Hill Panel®. Lenime tell you the truth, the first issue was magical. Myles and I had an absolute blast of a time, and we could tell you ALL loved it. This one though? The magic was gone. My daughter missed me. I’m clearly out of funny ideas. My marriage is falling apart. I’m alone... but I powered through. I went to the Panel layout Sunday and while listening to Mike scream at us for all our mistakes (he’s a

small, petty petty man) I snapped. For the first time ever, I yelled at Mike. "I have a baseball fishing trip play to go to, my daughter’s,” I screeched at him. I got up and ran to the door I gave one last backwards glance at their small, petty petty faces. I heard a petty screech, "You leave now and you have no job to come back to!” I turned to him and whispered, "You’re a small,

petty petty man.”

What I’m trying to say is, it’s been one heck of a ride. You were with me for the highest highs, there were no lows. I met some great people, even petty petty Mike taught me a few things

along the way. Sadly though this is it. Thanks for your support and love. But it’s with a heavy heart I must say, ‘Tm resigning from my position as Back Page Editor. I love you all.”

Sincerely, Andies Cordoba Retired Back Page Editor -