February 5, 2024
Issue #2
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
The Belmont Hill Thanksgiving Dinner Drive by Brian Tang ’29
Every year, as a school, we devote ourselves to raising food for the Turkey Drive / Thanksgiving Dinner drive. Each form pitches in for a specific food item. Form I is responsible for yams and cranberry sauce. Form II is responsible for stuffing mix and canned or packaged gravy. Form III is responsible for potatoes. Form IV, canned yams, and canned vegetables. Form V, stuffing mix, and canned vegetables. Form VI, canned cranberry sauce, and gravy. After all the meals were packed, the students in Form III carried them into the MacPherson room. The Macpherson became stuffed with boxes that the Third Formers meticulously packed. These were then moved to cars and were shipped to various families by Third Formers. The whole process took many weeks, but it was worth the effort because this year was a success, as we packaged and delivered five hundred and four meals
to families throughout the Boston area. All of the families expressed great thanks to Belmont Hill. All in all, the drive provided dinners for many families and brought smiles to their faces. It extends beyond providing food; it genuinely touches the hearts of the families. This food drive not only provides meals for families, but it also shows the importance of gratitude and caring for others.
Belmont Hill Fall Sports Review by Brian Tang ’29 and Henry Oh ’29
As the fall season comes to an end, the fall sports seasons have, too. Each sport performed very well, and all of the teams achieved significant accomplishments. The varsity football team, led by head Coach Fucillo, marched their way to a seven-and-two record. They ended the season with an astounding win against Gov’s and claimed the ISL championship title. They also had another great win against Deerfield. All in all, it was an excellent season for the Varsity football team as they continued to prove themselves and assert their dominance in the ISL. The varsity Soccer team
had a 13-4-1 record. They finished the season with an astonishing win against Gov’s. One of their captains, Alexander Vittal, won the award for contributing the most to the team. The Cross Country team also did very well and competed in many races. They finished 4th in New England in a very competitive race. Third former Will Trautz finished third overall in New England. Overall, the fall sports teams continue to do excellently and keep on achieving outstanding accomplishments. The bar is sure to be set high for the upcoming seasons and future teams.
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WORLD
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North American Groundwater Crisis by Teo Rivera-Wills ’27
Global warming has focused concern on land and sky as soaring temperatures intensify hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. But another climate crisis is unfolding, underfoot and out of view. Many of the aquifers that supply 90 percent of the nation’s water systems, and which have transformed vast stretches of America into some of the world’s most bountiful farmland, are being severely depleted. These declines are threatening irreversible harm to the American economy and society as a whole. A months-long examination of groundwater depletion by the New York Times, interviewed more than 100 experts, traveled the country, and created a comprehensive database using millions of readings from monitoring sites. The investigation reveals how America’s life-giving resource is being exhausted in much of the country, and in many cases, it won’t come back. Huge industrial farms and sprawling cities are draining aquifers that could take centuries or millenniums to replenish themselves if they recover at all. States and communities are already paying the price. Groundwater loss is hurting breadbasket states like Kansas, where the major aquifer beneath 2.6 million acres of land can no longer support industrial-scale agriculture. Corn yields have plummeted. If that decline were to spread, it could threaten America’s status as a food superpower. Fifteen hundred miles to the east, in New York State, overpumping is threatening drinking-water wells on Long Island, the birthplace of the modern American suburb and home to working-class towns as well as the Hamptons and their beachfront mansions. Around Phoenix, one of America’s fastest-growing cities, the crisis is severe enough that the state has said there’s not enough groundwater in parts of the county to build new houses that rely on aquifers. In other areas, including parts of Utah, California, and Texas, so much water is being pumped up that it is causing roads to buckle, foundations to crack, and fissures to open in the earth. And around the country, rivers that relied on groundwater have become streams or trickles or memories. “There is no way to get that back,” Don Cline, the associate director for water resources at the United States Geological Survey, said of disappearing groundwater. “There’s almost no way to convey how important it is.”
US Involvement in Israel and Ukraine by Grady Figler ’27
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023. Each of these events has dominated media coverage in the United States since their respective occurrences, and for good reason. The U.S. is intimately involved in both. Why has the U.S. has taken such an active role in two very different wars halfway around the globe? Beginning with the Russian invasion, it is in the United States’ interest to support Ukraine for several reasons. First, Russia is a longtime U.S. adversary and when the U.S. provides weapons to Ukraine to fight Russia, the U.S. helps deplete Russia’s resources without risking its own soldiers. Second, supporting Ukraine serves as a deterrent for further aggression by Russia against other countries (including NATO members that the U.S. would have an obligation to defend directly). It also serves as a deterrent to others, notably China in connection to Taiwan, that have similar ambitions. To ignore and condone Russia’s invasion would invite more of the same. The United States has similarly strategic reasons to support Israel. The Middle East is strategically important to the U.S. for two reasons: it stores a significant amount of the world’s oil reserves, and it is a focal point for the battle against global terrorism. The U.S. has supported the state of Israel since its founding in 1948. Israel is unquestionably its strongest ally in the Middle East and the region’s only democracy. The U.S. and Israel share the goal of promoting stability in this critically important region. In addition, given the backdrop of the Holocaust and the stated intention of Israel’s enemies to murder every Jew, the U.S. has a moral obligation to defend Israel. Thus, U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts, and the accompanying media coverage, is driven by its strategic interests.
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China-US Relations by Will Raymond ’27 and Connor Lynch ’27
man rights in the People’s Republic of China, particularly in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. However, Biden said he viewed President Xi as a dictator in response to a reporter’s question. “He’s a dictator in the sense that he is a guy who runs a country... based on a form of government that is totally different from ours,” Biden stated. His response represented the current tension between the two powers. China’s foreign ministry denounced Mr. Biden’s statement, calling it “irresponsible political manipulation” and “extremely wrong”. Chinese representatives held their ground and would not let President
On November 15, 2023, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, the president of the People’s Republic of China, met in San Francisco during an annual summit. Biden’s main target of the meeting was to “get back on a normal course” and settle tension between the United States and China. In addition, the meeting was used for the mentioning of the dangers of artificial intelligence, talking and the drama concerning Taiwan, and discussing human rights. “We’re back to direct, open, clear communications,” Biden says after the major meeting with Xi. The conversation marked the first time the two had talked face-to-face in almost a year. Throughout the summit, Biden stated the following major points regarding Taiwan: the world wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait; the United States opposes any unambiguous modifications to the status quo regarding Taiwan; and finally, they want disputes to be addressed peacefully. The US wants to prevent China from having self-centered discussions with the future of Taiwan. In the meeting, both leaders agreed on addressing risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence systems and enhancing AI safety with government talks in the future. AI systems are developing quickly and becoming integral tools in various fields. The topic of discussion was human rights was also brought up. The universal nature of human rights and the responsibility of all countries to uphold their international human rights obligations were emphasized by President Biden. Concerns were voiced about violations of hu-
Xi be remotely connected to the negative connotation of a dictator. Following their discussions in San Francisco, the two leaders decided that their teams would continue higher-level international relations and interactions. These would include mutual visits and ongoing working-level meetings in key fields such as commercial, economic, financial, arms control, and export control enforcement. During the summit, Mr. Xi expressed his desire to improve ties with the US. Despite the meeting demonstrating the tension and some disagreement between China and the United States, both leaders displayed the importance of maintaining peace, communication, and collaboration when perspectives are similar. Communication includes the US wanting to keep both their militaries in touch. With the successful results of the annual summit, the future holds the building of a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and China.
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WORLD
The Hill
Argentina’s Presidential Election By Patrick Snail ’28
The Argentina Primary Elections ended on November 19th, 2023, with the people electing extreme-conservative economist Javier Milei as the president of Argentina for the next four years. The election was incredibly competitive, leading to a run-off election in which Milei prevailed against Sergio Massa, an economy minister from the Peronist party. Massa has accepted defeat very well and has even offered to help the new president transition to his new position of power. The newly elected president has a lot on his plate to clean up, and his grand scheme to fix his country is like none other. Who is Javier Milei? Javier Milei is not the political expert one may believe would run for president; he is called “the madman” and “the wig” by many, referring to his one-of-a-kind mindset and hair. The former TV talking head and economist blew away all specialists’ expectations when he won the election. His campaign was shaped by his unique and ambitious ideas, almost all related to the economy. He has proposed exchanging the Argentinian currency, the peso, with the U.S. Dollar to aid inflation, which has topped out at 140% in Argentina. Another strategy to reduce inflation that he suggested was to prevent politicians from printing more money, and he even indicated his desire to demolish the Central Bank. To boost economic growth, he proposed a striking decrease in the size of the government, eliminating over half of the ministries, including those of health and education. Outside of economic projects, he resists against feminist policies and abortion, which has been legalized in Argentina in recent years. He openly aspires to be like former United States President Donald Trump, drawing comparisons to him when describing some of his plans and promises. His slogan, “Make Argentina Great Again”, is almost identical to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again”. Javier Milei’s term may range from being as erratic as his hair to leading him to become one of the most successful presidents in Argentinian history. Who is Sergio Massa? On the other hand, the center-left Peronist Sergio Massa was the expected victor of the election. He has been working with politics since his enrollment in high school and throughout his life. He has dabbled in right and left side politics and is more ideologically adaptable. He is known for taking risks and even ran for president eight years prior in 2015. Unfortunately, he lost the election. Like today, Massa decided to step aside and wait for the next opportunity. Fourteen months ago, Massa took over as the Minister of Economy, inching closer to the presidency. He executed the job well despite Argentina’s sinking status. Regardless of his recent loss, Sergio Massa has led a robust political career and is an influential figure within the Argentina Government.
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NATION
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Ron Desantis Struggles, Nikki Haley Rising by Declan Carroll ’27
As DeSantis struggled in the 2024 presidential race, internal critiques point to missed opportunities and strategic errors. The governor’s delayed response to Trump’s attacks and a glitchy campaign launch allowed Trump to define DeSantis negatively, particularly on Social Security and Medicare issues. The legislative session, intended to showcase achievements, instead saddled DeSantis with a divisive abortion measure that turned away crucial donors. The fallout led to a significant decline in polling numbers, raising questions about the campaign’s early decisions. While aides suggest recent adjustments, including increased media engagement and grassroots efforts in Iowa, DeSantis faced a challenging path to recover lost ground as he seeks to reshape his image and challenge Trump’s dominance in the Republican primary, causing him to eventually suspend his campaign. As Ron DeSantis faced setbacks in the 2024 Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley emerged as a formidable contender, catching up in national polls and securing endorsements, notably from Americans for Prosperity Action. Haley’s appeal to independent and moderate voters is highlighted, positioning her as a solid alternative to Trump. The endorsement brings material support and symbolizes her advancement in the “invisible primary.” While challenging Trump’s front-runner status seems ambitious, Haley’s rise strengthens her case for a vice-presidential pick and sets her up as a significant player in 2028. Meanwhile, DeSantis’ diminishing prospects underscore Haley’s ascendancy in the GOP. In the face of Nikki Haley’s recent endorsement by Americans for Prosperity Action and the Koch family’s financial backing, a critical question emerges: does any of this truly matter? Despite the considerable support and strategic moves, Haley faces an uphill battle against Donald Trump’s overwhelming poll lead. Even with the potential consolidation of anti-Trump support as the field narrows, the numbers suggest a formidable challenge. As Trump commands a substantial majority of Republican support, Haley’s prospects, despite notable endorsements, remain uncertain. The dynamics of the fractured field and shifting political landscape underscore the uncertainty of whether endorsements and financial backing can genuinely alter the trajectory of a race dominated by Trump’s substantial popularity.
Euro 2024 Early Preview by Declan Carroll ’27
The Euro 2024 draw has set the stage for an exhilarating tournament featuring heavyweight clashes and potential upsets. In Group A, host nation Germany faces a challenging path to victory, while Hungary, Scotland, and Switzerland promise to make the group fiercely competitive. Germany’s opening clash against Scotland is a must-watch, with the Tartan Army’s passionate support adding to the spectacle. In Group B, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Albania form a formidable lineup. The Spain vs. Italy match promises a grudge match, adding intrigue to an already tough group. The spotlight will be on Croatia’s golden generation, led by the iconic Luka Modric. Group C sees England, Denmark, Serbia, and Slovenia battling supremacy. England, boasting a star-studded squad, aims to end its trophy drought. The clash between Denmark and Serbia could be decisive, with both teams aiming to secure the runner-up spot. Group D showcases a powerhouse with France, Netherlands, Austria, and a playoff winner. France, a standout favorite, boasts an abundance of talent, making them a formidable force. The Netherlands’ clash against Austria could provide an early test for Ronald Koeman’s side. Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and a playoff winner makeup Group E. Belgium, led by Romelu Lukaku, is the favorite, but Romania’s young team adds an element of unpredictability. The opener between Belgium and Slovakia will set the tone for Group E. In Group F, Portugal, Turkey, Czechia, and another playoff winner create an intriguing mix. Portugal, with a star-studded lineup including Cristiano Ronaldo,
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NATION RFK Jr. Challenging Biden by Will Sandor ‘27
In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, many candidates have been showing promise, but none come close to President Joe Biden or former President Donald J. Trump. Biden has almost no competition in the Democratic primary, and Trump has some competitors but none come close to winning the Republican primaries. Only one candidate seems to be causing Biden some trouble. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) is the nephew of former President JFK and he is running as an independent. Although he holds no role in Congress or the Senate, he has been quite politically active. Previously a democrat RFK Jr. holds many right and left-leaning views. His most right-leaning view is his stance on the Covid-19 vaccine. He has expressed his suspicions about the vaccine and served as the chief litigation counsel for the Children’s Health Defense, which is an anti-vaccine group. One of his more left-leaning views is on green energy. On other matters such as gun- control and abortion, he is more of a centrist. He believes that there should be reasonable gun laws that don’t outlaw guns, but ensure they do not get into the wrong hands. He also believes that abortions should be allowed as long as it is within 15 weeks. RFK Jr. is causing Biden some significant trouble. From 7 different poles, the republicans are expected to benefit from RFK Jr.’s running. On average the Republicans are expected to gain 1 additional point with RFK Jr. running. This could massively sway the election in Trump’s or any other possible republican candidate’s favor. RFK Jr. will probably be getting his votes from more centrist democrats, which will aid a Republican candidate. RFK Jr. being in the race could create a huge disadvantage for Biden.
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NATION The Donald Trump Indictment by Adrian Chen ‘28
On January 6, 2021, former President Donald J. Trump encouraged a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Heavily armed, a crowd of over 10,000 people stormed the Capitol building, causing $1.5 million worth of damage and leaving five people dead. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to formalize the victory of Joe Biden. After a year of thorough examination, the House committee reviewing the January 6th attack announced that it would make multiple criminal referrals to the Department of Justice against former President Donald Trump on charges related to his acts surrounding the Capitol riot. The committee mentioned charges, including the obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, insurrection, etc. According to ABC News, the January 6th committee marked Donald Trump as the central cause of the attack. Among other accusations, the Committee found that Trump pushed false allegations of election fraud, pressured state officials and legislatures to overturn the election, and “summoned” his supporters to Washington based on false allegations. For over two hundred years of the nation’s history, no American president has ever been indicted. This year, everything changed. In addition to four felony counts relating to inciting the January 6th attack, Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts in connection with supposed “hush money” payments, 40 felony counts for hoarding classified documents and hindering efforts to retrieve them, and 13 felony counts for election interference in the state of Georgia. More recently, a federal appeals court ruled that civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump accountable for the violence that emerged at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, can move forward for now. The appeals court rejected the assertion of immunity that Trump’s legal team invoked to dismiss the charges. Moreover, the
supporters to “fight like hell” and urged them to march to the Capitol. Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records in connection with a payoff to Stormy Daniels, who, according to Politico, “had a sexual encounter with him.” Donald Trump “bought Daniels’ silence” through hush money in an attempt to avoid a possible sex scandal during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to prosecutors, Michael Cohen, Trump’s attorney, paid $130,000 to Daniels in October 2016. While in the White House, Trump then reimbursed Cohen by fraudulently disguising payments as corporate legal expens-
es. On March 30, 2023, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump, and five days later, it was revealed that Trump had 34 felony counts of violating New York law on corporate record-keeping. Furthermore, Federal prosecutors have accused Trump of taking highly sensitive national security documents when he left the White House in January 2021. He then hid the documents throughout his resort in Florida and obstructed the government’s attempts to retrieve them. Federal prosecutors sought an indictment from a grand jury in Florida, charging Trump with 37 felonies. Additionally, though several recounts confirmed that President Joe Biden prevailed in the Georgia election, Trump and his allies spread lies about alleged voter fraud. They urged Georgia officials and state lawmakers to reverse Biden’s win. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump and 18 of his allies for these efforts, an effort recently hampered by Willis’s own scandal involving her improper appointment of the prosecutor in the case. Though Trump has repeatedly pleaded not guilty, only time will tell the results of these indictments, as Trump’s court cases are still unraveling today.
Supreme Court held that the Constitution gives presidents immunity from being sued over actions taken as part of their “official duties”, but not from suits based on private, unofficial acts. The civil cases against Trump raise the question of which role–official duties or not– he was playing at the rally on January 6th, when he told
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SPORTS
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College Football Playoff by Jackson Roy ‘29
As all the conference championships have come to an end, let’s look at some of the top teams and how they performed, the seeding and bracket for the College Football Player, who should have gotten in and who shouldn’t have, and last but not least the results of the playoffs. Before we start, all rankings are from after the final game of the regular season. First, in the Pac-12 championship, #8 ranked Oregon squared up against #2 ranked Washington. Washington went up early with a 20-3 lead, but Oregon continued to crawl back and even took the lead, eventually falling short with a 34-31 loss. Next in the SEC championship, two familiar teams show their faces, the #5 ranked Alabama versus the #6 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama would win this game 24-
27, with former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Jermaine Burton going off against his former team with a huge receiving touchdown when it mattered most. Next in the Big Ten championship, #1 ranked Michigan shut out #20 ranked Iowa. However, the real Big Ten championship was when Michigan faced off against #7 ranked Ohio State and beat them in a close game. Next, in the ACC championship, #4 ranked FSU took on #16 ranked Louisville and beat them 16-6. However, the big story is that FSU is getting snubbed for the College Football Playoff despite going undefeated. Lastly, in the Big 12 conference championship, #3 ranked Texas took on #22 ranked Oklahoma State and crushed them 49-21. As the four spots in the College Football Playoff were revealed today, let’s look at the top four. At #1 undefeated Michigan, #2 undefeated Washington, #3 12-1 Texas Longhorns, and lastly #4 the 12-1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Michigan and Washington obviously deserve to be here; however, FSU was snubbed from the playoffs as they were the #4 ranked team and the only undefeated team that wasn’t selected to the College Football Playoff.
Still, Michigan’s quality stood clear, as they were crowned national champions after defeating Alabama 27-20 in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl and Washington 34-13 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Michigan will have a lot of work to do to return after losing coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers and a new 12-team playoff starting in college football.
SPORTS
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The Hill
NBA In-Season Tournament by Grady Figler ‘27
The National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season is unengaging, or so thought NBA executives. In an effort to spice up the NBA’s regular season, the NBA took a page out of professional soccer’s playbook, and the In-Season Tournament was born. The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament started on November 3, 2023 and that concluded in Las Vegas on December 9. It is a 30-team tournament with a group play stage and a single-elimination knockout stage that decides the winner. There are 3 groups of 5 teams in each conference, meaning there are 6 groups of 5 teams throughout the entire NBA. Each team plays the 4 other teams in their group once, and after all those games are played, the 6 teams with the best record from each group move on, and additionally 1 wildcard team from each conference moves on. The wildcard teams are the ones who got second in their group but had a high enough point differential to beat out the other second-place finishers in their conference. Once the eight teams advance, they play knockout quarter-final rounds, semifinals, and eventually a championship. All of these games except for the championship count towards each team’s regular season standings. The reward for each player on the winning team is $500,000; players on the second-place team receive $200,000; players on a team that loses in the semifinals receive $100,000 each, and quarterfinals losers receive $50,000 each
Additionally, there is a tournament’s most valuable player award and an all-tournament team. The trophy awarded to the winning team is called the NBA Cup, a name that is a work in progress and subject to change, as is the tournament’s name. The NBA’s In-Season Tournament is not without its detractors. From its modified courts to its games counting against regular season records, many fans dislike it. The tournament’s final set of group-play games demonstrated, however, its promise of excitement to true NBA fans. On the night of November 28, with three minutes left in the game, the Celtics were going all-out against the Bulls: Celtics all-star Jaylen Brown was aggressively driving to the basket; players were diving out of bounds to save possessions; the Boston sold-out crowd roared at every positive Celtics play. The players hustled with playoff-like intensity. However, this was not a game seven. Indeed, the Celtics already lead by 30 points. Why the intensity? The In-Season Tournament relies on point differential as a tie-breaker and the Celtics needed to win by at least 23 points to advance to the knockout round. An otherwise meaningless regular season blowout turned into must-see TV. Ultimately, the Los Angeles Lakers were victorious, with LeBron James named MVP.
The Back Page
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The Hill
The Classics: Wuthering Heights Review by Ryan Chang-Wu ‘27
Wuthering Heights is a Victorian-era novel written by Emily Bronte, who, at the time, wrote it under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. The story begins with the quasi-main character, Lockwood, moving into Thrushcross Grange, an exquisite home located only 4 miles away from Wuthering Heights. There, he meets Nelly Dean. On a stormy night, he is forced to seek asylum in an abode that has seen better days, Wuthering Heights. He comes across three curious characters: Heathcliff, Hareton, and Charlotte. During one of his later stays in Wuthering Heights, he comes across a diary, where he is introduced to the pasts of Heathcliff and Charlotte. Wanting to know more about their stories, he consults Nelly Dean, who recounts their histories. As Nelly Charlotte Linton’s caretaker, Dean gives depth to the stories but not without biases. The story that Nelly serves as an outlet to shows
Heathcliff ’s vehemence, his grief, and naked want, Catherine’s selfishness, and her strain and struggle against the confines of her life. The story itself is rendered in such a candid fashion, that despite the removals of narration, it appears in pristine condition. The novel is far beyond its time in its analysis of character and as such, rightfully earns its place among distinguished works of great literature. On the surface, the story appears to be a romantic tale between two lovers, yet upon further inspection, it reveals itself to be a breathtaking work of fiction, whose characters exhibit complex psychological struggles. Written with beautiful, contemporary prose, its true artistry can only be ascertained with careful, close examination by its reader. Overall, I enjoyed reading Wuthering Heights and would recommend it to anyone who likes classics.
Fun Holiday Quotes (100% NOT Outdated):
I hope everyone had a lovely winter break. Here are some holiday quotes from teachers and students, some wise thoughts from members of our community after the holidays. “I believe the holidays bring out the best in us.” - David Robinson ‘27 “It’s nice to be away from David Robinson for two and a half weeks. We have to be thankful for the small things in life” - Mr. Martellini “I like Christmas.” - Jake Ma ‘27
How to play Sudoku: A 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically. To challenge you more, there are 3×3 squares marked out in the grid, and each of these squares can’t have any repeat numbers either.