The Blackfriar Chronicle - February 2017

EDITORIAL: THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY SERVICE We acknowledge all Mr. Legner has done for the Christian Service program and make some suggestions for the future.

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FIDGET TOYS:

JOBS & SCHOOL

You know those fidget toys you see advertised on Instagram? They’ve made their way to the middle school. Why teachers hate them and students can’t put them down– .

It turns out money doesn’t actually grow on trees. Check out how Malvern students make their money and manage schoolwork simultaneously. .

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SCHOOL RANKINGS HAVE PROFIT MOTIVATION See where Malvern ranked in 2017 ratings by Niche.com– and why school administrators don't hold much stock in those ratings.

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February 2017

MATT RYAN You know how he lost in the Super Bowl? It’s probably because he chose Penn Charter over Malvern. Read how the NFL MVP almost came to Warren Avenue for high school.

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Volume 17, No. 5

Tyler Pizzico '17

RECENTLY

rumors have spread throughout the student body that college acceptances have been less prestigious for the Class of 2017 than for the previous senior class. ell, the belief that acceptances to big name colleges and “Malvern connected” colleges are down from last year is true. Currently, there are no students accepted at the University of Notre Dame whereas last year there were five by this point in the year. Last year eight students were accepted to the University of Pennsylvania. This year, only two.

As Malvern’s college acceptances and statistics from across the country come out, some underclassmen are growing increasingly nervous.

“When you see a really intelligent kid not get into his first choice college, you start to question your chances of getting accepted to your dream college even more,” junior Eric McLaughlin said.

So the question becomes: Are the applications this year not as strong as last year’s or is college just becoming harder to get into?

E. ROWLEY

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Gueriera bringing coaching talent to South Warren

Legner steps down as Christian Service Director

Following an extensive search, David Gueriera was announced as the new head football coach.

He will continue to be a theology teacher and help ease the transition with the new director.

Patrick Ferraiolo ‘17, Henry Malone ‘17 SPORTS EDITORS n February 20, Mr. David Gueriera addressed the Malvern Football team for the first time as their new head coach. It was the beginning of a new era -- an era that may last for a long time.

Dave Gueriera has coached at numerous schools throughout his career, including a stint as the quarterbacks coach at Malvern in 2009, but he is now the man in charge.

“He’s made his loop through a couple different schools, [coaching at West Chester East] the last three years and now he’s coming here to be our head coach.” Athletic Director Kurt Ruch said.

Tommy Pero ’17 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS • New head coach Dave Gueriera speaks to the football team for the first time on February 20. “Before you are a head coach, you really don’t know what you don’t know," he said in an interview. / P. FERR AIOLO

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he face of Malvern’s Christian Service Program and the man who built the program into what it it is today has stepped

down.

Christian Service Director Mr. Larry Legner, has coordinated his last service weekend and is finishing up his last global service trips as director. He said the decision to step down was due to family reasons.

“I have been thinking about [stepping down] MR. LARRY LEGNER • MALVERNPREP.ORG a good part of this year,” Legner said. “The job requires a lot of hours and I like everything to be perfect. It’s just who I am… it’s just gotten to be a lot. I’m going to be 65 when we come back to school next year, and it’s time to slow down.” > PAGE 8

February 2017

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

There are not many high schools in the country where service is so readily available and valued in the community than at Malvern.

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Editorial Board service program. The consistent engagement in s Director of Christian Service Mr. various types of service experiences ingrains in Lawrence Legner steps down, we want students a sense of duty and obligation to the to highlight all he’s done for Malvern surrounding community. Whether we think it and its service program, as well as make sugges- or not, we will be servants of others and more tions for how we feel his work can be carried on. mindful men for life because of it.

On Thursdays before service weekends, The service program is a slow building promany students from the editorial board agreed cess that starts with trips to places like Share they can’t help but want the Foods and ends with the junFriday off and dread the upcomior service trips in the suming service that lies ahead. Even mer. Starting out with smaller We all get lazy sometimes. If senior editors admitted to not and shorter service trips for students had the wanting to board the plane and freshmen allow them to get choice, we would go on their two week summer acclimated to the program and want to hang out with friends or sleep service trips. anticipate more involved trips in instead. However, Despite the complaining the future. the fulfillment we before each service weekend However, we feel as though get after the service is completed is or trip, we unanimously agreed the freshmen service trips can unparalleled. that having a mandatory service be even stronger. Freshman year program is a must for Malvern. can really make or break how We want to thank Mr. Legner a student will view service his and apologize for all the comentire high school experience. plaining; we truly appreciate and value all you Here’s a situation to look at. One Malvern do for us. freshman has a fun, positive, and impactful serWe all get lazy sometimes. If students had vice experience. The other felt the service didn’t the choice, we would want to hang out with utilize his strengths, and wasn’t very beneficial friends or sleep instead. However, the fulfill- to the surrounding community. ment we get after the service is completed is Which student is more likely to be excited unparalleled. Once the experience is over, we for his next piece of service? are eager to go out on service again.

Ultimately, it is up to students to participate That is another facet of the mandatory while on the service trips. However, the trips,

especially the early freshmen ones, should chan- department should do its best to make sure nel the energy of the students and appeal to their always reach beyond Malvern connections to strengths. Students should go on trips that allow places that are most in need of our help. them to make the most difference.

We know is very hard for the Christian If one has positive service experiences, one Service program to determine the best sites for will look forward to the next year’s more and be students and juggle events like MECO and the more inclined to actively contribute. junior trips overseas. Feedback needs to be a An example the editorial board discussed constant. Students should always be able and was Share Foods. Students are encouraged to give input about thrown into a room with large their trips, so that the Christian amounts of unorganized food Service department can deterFeedback needs to be a constant. and asked to sort, label, and mine the best locations for serStudents should package it. This type of highvice and the best types of service always be able and energy service is something for students to be doing. encouraged to give input about their students can have fun with This way, as a school, we trips, so that the and even make a competition can continue to do the most Christian Service out of. The underclassmen who meaningful service and leave department can determine the best just experienced this trip said it the underclassmen with the best locations for service. was hard to not be completely possible impression of service at involved the entire time. the school. This way they will On the other hand, memanticipate future service events bers of the editorial board feel at Malvern, seek out service in some of the local service trips need improve- their adult life, and make the most of every ment. For example, students went to St. chance they get to impact the lives of others Elizabeth’s middle school to help teach. From less fortunate. their feedback, they said the school is one of the Mr. Legner has set up the program and us best in the Archdiocese and would operate just so well, and we owe it to him and the people fine without our help. we serve to continue and improve the service We realize it is difficult to come up with program. Malvern students and Mr. Legner’s the many different service destinations required successor or successors must remember the past each year; however, we feel the Christian service to build a better future. ◊

OPINION

Backlash to Milo Yiannopoulos is well-deserved Restricting access to the former Breitbart editor to speak is not an attack on the First Amendment.

But it is consistent with our Augustinian identity.

Jack McClatchy ’17 to re-enter our collective dialogue and endanger minority PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR groups that have historically and systematically repressed. ver since the provocative figure Milo Yiannopoulos was There are a multitude of reasons why I would support prevented from speaking at UC Berkeley, a debate on free restricting the availability of platforms for the likes of Spencer speech broke out on whether or not it was wrong to do so. and Yiannopoulos politically, and I can go through each and This debate ended when video footage allegedly showed every one of them individually until I’m red in the face. I won’t Yiannopoulos, an openly gay man, defending child abuse say- do that here in this column, however. ing that it was a “coming of age” relationship What I will say is that this is just common for many young gay boys to have relationships The speech of decency. When we were being raised as children, with older men. our parents told us that we should be kind, polite, Yiannopoulos is not His invitation to speak at the Conservative and considerate to everyone we meet in the only repugnant and Political Action Committee was rescinded, his horribly offensive, world. Those three words are not what I would book deal canceled, and he resigned from his but it goes against use to describe Yiannopoulos, and I hope I’m not editorial position at the right-wing publication alone when I say that. everything Malvern Breitbart.

Before the child abuse tapes came into instills in us through Many people who defended Yiannopoulos our Augustinian values. our consciousness, people did not defend and said he should have spoken at UC Berkeley Yiannopoulos’ words, but defended his ability to soon turned against him. What I’m saying is, speak to people on college campuses. However, why did it take so long for people to say this about him? after the tapes emerged, people quickly shut their mouths. We The last time he spoke at a college campus, he pointed out as a society drew the line at child abuse — and rightfully so — a transgender student in the audience at UW Milwaukee and but can we not be a more kind and polite society than drawing mocked her, saying that she did not “pass” as a woman and the line at child abuse? intimated that she did such a bad job he would consider havThe speech of Yiannopoulos is not only repugnant and horing sex with her. ribly offensive, but it goes against everything Malvern instills Now, I wouldn’t be saying it was right to deny him a plat- in us through our Augustinian values. We can’t be all in for form if that was all he did or said. Yiannopoulos is just one these values when we’re on campus and discard them when we figurehead of the “alt-right” movement encompassing figures live the ring road, or else we’re no better than the hypocrites like Richard Spencer, advocate for “peaceful ethnic cleansing,” Jesus warned us about. to your average Breitbart columnist.

From day one, we are told that everyone here at Malvern is a What this movement has done is to allow for hateful speech brother of ours. They may be white, black, Catholic, Protestant,

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MILO YIANNOPOULOS • WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

gay, straight, or even cis or transgender. Our values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas as well as the Gospels compel us to be loving to all inside and outside of Malvern Prep.

That is the reason why I believe restricting a platform for Yiannopoulos was the best thing for us as a society to do. Jesus taught that what we do for the least of us we do for Him, and if we allow others to make them feel marginalized, threatened, afraid, or unwanted we do that to Him. I understand that people like Yiannopoulos will always have a platform to spew their hatred in this country. What we as a Malvern community need to realize that sometimes drawing the line on some speakers may not be in accordance to a marketplace of ideas or of free speech, but will allow us to better exhibit the Augustinian values we hold so dearly here at Malvern. ◊

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February 2017

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B.A.S.H. moving off campus is a monthly student-run publication at Malvern Preparatory School. Its online affiliate is the Friar’s Lantern (www. mpfriarslantern.com).

Malvern’s most notable fundraising event will not be held on Malvern’s campus in order to “freshen up” the event.

Mission Statement

The Blackfriar Chronicle and The Friar’s Lantern are the student-run publications of Malvern Prep. The principal goals of the publications are to provide accurate and relevant information to the Malvern community and to offer a forum for intelligent dialogue on all things Malvern.

The reporting for these student publications is conducted thoroughly and edited by student leaders to ensure this accuracy to the best of our ability. In order to fairly provide all points of view, contributions from all members of the Malvern community are welcomed and encouraged through letters of opinion, student reporting, and respectful commentary.

Editorial Policy

The unsigned editorial represents the consensus of the entire Editorial Board.

As a team, we agree and stand behind every word. The Editorial Board is a group of students composed of The Blackfriar Chronicle editors-in-chief, managing editors, chief investigative reporter, section editors, social media editor, podcast editor, a representative of the freshman class, and a representative from the Diversity Awareness Club.

The group is meant to include a group of different students so all opinions and voices can be heard.

Submissions

Letters to the editor are encouraged, and may be submitted to Tyler Pizzico (tpizzico70@malvernprep.org), Tommy Pero (tpero70@malvernprep.org) or adviser Kate Plows (kplows@malvernprep.org).

Anonymous letters will not be published.

Editors reserve the right to contact writers or edit submissions for reasons of space or clarity. Our staff also welcomes feedback in the comments section of The Friar’s Lantern online, or via our social media. Each comment is subject to review by a moderator or an Editorin-Chief of the Black Friar Chronicle/ Friar’s Lantern. Commenter’s email addresses must be verified, and comments are reviewed for defamation, profanity, obscenity, libel, and invasion of privacy. Not all comments are published.

Joining our staff

New contributors are welcome throughout the school year. The Blackfriar Chronicle staff meets twice each week at 7:45 AM in Duffy 118. Please contact any member of the staff listed below for the most up-to-date meeting schedule.

Student of the Issue: JD Triolo ’20 Being a student athlete or performer is no easy task, but JD Triolo is able to juggle academics, athletics, and the arts.

Owen Preston ’19 CONTRIBUTOR rom the pool to the stage, there’s never a dull moment in the life of freshman JD Triolo.

Triolo always has something going on in his life to keep him busy, but that doesn’t stop him from excelling. Besides being a full time student, a Malvern swimmer, and a part of Malvern Theatre Society (MTS), Triolo also does swim club in the summer and performs at Media Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre.

Triolo is set to perform in the MTS production of “Les Misérables” in March playing the role of Marius.

“It's a great experience to be in my first MTS show and everyone should come see it,” Triolo said.

Early on in high school, Triolo already can manage his time very well.

“Since I’m always busy I have to find the little times of the day to do my homework or study,” Triolo said.

“I work well under pressure.”

Before tests, Triolo either makes a set of flashcards or looks over his study guide over and over again.

“Repetition is what helps me most,” he said.

Triolo’s parents have a big influence on his commitments.

“My mom pushes me with my schoolwork,” Triolo said. “She’s hard on me and makes me check my homework meticulously. My dad is more pushy on my acting.”

Another inf luential person on Triolo’s success is Choir Director and singing head of the Upper School MTS show, Mr. Edward Liga.

“Triolo is always punctual, he always comes prepared, he comes ready to sing, he asks questions when he doesn’t understand, and he

F Patrick McNally ’18 CONTRIBUTOR his year, Malvern’s largest fundraiser, B.A.S.H., will be on April 29, 2017 at the White Manor Club on Providence Road in Malvern.

In its 43 year history, B.A.S.H. has been held off-campus three times, making this year the fourth time the event will not be held at Malvern, according to Associate Director of Development Mrs. Carolyn McLaughlin.

One reason for the decision to move off site is simply to change things up.

“It’s been on campus for a long time let’s freshen it up and make it exciting again,” McLaughlin said.

“The second piece is we wanted to give our parents a really nice night out. It’s fun to go out. It’s fun to go off-campus. They’re here all the time.”

Another reason B.A.S.H. is being moved offsite is to save some money. Parents who previously ran the fundraiser emphasized the price of transforming the gym each year.

“We had to rent tables, chairs, linens, generators, plus pay to have the gym decorated, “ said Mrs. Christine Boyle, who ran B.A.S.H. last year alongside her husband. “In addition, the maintenance staff and security staff had to

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work so many extra hours to help us with BASH.” Another change in B.A.S.H. this year is in leadership. The chairman changes every year or two to bring new ideas to the event and to get more people involved.

“In the past we’ve had parents chair the event but this year, because it’s the 175th anniversary and we’re celebrating 175 years of Augustinian education, we thought what could be cooler than have our friars be the chairmen of the event,” McLaughlin said.

The honorary event chairs for this year’s B.A.S.H. are President Fr. James R. Flynn, O.S.A., Head of School Elect Fr. Donald F. Reilly, O.S.A., Fr. James Cassidy, O.S.A., Fr. Christopher Drennen, O.S.A., Fr. Harry Erdlen, O.S.A., and Fr. Thomas J. Meehan, O.S.A. B.A.S.H. stands for “Building a Scholastic Heritage.” Director of Development Mr. Victor D'Ascenzo said that it is one of the most important traditions at Malvern.

“B.A.S.H. in some form is the longest tradition we have at Malvern,” D’Ascenzo said. “It kept the school open, it propelled us to where we are today.” > PAGE 4

JD TRIOLO '20 • T. PERO

is always focused,” Liga said.

Liga noted how Triolo is able to translate his musical talents into his athletic and academic career.

“Music is a universal language,” he said. “To understand the language, you have to have an incredible ability to focus. You can use that ability and translate it into other subjects. I think JD has that ability, and when he’s focused he stays focused.”

Malvern Head Swimming Coach Mr. Jay Schiller has been coaching Triolo since he was four years old and has seen his talents develop.

“I’ve seen significant improvement in not only JD’s swimming performance, but also the level of performing that he has reached from his school to big township productions,” Schiller said.

Schiller also mentions the good characteristics Triolo possesses that help him succeed in all of these activities.

“He is a good communicator.

Whenever he’s going to miss a practice due to a prior commitment he lets me know right away,” he said.

“He also has a great demeanor and has the ability to take things in stride and juggle multiple tasks while keeping all parties happy.”◊

Editors in Chief Tyler Pizzico ’17 Tommy Pero ’17

Managing Editors

Print: Ethan Rowley ’18 Online: Jack Magargee ’18

Public Relations Editor Jack McClatchy ’17

Investigative Reporter Dan Malloy ’18

Art Director

Chase Bennett ’19

Section Editors

Friar Life Michael Harrington ’19 Kyle Leonard ’19 Sports Henry Malone ’17 Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 Media & Culture Daniel King ’19 Local/World News -TBAJack McClatchy ’17 Social Media Editor Eric McLaughlin ’18

EDITORIAL BOARD

All editors Member(s) of Class of ’20 Aidan White Aidan Gallary Member(s) of Diversity Club -TBA-

Kyle Leonard '19 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR verything seems to be running smoothly for the student council at this time, according to Student Council co-moderator Dr. Joan Dlugos and senior President Rich Heany.

They have a big month ahead of them, though, as elections for next year’s student council executive board are scheduled for March 3.

This year’s executive board helps out with the candidates’ delivery of their speeches on Thursday, March 2, and prepares the election itself, according to Heany and Dlugos. It is not so much a time for student activities, but for passing the baton of leadership to the remaining classes.

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The big event in February that drew much praise from students and teachers alike was Family Feud.

Adapted from the rules of the show on television hosted by Steve Harvey, the Student Council sent out a survey to the student body with different questions that would be used in the game itself. Malvern’s version mixed humor with the opinions of the students.

Believe it or not, Heany was actually quite nervous going into Family Feud.

“We didn’t really know what to expect; there was a lot of planning, the dates got switched, and it was the first time we did it, so I really didn’t know how it was gonna go,” Heany said. “Not gonna lie, me and Alex [Reber, Vice President of the Student

FACE OFF • Teams face off at Student Council's Family Feud assembly on Feb. 10 / T. PERO

Council] were talking the day before, and we were both nervous.”

After the fact, however, Heany couldn’t be happier.

“I thought it went extremely well, and we got great reviews,” Heany said.

The Student Council also sponsored the second annual FebruHairy contest, where students try to grow the biggest beard as possible.

“By looking at the numbers, we have one more participant as of right now than we did last year,” Dlugos said. “It’s only the second year, so improvement is improvement.”

The Student Council recently

sponsored a drive for the Christian Service Department. This drive entailed students bringing in items for the rising seniors to take with them on their international service trips this summer.

“Mr. Legner came to our classroom and judged our turn-out, and he was very pleased with the outcome,” Dlugos said.

On March 23, Student Council will be having their last activities schedule of the year, but the activity is still to be determined. This will be decided at their upcoming meeting on March 7. ◊

February 2017

FRIAR LIFE

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Teacher of the Issue: Mrs. Jessica Kenworthey Kenworthey is not your average theology teacher. She went to Harvard, traveled overseas to become a nun, and gave that up to start a family and to do the thing she loved: teaching.

Steven O’Meara ’19 REPORTER heology teacher Mrs. Jessica Kenworthy has had a love for teaching for more than 20 years, and has spent a decade teaching at Malvern. She currently teaches sophomores in her History of the Church class.

Kenworthey resides in Downingtown with her husband whom she married in 2002 and her two children.

Growing up in the State College area of Pennsylvania, she attended State High, and later attended Harvard where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies. After this, she decided to become a nun and moved to France.

“Part of it was, I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to make the world a better place,” Kenworthey said. “Part of it was I was 21 years old, and when you're 21, you think you know everything, and I really thought I knew everything.”

She lived for one year in France before becoming a nun, and spent the next four years in Paris before moving to Blois for a year and a half. She spent some summers in Vézelay. While staying for six years in Strasbourg, a city on the country lines of Germany and France, she earned her master’s degree in Theology.

At age 29, Kenworthey began to witness her friends getting married and starting families, which made her question her decision. After

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THEOLOGY

CHANGES How do seniors feel about the change to a full year of theology?

Sean Ward ’17 REPORTER uring their high school career, current Malvern seniors have had a different schedule for each of their four years in the upper school. This year was the first year that the graduation requirement for theology has been made four, rather than three and a half credits.

In an email to the student body when the change was announced in March 2016, Drennen said that since the full-year theology is a new requirement, it would not conflict with requirements for the class of 2017. He instructed students who may still need a semester of Computer Science, Health, Physical Education, or Arts to discuss this with him.

According to Head of Upper School Mr. Ron Algeo, the curriculum will change slightly for seniors next year when Malvern shifts to semester grades only. Rather than getting a separate grade for each quarter, students’ grades will be by semester and their grades for the two classes for the two classes they take a semester will be averaged to one.

Five seniors gave their reactions to the change after taking the new classes for nearly three quarters.

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class last year. He said he enjoyed her class and sons, and peers, and it really promotes comlearned a lot. munication and openness in a very concrete and “It was a very interesting class. There was real way,” she said. lots of note-taking, but the information, I Kenworthey also moderates Speech and thought, was pretty interesting.” Werny said.

Debate. Speech and Debate gives students the The various projects and note taking helped chance to interact with their peers at about 23 Werny be better prepared for classes later in other schools. the year and gave him skills for the The club has had some great future. successes in the past several years, "It is an incredibly “I just love Mrs. Kenworthey. including some significant wins in important activity I thought she was a very good districts and qualifying for states. and builds 'real world' skills like teacher,” Werny said.

“The biggest wins for me occur analysis, quick In addition to teaching thewhen a student wins a round arguthinking, logic and public speaking." ology, Kenworthey coordinates ing a point he actually does not -Mrs. Jessica Kenworthey, SpeakUp! at Malvern. SpeakUp! support, as when Hunter Peck ’16 on speech & Debate is a major after-school event every won arguing for the repeal of the MRS. JESSICA KENWORTHEY • COURTESY J. KENWORTHEY year at Malvern that aims to talk Second Amendment,” Kenworthey considering many different factors, she left the about sensitive topics and help students and parsaid. “Last year we even hosted a tournament order and came back to the United States. ents communicate more effectively, according to here. It is an incredibly important activity and “Some people might say I made a mistake,” the SpeakUp! website. builds real world skills like analysis, quick Kenworthey said. “I don't know if I see it that “I was asked to help with SpeakUp! about 13 thinking, logic and public speaking.” way, but some people might see it because I left.” years ago by a counselor and health teacher who Kenworthey loves Speech and Debate, She found Malvern after applying for a few is no longer here,” Kenworthey said. “At first we especially for the long-lasting impact it has on jobs. Ironically, Kenworthey applied for teach- used to travel to Merion Mercy and attend the student debaters. ing French first, and English second, leaving event there, but we have since started our own “Several alumni have told me upon or after out the subject she teaches now. event and invited [Notre Dame], Villa [Maria] graduation how much the activity helped them Kenworthey enjoys many things about and Devon [Prep] here.” come out of their shell or grow in poise and Malvern. Her favorite aspect, though, is the According to Kenworthey, SpeakUp! is is confidence,” Kenworthey said. sophomore service and retreat program at St. a groundbreaking event that permits honest Sophomore Greg Gaasche participates in Augustine’s Church in Philadelphia. dialogue between teens and parents. “It opens the club. “She does her best job to try and make Junior Rhys Werny took Kenworthey’s people's eyes to the struggles of their parents, everyone prepare for the topic as much as possible,” he said.

Gaasche also has Kenworthey for his History of the Church class. Gaasche said he learns more than just facts about the past of the Church but also more about his faith.

“Faith is something you always have to live with and deal with,” Gaasche said. “I remember this morning she talked about how faith was more important than math because no matter what you will always have your faith but not always have to use math.”

Kenworthey has many Malvern Garrett Myers Michael Bradley RJ Napoli memories, but what she will rememI don’t think it was a bad idea I feel our grade has almost been I would say it was a good idea ber most is her students. to make seniors take a full year a guinea pig in the sense that to take a full year of theology, “I love everything about teachof theology, but I think should everything around Malvern and as much as some people may be ing,” Kenworthey said. “I love the have made it two classes with one a the college process changed with our disappointed they have to take a full kids who drive me crazy, I love the semester instead and have students class. I’m kind of annoyed with this year of theology. I think it’s worthgood kids, I love the kids who are pick the courses they want to take. and I thought this even before the while to study theology, especially clueless, I love the kids who can’t Some classes were less interesting new theology curriculum was implesince not all the kids will be going stand Theology and the kids who than others and I would have liked to mented, so I’m not a big fan of the on to a Catholic school next year." love Theology.”◊ been able to choose which ones I took.” change."

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Jack Waite I’m not really mad that theology is now a full year. In fact, I don’t really have a strong opinion about it. It just felt the same because I’ve taken theology for the full year the past three years.”

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Amir Webb “I understand why they wanted to bring theology back a full year for seniors, however I don’t feel it was executed correctly. Most of the seniors this year had plans and classes they were going to take, but had to change it around because of the change. I also believe that quarter classes are not the way to go about it." ◊

At the time B.A.S.H. was created in 1975, Malvern was close to shutting its doors because of financial problems, according to D’Ascenzo. They weren’t raising enough money from tuition and it was questionable whether Malvern could continue to exist.

The Board of Trustees had meeting after meeting discussing whether to close the school for good.

“As the story goes it came down to one vote: Father Duffy,” D’Ascenzo said. “He voted for keeping the school open, but to keep the school open, money had to come in.”

Malvern was previously receiving money for payroll and other necessities from Villanova, but those funds ended in 1975.

“We had to figure out a way to

make money so that’s how BASH came about,” D’Ascenzo said. “Fr. Duffy heard about BASH from a school in Ohio and thought ‘that seems kinda cool.’ Parents are excited, parents run it, there’s an auction, there’s a this, there’s a that and he thought, let’s try this BASH thing.”

If it wasn’t for B.A.S.H. that year and the $50,000 it raised, Malvern would have closed then and there, according to D’Ascenzo.

“That happened every year and it has grown, and grown, and grown. Then the school became more financially stable,” D’Ascenzo said. “To me it's a tradition. We have to remind people so they don’t forget why it happens every year.”◊

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Andrew Reilly ’20 charms with magic Seven years after he started his magic career, Reilly stepped onto the Duffy stage and wowed Malvern.

Freshmen adjust to high school workload In the third quarter, students at Malvern Prep are still acclimating to the new school, new teachers, and freshman workload.

Zach Hurchalla '20 school, stressed the importance of CONTRIBUTOR time management. he acclimation to Malvern “Participating in extracurricuPrep’s freshmen workload is lars really prevents you from leavdifferent for every student. ing things to the last minute, even Students are coming from different with the time available built in to middle schools, and may not yet be Malvern’s schedule,” Fantini said. used to the environment, teachers or The process of assisting incoming the school itself. freshman starts far before the school Many factors that change the year. In order to help the incoming work load for freshfreshman st udents, men, or how you deal counselors work hard with the work you on accurately placing a re given, such as "Participating in those students into the extracurriculars, what extracurriculars correct classes. school you attended, really prevents you “In order to place and the classes you are from leaving things the incoming freshtaking. to the last minute, man into the classes Freshman Connor even with the time that are a good fit for McNally said the the available built in to them, the factors we amount of work he Malvern’s schedule." look into when placreceives is reasonable -Zach Fantini '20 ing the students are but challenging. teacher recommenda“ T he f re sh men tions, entrance exam, workload is not that a nd p a s t g r a de s ,” bad, although some classes may Wuetig said. give you more work than others,” Once the school year has started, he said. He noted that two of his the students are not left on their own. classes, Biology and Literature and Counselors meet with the freshmen Composition, keep him busier with regularly to see how they are acclihomework more than some other mating to the new environment, and classes do. to see if there is anything else they Associate Director of School can do, according to Wuetig.

Counseling Mrs. Ann Wuetig-Coia Teachers are also readily available said that freshmen can use Malvern’s for students to talk to for extra help. unique schedule to their advantage.

“From what students say, us “Malvern has designed their teachers try to hold their hand and schedule so there's not a lot of home- instill a sound foundation in the work at night; if you use your time first semester,” Honors Literature well, you can get a lot of your work and Composition Teacher Mrs. Sue done during the day,” she said.

Giordani said. “And then in the secFreshman Zach Fantini, who ond semester, we start going into has attended Malvern since middle detail and stop holding their hand.” ◊

T CARD TRICKS • Andrew Reilly '19 entertains Mr. Will Haus with a card trick in the Learning Commons. To see video, visit mpfriarslantern.com / C. BENNETT

Chase Bennett ’19 ART DIRECTOR reshman Andrew Reilly has been dazzling students and teachers at Malvern with his magic tricks since the start of this year. Yet he didn’t expect his hobby that started with a magic kit would go anywhere, until just a few years ago.

Doing magic was a bonding experience for Reilly and his father when he was younger. It was an easy way to connect because he could walk Reilly through the steps of the magic kit and practice with him on family members.

“I got him a Melissa and Doug Magic thing,” Andrew’s father Mr. Drew Reilly said. “So it was real, real baby tricks.”

After visiting a magician at the beach, Reilly quickly drew more of a liking to more serious magic and began to practice more and more.

“We did them. We practiced on trying to do them on his sister or his mother,” Mr. Reilly said. “Eventually we started to do them on other people, that's when he first got into it.”

Reilly said he would often just practice from home, in bed. “As long as you’re holding cards and just shuffling them, getting a feel for them, you get better at handling them," he said.

With time and practice, Reilly left his father in the dust as he began to perform tricks that even Mr. Reilly

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didn’t know how they were done.

“Around three years ago, is when he went from, he and I fooling around with it, to he just absolutely just took off,” Mr. Reilly said. “He went from putting a little puzzle together to making cards catch on fire and go back together.”

Reilly is always looking to improve his performance as he's always looking for more tricks to perform. Once he gets a new trick, he practices ruthlessly until he can do it flawlessly.

“If I don’t know how a trick is done, I have to know how it's done,” Reilly said. “I learn it, I keep on practicing it until I get it. I’m always learning tricks on my free time. I write [new tricks] down in a book, I have about over a hundred.”

Reilly decided that his tricks were ready, as he went into Philadelphia for an audition this winter. The audition was to see if he would be on America’s Got Talent. His audition has not been on the show so far.

“I’m not sure how well it went,” Reilly said. “It was a fun experience. If I don’t make it, its cool, I just had fun auditioning, it was cool.”

Though Reilly says he doesn’t have any real goals for his career in magic, he strives to make everyone’s day a little bit better.

“I just want to bring joy, amazement and wonder to people all around me,” Reilly said. “That’s just my goal, just having a fun time.” ◊

Fidget toys come to the middle school Middle school students are bringing toys to school to help concentrate during class.

Cole Cherian ’22 REPORTER ince they came back from Christmas break, some Middle School students have been using little gadgets and toys to help them focus during lessons and tests.

The most popular of these focus toys are fidget cubes and fidget spinners.

Some teachers and students think that sometimes it is hard for students to focus in classes.

“I think it’s difficult for young men to sit still for an extended period of time like a 60 minute class,” Seventh Grade Dean Mr. Leo Kindon said. “My reasons are they don’t focus on taking notes, and when they’re giving something to do they rush to get it done rather than taking their time to get it done correctly.”

Some students think that using a fidget toy is fine if it doesn’t distract the class or the person using it.

“It’s just fun. It doesn’t distract you. It prevents you from moving around a lot and being fidgety,” eighth grader Jack Fialko said.

“It’s not as distracting for the class as moving around. As long as it doesn’t disrupt anything in your class, it’s fine.”

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Seventh grade student Zach Brill thinks that it is fine for students to use fidget toys “as long as you make it silent.”

Seventh grader Jack David said that he uses a fidget toy but makes sure not to disturb anyone.

“Even I fidget, but you have to do it in a way that doesn’t distract other people or be audible,” Davis said.

Seventh grader Cole Caba said that fidget toys are beneficial if the student is paying attention.

“But if the person is just focused on the fidget toy and not paying attention in class, then I think that’s where it can’t be done,” Caba said.

Kindon does not like the f idget toys because they think that the toys distract the class.

“I am currently researching to see if the fidget toys actually help the student, and if there is no proof, I think we should prohibit students having them,” Kindon said. “When I’m in the middle of class and and I turn to write something on the board, I hear students playing with them when they should be writing notes.”

Eighth Grade Dean and Spanish teacher Mr. Robert Buscaglia agrees with Kindon.

“It’s been a distraction rather than doing the thing it’s supposed to do, which is keeping kids physically occupied so they can mentally pay attention. But I’ve seen the opposite in my classes, for the most part,” Buscaglia said.

Some students think that some of the fidget toys are a distraction to the class.

“A lot of the ones kids bring in you can hear from the entire way on the other end of the classroom, so it’s really not a productive thing,” Davis said.

Some teachers like Sixth Grade Dean and English teacher Mr. Jamie Wasson do not have students that own fidget toys in their classes.

“I haven’t experienced one, so I have no idea if they are or aren’t distracting,” Wasson said.

Buscaglia thinks that the number of kids bringing in fidget cubes and fidget spinners are dwindling.

“It’s dying down a little bit now. The number of kids that are using them aren’t using them as much,” Buscaglia said. ◊

FIDGETING AROUND • Community members have a range of reactions to toys that are meant to keep students focused.

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Luke Gabriele '17 I went on the march because there's so much injustice going on in the world against unborn children who seem to have no rights.

Abortion is the literal killing of a child and people need to understand how deadly and upsetting it is.

I learned that so many more people than I thought are pro life and it was refreshing to see that the world is taking a turn for the better. It was mostly younger people so it's good to see kids taking a stand for the better.”

" Dan Malloy ’18

CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

On January 27, students and teachers stood up for the rights of the unborn on the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. They describe why they went to the event and what they learned. ◊

Christian DiCicco '18 I chose to participate in the March for Life because I believe that all life should be respected.

Human life is life no matter how small, and I felt that I could let my voice be heard by participating in a peaceful protest. There is still plenty of work to be done, and we must not stop until all human life is respected.

I also learned that many people can be disrespectful and rude to someone else just because they have a different opinion than them on a certain issue.”

"

Gabe Canzanese '17 I thought that the March for Life improved the strength of my opinion on the issue of abortion. The love and support that people showed to one another and the amount of people who were not from the east coast astonished me. It was just a pleasure to be a part of a movement that could result in positive change in our country.”

"

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Andrew Aprahamian '17 I learned that coming together in such a large group, like we did, does in fact make an emphatic statement to the public and the world.

There were numerous news stations there and constant pictures and videos being taken. The March for Life was the trending topic on almost all of social media that day.”

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Cruz Sigala '19 I chose to participate in the March for Life because my parents have taught me that all lives matter. I chose to participate because I feel that everyone deserves a chance.

I enjoyed my experience. We had a lot of fun throughout the trip.”

Mr. Andrew Zagursky Theology Techer “I think overall it was a great experience. It is always a moving and powerful experience for the students, faculty members who go, and parents in the past who have gone… It is just very eye-opening. It is just one of those experiences you never forget when you go. It really makes you think about those people in society who are without a voice.

The ability to just go and give someone a voice who doesn’t have a voice is very Christian.” ◊

"

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Exchange program eyes trip to Peru

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Malvern students work despite other responsibilities Working students gain valuable real-world skills by learning to juggle schoolwork, activities, jobs, and money.

Jack Guardiola ’20, Mac Updike ’17

S SIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD • On global exchange trips, students see and experience a bigger world. Jack Guardiola '20 shared this photo of a Roman aqueduct from his exchange to Spain this summer. / J. GUARDIOLA

Trip would add another international destination for students aiming to study abroad.

Teddy Hawke ’20, Jack McClatchy ’17 CONTRIBUTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS EDITOR he program sends students to For exchanges in Pozuelo de Spain, Panama, and Australia, Alarcon, Spain and Chiclayo, Peru, but a trip to Peru is in the the linguistic benefits of traveling works. abroad are greatly appreciated from “The most recent exchange was both the Global Exchange Program in January, two students went to and the Foreign Language Program.

Alfonso Doce in Spain,” Global Ma lvern currently has one Exchange Program Director Ms. English-speak ing exchange in Teresa Lohse said.

Sydney, Australia.

Freshman Jack Guardiola and “I have had other people reach sophomore Buck Walsh departed out to me from other schools in other on January 3 and stayed in Spain for countries [that speak english] and I three weeks. am definitely not closing the door on Guardiola and Walsh experi- them.” Lohse said. enced a cultural exchange, where Jimmy Faunce ’16 went on a they attended classes but did not Global Exchange trip to Panama the have to worry about grades. They also summer going into his junior year, traveled on excursions to see popu- and said the experience was very posilar points of interest in and around tive for him.

Madrid.

“It really sparked in me a love for “That was one of the first ones, Spanish,” he said. “It made me really along with Panama, eight years ago,” want to learn how to speak it.”

Lohse said. “The newest exchange Faunce said it also showed him that we are currently pursuing might the difference between life in the begin as early as this summer, and United States and other parts of the that is an exchange to Chiclayo, world.

Peru.”

“It really made me feel lucky to Lohse recently met with Señor be in the US,” he said. “There were Lascano, the headmaster of Colegio so many things that were different in San Agustín, a school in Chiclayo.

Panama City that opened my eyes.”

Lohse said likely to be the newest A pending exchange that has addition to Malvern’s collection of been in discussion over the past few global exchange opportunities. years that would also complement the “I met [Sr. Lascano] at an Foreign Language Program is one to Augustinian Values Institute for China. teachers (AVI) in Oklahoma that Some students from the Western was held in October and he was very Institute School of Shanghai (WISS) interested in the idea of creating an have already traveled to Malvern Prep exchange between Malvern and the and are currently studying here for school in Chiclayo,” she said. a full year.

There is a lot of effort put into Lohse said the reason why making sure the schools being part- Malvern has not gone with a full nered with are the right schools, exchange to Shanghai is because Lohse said. students would participate in an acaFor example, while it is not com- demic exchange which is different pletely necessary, Lohse said she tries from a cultural exchange. to find schools with a similar ethos as “If students are willing to take Malvern because it makes it a easier that leap of faith, there are so many transition for the students traveling. benefits. It will open their minds and “In the beginning, [f inding an their worlds up to other cultures and Augustinian school] was the main other possibilities that they couldn’t criteria,” she said. “There was com- have envisioned prior to traveling,” fort in the idea of going to another Lohse said. “I will do what I can Augustinian school, similar to in any way possible to encourage the environment and the ethos of Malvern students to travel and to take Malvern. It’s not a deal-breaker if that leap of faith, to experience what a school is not Augustinian, but it other countries and cultures have to helps.” offer.” ◊

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CONTRIBUTORS ome Malvern students have various responsibilities that occupy their waking hours.

From homework to sports to activities, adding any more commitments requires time-management skills.

One of these extra possible commitments includes a job, and it is clear that lesser amounts of teenage students in the country are making this a priority. The current percentage of teenagers who are employed has dropped to an all-time low, according to a Pew Research study released in June 2015. At no point during the year, including the peak summer months, were more than 33 percent of teenagers hired.

According to USA Today, the reasons for why the rate of teen employment is decreasing is because of fewer low-skill, entry level jobs than in past years, more schools starting before Labor Day, more students taking summer classes, more teens doing unpaid community service work, and more students doing unpaid internships.

Despite this, many Malvern students have chosen to take on a job. Several of these students work during the school year like senior Sam Charlton.

Charlton works at Buckman's Ski and Snowboard Shop in King of Prussia. He sells skis and fits people for ski boots. Buckman’s is a very busy store especially during the school year – fall, winter, and early spring.

The work at Buckman's keeps Charlton busy. He said that he always makes sure he has time for his school work despite his job responsibilities.

“I always have time before or after work and I will just stay up later and I will find time at school to do my work,” Charlton said. “I have had a couple conflicts, but they are pretty flexible and understanding that I have school work to do and school comes first.”

Charlton said that the main reason he works is to save up money to use at college next year. Fellow seniors Sean Christman and AJ

Fantazzia have the same motive in income. working for the Main Line Sports “When you don’t make a steady Center in Berwyn. income debit is better, because you The Main Line Sports Center need to make a steady income to is a 72,000 square foot indoor pay back credit debt,” Faggioli said. training facility with five large “I would definitely recommend indoor fields, and it is their job to the debit card just because I feel check people in at the front desk. like it’s safer, and it stops people Christman and Fantazzia both from digging themselves into a said that the job is easy-going. hole,” Andress said.

“I’m pretty lucky in that my job Seniors Luke Matzke, who allows me a lot of free time at a works as a camp counselor, and desk, so it’s not really hard to get Jimmy Dugan, who works as a work done if I need to, and I have busser at a restaurant, agree that access to a computer so it’s pretty credit is a better choice because of easy to get stuff done,” Christman it’s utility in difficult situations. said. “[Credit] helps “It’s easy work. so much when it The current Sometimes I get comes to getting percentage of to do homework gas,” Matzke said. teenagers who are employed at the front desk “ It ’s a lso g reat has dropped to when hours are when you’re in a an all-time low, slow,” Fantazzia sticky situation and according to Pew Research. said. you need money.”

I n a d d it i o n “Just be smart. to work ing at Most people won’t local businesses, some students do anything stupid with it,” Dugan do “odd jobs” around their area. said. “You also have a little more This includes sophomore Charlie freedom with it.”

Andress.

Making and managing money “I make my money in the win- is a valuable skill to learn at any ter by shoveling snow,” Andress age, especially in high school. said. Freshman Kyle Faggioli also Director of School Counseling Mr. snowplows driveways in the winter.

Paul Simpson thinks it is great for In the summer, he works for his dad. students to work if they have the time.

“In the summer, I pave drive“ We ask st udents to get ways and clean trucks,” Faggioli said. involved in a lot of things here at Faggioli had to get a work per- Malvern so I think for some stumit in order to work under his dad. dents who don’t play a sport for a In fact, all minors must apply for season or can squeeze some hours and obtain work permits to work in, I think it’s great,” Simpson said. at any licensed employer in the “It teaches discipline and different state according to the Pennsylvania responsibilities you have at the Child Labor Law. workplace.”

Junior Nick Villano, a sales Senior Brandon Chiazza said associate at Target, explained that It takes a motivated person to that obtaining the permit was not work while dealing with the daydifficult. to-day responsibilities of a high “You just need to bring your school student. birth certif icate, social secu“As long as you have your rity card, and maybe a few other priorities straight, and make sure things,” Villano said. “It doesn't you're getting your school work take long.” done and keeping on top of sports Once working students receive and other activities, then there's their paychecks, money manage- nothing wrong with having a job ment is another responsibility they during the school year,” Chiazza deal with. Many students turn to said. “But you have to be ready for using either a debit or a credit card. a busy schedule.” ◊ Andress and Faggioli both agree that debit is the way to go because they do not have a steady

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Armenia Service Trip Cancelled Problems in surrounding countries resulted in decision to cancel trip for 2017, future uncertain.

Kyle Leonard '19 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR ne of Malvern’s ser vice trips for rising seniors has just been cancelled due to safety issues in the nearby country of Ukraine, where a skirmish between Ukrainians and pro-Russian rebels has been occuring since 2014.

The reason why Ukraine’s current state is an issue to the service trip to Armenia is because Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, was one of the flight destiALL SMILES WITH NEW FRIENDS • Students pose for a snapshot with chaperones Mr. Larry Legner, Dr. nations for the trip, according to James Fry, and Ms. Molly Waldron during the 2016 trip. / COURTESY L. MATZKE Mr. Lawrence Legner, Director of Christian Service here at Malvern.

“The sister who ran the camp cancelled wasn't really a shock to me At the time of planning this was such a great person, and the kids because of the situation between year’s trip, Kiev seemed like the saf- there were so nice and accepting to Russia and Ukraine. However, it was est option as a destination, but as ten- our guys,” Legner said. “It was defimy first selection, and I really wanted sions increased in Ukraine, it became nitely hard to email [the sister] to tell to visit the East - orthodox churches, a lot more dangerous for the students her we weren’t coming, but she commountain ranges, cuisine,” Jones said. on the trip to fly there. pletely understood.”

“I do understand though why it was “Safety is always number one on Students who have gone on cancelled, and I feel bad we won't all of our service trips, and we [Mr. this trip in the past, including sen- be able to help the nuns with their Legner, Mr. Algeo, Dr. Fry] decided ior RJ Napoli, are disappointed to orphanage.” that it was just too hear about the trip’s Junior Jake Hodlofski had a simidiff icult to get to cancellation. lar reactions to his fellow classmates.

“Safety is always A r men i a s a fe ly,” “I actually didn’t “I am upset that the Armenia trip number one on Legner said. know about this until got cancelled; however, Mr. Legner all of our service There were five now. That’s unfor- does a great job of making sure safety trips, and we decided that students scheduled tunate,” Napoli said. comes first, so unfortunately this trip it was just too to travel to Armenia “One thing I can say had to get cancelled,” Hodlofski said. difficult to get this summer, but is that part of the “I was looking forward to going on a Armenia safely." since they couldn’t whole ser vice trip trip that most people don't go on, but Mr. Larry Legner go a ny more , t he experience is going luckily I am now going to DR, and I Director of Christian Service Service Department to places in bad areas, am looking forward to it.” gave t hem a few and sometimes there It is still unknown if the Armenia options to choose from for their new is some conflict involved, but I can see trip will be brought back once tendestination. why [the Service Department] would sions die down in the surround“All of the students ended up cancel to keep everyone safe.” ing areas. However, students and choosing the Dominican Republic for Senior Zach Maher also went on administrators alike loved the trip, their new trip, so it all worked out,” the trip last year, and he is also sad to so hopefully the trip will be brought Legner said. see the Armenia trip go because he back at some point when everything If these students had gone to thought it was great, a very beneficial settles. ◊ Armenia, they would have been at for those who went or were supposed a summer camp for two weeks with to go. about 200 Armenian children. There, “I think it’s a shame because it the Malvern guys would have taught was a great opportunity that the junthese kids various subjects, such as iors are missing on going on a great English, computer classes, arts and trip like Armenia,” Maher said. crafts, and physical education all “When we went last year, we all got FOUR THINGS TO morning, followed by fun activities a lot of great new perspectives on the KNOW: with all of these kids in the afternoon world, especially because Armenia is UNREST IN and into the evening. in the Middle East.”

UKRAINE Legner chaperoned on this parJunior Nate Jones was supposed 1. The conflict between the ticular trip last year, and would have to go on the trip. He was also upset Ukrainian military and progone again this year had it not been that it was cancelled; however, it was Russian rebels cancelled. He said he loved the trip not much of a surprise to him. began in May 2014 after the and the people there.

“The Armenia service trip getting 2014 Ukrainian

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Revolution and efforts by the Euromaiden movement to have closer ties to the European Union. (Mercy Corps) 2. The Euromaiden movement started when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych backed out of a trade deal with the EU. (Forbes)

The Armenia service trip was scheduled to fly into Kiev, Ukraine, and then to the final destination in Armenia.

Safety concerns with ongoing unrest in Ukraine led to the cancellation of this year's service trip to Armenia.

3. 21,880 people have been wounded, and 9,470 have been killed, with as many as 2,000 civilians. (Mercy Corps) 4. More than 1.1 million Ukrainians have been displaced as a result of the conflict, and as many as 3.1 million need humanitarian aid. (Mercy Corps)

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>LEGNER, 1

Legner will continue to teach theology for a few more years before he retires. He said this will give him the ability to train his successor. He said he has no idea who his successor may be but suggested that it two people instead of one. “ W hoever it is, I’ ll show them the way I did it but they’re welcomed to make it any way they want,” Legner said. “It’s not my program, It’s Malvern Prep’s program.”

Before Mr. Legner, the service program was very different. There were no global service trips or school sponsored service days, and not even the C.A.R.E.S. Walk.

According to Legner, Mr. Larry DiPaul headed to service program until 2004. Each grade had to complete a certain amount of outside of school service hours.

Freshman had ten, sophomores had 20, juniors had 30, and seniors had 40. Students were responsible for finding times when they could volunteer at a list of places Malvern gave them.

After DiPaul left to coordinate the Romero Center, Legner moved from Dean of Students to Director of Christian Service.

L e g ner s a id he w a nte d Malvern faculty to set an example to students for service. Legner pitched the service weekend idea to Head of School at the time Mr. Jim Stewart, and Stewart approved.

Legner set up the service weekends so that there was a progressive element to it. Freshmen start small with local service. Sophomores have their first overnight experience at St. Augustine’s. Juniors go to Urban Challenge. Previously, DiPaul took only one group per year to Urban Challenge.

A year later, Legner wanted to add something bigger for the seniors. In a conversation with Augustinian Provincial at the time Fr. Don Reilly, Fr. Reilly suggested Legner take a group of seniors to

Peru. Fr. Reilly will also get to oversee the program next year as Malvern’s Head of School.

“I went over to Peru with a group of adults to see it,” Legner said, “and loved it, fell in love with the place and decided that would be a trip. That was our first trip.

We did Peru and then we did South Africa after that and then they just kept growing and growing and growing.”

Legner said he is most proud of these global service trips.

“To give a high school boy the opportunity to go to the places we go and see real poverty,” Legner said, “I think really changes them, and that’s my goal. I completely understand that we’re not going into these places and changing— we’re not changing Peru. But maybe we can change the boys so that five, ten, twenty years from now, it’s going to be a part of who they are as a man.”

Assistant Director of Christian Service Mrs. Laura Miele has been working with Legner for five years and said she would like Legner successor to be a “carbon copy of Larry.”

“Mr. Legner is the heart of this school, and he puts his heart in every aspect,” she said. “I don’t there’s anybody out there that could fill his shoes, unless there were two people.”

Senior Bryan Willcox went on the Armenia service trip last summer with Legner. He said the trip was a great experience.

“The experience I had over the summer was so life changing,” Willcox said. “The impact on us is huge.”

Willcox was happy that Legner came with him on the trip.

“It was a ton of fun being there with him,” he said. “I got to know him a lot better and see how awesome a guy he is and see how much work he puts into it.” ◊

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Eighth grade working with Syrian charities The eighth grade will partner with multiple organizations to help a Syrian refugee community in Greece

A DIFFERENT SORT OF ARTS FESTIVAL • Guests discuss and enjoy the artwork of Syrian children at a Syrian refugee art show in the Duffy Center on Feb. 15 / J. LISTER

Joe Lister ’21 MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTER ea Kavala is one of the numerous refugee camps hosting Syrian refugees fleeing from their war-torn home country. However, this one is special to Malvern, as the eighth grade class has planned an event to help those who are struggling in the camp.

Some special guests worked with eighth grade dean Mr. Robert Buscaglia to plan this event. Kayra Martinez is the founder of Love Without Borders, a charity for a refugee camp in Greece. Amanda Levenson is the co-founder of NeedsList, a website and app to connect volunteers in refugee camps to donors.

Eighth grade dean Mr. Rob Buscaglia said that the idea for a Syrian refugee project first happened when his son’s elementary school talked to a group of refugee children which was set up by Levenson.

“After I heard about that experience I got in contact with Amanda,” he said. “We started talking and thought it would be really cool if we could do something like what they did.”

The Eighth Grade will be working indirectly with a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, a town in northern Greece.

“What our approach will be you can’t help anyone one until you know their situation,” Buscaglia said.

The grade will be educated on the refugee crisis before helping. “We can create awareness, by creating an awareness campaign, as an Eighth Grade I think that’s an incredible thing to do,” he said.

Eighth grader Tommy Simpson is excited about the upcoming project.

“The thing that’s so interesting about this project is that it’s not about school,” he said. “It’s more about affecting people's’ lives,” he said.

“These people have gone through things that we can’t even imagine.”

Eighth grade parent Mett y Vithayathil works with refugees as an attorney, and is on the committee for the refugee project.

“I had been working with refugees every since I graduated from law school,” she said. “I’ve never worked directly with any Syrian refugees. I was seeing more individuals from Latin America and African countries,” Vithayathil said.

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But even if they’re not all from the same places, Vithayathil said that all refugees have at least a few things in common. “Their stories are always compelling,” she said. “Another is that most refugees lead normal lives until their countries become divided.”

Martinez first worked as a flight attendant, bringing food and supplies to refugees in Greece, and had little knowledge of the situation.

“I didn’t know so much about who [the refugees] we’re, or what they needed,” Martinez said. “I offered my help...as I became more involved I saw there were other needs.”

She eventually worked with the Red Cross, and after that she took the next step, and created her own company.

Martinez created Love Without Borders, an organization for people in the camp Nea Kavala, in Northern Greece. She chose Greece because she believed that it is the country with the greatest needs.

Soon after creating Love Without Borders, Martinez made Art Without Borders, which gave the refugees in Nea Kavala art supplies. The jewelry, paintings, and hats they made are sold, and proceeds are all given to the camp.

There are 780 refugees in Nea Kavala and people don’t really know what they need, according to Amanda Levenson.

“We have this assumption that we know exactly what’s needed,” she said.

In fact, Levenson says that around two thirds of donated items sent to refugee camps are thrown away. People send things that can’t be used, like tennis rackets, or things that they already have, like blankets.

“It’s really mass chaos,” she said.

What Levenson’s app does is let volunteers post needs, and people can donate money so that the volunteers can buy the items needed. “If people want to give donations, we connect them to people on the ground.”

Items on the Nea Kavala page range from haircuts, to showers, to suitcases.

It’s like Wikipedia for the refugee crisis,” she says. “Organizations are creating those lists… and people are meeting those needs.”

“As eighth graders it's a unique opportunity,” Vithayathil said. “I’m excited to learn with [them].” ◊

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>COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, 1

Director of College Counseling Mr. Ian Harkness whose grades might not have been to the level they addressed this question by slowing the hysteria around needed to be but they were admitted based on other their low number of senior class early acceptances this criteria.” year. “It’s important to remember that waiting doesn’t Another tip is to start thinking about the college constitute failure,” he said. process long before it’s time to actually apply. Don’t Deferral in early decision or action does not waste opportunities to get involved and begin to think mean a denial. Harkness explained that about what it is that can separate you from although getting deferred is disappointthe pack when it comes time for admising, there may be a silver lining. sions to make their decision.

DEFERRAL IN EARLY DECISION “Just because you have to wait until “Colleges don’t want to accept a oneOR ACTION DOES regular decision doesn’t mean you have dimensional individual,” Harkness said.

NOT MEAN A DENIAL. failed,” Harkness said. “Even though it “It’s important to show your various interALTHOUGH puts more pressure on you, it opens up ests and how you’ve pursued them. By the GETTING DEFERRED IS even more opportunities. Usually, we get same token, you can not afford to spread DISAPPOINTING, most of our big name acceptances and yourself too thin. Don’t join thirty clubs THERE MAY BE A SILVER LINING. good news in the spring.” just to put them in your resume. Colleges So the answer to the question above is see right through that.” simply: we have wait until spring and see.

In the senior counseling curriculum, Early acceptance numbers change every students learned how to demonstrate this year and the real tell-tale sign of the strength of a combination of breadth and depth of interest. They class can not be determined until regular decisions also heard stories about how students were rejected are revealed. because they didn’t craft their applications in a profesSometimes, however, that good news doesn’t come sional manner. To put it bluntly, they got lazy. for students. They may not get into any of the colleges “It is important to not become idle in the applicaat the top of their lists. However, that does not consti- tion process,” Harkness said. “I know it’s senior year tute failure either, according to Harkness. but your work is just beginning. You have to showcase “A student with the right work ethic can flourish all you have done over your three years in high school, at any institution he decides to go to,” Harkness said. and if you get lazy in doing so, all of that work may “Going to an Ivy doesn’t constitute success without have been for nothing. hard work and passion about your career.”

It’s also important to not become idle after the According to Harkness, some students on campus application process. Colleges are still looking to make are looking optimistically at their college decisions. It sure accepted students are maintaining their grades is important to not view the word rejection and acceptand that students still being considered for acceptance ance as the be-all end-all. Students must reject that are continuing to pursue excellence. their is only one right school for them and accept the There have been instances in the past where fact that they can do great things wherever Malvern students had their acceptances it is they decide to go. rescinded due to the infamous senior “A STUDENT WITH THE If you don’t get into your dream colslide. Those instances are few and far RIGHT WORK lege, you are not a failure. It just means between, but even accepted students realETHIC CAN FLOURISH that school may not have been the best ize the importance of finishing the year AT ANY fit for you after all. “Of course I was strong.

INSTITUTION HE DECIDES TO bummed when I didn’t get into Notre “I’m not going to lie. I am definitely GO TO. GOING TO Dame,” senior Ryan Franks said. “But more inclined to coast my last few months AN IVY DOESN’T CONSTITUTE for a kid who wants to pursue medicine now that I’m accepted,” senior Nick Gatti SUCCESS and get a postgraduate degree, I’m no said. “That doesn’t at all mean I’m not tryWITHOUT HARD WORK AND longer stressing about the prestige of an ing it just means that I’m not pulling my PASSION ABOUT undergraduate school. Wherever I go, I’m hair out trying to get an A+ in every class.

YOUR CAREER.” going to work hard and use the school’s I would rather spend my remaining time -MR. IAN HARKNESS resources to prepare myself for the next making memories with my brothers, not step.” spending hours studying for a math test.”

Nevertheless, a student still has to go about the “Malvern has prepared me well for college and I process the right way. The college counselors have got- am excited for the next step,” Gatti said. “I know I ten feedback on Malvern students’ applications from can’t completely stop my work ethic but I am willing admissions officers at universities. They have digested to trade a slightly lesser grade for those memories with that feedback and come up with a few suggestions for my friends. Next year, I’m going to Chicago and I may applying to college. never see these guys again.”

Harkness said that the first tip is to not make For Gatti to get to where he did, he certainly had assumptions. to put in a lot of hard work. According to Harkness, “A student should never assume that a college is a lot of that showed when he put together his too difficult for him to get into,” Harkness said. “On Northwestern specific application. the other hand, it is even more dangerous to think The idea of crafting an application is related to you’re a shoe-in for a college. That is where the applianother tip from the counseling department. Students cation can get sloppy and you can get rejected from a at Malvern have a history of applying to a high number college that may have actually been a great fit for you.” of schools and therefore may not have the time to make From Harkness’s experience, the college accept- each application special and personal to the school. ance process — especially at the more competitive “If a student really has his sights on three or four colleges —is never black and white. Different col- colleges, he should devote all of his time to those leges look for different things, and it can be difficult schools,” Harkness said. “When an applicant just to prepare for the subjectivity of the decision process. throws out an application without putting much One thing that all schools have in common, how- thought into it, the schools can see right through it. ever, is that they look at a lot more than just scores, They usually aren’t very interested in the students that according to Harkness aren’t interested in them.”

“There have been a lot of very intelligent students It is important to not spread yourself too thin. to come through Malvern and they have gone to great Don’t prepare for denial. Work hard towards schools,” Harkness said. “However, there are many acceptance. other ways for students with different talents to get “If you have a dream school in mind, do everyinto just as great schools.” thing you can to make sure your application is the While crafting your application, you have to absolute best it can be,” Harkness said. “You don’t want accentuate your strengths and the traits that make you to look back and say to yourself ‘man, I could’ve done different. It doesn’t have to be confined to achieve- so much more.’ If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. If ments in the classroom, according to Harkness. it’s not, it’s not but don’t have any regrets.” ◊ “It can highlight anything that you are passionate about and have delved deeply into during your high school years,” Harkness said. “We’ve had students

FRIAR LIFE

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Niche.com rankings compare schools locally, statewide, and nationally, and may help families to make decisions. But on closer examination for fairness, do these ratings hold up? in your rank will go up.”

Shane Muntz ’17 Niche Marketing Outreach Coordinator CONTRIBUTOR Jessica Hair said Niche does not only rely on lthough more known for college rank- marketing or self reporting. ings, Niche.com recently announced “We try to pull together information from their rankings for best all boys high reviews and things like SAT scores, diversity, schools for 2017. The ranking was broken and college admissions to try to paint the best down by numerous differpicture we can for each commuent categories. Malvern Prep nity,” she said.

Sites like was ranked 55th best all boys Hair explained that some niche may school in the country, with information for the rankings is be driven two other area all-boys schools reported by the school. more by ahead of Malvern: Haverford “All the data is pulled from profit School and Devon Prep. government sites where schools than by Niche, founded by are mandated to send inforaccuracy.

Carnegie Mellon alumni Luke mation every year,” she said.

Skurman, provides statistics “Private schools like Malvern and reviews on communities, report to the government on high schools, and colleges. Formerly known things like composite SAT/ACT scores, as CollegeProwler.com, Niche’s website states diversity and numerous other things.” the program intends to “transform the way According to Talbot, a self-reported syspeople make big life decisions” with insights tem driven by profits may lead to some misfrom data analysis and “everyday experts.” leading and confusing information that could According to Head of School Mr. affect a decision about where students go to Christian Talbot, whose alma mater Regis school.

High School ranked third, the mission state“I feel very strongly that any ranking ment for Niche is almost comical. system that's trying to capture the mean“Basically it’s self reporting from par- ingfulness or value of a learning institution ents, students, and alumni,” Talbot said. “It's by looking at such basic and unhelpful data almost like an opinion poll, and then they like SAT/ACT scores, self-reported college push these rankings out on the internet and placements, self-reported diversity, that's social media.” worthless,” Talbot said. “In fact it's worse According to Talbot, Niche.com may be than worthless. If it were worthless at least driven more by profit than by accurate ratings. you could throw it in the garbage.”

“What people may not know behind the Talbot believes that the most important scene is that Niche goes to each aspects of the learning expeindividual school who is identirience at Malvern cannot be "A ranking fied and says we have a profile measured by the sorts of scores should be of your school, and says it's in that schools report to Niche. objective.

There your best interest to buy a sub“I don't think that any should be scription to pretty much make Malvern student, alumnus, no capacity money,” Talbot added. or Malvern parent would ever for their According to Talbot, an point to those things as having rankings account executive at Niche any critical or any important to be influenced by sent him a solicitation email role in what it means to go to people who in August 2016 about monthly Malvern,” he said. are in the insight reports.

I n a 2 0 14 p o s t o n rankings “Let us know what you Independent School Magazine paying you think! We would love to disblog, published by the National money. " cuss this report with you furAssociation of Independent -Mr. Christian Talbot Head of School ther and share more about our Schools (NAIS), former NAIS new Premium Profile offering, president shared some observawhere you can enhance what tions in a post titled “Bad Data.” prospective families are seeing when they visit Chubb described Niche as the least comyour profile, and drive more traffic to your petent ranking system he had ever seen. school as well,” the marketing email stated.

"The Niche 'Best Private Schools' list does “This is ‘nod-nod-wink-wink,” Talbot nothing to distinguish quality," Chubb stated. said. “If you pay more and get more reports "Whether a school looks good or less good

A

Story produced in senior Journalism and Media Literacy elective.

in this system, it would be best to help your “It's not about the prestige of the colcommunity understand why the ranking just lege you get into or the bumper sticker on doesn't matter.” the back of the car. It's about finding a great According to Chubb, Niche grades fewer place where you fit in,” Harkness said. “And than half of all private schools, and includes the rankings can sometimes make that a much slightly fewer than that in its rankings. harder process.”

Because Niche lacks data on some schools, Upper School Head Mr. Ron Algeo it simply omits them from the thinks that Niche does not rankings. Chubb states that have a strong enough reputaMuch of the data the site does collect tion to give these rankings Niche's data is selffor most private schools is selfmuch credence. “I don't think reported. reported, with sample sizes they have been around long Some scores that are too small for accuracy. enough to say, ‘Wow that's require Chubb notes that Niche really honorable and hang your only 7 responses ranks schools by SAT and hat on that,’” he said. “They to report ACT scores, college placement, don't have enough recognition data. culture and diversity, and parto do that.” ent and student surveys. The According to Algeo, a site requires that seven survey responses are school like Malvern must be careful about its required in order for data from the surveys to goals. “If our goals were to move up the rankbe used in grading schools. However, much ings we could possibly do that, but it may not of this data is self-reported. really serve our community or our students.”

“Niche says explicitly that if its survey “We want to do what's best for our student yielded seven survey responses, the school's and our families. That's why we don't put a lot student outcomes were estimated from that of stock into those rankings,” he said. “They handful of responses,” Chubb wrote. “One don't provide us feedback, which is why we does not have to be a professional pollster to put a lot more stock into our relationships know that the confidence intervals around with our students and families.” such estimates are huge — actually, plus or Senior Zac Fernandez thinks that the minus 35 percent. The ranking system ignores rankings provide no clear reason why Malvern confidence intervals. Schools that, in fact, dif- should be ranked lower than Haverford or fer by indistinguishable amounts statistically Devon. “If there was a clear formula to rank are lined up as if the differences matter.” these schools, I would accept them more, but Chubb stated that Niche’s rankings do they have no real meaning honestly,” he said. nothing to distinguish quality among private Fernandez noted that a ranking system schools. based on self-reporting does “NAIS is committed to not seem to provide much of "If our providing our school commua basis for accuracy. “Every goals were nity with better data. I believe school is going to think they are to move up the that strong data systems can better than the other because of rankings help all of us make far better pride,” he said. “So a ranking we could decisions, as school leaders or system of self reporting does possibly parents. Niche is just not one not help at all, because you can do that, of those systems,” he wrote. easily get a bunch of people but it may not really D i r e c tor of C ol l e g e to put in great reports for the serve our Counseling Mr. Ian Harkness school to boost the ranking.” community pointed out that the Niche According to Talbot, a or our rankings could sway families’ ranking system that is reaching students. " perceptions of private schools. out to heads of schools for sub-Mr. Ron Algeo Upper School Head Devon Prep shares the scriptions or payment behind school’s Niche rankings on the scenes has no credibility. their website.

“A ranking should be objec“The rankings really can tive,” he said. “There should be sway someone's mind,” Harkness said. “If no capacity for their rankings to be influenced you’re looking at three all-boys schools in the by people who are in the rankings paying you area and based on rankings you choose the money.” top school that doesn't necessarily mean it's “That's the definition of a conf lict of the right fit.” interest.”◊

Some 2017 Niche Rankings / C. BENNETT

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ith multiple sections of honors level classes, the workload and challenge level seems to depend on the teacher, according to some students.

Junior Louis Margay currently takes Honors British Literature. He got Mr. Richard Roper for his section, and he faced a tough decision going into the class.

“I knew I was going to have a lot of work,” Margay said. “I definitely contemplated dropping it, but I knew that if I want to succeed in college, I can’t just drop all my hard classes.”

In Honors British Literature, there are four sections, each with a different teacher.

Roper teaches two sections, while English Department Leader Mr. Francis Rogai and Some sections taught by different teachers under the same class title differ in style, Dean of Students Mr. Tim Dougherty teach but members of faculty and administration say there are benefits to this model. the other two sections.

Dan Malloy '18 • Chief Investigative Reporter In contrast to Margay, fellow junior Nick Villano said that he was relieved when he got Rogai.

Honors British Literature. Another example of “We have built catapults, model boats, “If I got Mr. Roper, I would have dropped a class with different teachers having different and done other labs and projects to help us down to academic due to the level of stress perceived levels of difficulty is Honors Physics. better understand topics covered in class,” involved in Roper's class,” Villano said. “I had Science teachers Mr. Michael Koenig, McLaughlin said. already made this decision with my counselor Mrs. Vernice Mulcahy, and Mrs. Laurie Quinn said that this difference in teaching before the end of sophomore year.”

Peslak all teach different sections of the class. style of these two sections of Honors Physics Roper said that the amount of students Junior Austin Laudadio signed up for who dropped his class is around double figures. Honors Physics this year and got Koenig, not “I understand it. I didn’t knowing much about how the like it, and in some cases I class would be.

Roper said that the amount of students didn’t agree with it,” Roper “Going in, I knew very litwho dropped his class said. “I understand that there tle beyond the fact that it was is around double is an expectation I have of a really tough class,” Laudadio figures.

Honors level students that they said. “My thoughts were con"I understand may be nervous about whether firmed after Mr. Koenig told that there is an or not they can handle.” our class in the first week that expectation I have of Honors level students Head of the Upper School class averages on tests were that they may be Mr. Ronald Algeo indicated about 70s. So I was a little nervous about whether that this sort of variance in scared for that first quiz.” or not they can handle." challenge level among classes Laudadio said that the – whether perceived or real – class this year has been “crazy” prepares students for the reality and that his grade fluctuates of college. constantly. However, he said that he has a “In college you will have courses that are better grip on the class than at the beginning offered with all types of different professors of the year. and you’ll hear things like, ‘Don’t take this “I would not say the workload is overclass because the teacher’s harder or take that whelming by any means,” Laudadio said. class, the professor’s easier.”

“Yes, the class is tough, but only due to the According to Algeo, it’s not that one tests and quizzes.” teacher is better, or harder, or easier than Junior Tim McLaughlin got Mulcahy for another. They just have different teaching his Honors Physics class. styles.

“I was expecting pretty rigorous work and “Every single teacher has the opportunity, a lot of math,” McLaughlin said. McLaughlin with the expectations of going deeper within said that the class is moving at a nice pace to topics, to bring their own kind of passion and both retain and learn material. personality to it,” Algeo said.

However, Laudadio said that his class Roper acknowledges that his Honors moves at a very quick pace. “It seems we are British Literature class does have a reputation. onto a new topic every week or so,” he said.

He does not reject it, however.

Science Department leader Mr. Kevin “I have to be honest and say I am happy Quinn said that different sections of the same with it because I’d rather be thought difficult class communicate with each other to make than easy,” Roper said. “Because I think at sure they are hitting similar topics. an Honors Level, we need to be constantly “They talk with each other quite a bit to challenged. You have to have a level of high see what the priorities are for the course,” rigor, both in volume and material. To pre- Quinn said. “But to a certain extent, we also pare you for a scenario that you may get in encourage them that they don’t have to do it college, graduate school, or in the workplace all in lockstep.” where you will have to devote a large amount In Honors Physics, Laudadio said that dedicated time almost every day to a task you Koenig’s style is more lecture-based, while have to fulfill.”

McLaughlin said that Mulcahy’s style Students don’t just feel the discrepancies in involves more projects.

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as an example is actually a good thing for students.

“Teachers may differentiate [their styles] for different student’s needs and also what teacher is in the room,” Quinn said.

Quinn used AP Biology as an example.

Mr. Stephen Borish and Mrs. Anna Geider both teach the class, and while they may teach the class differently, the classes still accomplish the goal of preparing students for the AP test.

“Mrs. Geider’s class chooses to do their topics in a different order. And that’s fine,” Quinn said “We want to give teachers their autonomy. And that is one of the reasons we are at an independent school. At a lot of public school settings, there is a set curriculum that you must follow at a specific order at a certain pace, and teachers really lose that control to really get to know their students to say, ‘Is it the right time to move on with these guys or not?’”

Quinn recalled how he and Koenig taught Honors Physics two years ago. They taught in different ways, but still covered the same key topics. Some topics just had more emphasis >PAGE 14

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How Matt Ryan almost came to Malvern What kept future NFL MVP from playing for Malvern back in 1999?

Henry Malone ’17 Eric McLaughlin ’18 SPORTS EDITOR SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR n 1998, Mike Ryan was the starting quarterback for Malvern Prep, and his younger brother Matt was ready to follow in his brother’s footsteps and be Kevin Pellegrini’s next star quarterback.

But it didn’t exactly work out that way.

In his SS Philip and James middle school yearbook profile, Ryan indicated that he planned to attend Malvern and graduate with the Class of 2003.

However, in the fall of 1999, Matt Ryan decided to enroll at Malvern’s Inter-Ac opponent, Penn Charter. At the time, it did not seem like this would happen.

As for what caused Ryan to choose Penn Charter of Malvern, it’s anyone’s guess.

Swimming and Water Polo Coach Jay Schiller, whose children played Little Quakers football with Ryan, believes he attended Penn Charter on scholarship.

“There’s probably two reasons why Matt did not come here. In playing for the Little Quakers, the Little Quakers offer a Fox scholarship to attend Penn Charter, which allows someone to attend Penn Charter on a scholarship, and Matt Ryan earned that scholarship,” Swim Coach Jay Schiller said. “Also his uncle and Godfather John Loughery played football at Penn Charter and then Boston College and was the quarterback coach of the Little Quakers.”

Teacher and Former Head of School Mr. Jim Stewart has a similar opinion.

“I believe Matt was in line to enroll or had just enrolled, and then about a week or two later we got word from his parents that he was gonna go to Penn Charter,” Stewart said.

“And we had heard that the reason

MATT RYAN • WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

was that there were relatives involved at Penn Charter who were involved with the football program, and that was one of the major reasons why he left and went to Penn Charter.”

Ryan went on to attend Penn Charter and later played at Boston College, leading them to their highest ranking in school history.

However, his successful career was only just beginning at BC. Ryan was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft and his NFL career has been a huge success ever since.

This year, Ryan reached the pinnacle of the NFL not only by playing in the Super Bowl, but also by being named MVP of the league.

Pat DiMarco is the fullback for the Falcons and is also the cousin of junior Sean Oates.

“Pat always says how Matt Ryan is not only a great quarterback, but also a great leader. He says he is the hardest working guy on the team and wants everyone else to be the best,” Oates said.

Back in 1999, it did not seem like a big deal that Matt backed out of enrolling at Malvern, but one Penn Charter championship, Boston College bowl win, and NFL MVP later, it probably would have been a good idea to try and persuade the so-called “Matty Ice” to stay at Malvern.◊

Chronicle

Former Friars share D1 lacrosse experiences With the lacrosse season right around the corner, four Malvern alumni reminisce and share some advice.

Garrett Hallinan ’19 REPORTER hree years ago, Malvern Lacrosse won the Inter-Ac Championship and posted an undefeated record of 24-0. The current seniors were freshmen when the team brought home the title.

“My favorite memory from playing Malvern Lacrosse was beating Haverford in the Inter-Ac Championship at Cabrini College when we went undefeated,” Chris Isenberg, a junior at Penn State, said. “I remember running out on the field and having the entire Malvern student section storm the field. I looked at Greg Pelton while we were KEVIN MCGEARY '14 running out, just thinking that this is absolutely absurd. I cannot On Malvern lacrosse: “Enjoy every moment of it believe we did it.” because you will miss it when Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach Mr. John McEvoy believes you are gone." that this year’s team has the potential to be something special.

“A lot has to happen to be put in that top category,” McEvoy said. “You need really good team leadership, really good team chemistry. You have to be a little lucky, and the kids cannot get hurt.”

Senior Andrew Clark remembers the team from three years ago.

“I practiced with them leading up to the Inter-Ac CHRIS ISENBERG '14 Championship,” Clark said. “Being able to play with them and see how focused and dedicated they were helped me become the “A lot of people do not realize that once you get here, player and teammate that I am today.” it is actually a full time job.

Kevin McGeary ’15, a captain for the 24-0 season who curOur day to day schedules are planned around our practices rently plays for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers, had and games." some words of wisdom to the current seniors. “Enjoy every moment of it because you will miss it when you are gone,” he said.

Playing Division I lacrosse is a daily commitment. It is no longer a game but a profession.

“A lot of people do not realize that once you get here, it is actually a full time job,” Isenberg said. “Our day to day schedules are planned around our practices and games. My world is PJ FINLEY '12 surrounded by lacrosse in all facets.”

“Being on the lacrosse team Although this sounds intimidating, the experience builds is probably the best thing that has happened to me in college. unparalleled camaraderie and friendships.

You have fifty guys who are like“Being on the lacrosse team is probably the best thing that minded and are great friends." has happened to me in college,” senior Notre Dame lacrosse player PJ Finley said. “It definitely makes life harder, but you have fifty guys who are like-minded and are great friends.”

Notre Dame sophomore Drew Schantz played with Finley at Malvern and is his teammate at Notre Dame.

Schantz said he looked up to Finley since he was a freshman in high school.

“PJ took the faceoffs and I played on the wing when we were at Malvern,” Shantz said. “We built a relationship with that and became great friends. At Notre Dame, all the lacrosse players hang out. Age does not matter.”

Schantz recalled one time when he turned on the TV in the DREW SCHANTZ '15 Notre Dame lacrosse team’s house and saw himself.

“Last year I scored a half field goal with time expiring, “At Notre Dame, all the lacrosse players hang out. Age which got on SportsCenter’s Top Ten Plays,” he said. “I was so does not matter.” excited because growing up I watched that and to see myself on it was a pat on the back moment.”

McEvoy said he likes to keep in contact with his former players to help prepare his current players for the next level.

“I love to pick the college players’ brains,” McEvoy said. “I ask them what are they doing, specifically what they are doing that we are not doing that we can get them ready for. I like when they give me new ideas on what they like and don’t like. I learn a lot from those guys.”

Senior lacrosse player Mike Fay will reunite with Schantz next year.

COACH JOHN MCEVOY “I was recruited to play lacrosse at Notre Dame freshman “I love to pick the college playyear,” Fay said. “I think I picked the right school, and I am very ers’ brains. I ask them what are they doing, specifically what excited to go there. I look forward to meeting up with Drew.” they are doing that we are not Fay and Schantz played lacrosse at Malvern together for doing that we can get them ready for." two years. Come August, they will start on another two year journey together.

“Drew was always a great teammate to have,” Fay said. “He was the guy who would pull you aside and see how you were doing on a daily basis. Drew is a very energetic guy, and is probably one of the hardest workers that I have ever been on a team with.”

MIKE FAY '17 Finley gave some parting advice for the current Malvern lacrosse team.

“I was recruited to play lacrosse at Notre Dame freshman year. I “We want to win, but how we are going to win? We win think I picked the right school, by practicing every day at the highest intensity possible so that and I am very excited to go there." come game time everything seems easy,” Finley said. “Focus on getting better every day. Don’t think about the end result, but about what is in front of you and what you can control.”◊

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Winter gives way to a new season of Intramurals and student teams.

Alex Haylock ’19 REPORTER or six weeks of the winter, students take the floor at Dougherty and O’Neill gyms during community time.

You don’t need to try out to play intramural basketball. All you need to do is sign up, and show up.

“No matter what, it’s always a good game,” sophomore intramural player Jacob McGraw said.

McGraw’s team, “The Golden State Sophomores,” had just lost to another sophomore team, “Team 13,” who beat them 17-15.

The win puts “Team 13” ahead in Intramurals Basketball championship.

Intramurals is a chance for students to play organized sports independently from a league. Teachers organize the games, and all is played on campus. Students need to form six-player teams to enter the competition.

“I think what it does is supplements,” moderator Mr. Andrew Burke said. “If you are a student who is involved with the play, and you want to get in some physical activity, then this would be a good choice for you.”

The teams are entered into a roster, where they are placed against a team of the same grade. Thirty-two teams are currently competing for the championship. Games occur during community time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Burke works directly with Intramurals and sends out the email updates on team schedules.

“It has increasingly brought the community together,” he said. “We have over 200 kids participating in basketball.”

Games start five minutes into community time. Conflicts sometimes occur when students need to use community time for work.

“The negative is what they aren’t doing with the time they’re spending at community time,” Burke said. “And then you also have the kids who come out to watch, so not just the

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FIERCE BUT FRIENDLY COMPETITION • Sophomore Donny Gayhardt drives to the basket, while Liam Dabagian,and Vahe Minasian defend at Intramural Basketball on Feb. 10. Intramural basketball has grown in participation this year under the leadership of moderator Mr. Andrew Burke / A. HAYLOCK

players.”

Despite potential conflicts, kids come out every day to support their friends during games.

Intramurals have their own league rules, by which all players have to abide. These include one basket, one point, and no permittance of substitutes who were not on the original roster.

Since Intramurals is for kids who couldn’t play in the varsity league, no varsity players or swing players are allowed to participate.

“Pickup basketball is always fun,” sophomore Intramurals player Louie Franzone said. “But when it’s an organized league like Intramurals it’s even better. “ Students who aren’t on a team can participate as well by helping referee the game or by watching the games in the stands.

Sophomore Andrew Sposato avidly follows the games,

although he does not play. “It’s a great time,” he said. “You get to watch the games with your friends and it’s an all-around good experience.”

Most teams group by grade, but teams can be a mixture of every grade level.

“It’s a fantastic time,” McGraw said. “I like that it’s not after school. And I think that having it during community time is a nice compromise.”

The Intramurals program will continue into spring. For the next league, students will form handball teams.

Burke predicts the turnout for handball will be as big as for basketball.

“It’s fun. You’re playing with your classmates, there’s less pressure; there’s less on the line,” he said.◊

>GUERIERA, 1

After starting at Malvern as a Quarterbacks coach in 2009-2010, “What I said to the players was that I want to win the league Gueriera became the Offensive Coordinator at Harriton High School, outright,” Guerira said. “There is really no gray for that. We want to and then Episcopal Academy. He would then take a 2-7 Episcopal win the league each year.” team to an undefeated Inter-Ac Championship the following year.

To the current seniors who will not be able to play under Coach “When I came [to Episcopal], they were 2-7 and averaged about Gueriera, they also believe he is the man for the job.

8 points per game, and the year after I was there, they were 10-0 “He is a great guy, and from what I have seen, he is a great coach,” and averaged about 36 points per game.” Coach Dave Gueriera said. senior Jerry Curran said. “I think that he will do big things in the From there, he became the head coach at West Chester East, and years to come and hit the ground running, taking the Friars to a 2017 Gueriera says he learned a great deal while there..

Inter- Ac title.”

“I learned a lot about being a head coach,” Gueriera said. “Before In order to win an Inter-Ac title, a team needs to be disciplined you are a head coach, you really don’t know what you don’t know.” and able to run the plays the coaches call. And the plays that Gueriera After struggling his first year, Gueriera would ultimately help calls adapts with what the talent calls for.

West Chester East end a 10 year playoff skid amongst other accom“I have historically been a spread offense,” Gueriera said. “I think plishments and learned his biggest lesson along the way. we will start the year with no huddle, but we would able to go back “What I learned was that I could not make the same mistake and forth. I like to adapt what we do to our talent.” twice,” Gueriera said. “If you do make the same mistake twice, you According to Sportingcharts.com, a spread offense is an offense HEAD COACH DAVE GUERIERA • MALVERN COMMUNICATIONS will really not succeed or grow. I learned to just get better at everythat uses multiple receivers with the goal to stretch the defense along thing I did.” the line of scrimmage. The receivers also run routes to different areas As for becoming Head Coach at Malvern, Gueriera finds this place home-like. of the field to stretch the defenders vertically and horizontally.

"What I learned “Having already been here with the mission of the school, the administration, it Another key component that Gueriera brings to the table is his familiarity with was that I could not make the same is just a very familiar place to me,” Gueriera said. the current coaching staff. mistake twice. If According to Ruch, Gueriera is a man fit for the job.

“I met Dave back in 2015 when he was still at West Chester East,” Quarterback you do make the “He is someone who is definitely passionate about Malvern and we were passionCoach Sam Mora said. “I think it was a great hire. He is a great family man. He has a same mistake twice, you will ate about him as we went through the process,” Ruch said. “He got the job because good plan on what he wants to do at Malvern. I think he is going to be real successful.” really not succeed of his knowledge of the area, his knowledge of the school and tradition and history All in all, Gueriera says that he could not be more excited to be a part of this or grow. I learned we have. We felt he was the best fit for the school at this point.” school. to just get better at everything I did."

Ruch also sees Gueriera as a long-term solution at the coaching position for the “The football program has a rich tradition and a long history,” Gueriera said. “Just -Head Coach school, and does not see him leaving anytime soon. knowing that and trying to become a steward to that was another reason I wanted Dave Gueriera “I feel very comfortable saying that I don’t see him using this job as a stepping to come back here. Also the academic environment here is something I would love stone,” Ruch said. “From our interview and conversations, I could see him being to bring kids to,” Gueriera said. here for 30 years.”

Athletics and academics aside, the decision to come back to Malvern was someFrom the player’s perspective, next year’s team can’t wait to begin working with the new coach. what faith driven.

“I am really excited about Coach Gueriera. Just from our short meeting with him, I can tell he “Another reason [to come back to Malvern] is I can outwardly embrace my faith,” Gueriera said. is the right man for the job,” Junior Liam McKnight said. “He is really passionate about winning “Something that was missing the last 5-6 years was being able to talk to a player about praying for and we are all looking forward to the season with him.” strength, or just praying in general. That was really big for me.” ◊ When Gueriera addressed the team, he was very open and honest about what he expects his team to do next season, and promises to treat his players like his family.

February 2017

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>TEACHERS HAVE FREEDOM, 11

than others based on both tailoring to different students’ needs and also tailoring to the teachers’ own strengths in explaining subjects.

“I went into a lot of depth with light and sound, because it is something I think is very important and worth getting into,” Quinn said. “[Koenig] went into less depth with it and went into more depth with circuits, but we still covered the same fundamental concepts either way.”

The sections within Honors British Literature experience many of the same factors Quinn explained.

Rogai said that the Honors British Literature is centered around studying British novels and texts. He said that the set of books read in each class differs, but the three teachers are allowed to have this freedom.

“The faculty have the chance to teach texts that they are interested in because that type of passion can be contagious to the students,” Rogai said.

Not only do the books differ, but the teaching styles do as well.

Roper said that his class is more lecturebased and regimented, but he has been open in recent years to shifting his style.

“I’ve most recently using the conversationdiscussion element of things,” Rogai said. “It’s very difficult to strike a balance between having to get information to the students and having time to be able to discuss that information after they have read the material.”

Margay explained that Roper’s class is constant work. He spends around one to two hours every night preparing for Roper’s everyclass reading and vocab quizzes. He said that he and his classmates also prepare and deliver presentations at least once a quarter.

“It's been hard, but definitely manageable,” Margay said. “It is not impossible or anything.

If you just study hard and do all the work, you’ll get a good grade.”

Roper gives every-class assessments for the

Athlete of the Issue: Michael Beard ’18 Michael Beard is ranked number 1 in the country after years of hard work and dedication.

John McGlinn ’18 REPORTER ichael Beard just led his team to a third consecutive Inter-Ac wrestling championship, finishing undefeated.

Beard is pursuing another season of excellence for Malvern Prep. “I have just grown up wrestling and I could not imagine not doing it,” he said. “It pushes me to be the best I can be in every part of my life.”

Beard finished the regular season undefeated going 30-0, helping his team win the Inter-Ac for the third straight season. In the Independent School Pennsylvania State Championships Beard performed as expected and won first place in the 195 pound weight class Beard moved up to the 195 pound weight class from the 182 pound weight class this year, and he is planning on wrestling at 195 pound for the remainder of his career at Malvern.

Unlike some other wrestlers, Beard does not put on too much weight in between weighins. “Ever since I moved up to 195 [pounds], I just stay at roughly the same weight all season while some kids put on 5-10 pounds in between weigh-ins before matches,” he said.

Beard’s favorite memory of his season so far was winning the Walsh Ironman Tournament in his weight class because it was something he had never done before and was really striving for.

Beard has won other prestigious tournaments throughout the season for his weight class, such as Escape the Rock and Beast of

M

MICHAEL BEARD '18 • COURTESY MALVERN COMMUNICATIONS

the East. He also defeated #2 ranked Jelani Embree at the Who’s #1 tournament. To cap off his fantastic season, Beard was nominated as PAISAA Wrestler of the Year Beard recently committed to Northwestern University for wrestling. “I have always just assumed that I would be going to wrestling for college, but now that I finally made a commitment it seems unreal,” Beard said.

Beard has attended Malvern since the the middle school and has loved every aspect of it.

“It’s awesome to see your friends come close to you as you get to have different experiences together,” he said. ◊

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benefit of students who do the work.

“I am a firm believer in rewarding students for what they do by being able to show me that they’ve done it,” Roper said. “If they choose not to do it, well then you will pay the price for it also.”

In contrast, Villano said that Rogai’s class is not constant work.

“Class time can be a little bit slow but that seems like a fair tradeoff for the lighter workload,” Villano said. “It isn't like we have really easy assignments though.”

Those assignments mainly consist of essays, presentations, and an online vocabulary program called Membean. Villano said that Rogai assigns fair tasks which challenge his students.

“I am 100 percent improving as an English student,” Villano said. “My writing skills are improving a lot due to the nature of our essays and the constant revisions even after the main essay is due.”

Rogai said that even though the teaching styles of his, Roper’s and Dougherty’s classes are different, they still accomplish the goal of preparing students for the AP Literature course.

“We all have distinct personalities,” Rogai said. “I think we are supportive of the work the students are doing in each class.”

Algeo recognized that sections in an Honors class may have different dynamics with different teachers. However, he wants students to not worry so much about the teacher but about their own commitment level to make the most out of the class.

“Being in an honors level class doesn’t automatically mean you are prepared for something or get you to the next level, or mean you are someone who should be lauded or praised,” Algeo said. “It actually means nothing in the grand scheme of things. If you are in an honors level class, you need to take all the opportunities you have.” ◊

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Desmond Papariello ’18 signs with Garuda Music From DJing at homecoming to playing drums, Papariello is Malvern’s music man.

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OPINION

FRIAR LIFE

The

February 2017

I was an eighth grader for a day and it wasn’t that weird

DES PAPARIELLO • COURTESY D. PAPARIELLO

Dan King ’19

J

MEDIA AND CULTURE EDITOR

unior Desmond Papariello has loved music his entire life, but he never thought that one day he would have his songs on Spotify or make money from his music.

Papariello has used his talents to create his own music – music that is now being signed by Garuda Music, something that he has worked towards since his first experience with DJing.

“I think it's something artists kind of always dream of, like, ‘oh wow,’ your record setting signed,” Papariello said. “Music has pretty much been part of my life since I was a kid, whether it was my parents playing it or making playlists on CDs.” Although music has been a part of his life, Papariello didn't start to make his own until middle school.

“I really started to get into playing music and making music in seventh grade after a middle school dance,” he said. “My brother had a few friends who were DJs and he brought me up on stage.”

After this experience Papariello began to make his own music and eventually started to play instruments such as the piano and guitar.

His father thinks that his son getting signed was less of a goal but more of a byproduct of his passion.

“On days in the summer, it is not out of the ordinary for Desmond to spend ten to twelve hours working on

music,” he said.

Papariello is also often seen in Duffy during break, community time, or any other opportunity he can. Students have noticed begun to notice. Sophomore Evan Haines said, “I've never heard his music, it's probably really good though because he works very hard at it. “ Desmond's father may have had something to do with this. “I am very passionate about music, but not a musician. We will listen to music when we watch sporting events on tv, instead of listening to tv,” Mr. Papariello said.

Mr. Papariello said that Des has had a good work ethic his whole life.

“Nothing surprises me with Desmond. He's always kind of put his mind to something and it seems to happen. He has a lot of focus and drive,” Mr. Papariello said. “I truly think he has a God-given talent, and that with is his hard work is a recipe for success.”

Not only will this open up his music to the world but Papariello hopes that it will open him up to new opportunities. “You never know where this stuff can go, it could be the start of something big or another small thing on a long journey,” he said.

Papariello’s music can be found on his soundcloud account soundcloud.com/dezsounds and soon to be on Spotify and other music services under the artist name Dez. ◊

DES RIGHT NOW

Des updates a playlist regularly of what he's listening to right now. Click the code to listen on Spotify.

1. Shelter / Porter Robinson, Madeon 2. Sad Machine / Porter Robinson 3. Welcome to Your Life / Grouplove 4. Fall in Love / Phantogram 5. Insane / Flume, Moon Holiday 6. Around the World / Red Hot Chili Peppers 7. People Are Strange / The Doors 8. Runaway (U & I) - Yacht Club Remix / Galantis 9. Easy / Mat Zo, Porter Robinson 10. Seven / Rainbow Kitten Surprise 11. Supernatural (feat. Anjulie) / Boombox Cartel, QUIX, Anjulie 12. Keep it 100 / Keys N Krates, Grandtheft 13. Closer - Wuki Remix / The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Wuki 14. Hand of God - Outro / John Bellion 15. You & Me - Flume Remix / Disclosure, Eliza Doolittle 16. Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? / Arctic Monkeys 17. Sway - Chainsmokers Remix / Anna of the North 18. The Thrill - Porter Robinson Remix / NERO, Porter Robinson 19. Jesus, etc. / Wilco 20. Anywhere / Dillon Francis, Will Heard 21. Chasing Colors (feat. Noah Cyrus) / Marshmello, Ookay, Noah Cyrus

INDEPENDENCE • Middle school students work independently during experiential block. / T. PERO

Culture will determine the future of Malvern.

Tommy Pero ’17 they have a 45 minute Community Time in the afternoon.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Throughout these free times and projects, there was he more I heard about what goes on in Good a spirit of independence that comes from the free time.

Counsel and the Mod Space, the more confused Apart from that, everything seemed relatively standI got. I decided I had to experience it for myself. ard. The Mod Space is pretty weird and has the odd stools When I told some of my friends that I was playing with a round bottom so you’re always moving and many on being an eighth grader for the day, some of them said other confusing chairs too. that the middle school is worse now than when they went The classes I went to were mostly normal too, except there. This isn’t the first time I’d heard this, and I wanted they only have four per day and some things are combined. to keep an eye open and hear what the curFirst period, I had humanities which was rent middle schoolers thought. half English and half History. They each While I was among the middle schoolfunctioned as a full length class, but there’s If the upper ers, one seventh grader them asked me if I only one grade for a combination of English school education was a lifer and I told him I went somewhere and history. After humanities, I had theolis project based else for grade school. He told me Malvern’s ogy and Spanish which weren’t too different and student centered, the middle school has significantly improved from classes I took in the upper school. middle school since the time I was in middle school.

They also have other strange classes takes it to the I thought about the conflicting opinion like Feedback Block — in which students, next level. But a larger portion of my high school peers and the seventh teachers, and administrators give feedback of the middle grader throughout the day trying to think to each other — and SEED, which is diverschoolers buy about why their opinions were so different. sity and sensitivity training. I didn’t get to into it because that is the only The answer was culture. sit in either of these but I imagine that they Malvern they If the upper school education is project contribute to the cultural difference. have ever known. based and student centered, the middle It’s fair to say that the middle school school takes it to the next level. But a larger overall is different. Through things like the portion of the middle schoolers buy into it academy model, the upper school will probbecause that is the only Malvern they have ever known. ably become a lot more like the middle school. I don’t think As a senior, I have had an interesting window in the it’s fair to say, “Malvern is going downhill” as I’ve heard progress of Malvern. When I arrived on my first day of some of my peers say. The future of Malvern is different school in 2013, I didn’t have a modified block schedule. I and for that to work the culture of the student body will heard stories about when Mr. Talbot infamously got rid of have to change. sugared soda and students held sit-ins and A great example of this is in my Social started an underground soda market.

Entrepreneurship class. In it, students are There was an intrinsic nature of quesdivided into teams and have to create a soluGoing from a tioning authority in the Malvern high tion to a problem of their choice. The class teacher telling school culture of 2013. I didn’t see that in is student centered and project based, a lot students what to do to the middle school. like the middle school. students telling The cause of this is the middle schoolers’ I have seen many students struggle in themselves and lack of an alternative Malvern experience the class, including my team, because it’s so teachers what to do is a radical and their amount of independence. different than everything else we have expeshift. School I started the day with “Experiential rience at Malvern. Going from a teacher policies can Learning Block” or “EL Block” which was telling students what to do to students tellchange quickly but students’ a 45 minute block of time in which stuing themselves and teachers what to do is mindsets cannot. dent can basically choose what they do. I a radical shift. School policies can change talked to students who were studying and quickly but students’ mindsets cannot. doing homework. Others had band or NBA Increased independence and critical Fantasy analysis or other clubs. I was impressed by mid- thinking are great skills to instill in middle schoolers and dle schoolers already diving into some of their interests. high schoolers. Those are the things that set apart students, It didn’t matter that it was labeled experiential, they just employees, and leaders apart. enjoyed it.

As Malvern’s policies change, so will the culture. But Side note: I found it extremely ironic that the upper the school must do everything it can to facilitate that by school moved community time to the afternoon because fostering independence in students. Recent changes like students do homework in the morning during community moving Community Time to the afternoon and converting time rather than at home, yet the middle school has a the Maker Lab did the opposite of this. Administrators block of free time first thing in the morning. I would really must always be mindful of the culture. ◊ appreciate a first period EL Block.

If you thought EL Block was a lot of free time, there’s more. Right after EL Block was break. On top of that

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t h e pop u l a r i t y of va rsi t y jackets is questionable here at malvern. students and faculty share their opinions on the issue.

SOME TRADITIONS LAST. THE TREND IN THE PURCHASING OF VARSITY JACKETS HAS BEEN RELATIVELY THE SAME THROUGH THE YEARS AT MALVERN. THE JACKETS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH EITHER.

Vince Sposato ’17 CONTRIBUTOR etterman jackets have been a tradition in high schools around the country. They show school spirit, and pride for the team the player is on. Here at Malvern Prep, varsity jackets are a normality, and seeing an athlete wearing them isn’t a very big deal.

This year, the school pride for the football team is very high, as the team won its first Inter-Ac title in three years, and rallied as a team after former Head Coach Aaron Brady’s departure. Football players are proud to wear their jackets around campus. But how does one earn a varsity jacket?

At h let ic Di rector Mr. Kurt Ruch said that anyone on the team, at any level, can order a varsity jacket. A player does not have to be on the varsity team to get it, but he must at least play the sport for Malvern. “ We normally do it for a varsity team. It is totally up to them and their parents if they decide to order one or not, so it's not mandator y,” Ruch said.

A varsit y letter can be sewn on if the student is a varsity player. “ Mrs. Gustitis, Director of Retail Operations, will take an order, and I think it’s a minimum of six that they have to order at a time. She does that all throughout the year. Different sports, different times,” Ruch said.

Gustitis said that the only two teams at Malvern that have varsity letterman jackets are wrestling and football.

“The kids get their names, their numbers, the words on the back, number on the sleeve, and either Malvern Prep Wrestling or Malvern Prep Football," she said.

Other sports at Malvern don’t wear varsity jackets, even though they have the option to. “I don’t think a baseball player would want a heavy jacket to wear,” Ruch said. “Instead, I think they’d rather wear a pullover.”

Gustitus says that the trend in the purchasing of the jackets has been relatively the same through her years at Malvern, and that the jackets have not changed much either.

“It’s not a huge amount of kids who buy them every year,” she said. “If you buy it in your freshman year, then you have it for four years and there’s no need to buy another one.”

The tradition of varsity jackets dates back all the way to 1865 at Harvard University. According

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to GQ , the “jacket” wasn’t a jacket at all at first. It his varsity jacket,” she said. “And that was the bigused to be a sweater. Harvard’s baseball team sewed gest thing ever. Girlfriends would often wear their a giant “H” onto the middle of the sweater, thus boyfriend’s varsity jacket.” creating the first ever varsity sweater. It wasn’t until Wilkinson is uncertain about the current poputen years later that the football team followed suit. larity of varsity jackets. “I would like to see more The actual varsity jacket that we wear today was varsity sports have a varsity jacket,” she said. “I introduced in the 1930s. To earn this jacket, a player think it's important because you've earned that letwould have to prove himself on the field. If a player ter or jacket and it’s really cool to be able to show it made an impact on the team, they would earn their off and be proud of it.” jacket. If they barely contributed to the team, they She also thinks the jackets are fashionable. would not receive one.

“They have this really retro factor to them, and I It depends on the school to decide what the think that’s really cool,” she said. requirements are to receive the letter. At Malvern, Wilkinson does not feel that varsity jackets the rule for football is that only players who conare necessary, but she definitely thinks they protribute to the varsity team get a varsity letter, but vide school pride. “I think that most of our student anyone on the team can get a varsity jacket. athletes are really proud of their accomplishments Ruch thinks that the popularity of the jackets on the field or the court or wherever. And I think has grown over the years he’s been at Malvern. that’s one way to publicly celebrate that,” she said.

“I’ve been here since 1997,” he said.

“So wherever you go, that's a mark of “And I would say definitely my first of one achievement or something that THE TRADITION you're really proud of.” couple years, I didn’t see them at all. OF VARSITY And then they slowly started making JACKETS Senior Sean Grady said he wears a comeback in the early 2000s, and it DATES BACK his jacket in the winter time. “The seems that there are more and more ALL THE WAY jacket is very heavy. It’s a very warm kids interested in wearing them again.” TO 1865 AT and comfy jacket. I’ll occasionally wear HARVARD Ruch also thinks that champion- UNIVERSITY. it to school,” he said. ship jackets are being worn a lot more Unlike Ruch, Grady thinks that ONLY TWO as well. “Championship jackets are the popularity of varsity jackets has FRIAR SPORTS often lighter than varsity jackets, so I CURRENTLY diminished over the four years he’s see more students wearing champion- GET VARSITY been at Malvern. “I think that students ship jackets, but I don’t think the takes JACKETS: would rather wear championship jackaway from the popularity of varsity WRESTLING & ets rather than varsity jackets because FOOTBALL. jackets,” he said. championship jackets are lighter and Assistant Dean of Students and an Inter-Ac championship is someTheology teacher Dr. Henry Poce believes that thing to be very proud of,” he said. varsity jackets are worn right when they get them.

Grady also thinks that the jackets can be a “They usually wear them when they first get them badge of pride for athletes. “Varsity jackets are not at a banquet or when they order them, so I do see necessary, but they are cool because they tell people students wearing them,” Poce said. “It’s often a sign that you play a varsity sport,” Grady said. of pride that they participate on the team.”

Senior Daniel Sullivan wore his jacket when he Poce played varsity football when he was in high got it in his sophomore year, but hasn’t worn it as school, and he sometimes wore his varsity jacket. much lately. “I haven’t really worn it to school because “We were given letters for being on a varsity team I think of it as a little bit of showing off,” he said. that we could sew onto the sweaters or jackets,” he Sullivan said he now his jacket at home when it said. “It was just a sign of pride that you played footis cold or shoveling his walkway. ball. It was something that you worked hard for.”

Will all varsity jackets eventually be worn only However, Poce does not think that varsity jackfor winter chores, or replaced by lightweight chamets are necessary for teams. “If a team chooses not to pionship jackets? Only time will tell, but with nearly get them, that’s their option,” he said. “I think it's 150 years of history behind the fashion, it seems just a way for spirit. It’s a way to identify that you likely that the tradition will continue as long as belong to a club, a group, or a team. It’s the spirit players merit the recogntion. ◊ that we have among us.”

English teacher Mrs. Nicole Wilkinson said she sees varsity football players wearing their jackets around campus.

“Usually in the winter it's very cold, and the players seem like they are nice and warm,” she said.

Wilk inson played va rsit y tennis for Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill, PA. “We did not get varsity jackets for these sports, but we did get varsity letters,” Wilkinson said.

Even though she did not have a varsity jacket of her own, that did not stop her from wearing someone else’s in high school. “My dad played football at Syracuse in college,” Wilkinson said. “I used to wear his varsity sweater to school.”

Wilkinson said that she was not the only person to wear someone else’s varsity jacket. “It was more of a guy thing, but if you were going steady with a guy, he would give you Story produced in senior Journalism and Media Literacy elective.

The

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Sensitive topics such as race, gender, politics, and religion are becoming ever more present in the classroom.

Zac Fernandez ’17 the election and gender relations really spark CONTRIBUTOR his interest in his government class. epending on who you ask, the definition “Class can sometimes get a little dull but I of sensitive topics in class can vary. In think everyone gets into the conversations about fact, Malvern’s goal is to reach the point politics and gender relations,” Coyle said. “[Our where these once deemed “sensitive topics” are teacher] Mrs. Lappas really opens the room up no longer considered taboo, but a functioning for discussion and allows us to speak and share aspect of classroom dialogue. our ideas.”

Assistant Director of Admissions and According to Mr. Williams, this concept of Diversity Mr. Patrick Williams thinks that con- opening up the room for discussion to engage versations directed toward topics such as race, students is exactly what Malvern is striving for gender, politics, and religion are beneficial to regarding these topics. Eventually, the school learning and development. hopes to break down these topics from “sensi“Some people shy away from those topics tive” and uncomfortable to more normal and (race, gender, politics, and religion) as a way to safe to talk about. avoid arguments, but I like to take the oppoHead of the Social Studies Department site approach on that,” Williams said. “I think Mrs. Harriet Lappas agrees with the directhat those types of conversations breed the best tion of Malvern’s goals considering these toprelationships. What we are working towards is ics. However, she feels that in the recent years learning the skills to have those sensitive top- people have become so opinionated that is can ics discussed that will really grow be hard for people to listen to relationships and help us grow as each other.

“Maybe it’s individuals and a community.”

“Years ago teaching the same a product Religion can be one of the class, not only at Malvern but at of Donald hardest to navigate. Theology different schools as well, there Trump and this election teacher Mr. Alex Haynie said were two sides to every issue, cycle that that almost everything regardpeople listened to each other people were ing religion could be considmore,” she said. “I’m not sayso adamant about their ered sensitive to some people. ing it’s because it is all-boys or own opinion However, he wants to create an Malvern, I’m saying that it is a that they never environment that allows everyone product of the world around us.” listen to each other and that’s to benefit.

Lappas thinks that some a problem.”

“There are some kids who of the strong opinions may be Mrs. Harriet Lappas are Catholic, Protestant, some related to our political climate.

Social Studies Department Leader Christian, some aren’t Christian,” “Maybe it’s a product of Donald Haynie said. “So what I try to Trump and this election cycle do is generally create a sense of that people were so adamant accepting and welcome in the class so every- about their own opinion that they never listen body's views are welcomed.” to each other and that’s a problem,” she said.

Williams believes that these religious con- “And it’s exactly what is going on in our govversations are beneficial for opposing religions ernment. So we are mirroring what’s going on and students sharing the same religious views. in Congress.”

“Conversations about religion Williams agreed. can also benefit students who are “We tend to listen to rebut, “What we growing in their faith and have instead of listening to embrace,” are working questions,” Williams said. “As a he said. towards high schooler, if you aren’t quesWilliams said he loves talkis learning the skills to tioning aspects of your faith, I’m ing about topics that are sensitive. have those not sure how engaged one could But from his perspective, many sensitive topics truly be.” topics aren’t that sensitive. He discussed that will really grow However, Haynie wants peowants Malvern to take a differrelationships ple to know that Christ is the ent approach on the way sensitive and help reason for this school. Despite topics are viewed in education. us grow as individuals the fact that students and teach“I love talking and listening and as a ers may disagree on some topics, about these topics because they community." everyone must be respected. can be some people’s stories,” Mr. Patrick Williams “There’s a sign in each of Williams said. “It’s all about Assistant Director of Admissions & Diversity these buildings on campus that how you approach the conversasays ‘Be it known to all that tion, if you approach things with Jesus Christ is the reason for this the mindset that this is someone’s school.’ So clearly the mission of the school is story and this is someone’s truth, and you are to promote the teachings of Jesus Christ and willing to listen from that framework, those provide service to others in the spirit of Christ,” conversations become a lot less sensitive.”

Haynie said.

Another valid topic that is to be considered Student Council President Rich Heany sensitive is money. People can be quick to judge commended the way Haynie handles class someone from a socioeconomic standpoint. discussions. “I have taken Mr. Haynie’s class Williams mentioned how a mindset of listening before and from a religious perspective he does a and respect towards someone’s socioeconomic great job of creating a safe environment talk and status is how progress is made towards making share ideas about different aspects of our faith,” such topics less sensitive.

Heany said. “Kids sometimes have questions According to Mr. Williams, it is very about their faith and personally I like hearing important to keep the stereotypes or assumptheir opinions.” tions made about certain people out of the disSensitive topics in class discussion seem to cussions regarding these topics. be a key factor in catching students’ attention.

“We tend to not see people as individuals According to senior Billy Coyle, topics such as anymore, but rather as groups, and that is where

D

the problem comes in,” Williams said.

The big question is what can Malvern do to create the best environment possible to foster a healthy classroom discussion about these deemed sensitive topics.

In response to these problems, Williams has introduced Cultural Competency and Diversity and Equity Programming to Malvern. The basis of this program is to see each other as a real person, not just a label or group, and just listen to what others have to say.

Williams was hired with the responsibility of inclusion and diversity in Malvern’s admissions. That means that his job includes trying to diversify Malvern racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically. However, this diversity initiative can amplify sensitive classroom topics, and teachers need to learn how to prepare.

Williams and other researched options for training, and their conclusion was to take on a program called the National SEED Project to help the school assimilate to greater diversity, and more potentially sensitive topics in the classroom. SEED stands for Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity.

This is a program that Lappas is all for.

“What it is is faculty getting together and talking about when these things come up in our classrooms and sharing how we handle them,” Lappas said. “That makes people feel good.”

“In my class it comes up so often and is so much a part of what we do that it doesn’t bother me,” she said. “But, for example, a math teacher who usually doesn’t discuss sensitive issues, this year because of the election, I think people felt like they needed to know how to handle it all.”

As the research on this program continued, a new leader training program was implemented. In the training program, faculty spend ten days immersed in diversity training. Malvern initially sent Williams, School Psychologist Dr. Dorothy Sayers, and School Counselor Mrs. Carissa Casey to the leadership training. Since then, other faculty have also participated.

The faculty training is intense, according to Williams. “We meet with the faculty who are a part of each cohort for three hours, ten times throughout the year,” he said. “We talk about sexual identity and orientation, racial ethnic identity, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, appearance, as well a few other topics.

We approach this by having you (the teacher) share how these various topics have impacted you personally.”

“The fact of the matter is that we all carry some of these identities,” Williams said.

As a whole, Malvern and its faculty are constantly looking for ways to improve the classroom discussions. However, for this comfortable and open environment to be created, it will take more than just the faculty’s buy in, but the students’ as well.

Senior Mike Fay thinks that the teachers have been handling sensitive topics very well and respectfully.

“Every time a topic has came up along the lines of gender, race, religion, and politics in class the teachers have facilitated a very safe environment for students to speak and share,” Fay said. “I wasn’t aware of this program that Malvern has implemented, but all of the teachers have been very thoughtful towards everyone’s feelings.” ◊

Story produced in senior Journalism and Media Literacy elective.

February 2017 Media +Culture

MC

The

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Film Failures: Book Review: “Legend” “Cool Cat Saves the Kids” You can’t go wrong with dystopia mixed with teenage angst.

In the dead month of February, I am going to talk about the worst movie I have ever watched.

Aidan White '20 REPORTER here is two periods where big mov ies come out, Summer and Holiday. Where does that leave Febuary?

February is the month where movie studios release the movies they are not confident in. That's why most of the movies that come out around this time are horrible.

For instance, isn't it weird that two horror movies just came out? It's not Halloween. My guess is that they were supposed to come out this Halloween but the COOLCATLOVESYOU.COM studios moved the movies release back to February because they were not confident enough in the film.

Big surprise, the two horror movies that came out this month were commercial and critical failures.

When I was trying to find a good movie to review this month, I was left with nothing to review. So, I decided to review my favorite horrible movie– “Cool Cat Saves the Kids.”

Before I go in and try to explain the plot of By the way “Cool Cat,” I have to explain the director Derek I'm describing Savage. Derek Savage, or as he's known in the the movie you movie–Daddy Derek, is an independent film director and author who has written such hits as might think it “Sweet Revenge,” “The Dancer,” and “The Devil is animated.

President.”

One day, Derek decided it would be a good No, Cool Cat is idea to write a kids’ book series. He wrote a series a full grown named “Cool Cat” that he later developed into a man in a Cat movie. Derek plays Cool Cat’s Dad in the movie. costume.

By the way I'm describing the movie you might think it is animated. No, Cool Cat is a full grown man in a Cat costume. His mom is a full grown woman in a cat costume. And Derek Savage is just a regular man married to a woman in a cat costume.

The movie starts out with Cool Cat trying to become school president.

His friend Maria, a little girl, comes over to help him out. Watching a fully grown man in a Cat Costume play with an eight year old girl is incredibly unsettling and weird.

As the two prepare Cool Cat for President signs, they get anonymous calls. Instead of promoting kids to stay away from anonymous calls, Cool Cat tells Maria to pick up any and all calls. The horrible advice makes the scene even more unsettling.

But, it turns out to be Butch the Bully, an overweight child with a lisp, “punking” them. Butch gathers his friends to spray paint on Cool Cat’s campaign posters. The wind blows the spray paint into the children's eyes and they get comeuppance for messing with Cool Cat. Cool Cat then meets up with Butch’s friends and asks them why they would do mean things. The kids respond that nobody loves them and if someone did they wouldn't be bullies.

Around this time in the film you can see someone walking out of a house in the background, seeing what's going on, and slowly walking back into their house.

Cool Cat responds to the kids by saying, “I’m Cool Cat and I love all kids!”

Again, this is a man in a full cat costume.

Cool Cat is split up into a few different sections focusing on different lessons, and this was the first one. I'm trying my best to explain the absurdity of a Cat Man running around acting like a child.

I would love to keep on explaining the ridiculous plot but this is a review not a plot summary. I’ll end my little summary by saying Cool Cat faces different problems such as road safety, cyber bullying, stopping a child who steals candy from babies, and finding a gun.

Cool Cat is the perfect example of a movie that’s so bad it's good movie.

Though the movie incredibly horrendous, I have watched it over and over.

Every scene is just so bad you can't help laughing at it.

The sad thing is, not that many people have seen this hilarious trainwreck!

That's why I really wanted to write this article, to get the word out about this garbage movie.

Every time I watch this movie, by the end I'm in tears laughing. I would recommend this movie to anybody looking for a stupid movie to watch with friends and just laugh. ◊

T

Alex Haylock ’19 CONTRIBUTOR he United States is no longer— it is now split in two, the Republic and the rebel Colonies at civil war with each other.

Set in a dystopian Los Angeles, a tyrannical government decides who becomes successful based off of a test called the “Trials.”

The normalcy of the Republic’s military-type is disrupted by one person: “Day” Wing, a 15 year old who is constantly on the run from the government to keep them away from his family, who are sick with the plague.

The government now controls everything, and the way they keep themselves in power is insidious: pumping poisonous air into the streets, while at the same time, putting the vaccine for it on the market.

Most stay oblivious to this, but not Day. This puts him on the top of the most wanted list, and the bounty on his head is worth a fortune. Knowing he can never show his face to anyone ever again (including his dying brother), he tries to get by.

June Metias is a wunderkind prodigy that is being trained by the military government. Getting a perfect score in her “Trial”, she had no reason to go after Day until he accidentally killed her brother.

With no family left, June has a vendetta. She goes undercover and throws herself into a manhunt to catch her brother’s killer.

It’s now a cat and mouse chase. Day is constantly on the run from June, who is relentlessly trying to hunt him down. Following his every move, June will stop at nothing to be the one that puts the handcuffs on his wrists.

When their paths finally cross, they both slowly start to find the truth in the government they live in and the truth in themselves.

Marie Yu’s “Legend” is a prime example of how the dystopian literature genre is growing in popularity. She strings together a brilliant tale of the hardships of a not-so-distant future being overcome by unlikely foes-turned-allies.

T

AMAZON.COM

“Legend” is a novel that creates hope when there is only despair and almost makes being America’s Most Wanted criminal seem fun.

Dystopia is a topic that many authors have written about, whether it be centered around a corrupt government or a corrupt society. But Legend is one of the few that gives both sides, which creates a story where you are constantly changing your viewpoint.

Sometimes you root for the underdog, and other times you want to stick to what you know is right. But no matter what stance you take, you’re bound to find a good story in “Legend”.

Yu manages to create a dystopian society, without being cliché, all while fitting in a teenage love story that doesn’t want to make you throw up. ◊

How to play those fun games you see all your buds playing in the group chat It’s called "GamePigeon" and no, it doesn’t poop everywhere Chase Bennett ’19 ART DIRECTOR It’s not as hard as you may think to be able to play “8-Ball Pool” or “Checkers” on your phone. Of course you can download individual apps to play each game, but what if there was a simpler way? " GamePigeon" a l lows you to play multiple minigames all through one app against all of your friends, relatives, co-workers, dog walkers, or your dog walker’s dry cleaner. " GamePigeon" can be found just like any other app, go to the App Store and search for it. Keep in mind the app only functions on Apple products, not Android. The app can be downloaded in a similar fashion to any other, but once it's downloaded, you can’t really see it.

The app operates through the iMessage app provided by Apple. " GamePigeon" won’t show up on your home screen like Instagram or Snapchat but rather you can find it in iMessage.

Due to the relatively new iOS 10 update, you’re able to use different apps within iMessage. By clicking on the “>” symbol next to the text box to reveal the Camera icon, Digital Touch icon and the App Store icon. As

expected, the App Store icon is where "GamePigeon" will be located.

After downloading " GamePigeon" and heading into iMessage and selecting the App Store icon, you will be overwhelmed with child-like joy as you feast upon the wondrous hues and glows that the App has to offer.

You’ll be greeted with more than twenty games to play as the menu opens.

All games are labeled and pictured so you can easily make a selection on which game you would like to end your friendship with your closest pals. Simply click the game and send the message.

Your friend will have the first move so you’ll have to wait until they play back. You can only play once they have sent a message back, that’s when you know they’ve made their move. You can play multiple games with multiple people at the same time so don’t be afraid to explore.

Burn away precious minutes of our valuable lives playing pointless games with your friends until you’ve built up enough anger against them that you no longer respond to their messages, afraid to lose to them again in “8-Ball Pool.” Have fun! ◊

The

Blackfriar

February 2017

Chronicle

JUST HOW

OLD IS

?

From its founding on Villanova’s campus to its current location on Warren Avenue, Malvern has a storied history.

Aidan Gallary ’20 CONTRIBUTOR

M

alvern Prep, founded in 1842, has been around for nearly 75% of U.S history.

Here are just a few facts that put in perspective just how old Malvern really is. ✔✔ Malvern has seen 36 presidents in its lifetime, including every single presidential assassination. ✔✔ Our basketball team is older than the NBA by 20 years. ✔✔ Malvern is older than nearly half of all U.S states. ✔✔ Malvern is 19 years older than the country of Italy. ✔✔ Malvern existed before the Russian Communist Par ty and American Libertarian and Republican Parties. ✔✔ When Malvern was founded slavery was legal in America. ✔✔ Malvern is older than the Statue of Liberty. ✔✔ Tolentine Hall was built 10 years before the Golden Gate Bridge. ✔✔ When Malvern’s campus moved to its current location, the Ottoman Empire still existed.

Page 19

Speakup! features new format Students and parents discussed drug use, stress, mental health, and sex.

Jack McClatchy ’17 In years past when Malvern hosted the events PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR on a school night, there would be an approxin January 31, Malvern hosted a SpeakUp! mately 45 minute long introduction, complete event to give students and parents an with a speaker. This year the introduction was opportunity to talk about pressing issues shorted to about half an hour, Kenworthey said. for youth today.

Although Mrs. Kenworthey is the moderator What was different this year for the event was for organizing the event, students from Malvern, a new format that included a shorter introduction, Villa, Notre Dame, and Devon Prep compose a to get students into breakout sessions sooner. steering committee to organize the event.

“The feedback we were receiving was that the “We worked on the night for months,” said breakouts are what make SpeakUp! senior Brandon Chiazza. “Just unique,” SpeakUp! moderator and figuring out the planning, how to “It’s the theology teacher Mrs. Kenworthey advertise it, and the topics we were breakouts that said. “It’s the breakouts that change going to discuss.” change and impact people, and impact people, and what they Chiazza said the process to and what they remember the most.” select students for the steering remember the According to the SpeakUp! committee began last year. most.” website, the events allow for “a safe, “We had to write an essay and Mrs. Jessica Kenworthey SpeakUp! Moderator non-threatening environment for attend two events before,” he said. individuals to share candidly about According to Kenworthey, relevant issues.”

Malvern has not always hosted Senior Tom Maguire said that he felt no fear SpeakUp! events. Malvern would go to events or pressure in participating in his breakout session. hosted by Merion Mercy Academy.

“I always hear great things about it,” he said.

“At one point it was Merion, St. Joe’s [Prep], “So I was really excited to go.”

Notre Dame, and us, all at Merion,” she said. “At Maguire wanted to go into a breakout session that point, I figured why not break off and host dealing with drug and alcohol use, but they were one here with Malvern, Villa, and Notre Dame.” filled so he attended a breakout session dealing Kenworthey said Devon Prep was not involved with sex. at Malvern’s event at first, but joined soon after.

“It was definitely awkward at first,” he said. “I The event was also originally hosted on a didn’t know most of the people in the room, and Saturday with two breakout sessions instead of obviously with sex it’s going to be a bit awkward. the one this month.

I had a few friends in the group, and once we got “It seemed to us that a lot of our communidiscussions going people loosened up and felt a lot ties had sports or tournaments on the weekends,” more comfortable with each other.”

Kenworthey said. “They’re just not free on a

O

Saturday during the day. If you’re moving from a weekend to a weeknight, you have less time so we did away with the second breakout session.”

Kenworthey also said that time was not the only factor in reducing the amount of breakout sessions.

“Some people wanted more time to talk, and to talk on two topics,” she said. “But some people felt that after one session, you’re talked out for the day or the night.”

One change Kenworthey would like to see in the future for the SpeakUp! introduction is having a student take the role that paid speakers had in the past.

“We were having really good speakers coming in,” she said. “But the good speakers are really expensive, and if you get a bargain speaker, you get what you pay for and the speakers aren’t as good.”

Kenworthey said that a student speaker can break the routine of the introduction.

“A lot of the introduction is scripted,” she said.

“The students make their own prayer, but a lot of it is scripted. For the actual intro talk, why not have that be delivered by one of the students?”◊

MTS prepares for production of ‘Les Misérables Student Edition’ Tommy Pero '20 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF alvern Theatre Societ y (MTS) is set to open their production of “Les Misérables School Edition” on Friday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. The musical tells the story of a student revolution in 1830s France and an ex-convict turning his life around.

MTS will preform the show four times: Friday March 3, Saturday March 4, Friday March 10, and Saturday March 11.

For more photos and a link to tickets. visit The Friar's Lantern (www.mpfriarslantern.com). ◊

M

REHEARSING • Boys from Malvern and girls from Villa and Notre Dame rehearse a dance number.

✔✔ Malvern was founded closer to the date of Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity than it was to today. ◊

BEHIND THE SCENES • Jack Szipszky '17 reviews his job in the lighting booth as a member of Lighting & Sound. Students work alongside professional technicians to stage all the effects in the show.

DIRECTION • Orchestra director Mr. Emanuel DelPizzo rehearses with his orchestra in the pit during tech week. Some students and alumni perform with the professional orchestra.

Page 20

The

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J. CAULFIELD

After the scariest day of my life, my slow recovery from a serious concussion began.

Tommy Wolters ’17 CONTRIBUTOR had never been inside of an ambulance before. But you know what they say – there is a first time for everything.

I had also never been diagnosed with a concussion – that was, until November 25, 2016. On the day after Thanksgiving, I was helping my dad to move our batting cage to our neighbors house, and the unthinkable happened.

I don’t remember much from that day. I remember sitting on the tailgate of my dad’s truck. Then I remember waking up in the emergency room, unable to move.

I’ve never been more scared in my life.

I wondered if I would ever be able to walk again. Not being able to feel my legs or anything below my waist was terrifying.

However, the feeling in my legs came back shortly, which was very comforting. I continued to pray, holding my MECO cross in my hand with a death grip. The only thing I cared about at that time was my cross.

The trauma doctor came in and told me both good news and bad. The good news was that my neck and spine were not broken or fractured. The bad news was that I had to stay in the hospital until the internal bleeding in my head stopped.

The night in the hospital was awful. I didn’t sleep and didn’t eat. You’d think that when someone got a severe head injury that they would let them sleep. It was the complete opposite.

What seemed like every hour, the nurse came in, took my vitals, gave me medicine, and either drew blood or made me eat something. All I wanted was sleep.

Unlike a broken leg or arm where you can still do things, a head injury means that you have to shut everything down. That’s what I did – or what I tried to do, anyway.

I

First Steps As the doctors explained my treatment, I learned that the process for healing a head injury was a multi-step program. The first step to the program is called the “Black Box.” Literally all I was allowed to do was sleep,

Slow Progress For me, the hardest part was not being able to go to school or work out. I know that sounds odd for a high schooler to say that, but I love every second I am at Malvern.

I had only missed one week of school due to my injury. However, when I returned, I couldn’t jump right back into work. It took me roughly two weeks to be able to start catching up with the work that I missed and learning the new material that we were going over in classes.

Dr. Vernau didn’t want me jumping into things too early. “If you rush back into school and activities then you are actually delaying the healing process for your brain,” he said.

All the work that I missed didn’t really stress me out much because Mr. Mills assured me that Malvern has a solid concussion protocol to help students recover.

Mills works on a team with Learning Specialist Mrs. Francine Cox, School Psychologist Dr. Dorothy Sayers, School Nurse Mrs. Catherine McGettigan, and the school counselors to help determine an action listen to television at a low volume, and stare plan for each student at Malvern who is recovat the ceiling. I learned to enjoy watching the ering from a concussion. ceiling fan go around and around.

My f irst day back in school was the Basically you can do anything that didn’t Monday after my injury I went straight to hurt or bother your head, and at that moment Associate Director of School Counseling nearly everything did. I just slept all day for Mrs. Ann Wuetig-Coia’s office, where I met the first stage of my recovery. with her and Mrs. Cox. We discussed how “This type of treatment is great for as soon I was going to ease my way back into school as you get a concussion. It is important to shut without doing any more damage to my head. your brain down and not put any more stress “We want you taking it easy and doing on it than there already is,” Athletic Trainer things that you are capable of,” Wuetig-Coia Dr. William Mills said. “You can listen to said. music, watch little to no TV, and sleep.”

My family was very impressed by how So, once I was no longer Malvern handled my situasleeping all day, I sat on my tion and reached out to me.

There is couch for an entire week and My grades were frozen, and all nothing listened to the entire series of my teachers worked together in better than “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” making the transition back into brotherhood, on Netflix like it was my job. work fair. even in In fact, I sat down for so For my f irst and second concussion long I was nearly paralyzing weeks back, I was able to go to recovery. myself. I became unable to walk the nurse or a quiet spot on camnormally, sit or sleep comfortpus that was dark to sleep. ably, or stand without pain.

I didn’t use that privilege Now, not only was my head killing me, much because I didn’t want to miss any more but so was my tailbone, lower back, neck, and work. I usually just pushed through the day legs. My mom begun to worry and started and worked through the headaches. It was questioning whether or not I fractured my senior year, and I had already missed a full back or tailbone. week of school. I didn’t want to miss anyDr. Brian Vernau, my concussion spe- thing else. cialist doctor at the Children's Hospital of “Headaches aren’t always bad at this point Pennsylvania, said that the Black Box treat- in a concussion,” Dr. Verneau said. “It is good ment is good to an extent, but perhaps not for to manage what does and doesn’t give you long-term use. headaches.”

“It is good for a the first day or two, but Just like an athlete has training and workwhen you start sitting around too much it ing out to do, I had exercises for my head to actually makes it harder to kickstart your do. Dr. Verneau gave me eye exercises that brain when you're ready for action,” he said.

I had to do every day. These exercises were While it felt like my whole world was a actually designed to make my head hurt. black box, reminders that people cared were “What you are doing is strengthenan important part of my recovery. ing your head to fight your headaches,” Dr. The Sunday after I got out of the hospital, Verneau said. “Eventually you will be able to Father Flynn visited me at my house. I had no do them without getting headaches.” idea that he was coming.

When he walked in my door, I suddenly Research and Recovery got the urge to cry – especially when he preI was constantly being told to take it easy, sented me with a new leather cord for my and not to push myself to get back right away. cross. The doctors had cut mine off while I So, as soon as I could start reading again, I was in trauma. They could not risk moving began to do a ton of research on my own. my head or neck at the time.

Whether it was scaring myself with worst

possible scenarios, or achieving the mindset to recover fully, the research did help me to understand what I was going through.

Some articles suggested that a more active approach might be better than basic rest. An October 2016 story in the Wall Street Journal referenced new evidence that resuming normal activities shortly after a concussion can enhance recovery.

I trusted this research most when I felt ready to start moving again.

Mr. Mills had me running outside on the track within three weeks of my injury. I started on the bike for 20 minutes, than did a symptoms test. The next day I ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill and repeated the symptoms test. The third day I ran two miles outside on the track and did the same symptoms test for a third time.

It felt good to start being active again after what felt like too much time spent resting during my senior year.

I spoke with senior Cullen Pina a lot during this period. Pina missed so much school after a concussion in October 2014 that he had to repeat his junior year.

“Take it real easy for the first few weeks back,” Pina said. “The first week is the most important time for the healing process.”

Pina reminded me to take my recovery seriously, but he could also relate to how impatient I felt. He was constantly asking me how I was doing during school, and reminding me that if ever needed anything to let him know.

He honestly helped me more than the doctors.

Dr. Vernau was a great doctor who obviously knew what he was talking about.

Malvern’s concussion team was incredibly supportive. All of the doctors and adults told me what to do, but I didn’t really want to listen to them. I wanted to get back to normalcy as fast as possible.

I connected with Pina. He understood how I felt, and I understood what he was talking about.

There is nothing better than brotherhood, even in concussion recovery.

Hearing and reading different approaches to concussion recovery was a great thing for me. Every concussion is different, so every approach to recovery is different, too.

Between the doctors, Malvern’s team, and supportive family and friends, and especially listening honestly to how I felt, I got great advice. I believe I got the right amount of rest, and began doing work at the right time.

After taking it slow – but not too slow – through concussion recovery, I was cleared from my concussion on Thursday, January 5, and I’m now enjoying every minute of my last semester at Malvern.

I learned a few things from this experience.

One, I learned that I never want to go to a doctor’s office again.

Two, although you cannot physically see a concussion, they are just as serious or even more serious than other injuries.

Three, you can never be too careful with your brain. You only get one. ◊ Story produced in senior Journalism and Media Literacy elective.