Devon Dialogue, issue 2, 2010-11

THE DEVON PREP MUSIC SOCIETY PUTS ON A ONE-OFA-KIND SHOW. PAGE 4 VOLUME II ISSUE II

DECEMBER 2010

Photo courtesy of Michael Dokas ’08

The Devon Dialogue

ALMOST 170 RUNNERS AND WALKERS POUND THE PAVEMENT

DEVON PREP 5K. PAGE 7 AT THE

THE DEVON DIALOGUE

DEVON PREP HONORS SCRIBES Greg Bokar ’11, Editor-in-Chief Glowing luminaries lined the walkway as family members and friends of the first twelve inductees to The Devon Preparatory School Chapter of the Quill and Scroll Society descended upon Calasanctius Hall on November 11, 2010. In its inaugural year, The Devon Preparatory Chapter of the Quill and Scroll Society began to recognize the outstanding journalists of The Devon Dialogue.

Founded in 1926 at the University of Iowa, The Quill and Scroll Society is an international honor society which has member chapters in all fifty states and more than forty foreign countries. The Society recognizes exceptional journalists who also demonstrate superior leadership skills and extraordinary academic achievement. Among the necessary qualifications for membership, students must have at least a 3.50 grade point average for the last two semesters and have contributed two high-quality articles to The Devon Dialogue in the last twelve months.

Under the leadership of Dia“T Devon Preparatory “The logue moderators Mr. Theuer and Mrs. Chapter of the Quill and Eshleman, the society inducted twelve Scroll Society” began to juniors and seniors: Zach Adams ’11, Matt Baldassano ’11, Greg Bokar ’11, recognize the outstand- Harry Crimi ’11, Jordan Kelly ’11, ing journalists of “The Stephen Sloto ’11, Justin Wickersham ’11, Joe Geiger ’12, Mac Lockard ’12, Devon Dialogue Dialogue.”

Ryan O’Shea ’12, Roshan Patel ’12

and Nate Stauffer ’12. As part of the ceremony, all new inductees received pins which represent the inductees’ ties to the chapter and their personal achievement. In addition, senior inductees received honor cords which will be worn at Commencement in early June 2011. As part of the ritual, a candle-lighting ceremony took place to demonstrate the core values of Twelve members of the senior and junior classes were inducted The Society: Truth, Learning, Leadership, Loyalty, Initiative, Integrity, into “The Devon Preparatory School Chapter of the Quill and Judgment and Friendship. Ryan O’Shea ’12 and Joe Geiger ’12 were also Scroll Society.” recognized as next year’s President and Vice President of the Chapter. At the end of the ceremony, the leadership members of the Chapter presented both Fr. Shea and Mr. Iezzi with testimonial scrolls in gratitude for their essential support and guidance throughout the of the creation of the Devon Prep chapter.

The new members of The Devon Preparatory School Chapter of the Quill and Scroll Society were all greatly honored to be recognized at such a beautiful ceremony in Calasanctius Hall. The Quill and Scroll Society honors remarkable journalists, and the night certainly was a great inauguration for The Society Society.

VIVE LA RÉSISTANCE!

Nate Stauffer ’12, Associate Editor of Opinions and Interviews The year is 1815. A group of prisoners is slaving away in a French work yard. One of them has been imprisoned for nearly two decades, and he is about to be released on parole. This man’s name is Jean Valjean. So begins Les Miserables, the longest-running musical worldwide, written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg and based on Victor Hugo’s famous novel of the same name. Widely considered to be the greatest musical ever written, Les Mis tells the story of a criminal, a policeman, a band of rebels, an orphan, an innkeeper, his wife, and a peasant girl as they deal with love, loss and misfortune in the face of a revolution. Orchestrated by Devon’s own Dr. Radu and directed by his son, Devon alumnus Luc Radu ’02, the show will prove a challenging, emotionally-driven task for the ensemble, one which will inevitably be equally rewarding in the long run.

Orchestrated by DevThe heart-wrenching tale of one man’s search for peace in on’s own Dr. Radu and wartime, absolution from a God he betrayed, and a sense of selfidentity in a period of crisis and judgment contains heavy, somber directed by his son, themes in a Nineteenth Century setting. The genius behind the show is the way in which these themes are portrayed so that people from Devon alumnus Luc all generations can relate to them and take something away from the Radu ’02, the show will story. While some musicals provide simply a whimsical show for prove a challenging, the audience, this show provides something more, an experience.

While there are still flashes of comedy sprinkled throughout, Les Mis emotionally-driven task makes viewers think, question and look deep inside themselves. As for the ensemble ensemble. one cast member summarizes perfectly, “Bring tissues.”

The biggest challenge facing the ensemble in performing this particular show is that it is one of a select few musicals that is “sung-through,” meaning that there is no spoken dialogue during the show; rather, the entire performance is told through song. This will undoubtedly pose an incredibly demanding undertaking for the entire cast, especially the leading roles. Devon performed Les Mis once before in 2005, and it was a tremendous success. Therefore, the cast this year has a legacy to maintain. Hours of practice and tireless nights of memorization will test the abilities of each and every person involved, but the end product will reflect this brilliantly.

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NEWS AT DEVON PREP WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS…

DEVON PREP PROPS OPEN PORTALS FOR POTENTIALS

Nate Stauffer ’12, Associate Editor of Opinions and Interviews The date is October 1, 2010. Fr. Shea awakens to hear the sound of dripping in the darkness. He looks at the clock, which reads 2:00 a.m. Drip. He gets out of bed. Drip. He opens the door. Drip.

Drip. Drip. Much to his surprise, he finds a bucket sitting ten feet from his door collecting the rain as it leaks through the ceiling above and splashes to the floor. Dazed and confused, he ignores it and moseys over to his computer to type the A.P. Physics test.

A half hour passes. Father can hear the roar of the wind and the violent precipitation thundering outside his window. Suddenly, he hears a knock at the door. When he opens the door, he finds a sight straight out of a horror movie: across the hall, in Br. Chico’s room, a flood of water cascading down the wall, like some scaled-down version of Niagara Falls. Shocked, he immediately takes action. He learns that Fr. Rich has already taken the initiative of calling the fire department. Within minutes, the firemen arrive to save the day; among them is Captain Eamon Brazunas, son of Devon’s incomparable Middle School Director.

The firemen attempt to build a device that will drain the water out the window. By this point, the water has made its way down from the third floor of Calasanctius Hall to the first floor. Captain Brazunas asks Fr. Shea if Devon has an emergency response team to manage this crisis. Unfortunately, Devon does not, as disasters such as this one are few and far between at the school. Captain Brazunas recommended Belfor Property Restoration, and within hours, the company’s trucks and equipment are at the school, repairing the destruction.

Because the flooding is reaching the second and first floors of Calasanctius, Fr. Shea knows immediately that school will have to be closed for the day. At this point, construction was not yet finished on the entryway to the school, so students were still entering through Calasanctius Hall each morning. With the flooding, there would be no way for students to reach their classrooms. Fr. Shea sends out a message via AlertNow, but the database was not yet complete-none of the new students’ contact information had been entered. The office believed they would have time to enter the new contacts into the database before the first snow arrived. Little did they know that rain would prove to be just as horrific as snow. As a result, Fr. Rich and Fr. Shea personally called each new family to alert them of school closing.

The aftermath of the rain will be a long, tedious and expensive one. Because the walls and ceilings of Calasanctius Hall are made of plaster, they retain water very well and thus will take months to dry out completely. Belfor has broken through the ceilings in Calasanctius to install machines to dry out the water to prevent mildew. The building, as old as it is, remains structurally sound, but the ceilings must be replaced following the restoration. “It was a mess,” remarked Fr. Shea.

For only the second time in the history of this school, a rainstorm gave students a day off, and the juniors got an extra few days to study for their physics test.

Joe Geiger ’12 Prospective students and their families poured into Devon Prep for this year’s successful Open House. As some of the Devon Prep students and faculty members staffed tables in the gym representing different clubs, societies and sports Devon has to offer, other students gave tours. The bright-eyed, bushy-tailed prospective students walked through the halls of Devon awestruck by everything the school has to offer.

The annual activities fair in the gym represented numerous sports, clubs and honor societies that Devon Prep has to offer students. Many families strolled through the gym speaking with representatives from such clubs as The Devon Dialogue, Computer Club, The Quill and Scroll Society, and the Academic Challenge Team. At the same time, Devon Prep athletes and coaches proudly presented information about soccer, lacrosse, cross country and basketball, among other sports, to aspiring athletes who may one day join the Devon community. A prospective student said, “Devon really has a lot of fun clubs and sports to offer! I liked the Computer Club and soccer team the best.”

Justin Barker ’13 leads a prospective family through the beautiful halls of Devon Prep.

Many current students toured with visiting families, showing off the facilities and telling the families about the different classes that Devon Prep has to offer. The families commented favorably on the rigor of the college preparatory curriculum. After touring the facilities, the families were welcomed in Calasanctius Hall, where refreshments were offered and alumni, parents and faculty shared their experiences about the school. Mr. Iezzi, Assistant Headmaster of Devon Prep, commented, “This year was one of the most successful Open Houses in Devon’s history with 133 families considering sending their sons to Devon Prep.”

Following the Open House, many prospective students have spent a day shadowing students to form their own impressions of the school. The Open House was a success with Devon boasting about its sports, clubs, and academics. Devon Prep looks forward to welcoming many of these future classmates.

GOD LOVES YOU Jordan Kelly ’11, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Devon Prep added a new dimension in religious worship as the school community gathers in the gymnasium at the beginning of every Friday for a community-wide Mass. Fr. Nelson Henao, the new School Chaplain, inaugurated the new weekly Masses at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year as an opportunity for students, faculty, parents and friends of Devon Prep to join in worship on a weekly basis.

The weekly Masses have certainly helped the Devon community bond as one. In the past, classes attended Mass separately on the first Friday of every month. The current procedure allows for a more cohesive community in which all gather as one. In addition to the spiritual growth, the weekly Masses allow musically inclined students to join in spiritual song. The music has certainly been a draw to all in attendance given the upbeat nature of the music.

The Devon community welcomes anyone interested in joining the weekly celebration. As Devon Prep continues to celebrate its Year of the Eucharist, the community looks to welcome many worshipers looking to celebrate and spiritually grow.

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Fr. Nelson consecrates the wine during the Friday Youth Mass along with Fr. Shea, Fr. Rich, and Fr. Geza.

NEWS AT DEVON PREP HAVE YOU EVER SAVED SOMEONE’S LIFE?

Ryan O’Shea ’12, Associate Editor of Sports As they always do when autumn approaches, mannequins lined the floor of Devon Prep’s gym this past October 6th. For the eager sophomore class, a day of valuable emergency training awaited them. All morning, nurses from The American Heart Association schooled these eager Devonites in the latest developments in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

An instructional video guided the students throughout the session. They first learned the proper procedures to identify the need for resuscitation, such as checking a victim’s airways. Following the identification of the need for resuscitation, the students were instructed to contact emergency services, and then were taught how to prepare to administer the proper care to a victim. Every sophomore knows how to expound on the proper number and pace of the breaths and compressions, how long to conduct CPR, and how to identify and use his environment to the victim’s protection or advantage. The greater the number of people who can aid in resuscitating a person by notifying emergency services or keeping the scene safe, the greater the chance is that the patient will survive. Be the victim male, female, elderly, or even an infant, everyone in the Class of ’13 now knows how to handle the situation swiftly and effectively. The sophomores took turns practicing the proper techniques on the mannequins. After the students had mastered CPR, The American Heart Association’s representatives Chris Clayton ’13 and Pat Kinsella ’13 are instructed on how to demonstrated proper usage of a defibrillator, so they would know how do infant CPR by a nurse from The American Heart Association. to properly operate it in dire situations. The students then engaged in an informational session in which they were presented critical situations and used their newfound skills to determine the best course of action.

After this assiduous training, each member of the sophomore class was deemed eligible to receive his official CPR certification.

All Devon students undergo this enlightening education in their sophomore year. Mrs. Gavin, Director of Health Services and Guidance at Devon, commented, “Over one thousand Devon students have been trained in the past two decades. At all times, one half of our school community is qualified in CPR. Cardiovascular disease is still the number one health problem in the United States. The ability to respond and resuscitate a family member, a friend, or any person long enough to receive advanced care is heroic and phenomenally rewarding.” The sophomores who are taken through this learning process undertake this challenge because they are true gentlemen of Devon, constantly contributing in a myriad of ways to those in need.

NO SLEEP? NO PROBLEM

Matt Baldassano ’11 This year’s Up For a Cause event was held on October 15th and 16th, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the gym. This year’s event was successful with the students raising nearly $25,000 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A major aspect of this year’s event was that the money went to St. Jude instead of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as it did last year, and was originally intended for this year.

The reason for this change was the last minute discovery that CHOP had begun to participate in embryonic stem cell research. The CAP leadership team was made aware of this sad turn of events by religion teacher, Mr. Lewis. CHOP is a wonderful institution doing wonderful things, but embryonic stem cell research is against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Just as they did last year, the “Up For a Cause” St. Elizabeth’s Drum Corps perthis year resulted formed an amazing show to the awe all the onlookers. After the show in fun, food, and of was over, the drum corps stayed for a while and played basketball against fundraising. the Devon team.

The night itself was only made better by the attendance of some of our esteemed faculty members, Mr. Iezzi, Ms. Medina, Ms. Tiehel and Mrs. Eshleman. Asides from being chaperones of the event, they also acted as the judges of the Baked Ziti Cook Off. After friendly boasting by all contestants and some intensive taste testing by the faculty members, devouring one plate and asking for seconds, the winner was determined to be Harry Crimi, or more precisely, his mother.

The evening was a blast with all kinds of games, including basketball tournaments, soccer, handball, tug-of-war, dodge ball, and a Chinese auction. There were great prizes including Phillies and Eagles gear and gift cards from local eateries and favorite stores. Overall, Up For a Cause this year resulted in fun, food, and fundraising.

The Christian Action Program (CAP) leaders present a check for $24,500 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. From left to right: Joe Geiger ’12, Ryan Litchert ’11, Mrs. Eshleman, Matt Baldassano ’11 and Ben Senss ’12.

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“The Pit” emerged early this year for the game against the St. Elizabeth’s Drum Corps at “Up For a Cause.”

NEWS AT DEVON PREP MUSICAL VIRTUOSOS UNITE

ONLY ONE EMERGED VICTORIOUS

Stephen Sloto ’11, Lead Correspondent Family and friends sat in the gym anxiously awaiting the beautiful music of the Devon Prep Music Society at the recent Oktoberfest concert. Their wait ended when the Jazz Band strolled on stage and began playing “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” The ensuing concert was one of the best in Devon Prep Music Society history. The Jazz Band played thundering renditions of “Jump, Jive, and Wail” and “Limbo Rock.” The Choral Tide performed beautiful renditions of “Danny Boy,” “God and God Alone,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and others.

The Rip Tide’s multi-part harmonies delighted the ears during “Starlight” and “Teenager in Love.” The best was saved for last when played “Sonata I” and The ensuing concert soloists “Lobsterman.” Though this concert was one of the best in was shorter than previous Devon the audience was not disDevon Prep Music concerts, appointed with the overall increase in the quality of the performances.

Society history.

“I thought this was the best the Jazz Band has ever sounded,” said drummer Ryan Carson ’11. “We were on top of everything.” Of course, the members of the audience were not the only people enjoying the concert; the musicians and vocalists enjoyed it as well.

Brendan Richter ’11, singer for Choral Tide, trumpet player in Jazz Band, and guitarist for “Lobsterman,” said, “I love playing my guitar in front of an audience of adoring fans.” Overall, the concert was a great experience for everyone involved.

Jordan Kelly ’11, Deputy Editor-in-Chief On the warm afternoon of November 22, 2010, the four senior homerooms converged on the varsity soccer field to compete in the Turkey Bowl. The Turkey Bowl is the annual bracket-style, single-elimination football tournament with the winning homeroom gaining bragging rights for the remainder of the year.

The first match-up featured the tournament favorite, 12A, led

by Head Coach Daniel McFadden ’11, against the underdog squad of 12B, led by the dapper dresser, Austin Davis ’11. Both teams used a quarterback-by-committee strategy, keeping their opponents unsure of what play was coming next. “Do-it-all player” Nick Pancerella ’11 of 12B was all over the field, making plays at every position. It was a back-and-forth battle, with each homeroom looking like it had the upper hand. In the end, 12A pulled out the victory. The second game pitted 12D against the small but resilient 12C. All predictions pointed to an easy victory for 12D, but this was far from the case. In what was said to have been the best defensive battle in Turkey Bowl history, the score was only 6-0 in favor of 12D with a few minutes remaining. Ultimately, penalties cost 12C the game, but in the words of Coach Stephen Sloto ’11, “We lost the game on the field, but won the game in our hearts.” Quarterback of 12C, Jordan Kelly ’11, added, “The motivational speeches of Coach Sloto inspired the team to put forth its strongest effort.”

The championship game pitted 12A against 12D, in what proved to be a hard-fought game. The game was a high-scoring affair, with both teams trading touchdowns. In the waning moments of the game, 12A secured what proved to be the winning score. With a final score of 24-18, this year’s Turkey Bowl was one for the ages.

Members of the Devon Music Society performed songs including “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “Limbo Rock” and “Jump, Jive, and Wail.”

EDUCATION ON THE LINE Roshan Patel ’12 With the beginning of the school year, Devon Prep launched a new program called Edline, an online grading system that offers direct communication among teachers, students and parents. Teachers can upload information on tests, projects and homework, while parents and students will be able to have instant access to materials.

Edline also allows teachers to upload grades onto the computer so that students and parents can see student progress throughout the quarter. In the past, unless students kept careful track of their grades or went directly to the teacher, specific marks were often hard to formulate in the middle of a quarter.

Experiences with Edline have been mixed. For teachers, posting homework online has been much easier as compared to last year’s Your Homework service. After adjusting to the new programs grading layout, teachers are employing the Edline presentation functions to encourage student progress and improvement. Over time, the teachers and students are getting more used to Edline and realizing the usefulness of the service. Ms. Esmonde, Edline support consultant and mother of Dave Welsh ’12, is proving to be in an invaluable resource to both parents and faculty alike.

The majority of parents have found the service useful, as they can now be up to date on their sons’ progress at Devon. In the past, tests or quizzes could sit at the bottom of backpacks for weeks. Now, Edline provides parents with a direct access into the teacher’s grade book to see the results of examinations faster.

Star of Team 12C, Bill Adamiak ’11, eludes the 12D defenders, Joe Matthews ’11 and Harry Crimi ’11.

Under the leadership of Coach Stephen Sloto ’11, Team 12C certainly was the best dressed.

CALLING ALL MATHLETES! Nate Stauffer ’12, Associate Editor of Opinions and Interviews The Middle School MathCounts team is looking for new members. If you enjoy solving problems or just need some extra help, come join one of the meetings and see what it is all about! The team meets in Mrs. Iacobucci’s room on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Iacobucci or Nate Stauffer ’12.

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NEWS AT DEVON PREP QUALITY MARKS THIS FALL’S STUDENT COUNCIL ACTIVITIES Ryan Fulmer ’12 Who has time to spare in the first semester? Halloween, academics and Thanksgiving gobble up most of the free time students have. The Student Council’s strategy for the first semester was to concentrate their efforts on a few events, infusing them with as much excitement as possible, to make up for the lack of allotted time. Such events as basketball games, an Upper School Semi-Formal, and the Middle School Mixer are memorable happenings squeezed into the busy season.

On November 10, 2010, the gym was rocked by DJ TuTone and DJ Space Jam. The turnout for this Middle School mixer was the largest in recent history, and the Student Council expects the mixers to continue to grow over the course of the year. They have spread the word of upcoming mixers to local middle schools, and the excitement is already being generated. The success of last year’s Upper School mixers is finally trickling down the grapevine; the Devon Prep Middle School mixers are now the place to be.

DJ Space Jam, Ryan Litchert ’11, proclaimed, “The place was thumping!”

A slightly different dance will be blasting in Calasanctius Hall on December 17, 2010. At the Upper School Christmas Semi-Formal, the DJ will be taking requests from the crowd. As always, Mrs. Kalivas will be dazzling the taste buds of all in attendance with her culinary creations. This jacket and tie affair “is a fun time every year, and we are looking forward to another great one,” says Student Council President, Albert Emhof ’11. “I can’t wait to go!” exclaimed Notre Dame senior Amanda Limoges, her eyes lighting up when asked. The Middle School Mixer and Christmas Semi-Formal are not events that students want to hear about from others the following day.

Upper School Board members, (Top, L-R) Albert Emhof ’11, Jeff Bevan ’11, and Alex DiMarzio ’11, and Middle School Board members, (Bottom, L-R) Dan Crowe ’15, Nick Mara ’15, and Nick Giampietro ’15.

N.J.H.S. WELCOMES INDUCTEES

Roshan Patel ’12 On November 23, 2010, twelve seventh and eighth grade students were proudly inducted into the Devon Prep Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. The inductees were Russell Emery ’15, William Moreno ’15, Andrew Betts ’16, Alex Bygrave ’16, Alexandru Damian ’16, Sean Fulmer ’16, Enoch Lee ’16, Joshua Lee ’16, Shyamal Patel ’16, John Parkinson ’16, Bobby Pickell ’16 and Max van Schaijik ’16.

In order to be admitted into the Society, students are required to have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the past four quarters. In addition, inductees are to exemplify the characteristics of Leadership, Service, Character and Citizenship. As inductees signed their names in the National Junior Honor Society book, parents proudly rose to congratulate them. It was a night of accomplishment and aspiration.

S.A.P. IS SOLVING ANOTHER PROBLEM Greg Bokar ’11, Editor-in-Chief Over the last twenty years, the Devon Prep Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.) has provided and continues to provide an opportunity for students to have an outlet of support during periods of emotional hardship and personal troubles. Under the leadership of Fr. Rich, Devon Prep S.A.P. was established as one of the first non-public schools to join the program.

The program involves a referral process in which teachers, parents and fellow students can refer a student who they feel could utilize the services which S.A.P. offers. Students have the opportunity to opt out of the program if referred, but program leaders emphasize the focus of confidentiality throughout the program. When asked about the program, Mrs. Gavin, Director of Health and Guidance, proudly stated that “the process has never been wrong.”

This year, the Student Assistance Program brought on two new faculty members, Mr. Lewis and Ms. Bosma, to join the already extensive team of Devon Prep teachers, staff members and administrators trained in Student Assistance Program protocol. The Devon Dialogue had an opportunity to have a lively discourse with Ms. Bosma about her initial experiences with the Student Assistance Program.

DP Dialogue: How did you first get involved with the Student Assistance Program?

Ms. Bosma: The leaders of S.A.P. approached and asked me to join the program, as I tend to keep an eye on the students.

DP: What can you say about the confidentiality that the program seems to embrace and the faculty members who are part of the program?

GB: The team is a hand-selected group of mentors students tend to feel comfortable with, and is not allowed to reveal anything discussed.

Overall, the process is meant to be confidential, and everything is on a need-to-know basis following a strict protocol.

DP: What was the training for the program like?

GB: Training was an extensive three-day course involving looking at resources, law and confidentiality. I really got a lot out of the program and was impressed with the things that Devon already has been in place to help students who need guidance.

DP: What perspective do you bring to the program?

GB: I have dealt with a lot of S.A.P. related problems in my own personal life with my family and friends.

DP: What can you say about the program overall?

GB: Everything is done in a responsible and supportive manner, in which the program is streamlined to not judge the student but to solve the problems.

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NEWS AT DEVON PREP TEA WITH TIEHEL

STUDENTS SPEAK UP

Matt Balda Baldasanno ’11

Ben Senss ’12

In her nine years at Devon Prep, Ms. Tiehel has been an essential part of the faculty in her role as teacher, Grade Eleven Dean of Students and English Department Chair. She has taught and continues to teach a variety of classes, from freshman Intro to Literary Genres, to sophomore Modern European History, to both junior and senior Advanced Placement English courses. Students enjoy her class because of the lively discussions and their ability to discuss and receive feedback on their ideas.

This interview is the first in a In her nine years series of interviews with the excepat Devon Prep, Ms. tional teachers of Devon Prep. The Devon Dialogue had the opportunity Tiehel has been an to sit down with Ms. Tiehel to ask her questions that most of the student essential part of the body would not know the answers to.

Hundreds of students will gather on Malvern Prep’s campus on Saturday, January 29, 2011 for the tenth annual SpeakUp! conference.

SpeakUp! is a safe, judgment-free forum for teenagers, parents and educators to discuss the pressing issues and challenges affecting young people today. SpeakUp! is a regional organization which holds several one-day conferences throughout South Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania. Held at both public and private high schools, the program hopes to involve as many people as possible in this dynamic forum.

This year, Devon Prep “SpeakUp!” is a safe, is working in collaboration with judgment-free forum student leaders from Malvern Prep, Villa Maria Academy and for teenagers, parents the Academy of Notre Dame de and educators to disNamur. Eight student leaders from the Christian Action Procuss the pressing isgram, Christophe Rodelli ’11, Ryan Litchert ’11, Albert Emhof sues and challenges ’11, Justin Wickersham ’11, Joe affecting young people Geiger ’12, Dan Lewis ’12, Ben Senss ’12 and Matt Kramer ’12, today. have been engaged in the planning and development of the January event. Student facilitators and professional experts will help guide the proactive and non-judgmental discussions to help adults and young people understand and explore each other’s challenges and points-ofview. Ryan Litchert, Christian Action Program Co-President, active participant in SpeakUp! and Planning Committee Leader, remarks “The program is sure to stimulate lively discussion between teens and parents. It is a very fun time.”

Upper School students interested in participating in the event can register at www.speakup.org. Christian service hours will be offered to all Devon participants who attend the January event. If you have questions about the program, please see one of the student leaders or Mrs. Eshleman.

faculty in her role as teacher, Grade Eleven Dean of Students and English Department Chair.

Matt Baldassano: Where were you born?

Ms. Tiehel: I was born and raised in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.

MB: Did you ever have a detention?

PT: No comment.

MB: What was your favorite subject in high school?

PT: English was my favorite subject.

MB: What was your least favorite subject in high school?

PT: Definitely math, although I did get a D in sewing in home economics.

MB: What college did you attend?

PT: I graduated from Villanova Univeristy.

MB: What was your favorite subject in college?

PT: My favorite subject was English, but I also enjoyed philosophy and psychology.

MB: What is your favorite food?

PT: Pizza is definitely my favorite food, except for Papa John’s.

MB: What is your favorite genre of music?

PT: I like almost everything except for Country; however, Classic Rock is definitely my overall favorite.

MB: If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be?

PT: Gustave Flaubert, JD Salinger and Virginia Woolf.

MB: I can not say that I have ever heard of any of them PT: But we have read books by two of them, Matt.

MB: Oh… MB: Do you like Devon?

PT: Yes, I love it.

MB: What is your favorite thing about Devon?

PT: I love the joyful anticipation of being able to discuss literature every day.

MB: What is your least favorite thing about Devon?

PT: I dislike having to wake up early.

MB: What is your favorite TV show?

PT: Intervention on A&E. MB: What is your favorite movie?

PT: It is too hard to pick one.

MB: Ok, how about your top few?

PT: The Graduate, Citizen Kane, Cinema Paradiso, Breathless and The Breakfast Club; if I had to pick a movie from my youth.

MB: Citizen Kane?

PT: No! The Breakfast Club.

MB: What is your favorite horror movie?

PT: The original vampire, Nosferatu.

MB: What is your favorite Christmas movie?

PT: I love A Christmas Story.

ASK THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR

As the majority of college and universities have deadlines in early January for Regular Decision, Santa’s workshop is not the only place popping at this time of year. So far this year, the Office of College Planning and Placement has sent out over four hundred applications for the Class of 2011, with many more applications to come before the impending deadlines. The Devon Dialogue recently had the opportunity to talk to the Director of College Planning and Placement, Mrs. Eshleman, about the application and college search process.

The Devon Dialogue thanks Ms. Tiehel for being the first teacher to take part in the series of interviews of exceptional Devon Prep faculty members.

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DP Dialogue: What would you consider the single most important element to colleges when submitting an application?

Mrs. Eshleman: Your high school transcript is the most important piece of your college application. The Admissions Committees at the colleges you are applying to are looking at the types of courses you are taking and the grades you are receiving in these courses.

Students should take the most demanding courses “that they can handle.” The key phrase is “that they can handle.” It does a student no good to take several A.P. courses and do poorly in them.

In summarization, opt for the more challenging courses, but do not overwhelm yourself.

DP: What is the most popular school for Devon Prep so far this year?

EE: The five most popular colleges and universities for the Devon Prep Class of 2011 to date are: Pennsylvania State University – 19 applications, Drexel University – 19 applications, Loyola University Maryland – 19 applications, St. Joseph’s University – 17 applications, and The University of Pittsburgh - 16 applications.

Acceptances are flowing in from these institutions.

DP: When does the college process begin for the promising Class of 2012?

EE: Juniors will inaugurate their college journey on either February 8th or 16th at the “Everything You Want To Know About Applying to College” seminar.

DEVON PREP SPORTS HARRIERS HUFF HILLS

TIDE ROLLS THROUGH THE FALL SEASON

Ryan Fulmer ’12 “I’m glad I didn’t have to run,” cheerfully stated Fr. Shea, capturing the morning of November 27, 2010 perfectly. The overcast sky and the chilly forty degree temperatures did nothing to dampen the spirits of the runners who braved the bitter wind and nipping cold, jumping up and down and blowing frosty vapor into gloved hands to warm themselves. The fork in Devon’s campus road and the area leading out to the front gates were lined with a mixed array of brave-hearted participants. Children as young as Colin Fulmer, age nine, huffed and puffed alongside runners as old as sixty-nine. Women and men, young and old, competed for bragging rights and medals in individual age groups.

With an enthusiastic “On your mark!” from Fr. Shea, 340 sneakers jolted to life, the pounding of their feet allowing warmth to start flowing through the runners’ numb bodies.

The list of runners also included some of the celebrities of Devon. Mr. Jewitt, Mrs. Eshleman and Mr. Lewis all completed the 5K race triumphantly. Emerging from the pack was Dave Evans ’08, who attends and runs for St. Joseph’s University. His time of 17:00 minutes placed him firmly in first place for the 3.1 mile race. Mr. Jewitt was the first member of the faculty to cross the finish line, in 36th place with 21:59. Mr. Lewis managed to finish with injuries that would have stopped a lesser man, and Mrs. Eshleman placed 2nd in her age group. “I performed better in this race than I have in previous races. Therefore, I am happy with that!” beamed Mrs. Eshleman.

Dan Mulhern ’02 and Rusty Davison ’01 were in charge of the event, which managed to grow by more than thirty runners as compared to the previous year. The race was generously sponsored for the third year by The Percheron Group. The race raised $3,000 for the Devon Prep Alumni Association, which will use the money for the important work they perform around campus.

“The race was a successful event for the twentieth year. It is really nice to see all the alumni come out and run! We are looking for an even better race next year,” said Dan Mulhern.

The runners stampeded out of the front gates, veered to the right, and prevailed against the rolling hills of an adjacent neighborhood. Volunteers directed the participants along the route, and mile splits were given at both the one and two mile markers. After emerging from the neighborhood, the course followed its original path backwards. The final stretch was a hundred yard flat which saw the most number of place jumps, as runners barreled forward in a last ditch effort towards the beckoning finish line. There their information was taken and they gratefully accepted coats and blankets.

The 2010 Devon Prep 5K was one of the largest races the Devon community has seen on its campus. Runners and walkers trudged up and down hills in the face of a prevailing wind to claim victory over an extremely difficult course. When asked about the race, Fr. Shea appeared nostalgic, “I remember my first experience of the Devon 5K.” He paused to fetch the details from his remarkable memory. “I pulled into Devon and I saw an ambulance at the entrance and I asked, ‘Why is that there? I am not running,’” he quipped with a wry smile.

Ryan O’Shea ’12, Associate Editor of Sports This fall was another strong season for Devon Prep athletics. The Golf, Soccer and Cross Country teams all performed admirably throughout their respective seasons. As always, Devon hosted its annual Fall Sports Banquet in the gymnasium on November 17, 2010. Parents, coaches and players alike gathered to honor all the athletes.

The event was hosted by Mr. Aquilante, who is proudly serving his first year as Devon’s Athletic Director. Mrs. Kalivas and the Devon mothers served a delicious spaghetti dinner, and, after a brief prayer by Fr. Shea, Mr. Aquilante greeted the players and their families and commenced the ceremony. Each head coach and assistant coach gave his remarks on his team’s performance.

However, the show was stolen by Mr. Sanborn’s facetious account of the cross country season. He explained—in gruesome detail— how the team had been plagued by horrible “fluidic disharmonies” (injuries) and despite his best attempts to heal them with “purging and bleeding” (resting and icing), some runners were left unable to compete.

Each team awarded certain deserving members with trophies commemorating their noble efforts this season. Kyle Koehler ’12 received the Most Valuable Player Award for Golf; Jordan Kelly ’11 and Pat Robbins ’12 joined him, taking home Spirit Awards.

Senior Alex DiMarzio ’11 and sophomore Tom Seykora ’13 were both named the Most Valuable Players of the Cross Country team, while Albert Marciano ’11 was honored with the Coaches’ Award – for dedication and service on and off the course. The Varsity and J.V. Soccer teams each presented their own set of awards. Vince Quintiliani ’11 was awarded the Most Valuable Player for Varsity Soccer, and Bryan Misialek ’11 received the Varsity Spirit Award.

Each player in attendance was congratulated for his contributions and for his exemplary conduct both on and off the field. Through the athletes’ hard work and outstanding performances, Devon Prep continues to compete with some of the most skilled high schools in the region. The winter sports teams, including basketball and lacrosse, are now training for the upcoming season. Roll Tide.

Photo courtesy of Michael Dokas ’08

GOLF TEAM TURNS A DOG-LEG

The eager runners burst past the starting line to begin the 20th annual Devon Prep 5K Race.

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Jordan Kelly ’11, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Last year’s golf team left high expectations for another successful season to come. Unfortunately, the team was decimated by the graduation of six of the starting eight team members. This year, the team was led by number one player, Kyle Koehler ’12, as well as number two Pat Robbins ’12. Jason Smith ’11, Jordan Kelly ’11 and Doug McParland ’11 were the senior members of the team who played a supporting role to Pat Robbins and Kyle Koehler.

Doug McParland was able The team was led by T to add levity to a serious sport with number one player, his neon-colored golfs balls and Kyle Koehler ’12, as amusing antics. The biggest surwas the spectacular play of well as number two prise freshman C.J. Kohlbrenner ’14, a sign of the bright future for Devon Pat Robbins ’12. golf. Rounding out the team were Tom Frawley ’12, Steve Kohlbrenner ’12 and Matt DiDonato ’13, who also played solid roles for the team. The team had an up-and-down season, but did have flashes of brilliance. Close matches with Pottsgrove and Lower Moreland demonstrated that the team had the fortitude to pull out a close match, but it was not able to consistently maintain this level of play. The season was capped off with District Qualifiers at Lookaway Golf Club, by far the nicest course that the team had the opportunity to play during the season. The qualifiers took place on the brisk and rainy day of October 4, 2010. The play of Kyle Koehler provided a burst of warmth on the cold day, as he masterfully shot an eighty-four to be the only member of the team to qualify.

Unfortunately, he was unable to advance past the District Tournament, but his success points to a bright future for the Devon Prep Golf team.

EDITORIALS

POLITICAL PURGATORY

END OF THE DOMINION

Matt Swatski ’12 The Democrats are looking back at “Hope and Change” 2008 with much nostalgia, while the newly-boiled Republican Party has returned from political purgatory. November 2, 2010 was the culmination of a shift in power that began in January 2009. The Republicans, led by Tea Party-backed candidates such as Marco Rubio and Nikki Haley, took a twenty-one seat majority in the House, while shaving the Democrats’ control in the Senate. The pundits and pollsters had been predicting this chain of events for months, and only now do the Democrats have to face the truth that the American people are not happy with the direction this country is heading in. Overall, the election was a referendum on the Democrats’ economic stimulus and reflected the consensus that more change is needed in Washington.

Although the Democrats did get walloped, they have no need The ruling party, to panic. The ruling party, in recent history, has almost always lost in the in recent history, midterm elections. Previous Presidents, has almost always such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, have been reelected after a “shellacklost in the midterm ing” in the midterms. What President Obama and the Democrats should learn elections. from this election is that their economic fix was slow, not that they should scale back future plans. Any party would have had trouble getting reelected with nine percent unemployment. The Republicans also need to understand this. This election was not a full endorsement of conservative policy. The job for the Republicans is to fix the economy and compromise with President Obama, not to just sit around trying to undo all the legislation passed in the last two years.

In 2008, some pundits predicted the Republican Party of President George Bush would eventually fade into insignificance as President Obama’s victory reverberated across the globe. They underestimated the message which Sarah Palin brought: cut taxes, cut spending (except on defense) and return to traditional values. This grassroots movement eventually coalesced into the “Tea Party.” Political pundits, such as Glenn Beck and independent bloggers tapped into this grassroots movement. They were able to make the Tea Party message more mainstream and more accepted. This was the heart of the Republican Party, and began a wave which swept Republicans into power once again.

Meanwhile, the Democrats were struggling to defend their economic stimulus and healthcare reform, which worked, but only to some extent. President Obama pulled America out of the recession, but unemployment still remains at a stubbornly high nine percent. This did not satisfy many voters, who became discouraged, despite giving President Obama the victory back in 2008. To many Democrats, the only way to win in this toxic atmosphere was to steer away from the unpopular Democratic leadership and chart a centrist course. Comedians such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert led the “Rally to Restore Sanity and or Fear” to express centrist concerns with the apocalyptic predictions of Glenn Beck.

Locally, the election results mirrored those of the nation as a whole. Republicans Tom Corbett and Pat Toomey were able to defeat their Democratic opponents in the Pennsylvania governor and Senate races, respectively. However, Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell was easily defeated by Chris Coons in Delaware, reminding the Republicans that voter love is not unconditional. The House of Representatives also moved rightward as the Republicans picked up close victories, such as Jon Runyan’s defeat of John Adler in New Jersey.

The Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives were both easily taken by Republicans and will be important in this next year’s political redistricting.

This election was not a victory for the Republicans, but a referendum on President Obama and the Democrats. The one-party rule in Washington is over and President Obama will face the hardest challenge of his political career, compromising with Republicans. The powerful Tea Party influence on the Republican Party reinvigorated it and will have lasting effects for years to come. Newer Republicans such as Sarah Palin and Rand Paul have replaced the old establishment, which saw its last days under President Bush. This new guard of Republicans will have to face political reality, along with the Democrats, and come together to pass legislation to fix the economy.

Matt Baldassano ’11 What is the cure for America? Some may say that the Government is responsible for curing America. This is obviously not the case, confirmed by history, as seen by the failures of the “New Deal,” the “Great Society” and now The New “New” Deal of President Obama. A Keynesian Theory of economics, one in which the government controls the economy through varying interest rates, tax rates and public expenditure, is not a good theory. In the world there are makers and there are takers. The United States was once a country of makers, the greatest on earth, and now it is a country of takers, where everyone has his or her hand out. What our country needs is smaller government, restored states’ rights and individual liberties.

The United States was I believe that big government is a threat to America once a country of makas we know it. There is only ers, the greatest on so much room in the government. When you add ice to a earth, and now it is a cup filled with water, the water country of takers, where flows out over the brim of the cup, just as states’ rights fly everyone has his or her out the window as big govhand out. What our ernment fills the room. The Founding Fathers envisioned a country needs is smaller union of the states, manifested government, restored in a federal government with clearly defined powers, not a states’ rights and indidominion over the states. The federal government is too big, vidual liberties. and something must be done — government of the people, not without the people; government by the people, not over the people; government for the people, not government for what’s best for the politicians.

The government should serve the community, and only nominally in that respect, providing for defense, setting foreign policy and settling disputes between the states. The government should not be providing healthcare insurance, indefinite unemployment benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, guidelines on where to carry a gun, regulations on what is allowed to be purchased, or prohibitions on soda consumption.

The government should not strong-arm states to carry out its national agenda such as forcing them to change their minimum ages for the consumption of alcohol, use of tobacco and the purchase of firearms. These are state issues. The government should not regulate these things at all. ATF (alcohol, firearms, and tobacco) should be a convenience store, not a government organization. If a state, such as Massachusetts, wants universal healthcare, that is the state’s prerogative. I do not think that the Founding Fathers had universal healthcare in mind when they wrote the Constitution.

Today, the federal government is taking away our true rights and substituting them for “rights” that we do not actually have. We our endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights... According to the national government, we are endowed by our government with inalienable rights. Healthcare is not a right, Medicare is not a right, Welfare is not a right, and neither is Social Security. We have become a society that is waiting in line for handouts. People used to come to this country to work; now their great grandchildren stand in line for their rightful “due.”

The Devon Dialogue is a member of the esteemed Quill and Scroll Society, an international honor society for exceptional high school journalists.

Executive Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Greg Bokar ’11 Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Kelly ’11 Photography Editor: Doug McParland ’11 Associate Editor of News: Stephen Sloto ’11 Associate Editor of Entertainment: Ryan Carson ’11 Associate Editor of Opinions and Interviews: Nate Stauffer ’12 Associate Editor of Sports: Ryan O’Shea ’12

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Faculty Moderator: Mr. Larry Theuer Assistant Faculty Moderator: Mrs. Liz Eshleman