The Devon Dialogue Devon Preparatory School’s prestigious newspaper proudly publishing for over five decades volume XI, issue I | November 2019 | Devon, PA 19333
Middle School Mayhem What has the Middle School been up to? Page 2
Father Nelson Interview Meet one of our newest and nicest faculty members. Page 4
Clubs See all that Devon has to offer. Page 3
Devon at the Phillies See Devon down in South Philly. Page 4
2019 Student Council Meet your newly elected officials. Page 7
Devon v. Malvern A student’s perspective of both sides. Page 5
Maguire Scholars: Just Show Up Everyday Mason Lindley ‘20 and Jake Kenney ‘20
James and Frances Maguire saw an opportunity to help young students in their education starting from grade school all the way through college. The primary goal of the Maguire Scholars Program, which they founded, is to “support and enrich the leaders of tomorrow by providing an opportunity for an excellent education.” The Foundation offers scholarships to select students that attend the schools they are partnered with. James Maguire’s famous trademark for his foundation is “just show up everyday,” and by simply showing up you will be presented with numerous opportunities in life. The selected students who receive scholarships from the foundation both participate and help in their school and their community thus becoming leaders in these realms. James Maguire once stated, “We want [the scholars] to progress into a leadership role in society.” The scholars of the program actively participate in community service, mentor younger students, and attend informative workshops on how to live a successful life. Since the founding of the program, it has spread to many schools in Pennsylvania. The Maguire Foundation was first instituted at Devon Prep for the 2018-2019 school year. However, not many students know about this important program. It is a growing group of Devon high school students becoming mentors to the middle schoolers. Along with mentoring younger students, scholars create and perform several service projects with the middle schoolers. The group began last year with six ninth graders from the class of 2022 who are currently sophomores, and it has continued with six more freshman chosen for the foundation this year. If you are selected to be a scholar, you remain a scholar through senior year. The six initial students chosen last year for Devon Prep were Mark Michniak, Mason Lindley, Jake Kenney, Vincent Demarco, David Cherry, and Jake Veith. This year, the program is working on creating and participating in several service events while continuing to mentor younger students. This is just the beginning of a program that will be present at Devon Prep for a long time.
DP Goes Green Dan Boyle ‘20
Trees, water flasks, Owen Kowalewski. What do all these things have in common you may ask? They all benefit the health of the environment. When starting the Environmental Protection Club in 2018, Owen Kowalewski ‘20 had the goal of introducing sustainability and introducing recycling into Devon. Before starting the club, Owen discovered that a lot of students didn’t have a clue on protecting the environment and how valuable it really is. “I don’t have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere,” one student claims. When walking into the first day of school, students now saw a companion next to their trash bins. With the help of Ms. Nolan and other students such as Jackson Jonik ‘20 and Nate Shiller ‘20, the EPC has achieved their goal of introducing recycling into Devon. More recently, the EPC has achieved getting plastic water bottles off the lunch menu and also acquired new water-refilling add-ons to our normal water fountains. Despite some controversy, nearly every student can be seen with a water flask or reusable water bottle walking around Devon. The recycling efforts appear to be optimistic, since they’re all full of cans. However, some students, in a jocular mood, may dump their trash in the recycling and their recyclables in the trash. Owen Kowalewski and the EPC have a multitude of plans this year that include expanding outside of Devon. “After achieving our main goal of recycling over the last year, we have now transitioned into more of a community service based goal,” said Kowalewski. “This year we hope to start providing more opportunities for students to do community service involving our environment, as well as planning a schoolwide Earth Day event.”
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November 2019
Middle School
The Devon Dialogue
Setting Goals
Clubbin’ Around
As the middle school soccer team’s season nears a close, it is difficult to determine their success as they end with a middling record of 4-4-1. Led by eighth graders Jake Murphy, Bryce Kerrigan, Diego Alonso, Josh Hoxie, and Evan Angle, the team is closing with their best play of the season. “The team started off slow, but as the season has progressed the team got better,” striker Joe Chomko said. Upon reviewing the middle school’s season, it would be impossible to talk about their recent success without the hard work of their head coach Brian Carter. Coach Carter has helped the team improve their skills and has ultimately led them to win. “We came into the season with the goal of instilling the skills and values that would allow our players to succeed at the next level,” said Carter. “Our guys have worked extremely hard this year and our recent success is a credit to their work and dedication.” With three straight wins heading into the final stretch of the year, hopes are high that the team will be able to continue winning and earn a high seed in the playoffs, and eventually go on to win it all.
In late September, the middle school golf team teed off its season. Led by eighth graders Jackson Buzbee’24 and Nicholas Ciocca ‘24, the season certainly looked promising. But with two straight losses to Princeton and Springside Chestnut Hill, the team did not get off to the start they were shooting for. However, they bounced back with a win against Holy Child of Rosemont, which hopefully will become a turning point for this team. “The middle school golf team has been playing ok, but not our best. All of the guys have been working hard, so I feel good about our next match,” eighth grader Jackson Buzbee said when asked about the team’s performance. A definite factor in their win, Buzbee led the team with 46 strokes over 9 holes in their most recent match against Holy Child; a great sign for what’s to expect this season.
John McCormick ‘24
Andrew Heckman ‘24
New Places, Same Tradition Diego Alonso ‘24 and Micheal DeGeorge ‘25
Audubon Adventures Jadon Davidar ‘26
I woke up with a feeling of anticipation. I had been eagerly waiting for the sixth grade field trip to the John James Audubon Center. It was like Christmas morning. My mom made me a scrumptious lunch of pretzel sticks, a ham sandwich, and a juice box. When I arrived at school, all my classmates could talk about was their excitement about the center and the new experiences they would have. The bus departed at 9:00am with all the sixth graders, Ms. Nolan, and Ms. Bucu. As we were approaching, Ms. Bucu announced, “We are here!” I was so excited! When we got off the bus, I saw the beautiful and marvelous center where we visited the classroom and did a very interesting experiment that was based on owl pellet dissection. After that, we went outside the building and saw where they kept some of the birds.We walked around the museum, and learned some really cool facts about birds. When I returned back to Devon, I had a huge smile on my face and I was really glad that I had the opportunity to go on such an awesome field trip.
As one of the foundational annual events of Devon Prep, the middle school camping trip never fails to instill lasting memories in all students that participate. From giant swings that could have scared any thrill seeker to boats that fit entire grades, this year’s rendition of the trip was amazing. “I had a fantastic time,” eighth grader Diego Alonso said, “I think the entire middle school could agree that it was a great time with all the different activities.” This year’s camping trip had it all: ziplines, climbing races, basketball tournaments, high rope courses, and spectacular food. With all these different activities where students could have a great time, it would make any head spin with all the choices. Although the camping trip produced so many great memories, the greatest impact it will have is the bonding between students that it created. The team building activities that students participated in pushed them to their limits, and the middle school came out all the stronger for it. “As a leading member of the middle school, I can definitely say that the middle school really came together as a result of the camping trip,” eighth grader John McCormick said, “The team building activities really brought us together as a group and it’s great to see the impact of that today.” Once again, the middle school camping trip was a major success, as lasting memories were formed, team bonds were created, and the entire sixth and seventh grade is looking forward to next year’s trip.
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Clubs
November 2019
The Devon Dialogue
Devon Preparatory School’s Clubs What does our fine school have to offer?
Philosophy Club
Philosophy Club discusses “big questions” concerning life, ethics, God, relationships, current events, history, art, and more. We foster an authentic dialogue about an array of topics so that students may come to understand countering viewpoints, while learning to defend their own beliefs as well.
F Day Room 310
Film Club
Film club develops films from the minds of their very own members. They explore the four stages of filmmaking, the many roles someone may have on a film set, and the art of character, cinema, and visual storytelling.
F Day Visual Studio
Mission and Ministry
Mission and Ministry is designed to plan, organize, and execute all service opportunities presented to the school community. Mission and Ministry takes part in the planning of our annual drives. This group helps coordinate all opportunities both in and outside of school.
C Day Room 207
Model UN
The Model UN club engages in an authentic simulation of the United Nations system by learning about the UN system, the skills of debate, compromise, conflict resolution, and negotiation. MUN team members have fun learning about the workings of world diplomacy through the lens of current event and participate in the Model UN conference in Hershey, PA.
B Day Room 107
Environmental Protection Club
Aimed at environmental consciousness and promoting sustainability at school, the Environmental Protection Club attempts to educate Devon students in environmentally friendly practices and reduce the amount of environmental degradation the school contributes. The EPC also has two planned service trips and an Earth Day event.
A Day Room 409
French Club
The French Club focuses on understanding and promoting aspects of French culture and explores ways to promote the French language within the student body. Open to both middle and high school students.
E Day Room 208
Mathletes
Mathletes challenges and entertains mathematically interested students in high quality math competitions. Meetings are spent preparing to compete in mathematics contests. Through participation, students can explore more options to challenge themselves, promote growth in their problem-solving skills, and become lifelong learners of math.
B Day Room 204
Academic Excursions Club
Academic Excursions Club allows students to leave the school grounds and explore the sites of religious, historical, and cultural significance with their fellow Devon students. Students are able to learn about local and national history to more successfully connect what they learned off campus back into their schoolwork.
G Day Room 107
Ski and Snowboard Club
With a passion for all snow sports, the Ski and Snowboard Club is open to students of all experience. Two ski trips are planned every year, to not only expose the sports to inexperienced students, but also give those an opportunity to spend more time on the mountain with their friends.
C Day Room 409
Diversity Club
Diversity Club engages in the bold and intrepid discussion of topics of diversity in all aspects of society: politics, business, school, and social institutions. The club focuses on the expression of self-thought and the creation of an atmosphere where one feels safe to express themselves and their beliefs.
F Day Room 105
Hispanic Culture Club
Students participating in the Hispanic Language and Culture club will be encouraged to explore the Hispanic language and its cultures as well as be given the opportunity to enhance their Spanish conversational skills. Students will learn and experience various aspects of Hispanic culture such as food, music, art and customs.
F Day Room 308
Young Politician’s Club
Young Politician’s Club actively tries to enhance students’ sense of political understanding and attempts to engage them in a variety of different activities to do so. From drafting mock-legislation to discussing current events, the club tries to perform fun activities that all have a politically-driven origin, meant to reinforce understanding and promote participation in our country’s governmental procedures.
C Day Room 107
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November 2019
Dialogue News
The Devon Dialogue
Father Nelson: Odyssey Back to Devon Andrew Heckman ‘24 and John McCormick ‘24
This year, you may notice many new faces at Devon, but one in particular might stand out, as Devon has a new priest, Father Nelson Henao. Father Nelson comes from Columbia, and this is his second time teaching here at Devon. He taught here from 2008 to 2011, while he was still in the process of deciding if he wanted to become a priest. Interestingly, Father Nelson’s story to becoming a priest is not as linear as one might expect from a religious person. There were a number of factors that led to his decision to become a priest, most importantly he felt as if something was missing from his life. “There were many factors that led to that decision. The most important piece was that at some point in my life, I was missing something inside myself,” Father said. “I was living my life. I was doing what most people were doing; working, having fun, making money, but when I was around thirty-one-thirty-two years old, I began having this conflict that I wanted to do something bigger. So I began to look for change.” Father Nelson’s search for change took around ten years. This search began when one of his friends invited him to church. He began to listen to the church’s teachings and he started to realize that God loved him and forgave him. Ultimately, Father Nelson decided to get involved in the church’s community and began attending Mass every Sunday; his role in the church began to grow, as he became more and more involved. Father realized his vocation. “I went from doing my will and living by my decisions to doing God’s will and teaching Jesus’ teachings; so I decided to become a priest,” Father said. Father Nelson’s priesthood is closely linked to his desire to teach. He attributes the Piarist Fathers and their dedication to being involved in the community by teaching as being a major aspect of his own motivation to teach younger kids. “It is a privilege to teach and preach the word of God. Not only for the youth, but for adults, too. Young people need to read and learn in our faith. Being able to work with others is amazing, and I am grateful for the opportunity,” Father said about being able to teach. This is Father Nelson’s second time teaching here at Devon. During his first stay here, he was a Deacon in the process of deciding if he wanted to dedicate his life to the priesthood. However, the Provisional sent Father to work in Miami, then in New York, and just recently, he learned he was being sent back here to teach at Devon once again. “Devon is an institution that teaches many important virtues and values; lessons we need to learn to become good people in society,” Father said about Devon. “To be successful is to be happy, and we achieve that by knowing we are helping others. Devon is great because it teaches all of these invaluable lessons; however, and most importantly, it emphasizes having a close relationship with God, a relationship that will last forever.”
APUSH it Real Good
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Devon Prep is known for its unique learning opportunities as students are able to actively take part in their learning due in large part to the many academic field trips its students take part in; the Academic Excursions Club is the model for this active and interesting learning style. “I believe there are a number of benefits to field trips. It allows the kids to truly witness what they are studying. Being present and active by experiencing the information discussed in the classroom in a new and interesting way reinforces the subject far beyond simple note taking. The Academic Excursions Club is the perfect medium for that and we hope to continue our success,” moderator Mr. Peter Haas said. On September 26, the Academic Excursions Club, in association with the upper school history courses, kicked off the year with the school’s first academic field trip. The two groups headed down the road into Philadelphia, the perfect location to study American history, and visited the Museum of the American Revolution and the Constitution Center. At the Museum of the American Revolution, students learned about the causes of the American Revolution, experienced what life was like in that time, and witnessed the crown jewel of the museum, Washington’s Tent. After their tour, they walked over to the Constitution Center, where they participated in polling booths, wore the robes of a Supreme Court Justice, and saw a presentation on the Constitution, its foundings, and history. “Our first trip of the year was a major success,” Academic Excursions Club leader Keller Mardis ‘22 said. “We had a high number of students participate, and we all learned a little bit more about the history of our great country. We are excited to build off the success of this experience and plan to schedule a few more trips by the end of the year.”
With each new school year comes a new Student Council who are given the opportunity to introduce new ideas and events for the student body. This year’s Student Council has been vocal about their plan to make Devon more than the 8:00 am to 3:00 pm experience and hope to create events that include all students, pushing Devon beyond the common school day. With this idea in mind on Friday, September 27, Devon students headed down to Citizens Bank Park to watch their hometown Philadelphia Phillies take on the Miami Marlins. With fifty students and five teachers participating, the trip down to South Philadelphia was an overwhelming success. “It was really great to see everyone having a fun time down at the game,” said Vice President, Luca Miraldi ‘20. “The rest of Student Council and I were extremely happy with the way in which everything worked out. With how busy school and life can get, it can be hard to get everyone together to just relax and hang out, so successfully getting fifty kids together at the game is a major success. We hope this can set a precedent for the rest of the year.” All students had a great time as they took advantage of the great ballpark food such as Chickie’s and Pete’s, Federal Donuts, and Tony Luke’s. Students also headed over to The Yard, Citizen Bank Park’s interactive kid’s zone. They may have been out of place among the children which The Yard was designed for, but as everyone knows, that never stops Devon kids from having fun. Together, they showed off their arm strength in the bullpen, jumped on the tiny Citizens Bank Phan Field to play some wiffle ball, and tested their marksmanship on the Hatfield Phanatic Hot Dog Launcher. There was something for everyone at the Phillies game. It will be exciting to see what other types of events Student Council has planned for the rest of the school year. With how well the Phillies game went, Sixers games, Flyers games, and maybe even an Eagles game may be scheduled for the future. Only time will tell, but we will see how it will all play out.
Ian McKnight ‘21 and Assistant Editor Zachary Fedyk ‘21
Editor-in-Chief Sean O’Reilly ‘20
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November 2019
Dialogue News
The Devon Dialogue
HoCo
Devon vs Malvern Patrick Dean ‘21
Editor-in-Chief Jack Samms ‘20
Devon Prep has been an outstanding change of setting for me. Whether it has been the school lunches, sports teams, or classrooms, Devon has been smooth sailing thus far. However, it is worth noting that my past school, Malvern Prep, was also a harmonious and collaborative school where students treat their classmates as a fellow “brother.” Therefore, based on my unique perspective of both sides, I intend to give my take on both schools. Devon and Malvern have similar ideas in teaching their students the faith and portraying the aspirations the school has for its students. At Malvern, we were taught to be brothers, as the Friars intended, and were reminded every day to follow in the footsteps of Saint Augustine. Devon Prep stirs up similar memories when it comes to our faith; however, here at Devon, the Friars of Malvern are replaced by the Piarist fathers and Saint Augustine is usurped by Joseph Calasanz. The two orders mirror one another. Therefore, I believe the two student bodies are equally virtuous in following in the footsteps of their respective orders. Sports and athletics were something that Malvern cherished and took great pride in. There is no denying their athletic success, so I’m going to leave it there. This success includes not only the actual teams, but the fans and support as well. I don’t think I’ve been at Devon long enough to determine Devon’s stature in this category, but it is difficult to equal Malvern here. Until further notice, I give Malvern the edge. The campuses also have their differences. Malvern’s campus is pretty regardless of the construction taking place there. Devon has a different, but an equally neat and modern feel to it. I prefer Devon’s campus in the colder months because I do not have to deal with freezing temperatures between classes nearly as much as I did at Malvern. However, in the hotter months, Malvern’s campus is superior. On the inside, Malvern is generally older, although their buildings differ greatly; Devon on the other hand, which was renovated recently from what I’ve heard, is noticeably more modern than Malvern. I give the edge here to Devon. It is important to emphasize how grateful I am to have been to both schools. My experience at Malvern was outstanding and has continued to stay that way here at Devon. Malvern will be missed as I left behind many of my closest friends and teachers whom I had grown to know and cherish. To end on a bright note, I can already tell that my last two years of high school are going to be a great experience and I look forward to spending that time here at Devon. The future is bright! Roll Tide!
On October 5th, members of the upper school, accompanied by their dates, gathered in Calasanctius Hall for the annual Homecoming Dance. Devon students finally cleaned up by taking showers, using deodorant, getting must needed haircuts, and finally reaching out to females. T’was a night filled with cringe-worthy dancing, mosh-pits, and sweaty freshmen standing in the corner. It was like any other homecoming, but with a twist, as Chris Supplee ‘21, better known as Young Omega, rapped live at Homecoming. This was the first time that a current student had ever performed at a Devon Prep Homecoming. “It was a crazy atmosphere, the crowd was electric, shoutout to the audience for being awesome and hype,” Young Omega remarked about his performance. Aside from the absolutely atrocious DJ, the night was Gatsby-esque. Nick Carraway and Daisy Buchanan would be proud of the way the floorboards were shaking from underneath us. It was a night where everyone had the opportunity to listen to rad tunes and sick bops, hang with friends, and have a great time. The night was one to remember, and a great last Homecoming for the Class of 2020! So as we head into our century’s own Roaring Twenties, hopefully future classes can keep up the attendance and generally great mood around this integral event.
Difficult Conversations Jake Lorenz ‘21
On September 24th, 2019, Devon Prep’s Diversity Club hosted a discussion regarding sexual misconduct and the #MeToo Movement. In an all-boys school, Devon students would not have the ability to learn something of value from the conversation unless another point of view was brought into the frame; in response, the Diversity Club invited Devon’s teaching staff to attend the meeting and to bring male, female, and adult voices to the conversation. The meeting was run in a Socratic manner, with a question being posed from a previously-sent anonymous Google Form. Then, anyone with a thought, comment, or question about the conversation was free to entertain it. With such an open and expressive format for conversation, the discussion was bound to be meaningful. The conversation was teaming with free-thought, open-mindedness, and respect. In terms of content, the dialogue didn’t hinder from being bold. Although the room’s attitude started with a modicum of awkwardness, as soon as the first couple of people started talking, that uneasy environment quickly shifted. The deep and important conversation was nothing but respectful, meaningful, impactful, and requisite for young men to have in today’s social and political culture. Devon Preparatory School is an institution for the holistic education of young men - a scope not limited to academic development. These kinds of social developments and experiences are what cultivate the men that Devon creates.
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November 2019
Dialogue News
The Devon Dialogue
Movie Review: Can You Ever Forgive Me? Christian Toglia ‘22
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a film released in 2018. It’s the story of author Lee Israel, a best-selling biographer who is best known for committing one of the greatest acts of literary forgery of the 20th century. Israel’s career started out great, she was writing biographies of celebrities like Estée Lauder, Katharine Hepburn, and many others. However sales started to decline as public interest in her type of writing dropped tremendously. She was a stubborn woman who would oftentimes be difficult to work alongside. Due to all of this, she landed into poverty and her books were known to frequent the “On Sale” display in bookstores. To pay her bills and take care of her cat’s failing health, she starts to sell letters and memoirs written by influential people of the early 20th century. Realising she can make much more money by “spicing up” the writings, she begins to add text to these letters, write her own work, and forge people’s signatures so the articles sell for much more than they should. When the FBI began to suspect something is off about these writings, a warning is put out against her to literary sellers across New York City. To evade capture and repercussion, she enlists the help of her friend, Jack Hock. Eventually they were both caught and Israel ultimately served six months under house arrest and five years of federal probation. Additionally, she was barred by most libraries and archives. She eventually supported herself financially as a copy editor for Scholastic magazines. Israel said she regrets her actions, but is proud of her forgeries. Many of her forged works have been quoted in published books as if they were authentic. One of her buyers said “She’s really an excellent writer. She made the letters terrific.” The movie is an adaptation of a memoir by Lee Israel herself, which explains her story. Lee Israel is played by actress Melissa McCarthy. It is probably the most serious role McCarthy has played throughout her career. We usually see her doing comedic roles, so I was curious to see how she would perform well doing something more serious. I believe it is safe to say she surpassed all expectations. The plot was very interesting and the lengths Israel went through to protect herself is astounding. Melissa McCarthy perfectly encompassed the emotions of Lee Israel. Israel was a stubborn and depressed woman who faced hardship throughout her life. You could see the anguish inside her when she wasn’t even speaking. The movie felt as if Israel was personally telling you her story. Melissa McCarthy was able to make you feel what Israel felt. The film was directed by Marielle Heller. Heller did a fantastic job at telling Israel’s story and at conveying the grit it took for Israel to do what she did. The script captures the sense of accomplishment Israel had when she succeeded in selling her forgeries. One of my favorite aspects about the movie is the fact that it sticks to the plot, and doesn’t add in any drama or exaggerations that book-to-movie adaptations usually have. The original book by Israel titled Can You Ever Forgive Me? was controversial upon its release. Many saying no one should buy the book because you would be supporting a convicted felon. However since the movie’s release many people are starting to ask whether it is time to forgive Lee Israel for what she had done. Overall, I think the film is great and would recommend it to anyone interested in crime, literature, and/or Melissa McCarthy. The movie is 1 hour and 45 minutes long and features a rich story filled with great acting and a terrific plot.
God’s Favorite
Cross Country Check
How would the story of Job, the Biblical figure, play out in the present day? This year’s fall drama explores this very question, as the Devon Prep theater program is performing God’s Favorite, a play loosely based on the Biblical Book of Job. Starring everyone’s favorite middle school donut eating champion Aidan Curry ‘20 as Joe Benjamin and the infamous Noah Matthew ‘22 as Ben Benjamin, the drama is sure to be a success. “Everyone has been working extremely hard in preparation for the show,” Curry said. “We hope to see everyone in attendance.” Interestingly, the fall drama is one of the few Devon events that have this hard to come by commodity: females. Girls from schools across the main line, including Notre Dame and Villa Maria, come to participate in Devon’s great show. This relationship creates an inviting and productive community for the Catholic main line schools across the area, and it is a unique aspect of the theater program that many other school organizations may hope to emulate. “I love it,” stage crew member Joey Diamond ‘22 said on the theater program’s relationship with the other schools from across the area. “Being able to hang out and meet with kids from other schools is great. Most of my friends from outside Devon have come through the theater program, and I don’t know what I would do without those relationships I have made.” This year’s fall drama will be held in Rosemont College’s Rotwitt Theater on Thursday, November 7th, Friday, November 8th, and Saturday, November 9th. Tickets for the show are available through Schoology. Please see the theater page on Devon Preparatory School’s website for more information.
With the fearless and handsome Matthew Dimaio leading the way, Devon’s cross country team is going places, and not only Valley Forge Park to run. Last season was a surprisingly good year, as the team competed in the PIAA state championship and had three runners, Jack Samms ‘20, Aidan Good ‘19, and Max Mongiello ‘22, named to the 2018 All Main Line Cross Country Team. They looked to build upon the success of last year; however, the road to success is not always so simple. The Devon Prep cross country team’s season got off to a rough start; reigning Team MVP and Captain Jack Samms ‘20 tore his hamstring, and went on to miss most of the season with injury. Without Samms and his senior presence and leadership, the team had to continue on and run with a “next man up” mentality. And that’s exactly what they did. The team placed second in District Twelve, qualifying for the PIAA State Championship in Hershey, PA. The season was filled with a number of great moments; however, the greatest of these was when Keaton Rush ‘22 ran a 18:42.50, earning him all-Catholic Honors along Max Mongiello ‘22. While the cross country team may not be recognized with a senior day or given a second thought, the Devon cross country team continues to succeed despite the many obstacles.
Editor-in-Chief Sean O’Reilly ‘20
John Riley ‘20
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Dialogue News
November 2019
House of Cards Assistant Editor Zachary Fedyk ‘21
The student council elections for the class presidencies of the 20192020 school year were, to say the least, unique. For the seniors, the always exuberant Gaetano Calafati ‘20 was the sole candidate running, earning him his class’s nomination by default. “I am really excited to be leading our grade for our Senior year,” Calafati said shortly after being elected. “I was the class Vice President in Freshman year, so I believe with my prior experience I will be able to have a successful year; which to me, means making the most memories before [our class] graduate[s].” The juniors were more competitive, as many different candidates ran for election. Matt Egan ‘21 came out victorious as he was re-elected as president, with Joey Scavitto ‘21 winning the Vice Presidency. “I am really happy that my grade turned to me once again as President,” Egan said. “I am looking forward to building upon the successes of last year with the new executive board, and I see no reasons as to why we would not be able to find that same type of success.” In the sophomore class, another field of seven different candidates took to the voting polls to determine their President and Vice President. Ultimately, Joe Perullo ‘22 and Noah Mathew ‘22 were voted in as President and Vice President, respectively. Finally, for our freshmen, four students attempted to run for office. In the end, Connor Thiele ‘23 was chosen as President, with Jameson Lanzalotto ‘23 earning Vice President with the second most votes. “I am proud to have been chosen as the president of the freshman class,” Thiele remarked. “I understand that in the high school food chain, us freshmen are the lowest on the totem pole, and that freshmen in general are seen as outsiders to the high-school realm, so my goal for the year is to change that perception of freshmen people have.” Devon Prep is looking forward to witnessing what this new year of student council has in store. Congratulations to our new Student Council members!
Mission Statement
The Road to Repeat Michael Ferry ‘21 and Paul Grycewicz ‘21
Courtesy of Heather Barry Images Simply put, Devon Prep Varsity Soccer is coming off a season of historic proportions; the team not only won their first District Championship in school history, but also made an appearance in the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs in only their first season. This year’s team hoped to build upon the success of years prior by continuing their relative success in the PCL and repeating as District Twelve Champions; however, the program experienced several changes that could make it difficult to continue their success. From losing a number of integral seniors, like Devon Prep’s all-time leading goal scorer Nick Bello ‘19, to being led by a new head coach, the burden to repeat is onerous. Head coach Tim Lazorko set the precedence early, setting forth his new vision for the entire program as a whole, hoping to instill a winning mentality and tight knit community. “We consistently talk about instilling a culture for the program that reaches far beyond this year,” Senior Captain Alex Hardie ‘20 said. “I mean, our immediate goal is to obviously repeat as District Champions, which we still have a chance to do so, but this year is really about building for the future.” After a rough start to the season, the Tide picked up back to back PCL wins over Bishop McDevitt and Monsignor Bonner. The McDevitt Lancers were no match for the team, as the Tide easily routed them in a 4-1 triumph; Sean O’Reilly ‘20, Alex Hardie ‘20, Ethan Skorup ‘21, and Jack Freind ‘22 all found themselves the back of the net, propelling the team their first league victory of the year. The momentum rolled over to their Saturday league showcase game under the lights against Bonner. Freind ‘22 again found himself on the score sheet, scoring the first goal of the game. Bonner responded with a goal of their own in the second half to tie the game at one apiece. However, late in the second half, Chris Walton ‘22 showed up big and put the Tide ahead, 2-1. “We needed a goal and I gave all I had to score the goal. I kicked the ball with my left foot from outside the 18 yard box, and I put enough on it to get it over the goalie’s head,” said Walton on his go-ahead crunch time goal. The team’s PCL schedule has come to a close, and they fell just short of the playoffs with just two league wins. “We are disappointed to miss the playoffs this year, but we aren’t ashamed of the way we played,” said head coach Tim Lazorko. “We competed everyday and frustrated a lot of teams. Opposing coaches came up to me every game telling me how impressed they were with our guys. Our ability to disrupt opposing teams and their offense and our unwillingness to roll over and quit put a lot of teams on notice. It’s tough being a small school in a big league, but we are hoping to carry our experience into the district playoffs where we finally face teams of our own size. I’m confident in our guys. It should really be interesting.” The Tide successfully repeated as District Twelve Champions defeating Masterman 3-2. They now advance to the first round of the state playoffs against Christopher Dock on Tuesday, November 5 at LaSalle College High School. Roll Tide!
The Devon Dialogue
As Devon Preparatory School’s prestigious newspaper, proudly publishing for over five decades, The Devon Dialogue works to accurately inform the Devon student body on the wide array of happenings that occur within the Devon community. Through our commitment to creating innovative, entertaining content that conveys truthful, pertinent information, we offer Devon students the unique opportunity to express themselves by showcasing their literary and artistic gifts to the rest of the Devon community. Editors-in-Chief Sean O’Reilly ‘20 Jack Samms ‘20
The Devon Dialogue
Assistant Editors Faculty Moderator Zachary Fedyk ‘21 Mrs. Samantha Desch Luca Miraldi ‘20 Kevin Walton ‘20
Joining The Dialogue’s Staff
The Devon Dialogue strongly believes that our strength as an organization lies in our diversity of thought. As such, all students of Devon Preparatory School, both middle school students and high school students, are welcome to join The Dialogue’s staff as contributors. Please contact Sean O’Reilly ‘20, Jack Samms ‘20, and Mrs. Samantha Desch for more information. All photos, unless otherwise noted, are taken by Aidan Ringewicz ‘20 or Ms. Danielle Domarasky, for the sole use of the Devon Preparatory School and its constituents. Follow us on Instagram!
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