The Dial September2017

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The voice of the student body Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591

Hudson Scholars wraps up another successful summer

Art Teacher Mark Green Opens First Solo Show

P.8 Fall sports kick off season with strong start

September 30, 2017

hsdial.org

Gender bender: Dress code moves past gender binary

By Olivia Weinberg

Photo by Bridget Barsanti The Walter Johnson Health and Wellness Center offers stunning veiws of Pickert Field and the Saperstein Arches. The gym is expected to open sometime this winter.

Walter Johnson Health and Wellness Center construction update New facility, featuring multiple gyms, 8-lane pool, fencing studio and more, expected to open this winter

By Bridget Barsanti

Director of Finance Peter McAndrew took The Dial on a tour of the gym construction.

In April and May, the concrete was poured, and the floors and roof were completed.

Everything that is going to be seen on the inside has been completed since June.

The Walter Johnson Health and Wellness Center includes eight squash courts, a fencing studio, wrestling room, aerobic center, lifting center, and an eight-lane pool.

In addition to these spaces, classrooms and spaces are being built so that new programs can be developed.

“This is an unusual building because so much of the bulding is only seriously used October through February, so outside the

varsity gyms, we have a lot of opportunity to develop new programs,” Mr. McAndrew said.

Another feature of the gym is the view glass. View glass is double-paned, and in between the two panes there is a low voltage wire you cannot see. “A coding inside the glass responds to electricity and darkens according to a sensor on the roof. There will be a computer program that looks at where we are located in terms of latitude and the darkness will vary by conditions. People will have an app that can control the darkness if they don’t like the pre-setting,” said Mr. McAndrew. The construction project is expected to be completed sometime this winter.

For example, some students feel that the rules restricting t-shirts and blue denim Gender neutral is a term that has been tossed around recently from social activists are strict. The ambiguity of the t-shirt rule to celebrities to social media. It also applies counters this thought by allowing teachers to determine whether or not a shirt remains to the modified school-wide dress code.

While the dress code remains largely the within the limits of the rules. The purpose of the dress code is to demonstrate respect same, there are a few key aspects missing.

For starters, the individual sections desig- for the school’s values, and it is up to the adnating dress for boys and girls has been com- ministration to warden what kinds of clothes bined into one general section, void of any exemplifies that respect.

School has just begun, and only time will rules designated by gender. It requires that all determine the success of the new dress code. students wear, “shirts with collars (e.g. golf The change follows suit of other schools shirts, dress shirts, rugby shirts, turtlenecks), in the Ivy Preparatory League – Riverblouses, or sweaters,” dale Country School, pants, skirts, or dresses (that do not exceed five T he biggest change Fieldston Ethical Culture School, and Horinches above the knee). [ t o t h e d r e s s c o d e ] ace Mann School all Also absent are rules about hair length, hair w a s t h e r e m o v a l o f have gender neutral dress codes. The section color, facial hair, and g e n d e r w e d o n ’ t in the Fieldston handpiercings, as well as the requirement that shirts n e e d t h e b i n a r y o f book regarding dress code states that, “All should be tucked in. boys must wear one members of the comThis movement from the binary gender system thing and girls must munity need to dress appropriately for a was made to ensure that learning environment, Hackley is a more inclu- wear anothe r which means without sive environment, where Andy King showing a lot of skin students should feel welor undergarments, and come to express their identities, and adhere to the motto: “United without displaying pictures or slogans that are likely to offend members of the commuwe help one another”.

“I am very excited to be able to dye my hair nity.” whatever color I want, or get any piercings I While dress codes like Fieldston’s allow for want (if my mom lets me). [The new dress a more general interpretation, the end goal is code] is letting us express ourselves much the same; the gender binary no longer has a more and I like that a lot,” said junior Zaya role in the schools’ dress codes.

“The biggest change was the removal of genGooding. der - we don’t need the binary of boys must Senior Javon Coleman added that he wear one thing and girls must wear another thought, “the new, gender neutral dress code because students who are questioning that or is beneficial to all students, and especially are in between shouldn’t feel another area of help guys and girls find a middle ground in pressure in their lives,” said Director of the fairness as far as what’s acceptable and what’s Upper School, Andy King. not.” He did however, express concern that, Hackley’s shift in dress code demonstrates “although [the dress code] was made to be the administration’s attentiveness towards equal for everyone and has the right idea in important matters like gender neutrality. mind, [it] still may restrict some people from The rules are always up for reconsideration, expressing their style in ways that would fit but Hackley remains a place dedicated to them better.” cultivating an inclusive environment for all.

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Michelle Crepeau takes on role of Dean of the Class of ‘21

By Bailey Griffen

With the start of the new school year, French teacher Michelle Crepeau steps into her role as dean of the Class of 2021. She enters the dean team with an ardent sense of enthusiasm and excitement for the opportunity to help guide the freshman class through the next four years.

Although this will be Ms. Crepeau’s first year as dean, she is no stranger to the Hilltop. She began her stint as a French and Spanish teacher in 1993, only taking a break to raise her four children.

During her tenure at Hackley she has acted as an advisor, coach of tennis and soccer, and assisstant to the Admissions office.

In her language classroom, Ms. Crepeau loves the chance to meet

her students on a personal level and believes that this skill set will translate well to her new role.

“Much of my class time is based on conversation, during which time I get to know my students better. In this time of screens and social media, I really emphasize the importance of talking to each other face to face, and in my class, in French. I intend to use this to get to know my students better and help them.”

Ms. Crepeau was drawn to the opportunity to mentor a class throughout their high school experience because of the opportunity it provides to engage with a group of students beyond a classroom setting. “I have loved teaching at Hackley but always felt like I missed out on getting

to know a whole grade, so when I heard about the opening for dean, I was interested.”

While her role will evolve in the following years, Ms. Crepeau views her most important responsibility as helping the freshmen transition into the Hackley community.

“For the 9th grade year, my biggest challenge is to help the students acclimate and get comfortable here, even those coming up from the middle school. I hope they will embrace our motto and start developing lifelong friendships.”

She feels fortunate to be surrounded by so much youthful energy: “I...learn so much every year from my own children and my students, and they inspire me to do my best every day.”

Read the full story on hsdial.org

Photo by Olivia Weinberg While she started teaching at Hackley in 1993, this year Michelle Crepeau has assumed the role of dean of the freshmen class. When she is not teaching or mentoring the ninth grade, Ms. Crepeau can be found reading, playing tennis, or catching the latest musical in New York City.

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September 30, 2017

Dial

Summer reading empowers students to grow as scholars and citizens

By The Editorial Board

Summer reading challenges students to grow as critical thinkers, and it also provides students the opportunity to use books as instruments of stimulation and repose during the months of summer. As students come back to the Hilltop to begin the new school year, they do so with active, healthy minds. The Dial Editorial Board believes that Hackley’s summer reading initiative is benefiting both the mental health and academic achievement of our community.

The Dial acknowledges that some students have expressed distress with required summer reading. Afterall, if reading is an act of peacefulness, why must the English Department force students into doing it? Children tend to view obligations in negative lights. Requiring students to read during the summer may thereby negatively affect the very way in which students think about prose.

Altering the way children view reading can decrease the amount of books students attempt to understand. After being asked about the effect summer reading has on the amount of books she reads per summer, freshman Cate Goodwin-Pierce replied, “I find that the number of books I read goes down because as the

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Dial staff

Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 September 30, 2017 Vol. 120, No. 1 hsdial.org Editors-in-Chief

Online Editor

Technical Editor

Lei Anne Rabeje, Olivia Weinberg Alexi Sandhu, Sydney Stoller Cosima Boettner

Section Editors

News Bailey Griffen, Matt Traum Opinion Bridget Barsanti, William Goldsmith Arts Georgia Panitz, Dylan Wade Feature Pat Walker, Lauren Ahern Lifestyles Amy Chalan, Natalie Sukhman Politics Raghav Chopra, Max Rosenblum Science & Tech Cory Gorczycki, Alexa Augustine Sports LiliAnna Khosrowshahi, Cole Wyman, Lucas Yingshyan Ku Advisers Michael Bass, Anne Budlong

Policy Opinions expressed in staff editorials reflect the majority view of The Dial Editorial Board. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not represent the views of Hackley School, its administration or its staff. The Dial invites and encourages its readers to write letters to the editor or submit contributions. Contact us at dial@hackleyschool.org. We reserve the right to edit any submission for clarity and brevity, and to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation when necessary. We refuse to publish submissions which are unsigned, libelous, or plagiarized.

Four hundred copies of each issue are distributed among the High School student body of about four hundred students and the faculty and staff.

expectations among teachers rise, I feel more pressure to analyze the text and look for literary devices, themes, etc.”.

It is true that summer reading may cause students to fret to an extreme about the nuances of the particular work they are reading, but becoming a better reader also requires one to pay more attention to such substantial elements of text in a more efficient manner. With regard to students’ perceptions of reading, English Department Chair Richard Robinson stated, “ … thoughtful student discussion about well-chosen, engaging summer texts suggests that many students seem to be stronger readers and more positive about reading after exploiting some time during the summer months to tackle texts they might not otherwise have chosen to read.”

The act of reading itself – the absorption, analysis, and application of prose – is at times a difficult, but also a rewarding endeavor.

Reading is a fantastic way of increasing one’s happiness.

An article by writer Ceridwen Dovey of The New Yorker discusses bibliotherapy, “or the ancient practice of encouraging reading for therapeutic use.” Should reading be an instrument of healing and mindfulness, summer reading may also boost student morale and improve the happiness of the Hackley community.

Ms. Dovey further discusses how reading cultivates a “pleasurable trance-like state” in readers’ brains. Such “pleasure” may even increase students’ productivity after returning from summer vacation, as content minds are surely more efficient than distressed minds.

Even students who are not fond of reading have expressed satisfaction with Hackley’s

summer reading program. “I guess [summer reading] is a negative because I don’t like to read, but [summer reading] is also a positive because it gets me to read, which is good for your brain,” said junior Ben Monroe.

Summer learning loss, or the information students lose comprehension of over the summer, affects students across the country.

According to an article in The Washington

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... thoughtful student discussion about well-chosen, engaging summer texts suggests that many students seem to be stronger readers and more postive about reading after exploiting some time during the summer months to tackle texts they might not otherwise have chosen to read.

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Richard Robinson Post written by education expert Linda B. Gambrell, extensive research has reflected that students fare better on tests that they take in the beginning of summer than the very same tests that they take just prior to the start of school.

Ms. Gambrell also notes that summer learning loss and summer reading loss, or “a decline in reading proficiency over the summer,” are tied to one another. Required summer reading is an effective way of counteracting such declines in “proficiency.” Given the direct relationship existing between declines in

Now that days of lounging by a pool or sitting on the beach and laughing with friends have come to a close, The Editors-in-Chief would like to offer a bit of advice.

Freshmen, welcome to the Upper School! Don’t worry if classes or older students seem daunting. Take time to meet people and enjoy your classes. Support your peers by attending plays, art shows, concerts, sports games, and coffeehouses. It might surprise you how much talent you are surrounded by.

Ask for help if you feel lost. Whether you are unsure of how to balance your schedule, or don’t know your way around campus, there are countless people eager and willing to assist you every step of the way.

Speak to peer and teacher advisors, a teacher or friend that you trust, or Dr. Sadler, whose office is by the modern language office. Your peer advisors are there for a reason – we promise they don’t bite! Whether you want to know what’s in dress code or how to study for your first French test, they are always just a call away!

Practice mindfulness. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to yoga classes or meditation; all it requires is that you listen to your body. Eat well, manage your time, and most importantly, sleep!

Don’t get too caught up in technology. The new iPads are exciting and will probably cut the weight of your bag in half, but look up from the screen every so often and take part in face to face human contact.

We recommend allotting yourself time every day to put your screens down. Try to make it more than a couple of minutes – go outside, read a book, or play with your siblings/pet.

Sophomores, the transition between freshman and sophomore year can be a little difficult, but don’t fret. Even if

students’ reading comprehension abilities and summer learning loss as a whole, the simple act of reading may help children be even better overall students.

Some students have stated that summer reading drives them to read additional books.

“I think that summer reading is my only motivation to read during the summer. Maybe if I enjoy a required summer reading book, I will end up reading more,” said senior Elon Middleton.

Summer reading books help provide English teachers a platform from which their classes can dive into discussion of in the opening weeks of school. Summer reading, therefore, provides English classes swift and enlightening beginnings to the year. “ … summer reading establishes from the first days an intellectual context for the rest of the year’s work, and it fosters a community of readers, writers, and thinkers,” said Dr. Robinson.

The fact that summer reading books are assigned by the English Department, not selected by students, ought to be considered.

Perhaps students would enjoy reading over the summer more if they had the chance to select their summer reading books.

While criticisms of required summer reading are indeed valid, The Dial Editorial Board believes such reading to be a valuable part of our community. Requiring students to complete work at home in the late hours of the night may also appear as a negative to some students, but such homework assignments make Hackley students even brighter. Summer reading is no different.

Illustration by Olivia Weinberg

freshman year wasn’t your best, it’s not too late to change things and put your best foot forward.

Juniors, don’t let the fear of college applications govern your life. Remember to take deep breaths. Between AP exams in May and the SATs or ACTs, there’s a lot to worry about. But don’t forget to just relax and kick back with your friends once in awhile. Grab lunch with a friend, or go out for a quick run – you’ll come back recharged and ready for any challenge that comes your way!

Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone, whether that be talking to someone new or attending a school event that you might have previously have shied away from. Join new clubs, or participate in community service activities.

Ask people to share their stories. Chances are the person who sits next to you in math class or who you share a common free with is really interesting.

Support one another. Senior year is a wild ride – from acceptances to rejections, there are so many emotions running through the halls. Be there for one another through it all. Attend one another’s Chapel Talks, or go watch the fall play – everything counts!

Take advantage of Hackley and all it has to offer. But also take time to remove yourself from the Hackley bubble and experience the world around you. We are fortunate enough to be a part of this community. So many resources are available to us that others a mere few miles away or on a different continent do not have access to.

We often allow ourselves to get wrapped up in academia, but there is so much to the world besides getting good grades and filling a resume. You will be hard pressed to find a high school lunch room that serves avocado toast (even if it was only for one day).

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September 30, 2017

The First Amendment in action:

Where does the boundary between freedom of speech and safety lie on college campuses?

By Lei Anne Rabeje

Free speech and college campuses have had a long, symbiotic relationship. From anti-war protests to the more recent campus race protests, colleges have served as environments for students to air their grievances and anger. Now the question lies in its boundaries: how can colleges balance student safety with free speech?

Upper School Director Andy King recently addressed this issue in the Opening Ceremony on September 12. In welcoming the students to the Upper School, he spoke of speech acceptable on campus and asked students to distinguish between intent versus impact.

In a sense, the role of education is to develop movers and shakers: people who question their role as ‘citizens’ of the university they attend, and who challenge/reorganize the governing powers to reflect the culture of the student body. College campuses are small, utopian societies– or a bubble– that is governed by its own students and its own school of thought.

Much like any democratic society, college campuses must then be wary of freedom of speech in their respective schools: whose voices

are being heard? Who determines whose voices are heard? And what is the role of the administration in protecting freedom of speech?

The University of Chicago Dean of Students John Ellison attempted to tackle these questions in an open letter to the Class of 2020 as they entered their freshman year in the fall of 2016. The letter attempted to counter the growing liberal bubble surrounding college campuses by banning safe spaces and “so-called ‘trigger warnings’”.

“Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own,” the letter read.

The timing of the letter coincided with the 2016 presidential election and rising racial, political, and social tensions across the nation. Across the US, college students protested controversial speakers scheduled to come on campus, and successfully prevented public figures, like Milo Yiannopoulos, from speaking.

Ironically, the very students who use their freedom of speech to voice their anger and distress are using it to prevent others to air their own opinions.

Colleges, then, are failing to uphold their own purpose: to provide

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Freedom of speech and exposure to different ideologies may be the answer to the present political, social, and racial turmoil building up across the US– and a college campus is the ideal place to participate in such conversations.

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a space for educating and discussing diverse ideologies and identities.

Following last month’s “Unite the Right” rally on the University of Virginia campus, the question of freedom of speech and safe spaces become more significant. While the event was not sponsored by the school, the setting serves as a platform for increased conversation of the role of free speech on college campuses.

Upper School welcomes new faculty to campus

More than a week before the rally, Congress partook in a three hour long discussion on free speech on campus. Civil Rights speaker Frederick Lawrence boiled the consensus down to “Hate speech is protected.

Hate crime is not.”

He continues by saying, “Constitutionally protected hate speech still causes harm to members of our community. There is a moral imperative, therefore, for campus leaders to vigorously criticize hate speech––not to suppress it, not to prohibit it, but to identify it for what it is and criticize it … University administrators also have First Amendment rights and also get to speak. So in many cases the answer is not to run to the extreme of shutting down an event.”

Freedom of speech and exposure to different ideologies may be the answer to the present political, social, and racial turmoil building up across the US- and a college campus is the ideal place to participate in such conversations. As students continue to or begin exploring their college options, College Counselor Rebecca Hall advised individuals to make educated decisions by exploring the school’s communities and

student organizations before making a final decision. “... Attending school in an area that may have political leanings different than a student’s means that students may need to be more sensitive and thoughtful in their choices of colleges. I imagine that the recent events in Charlottesville may impact some student choices and they may opt to not apply to the University of Virginia,” said Ms. Hall.

“However, if it is a concern for students, in particular for students from marginalized ethnic, racial or religious backgrounds, we encourage students to reach out to college affinity groups before making such a decision – resources such as campus Hillels, Black Student Unions, Muslim Student Associations, Latinx Student Alliances, Multicultural Resource Centers – and the students and faculty on each campus can help give more first-hand information about the campus climate.”

Like New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof said in his 2016 article “The Dangers of Echo Chambers on Campus”: “To be fully educated, students should encounter not only Plato, but also Republicans.”

By Katy Robertson

Darby Golino

New faculty member, Darby Golino is entering the Hackley community aiding Dr. Sadler with student support services. Dr. Sadler specializes in emotional support for struggling students, while Ms. Golino will be focused on helping students learn their academic strengths and weakness and how to face Hackley’s demands.

The program was the headmaster’s initiative as he wanted a learning specialist at the school, with the goal of getting students to understand their learning style. After school she will be working with Middle school students. Outside of school, Ms. Golino also enjoys exercising, reading, and traveling. She enjoys going on runs and doing PiYo and yoga. She is most excited to meet the students and explore Hackley’s unique culture.

Photo by Amy Chalan

Leila Braun

Photo by Amy Chalan

Leila Braun joins Hackley’s English department as a new 7th and 9th grade English teacher as well as a new varsity cross country coach. Ms. Braun previously worked at Culver Academy, in Indiana, teaching humanities. Ms. Braun views Hackley as very strong community and is excited to get to know Hackley students and work with them to reach their goals both inside and outside of the classroom. Having only taught at a high school Ms. Braun is interested to see how being a K-12 school contributes to the community as a whole. Along with teaching and coaching, Ms. Braun likes to spend her free time outdoors running and hiking and loves coffee. She has already visited Coffee Labs and Muddy Waters in Tarrytown for a cup.

Jed Aicher

Photo by Lauren Ahern

Jed Aicher has been a substitute teacher at Hackley in the past, but is joining the Hackley community this year as an English teacher. Mr. Aicher previously taught English at another school for four years, and has also been working as an actor and a singer. He played the role of Lenny in Mice and Men at Playhouse on Park.

In his free time, he enjoys walking his dog, but he has a daughter who keeps him occupied most of the time. He is looking forward to exploring great texts with some of the great minds at Hackley, and improving his writing skills through helping students. He is also excited for class discussions about politics as they will be very interesting and open lines of communication.

Photo courtesy of Cristina Paz In its second year, the Hudson Scholars Summer Program welcomed more students and expanded the length of the program to accomodate more activities and a richer learning environment.

Hudson Scholars program wraps up second successful year

By Amy Chalan

During the summer of 2016, the Hudson Scholars program launched its first 2 week summer enrichment program. One year later, the Hudson Scholars program continues to succeed in building a connection between the Tarrytown and Hackley School community by hosting its second summer enrichment program.

This summer from July 10th to August 4th, thirty-two Hackley students volunteered with the Hudson Scholars program to provide an educational experience for a handful of rising 6th graders from Washington Irving Intermediate School, the public middle school. In its second year, the program accepted a new group of rising 6th graders and extended the summer camp from two to four weeks.

The group of middle schoolers attended English, Drama, Art, Community Studies, Math, Physics, and Leadership classes throughout the four weeks. The classes were targeted towards fostering a love for learning amongst the scholars through engaging classes and interactive mentors.

Hackley School mentors ranged from freshman to alumni, who acted as teaching assistants during the classes and fostered a relationship with each scholar.

Mentor and junior Ella Zaslow said, “I really liked that the program is structured so that there is a good balance between academic intensity and fun opportunities to bond with the mentors in games and team building activities.”

Sophomore mentor Ben Marra added, “Each day they impressed me with their intelligence and thoughtfulness...My favorite part of the program is having older kids who are kind to them and want to help them learn, which means so much to [the scholars].”

Another change in addition to the length of the program is the weekly scheduled activity day that varied from field trips to themed days. The scholars and mentors visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and participated in a day dedicated to coding and computer programming.

Additionally, on the last day of the camp, the scholars, mentors, and teachers camped on Akin Common for the night, a Hudson Scholars tradition since last year.

Overall, the month of July on Hackley campus was buzzing with laughter and excitement from both scholars and mentors and provided an amazing connection between the Hackley and Sleepy Hollow community. Regarding the upcoming summer, Program Director and Hackley teacher, David Sykes, hopes to expand the number of students in the summer program.

Junior Mirabel Mallet says, “Having two groups of kids sounds like a great idea because they can have a group of friends from different grades that will support them in middle school and through high school.”

In addition to the summer program, the mentors can stay in touch with the middle schoolers through the Hudson Scholars club at school which is run by Mr. Sykes and club president Amy Chalan. Throughout the school year, the club provides a way for the scholars and mentors to stay connected by hosting monthly reunions and weekly homework help sessions in Tarrytown.

When asked if she recommends joining the program to incoming freshman, Mirabel said, “100%, because it’s not only a great thing for the kids, but you build relationships with the kids.

Not only do they learn from you, but you learn a lot from their creative and youthful personalities.”

4 lifestyles

The Dial‘s Back to School Playlist

By Georgia Panitz

As the school year begins to pick up, students could use a relaxing playlist to listen to while doing homework or just relaxing.

You can find the Dial spotify at www.spotify.com/hsdial.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

“No Promises”

CHEAT CODES FT. DEMI LOVATO

Dial

How to start the year with a sting

By Julia Thomson

How to stay organized and on top of your game: As you jump into the new year, it is extremely important to make sure you stay organized. Separate your work for each subject in a different binder or folder, and develop a system that works for you. Set up meetings with your teachers to help you stay on top of your assignments and tests, and take advantage of your free time. If you want to get homework done, the library and admissions hallway are great places to do so.

Keeping your health and wellness in check:

Photo courtesy of Spotify

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September 30, 2017

The month of September will still be hot and humid, so carrying a water bottle with you is a great way to stay hydrated throughout the day.

If you’re running late to school and forget to eat breakfast, bring a snack

freshmen, attend. Clubs on campus vary from community service clubs to activist clubs and much more.

In addition, if there is no club in your area of interest, you can talk to Assistant Director of the Upper School Christopher Arnold about starting your own club.

or money for the Tuck Shop. Wedged In and The Bagel Emporium are some of Hackley students’ favorite places to stop on the way to school in the mornings. In addition to eating well, it is also important to make sure you are getting at least 8 hours sleep every night to help you stay focused and attentive during class.

Becoming involved in the community: Being a part of extracurricular activities is a fun way to get more involved in the Hackley community and meet new people. The annual club fair, held on September 18th, was open for all upper school students to browse and join various clubs. It is strongly encouraged that everyone, especially

Support the Hackley Hornets by attending school events: Make sure to show school spirit by attending sports games and school events! Community Council organizes dress up days during the year and offers incentives to attend the three Stings. Going to sports games, plays, and art shows gives insight into the passions of your classmates and are a great way to meet new students. Also visit the Hornet’s Nest at the Tuck Shop to buy cozy Hackley apparel!

Illustrations by Amy Chalan

The rules of fashion: Hackley edition The Dial clears up confusion surrounding new dress code regulations

“Rollin”

CALVIN HARRIS FT. FEATURE AND KHALID

“What You Know” TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

Blouses with a modest neckline are in dress code.

Her plain cotton T shirt is out of dress code.

“You May Be Right” BILLY JOEL

“Round Here”

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

“Take It Easy”

THE EAGLES

Her stylish, bluedenim jacket is out of dress code.

“Silence”

Her black jeans are in dress code.

MARSHMELLO FT. KHALID

“Jet Airliner”

STEVE MILLER BAND

Her black jeans are in dress code.

“Higher Ground”

ODESZA FT. NAOMI WILD

“Snow (Hey Oh)” RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

“Fast Car (Radio Edit)” JONAS BLUE FT. DAKOTA

“The Cure”

LADY GAGA

“Say You Won’t Let Go” JAMES ARTHUR

“Still Writing Songs About You” OLD DOMINION

“Dreams”

FLEETWOOD MAC

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje

Taking Stock Around Campus Keeping track of the rising and falling trends

By Amy Chalan and Natalie Sukhman

Gender neutral restrooms are among the many changes this year Fo r m e r l y a f a c u l t y restroom, a gender neutral restroom is now featured on the bridge between Raymond Hall and the Goodhue Library. Sophomore Leah Holmes said, “I think it was a good addition to our school and I’m happy people who identify with that have a safe space and feel like they are comfortable in their own space.”

HPA increases Tuck Shop prices The HPA has increased prices in the Tuck Shop, raising the former $1 general price for most of the candy and snacks to $1.25. Junior Frances Schaeffler says, “I understand that they wanted to deter the purchasing of the unhealthy snacks for kids, but it’s rather inconvenient that they didn’t tell us last year, and I think that people aren’t going to the Tuck Shop for a healthy snack anyways.”

Students continue to show school spirit at Fall Sting and other events

Complaints continue over restricted access to Netflix on school WiFi

Upper school students ranging from freshmen to seniors, showed their intense school spirit at the recent Fall Sting, on September 15th. Seniors dressed up in bodypaint, costumes, and distributed silly string and noisemakers to underclassmen during the concluding event of the Sting, the football game.

L a s t s c h o o l ye a r, t h e administration made changes to the accessibility of certain websites over student WiFi. Students continue to harbor complaints over their inability to access Netflix over student WiFi. However, this restricion does allow for better internet speed in school for academic use.

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September 30, 2017

Students explore artistic interests through summer music programs

By Ella Jones and Julia Thomson

Over the summer, many Hackley students were able to explore their passions for the arts outside of the classroom. Maggie Broaddus, Oren Tirschwell and Madi Schwartz had opportunities to do so, pursuing their interests in various arts through different summer programs in the Tri-State Area.

Sophomore Maggie Broaddus attended a Jazz workshop at The Calhoun School, an independent K-12 school in New York City.

Maggie has been playing Jazz guitar for six years and is an experienced and devoted player. She felt the program helped develop her soloing and chord changing skills. “I would definitely recommend the program to any aspiring Jazz musicians. The Calhoun School had a great staff to work with and I learned a lot,” said Maggie.

Maggie noted that the program was simultaneously intense and fun, and that the performance at the end of the week was a great opportunity for each student to improvise. Maggie described the performance as “stressful but a great way to show the new skills we learned that week.”

Maggie has performed at both Bridge and Tunnel and Coffeehouse

performances during her freshman year and she looks forward to continuing to share her music with the Hackley community using the skills she used this summer. Maggie loves playing and performing guitar because “There is no point where you can’t learn more, you can always improve.”

Senior Madi Schwartz also felt she had more to learn when she enrolled in a filmmaking class at the New York Film Academy. Madi had little experience behind the camera before enrolling, and was looking to expand her knowledge and explore her passion for filmmaking. “It was fun, yet challenging,” described Madi. She improved her filmaking skills working on weekdays from 9-5 for three weeks in July. During the first week of the course, Madi spent time mastering various filmmaking techniques. From there, she moved on to making her own movies.

While filming Madi feared that her ideas would not be portrayed on the screen as she imagined. “Long hours were spent on set… while we were editing our films I realized that it would all come together.” By the end of the program, Madi had planned, directed, and edited two movies herself.

Photos Courtesy of Madi Schwartz and Maggie Broaddus Left: Madi Schwartz spent three weeks this summer taking a class at the New York Film Academy and produced two films. Right: Maggie Broadus spent three weeks at The Calhoun School in New York Cityworking on her guitar and improvising skills.

The course focused specifically on visual storytelling, or making films without any dialogue. “This meant that we had to learn how to express emotion and show plot twists without using words,” said Madi. Using this tactic, Madi was able to create a film utilizing the actor’s expressions as well as the film’s soundtrack to tell a story. In addition to a movie with no dialogue, she used a narrator in her second film which enabled her to create another layer of dimension.

Madi’s favorite film of the two features two girls wandering a bookstore who find themselves eyeing the same rare book. A tug of war breaks out and it’s left to the film’s narrator to solve the conflict. “I don’t suppose you could share it?” chides the narrator. Reluctantly they agree to share the book, and the film ends with an upbeat song, as the two have found a way to get along.

While filming, Madi and her fellow classmates had free range of New York City, as long as they asked for permission from their teacher ahead of time. This opportunity

gave Madi and her classmates an extreme sense of independence and freedom. “Filming in NYC is really an amazing experience,” she said.

Through these three weeks at the Film Academy, Madi was able to expand her knowledge of filmmaking and use intricate techniques that furthered her interest in the subject.

Sophomore Oren Tirschwell traveled to Englewood, New Jersey from Dobbs Ferry to work at a music camp for one week. Inspired by his love of cello and music in general, Oren helped young musicians ages 4-14 further develop their musical techniques. During the day he worked with the junior ensemble, who were ages 4-7, and played music with them while also helping them correct parts of the songs they were struggling with.

When campers were falling behind or having trouble with the music, the camp directors turned to Oren to give them one on one lessons. “It was tough,” he said, “Sometimes we would have to go

over a section a hundred times before they got it right.”

The director of the camp, Amelia Gold, shared a quote from Martin Luther King with Oren and the other counselors on the first day, explaining that it encompassed her goals for the week. The quote reads: “We’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we haven’t learned to walk the earth as brothers and sisters.” Although the camp revolved around musical development, Oren said, “she wanted us to come together as one unit and one musical community, and walk the school like brothers and sisters, like equals, and as people who all have a common goal of making amazing music.” Oren felt that working at the camp was rewarding in that it made him a better and more versatile player, and was a learning experience for both him and the campers.

Photos courtesy of Gross McCleaf Gallery Mark Green drew inspiration for his pieces from his experiences growing up with his father who was an architect, and from French philosopher Gaston Bachelard’s book The Poetics of Space.

Art teacher Mark Green opens first solo show in Philadelphia

By Natalie Sukman

The majority of Hackley students are familiar with Upper School art teacher Mark Green’s sunny disposition and friendly nature.

While people may know him to help students with their works, he also spends time creating his own paintings which were recently featured in his recent solo exhibition with Gross McCleaf in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Green’s show featured his most recent works about which he remarked, “All of the paintings depict some kind of house or

architectural structure. They are mostly invented from drawings I make from observation and memory.

They are recombinations of houses I’ve seen, creating hybrids.”

While this isn’t his first show by any means, complications still do arise. Green says his two most prominent difficulties were the pressure of the time constraint given by the gallery, and some unexpected framing issues that impacted the completion of the work.

When asked about how he dealt with the time constraint, Green said “Usually, with advance notice, an artist will have up to two years

to produce new artwork for an exhibition. I was offered this

“

They are mostly invented from drawings I make from observation and memory.

They are recombinations of houses I’ve seen, creating hybrids.

”

Mark Green particular show date quite late so the majority of the paintings were made from April through August.

As a result, the paintings were somewhat rushed to completion.”

Green has been passionate about art from a young age and has been painting and drawing architectural structures for quite a number of years. On how he was inspired for the pieces he submit in the show, Green said, “My father was trained as an architect and designed the home I grew up in. Later, while living in France, I became inspired by the work of the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard and his book, The Poetics of Space.”

This show in particular is meaningful to Green because it is his

first solo show. He says he is usually included in shows with several other artists based upon a larger theme.

Like any artist, Green is very critical of his work. When asked about his favorite piece, he replied, “My favorite piece is always the one I am working on. After I finish painting, I don’t want to see it again.

I paint for the experience, not the product.”

Along the same lines, Green said, “Painting is a need that fuels and recharges my artistic motivations, making me a better artist and teacher.”

6 politics

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September 30, 2017

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Hackley responds to rise in extremist messages and political violence confronting America

By Max Rosenblum

N

eo-Nazis chant “Jews Will Not Replace Us,” d e m o n s t r a t o r s a re throwing rocks at police, white supremacists preach hate against African-Americans, and protest attendees are engaging in violent street brawls – that’s what the United States has come to in 2017.

Throughout the past year, the US has seen an uptick in hate group activity, which has sparked a variety of responses – some controversial.

White supremacist hate groups have become active in the past year, not only during the recent August attack in Charlottesville, but during a previous Charlottesville rally in July, in addition to rallies in Gettysburg, PA, and Alabama this summer. As a result of white supremacist activity, a group of antifascists, called ANTIFA has also become prominent.

In the wake of the Charlottesville attack,Hackley students and faculty responded to the rise of political extremism and violence with wisdom and insight.

The August 12 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia became fatal this past month when James Alex Fields Jr., an alleged Neo-Nazi, plowed a car into a crowd of counter-protesters. His actions killed one woman and injured 19 others. The violence that perpetrated throughout the protest left three dead and 34 injured in total.

Although some conservative gatherings labeled as “Freedom Rallies” and “Free Speech Rallies,” have denounced violence and hate, others, like the Unite the Right Rally, entertained a substantial amount of alt-right groups.

Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center explains, “In all the years that we’ve been track-

Photo courtesy of the Wkimedia Commons The Unite the Right Rally faced criticism for promoting hate speech and bigotry.

Photo courtesy of the Daily Wikimedia Commons As hate speech reenters the spotlight in national politics, Hackley considers its own efforts to protect diversity and free speech.

ing, we’ve never seen this many of these groups everywhere, and we’ve never seen their ideas penetrating the mainstream in the way they are.”

She found that in 2017, there are more than 900 hate groups, two-

thirds of which “subscribe to ideals of white supremacy.”

Along with the rise of alt-right extremist groups has been the rise of ANTIFA, a collection of antifascist groups to counter the rise of

extremist groups they perceive as fascist or racist.

These ANTIFA groups share one main goal, as a member of the Rose City (Portland, OR) ANTIFA put it in an exclusive CNN interview: “ANTIFA is any group that’s willing to stand up against fascists by any means necessary.” Street fighting, vandalism, and other acts of violence are included in the phrase “by any means necessary.”

Looking to the impact that the recent political violence and extremist messages might have on campus, Mr. Wirtz, Hackley’s headmaster, explained, “Hate and bigotry have no place on our campus or in our community. My sense is that students, families, and faculty and staff are attracted to Hackley for these attributes and dedicated to ensuring their continuity.”

He mentioned that the faculty have resources available to them concerning bigotry and hate, and have been told “not to shy away from the issues surfaced by these events as they arise in class or in conversation.”

Mr. Teacher and Ms. EK, Upper School Diversity Coordinators, gave insightful comments surrounding hate and bigotry, and their place or lack thereof at Hackley: “I think our student body knows not to go spray paint swastikas in a bathroom, or call someone the n-word. Those are obvious examples of very malicious intentional acts that should be avoided. However, there are whole other levels of actions/sayings that are significantly less maliciously intended or overt – they may be even subconscious – and they are much harder to identify and avoid.”

The two articulated that even though hateful and bigoted comments, even the most subconscious, are sometimes said, “that still does not make them okay.”

In addition, Mr. Arnold, in his new position as Upper School Assistant Director, explained, “I don’t think it’s possible for the events in Charlottesville to happen and for people to not have strong reactions or feelings of fear, confusion, worry, anger, etc.”

In response to the Charlottesville attack, the leaders of the Hackley Conservatives jointly stated: “This is obviously a horrible event. As

“

Hate and bigotry have no place on our campus or in our community. My sense is that students, families, and faculty and staff are attracted to Hackley for these attributes and dedicated to ensuring their continuity

”

Head of School Michael Wirtz with many of these incidents it only takes one person to cause a forever lasting atrocity.” When asked about the removal of confederate statues, the original controversy of the Charlottesville rally, they responded, “In our opinion the reasons to keep the [Confederate] statues outweigh the ones to remove them.”

Although the rise of political extremism throughout the United States can be concerning to many, Hackley is a school founded on strong ideals of good character.

Instead of worrying about hate and bigotry on Hackley’s campus, Hackley’s administrators, as Mr. Arnold put it, “hope to foster an environment where people can have a discussion to understand why others may have beliefs different from their own.”

Offensive language on Hackley’s campus: Administration clarifies changes in the Student Handbook

By Jared Tilliss

I

n the United States, the balance between free speech and peaceful coexistence is tenuous right now. Even so, Hackley strives to be a place where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and opinions. At the same time, as the 2017-2018 academic year kicks off, Hackley administrators are reminding students that its code of ethics and virtues extends to language on campus as well.

Hackley administrators have conducted a careful review of the Student Handbook and clarified the guidelines surrounding the casual use of offensive language on school grounds.

The change is intended to promote the school’s highest virtues: respect and kindness for all.

Head of School Michael Wirtz explained, “Each year, we review the handbooks to ensure that our policies make sense and continue to fit our educational philosophy.” Upon this year’s review, Hackley has developed a clearer, more focused rule regarding the use of offensive language.

Chris Arnold, Hackley’s Director of Student Life, explained that the clarification formally states that students may not use offensive language “deliberately to be offensive or even casually without [good] intent.” What constitutes offensive language can range from sexist,

racist, and homophobic slurs to curses to any deliberate attack on a person. Mr. Arnold furthers that the addition simply makes “explicitly clear

what had already been implicitly clear”, which is that offensive language is never tolerated on campus.

According to Mr. Wirtz, the clarification was made for one main purpose: to “articulate the school’s expectation that the casual use of offensive language is inappropriate, regardless of intent.” Mr. Arnold concurs, stating that “the school needs to be a place where every student should feel respected.”

Mr. Wirtz believes that students will respect and follow the new change. “Hackley is filled with articulate, funny, savvy, intelligent students”, he said. “Based on that observation, I believe that students will respect such poli-

cies, holding themselves and their friends to higher standards.” Mr. Wirtz added, “Our hope is that this policy helps students realize the power of their words.”

Mr. Arnold recognizes that words are very powerful and can hurt when used in an inappropriate fashion. That being said, he wants to make sure that free speech is something that is always valued by the Hackley community.

This balance is difficult to create, but it is something that Hackley takes very seriously and will continue to explore in the upcoming years.

Students’ initial reactions seem to be tolerant yet skeptical of the new clarification.

Sophomore Luke Malcolm explains that, “it may not be the best idea to restrict offensive language in schools, because once everyone enters the real world,

words will hurt even more”. In addition, sophomore Alston Liu said, “Sometimes offensive language expresses how I’m really feeling at the current moment”. This opinions seem to demonstrate the collective student perspective that words shouldn’t be restrained and are part of a school’s fabric.

There are still some grey areas surrounding the clarification that will need to be addressed. Students may wonder if, like the drug and alcohol policies, the offensive language rule extends from off-campus events to athletic competitions.

For any specific questions, Mr. Arnold and Mr. Wirtz are available and are always happy to help.

Hackley hopes that the new change will act as a proper compromise between preserving free speech and limiting offensive language. Ultimately, Hackley will continue to promote its motto, “character is always higher than intellect”.

Illustraion by Dylan Wade

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science & technology 7

September 30, 2017

Middle School students receive Chromebooks for academic work

By Sydney Stoller

Hackley School is implementing a new technology program for middle school students this fall. Each sixth grader will receive their own Chromebook in September, and will use this technology in their classes as an educational tool.

Similarly, Upper School students have been given iPads to use throughout their high school years. This initiative supports Hackley’s attempt to become a more eco friendly community, with the end goal being to go completely paperless.

The addition of Chromebooks to middle school classrooms is beneficial to not only the environment, but also both the students who use the laptops and the teachers who instruct them.

A paper written by Kevin Costley, a professor at Arkansas Tech University, outlines the many ways in which technology in the classroom creates positive experiences for students: “Technology causes students to be more engaged; thus, students often retain more information [from their classes].”

Costley continues by explaining that laptops and other devices provide opportunities for students to be involved in hands-on situations that can be integrated throughout every subject.

Finally, because of the growing role that devices such as Chromebooks have in the world

outside of school, the paper also mentions that introducing these gadgets early on is crucial to students being able to find jobs once their formal education is complete.

Using laptops in the classroom is also advantageous for teachers because it allows

“

A lot is changing in academia, and devices are helping us to do good work and to get the job done….

Many of them [the students] are using personal devices already - from cellphones to computers. We want to build some education around their use of the technology to give them a stronger foundation.

”

Cyndy Jean

able students to learn material independently, therefore giving them time to help those who are struggling. An article published online by Capella University reinforces this idea by stating that, “Using technologies like virtual lesson plans and internet resources can help free up time — both in developing and delivering curriculum.”

Middle School Principal Cyndy Jean explains that Chromebooks will change classroom learning in that they give students more opportunities to take ownership of their education. This entails organizing their own Google Drive and Gmail accounts and collaborating with their peers, rather than just asking the teacher for help.

In addition to allowing more one-on-one time with teachers, this technology is slowly eliminating the use of textbooks and worksheets.

Transitioning Hackley to a paperless community is a crucial step in a world where saving the environment has become a top priority. The average high school student at a New York City school uses 28 pounds of paper a year, which is neither environmentally friendly nor cheap.

Ms. Jean has high hopes for the technological and potentially paperless future of the school and remarks that “A lot is changing in academia, and devices are helping us to do good work and to get the job done….Many of them [the students] are using personal devices already - from cellphones to computers. We want to build some education around their use of the technology to give them a stronger foundation.” Chromebooks offer Middle School students the foundation that they need in order to be successful both in the classroom and outside of it.

New innovative makerspace coming to Saperstein

By Bridget Barsanti

The Middle School is building a Makerspace, which represents an advancement of Hackley’s curriculum.

The Maker movement has been growing for over a decade, with a focus on constructivist and constructionist skills, as well as experiential learning. This reflects the idea that deep student learning can take place through physical experimenting and doing.

In the Makerspace, the students will identify an issue they wish to explore. They research and then design or build towards a solution.“During and following the build phase, the idea is to be open to constant revision and iteration so that many

design changes take place until the best outcome is realized. This idea can be expanded and implemented across the curriculum through a wide variety of activities. This has been a driving philosophy behind our makerspace,” said Mr. Tusch.

The space will not resemble a classroom, but a workroom. The furniture will allow for work with light woodworking, 3D printing, laser etching and cutting, foamboard, cardboard, textiles, electronics, microcontrollers, robotics, etc. This space will be utilized by History, Science, Math, English, Computer, and Visual Arts classes; lower, middle, and upper school classes will all be welcome in this space.

The new Makerspace will include many new features such as 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering stations, and a wall that students can write on. This addition to Hackley will allow for the Hackley curriculum to become more interactive and allow students to use their imagination to create things.

Jack Chen created an app that makes handling daily tasks easier

By Cole Wyman

Take note! “List Easy”, an app developed by junior Jack Chen, makes everyday activities such as splitting a bill at a restaurant and creating a grocery list much easier.

The app is a similar alternative to the default notes app, which Jack believes lacks the option of creating an easy-to-read list. Jack solved this problem in List Easy by having the format cater more to a list than everyday notes, as well as including the calculator to assist with prices, allowing users to calculate without toggling between the notes app and the calculator app.

Jack started his programming career in 5th grade on a lego robotics team, which combines programming and engineering. Jack found himself enjoying the programming aspect of it more, which he continued to explore through Hackley’s Introduction to Computer Science class. Now, Jack has completed two

years of computer science courses at Hackley, serves as the programmer for his robotics team, and has spent many summers at programming camps.

This summer Jack attended the Make School Summer Academy, a computer science program where he spent eight hours a day learning and building the code for his app.

The program was generally hands off and Jack spent most of the day working on his own with instructors there to answer potential questions.

In his time at Make School he spent the first three weeks learning Swift syntax, the programming language used to build apps. In the following weeks, he spent his time building the app itself.

Jack has plans for the future to both update his current app to make it profitable and more convenient as well as start building new apps. “I don’t want to put ads on my app, because I think those are intrusive, and my app is made for simplicity

and I don’t want to cover the screen with an advertisement. I plan on having a customization screen, so if you pay a dollar you can change the color and look of the interface.”

In the near future, Jack has plans to not only allow in app purchases, but to also include features such as image support, a search bar, and more. Jack also plans to create new apps in the future, the idea is “an event planner app - basically, a user can create a profile and a group, and invite friends to it. From there, people can add events or things they want to do to the group, and people can mark if they are currently available to do the thing right now, or later.”

Jack recommends people of all ages to get involved in programming because although seeming daunting, learning to program is manageable and enjoyable. Jack feels coding is especially manageable because there is a large community of help online to ask questions.

Graphic by Dylan Wade

App of the Month:

Venmo

By Cory Gorczycki

Similar to PayPal or Square Cash, Venmo is a money transfer app that allows users to transfer funds to cover shared expense, like restaurant bills.

Additionally, Venmo offers a social network capability which adds to its appeal.

When a Venmo user transfers funds, the transaction can be displayed in the app’s social feed a feature that many users find enticing.

Venmo users can make their transactions private by opting out of the social feed; some users prefer to make their transactions public since Venmo provides the app with a Twitter-like feel so users can view friends or family making a transfer or just see amusing notes in transactions between strangers.

Adding a social platform to the app where users post emojis and inside jokes makes money transfer fun, which has increased Venmo’s market share versus its competition.

Venmo is free to use with a debit card, a Venmo balance or a bank account; the only cost to the user is a 3% processing fee if a credit card is used.

Venmo holds safety as an utmost priority; along with a customer service feature, the app uses data encryption to protect against fraudulent transfers.

In the future, banks will try to compete as they will want to provide the same money transfer feature without a user incorporating an outside service like Venmo.

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Jack Chen continues to develop new features for the app, including adding images to the list.

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Making shoping lists is just one of the benefits of using List Easy over the conventional note taking.

8 sports

September 30, 2017

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New faces Fall athletes and coaches look forward to on the successful seasons coaching Girls Soccer staff

By Julia Thomson, Sofia Graziano, and Jordan Miller

Teams welcome new coaches for this fall season

By Annabel Ives

Varsity Girls’ Soccer kicks off the year with a strong start after bonding during preseason.

Varsity coaches Natalie Hopp and Cassandra Sekkas are excited for the season ahead.

“This year we have a great, athletic soccer based team and I know that they’re confident and willing to do anything to be successful,” said Hopp. To stay focused and committed, Hopp encourages the team to remain competitive and use the NYSAIS championship as motivation.

The 2017-2018 school year also brings a new prolonged tryout with two sets of cuts. The

first cut decided whether players were strictly on the JV team, or asked to play in the varsity scrimmage, allowing the coaches to see players in a game situation. After the two scrimmages, the coaches finalized the teams for the upcoming season.

“This system was put into place because they’re a strong bunch of returners as well as young players,” Coach Sekkas explained. This gives prospective varsity players time to show their skills and set themselves apart.

The future looks bright for girls soccer as they embark on another season.

Football

By Dylan Wade

Photo courtesy of Grace Rubin

From Indiana to New York; New assistant cross country coach, Leila Braun Leila Braun steps onto the track as the new assistant cross country coach. She is transitioning from Culver Academy in Indiana, where she also coached cross country.

Though she did not run in college, as she was a NCAA level fencer, Braun possesses great knowledge of the sport. Braun feels that preseason is important because of the difficult double conditioning sessions as well as the team bonding it provides.

This ensures the team is prepared for the season ahead. She is encouraged by the level of experience many of the runners have along with the strong leadership of the senior runners. On cross country, Braun said “You need to fall in love with the process. It’s not about the results, it’s what you put into it.”

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Senior captains Javon Coleman and Michael Hoffman step into new leadership roles for the season.

Cross Country

By David Ben-Ezra

The cross country team hit the ground running with a two-week preseason where they focused on building endurance, flexibility, and strength. This year, the team is led by coaches Seth Karpinski, Dawn Crainer, and new faculty member Leila Braun, as well as senior captains Connor Larson, Ben Moskow, Bailey Griffen, Caroline Stevenson, and Julia Stewart-Wood.

A favorite part of the preseason routine is the annual scavenger hunt in which runners are di-

By Jimmy Hefter

Field Hockey Back at the Hilltop: Darnell Davis ’10 returns as new assistant football coach Darnell Davis is the new football coach this year, and he has returned to the Hilltop after graduating 7 years ago. Davis started playing football in 7th grade at Hackley and “loved it”. He played running back and safety for four years for “the legendary Coach Pick”, then moved on to play college football at Muhlenberg College. Now, as a 25-year-old, he decided to return to “[his] roots, which is football”. He has been welcomed back with open arms, especially from the teachers who taught him when he was a student. Davis, though young, has already gained the respect and trust of his colleagues, which allows him to use the drills and training that he learned in college to “fine tune [the football player’s] technique.”

vided into five teams and run through Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow to try and complete a series of challenges.

Although the team lost several key members that graduated last year, this year’s runners have a positive outlook on the season ahead, especially with the addition of 13 freshmen boys. As the seniors look to impart wisdom on these younger runners, a team goal accomplished through group runs and strength workouts, senior captain Connor Larson advises them to “push yourself to be the best you can be and strive for improvement, but at the same time have fun and enjoy the time with your friends.”

Boys Soccer

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Goalkeeper, Patrick Schulman looks to distribute after a save.

Photo courtesy of Grace Rubin

As the new school year begins, the Hackley Football team is getting a head-start to another successful season with senior captains Chad Lasseter, Javon Coleman, Sam Goldberg, Michael Hoffman, and Will Waterhouse leading the way.

As a senior, Chad brings his years of experience to the field hoping to inspire the returning and new players. Because this is his fourth year on the team, he is used to strenuous days on Pickert Field. “So far preseason has been pretty grueling,” Chad said, “The team has come along and we have had struggles, ups, and downs.” The ups include being with friends and the competitive

By Lauren Ahern

Work hard, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and figure out why you love being here is Varsity Field Hockey Coach Jenny Leffler’s advice to her players.

The coaches love the enthusiasm and energy the girls have. “We can have a lot of really great talented players, but the only way we are going to be a really successful team is if we all want to be here for the same purpose and we support each other,” Leffler said.

Despite losing eight seniors last year, the boys soccer team is pumped to get back on the turf for the 2017 season. While the departure of last year’s seniors may present some challenges, the large presence of underclassmen will hopefully surge the team to another successful year.

John Gillard, the highly praised coach of the Hornets, is optimistic about the team’s prospects this season. Coach Gillard said, “... every year you lose four to five seniors, so we are used to having to replace those as part of the process. Luckily this year we have a lot of young players who are fitting The team was 1-1 two weeks into their season, winning against Riverdale Country School 8-1 at the Fall Sting. They are currently 2-2 with their recent win over Holy Child.

Captains Ellie Arnold, Lexi Schechter, and Nicole Heyward look forward to leading the team to success this season. “It’s nice to show what I’ve learned to younger players,” said Nicole. “It’s such a community… you won’t get that other places.”

Field Hockey involves lots of stick work and endurance, making it a challenging and high intensity sport.

Girls Tennis

By Tommy Larson

Photo by Natalie Sukhman Senior captains Cosima Boettner and Alex Hayward look foward to more team-bonding experiences.

The Hackley Girls Varsity Tennis team can’t wait to get back out onto the court for the 2017 fall season. It is shaping up to be a huge year for them as they only lost two seniors from their starting lineup, and added three more players to the team.

Coach David Sykes has very high expectations for the team. “This year’s girls are a particularly committed group. They are always working their hardest, competing in every single match, striving to improve, and playing smart tennis. Further-

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Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Senior Laura Walter-McNeill looks to lead the team in another successful season for Varsity Girls’ Soccer.

atmosphere, while the downs are early mornings and running.

Their rocky start to the season does not stop the players from working hard. The team gets through the tough practices by remembering that they will be rewarded by winning games.

As one of the seniors, Chad takes on the role of a leader. “I’ve always wanted to be a team captain,” he said “I’ve worked hard to get to this point and there is a lot of pressure.” Captain Lasseter gave advice to the younger players, “Don’t quit...you will progress a lot throughout your years at Hackley. Always stick with it.” The team looks forward to a successful season that will fittingly end the captains’ Hackley careers.

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Senior captains Caroline Stevenson and Bailey Griffen lead the cross country squad looking to build on the past years’ successes.

right in, so I think with the new young talent, we can replace those seniors to some degree.”

Gillard believes that Riverdale and Poly Prep will be their two biggest competitors. The team is also facing up against the tough out-of-league rival, Masters, in their second game of the season, losing 4-3 the previous year.

Star forward and co-captain junior Matt Braver believes that the offensive approach will change because they lost a large group of talented players, he remains hopeful that new freshmen will be valuable assets to the team this year. “We lost a lot of players last year… but we have a lot of good young players and I think they will fill in where the old players are lost,” he said.

Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Gabrielle Caramanica and Jesse Bard fight for possession during pre-season practice. The team posted an 8-1 win over Riverdale at the Fall Sting.

more, they are an unbelievably fun, supportive, and spirited team,” he said.

As well as regularly practicing, the team has had fun bonding experiences in preseason. They went to New York City to watch a U.S. Open match, as well as going to the Gypsy Trail Club in Carmel, New York, to relax and spend time with each other.

Leah Holmes, a sophomore on the team, stated, “We have strong expectations for the team especially after making it to the semi finals last year.”

The team should be fun to watch this year with both veteran leadership and young talent. Make sure not to miss out on the action and excitement by watching their home games.