Diller Street Journal - Issue 6

Tribute to Mr. Randolph

Bend and Snap

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The Diller Street Journal Tuesday, May

14th,

2013

310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL, 60093

Vol.1 #6

Year in Review Nick David ’15 This school year has been a historic year for North Shore Country Day School. From the resurrection of The Diller Street Journal to winning a state championship in golf, the 2012-2013 semesters were great for North Shore.

For Upper School students, academics began on August 28th. However, the true start of the North Shore year was on August 8th when sports practices for golf and football began, followed by the start of cross country, field hockey, volleyball, and soccer seasons on August 13th. Shortly after, the Upper School went on their annual Outdoor/Civic Ed trips.

The fall season led to many successes for North Shore athletics. Golf won the state championship for the 2nd year in a row, with the help of seniors Nick McCall, Andrew Bedford, and David Blechman.

Field hockey continued their past successes by finishing in the Elite 8 in the IHSFHA with a narrow loss to Lake Forest High School, who went on to become State Champions.

Soccer had a great season and won sectional games against Roycemore, Northridge Prep, and Noble Street Charter before losing to Francis Parker in the Sweet 16. Football made the playoffs for the 3rd straight year.

Volleyball also had a good season, finishing in the IHSA Regional Semi-Final. The cross country boys’ team made it to sectionals for the second year in a row, and individual girls advanced to sectionals.

Photo by Brent Rolfes ’16

Many new teachers came to the School, including Upper School Chemistry Teacher Ms. Ryder and Upper School English Teacher Mrs. Giffen.

This year saw the full resurrection of the DSJ. The DSJ was around in previous years and met last year, but there were no issues published in the 2011-2012 school year; so 2012-2013 was when the DSJ became a fulltime publication, publishing a total of six issues.

Additionally, 2012-2013 had many popular interim trips including a service trip to New Orleans and a trip to France.

Like the fall teams, winter sports teams had a successful run. The 2012-2013 winter sports season saw the creation of a bowling team at North Shore, whose season concluded with a win over Westminster Christian.

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Prompourri

Letter from the Senior Editors Annie Murnighan ’13 and Ilia Labkovsky ’13 Dear faithful readers, occasional readers, pity readers, and passionate non-readers, This is it. The end is near. Some may call it the end of an era, the fall of an epic dynasty, or the passing of a sacred torch, but for us, it is simply goodbye.

We began this journey as naïve idealists, hoping to rebuild what was once a somewhat esteemed newspaper from the ground up. For a year we talked of endless newsprint and Wellness periods free of exotic bodily torture; we envisioned a world where skinny newsies boys ran through the halls each month shouting, “Extra! Read all about it,” donning suspenders and newsboy Kangols with enough flair to make LL Cool J quake with envy.

Additionally, both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams had great seasons. Boys’ basketball made it to the State’s Sweet 16 with seven standout senior players. Girls’ basketball also had a great season, making it to the Section Semi-Final. Meanwhile, winter track broke multiple school records.

March 5th saw the first snow day at North Shore since 2011. Many students enjoyed having a break from school and having fun in the snow.

Additionally, April 18th saw a very rare “Rain Day” at North Shore when school was cancelled because of flooding. Experts called it the biggest rain storm in recent years in Chicago, and many streets, yards and basements were flooded, including part of the workout room at North Shore.

Matt Griffin ’14

Our ambitions, of course, were a bit beyond reality, but after endless hours of meetings and consultations, we crafted a publication far greater than our expectations.

What grew from our Frankenstein-esque first drafts was a group of hard-working, talented writers and editors we never dreamed to have on staff.

From this combined effort, valiantly supervised

by Ms. Kat Clark, we witnessed a rebirth of The Diller Street Journal, and a concrete testament to the result of hard work and determination.

Looking back on all the late nights and long lunch periods spent in Leicester Hall or surrounded by our growing staff in US Room 024 makes it even more

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Another school year has led to another fun and successful prom. Being a junior, I had a hand in helping set up the dance. Looking back on it now, I think I have some wisdom to impart on you rising juniors who will be preparing things in the nottoo-distant future. Because things can seem a little nerve-wracking, and I can tell you the lessons I’ve learned from my experience planning prom.

Now, I know what you’re going to say: “Matt, you never went to a single Prom Committee meeting! You’re not a helpful student! You’re not experienced! You’re just taking credit for the hard work of others!” And to those cruel allegations I will say that we clearly have different definitions of “being on Prom Committee.”

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End of the Year

Tribute to Mr. Randolph Julie Block ’13

For 23 years, Mr. Randolph has been an incredible inspiration to his students.

Now that he is leaving us to continue on with the next chapter of his life, we would like to recognize all that he has done.

Many students at North Shore look up to Mr. Randolph as a sort of father figure. As it turns out, Mr. Randolph’s inspiration to teach came from his own father. He says that his interest in teaching came from an experience that he had when he was eight or nine years old in his dad’s office at Pepperdine College, when a professional baseball player by the name of Gale Hopkins showed up at his dad’s door.

“He had gone to Pepperdine, my dad had taught him,” said Mr. Randolph.

“He was coming back on his day off to tell my dad ‘thanks,’ and how much that relationship had meant to him.”

Many know of Mr. Randolph’s fascination with baseball; in fact, when he was a kid, baseball players were his biggest heroes.

This all changed due to this one event.

“Instantly, in me, somehow, some sort of switch was flipped,” said Mr. Randolph. “Baseball players weren’t my heroes anymore; my dad was, because of the impact he had had on this guy.”

Knowing Mr. Randolph’s inspiration, it makes sense that his unconventional teaching style would resemble that of his father’s.

“I don’t teach history,” he said. “I teach people, I teach kids, and that’s what my dad did... The best teachers don’t push material. That’s not what they’re doing.

They’re trying to build moments; they’re trying to share stories.” And that is exactly what Mr. Randolph does.

Ironically, that is not what Mr. Randolph set out to do when he first started at North Shore. When he came in for his interview back in 1990, he said that he wasn’t going to be the “keeper of the flame.” In other words, he did not want to “do the old way of doing it,” using what past teachers had taught and building upon that to teach his own students.

As it turns out, part of his current job is to “talk to people who have graduated and who have taught here, and let them talk about their experiences. That’s exactly what I am, I’m a keeper of the flame, and it’s something I have loved doing.”

Without having kept the flame, so to speak, of those who have graduated and taught at North Shore, Mr. Randolph wouldn’t have so many stories in his repertoire (and we all know how much he likes stories).

Like many of us, Mr. Randolph talks freely about how he feels about North Shore. He claims that, “Someone who cares about a place enough to stay there for 23 years is enough of a family member to be able to vent some frustration...

It’s our family. This is not [just] a place where I work; this is a place that matters to me.”

To many students like myself, Mr. Randolph does feel like family. He shares a special kinship with many of his students that is not usually found in a school.

“He has ignited a passion for history in me,” said Caroline Foster ‘13.

Annie Murnighan ‘13 said, “Mr. Randolph has been one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had, but also possibly the most frustrating, because he always pushed me to be all I could be. I am so grateful for his encouragement and guidance.”

Kaitlyn Johnson ‘14 went so far as to say, “Mr. Randolph is the greatest teacher I’ve ever had... He has changed how I view myself as a student and how I approach learning.”

These are just a few examples of the many students whom Mr. Randolph has touched with his teaching and personal availability.

These relationships are important to Mr. Randolph as well. He says, “If somebody came from the outside and tried to figure out what our relationship is… It would look like something a little foreign to them because the line’s not clear. We talk with each other about things outside the academic world; there’s a sense of familiarity there.”

Because of the relationships that Mr. Randolph has cultivated with his students over the years, he has been asked to give the commencement speech for the fifth and final time this year at graduation.

Lizzy Gendell ‘13 says, “It is only fitting that the class of 2013 matriculate together with Mr. Randolph. His awareness of how his teaching affects each one

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5/14/13

Best of Morning Ex Veb Anand ’15

There were several memorable Morning Exes this year. One such presentation was “Olympics 2012: What It Takes To Get On The Podium,” presented by Mr. McHugh. In his presentation, he discussed his summer trip to the London Olympics. It was in the format of a slideshow and incorporated videos, and it included a brief history of the Olympic Games.

More specifically, he talked about the origins of the Olympics in Ancient Greece and how they transformed into the modern Olympics.

Mr. McHugh was also excited that the Games were held in London that year, and he talked about the venue of the Olympics. Because Mr. McHugh’s “real passion is track and field,” that sport was the one he attended the most at the Olympics and mainly discussed. The highlight of the presentation was his discussion of the wins and successes in the Olympics for the track athletes of several nations, including Usain Bolt.

Another interesting MEX was a recent one hosted by NASA Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff. This MEX received high commendation from many. Mr. Chamitoff talked about how he came to be an astronaut and what it takes to do so. He showed videos of the International Space Station and the type of work that astronauts have done in space so far and their lifestyle while they are in space. He also remarked that one large reason why he enjoyed being an astronaut was seeing the view of Earth from outerspace.

A number of other MEX guests were considered to be pleasant to the ear, such as the bayan performer and The Harp Twins, who performed in October and December, respectively. In addition to playing euphoniously, the harp duo and the man who played the bayan (a type of Russian accordion) both played multiple genres of music to suit the different tastes of the audience and also explained how their instruments worked.

In addition to all of these great Morning Exes, there were many others that simply would not fit into this article. We look forward to seeing what next year’s Morning Ex guests have to offer!

Photo of Morning Ex by Brent Rolfes ’16

Year in Review Nick David ’15 Cont. from 1 April 20th marked Prom 2013 at North Shore. The theme was Skyfall, and it was held at The W Hotel in Chicago on the 33rd floor. The building had excellent views of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier.

The 2012-2013 school year also had many great theater productions. From Almost, Maine, to Snow White, to Into the Woods, to The Take 10! festival, North Shore performances were excellent this year. Next year’s shows will be relocated due to the renovation of the theater.

Many changes will be seen at North Shore Country Day come fall 2013.

There will be new students, new teachers, and a new Arts Center. There will also be a new football coach, and many sports teams have promising futures.

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News

Bend and Snap Valerie Jaharis ’15 Ladies and gentlemen, we have an issue on our hands. I would go so far as to say a crisis.

At the Day School, we are subjected to many horrid things in our lunchtime cafeteria, whether it be infinitesimal cups of Jamba Juice or the general lack of organization in the lunch line. However, now it has gone too far! We must address the issue that is the North Shore utensils. I know this is exactly what you’ve all been thinking about, you’ve just been too timid to speak up. Have no fear, I have come ready to address this issue. For those who are uneducated or simply ignorant, I will further explain the situation.

At our humble institution, children are subject to using two modes of transportation for transporting food into one’s mouth. One choice would be the metal, oddly flexible cutlery that has made its way many years through North Shore history. The other option is the eco-friendly sin that takes the form of corn-made forks. These abominations have been found melting in mildly warm soups and bending (AND SNAPPING) at the will of supple food. This kind of behavior is simply inexcusable; we the students of the Day School deserve better.

And it isn’t just me who believes this, no. The people have spoken, and we must listen to their desperate cries for help. Claire McCarthy ’15 expressed her views in tears: “I think that mixing corn utensils with other food is WRONG. I think they should be plastic.” When questioned why, the passionate teen responded that through the research paper of one Liam Ouweleen ’15 she learned that “corn is taking over the world.”

Folks, I think this makes the desperation of this issue rather clear. But the stories don’t stop here, no, they get worse. This next story was sent in anonymously, and I can see why. The horrors that follow are revolting. Reader discretion is advised to those who can’t handle the truth.

“Well, the other day I was eating a nice sausage calzone, and I understand that those things are hard to cut, but the cafeteria was unfortunately out of metal forks. I was forced to use an obscene plastic fork, and as I was about halfway through my calzone, it snapped in half. I had to get up from my table, walk all the way to the front of the cafeteria, get a new fork, walk back to my table, and sit down in order to finish my calzone. As I was about three-quarters of the way through my delicious lunch, the fork snapped again. I decided to give up and throw away a perfectly good calzone. The forks are an abomination and cause teen hunger.”

Teen hunger.

But it goes far beyond that; it has been pointed out that these “eco-friendly” forks do quite the opposite of conserving material. An anonymous student (who is definitely not Ian Talty ’15) said, “We do use corn forks and knives, but this usually requires two knives to cut anything tougher than warm butter, producing unnecessary waste.

We need to commit to stronger plasticware... The current forks, though eco-friendly, are simply useless. The spoons melt if you put them in anything hotter than gazpacho, and usually there are not enough to supply the school.”

After berating the sophomore Student Government representatives for their failure as delegates of the sophomore c o m m u n i t y, the anonymous person (Talty) pleaded that someone “free us from the Fork Famine.”

So friends, family, lovers, I suggest we take this prevalent issue to the school board, the PTA, and maybe even the Mayor of Winnetka! Because we can fix this. “They’ve done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.”

If that does not motivate you, you probably should have stopped reading this ten minutes ago.

5/14/13

Ten Minutes of Fun (Times Seven) Matt Griffin ’14 The Diller Street Theater erupted with applause at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26. It was the sound of another successful Take 10! festival. The casts bowed and celebrated backstage and at the following P.I.L.L.O.W.S. The ten-minute play festival, in its third year at North Shore, has been met with great student participation as an easy and fun way to be in a production.

Introduced by Ms. Macholl when she came to North Shore two years ago, Take 10! includes student-written plays. Rehearsals begin the week before Spring Break and continue through late April, with each director and cast working out rehearsal times and schedules to create the best finished product possible.

This year, the shows focused on a range of topics, such as the tale of numerous emergencies resulting from a broken elevator in Liam Ouweleen ’15’s “Elevator,” or the moral decisions faced by running a concession stand in Michael Morette ’15’s “The Panda Stand.”

“I do theater all the time, all different kinds of shows, but I go out of my way to sign up for the ten-minute plays every year because the overall process is just a lot of fun. I think they went really well this year,” said Valerie Jaharis ’15, a veteran Take 10! player.

Kirsty Hunter ’15 talked about what it was like to act. “[Being on stage] was kind of scary, but at the same time I thought it was fun. Not really something I’d choose to do again, but I’ll miss going to play practice.”

Whatever trials or tales will next be witnessed in the Take 10! festival are yet to come. All students are encouraged to write and direct their own plays, as participation is a must for a fun event like this.

What do Seniors want to be when they grow up?

Debbie Newmark ’15 With graduation around the corner, our seniors are preparing for the future. They may be caddies or waiter/waitresses now, but soon that will all change.

Some seniors hold on to the same hopes and dreams they had as little kids. Nick McCall ’13 “want[s] to be an astronaut” while Jonah LeviPaeski ’13 “always wanted to be a famous rockstar or actor, and… that hasn’t really changed.”

Other seniors have developed interests during their time as North Shore teenagers that they hope to pursue in the future.

Senior Class Co-President Gagan Bhambra ’13 says, “I want to be a doctor because I love helping people and making them feel better and healthier. Medicine has been something that has always interested me and is a passion.” His reasoning? As a career, it gives him “the perfect combination of public service as well as stability.”

In contrast, Olivia Scheyer ’13 wants to be a writer in her adulthood. No matter what topic holds her interest, “everything takes form in the written word at some point.”

While some seniors want to carve out a clear career path, others want to use their post university educations to kick back and relax. Co-President Ilhana Redzovic ’13 has “decided to abandon all of [her] political aspirations to become a foot model,” adding that she would be, “strictly feet.” Perhaps in one of her beach flipflop ads she will see Riley Hall ’13 who “want[s] to be a California dude so [he] won’t have to wear shoes.”

No matter what the future holds for our dear seniors, they all have one thing in common: Good luck wishes from the Classes of ’14, ’15, and ’16.

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News

An Interview with Madame McKenna Justin Savin ’15 Madame, can you tell us about your educational experiences growing up?

I went to school in the suburbs of Paris until high school, and I did high school in Paris. And then for higher education, it was a mix between Ireland and in Paris. I went to University in Paris to study Japanese. There is a school of Oriental languages over there. But I also went to live in Ireland to study English.

That’s really cool. And how long have you taught American students?

This is only my sixth year.

Can you tell me about French elementary schools versus American elementary schools?

French school is still very strict. You go to school to work, not to have fun...School is very academic, right from the start. One of the big traumas of French kids is that they start learning to write cursive right from the start. So to do that, we [the French] have posture classes.

My kids have been educated partly in France and partly here... seven years ago, my daughter was learning to write cursive, and this was her first grade year. And it was very hard for her because when she wrote, she had to have a book on her head...so it’s still a very old fashioned education. And it’s much stricter than here as well. But there are still lots of fun things about it.

What are some of the fun things?

Well, we do a lot more of social things. We consider cooking and things like that something you have to learn in the classroom...we do a lot around food. So you eat the food that is prepared in the cantine [cafeteria] but you also help prepare it, and you know the whole process of it.

Kids take turns serving, kids take turns cooking, that was my favorite part about it... Kids also clean a lot at school. So yeah, some things are very different.

So what types of extracurriculars do French students have to choose from at their middle schools?

Extracurriculars are not a part of school. So you do all the sports stuff, the music stuff, the art stuff, outside of school. And we have a whole day dedicated to that. On Wednesdays, there is no school. And it’s the day where you do all of that stuff. So, if you are a big part of a soccer team, you will have all of your games on Wednesdays. If you play an instrument, you will have all of your intense recitals on Wednesdays. And there is very little of that in schools...

There are private schools in France, but the public school system is a very good system. The reason that it is so good is because it has a common standard... That common standard is really applied through academics. It’s very hard to have a common standard for all the extracurricular stuff. So that’s why it’s very separate for us.

So what you want to do is very self-initiated.

Yes, for sure. You choose whatever you want to do. So we get a booklet that shows you what [activities] are offered in the town you live in. And so you register, and you do all that on your own. And when I say on your own, I mean you get to meet a lot of kids who don’t go to your school. And so you have your life in school, and you have your social life with the kids outside of your school as well.

Can you tell me the dynamic of a high school year in France?

Sure, everything you do in high school is geared towards preparing you for the big living exam, the BAC. In the BAC for English, you have three types of exercises, and you choose one of the three. One is a text commentary; you choose a text and you have to dissect the text, and explain what type of literary style it is written in, the content, and the author.

And the other is you receive a subject and you have to write a five page composition, citing other works, and you have to show what you know about literature. And the other one is specific to poetry. So everything you do in high school trains you for that. So you read different authors, all of that. For foreign languages, you have [to learn] a minimum of two foreign languages.

This has been very awesome, Madame. Thank you so much.

5/14/13

Tribute to Mr. Randolph Julie Block ’15 Cont. from 2 of his students in a unique way speaks to his sensitivity as a human being, and his desire to reach out to us all as individuals.”

In other words, he sees people for who they are, which is why the senior class has selected him to speak this year.

In fact, the senior class felt so strongly about having Mr. Randolph as their speaker that the “six-year rule” (the rule that a teacher cannot speak at graduation twice in a six-year cycle) was violated during the voting process.

When asked what he thought about this, Mr. Randolph said, “It is on some level embarrassing… There are plenty of able-bodied people here who can say something. [Being the commencement speaker] is as big an honor as you can get in my world.”

The Class of 2013 is just as honored to receive our send-off from Mr. Randolph, as we all collectively embark on our new journeys together—the fifty of us to our respective colleges, and Mr. Randolph to the next chapter of his teaching career.

So what exactly is Mr. Randolph leaving us for? The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia, which contains a collaborative English/History curriculum that he is very excited to be a part of. Although we are sad to see Mr. Randolph go, it is clear that he is ready for the next phase of his life, in the same way that many of us are ready for the next phase of ours.

His final piece of advice for all of us who are leaving North Shore?

“Stay tuned; there’s more.”

North Shore Band Blends Unity and Variety James Robinson ’15 Another semester of hard work for North Shore Country Day’s Upper School Instrumental Ensemble, more commonly known as “the band,” culminated in a concert on Thursday, May 2. The program’s wide range of music included “The Royal Garden Blues,” a New Orleans jazz piece, “Pick Up the Pieces,” a funk song, “Maximum Impact” a take on a rock song, and “Magico,” a Latin song. Sam Reategui ’15 points out the band’s commitment to this variety, commenting that they “try to play an assortment of genres—classic jazz, rock, Latin, and classical pieces.”

Despite the feeling of accomplishment, many members of the band feel that their work and ability is not fully valued. Kirsty Hunter ’15 states that she believes “the band is very underrated — [the Upper School] should love us!”

Members of the ensemble aren’t asking to be glorified, but simply would like the rest of the Upper School to appreciate the work that goes into preparing for the concerts. Matt Griffin ’14, who plays the bass, points out that “because the band is so small and every individual member can be heard, there is nowhere to hide. So every member of the band must be very talented in order for concerts to be a success.”

The success of the band’s music, however, is due to far more than simply playing the notes on the score. Reautegui describes the many faces of collaboration, joking, “I play many things — I play instigator, I play the emotional supporter... and sometimes I do play the tenor sax... but my main role in the band is to bring a smile to everyone’s face and brighten their day.”

The team spirit that unifies all sections includes Middle School trumpet players who come to help out. It also manifests itself in a healthy rivalry between sections. “You’ll come for the melodies, but you’ll stay for the rhythm section,” boasts Griffin.

The key to the band’s success, however, is the unity that this rivalry, the jesting, and all the practice create. Reategui points out that there is significant effort required to “create one blended sound.”

It can be said that with this single blended sound, the band embodies true collaboration. And in a school that increasingly values collaborative work, the band is a poster child for such cooperation: a group of students with a range of talents and musical backgrounds, all coming together to create and share a singular, euphonious sound.

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Arts

Photo of Upper School Band by Brent Rolfes ’16

Photo of Upper School Chorus by Brent Rolfes ’16

5/14/13

News

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5/14/13

Prom 2013: Skyfall Rachel York ’15 One of the ways any high school student can tell that the end of the year is soon approaching is the arrival of the event we call “prom.” Short for “promenade,” this formal dance is found in almost every single high school in America, and with it come implications of bad teen movies, as well as good horror movies, lots of dresses, tuxedos, dates, flowers, and of course that dance with that one special person.

Of course, North Shore is not a typical school (as we are all aware), and our prom is also atypical.

While most schools only invite upperclassmen to prom, our school allows underclassmen to join in on the fun, too. We also have the experience of holding our prom in a special venue, such as this year’s location, the W Hotel. The general consensus of students who attended was that this location was “great” and “way better than last year’s.”

And what would prom be without the fancy dresses? Our school is pretty relaxed with dress code, meaning there is more wiggle room as to what may be considered an appropriate prom dress.

Every year there is a range of dresses: short, long, plain, ornate, bright, black, etc. This year was no

exception. One common trait among this year’s crop of dresses seemed to be a shortage of fabric.

Hemlines certainly came up this year, and there was a common theme of “the cutout.” Some girls dared to combine both. While many girls flaunted the floor length style, this seems to be on the downturn in terms of popularity. Only time can tell what next year’s trends will be.

The music this year was notably different from last year, and opinions were mixed. While some missed last year’s house-music-inspired mix, there was also a camp of strong supporters for this year’s pop music. The pop song supporters were glad to be able to sing and dance with friends, while the house music supporters were disappointed that the music was at times less conducive to grinding.

The theme, “Skyfall,” was certainly well received and well represented at the dance. The mostly black interior of the venue definitely conveyed the feeling of being a spy on the run, taking a quick stop for a virgin martini and some good tunes. The only complaint about the theme was that the DJ did not play “Skyfall” at the dance. Interestingly, many of our dance’s themes these past few years have been

about movies and music: “Skyfall,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Party in the USA,” and “Party Rock,” to name a few.

Prom can be a stressful day, full of hair appointments, nail appointments, makeup applications, and high-heel-wearing for the ladies, and sleeping in, showering, and putting on a tux for the boys. Despite this fact, prom was definitely a success this year, and was an event that many of us will remember fondly.

Photo by Gul Jendrisak

Year End Report on Clubs Veb Anand ’15 This year we saw more than 15 Upper School clubs at North Shore Country Day School, ranging from sports to service to academics. With an abundance of leadership and a spirit of initiative, we were fortunate to have so many clubs per capita here at North Shore and make a huge impact on the school community and outside world.

Although all the activities, events, and contributions cannot be described in one article, I will attempt to list a few examples here.

Community Service Club – Each year, this group undertakes a lot of activities to provide service to the less fortunate. This year, the club ran a Book Drive in November, a Northwestern Settlement House Drive in December, a Blood Drive in February, a Prom Dress Drive in February, and a “Christmas in April Drive” for the Northfield Township Food Pantry in April.

In addition, North Shore’s Environmental Club (E-Club) initiated a battery recycling program and germinated tomatoes seeds that were then placed in a hydroponics system.

Economics Club, relatively new this year, began its online stock-trading game hosted by MarketWatch. com and also watched and discussed several excerpts of documentaries, including Enron: Smartest Guy in the Room.

Erika’s Lighthouse conducted its National Suicide Prevention Week in September, made stress balls with volunteers in the Activities Room in October,

and raised over $1,000 selling awareness bracelets in November.

GEM, the Global Empowerment Movement, sold Valentine’s Day candygrams and also sold soda to benefit Refugees International.

GSA, the Gay-Straight Alliance, promulgated the Day of Silence, Pink Shirt Day, and National Coming Out Day at North Shore.

Kaleidoscope ran a very engaging Diversity Day in April and also sponsored a movie night that screened The Diving Bell and the Butterfly in November. The club has also raised awareness about sensitivity to the use of “the R word,” and they provided an online petition to fight against the discrimination of those with disabilities.

AMC Club had 20 students attend and take the American Mathematics Competition test in February.

The winners of the AMC 10, open to 9th and 10th grades, and the AMC 12, open to 11th and 12th grades, were Annie Kroll ’15 and Chris McCarren ’14.

Lit Club ran a Book Drive with Community Service Club in November, hosted a book signing of Shemar James ’14’s The Adventures of Zorax Zoomster, and screened the movie The Help in February.

Clubs such as The Mirror, Model UN, P.I.L.L.O.W.S., Prosody, S.A.L.S.A. Club, and The Diller Street Journal — clubs that are ongoing — have also progressed successfully this year. DSJ

has published five issues so far, this being our sixth and final issue for the year, and has about eighteen staff writers.

In addition, some new clubs have arisen this year, including several sports clubs such as Lacrosse, Ping-Pong, and Bowling in addition to a Shakespeare club and Potter’s Army, which discuss the literature of Shakespeare and Harry Potter, respectively.

As all the seniors who are leading clubs this year are leaving, many new club leaders will take the reins next year. Hopefully, the new clubs that started this year will continue into next year.

Photo of GSA by Art Jessen

Opinion

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5/14/13

Three Good vs. Three Bad Cooper Ochsenhirt ’16

Settle down, settle down. I know how jarring this is for you all that this will be my final article of the year. You will have to survive three months without my priceless prose to keep you in good spirits.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel: what you are about to read just below this brief introduction (I had originally planned for this to be shorter — I’m just so good at prattling on, aren’t I?) will knock your socks off.

I am going to give you my unsolicited opinion on three things that are great, and three things that don’t belong on this planet. There. I think I’ve sufficiently set myself up. Let’s have at it.

THE GOOD: MAINTENANCE STAFF Although maintenance staff play a large role in the functionality of any school, they are not given enough praise for their work. They work behind the scenes, making sure that their schools flow smoothly. They clean up the mud that has come in from the outside. They graciously clean up the vomit from that second greasy slice of pizza you regret eating. People tend to forget their important and much needed contributions to schools everywhere.

Yet, maintenance and environmental service staff do not seem to get sore about it. They continue on in spite of everything. The hard work of maintenance staff is why I consider them to be one of the Goods.

CUBS FANS Some of you are probably going to be shocked by what you just read. You’re probably thinking, “How is this considered good? The Cubs are terrible.” In response to this... I know. Like all other Cubs fans, I have had to come to the conclusion that the Cubs are just not a great team.

As we all know, the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 105 years, or even participated in one for 68 years. However, what makes these fans exceptional is that they stick with their team.

Even though the Cubs are (unfortunately) a subpar team, this group of people sticks with them through thick and thin. Instead of jumping on to a more talented bandwagon, like the San Francisco Giants, or your average Little League team, they live for their team. They rise and fall with their team, through wins and losses. The commitment of Cubs fans to their team no matter what is why I consider them to be one of the Goods.

WINNETKA POLICE OFFICERS Police officers are a big part of this list.

Every day, these men and women get up early, endangering their lives to help protect their communities from crime. Furthermore, even when they are met with flack for their enforcement of the law, or the fact that there are only four of them

in their force, they stay true to who they are and they make sure that justice is served (with French fries on the side).

Even with all they do for our community, they spend long hours doing thankless work. They do not give up. The commitment to safety police officers hold is why I consider them to be one of the Goods.

THE BAD: WEATHERMEN Oh my, oh my, what a topic. I could go on about how weathermen are great and all for a while, but then it would be lip service (I do not enjoy lip service). In all honesty, weathermen are quacks.

Boom. That was a bold statement right there. Do I have thoughts to back it up? Yes. First of all, weathermen are just actors that news channels hire to make their show look good. You can get their job as long as you look pretty and can read. Second of all, that so-called “Doppler Machine” they have doesn’t exist. Have you, or anyone else you know, seen it in person? I thought so.

Those diagrams they show you on their screen are pretty colors to distract you from the fact that these men and women have no idea what they are talking about. It is for this reason that I catalogue these people in the group of the Bads.

PEOPLE MAGAZINE In short, this magazine bugs me. On every cover of this atrocity, they plaster everything I cannot stand about popular society: clothing contests, romance movies, and who’s dating whom. To show you the gravity of the situation, I have taken the liberty of copying and pasting a headline from an issue of People magazine: “Obsessed or Hot Mess? Vote On these Daring Looks.”

When I read that headline, I literally cringed at how annoyingly pop culture-y that is. The fact that this headline exists is an insult to good journalism and anyone with a brain. There are so many events going on that are available to report on, but they choose this. In all honesty, these articles are a huge waste of everyone’s time and resources. For People magazine’s annoying nature, I catalogue it among the Bads.

TABLOIDS This is the granddaddy of all my pet peeves. I cannot stand tabloids whatsoever. To me, it’s like People magazine, but ten times as annoying and with half the depth in the articles. Every single news story (I’m being charitable here — that junk that they put out doesn’t deserve to be called news) they report on is not only annoying, but is also most likely a lie. You couldn’t possibly expect me to believe that the FBI has captured a half-bat human child, could you? Weekly World News does.

Furthermore, like their also-painfully-terrible cousin People, they sully the good reputation of journalism. However, unlike their also-painfullyterrible cousin People, they give no effort to check their facts at all, choosing instead to publish their lies at whim. For their lack of journalism skills, and general irritation, I put them among the Bads.

As you can see, while there are many people in this world who I respect undoubtedly, there are also some people who I would like to dropkick.

I was going to talk about how much respect I have for golfer J.P. Hayes and what he did when faced with an infraction, or how annoying Justin Bieber’s music is, but those topics are stories for another day (maybe next year).

Honey, I Shrunk the Jamba Juice Nick David ’15

In recent weeks, a major controversy has been sweeping the North Shore Country Day School community. This has caused much anger throughout the student body. Obviously this major Earth-shattering controversy is the shrinking of Jamba Juice in the cafeteria.

Months ago, Jamba Juice made its debut at North Shore. Many students were amazed that North Shore was serving us Jamba Juice. At first it was in short supply, but North Shore increased the supply with demand, and then banned Middle and Lower Schoolers from obtaining Jamba Juice.

This move pleased Upper Schoolers since there was now an abundance of smoothies to choose from, and no one needed to worry about whether there would be one for them in the cafeteria.

However, a major change has recently occurred. The Jamba Juice shrunk from 12 oz to an unknown, smaller size. The price also fell from $3.25 to $2.35 and the smoothies are now again reportedly available to Middle and Lower School students.

This is a cowardly betrayal on North Shore’s end. I have been an avid Jamba Juice drinker since its inception here. I remember when Simply Lemonade arrived at North Shore and I tried it and enjoyed it. Next was Simply Lemonade with Raspberry, and this year was Jamba Juice, adding another wonderful drink option for my lunches.

I am extremely disappointed in Jamba Juice, and James D. White [CEO of Jamba Juice]. I am never ever going to buy another Jamba at the Day School until something is done about their size.

From now on I am going to spending money on Simply Lemonade. I hope you’re happy, Jamba Juice, you have lost a loyal customer.

Update: I have just been informed that the sizes changed back. You’re welcome.

Live & Serve Trafficking in Persons Walk for Compassion

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5/14/13

Brendan Doyle ’16, Addie Rohrbach ’16, Jackson Gray ’16, and Lille van der Zanden ’16

Trafficking in persons is an issue that is prevalent throughout the world and impacts around 2.5 million people each year. Trafficking in persons is an umbrella term for the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining people for labor or sex. The three main forms in which people may be trafficked is through direct sales, debt bondage, and deceit.

Direct sales are when families sell their own relatives thinking that they will start a new life where they are taken or if they need more money to get by. Debt bondage is when the trafficker keeps the slave in work by convincing them that they owe the trafficker an endless amount of money.

Traffickers may also deceive people into being trafficked with promises of well paying job opportunities or the trafficker’s love.

Poverty, conflict, low-level education, and other factors can cause trafficking to occur. Conflict causes displacement of populations, which then causes those people to become refugees who are more vulnerable to trafficking. Also, the devaluation of women and girls make them more vulnerable to trafficking. There are also governmental reasons for trafficking in persons that include corrupt government officials, international organized criminal groups, and limited law enforcement to control the borders.

Those who commit acts of human trafficking are motivated to do so because it can be quite profitable. With the market value being around 32 billion dollars a year, traffickers are willing to take the risks for the large payback the business brings in. Also, the prosecution in most countries is small. For instance, in most places, punishment for trafficking drugs is greater than it is for trafficking in persons.

Many people in the United States see trafficking as an issue that only affects places outside our country. However, many people are trafficked in and out of the United States. Within the U.S., the average age of entry into prostitution (sex trafficking) is twelve to fourteen years old. Along with our fellow Americans who are trafficked, 14,500 - 17,500 non-U.S. citizens are trafficked into the U.S. every year. Clearly, this is a global issue that affects all parts of the world, not just developing and third-world countries.

People think that they will have no impact on this issue when actually, the following small gestures can mean a great deal. No matter what size, every organization can always use donations and support. Since the main source of money for many NGOs is donations, most NGOs would not be able to support the people who rely on their programs if they were struggling with funding. In order for organizations to receive funds, it is important for people to become more aware of this issue.

Advertising the issue through rallies and presentations to other students and people in the community can make an impact and keep this topic from being overlooked. Many local organizations’ websites also offer a variety of ways in which a person can donate their time. Volunteer opportunities vary from organizing clothing and food drives for trafficking victims to sharing ideas at conferences on how this issue can be solved. Most importantly, if anyone encounters trafficking in persons, they can make a large impact by reporting it.

Photo by Brent Rolfes ’16

Tonya Piergies ’15 For three years, North Shore’s 9th grade World History I classes have engaged in Service Learning Projects entitled “Global Problems, Solutions, and Action.” Since early February, the Class of 2016 has dedicated themselves to a global issue or problem of their choice.

Issues this year include child soldiers, gender equality and women’s rights, sanitation and access to clean water, access to education, and landmines.

Through three phases, the Service Learning Project gives students various learning opportunities.

The first phase consists of each student being assigned a website that deals with a global issue. They are then required to research the topic and give a brief PowerPoint presentation in class.

The second phase of the project includes each student getting a different topic, and individually researching their topic and writing a research paper describing the background of the problem, the possible solutions, and proposing a course of action.

The third and final phase of the Service Learning Project involves the students joining others of the same topic to advocate for their issue. They spread awareness throughout their community through presentations, posters, and fundraising for specific NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization). One of the most interesting forms of fundraising which the students participate in is the annual culminating activity called Walk for Compassion.

Walk for Compassion is a five-mile walk that each student participates in in order to raise funds for an NGO which works to alleviate their issue. The students take the train from Winnetka to Davis Street in Evanston. They then walk along the lakefront and back to school. They make a few stops as they walk through the campus of Northwestern University and eventually reach the Baha’i temple, where they have the opportunity to walk around and go inside the temple.

Walk for Compassion was developed three years ago by the History Department.

Initially, students were allowed to raise the funds however they wanted. However, due to too many instances of similar ways of fundraising, such as bake sales, the fundraising became more of a competition rather than raising awareness, so a new way to fundraise was created.

The first idea that was proposed was a dance marathon. Mr. Dachille thought of the idea after visiting a former North Shore student while at a Model UN conference. He further described this idea: “I got the idea after visiting a student at the University of North Carolina. I thought it would be a great way to involve not only the 9th grade Jump to page 9

Photo by Brent Rolfes ’16

News

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Walk for Compassion Tonya Piergies ’15 Cont. from 8 but the entire school.”

However, after some consideration, it was decided that the dance marathon would not work. Walk for Compassion was created in its place. According to Mr. Dachille, “It is a joint fundraiser, which means that there is not really a competition to earn the most funds.”

All the funds the Walk raises are split among the NGOs. This year, there were twelve. Individual donations were limited to $10, in order to ensure that each student spread awareness throughout the community.

Students at North Shore consider the Service Learning Project a great way to help those affected by global issues or problems. Prior to the Walk, Valerie Kirtley ’16, who raised money for gender equality and women’s rights, talked about what her expectations were for the Walk for Compassion.

“It will be a lot of fun, and a great way to inform the community about these issues,” said Kirtley.

Students not only learn from their own work, but from the work of others as well.

“I have learned a lot about women’s rights [through the Project],” said Kirtley. “I have learned that it goes hand in hand with other topics such as access to education. I learned a lot from the other groups as well. I was especially impacted by a group’s presentation on the topic of access to clean water. It was shocking to find out how many people are unable to have access to the resources necessary to survive.”

Jackson Lubin ’15 shared his experiences from last year’s Walk for Compassion. He advocated for the issue of sanitation and access to clean water.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about all of the issues that the world is currently facing,” said Lubin. “I was glad that I was able to contribute to such a great cause.”

When asked for advice for future students, Kayleigh Robertson ’15 said, “Choose something that you are interested in to get the most out of the Service Learning experience.”

While it may be difficult to present outside of your comfort zone, as long as you invest time in the issue, the presentation will do its job.

Willa Hart ’16, Sydney Kowalski ’16, and Katie McCarren ’16 are raising awareness for child soldiers. They are teaming up with a Wycliffe College student who has also been advocating for the same issue by raising awareness for the organization “War Child.” This collaboration is a perfect example of the many great things which raising awareness can lead to.

The Service Learning Project and the Walk for Compassion have proven to make a great impact not only in the students’ lives, but also in the life of the community. The Class of 2016 participated in their Walk for Compassion on Friday, April 29 from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Photo of JV boys’ tennis by Art Jessen

5/14/13

Brief History of the DSJ Zak Nelson ’15

North Shore Country Day School’s yearbook, The Mirror, provides a history of the school newspaper as far back as 1922. As time has changed, the newspaper has changed with it. This includes the title, which for the majority of its existence was known as The Purple and White, or the Purp for short. It was also called The Observer for a short period of time.

One of the largest changes in the history of the paper has been the publishing process. Today we produce the paper by using a simple printer and making it available online, but ninety years ago the process was a lot more complicated.

The 1922 issue of The Mirror states, “Because there were not enough printing classes free to set up the type, we found necessary to have the greater part of [this year’s] issues linotyped.”

In 1926, The Mirror explains more of the changes The Purple and White underwent during that one year, saying, “Another very important outcome of the change in organization was that the paper was almost entirely written by the reporters, not by a few editors, which shows that it was representative of the school as a whole, rather than one or two people.”

Today, things are done the same way, allowing any student to write, instead of restricting the producers of material to the few.

Throughout the history of the paper, it has been important to keep the material relevant to the students’ interests. The 1926 issue of The Mirror reflects the policies of that year to increase focus on curriculum and management of the school. This was unpopular and abandoned immediately, because of the lack of interesting material relevant to the student body.

In 1932, The Mirror reflects that the paper again had an increase in size, revamp in layout, fewer ads, and more readable material. In 1936 the paper had new ideas of focus, writing biographies for teachers, discussions of problems, and a vigorous editorial policy to make the paper broader in appeal.

Throughout the paper’s existence, its process of production and its focus have both undergone changes, but its intent to inform its readers has always remained the same. As long as the school newspaper remains, it will not matter if it is known by another name; but to us, it is the DSJ.

JV Boys’ Tennis Justin Savin ’15

Many teams have recently basked in the glory and pure joy that is spring sports.

The baseball team has enjoyed some success, along with runs by the girls soccer teams and a strong representation of the varsity tennis team on the state level.

The team that unjustly gets overlooked, however, is the team most integral to the triumph of North Shore spring sports season. This team, of course, is boys’ JV tennis.

This fascinating team likes to keep outsiders in the dark, as Captain Xander Mitchell ’15 told me: “There is absolutely nothing I can tell you about JV tennis.”

Despite the secrecy, I was able to obtain the team motto from Declan Falls ’14: “Chipotle All Day.” I sat for a minute and let the relevance wash over me, and then inquired about practices.

When asked about practices, team member James Robinson ’15 commented, “We go crazy.” Nothing but constructive answers out of these guys. I proceeded to ask about some matches the team had partaken in, but received the same answer from Mitchell: “There is absolutely nothing I can tell you about JV tennis.”

This team understands its goals and works diligently to achieve them, but it is important to note that it’s not all business on JV tennis. Robinson said his favorite part of JV tennis is “the many jokes we have.” Mitchell continued to curtly say, “There is absolutely nothing I can tell you about JV tennis.”

The JV tennis team also recognizes the “haters” (James Robinson) they may face during the season. In response to “haters,” Mitchell said this, “We work harder than baseball.” While this is just completely erroneous, the baseball team, along with the rest of North Shore Country Day School, wishes the JV tennis team success for many matches to come.

Opinion

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Letter from the Editors Annie Murnighan ’13 and Ilia Labkovsky ’13 Cont. from 1 difficult to say goodbye.

We rebooted The Diller Street Journal as mere caterpillars, and although it may feel that we’re being pushed out into the world mid-cocoon, there’s no doubt we are more prepared than we were a year ago; in part because of all we learned working on this newspaper.

Although it wasn’t always easy, there’s not a doubt in our minds that it was worth it.

Throughout all our failures and triumphs, we have loved acting as Editors-in-Chief of this publication, and we are confident that it is being left in good hands.

We want to thank the entire staff, all of our writers and editors, who really stepped up to help keep this paper running. You guys are awesome.

We’d also like to thank Ms. Kat Clark, our fearless leader, for taking the time to guide us in this pursuit. She was always there to patiently guide us through the tedious layout process and kick us into gear when we needed it.

Finally, thank you to everyone who supported the DSJ, not only by contributing, but by reading and keeping us motivated.

We’ll miss you all next year!

Stay classy, Annie Murnighan and Ilia Labkovsky

Photo by Art Jessen

5/14/13

Prompourri Matt Griffin ’14 Cont. from 1 I mean sure, maybe I didn’t go to any meetings, and maybe I don’t know when/where said meetings were. So what if I spent about as much time planning prom as a senior spends in the lunch line? That’s not what prom is about, guys. Prom is about being inclusive, about the community’s emotions. It’s about the feeling of having fun. The feeling of doing something. I went to prom and I felt like I would enjoy credit for helping make something that cool, so I decided that I had. And that feeling is what gives me the experience of being on Prom Committee.

Now that my credentials are cleared up, on to some advice. Rule Number One: Communication is key. Make sure that everybody knows all the info about the night of the dance. I know this might seem obvious, but it’s an important one.

A great example of this rule in action is telling people the theme. See, before the official announcement that the theme was Skyfall, I heard rumors that the theme was going to be based on a popular movie. Wanting to stay one step ahead of the curve, I looked at my Oscar picks and assumed that the movie had to have been a best picture nominee. Argo seemed like too violent a theme, as did Django Unchained. Through process of elimination, I narrowed the theme down to Life of Pi. Now that I knew the theme, I had to dress the part. I’m personally a method actor, and I figured, what better way to prepare for the theme than to live the theme? So if anyone’s wondering where I went for four days the week before prom and why I seemed to have lost so much weight, no, I wasn’t “walking around a lot at Northwestern Model UN,” I was floating on a raft with animals in the Pacific. The tiger was a generous donation from the kind folks at Brookfield Zoo. It shall be missed.

Rule Number Two: Don’t do anything radical. People don’t like big changes, and they want their prom to go how they expect it to. The venue this year was pretty great, so make sure to get one that is just as fun next year. Like the Eiffel Tower or something. Some place easy to book.

With regards to theme again, you don’t want to change the theme too much from last time.

Go with something popular and current, maybe another movie. Another action movie, to be safe.

Actually, to be even safer, don’t worry about a movie. Just go with the theme that comes next in the alphabet. This year was Skyfall? Well, I look forward to Skymall Prom 2014.

Think of all the potential! The decorations could be ridiculously expensive luxuries that have been used once and nobody knows what to do with. Instead of getting dresses, people will talk about how that would be a fun thing to do, but where would they put something like that anyway? That’s probably the safest bet for next year’s dance, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The point is, I spent a lot of money on that plane ride back from the middle of the Pacific when I bought that aerodynamic space-tech self-cleaning velvet tux, and it isn’t going to wear itself.

The third rule, and perhaps the most important one, is to relax. There is a lot of unnecessary pressure put on prom and what it all “means,” when it is in fact just a night to dress up and have fun. North Shore does a good job of emphasizing this point by making prom open to all four grades.

So it’s not the end of the world if the top choice can’t get booked or if the decorations don’t go over well.

People will make it fun for themselves, or they won’t. And even if there is the nightmare situation of prom being held in the Mac “like at public school,” nobody will really care. I mean, come on, it’s about the people and the dancing, not the country clubs and the limo. There’s no pressure for anything, guys. So above all, just remember this: have fun planning prom, and don’t worry about anything.

Seriously though, my senior prom better be at the Eiffel Tower.

Photo by Art Jessen

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Features

5/14/13

Ask Piper An Anonymous Student Answering Other Anonymous Students’ Questions Did Caesar live in Caesar’s Palace?

Yes.

How can one increase the distance of a shot with a driver in golf?

Put your hips into it.

Why are people throughout history considered “great”?

Because they studied for their World History I exam.

Are moustaches safe?

Sure.

Are all horses?

I’m not quite sure what you are asking.

“Hmmmmmmmm vmmmmm hrvvvv” im a truck I’m extremely impressed!

I don’t want to pay for my prom date. But I feel like I have to. What should I do?

I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you in time for prom. But, my general advice is that paying for people isn’t good.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows?

We’re all under its spell, and we know that it’s probably magic.

And what’s on the other side?

Bluebirds and the dreams that you dreamed of once in a lullaby.

Do you think the school is a little too big?

I feel that our school is the perfect size that allows us all to be winners here at the Day School.

Year End Crossword Annie Murnighan ‘13 Across 2. Where the seniors will be going to school next year 4. What we will all be saying when school is over 6. When one-fourth of the high school played hooky 7. What each senior will receive at graduation 8. The sunniest and warmest season of the year 9. Garment worn by females at graduation ceremonies Down 1. To leave home and travel during the summer 3. Memorial items handed out at the end of the year 4. The ceremony that all seniors will walk in at the end of the year 5. A great spot to hang out and play volleyball during the summer

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Features

Logic Problem Nick David ’15 Last issue’s logic problem was not correctly answered by any eligible winners.

However, previous winners Jackson Lubin ’15 and Veb Anand ’15 correctly answered the problem.

The answer: five prisoners are guaranteed to be saved, and there is a 50 percent possibility of the 6th being saved. This is done by the man in the back counting the number of purple hats he sees in front of him. If he sees an odd amount he will guess purple, and if he see’s an even amount he will guess orange.

This last man has a 50 percent chance of living. The man in front of him will count the number of purple hats he sees. If it matches up with what the person behind him said, then he will know his hat is orange. If not, then the prisoners will know that his hat is purple. This process will continue on for the remaining prisoners.

5/14/13

Annie Murnighan’s Then and Now Annie Murnighan ’13

This issue we are going to have a much easier logic problem: John Roberts was 15 years old 3 days ago, and next year he will be 18. How is this possible?

If you think you know the answer, be sure to email me at ndavid15@nscds.org with the answer. The winner will receive his or her choice of an iTunes card or an Amazon. com gift card.

Previous winners and current DSJ writers are not eligible to win.

Xander’s Incredibly Well Dressed Mixtape Xander Mitchell ’15 Some might say that I like my songs how I like my lunch: nearly identical every time. Considering that about 80% of my music library consists of songs of 128, 138 or 140 beats per minute, I won’t argue. When I’m not reviewing bathroom soaps or making mediocre-at-best community gathering announcements, I’m listening to my favorite type of sound: electronic dance music. As a genre with a deeply-rooted culture of love and positivity, electronic dance music has made me appreciate life and my relationships a lot more over the past few years.

While the tracks aren’t mixed together like ones you would find in a typical mix or DJ set, they follow a certain progression and are best listened to in the order they appear. “Small Moments” is a really beautiful, quiet track produced by the iconic trance trio Above & Beyond, and it sets the tone for the rest of the playlist. Starting with a few easily enjoyable tunes, the playlist climaxes with the second drop in “The Sky” and moves towards a mix of uplifting trance and club mixes. I associate “Rebound” with so many great memories that I’ve had, and with such a thoughtful build-up and drop, it’ll remain a personal favorite for a long time.

Enjoy: 1. “Small Moments” - Above & Beyond 2. “Promises (Myon & Shane54 Remix)” - Andain 3. “On a Good Day (Original Mix)” - Above & Beyond 4. “We Watched the Sunrise Till Our Eyes Burned Out” - Eco 5. “Wayfarer” - Audien 6. “The Sky (Original Mix)” - Mat Zo 7. “Isla Margarita” - Sunny Lax 8. “The Great Divide (Myon and Shane54 Remix)” – Velvetine 9. “Black Room Boy (Club Mix)” - Above & Beyond 10. “Rebound” – Mat Zo/Arty 11. “Language” - Porter Robinson Follow the author on Twitter @tarxander_

While my music taste has definitely evolved over time (moving rather quickly through the typical middle schooler’s Disney bubblegum pop fare, thank you very much), it’s definitely maintained a diverse mixture of old and new.

One of my favorite ways of avoiding homework has always been searching for music, whether it be sifting through rock from my dad’s vast collection or surfing the internet for the latest movements in sound.

I guess you could say my taste is somewhat eclectic, as I love alternative “indie” rock, classic rock, hip-hop/rap, contemporary classical, and experimental music with equal enthusiasm (sorry, country).

This playlist was surprisingly difficult to make, but I tried to create an assortment of songs that included some older favorites and stuff I’ve been listening to recently. Whether you like it or not, in the words of Bob Dylan, “Play it ****in’ loud!”

1. “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” - Talking Heads 2. “There, There” - Radiohead 3. “Just Like Heaven” - The Cure 4. “The Book Of Love” - The Magnetic Fields 5. “Lithium” - Nirvana 6. “Check The Rhime” - A Tribe Called Quest 7. “Jesus, Etc.” - Wilco 8. “Keep the Car Running” - Arcade Fire 9. “Holocene” - Bon Iver 10. “Helplessness Blues” - Fleet Foxes 11. “Bad Religion” - Frank Ocean 12. “Heavy Feet” - Local Natives 13. “Dissolve Me” - Alt-J 14. “My Number” - Foals 15. “Step” - Vampire Weekend

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North Shore Year in Review

Photos selected by the Editorial Board

5/14/13

DSJ Editorial Board Justin Savin ’15, Editor Nick David ’15, Editor Rachel York ’15, Editor Matt Griffin ’14, Editor Cooper Ochsenhirt ’16, Editor Annie Murnighan ’13, Editor Emeritus Ilia Labkovsky ’13, Editor Emeritus Photographers Brent Rolfes ’16, Head Photographer Mr. Art Jessen ’70 Mrs. Gul Jendrisak Staff Writers Veb Anand ’15 Julie Block ’13 Nick David ’15 Matt Griffin ’14 Ilia Labkovsky ’13 Annie Murnighan ’13 Zak Nelson ’15 Debbie Newmark ’15 Cooper Ochsenhirt ’16 Tonya Piergies ’15 Justin Savin ’15 Rachel York ’15 Contributing Writers Brendan Doyle ’16 Jackson Gray ’16 Valerie Jaharis ’15 Xander Mitchell ’15 James Robinson ’15 Addie Rohrbach ’16 Sponsor Ms. Kat Clark