With the rise of e-commerce and social media, currency and purchases have lost their meaning. Whether students are searching for affordable clothing or education, their relationship with money influences their attitude towards spending, In a quest for financial stability, some choose to face the job market or improve their financial literacy. Pages 16-17
On Jan. 19, TikTok was temporarily banned and is no longer avaliable to download in the app store. Students mourn the loss of videos, and their memories, stored in their TikTok drafts. Although users are upset, the ban could yield positive effects on mental health and national security. Page 4
TikTok Ban
The Episcopal School of Dallas
Photo illustration by Charlotte Traylor, Emma Allen and Josephine Holmes
Golden State engulfed in flames
Wildfires spread across Southern California, destroying businesses, homes, schools
Although the news coverage of the recent Palisades Fire in Southern California showed the severity of the situation, Charles Cundall’s view from the helicopter was shocking to even an experienced firefighter.
From above the flames, Cundall watched as the blazes consumed houses, feeling the gravity of the situation and empathy for the residents who had no home to return to.
Beginning on Jan. 7, a series of seven fires that erupted in Southern California scorched more than 90 square miles, destroyed at least 12,300 structures and killed more than 29 people.
The two largest blazes, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, are responsible for most of the damage, together ravaging 57,637 acres in the Los Angeles area. Because of the dry climate and strong Santa Ana winds, fires are common in Southern California, but in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Palisades resident Darrin Hurwitz said the area has never seen this scale of destruction.
“I knew it was going to be horrific and I knew the early damage estimates were going to be wrong, but I didn’t see it taking out almost the entire Palisades,” he said. “There’s nowhere that seems to have really escaped it.”
The Pacific Palisades, a once charming, close-knit community near Malibu, now stands in ruins, with only the remnants of homes left behind. Sophomore Michael Scimo, who attended elementary school in the Pacific Palisades before moving to Dallas, has been following the recent events.
“Just seeing the images, it's surreal,” Scimo said. “The whole entire town has been completely decimated, [with the exception of] a few buildings. Just imagine Highland Park burned down, and nothing but Highland Park Village was left standing. All of the
houses have burned to the ground. There’s really nothing left.”
According to NBC News, the Palisades Fire began as a small blaze in the mountains overlooking the town and was fed by dry brush and 60 mph offshore winds. It soon rushed down a hillside, consuming the entire community, killing nine people and causing residents to flee.
“[My] friends and family that live in L.A., the majority have evacuated,” Scimo said.
“Multiple of my elementary school teachers’ homes have burned down, one of my closest friends, his house burned down, [and] many family friends of mine, their houses have burned down as well.”
Scimo fondly remembers his childhood attending the Village School in Pacific Palisades and spending time at the local diners with friends and family, making it all the more difficult to see the destruction on TV.
“All of the places I went as a child are gone. My elementary school burned down,” Scimo said. “Growing up going to that school was a big part of my life, so to know it's not there anymore is really sad. All the local small businesses in the Pacific Palisades have been devastated that I grew up visiting.”
According to CNN News, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, the Pacific Palisades Fire was completely contained. The Eaton Fire, which began only hours after the Palisades Fire in Altadena, has been 100 percent contained as well. Cundall, who has been working as a helicopter firefighter for five years, helped to contain these fires.
“I’ve been working in the L.A. area for the past three years,” Cundall said. “I have flown on many larger fires, but this one had the most houses involved of any fires I’ve fought so far.”
As a helicopter firefighter, Cundall flies over the blazes and douses them with water
Just seeing the images, it's surreal. The whole entire town has been completely decimated, [with the exception of] a few buildings. Just imagine Highland Park burned down and nothing but Highland Park Village was left standing.
Michael Scimo Sophomore
from above. Although simple in theory, the job requires great skill and courage. A mission starts when Cundall and his team receive an iPad notification and a call from their manager dispatching them.
“We are given a GPS coordinate and frequencies to use to contact whoever is managing the fire, as well as the other aircraft fighting it,” Cundall said. “The fire could be one mile away or 70 miles away. It just depends on if they have other assets closer or not.”
Before they are within a seven mile range of the fire, they are cleared to proceed into the airspace around the fire. The next step is finding a nearby source of water, or a “dip site.”
“Once we have water on board, we contact the [helicopter] managing the fire from the air, and they instruct us [on] where the priority is and where to drop,” Cundall said. “We continue to go back and forth from the dip site to different points on the fire. We work for about 2.2 hours depending on how far we have to go back for fuel.”
The volatile winds are a huge obstacle for Cundall’s team, as they not only fuel the fires, but make for dangerous flying conditions. When wind speeds are too high, Cundall cannot fly the helicopter.
“It was really frustrating getting updates on how fast the fire was spreading while we sat on the ground,” Cundall said. “At the same time, the risk of damaging your aircraft or worse to throw some water into [hurricane-level] winds is not worth it. For wildfires, we are always at the mercy of the weather.”
Cundall’s job is also emotionally challenging. Watching fires lay waste to communities first-hand is hard, but Cundall realizes that a calm mind is essential to the success of each mission.
“There’s so much going
on that you have to be 100 percent focused on the safety of your crew and doing the job effectively,” Cundall said. “I would say one moment that was hard for me was [when] some livestock [were] bunched into a corner of a fence trying to get as far from the flames as possible. When I went to get water and came back, the fire had already consumed the field.”
According to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the state received additional help from the National Forestry Commission and Ministry of Defense, with 14,000 first responders joining the fight to prevent further damage and casualties. Restoration will be the next hurdle, considering the unprecedented volume of damage.
"I think the firefighters have handled the fires to the best of their ability with the resources they were provided," Scimo said. "Los Angeles firefighters [are the] most highly trained in the United States because of how many wildfires are in California."
JP Morgan, the financial services company, announced that the economic losses may exceed $50 billion, making this series of fires by far the most costly natural disaster that California has seen. Plans to rebuild the ravaged areas are already underway, but Scimo believes the Pacific Palisades may lose its charm.
“There’s a long journey ahead,” Scimo said. “There will be five years or so before the Pacific Palisades is rebuilt. It won’t ever feel the same as it did before.”
Regardless, Scimo believes that locals will return to the Pacific Palisades once the damage has been repaired.
“Some will move, but people love the town,” Scimo said. “They are going to want to stay there, even after it's been destroyed. They are going to want to come back because they love it so much.”
REDUCED TO RUBBLE AND ASHES
Lenya Naraghi, a sophomore at the Windward School in Los Angeles, snapped a photo of the destroyed Beech Street Cafe in the Pacific Palisades. "My best memory of the Pacific Palisades was every day after school when I'd take the village school bus [home]," Naraghi said. "I really enjoyed looking at all the buildings we passed: the schools, the restaurants, [the] beautiful homes."
Photo by Lenya Naraghi
Gracie Nealon | Staff writer
The Political Pulse
Election Updates: Community Impact and Latest Developments
New administration promises change amid controversy
Trump does not hesitate to take action as he steps back into office resulting in 42 executive orders on his first day
Kate Lewis | Staff writer
President Donald Trump has become the second U.S. president to be reelected after leaving the presidency for a term. The first one to pull off this feat was President Grover Cleavand, who served two non-consecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. On his inauguration day on Jan. 20, Trump moved into the White House again after winning the 2024 election.
U.S. presidential inaugurations are more than a tradition. They signify the peaceful transition of power from the previous president to their successor. This is a core value of American democracy and gives the newly elected president an opportunity to convey their visions for the next four years. Regardless of who is in power, the inauguration is a cornerstone of American democracy.
Following the death of former-president Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29, President Biden ordered the American flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days in honor of the late president, as is customary. This would have been the second presidential inauguration where the American flag was flown at half-staff. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that flags would be flown at full staff on Trump's inauguration day, then lowered the following day.
“Nobody wants to see [the flags half-staff], and no American can be happy about it,” Trump said on his social media forum, Truth Social on Jan. 3. “Let’s just see how it plays out.”
Following inauguration day, Trump made history, signing 42 executive orders on his first day in office. These executive actions have set the progressive tone for his second term. One of the 75 executive orders that Trump implemented within his first seven days in office states that on all inauguration days, flags must be flown at full-staff. Another executive order that Trump signed was the release of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files that were previously classified.
“He is coming in as a new president, relative to the fact that we just had a Democrat president, now we have a Republican president,” upper school history and religion teacher Travis Gilmore said. “So, it's probably going to feel a
lot like his first 100 days, which is unusual.”
During his campaign, Trump pledged to further economic development, cutting down on regulations and increasing the security of the nation. However, his ability to fulfill these goals is likely to be tested by politics at home and events abroad.
“I think [Trump’s] priorities are pretty logical,” junior Harrison Teegarden said. “They are implemented with an America First mindset which is what we've needed the past few years.”
Trump plans to center economic policies on stimulating growth as the U.S. continues recovery from the repercussions of COVID-19 and disruptions in global supply chains. The administration will likely argue for tax cuts for both businesses and individuals, on the grounds that lower taxes can spur investment and create jobs.
“I hear he does good things for the economy and the U.S,” an anonymous upper school student said. “But then I see things all over social media and hear things in school that makes me question that.”
Immigration reform, one of Trump’s signature issues, will take center stage in his second term. Trump’s often controversial rationalization of immigration issues is anticipated to remain a central feature of his policy agenda.
As part of Trump’s executive orders in his first week in office, he has suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The Trump Administration has also required immigration detainees to remain in custody during court proceedings. The Trump administration announced Jan. 21 that it would allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches and hospitals, ending a policy that had been in place since 2011.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Jan. 21. “And catch criminal aliens- including murderers and rapists- who have illegally come into our country.”
In addition, Trump has revoked several policies regarding climate change and promoting renewable energy. He repealed regulations supporting electric vehicle development and reinstating fossil fuel extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States
We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans. The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun.
Donald
Trump 45th and 47th President of the United States of America
from the Paris Agreement; this decision came after 2024 ranked the hottest year on record. The executive order “Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements,” ordered on Jan. 20, claimed that the Paris Agreement does not reflect America’s values or America’s contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives.
"The Inflation Reduction Act's tax incentive, key to reducing emissions and building a low carbon economy, are popular across red and blue states and are thus expected to endure." Director of Government Affairs at the World Resources Institute, Christina Deconcini said in an article from World Resources Institute published in November 2024.
Moreover, many of Trump's cabinet’s appointments have been controversial. Topics such as vaccine safety, the leak of NSA secrets during the Obama administration, QAnon and comments about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol became important questions during confirmation hearings.
During former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation hearing on Jan. 30 to become the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard avoided direct answers when questioned about Edward Snowden. Gabbard ran for the Democratic party's presidential nomination in 2020, but left the party and endorsed Trump in 2024.
Similarly, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human services, is known for his views regarding vaccinations. On Jan. 30, during his confirmation hearing, Kennedy disregarded his past anti-vaccination remarks. He advocated that he was not anti-vaccination, juxtaposed with his previous claims.
“News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine and anti-industry,” Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee during his hearing on Jan. 30. “I am neither. I am pro-safety.”
Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI Director nominee, had an intense discussion during his hearing on Jan. 30 over his past comments such as going after Trump’s perceived “deep state” enemies. He and Trump have repeatedly talked about the need to seek retribution against current and former officials that were involved in various investigations into Trump. Responding to questions about his past praise of the QAnon movement, Patel
testified that he believes it is a “baseless” conspiracy theory.
“I have always respected law enforcement,” Patel said. “As for January 6, I have repeatedly, often, publicly, and privately said there can never be a tolerance for violence against law enforcement.”
With a Conservative-leading judiciary, as a result of the appointment of three Supreme Court justices during his first term, Trump is likely to continue engaging in appointments to lower courts. His administration will also be expected to urge policies that are conservative on abortion and religious freedoms.
“President Trump will build on that with even more bold and fearless judicial picks,” Mike Davis, the Senate GOP’s former chief counsel for nominations said. “It means judges who will follow the law and don’t care what the liberal media says about them.”
As also promised in his first term, job creation, tax reform and investment in infrastructure rank high on his agenda — to continue tax cuts, especially incentives to bring about investment and to revive American infrastructure.
The debate over healthcare is destined to continue dominating discussion. While Trump has voiced a wish to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, how he intends to tackle health care reform in the long run is uncertain.
With the country still highly polarized, Trump's treatment of social divisions will remain pivotal. The way in which his administration deals with the controversies of racial inequality, police reform and civil rights will likely remain controversial.
Trump's first two weeks in office ended with volatile comments about a plane and helicopter crash over the Potomac on Jan. 30. According to an article published by NBC News on the same day, he blamed federal agencies’ diversity and inclusion promotion efforts as the cause of the tragedy. He claimed that previous leadership had called the Federal Aviation Administration “too white,” resulting in diverse hiring.
Trump's second term begins with charge and a vision for a prosperous future, only at the end of his term in 2029 the American public will be able to fully assess the impact of his policies and leadership.
“During every single day of the Trump administration,” Trump said live at the inauguration. “I will, very simply, put America first.”
President Joe Biden, Jan. 20,
Donald Trump,
TikTok faces growing scrutiny regarding security and privacy
The
United
States Supreme Court looks closely on the app's impact on security and privacy
Lilly Traylor | Staff writer
Upon hearing news of TikTok’s imminent closure, marketing consultant and social media manager for equestrian brands Lily Rhodes was stunned. As a successful influencer who had a following of over 25,000 fans, she quickly realized that her once thriving career was soon coming to an end.
Tiktok, an app that is a global sensation for all ages, is currently facing scrutiny from the United States government, with concerns regarding personal security, overall privacy and mental health. Since 2023, several bills have been proposed by the United States Congress regarding the online safety issues on certain applications including TikTok. As of April 2024, the House and Senate passed the Restrict Law, which allows the government to stop or restrict foreign apps that pose a national security threat.
“The government wants to ban TikTok because it fears that its parent company, ByteDance, could give China access to sensitive information, like location data for its users,” upper school history teacher Tim Woodward said. “There are laws that allow the Chinese government to secretly demand data from tech companies. This also could give China a tool to create recommendations and algorithms to fuel misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war, vaccines and the presidential election.”
In 2017, ByteDance officially acquired Musically, renamed the app to TikTok and worked to expand its presence worldwide. By 2020, the app had become a sensa-
tion among teenagers across the United States. However, the U.S. government did not immediately raise questions about the app’s cyber security and the lack of privacy restrictions.
“The Supreme Court views this ban not as an issue of free speech, but as national security,” Woodward said. “While several justices expressed that the ban created tension with the First Amendment, most of their discussions revolved around the ownership, which the government says is ultimately controlled by China. If ByteDance divests from TikTok and it has American ownership, many of these security concerns will disappear.”
While some support the removal of TikTok from United States users, active users and influencers are flustered about the potential ban. Several small businesses depend on social media platforms including TikTok to both advertise and sell their products and entice buyers.
“I post a lot on [my mom’s] Instagram and Tiktok, and posting all these videos helps get [customer] engagement,” sophomore and assistant marketing manager of Navy Blooms Finley Carpenter said. “And all the engagement helps lead customers towards her website, because we're trying to focus a lot on building a website and building up her online group of people who shop, and so posting on there really helps get it out.”
Rhodes, a social media manager and marketing consultant for equestrian brands, solely advertises her clients’ brands on Instagram and TikTok. While she will not lose her partnerships, her clients will no longer be able to pay Rhodes for her advertising services.
A Global Focus
On Saturday, Feb. 1, three Israeli hostages were released in return for 183 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The talk focused on securing a long-term resolution to the war, including the release of the remaining hostages and a potential extension of a truce, according to AP News. Saturday’s swap was smoother than previous ones, with the handover of hostages and prisoners taking place with little disruption. The ceasefire has also allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, with the Rafah border crossing opening for the first time in months. The influx of supplies has provided relief to the population, especially in Northern Gaza, where tens of thousands of displaced individuals are beginning to return to their homes. Tensions remain high. International efforts led by Egypt and Qatar are attempting to push the two sides toward a lasting resolution, determining whether the ceasefire holds or if the cycle of violence will resume once again.
“I am weary and I'm a little bit nervous about losing some of my income. I'm very thankful that the majority of my business is rooted in Instagram though,” Rhodes said.
I am weary and I'm a little bit nervous about losing some of my income... I just think that there's a much better way to spend our [government
s] time and energy than on a social media app.
Lily Rhodes TikTok marketing consultant and social media manager
“But I just think that there's a much better way to spend our [government’s] time and energy than on a social media app.”
While larger commercial businesses like Amazon or Pepsi-Cola use advertising tactics like billboards, commercials and ads, small businesses often lack these advertisement opportunities and budget so they turn to social media as a cost-effective way to market their products.
“[Marketing] is going to be a lot different, because on TikTok, it's just an easy way to post a 15 second video and reach so many people with it,” Carpenter said. “Also, I make a lot of the videos on TikTok, download them and then post them on other platforms. So it's kind of like a creative space taken away, and also a way to communicate with others.”
While much of the concern revolves around TikTok’s lack of security, the app’s impact on mental health remains largely overlooked. Many be-
On Saturday, Feb. 1, President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, alongside a 10 percent levy on Chinese imports. The move, which was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, was mainly aimed at curbing illegal immigration and illicit drugs flowing into the U.S. In retaliation, Canada announced it would impose 25 percent tariffs on up to $155 billion worth of U.S. goods. Mexico also signaled plans for a response, although specific details on retaliatory measures were not disclosed. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum challenged the U.S. to focus on its own drug and gun issues, emphasizing that Mexico would not be intimidated. Trump defended his tariff actions on social media, asserting that the economic pain they might cause would ultimately lead to a “Golden Age of America.” However, on Feb. 3 Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on the Tariffs as Mexico agreed to send 10,000 national guard troops to the border and Canada agreed to name a fentanyl czar.
A tragic midair collision between an American Eagle regional jet and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter over Washington D.C.’s Potomac River left no survivors. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at approximately 9 p.m., resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft. According to CBS News, as of Sunday, 55 of 67 bodies have been recovered, with crews continuing their recovery efforts in rough conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently examining the cause of the collision. They are looking at whether the staffing of only one air traffic control worker played a role. The victims of the tragedy consist of notable skaters and coaches returning from a figure skating event, as well as labor union members and civilians. President Donald Trump and various officials have expressed their condolences, pledging full support for the ongoing recovery efforts. This marks the deadliest U.S. commercial aviation accident in over a decade.
lieve that its removal could improve mental health for teenage audiences.
“It's interesting to hear the conversation around this ban relate to security and privacy, and not around the effect of social media on teenagers, socialization effects, or the amount of screen time that Americans accrue,” Woodward said. “That's been such a big conversation around the ESD community, but it's not the reason that TikTok is being banned.”
Although TikTok poses both security and mental health effects, the app has allowed people from across the world to connect and share videos. Enabling users to save drafts and view old videos has preserved meaningful memories and has served as a time capsule for those who have downloaded the app for a long period of time.
“I have a lot of memories on [TikTok] and I have been using it since ‘Musically’ existed,” sophomore Mackenzie Capp said. "I enjoy watching all of my friends' videos and looking at old memories… [and] I know [both] personally and my friends have saved a lot of our drafts and videos.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, around 10 people, though the exact number was unclear, were killed at Risbergska, a Swedish adult school for education, in the “worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history,” according to CNN World News. Risbergska, located in Örebro in Central Sweden, is a campus where other schools, including those with children, are based. The gunman was suspected to be among the dead individuals. Police did not disclosed much information as of Feb. 4 due to the recency of the tragedy. However, the police believed the perpetrator acted alone, according to the head of the city’s police district, Roberto Eid Forest. Swedish political figures, including Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, expressed their sympathy during a press conference. As of Feb. 4, six individuals, five of which had gun wounds, were taken to the local university hospital. Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, sending condolences to the victims’ families and thanking emergency responders for their efforts.
A deeper look at the events happening around the world, compiled by Emma Allen | News editor
Illustration by Lilly Traylor
GAZA CEASEFIRE
MIDAIR TRAGEDY
TARIFFS IN PLACE
SWEDISH MASS SHOOTING
Police
Clearing the way: the quarry’s new transformation
Restoration brings beauty, biodiversity, new outdoor opportunities for students
It is a cold, sunny morning in late November and freshman Ollie Wooldridge and his friends grab their fishing rods, tackle box and bait and begin traversing towards the steps of the quarry before school. To their surprise, they are met with an unfamiliar space—gone are the overgrown plants, shrubs and trees, leaving the area open and free of obstructions. They can now walk around the area with ease.
“I was shocked when I first saw the quarry [cleaned out] because it looks a lot different now,” Wooldridge said. “I think it was a great decision. Now you can walk around the area, especially [compared] to when it used to be so tough to navigate through the trees.”
Beginning on Nov. 25 and continuing throughout Thanksgiving Break, the quarry underwent various changes, including cutting out and removing the overgrown, dead plants and trees surrounding its water. According to Davis Felder ‘06, Director of the Eason Outdoor Program, the last time the quarry underwent a clearing process was in the early 2000s, when he was a student.
“We’ve done some small [scale] tree trimming almost every year during the summer before students get here,” Felder said. “But, if you look at the senior pictures on the wall
at the entrance of ESD, you can see how much trees have grown, showing the [differing] tree growth and if they had been cut back.”
Discussions about clearing the quarry have been ongoing for two years. However, the initiative was taken when ESD alumni and parent Andrew Schoellkopf ’97 came to Chief Advancement Officer Denis Stokes in June 2024 with his ideas on reviving the quarry. After much discussion and with the help of various administration members, Schoellkopf endowed the quarry through the new school endowment program, donating a large sum of money to clear and maintain this space.
“There’s nothing more I love in the world than seeing my son and his friends going out to the quarry, even if it’s only for 15 minutes, and being able to catch a fish,” Schoellkopf said. “It’s a moment of peace and reflection where students can get away and not have to worry about the stress of school.”
This process was meant to beautify the quarry’s appearance and enhance the biodiversity and overall health of living organisms around it. After meeting with Texas master naturalist representatives and garden professionals last year, Felder was informed that the quarry had various invasive species of plants, shrubs and trees that were deterring native animals from these habitats. To increase biodi versity and attract a healthy ecosystem, it was essential to
consider ridding the area of wildlife that was doing more harm than good.
“At the end of the day, we want to have native species in our habitat because it attracts native animals and a more bio-diverse population,” Felder said. “I want to make recommendations from the outdoor [education] perspective, and I knew this process would be good for the [quarry’s] water and the soil.”
Safety concerns also prompted the restoration. Due to the overgrown plants, teachers could not see students playing by the quarry. Director of Campus Security Judy Trumble oversaw the clearing process, too, ensuring a better line of sight for those participating in activities around the water.
“We had to consider takeoffs when talking about [the safety] of students,” Felder said. “[For example], sometimes we had to take down a
tree that might not have been an invasive tree, but doing so would provide a better line of sight for students.”
This initial clearing of the quarry is only phase one of a three-part plan discussed regarding the environment. While the first stage had much to do with removing the correct plants to allow others to thrive, the second stage will focus on adding more plants and fish to the ecosystem, further diversifying it. Finally, the third stage will include adding better decking, access points and improvements to outdoor classroom spaces, with hopes to be completed by the end of the 2025-26 school year.
“I’m very content with the quarry right now and excited to see what the future holds for it,” Wooldridge said. “The quarry is such a special part of ESD, setting us apart from other schools and valuing the rare outdoor aspect of learning.”
Reese Rawson | Views editor
FISHING SPOT REVIVED
Freshmen Wayte McKnight and Alan Kim cast a line into the freshly cleared out quarry.
“I love how much easier it is to fish with the quarry being cleared out,“ McKnight said. “It is a great place I go to now when [need to] clear my mind.“
Photo by Reese Rawson
Semester in Europe leads to new relationships
Sophomore venture to Zermatt, Switzerland
for fall semester
Craighton Jefferies | Staff writer
Waking up with a view of the Alps every day, hiking or skiing for hours between classes and studying with students from across the U.S. and Germany, sophomore Gigi Madans returned from Zermatt, Switzerland on Dec. 11.
Madans spent the first semester of the school year experiencing Swiss Semester school, along with the outdoor activities they provided.
“Since beginners, I've gone to ESD and even though I love it I was ready for a change of pace,” Madans said. “I had always thought that going to the Swiss semester sounded exciting, and when I got in, I knew I had to go.”
The activities she was involved in Switzerland pushed Madans beyond her comfort zone.
“[They] were so fulfilling in the end,” Madans said. “I also met people from all over the United States who I know will be in my life forever.”
Located in the Swiss Alps, along with the activities and hiking, students have access to some of the best skiing in the world.
“The skiing was my absolute favorite part of the program because of how scenic it is in Switzerland," Madans said. “Skiing on a glacier 15,000 feet in elevation does not compare to skiing in America.”
For the first two months at Swiss Semester, the 50 students in the program hiked or skied almost every day. They woke up every morning at 6:20, had breakfast at 7:00, attended classes from 7:50 to 10:30 a.m, had lunch, skied or hiked in the afternoon and then went back to the classroom or labs from 3:30 to 6:10
p.m. Dinner followed, where students had time for homework and study time from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. This program has been in existence for more than 35 years.
“The hikes would range from three and a half hours some days to six hours others,” Madans said. “On the weekends we have overnights which meant you spent two days solely hiking,”
During one of those weekend trips, Madans got to take a helicopter up to the base of a mountain called Alphugal.
“We spent the whole day summiting till we eventually made it to the top,” she said. “This day was one of the most rewarding days of my life.”
While experiencing unforgettable memories, there were also educational opportunities and Madans was able to take classes not offered at ESD such as current affairs and geology. Technology, however, was not a part of the curriculum.
“Those [classes] were fun because we had weekly labs where we got to test our information,” Madans said. “We also visited museums while in Venice, where we got to actually examine the pieces we had been learning about.”
During school, it was engaging and interactive, making it enjoyable for Madans. Madans took new classes while also trying out her French on trips to Strasbourg, France.
With only 50 students in the program, student connections are a natural part of the experience. People come from all over the United States. They live in dorms, boys and girls separately, with two to three people in a room. Students also eat together and are engaged in groups for activities.
“In just three short months these strangers turned into my best friends,” Madans
In just three short months these strangers turned into my best friends. I ve already visited one of my friends in NYC for her birthday last weekend, and this weekend I m going to Palm Beach with two of my Swiss friends.
Sophomore
BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Sophomore Gigi Madans and her friends met at Swiss Semester pose for a picture on a hike through Alps. We bonded together when hiking, climbing, skiing and even just when simply being in classes together, Madans said. In Switzerland, they took
or skiing trips.
A Rapid Rundown
ALCOHOL WARNINGS
The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory on Jan. 3 calling for a warning on the link between cancer and all alcoholic beverages. Scientific research by the advisory notes that alcohol is the third leading, preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., falling after tobacco and obesity.
“I think it is important to build lifelong healthy habits by avoiding excess of any kind, Nurse Marcia Biggs said. “Positive lifestyle choices will lead to greater health overall. Currently, products containing alcohol
POP CULTURE JEOPARDY
Upper school history and government teacher Tim Woodward had an unconventional Christmas break; he watched himself compete on the new “Pop Culture Jeopardy! The Jeopardy spin off focuses on all aspects of pop culture, and is hosted by SNL’s Colin Jost. Originally filmed last August, Woodward’s episode was released on Dec. 24. His team, named “Andy Dick Tracy Morgan Freeman, consisted of Woodward and two friends from his alma mater, Notre Dame.
UNIFORM CHANGES
After a lengthy uniform saga of the new skirt introduction and shut down of ESD’s former vendor, Dennis, Flynn O’Hara Uniforms is the new official vendor. The transition to a new uniform was not an easy one; many students were left with skirts that did not fit or did not arrive on time.
Some wore the temporary navy skirts provided by Dennis for the first semester. The uniform issues caused a week of spirit dress. However, with the switch to Flynn O’Hara uniforms, families will be able to purchase all uniform components through an online store. While not all items are available to shop yet, families have time to shop before the next
said. “I've already visited one of my friends in NYC for her birthday last weekend, and this weekend I'm going to Palm Beach with two of my Swiss friends.”
The ESD programs for studying and traveling abroad are growing. ESD has five to six people traveling this school year. ESD also has an extra slot for acceptance into the Swiss Semester program; the private schools around Dallas usually have two or three kids that Swiss Semester accepts while ESD can have up to four.
While Swiss Semester is only offered during the first semester of sophomore year, other programs, such as the Leysin American School in the Vaud Alps, offer students a year abroad program. Freshman Austin Sacks is planning to attend this yearlong program during the 2025-2026 school year.
“I am really excited about this opportunity,” Sacks said. “It will be good practice for college – living in a dorm and having to manage stuff by yourself."
Sacks will live on campus, boarding with kids from 64 different countries; the Leysin American School places kids from different parts of the world together as roommates.
“I chose [the Leysin American School] over Swiss Se-
mester because I liked that it was not just kids from Dallas and people from all over the world,” Sacks said. “I wanted to go because of the amazing opportunity and college prep that this opportunity will give me.”
The Leysin American School is ranked among the top 20 boarding schools across the world, according to Board School Reviews. They offer 32 sports and 44 extracurricular activities, along with countless classes.
“It's a rigorous program, and we're very excited that this year we're going to have probably between five to six students that are traveling abroad,” senior class dean Marcela Garcini said. “Academics are hard [with] challenging programs. It's not what people think – going to have fun and ski and that's it, but it is very structured; their schedule is very busy.”
Sacks sees this as an opportunity to learn more about other cultures and for college prep.
“I want to meet new people and [expand upon] my love of geography and learn more about cultures of different places,” he said. “I will also be able to travel in Europe which will make me a better traveler and more of a culture enthusiast. I can't wait for my year in Switzerland.”
a deeper look at current events that are happening in the community
are required to include a label stating that pregnant women should not drink alcohol and that the consumption of alcohol impairs the ability to drive. The label has not been changed since 1988, however, Murthy and colleagues note that congress has the ability to change the label. Murphy stated that he wants to make this label, more visible, prominent and effective in increasing awareness about cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption. But if congress wants to add these labels, it would be a long journey.
“I’ve loved trivia and pop culture all of my life, Woodward said. “It was fun to compete with my friends against other top trivia teams. While the team put up a good fight through three rounds of various questions, all pertaining to modern pop culture, they ultimately ended up taking last place with a total of 10,000 points compared to their competitors 23,201 and 28,200. Though they did not advance to the next round, Woodward and his team walked away with $1500 and an exciting television experience.
school year.
We are very pleased to announce our new partnership with Flynn O Hara Uniforms. Flynn O Hara is family owned and operated and has been in the uniform business for more than 50 years, ESD PA Associate Head of School Ruth Burke said.
While the new partnership is established, the school encourages families to keep old pieces, while also ushering in a new, more organized system for uniform purchases. I have been very impressed with their engagement and responsiveness through this search process. They offer high-quality apparel, customization specific to ESD, and strong customer service for our families.
OUT WITH THE OLD Sophomore, Lincoln Clarke, poses in her old skirt from Dennis Uniforms, with a small Dennis tag sticking out the side. The question about these skirts with the new vendor, Flynn O’Hara, remains on the forefront of everyones minds. Photo by Valentina Boltchi
FIGHTING IRISH
Mr. Woodward poses for a photo on the “Pop Culture Jeopardy set with host
Jost. Woodward poses next to his teammates in Notre Dame polos, where his team,“Andy Dick Tracy Morgan Freeman, met. Photo provided by Timothy Woodward
daily hiking
Photo provided by Gigi Madans
Gigi Madans
Administration announces two new positions for next year
Director of Academic Innovation and Faculty Growth and Assistant Head of Academics for Upper School prepare for their new roles
On Thursday, Sept. 26, Hobson Family Head of School David Baad informed the ESD community in an email that Chief Academic Officer Rebecca Brady had been appointed Associate Head of School at the Baldwin School in Philadelphia. As a result, Brady will be leaving ESD at the end of the school year. Due to Brady’s departure, division heads and Baad discussed how they wanted to fill this position.
“Ms. Brady did all the divisions, and she was really caught up in not only the big picture thinking, but the dayto-day minutia and having to do all of that really at times I think proved to be challenging,” Clark Family Head of Upper School Matt Peal said. “And so if there were parts that we could remove or separate or redefine, I think that was going to make everyone more efficient and ultimately a better product.”
For next school year, the administration decided to split Brady’s position into two new positions: director of academic innovation and faculty growth, as well as assistant head of academics for each division. In an email sent out to the ESD community on Dec. 17, it was announced that Lindsey Cullins, associate chief academic officer, was named the director of academic innovation and faculty growth, and Amy Henderson, current academic dean, was named assistant head of upper school for academics.
“I think we all agreed that it is in our best interest to move forward with the restructuring of that [position],” Peal said. “And so we really wanted intentional, focused attention paid to each division, and the new structure gives every division someone who is highly focused on academics, who’s also working in coordination with Ms. Cullins to kind of implement ESDistinction and help with faculty growth.”
Cullins has been at ESD for 10 years and has served many different roles: English and ethics teacher, curriculum specialist and associ-
ate chief academic officer. According to Baad’s email, Cullins has worked alongside Brady and Eric Boberg, Brady’s predecessor, in helping develop ESDistinction, a “curriculum of purpose” initiative connected to ESD 2030.
“I don’t think that it was ever a question that [this position] is what I wanted from the time I got here,” Cullins said. “I did as much professional development as I could knowing that this would be my end goal. And thankfully I’ve had leaders along the way who were willing to nurture that.”
In her new role, Cullins will do a lot of the same work Brady did, including continuing to work on a new program Brady and her brought to ESD called Folio Collaborative, a platform that supports faculty growth. In addition, she’ll continue working on teachers’ professional development, oversee ESD’s entire academic program and continue to help develop ESDistinction.
“I’m still responsible for the whole of the academic program, but we have more support at each division to make sure that the academic program is being delivered and that it’s aligned,” Cullins said. “We’ll have an assistant head of academics in the middle school and assistant head of academics in upper school to help make sure that those divisions’ academic needs are being served very specifically. And then in the lower school, we’re actually going to be adding a literacy coach, which I’m really excited for because in my current position, I’ve had to operate as our literacy coach on top of supporting the curriculum.”
Like Cullins, Henderson has served many roles at ESD over her 21 year tenure; she has taught chemistry, physics, forensics, AP Psychology and sixth grade science. She also served as science department chair for 13 years and academic dean for the past year. With her new position, Henderson will be responsible for overseeing the upper school’s academic curriculum. Some of her responsibilities will include textbook ordering, exams, grading policies and students’ schedules. In addition, she will continue
UPPER SCHOOL LEADERS
On Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Assistant Head of Upper School Max Augé, Clark Family
Head of Upper School Matt Peal and Academic Dean Amy Henderson gather before school in Peal’s office just like they will next year. “Academics was sort of it’s own department, Augé said. “[These new positions bring] it now into each division’s office. So having approached it that way, it meant that each division would get its own academic person, and that’s how Mrs. Henderson’s current job of Academic Dean was in essence reimagined as assistant head of upper school for academics.
Photo by Brooke Ebner
to teach AP Psychology.
“What I have loved so far is just working with so many amazing people and having connections with students outside of class or outside of my advisory,” Henderson said. “[I have] also enjoyed working on their schedules and courses they should take and talking with teachers about new courses.”
Henderson will work closely with Cullins, Assistant Head of Upper School Max Augé and Peal, to help lead the upper school.
“I think we have a lot of work to do in terms of bringing some of our policies into line with our peer schools’ best practices,” Peal said. “Mrs. Henderson will help with stuff like that. She’ll be able to kind of do that leg work and really focus in the upper school, whereas Ms. Brady had to focus on all three divisions.
What I have loved so far is just working with so many amazing people and having connections with students outside of class or outside of my advisory,
Amy Henderson Academic Dean
In addition to Cullins and Henderson’s new positions, new network leader positions will be created to help carry out ESDistinction, which will be fully running in 2030. ESDistinction is part of the ESD 2030 plan; it incorporates certain skills into the curriculum, and it creates a “network” system with a variety of course networks to help students specialize in their specific interests. Eight networks will be created in total which will include topics such as business and entrepreneurship, public policy, engineering and design and computer science. Each network will have its own leader, and two of these “tracks” are already in session: business entrepreneurship, which is led by businesses and entrepreneurship teacher and Marketing Network Coordinator Amy Livingston , and public policy, which is led by government teacher and Leadership, Government and Public Policy Network Coordinator Adam Walsh.
“Ms. Livingston is an example [of a network leader] right now, [and] she organizes outside speakers, trips [and] she pushes down to the lower school to do projects with lower schoolers on business development,” Peal said. “So she’s making sure that we have a business minded curriculum all the way across.”
2
new administration positions announced and named
8
curriculum networks in the works as part of the ESDistinction framework for ESD’s 2030 plan
6
more ESDistinction network leaders to be announced in the near future
3
head upper school leaders
Source: Upper school administration
Brooke Ebner | Web editor
Back to back weekends of winter dances
ESD students spend their first two weekends of February attending both JSB and Sadies
Overwhelmed with anticipation, sophomore representative Beall Carothers entered her first ever Junior Symphony Ball, ready to dance in the crowd filled with upper school students from high schools all over Dallas and enjoy the live DJ, along with hopes of winning a great prize in the casino.
With Sadies and JSB only a week apart, students prepare for the dances by getting their outfits ready and purchasing their tickets. JSB student representatives from each grade promote and sell tickets. Because the dance includes so many schools, tickets sell out very fast, making it difficult for many to get some.
“I’ve been sending out messages to my grade about
getting tickets for the dance, and the charity that they will be benefiting if they buy them,” Carothers said. “I like to tell lots of my classmates about the dance, which I think is really helping.”
For some, finding the right clothes for each of the dances can be stressful. With the JSB theme following the style of “boots and bling,” Sadies allows for a creative costume with either dates or groups of people.
“I think it's fun having to buy outfits for both dances. Sometimes it's stressful because finding an outfit can be difficult, but I don't find it annoying and I love shopping for these kinds of events,” Carothers said. “Because it's two different themes, I find it super exciting looking for two different costumes for two very fun occasions.”
The JSB committee spent an entire year planning for the charity dance. Seniors Clara ham are JSB co-chairs. They helped coordinate and organize this year’s dance along with other senior representatives
Being on the board of JSB is a great time. I am always super excited to help raise money for kids to purchase instruments.
Johnny Willingham Senior
took place on Feb. 1 at Gilley’s Dallas, had several activities such as raffles, casino games and a large dance floor with a DJ.
“This year was different because instead of a live band like usual, there was a DJ. You can buy raffle tickets, $25 for 5 tickets, and you can buy casino games to get more tickets from the raffle,” Willingham said. “The prizes are super cool. Some include boot brands Tecovas, Miron Crosby and turtle boxes.”
Although many juniors and seniors have attended the dance in previous years, this was the sophomores’ first time experiencing it. With the greater knowledge of what the dance is like for upperclassmen, sophomores get to experience JSB with no prior knowledge, making the dance more exciting and suspenseful.
new to the freshman class. The transition from middle school winter formal to upper school Sadies is a big jump. Freshman Wayte McKnight is excited to experience a new dance, and excited for the costume aspect of it. The Sadies dance will take place tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 8 in the ESD Haggar Gym.
“I think it's a very fun dance and I've heard that it's really great because we get to dress up in costumes compared to dances like homecoming where you have to dress all nice,” McKnight said. “It’s really creative and fun, [which is ironic] because creativity is the virtue of the month for January, leading up to the Sadies dance in [early February].”
“Being on the board of JSB is a great time. We promote ‘a
ways super excited to help raise money for kids to purchase ham said. “We raise money for the Dallas Symphony by making sure people get their tickets through social
The dance, which
“My first JSB was definitely not what I expected,” Carothers said. “I thought it would be like lots of other school dances, but the various schools that were there made it super hectic. The venue was awesome and the DJ was super cool. I have never really experienced a dance so big like that, but I loved it. I'm super excited for the upcoming years of JSB.”
Similar to JSB, Sadies includes planning and the sophomore class officers are in charge of it. Sophomore class officer Hud Maegan, along with the other three sophomore class officers, Kate Lewis, Betty Wheeler and Madison Stiles, planned the dance accordingly.
“Planning Sadies has been super fun but stressful,” Maedgen said. “There is a lot more stuff to plan and organize than we had originally thought, but we have been doing well so far. The dance will be different this year because we are adding a costume contest with prizes to encourage people to stay longer. We created a list of ideas until we found a theme that worked best, which was the City of Stars. I hope to get a great learning experience on how to plan big events from this, and just have a great time while I'm there.”
Upper school dances are
McKnight is particularly looking forward to connecting with the entire upper school. Being new to high school, the freshman get to experience more events with the entire upper school, building connections and creating more friendships.
“I am super excited for this wonderful opportunity to interact with the entire ESD community, and it's amazing because it's not a formal dance so it’s very laid back and I really like that aspect of this dance,” McKnight said. “I hope [this dance with the high school] can help me get some social practice. It's going to be a very large gathering of people, so hopefully it will make me less nervous around [upper schoolers].” Because ESD’s first two school dances, Homecoming and Technotica, take place in the earlier months of the school year, several students enjoy the dance happening in February, giving them time to prepare and have some fun during the middle of the school year.
“I think having Sadies in February is great because when you have dances like homecoming and Technotica so close to the summer, it's less relaxing and you spend time worrying about it since they're so early in the school year,” McKnight said. “So, I just think February is a great time because we are deeper in the school year, and it's a lot more comfortable.”
AIMING TO WIN BIG
Pictured in the top left, junior Cole Horton spent much of his time at JSB in the casino. While gambling with his friends, his primary focus was on winning raffle money. "At last years' JSB I didn't really spend much time at the gambling tables, so I made sure that I did plenty of that this year," Horton said. "I decided to go straight to the casino tables and hang out with my friends while playing some poker." Photo by Flash Photography
Margot Cathey | Business manager
Juniors Estee Bines, Chambers Jones and Ava Sjrogen Photo by Margot Cathey
MAINTAINING GRIT
Varsity girls soccer gets on the field every morning at 6:10 a.m. They spend their time running, improving their footwork, playing games and working on their penalty kicks. After school, they lift two times a week as a team.
“The team is already doing so well with our movements down the senior captain Ella Ferguson said. “But working on perfecting off-ball movement and playing cohesively will really help cement our team's ability to perform.
As the season progresses, the girls look at their previous games and evaluate what they need to practice on to win their counter games.
“Honestly the further the season goes on, the more motivated the Ferguson said. “With counter games beginning, the team treats every game as a must-win. We all feed off of each other's goals and motivations for the season.
Staff writer Sloane Everett pulls back the curtain on how varsity winter sports prepare Championship in Fort Worth. ways to stay motivated, to strengthening team bonds. players work as a team and
PERFECTING PINS
A weekly set schedule to practice the various positions they may use during a match helps the varsity boys wrestling team improve their skills.
“On Mondays and Wednesdays, [we work on] mostly stand-up stuff, junior Gianluca Sabella said. “Neutral position, is what you call it. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, It's bottom and top position work, and we [wrestle] live on all the days.
There will be 20 teams in a 16-person bracket at the SPC tournament in mid-February, causing a two-loss elimination. Even though they wrestle individually, the team makes sure they support one another and help each other stay motivated no matter the outcome.
We just have to help lift each other up, Sabella said. Because on days where the team doesn't do so well, everyone has to help each other. Sometimes you [win] and your teammate doesn't, so you just have to make sure the morale is there.
FOR THE SENIORS
For seniors and varsity boys soccer players Alden Rogers, Fernando Gomez-Quinonez and Ayaan Khan, soccer practices focus on improving skills in hopes of giving them one last chance to win SPC.
“Coach always tells us our time is always so limited, Blake Gubert said. “So our mindset is to just go outside and practice at 100 percent every day, and try to get one percent better every single day.
Each practice consists of stretching, running six laps around the field, mini-games, team workouts, scrimmages and practicing plays to get ready to play their upcoming opponents.
“We're definitely working on building out of the back, said. “[We are also] working on, instead of just playing long balls through, passing up through our midfielders.
The team uses their seniors to stay motivated and keep working hard as the season comes to an end.
“A lot of us want to keep playing throughout the year, said. “But we just know that we got to do it for our seniors, and it's their last shot of winning [Southern Preparatory Conference], and I really think we could do it this year. So that's a big motivation [for us].
BONDS BUILT
Throughout the season, the team has bonded, allowing every player to connect on and off the court. This chemistry, they hope, will help them improve before their next game against Cistercian at the Episcopal School of Dallas on Feb. 8.
“One of our biggest areas of progress has been the emergence of two new leaders, junior Michah Frazier said. “Watching Drew Guy and Khizer Salmon develop into true [amazing players] has been incredibly inspiring.
Their head coach, Corey Henderson, has conveyed the importance of having a team that is also a family.
“Coach has also emphasized the importance of becoming a family that supports one another all year long, Frazier said. “At this point in the year my focus is on playing for the team rather than for myself. That means always bringing a positive attitude, maintaining constant communication, and giving out plenty of high fives.
STRONG SHOTS
Varsity girls basketball spends its time perfecting plays, developing its game theory and agility, in hopes of securing an SPC triumph.
“We are very strong in our ability to come together as a team, junior Lizzie Lett said. “Our goals include growing the program and also winning SPC.
Every Monday and Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. the team goes to a lift. After school, they go to one of the basketball courts for practice where they work on different drills. As the season continues, they will play more games against Trinity Valley School, Hockaday and other schools before competing in SPC on Feb. 13.
“We need to work on making sure that everyone understands how to run all of our plays, Lett said. “And [work on] continuing to play as a team. We will continue practicing with intentional focus on our goals and areas that we need to improve for our games.
Photos by Sloane Everett
Photo by Ryder Sands
Love in the air: faculty couples brighten the school
More than 10 faculty couples work at ESD, the Eagle Edition features
some of them:
Bostians
Bennis Second grade teacher Baseball coach
As an elementary school classroom teacher in Florida, Felicia Bennis met her future husband who was hired as the PE coach, Gregg Bennis. Now at ESD, Gregg is the baseball program director and a middle school PE coach. Felicia, on the other side of the campus, is a second grade teacher.
“My favorite part about working with my husband is that can swing by his office to say hi, Felicia said.
“If I m having a rough day, he always puts a smile on my face. Working in different departments can make it easy to have a different world, but being at the same school at the end of the day gives them a strong connection.
“Working at the same school makes it easy to relate to each other s day, Gregg said. “We can understand what the other may be going through.
Third grade teacher
Senior Chaplin
Love fills the air not only with teachers, but also with Chaplain's. Father Nate Bostian and his wife Kimberly Bostian, a third grade teacher, work at ESD together and have been together since their sophomore year of high school.
“My favorite part is that we get to share various things, Nate said. “Like all the special events that happen with our three kids here.
Because Kimberly works in the lower school and Nate in the high school, it can be hard to find time to see one another.
“Of course, she gets to see me whenever preach in the Lower School chapel, Nate said. “And we get to see each other at lunch every now and then, but not on a regular basis. While they don t get to spend time together often, they cherish the time that they do get to spend and share favorite spots on campus.
“I think that we both love the quarry, Nate said. “And it's just really cool to just kind of go out there and meditate.
Darnells Assistant head of MS and Girls basketball coach
Allison Darnell has worked at ESD for many years and just this year, her husband Devin Darnell has joined her on campus as the varsity girls basketball coach.
“I mean, we don't see each other too often because he's here more after school, Allison said.
“But it's fun to be able to go to the games and watch him coaching for ESD, especially for students that used to teach. It's a fun connection.
Although they did not go on an official date when they started dating because they were friends, he made it up to her.
“When came back from studying abroad, I first wanted to see my horse before seeing him, Allison said. “So he surprised me by meeting me at the barn and then we started dating.
Not only do they work together but they also send their kids to ESD, which means they are all together.
“I mean, this is where we live our life with our kids and our family, Davin said.
“We're all in, it's awesome.
McCarthys Photography teacher World Cultures teacher
McCarthy and Gonzalez bond over their love for educating students and love for each other as well. In 2020, Gonzalez and McCarthy met at the Farmers Market in Deep Ellum and ended up spending the whole day together.
“We were newly dating when he knew that the photography position opened up, Gonzalez said. “He presented it to me at a time when was ready to find the next place that I wanted to be at for a while. It was perfect timing. Because Gonzalez is in the art department and McCarthy is in the history department, they are on different sides of the campus.
“I think it helps that we're on opposite sides of campus, so when we do see each other, it feels like a treat, Gonzalez said. “I feel like we have a good way of blending both of our worlds.
Salzs English department chair US history teacher
Tolly Salz, upper school English Department Chair, and Marc Salz, Sophomore Class Dean and upper school history teacher, also met outside of ESD when Tolly Salz received a call from a friend about a man who was her son's advisor.
“My friend started to describe him to me. She said, If anything, he could be a good friend. Tolly said that she would be happy to meet a new friend--and the rest is history. Although they did not begin their relationship working together, they love working together now at ESD. Tolly and Marc are able to find time to see each other in their busy schedules.
“We get to problem- solve with each other, even though we're both pretty busy, Marc said. “But we usually get to talk once or more per day. Like Marc, Tolly enjoys seeing her husband during working hours. It can be difficult to meet during the school day, due to grading responsibilities, but they are able to manage.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to see their spouse in action at work, Tolly said. “And we are able to do so. I love learning with and from him.
Schneiders Controller Dir. Summer progs., and health teacher
The legacy of coach Mike Schneider will live forever at ESD as one of the longest standing faculty members. What most people don't know is that his wife also works on campus.
“I like that I can just swing by and say hi during the day, Mike said. “I like being in the same workspace.
When the Schneiders met, they became quick friends.
“We met at a restaurant with a group of people, Mike said. “My brother dated her sister, and that is how we were introduced.
The teaching connection that they share is something that is unique because they work at the same time.
“Now that we have the same days off, Diane said. “We can travel more.
Snooks MS design lab US engineering
Tanya, in the middle school and Donald Snook, in the upper school, are on opposite sides of the campus even though they teach the same subject: engineering.
“Since we teach similar courses, we share many materials and tools which allows us to collaborate with each other, Tanya said. “Other than sharing students and tools, we really don t see each other often since we are at opposite ends of the campus. This couple also met outside of ESD when they were interviewing for the same job. They ended up becoming good friends and eventually a couple.
“We were friends long before we were a couple, Tanya said. “It s nice having someone who knows me well enough that when ask for advice can give me good advice that will work for me.
Sothorons Assistant head of athletics Boys lacrosse coach
Not only did applauds echo the room on their wedding day over the summer, but joy is filled at ESD knowing that Coach Jay and Kate Sothoron had their new baby girl in January. The new baby is named Sydney Joanne Sothorn and was born on Jan. 5 with brown hair and blue eyes. Because Jay and Kate are coaches of cheer leading and lacrosse, it allows for a variety of students love and support. The Eagle Edition has not been able to get in contact with them while they are busy raising their new girl. These two coaches met at ESD while they were both working in the athletic department. Kate is the assistant athletic director and Jay is the varsity boys lacrosse coach and the equipment coordinator. Working together in the same department allows the Sothorons to manage time seeing each other and working together on various projects. While they do get space from each other because they work on different things, they can enjoy the best of one another's worlds.
New phone policy implemented, students engage more
School follows other states and countries in banning use of phones during school hours
Sophomore Ryan Cole walked into school on Jan. 8 after three weeks off, and for the first time since middle school, he started his day by powering off his phone. He placed it in his backpack, and that is where it stayed until the end of the school day at 4 p.m.
On Nov. 21, Clark Family Head of Upper School Matt Peal, sent an email to the upper school community in which he described a new policy that would be implemented at the beginning of January. In his email, he wrote that ESD aims to promote students' social, emotional and academic well-being throughout the school day.
And since then, following the new guidelines, students have not used their phones during the school day. As of Jan. 21, only seven students have broken the policy.
“There are always people who are going to break the rule,” Peal said. “But if 99 percent of the student body is following the rule, they are reaping the benefits.”
The ESD administration researched the impact of cell phone use on youth, and Peal read a book that explores the link between anxiety and school performance. In his book, “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt highlights how social networks can cause anxiety to soar. This research contributed to the decision to ban students from using cell phones during the school day.
“[The new policy] has been one of the greatest things I’ve seen in a long time, just the overnight shift of how our campus looks is incredible,” Peal said. “It is a night and day difference from what it looked like in December, and I love it.”
The policy aims to reduce distractions, improve academic focus and strengthen community connections.
“Phones hurt our focus and performance, not just for students but for adults too,” Assistant Head of the Upper School Max Augé said. “We’ve had smartphones in our lives for about a decade now; they’ve done more harm than good.”
While the phone ban is still relatively new, the policy has already impacted campus life. Areas like the dining commons, the junior lounge and the West Wing are no longer filled with students staring at their screens, but rather, conversations, group work and quiet study.
“All you have to do is walk through the lounges or the dining commons to see the difference,” Augé said. “Students are engaged with each other or focusing on what they’re doing. It’s been amazing to see.”
Most students were hesitant about this change, but after a few days of adjusting, many realized that it only enhances their learning.
“I wasn’t happy about it at first, but now I think it’s better for my learning,” freshman Daniel Hoffpauir said. “I’m not as distracted, and I’ve had better conversations with my friends.”
Students who attended
It has been one of the greatest things I’ve seen in a long time, just the overnight shift of how our campus looks
is incredible.
middle schools with a nophone policy have experienced an easier adjustment.
“At my middle school, phones weren’t allowed at all, so this feels normal to me,” Hoffpauir said. “It is just frustrating when I have nothing to do during free time, and I want to look at Instagram or Tiktok to pass the time.”
The new policy states that phones must be powered off and kept in student’s backpacks from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and violating this policy has clear consequences.
“The first time you are seen with your phone leads to a before-school detention, and the phone is taken away for the day,” Augé said. “The second time is an after-school detention, and the phone is taken for the day. For the third time, there could be multiple detentions, but we are hopeful students won’t be caught for a third time.”
This new policy has had effects all over campus. Many faculty and staff members now put their phones away during the school day, setting an example for students. Also, the admissions department praised the policy; they believe it highlights ESD’s uniqueness and will help sell
parents on sending their children to ESD.
“My colleagues in admissions are just so happy with the new policy,” Augé said. “Their job is to basically recruit for ESD, and they feel like it's a win that they get to show off what we do best, which is community.”
ESD is not alone in restricting phones. Many schools across the U.S. and around the world are adopting similar policies. A Jan. 14 article from the Washington Post stated that Brazil had banned phones in schools entirely alongside the Netherlands, Italy and France up to age 15.
“With new social media technology, we didn’t realize the harm it was causing at first,” Augé said. “Now that we’ve had time to see the effects, schools everywhere are starting to make changes.”
The phone ban is designed to encourage students to be more present during class and use their free time wisely. Ideally, the policy will also enhance relationships with their peers.
“We set high expectations, and you all exceeded them,” Augé said, “It’s inspiring to see how much better our campus already feels.”
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Jack Coben | Staff writer
Matt Peal
Clark Family Head of Upper School
PHONE FREE FUN
Junior Truitt Baker and other juniors gather in the junior lounge, making the most of their time together after having their phones taken away. "We like to just relax, talk and listen to music," Baker said. "Our phones being gone isn't as big of a deal as thought it would be." Photo by Margot Cathey
New media triumphs
Senior Jake Elliston waited in anticipation as he turned on the TV, connected to Netflix and sat comfortably on the couch to watch the once-in-alifetime Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight on Nov. 15, 2025. As soon as the bells in the box rang, signaling the beginning of the fight, the lagging began. The stream lagged through the entirety of the fight, resulting in Elliston missing half of the match. He attempted to troubleshoot by going back in and back out of the site, but nothing worked.
This was one of the first livestreamed events on Netflix. While generating success for Netflix, it left many subscribers with negative impressions of the new live-streaming feature. Live streamed events and ads were the only leverage legacy media has had over new media, but now legacy media no longer has the advantage as Netflix ventures into those areas.
Netflix’s many new partnerships, such as the one with the NFL, have made headlines recently, but Elliston is not convinced on switching from cable TV to Netflix.
“Although the first NFL game they broadcasted was done pretty well, I am still skeptical,” Elliston said. “I also just prefer games to be on cable television instead of on individual streaming services. It can be hard to keep up with where games are being
There isn’t a media executive that doesn’t know there is a problem. The facts are that people have lost trust in legacy media.
tive that doesn’t know there is a problem,” CNN CEO Chris Licht told Yahoo Finance. “The facts are that people have lost trust in legacy media.”
As layoff numbers and job cuts continue to increase by legacy media companies like Warner Bros. and Paramount, Forbes argues that legacy media will not die but will prevail only if the companies reposition themselves.
“To succeed in this shift, brands must adopt strategies that bridge the strength of both legacy and new media,” Jeffery Herzog, CEO of a media and technology company that drives 70 Fortune 500 companies, said to Forbes. “Legacy and new media are not competitors; they are complementary.”
Legacy and new media are not just in competition for TV usage but also for ad revenue. The ad revenue of six major legacy media companies decreased from $37.3 billion in 2018 to $17.2 billion in 2024. Netflix’s ad revenue doubled last year and is expected to double again as reported by Fortune.
Each Netflix subscriber has access to the live-streaming events offered on the site, however, depending on the plan, some have an experience that consists of ads, and others have an ad-free experience. Regardless of the plan, access to Netflix is becoming more and more expensive. Beginning in 2025, Netflix has increased each of its subscription prices, and its premium ad-free subscription has grown from $22.99 in 2024 to $24.99 per month in 2025. A premium subscriber pays close to $300 annually for the subscription.
Culture crash
TikTok ban exposes influencers
In anticipation of the TikTok ban intended to take place on Jan. 19, social media influencers, who make their livelihood on the app, revealed their secrets in a comical trend. However, these influencers were not expecting the app to reappear on Jan. 20, only 12 hours after it vanished. One influencer, Lexi Hidalgo, who gained her 2.7 million followers ' trust with her videos, revealed that she never actually drank the coffee in her ' coffee or did the workouts in her workout videos, according to the Daily Mail. Following in this trend, viral makeup influencer Meredith Duxbury, who gained fame by applying extreme amounts of foundation, admitted that it was a stunt to gain followers, and in reality, wiped some of the foundation off after the video. Influencers ' honesty has caused distrust in their followers and resentment on the acclaimed app.
Zendaya and Tom Holland engaged
Sophomore Margaret Esposito, who is an avid Netflix watcher, tunes to her favorite shows and movies daily.
“If I am paying more for a subscription I would like better and more movies in return,” Esposito said. “The new prices seem to make Netflix less attractive to consumers.”
According to Esposito, the new prices are just one thing that is unattractive for Netflix subscribers.
After dating for four years, movie stars Zendaya Coleman and Tom Holland finally confirmed to the public that they are engaged to be married. The couple met in 2017 on the set of “Spiderman: Homecoming, where they played love interests Michelle “MJ Jones and Peter Parker and claimed to be only friends. However, after continuing to film together, the couple was exposed to the public in July of 2021, according to People Magazine. They announced their engagement on Jan. 5 at the Golden Globes, when Zendaya walked onto the red carpet with a Jessica McCormack diamond ring on her left hand, according to People Magazine.
broadcasted.”
Streaming services first took over legacy and traditional media in 2022, when, according to Statista, streaming services surpassed cable news and broadcasting for the number one spot in TV usage in the United States. In 2024, streaming services made up 40 percent of TV usage and have continued to increase steadily. Cable accounts for 27 percent, and broadcasting for only 20 percent.
According to the news outlet The Week, this consistent increase could signal legacy media's rapid decline and potential end. In January 2024 alone, over 500 journalists were laid off from legacy media companies, like CNN, NBC and ABC News.
“There isn’t a media execu-
“[It becomes] more frustrating to watch especially if you have to sit through ads,” Esposito said. “I stick to cable because it is what I am used to and it is dependable. I think Netflix should make efforts to improve and promote its live-streamed events or stick to movie production.”
Netflix’s new live-streamed events have changed history regarding new and legacy media. Legacy media is encountering major difficulties but is still established, and they have the potential to pivot from this difficult position and adjust to the changing media landscape. Although Netflix’s first year of live streaming brought some issues for subscribers, it ultimately generated immense success in ad revenue for the company.
“It isn’t just that Netflix is far ahead of its rivals,” Peter Kafka, the chief correspondent covering media and technology at Business Insider, said. “Netflix is actually bringing in so much money that it is turning a profit, while its competitors struggle to
Golden Globes
The 82nd Golden Globes award show took place on Jan. 5 at the Beverly Hilton in California, and it had 9.3 million viewers, according to the Los Angeles Times. The show awards the top television shows and movies of the year. This year “Emilia Perez and “Shogun each won four awards, the most out of any show or movie presented. The award show was hosted by Nikki Glaser, who is known for her work as a stand-up comedian, actress and television host.
Zach Bryan's new song
Zach Bryan, wellknown country singer and song-writer, promised to release his new song “Blue Jean Baby” if the Philadelphia Eagles made it to the Superbowl, and he kept good on his promise after the Eagles triumphed over the Washington Commanders on Jan. 26. Bryan has been under the spotlight since his rocky break-up with Brianna LaPaglia, co-host of BFF’s Podcast, after which LaPaglia turned down the $12 million non-disclosure agreement Bryan offered. In the midst of his break up with LaPaglia, Bryan also dropped two singles, “High Road” and “This World’s A Giant.”
Sheridan Bailey | Staff writer
Chris Licht CNN CEO told Yahoo Finance
MIKE TYSON VS. JAKE PAUL
In Arlington, Texas, May 16, 2024 fans await the press conference between heavyweight boxers Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. This fight was later live-streamed on Netflix. Photo by Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS
On Feb. 1, the news broke that MVP contender Luka Doncic was part of the three part trade between the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz. The trade was so unbelievable that fans and other members of the NBA thought it was a lie, according to The Ringer website. Doncic was traded to play for the Lakers along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers 2029 first round pick, according to ESPN. Despite this trade being in progress since Jan. 7 when the Mavericks general manager met with the Lakers general manager to discuss this process, it remained a secret even to Doncic himself.
Photo by Antonin Utz/AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images/TNS
Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Photo by Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS
Photo by Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
Pet Palooza
Spicy Cinnamon
Isabella Villegas
A RIDER’S CONNECTION TO THEIR horse is one of the strongest bonds, however, nothing is more powerful than a horse s bond to their mother. Freshman Bella Villegas knows this more than anyone, as her 4-year-old pony, Cinnamon, and Cinnamon’s mother, Raven, live on the same ranch.
“Cinnamon and her mom have been at our ranch since 2021, Villegas said. “One time, Cinnamon broke down a metal gate just to be in the same enclosure as her mom. Her and her mom s connection is very sweet, and when I go to the ranch I enjoy sitting outdoors and watching them run around the ranch freely.
Cinnamon is a mixed Percheron pony that reaches about 15.3 hands (about 5.1 ft from her shoulder to the ground). Along with her spunky personality, Cinnamon makes a great friend to pass the time, even without competitive riding. One of Cinnamon’s interesting quirks is her persistent need to pick on other ponies at the ranch.
“For some reason, she hates a pony on our ranch called Hammer. She has just taken it upon herself to be his number one hater, which I just think is funny. Cinnamon definitely has a very unique personality, but I love her for it.
Sunsets and Saddles
Kennedy Kuchler
AS SOPHOMORE KENNEDY KUCHLER arrives at the barn, she is immediately greeted by the friendly ears of her horsey friend, Bender. Kuchler has owned this gentle giant for six months, switching between doing hunter competitions, sunset trail rides and afternoon snacks. This 14-year-old Hovarian gelding reaches about 16.2 hands (around 5.4 ft from his shoulder to the ground), with an even bigger personality.
“Bender is by far the most social horse at my barn, Kuchler said. “And he is so weird too. Anytime I try to give him a treat, he just throws it on the ground and then eats it. I think he knows exactly how to get attention, and he loves to do whatever it takes to get it. Between competitions, Kuchler and Bender enjoy going on sunset trail rides together to enjoy the scenery.
“I feel like being with Bender and just having some quiet time together is a great way to escape from the stress of school,“ Kuchler said. “Bender, he is my best friend. Horses really do make great therapists, and every time I m with him I just feel all my stress leave.
Smokey the Horse Sofia Mercado
EVERY CHILD GROWS UP WITH BIG dreams, and for senior Sofia Mercado, this dream was a small, stocky pony called Smokey. Mercado has owned this 22-year-old Welsh pony since October, relishing in Smokey’s daily grumpiness and sass.
“Smokey has been at my barn for as long as I ve been riding there, Mercado said. “I always thought he was cute and enjoyed riding him whenever I could, and somehow, ended up with him.
Outside of competitions, Mercado enjoys feeding Smokey and watching his mood instantly elevate when food is present. His personality brings light and laughter to everyone around him, especially when he is grumpy.
“Smokey can definitely be a grumpy old man, Mercado said. “Which is a very funny part of him, but he can also be super sweet. He doesn t like when people go into his stall, so when I arrive at the barn to see him, he usually turns around and won’t let me touch him, like a mean old man. But whenever you get on his good side, he loves pets and cuddles. Smokey truly is my best friend.
A Gentle Giant
Emory Simpson
ROCCA HAS BEEN PARTNERED WITH sophomore Emory Simpson over the past four and a half years. The two have switched between jumping and equitation competitions, while simultaneously fostering an inseparable bond.
“Over the years, I’ve started calling Rocca bear,’ Simpson said. “Mainly because she’s huge and brown, and in the winter her winter coat is super fluffy. Rocca’s breed is called an Oldenburg, which is known to grow pretty thick coats. Also, she s a little chunky, but don t tell her that. Simpson and 17-year-old Rocca have competed together for many years, with the exception of a year-long break due to Rocca’s injury. Now, they compete in equitation classes, and continue to grow their relationship, whether it’s through a good ride around the arena or a simple bubble bath at home.
“My favorite thing to do with Rocca is give her baths,“ Simpson said. “She absolutely loves getting scrubbed with soap. Her personality is so unique, just know that Rocca is going to be a horse I remember for the rest of my life.
Despite day off, service learning active on campus
On MLK Day, community members gathered to learn about Martin Luther King Jr.'s
legacy and serve the community
On Monday morning, Jan. 20, approximately 60 community members gathered at ESD to take part in the Martin Luther King Jr. service event. With classes off for the national holiday, the day was dedicated to community service and reflection. People of all ages joined to serve the community in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. and learn about his legacy. Director of Community Service Learning Courtney Phelps organized the event partnering with The Children’s Hunger Fund organization. As the service activity, volunteers built boxes that the Children’s Hunger Fund will deliver to houses and churches.
“I really enjoyed the MLK event and the great conversations that took place,” sophomore Taylor Ampofo said. “I especially loved putting together the boxes for the Children's Hunger Fund. I have volunteered with them before and I think that what they do has a great impact worldwide.”
After the service activity, the volunteers made their way into the study commons for lunch and to listen to the guest speaker, Mr. James Racine, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and community at the Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, Kentucky. Racine brought with him one of his students, Candence Diggs, a sophomore at the Kentucky Country Day School, and her mother, Andrea Diggs. Racine, Cadence and Adrea, offered
a musical interpretation of "What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Racine spoke on King’s impact on how diversity impacts unity. His speech stirred emotions in the people present, living them with lingering feelings as they left the event. Racine was born in Haiti into a family of musicians. Racine played the violin with his mother as a child and grew to fall in love with music. He studied the violin at the University of Kentucky and became fascinated in teaching and volunteering. Racine was selected as one of 50 Black Male Engagement Fellows across the country. BME is an award-winning network of community-builders that rec-
SERVICE EVENT
Community Service Director
Courtney Phelps assists a volunteer in the service activity at the MLK service day. “They assembled food pak boxes for Children's Hunger Fund, Phelps said. “That will later be filled with nonperishable food items for neighbors in need.
Snow falls but spirits remain high
ognizes African-American men who have made positive contributions to society.
“My favorite part about the speaker is that his identity intersects with being an educator, a person of color, an immigrant, and a musician,” Laila Kharat, classical and modern languages department chair and upper school French teacher, said. “I appreciated his story shared from his life experience of when he moved here from Haiti and went to a predominantly white university where he was the only person of color in his classroom, and how this inspired and empowered him to dedicate his life to teaching music and being at the front of the classroom.” Following the speaker, the people present broke into groups at their tables and used a series of questions to provoke discussion regarding the values that MLK has taught the community. The room was flooded with conversations; everyone had something to say.
Upper school choir performed at the Texas Private School Music Educators Association all-region choir concert during the Dallas snow storm
Holmes | Staff writer
While ESD students and faculty embraced the unprecedented snow days and a reprieve from work, not everyone was off the clock. On Jan. 11, as snow fell outside and ice coated the ground, 11 of ESD’s choir students headed to Texas Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, to participate in the Texas Private School Music Educators Association all-region choir concert. However, the students and the choir faced problems due to the cold conditions.
“I feel that we put on the best performance we could,” sophomore choir student Jordan Johnson said. “We wound up practicing with the other schools for these songs and then bonding with each other during our lunch break.”
Despite the time spent preparing for this concert, no one could predict how the snow and ice would disrupt it. Traditionally, the choir meets on Friday, the day before their concert on Saturday, to rehearse their songs. Yet this year, the treble choir's repertoire of four songs was reduced to three.
“Because of the snow, we couldn’t practice on Friday, so we were left with only Saturday, but we wound up having to start late at about 10 instead of our normal 8 a.m.,”
Johnson said. “We had less time to rehearse our songs in our groups, and because of the limited time. We ended up having to cut one of our songs because we didn’t have the necessary time to practice the song.”
Even though numerous changes to both schedules and song lists occurred quickly, the choir continued to preserve and perform to the best of its ability.
“I do feel that we weren’t quite as prepared as we normally are,” Johnson said. “We normally go into it with more
We wound up practicing with the other schools for these songs and then bonding with each other during our lunch break.
Jordan Johnson Sophomore
practice time, so we feel more prepared, but we were still able to put on a good performance.”
As students gathered in the morning at TCA, they rushed around the school in a flurry, trying to find their rooms, choir director and groups, all before preparing for hours for the long-awaited choir concert comprised of students from various students from the Dallas area.
“We discussed the importance of the fight for civil rights led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as what we do in our daily lives to champion this cause,” Kharat said. “We discussed how this is ongoing work and that we come back every year to engage as a community in supporting this cause."
“A lot of us were kind of tired and excited in the morning,” Johnson said. “We were also confused trying to figure out where all our rooms were … if you don’t go to the school, it’s easy to get lost.”
With a satisfactory end to a day’s worth of singing and bonding, the choir students look towards future events with both anticipation and nervousness, both in and out of ESD, like the TPSMEA all-state choir concert, cabaret night and solo ensemble contest.
“I am most excited and nervous for cabaret night because it’s really fun to perform with everybody in the choir, but I also get nervous anytime I’m performing,” Johnson said. “We’ll wind up doing a group song, which will be fun.”
Kate Lewis | Staff writer
Photo provided by Amber Clanton
SNOW DOESN'T STOP CHOIR
On Jan. 11, ESD choir students (left to right) Jake Infante, Matthew Charlton, Milam Olson, Matthew Durante, Gianluca Sabella, Joe Synder, Cate Canon, Evellyn Hargrave, Marloh Madison, Thuy An Dao, Jordan Johnson and Sarah Chiste stand together at the TPSMEA all-region choir concert. “TPSMEA was a lot of fun, said Johnson. “We had to put in a lot of work to get ready. Photo provided by Director of Fine Arts at Prestonwood Christian Academy Joel Rutherford
Josephine
The AP art show recognizes senior artwork
Seven seniors prepared months for their show while showcasing their art in different mediums
Senior Josephine Bank rushes to organize the school art show while simultaneously creating her art portfolio. As the second semester of the school year rolls around, students in AP art classes are recognized for their hard work at the AP art show in the Frank building. The show runs from Jan. 27 to Feb. 21, with a reception taking place on Jan. 30.
“Every student submits an AP art and design portfolio,” Visual Arts Department Chair Dane Larsen said. “Any of their work they've done that they feel represents them.”
Juniors and seniors who are involved in any AP visual art class participate in the show, including students from sculpture, ceramics and 2D art and design. Bank is displaying her pieces from 2D art and design in the show.
“AP Art has been one of my favorite classes at ESD because we are able to try many different styles and techniques,” Bank said. “Art is a passion of mine and I love learning more about how to become a more creative painter.”
Students in the AP art show present their pieces of art that best represent their skill set, character and values, giving each artist freedom to decide.
“I enjoy how freely this class is structured. Since art is so subjective and solely based on one's experiences and point of view, the class's structure isn't restrictive on the students at all,” senior Vivian Chen said. “I had time to balance my time working and chatting with my friends, which made the experience much more enjoyable.”
Students work in a variety of mediums to prepare art for
the show; some students also complete art outside of class hours.
“I'm presenting some artwork that I completed both within the school year and over the summer, they mainly feature different mediums ranging from oil paints to alcohol markers,” Chen said. “My three pieces of oil paintings going into the show and two pieces of alcohol markers on black pen outlines explore the boundaries between the light and the protagonist in the painting.”
Senior Cindy Lin is also part of this show and is presenting around seven pieces.
“So far, all my work has either been acrylic paint, digital art or colored pencil drawing,” Lin said. “Though I'm still trying to produce more pieces.”
While Lin and Chen are both participating in the show, they are not presenting the same type of art because there is a large variety of art that can be shown.
“I definitely think this experience and class is a good way for me to display my creativity,” Lin said. “Which I enjoy.”
Each student is tasked with creating and displaying three or more pieces of art, as well as an artist statement for the people who attend the show and written explanations of each piece that they present.
“Students are currently working on the slideshow for the presentations which are usually three to seven minutes long,” Larsen said. “The artist's statements are printed out and hung in front of the gallery for people to read so that they can have an understanding of the work.”
To create the portfolio and art work, students research
I have enjoyed working with people in many different art classes and creating [an] art show theme that encapsulates all of our work.
Josephine Bank Senior
multiple artists and paintings for inspiration.
“To prepare for the show, we have to dedicate a lot of our time to sketching different pieces or sceneries that inspire us,” Chen said. “There was a lot of research for different artists and paintings that inspired us to create what we have right now."
On top of preparing to present their work, students are also in charge of planning this event for the rest of the community to enjoy.
“Everyone in the show has had to work together to make posters, invitations and schedule catering,” Bank said.
“[They] also [have to] write about their work and finalize what they want to showcase.”
Students from each art class collaborate to showcase their art.
“I have enjoyed working with people in many different art classes and creating [an] art show theme that encapsulates all of our work, ” Bank said. “Every student has been assigned different jobs to facilitate the show and create the best experience for everyone involved."
Because there are various students in different classes, it can be hard to meet and find time to prepare for this show. Therefore, the students are sacrificing their time to best plan the show.
“We've been meeting a couple of times a month on Wednesdays during big flex,” Larsen said. “We've had to find a time in common to meet even though it can be hard.”
These artists must compile a portfolio with pieces of art that capture one central theme. This portfolio has
around three creations that tell a cohesive story.
“Students create a focused body of work that is centered around a driving question that they're constantly asking themselves and re-asking themselves,” Larsen said. “That's the job they have to do on top of having to plan a show, organize the reception and get catering or purchase food for the reception.”
Bank must complete all of these tasks, and while it can be stressful, she is willing to complete these tasks because the work is meaningful to her.
“I am presenting a few of my paintings and a watercolor,” Bank said. “I have been working on my portfolio with the theme being simplistic but significant moments in time and each piece seems very basic but has an important meaning to me and my life.”
There are so many aspects to ESD, including sports, academics and social events, and the arts are recognized by the showcases.
“Being an artist at ESD gives me a lot of space to perform what I enjoy,” Chen said. “I have many opportunities to showcase what I love to do in my free time and I have a supportive group of friends.”
Although ESD’s artists have different interests, schedules and lives, they are able to come together to show off their work at the AP art show.
“Myself and all other artists appreciate that ESD cares for the arts and allows all students to showcase their work,” Bank said. “Everyone participating in the show has completely different student lives, and it is so wonderful to all find a common interest.”
FINDING SUBLIME
Applauds echo the room as the AP art show students are congratulated for their work over their years in high school. Seniors Vaughn Langston, Johnny Willingham, Logan Hope, Caitlin Hills, Vivian Chen, Abby Wooley and Josephine Bank all stood on the stage of the Bray Theater on Jan. 27 to be congratulated. “It was a true testament of hard work paying off, Bank said. “I loved getting to work alongside these people. Photo by Lynda Gonzalez
Betty Wheeler | Staff writer
ATTENDING DALLAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS IS OFTEN COMPARED TO GROWING UP IN A BUBBLE. MASS CONSUMERISM IS A NORM, EDUCATION IS COSTLY AND FINANCIAL SAVVINESS IS VARIABLE AMONGST STUDENTS. SOME ARGUE STUDENTS HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH MONEY’S VALUE, CITING THE DOWNFALL OF PAPER CURRENCY. HOWEVER, PART TIME JOBS, ECONOMICS ELECTIVES AND COLLEGE PREPARATION HAS ENCOURAGED SMARTER SPENDING DECISIONS.
Student’s warped relationship with money influences spending
Story and
by Charlotte Traylor | Copy editor, Josephine Holmes | Staff writer and Emma Allen | News editor
FINANCIAL LITERACY
After checking the return on her mock investments, senior Dana Friedrich begins to doubt her strategy. Her 42 trades have yet to deliver success in the financial literacy mock investment game. Friedrich holds mock shares in 20 companies, 10 of which have positive returns as of Feb. 4. Yet, Friedrich’s investment decisions were not arbitrary: she mapped her mock investments from her real portfolio.
After earning $2,500 through nannying last summer, Friedrich opened a Vanguard savings account to optimize her earnings. Her parents have been instrumental in her financial education, teaching Friedrich the value of low risk investments and conscious spending patterns. Earning her own salary helped her further grasp the value of each dollar.
“I think that once you work or have some source of income, you realize the value of money,” Friedrich said. “I learned how to judge [value], like if something is $200, was that worth 10 hours of my time? Having a job kind of gives you that responsibility of realizing that money doesn’t grow on trees, but I would say not everyone has that same financial awareness skills.”
Financial literacy teacher Amy Livingston capitalizes on these experiences when teaching economics concepts, because she feels personal monetary interactions provide context and perspective.
“A lot of kids have had a summer camp counselor job where they’ve been paid. So they all know what a paycheck looks like, and they know the difference between gross and net pay, which is very interesting,” Livingston said. “They also understand, you may not realize it, but you understand the impact of inflation intuitively, and the effect it has on your wages.”
However, financial literacy is not a universal skill in the United States, or at ESD. On average, Americans answered less than 50 percent of basic financial literacy questions correctly on the 2024 World Economic Forum survey. Generation Z performed even worse, answering only 37 percent correctly. Due to these concerning statistics, many advocate for financial literacy high school course requirements; currently, this requirement exists in 26 states, excluding Texas.
“Financial literacy [should be a course requirement because] it is applicable to every person, no matter where you go in life,” Livingston said. “Financial literacy makes you a much more well rounded individual, and it enables you to make good, sound financial decisions.”
To combat this issue, senior Nina Rastin joined the MyFly organization, a nonprofit dedicated to financial education for youth. She has a strong understanding of finance thanks to her father, but she recognizes that her early education is a privilege, especially as a woman.
“I think finance is such a male dominated environment right now, and it always has been. Introducing women into that atmosphere is so important for me,” Rastin said. “A lot of women aren’t really taught how to get a credit card or loans, because a lot of it is historically tied to their husband’s name, and women might not actively try to seek out how to learn how to do that.”
Rastin’s observation is factually based: women scored 10 percent lower than men on the World Economic Forum survey. However, gender and age are not the only threats to financial savviness; it is further threatened by the proliferation of e-commerce and the turn toward a cashless society. According to an Oct. 2024 paper published in Qualitative Market Research, from the University of Surrey, the physicality of cash induces a greater sense of ownership and correlates to a reduction in spending behavior. Researchers observed sadness and guilt in test subjects when departing with money: emotions less apparent in individuals engaging in electronic spending.
“Holding cash in our hands reminds us of its value, something that digital payments can make easy to forget,” the lead author of the study Jashim Khan said in a Nov. 2024 interview with the University of Surrey. “Moving to a cashless society means we need to understand how different payment choices affect us, not just financially but emotionally. Knowing this can help us make better financial decisions in a world where money often feels invisible.” This disconnect is further exacerbated by payment apps, such as Pay-
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and Venmo. Amherst University behavioral economics researcher Emily Kiersuggests that Venmo spending increases consumers’ willingness to pay due to skewing in the double entry mental accounting model. In other words, the “pleaof a purchase is less than the “pain” of spending money when using Venmo. also cites the social nature of app spending: consumers can view their friends’ purchases on Venmo, encouraging consumer culture. ESD students feel a similar disconnect when using electronic payment methods.
“Spending money in my Venmo account is easier than a credit or debit card,” seTatum Croucher said. “It feels so digital, like a number in an app, but I still try to responsible with my spending.”
LOOK INTO COLLEGE AND CAREERS
Dressed in a mattress and equipped with a giant yellow sign, public school stuand senior Annie Martin strolls through the school’s neighborhood. Martin this costume on Feb. 24, 2024 as part of her school’s band mattress fundraiser, of many events held annually aimed to raise money for events, trips and finanaid, due to the lack of funding for the school’s band program. Sophomore Claire Wilson* also attended a public school, before she enrolled in in ninth grade. The more demanding academic load was not the only change found at ESD.
“Money is talked about at both schools but talked about very differently, if not at ESD, because it’s like everyone at least has a certain amount because prep school is so expensive,” Wilson said. “Everyone has money, and so a lot of times it’s assumed by people. ”
With some public schools having a graduating class with over 600 students, there wide range of financial diversity. So in most cases, students are cautious and aware of money discussions with their peers.
“You definitely can’t assume that people just automatically have the money to go somewhere,” Martin said. “We went to Medieval Times for my English class, and I asked one of my friends, ‘Hey, are you going?’ He was like I couldn’t [afford it] at the because I was applying for college.”
Despite money being a delicate topic, schools make an effort to prevent money impeding on a student’s success.
“One of the first things they’ve told us whenever we’ve had big [events was]… we never want the reason you’re not coming to be money. If you can’t afford it, come to us,” Martin said. “[The other directors say] we will do our best to find a way to it affordable for you, which is because we get our fundraising solely from our fundraisers. You’re not funded by the school.”
Although ESD is a private school, it offers financial assistance similar to that of public schools. According to ESD’s website, 18 percent of the student body receives financial aid, with the average assistance being $22,500. Beyond the Classroom Fund, a financial support program at ESD, that covers expenses outside of the classroom, including tutoring, field trips, uniforms and college application fees.
“[Public] school was required to provide free breakfast and lunch; even on half when we got out at 11 a.m., they still had to bring us lunch,” Wilson said. “They to provide free or very cheap Chromebooks because you couldn’t assume that everyone there could buy it.”
High school students at ESD, and nationwide, also struggle with affording college. to the increasing price of college tuition and application fees, students must consider price and scholarships when choosing which schools to apply and later attend. definitely comes into the conversation of how many colleges am I going to apto, because I need to be able to balance it out, look,” Martin said. “If I really want to this college, but it might be a little more on the pricier side, I don’t want to to 10 other colleges and then be able to get in, but [not] have enough money because I’ve spent it all on other applications.”
While at ESD the average ratio of college counselors to seniors is 34 to one, many public high schools have a much higher ratio. According to the National Association College Admission Counselors, the national average ratio is 250 to one, which aligns with the recommendation of the American School Counselor Association;. However, the actual average often exceeds this ratio, with some sites reporting a closer to 400 to one.
“We have a lot of touch points with every class, and we meet with students individually, with families, but we also do programming outside,” ESD Director of College Guidance Chris Gonzales said. “Everybody needs a different amount [of help], but we customize to meet the needs of all the families that reach out to us for help.” larger public schools, student’s interactions with counselors are often short brief.
“I’ve heard that most people haven’t talked to a college guidance counselor at We have four guidance counselors for all grades in our entire high school, and my graduating class is about 600,” Martin said. “We’re not small enough to where you could have one-on-one genuine talks. My talk was maybe like two minutes.”
50
Percent of students spend $150 plus per month
In public and private schools, there are programs designed to help the student explore their opportunities after high school, whether they have their sights set on a four-year college, trade school or a job. Associate degree programs at public schools and the WORX internship program at ESD are centered around providing students with the experience to make better decisions about their future. At ESD, internships range from cosmetology and law enforcement, to business and real estate. At public schools, career programs are designed to prepare students for trade school or a career straight out of high school.
“In junior high, [teachers told us] that when you go to high school, you are going to do these programs, and you don’t even have to go to college. You’ll end up with a mini degree, and you go straight into the workforce,” Wilson said. “When I had to take [a job prep course], I had to go through different jobs to look for a possible career.”
CONSUMERIST HABITS
Fashion club president senior Sofia Mercado cleans out her closet over the holidays, only to realize that many of the clothes, bought on a whim for low price tags, had hardly been worn. The items, once thought of as “good deals,” were collecting dust.
“I feel like I used to want more things, so I would look at places that are cheaper so I could buy a lot of things,” Mercado said. “Now I’ve kind of realized [items from places like Shein] don’t last. So, I’ve definitely kind of moved away from that.”
Sofia’s experience is far from unique. In a world where social media dominates and new trends emerge each week, students are increasingly faced with the dilemma of staying “fashionable,” while also managing their wallets. With the rise of fast fashion, the allure of inexpensive, trendy clothing has made it easy to overlook the true cost of consumerism.
Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have made it harder than ever to resist the urge of purchasing the latest must-have items. Influencers flaunt their new products daily, promoting fast fashion retailers that promise both affordability and style.
“If I’m looking for a specific item,like a dress or makeup product, and I see it being advertised by an influencer, I’m so much more likely to buy it,” Mercado said. “I do think they encourage you to buy things you wouldn’t have bought otherwise.”
Percent of students have worked a job
75 59
Percent of students consciously save their money
SOURCE: Feb. 3 poll of 173 upper school students
Fast fashion companies thrive on the constant cycle of consumption, producing clothing at a rapid pace and low prices. Items typically priced between $10 and $30 appear to be a bargain, but the reality is that these pieces often do not last.
Judy Lam, a retail expert and women’s clothing specialist, who has worked in the industry for more than 24 years, has witnessed how the constant rotation of cheap clothes impacts consumer behavior.
“Fast fashion prioritizes affordability over durability, meaning these clothes often end up forgotten or worn out after only a few wears,” Lam said. “It’s the speed of changing trends and the low price that make it so easy to keep buying, but in the end it just leads to waste.”
The rise of fast fashion also impacts higher-end retailers, as the culture of constant consumption and cheap, trendy pieces grows.
“Fast fashion has definitely shifted the way people approach shopping,” Lam said. “It’s harder to compete when consumers are getting used to getting lots of items for a low price. Some people are less willing to invest in quality pieces, especially when they feel like they can buy something similar at a fast fashion retailer for a fraction of the cost.”
The disposable attitude toward fashion is only one consequence of the broader consumerist culture that has taken root in society. According to a Feb. 3 poll of 173 students, 50 percent spend $150 or more per month on personal expenses.
“People often don’t realize how much they’re spending until it’s too late,”Lam said. “It’s not just about the clothes, this mindset affects all types of consumer goods. We live in a time where everything is available at the click of a button and that creates a culture of instant gratification.”
The impulse to buy can often mask a larger issue: a lack of understanding of the long-term value of money. Despite the growing awareness of this consumer culture, the ease and convenience of online shopping continues to fuel the cycle. Students often have limited budgets and find themselves chasing trends and purchasing items they will quickly forget about, only to start the cycle again with the next wave of “must-have” products. According to Forbes, personal consumption expenditures amounted to 68 percent of total gross domestic product in the most recent quarter.
As the lines between needs and wants blur, and the ease of online shopping makes spending money feel almost effortless, students find themselves grappling with the challenge of living in a society where even entertainment comes at a cost.
“There are not many things you can do for fun without spending money,” Mercado said. “There’s hardly anything when you really think about it. Almost everything you do, you spend money on. So I just think it’s hard to find fun things to do without spending money.”
*These names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the source
Featured Artist
Janis Hefley | Chasing Stars
As photographer Janis Hefley traversed through the dry plains of Abiquiú, New Mexico in 2019, she carefully pointed her lens at the bright stars illuminating the sky. Hefley admired her shots in awe, knowing she would never forget this experience.
Hefley first discovered her love for photography in 1985 while working as a history and Latin teacher at ESD. When the school required teachers to earn their master’s degrees, Hefley took photography as an elective out of pure curiosity, having never used a camera before.
“I just got completely hooked, I took as many photography classes as I could, Hefley said. “I got lucky when ESD was in need of a photography teacher at that time.
Hefley went on to teach photography and digital imaging at the school for 18 years. During her tenure, she helped design the photography room in the Susan M. Frank Center, which was opened in 2005. Her photographs focus on nature and landscapes rather than portraits. She especially enjoys travel photography, with many of her series featuring shots from places all around the world.
“I always taught my students that photography teaches you a new way to see the world around you, Hefley said. “Wherever am, I notice things that other people may not see.
But one of her series, “Milky Way, is Hefley’s favorite to date. For this collection, she traveled to “designated dark spots, or places with little light pollution, such as those in New Mexico.
“There are no words to describe the beauty of it, Hefley said. “As someone who lives in Dallas and doesn’t have the opportunity to see stars, I’ve never seen anything so awe-inspiring.
Hefley had never shot star images before and was eager to learn placement and positioning of her camera to best capture the unique effects of the stars.
“It’s all about placement and how long you leave the lens open, Hefley said. “I had to learn how long I could leave my camera open to get the effect I wanted.
The images in her “Under The Stars series have been some of Hefley’s most successful and widely sold works, as they offer a new natural perspective not available in Dallas. One standout piece, “Van Gogh, features lights from the stars forming a circle in the sky, resembling artist Vincent Van Gogh’s famous “The Starry Night painting.
“I pointed my lens towards the North Star and, over an hour and a half, turned the lens on and off in 25-second intervals, Hefley said. “That’s what created the circular lines in the image.
Looking ahead, she hopes to participate in more shows and grow her photography business. Hefley is already featured in numerous galleries and shows, including the Dallas-based Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery.
“I love to learn new things and travel, Hefley said. “My friends tell me all the time, I notice everyday details that others can’t see.
To see more of Hefley’s work and photo series, go to her website, janishefleyphotography.com.
Stars For Vincent 2019 Canon 5D Mark III Camera Abiquiú, New Mexico,
Dali's Milky Way 2019 Canon 5D Mark III camera Plaza Blanca, New Mexico.
Valentina Boltchi | Social media manager
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Staff Stance
Mini-flex should be scheduled before daily worship
As one of ESD’s founding tenets, daily worship is central to our community, offering students, faculty and staff the opportunity to unite and strengthen their faith while having time to reflect. However, the importance of daily worship in the ESD community can be overlooked, especially when services run overtime and bleed into mini-flex, a short period before lunch when students can study, catch up on homework, finish classwork and relax. To better prioritize chapel, while allowing students to recharge, the Eagle Edition editorial staff proposes adjusting the upper school schedule so that mini-flex comes before daily worship. This small yet impactful change would benefit students and allow the upper school community to arrive at chapel on time.
One of the main issues causing chapel to run overtime is the fact that M period ends at 12:10, leaving students and faculty only five minutes to get there from their classrooms. People struggle to make it on time to chapel primarily because of this short passing period. If mini flex was scheduled to come before daily worship, students wouldn’t have to rush packing up their things to make it to the chapel on time. Although mini-flex is already a part of the upper school schedule, daily worship tends to run overtime, cut-
ting the break period short or even fully eliminating it. This ongoing issue in the schedule disrupts students’ ability to recharge before their next class period and reduces their time to socialize with peers. As a result, many students feel dissatisfied going straight to lunch or waiting a few minutes before entering the dining hall due to the awkward overlap of chapel service and mini-flex.
According to a recent poll of upper school students, 89 percent of students believe that attending daily worship is an important part of their schedule. By having mini-flex come before daily worship, students would have the opportunity to gain the most out of their chapel experience, without worrying about missing mini-flex. Students could truly immerse themselves in daily worship, allowing them to approach service with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement rather than frustration. By doing so, we believe students will be encouraged to pay more attention to chapel talks and absorb their messages on a much deeper level. While chapel services would need to be adjusted to fit a set length of time, this minute change would benefit students and faculty by allowing them to make it on time to lunch. As a result of this, both teachers and students would be able to eat their meals without having to rush to their next class.
In addition, shifting the
upper school schedule could create a more balanced daily routine for both students and faculty members. According to an online resource dedicated to supporting student’s mental health, The Wellbeing Thesis, implementing breaks during the school day can improve attention and concentration during school hours. Allowing students and teachers to partake in a fulllength mini-flex would increase focus and productivity throughout the remainder of the school day, benefiting the
The gift that keeps on giving
Jamie Henderson | Managing editor
Charlotte Traylor | Copy editor
While a bag of snacks and candy might seem like a last-minute gift, it could be incredibly meaningful to the recipient. Perhaps, the bag is filled with the recipient’s favorite candies that the giver thoughtfully remembered from months back. That is the true gift: the effort and the care that goes into getting the right flavor. In light of Valentine’s Day coming up, Charlotte and I decided to give our advice about how to give meaningful gifts, specifically tailored to the recipient.
We cannot speak generally about gifts without first noting that each person is different and tailoring the gift to them is the most important element to gift giving. For ex-
ample, if one of your friends enjoys doing handiwork, a new set of tools would be appropriate; if they wear jewelry every day, you might consider a necklace as the perfect gift. Contemplate any hobbies they enjoy, details of their routine or specific favorites mentioned in conversations. From there, add personal touches. For example, remember their favorite place if you get them a gift card. If you purchase a clothing item, find it in their favorite color or designer. While this advice applies to store-bought gifts, the homemade ones are arguably more special. I recently bought yarn and made blankets for each of my friends in their respective college colors as their Christmas gifts. Blankets are obviously practical, but they also
No matter what you decide to give, remember the gift is all about the person and the meaning behind it, not the material or price.
give a little reminder of home. The price of the yarn was also just about the same as buying a pre-made blanket but means even more. Although it was time-consuming, it was fun to play with the different color schemes and do it mindlessly while talking or watching TV.
Charlotte has also ventured into the realm of homemade gifts. This Christmas she gave her parents a realistic drawing of their house that took her almost seven hours to complete. This gift proved thoughtful and unique, especially compared to the usual candle or pair of socks parents receive.
Wallet-friendly gifts can still be meaningful. My mom once compiled written letters from my loved ones and a respective photo into a book. This gift was extremely thoughtful, and I will definitely take it to college as a reminder of the love around me. Even a framed photo of you and the person can be a beautiful gift. Charlotte and her middle sister compiled photos and stories about their vacation into a book to give to her parents. I have also made my grandma a “why we love you” calendar with each day having a different member of the family writing reasons.
overall mental well-being of students. Students would also have an opportunity to grab snacks from the Eagles Nest before service so that they can focus on the lessons provided during sermons instead of waiting for lunch. Finally, swapping mini-flex and chapel would allow students and faculty to recharge before their next academic class. This minor shift is capable of enhancing the spiritual, social and mental well-being of the student body.
Another important component of gift-giving is presentation. The way you wrap it or give it can add another layer to the thoughtfulness. For example, in a game of white elephant, most people tend to go for the bigger bags finished with glitter or ribbon, whereas the paper brown boxes or plastic bags get discarded until the end. While it is preached to not judge a book by its cover, most people do it subconsciously anyway. Elevating gifts is simple and can be done with a ribbon or certain wrapping paper with a design or color that means something to the person. A viral trend for gifts is baskets for each occasion or season: a “boo basket” for Halloween or “burr basket” for the winter. These baskets all have a theme and are composed of small necessities based on it. Additionally, they are cute and easy go-to ideas, guaranteed to be appreciated. No matter what you decide to give, remember the gift is all about the person and the meaning behind it, not the material or price. Put your best effort into presentation and thoughtfulness and it will surely make an impact for the upcoming Valentine’s Day, birthdays or any other gift-giving occasions.
LATE FOR CHAPEL
On Jan. 31, a group of sophomores races to make it to chapel before the doors are closed. "It is always hard to make it to daily worship on time coming from M period," sophomore Emory Turner said, "I feel like I'm always cutting it short when walk into the chapel".
Photo by Stella Bartley
RUSSEL STOVER
The small loosely decorated plastic and cardboard box I saw in the store did not appeal to me, but I still decided to give it a try. I hoped that possibly the taste of the chocolates would outweigh my first impression of the wrapping. I picked up the very fragile box from the store when almost immediately one of the tiny chocolates practically slipped out of the packaging. The box was not well sealed with loose tape at the front of the heart. Unfortunately, my first impression of these chocolates proved to be correct: the initial appearance was just the beginning as the stale, chemical aftertaste of these treats was incredibly disappointing. Three varieties in side, each with a different flavor: dark chocolate with creamy coconut filling, milk chocolate with a caramel center and milk chocolate with vanilla creme. All three varieties were poorly crafted, overly sweet and contained a stale filling. I would not recommend this as a gift or even a treat to indulge in this Valentine's Day season.
Staff writer Annabel Brown set out to determine the ideal Valentine's Day chocolate. Whether you are giving a gift or choosing which
CUPID'S CONFECTIONS
At first glance, the special edi tion heart-shaped Godiva Val entine's boxes scream holiday fun. The overall appearance of the product was the best in the store while retaining a reasonable price. The box is reusable and made of durable plastic, and at the same time, it is sleek and captivating. As I opened the box I was greeted by the beauti ful and individually wrapped pieces of chocolate that come in two flavor options: dark chocolate and milk chocolate. While these choices seem simple and mundane, I was pleasant ly surprised by the elegant take on the classic flavors. The milk chocolate had a smooth, rich center and was not too sweet. On the other hand, the dark chocolate was filled with a creamy sweeter filling, which contrasted with the more bitter chocolate outside. Godiva s theme and the taste was by far the best I reviewed. This is a good option for a loved one as this choice demonstrates the thoughtfulness that goes into selecting a high-quality gift.
The classic, sheer elegance of a Ferrero Rocher box cannot be denied. The packaging is a promise of quality, and if you are the lucky recipient of one of these boxes, you feel that you have been showered with attention and love. Despite the profession alism and reputation of the brand, there was little Valentine's Day element in the packaging. The chocolates themselves have strong notes of hazelnut and it has Nutella-like filling which adds to the nostalgic taste of the treat. I also enjoyed the texture of the outside coating as it was crunchy and light. The chocolates were tasty, but I wish there had been more variety; the huge box only contained one flavor. The candy is quite decadent and a tad overwhelming and repetitious after eating only a singular piece. I relished this treat, but I would not classify it necessarily as chocolate and it did not comply well with the holiday theme compared to the others. The aesthetics of the brand, however, were elegant, and I would recommend it as a gift for a loved one
Photos and layout by Annabel Brown
agreeTO
Students debate their opinion on the endless expansion of popular movie franchises such as "Star Wars" and "Marvel"
Franchise films are automatic box office hits, fans come back for a world they love
Jamie Henderson Managing editor
Sitting down with a big bowl of popcorn, ready to be transported into yet another story in my favorite world, is one of the best feelings. Surrounded by comfortable characters and a familiar setting, I can turn off my mind and fully immerse myself in the movie experience. This is one of the reasons movie franchises should continue making more movies. Sequels and prequels can foster economic growth and help split up lengthy stories.
Economic gain is the franchise’s motive to create more movies. With fans consistently supporting the new release, revenue is always guaranteed. Marketing tools such as ticket presales or adding extra viewings as the film’s popularity increases, help drive ticket prices up.
The Hollywood Reporter made a list of the top 20 movies that generated the highest revenue in 2024: half of this list consisted of sequels or prequels. Disney’s “Inside Out 2” made nearly $1.7 billion in global ticket sales in 2024. The original “Inside Out” was well received in June of 2015; the usual fans returned for more. I loved the original, so when the sequel came out in 2024, I returned twice to watch it.
Another draw to the franchise realm is the ease of creativity. Being able to take just one small seed of an idea and develop a world or characters, past just the original surface, can make something more magical. Movie franchises should not be seen as a cop-out or lazy, because new ideas still need to be formed to continue the story.
For example, “Harry Potter” or “The Hunger Games” continue to receive attention because of the continuity of their world. In “The Hunger Games,” each character is further developed in the prequels, providing backstories. For example, in the “Ballad of Songbird and Snakes,” Suzanne Collins goes into detail on the villain of the original book. In “Harry Potter,” each book has new and old characters, with added nuances to their character development and re-
lationships. Time is another factor in creating franchises. Nobody wants to sit through a five to six-hour movie. It is not practical to make a movie incredibly long because people have busy schedules and short attention spans. “Wicked,” which released its first part in 2024, ran two hours and 40 minutes long. In this case, the entire movie benefited from being cut into two parts, each running anywhere from two to three hours. The second part is expected to be released in November.
In the “Colors of the Dark” podcast with director Elric Kane, a film student said, “The first 90 minutes are free, but you gotta earn every minute after that.” This could not be truer when it comes to attention spans and people forcing themselves to sit down and watch movies.
But there is a limit to how many sequels there are in a franchise. Movie series like James Bond or Fast and Furious fit this category; they are drawn out with over 25 and 13 movies, respectively. These franchises have stopped benefitting from the continuation because there are so many films that are no longer engaging, new or interesting. Although these movies should not be further continued, the first few films benefited the franchise as a whole so there should be a stopping point.
The key to a good continuous franchise is to have growth of characters, either in age or maturity, so the audience grows along with the characters as the movies are released. It is also important to root the characters in strong archetypes, so it is easy to find your favorite and follow the story. The best feature of franchises is to be transported into another world for an hour or two. You may be in your living room, but for that short amount of time, you are also in District 12, Hogwarts or Asgard.
LDrawn out franchises oversaturate the story, hindering creativity and expanding solely for profits
Co-editor-in-chief
Lauren Shushi |
ast fall, I walked into my local movie theater knowing I had years of preparation leading up to this moment. I read the books as a preteen, I watched and rewatched the original series, and I read the newest novel by Suzanne Collins that was being adapted into the movie, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” Reclining in my comfortable movie theater seat, I waited for the film to begin with bated breath, excited to pinpoint what differed from the novel, where the director would take this movie and enjoy the magic of what drew me to the trilogy the first time.
This is a movie franchise done right. The most recent movie had a successful and profitable box office run, grossing $300 million globally, according to collider.com. The director, Francis Lawrence, waited for the author of the books to complete a new one before starting this project, and no matter the fan’s critiques of the movie, they left satisfied with the expansion of this popular series. Many franchises are not meeting this standard: they expand solely for profit, cheapening the art and quality of what fans originally relished.
It is painful when old fans have no choice but to roll their eyes at the upcoming 34th “Marvel” movie, the 25th “Star Wars” franchise spinoff or the 11th “Fast & Furious,” and they must decide if they should even hate-watch it (all real numbers, by the way). Sometimes these franchises can hit on a good concept or try out an idea that fans resonate with, but most of the time it feels disingenuous, as if they are throwing new movies or shows at the audience and seeing what sticks.
My dad tells me often that a new “Star Wars” movie used to be a cul-
tural event. Games, toys and books would fly off the shelves in anticipation, and the buzz amongst fans was immeasurable. Now, new movies for popular franchises come out, and people simply do not watch them. The oversaturation of their old favorite movies is not worth the time, effort or money to view in theaters. While movie franchises begin as creative and innovative works that captivate audiences, their tendency to expand endlessly undermines the storytelling that fans originally fell in love with. When beloved narratives become hollow cash grabs, they painfully diminish the emotional and cultural impact they once held.
But some franchises manage to expand thoughtfully, proving that longevity is not inherently the problem–it’s the execution. “The Lord of the Rings” series by J.R.R. Tolkien redefined the epic fantasy genre, and director Peter Jackson’s commitment to bringing the novel to life led to amazing results; there are no bounds to the movies’ lasting influence on popular culture. While debated, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” attempted to thoughtfully expand on the rich mythology of the original trilogies.
While Jamie and I disagree that some movie franchises should run their course and end, we agree that when done right, extensions should honor the original's legacy, not exploit or cheapen it. She hit the nail on the head when she wrote that the biggest draw for fans of movie franchises is being transported to a familiar world for an hour or two and getting lost in it; whether that be in District 12, Hogwarts or in a galaxy far, far away, directors and producers must work to honor the original content and not do a disservice to fans who love the universe.
Illustration by Lauren Shushi
New technology is laying the foundation for a lazy society
For those of you who have not noticed, the world is quite literally in the palm of people’s hands. With the tap of a phone, the click of a button and a simple search on an AI software, options are limitless.
But while 21st century technological advancements have revolutionized life for Americans and global citizens, technology has also laid the foundation for a lazy society.
Thirty years ago, Amazon was one of the first services to transform the way we live. An hour-long excursion to the store turned into a scroll on one’s device, where one can find and order almost anything from school supplies to cars. And, all can be delivered right to your doorstep.
Further, according to Business of Apps, food and delivery apps like DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats and Postmates partner with 550,000 to 890,000 restaurants, giving people endless meal delivery options. No matter the craving, time of day, or location, these apps have it all. More recently, Walmart’s “drone-delivery system” can deliver goods to homes in under 30 minutes in certain states.
Speedy delivery is convenient and efficient, but it is done in exchange for the well-being of society. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, obesity rates in America have
risen by over 10 percent since 2004 – the year when food delivery apps gained popularity. This number can be attributed to the ease of food delivery apps and the sedentary lifestyle promoted by apps. Speaking from experience, it is much more difficult to resist the temptation for an unhealthy sweet treat when it is so easily accessible on delivery services.
Aside from the consumerism promoting services, the rising artificial intelligence industry is threatening to all users. AI chatbots allow anyone, including students and people in the workplace, to fabricate AI-generated work, relying on a robot to complete a project. Not only does this demonstrate the laziness of society, but it creates workshy employees and students who believe that there is no value in their own work, as AI can perform “better.”
Social media has also decreased the attention span of users. According to an article by The Standard, featuring Dennis Buttimera, the life and wellness coach for Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, people have chemical reactions to notifications, where adrenaline is shot through one’s body. The real problem occurs when that person starts to receive an excess of thrills; they decide—instead of working—to lie down and scroll on their phones.
The Talk
While
technology increases efficiency, it can promote a sedentary and a concerningly lazy lifestyle.
Beau McKnight | Asst. web editor
Personally, when I am hungry or need an explanation, I simply click a few buttons and have all my needs met within 30 seconds. Thirty years ago, one had to flip through a dictionary to find information or walk to the library to use a search engine. Although society’s shift to lazy lifestyles is unintentional, it has come naturally with time and will only continue to progress and worsen from here on out.
Luckily, there are solutions that could save us from this idleness epidemic. As a 2025 New Year's resolution, my goal was to cook more often, by placing “screen time limits” on my food delivery apps. Since then, I have not been able to use apps like DoorDash, GrubHub, etc. without entering a password. This not only holds me accountable, but has also saved me from costly delivery fees. Screen time limits are on all iPhones and can be used on any app, including apps like TikTok that invite doom-scrolling instead of productivity. According to Soax, an online data access site, people spend about two and half hours per day on social media. The simple fix is to place a limit for 30 minutes to an hour on the app that distracts you most, and you are already on the road to end procrastination and laziness.
Other apps like Momentum and RescueTime help
create to-do lists and set reminders for better time management. When you map out your day, you can a lot certain amounts of time for yourself to complete the tasks, ultimately eliminating time to scroll. Goal setting is another helpful tool to being more productive, avoiding pointless distractions, and breaking things down to small, achievable steps. Long-term goals are helpful for bringing purpose to one's life, yet they can be daunting and scary to fall short of. If a long-term goal is to eat healthier, then breaking that down into weekly goals of cooking athome meals twice a week is more attainable and far less intimidating. Truly nothing can beat the feeling of accomplishing a goal and being able to cross it off your list. Using these productivity tools can not only improve Americans’ ways of living, but also create a more social and engaged society: a society where people go out to shop and experience real-life interactions that bring us joy and encourage time spent with those we love. In a world where technological “improvements” are robbing us of our sense of humanity by hindering meaningful social interaction and promoting laziness, we have the power to reclaim it and reconnect with what truly matters.
Exploring past, present and predicted fashion trends
Out with the old, in with the new
clothing styles
feels that “Gossip Girl” had the biggest influence on her 2024 closet, causing attraction for pieces from the early 2000s when the show came out.
2024 was a pivotal year for the fashion industry, holding some of the most iconic looks and trends to date. Popular social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest helped curate and spread these trends, giving rise to unexpected fashion choices. But what does 2025 hold for the fashion world and the most popular trends? This previous year popularized various old, familiar and unprecedented fashion trends. The rise of animal print, specifically leopard, swept the masses with this pattern printed on shoes, bags and jeans. The trend was so big that these items became staples in most Gen-Z closets. Leopard print has remained a style since its first appearance in the ’30s, and we believe that the trend won't end anytime soon. Suede and studs were another marking feature of our 2024 style lookbook, becoming increasingly popular for the fall season. More specifically, darker-toned suede totes replaced traditional mini purses, emphasizing practicality while remaining chic. Studded items were also popular
this year, shifting away from the light “coquette” style of 2023. However, many mixed traditional styles with modern looks, such as the studded ballet flats worn by trendsetters like Sofia Richie, social media influencer and model, and Matilda Djerf, social media influencer and founder of Djerf Avenue. Representing “boho chic” and an Isabel Marant style, this popularization will likely continue into 2025. We believe 2025 will hold onto 2024 trends, while also inviting a new, personalized style. It will mix fashion trends from the early 2000s and ’70s: sequin tops, low-rise jeans and chunky jewelry. Older styles, such as polka dots, have resurfaced in tops and dresses, one of our favorite trends this season. Another trend prediction for 2025 is neck scarfs, which elevate an otherwise simple look when paired with a top or maxi dress. Overall, the emphasis on outfits that make a statement and share your inner niche is highlighted more than ever, sparking individuality and creativity. In addition, popular TV shows have transformed the fashion world for Gen-Z. Depending on what show is popular at the moment, we have noticed that society starts dressing like the specific characters featured. Junior Sophie Slotnik
We believe 2025 will hold onto 2024 trends, while also inviting a new, personalized style. It will mix fashion trends from the early 2000's and '70s
“The main character, Serena van der Woodsen, is my biggest inspiration when looking for fashion,” Slotnik said. “Her outfits are very laid back with a touch of sophistication, differing from everyone else in the show.”
According to a Feb. 3 Eagle Edition poll of 173 students, 56 percent find it challenging to find cute, affordable clothes that are timeless and trendy. While this process can seem daunting, we have some tips for you to avoid these struggles.
First, TikTok or Instagram can be a great way to find fashion inspiration. We enjoy saving and making collections of our favorite outfits for future outfit inspiration. Online shopping platforms, such as Locker or Like To Know, can help source new, unique pieces in one easy place.
Another tip for building your dream wardrobe is to invest in high-quality basics that can be elevated with accessories and other pieces. A plain white tank never goes out of style and is beyond useful to mix and match with different outfits.
Lastly, take a look at your mom’s closet. Whenever we are at a loss for an outfit or need an accessory to tie our outfits together, we find ourselves resulting in our moms’ closets. Most of the time, they have distinctive pieces from decades ago that no one else will be wearing. We receive so many compliments on our outfits when wearing our moms’ pieces, further revealing an easy fix to fashion emergencies.
But if you want to go a different route, you may wish to adopt junior Greta Solomon’s strategy. After being frustrated about not finding unique pieces, she began making some of her own clothing by hand. With the help of her sewing machine, Solomon finds inspiration from a clothing piece online or in a magazine, picks out fabric and creates it. By doing so, she adds her flair to a piece and produces an article of clothing that no one else owns, while also performing her favorite hobby.
Most importantly, it is key to keep a sense of personal style while building a dream wardrobe. With social media, fashion trends are constantly shifting and changing. Keeping a sense of personal style means wearing and investing in pieces you genuinely like, rather than just following trends. However, we are ecstatic to see what 2025 holds in the fashion industry, and cannot wait to see how the media, society and our community react to it.
Do not be afraid to shop for recycled clothing. Many girls create Instagram accounts to sell their clothing, often in pristine condition and discounted from their original prices. We like to use these opportunities to buy pieces we have been eyeing but cannot justify the cost while also supporting local girls in our community.
Valentina Boltchi | Social media manager Reese Rawson | Views editor
from Letter the Editors
Beyond the stack of Chinese food, I grasped the last fortune cookie, hoping for a telling destiny for the new year. As I ripped the cookie from its plastic wrapping, I had a few ideas of what lay inside: “A new beginning awaits you in the new year” or perhaps, “Embrace the changes that lay ahead.”
Yet, when I read the paper, I was disappointed and confused: “To conquer your flaws, you must first embrace them.” This fortune had nothing to do with the prosperity of the new year, and I deemed the fortune useless. Yet, reflecting on the message now, the significance of this fortune lies in New Year’s resolutions.
We often associate the new year with a “new you.” When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, we aspire to become a different version of ourselves: someone better, more fit and more outgoing. While Lauren and I have set goals for ourselves, accepting who you are in the present is key to achieving whatever resolutions the new year has in store for you. This year, both Lauren’s and my resolution is to eat cleaner and be more active. I personally struggle with
denying the nightly sweet treat, and I am aware of this habit. So, I am trying to reach compromises with myself to eat healthier. For example, instead of having a bowl of ice cream, I will eat TruFru strawberries. While this may be a simple habit, by accepting my sweet tooth, I can slowly conquer my sweet cravings with a relatively healthier snack. Similarly, Lauren is trying to be active every day. If she cannot go to the gym six times a week, she will compromise with herself by walking outside for the day. She knows it is unrealistic to believe that she will hit a new milestone every time she is in the gym, so she finds middle ground by giving her best effort every day. By making small milestones everyday, it becomes easier to reach your goals. Something my father always reminds me of is the cliche that "Rome wasn't build in a day." Similarly, you won't reach your goal in a day, week or maybe even month depending the achievement. And that is the point. The reason of setting goals is to endure the journey and duration of it. By accepting that achieving your goals takes time, you are more likely to
Co-editor-in-chief
Sophia Sardiña discusses her new year's resolutions, and shares about the importance embracing your flaws before of conquering them
Bettering yourself is excellent, but always keep in the back of your mind that you are who you are meant to be.
enjoy the process. The beauty of embracing your flaws before conquering them can be applied to any aspect of life. Recently, I have struggled in my Physics C class. Earlier in the year, I was unable to get through a simple one-page homework assignment without becoming flustered. However, my issue was not that I was not understanding, it was that I did not want to accept my need for support. I denied the fact that I needed to meet with my teacher, because I wanted to prove my capability. Yet, with one bad test grade after another, I had to come to terms with my need for extra help. I realized I was not as good at physics as I had hoped. And when I made this realization, I finally embraced my “flaw.” I went in before and after school to go over the homework, reviews and past tests. And before I knew it, I overcame my barrier of being “bad at physics.” All I needed was a push in the right direction. Viewing a flaw as “unconquerable” limits us; we are unable to overcome the flaw due to our reluctance. You are not supposed to be perfect–nor is anyone–and that’s the root of your uniqueness. If everyone were amazing
to Letter the Editors
Veda Bodhanampati | Freshman
Dear Editors,
After reading your staff stance on midterm exams that was published in the Eagle Edition’s Dec. 13 issue, I was thrown off by your claim stating that midterms affect students in a positive manner. Although exams can be effective for getting a glimpse into college academic life and keeping you better prepared for college, I don’t think they are as effective for preparing high school students for college exams. The staff stance explained how if a student has an average of 65 in a class, a semester exam may boost the grade by 3 points if the student receives an 80 on the semester exam. The question arises of why they have an average of 65 in the first place. If a student were to manage getting an 80 on an exam, they would
still be failing the class with a 68 percent. But if the student were able to earn a 100 on the semester exam, the highest their final grade could be is a 71. Although a 71 is better than a 68, the student would have to prepare extensively in only a few weeks time to obtain an A+ which is, in my point of view, nearly impossible.
If students have low grades at grade level classes or honor classes, teachers may consider making their semester exams more bearable. An easier exam could help students in the present, but it’s not preparing a student for college where most professors don’t make semester exams easier.
Let’s also remember that semester exams cause unnecessary stress on students. With juggling multiple exams at the same time, some being AP exams, and constant pressure to keep a grade or raise the grade significantly, students can feel tremendous academic pressure to do well on the exam.
An easier exam could help students in the present, but it’s not preparing a student for college where most professors don’t make semester exams easier.
My experience is that high school semester exams establish the idea of memorizing content rather than understanding it.
According to a study published by Edutopia. org, an organization that is dedicated to transforming Pre-K-12 education, over the past decade, many teachers have shifted away from traditional testing and have turned to more hands-on projects. This way, teachers can focus more on goals such as critical thinking and mastery of the material instead of memorizing content.
In college, the majority of the classes a student takes specialize in their chosen career field. Semester exams create a habit of cram memorizing the day before the exam and forgetting content a few days after. This method is not effective considering material being learned in college seminars is to be understood and applied for the rest of your life, not for a good final grade.
According to Scholarships.org, many colleges have steered away from multiple choice exams and many students oppose multiple choice. Multiple choice favors in speedy memorization and limited declarative knowledge not benefiting students as much.
According to the K. Patricia Cross Academy at the University of Alabama, final projects prove more favorable to a student’s understanding of a course. What I truly believe
at football, Sunday football would not be as interesting; if everyone were a talented artist, art museums would be underwhelming; if everyone was good at everything, no one would be exceptional.
While you might not be the smartest, fastest, or most creative, you must embrace your flaws before you aim to change yourself.
Lauren and I are fully aware that this is easier said than done. We, too, struggle with accepting our flaws and, at times, loving ourselves. Yet, slowly but surely, we are trying to embrace who we are in order to be better versions of ourselves.
Being a month into the new year, we encourage you to pursue your goals that you set in January. While we understand that life happens, it is important to renew your resolutions if you drop them by first embracing yourself. Whatever your resolutions may be, we hope that the first step in achieving your goal is to be kind to yourself and know that it is okay that you are not perfect. And yes, bettering yourself is excellent, but always keep in the back of your mind that you are who you are meant to be. That is all that anyone can ask, including yourself.
would be effective for regular or honors classes in ninth and tenth grade is to create final projects that reflect what students have learned in class during the semester and show how to apply the knowledge learned.
Of course, this does not apply to every single subject. Classes such as English and some history courses, due to their class material, inevitably benefit from a written exam.
Students are also not able to express their full academic potential through exams. Student’s test anxiety can undermine their full academic ability.
Anxiety is also a very important topic to consider.
A study published by the UCLA Department of Psychology found that an estimated 40 percent to 60 percent of students suffer from test anxiety. Symptoms can be lack of self-confidence, students having negative thoughts about their academic ability and hardship understanding information learned. Poor test performance can be attributed to these side effects.
I am not against all semester exams, but I do believe students would benefit if fewer semester exams were required. I think a healthier approach would be to place more emphasis on assignments, homework and work submitted throughout the semester to fairly, and more accurately, reflect and evaluate a student’s commitment to
academic
achievement.
Sports
Super Bowl LIX: celebrating football, traditions, family
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles battle to be named the 2024-25 NFL Champions
Kansas City Chiefs fan and faculty member Tim Woodward faces off against fellow faculty member and Philadelphia Eagles fan Evan Hadrick as Super Bowl Sunday approaches. "Half my year is planned around watching Eagles games on Sundays," Hadrick said. "I'm excited about our team this year because I feel like they've solved a lot of adversity and play a style football that's fun to watch."
Photo by Anoushka Sinha
Upper school history and government teacher and longtime Kansas City Chiefs fan Tim Woodward nervously sits down on Sunday, Jan. 26 to watch the AFC Championship game. Surrounded by 15 of his family members and friends and wearing his Patrick Mahomes sweatshirt, Woodward cheers on his hometown football team as they strive to make their fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years.
Football fans across America gear up every year for the most anticipated event of the year: the Super Bowl. This year, Super Bowl LIX will take place this Sunday, Feb. 9. The big event will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This game will feature the Kansas City Chiefs, who are looking to win their third Super Bowl in a row, versus the Philadelphia Eagles, who seek to redeem themselves after their loss to the Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl. With both teams boasting powerful rosters and a thrilling set of playoff games marked by unexpected outcomes, viewers can expect a thrilling match for the coveted Lombardi Trophy.
“[The Washington Commanders] were on a miracle run,” junior football fan Ebrahim Tariq said. “They’ve been a surprising team throughout the playoffs and their win against Detroit, the number one seed, was a huge upset especially because it was [Detroit’s] first playoff game this season.”
With three weekends of playoff matchups leading up to the Super Bowl, starting with Wild Card Weekend on Jan. 11 and 12 games being played in the postseason so far, this year’s playoffs have delivered quite a few memorable matchups.
“The [Buffalo] Bills and [Baltimore] Ravens game was
one of the most interesting games to watch this season,” Tariq said. “They were back and forth the whole time, the Bills took a good lead in the third quarter, and then the Ravens came back but couldn’t score the two-point conversion to tie the game in the end.”
The AFC Championship game on Jan. 26 kept fans on the edge of their seats as the Bills faced off against the top-seeded Chiefs. After much anticipation leading up to the game, considering the Bills served the Chiefs the first of their just two losses in the regular season, the Chiefs were determined to redeem their previous performance.
“I was nervous [going into the game], but the Chiefs have been in this position multiple times in multiple years, and so to them, it's just another game,” Woodward said. “They've also defeated the Bills four times in the playoffs before, so that's a good track record that I would want to have if I were the Chiefs.”
With both runners-up in the AFC and NFC championships, the Bills and the Commanders, not having appeared in the Super Bowl for 31 and 33 years respectively, this year’s postseason has brought a wave of excitement and fresh narratives to the NFL despite the Dallas Cowboys falling short during the regular season and not making it to the playoffs.
“I was a little sad that the Cowboys didn’t make it to the playoffs, but there’s still a lot of good teams, and I always get excited to see how teams grow every year and how far they can go,” junior Riley Morrison said. “It’s fun seeing a team not familiar to the playoffs make it and have a shot at winning the Super Bowl.”
But the game is not the only thing fans are excited about. The halftime show remains one of the most antic-
I always get excited to see how teams grow every year and how far they can go. It's fun seeing a team not familiar to the playoffs make it and have a shot at winning the Super Bowl.
Riley Morrison Junior
ipated aspects of Super Bowl Sunday. This year, rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the Apple Music Halftime Show and will be accompanied by singer SZA, as announced through a trailer released on Jan. 23. Lamar will return to the stage after appearing in the 2022 halftime show alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige.
“I am really looking forward to the performance,” Morrison said. “I’ve followed Kendrick Lamar for a long time, and I’m personally very excited to see all the songs he performs and what kind of special effects he brings to the stage.”
According to a Billboard article from Feb. 11, 2024, the 12 to 15 minute performances cost the NFL up to $10 million. Performers are reported to be paid the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union rate minimum. Last year’s headliner, Usher, was paid $671 for the actual halftime performance and about $1,800 per week for the rehearsals leading up to the event, according to a Sports Illustrated article published on Jan. 23. Additionally, they reported that some artists pay out of pocket for more elaborate setups, such as The Weeknd, who in 2021 spent more than $7 million.
“Rihanna’s performance from 2023 has definitely been one of my favorite halftime shows from the past few years,” senior Sophie Stager said. “She is a really good dancer, the stage was cool and I think that overall, it was just a really interesting show.”
And let's not forget the Super Bowl commercials, which have become an event in their own right. Companies such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Nerds or Coors Light have invested as much as $7 million for a 30-second spot for this year’s game, according to Sports Illustrated.
“I always enjoy the Super Bowl commercials and I think it’s cool to see how much effort companies put into them, they’re always more advanced because they cost millions of dollars to get in, so they’re more fun than just the regular ads you see on TV,” Morrison said. “My favorite part every year though is playing this game called ‘Squares’ with my family. You pick a square and if the two numbers associated with your square are the ending numbers of the scores of each team, then you get money at the end of each quarter.”
The Super Bowl is about more than the game for many: it also serves as a day for decades-long traditions, regardless of the teams competing. Families and friends gather to celebrate with food and games, creating a unifying event beyond sports.
“My family and I normally go to brunch together for the Super Bowl,” Woodward said. “We also order some Kansas City Barbecue [and] some other food and drinks from Kansas City. And then someone usually hosts the game, and we all wear our Chiefs gear and cheer on the team.”
This year’s Super Bowl will mark the 11th time New Orleans has hosted the event and the first time since 2013. It is a city known for its rich culture and history, and despite recent challenges, such as the tragic terrorist attack that occurred on Jan. 1, many see this event as an opportunity to uplift spirits.
“I think New Orleans is a really fun location to have this year’s Super Bowl,” Morrison said. “Although it’s probably a bit scary after the recent terrorist attack, I feel like this will be an exciting event to lighten up the mood of the area and lift the citizens’ spirits, along with Mardi Gras celebrations starting around the same time.”
Anoushka Sinha | Arts editor
Every issue, the Eagle Edition highlights two athletes who stand out on the field for their respective sports.
BellaTremblay
How long have you been playing soccer, and what motivates you to keep playing?
What motivates me to play basketball is always wanting to get better, and playing better and harder competition.
What has been your most fond memory of your sport and why do you cherish it?
My most fond memory is when I got my first dunk [in eighth grade]. I had really been wanting to dunk ever since I started playing. And that summer, I worked really hard and got my first dunk. I was super proud of myself, especially since I worked really hard.
Throughout all your years of playing, what is something that you have taken away from your sport, what lesson have you learned during playing?
One of the main things I have taken away is always being on time and early. For practice, if you are not 15 minutes early you are late, which is never a good impression. You always want to be there before the set time.
What aspirations or goals do you have for yourself and your sport during high school and potentially college
For high school, I definitely want to win an SPC championship here at ESD. I also want to play division one basketball after high school for college.
Any advice you would give to your younger self or younger athletes?
What I would tell my younger self and other young athletes would be to do the stuff that people do not want to do. [For example], waking up early to get in some extra workout or practice time, or staying after practice to get up more shots. It’s always important to put in extra effort in order to achieve what you want to achieve.
I’ve been playing soccer since I was six, so it’s been about nine years now. I started club soccer when I was eight, and I’ve been on the varsity team since my freshman year. What keeps me motivated is seeing my growth and improvement over time. The progress I make inspires me to keep pushing myself and striving to get better.
What has been your most fond memory of your sport and why do you cherish it?
One of my most cherished memories in soccer was signing with my first club team. It was a significant milestone in my soccer journey and a moment that made me realize how much I love the game.
Throughout all your years of playing, what is something that you have taken away from your sport, what lesson have you learned during playing?
One of the biggest lessons soccer has taught me is the value of patience. I’ve learned that some things take time, and it’s important to trust the process. Good things are worth the wait and the effort.
What aspirations or goals do you have for yourself and your sport during high school and potentially college?
A major goal for me and the entire team is winning SPC with ESD. We have a strong team this year, and I believe we have a great chance of achieving that.
Any advice you would give to your younger self or younger athletes? If I could give advice to my younger self and other young athletes, it would be to not be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and they’re what help you grow and improve as a player.
Photo by Harper Sands
Ohio State wins in new college football playoff format
College football playoffs now has 12 teams rather than four
Ecstatic that for the first time his team made it to the College Football Playoffs, sophomore Michael Chiste got ready on Saturday morning, Dec. 21, 2024 to watch SMU play for a win against the number-four ranked Penn State.
In this 24-25 season, 12 teams competed for a national title, each representing their respective school. The new playoff system expanded the playoff from four teams and three games to 11 games and 12 games.
“SMU making the playoffs this year was great because I’ve been a fan for a long time and really like the school,” Chiste said. “I think they showed everyone they can compete in the regular season and they deserved to make the playoffs.”
Eight more teams are able to battle for a national title under the new system. This gives more leeway to teams, because even if they lose multiple games, they receive less scrutiny by the committee.
“I like the change to the 12 team playoff,” Chiste said. “A team can afford to lose a game or two and it is not the end of the world. Sometimes really good teams just don’t play well and they lose but they could still beat any team in the country on any given Saturday.”
In previous years, if a team had two losses, making the
four team playoff was nearly impossible due to the level of competition. Therefore, one loss was more meaningful than one win.
“The change to 12 teams is more fun in my opinion,” freshman Danial Hoffpauir said. “I think that good teams learn from losing a game or two which makes them better towards the end of the season.”
For example, the University of Mississippi football team lost three games in the regular season and missed the playoffs. Ole Miss, as it is nicknamed, plays in the Southeastern Conference, which is considered the most competitive conference in college football. Every loss they had was less than seven points, and they beat the University of Georgia who was highly ranked on Saturday Nov. 9, 2024.
“I couldn’t believe they didn’t put Ole Miss in the playoffs,” senior Campbell Carothers said. “I get losses matter a lot, but all of our losses were close. We also beat Georgia and South Carolina who were two good teams.”
SMU made the playoffs instead of Ole Miss. Many college football fans were not pleased to watch the SMU vs. Penn State football game.
“Having to watch that game was hard,” Carothers said. “SMU didn’t do well at all in the playoffs. I think Ole Miss would have put up a
I like the change to the 12 team playoff. A team can afford to lose a game or two. Sometimes really good teams just don’t play well and they lose but they could still beat any team in the country on any given Saturday.
Chiste Sophomore
better fight and maybe even beat Penn State.”
Surprisingly, all of the previous conference champions lost in their first games. In the new playoff system, the four conference champions are awarded a first round bye. However, since these teams lost this year, the system may change, so that the top four teams in the AP poll get the bye instead of the conference champions. The AP poll is decided by a committee of people who rank all teams in college football. The poll itself is the rankings of the top 25 teams in college football.
“All of the conference champions losing was definitely strange,” Hoffpauir said. “I figured there could be an upset or two but not Georgia and Oregon losing.”
On the other hand, Arizona State University proved that they can compete with the best teams in the country. ASU won the Big12 conference on Saturday Dec. 7, 2024, so they were rewarded with a first round bye. They played the University of Texas after Texas defeated Clemson 3824 on Dec. 21, 2024.
“I wasn’t nervous because I didn’t think that Arizona State played good competition throughout the regular season in comparison to Texas’s SEC schedule,” sophomore John Edge Sowa said. “I also did not believe the Skattebo and Sam Leavitt hype.”
Arizona State had a chance to bring the game into a third
overtime if they scored. The game ended in double overtime with Texas sealing the game by intercepting Arizona State on Jan. 1.
“I was really nervous when [ASU] brought the game into overtime,” senior Rett Detwiler said. “Cam Skattaboo was all over the place and I really didn’t think we could stop him. I mean he owned us in the second half.”
The national championship took place at the Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 20, between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Ohio State were heavy favorites in this game, predicted to beat Notre Dame by eight and a half points.
“Going into the game I predicted that Notre Dame couldn’t keep up with Ohio State’s offense,” Junior Siler Cooke said. “I think Ohio State was just the better team and it showed.”
Ohio State reigned victorious 34-23, making them the 2025 national champions. Ohio State was the first team to win the first four team playoff in 2015and the first 12 team playoff. Overall, they have brought Ohio a total of nine championship titles.
The new 12 team playoffs allowed more teams to compete throughout the season, resulting in more high stake games. Fans had 11 college football games to watch throughout the holiday season, marking a successful first year of the system.
TOUCHDOWN TAKEOVER Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a rushing touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins (not pictured) during the first half against Notre Dame in the 2025 National Championship at MercedesBenz Stadium on Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Photo by Jason Getz/The Atlanta JournalConstitution/TNS
Ethan Pham Sports editor
Michael
Charlotte North's path from ESD to success
Emmy Moss | Life editor
Freshman Leighton Randall shook off her nerves as she walked into the Lacrosse Barn, an indoor training facility for lacrosse players, on Jan. 4 to participate in a lacrosse clinic. The event was hosted by two-time Tewaaraton Award winner and ESD alumna Charlotte North. As someone who has looked up to North for years, Randall eagerly took advantage of this opportunity to develop skills that would hopefully lead her along North’s successful career path.
Despite being the face of women's lacrosse, North has continued to return to her roots at ESD. She aims to build up the future generation of lacrosse players, using the same skill and determination that she had in high school.
“The Charlotte North Clinic was overall a lot of fun,” Randall said. “It was a smaller group, so there was a lot more hands-on experience and I learned a lot more than I have at other clinics.”
The clinic began at 10 a.m. and ended at noon. It consisted of a series of lessons and games designed to teach the skills that helped North evolve from a seventh-grade lacrosse player to an NCAA champion.
“My favorite part of working with someone with her experience was definitely how much she focused on her stick skills,” Randall said. “Not only the catching and throwing but also ball control because that is sometimes overlooked.”
Having a role model has
helped many athletes achieve their goals, but when that athlete attends the same school, this pride only increases for players. For example, senior Katherine Clark, who is now committed to play lacrosse at Sewanee University, looks up to North.
“It is just a pretty cool experience that the best player in the world for women's lacrosse went to the same school, had the same teachers and walked the same halls as I do,” Clark said. “She worked super hard to get where she is and it's paid off and ESD has supported her a lot just through recognition.”
Many girl athletes have looked up to North since her time at ESD, especially considering her role in leading the team to state in 2017.
“I remember when I was younger and my dad and I used to go to the fields, I used to see her there with her dad,” Randall said. “Now, I am a high schooler going in the fields with my dad.”
According to NCAA recruiting facts, fewer than two percent of college athletes are recruited to play their sport professionally. These odds can be deterring to high schoolers and college athletes who dream of playing professional sports, but for North, this dream became a reality through determination and hard work.
“Everyone has their role models, [and]mine is Charlotte North,” junior and lacrosse commit to the University of Pittsburgh Courtney Del-Cid said. “She has helped me so much just by watching her play and she's definitely
an inspiration.”
North first picked up a stick in seventh grade and started playing club lacrosse the summer before her freshman year, and she is now an NCAA championship-winning lacrosse player. Even after beginning to play lacrosse, she continued to play many sports throughout her high school career and excelled in many.
“For many years, ‘Play in the WNBA’ was what she said she wanted to do when she grew up,” the Charlotte North Lacrosse Website said. “She still holds all her high school’s basketball scoring records.”
After graduating from ESD, North went on to play for Duke for two years before transferring to Boston College where she left her mark by helping Boston College win its first national championship in 2021. North is now playing for the U.S. National Lacrosse team, where she led her team to a gold medal in the 2022 World Championship at Towson University in Maryland.
“I remember watching when they won,” Clark said. “It was so surreal seeing someone from my high school be on that big of a stage.” North's career in lacrosse did not stop after leaving Boston College, or even after playing for the U.S. Women's National Lacrosse team; she kept pushing toward growing the field of women's lacrosse. Now, North, with the help of other prominent lacrosse players, has created the professional Women's Lacrosse League, a level previously reserved for men because of the lack of women in this field.
“We firmly believe that this is the beginning of what will be a monumental movement in the game of professional women’s lacrosse, and for female athletes around the globe,” North said to the Premier Lacrosse League in an interview. “We are determined to work tirelessly to grow the game and inspire the next generation of young girls, while ultimately competing for championships each season. It’s our time.” North’s team is the Boston Guard, and she started the league alongside three other women's lacrosse players: Ali Mastroianni from the California Palms, Alex Holmann from the Maryland Charm and Izzy Scane from New York Charging. The league is planned to debut in February during the Premier Lacrosse Leagues 2025 championship series, according to ESPN.
“I think the new womens league is very inspirational, especially to the younger generation,” Del-Cid said. “It gives them something to look forward to."
Charlotte North leads a camp with over 20 girl lacrosse players. "Charlotte has been a role model to me," freshman Leighton Randall said. "[In this photo] she was going over the mechanics of midrange shooting."
Photo by Leighton Randall
Cheer team places fifth at Nationals
The squad executes two zero deduction routines for the first time in Eagle history during their third appearance at the competition
DANCE IT OUT
The ESD cheerleading team stormed the mat fuming with high energy and nerves as they jump into their routine for their biggest competition of the season; National Cheerleaders Association Competition.
This year, the cheerleaders placed fifth in their Novice Varsity Crowd-leading division at the National Cheerleading Association Competition at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Jan. 25 and 26. They competed at a two day competition against seven other competition cheerleading teams from all across the nation. In order for these cheerleaders to perform their best, weeks of preparation went into perfecting their routine.
Sophomore Taylor Ampofo had never competed in a cheerleading competition, so she did three things to prepare herself both mentally and physically.
“The week of NCA I drank lots of water and went to bed earlier,” Ampofo said. “[I also] ran the routine in my head, as well as doing the motions to perfect it.”
With only a few practic-
es left before the big national competition, Ampofo was placed into a new section, requiring her to perform a skill that she had not done in three years.
“I had not done a back-walkover back handspring in three years,” Ampofo said. “It was really stressful so close before nationals, but I knew it was important for me to try it so we would not have to change the entire section.”
Ampofo did her best to prepare herself for such a stressful event.
“I had never been in an environment like a cheer competition before,” Ampofo said. “There was so much chaos, excitement and nerves that flooded the room.”
Junior captain of the competition cheer team Stella Wynne has been cheering for eight years, giving her the experience she needed to guide her teammates when overwhelmed with stress.
“Many people have never experienced competition cheer before,” Wynne said.
“Having a background in competitive cheer has helped me to be there for the girls who have no idea what competing is like.”
Wynne believes that more cheerleaders are comfortable with the idea of competing this year, because the winter cheer program has been running at
7
number of teams, including ESD, in the Novice Varsity Crowd Leading-Medium division
As the cheerleaders wrap up their routine with the final act on Jan. 26 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, they do their best to persevere and end strong.
“This is the most rewarding part of the routine especially after we’ve hit, freshman Gabby Aston said.
“I love to be sassy in the dance and its just so much fun to do once you know you’ve hit zero.
Photo provided by NCA Photography
The mindset that you need to have is that you have done the routine so many times it feels impossible to mess up.
Megan Schroeder Head cheerleading coach
ESD for years.
“This year more people have a background in competitive cheer from either old teams or previous ESD competitive seasons,” Wynne said. “Now that the program has been running for seven years, people are starting to understand and get really good at competing.”
Being captain of a stressed and anxious team is difficult, especially when keeping the team positive during adversity. However, it is also rewarding to be a competition cheer captain.
“I love being a captain because we get to do fun things like make bows for our team,” Wynne said. “I also love it because I get really close to girls I didn’t know before and probably wouldn’t if we were not on the team together.”
Head coach Megan Schroeder led her team into NCA after many months of preparation.
“It’s a lot of repetition,” Schroeder adds. “The mindset you need is that you have done the routine so many times it feels impossible to mess up.” Schroeder coaches both sideline and competition cheer, which may seem similar, but have many differences.
“It has to be a little bit of a different mindset,” Schroeder said. “In a half time if you mess up you’re embarrassed,
but in a nationals competition you have score deduction.”
Schroeder places as much emphasis on mental preparation as she does on physical training for her athletes.
“It’s a lot of repetition to prepare them so they cannot overthink it,” Schroeder said. “I always remind them to eat healthy, hydrate and stay rested.”
Senior competitive cheer captain Ella Floyd also takes her role seriously because she knows one of her roles is to support her team. She enjoys pushing everyone to do their best. Especially after the long December break when it was tough to get back into practice.
“I love having a bigger responsibility on the team and helping encourage everyone,” Floyd said. “Especially after Christmas break when everyone was trying to get back into it.”
As a senior, this season was bittersweet for Floyd. She knows this was her last competition. It was sad for her to say goodbye, but the team she finished her cheer career with could not have been better.
“Everyone is so hard working and dedicated which makes it so much easier to work together,” Floyd said. “I am very sad it’s my last year, but I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
500k
total dollar amount awarded to NCA winners in cash and prizes
1,375
estimated number of teams that competed at NCA in January
Source: Varsity.com
Lincoln Clarke Staff writer
Sports editor Ethan Pham offers his insights on the life of student-athletes at ESD as well as his takes on sports. Through his personal experiences and analysis, he sheds light on the challenges, triumphs and daily routines of balancing academics with athletics.
the entire team. I was humiliated. He did not explain why my actions were wrong, and instead, yelled at me.
Consequently, I was then kicked off the team – an unreasonable reaction. Since then, I never played in another soccer game and grew to dislike the sport.
Anew sport, new school and new faces made me nervous when I first started playing tackle football in fifth grade. However, I was lucky enough to receive guidance on this new journey, helping me overcome my nerves. It was not a teacher, parent or a sibling who helped me — it was my first tackle football coach Nakia Codie.
Coach Codie coached my team, the Red Tide, in fifth and sixth grade. I did not know anyone on the team when I first joined, and it was daunting. Coach Codie saw that I was new and immediately reached out to help. He helped form
I have had my fair share of good and bad coaches throughout my sports career, and each one has either impacted my life negatively or positively. But, I am glad to say that I have had more good coaches than bad.
However, one of the bad coaches caused me to quit the sport, when I was in elementary school playing soccer for the Lamplighter Lightning Sharks. I was running down the field towards the ball and a player from the other team was running next to me and started kicking me for no reason. I was fed up with him and did not know better, so I punched him in the arm.
After this whole debacle, the game stopped, my coach reprimanded me in front of
This behavior is common for bad coaches. I hate to say it, but these coaches are everywhere: peewee all the way up the pros.
A coach should always be supportive and teach their players regardless of the circumstances. Coaches reserve the right to get mad at their players and dole out consequences, but only when the players deserve and learn from it.
Moreover, coaches should be building players up and not tearing them down when they make a mistake.
Former college football coach Nick Saban is recognized as one of the greatest coaches of all time. While at Michigan State, he had a player, Mushin Muhammad, who made a mistake and re-
Good coaches transform their athletes' lives
ceived significant backlash. Everyone agreed that Muhammad should be kicked off the team, however, Saban did not kick him off. In a December 2014 press conference, he explained why he did not kick him off.
“There’s always a lot of criticism out there when somebody does something wrong. Everyone wants to know how you are going to punish the guy,” Saban said during the interview. “Where do you want him to be? … Do you want him to be in the street? Or do you want them to be here graduating?”
Saban understood that everyone messes up, especially when his athletes are young, and he believes that everyone deserves a second chance.
“I didn’t kick him off the team. I suspended him. I made him do stuff,” Saban said. “He graduated from Michigan State, he played 15 years in the [NFL], and now he's the president of a company and has seven children; his oldest daughter goes to Princeton. So who is right?”
In my eyes, Saban was wise and the perfect example of a great coach. He gave his players a second chance, made them learn from mistakes and set them up for a successful life.
But my favorite coach of all time is my current lacrosse coach, grounds, field, equipment coordinator and head coach of the varsity men's
lacrosse team Jay Sothoron, who has made me better on and off the field. He sets high standards for members of the lacrosse program.
Before every season, coach Sothoron sends out a long list of expectations to players and parents. The list focuses on player behavior, outside of lacrosse, because he wants to ensure players represent the program admirably.
In the past, I was a troublemaker and made bad decisions, however, Sothoron makes sure none of his players behave poorly without consequence. If one person on the team does something wrong, the whole team is punished. This rule teaches us to hold each other accountable and to quit making bad choices. He makes an effort to connect team members, so we grow a bond off the field. The team has gone on retreats on top of the scheduled travel. On the bus, we play silly trivia games and put our phones away so we can bond.
Coach Sothoron has made me a better player, as well as a more mature and caring person. This is the responsibility of a good coach. I look up to him and trust him in any situation, good or bad, to lead the team to success.
Coaches can be life changing. They push their athletes in every way imaginable. At the end of the day, good coaches make all the hard work enjoyable.
This Valentine's Day, practice makes progress
Sometimes a little cringey pickup line is what you need to "shoot your shot"
Alexa Sardiña | Cartoonist
"How was Heaven when you left it?..."
"'Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?' Okay, I got this. I just have be confident."
"H-hey. I...uhm got you these."
"Aww! Thank you so much. They are so pretty!"
Valentine s Day is all about love, nerves and sometimes cheesy pickup lines. Whether it is "Do you have a map... Because I keep getting lost in your eyes," or something even worse, cheesy pick up lines are a fun (and sometimes awkward) way to break the ice. For someone shy, putting themselves out there can feel like the hardest thing in the world, but sometimes it is not about the perfect line, it is just about having the guts to say it. And who knows, maybe a little cringe is exactly what makes it cute.
Alexa Sardi ña
Sophomore
Eagle Edition
Staff writers Stella Bartley, Sheridan Bailey, Annabel Brown, Lincoln Clarke, Jack Coben, Barrett Coble, Sloane Everett, Josephine
Holmes, Craighton Jefferies, Kate Lewis, Gracie Nealon, Lilly
Traylor and Betty Wheeler Cartoonist
2019 THE PATH TO NOW
In celebration of ESD's 50th anniversary, The Eagle Edition staff is going through the archives looking into areas of the school's growth over the years and the path to now. The fourth timeline highlights the evolution of ESD's winter dance, from the inaugural year in 1994 to the present.
Reese Rawson | Views editor
The 2024 winter dance, pictured in the middle photo with juniors Cate Stephenson, Stella Wynne and Beau McKnight, sophomores at the time, marks the annual costume dance held at ESD. Instead of dressing in formal suits and dresses, students are expected to show up wearing their best costumes. Organized by the sophomore class officers, the event includes coordinating the funds, music entertainment, lighting and theme for the entire high school to enjoy. The funds raised from this dance go toward the sophomore class fund, primarily used for the prom budget the following year.
This year, the dance will be held in the Haggar Gym on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. with the theme “City of Stars.” Sophomore officers Betty Wheeler, Kate Lewis and Hud Maegen, along with class president Kate Lewis, have spent the past three months preparing for the big night. With this theme, an array of costumes can be worn that relate to being a “star;” many students will dress as Jedis from "Star Wars," movie characters, Hollywood celebrities, athletes or singers.
For decades, the dance was known as the Sadie Hawkins dance, but in 2022, it was renamed the Winter Dance. A Sadie Hawkins dance traditionally implies that girls ask guys to the event. Changing the name helps lessen the pressure on students to feel compelled to bring a date.
Students can expect a night filled with music, dancing and themed decorations that bring the "City of Stars" to life. Though the decorations are a surprise, the gym will be transformed into a star-studded celebration. DJ Junk Food will keep the energy high with a mix of popular hits and tracks. Whether attending with a date or a group of friends, the winter dance promises to be a night to remember
With it being the
The first Sadie Hawkins dance, pictured to the left, was themed Surfin' Safari. Juniors Collin Comer and Jamie Allen attend, enjoying the dance together.
Eliza Davis '19 and Jetlyn Toledo '19 dance during their senior year '80s themed Sadie Hawkins Dance. This year the dance was held in the Commons.
James Clement, Mary Humphreys and Caroline Carter sit back and relax before going to the dance.
year of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the sophomore class planned their annual Sadie Hawkins dance with an Olympics theme. Students showed up wearing their best USA spirit.
