The Fourcast December 2020

04 NEWS Your World Today: Learn more about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

16 SPORTS Discover how strength and conditioning has changed during COVID-19

13 FEATURES Three seniors start their own business: How did they do it?

18 OPINIONS Should seniors post college acceptance letters?

THE

FOURCAST

The Hockaday School

T

11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

December 17, 2020

Volume 71, Issue 3

l o G w m o r f a G i W v i e ng h

Research proves it: Those who give also receive. Helping others increases our own happiness. So find out how you can spread and experience holiday joy while giving to those in need.

Giving Happiness, pg. 10-11

Artwork by Louisa Benedict

02 December 17, 2020

Inside

FOURWARD HockaBriefs

the ’Cast

News 03-05 • 05 Learn about

the work of the housekeeping and maintenance staffs

Catch up on the latest campus news Phenoma Magazine, created by Annie Zhao and Angelina Wu, won four individual Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle awards. They are also finalists for a Crown Award which means they will receive a Gold or Silver Crown in March.

The Poetry Out Loud Competition was held on Dec. 8 over Zoom. Myesa Arora, Jessica Chung, Asha Gudipaty, Megan Manning, and Princess Ogiemwonyi will advance to the Hockaday final round in January.

For this year’s annual Gift Drive, Hockaday partnered with the TR Hoover Center in South Dallas to help provide gifts for 52 children who live in the Bonton neighborhood.

Arts & Life 06-09 • 6 Discover Kylee

On Oct. 23 and 24, Model UN students attended the College of William and Mary virtual Model UN Conference.

Senior Inez Johnson received a Verbal Commendation and juniors Ananya Sharma and Haley Coleman both recieved Honorable Mentions

Hong’s threedimensional eye sculpture

Just FOUR You

Infocus

Centerspread

• 10-11 It’s the

season of giving.

What can you do to spread happiness?

Features 12-15 • 12 Read about up-

The Fourcast

What’s coming up in the next month?

1 Holiday Break

2

MLK Day

Upper School students can enjoy Dec. 21- Jan. 6 as a homework-free break. Spend some time with your family and don’t forget to drink some hot chocolate during the freezing Dallas winter!

Students celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King with Tresa Wilson’s Jan. 15 One Hockaday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration/Day of Service.

A group of juniors celebrate winter break with hot chocolate in 2019.

Sophomores paired with lower schoolers last year to learn about the difficulties of transporting water in areas of the world lacking wells.

and-coming artist, eighth-grader Anna Whitley

Sports 16-17 • 17 Margaret

Woodberry and Alyssa Taylor reflect on the Athletic Board

Opinions 18-19 • 18 Seniors share differing views on displaying college acceptance letters

Castoff • 20 The Big

Question: What do you get your male relatives for Christmas?

3

JRP

The time has come, juniors. The Junior Research Paper is officially due Dec. 18. Juniors will turn in their hard copy after the break on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

4

Karla Garcia

On Friday, Jan. 22 from 12 to 12:25 Karla Garcia, Dallas ISD District 4 Trustee, will speak to students to shed new light on educational equity. Small group/sign-up required. Contact twilson@hockaday.org.

Juniors decorate the front of their JRP folders.

Correction

In the Nov. 13 issue a story referred to the artist Sam Smith using he/him/his. The correct pronouns for Sam Smith are they/them/theirs.

hockadayfourcast.org

04 International students

living in United States strive to stay connected with families

NEWS

December 17, 2020

03

05 Microbiology of Public

Health classes create posters for DISD elementary schools

Robotics in a virtual world

Social distancing means challenges for team, changes in tournaments

by Elisa Carroll Assisant Web Editor

I

magine a room so full of people and machinery surrounding a large playing field to the extent that you would barely recognize it as a high school gymnasium.

This was the norm for Hockaday Robotics Team for their competitions before COVID-19.

This year, with restrictions on large gatherings and bringing in groups of people from different areas and contact histories, Hockaday Robotics has faced new challenges not just in trying to compete, but also in constructing their robot.

The move to distance learning during the first two weeks of school created a major delay in building and design time for the team. Form III student Abrea LaGrone, co-captain of the team, commented on the setback.

“We usually have the season kickoff in August, and we will start building in September,” LaGrone said. “This year it was all pushed back a month, so we didn’t get to start building until early October.”

With the school’s sudden closure the week leading up to Thanksgiving Break, the team lost additional time needed to construct and program their bot. Without access to their design or materials, the team was forced to postpone participation in competitions before the New Year.

“At this point we aren’t going to be able to participate in a competition because we would need a field for the robot to work in, and we don’t have

Photo provided by Sofia Yung

The engineering suite on the third floor of the science building has become the sole workshop for the robotics team and holds all their equipment and building supplies.

access to one while distance learning,” LaGrone said.

Junior and co-captain Sophia Yung manages the programming and building aspect of the team.

“The challenge over the next month or two will be figuring out how to run effectively while completely distance learning,” Yung said, “We’re just shifting how we operate as a team so that we can get stuff done physically without putting people at risk.”

Another challenge for the team is following social distancing guidelines with such a large team in the same room. Due to contact tracing purposes, the team can no longer use

the idea lab to set up their playing field, limiting them to a much smaller space of the engineering suite.

Form III student Grace Dorward has been a member of the Robotics Team since freshman year and has observed the changes the team has had to make.

“In the past we would all crowd around the robot and work on it all together,” Dorward said, “Now we are all split up so that we’re working on our own thing like programming or chains.”

To maintain distance, Yung and LaGrone split the team into two main groups with half coming in the mornings on Mondays and

Tuesdays while the other half comes in on Wednesday and Thursdays to maintain extra space in the shop.

“It’s hard for everyone to be able to learn hands-on when we can’t share tools or be close to one another in the same space,” Yung said, “Now we can’t get close enough to someone to see the programming on their laptop screen or what’s going on with a robot.”

The captains have also had to plan how to facilitate the students opting to do distance learning.

“That’s been kind of different because we have to have zoom meetings running during all of our inperson meetings,” Yung said, “And we have to find new ways to incorporate the virtual learners in the process.”

However, Yung and LaGrone lack the online learning resources teachers have access to, making it harder to engage with the remote learners.

“I think it is a little harder when we’re student run because we don’t have access to as many online learning resources,” Yung said. “For example we can’t screen share or organize breakout rooms.”

Despite these setbacks, the team is optimistic about the rest of the season, hoping to participate in remote or in-person competitions in the second semester.

“People think robotics is scary, but it’s honestly fun and easy to learn,” LaGrone said. “If you feel like you don’t know anything, you’re in the same boat as a lot of people, and we all work together to learn and enjoy robotics.”

New HOSA chapter introduced

Students start first chapter of medical organization, plan for competitions

by Remy Finn Sports Co-Editor Two students have created a HOSA chapter for Upper School students, enabling members to learn about and engage with the medical field, and even compete in national events.

HOSA, which was started in 1976, is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE. HOSA's goal is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry and to expand the delivery of quality health care to more people. Students at schools across the nation are able to make “chapters” at their own schools, so that they can compete within the networks of the larger organization.

HOSA provides students with a myriad of ways to showcase their passion and knowledge for the healthcare industry, including more than 50 competitive events like medical quiz bowl, and promote medical terminology, and community awareness.

Sophomores Claire Zhu and Shruthi Juttu lead the chapter, which

is offered as a club and currently hosts 36 members. Zhu, who brought HOSA to Hockaday, is interested in the medical field and was surprised that Hockaday didn’t already offer a HOSA chapter. Once she discovered this, she looked into how to establish a chapter that her peers could join. After gaining the support of Dr. Kocsis, Zhu launchd the HOSA chapter to provide everyone with such an opportunity.

“A lot of my peers shared a similar interest in the medical field and wanted an opportunity to demonstrate their passion in a competitive format,” Zhu said.

Juttu says that HOSA is a great way to familiarize students with the medical field.

“Not only is HOSA a great way to have fun and learn, but it also provides a great opportunity that I thought that students at Hockaday would benefit from and utilize,” Juttu said.

So far, the club has met three times and even invited a HOSA alumnus and Stanford student VinhHuy Le to share his experiences and advice. Several regional HOSA officers were invited to the Dec. 2 meeting to share more details about the virtual competition,

The theme for this year’s HOSA-Future Health Professionals is “Unlock Your Potential!”

which will take place through Zoom.

“The goal for our team is to not only win competitions but also to connect students who share the same interests and develop their passions in the healthcare field,” Zhu said.

Zhu said she hopes members of the chapter have fun while exploring their passion for the medical field.

“Most importantly, I hope everyone will have a fun time, and even though it will be virtual this year, to still be

able to connect and build friendships with people from all over the world who all have a similar passion and talent for medicine,” Zhu said.

Member Eleanor Lockhart said she is looking forward to the opportunities the club will provide.

“As someone interested in the field of oncology, HOSA is an exciting opportunity to expand my understanding of medicine and compete while doing so,” Lockhart said.

04 December 17, 2020

NEWS

The Fourcast

YOUR WORLD TODAY

The race to a vaccine

Prospect of COVID-19 protection inspires hope

by Laine Betanzos Copy Editor

A

s the race for a COVID-19 vaccine has accelerated in November and December, three front runners have emerged and are now in various stages of the approval process, garnering excitement and hope.

While it could take months before the general public will receive an approved vaccine with sufficient distribution capacity, this development process has set new precedents for the speed at which vaccines can be developed.

On Nov. 20, pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced the submission of their application to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, making them the first companies to take this step. Moderna Therapeutics, another company that announced a promising vaccine candidate only days later, requested emergency use authorization Nov. 30.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine candidates have exhibited greater than 90 percent efficacy in late-stage trials, which surpassed expectations from scientists worldwide. The FDA had announced it would consider emergency approval for vaccines showing just 50 percent efficacy, according to the New York Times.

A third vaccine candidate showing promising results was developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

AstraZeneca announced one dosing

regimen of its vaccine candidate showed 90 percent efficacy, and another dosing regimen showed 62 percent efficacy. The pharmaceutical company will seek emergencyuse listing from the World Health organization to accelerate vaccine availability in low-income countries, according to CNN. Senior Mia Silver, who decided to remain on distance learning for the fall, looks forward to the prospect of a vaccine.

“If there’s a vaccine available, that would definitely help me make my choice,” Silver said. “If my mom could get it, I would feel much more comfortable going back to school.”

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine candidates use novel mRNA technology, employing tiny fragments of the virus’s genetic code to provoke an immune system response of the production of antibodies and the activation of T cells to destroy infected cells. This response then protects the user from contracting the disease, according to BBC. The AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, however, uses the adenovirus, a virus that causes colds in chimpanzees.

Scientists at Oxford University genetically altered the virus so that it carried a gene for the Coronavirus protein to cause a subject’s immune system to recognize COVID-19 upon exposure and generate immunity, according to the New York Times.

Upper School science teacher Barbara Fishel said the speed at which the vaccines have been developed and tested is unprecedented.

“The fact that within a year we are getting not only clinical trials done, but soon to get approval for distribution, is much faster than anyone anticipated,” Fishel said. “They were provided with a lot of money to hire more people, get more equipment, do whatever needed to test it more quickly.”

Typically, vaccines need to go through six stages to be approved: the exploratory stage, the pre-clinical stage, the clinical development stage, the regulatory review and approval stage, the manufacturing stage and the quality control stage.

The clinical development stage consists of three phases. During Phase I, small groups of people receive the trial vaccine. During Phase II, the vaccine is given to “at-risk” people.

In Phase III, the vaccine is given to a larger group of people to test for efficacy and safety.

As of Nov. 9, Pfizer announced the first set of results from their Phase III COVID-19 vaccine trial was successful in providing evidence that the vaccine had the ability to prevent COVID-19.

With positive news from Pfizer, the general distribution of the vaccine is expected in spring 2021.

Groups at a higher risk of infection, such as healthcare workers, older adults and those with obesity or diabetes, however, may be prioritized to be vaccinated by the end of the year.

Upper School technology integration specialist Candace Townsley, who works from home this year due to health concerns during the pandemic, looks forward to the results of the vaccine in real practice.

graphic by Nancy Dedman

“It’ll be a while, I think, even though I’m high risk,” Townsley said. “I think we’ll know more about it this summer, which makes me feel good.”

Still, there may be some obstacles in the distribution of the vaccines, as the two leading candidates must be stored in extremely cold temperatures. The Pfizer vaccine candidate must be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, while the Moderna vaccine candidate must be stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius.

According to CNN, the AstraZeneca vaccine is unique for its ability to be distributed easily. Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer candidates, AstraZeneca’s candidate does not need special refrigeration for transportation and handling, as it is stored at temperatures between two and eight degrees Celsius.

All in all, the rapid progress of vaccine candidates through the stages of approval brings great hope in a pandemic that has lasted many months.

“As a scientist myself, knowing how much time it usually takes to do things in a lab … I’m blown away by how quickly everybody’s done it,” Fishel said. “I think it just goes to show that if you put enough money and manpower or womanpower into it, you can make things happen. That’s hopefully good news.”

Boarder restrictions Families strive to stay connected

by Sasha Schwimmer News Editor Oceans away from their loved ones, seniors Barbara Lou, Susan Zhang and Elaine Wang are navigating life largely alone.

Boarding students are able to study virtually or in person, thanks to the families who welcomed these girls into their homes. Lou lives with senior Avery Antes and her family.

“I know that it’s really hard for Barbara to be away from her parents for so long, so Avery’s dad and I are trying to be as supportive as possible,” Avery’s mother Lisa Antes said.

Lou has not returned to her home in Hong Kong due to the risks of exposure and uncertainty regarding air travel and restrictions. She also felt that staying in Dallas would be better because of the time difference, which would require her to wake up at odd hours to attend classes and meetings. She has not seen her parents since last December.

“I could not help but cry when I FaceTimed my parents on my birthday, who set up balloons and cake and sang Happy Birthday to me over the phone,” Lou said.

Susan Zhang, who is living with her sister in an apartment in Lewisville, has not returned to China since last December.

She hopes to see her family after graduation. However, if she leaves, she may not be able to return to the United States for college because of visas and international student policies. If the public health situation with the pandemic improves, she will eagerly return home to see her loved ones.

“Whether I feel sad or not, it is what it is,” Zhang said. “I’ve accepted the situation and have come to focus more on the present.”

While living with a host family in Dallas, Elaine Wang virtually communicates with her loved ones in China. Wang says she has grown more independent because her family is unable to respond to questions or messages throughout the day due to the 13-hour time difference.

“I decided to take this as an opportunity to be more independent and be comfortable with making decisions on my own,” Wang said.

“Equally important to me was to seek support from friends and family when I needed it. With your loved ones around you all the time, sometimes you forget how much support they regularly give.”

Wang tries to look at the positives in life, rather than dwell on the fact that she is far away from home.

“I have learned to think of home as something to look forward to,” Wang said.

Barbara Lou celebrates her 18th birthday virtually.

photo courtesy of Barbara Lou

photo courtesy of Elaine Wang

photo courtesy of Susan Zhang

Elaine Wang stays in touch with her family through FaceTime.

Susan Zhang video chats with her mother on a Facetime call.

NEWS

hockadayfourcast.org

Classroom to community Microbiology classes create posters for DISD

by Kelsey Chen Jade Editor

W

ith posters featuring Dora the Explorer, Tiana and Miguel reminding DISD elementary school students how to properly wear a mask, the Microbiology of Public Health class has taken its learning beyond the classroom. While the class has focused on studying diseases like polio, tuberculosis and puerperal fever, they have addressed COVID-19 by creating informative posters and public service announcements for the 32 United to Learn Dallas elementary school partners.

Dean of Studies Barbara Fishel teaches Microbiology of Public Health and has been working with the students on their projects.

“The class has been more real than it usually is,” Fishel said. “We’ve been able to see in real time how all those people over the ages have suffered, how people have tried to address the problems and we can compare what we’re doing with what people have done historically.”

Senior Maya Raghunathan’s group designed an infographic on how to wear a mask properly. They created versions in English and Spanish that featured various Disney characters drawn by senior Percy Stout.

“It was cool to see my interest in public health combined with the outreach element,” Raghunathan said. “I liked combining what I’ve learned in this class and also focusing on more real-world applications of it.”

The class also has continued its social impact studies by analyzing COVID-19 regulations at Hockaday. Each group chose a different aspect to examine, for instance modes of transmission

and social distancing guidelines.

Through a series of surveys sent to the Upper School, the groups gathered data on how Hockaday has responded to the pandemic. They will use the results to come up with suggestions for the administration on ways to modify or better enforce the regulations.

“I hope the students will get a better appreciation Infographic by Avery of how science Savage, Sarah Crow and Jennifer Xiong in general is done,” Fishel said. “Even though these surveys aren’t directly experimenting, they did have to go through the same experimental design process. I also want them to know that whatever you do, you can use it to help other people. Whatever you’re learning, it can mean something.”

Victoria Segal

“When tasked with creating a public service announcement Infographic by Maya Raghunathan, Percy Stout addressing and Burkeleigh Boyd safe COVID-19 practices, I wanted to find an easy way to imagine the required sixfoot span. On the eve of my group’s

Checking in with Summer Hamilton

Upper School English Teacher

Q A

What insight has remote learning given you?

Infographic by Victoria Segal, Suzanne Baxter, Riya Malhotra and Sophia Mathis

discussions, I watched the ‘Hippo’ episode on Animal Planet. My group decided to focus on social distancing among younger children.

While brainstorming, I recalled the enormous length of the hippos I witnessed on Animal Planet.

Wouldn’t that be the perfect animal to visualize for social distancing?

The idea evolved into ‘The Animal Method,’ where a variety of large animals could be used to envision six feet. From leaving room for a hippo to making space for a whale, ‘The Animal Method’ provides an easy way to imagine six feet of space.”

Avery Savage

“When we were tasked to design these infographics, we had to figure out the best way to motivate our audience to abide by health protocols.

In addition to the visual appeal, we had to ensure scientific accuracy. For the infographic, we took a story-like approach and made a character for people to relate to. Knowing that these were going to DISD was super exciting and motivating.”

Housekeeping, maintenance work to keep campus safe Walking into school each day during this new COVID-19 normal, students and faculty follow a set schedule: go to class, eat lunch, catch up on work during free periods. But it’s easy to forget none of this would be possible without the the maintenance and cleaning teams who work to keep the campus safe.

Behind the scenes, they deep clean restrooms, sanitize classrooms and overall create a COVID-safe environment. The pandemic has only increased the maintenance and cleaning teams’ duties, and they’ve stepped up to the challenge.

“We have increased our HVAC systems with Merv-13 filters, increased the frequency of cleaning throughout the day for restrooms and high-touch surfaces and adjusted the care and cleaning of school equipment,” Edward Rys, director of facilities, said. “I have increased the frequency of staff meetings, using our time together to bring awareness about wearing masks, proper social distancing and the proper

05

by Lacy Green Staff Writer

In-Depth Look:

by Zoya Haq Staff Writer

December 17, 2020

steps in hand washing.”

Since the start of the pandemic, the department whose role has changed the most is Housekeeping.

“Before, we used to work in the dorms,” Cynthia Fuentes, housekeeping staff member, said. “It was only when the photo by Juliana Blazek virus came that we Housekeeping Staff Member Cynthia Fuentes replaces came to school.” the soap dispenser near the college counseling offices.

The pandemic isn’t the only during her last month here to gather as change the maintenance and cleaning much information as I could.” teams have had to adjust to. The recent Hoke worked closely with the retirement of Carolyn Hoke, the 20-year housekeeping team, cultivating director of housekeeping, raised an relationships with each member. entirely new challenge.

“We’re going to miss her,” Fuentes “Ms. Hoke was a constant at said. “She was a hard worker with Hockaday for a very long time and really us, you know. She helped us a lot with amazing at her job, so transferring doing stuff when we didn’t know. She all of her institutional knowledge reached out for everything and always was a priority,” Rys said. “I spent a kept us updated.” considerable amount of time with her

I think being home gives me unique insight into the experience of the distance learners. I experience much of what they experience—the loneliness of being separate, the difficulty hearing everyone’s comments, the awkwardness of speaking from a screen and the fatigue of being on camera all day. So, I’ve created lessons that help to mitigate some of those circumstances.

Q

How have your lesson plans changed since you started working online?

A

One Note is a great tool to encourage and facilitate collaboration between inperson and distance learning.

It’s perfect for a writing-based curriculum, and I will definitely continue to incorporate it in future years when things return to normal.

Q

What’s the biggest difference between working online and in-person?

A

​ y first day teaching from home M while the majority of students were in the classroom was very jarring. It actually made me pretty sad. I love teaching, and I love the energy of the classroom.

It’s more difficult to create that over Zoom, though I have experienced many exciting days ‘in the Zoom classroom,’ thanks to engaged students. Teaching from a distance has definitely made me become a lot more creative.

Q A

What gets you most excited about your job?

Teaching from a distance is the hardest teaching I’ve ever done. But when I’m feeling down, I look on the bright side.

This experience has added to my appreciation of Hockaday students. Where else could I not be physically present, and yet, have so much engagement and participation every single class?

It’s made me adore our students even more.

06 DECEMBER 17, 2020 08 Hockadance

prepares for Peter Pan performance

ARTS & LIFE

THE FOURCAST

09 Discover

COVID-19 friendly holiday activities

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Hong creates 3D artwork

by Julia Donovan Castoff Editor

S

enior Kylee Hong has made many eye-catching 3D pieces of art but one particular piece stands out.

The ten inch by ten inch eyeball made of found objects—a fishbowl, tissues, thread, wire, cardboard, air-dry clay, chalk-dust and trinkets from her childhood— lets viewers look through an iris and see a part of Hong’s life.

“A lot of my pieces are inspired by myself, in a sense: my life and the things I think about,” Hong said.

“Art is the expression of the self; it’s about me. The eyeball is a miniature version of my room that you’re looking through when you look through the iris.”

Having worked for years with two-dimensional art, like drawing and painting, Hong decided she wanted her art to physically pop off the page, which initiated her passion for three-dimensional art.

Joining ceramics junior year, Hong explored with clay and pottery. She began her three-dimensional work with a collection of fire pieces, each one very time-consuming, just to deliberately set them on fire.

“Making the eyeball piece was equivalent to watching a whole entire season of ‘Nurse Ratched’,” Hong said.

Also listening to stand up comedy in the background, Hong plans her artwork but ends up improvising while playing with the materials and taking in other people’s opinions.

Her pieces typically center around specific themes like fire or human

figures, while also exploring her experience with her body and femininity.

Hong finds working with three dimensions more interesting and challenging than two-dimensional art. To her, it’s about the act of pressing her fingers into the material instead of using a tool like a paintbrush. She also said it is more freeing than painting and drawing because she is not constricted by techniques she learned from others.

Instead, she is able to learn by experimenting.

“You can really break boundaries in three-dimensional work that you can’t find in two-dimensional,” Hong said. “That might be just me, but I can really work directly with the material which is very important. It feels so much more intimate.”

Working with three-dimensional art is magical to Hong but sourcing the materials can be challenging.

She is working on an installation piece made of what her mother calls trash and begs Hong to throw out.

The corner of Hong’s room currently contains a broken chair, a broken lamp, a clay figure with a missing head and hand, some cardboard boxes and empty Topo Chico bottles.

“Holding onto the pieces that others would choose to throw out is special,” Hong said.

Combining her love of art and helping people, she said she wants to study architecture in the future.

“In my opinion, it is the grandest form of sculpture because it combines the visual arts and how humans interact with space,” Hong said. “It’s about designing for people.”

photos courtesy of Kylee Hong

Hong created a three-dimensional eyeball that shows viewers her own life.

Hong used fire as a deliberate tool for her artwork.

Orchestra takes on the outdoors

Upper School musicians find new normal outside the classroom

by Olivia Garcia Staff Writer Picture students spread across the amphitheater, maintaining their distance and wearing masks, playing their instruments. This is what the new normal looks like for the Upper School orchestra.

As summer ended and students returned to campus, Upper School orchestra director Charlsie Griffiths worked to adjust orchestra practice to ensure students’ health and safety.

“The changes were what needed to happen for everyone to be able to participate all the time,” Griffiths said.

The main modification was the relocation of practice. Instead of practicing inside, the orchestra now practices in the amphitheater.

Sophomore Megan Manning has played the violin since age three and been a part of the orchestra since seventh grade. While the amphitheater is a nice change of scenery, Manning said it does pose some challenges.

Though it does not take too much time, moving the equipment at the beginning and end does cut

photo by Sally Hudspeth

Orchestra members adapt to outdoor practice while wearing masks.

into practice. When the girls get there, the stands are already in the amphitheater, but each student is responsible for taking their own instrument out.

While this is not a problem for those with smaller instruments, it is harder for those with big instruments such as the cello. Toward the end of practice, the girls take the time to put the stands and instruments back inside.

Additionally, Manning said if she is

at one side of the amphitheater it can be hard to hear the instruments at the other end.

“Sometimes when I can’t hear it is hard to know what part we are playing or what part of the song we are at,” Manning said.

Wind instrument players face an additional challenge. Senior Kathryn Bowers, who plays the oboe, said she and fellow wind instrument players must cover their instrument with a thin white plastic bag in an effort to

encapsulate droplets that may carry the virus.

The weather is also a constant factor in practicing outdoors. While some days the weather is perfect for playing outside, other days are not as nice. On windy days, it is common for the sheet music to fly off the stands, so Griffiths and the girls have started using binder clips to hold down the papers. When it is either too hot or too cold to play in the amphitheater, practice is moved back inside.

If practice is moved inside, the girls must remain socially distanced and wear their masks. Those who play wind instruments cannot play indoors.

“Instead we get to play percussion which is fun, but it’s not the same,” Bowers said.

The girls can also choose to finger along - placing their fingers on the strings and going through the motions without actually playing.

The distance learners join practice via Zoom. The students can play along and the computer travels around the amphitheater with Griffiths.

“We all still get to make music together,” Griffiths said, “and I think that is the biggest pro.”

hockadayfourcast.org

REVIEWS

‘The Social Dilemma’ Documentary uncovers social media’s manipulative tendencies

I

photo provided by Netflix

Every day, people are called to a myriad of technological programs.

son, Skyler, a bright high school student, is shown falling deep into a social media addiction. I made a few connections between Skyler’s behavior and my own, so it’s safe to say the narrative made me internalize my attachment to technology.

Interspersed throughout the movie are short clips of interviews with people who previously worked for the big tech companies and now fear the consequences of what they created for humanity and democracy.

Presenting the interviews in brief segments made the information easier to digest. The interviews also were staged and edited to make them feel intimate to the viewer, which is important since the topic of the documentary was definitely not the most welcoming.

As far as what the movie taught me: if I am being honest, it made me want to throw my phone away. OK, maybe not actually, but the fact I even considered the idea proves the

New bagel shop is latest breakfast attraction

documentary’s effectiveness.

At first, it may seem the interviewees are doomsayers who solely criticize the unethical ways big tech companies attract their users, but this is not the case. They offer strong criticism as well as great advice, addressing the negative while also looking toward a more positive goal.

After American computer scientist Tristan Harris explains why technology’s fundamental design must be turned toward the good, the interviewer asks, “Do you think we’re going to get there?”

Summing up the documentary’s goal in three succinct words, Harris replies, “We have to.”

I would recommend “The Social Dilemma” to anyone who uses technology daily. I was blown away by the impact manipulative technology has on our social lives, opinions and more. After only an hour and a half, I will never again look at technology in the same light.

Shug’s Bagels

3020 Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75206

by Juliana Blazek Staff Writer

S

ON THE

RECORD

by Jane Clark Staff Writer

Start Your Day With Shug’s Shug’s Bagels is the newest hit restaurant among SMU students and other bagel lovers, with a line through the door each morning. The neat atmosphere and inviting smell of freshly baked bagels attracts people from all over Dallas to the corner of Mockingbird Lane and U.S. 75.

I ordered the delicious Classic Lox and Bagel. The smoked salmon layered on top of the cream cheese was unbelievably fresh and did not feel too heavy. Capers came with mine, but you also have the choice to add onion or tomato.

The sesame bagel was baked to perfection, crispy on the outside yet still chewy on the inside, making for a nice balance to the rich salmon and cream cheese. The lox and bagel is very filling and can serve as a whole meal, so if you are not too hungry, I recommend sharing it with another person.

Shug’s also offers breakfast bagel sandwiches with numerous options or just plain tasty bagels by themselves.

Another thing about Shug’s that

07

‘A Very Trainor Christmas’

by Meghan Trainor

by Lea Whitley Social Media and Video Editor It’s a Sunday around 9 p.m. and you’re finally out of the robotic state that many hours of homework have kept you in since noon. You reach for your iPhone and computer, searching for something light to watch on Netflix while scrolling through Instagram and talking to friends.

Something catches your eye, a documentary titled “The Social Dilemma.” Yes, it seems like it may call you out on your TikTok obsession, and it definitely doesn’t seem light, but it looks pretty informational and relevant. From the second you press play, your entire view of technology and the social media you use daily begins to change.

We’ve all had instances when social media’s awareness creeps us out a little bit. Whether you’re searching for the perfect Christmas gift on Amazon and an ad for the exact product pops up on your computer, or you mention something at the dinner table and 15 minutes later it shows up on your Instagram feed, the awareness that social media tracks you is unavoidable.

What most people don’t understand, or are afraid to understand, is that big companies like Instagram, Facebook and Google do this on purpose. “The Social Dilemma,” Jeff Orlowski’s documentary released in January 2020, delves into how these companies precisely program their applications to manipulate behavior.

What hit home for me were the fictional scenes of a suburban family interlaced throughout. The

December 17, 2020

photo by Libby Hill

photo by Libby Hill

Shug’s employees serve customers.

One of the delicious bagels at Shug’s.

fascinated me was the wide variety of cream cheese options. They have everything from blueberry to bacon scallion cream cheese, so you can try some new flavors on your bagel.

However, they do put quite a bit of cream cheese on the bagel, so if you’re not the biggest cream cheese fan, like me, I would recommend asking for light cream cheese.

Although indoor seating is closed at Shug’s due to COVID, they make it easy to eat on the go. The bagel comes wrapped in paper and already split in half.

Shug’s offers a couple of tables outside for dining, but they are usually filled. When the indoor seating reopens, make sure to go to the back of the

restaurant and take a look at the framed bagel articles and pictures of famous bagel stores around the country. The restaurant offers a neat space filled with elements that give it a rustic feel.

Since Shug’s is neighbors with SMU, it was buzzing with college students even in the afternoon when I went.

Be prepared to stand in line if you go anytime during the morning or early afternoon as there was even a line at the door at 1 p.m.

However, the location is easy to get to and there is plenty of parking available to the side of Shug’s, so it is definitely worth the trip, even for just a bagel. Don’t settle for an ordinary bagel at Einstein’s— experience the tastiness of Shug’s.

While lighting pine-scented candles and sipping peppermint hot chocolate this holiday season, you might want to set the mood with some classic Christmas tunes.

Meghan Trainor has released a new album that you can judge for yourself, but does not quite capture the Christmas spirit for me.

Trainor released “A Very Trainor Christmas” Oct. 30 just in time for the holiday festivities. This album, while sweet and featuring family members in the songs, does not live up to the standard of excellence for holiday music.

photo provided by Meghan Trainor / Instagram

Among the 18 songs in the album, six new original songs, although upbeat, just do not scream Christmas. “My Kind Of Present” and “I Believe in Santa” remind me of some of Trainor’s other pop music, with tunes I recognized from “Dear Future Husband” and “Better When I’m Dancin.” These originals are not necessarily bad, but they definitely do not fit in with the classics Trainor covers and do not remind me of Christmas.

Trainor covers Christmas classics such as “Last Christmas,” “White Christmas” and “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas.” And while I enjoyed these songs more than the others, I believe it was simply because they are familiar to me.

The rendition of “White Christmas” features Seth MacFarlane but I did not think it sounded great.

My favorite song in the album is “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Trainor does a good job sticking to the original tune while making the song her own with a pop twist. The “Christmassy” song makes me want to put some ornaments on a tree.

Overall, I would not particularly recommend the album. Not all of the songs are bad, but none of them stand out. Let’s just say I will not be adding any of them to my Christmas playlist.

08 December 17, 2020

ARTS & LIFE

The Fourcast

The Dance Theater troupe rehearses its fall production of Peter Pan in costume while following social distancing guidelines.

photos by Maddie Stout

Escaping to Neverland Dance team puts on production of ‘Peter Pan’ for fall dance performance

by Katherine Grace Estess News Co-Editor

D

ancer Anne Rubi and the rest of the Hockaday Dance Theater troupe spin and leap while wearing masks in front of an empty auditorium. The Hockaday Dance team will perform “Peter Pan” this December, the production they have been working on all fall.

Once completed, a video of the performance will be available to watch on the school website.

Choreographed and staged by dance teachers Beth Wortley and Christie Sullivan, the production features three groups of different levels. Ten speaking roles go to the girls in the Dance Theater group, the highest level of students who choose to dance as their fine art.

Traditionally, the dancers perform as a community service for Lower School students and other elementary schools partnered with Hockaday such as Gooch and Chapel Hill elementaries. Then they present performances for the Upper School during a Y-Period and for family and friends the following night.

“Once we know when we can complete filming and when the editor tells us his timeframe for completing his work we will hopefully get an assembly date so we can show our film to Upper School,” Wortley said.

The process from rehearsal to performance has been altered due to COVID-19. In accordance with the mask and social distancing requirements, dancers learned and rehearsed in small, socially distanced groups, while wearing masks.

“It has been a challenge to adapt to rehearsals with only six girls, and having to dance wearing masks,” junior Alexis Cuban said. “Because of the heavy physical activity, it is definitely hard to dance in a mask.”

Customarily, as the dancers near performance night, the groups gather to rehearse the show as a whole. With the restrictions of the pandemic, the filmed performance released to the Upper School will be the first time the girls have danced all together, including those participating from home.

“As we have a couple of girls who have needed to do remote learning all fall, we have created special solos for them so they can still be a vital part of our productions,” Wortley said.

The dance teachers also had to change choreography to accommodate all dancers while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.

“I spent much of the summer reworking all my original choreography to ensure social distancing could happen,” Wortley said. “The group dances for Dance Lab and Dance Workshop 1 were much easier to adapt for both me

and Mrs. Sullivan.”

Taught in pieces, the dances were choreographed over the span of three months to three levels of dancers in different classes: Dance Theater, Dance Lab and Dance Workshop 1.

“I had done a ‘Peter Pan’ ballet with Mrs. Sullivan seven years ago and I really liked doing it and it was popular with our audiences,” Wortley said. “I always knew I would like to do it again some time since I still had many of the sets, props and costumes.”

The ballet features classic characers from the famous story.

“I am a pirate and a school boy which means I get to participate in all different kinds of dances with different styles of choreography in different scenes which has been fun,” Cuban said.

The girls who are members of Dance Theater were offered several feature roles and speaking lines, which is ordinarily excluded from dance productions.

“I am both Peter Pan’s Shadow and Captain Hook,” junior dancer Anne Rubi said. “When I’m the shadow, I dance in the beginning scene when Peter enters the house and chases his shadow (we have a duet) and then when I am Captain Hook I dance in the second act (the pirate scene) and also dance with the crocodile as well in a chase scene.”

Like past performances such

as the production of “Cinderella”, the ballet of “Peter Pan” features a story, one familiar to many from the adaption of the story into the 1953 Disney movie.

“I have been choreographing for classical ballet and musical theater productions all of my adult life,” Wortley said. “When I think about a story, I see it in terms of movement.

That is how the process begins for me.”

Hockaday Dance has performed “Peter Pan” in the past, which eased challenges of designing the set and costumes.

The dancers said the different styles and levels of choreography have been their favorite part of the production process. “[There are] definitely both fun and different music and styles of dance in the show,” Rubi said. “It goes from a very graceful dance with Wendy, to crazy when her two brothers, Michael and John come in, to a whole other style of dance with Captain Hook and the crocodile.”

Even though dancers were not able to practice together, each group and different levels of dancers rehearsed during school in their individual class periods to prepare for combining the groups in the final cohesive production.

“It was different to not be able to rehearse with everybody,” Cuban said, “but I think each group did a good job.”

ARTS & LIFE

hockadayfourcast.org

December 17, 2020

09

Scenes from the Enjoy the holidays with visits to these COVID-safe attractions

by Juliana Blazek and Caroline Petrikas Staff Writers

photo by Juliana Blazek

Enjoy Highland Park homeowners’ festive holiday decorations and lights by riding in a horse and carriage while listening to Christmas music. The various carriage styles make for a cozy way to look at the lights.

photo by Caroline Petrikas

The Galleria Dallas offers an ice skating rink year round and exhibits a 95-foot Macy’s Christmas Tree in the center during the winter holidays.

photo by Caroline Petrikas

Preston Center Plaza stars Michelle O’Michael’s sculpture “Trust,” featuring six reindeer prancing around trees adorned with gold Christmas lights.

photo by Juliana Blazek

photo by Juliana Blazek

The Arboretum’s Twelve Days of Christmas exhibit and newly constructed Christmas Village give visitors a festive and COVID-safe way to enjoy Christmas outside.

10 December 17, 2020

IN FOCUS

The Fourcast

Giving Happiness Helping others brings joy to givers, receivers

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By Campbell Harris and Hanna Zhang

ith the approach of the holidays comes the anticipatation of joy as well as recognition of the ever-increasing need to help others. But those ideas are not contradictory. In fact, research shows the simple act of giving to others increases one’s happiness.

Studies show giving empowers personal growth and lasting happiness. According to the National Institute of Health, when people donate, the action of giving activates the region of the brain associated

with pleasure, social connection and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect. Giving also improves physical health and longevity as it decreases stress levels.

During this holiday season, the needs are more pressing than ever and chances to help abound.

From decorating trees and cheering up hospital patients, to providing gifts and donating food for those in need, here are just a few ways to help others while building your own sense of joy.

Scottish Rite Hospital

Junior Claire Cahoon and other members of the community service board created ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, a pediatric hospital specializing in orthopedic conditions.

Although the world is still in the midst of COVID-19, decorating the tree is a traditional l activity that lends a sense of normalcy when it comes to the holiday season.

“Decorating the tree is always a super fun experience,” Cahoon said. “It’s always a really fun way to directly make a contribution, put some happiness into people’s lives and see the impact you are making.”

Cahoon said even something as simple as hanging an ornament on the Scottish Rite tree gives her a great feeling.

“Helping someone in need always gives me a very happy feeling,” Cahoon said. “Just knowing that I can make an impact on someone’s life, even if it is just a smile, is amazing, especially during this crazy time.”

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Cahoon about making an ornament of their own for the Scottish Rite Christmas tree.

Children’s Hospital Upper School drama teacher Emily Gray and her Introduction to Theater class are making personalized interactive, instructional videos to send to patients at Children’s Hospital.

The videos include girls teaching songs, playing guitar, or telling jokes. The videos speak directly to the kids in the hospital, and they act as a way to expose them to the world outside of the hospital.

“They need a connection to the outside world and a way of entertainment,” Gray said. “These videos that are made for them give them a feeling of hope that their current situation is not everything.”

Gray said these videos are the closest the children can get to a direct interaction with the world due to COVID-19. Making a personalized video makes the giver and the receiver feel better.

“I get a greater, wonderful feeling when I am giving rather than receiving,” Gray said. “The fact that you thought about someone and are giving them joy, makes you feel great.”

People can contact Gray if they want to make their own videos or cards to send to the Medical City Children’s Hospital to bring a smile to the children’s faces and fill them with hope for the future.

hockadayfourcast.org

IN FOCUS

December 17, 2020

Angel Trees Salvation Army Angel Trees in Northpark and other area malls let shoppers select an Angel representing a child or senior from the tree, buy gifts for them, and turn them in at the mall desk. Senior Kemper Lowry and other members of the Hockaday community help collect, sort and distribute the gifts.

“My family and I have bought gifts for the Angel Tree ever since I was little, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the holiday season,” Lowry said.

Lowry connects students and members of the Hockaday community to volunteer opportunities related to the Angel Trees.

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to help it continue this year, both through planning and volunteering,” Lowry said.

Lowry said amid COVID-19, the trouble and stress in the world is overwhelming, but it lightens her heart to know she’s helped bring joy into someone’s life.

“It’s freeing to know that we as individuals have the potential to change the world for the better,” Lowry said, “and to make someone else’s burden a little lighter, one gift at a time.”

Anyyone can make an impact by choosing an Angel from an Angel Tree, or by contacting Lowry to about volunteer activities associated with the program.

TR Hoover Center TR Hoover Center is a shelter dedicated to the low income community in South Dallas. During the holiday season, junior Breland Bach goes once or twice a week to help out at the shelter, including doing organizational work, cleaning up the shelter, or tutoring the children there.

At the shelter she also helps with distribution of food; the past Thanksgiving they hosted a drive-through meal distribution and delivered over 300 meals to people in the community and plan to hold another one later during Christmas time.

“TR Hoover is honestly one of the closest, most tight-knit communities I’ve ever seen,” Bach said. “There’s just so much love and compassion for everyone there; the amount of love that Sherri Mixon, the executive director, has and what she has devoted her life to doing is what keeps me going there.”

Bach emphasizes the importance of helping out the less fortunate and those below the poverty line.

“Giving is me taking a step back and realizing there’s so much I could be doing to help out,” Bach said.

Each advisory will be providing holiday gifts to the children at TR Hoover Center this month.

Additional gifts can be donated to the students at Foster Elementary using this link: https://a.co/0ytcVRp.

Artwork by Louisa Benedict

11

12 December 17, 2020

14 Twin sisters share stories of their art

FEATURES

The Fourcast

15 Emmy Hancock ‘14 creates Oluna

Keeping up with Kaatii

Eighth grade singer-songwriter gains success in music industry

by Maddie Stout Arts and Life Co-Editor

B

row furrowed and pencil in hand, eighth-grader Anna Whitley sits at her desk staring at a piece of paper. Unlike most other girls her age, she’s not editing a history essay or struggling with her math homework. Instead, she’s writing song lyrics.

Whitley, who goes by the artist name Kaatii after her Hungarian grandmother’s nickname for her, is experiencing a rise in stardom even adults dream of: at the age of 14, she has performed for thousands of people, works in Los Angeles with producers and song-writing teams and recently hit 100,000 streams on Spotify for her latest single, “Afraid of the Dark.”

Whitley’s mother exposed her to the opera early in her childhood, while her dad showed her bands such as Muse, Radiohead and The Killers. She attributes her interest in making music to a family trip to Louisiana at the age of six, where she first saw an acoustic guitar.

“I was mesmerized,” Whitley said. “It was the most amazing thing and one of my most vivid memories.”

Just a week later, Whitley got her own guitar for her seventh birthday and things only took off from there.

She began taking music lessons from Sabrina Kessee, Lower School Music teacher, and soon afterward joined a music studio.

Within the next few years, Whitley’s career progressed rapidly.

At 10, she performed her first gig at a coffee house, at 11 she wrote her first song and at 13 she released her first single on streaming platforms.

However, she didn’t always plan on entering the business.

“When I wrote my first original song, I can honestly tell you I wasn’t thinking much about releasing music,” Whitley said. “What really opened my eyes to that world were my first songwriting trips to Nashville after I had just turned 12.”

On these trips, Whitley worked with multiple Grammy-nominated

Whitley poses during photoshoot.

Whitley records music in the studio.

professional musicians to co-write three original songs, one of which ended up being her first release in December 2019. Since then, she’s written more and more music.

For Whitley, creating a song requires hard work and a large support system.

She begins by working with a cowriter, but enters the meeting already having concepts and various aspects such as lyrics, chord progressions and melodies. From there, she and her co-writer, most recently LA-based songwriter Kara Connolly, develop the finished product over the span of three to seven hours.

After creating the song, Connolly and Whitley select a recording studio and team to work with. From there, it takes a few months to bring the finished product together, with Whitley often flying to Los Angeles to record live vocals and instrumentation.

photos courtesy of Stacie Whitley

Despite the demanding schedule, Whitley manages to stay on top of her schoolwork. At the moment, she is in pre-production on another new single and balances 10 or more hours a week of music on top of her classes.

“It can be hard, but I’ve been balancing music outside of school for a couple of years now,” Whitley said. “I’ll fly to Los Angeles this December to record this song at East West studio, and I try to do a large portion of my songwriting and production trips during the summer or school breaks.”

Whitley’s finished product can fit into both the indie-pop and alt-rock genres, inspired by artists such as Beabadoobee, Clairo and The 1975.

What really sets her apart, however, is the individual sound Whitley brings to her music.

“My favorite thing about Anna’s music is that it’s honest: she doesn’t

try to pretend or put on a show and it’s all pure, raw emotion,” Whitley’s longtime friend Dylan Weitzul said.

“Everything she writes and sings is something she has experienced first-hand, and she takes all of her pain and turns it into something beautiful.”

This unique style has garnered the attention of multiple wmusic publications, including PopMatters and Music Connection Magazine, and earned Whitley a spot on major radio stations such as CW33, KXT 91.7 FM and Wish 107.5 LA. Prior to COVID-19, she also performed regularly at Dallas hotspots like House of Blues and Six Flags.

Riya Guttigoli, a friend of Whitley’s sister Lea Whitley, recalls seeing Kaatii perform in 2019.

“I was quite shocked after, because at the time Anna was only 13,” Guttigoli said. “She’s obviously super talented, but when she was performing she also had such a good stage presence and spoke so confidently for someone so young.”

Whitley plans to release two more singles prior to her first EP in summer of 2021. Her friends, especially Weitzul, are confident that the best of Whitley’s career is yet to come.

“I can say without a doubt in my mind that Anna will continue to be even more incredible and successful than she is now,” Weitzul said. “No one will ever let a voice like hers go to waste.”

The wide world of JRP topics Students choose from a variety of topics for their Junior Research Papers

by Libby Hill Photo Editor Everyone knows about it, the rite of passage that every junior dreads: The Junior Research Paper, the infamous JRP. While the project can seem overwhelming, it gives students a chance to research and become experts in any topic they are passionate about. An episode of “Law & Order” inspired Elise Little to choose her topic, the Mafia’s influence on the entertainment industry.

“In the 1930s and ’40s the Mafia was heavily involved in Los Angeles and influenced both the movie and music businesses,” Little said.

“In my paper, I talk a lot about how Elise Little the Mafia

corrupted the entertainment industry.”

Writing about how the GOP flipped the “solid South” white voters, who had been Democrats since the Civil War, Sidney Kronbach back to

Republicans, Sidney Kronbach said endnotes were her biggest challenge.

“They are so tedious,” Kronbach said. “I saved them up for the last minute on the mini draft and that was a mistake because all of my sources were jumbled up, which made them worse. I definitely won’t be doing that for the last six pages.”

Juniors will turn in their final draft before the holiday break, with a hard copy due when school resumes in January.

hockadayfourcast.org

FEATURES

December 17, 2020

Stitching a path to entrepreneurship

13

Social Impact Entrepreneurship Students launch mask brand, FlipMask

by Zoe Cote Staff Writer

S

eniors Honor Wood, Kate Wills and Lauren Stallings launched their much anticipated, multipurpose mask brand, FlipMask, on Dec. 1 with big plans to grow their small business. Next steps for the company include transitioning from homemade, small-scale production to securing patents, obtaining an LLC license and pursuing contract manufacturing.

The idea originated in their Economics and Social Entrepreneurship class during a brainstorming activity in September.

During the activity, all three of the soon-to-be founders addressed the habit of forgetting masks. Wood connected her tendency to forget hair ties as well and the trio unknowingly initiated FlipMask.

“I had this consistent problem, so did a lot of other people, where I would be wearing my mask and I would sit down at a restaurant or get in the car, it would be dangling around, touching the ground, touching tables,” Wood said. “Plus, I was always forgetting to grab one on the way out of the house, and I had another similar problem where I would always forget hair ties, so we kind of combined these two issues to create FlipMask.”

Designed by Kate Wills, the multipurpose, sustainable face mask aims for fast fashion and accessory efficiency. Wills’ design underwent many ‘first drafts,’ as well as cross-referencing with patented mask designs to prevent copyright infringement.

“I prototyped and designed the idea,” Wills said. “I would make a mask, bring it to school, and have [Lauren and Honor] assess what was wrong with it. Then I’d go

photo by Lauren Stallings

Wood and Wills sport their FlipMasks while discussing product design.

back to the drawing board. I’ve made probably 30-40 prototype masks.”

Their mock-ups faced many tedious trials and tribulations at the hands of Wills.

“We’ve adjusted sizing, ear pieces, symmetry, different fabrics and many other design flaws,” Wills said.

“I bruised my knuckles on safety scissors because I don’t have fabric scissors and I use a hair straightener to press the masks. It’s a very ‘return to your roots’ process.”

The mask folds inside itself, protecting the inside fabric from germ exposure when consumers go mask-less in public. When the mask is tucked away, it exposes a hair tie. A clever seam design conceals the hair tie in the lining when the mask is in use. The hair tie can also function as an easy link for car keys and lanyards, or as a bracelet, making the product adaptable and redesigning masks in a more functional, transportable way.

“It’s always there on-the-go so you’re never missing it,” Stallings said.

All three founders have prior experience in innovative projects from their former Social Impact class Anatomy, Evolution, and the Zoo, and intend to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship beyond Hockaday.

“Honor is very business-y so she took the business route,” Stallings said. “Kate is our little crafty artist and got to sewing immediately, and I established myself as the communications person to advertise and market the mask.”

Working with friends has thrown some obstacles their way in terms of delegating and separating business from emotions, but the trio said collaborating with friends has been ideal to foster their fun-loving, chique brand.

“There’s always this caveat — don’t go into business with your friends — but being friends has actually made the process so much easier in terms of communication and made the work environment a lot more fun,” Wood said. “We have really similar goals and we’re really similar people so we

A whole new equation

have a similar brand vision.”

The group also has faced challenges with manufacturing and licensing.

“Wow it’s expensive,” Wills said.

“They don’t tell you that a patent is $5,000-$10,000 and the LLC license is $600, (not including legal fees).

We’ve spent $400 alone on production already. They make it seem so easy to start a business but manufacturers require a minimum of 200 masks of one color per order and we don’t have that kind of money yet.”

Despite the setbacks, they are forging ahead with small-scale production as Wood and Stallings learn to sew and manufacture.

“We’re trying to capitalize on the demand for masks before the vaccine comes out,” Wills said.

News of their invention traveled throughout Upper School in October when they launched their company Instagram. Within the first week they received 50,000 views on an Instagram video and website viewership skyrocketed, with more than 160 people tapping the link before the online store had even launched.

“Forty-thousand views to me is just crazy,” Stallings said. “I think it’s crazy that people would take time out of their days to watch something we made in Econ class.”

Pre-orders launched with the website on Dec. 1, and the company received wover 365 website-taps on opening day. Holiday prints are launching soon, alongside their signature and limitededition collections, at myflipmask. com. Masks are listed for $14.99 on and supporters can follow their entrepreneurial journey on Instagram @flip.mask.

“We have really big goals,” Wood said, “but we’re taking it one step at a time.”

Math Club teams compete in virtual Harvard MIT Math Tournament

by Melody Hu Staff Writer Every year, the Hockaday Math Club holds tryouts for the Harvard MIT Mathematics Tournament.

Typically, students compete in the Harvard or MIT lecture halls, but this year students competed virtually.

Hockaday sent two teams of six students to the open.

The Hockaday Math Club held virtual tryouts for the HMMT teams.

Club officers sent out ten questions to students trying out, giving them a week to complete them. Then, the officers used the scores of the questions to make the teams.

Typically, the students who make the HMMT tournament travel to Boston for the competition. In past years, the tournament took place at Harvard or MIT. “It is really fun to travel with your team and meet people all over the nation and all over the world who are passionate about math,” senior Jennifer Xiong said. “The competition itself is definitely

challenging, but I really enjoy the experience.”

The Harvard MIT Mathematics Tournament, founded in 1998, usually consists of about 1,000 students from around the world. This year, the competition was changed to the Harvard MIT Mathematics Open to reflect this year’s virtual environment. The tournament was

organized by students at Harvard, MIT, and nearby schools. The competition consists of three rounds: teams, individual, and Guts.

During the teams round, each of the Hockaday teams met with each other via Zoom or Microsoft Teams to solve problems. There were 10 questions, and teams were only able photo by Kelsey Chen

Students from Team 1 meet on Teams to compete in the team round.

to submit answers every minute.

The individual round consisted of two parts: general and theme, and Hockaday students submitted answers individually. The general round contained questions about all high school math subjects, and the theme round was based on a common theme.

During the Guts round, competitors were given 80 minutes to solve problems with their team.

Each problem varied in difficulty and point values. The problems are given out in sets of three, and teams are only allowed to start the next set of problems once they finish the set before.

“Solving the questions was similar to the in person competition, but it was the atmosphere that made it feel different because usually, you are surrounded by people working really hard so I would feel more motivated” junior Kyulee Kim said.

Additionally, the competition held optional Zoom meetings called Friday Night Lives, featuring both math and non-math-related games.

14 December 17, 2020

FEATURES

The Fourcast

Quarantine creativity

Twins Tess and Louisa Benedict use Instagram to share and explore art

by Anna Gum Opinion Editor

W

hat easily could have turned into a summer of boredom and wasted time transformed into a time of creativity and art for senior sisters Tess and Louisa Benedict. March 12, 2020, students turned in their final exams, hustled to overflow parking and left school for spring break. As this week-long break turned into months of distance learning and social distancing, the Benedict sisters decided to make the most of their new-found freetime.

The first week of quarantine in March 2020, Louisa opened a new account on Instagram dedicated to sharing her art. As a first-year studio art student, she used her new free time granted

by COVID-19 and a simultaneous concussion to further explore painting and calligraphy.

“I didn’t want to just sit in my room all summer,” Louisa said, “but I was also wanting to do something to help the Black Lives Matter movement as protests were gaining coverage.”

To earn money to contribute to BLM organizations, she started making bookmarks to sell through her Instagram account. Classmates, friends from camp and her family reached out to request bookmarks.

She also used her art as a way to de-stress and find control in the confusing times of COVID-19.

“It’s about the peace and quiet,” Louisa said. “It’s just a moment where you can kind of escape for a second, and you get to control the paint. If you mess up, you can fix it. It’s just a very calming process.”

Unlike her sister, Tess found inspiration not from peace and silence, but from music.

“I like to listen to music when I work, and it kind of inspires me,” Tess said. “It can be looking at an album cover or the feeling a song creates and putting that into a piece.”

Tess shared her art through an Instagram account as well. Initially she uploaded her pictures onto RedBubble, and when they started attracting

buyers, she realized she could both earn money and connect with people through her art.

Tess initially got into art when her sister introduced her to calligraphy. As calligraphy sparked Louisa’s passion for art, Tess decided to explore it for herself.

From there, she began ceramics her freshman year.

“Ceramics fits more A graphic design by Tess Benedict. with my style of art, I think,” Tess said. “I get to take my thoughts and kind of make them into something 3D.” While Tess leaned toward ceramics and sculptural art, Louisa continued to focus more on painting and calligraphy. Their styles also differ in how they view imperfections in their art. Often recreating existing paintings, Louisa insists on perfection and precision, whereas Tess enjoys exploring and tolerates a level of imperfection.

“Tess is kind of okay with imperfection and messing around with colors,” Louisa said. “I similarly like my water coloring to be imperfect, but when it comes to painting or calligraphy, it has to be perfect.”

Despite the differences in their styles, both sisters enjoy sharing their art with others, describing it as a way to be a part of something—something that touches another person’s life or lasts for years to come.

“I love that the account lets me share my art with everyone,” Louisa said. “It invites them to be a part of what I do, and it lets me share art they could treasure for a long time.”

A painting of flowers by Louisa Benedict.

A graphic design of sneakers by Tess Benedict.

Checking in with Dr. Tiffani Kocsis

New assistant head of Upper School talks about education, writing, ‘Supermarket Sweep’

by Lea Whitley Social Media & Video Editor What brought you to Hockaday?

I lived in Dallas previously so I knew the school well. I worked at an all-girls school in Los Angeles and absolutely loved it so I knew I wanted to get back to it whenever my next professional move was. We decided to move back to Dallas in March and nothing was really out there so it was a “livin’ on a prayer” moment. I couldn’t believe it when this job opened up (which nearly mirrors the one I was in at the time). When I met everyone on my interview days, I was sold.

Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I started college in January of my senior year taking classes during the day at the junior college and working in their Athletic Training room with their off-season athletes. I had every intention of being a certified athletic trainer. I transferred to the University of Oregon where I majored in human physiology and minored in psychology. Later down the road I completed my master’s

at the University of North Texas and my doctorate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Is it true you wrote a book for sale on Amazon? Tell us about it.

Haha. It’s true. So after I finished my doctorate, I received a contract with Routledge Publishing to turn my dissertation into an academic text.

I spent about a year adding content and making edits before publishing (which is an insane process).

Essentially, the project looked at sexuality education in the United States in three arenas-developmental (do the programs taught meet the development needs of young people), political (how does the development of said programs align with what was going on politically, how are politics used to shape these programs), and legal (what do the courts say about sexuality education programming).

Then, using a social justice lens, particularly around gender and sexuality theories, I did an analysis of some different programs and made recommendations for program development.

Tell us a little bit about how you grew up.

I was born and lived in Bakersfield,

California, with my mom and grandmother until I was 10 and then moved to Los Angeles after my mother remarried. Bakersfield is in central California and has similar vibes to Lubbock or Waco. We always joke it’s where my affinity for Texas came from. Once in Los Angeles, I attended big public middle and high schools. I played high school and club volleyball, dabbled in other sports (Cross country, Basketball, Soccer and Track and Field) but never really got interested. I worked in the Athletic Training room for three years as an intern through a program called Regional Occupation Program.

What jobs have you had before working here?

While I was in college and for a year or so after I worked in the restaurant industry as a server and bartender.

It was a really fun time in my life! I started substitute teaching and then once my credential was done I was teaching special education right away.

Been in schools ever since. I’ve also done some program consulting with schools in Los Angeles as well as the archdiocese. I went from special ed to teaching science/anatomy & physiology/health/psychology to dean

photo by Ava Berger

Dr. Kocsis shows her wild side in her ostrich Halloween costume.

of students and assistant principal.

What’s one weird fact about you?

Only one? I was on the TV show “Supermarket Sweep” when I was 12.

I’m from California but don’t really like the beach. I hate shoes.

What are your favorite things to do on the weekends? Where do you like to go?

In a non-COVID world: coffee shops, dinner with friends, backyard bbqs, bookstores, farmers’ markets, street fairs, road trips. I’m pretty simple when it comes to entertainment.

hockadayfourcast.org

FEATURES

December 17, 2020

15

Alumna blends social impact, fashion Emmy Hancock starts clothing line to help end period poverty

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by Kate Clark Managing Editor

Gandhi’s statement and the conversations afterward sparked the hashtag, #PeriodsAreNotAnInsult. lending social activism Activists were discussing alland fashion, 2014 Hockaday graduate Emmy things-period: minimal innovation in menstruation care, the failed Hancock founded her legislation to require tampons to business, Oluna, which label the ingredients, the tampon tax sells playful pants while raising and the stigma behind periods. awareness of period poverty. For “You can address it from a policy every pair of pants sold, Oluna will standpoint, health standpoint, donate a year’s supply worth of period research standpoint or gender products to an American in need. equality standpoint,” Hancock Hancock launched Oluna on Oct. said. “I realized after 2015 that the 1. Her inspiration culminated from conversations spiked, then died her high school days and national down.” menstrual Period activism that “The reason that I poverty refers to sparked while chose fashion as a the inability to she was at the platform to speak access feminine University of hygiene Pennsylvania. out about period products.

“When I was poverty is because “It is at Hockaday, experienced I worked in it is a more lasting by the poor, modeling,” way to continue the homeless and Hancock said. incarcerated— “I was already conversation” not only in around fashion Emmy Hancock developing and retail. In Founder of Oluna countries, but 2015, it was especially right the year of the here in our own period—so there backyards,” was a spike in Hancock wrote in viral activism, her first journal news pieces entry on her and nonprofits website. speaking out Hancock against period listed five main poverty, getting factors that the word out and result in period destigmatizing it.” poverty: lack of Hancock access, lack of had dreamt of research, lack founding a social of policy, lack of impact retail education and start-up that environmental tackled period harm. More poverty in a information playful manner. is available on The day she graduated from college Oluna’s website: https://www.oluna. in 2018, she created the ‘limited co. liability company’ for Oluna.

Using her LLC, Hancock finally set “The reason that I chose fashion Oluna into action during quarantine as a platform to speak out about when she moved back to her family period poverty is because it is a home in Dallas. more lasting way to continue the “I’m so glad she’s found something conversation,” Hancock said, “as well that she’s so passionate about,” said as to acknowledge brand identity Hancock’s sister Katherine, a 2020 with de-stigmatization.” graduate.

Her colorful pants are inclusive Hancock created everything of all body types, ages and even Oluna, the website, social media states of the day, to open up the accounts and designs, using her conversation beyond just those who knowledge as the former editor-inmenstruate and to allow everyone to chief of Vibrato, the school literary support the cause. magazine, and with no other help.

“I choose to have a playful and “It is so inspiring that a former cute brand because oftentimes when Vibrato member has started her people think of period poverty they own business,” said Gabriella Rees, might not feel comfortable asking Vibrato photo editor. “It is cool questions,” Hancock said. “A lot of and empowering that she used the people do not know where to begin. I techniques she learned at Hockaday want to arm my consumer base with the data. When you have the data it is to start Oluna.”

With her talents in fashion, design a common sense issue, it should not and social impact all put together, be up for debate.”

Oluna’s ultimate and primary goal is One moment noted as the to get people talking. beginning of the conversation on “Since most people are unaware periods was when Kiran Gandhi, of the different forms that period a Los Angeles based femsinist, poverty can take,” Hancock said, ran the London marathon without “our mission is to create a fun and using femine hygiene products playful space where no question is to encourage women not to be too weird.” embarrassed about their periods.

photo courtesy ofEmmy Hancock

Models show off fashions from Hancock’s company, Oluna. Check out Oluna.co to shop similar looks.

16 December 17, 2020

The Fourcast

SPORTS

Strength, conditioning reinvented Coaches adapt routines so athletes can continue training safely for sports seasons

by Lacy Green Sports Co-Editor

D

espite changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fitness Center Staff led by Jeff Geier, Director of Sports Performance and Sports Medicine, are devising new procedures to ensure that the athletes can still benefit from the strength and conditioning program.

“They have done a great job in adapting to the new rules and regulations that COVID-19 has presented,” Geier said, “and modifying their normal routines with new exercises and equipment that do just as good of a job keeping Hockaday student-athletes strong and ready for their sports.”, In the past, the Fitness Center has traditionally been used by faculty and staff, Upper School students, seventh and eighth grade P.E. rotations and varsity and junior varsity teams.

With the fitness center’s flexible hours, people were able to work out before or after school at their leisure, but now this is not possible due to

social distancing requirements.

While these circumstances are not ideal, the athletic department redeveloped the strength and conditioning program to follow the newly established guidelines.

The Fitness Center staff, which includes Elia Stanfield, head strength and conditioning coach, and Laboris Bean and Cam Cook, strength and conditioning coaches, have all adapted to the new program and found ways to make it effective and enjoyable for the athletes.

“In field hockey this season, strength and conditioning improved our stamina in games and overall brought us closer together,” junior Jules Johnson said.

Throughout the fall season, the varsity field hockey team adapted to the new program by transitioning outside as well as completing a series of socially distanced drills. Teams are still allowed to come into the Fitness Center, but they divide into smaller groups and pair with a staff member. During the team’s time in the Fitness Center, one group remains

inside and uses the equipment, while the other group uses new mobile equipment outside. While this new system is working well, it is not ideal long term.

“I think that the equipment we have purchased to adapt to social distancing and ease of use and cleaning will continue to be utilized,” Geier said, “but as far as reduced numbers in the Fitness Center, I’m hopeful that changes and we can

return to normal capacities.”

With a transition into the winter sports season, strength and conditioning coaches will continue to help the soccer, basketball and swimming and diving teams get in shape and prepare for the upcoming season. Senior Graydon Paul, cocaptain of the varsity soccer team is eager to begin the season, coming off an SPC Championship last season.

“Even though we have started the first two weeks of winter season on distance learning,” Paul said, “soccer is still getting ready for competition through the strength and conditioning Zoom Program.”

photos by Jeff Geier

The Fitness Center’s capacity has been limited for social distancing.

Upcoming games & training report

by Rachel Jan Staff Writer

Jan. 7 - JV Soccer vs. Trinity Christian Academy, 5 p.m., Home Jan. 7 - Varsity Soccer vs. Trinity Christian Academy, 5 p.m., Home Jan. 8 - JV Basketball vs. Greenhill School, 5 p.m., Home Jan. 8 - Varsity Basketball vs. Greenhill School, 6:30 p.m., Home Jan. 11 - JV Soccer vs. Fort Worth Country Day, 5:30 p.m., Away Jan. 15 - Varsity Basketball vs. Trinity Valley School, 6 p.m., Away Due to health concerns, the SPC has announced it will not be naming an SPC Champion or Zone Champions. The Championship Tournament scheduled for February in Houston has been canceled.

Sports Snapshots

photo by Caroline Petrikas

Flying down the final stretch of a race, Senior Kathryn Bowers sets a personal season record.

Basketball- The basketball team is connecting for practices over Zoom. While at home and on call, basketball athletes are working on ball handling, dribbling and defensive skills. They use an app called HomeCourt that allows them to take videos of different ball handling or shooting drills to show the coaches. The team also is doing conditioning cardio workouts courtesy of Laboris Bean, athletic coordinator.

Soccer - Like the basketball team, the soccer team is conducting practices over Zoom. Athletes choose their own practices and workouts online and follow conditioning practices led by Hockaday staff. They are doing timed distance runs on top of these practices.

Swimming- While the swimming team still hasn’t gotten into the water this season, the athletes continue to work out at home. Many athletes who have access to a pool are swimming on their own time.

Diving- The diving team also had trouble finding pool time for training. Diving athletes model their dives outside of the water and complete dryland workouts every day to stay in shape for when they are allowed back into the pool.

by Caroline Petrikas Staff Writer

photo by Erin Parolisi

Close to victory, varsity volleyball huddles together and prepares to win the final point.

photo by Jennifer Johnson

Captain Angelina Wu lunges at senior Lynn Jung as junior Tukwa Ahsan observes their outdoor fencing match.

photo by Alexandra Crosnoe

On Oct. 13, during varsity field hockey’s first game of the season, sophomore Lauren Roach prepares to steal the ball.

hockadayfourcast.org

one

TO WATCH

by Rachel Jan Staff Writer

photo courtesy of Annabel Symington

Annabel Symington Get to know the senior swimmer

1 2 3

“I love swimming for a lot of reasons. One of the main reasons is the people I meet; I love my friends who swim with me.”

“Swimming is 90 percent about your mindset. I had a coach who had a saying: ‘The race is already over by the time you stand behind the blocks.”

“When you compete, you’re racing against yourself, and I just really like that idea of self-improvement.”

SPORTS

December 17, 2020

Athletics, past and present

by Ava Berger Editor-In-Chief

17

Former Athletic Board Chair Margaret Woodberry ’20, now a Brown University lacrosse player, and current Athletic Board Chair Alyssa Taylor discuss their outlook on recent sports changes

M

argaret, what have you been doing in Dallas since Brown is not starting until

people to come to games, but obviously you can’t do that but maybe just encouraging school spirit and encouraging people to help support the athletes and still January? make sure everyone knows that M: Dallas has been great. I am there are games going on. And come taking a singular class. Even though up with a new hashtag. I came up the Ivy League hasn’t decided yet if with #godaisies—it was all me. I we are going to have a spring season, told Coach Surgi we have to own the I have been focusing on bettering Daisy mascot. myself athletically and working Alyssa, what did you see on my lacrosse skills as much as I Margaret doing last year can in Dallas. So, just like you guys that you are using as a model might not have a season, we during this difficult year? might not have a season.

A: Her energy and her spirit.

Alyssa, how has She did a the year been so good job of far as head of the leading the Athletic Board? school and A: It’s been pretty uplifting the good so far. Obviously, school, so I we’ve had to deal with a lot of have tried to carry COVID-19 restrictions, but I over that spirit. think the board has found some What is the new ways around it and fun things best way to get for the school to do. I think fall school spirit for photo provided by Margaret Woodberry athletics? sports all had a really good fall season and I’m M: Before excited for the winter season.

COVID-19, obviously pep Margaret, as the previous rallies are a super fun way to get the Athletic Board Head what whole school involved. Also, having advice would you give Alyssa in certain spirit nights for each sport these unprecedented times? where you really encourage people M: I’d say, focus on building to come out and support and have school spirit and trying to uplift incentives for them. Spirit weeks morale. Overall, it’s hard because were fun, which is one thing you can for me I was always encouraging still do now that we did before.

A: During COVID-19, I think our one spirit week we’ve had was a success and people enjoyed it. It was probably one of the best things we’ve been able to do this year and also, Coach Surgi is mainly in charge of this, but I think the Move it Mondays have been encouraging.

What advice do you have for the current athletes on how to stay positive during COVID-19?

M: Always work hard, if not for this season, for next year. And if you are a senior, you never know. If you have one game, make sure you give it your all. I wish I could go back to last year’s lacrosse season and work a little harder at the beginning of the season. I know for me right now it’s been really hard because I’m working for a team and I haven’t even met half these girls yet, but I know they are all working hard, so I want to work hard.

A: Keep training. We don’t know if we are going to have a season or not, but it’s always good to stay active and be prepared and ready. If we have a short season or a modified season, we want to go into it strong so stay active and stay safe! Don’t get COVID-19, because that has been negatively affecting a lot of athletes.

Anything else to add?

A: #PROTECTTHEMEADOW!!!

M: #FEARTHEHORN (the unicorn horn) #godaisies #beatesd and enjoy the season!

18 December 17, 2020

The Fourcast

OPINIONS

Con: displaying acceptance letters Posting college acceptance letters boosts stress, comparisons

I

remember the first time that I saw the wall of college acceptance letters in the senior hallway, and I’d be willing to bet that you do, too.

A timid freshman rushing to class, I generally avoided the eyes of the formidable upperclassmen who towered above me. One day, however, I stopped dead in my tracks, in awe of the columns of white acceptance letters beginning to line a familiar window. That first day, and for many that followed, I watched the window grow opaque with celebratory news, truly reverent.

As the months went on, however, my awe morphed into a twisted anxiety. Even thinking about the college application process can be trying; at times, it feels like as an applicant you are asked to put the most vital, personal parts of yourself on a page that will be offered up for judgment. Accepted: good enough. Denied: not good enough. While I honestly disagree with these simplifications and believe the process is far more complex and impersonal, it can often feel this way. Why intensify the stress surrounding personal achievement and worth by putting up acceptance letters on a window?

I know each of my classmates at Hockaday to be deeply driven and to expect near perfection from themselves in some regard.

I believe our display of acceptance letters furthers an already present tendency to compare ourselves to one another, beginning the moment we enter high school and see that window of letters.

I understand that to ring the triangle and cheer as you hang your letter is a beloved tradition, and one that each student likely looks forward to as they imagine their hard work paying off. But this application process is deeply personal, and I honestly wonder if it might not be more meaningful to share our

achievements with loved ones and supporters away from the watching eyes of all of Upper School.

After all, shouldn’t our hard work be for ourselves, and not dependent on the validation of others?

Moreover, I believe our displaying of acceptance letters emphasizes traditional definitions of success, stigmatizing the unavoidable denials each student will graphic by Kylee Hong likely receive.

If we truly wish to lessen the stress associated with applying to college, I believe we should not place such importance on the end result of an acceptance letter, but rather have faith that each individual has the power to define their academic

LAINE BETANZOS Copy Editor experience regardless of where they end up.

We often are told applying to college is the first real choice of our adult lives. We not only get to consider what we might like to study or where we might like to live, but also who we might like to be in the future.

College should mean the possibility of four years of intense growth. Four years of new relationships, the discovery of intellectual pursuits and of engaging with life in a brilliant way.

I truly believe there are better ways to celebrate our hard work than an imposing display of expected success instilled into generations of students to come.

Pro: displaying acceptance letters

College acceptance wall important for celebrating accomplishments

E

very year, seniors fill their Instagram feeds with celebratory posts, decorate their advisory rooms with college flags and adorn the senior commons window with decorated college acceptance letters. Chimes of the senior acceptance triangle flow through the hallways as seniors celebrate their college acceptances with their friends.

Every year of high school, I have admired the tradition of posting college acceptance letters on the senior commons window. As a freshman, I watched my senior Big Sis and her friends get into college and was in awe of their acceptance letters. With every year, I’ve grown more excited for my time as a senior and being able to celebrate my college acceptances.

Likely at any high school, but especially Hockaday, the college admissions process is incredibly competitive, but also remarkably ambiguous. With many students applying to colleges with extremely high admissions standards, I find

the college process to be distressing to many. But through writing dozens of supplements, studying endlessly for the SAT or ACT and explaining who you are in just 650 words for the Common App essay, what keeps students going is the moment all the hard work pays off.

Similarly, I have been looking forward to my senior year because of the privileges and traditions I will get to take part in.

With the pandemic canceling traditions, it is more important than ever to make the most of the special moments we do have. Every time I have watched a previous senior or even a girl in my grade ring the triangle, I get excited for them. It is a special moment for

every senior to hang their letter on the wall as a testament to the hard work they have accomplished.

Whether or not girls get into their first choice college, one of the most amazing things is that everyone is able to make the college they attend their own.

The college acceptance wall is an empowering tradition because it allows everyone to be proud of the college they are attending and to celebrate that.

That empowerment does come with obstacles. In the past, some under-classmen have made judgmental comments about colleges because they did not yet understand how difficult the admissions process is. With that being said, allowing

“The college acceptance wall is an empowering tradition because it allows everyone to be proud of the college they are attending and to celebrate that.”

ERIN PAROLISI Web Editor underclassmen to see acceptance letters introduces them to the process and teaches them to respect other people’s college decisions and the importance of celebrating with them.

While some students always have seen the college admissions process at Hockaday as competitive, at the end of the day we should all be happy for everyone’s acceptances and be supportive of everyone’s decisions. By displaying college acceptance letters, seniors can come together after the stressful admissions process and celebrate each other’s futures.

OPINION

hockadayfourcast.org

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ava Berger MANAGING EDITOR Kate Clark WEB EDITOR Erin Parolisi ASSISTANT WEB AND PHOTO EDITOR Elisa Carroll COPY EDITOR Laine Betanzos MAGAZINE EDITOR Kelsey Chen NEWS CO-EDITORS Sasha Schwimmer and Katherine Grace Estess FEATURES CO-EDITORS Charlotte Rogers and Olivia Garcia ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS Maddie Stout and Hanna Zhang SPORTS CO-EDITORS Remy Finn and Lacy Green OPINIONS CO-EDITORS Anna Gum and Campbell Harris CASTOFF EDITOR Julia Donovan PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Libby Hill SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIDEOS EDITOR Lea Whitley STAFF WRITERS Juliana Blazek, Jane Clark, Zoe Cote, Zoya Haq, Melody Hu, Rachel Jan, Caroline Petrikas STAFF ARTISTS Kylee Hong, Louisa Benedict, Maddie Fisher, Nancy Dedman, Kemper Lowry, Olivia Park FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

December 17, 2020

19

Cyber courtesy Thinking before you post essential to civil discourse

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STAFF STANCE ocial media plays a bigger role in the world today than ever before. When given a list of events that have occurred since March 2020, social media has played a role in and impacted experiences for each of them.The COVID-19 pandemic, a growing movement for racial justice sparked by the death of George Floyd, the presidential election… the list continues.

Social media thrives on quick decisions: likes, comments, replies, DMs. It is easy for a person of any age to fall into the trap before thinking through decisions—the apps are programmed and created to set those traps.

If social media were slower, if the comments took more than 30 seconds to load, the experience would shift.

Would there be as much engagement?

Would there be as many unkind comments or posts that would be regretted later? Most likely, the answer is no.

As an Upper School community, we need to collectively put our actions into perspective and ponder these questions: Would I say this if the person were right in front of me?

Am I treating this person the way I want to be treated?

Am I giving this person the benefit of the doubt?

The ability to hear a person’s tone while speaking or see the genuine look on their face is vital. Sarcasm and jokes aren’t easy to convey solely through comments and messages that are typed at the speed of light.

In-person communication makes a world of difference. Real connections and real conversations can prevent hurt feelings and allow someone to convey what they really mean.

Our moms tell us that whatever anyone puts online is there forever.

graphic by Olivia Park

Yes, you can delete a post or a comment. But even then, screenshots can preserve your words, and you never know who they will be shared with or who will find them years down the road.

As a community, what we invest into one other is what makes our community thrive. Filling each other’s cups, abiding by the Golden Rule and walking with a glass-half-full attitude, not a glass-half-empty attitude, will make all the difference.

“Real connections

and real conversations can prevent hurt feelings and allow someone to convey what they really mean.”

EDITORIAL POLICY The Fourcast is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, its faculty and staff. The Fourcast has a press run of 1,200 and is printed by Greater Dallas Press. It is distributed free of charge to the Hockaday community.

The staff reserves the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate for the Hockaday community.

Opinions will be clearly marked and/ or will appear in the opinion section.

Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any other member of the Hockaday community.

The Staff Stance on the opinion page reflects the position of The Fourcast staff, but not necessarily the position of the Hockaday administration or community.

The Fourcast staff determines the content of each issue and strives to work as independently as possible in producing the student newspaper. The newspaper is subject to prior review by Hockaday administration and some stories may be changed or omitted in accordance with the administration’s requirements.

Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the editor-in-chief. Only signed pieces will be published. Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found as designated in the news section. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to Editor-in-Chief Ava Berger at aberger21@ hockaday.org.

What do you think?

“

Savannah Frederiksen ’23 I believe the Golden Rule is crucial online because online things can come across differently than you would mean them in person. I think that this rule is crucial because you should treat everyone with kindness and respect, even if you believe it is not deserved.”

“

Premanshi Agarwalla ’22 I think it’s always important to treat others with the Golden Rule. Karma always gets back to you, and even though some people feel more protected on social media because they’re hiding behind a screen, your words always have an impact. Your karma – good or bad – will always come back to you.”

THE

Fourcast

The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

20 December 17, 2020

CASTOFF

The Fourcast

HappyHolidays

Books

Gift Ideas for dads or brothers

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A Fitbit or watch

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A wallet

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A Moleskin journal

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A family photo in a frame prices range from $15-60

From The F ourcast Mr. Worldwide Phineas

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor