THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL 11600 WELCH ROAD
COLORFUL LOVE
The story behind the “Noon Nap” painting in Hoak Portico Page 3
DALLAS, TX 75229
THE HEART OF HOCKADAY
FEBRUARY 20, 2025 VOLUME 75, ISSUE 4
Learn about Hockaday’s nurses, an integral support system here at school Page 12
THINK BEFORE YOU THRIFT
The economy of fashion: Shop wisely to transcend trends Page 17
By Savannah Simon Staff Writer
Pushing carts of microscopes and science equipment through the Ownby Family Lobby, Science Department Chair Peggy Cagle struggles as one of the teachers roaming this year. In another words, she shares a room with other teachers instead of having one to just to herself. For some educators at Hockaday, this shift has been beneficial, but for others, it’s been challenging.
Faculty who teach fewer than four classes may be "roamers." Cagle, in her first year as Chair, leaves behind her familiar classroom for two newer shared rooms.
Cagle said that room-roaming has proven both challenging and rewarding. She lugs box after box of lab-gear from the upper levels of the science building to the first floor: over and over.
“It’s been busy,” Cagle said. “I don’t have the things I’ve collected in the two new classrooms, so I have to bring all the materials and set them up.”
Still, Cagle said that she sees benefits to sharing a classroom.
“It hasn’t been all challenges. Even though it's difficult sometimes to move everything around, I think that over time, I'll be able to get everything where it's supposed to be,” Cagle said. “It's nice because now we have more sections of science, which makes class
sizes smaller, so I think it is worth everything in the end.”
The challenges of room-roaming are not confined to the science department. William Stoker, an English teacher and Writing Center tutor, also roams. Though he teaches in one shared classroom, his office is a desk in the Writing Center.
“I teach only a half load of English classes, and the full load is considered four classes,” Stoker said. “I have two. I mean, I think that's the reason (for the switch): teachers who have a full load of four have their own room, and roamers are those teaching less than the full load.”
For him, the room-roaming has been both useful and limiting.
non-physical objects, imagery, clips, audio, that sort of stuff. I found that to be an effective sort of alternative.”
make room for other teachers. For example, so that they can put student work up from their classes.”
The pre-planning for the teacher who has the room next requires intense consideration.
“You also have to think about that you're not going to be able to leave stuff written up on the board,” Dies said. “So, if you have a class and you have a bunch of writing on the board, and you say to yourself, oh, I want my kids to see this tomorrow, or we're going to continue this discussion next time we meet, you have to remember that you can't leave all that stuff up.”
“Keeping our energy levels balanced and attention span and stuff is where the classroom really matters, because the space you're in really influences how you really feel,” Stoker said.
Even without the ability to decorate his own classroom, Stoker finds ways to manipulate the space.
“Not having the ability to adjust the physical space as much is a challenge, but I think it's sort of pushed me to realize what I can do,” Stoker said. “You know, the smartboard lets me bring a lot of stuff like
The African American Museum (3536 Grand Ave.).
This museum houses an extensive collection of African American art, history, and cultural artifacts. Its exhibits highlight the contributions of Black Texans and beyond.
Nearby, the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 Fitzhugh Avenue) is a creative hub for African diaspora arts, featuring performances, visual exhibitions, and community programs that celebrate Black culture.
The Juanita Craft House (2618 Warren) celebrates civil rights leader Juanita Craft, who played a pivotal role in desegregating Texas schools and buisnesses. Today, it serves as an educational site and is open by appointment only. Stop by to take photos and read the historical marker.
Bethany Dies, Assistant Head of Middle School and seventh and eighth grade English teacher, creates schedules for the Middle School and considers the amount of classroom space needed to hold the courses. Depending on the year, the ratio varies, so teachers who share now might have their own classroom later.
Additionally, Dies experiences the change firsthand in her own classroom. She shares her room with two other teachers and believes the experience is mixed.
“So practically, it involves a lot of figuring out how much wall space you have and what's fair to split up with people.” Dies said. “I definitely had to take a lot of my stuff off the walls to
Alternatively, there are also strengths to this change.
“I think it's helpful because I get to greet colleagues and students that I would not otherwise see,” Dies said.
She is social and appreciates being able to greet learners and educators alike.
“A grade level may come in, and I don't teach those kids, but in the passing period, we kind of get to chat a little bit because we're all in the same room. It's nice to be able to get to know new people, see different teaching styles and things like that.”
By Amitha Nair Jade Editor
Located near 75 and Lemmon Avenue, the Freedman's Cemetery (2521 N. Central Expressway) is a burial ground for early African-Americans. This area was once one of the largest segregated African American communities in Dallas.
The Dallas Black Dance Theatre (2400 Flora Street) is where movement tells a story. This renowned dance company blends modern, jazz and traditional African dance to celebrate Black heritage with grace and power. The Black Academy of Arts & Letters (1309 Canton Street) is a powerhouse of creativity. This institution champions African American voices through electrifying performances, thought-provoking exhibits, and inspiring literary works.
Be sure to check out the murals near The African American Museum and South Dallas Cultural Center. These murals celebrate and highlight Black African American culture, history and community.
By Lulu Sporl Staff Writer
Hanging in the administrative hallway near Hoak Portico, the “Noon Nap” watercolor, donated in 2022, watches as students walk past daily without knowing its story.
The painting was donated by professional artist Henry Casselli, grandfather of Savannah Simon ‘28, who was impressed by the art decorating the halls during his Grandparents Day visit and decided that he would donate one of his works. “Noon Nap” depicts Savannah’s mom, Dana Simon, holding baby Savannah in her arms.
“I was there for the birth, there for the dirty diapers, there for ballet,”
Casselli said.
“So, when Dana had the baby, it would only be natural for me to want to do a painting.”
By Jessica Boll and Audrey Liu Web Editor-in-Chief and News Editor
For the past 18 years, Daisies have joined St. Mark’s students in volunteering with the Dallas area Habitat for Humanity to build a house each year for low-income families.
Seniors Kate Davidson and Charlotte Schultz currently lead Hockaday’s efforts to make a tangible impact in the community.
“I think their mission is very important. Not only do they help the families that the houses are for, but it also helps the entire area around the community,” Schultz said. “For example, a lot of the homeowners have lowered the crime rates in their neighborhoods.”
By working together to build the homes, students are able to grow relationships with each other while changing lives.
His art studio was in the center of it all, where he was frequently surrounded by family while he worked. This allowed his connection with his granddaughter to flourish and gifted him the ability to paint her at different moments.
“The actual painting happened immediately upon walking in the room and seeing them sitting there like that,” Casselli said. “It took 70 years to paint it. It is not something you can just do.”
Caselli said his emotions and connections guided him through the artistic process, but the watercolor also directed him. He said it was essential to not have full control over the watercolor. His understanding of his materials strengthened his talent and caught the attention of multiple historic figures, leading to his portraits of Muhammad Ali, Ronald Regan, and three astronauts.
Casselli compared his devotion to draw-
ing to the necessity of running for a runner.
“It’s how I live and breathe,” he said. “It’s my way of life, 24 hours a day, all day.”
Although his largest tool seems to be his sketchbook, it appears that his greatest power is his heart. Casselli shares the secret to his talent and work behind “Noon Nap.”
“It is made as much with love as it is with paint,” Casselli said.
Habitat for Humanity not only gives families a place to live, but also provides education to ensure overall family success.
“They go through courses about how to pay the mortgage and provide for their home,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen '26 volunteers at a
“You're doing it directly, not like donating or just logging your hours,” Davidson said. “You're actually, physically doing something.”
Junior Maddy Nguyen has been volunteering for the Hockaday Habitat for Humanity chapter for the past two years.
“Generally, we build houses for first time homeowners who have never owned a house before,” Nguyen said.
Byron Harris, a donor and previous volunteer for Dallas Habitat for Humanity, has worked closely on projects with Hockaday and St. Marks while also traveling internationally.
“Everybody was there for a good reason. Nobody was there to not do good,” Harris said. “Everybody would just pitch in and build a house, and it was thrilling to be in the Dallas projects.”
build
The impact seen within the community is the product of decades of hard work across the organization. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who recently passed away, was a passionate advocate for affordable housing and played a significant role in expanding Habitat for Humanity since 1984.
“Jimmy Carter did these mass builds where they would build 50 houses in two weeks and
thousands of people would come in and help,” Harris said. “Everybody who met him on a field said that he worked with everyone and sweated.”
Hockaday alumna Shea Duffy ‘20, who volunteered with Habitat, said meeting the future homeowners was a favorite memory.
“The family whose house we were building came to the site for a couple of days,” Duffy said.
“You can see who you were building the house for, which was very impactful.”
By Sarah Moskowitz and Ai-Vy Ho Features Editor and Staff Writer
Carefully tuning their instruments in Metzger Plaza, Rock-a-Day prepares for their first performance at the Social Impact Bazaar. After merging with the Modern Band Club at the start of this school year, Rock-a-Day began promoting the value of music education to the Hockaday community.
Founder and President junior Jessie Moran started the club as part of her Gold Award for Girl Scouts.
“I wanted to use this club to facilitate my project, and it has been going really well,” Moran said. “The purpose for making Rock-a-Day was because Hockaday didn’t have a rock band.”
Moran hopes to use Rock-a-Day to connect with and expand the impact of rock music outside of Hockaday as well.
“I want our club to perform at DISD schools as well as partner with a specific school to try to build an after-school music program,” Moran said.
Thus far, Rock-a-Day has performed at the November Social Impact Bazaar. After breaking into small groups with a variety of musicians during their once-a-rotation practices, this performance served as the culmination of the 30 club members’ dedication and practice.
“Everyone has an opportunity to play, and people can be in multiple groups,” Moran said. “Picking songs is difficult because there is a certain vibe, which included upbeat pieces that are feasible for the musicians to learn in a short period of time.”
While debuting their band at the Social Impact Bazaar, Moran felt invigorated to continue her work with Rock-a-Day after seeing the support from the Hockaday community.
For sophomore Member and Guitarist Hattie Bethancourt, the club has been a great way to bond with other Hockaday students.
“I was in a band at my old school, and it made me really happy,” Bethancourt said. “I like playing
music with other people, and it is a really good sense of community.”
In junior Drummer Georgia LaGrone’s experience, Rock-a-Day has provided a space to meet new students as they unite for their love of music.
“During practices, we can hear everyone trying new things and working together,” LaGrone said. “It’s a cool experience to look around and see everyone in their element.”
On Feb. 16, Rock-a-Day will perform at the Battle of the Bands in Deep Ellum, which was organized by an Alcuin student and will include performances from St. Mark’s, Parish, Alcuin, Greenhill and Hockaday.
“A student from Alcuin reached out to me and asked if I would be interested,” Moran said. “It is benefiting an organization that supports underserved youth in the DISD system, and because our club is social impact, one of our main focuses is to reach students through music and make an impact that way.”
Since founding Rock-a-Day, Moran has learned valuable lessons and skills while embracing a creative outlet for herself during the school day.
“I’ve learned organizational skills and how to embrace people’s talents while catering to unique abilities,” Moran said.
Bethancourt has learned to be adaptable and flexible throughout the process.
“I’ve learned to go with the flow, and when somebody can’t come to a performance, we just fill in,” Bethancourt said.
Moran values bringing musical students together with both collaboration and responsibility.
“I love seeing this creative side of students that I didn’t know before,” Moran said. “I love getting to play and jam with people who I probably wouldn’t have talked to before because our paths wouldn’t have crossed otherwise.”
For LaGrone, Rock-a-Day has helped her learn to overcome adversity while leaning into the sense of community the club has built.
“I like how every type of person in the school is in the practice,” LaGrone said. “It feels like a conglomerate of the school, and it is so nice to see everyone come together.”
For the future of the club, Moran hopes to build a relationship with DISD schools and bring Rocka-Day to ISAS. Rock-a-Day will also perform at Hockaday’s FAB Fest in the spring, and she hopes people will be encouraged to join the club.
“Our mission is to make music an open and inclusive community,” Moran said. “It feels like a little family, and if anyone likes to sing, they can always come to meetings and practice with us.”
By Juliette Friguletto Staff Writer
Walking down the Hocka-halls, Upper-School students hear some of the following:
“What’s your 'Block Blast' high score?”
“I am absolutely obsessed with playing 'Township'.'”
“What game are you playing? I’m going to download it right now.”
Mobile games have had a recent upsurge in player popularity and participation. For example, the very popular mobile game “Block Blast” reached insuperable levels of player engagement over the past few months with more than 200 million daily players versus 40 million in 2023.
Mobile games provide quick and easy access, which makes the games straightforward and accessible to everyone. Although "Block Blast" and other mobile apps are exceedingly popular, card games and board games have also swelled in notoriety.
Freshman Briar Metcalf plays "Township" in her free time.
“I play 'Township' for about 45 minutes per day on school nights,” Metcalf said. “I’ve had it since 2021, and I’m on level 55, which isn’t even good for how long I’ve had it. I play 'Township' when I want to think because it’s a very strategic game.”
Strategic mobile games like “Township,” “Nonograms” and board games are examples of essential entertainment among Hockaday students.
Although generally less popular, strategic board games are much like strategic online games. Many of these games require three or more players, making them more family and friend inclusive than online games. Some popular board games today include Mahjong, Monopoly, Risk, and Settlers of Catan.
Sophomore Anusha Chowdhary plays a combination of mobile and board games on weekends and during her limited free time. Although she appreciates both categories of games, she said the experiences that board and card games bring resonate more.
“Me and my family love to spend quality time playing board games on the weekends,” Chowdhary said. “Even when my friends come over, my favorite thing to do is play board games and learn more about each other.”
Contrary to strategic games, simple mobile timeconsuming games are popular during free time
and after school.
They provide stress-relief and distract students from academic pressures.
“I play most of these games out of boredom because honestly I just randomly discovered them,”
sophomore Tari Agbeyangi said. “I just play Papa’s Games and 'Subway Surfers.'”
However, the appeal of traditional card games is decreasing with both Generations Z and Alpha.
“I play Texas Hold’em poker, but that’s really it for card games,” Metcalf said. “I don’t really play those games anymore.”
Altogether, the love for mobile games has been inspired by the simplicity of the act. Opening the app and playing for just five minutes can be the entire setup of a physical game. Even though the player engagement for mobile apps may be increasing throughout the newer generations, the overall love for different types of games is still thriving.
By Elle Myers and Siena Ebert Print Managing Editor and Staff Writer
Heart Prosciutto and Honey
Burrata Pizza
Salty meets sweet in this fluffy, flavorful pizza that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare! Recipe courtesy of Butternut Bakery.
Valentine's Mocktails
Enjoy this fruity and delicious drink along with your pizza and cookies! Recipe courtesy of Healthy and Haute Living.
After the pizza and fuzzy drink, these cookies are a great way to curb your sugar craving. Recipe courtesy of Taffey Bakery.
Starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler, this 2014 romcom follows two single parents who, after a disastrous blind date, find themselves stuck on a luxurious family vacation in Africa together. Love blooms in the unlikeliest places as Sandler and Barrymore deliver both humorous and heartfelt scenes, making “Blended” a must watch movie.
"She's The Man"
Featuring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, “She’s the Man” tells the story of soccer superstar Viola who goes undercover as her twin brother to join his boarding school’s boys’ soccer team after the girls' team is cut. As Viola begins to fall for her charming roommate Duke, the film serves up a mix of humor, unexpected love and plenty of sports action perfect for a Galentine’s night in.
"The
Amuseables Val and Tina Love Locks
Led by Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, The Wedding Plan unravels the life of Mary, a careerdriven wedding planner, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she starts falling for her doctor, who happens to be the groom in one of her biggest weddings yet. This film delivers a blend of drama, emotional conflict and serendipitous love which makes it a timeless favorite for fans of feel-good rom-coms.
By Cece Johnson Opinions Editor
Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Post Austin Richard moved to Grapevine, Texas at nine years old. He began his career with an award-winning metal cover of “Umbrella” by Rihanna. After spending nine years in Texas, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in singing. He recently released a new album in August of 2024.
A Dallas-native, “Posty” opened a Post Malone-themed Raising Canes, located only 15 minutes away from Hockaday.
Senior Sofia Santellana attended the opening of his theme restaurant
in October of 2023.
“It was pretty cool; we had to go inside because the drive through
line was too long,” Santellana said. “It was all blue so that was another cool aspect.”
Although visiting the restaurant, Santellana said that she was not a die-hard “Posty” fan.
“I listen to his music occasionally so I would say I’m sort of a fan,” Santellana said. “I definitely learned more about him as a person, and I think it’s cool that we’re from the same town.”
The restaurant is decorated with some of Malone’s personal artifacts like jackets he wore on tour, guitars as well as Dallas Cowboys-related merch.
The Jonas Brothers, although all raised in Dallas, were not all born here. Nick is actually the only one
of the three who was born in Texas. In 2005, the brothers released their first song, and Columbia records signed them as a group. As we know, the rest is history.
Alumni Harper Clouston ‘15 attended a Jonas Brothers concert in August 2023.
“My favorite part of the concert was when Nick walked out in the Texas Rangers T-shirt. I love the Rangers, and it was fun seeing him wearing it,” Clouston said. “There was also a good mix of old songs and new songs which I was happy about because I really went for the old songs.”
While Clouston said she doesn’t listen to the Jonas Brother’s much anymore, she still really wanted to go to the concert.
“They are super nostalgic for me, since I grew up listening to the Jonas Brothers and they were also on Disney Channel a lot, so I watched them in their TV shows and movies," Clouston said. "They were my second favorite behind Justin Bieber, and my favorite song was always 'The Year 3000.'”
Her favorite part of the concert
was listening to the songs that remind her of being in middle school and all the memories that come with that time.
“I always thought it was cool they grew up in Dallas and made me feel more connected to them,” Clouston said. “I love calling Dallas home, because I think it’s a cool city that is a good mix of [southern] and a big city. It has a good mix of cultures that made me a more well-rounded person with a lot of different influences.”
By Alina Zheng Staff Writer
Instagram users can add flare and heighten the aesthetic nature of their feeds through archive posts. Taking into account of various elements, users convey distinct and personalized feeds to capture their followers’ attention.
To archive posts, a user publishes a post, but then immediately archives it. After waiting a few days (or months), the user unarchives the post. As a result, the post reappears on their profile without their followers noticing,
For junior Megan Li, the photos that she chooses for her archive posts usually fall in the category of landscapes or photos that match her overall feed.
“For archives, I choose photos that I really like personally but may not want a lot of people to see or comment on, like landscapes,” Li said.
Similarly, freshman Amelie Fish-
er agrees that archives should stay consistent with the overall quality and vibe of one’s feed.
“I feel like the best photos for archives are the pictures with colors that blend well with your feed or act as a transition between posts,” Fisher said. “Normally I think that a picture without people works best, like a photo of nature, food or a location.”
Senior Jayna Khatti said the best archive photos are ones that she does not use as a regular post.
“[You can] maybe [archive] post just things that are inside jokes or more genuine photos with your friends,” Khatti said. “Or nature photos that you’re not super confident about putting out, but you think are just really fun photos from vacations that you enjoy but just didn’t have the time to make a post in time.”
Though archive posts commonly
consist of solely one picture, regular posts in a user’s feed are comprised of a couple of pictures.
Li said that some of her posts are impulsive while she puts a lot of time and thought behind others, spending one hour on her most recent year dump post.
“It took a long time because I had to go through photos from the whole year and then select and edit,” Li said.
The process for crafting Fisher’s posts weighs various factors.
“First, I go through the picture and pick out my favorites and then edit them if the colors are dull,” Fisher said. “Then, I try to format the post together with favorites. Sometimes I use an app where I can preview what the post would look like on my feed which helps me decide which photos to use.”
By Shreya Vijay and Aadhya Yanamadala Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor
“Dirty Soda,” soda with coffee creamers and syrups, is the latest beverage trend. With various stores opening up all over the Metroplex, the Fourcast decided to try and rate some of them!
6.5/10
Swig, the dirty soda shop that made the drink viral, originated in Utah as a coffee-shop alternative for Mormons, who can’t consume caffeine. It became popular after various celebrities, including Olivia Rodrigo and the cast of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” were spotted flaunting the drink.
We tried “The Founder,” which has a base of Diet Coke, splashed with coconut syrup and cream and garnished with a lime wedge. While it met basic expectations, the syrup left a chemical aftertaste and overpowered the essence of the drink. The cup is also poorly constructed, and soda spilled out of the lid on the drive back. Overall, Swig is a good one-time experience, but there are better and cheaper alternatives to fix your dirty soda cravings.
Located in Plano, Sip City is owned by influencer Brooklyn McKnight and her husband Dakota Blackburn. The store features several drinks which are named after various cities, continuing the “city name” tradition that McKnight and Blackburn have in their first names.
After trying “The Dallas,” we gave the overall location a rating of 8.5. The taste was incredible, and the soda was very crisp. The store did a great job balancing the sweeteners and the peach flavor with the crispness of Dr. Pepper. The cup itself was very simple, but functional. Overall, Sip City is a great place to get dirty soda, which is why it gets our highest rating and the title of best dirty soda shop in Dallas!
Sonic is the first mainstream fast-food chain to launch a line of dirty sodas. While a longtime vendor, selling the first “Ocean Water” drink in 1982, they began releasing new, seasonal flavors, such as Sparkling Sugar Cookie Dr. Pepper. They also have the cheapest dirty soda, at just $1.29 for a small size.
We tasted the “Ocean Water,” which is Sprite with blue Coconut syrup. The color is very vibrant, and the drink is refreshing, with a flavor similar to a Blue Gatorade. The classic crushed ice and sturdy cup make it a perfect drink to take on-the-go. Overall, the flavor is average, and it could have used a little more syrup. However, it is more convenient for people who live in Dallas, as the other dirty soda shops are in the suburbs, while Sonic is accessible for most residents.
8.5/10 7/10
By Anya Aggarwal and Aneeka Tansen Assistant Jade Editor and Staff Writer
After 10 years in the making, Hockaday’s Writing Center opened its dedicated space for Upper School writing consultations in Aug. 2019. Hired specifically to spearhead this initiative, Writing Center Director Lisa Fisher has witnessed its development into an institution-wide support system that reaches far beyond its four walls.
“Each year, we’ve piloted new initiatives, making sure that our Writing Center evolves with our community and staying true to the ethos of preserving the integrity of our students’ work,” Fisher said. “That’s what makes our Writing Center unique.”
Fisher recalls engaging the help of students to meet the immediate demand for appointments as soon as she joined Hockaday.
“We began offering Upper School students positions to help with tutoring right off the bat and
By popular demand, the Writing Center has now also expanded its services to include math and foreign languages.
“Interns in these added subjects are recommended by our own departmental teachers, which goes far in ensuring confidence and credibility,” Fisher said.
Importantly, the Writing Center has maintained a solid five-year streak of social impact through tutoring at Foster Elementary School, helping primarily Spanish-speaking students build skills in English writing and communication.
have had to make the Center’s system better.”
“We didn’t skip a beat in that work,” Fisher said. “In 2020, when COVID hit, we hopped on Zoom and continued strong.”
To share insights from this
The Conference consisted of discussions that provided full coverage of any possible issues and solutions the Center can use to reach a wider range of writers.
that has already expanded our staff from seniors to rising freshmen,” Fisher said. “Our next idea is to consider engaging with fourth grade students to help meet the needs of Lower School."
Overseeing this Middle School collaboration, Lauren Miskin, Middle School English Teacher, has already seen tremendous growth in Eighth Grade Interns who actively collaborate with other writers while employing the strategies and techniques taught in the classroom and reflect on their own writing in the process.
“It’s amazing how much clarity and intentionality one develops by seeing someone else’s writing as a third party and then bringing that perspective to one’s own,” Miskin said. “I know I benefit from that reflection in my own writing and it's so empowering for our students as they make their transition to high school.”
journey with other schools, Hockaday hosted its first Writing Intern Regional Conference from Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
“We received participants from all over the region, including San Antonio, Houston and Little Rock,” Fisher said. “The current Interns have planned workshops, panel discussions and roundtables, all with the goal of sharing nuances of implementing pedagogical experiences in innovative ways.”
Participants discussed how to maximize the output of the Writing Center. Junior Kaitlyn Chen is an Intern at the Center who spoke at the Conference.
“The Conference was our chance to share all of the unique things we do at our Writing Center,” Chen said. “It was a really good chance to see what is working well for other people, and how to tackle problems that we
“Our presentation focused on the summer workshops we do for incoming freshmen,” Chen said. “I know one group that discussed the interior design of the Writing Center and how that provides a welcoming environment.”
Senior Charlotte Schultz is working on widening the Center’s outreach to Lower School and Middle School. The outreach program aims to reach young writers, making them feel comfortable seeking resources available to them.
“It’s really important for us to be able to reach out to writers at the beginning of their writing journeys,” Schultz said. “We want them to feel comfortable using the Writing
Center at this age, which will make them comfortable in high school and college using those resources.”
Though the outreach only recently started, the Center is already mentoring fourth graders and Pre-K students.
“We began working with the fourth graders twice a week in the morning in addition to our program ‘Dictation Daisies’ with the Pre-K students,” Schultz said. “We are just starting the initiative, so we are going to see how the first one goes and work from there.”
In addition to the Writing Center’s external benefits, the Interns also believe providing writing and math advice has helped them on their own academic journeys.
“Getting to know a lot of people in Upper School and Middle School that I would never normally meet and getting to hear about their ideas is truly inspiring,” Schultz said. “I’ve learned a lot as far as new ways to think about writing.”
By Melinda Hu Arts & Life Editor
Adaunting task with over 800 attendees, a budget to adhere to, a theme to choose and decorations to choose and put up: Winter Formal is no easy feat. This year’s Activities Committee Chair senior Zoe Heintges is well-versed in the planning of Winter Formal.
“The most important thing is the venue, so we start looking for the venue in the summer,” Heintges said. “Then we start working on the DJs.”
This year, Winter Formal was held at Gilley’s, where St. Mark’s Homecoming and Junior Symphony Ball also took place. DJ Junk Food, who played St. Mark's Homecoming, provided the soundtrack.
The most important step after the venue and DJ is the theme.
“Everyone wrote down every idea they could think of and submitted it to an anonymous form,” Heintges said.
“I made a list of all the ideas and then in a meeting we narrowed it down to five.”
After Student Council selected a theme, the Committee started designing the Winter Formal shirts. Since Winter Formal is open to all Hockaday students, the Committee’s main source of funding is the custom-designed T-shirts they sell to the student body.
“We all vote on the design of the shirt,” Heintges said.
Throughout the planning process, an open environment is of the upmost importance. Junior Elyana Brook has been on the Committee since freshman year.
The final theme is voted on by the Activities Committee and Big Student Council. This year’s theme was “City of Stars.”
“Zoe is really good about getting everyone’s thoughts out and Ms. Dara is great at facilitating our meetings,” Brook said. “It definitely feels like a community.”
Dara Williams, Activities Committee sponsor, helped the Committee work out the administrative details. Williams also attested to the community atmosphere of the Activities Committee.
“Zoe wants to hear everything, and she gives everybody a voice and a chance in meetings,” Williams said. “Everybody from freshmen to seniors feel very comfortable speaking up and giving their ideas.”
Another important part of Winter Formal is the freshman dinner, planned by freshman
moms. Traditionally, freshmen arrive at the venue earlier to eat dinner as a grade with their dates. Working with the freshman moms in planning adds another layer of communication for the Committee. Some of the dinner decorations used at the freshman dinner are then reused for the dance.
“We use their décor to help us cut down on costs,” Williams said.
After planning and preparing for months, the day of Winter Formal finally arrives. The Activities Committee started their day at 10:30 a.m., decorating and preparing the venue for the 8 p.m. arrival of the 800 guests.
“My goal this year was to make WinFo fun because I feel like it gets a bad rep,” Heintges said. “I hope we can change the mindset around WinFo for the future.”
Sleep. A blessing. A curse. To some, a steady companion, a welcome the perfect day. Though both loved and hated, sleep represents a
To scientists, however, sleep remains a complex mystery, of which life, yet there is no singular
By Anika Shah, News Editor, and
Though science remains uncertain, sleep myths have perpetuated society at a rate that’s turned fiction into common fact, and many of these misconceptions contribute to problems caused by improper sleep
MYTH: If you don't sleep enough, you can catch up on it later.
Upper School Neuroscience
Teacher Dr. Katie Croft said that while taking short naps during the day can help with lack of sleep, quality sleep is non-negotiable.
“Short naps in your extra time can help, but you shouldn’t rely on them often,” Croft said. “Sleep is critical, and if you don’t get enough sleep, it's going to have detrimental effects on your body and learning.”
Lack of sleep also causes memory loss. During REM sleep, the body sorts through your memories from the day, filtering out important memories and eliminating others.
Without this critical phase, memories remain fragmented and some are lost. Pulling an all-nighter can also prevent these memories from becoming consolidated, leaving students at a disadvantage when preparing for assesments.
“Let’s say you pull an all-nighter, and you don't sleep,” Croft said. “Then, you take the
test. How well are you going to do on the test? You might do fine on the test because it's all still in your short-term memory. But because now you're sleep deprived, all of that learning that you've just done is not going to get consolidated to long term memory for the future.”
MYTH: Your brain can adapt to chronic sleep deprivation over time.
“I don’t think there’s any truth to the fact that your brain can adapt to sleep deprivation over time,” Croft said.
At Hockaday, Upper School Learning Specialist Jennifer Spradley witnesses the cognitive impacts of chronic sleep deprivation first-hand in students.
aware of how time was passing.”
Sleep deprivation can also impact task initiation, which can cause workloads to feel overwhelming, making it impossible to focus on or to even begin a task.
“They become time-blind to where they're not even usually aware of what time it is,” Spradley said. “Let's say you're sleep deprived, and you sit down to take a math test with 30 questions. Sometimes students will get to the end of the testing period and realize they've only answered like 15 or 16 of them because they weren't
While the daytime fatigue from chronic sleep deprivation can stabilize over time, the bodily consequences only accumulate, causing the onset of more serious physical and mental health problems.
According to The Sleep Foundation, longterm sleep deprivation can negatively impact various body processes and systems, including metabolism, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, hormone production and mental health.
Sleep deprivation is also detrimental to the emotional health of students and can lead to highrisk behaviors and mental health disorders.
“If you're not getting sufficient sleep, your brain's not getting enough downtime to be able to process things, and a lot of times things that have happened during
the day that have caused us some stress or anxiety are worked out through our dreams,” Spradley said. “If we're not getting enough sleep cycles to be able to get to that dream state, then we can wake up not fully ready for the day.”
MYTH: The older you get, the less sleep you need.
According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, teens actually need just as much sleep as children. Sleep plays a crucial role during adolescence, supporting the body through a period of growth and a second cognitive developmental stage. So, although many teenagers don’t feel tired at night, the reality is that their exhaustion simply hits later.
“Your circadian rhythm—your biological clock has shifted. That's just something that has happened to teenagers," Croft said. “When I get sleepy is not the same as when you all get sleepy, and when we’re ready to go to bed, you all almost get this second wind.”
The body’s melatonin production shifts to kick in at a different point in the night, meaning that teens are often restless and unable to sleep at the time that exhaustion typically hits for adults and children. While this means that teenagers can stay up much later, it doesn’t diminish the body’s exhaustion when it finally hits, or the necessary amount of sleep.
welcome escape; to others, it remains but an elusive ghost, a limitation to a constancy and a unity amid the bustling and busy modern world. which little is actually known. Why do people sleep? Sleep is essential for singular explanation as to why.
and Aanya Naini, Staff Writer
At Hockaday, getting the eight to ten hours of sleep recommended for teenagers by UCLA Health is regarded as more of luxury than a necessity. With the never-ending pressure on students to excel in the classroom, on the field, in their communities and in other areas, many students wear their lack of sleep like a badge of honor.
In fact, 50.7% of Hockaday Upper School students say that competing over how little sleep they recieved in the classroom is extremely common. As exhaustion becomes a common experience among students, it's clear that the culture around sleep has shaped how students approach their daily lives—some embracing the hustle of sleepless nights and busy schedules, while others prioritize sleep, managing to perform well while keeping their physical and mental health in check.
Though most studies show that teenagers need about eight to ten hours of sleep per night to function optimally, complete enough sleep cycles and retain memories from the previous day, only a small fraction of students are actually able to meet that target and stay well rested.
Because of this lack of sleep, many students instead rely on caffeine and energy drinks to
compensate for their drowsiness and to keep them awake, which can have long-term consequences on both their physical and mental well-being.
Junior Ava Ortega prioritizes her rest and gets around eight hours of sleep per night.
“I try to go to bed by 10 p.m.,” Ortega said. “No matter how much homework I have, I always get to bed on time because I cannot function if I don’t have a lot of sleep.”
However, other students like freshman Kavya Chava cut down on sleep to finish all of their tasks.
lack of sleep that students face, and many are sympathetic to their challenges.
Upper School History Teacher
Lucio Benedetto said that he sees students trying to stay awake or fall asleep in class on almost a weekly basis—an issue that he attributes to the high level of student involvement in activities outside of academics.
“I usually sleep around six hours a night,” Chava said. “But it’s negotiable, I definitely sleep less if I have to.”
Chava’s lack of sleep affects her energy and focus throughout the school day, causing her to struggle during class time.
“I definitely have to ask my friends for notes sometimes because I was fighting sleep during class,” Chava said.
Teachers have also noticed the
Upper School Orchestra and History of Art and Music teacher Charlsie Griffiths ’98 agreed that there is a lack of sleep prioritization across students.
“I don’t think students value their sleep as much as they should,” Griffiths said. “I think students have so many different activities that they end up putting off a lot of assignments to the last minute to the point where they have to stay up and complete them late.”
Benedetto also believes students have a “competition culture” around sleep.
“One of the issues at Hockaday
that I think is not good is that if somebody starts talking about how little sleep they got one night, it becomes almost a competition,” Benedetto said. Like “‘I've only had three hours of sleep, and I had to stay up...,’ so it's almost like there's a badge of honor among students for sleeping as little as possible sometimes. I think this an unhealthy attitude because of the competition.”
96% of students have said they've witnessed this behavior, and over half believe it's constant. Ortega believes that it’s not so much of a competition about lack of sleep but rather a generally normalized conversation.
"It's not like people are competing.” Ortega said. “Like, 'I slept this much' and others are like, 'oh, yeah, well, I didn't sleep at all.' I don't really think it's like that.”
The continued discussion of sleep shows how deeply embedded sleep deprivation is in the student experience. Whether seen as a sign of dedication or just an inevitable part of life, the sleep culture at Hockaday continues to shape student's routines and priorities.
By Amitha Nair JADE Editor
Freshman Anya Bohil is making waves with her podcast, “Into Uncharted Waters,” a platform designed to give a voice to high school students across the nation. Covering topics from friendships to overcoming challenges, Bohil dives into the highs and lows of adolescence, providing relatable and insightful conversations for her peers.
“I originally created the podcast to be a platform for all high schoolers, specifically in America,” Bohil said.
The podcast kicked off with its first episode on friendships, a subject that Bohil believes resonates with everyone.
Her second episode, “Overcoming Challenges,” delves into how high school students can navigate and learn from adversity. For this episode, Bohil invited her neighbor and the director of a recovery center to share their experiences with substance abuse and the personal transformations they underwent. The episodes reflect Bohil's goal of covering real,
relatable issues that resonate with high school students.
“When I planned the podcast, I sat down and wrote down ideas I wish I’d had insight on when I was younger,” Bohil said. “I also think about inspiring figures and how their experiences can relate back to high schoolers. Whether it's a celebrity or someone’s career path, I want to provide a perspective that’s relevant and relatable.”
Each episode takes significant effort to produce, with Bohil dedicating up to four hours weekly to planning, recording and editing. She works closely with freshman Avery Park, who manages social media promotion and creates reels to reach a wider audience.
“Right now, a lot of the reels are shot on my iPhone, but Anya and I hope to start using higher-quality equipment in the future,” Park said. “It’s important to make the podcast more than just a recording.”
Bohil has already lined up a wide array of future guests, including a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader who will talk about balancing her passions for
cheerleading with her aspirations of becoming a criminal lawyer.
“I’m excited for the upcoming episodes because we’re going to be talking to people who are living examples of how you can balance your dreams,” Bohil said. “We want high schoolers to understand that they can have multiple dreams, and we want to help them see how they can manage both.”
Bohil said Assistant Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Laywell guided her through the logistics of podcasting and
By Mary Bradley Sutherland
Photo and Graphic Editor, Social Media Manager
The Hockaday Health Center serves as our strongest support system, yet it hardly receives the recognition it deserves. With countless responsibilities, the four-woman team of nurses works together to support and collaborate with every member of the community.
Director of Health Services
Nurse Erika Herridge grew up in a medical family with her mother, stepfather and uncles all performing jobs in health care. As the oldest child, Herridge always took care of her younger siblings, fostering her passion for taking care of others.
Once she completed school, Herridge spent 15 years working at Children’s Medical Center. She took on many roles including working as a pediatric nurse, liver transplant coordinator and ended as a nurse practitioner as needed. A family friend introduced her to Hockaday’s opening as Director of Health Services and Herridge joined in 2011.
As director, Nurse Erika manages the Health Services staff, including Nurses Katie Barnes, Amy Butler and DeNova "Dee" Pages, who was hired in
August 2023 as post-pandemic protocols led to the creation of the Lower School Clinic. This allows younger students to seek help in closer proximity.
“I love my job because I love taking care of people,” Herridge said. “We want our students to feel their best in order to do their best.”
On a typical day the Health Center sees an average of 3540 students and the occasional faculty or staff member. In the Lower School Clinic, Pages receives around 15 visits daily. Their care can include anything from providing injury care to rooms for quick naps with heating pads to medicine administration and even space for student telehealth visits.
In addition to physical ailments, Herridge said the Health Center works to provide students with mental health support.
“We have tried our best to remove the barriers between the Health Center and providing care for mental health, which we understand has various stigmas,” Herridge said. “We work closely with the Middle and Upper School counselors in order to get rid of misconceptions
surrounding mental health.”
The Health Center staff collaborates with other campus departments, including the guidance counselors and the athletic department.
Head Athletic Trainer Madissen Davis coordinates with the Health Center regarding concussion management, student injuries and doctors' notes. These issues are often communicated to other Athletic Department heads when PE restrictions are concerned.
The nurses also manage the first aid and care provided on all school field trips. For day trips, the nurses assemble and provide the responsible teachers with stocked medical bags. When an overnight trip occurs, such as the week-long sixth grade trip to Washington, D.C., a nurse accompanies the traveling students and teachers.
Additionally, Herridge schedules CPR and AED training for teachers and staff. She also hosts annual meetings to educate them on all individual student needs at the beginning of the school year and as necessary throughout the year.
helped connect her with resources behind the scenes.
“She came to me with this incredibly thoughtful idea and a clear vision of what she wanted to accomplish,” Laywell said. “Anya outlined her episodes and knew exactly who she wanted to reach. I helped reserve the podcast room and connected her with others who could support her.”
With plans to release one episode per month, Bohil and Park will continue to refine their craft and connect with peers.
The nurses are responsible for communication with SAGE Dining Services to manage lifethreatening allergies.
“Every year, we send SAGE a list of students with allergies and stock EpiPens in certain areas all over campus for emergencies,” Herridge said.
While Herridge said that the Health Center’s biggest challenge is location, she believes that the Center’s privacy has its benefits.
“We have such a great space down here, and we are able to offer so much more than a smaller office could,” Nurse Erika said. “Our main philosophy is trying our best to foster a non-judgmental environment and supporting you all in any way we can.”
By Caroline Ballotta and Sophie Cho Senior Reporter and Staff Writer
Ever wondered how wind speeds affect flight times? Or what time of day sees the least amount of delay?
As part of the Data Science Scholars Program, Hockaday students in AP Computer Science A are partnering with Southern Methodist University in a data science boot camp and receive training in how to clean and interpret raw data using Python, a coding language. Students can earn a micro credential in data science after completing the course.
Data science is a statistics-related subfield of computer science that focuses on processing raw data into various clean, readable formats.
Students in the program recently began to explore and experiment with data on their own, using raw information about flight conditions to draw correlations and plotting graphs to present their findings.
Sophomore Abigail Mau said the program has helped her to learn about the applications in computer science.
“There is data to be harvested from everything we do," Mau said. "Coding is one of the ways we gain meaning from it.”
Data science is applicable in various fields from medicine to flight planning.
Upper School Computer Science Teacher Karen Sanchez said it is important for students to be exposed to data science early-on.
“Data is everywhere, right? And so what I
think is happening now in the world is people are realizing that,” Sanchez said. “Every good business is going to want to analyze that data and ask questions about it.”
Since the expansion of AI is dependent on data, the ability to prepare and declutter data in its basic form is essential to grow.
Not only does the program teach students the basics of data science, but it also shows them how to utilize and work with AI to prepare to code AI technologies used in the workforce. One benefit is the enhancement of programmers’ ability to easily analyze and compare data.
“It's saving time,” Sanchez said. “In the past, if you wanted to know how to do something, even just last year, for example, you'd have to do research and figure out where to get the code and all that could take 10-15 minutes.”
In the Data Science Scholars Program, students use AI to help generate lines of code that they may not know how to code on their own yet, such as creating code to make graphs comparing specific categories of data. This makes it easier to pursue the connections in the data and to learn the coding by example as well.
“Ideally, what I want is for the students to be able to understand what the AI is doing in the code,” Sanchez said.
Now that students have practiced how to sort through and clean out data, they will
soon dive into analyzing trends found in large datasets through linear regression and statistics. Sanchez hopes this program will help more students discover a love for data science.
“We want to expose students to data science so that they can see that it's an option for them in college, or outside of college and after college,” Sanchez said.
By Sophia Salem and Alina Zheng Staff Writers
As an athlete, fueling your body is one of the most important things you can do, whether it is trying to hit a protein goal or ensuring enough carbs in your diet. But it’s not an easy task, especially during the strenuous sports season. With the need to balance academics and extracurriculars with their athletic life, student-athletes have come up with quick ways to support their athletic performance through their eating habits.
meal to help promote your muscle growth and recovery," Levy said.
Popular breakfasts range from Think, Barbell and Power Crunch protein bars to bagels and bananas for energy. But the key to starting your day off with enough energy isn’t what you eat, but that you do eat.
Junior athlete Vanessa Levy emphasizes the importance of fueling correctly.
"I think fueling is important for athletes because half of your performance is based on how you fuel your body, whether it's before a strenuous workout and you need to have some quick carbs to fuel your workout, or after a work out, when you need a high protein
“I know this is what people always say, but I feel like when I eat breakfast, I really notice a difference,” senior Varsity Cross Country and Track Co-Captain Laure Ghorayeb said. “Eating breakfast really helps me feel more energized throughout
To maintain consistent energy throughout the day and during practices or games, athletes stress the importance of eating enough carbs to make up for burned energy.
“Especially during tennis season, I’ll make sure I have
something that’s going to give me energy, like carbs,” junior Co-Captain of the Varsity Tennis team Anika Gopal said. “If you want more energy, don’t focus on cutting calories: try limiting artificial sugar and processed foods.”
When it comes to lunch, student-athletes mostly rely on SAGE to gain nutrition in their diet. Especially for those with dietary restrictions, it can sometimes be difficult to find
“I would say, as a vegetarian, it’s already pretty hard to get enough protein, but SAGE offers a pretty good variety,” Gopal said. “Per sonally, I think I’ve always been able to find something that has some kind of protein in it on a daily basis that I can eat.”
However, when the lunch line does not seem appetizing, students like sophomore Shea LeRosen enjoy a quick meal from the salad bar. Having been a part of the Varsity
Field Hock ey, Swim and Softball teams, she tries to prioritize a mix of protein and carbs.
“If there’s nothing I really want to eat in the normal line, I’ll make myself a Cobb salad,” LeRosen said. “It has eggs, bacon and tomatoes, and I also toast a piece of bread for carbs, so I have everything.”
However, not all athletes are the same. While tips and tricks may help if you’re trying to start fueling your body well, it’s important to go through a trial-and-error process.
“Just find what works for you, because I feel like if I listen to the advice of lot of people it might not work for me,” LeRosen to figure out what works for yourself.”
By Emily McLeroy Sports Editor
Twirling and leaping across the floor, the Upper School Drill team performs their routine at a pep rally after months of choreographing, technique workshops and early morning practices.
Created in 2019, Drill aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore new styles of dance and support Hockaday sports by performing at pep rallies and sometimes games. The Drill team combines different styles of dance with sharp, synchronized movements and is performancebased, meaning they learn their dances and then perform them.
Some students, such as junior Co-Captain Nadia Guevara, joined Drill team to learn about a different style of dance, as Hockaday’s dance classes do not teach this type of dance.
“I already love to dance, but drill was just something different and a new style,” Guevara said. “I also love how we learn the dance and then perform it, which is my favorite part about dance.”
Guevara shares her captaincy with junior Ava Ortega and seniors Ellie Nerenberg and Jane Taten. Along with organizing practices and managing tryouts at the beginning of the year, the captains also choreograph the dances and
teach them to the team.
“My favorite part is seeing the vision of different parts of choreography come to life,” Taten said. “I love watching the idea in my mind become a reality during practice.”
To come up with the choreography, the captains split up the work, creating different dances for different performance dates, beginning to brainstorm for the upcoming year in the summer. Often, they build the dance around a song.
“Before school even started, we brainstormed any potential feelings or themes we want to have this season, and which styles of dance we want to incorporate,” Ortega said. “As we get closer to performances, we already have the idea we want to build from.”
and synchronization, they video their practices to review after and find issues to fix.
Some practices the team works on technique, while sometimes they work on choreography.
“During a technique practice, we work on things like turns, leaps, seconds, calypsos and more, and during a choreography practice," sophomore Samara Bhatki said. "We either learn, review or edit choreography to make sure everyone is really synchronized and clean."
To improve their choreography
“I love seeing the progression of dances, so I go back and watch all of the videos from our practice,” Ortega said. “I like seeing how we get better and better with each one and just finding different things that we need to clean up, and then after we work on them, the dance just looks a lot cleaner.”
In the future, the captains aspire to expand into more styles of dance and perform at even more athletic events.
“We brought out hip hop at our first pep rally, and we had our
country dance with cowboy hats, and now we will have a pom dance at the February pep rally,” Ortega said.
To prepare for a performance, they begin early morning practices a month before. Although the practices are early, they contribute to team building.
“I love the community and the people that I’m surrounded by, and the energy that gives me, especially in the mornings when the last thing you want to do is get up and go dance,” Bhatki said. “It starts your day off on a really good note.”
By Anderson Rhodus Staff Writer
Remy Finn '22 hears the gun go off behind her as she runs down the University of Notre Dame track. Unlike some other members of her team, she was a “walk-on,” a designation in athletic commitment that holds a different meaning.
“Competing in both local and conference meets just like the rest of my teammates, I am not hindered in my performance due to my walk-on status at all,” Finn said.
There is often a misconception about “walk-on” athletes in college-level athletics. Many people believe that "walk-ons" are not recruited when, in reality, most are invited to try out for the team. Despite not being granted athletic aid, their role on their teams is just as important and time-consuming as athletes on scholarship.
Throughout the past few years, many Hockaday alumni have walked onto college
win,” Finn said. “He told me I’d made the team, and I burst into tears as the whole bus cheered me on. I truly will always appreciate my Hockaday teammates and their support during such a special moment as my hard work finally paid off.”
Reflecting on her Hockaday coaches, Finn emphasized her gratitude for Varsity Track and Field Coaches LaBoris Bean and A.D. Ebeniro for supporting her throughout the commitment process.
“They made me feel like the sky was the limit, and I will always be immensely grateful for their mentorship and encouragement,” Finn said.
Bennett Trubey '24 currently plays Division One Volleyball at Harvard University; however, her process looked very unique.
“Harvard had been my dream school for as long as I can remember, but I did not receive an offer from them initially,” Trubey said.
sports teams. Finn currently runs Track and Field at the University of Notre Dame, a Division One school. Finn was a member of the Varsity Track and Field team during her freshman and senior years of high school.
“I was always interested in running track and field in college from the time I was a freshman,” Finn said. “However, my commitment to club soccer outweighed this interest until my senior year of high school.”
Once Finn realized that Notre Dame’s soccer program was too much of a reach to join, her previous goals of playing soccer in college shifted, and she solely focused on track and field during her senior season of high school.
“I found out I was accepted to Notre Dame in December of my senior year at Hockaday, so I decided to start training to try and walk on to the Track and Field team as a sprinter,” Finn said.
After a season’s work of races and training, Finn met Notre Dame’s three qualifying standards at the SPC Championship Meet that spring.
“I received a call from Coach Rodney Zuyderwyk while on the team bus home as we celebrated our SPC Championship
Trubey previously committed to Northwestern University and was very grateful to the coaches for offering her a spot on the team; however, the day before graduation, her Harvard application status changed from waitlisted; to admitted.
“Knowing that it had always been my dream, I withdrew from my previous commitment and received a call from the Harvard coach offering me a spot on her team quickly after I enrolled,” Trubey said.
Because Trubey’s commitment process was unique, she remarks upon her struggles with motivation in high school.
“It was difficult to find the motivation to keep playing volleyball because there wasn’t a guarantee that my athletic career could continue past high school,” Trubey said. “My commitment timeline was uncommon compared to other committed volleyball players on my club teams because most of them committed at the start of their junior year.”
Trubey thanks her Hockaday coaches for their support in her athletic journey, highlighting Head Varsity Coach Allison Curran.
“Coach Camp [Coach Curran] went above and beyond for me. She spent countless hours on the phone or at tournaments talking with coaches on my behalf,” Trubey said. “I am so grateful.”
Another Class of 2024 graduate, Emery Stehel, is now a Division One athlete on Boston University’s Lightweight Rowing Team.
Starting the sport as a high school freshman, Stehel knew that she loved rowing. Despite her love for the sport, as junior year arrived Stehel struggled to decide whether she wanted to continue rowing on a collegiate level.
“I knew rowing was something that I enjoyed, but I also wanted to make sure that I
prioritized picking a school that would be the best fit for me academically because I put a lot of importance into that area of my life,” Stehel said.
When it was time for college applications, Stehel applied to schools she knew she would fit with her whether she rowed or not.
“Once I decided on BU, I realized that I did want to continue rowing, and this is when I reached back out to the coaches I contacted previously,” Stehel said.
Staying in the rowing world, Hockaday senior Persia Brown recently committed to row Division One at Northeastern University. Despite her love for rowing, she did not give much attention to the recruiting process her junior year, putting her academics first.
“I was not invested in the recruiting process to the fullest my junior year, so my goal was to get into the school first, then commit to row there,” Brown said. “But I was emailing schools throughout 2024, being sure to update them with my application process.”
Although Brown knows how much of a time commitment rowing will be, she remains determined and thrilled for the year ahead of her.
“I am so excited and proud of myself, but I need to remind myself how intense and big of a commitment rowing Division One is,” Brown said. “Boston is such a cool place and I'm excited to go into a city knowing a lot of people in my same situation at different schools.”
Reflecting on her commitment process, Stehel encourages athletes with an interest in pursuing college sports to be persistent. “I know that the commitment process can be stressful and challenging,” Stehel said. “I want to remind every athlete that if you are determined to play on a team for your college, there is almost always a way to make that happen, and walking on can be a great option.”
By Lang Cooper and Elizabeth Farrell Sports Editor and Staff Writer
For fantasy football participants, Monday night can mean one of two things: a victory dance or the beginning of a week of humiliation and ridicule from competitor teams. Hockaday students and faculty have experienced both triumphant wins and humbling losses determined by the success and failure each week of professional football players.
Faculty leagues
In 2016, Upper School Dean of Students and former fantasy football champion Jordan Innerarity began the very first Hockaday faculty fantasy football league. The original individuals in “The Killer Daisies League” began a tradition that carries on to today.
“When I first came to Hockaday in 2014, I found other football lovers, and we talked about sports all the time,” Innerarity said. “Finally, after two years, I decided to start a fantasy football league and a lot of people throughout Hockaday were interested.”
Each year, interest in joining the league has grown; this year, three separate leagues were created to support the influx of faculty wanting to participate. Each league differs in participation levels, draft day protocol and prizes for the winner. However, they all share the friendly competitive spirit that comes with playing fantasy football.
Director of Debate and Forensics
Chuck Walts said. “My favorite part is getting together for the draft and taunting one another for the choices we make.”
Drafting online in her league, Upper School Technology Integration Specialist and firsttime fantasy football player
Candace Townsley found ways to use artificial intelligence to her advantage, that ultimately led her to victory.
“I decided to make the draft an experiment and used ChatGPT to
students have participated in fantasy football leagues with friends and family. From avid football watchers to those participating just for fun, fantasy football players view the game with all levels of seriousness.
“My group of friends decided to start a league this year as a fun thing to do for our senior year,” senior and winner of her league Anastasia Romanyk said. “I became a lot more invested in football, because I wanted to win.”
Townsley, quickly learning tips and tricks from fellow fantasy football players in other leagues, was committed to the success of her team.
Through the 18 weeks of matches, participants’ teams go through both highs and lows, as senior Rayna Li found out.
“The first few weeks I was winning, and some of my friends told me my team was stacked, so I stopped paying attention,” Li said. “But some players got injured, and because I wasn’t checking the app, my team took a downhill turn.”
keep it from creating a competitive and exciting environment. Vranich is also part of a second league with her cousins.
“On Monday mornings after most of the football games have happened, I have had many quick interactions with the person I’m playing against that week, and we have silly little taunts that ultimately build camaraderie,” Innerarity said. “I have a reason to go seek out other admin or Lower and Middle School teachers that I may hardly see otherwise.”
For “The Killer Daisies,” drafting happens in person, typically at a restaurant where the previous year’s winner shows off the prize trophy, which they custom decorate. This year, the bedazzled trophy shines with Hockaday green and white.
“Sometimes I had to go to the bathroom during church to check if any of my players were out for that game,” Townsley said. “One time, I was ahead by 34 points but one player on the other team scored 35 points in one game, and I lost by less than one point.”
Although all participants may not watch the live games of their players, many spend numerous hours checking their players' statistics from their games.
“Fantasy gives us a reason to get together and to socialize with my colleagues rather than solely focusing on work with them,”
“I was watching the news one day and they were talking about a football player whose house was broken into, and I said ‘that’s my quarterback!’”
Townsley said. “The players become your players, and you recognize their names.”
Student leagues
Throughout the Upper School,
Because of her last place finish, Li will perform an interpretive dance to an unknown song in a costume chosen by the winner of her league, Romanyk, at the next Lunch-Box event. Similar fantasy football punishments have gone viral through social media.
“Although I lost to all of the teams in the last few places, my team pushed through in the playoffs,” Romanyk said. “Now my prize for winning is getting to pick the punishment that Rayna must do.”
For some, fantasy football is less about the football games and more about learning the sport and competing with friends.
For Vranich’s dad, who is often a reigning champ in the Vranich family league, drafting is no small feat.
“He studies a whole notes page he made if he’s winning a draft,” Vranich said. “He’s very into it.”
Despite winning one of her leagues last year, she placed second in both leagues this year. To heighten the competitive spirit of the game, each of Vranich’s family members places $20 into a pot and the winner takes all. When it comes to creating punishments for the losers, creativity has no boundaries.
“I didn’t really watch football that much, and I wanted to be exposed to stuff like this,” Li said. “I saw punishments on my [TikTok] 'For You Page' and thought it looked fun until I became the one that had to do the punishment.”
Apart from leagues with friends, students participate with family as well. Sophomore Tatum Vranich has been in her family’s fantasy football leagues since she was seven years old. Although her main league of four people is comparatively small, that does not
“In the league with my cousins, the loser has to get a buzz cut,” Vranich said. “They’re mostly boys, so I’m glad I didn’t lose that league.”
Last year’s punishment for the Vranich family involved the loser getting into a cage and the other family members throwing syrup, feathers and sand. Vranich has experienced other punishments as well.
“One time I lost, and I had to get on the tube at the lake by myself, and my family got to whip me around for 15 minutes,” Vranich said. “I fell off 10 times, so it was rough. But my favorite part of fantasy league is that it’s a bonding experience and gives us something to talk about.”
By Alexa Muñoz Copy Editor
For many teenagers and young adults, shopping at thrift stores presents itself everywhere in the social media algorithm, trending for being a financially responsible and environmentally conscious way to satisfy the craving for new clothes. However, the videos that often receive the most engagement are those with titles that emphasize absurd overindulgence, in which someone shows off their 250-pound haul of second-hand clothes or “flips” thrifted garments to later resell them at a higher price without necessarily adding any value. While the obvious "red flags” of overconsumption and personal profit present themselves here, we've become desensitized to the true implications behind it. Close attention has been drawn to the possible impact that these tactics have on low-income communities, who may rely on thrift stores for basic necessities.
I’d bought most of my wardrobe second-hand, and going thrift shopping with my friends became a fun weekend excursion.
Reflecting on those moments, I'll admit that bringing my friends to my favorite thrift stores was a way of sharing a piece of my identity
the impacts on low-income communities, may lead to price increases and limited access to essentials, I knew I had to take a step back, research and reflect. Was this increase in popularity really so hurtful?
thrift shops receive far more donations than they can sell locally, meaning there should be enough resources to go around. Additionally, she noticed a stark difference between what presumably higher-income shoppers were buying and what her store’s social services clients were selecting, stating there was no direct competition in the case of immediate need.
As someone who grew up slightly insecure about shopping at stores like Goodwill, Thrift Giant and Salvation Army for my staples, seeing thrifting’s upsurge in popularity among my classmates and the internet was personally both a culture shock and a sigh of relief. Suddenly, it was “cool” that
Here’s the answer I found: as long as thrift shopping with friends wasn’t happening in low-income neighborhoods, it wasn’t harmful.
According to Leah Wise, a sustainability blogger and former thrift store manager, the concept of high-income shoppers snatching up all the good stuff and leaving less for those who need it is a myth, for two reasons.
In her blog, Wise details how
She concluded that the key to thrift shopping is to be smart. By using sustainable shopping practices, like not egregiously over-buying and understanding the dynamics and mission of a buyer’s local shops, thrift shopping can be a positive experience for all.
fill their carts with 250 pounds of clothing, it’s important to understand that this is thankfully not the case for most consumers. As Wise said, think wisely about your shopping decisions.
While there will always exist a population of shoppers who
Continuing to promote secondhand finds will help to further destigmatize secondhand fashion, making the entire experience more fun and relatable.
By Danya Risam-Chandi Managing Editor
Let me begin this with a quick preface: no, I do not believe that astrologer on TikTok who promises that you will meet the love of your life on Thursday night because you liked their video.
Astrology, like all religious and spiritual customs, can be misinterpreted and manipulated by people hoping to take advantage of individuals searching for guidance. However, I believe that astrology, when used correctly, can be a powerful tool.
Astrology is a historically-valued spiritual practice which has been documented in religions across the globe. The first documentation of astrology comes from Mesopotamia, the oldest known civilization.
From India to China to Mexico, countless ancient civilizations developed beliefs about how stars and planets affected life on Earth. In the modern world, with countless inventions and scientific discoveries, it might seem superfluous to base life decisions or personality traits on the position of the Earth in relation to other heavenly bodies. However, it's worth noting that many modern day religions still rely on astrology to mark holidays and
guide decisions. Hinduism, for example, relies heavily on astrology. Hindus, pundits and believers use Vedic astrology to gain insight into personalities, behaviors and life events.
It's actually a very common practice for Hindu couples to get readings done on the most opportune days to get married, buy a home or make important decisions. Islam and Buddhism also use astrology to mark auspicious days in the year. Millions of people across the globe celebrate on days which are based on astrological practices that go back thousands of years.
Even though we have scientific explanations for the natural phenomena which led to the development of astrology, it doesn’t mean we need to discard the practice entirely. Astrology has become a cultural force in many regions of the world, connecting people to their families, ancestors and identities. Now, maybe after hearing all this you aren’t convinced astrology is more than superstition. That’s okay! Personally, looking to the stars, planets and universe for answers gives me a great deal of faith and security. I like to believe there is still a bit of magic in a world which so often seems formulaic and trite. Maybe that’s ridiculous, but at least I know that millions of people before me felt the exact same way.
By Jenny Chu Staff Writer
We both see them: the animals and constellations haunting your feed. The weird Instagram Reels that feel confident they can predict your entire personality from your birthday. What could I possibly be talking about besides astrology?
Astrology, known as star signs and horoscopes, is the belief that the behaviors of celestial bodies influence people’s lives.
I’m the first to say that astrology is fascinating, and oftentimes I’ll get a “What’s your star sign?” or “I bet you’re a Leo” (which I am) when talking to someone new. However, it absolutely baffles me how people can place so much faith and trust in where a few stars aligned on a completely random day.
Upper School Physics and Astronomy Teacher Steve Balog, a Taurus, explained to me a surprising difference between astrological fact and fiction.
He said that star signs are based on patterns from to Zoroastrian days and that there are 13 signs in the Zodiac. "(Your signs) do not match up with the signs then or now,” Balog said. “So, no one is really the sign they think they are but the one in front of it, except for Sagittarius and Scorpio as those may be the ‘new’ sign of Ophiuchus.”
Balog said the ambiguity of horoscopes allows for personal interpretation.
interpret them in many, many ways,” Balog said. “Besides, how plausible is it that eight billion people only have 12 personality types?”
Regarding the media, it’s often treated as nothing more than a fun way for you "interpret" yourself.
However, “I’ll break up with him, he’s a Scorpio” type “joke” videos are widely circulated on social media, which I genuinely believe is an excuse for people to dump someone they didn’t like that much anyway. For the people who say they’re just joking when they post those videos, I have two words: DIGITAL FOOTPRINT.
“Horoscopes keep the statements vague enough that the reader can
Despite the inaccuracies behind astrology, there are still fervent believers whose passion far exceeds casual fascination. Some make their livelihoods catering to those yearning for a sense of definition, not dissimilar to traditional fortune-tellers.
“Some aspects of astrology do have roots in astronomy, yet when Mercury is supposedly in retrograde it really won’t affect you,” Balog said.
Though it appears astrology’s core beliefs are here to stay, I’m going to reiterate that astrology has no roots in fact and should never integrate into someone’s decision-making processes and livelihood. If you’re delving a little too deep into rabbit holes, please keep it light with the BuzzFeed quizzes and perhaps an Instagram bio emoji. Your future self will thank you for being logical enough not to subscribe to a pseudo-scientific media craze.
FEDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Elizabeth Truelove & Shreya Vijay MANAGING EDITORS
Elle Myers & Danya Risam-Chandi COPY EDITOR
Alexa Muñoz WEB EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Jessica Boll & Anjy Fadairo JADE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Amitha Nair
ASSISTANT JADE EDITOR
Anya Aggarwal NEWS EDITORS
Audrey Liu & Anika Shah ARTS & LIFE EDITORS
Larkin Clouston & Melinda Hu FEATURES EDITORS
Sarah Moskowitz & Aadhya Yanamadala SPORTS EDITORS
Lang Cooper & Emily McLeroy OPINIONS EDITORS
Cece Johnson & Leyah Philip PHOTO, GRAPHICS & CASTOFF EDITOR
Mary Bradley Sutherland BUSINESS MANAGER
Shifa Irfan STAFF WRITERS
Caroline Ballotta, Sophie Cho, Jenny Chu, Siena Ebert, Mary Elise Estess, Elizabeth Farrell, Juliette Friguletto, Ai-Vy Ho, Emilie Illum, Katie Ma, Aanya Naini, Anderson Rhodus, Sophia Salem, Aneeka Tansen, Alina Zheng FACULTY ADVISER
Kristy Rodgers
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 500 and is printed by Midway 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 views 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 Editorial on the Opinions page reflects the position of The Fourcast staff, but not necessarily the position 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, but the content is subject to prior review by the Head of Upper School, the Communications Director and other members of the Hockaday leadership team. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the editors-in-chief. Only signed pieces will be published. Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found in the news section. Questions or concerns should be addressed to Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Truelove (etruelove25@ hockaday.org) or Shreya Vijay (svijay25@hockaday.org).
The staff editorial is an unsigned piece representing a consensus of opinion among members of The Fourcast editorial board regarding a current issue.
Yes, it’s true, TikTok’s back! But don’t get your hopes up just yet. Before you dive back into the depths of the “For You Page,” it’s important to understand how and why it’s back and what has changed — for better or for worse.
TikTok has come a long way since its beginnings as a lipsyncing and dance platform. Nowadays, millions of people use the social media app not only for entertainment but also to express their opinions on topics ranging from fashion and beauty to social and political issues, with some content creators even using the app as their main source of income. However, as the app continues to gain popularity, it begins to face more scrutiny.
On Jan. 19, TikTok users opened the app only to be shocked to find its services unavailable in the U.S. due to a ban upheld by the Supreme Court, sending the online world into a frenzy as influencers and other users struggled to process the sudden change. However, only a mere 12 hours later, American users were greeted with a “welcome back!” message. Despite its rapid return, many users were left with lingering questions about the means taken to bring the app back and how the ban’s extension would actually protect American users and their freedom of expression.
interest in selling the social media platform.
Though TikTok’s representatives have legally challenged the ban, arguing that it violated the First Amendment rights of Americans, the Supreme Court affirmed that this was untrue as the ban does not target expression but focuses on national security. Specifically, they are evaluating how TikTok collects user data and whether it could be accessed by the Chinese government.
Just as things were looking grim for TikTok users, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump signed an executive order that delayed the ban for 90 days. While this was celebrated by many TikTok users across the country, it also sparked rumors about what ByteDance might have had to
app has never been a trustworthy news source, concerns about reliability grow as the platform deals with the ban and President Trump’s extension.
Recently, TikTok isn’t the only social media platform that has been grappling with concerns of misinformation. As of January, Chief Executive Officer of Meta Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of fact-checking on Meta apps (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), leaving many users wondering if the content they consume on a daily basis is factually accurate and politically neutral. While concerns about national security and misinformation are valid, banning TikTok is not the answer. TikTok is a place of diversity and expression that allows users to share their unique perspectives that might not get much attention in mainstream media. Though the ban’s intentions are rooted in protecting the American people, many feel betrayed by this. Instead of placing a ban on the entire platform, we need to focus on educating others on digital security and preventing the spread of misinformation online, a solution that protects users without unnecessarily restricting expression.
Throughout the past year, there have been ongoing debates about the potential threat TikTok could pose to national security. Congress passed a federal law insisting TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sell the app to an American buyer, giving the app a deadline of Jan. 19 or it would be taken off the App Store for Americans. However, ByteDance has not shown any
compromise to continue operating in America. Despite rumors, Trump relayed to the American people that he hopes to find a solution that preserves American data and TikTok.
While millions of TikTokers happily returned to the app this week, many are questioning whether users should be trusting the app again so quickly. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the younger generation receives their news from social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and more. Though the
Regardless of whether TikTok stays or goes, it is important for all social media users to stay informed. Most social media platforms, especially TikTok, are catered towards entertainment, and not all content shared is based on facts. Do some research before sharing inaccurate information from that really convincing TikTok, Instagram Reel, or Facebook post you saw. There’s no harm in finding more facts, and as always, remember not everything you see on social media is 100% truthful.
GRAPHIC BY CARYS BRAUN
Every year, we ask students and faculty to design hearts for those they care about. Happy Valentine's Day from the Hockaday Fourcast!
Special thank you to Ms. Mims and the Lower School Office for helping out with this page!
