The Fourcast October 2020

04 NEWS Students reflect on the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the now vacant seat in the Supreme Court

18 SPORTS Fall sports return with safety precautions, new scheduling

16 FEATURES Artist donates proceeds from drawings to Black Lives Matter

21 OPINIONS Segal discusses difficulty of gender neutrality at school

THE

FOURCAST

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

October 9, 2020

Volume 71, Issue 1

Living through the pandemic

Pg. 12

by Remy Finn, Lacy Green, Zoya Haq and Louisa Benedict

In the usually crowded junior hallway, junior Sarah Roberts studies in isolation amid directional arrows and social distancing reminders adhered to the carpet. photo by Kate Clark

02 October 9, 2020

Inside the ’Cast

News 03-06 • 06 Plaid pants

FOURWARD HockaBriefs

Catch up on the latest campus news The 2019-2020 SPC soccer champions picked up their rings on Aug. 28. The rings, adorned with diamonds, featured the words SPC CHAMPIONS with the player’s name and a soccer ball on the side.

added to Dress Uniform

Arts & Life 07-11 • 07 Victoria Clark

’78 returns to offer master classes

Infocus

Centerspread

• 12-13 Clean new rules for COVID-19

Features 14-17

The Fourcast

Student Council revealed their new theme for the school year: Courage. The shirts, designed by senior Tess Benedict, feature a tiedye design with the word “courage” in pink. The funds from the shirt will go toward Upper School Winter Formal.

The cast list for the Upper School musical “Songs for a New World’” by Jason Robert Brown was released on Sept. 4.

The musical will be released in a recorded video in December.

Upper School fall sports, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Crew, Fencing and Volleyball will begin to compete in local games the week of Oct. 12.

Just FOUR You

What’s coming up in the next month?

1 FALL BREAK 2 HALLOWEEN

Get ready to relax and catch up on your work during a much needed four-day weekend! Fall break is coming up Oct. 16-19.

Although it may look different this year, students are excited to celebrate Halloween coming together as a community.

• 14 Junior

Anne Rubi turns embroidery hobby into booming business

Sports 18-20 • 20 Abby Carlisle

adjusts to life while her dad is in the Bubble

Opinions 21-23 • 23 Hockaday

adjusts to COVID-19 with new procedures

Castoff • 24 Big Sis/Lil Sis Movie day

3 ATHLETICS

Athletes are ready to get back out on the field with the announcement of an adjusted sports schedule for the upcoming fall season.

4

JADE

Look out in the next coming weeks for the new issue of Fourcast’s magazine JADE on the presidential election.

hockadayfourcast.org

05 Checking in with

Dr. Karen Warren Coleman

NEWS

October 9, 2020

03

06 New grading practice

introduced in light of COVID-19

New faculty, staff join team

School welcomes unfamiliar faces in an unfamiliar time

by Laine Betanzos Copy Editor As the school year begins, bringing new challenges and procedures, one thing that stays the same is the addition of new teachers and faculty members in nearly every department.

Laura Leathers Assistant Head of School for Academic Affaris After serving as the assistant head of school at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee, where she also taught chemistry and served as assistant cross country coach, Dr. Laura Leathers has joined the Hockaday community as the Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs. She is responsible for supporting division heads and the dean of studies, in addition to faculty-led initiatives, committees and workgroups. “I am looking forward to getting to know everyone at Hockaday -- the teachers and staff, the families, and most importantly the girls!”

Leathers said.

Patty Lowell Director of Communications Patty Lowell will serve as Director of Communications at Hockaday.

Previously, she worked as the director of communications at The Cristo Rey School in Dallas serving students otherwise unable to achieve a private school education for five years after helping to launch the school. “I am looking forward to telling the story of Hockaday,” Lowell said. “Telling the world about the girls, your amazing achievements, the efforts you’re making, and showcasing and highlighting all that is amazing about Hockaday to the larger community.”

Tiffany Nelson Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

Tiffany Nelson will serve as Director of Admission and Enrollment Management this year, after holding the same position at Spelman College, working with

a team responsible for attracting, enrolling, and supporting future Hockaday students. “I have so many ideas and projects that I cannot wait to get underway,” Nelson said. “I am truly thrilled to be a part of such an incredible place devoted to the education of girls - the world’s future leaders.”

Eliza Carey Accounting Manager Eliza Carey joins Hockaday this year as the Accounting Manager, helping families with tuition payments and student charges and reconciling monthly actvity such as investments and other school operations. Before Hockaday, Carey worked at Grant Thornton, an international accounting firm, in audit practice. “I am so excited to be at Hockaday and to (hopefully soon) watch the students’ sporting events!”

Carey said.

Dr. Tiffani Kocsis Assistant Head of Upper School New Assistant Head of Upper School, Tiffany Kocsis, will support the programs and people involved with student life, working with form deans, advisors, and guidance and learning support staff to ensure a happy, healthy, successful student experience. Before Hockaday, Kocsis served as assistant head of Upper School at Campbell Hall in Studio City, California. “The thing I’m probably most excited about is returning to an all-girls environment,” Kocsis said. “There is something intangible about them— and girls schools, by far, throw the best events which I can’t wait to be a part of again.”

Raquel McKinney Upper School Learning Support and Administration Counselor This year, Raquel McKinney joins the Hockaday community as an Upper School Counselor.

With previous experience working as a school resource counselor at Bishop Lynch High School, McKinney will

provide social and emotional support and guidance for Upper School Students. “I am most excited to meet the Hockadaisies and celebrate their successes and lend a supportive, caring ear during challenging times.”

McKinney said. “My hope is to be approachable for each young lady so that they feel they can share their feelings openly.”

children. “I’m most looking forward to being able to support the entire time through these unprecedented times.”

Acho said. “As stressful as things are, we are going to get through this year, and will be an even stronger Hockaday community when we do!”

Stefan Rinaldi Upper School Science

Four years ago, Stefan Rinaldi taught at Hockaday as a long-term New Upper substitute. This School History year, he joins teacher and Form the Hockaday I advisor Scott community Bowman joins permanently as the Hockaday an Upper School community this science teacher, instructing classes year teaching in AP Biology, AP Environmental AP U.S. History, Science, and Chemistry. Before World History, Hockaday, Rinaldi taught at Cistercian and Global Issues of the 21st Century. Preparatory School in Irving. “I am In addition to teaching at the high most excited about being back at school, collegiate, and graduate school Hockaday after an extended absence,” levels, most recently at Penn State Rinaldi said. “I did not want to leave University, Bowman has worked as an … four years ago, and I am humbled to attorney. “I’ve heard so much about be given the opportunity to teach here the motivated and engaged students at once again!”

Hockaday, and am looking forward to diving into discussions of History with all of you.” Bowman said. “Although I’m just getting started, I’ve been Brittany Pendleton beyond impressed!”

Upper School Science

Scott Bowman Upper School History

Dr. Keith Clark Upper School History After instructing and serving as a teaching assistant at Northwestern University, Dr. Keith Clark joins the Hockaday community as an Upper School History Teacher. He will teach World History, AP U.S. History, and Global Issues in the 21st Century. “I am not only excited to educate students on different historical eras and regions, but to demonstrate why history is both fascinating and fun as well as important for all people in the information age.” Clark said.

Chiamacka (Chi-chi) Acho Health Services Chiamaka Acho Oforeh ‘02 returns to Hockaday this year as the Registered Nurse for the Lower School. Acho recently worked as the Labor and Delivery Triage Nurse Manager at Parkland Health and Hospital system, caring for women, infants, and

Before joining Hockaday this fall as an Upper School physics teacher, Brittany Pendleton taught at Akiba Yavneh Academy of Dallas. There, she instructed classes in Physics, AP Physics C: Mechanics, Engineering, and Algebra I, in addition to beginning the engineering program and serving as freshman advisor. “I am looking forward to teaching physics with an engineeringbased approach,” Pendleton said. “I am extremely excited to see what my Form I students create this year, and to meet the entire Hockaday family.”

Emily Ennis Upper School History Emily Ennis joins the Upper School history department this year after teaching AP U.S. Government and Microeconomics at A&M Consolidated High School. Ennis also developed curriculum for the College Station Independent School District. “I’m excited to get to know my students and learn all about being a part of the Hockaday community!” Ennis said.

04 October 9, 2020

NEWS

The Fourcast

YOUR WORLD TODAY

Justice Ginsburg’s legacy

Passing of Notorious RBG incites political controversy over replacement

by Kate Clark Managing Editor

“We take for granted our education and have no excuse for not doing well. Her husband got sick and she took his classes for him at Harvard and Columbia while taking her own classes and taking care of a child.”

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, died on Sept. 18, and the battle between mourning her and filling her seat has begun.

Justice Ginsburg was a pioneer for women’s rights and equality, a groundbreaking litigator, and the only woman on the Supreme Court for 14 years. She attended Cornell University for her undergraduate degree, then went on to be one of nine women in her Harvard Law School class and finally to New York where she finished off her degree at Columbia Law School. All the while, she was taking class notes for her husband who was suffering from testicular cancer so that he would not have to drop out of school and also taking care of their first daughter, Jane.

“We take for granted our education and have no excuse for not doing well,” junior Landry Grover said.

“Her husband got sick and she took his classes for him at Harvard and Columbia while taking her own classes and taking care of a child.”

Before she was initiated onto the Supreme Court, Ginsburg was a litigator, laying the groundwork for gender equality.

During her time as a lawyer, she advocated for gender equality, her most notable case being presented to the Supreme Court: Weinberger v.

Wiesenfeld. In this case, she fought for Stephen Wiesenfeld who had been denied Social Security benefits after his wife, the primary earner in the family, had died. Ginsberg said this rejection implied that women should not be working or earning the money in the family, keeping “women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.” Her client won.

Once appointed to the Supreme Court in 1980, her help and support of equality grew. She voted in support

Landry Grover Junior

art by Nancy Dedman

of abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

“I was actually at my grandmother’s house [when I found out she died],” junior Kate Gillikin said. “My grandmother’s brother died a week before and my grandmother said it might outweigh her brother’s death just because of the fact of the long term effects of it–all of the things RGB did and all the things that could be undone.”

Now there is a fight to fill her seat, and battle lines are drawn.

Eight days after Ginsberg’s death, President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett for the vacant position on the Supreme Court. If

confirmed by the Senate, Barrett would be the youngest serving justice.

This would be Trump’s third justice nomination for the Supreme Court.

The White House is pushing to have the Senate hearing on Oct. 12.

If appointed, Bennett would tilt the court in a more conservative direction, with six Republican jurists and three Democratic. Trump said he planned on appointing a jurist to overrule Roe v. Wade.

The controversy around Bennett lies in the time frame of her nomination. In 2016, after the death of Antonin Scalia, Obama nominated Merrick Garland as the next Supreme Court jurist. However,

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican majority leader, argued that “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice.

Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”

However, with only 45 days left, Trump is pushing for Bennett’s confirmation hearing.

“I personally think it was wrong for the Senate to have blocked Obama’s pick four years ago,” senior Anna Connolly said. “That being said, Donald Trump has served for four years, so I think he should be allowed to use the complete and utter extent of his power during his remaining presidency.”

Now with the Notorious RBG gone, will we remember her legacy or only focus on the future?

A QUICK POLITICAL BREAKDOWN: AOC

by Elisa Carroll Assistant Web Editor

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DNY) dominates conversations surrounding the election. Here’s how two students view the progressive newsmaker.

“

Lucy Roberts ‘22

AOC represents what our government should look like,” Roberts said. “She is not only a woman of color but a former member of the middle working class, which provides her with a more inclusive perspective of the American experience.”

VS

Courtenay Sands ‘22 “I agree with AOC’s stances on things such as climate change, feminism, race and poverty,” Sands said. “However, I disagree with many of her ideas on how she will promote and change these issues. I think she also antagonizes the right wing wand takes too extreme stances, which is ineffective in creating bipartisanship.

”

NEWS

hockadayfourcast.org

Service from a distance Students find new ways to engage in social impact

by Julia Donovan Castoff Editor

W

ith social distancing in full swing, students are looking for new ways to participate in community service.

Laura Day, Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact, and other members of the Hockaday community have implemented new practices so students can engage in the same programs as recent years.

So how have things changed?

This summer, Day ran four workshops to help teachers and four for students around the country to rethink community service virtually.

Day said Hockaday has been a leader in community engagement and social impact.

“We have a lot of work to do, but the programs that we are going to use virtually should be really good and we are going to hopefully be able to work with kids on campus when they have breaks,” Day said.

Community Service Board Chair senior Kemper Lowry works with Day to coordinate Upper School community service programs and help create opportunities for middle and lower schoolers.

Tutoring Programs “One of the most notable changes is in our recurring tutoring programs, which we’ve tailored to fit into the virtual world,” Lowry said.

“Because elementary students are estimated to have lost almost a year of learning due to the pandemic, keeping programs like these alive in any form is vital for the success of the children in our community,” she said.

Recurring programs from last year will be approached with the same mindset, but the tutoring will be virtual. This includes programs such as Wesley-Rankin Community, Educational First Steps and Jubilee Tutoring. Each program will have a unique virtual tutoring protocol, including changes in a few procedures.

Tutoring with DISD pre-K through third grade was delayed until the beginning of October, when students went back to school in person. Day said DISD made the decision when volunteers from different schools tried virtual tutoring at home with the kids, but it ended up being a difficult experience due to the children’s age and not being able to focus without personal assistance.

To help with virtual tutoring, the Book Nook Tutoring app has been added to the community service options. The app allows tutors to help any DISD student, regardless of school, in need of learning assistance.

Instead of signing up for a specific program or going to a specific school, tutors can just sign up for Book Nook.

“We are not doing schools anymore, we are literally doing the entire city of Dallas,” Day said. “The students who used to be leaders like for Gooch per se, are probably going to take a

by Elisa Carroll Assistant Web Editor

Q A

What was your favorite thing you did over the summer?

Senior

Day said the social impact classes will continue on schedule with few changes. This includes the Before “Me Too” and Literature of Minorities English courses; Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Economics and Social Entrepreneurship history class; and the Anatomy, Evolution and the Zoo: Intersection of Biology, Design, and Community Impact science class. Most of the classes already functioned virtually.

The Upper School anatomy class, partnered with W.T. White High School’s Aquatic Biology class and Dallas Zoo, took a behind-the-scenes virtual tour with a zoo employee. Day said the virtual tour allowed them to see more of the zoo than they would have on the typical tour.

“Although we don’t get the same experience of zoo while on Zoom, I already love the class,” junior Alexis Cuban said. “We have done fun labs, like making our own bird beak, and have had entertaining virtual classes.

Despite the challenges we might face

CHECKING IN with Eugene McDermott Head of School

Kemper Lowry

Social Impact Classes

05

Dr. Karen Warren Coleman

“Because elementary students are estimated to have lost almost a year of learning due to the pandemic, keeping programs like these alive in any form is vital for the success of the children in our community.”

zip code, where they are in charge of getting tutors to help the kids who are most at risk in that zip code.”

In addition to tutoring programs, Habitat for Humanity and outdoor opportunities at Cedar Creek Reservoir, White Rock Lake and Bachman Lake will be available.

Some student-led community service clubs will look different with each club addressing COVID’s needs in different ways, like providing masks or food, or writing letters to people in assisted living communities. Along with clubs, the drives the Hockaday Community Service Board hosts have been rethought, Until students are allowed to share items, the drives will be hosted on Amazon wish lists. Hockaday will have a wish list specific to each drive so community members can buy items for people in need.

October 9, 2020

this year, I am looking forward to the rest of this course!”

New Opportunities Finally, Day has established two new Upper School programs, the Impact Fellowship and Social Impact Synthesis, with about 250 students signed up in total. The Impact Fellowship, offered to freshmen and sophomores, is a four-session program where students can expand their knowledge of themselves and the Dallas community. Each session, during Y period on Day 2, will cover a specific top with about 30 students.

The first will discuss cultural identifiers and the history of Dallas, and the second will focus on poverty.

The third session will talk about intersectionality and the final session will cover how students and others can help in the community and in the world against poverty.

Social Impact Synthesis, on the other hand, is offered to juniors and seniors who are interested in combining social impact into their academic classes. There will be a total of eight sessions throughout the year, with a closing reflection presentation.

Upper School librarian Katy Lake, who runs the Impact Fellowship program, said the social impact program is doing a good job adapting to changing circumstances.

“It’s creating a lot of new and cool opportunities for both the students and for people like me who maybe wouldn’t have had the opportunity to have so much student interest if everybody was allowed to go off campus for service opportunities,” Lake said.

Day said she wants to make sure the school is still providing a robust program.

“I’m trying to provide as many cool opportunities as possible that are good for students,” Day said, “but also allow them to really grow and be prepared for the college process.”

Two things immediately come to mind: first, we welcomed a six-week old yellow lab puppy in May and he (Wrigley) has brought us so much laughter and joy (and slobber)! And then, another favorite—as the summer wound to a close, we were fortunate to spend time hiking in Colorado— the gloriously beautiful mountains and miles of trails were just what I needed to clear my mind and recharge before the school year began.

Q A

How are you preparing for this school year in the face of COVID-19?

I’m reminding myself not to allow perfect to be the enemy of good. Pursue excellence and not perfection and remember to laugh OFTEN! This is such an extraordinary community of remarkable young women and phenomenal teachers— and COVID-19 doesn’t change any of that. Of course, COVID changes how we engage and what our day to day looks like, but the core of who we are, what we believe in, what makes us strong and what will allow us to thrive, hasn’t changed one bit. That and lots of long runs and venti lattes will help us make it through!

Q A

What are you most excited for about this school year?

I’m excited to watch our girls’ confidence blossom!

And for every single one of our students to feel that this community lifts her up, empowers her and allows her to be the absolute best version of herself. I am particularly focused on how our community can model to the rest of the country what it really looks like to engage in civil discourse: to listen to understand, to learn from each other’s experiences and to extend grace when we (or others) inevitably misstep— all in the spirit of expanding our perspectives and truly embodying the meaning of an inclusive community.

06 October 9, 2020

Refashioning the green and white Plaid pants added to dress uniform

by Sasha Schwimmer News Editor The iconic green and white plaid of the Hockaday skirt, debuted in 1974, has evolved into a symbol of the Upper School. Today, while the plaid remains, a new rule allows students to opt out of wearing the skirt, even on dress uniform days, and trade it for pants.

For so long, skirts have dominated the school uniform at many all-girls schools around the nation. However, in 2013, when Hockaday switched providers from Parker Uniforms to Mills Uniform Co., the Hockaplaid took on a new role in the form of pants.

The plaid pants were added as an option to the required uniform on regular school days. Although this was progress, students were restricted from wearing the pants on dress uniform days. Dress uniform days occur once a rotation and students are reprimanded with an infraction if they do not abide by the correct dress code.

This will be the first year students will be allowed to wear plaid pants on dress uniform days.

“I appreciate the steps that Hockaday has taken towards creating a more inclusive environment for all of its students through allowing us to express ourselves through different variations of the uniform,” senior Arabella Ware said.

Prior to the change, students approached administration regarding the issue. On July 17, Hockaday Pride presented a list of short-term and long-term goals and reforms to the head of Upper School, Lisa Culbertson, via Zoom. They requested education and training to support faculty and staff on LGBTQ+ topics, an LGBTQ+ assembly and for pants to be allowed with dress uniforms.

“The [group] was definitely sitting on the shoulders of everyone else who has brought this issue to administration,” junior Madeline Sumrow, co-chair of external relations of Hockaday Pride, said. “Also, it is very helpful to have had Mrs. Culbertson as the head of Upper School for the past two years because she is very receptive to the needs of affinity groups.”

Senior Leah Segal, head of policy awareness for the group, said some students don’t identify as female and don’t feel comfortable wearing skirts.

“However, it goes beyond gender identity, and whether or not there are transgender boys at our school,” Segal said. “It is also the fact that if a girl doesn't want to wear a skirt, why doesn't she have the power to wear what she wants? Why should some girls, who feel uncomfortable in a skirt, maybe because they have scars on their legs, or whatever reason, have to wear them?”

NEWS

The Fourcast

Starting the conversation

Glasgow’s sessions with students focus on implicit bias

by Ava Berger Editor-in-Chief Dr. Rodney Glasgow's many roles make it difficult to identify him with a single title.

“I would say I am a personal and institutional life coach," Glasgow said.

More specifically, he is head of the Glasgow Group and of middle school at St. Andrew’s Episcopal school, a speaker, facilitator and activist.

Glasgow spoke to students about establishing norms and creating safe spaces for discussions of race and implicit bias on Aug. 28 through Zoom.

He started the discussion with three Gestalt pictures, images that take a different shape and meaning depending on the way one looks at them. Glasgow explained humans similarly make an immediate judgment about others with a first glance.

“We have bias, we have stereotypes and we make quick decisions and only give them a second’s thought,” Glasgow said. “It’s the thing that has made us agile enough to survive all the different nuances of human existence. So, my work is about rewiring the brain itself, and that is hard.”

In addition, Glasgow explained where implicit bias comes from and the life-long fight a person must enter to counter these biases.

“Lots of people say there is no such thing as ‘Now I got it, and I’ll never do that thing again,’” Glasgow said.

“You might not do that thing again, but you’ll do some biased thing again because that’s life and that’s humanity.”

However, Glasgow did not talk for the full two-hour seminar. Instead, he encouraged discussion.

“I try not to do [the seminar] where I'm the only person talking; it’s all conversational,” Glasgow said. "I go in saying, ‘We’re going to learn something together.’ I usually know a little bit about what we might learn, otherwise I

photo courtesy of Rodney Glasgow

Glasgow, who describes himself as a “personal and institutional life coach,” has worked with students, faculty and staff via Zoom this fall.

have no idea where it’s going to go.”

At one point, Glasgow asked for a brave student volunteer. Sophomore Libby Warren raised her hand.

“Though I had never met Dr. Glasgow prior to this Zoom, I immediately sensed his positivity and kindness as soon as he introduced himself,” Warren said. “He is the kind of light that attracts everyone in the room even via Zoom.”

In the two minutes that followed, Glasgow and Warren talked about the events of Warren’s morning. As Glasgow listened attentively and asked questions, Warren began talking about more than just her day-to-day life.

“While I love hanging out with friends, I normally do not talk about my personal life,” Warren said.

"However, Dr. Glasgow made me feel extremely comfortable to the point where I literally told him my life story. When I mentioned my dream of moving to Mexico, he engaged in my excitement and even offered accounts of his own experience there.”

Glasgow started the discussion

with Warren to show the power of productive inquiry: how asking people questions about themselves and actually listening can go a long way.

“For me, listening to others is all an outgrowth of mindfulness, of that slowing down,” Glasgow said. “If you really slow down and you’re really present and there’s nothing else going on but the conversation you’re in, you will hear a lot.”

Glasgow also asked everybody on the Zoom to create their own “identity molecule.” He explained that everybody in the world is made up of eight cultural identifiers, but everyone differs in the way they arrange the importance of these identifiers to themselves. The identifiers are race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, family, socioeconomic status and age.

Diversity board chair senior Cece Tribolet noticed the significance of this exercise in displaying the importance of race in student’s lives.

“When we created and shared our ‘identity molecules,’ it was really interesting to see how large of a role different identifiers, specifically race, played in each person’s life,” Tribolet said. “It made it very obvious how crucial race is to many Hockaday students’ identities, which only furthered my understanding of how important it is that we have these race-related dialogues and workshops within our community.”

Glasgow plans to return to Hockaday at a pivotal time in politics: two weeks after the presidential election. He said he looks forward to returning to the positive energy he found at the school.

“At Hockaday, I got this deep conversation which is sadly rare right now in this country,” Glasgow said. "It was really a manifestation or I should say a ‘womanfestation’ of what I have been trying to do in these sessions."

Indepth Look:

New grading practice emphasizes students' learning, growth

by Hanna Zhang Arts and Life Editor The new grading practice in response to changes brought on by COVID-19 is built on a foundation of three pillars: grades are based on demonstrated learning; grades are representative of your own learning; and grades are representative of learning and growth.

Teachers and administrators including Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson came together during the summer to craft the guidelines. The learning rhythm applied to classes this year is introduction, instruction, practice and performance.

“If every class was on the same pattern, it would just be more predictable for you as a student,” Culbertson said. “We wanted to add that predictability to your lives, especially if we don't know if we're going to be distant or in person and when that's going to be all the time.”

The teachers divided into three teams- operations, extracurriculars and academics- to figure out the plans for school in the fall.

“Nothing changed in terms of

grading policy, which is what is in our handbook,” Culbertson said. “The work that we did this summer was to articulate our practice of how we get to that grade.”

The team read books on grading practices including “Neuroteach,” “On the Mark” and “Grading for Equity"to learn about the sociological and psychological impact of grading.

“We looked at how this was going to affect students not just at Hockaday but beyond, like in college,” Culbertson said. “We looked at the mental health piece of it and how we are trying to improve learning from the neurological perspective.”

The goal of the new system is for students to be comfortable with the material and that their understanding is reflected in the grade. The practice also takes into account the different learning styles. It also removes late penalties and extra credit points.

“We really wanted to have a grading practice which was flexible and reflective of what is happening right now in education," Culbertson said, "so COVID-19 in some ways was the real big shove that we needed to do the work that we’ve

already been talking about for many years.” Every department head was represented in the academic team, so although implementation may vary, the fundamental pillars will remain constant, allowing students the opportunity to show learning improvement.

“I hope that this actually decreases that stress that students feel around grades and I also hope that it decreases cheating and feeling the need to cheat because you can just do it again later,” Culbertson said. “I’m hoping that our negative go-tos will decrease and that this will actually benefit the student in a different way, increasing the quality of mental health.”

Instead of students wishing that they had scored one more point, Culbertson said she wished the conversation would be about understanding the material better.

“I’m hoping that this new practice reignites our love for learning because the whole goal of this is to get that internal motivation to learn as opposed to striving for a grade, so I’m hoping that it has a positive impact on us,” Culbertson said.

hockadayfourcast.org

09 Lea Whitley

reviews French bakery Boulangerie

ARTS & LIFE

October 9, 2020

10 Fine Arts

07

teachers discuss virtual classes

photo by Emily Gray

The cast of the Upper School musical and their teachers join Zoom for a master class with Victoria Clark '78.

From Hockaday to Broadway and Back

Victoria Clark '78 returns for master classes with drama via Zoom

by Maddie Stout Arts & Life Co-Editor

celebrations and to give master classes performing the song they felt least to choir members and the cast of the confident in and received notes from musical. However, this year’s visit has Clark on how they could improve.

When Victoria Clark ’78 was in been altered Then, taking Upper School, she played the lead in due to the year’s these notes the musical "Mame." Now, 42 years ‘Victoria Clark is such a unexpected later, the Tony award winning actress, into account, they submitted strong role model for our circumstances; singer and director returns to her rather than a second alma mater to grace the Fine Arts students in every way, witnessing recording Department with her expertise. to Clark to Since her graduation, Clark and a model of our Four classes firsthand, Clark demonstrate has appeared in 10 films, eight Conerstones in action.' will remain at their growth. television shows and over 20 theater home as she For Segal, productions. She is most known for instructs via this mentorship her performance in the Broadway Abi Poe Zoom. opportunity musical The Light in the Piazza from Director of Choral Activities Despite their provided a 2005-2006, for which she won the appreciation view into the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress for the visit, Segal finds this changed mastery that comes with a career in in a Musical, a Drama Desk Award, format makes performing slightly theater. an Outer Critics Circle Award and a more difficult.

“Whenever you see somebody who Joseph Jefferson Award.

“If you’re not in person with is a professional performer, they have This fall, Clark will draw on this a certain poise that you don’t see in background as she holds master students quite yet,” Segal said. “I think classes for members of the Upper School Choir, Hockaday Dance Theater Victoria Clark has that kind of wow factor that we are all trying to learn.” and the cast of “Songs for a New Lu said Clark’s assistance will aid World,” this year’s musical. During these sessions, Clark will speak on her her performance tremendously.

“This is my first time singing such a experience in the professional arts serious song and learning it has been and specifically how she was able to very difficult,” Lu said. “I’m extremely achieve success in her career. grateful that she's going to be there In addition to these master classes, Clark will work with the lead quartet of to help me bring the character to life, understand nuances of the lyrics and “Songs for a New World” individually. develop confidence in my ability to Because the show is song-based, sing it well.” seniors Shayle Cruz, Izzy Page and This is not the first time Clark Leah Segal and junior Juliana Lu ‘22 has returned to help the Fine Arts sent recordings of themselves singing Department. In 2013, the actress to Clark for critiques. visited to sing at Centennial Each student filmed themselves

somebody, you can’t give them your energy and it’s not showing an accurate way that you perform,” Segal said. “All she can see is my face, so I can’t get feedback on my presence, only the more technical aspects.”

However, the opportunity to work with such a seasoned professional in any capacity is one recognized by all.

Director of Choral Activities Abi Poe said she is certain Clark’s visit will have a major impact on the students.

“Vicki Clark is such a strong role model for our students in every way, and a model of our Four Cornerstones in action,” Poe said. “She has excelled in her career through taking chances, being bold in the face of risk or failure and persevering to achieve her dreams no matter how grand.”

08 October 9, 2020

ARTS AND LIFE

The Fourcast

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Li donates earnings to Black Lives Matter movement in show of support

by Lea Whitley Social Media and Video Editor Sophomore Amber Li raised over $300 for Black Lives Matter while refining and expanding her artistic skills, creating many requests such as watercolor portraiture, digital rendering and oil painting on hydroflasks.

Li contributed to the movement this summer by opening donation art commissions dedicated to fundraising for the cause. She published her commissions on Instagram for her followers. When someone requested a piece of art from Li in a certain style and price, she fulfilled the order and delivered the artwork, donating every cent of profit to a BLM organization.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamt of pursuing my passion for art beyond the confinements of my own room in an impactful way,” Li said. “This endeavor allowed me to do just that.”

Li drew this portrait of George Floyd, an African American man whose death triggered Black Lives Matter protests across the country.

Li advertises commissions on her Instagram account @entitae, then donates the proceeds to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dewar goes for gold

Senior partners with Hope Supply, Family Place for Girl Scout project

by Anna Gum Opinions Editor Rain-filled tennis shoes slosh around the room, narrowly avoiding the half-empty paint cans and scattered paper stencils. Wiping water away from her eyes, senior Elena Dewar works to keep the wall in front of her as dry as possible.

Next to her, classmates Kemper Lowry, Nancy Deadman and Zoe Cote race to complete a mural at a Hope Supply warehouse as part of Dewar’s Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Joining in Lower School, Dewar has been a part of Girl Scouts ever since, completing her Bronze and Silver Awards before taking on Girl Scouts’ highest award, the Gold Award, beginning in her sophomore year. Dewar had been volunteering for Hope Supply Co. for several years and knew she wanted to focus her project on the organization.

“I've been volunteering with them since I was a kid through the National Charity League and I have a pretty close relationship with a lot of the workers there, so I kind of knew that was the issue I wanted to address,” Dewar said.

The non-profit works to meet the needs of families facing homelessness in North Texas. As a non-profit, it relies on financial and material donations from the community. To help the company, Dewar organized a gift drive during the holiday season as half of her two-part project. The gifts went to a partner organization of Hope Supply, The Family Place.

“We gathered 200 toys in

photo courtesy of Elena Dewar

Seniors Nancy Dedman, Zoe Cote, Kemper Lowry, and Elena Dewar show off the mural they created to brighten up the Hope Supply warehouse.

donations and get toys ‘I wanted to make that typically donated them getting excited warehouse more of a about all the to The Family Place, which and stuff,” comfortable place.' dolls was awesome,” Dewar said.

Dewar said.

The second Senior Elena Dewar Dewar worked piece of her project with a contact at aimed to help Hope Hope Supply who Supply as well. After walked her through what they brainstorming with employees, she needed from the gift drive. From decided to help renovate a secondary there, she reached out to people both location of Hope Supply which was within and outside of the Hockaday facing a shortage of volunteers. community for donations. Dewar “I wanted to make that warehouse also had to sort the gifts before more of a comfortable place for delivering them to The Family Place. those families to shop and go “It was awesome to see kids through there and pick out what during the holidays who might not clothes they need,” Dewar said. ‘So

I kind of wanted to make that place more warm. It was a pretty empty and cold warehouse before.”

To brighten the space, Dewar recruited a group of her friends to help her paint a mural on one of the walls inside the warehouse.

After making an initial trip to see the warehouse and begin planning, they painted the wall a shade of yellow, but then ran into a few complications.

“Her original idea for the mural was to use cutouts and spray paint inside of the cutouts on the wall,” Lowry said. “But the stencils were not as crisp as we wanted to so we had to sort of change our plans half way through and paint by hand.”

Battling for several hours through inclement weather and having to make design changes on the fly, the group managed to complete the mural. The finished project included the Hope Supply logo, the company’s name and a variety of inspirational messages.

“The most rewarding part was probably knowing that it was just going to look nice and be a nice symbol of attraction in the warehouse,” Dedman said.

Lowry agreed with her classmate that the mural was worth the time and effort it required.

“The most rewarding part for me would probably be seeing the mural finished once we had completed the painting because it definitely added personality to what would otherwise have been a blank space,” Lowry said. “It was really nice to see the finished product and how it transformed the place.”

hockadayfourcast.org

REVIEWS

Reflections on ‘Mulan’

New live-action version makes major changes

by Olivia Garcia Assistant Features Editor

I

I’m sure the majority of us have watched Disney’s animated “Mulan,” the tale of a young woman who impersonates a man and takes her father’s place in the military.

However, I’m not sure how many of us have watched the 2020 live-action adaptation. There has been much debate about this new film and some, myself included, have decided to not watch it. Before we discuss the negative aspects surrounding this remake, let’s review the positives.

The movie contains impactful themes, specifically for young girls.

It emphasizes the importance of family—young Mulan is willing to sacrifice everything to save her dad.

Additionally, it displays the idea of an independent female. Other Disney movies, such as “Snow White” and “Sleeping Beauty,” write the princesses as someone who needs saving, normally by a handsome young prince. “Mulan,” on the other hand, shows how a young woman can take matters into her own hands.

This idea can be seen in later Disney movies “Brave” and “Moana.” Lastly, “Mulan” was one of the first Disney movies to stray from the typical Eurocentric main characters. This representation was important for all people of color, but especially the Asian community. The movie gave Asian children a princess who looked like them.

Despite all the good that comes from the 1998 “Mulan” and 2020 “Mulan,” certain aspects of the new adaptation have let down fans. For starters, modifications to the original storyline upset fans. The beloved Mushu did not make an appearance.

While fans understand a little red dragon would not be that realistic in the live-action, they are still saddened

not to see their favorite character.

Characters General Shang and Shan Yu also do not appear.

Another major modification to the new movie is the lack of singing.

Director Niki Caro explained in an interview this is an attempt to remain closer to the original Chinese fable. I think many would agree with me when I say that I will miss the iconic “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” soundtrack the most. Despite the lack of singing, original songs such as “Reflection” and “Honor To Us All” will appear as instrumental tracks.

Another thing that troubles fans is the lack of representation behind the screen. While the live-action features an all-Asian cast, the crew is mostly white. Particularly, fans questioned why a Chinese costume designer was not hired. It is important the cast was all-Asian, as it is a demographic underrepresented in Hollywood, but this should have extended to the crew as well. We need to continue to fight for diversity not just on the screen, but behind it as well.

The 2020 “Mulan” was originally meant to premiere March 27, but due to the pandemic it was pushed back.

As time passed, it was decided that “Mulan” would stream on Disney Plus Sept. 4. In countries where theaters are open, the movie will be released the same day in theaters. The release on Disney Plus was disappointing for fans who do not have the streaming service. Even those who do have it are upset with the additional $30 cost since they already pay $7 a month for membership. Though the “Mulan” team has simply adapted to the current climate, this alternate release plan has cost them viewers. e money than originally planned.

Considering all of this, I ultimately decided not to watch the live-action “Mulan.” Yes, the ideas of selfless

Pastry lover's dream

Boulangerie brings France to Dallas

by Lea Whitley Social Media and Video Editor Boulangerie by Village Baking Company, a bake shop specializing in breads, croissants, rolls and coffee, brings French flair to Dallas on busy Greenville Ave. Open since 2015, Boulangerie prides itself on dedication and attention to detail while making perfect loaves and pastries.

On a bright Saturday morning, the streets of downtown buzzed with joggers, dog walkers and friends socializing, looking for a place to get warm baked goods and an espresso to sip on. Boulangerie was the place to find these essentials, evidenced by the line pouring out the door and onto the patio.

I waited longingly, trying to catch glimpses of the treats through the window before it was my turn to order.

Even with my mask on, I sensed the comforting smell of rising bread and sugary glaze as I walked in the door.

When I reached the counter, my eyes widened at the selection of croissants, breads, baguettes, tarts and cakes. It was

October 9, 2020

09

ON THE

BOOK SHELF ‘The Hate U Give’

by Angie Thomas

love and empowerment of women in this movie are important, especially considering the audience is mostly children. Furthermore, breaking down the Disney princess stereotype gives little girls who do not share the same Eurocentric features as the other Disney princesses a character to identify with, which is amazing.

However, I was sad I wouldn’t be seeing my favorite character, Mushu, or hearing my favorite song, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” It made me less excited to watch the movie.

However, neither the modifications to the original storyline nor the lack of diversity in the crew affected my ultimate choice. In the end, I did not watch the movie because of the additional $30 I would be paying on a streaming service I already pay for.

I would end up paying more than I originally would have. Plus, I read that “Mulan” will be released to all Disney Plus subscribers to watch at no additional charge on Dec. 4.

Personally, I would rather wait until then to watch the movie.

Boulangerie

1921 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

top pulled it together overwhelming, but seamlessly. an employee gladly To end my French walked me through pastry adventure the plethora of I grabbed two options. sandwiches, caprese First, I decided and jambon beurre, to to indulge in bring home for later two French-style in the afternoon. Both pastries that looked were made with French photo by Lea Whitley to die for, the baguettes, the caprese Delectable pastries sit in the chocolate croissant filled with mozzarella, window of Boulangerie. and éclair. They tomato, basil and pesto, were classic and delicious, tasting like and the jambon beurre with ham, they were flown in from Paris that very provolone and European butter. morning.

Both were delicious. As I ate them in I ordered a couple of my sister’s and my dining room, I was able to close my my favorites, the apple pie and lemon eyes and imagine I was sitting outside a tart. I have had many slices of apple pie little bistro in France. in my life, but this piece definitely rivaled I snacked on the leftover pastries my favorites. The apple slices were lined throughout the day and ended up eating up perfectly, covered in caramel glaze the red velvet cake I had brought home and wrapped in the perfect crust. It was to my dad for dinner (no regrets). If you probably my favorite treat we ordered. are looking for the perfect way to satisfy Although I am not typically a lemon your sweet craving and love French food, dessert fan, I was hooked after one bite stop by Boulangerie. Unless you are of my sister’s lemon tart. The filling was hopping a plane to Paris, you won’t find tangy and bright, and the fresh fruit on baked goods like this anywhere else.

by Melody Hu Staff Writer Written by best selling author Angie Thomas, “The Hate U Give” follows the life of Starr Carter, a black teen who navigates her life after the fatal shooting of her friend by a white police officer.

Before reading this book, I knew it revolved around racism and police brutality, but the author does a great job telling the story in a way that doesn’t shed a lot of negative light on the police. She focuses more on the aftermath of the situation and Starr’s journey to voicing her opinions and standing up for what is correct.

More than ever, this novel has become relevant because of the recent shootings in our country.

Knowing this book discussed police brutality and the recent Black Lives Matter movement pushed me to read it. I enjoyed the book because it took me behind the scenes into Starr’s life and how she felt after the situation.

This novel also discusses topics many teens can relate to such as romance, family issues and friendship. I was drawn to the book because I was able to find some parts that were relatable to my life.

Like most of us, Starr goes through disagreements with her family but still remains close to them. She also struggles to find out who her true friends are as a result of the shooting. It was refreshing to see the real life situations people my age can endure.

Additionally, Thomas writes in a way that draws the readers toward the characters. I felt the grief the characters were feeling and wanted to help them.

Oftentimes, we may feel like we are too young or immature to make a change. “The Hate U Give” encourages our generation to voice our opinions and stand up for what is right. I would highly encourage everybody to read this book, especially teens.

10 October 9, 2020

ARTS & LIFE

The Fourcast

Fine arts classes continue to create Upper School teachers plan for sculpture, choir, musical in hybrid learning

by Charlotte Rogers Features Editor

W

ith the changes of the past few months, fine arts classes have had to improvise. Those who teach ceramics and choir, and oversee the production of this year’s musical, have made changes in the face of recent challenge.

Kevin Brady, the Upper School ceramics teacher, has adapted his course so his students can still create even without the ceramics studio, pottery wheels or clay at their disposal. At the beginning of a new school year, Brady and his students spent their typical Zoom class discussing their first projects.

“We are currently using paper to design shoes at home,” Brady said.

Senior Alex Stalcup said the domestic-made shoe project has been a huge success, with the types of shoes varying from Tevas to sandals to cowboy boots. The students used various materials they had access to at home in order to mold their desired shape.

Brady said the most challenging aspect of teaching via Zoom is keeping everyone on task and focused. He can’t wait to be back in person in hopes of using proper ceramics equipment and keeping everyone on topic.

“I’m most looking forward to setting up the studio for the students and getting started with using clay,” Brady said.

Although directing choir via Zoom may seem difficult, Abi Poe, director of choral activities, has used distance learning to focus on theory lessons, choral programming and sight-singing, or singing notes without preparation.

“The students haven’t gotten to concentrate on these skills much in choir before, so it is certainly a benefit that we have some time to really build a solid foundation that will only enhance their musicianship for the future,” Poe said.

Upper School Ceramics Teacher Kevin Brady instructs students via Zoom in September.

During class, the students are exploring choral music of various genres to decide on a winner for the winter program they hope to release as an album later this year.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, each member of the Upper School choir will have to record her own singing part at home prior to combining the recordings to create the final “performance” for the first semester.

“Something I miss about being at Hockaday is witnessing students wandering into the choir room early for class or lingering afterward to gather around the piano and sing together just for their own enjoyment and release,” Poe said.

Once distance learning ends, Poe said she is most looking forward to seeing students and faculty, hearing chatter outside of her door and being able to have organic conversations with anyone she passes in the hallway.

Emily Gray, Upper School drama teacher and musical director, has become creative with the production of the Upper School musical, “Songs for a New World.”

Rehearsals have begun earlier than in previous years, in the hopes the finished product will be released for

‘Something I miss about being at Hockaday is witnessing students wandering into the choir room early for class or lingering afterward to gather around the piano and sing together just for their own enjoyment and release.’

Abi Poe Director of Choral Activities

viewing in December.

“We wanted to start working on the musical straight away because it gives people some positivity and something to look forward to among everything going on,” Gray said.

Gray predicted students would not be able to perform live in front of an audience and she thought this

photo by Charlotte Rogers

musical’s plot and music would work well with technology and a pre-recorded show. Although the show is abstract and lacks a plot, the songs are tied together by a common theme: “the moment of decision.”

“The social upheaval, the protests, the racial injustices, and the polarization of the country made us want to choose a musical that is relevant to all of it,” Gray said. “It seemed that if we wanted to put our stamp on the year and really discuss 2020, this musical would be the best way to do it.”

Students auditioned via Zoom.

Gray said while directing the musical has been difficult, the students were well-prepared for the auditions which made them easier than in years past.

“Each student had a 10-minute segment to audition, instead of a large group of students auditioning at once, and then faculty could give that student their full attention,” Gray said.

Upon returning to campus, Gray said she is most excited about seeing her students and her co-workers.

“I am most looking forward to being able to see people all the way from their heads to their toes,” Gray said, “not just shoulders up.”

FACULTY OPINION:

What do fine arts teachers have to say about returning to campus?

photo by Charlotte Rogers

photo by Charlotte Rogers

Emily Gray Upper School Drama Teacher

“

I am most looking forward to being able to see people all the way from their heads to their toes, not just shoulders up.”

Abi Poe Director of Choral Activities

“

I can’t wait to see all of the students and faculty and hear them in the hallways!

There is nothing better than laughter and chatter outside my door, and the occasional head popping in to say hello!”

photo by Maria Harrison

Kevin Brady Upper School Ceramics Teacher

“

I’m most looking forward to setting up the studio for the students and getting started with using clay.”

hockadayfourcast.org

ARTS & LIFE

October 9, 2020

11

Scenes from the

Take a trip away from your troubles with these COVID-safe getaways

by Jane Clark Staff Writer

1

Restless from endless hours on Zoom or sitting in class all day? Go to the YMCA where they are having workout instruction classes, lap swimming and machines available for cardio and weights. A mask is required while not on a piece of equipment, and the machines are spread throughout the facility, creating a safe workout environment.

Looking for things to do on the weekends that are fun and COVID-19 safe? Head to Northpark Mall where there are lots of stores open for shopping, and if you want a quick bite to eat, you can stop by the food court for Chick-Fil-A, Snappy Salads or Sonic. You can even catch a movie at the Northpark AMC theater, now open with a limited capacity.

Craving some tasty Tex-Mex? Stop by Highland Park Village for Mi Cocina and catch a movie afterward at the Highland Park Village Theater.

Or maybe you want to enjoy the fresh air? Grab a seat on the patio at Honor Bar and munch on some sliders and fries.

Want to stretch your legs without paying a dime? Check out the Katy Trail to do some walking, biking or even roller blading. With the cool fall weather approaching, it’s a great time to go walking with your family members and friends.

12 October 9, 2020

IN FOCUS

The Fourcast

get schooled

culbertson explains it all Head of upper school answers your pressing covid questions Q: What do you anticipate could be the most difficult part of returning to on-campus learning?

A: The most difficult will be to contain our excitement of being together again while also keeping our distance and masks on! It’s not easy to resist the urge to hug someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

Q: What do you anticipate could be the easiest?

A: Honestly, I think the easiest will be what happens in the classrooms.

We all want to be back at school and we miss this. I believe we are going to engage in learning more than ever!

Q: What was the most challenging part of setting up the on-campus safety measures?

A: We are incredibly lucky to have

photo by Erin Parolisi

the space and resources to implement what we needed to do operationally.

We have classrooms that fit our current student body distanced, we have plenty of outdoor space, we have a tech team that is unparalleled, and we have faculty that worked tirelessly in the summer to make this model happen. Even though these were time

and labor intensive, they were easy compared to the challenge of how we maintain connection with each other while physically distanced on campus and having some learning from home, whether locally or in another part of the world. I want us to still be a Hockaday Upper School Family. So, we are going to have to work extra hard on that.

Q: What advice would you give Upper School students returning to campus?

A: Arrive early, be patient, and look for opportunities! We can either look at this year as restrictive or we can see it as a new challenge for us to find interesting and creative solutions.

Q: What should we be excited for?

A: YOU! We get to go to school again!

Clean up your act!

A sink in the hallway?

How do you use this thing, anyway? Follow this simple nine-step procedure to give your hands a thorough wash and dry, without lining up for the limitedcapacity bathroom.

art by Louisa Benedict

hockadayfourcast.org

IN FOCUS

October 9 2020

on covid rules virus vocab

Zoom Raiding: When unrelated people gain access to or hack a zoom call to interject material that is obscene in nature

Mask-up! Hockaday athletics’ motto to remind players to stay safe by wearing their mask

13

“Smizing”: The art of smiling under your mask with your eyes

“Hey, you’re on mute.” This phrase has become very common in the past months as people try to speak on Zoom without turning their microphone back on.

Mascne: (Mask-acne) The acne that appears on the lower region of your face as a result of constant mask wearing. art by Louisa Benedict

COVID-10: The extra amount of weight many people are putting on as a result from sitting and home and eating non-stop.

Covidiot: One who does not follow proper safety precautions like wearing their mask properly or maintaining social distance.

Challenges go beyond physical isolation, screen time take toll on students’ mental health

W

hen I first started online classes on Aug. 31, I was pumped and ready to go. Finally, something to do with my days! No more incessant lounging around and binge watching “Criminal Minds.” Yet as I logged onto my first Zoom class, my eyes adjusting to the screen in the early morning light, I slowly began to regret my initial enthusiasm.

My WiFi constantly glitched, turning my teacher’s lesson into a warped, incoherent string of words. I was surrounded by distractions: my brother watching baseball in the living room, my phone lying on the desk next to me, that annoying bird that kept pecking at my window. As the day dragged on, the hours I spent staring at my screen made my eyes burn and my head ache. By the time 4:15 p.m. hit, I dragged myself downstairs, flopped onto the couch, and exhaustedly switched on a new episode of “Criminal Minds.”

It’s only been two weeks, yes, but already I’ve felt my regularly positive mood take a significant downward dive. I crave sleep, yet don’t get enough of it; I rarely go outside; I’m constantly stressed and steadily tired. During summer break, despite my constant boredom, I could see the occasional friend, paint a painting, go for a bike ride, read a new book, maybe write down a random story idea. But now, in a sudden return to routine, I find it hard to muster up the energy to do any of that. And to make it worse, online school, in essence, feels like school but without the fun parts.

In class, I can no longer turn to a friend and make a joke about our mutual lack of understanding of the material. I can’t drive to community service during lunch, or laugh with teammates at crew practice after school. No more advisory snacks, or Friday night football games, or being told to quiet down in a conference room. To put it simply, my view of school has been redefined, and lost its luster; now, it is just class after class, trying to get through the day.

In my new Zoom world, thinking of school brings to mind 2048 on my computer, texts from friends saying “Do you understand what we’re supposed to be doing?,” snack breaks for handfuls of chocolate chips from the pantry and Advil.

Educators and parents alike need to recognize that despite Gen Z’s propensity to scroll through TikToks for hours on end, our brains are not wired to stare at screens for ages. With the increase in screen time online art by Maddie Fisher school requires, other things have increased, as well–most notably, fatigue and headaches. Blue light rays that emanate from our laptops and phones follow us from morning till night, never allowing us a rest. Excess technology exposure from online classes can (and will) mess with students’ sleep schedules, catapulting them into a vicious cycle of insomnia and overexhaustion.

A nationwide Gallup poll saw three in 10 parents report that their child was experiencing increased emotional or mental harm since the start of online classes. And with school opening dates nationwide being consistently pushed back in accordance with new Center of Disease Control data, adolescent men-

ZOYA HAQ Staff Writer tal health will only continue to worsen. A study published by the American Civil Liberties Union showed that since the new, virtual school year has started, 32 percent of surveyed students said they need significantly more mental health support than they did preCOVID. An especially pressuring mental health issue during such a stressful and uncertain time is anxiety.

In a CDC study conducted in late June, 40.9 percent of teenagers surveyed reported increased levels of anxiety as compared to life before the coronavirus.

And the mental health toll isn’t just limited to teenagers: my 11 year old brother, who’s used to everyday baseball practice, basketball games with friends on the weekends and frequent playdates, has struggled immensely with isolation. As a pre-teen entering middle school, he feels disconnected from the world around him. This has led to bottled up frustration, outbursts, and mood swings. Today’s youth is struggling.

With lack of in- person school comes lack of human connection. And with lack of human connection come feelings of loneliness, isolation and self-deprecation. Ironically, in this new virtual setting, it’s easier than ever to feel disconnected. We each are battling with our own internal struggles on a day-today basis.

The fact is, we live in a new world characterized by breakout rooms, Zoom satire, laptop screens and a raging pandemic. But it’s important to remember that we are all navigating the “new normal” together.

In times like these, uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to strengthen our bonds with each other and with the world. So I encourage you to reach out to a friend, check up on an old acquaintance – both for your own sake, and for theirs. You never know what someone might be going through until you take that step.

14 OCTOBER 9, 2020 16 Junior Naz Soysal

makes Team USA Debate

FEATURES

The Fourcast

17 Find out where boarders are now

Threading the needle

Junior Anne Rubi turns embroidery hobby into booming business

by Zoe Cote Staff Writer Young entrepreneur and visionary junior Anne Rubi officially launched her line “Apparel by Anne” in June and became a hit almost overnight, expanding her brand into every corner of Dallas.

When she was 8 years old, Rubi’s mom began showing her the ropes of embroidery, beginning with a simple running stitch. During quarantine last March, Rubi found herself inspired to sew, so she took to YouTube, scraping together some needles and thread from her mom’s embroidery supplies, and began stitching.

“I was kind of bored one day and was like oh well, I guess I’ll embroider,” Rubi said.

Many running stitches later, Carley Hutchinson, a friend from dance class, noticed a picture Rubi had po sted of her work on her Snapchat story and offered to buy one of the pieces.

Breaking ground with her first client, Rubi had unknowingly begun the process of launching her own business.

“It’s actually kind of funny how Anne’s business got started,” Hutchinson said. “To see how far she has come with that one idea to now a full business is a really cool thing to see.”.

Adorning the neckline of her custom crewneck sweatshirts and t-shirts, Rubi’s signature needlework typically consists of her client’s first name or occasionally school slogans on the left side, complemented by the customer’s ‘icon’ of choice such as lightning bolts, stars, hearts, smiley faces or flowers on the right side. Rubi’s creations can also be tie-dyed at no additional charge. Other products include customized face masks, blankets, baby onesies and hats.

Initially only selling to close friends, Rubi began accumulating orders through her Snapchat story throughout May, and her success snowballed.

By June, she had fulfilled more than 50 orders and debuted her company on Instagram. Rubi soon became a boss, hiring employees.

“I did it pretty much on my own [at first] but now I’ve hired my mom and pay her to work for me,” Rubi said.

Rubi also brought on student ambassadors who promote her brand and receive commission every time a customer uses their discount code.

Rubi’s line has become renowned within Hockaday circles for her classic crewneck sweatshirt. She designed uniform-approved sweatshirts for the entire drill team, complete with green thread and bright yellow daisies, and sewed each girl’s name on to her sweatshirt. Her network has expanded to include other schools in the area, notably Highland Park High School, Greenhill and Episcopal School of Dallas, and she’s even taken the brand corporate.

In her most recent endeavor, the young entrepreneur designed and sewed 50 hats for a

Photo by Tiffany Rubi

Rubi works on orders during her summer beach vacation.

photos by Anne Rubi

Rubi’s favorite design she created during the summer, left, and a custom order for two of her clients.

Dallas-based earring company called Nickel & Suede. Rubi’s YoungLife leader connected her with the company for a project and the store’s staff members now wear Rubi’s designs.

Customer and good friend Abigail Willingham raves over her purchases from Apparel by Anne.

“I am so proud of her growing business and have been super satisfied with my purchases,”

Willingham said.

Rubi’s favorite thing about her company is seeing satisfied customers sporting her work.

“It’s fun hanging out with friends and seeing them wear my designs,” Rubi said.

She said she has “fingers crossed” that she can continue fulfilling orders throughout this school year and hopes to continue expanding her brand.

OF

HUMANS HOCKADAY

Seniors Sophia Bahad and Jade Nguyen run the @humans.of.hockaday instagram account to feature different student perspectives

“

Although recent events have forever changed our way of life and social interactions, the hockaday community has come together in a way never seen before. We have grown more empathetic during this polarizing time and started having challenging conversations of our own. This has led to a unique sense of community which Humans of Hockaday plans to explore through heart to heart conversations and open minds.

Together we will recognize and respect the various perspectives which make up our community and highlight what matters most: human connection. ~ Sophia Bahad

”

FEATURES

hockadayfourcast.org

OCTOBER 9, 2020

CHECKING IN

15

with

Alexis Cuban

Alexis Cuban, 200k followers on TikTok

by Kate Clark Managing Editor

Q A

What got you into TikTok in the first place?

I started as a joke just with my friends. I posted one with my dad (Mark Cuban) just for fun and I woke up the next morning with 600 thousand notifications from TikTok. After that, I just kept going.

Actor Chris Evans surprises students on Zoom during a Close Up meeting.

photo by Zoya Haq

HiStory Retold

Haq creates website, meets Evans through IMPACT

by Kelsey Chen Jade Editor This summer, sophomore Zoya Haq joined a Zoom call with six other students, the organizer of Close Up and ... surprise guest Chris Evans. Through a virtual program called IMPACT, Haq worked with three other participants to create a website promoting diversity in history curricula.

“It’s important for history curriculum to reflect the student body that’s learning them, and I feel that at the moment, that might not be true across the board,” Haq said. “We wanted to create a website that makes it easier for teachers to have access to these diverse materials, especially through first-person perspectives because those are really powerful.”

Haq first got involved with CloseUp Foundation’s IMPACT 2020 program through an email from Laura Day, director of the Institute for Social Impact. Meadow Wiggington, the director of IMPACT, said that the two-week program aimed to empower youth by helping them build a strong action plan.

“The thing that is the most powerful that comes out of all these programs is the work that students will do across the country,” Wiggington said. “The thing about HiStory Retold and so many of the other projects that we were able to see is that it’s just possible. It’s just possible to say, ‘Ok I have different opinions and different priorities, but this is an issue that matters to me. How can we come together and do something about it?’”

Haq partnered with three other girls to address gender and racial inequity. The group then developed the idea for HiStory Retold, a website that publishes testimonials submitted by users, with the mission to diversify history curricula throughout the United States.

“We were all passionate about incorporating an electronic aspect into it because we know that it’s a really easy way to get youth involved,” Haq said. “I had actually participated in a program earlier this summer that focused on the power of stories in history. So I was like, ‘What if we did testimonials?’”

Sarah Strum, the Outreach Director for

‘I think that the issue with our country is that a lot of times, young people feel like they don’t have a say.’

Zoya Haq Sophomore CloseUp, said that Haq’s group used their own stories as a launching point for the website, which made the project more powerful.

“We all tell our stories in unofficial testimonials when we meet new people,” Strum said. “Why shouldn’t there be some kind of universal place or resource where all of these are told? A teacher from New York could be heard by a student in Michigan or in Texas. At a time when it’s really hard to meet new people and hear new voices, [HiStory Retold] brought us more voices to hear from.”

After pitching their idea to a panel of judges, the group was chosen as one of the top three winners, and they presented their idea at the Do Good Conference.

Then, Close Up Foundation reached out to Haq about working with their partner, Chris Evans’ program A Starting Point.

As part of A Starting Point, Haq was able to discuss pressing issues with Evans. The students came up with questions for local lawmakers and talked about issues they wanted political candidates to address, and for Haq, that issue was the opportunity gap.

“I think that the issue with our country is that a lot of times, young people feel like they don’t have a say,” Haq said. “The fact of the matter is, there’s a lot of other ways for youth to get involved. Just by doing your research and teaching yourself about different policies in our country, you can learn so much about the way that this country runs. And just by knowing that information, you can make such a big difference.”

Q A

Would you consider yourself TikTok famous?

I would not consider myself famous. Famous is a really strong word, but I love the opportunities it has created because I have made so many new friends. Meeting all these new people with all different experiences from me is really fun.

Q A Q A Q A

How long does it take you to make a video?

It depends on how long the dance is. Normally, I can make a video within four takes, but I like to be perfect–it’s the inner dancer in me– so it can take 20 minutes to make one 15-second video.

Would you say it requires a lot of work?

In order to grow your account, you have to post daily. It is a lot of effort to learn the dances, but I enjoy dancing and I have been dancing for years.

Tell us one experience of being a recognized Creator?

When I was at Playlist Live (an annual convention held in Orlando for TikTok creators), I got invited to the Creators Lounge by the manager of some of the “big” creators. When I walked in, it was a room full of people that I recognized. It was strange seeing them in person and not on a screen.

16 October 9, 2020

FEATURES

Soysal makes USA debate team

The Fourcast

Upper Schooler rises to occasion, earning spot on debate development team

by Juliana Blazek Staff Writer Only 15 high schoolers from across the country were selected to be on the USA Debate Development team and junior Naz Soysal was one of them.

This year, Soysal will continue to debate on the Hockaday team, as well as the USA team where she has the opportunity to debate with students from around the world.

“There are thousands of high school debaters in the country, which makes the talent pool very competitive,” said Hockaday Debate Head Coach Chuck Walts. “Naz’s performance in competitive debates makes her more than qualified for that element of the team.”

Junior Cassie Liu made it to the final round of interviews, but was not selected as a member of USA team, Walts said, adding Liu is equally committed and respected for her debate abilities.

To become a member of the USA Debate Development Team, Soysal went through a complicated process beginning in June.

“There’s an essay stage and then there’s three video stages where you film yourself presenting an eight-

minute speech,” Soysal said, “then at the end there is an interview process that you go through and then they decide to put you on the team or not.”

Soysal was one of five Hockaday girls who applied for a spot on the USA Debate Development Team and the only one accepted.

“Naz is a perfect fit for the USA debate team because she knows how to work well with others and how to pull her weight, but also because she’s always ready for a challenge,” debate teammate junior Tukwa Ahsan said. “I know she’ll definitely contribute a lot to the team.”

This year, debate competitions will look very different than they have in the past because they will be entirely virtual. The two competing teams will be on Zoom with a judge. However, all the same mechanics and rules will still be in place.

“The biggest difference has been communication with the rest of the members on your team because obviously you can’t just directly talk to them in the middle of the round,” Soysal said. “Figuring out how to do that has been really important.”

Another difference with virtual debating includes the inability to

socialize in person, making it difficult to meet new people.

“I really valued that, but it’s enabled us to debate with people from all around the world which is really great,” Soysal said.

Soysal plans to attend about 20 debate tournaments this year, representing either the USA team or Hockaday.

She will be picked to compete tournamentby-tournament for the USA team but will sign up to participate in tournaments for Hockaday.

“To be a great debater takes more hard work than natural talent,” said Assistant Debate Coach Jordan photo by Premanshi Agarwalla Innerarity. “Naz Soysal with fellow debater junior Shinjini Mukherjee. is smart and a great Soysal’s first competition with the speaker, but it’s her USA team was Sept. 18-20. Hosted by willingness to practice all the time Greenhill, the tournament included and hone her craft that sets her above teams from Mexico and Brazil. her peers.”

GOT 90?

Want to bake a sweat treat but afraid you don’t have the time?

Here are two delicious desserts you can create in just 90 minutes

by Libby Hill Photo Editor

Salted Caramel Brownies

Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars

If you are a salted caramel and chocolate fan, then this recipe is for you. You can also swap out the homemade brownies here and use a boxed mix to make it a lot easier. But no matter how you do it, this no-fail recipe is a crowd pleaser.

Everybody loves a good Twix in your gas station order. Here’s a vegan and gluten-free take on the classic. They are delicious and have the sugar you’re looking for.

Ingredients: For Brownies: 1 ½ sticks butter 1 ½ cup sugar ½ cup cocoa powder 4 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla extract ¾ cup all-purpose flour ½ tsp. salt For Caramel: 1 cup sugar ¼ cup sugar 4 tbsp butter, cubed ¼ cup heavy cream Flaky sea salt (for topping) Recipe steps: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9” square baking pan with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Remove from heat and let cool for four minutes.

Stir in cocoa powder and sugar until combined. Gradually mix in eggs and vanilla until batter is glossy.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Gradually add mixture to brownie batter, stirring until just combined.

Pour into prepared pan and bake

Photo by Libby Hill

until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with some brownie crumbs, 35-40 min. Let cool.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add sugar and water and stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate.

Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Increase heat to medium-high and let go until deeply golden, not stirring, 4 to 5 minutes more.

Turn off heat and stir in butter and cream. It will bubble up! Let cool while it thickens, then pour over cooled brownies. Sprinkle with sea salt. Wait 20 minutes before slicing to allow sauce to set.

Ingredients: Shortbread base: 1 ½ cups packed fine blanched almond flour All-purpose flour is great too!

3 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt Peanut butter layer: ⅔ cup any peanut or nut butter ⅓ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup coconut oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon sea salt Chocolate layer: ¾ cup chocolate chips 1 tablespoon coconut oil Recipe steps: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, add flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Mix with a fork until it forms a crumb texture. Add to pan and press down to compact with your fingers! Bake for 10 minutes, and allow 10 minutes to cool before

Photo courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

adding caramel.

For the peanut butter caramel: add peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and sea salt in a medium pot over medium-low heat for approx. two minutes until the caramel starts to bubble slightly. Stir frequently, and pour over cooled crust.

Place in fridge for at least 30 min to let peanut butter set. If you are impatient: put it in the freezer for 15.

Make the chocolate layer: add the chips and coconut oil to a bowl and microwave on high in 30-sec intervals until melted.

Pour chocolate over caramel layer and make sure it is evenly coated. Place in fridge for 20 min (or freezer for 10) to make sure it is completely hardened.

Cut into Twix shapes (or squares, whatever you prefer) and enjoy!

FEATURES

hockadayfourcast.org

Where are the boarders now?

October 9, 2020

17

With travel restrictions, international students spread across globe

by Rachel Jan Staff Writer

‘I am actually glad I get to spend time with my family because it has been five years since I have last stayed with them for so long.’

photo courtesy of Krissa Liu

Daily FatStraws trips, birthday hall celebrations, movie nights with her roommate—those were things Krissa Liu imagined for her senior year in boarding. Now, due to Covid-19, Liu and the 71 others previously housed in the Residence Hall have a very different year ahead.

Over the summer, Hockaday announced the Residence Hall will remain closed for 2020-21.

With boarding no longer an option, boarders were faced with deciding where to stay for the school year.

Ultimately, Liu chose to participate in distance learning from her home in Shanghai, China.

“Right now I’m staying at home because, well, it’s uncertain times and home is where I feel the safest,” Liu said. “I chose to distance learn because, first, there’s the entry restriction.”

The entry restrictions regarding quarantine specified that travelers to the United States may not enter if they had been in certain countries during the past 14 days. For Liu, this meant to travel back to Dallas she would have to quarantine in the UAE or Cambodia for two weeks.

Despite being across the world for her senior year, Liu has found the silver lining in her situation.

“I am actually glad I get to spend time with my family because it has been five years since I have last stayed with them for so long,” Liu said.

Junior Katanu Ndambuki, who lives in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, also decided to be a permanent distance learner for the school year. Similar to Liu, Ndambuki said she enjoys the extra family time.

“It is amazing getting to be home with my family especially because I was only seeing them twice a year, over the summer and over Christmas break,” Ndambuki said. “It is really nice being able to see them every day in person and not over FaceTime.”

Still, both Ndambuki and Liu said that distance learning in different time zones has its disadvantages.

“My teachers keep forgetting to record and post recordings or they have technical difficulties with uploading recordings,” Liu

Krissa Liu

This was the view for some boarders who flew home over spring break.

Krissa Liu bids farewell to residence hall before its closing in March.

Senior

said. “I don’t blame them but it does make keeping up with class pretty difficult.”

Due to the difficulties of distance learning, other boarding students decided to become day students and live in Dallas with their newfound host families. Junior Angela Yuan said she struggled to find a host family.

“My parents and I asked around, but most possible host families were complete strangers for us, so my parents had safety concerns,” Yuan said. “Luckily, we found my host family now who had previously hosted my friend Joy.” Yuan said she has moved in with her host family and is settling in well.

“Though adjusting into a new environment and meeting new people can be a little overwhelming, their cat Kiki filled my first few days with warmth and fur,” Yuan said.

Skylar Maier decided to join her host family once in-person learning starts on Sept. 23 for sophomores.

“I was offered a place to stay with the amazing Chavis family and I took that offer,” Skylar said. “I am nervous for all the change, but I also think it is a great opportunity. I do miss the community that boarding holds, though.”

Like Maier, the other boarders said they miss the boarding community, but are hopeful for the future.

“I miss hanging out with friends and studying together in boarding,” Ndambuki said. “It is sad that there will not be a boarding program this year but hopefully we will be able to come back next year.”

photo by Krissa Liu

photo courtesy of Katanu Ndambuki

Ndambuki prepares for her next class from her home in Abijan, Côte d’Ivoire.

photo courtesy of Skylar Maier

photo courtesy of Angela Yuan

Kiki the cat helps Yuan feel at home in her host family’s house.

Maier prepares for a new school year in the comforts of her home.

18 October 9, 2020 20 Carlisle family

experiences NBA Bubble

SPORTS

The Fourcast

21 Checking in with Athletic Board Chair Alyssa Taylor

Back to the field

Fall sports start back up with social distancing, extra precautions

by Katherine Grace Estess Assistant News Editor

A

From the beginning, Surgi thletic Director and the coaching staff had Deb Surgi reported planned to schedule games in an Aug. 21 email with neighboring schools as that the Southern conditions improved.

Preparatory “We’re still looking forward Conference had canceled its to competing in small meets fall 2020 season in the light of between SPC schools once we COVID risks. Now, with athletes get back on campus,” sophomore returning to campus, possibilities and cross country runner Leena for competition are opening up.

Mehendale said.

“I am pleased to share with As for the plans regarding the you the great news that, following return to sports, athletes looked thoughtful planning conversations forward to their return and are with Athletic Directors from ready and willing to comply with the Southwest Preparatory the changes.

Crew, who usually Conference, Hockaday’s fall row in boats of two or four athletic teams will return to people, now stay in single-person an adjusted Upper School boats during practice to comply competition schedule,” Surgi wrote photo by Katherine Grace Estess with distancing regulations. in an Oct. 2 email.

Field Hockey returned to practice Sept. 21 while following health guidelines.

“This season will probably She explained all safety protocols “I will miss not only the every Monday through Thursday. be focused on land training will remain in place as teams compete competition aspect of SPC but also “Zoom practice has been going and erging, since it is much easier against area schools including Trinity the team bonding that comes along good,’ Tate said. “Even though we to socially distance these types of Valley, Greenhill and Fort Worth with it,” senior and varsity field aren’t in person I am glad that the practices,” sophomore Lucy Roberts Country Day. hockey player Claire Tate said, “and coaches could come up with a way for said.

The SPC cancellation means the time that I would’ve gotten to the team to interact and bond while Despite the irregular season, there will be no tournaments to spend with my teammates and also finding ways to improve our athletes and coaches are excited to compete in at the end of the fall coaches for my last year.” skills with live stick work activities.” work together and perform no matter season. Fall sports usually train all Following the cancellation On-campus practice started the circumstances. season leading up the competition announcement, the athletics Sept. 21 for all fall teams, including “I am excited to see what is to between schools all over the state department began planning for field hockey, cross country, fencing, come for this season,” Tate said, and Oklahoma. an adjusted fall season. On Sept. volleyball and crew. All fall sports “and to see what the coaches and With the need for COVID-19 9, distance practices began for wear masks during practice and captains have planned regarding our restrictions, the SPC board found it all teams. Coaches hosted team follow other regulations specific to circumstances.” in the best interest of the athletes to meetings for an hour over Zoom each sport. cancel the season.

New school, new challenge

Geier brings experience, enthusiasm to role of head athletic trainer

by Caroline Petrikas Staff Writer

An interest in sport medicine drew Jeff Geier, Hockaday’s New Director of Sports Performance and Medicine, to athletic training, but his passion for athletics and helping athletes made him stay.

“My favorite part [of training] is seeing the excitement that athletics can bring to the student-athletes,” Geier said.

Following Head Athletic Trainer Jeanne Olsen’s retirement at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the athletic department hired Geier. He comes to Hockaday after 14 years at Episcopal School of Dallas.

“It was time to take on a new challenge,” Geier said. “I’m excited to meet the students, start sports and get familiar with the department.”

Geier’s journey as a trainer began when he was certified 25 years ago at Texas Christian University where he received his Bachelor’s of Science in Fitness Promotion with a minor in Athletic Training. After graduating, he worked at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb. Then, in 2006, he transferred to the Episcopal School of Dallas where he served as the Head Athletic Director.

"It was time to take on a new challenge.

I’m excited to meet the students, start sports and get familiar with the department."

Jeff Geier Head Athletic Trainer Student athletes said they are excited about working with a new trainer and the new prospects that come with it.

“I’m definitely going to miss Coach Olsen, but I think it’ll definitely be good to have a new start, too,” Junior Student Trainer Emily Estes said. “Hopefully he can help us get more involved during the games and in general.”

Senior and Cross country captain Inez Johnson said she hopes Geier can continue to build on Olsen’s legacy.

“Coach Olsen set a strong foundation for the training department and hopefully as a new

photo by Graydon Paul

Geier sits on one of the tables in the training room, prepared to help students.

face Geier can build upon that and improve the department,” Johnson said. “I think it will strengthen the relationship between cross country and the trainer because being a good athlete doesn’t only mean training hard, it means recovering hard, too.”

Sophomore Ambyr Baker said she was excited to see what Geier has to offer.

“I hope he has more specific care for each athlete and is available for players participating in their sport both in and out of school,” Baker said.

Geier said the opportunity to add strength and conditioning oversight to his job description was appealing, but he has always found it satisfying to help athletes overcome injuries.

“Challenges that may arise with an injury or rehab or things like that really interest me and make me think,” Geier said, “and make me find the pieces of puzzle to make it all line up and get the athlete back on the field.”

SPORTS

hockadayfourcast.org

Dominating summer

one

TO WATCH photo provided by Victoria Li

by Libby Hill Photo and Graphic Editor

1 2 3 4

Victoria Li ‘23 earned a spot on the 2019-2020 All American 2nd Fencing Team

Victoria competes in saber fencing, one of the three main fencing disciplines.

Victoria is a member of the Hockaday Fencing Team, as well as Kairos Fencing Academy in Plano.

Victoria says fencing "is like a mental game of chess. It is simple but sophisticated.

It also takes an unimaginable amount of patience and discipline on and off the strip."

photo provided by Victoria Li

Li shows her competitive form in a fencing match with Team USA. She also fences for the Hockaday team.

19

Student athletes sharpen skills in COVID season

by Kate Clark Managing Editor Avery Jackson - Beach Volleyball

VICTORIA LI '23 Learn 4 quick facts about an All American Fencer

October 9, 2020

F

photo provided by Avery Jackson

summer, she practiced with her team, worked on skills, worked out with her sister and had a few scrimmages within her club. Now in high school, this will be the first year that Thomas’ league will allow her to play at on the school team.

“I am so excited about playing Hockaday soccer with my classmates,” Thomas said, “and the upperclassmen, too.”

Lauren Roach - Lacrosse

Jackson competes at Championships.

or three days in July, freshman Avery Jackson and her partner played 11 beach volleyball games— and won them all.

Jackson and her partner Kenzie Miller won gold in the National Beach Volleyball Tour Junior Championships in Huntsville, Ala. “The first two days of the tournament it was just exciting because we had not been able to travel due to COVID,” Jackson said. “The last day was nerve-racking because there was pressure to do well because we had come all that way.”

At nationals, both Jackson and Miller’s coaches came to support and coach the girls to victory.

“I met Kenzie at a tournament in Austin,” Jackson said. “She just asked to play, and we worked really well together,” Jackson said.

Although Jackson has played volleyball for eight years, she has only played beach volleyball for three.

“I love the strategic part of beach volleyball because it is only two people covering the whole court,” Jackson said. “I like knowing what the other side is going to do before they even do it.”

Jaden Thomas - Soccer

photo provided by Jaden Thomas

Thomas, right, ranks third in her class.

Although this summer lacked the usual soccer tournaments and games freshman Jaden Thomas usually attends, she got news in June that added excitement to her summer.

Thomas found out she was ranked the third best overall U.S. soccer player for the class of 2024, and first as a forward.

“My parents brought all of us into my room,” Thomas said. “And they said ‘Guess what? You are ranked No. 3 in the country.’ My mouth dropped, and I was speechless.”

U.S. National Team scouts and coaches throughout the country are polled to provide player ranking recommendations.

“At first I was shocked. I did not expect to get ranked that high,” Thomas said. “For two days, I just could not believe it. I was like ‘Are you kidding?’ I was really happy and shocked.”

Thomas currently plays for her club team FC Dallas. Throughout the

photo provided by Lauren Roach

“I wouldn’t have gotten the award without the help and support of my coaches and teachers, so I am thankful for them and very glad to be selected,” Fu said.

Fu is going into her fourth year of fencing. She competes not only with Hockaday’s fencing team but also with her club, the International Fencers Alliance of Dallas (IFAD).

Although this summer looked different than the past, she was still able to have club practices.

“We would practice our footwork and handling the blade while trying to social distance,” Fu said.

But Fu said her skill with fencing comes from her mind.

“Fencing is mental,” Fu said. “It is about picking up on your opponent’s patterns and trying to figure out some plan or strategy while you are fencing.”

Annie Herring - Crew

Roach, right, at Under Armour 150.

Lacrosse midfielder and draw specialist sophomore Lauren Roach was selected for both Under Armor 150 and Under Armor All-American Lacrosse Classic.

She was one of 150 players in her age group selected for Under Armor 150, and one of 22 players from the Southwest for the All-American Lacrosse Classic.

“I love playing at such a next level where everyone is the best,” Roach said. “It’s like a new type of game.”

After the All-American Lacrosse Classic, Roach was selected for the All-Tournament Team, an MVP-type list of the best eight players at the tournament.

“I was at the airport about to fly back. We were walking to our terminal and an older player stopped me to say congratulations,” Roach said. “I was like ‘What are you talking about?’

She said “Oh, you made the AllTournament Team!’”

These two tournaments were the only ones Roach was able to attend.

“The showcases were everyone’s big outlet into recruiting because it was the only time you were able to show yourself to coaches this summer,” Roach said. “It made it a lot more exciting to finally be able to play again.”

Lily Fu - Fencing

photo provided by Lily Fu

Fu fences on the All-Academic team.

Junior Lily Fu is an avid fencer, both at Hockaday and on her club team. For her commitment to the sport and her grades led her to earn the title of Absolute Fencing Gear AllAcademic First Team this summer.

USA Fencing and Absolute Fencing Gear partnered to recognize and name young fencers who have excelled in high school with All-Academic Team honors. Fu earned the title of ‘First Team’ because she falls in the highest GPA category.

photo provided by Annie Herring

Herring, left, qualified for Nationals.

Rowing in Oklahoma City, training in Albuquerque and winning regionals in Dallas, Annie Herring did not let COVID-19 halt her crew practice.

“I honestly think I am in better shape [than before the pandemic],” Herring said. “I have not been erging a ton, but I feel like I am fitter. Having more time to train has been really helpful.”

Herring competed in a Virtual Erg competition in the spring. She won regionals, qualifying her for nationals.

However, she did not participate in the national competition.

From June 30 to July 12, Herring drove to Oklahoma City for a twoweek rowing training camp at the Oklahoma City High-Performance Center. She lived at a Homestay in Edmond with three other girls in the program.

“It was mostly college rowers,” Herring said. “It was very fun to train with them.”

After Oklahoma, Herring drove to Albuquerque, where she stayed with her grandma and trained daily. She began the day with a six-mile run, moved into workout circuits created

by Elia Stanfield, head strength and conditioning coach, and ended the day with a bike ride through the mountains.

“My grandma’s house is in the perfect location for training,” Herring said. “She lives half a mile from a large park and, a quarter of a mile further, there is a paved trail along the river that runs 25 miles.”

Entering her second Hockaday season, Herring has a positive outlook going into the fall.

“Even if we aren’t competing, it’s fun to row fast,” Herring said. “That is a huge motivator, just to be fast for your teammates.”

20 October 9, 2020

SPORTS

The Fourcast

CHECKING IN with Athletic Board Chair

The Arena, right, on the NBA Campus at Disney houses 2 practice courts and a broadcast court.

One of the broadcast courts, below, is full of empty seats during and after games due to COVID-19 guidelines

Alyssa Taylor

Living in the Bubble

photos provided by Abby Carlisle

Carlisle family separated during NBA season

by Kate Clark Managing Editor

F

or 58 days, sophomore Abby Carlisle’s dad, Rick Carlisle, the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, lived in the NBA Bubble.

The Bubble, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, was the isolation area created for NBA teams to finish their 2019-2020 season while staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My mother and I have always been used to him traveling, but he is typically only absent for a few days,” Abby said. “It was definitely a shift and we missed him a lot, but we mainly operated for 58 days just like he was out of town during the regular season.”

Upon Rick’s arrival to the Bubble, he was sent to his room for 48 hours alone to quarantine. After quarantining, everyone was tested for COVID-19 before they could to continue their stay in the Bubble.

“We were tested every day and we had to keep getting negative tests to stay,” Rick said. “There was also an app where we would enter our temperature and pulse and fill out a questionnaire asking us how we were feeling.”

For the duration of their time in the Bubble, there were zero positive tests.

Rick said being away from his family for so long was the most difficult process of his experience in the Bubble.

“I missed my family so much,” he said. “It’s hard being away from your wife and daughter for so long,” Since being away from family was affecting the coaches and players’ mental health, the inhabitants of the Bubble had the option of speaking to a mental health specialist.

Abby and her mother could not visit the Bubble because the tournament restricted visitors to only families of the athletes. If those families wanted to visit, they would have to quarantine for two

Abby attends a Maverick’s game with her father last season.

weeks in a hotel room before seeing the specified athlete or anyone else living in the Bubble.

The Carlisles used different platforms to communicate so Rick could tell his family about his work in the Bubble.

“He said he pretty much lived at his job,” Abby said. “While his job always played a major role in his life, his day to day life in the Bubble completely revolved around it a lot more than it did when he was home.”

Along with family members, fans could not be at the games in person.

The NBA used Microsoft Teams’ new Together Mode to put basketball fans in the stands with a virtual live feed of the game.

“The fans play a major role in basketball,” Abby said. “Going from being in your home court with a stadium full of fans, to an empty court with fans on screens, makes a huge difference in the sense of community that basketball brings to not just the fans, but the players and coaches too.”

However, the experience still allowed fans to feel like they were

“I missed my family so much. It’s hard being away from your wife and daughter for so long.”

Rick Carlisle Dallas Mavericks Head Coach sitting courtside and were cheering for their team. Regardless, this method was still very different from having the playoffs at the teams’ home courts.

“It was a very neutral environment because it took away the home court advantage,” Rick said.

After the Mavericks lost in the first round of the playoffs, Rick returned home the next day.

“We were very excited to see him,” Abby said. “And it only took a day for things to go back to normal like they were before he left!”

Canceling SPC season was right decision The recent cancellation of the fall SPC season devastated athletes and fans alike. With athletics as one of our cornerstones, our community would not feel complete without them. The news was incredibly hard for our seniors, who are missing out on their final SPC championships.

However, canceling the official SPC season was necessary to continue any sports this fall.

It would have been nearly impossible for SPC to continue as planned while following COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. As each zone, and the schools within them, faced unique circumstances, it would have been impossible to keep a regular season.

Canceling the SPC season and championships will allow schools to work their sports around their schedules and region guidelines.

Through our athletic department and coaching staff’s hard work, all the fall sports have their own “mini” seasons scheduled. We will compete against local schools, such as ESD and Greenhill. Hockaday even has plans to live stream games so fans can enjoy games while safely at home. Also, this situation is ever-evolving. As restrictions loosen, we will be able to do even more. I hope we can eventually have live games or meets with socially distanced fans. As anyone who went to last year’s winter SPC games knows, an enthusiastic student section makes any game better.

For both athletes and fans, sports are a welcome outlet to our stressful lives. Teams become like families, and games allow students to express that competitive Hockaday nature.

So, this season we might have to miss out on travel games and famed trips to Buc-ee’s, but canceling SPC was the right decision.

hockadayfourcast.org

22 Weighing the

decision to return to school

OPINIONS

October 9, 2020

23 Addressing school

21

safety issues in midst of a pandemic

Limitless potential

Segal faces difficulty seeking gender neutrality at girls’ school

L

ight falls tenderly on my skin while a quiet hum of music floats through my bedroom. Only blackness lays beyond my window, but the soft light of lamps, fairy lights, and candles envelops and protects me. Surrounded by an explosion of makeup I’ve accumulated in the past few years, I sit on the ground and stare at myself in the fulllength mirror, adorning my face with bright pigments, harsh lines, exaggerated shadows, and glitter that still catches in the low light. I am no longer myself, but a caricature of a ‘woman’. I don’t know the person looking back at me. They are a lie.

Exploring makeup revealed to me how my assigned gender was nothing more than an arbitrary label related to my reproductive organs. Gender is no more of a truth for me than when I perform Shakespeare or sing in a musical. My gender exists only as a performance.

I am non-binary. I use they/them/ theirs pronouns. That means that I neither consider myself a girl nor boy, just a person trying to navigate life.

Pursuing happiness, love, fulfillment, challenge, all of that. I simply see no reason to sort myself into one of two categories when neither of them feels quite right.

This is the first year I’ve been out as non-binary, and I’m still trying to unlearn things that have been pushed on me as a girl. For instance, I tend to present in a more feminine way, often inadvertently. I am plus size which means that my access to clothes that fit me is limited, so I often opt for loose and flowy clothing—like dresses. On top of that, I’ve grown up with Society shoving beauty standards down my throat, ingraining in my mind that fat will never equal beautiful, always pushing me to do more. Accentuate my bust, my hips, my waist—all the things I learned to equate with femininity.

And when it comes to our uniforms, while I don’t detest the plaid skirts, I don’t even have the option of wearing Hockapants because they don’t manufacture them in my size.

All these limitations and roadblocks, while subtle, limit my capability for self-exploration and self-expression.

Shifting from public school to Hockaday altered my perception of pre-set expectations—when I came here in sixth grade, I expected everyone to straighten their hair and do their makeup every morning.

But they didn’t. I felt liberated. I could raise my hand in math class without some snotty boy telling me I was wrong, or that my question was dumb. I could laugh freely, hug my friends and exist without fear of how I would be perceived. My queerness was never a secret to me, even then, and I recognize how fortunate I am

LEAH SEGAL Guest Writer

art by Kate Burkhart and Leah Segal

“Terms like ‘man’ or ‘woman’, ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ exist for people to compartmentalize, to sort out their reality. But there is so much more to life than choosing one thing or the other.”

Leah Segal Senior to have never been scared about coming out to my family. I knew that I liked girls to some degree, and I also recognized that my tendency for feminine presentation was already somewhat forced. Seventh grade started and I cut off all my hair. I had an awful buzzcut on the sides and a broccoli-type tuft on the top. It was not a good haircut. But still, I noticed that as soon as I looked like that, some of my classmates wouldn’t make eye contact anymore. Or they’d whisper.

Or they’d get uncomfortable and move away from me in the locker room before PE. I thought, “Maybe it’s just because I’m not like other girls!!!” But I knew, whether intentionally or not,

my peers noticed that I outwardly looked queer, and any time I felt brave enough to share that part of me, the people around me reacted negatively.

So I hid it.

My hair grew out and I got a boyfriend, immediately noticing a change in the way people interacted with me. Finally, people were willing to see me! To hear and acknowledge me! Yet still, I felt hollow. Freshman year, depression fell over me with immobilizing weight. Anxiety spread through my core and into my bones.

Late nights crying became my new normal, gazing into the mirror with loathing became second nature. I told myself I felt this way because of a bad

breakup. But a year passed, and I still couldn’t look at myself the same way, couldn’t find the motivation to interact with the world. The only times I felt peace were during summer while I sequestered myself in the woods on backpacking trips. Why on earth did I like it? Hiking is incredibly strenuous, and I’ve never been that fit.

When I was in the woods, I never had to force myself into a uniform.

In the woods, I didn’t worry about being pretty, or how people perceived me—I only cared about carrying my backpack and taking another step. I wasn’t a girl anymore, just a person.

That became my truth, only feeling real while surrounded by trees and earth. But illusions, and backpacking trips, can only last so long. Eventually I’d end up back in Dallas, wearing a plaid skirt and sitting at my school desk. The safety, warmth, and life that surrounded me during the summer drained into nonexistence as I morphed back into my Hockaday persona. Put on the costume, Leah, put on the uniform.

Queerness at Hockaday is shunned.

Some might disagree, but until you have been queer at Hockaday, you cannot understand the isolation and overall awareness that you are “other.”

The heartbreak my queer friends whisper of only in the safety of 2 a.m.

Facetimes or sleepovers. Being shoved kicking and screaming back into the closet by parents threatening not to help you through college. Realizing what friendships might end if you tell the truth about who you are.

The LGBT community exists at Hockaday. That is a fact, and I’m done hiding. The possibility of life beyond the binary is particularly difficult in an environment defined by it. Organic life inherently defies binary—it is impossible for us. Terms like ‘man’ or ‘woman’, ‘gay’ or ‘straight’ exist for people to compartmentalize, to sort out their reality. But there is so much more to life than choosing one thing or the other. Even biological sex exists on a spectrum. Another person with a uterus may have more testosterone than I do, and some people have testes in place of ovaries. Life overflows with variation, so to shove people into the mold of a “Model Hockaday Girl” does less to develop “the limitless potential of girls” and more to suppress the growth and realization of students’ individuality.

22 October 9, 2020

OPINION

The Fourcast

Why I waited to go back to school Safety concerns made me hesitant to reutrn during COVID-19 Editor’s note: Hu wrote this column in early September. She has since decided to return to campus.

I

want to go back to school. I want to go back to school so badly. Even after all is said and done (and teachers and faculty have done A LOT for distance learning—thank you!), learning over Zoom just isn’t the same as being in person.

All I want is to sneak candy from Ms. Chu’s room in between classes, banter with my friends on the benches outside the dining hall during lunch, swaddle myself in our advisory blanket and devour handfuls of Goldfish every day.

I want to lie on the green grass in the amphitheater. I want to walk through the hall and wave from afar at my little sis. Even with everything and everyone six feet apart and behind masks and Plexiglass, I would still prefer to be on campus. The changes and precautions will be irritating, sure, but at the end of the day, I think safety overrules convenience.

Which is why I’m staying on distance learning.

Let’s say I go to school.

Somebody slips up. Their mask slides under their nose, or the disinfectant doesn’t reach everywhere, or some other innocuous accident takes place.

That person might be in the incubation stage of the disease,

where they can spread it to other people when this pandemic has people before exhibiting symptoms already harmed so many. themselves. They might be an Ultimately, I am staying home asymptomatic case, contagious because I believe that my safety, but symptom-free. No matter the my family’s safety and the safety cause, tiny virus-laden droplets get of strangers in our community launched into the air. I am likely outweighs sleeping on a couch wearing a cloth mask or a surgical in my free period or snacking mask, which stops me from raining between classes. Is my convenience my own pathogens everywhere, but worth the lives and well-being of it cannot protect so many others? I me from inhaling don’t think so. other people’s There are ‘The changes and germs. I breathe people in my precautions will be family who in the virus, and I contract the are especially irritating, sure, but at vulnerable to illness.

First it spreads the end of the day, COVID—not to my parents, just the disease I think safety the people in itself, but also my household the terrifying overrules who are in close complications contact with me that can result. convenience.’ every day and How could I Joy Hu night. From analyze a short there, it passes to story, reason Guest Writer my grandmother, through a who gets her problem set or groceries from write my college us every week because her nursing application essays if a loved one home is on lockdown. Once inside, had a stroke in the hospital? What the virus would wreak havoc if they die? Could I afford all the there. Basically, if I contracted opportunities college offers if we the disease at school, I would are saddled with a staggering ICU spread it to many, many more bill? Hospitals aren’t cheap, and people. They may not all be able to neither are funerals. But the loss of afford treatment. They may not all a family member or a friend would survive. I don’t want to hurt more be even more devastating. There’s

JOY HU Guest Writer no f lowery language or cute turn of phrase to present that nicely.

Somebody I care about could die.

Of course, this is only a possibility, and Hockaday has invested a lot of time and effort into reducing that possibility as much as they can. I don’t want to stay cooped up at home forever, and I don’t intend to do so. I have no doubt that eventually, it won’t be much more dangerous to be on campus than to be alone in an open field (those red wasps? Very scary).

However, right now, with case counts in Dallas as high as they are, I don’t feel it is safe enough to return. Every reported illness may have untold multitudes of presymptomatic or asymptomatic infections behind it, and each of those is yet another transmission risk that might infiltrate the Hockaday community and the campus and in turn, to my family.

Gambling with lives is just too risky. Therefore, I will stay home.

Why I went back to school on Day 1

After debating risks, considering precautions, I chose to return to campus

W

hen my parents first asked me whether I wanted to go back to in-person school during the fall, I was originally quite hesitant after thinking about all the possible risks I was putting myself, my family and friends in with my decision. On one hand, the CDC specifically outlined on their website that while attending in-person school most definitely has benefits such as easier access to resources and a more social environment, there are also risks involved. These risks are something I heavily debated while making my decision, but in the end I decided to go back to school.

First, when compared to other high schools in the country, Hockaday not only has a smaller student body than the average high school, but also has larger facilities to allow students to adequately social distance. Also, class sizes for this school year are smaller with a limited number of students per Upper School classroom, allowing students to spread out more in the classroom setting and preventing transmission of the virus even further. Moreover, Hockaday requires each student to wear a double-layer mask throughout the

person environment, please do not day and follow the school-wide abuse these benefits and follow safe COVID-19 guidelines. protocol to protect everyone from With that being said, there the virus. are many academic benefits to One of the things that concerned returning to school. These include me the most being able to while making my engage in class ‘I believe it is a decision was the discussions faceof the to-face, having privilege to return thought people around easier access to conferencing to in-person classes me not taking the virus as with teachers and this fall, and I hope seriously as I do generally being in a more social the people around me and not socially distancing environment recognize outside of with less time on school. If you screens. However, this, too.’ are a student while I think it is returning to inimportant to make Erin Parolisi person classes for memories during Web Editor this school year, my senior year, please take the I most definitely severity of COVID-19 seriously and do not think that is as important as another person’s life. I acknowledge make decisions with the knowledge that I am not at high risk for having that you could negatively impact someone’s life as well as your a severe reaction if I got COVID-19, own. The reality that my senior but that has not stopped me from year is not going to be “normal” is taking many precautions for the something that has been upsetting people around me who might be at to everyone, and I recognize that, a higher risk. In-person learning but I also recognize that this is could be both safe and effective, a reality that we need to take but only if everyone is patient as seriously. well as appreciative that we have I believe that it is a privilege the opportunity to go back to to be able to return to in-person Hockaday at all. While there are classes this fall, and I hope that many benefits of learning in an in-

ERIN PAROLISI Web Editor the people around me recognize this too. Protecting the Hockaday community is a group effort, and the only way remaining in face-toface classes will work is if we all follow Hockaday and CDC protocol for returning to school. Finally, if at any point you are exposed to the virus or do not feel healthy, then do not go to in-person class. If at any point you feel unsafe attending in-person classes, then change back to virtual learning. While I hope we are able to continue face-toface classes throughout the year, I understand these times can be scary. I’m grateful we have distance learning to lean back on in case it becomes necessary, and I believe it’s something we should use to our advantage. With that in mind, attending in-person school this fall is the right choice for me.

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 EDITOR Sasha Schwimmer ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Katherine Grace Estes FEATURES EDITOR Charlotte Rogers ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Olivia Garcia ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS Maddie Stout and Hanna Zhang SPORTS CO-EDITORS Remy Finn and Lacy Green OPINIONS EDITOR Anna Gum ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR 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 FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

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 1,500 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 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 Stance on the views 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.

October 9, 2020

23

An education in safety

School enacts detailed plan to keep students healthy STAFF STANCE Our world is very different than it was six months ago. More than 33 million cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed and more than 200,000 people have died in the United States alone. Five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have mandated full or regional school closures.

Amid these drastic changes, Hockaday has effectively responded to the current climate. The school’s approach of opening the campus while also allowing a hybrid learning plan let students gain some sense of normalcy.

For one thing, humans are social beings. Drs. Dabney Ingram and Rebecca London wrote in a report for the education group Beyond Differences “humans are a social species” who “have an inherent need to feel connected to others and to feel like we belong with others.” In children, social isolation is linked to both mental and physical health effects. These mental effects include depression, increased anxiety, suicidal tendencies, lower self-esteem, and sleep disturbances. In fact, of 64 Hockaday seniors asked in a Groupme conversation, 50 percent reported sleeping worse than last year due to online school. Physical health effects include increased risk of substance abuse, higher risk of poor cardiovascular health, and a general worse physical health. Students need social interaction and staring at their computer for 6 hours a day was not providing them with these necessities.

In addition, Hockaday has maintained health guidelines to ensure student safety. Students wear masks at all times, except when eating lunch outside six feet apart. Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School have been divided into cohorts and do not interact throughout the day to ensure minimal contact. Arrival times have been staggered between the divisions and Upper School student drivers and non-drivers enter through different locations. Upon entry, each student must get their temperature checked along with a confirmation that their parents filled out a form on the SchoolPass app that they were healthy that day.

As students enter the school,

photo by Anna Connolly

The drill team follows mask and distancing guidelines during practice.

hand washing stations are dispersed throughout every building and hand sanitizer outside every classroom.

The hallways have been labeled with directional markers to keep students six feet apart and separated while walking in opposite directions. Each set of stairs has been designated as an “up” or “down” stairwell. Every desk in each classroom is six feet apart with an assigned seating chart in case of a possible contagion, in which case students would quickly be told of exposure. After each class, students wipe down their desks and work areas.

In science classrooms where the tables cannot be separated threefoot tall plastic barriers were put in the middle of the tables to separate students. Students can only go into the bathroom three at a time and leave their name tags by the door to let other students know they are inside. The water fountains have been locked down, replaced by water filling stations. Each cohort eats lunch in a different area with Upper School eating by advisory. For sports, students are required to wear masks and socially distance.

This is just a brief overview of the countless guidelines and health procedures Hockaday instated to ensuring the school was safe enough to reopen. The school has added a COVID-19 dashboard on the website to keep parents and students informed,

answer frequently asked questions and provide links to other resources.

Hockaday is more than prepared if an outbreak happens and doing everything possible to prevent that.

At this point, no students have tested positive for COVID-19 and only three students in all divisions are in quarantine due to possible exposure.

Hockaday is doing very well keeping its students safe.

As well, a hybrid learning plan allows permanent distance learners to still feel connected to the classroom. Currently, Upper School has 86 distance learners. The school accommodates them by installing cameras in classrooms. Distance learners can see the class from the front or behind. Students are live streamed to the class through Zoom and participate like any other student.

Distance learning or not, teachers make time to meet with any student.

Any school-wide or form assemblies or meetings are Zoom videos so all students can participate. While students may still feel somewhat disconnected by not being at school, Hockaday has made the transition as smooth as possible.

Through these measures Hockaday has been successful in adapting to an ever-changing and stressful situation.

The school has shown its resilience and ability to work with students during these difficult times.

What do you think?

“

Kendall Marchant ‘22 I think Hockaday has done a great job following the CDC guidelines.

One thing I think is particularly efficient in the new system is the daily temperature check. It’s super quick and easy, and it’s always fun to be greeted by my teachers in the morning!”

“

Caroline Warlick ‘24 I think Hockaday has done as much as they can to follow the COVID-19 restrictions and ensure the safety of each of us. I feel comfortable coming to school and I’m not worried about getting COVID because of the safety precautions enforced: social distancing, masks, and daily checkups.”

“

Ananya Sharma ‘22 I think they’re doing a pretty good job with the temperature checks and it’s going really smoothly. One thing is that social distancing isn’t really being followed that well, but I don’t really think that’s on Hockaday, that’s just something on the girls.”

THE

Fourcast

The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

24

The Fourcast

CASTOFF

October 9, 2020

2

1

6

Masked Movie Mixer

3

4

5

On September 12, Hockaday hosted an optional movie mixer for forms I through IV. The movie played for the students was “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

1. Senior Kemper Lowry enjoys a Popsicle at the movie mixer.

2, 3 & 6. Masked students watch the movie, practicing social distancing.

4. Seniors Kelsey Chen and Emily Stevenson stop at the check in location where their temperatures are taken.

5. Along with popcorn, Popsicles and water were provided.

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor