The Fourcast, April 2022

FOURCAST THE

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD

WHAT’S INSIDE

DALLAS, TX 75229

APRIL 12, 2022

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 5

TASTING TAPIOCA

RAIDING THE EAGLE’S NEST

RUNNING RECORDS

Bubble Tea Club leaders travel to OneZo Texas in Carrollton to taste and review the variety of boba pearl flavors.

Editor-in-Chief Maddie Stout and JADE Editor KG Estess spend a day as ESD students.

Sophie Isom ‘18 breaks Yale 400 meter relay track and field record.

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WORD GAMES Flip to pp.12-13 to read about their surge in popularity

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April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

02news

“

I think our parent community trusts the teachers to make good choices.”

Book Banning, p. 04

Coleman to step down

Head of School announces decision to leave Hockaday

By Anna Gum | Editor-in-Chief

E

ugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman will step down from her position as of the end of June. After five years serving as Head of School through challenges such as the fall 2019 tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic, she has decided to redirect her time toward her family as she considers her personal and professional goals. She announced the decision March 14.

“It has been a really transformational five years since I’ve been here,” Coleman said.

In working through the changes and challenges of the past few years, Coleman said she is proud of what she and the School have accomplished together. Remaining flexible and student-centered during COVID-19 remains at the top of her list of accomplishments.

“I’m proud of how we navigated through COVID as a community and communicated with our students and families,” Coleman said. “We were extremely deliberate about being flexible during this unpredictable time.”

Board of Trustees Chair Nicole Small ’91, in a letter to the Hockaday community, thanked Coleman for her “tireless service” and the progress the School realized under her leadership.

“Dr. Coleman developed and implemented The Hockaday Difference, an ambitious strategic plan, guiding advances in academic excellence and teaching innovation, student thriving, diversity, equity and inclusion and financial sustainability,” Small said.

“Her stewardship of the Athletics and Land Use plan, and its subsequent execution, has enabled a holistic approach to student wellness and honored our students’ ambition and accomplishments while remaining anchored in Hockaday’s Cornerstones.”

Coleman’s leadership resulting in the decision to offer an alternative to the historic graduation dress also reflects Hockaday’s commitment to inclusion and student wellness.

“I’m proud that we were willing to have those hard conversations because I think that’s what schools are all about,” Coleman said.

Small cited the long-term significance

of Coleman’s leadership.

“These efforts have benefited all the students who have been at Hockaday during this historic period, and they will continue to enhance an unparalleled Hockaday education and experience for generations to come,” Small said.

In addition to these accomplishments, Coleman credits Hockaday’s unique sense of community for making her time Dr. Karen Warren Coleman at the School so memorable.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked be amazing. I am finally following the with a more dedicated, extraordinary advice I often give to others!” group of faculty and staff and to watch Before she turns toward the future, them do what they do here is such a however, Coleman said she is fully privilege,” Coleman said. “It’s good to focused on Hockaday and its students love a place so much that it makes it until she steps down in June. As the really hard to leave.” school year nears its end, she shared a While it may be difficult to leave parting piece of advice she wishes to Hockaday behind, Coleman is excited to pass on to students before she leaves. explore a new chapter in her life.

“I want our students to understand “COVID raised a lot of questions that their lives will not follow a straight for so many people about personal or predetermined path,” Coleman priorities, and for me, it has become said, “and they should not be afraid of increasingly difficult to be so far away saying yes to novel opportunities and from family,” Coleman said. “Being able experiences, as that is often where the to commit more time to my family will most self-discovery happens.”

Skating spins out of control

Kamila Valieva competes despite positive drug test

By Melody Tian | Staff Writer

T

his year’s Beijing Winter Olympics were full of entertainment, stories of perseverance and of course, mascot Bing Dwen Dwen. However, the competition took an unexpected turn when the front-runner in women’s figure skating, 15-year-old Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva, tested positive for a banned substance at the Russian Figure Skating Championships on Christmas Day. All Russian athletes currently compete under the neutral name Russia Olympic Committee after receiving a two-year ban due to doping scandals.

NBC News reported that the banned substance in her system, trimetazidine, helps prevent angina, which is chest pain resulting from a lack of oxygen to the heart. Furthermore, it acts as a metabolic booster.

“Endurance is definitely a huge part of training,” said senior Lily Fu, a former six-year figure skater. “We trained physical endurance by running a lot to build stamina, and we did strength training as well.”

During the women’s competition, another report specified there were two other drugs in Valieva’s system, both considered to be legal.

“This definitely raises some questions about whether the cocktail of substances found in her system could affect her ability to perform a program with multiple quads,” said sophomore Emma Zhao, an avid Olympics fan.

In a controversial decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of allowing Valieva to compete even after her banned substance report.

It cited her age, 15 and under the protected athletes clause; “irreparable harm” to her mental health; and the untimely notification of the test result, as reasons for their decision.

Coach Laboris Bean, a proud advocate for clean sport, was part of the United States Anti-Doping Association in Colorado Springs where he did presentations for high schools about anti-doping. He was also a participant in the 2004 Olympic trials for track and field.

“Clean sport is so important because athletes only have four years to get to the highest platform,” Bean said, “It’s not fair because you dedicated so much time to prepare yourself only to face someone who used illegal supplements.”

Fu said she understands both sides of the situation and feels for all the athletes involved in the situation, including Valieva.

“I agree that a positive test is a positive test,” Fu said. “However, I’m

glad they were a little more flexible because she is only 15, and I feel like the coaches should have more of the responsibility.”

Valieva’s situation brought back memories of athlete Sha’Carri Richardson for Bean. According to NPR, Richardson tested positive for THC, the intoxicant in marijuana.

Richardson won the 100-meter race at the Olympic trials last summer but was denied the chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

“The incident which occurred with Richardson is pretty much identical to that of Valieva’s,” Bean said. “The anti-doping association needs to make sure they review that and realize that once they made that rule within track and field, they need to make that rule across the board for all sports.”

Former and current Olympic athletes have spoken up on social media about clean sport, including NBC figure skating commentators Terry Gannon, Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski. The most repeated concern was how Valieva’s case will affect the credibility of the International Olympic Committee and Court of Arbitration for Sport moving forward past this Olympic cycle.

“The saddest part of this entire situation is the fact that all of her hard work has either been overshadowed or entirely discredited due to this scandal,”

Kamila Valieva skating at the 2019 Junior Grand Prix Final Zhao said. “Not only does it affect her in the present, but it will continue to play a huge role in her identity in the future, outside of sports as well.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

news

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

CHECKING IN WITH

03

KATHRYN

HODGKINSON

SAT on a screen

Kathryn Hodgkinson, History Department chair, discusses new history courses and her favorite activities she enjoys outside of school.

The test will now be administered online

By Kailey Bergstedt | Staff Writer

Q. What are some of your main responsibilities as chair of the History Department?

College Counselor Micah Lyles expresses his opinion about the new SAT format and how it works.

By Katherine Grace Estess | Magazine Editor

T

he SAT is going on line. The previously paper-only college entrance exam will move from No. 2 pencils to computer screens as of 2024.

The standardized test will now consist of a shorter reading section, one less hour of testing, moving from three hours to two, and will allow calculators on the math section, a feature previously exclusive to the ACT. “The College Board has shared that each subject will be divided into two sections and the test is section-adaptive, meaning based on a student’s performance in the first section of the subject, an algorithm chooses the appropriate difficulty for the second section,” College Counselor Micah Lyles said.

This is supposed to allow for students to better show mastery of key skills on the test.

“The College Board, the organization behind the SAT, argues the test still plays a vital role in holistic admissions, and by going digital, the organization hopes the SATs will stay relevant,” host Steve Inskeep said recently on NPR. Some colleges, however, have already been moving away from standardized testing as a part of the college application process. More than 75% of all colleges in the United States are testoptional for the incoming class of 2026, according to FairTest Executive Director Bob Schaeffer.

Several of these colleges will permanently no longer require an ACT or SAT test score as part of their application requirements.

This statistic follows in the wake of the University of California eliminating SAT and ACT requirements as of November 2020. The largest four-year university system in the country, California State University, plans to follow suit.

Colleges introduced the choice to apply testoptional to their universities back in 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many students to attend school on line and made it far more difficult for those students to then venture to inperson testing sites for the SAT and ACT. Some are celebrating this move towards test-

A. I visit other teachers’ classes, coordinate substitute teachers, gather resources and materials the department needs and meet monthly with the Head of Upper School to discuss any issues or make any adjustments in the academic area. Ultimately, I try to support my teachers the best I can in any way possible.

Q. What are some of the biggest takeaways you hope students get through studying history?

A. I hope they do not so much take away facts and dates, but instead gain an understanding of the complexity of history. History can teach us about the world around us and explain why certain things happen the way they do.

Graphic by Molly McPhail

free application processes, as research shows they present a disadvantage for certain students.

“The test is a poor predictor of undergraduate success,” Schaeffer said. “The tests have demonstrable biases in terms of gender, in terms of language, in terms of special education students.”

Affluent students access tutors for the SAT and ACT, which explains why researchers Ezekiel J. Dixon-Roman and John J. Mcardle found that “wealthy students earn higher SAT scores compared to their low-income peers and that the difference in SAT scores between high- and lowincome students was twice as large among Black students compared to white students.”

Similarly, racial disparities are prevalent in the average scores of the SAT and ACT. “Students from families earning more than $200,000 a year average a combined score of 1,714, while students from families earning under $20,000 a year average a combined score of 1,326,” The Washington Post reported in 2014.

For these reasons, some educators argue that colleges should no longer require standardized tests as a part of the college admissions process.

Seventy-five percent of colleges agreed as of 2022.

“We will not know how colleges will adapt to the new format until a couple of years into the new administration of the exam and admissions offices have collected data for their upcoming classes,” Lyles said.

Q. What are some of the new history

courses for next year?

A. We as a department are so excited about these new courses. Dr. [Wesley] Lummus will be teaching a new senior seminar on the Middle East, and we have made several changes to the juniors’ US History courses. We are still offering APUSH but have added a Social Impact course and three honors courses.

These honors courses focus on women, law and foreign policy and international relations, respectively. We wanted to offer alternatives to APUSH that were honors level classes but were not so restricted by the College Board and allowed some of the teachers to delve into areas that interest them and the students.

Q. What are some of your favorite things to

do outside of teaching?

A. I frequently listen to audiobooks, especially mysteries. I love going to the movies and will watch pretty much any kind of movie except a horror movie. I also spend a lot of time with family, as my brother and sister live right next door to me, and catch up with friends I do not get to see as often.

TIDBITS & TALES What’s new on campus?

Coffeehouse

Hockaday and St. Mark’s Upper School students attended Outback Steak Coffeehouse March 5 in the theater. They dressed in Australian outback inspired outfits to fit the theme. Performances included singing, dancing, improv and a poetry recitation.

Stuco elections

Student Council executive and board position elections took place during conference and Y period on March 10. Form I, II and III students gathered in the theater to listen to candidates’ speeches. They then elected the executive student council leaders and board chairs via a Microsoft form.

Boat dedication

The athletic department dedicated a new crew boat to manager Libby Hill ‘22 on March 22, naming it the Ann Elizabeth Hill. Hill’s teammates nominated and voted to honor her with the new double. During the dedication ceremony, her teammates and coaches described her dedication to the team. The ceremony concluded with the seniors pouring a bottle of champagne across the bow.

Photos by Camille Green and Kailey Bergstedt

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April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

BOOK POLICY

HELPS NAVIGATE

CONTROVERSY

Hockaday’s selection process helps to avoid removing books from shelves

By Jane Clark | Views Editor

A

s activists across the country push to ban books in school libraries and classrooms, specifically on topics surrounding critical race theory and sexuality, educational leaders face difficult decisions.

Hockaday, however, has processes in place to deal with these complaints and respond to requests.

Books such as “Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice,” a collection of poems by women of color, “When Wilma Rudolf Played Basketball”

by Mark Weakland, “L8r, G8r,” by Lauren Myracle, have been formally requested to be removed from school libraries in Dallas suburbs.

The objections cited were racial prejudice, sexual explicitness and promotion of terrorism.

Texas legislators have passed a law outlining the way teachers should instruct students on subjects of race and gender. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed education regulators in Texas to investigate the books in public schools, citing as a concern the availability of pornography.

Opponents argue this is an excuse for books on gender and racial issues to be kept from children’s eyes.

Public library practices Public libraries in Dallas, not affected by the law, self-judge what should be in their selection of books.

“It becomes a question of where the item is shelved, children’s area or adult area or behind a desk,” said Melissa Dease, Communications & Youth Services administrator at the Dallas Public Library.

Recently the Dallas Public Library has had to deal with some complaints.

“Our policy includes a form for the complainant to fill out, then a review team considers the complaint as well as considering the merit of the material,” Dease said. “People who live here understand that we serve a very diverse population with a wide range of interests and experiences, and our collection reflects that.”

Hockaday policies Similarly, Hockaday has systems in place to avoid this controversy and book banning has not been a pressing matter in the Upper School.

The librarians and English and history departments work to curate the curriculum with educational literature avoiding obscenity.

“Included in the libraries’ collection development policy is the process by which all challenged materials are handled, beginning

Graphic by Meera Thamaran

with discussions between the challenging party and the librarians, as well as division heads if necessary,” librarian Corey Lott said. “Should the concerned individual wish to file a formal challenge, a copy of the Collection Development Policy and a Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form is delivered to the challenging party.”

Within 10 days of request form, a committee including the Division Head, school counselor and librarians will examine the book, read professional reviews determining its professional acceptance and weigh the value and faults of the resource holistically.

The committee will discuss the book considering the school’s curriculum and mission and discuss it with the concerned individual, finally preparing a written report to be retained by Lott, the Director of Libraries and Academic Research.

Although these policies are in place, Hockaday seems to have stayed out of many conflicts regarding the content in class.

Parental trust “I think our parent community trusts the teachers to make good choices,” said Janet Bilhartz, English department chair.

The majority of the Upper School will not be reading books in English with adult content with

the exception of senior seminars, Bilhartz said. However, by this age, the students can handle the more mature literature.

“I remember a work of literature that we taught in the year 1999 or 2000, a long time ago, that was in an honors English class,” Bilhartz said. “The headmistress at the time responded to the parent very politely by saying that’s the book they read in the Honors English class and if you’re troubled by it, your daughter may move into the regular English class and they don’t read that book there.”

The English department looks out for the most controversial contents.

“The most controversial would be racial language and as I said, we’re usually pretty careful with things such as we don’t teach sexually explicit literature to younger students,” Bilhartz said.

Adding new books Apart from examining current books, parents and alumnae have advocated adding books to the curriculum as well.

“In the wake of the George Floyd movement a couple of years ago, we had alumnae reaching out to the school as a whole about their desire for Hockaday to represent through what it teaches, and its faculty and its students, the diversity of America today,” Bilhartz said.

The English department is currently looking at adding another book to the curriculum that pays attention to the need for diversified authors and content.

“I think we have done a good job with that for a long time, but it doesn’t mean we couldn’t do a better job and we’re looking at our curriculum all the time,” Bilhartz said.

Encouraging discussion The English department recognizes the importance that all members of the school community feel welcome to bring up questions and concerns to the teachers.

“We value the voices and perspectives of parents, students and other members of our community,” Upper School English teacher Jason Goldstein said. “We all have different experiences, and discussion can promote understanding and empathy.”

Faculty deliberate over books and the purpose they will serve for the students before they are added to the class.

“When it comes to questionable moments or controversial topics, we consider the teaching opportunities that they may offer,” Goldstein said. “How can these questionable moments or controversial topics inspire discussion, reflection and ultimately, understanding? How do these texts help to raise awareness of prejudice and injustice?”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

news

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

05

Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons

YOUR WORLD TODAY

‘The United States, the European Union and other countries have turned to sanctions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.’

A protestor in Russia expresses their discontent with the war

Ukranian, Russian War

Recap of events since Russian attack on Ukraine

By Libby Hill | Managing Editor

S

teadily rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated to full-scale war in the past few weeks, mimicking a scene that feels similar to the Cold War era.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Buildup to the action began weeks prior due to tensions that date back to the early 2000s, and forces had been gaining positions to be ready to invade Ukraine in strategic areas.

Nearly four million people have since fled Ukraine as refugees,

entering neighboring countries, according to the Associated Press.

Poland has received the bulk of the refugees.

Since the start of the increased shelling and fighting, Russia has taken a strategic and severe aim at Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital and highest-populated city, with 2,900,000 residents.

Ukraine first declared independence from the Soviet Union in July 1990, when authorities from the newly formed Ukranian parliament recalled their soldiers from other areas of

the USSR and voted to shut down the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. They fully gained their independence in December of 1990.

As reported on NPR, Ukraine agreed in 1994 to trade away its intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear infrastructure to three countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia - on the terms the countries would “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.”

In 2014, fighting from Russian troops broke out in Donbas, near

the Ukrainian border. In September of that year, Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany signed the Minsk agreement, a cease-fire agreement between Ukraine and Russia. The agreement was broken within the year, and fighting continued.

Russia continued to strike at Ukraine, inflicting a power grid attack that caused a major blackout in Kyiv in 2016. In 2017, the National Bank of Ukraine’s electrical grid was under attack.

Russia’s cyberattacks against Ukraine have continued to this day.

In November 2021, Russia renewed its troop presence along the Russia-Ukraine border, which alarmed U.S. intelligence officials.

President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a call soon afterward, urging him not to invade Ukraine.

Since then, Putin has invaded Ukraine and started large-scale fighting across the country, quickly turning the peaceful country into a war zone.

The United States, the European Union and other countries have turned to sanctions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

President Biden announced the first sanctions on Feb. 22 and has expanded them since.

A U.S. move to remove Russian banks from the SWIFT financial system, effectively cutting off their ability to complete international financial transactions, was backed by the European Commission, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy. The United States has enacted a ban on Russian oil, coal and natural gas and normal trade relations have been shut down.

LOOKING FOURWARD

Choir Concert April 11-12

Spring Dance Concert April 27

Spring SPC April 28-30

Photos provided by Caroline Bush

April 12, 2022

THE

06arts & life

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

“

“if jesus saves, she’s my type” is perfect for driving.”

Role Model might be my type, p. 8

ISAS reimagined Arts festival returns live, with some format changes

By Lacy Green | Staff Writer On April 8, students from across the Southwest reunited for the first ISAS Festival in two years. The festival, held at Parish Episcopal and the Greenhill School, welcomed Hockaday representatives to showcase their visual and performing arts talents.

A

fter two years of canceled events, the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest Arts Festival returned in a new format.

This year’s smaller ISAS Festival was held April 8 at Greenhill School and Parish Episcopal School.

In the past, the event spanned over three days and included schools from five states showcasing their fine arts.

Workshops, critiques and coffeehouses could be found at a typical ISAS and almost all of those were present this year.

In addition to the change in scope, there were none of the usual workshops for the visual arts. Instead, the visual artists engaged in critiques by teachers from other schools. Upper School ceramics teacher Paige Furr critiqued the ceramics work of other attending schools.

Although Furr is new to Hockaday, she is experienced with critiquing and ISAS as a whole. While teaching at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she critiqued work when Hockaday hosted ISAS in 2004. Furr said she looked forward to experiencing another ISAS event.

“I’m most excited to be at Greenhill

“ISAS is so much fun, and I have missed it.”

Melissa Dodson Fine Arts Board chair

with our girls and show what we’ve been able to do this year,” Furr said.

On the other hand, some teachers like Upper School Photography teacher, Ciara Bryant, had never attended an ISAS festival and were eager for the new experience. Bryant was anticipating the opportunity to observe what teachers from other schools are teaching their photography students and to gain a better understanding of the ISAS community.

“I’m excited to see what the actual visual arts community is, especially within the ISAS group,” Bryant said.

The Fine Arts Board, chaired by senior Melissa Dodson, also was eager to return to normal festivities.

“I’m just excited to see all of the art that Hockaday students have made,” Dodson said. “ISAS is so much fun and I have missed it.”

ISAS attendees from various schools came together for an outdoor concert at a past festival.

Hockadance does a contemporary routine at ISAS 2018.

Hockadance performs at ISAS 2019.

Photos by Yearbook Staff

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

07

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

arts & life

Doubling down on dresses As spring events arrive, the search goes on

By Melody Hu | Arts and Life Editor

Photos by Melody Hu

Finding the perfect dress for a special occasion can be a daunting task. Fit, color, style and price are all aspects to consider when finding “the dress.” With peak formal dress shopping season underway, it is time to highlight some of the best places to buy dresses. Whether you are looking for a simple, monochrome dress or a unique, sequined dress, these recommendations from four members of the Upper School have you covered.

Princess Polly The Estelle Dress

Nordstrom The Amiya Sequin Dress

Selfie Leslie

The Shea Ruched Dress

Revolve

The Anastasia Dress

Princess Polly offers a variety of stylish and trendy dresses for an affordable price. The store also ships within two to three days and has a great return policy. If you are looking for a last-minute dress you will love, Princess Polly is the perfect place!

Nordstrom is one of the best places to buy dresses, as they have both online and in-person stores. They have a wide selection of dresses for different styles and price points.

Nordstrom also sells jewelry and shoes, making it easy to find everything you need in one place.

Known for its girl-next-door meets boho-chic style, Selfie Leslie is a popular Australian boutique. It has a great selection of flirty and feminine dresses, complete with different silhouettes and fits. Selfie Leslie also has a variety of accessories to complement your dress.

Revolve is known for its extensive selection of dresses and is a go-to for many students. Its lineup boasts over 500 different brands, with their own signature styles and price points. Revolve also has some of the best shipping times, with most dresses arriving in two to three days.

“I really love this brand because they have super cute stuff for a great price,” freshman Ellie Nerenberg said. “Also, my dress came in only a few days, which is great.”

“I like my dress because it’s unique and different,” junior Alex Habimana said. “I don’t have to worry about another girl wearing the same dress as me.”

“I really loved my dress because the silhouette was very flattering and made me feel confident!” sophomore Alexandra Dassopoulos said.

“I like my dress because it is very colorful and different from any other dress I have worn,” junior Mia Carley said. “I also love it how it makes me feel super confident.”

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Writing her own narrative

Co-founder of Daisy Fiction Writers shares her creative writing journey

By Caroline Bush | Staff Writer Words flow from pencil to page as junior Libby Warren’s brain overflows with ideas for her next story. Her process is sporadic, and she oftentimes finds herself writing down random thoughts wherever inspiration sparks.

“I like to either write down in my phone or on paper ideas that pop into my head throughout the day,” Warren said. “Sometimes there’s a specific theme I focus my attention on.”

Warren started submitting stories to Scholastic when she was in the fifth grade, which led her to find her passion for writing memoirs. Recently, she even submitted a memoir titled “El Xbox,” to the 2021 New York Times Student Narrative Contest for which she was named a runner up. The memoir focuses on an experience from when she was around 9 years old.

Writing is not always an easy process, and Warren is certainly not a stranger to a writer’s number one enemy: writer’s block. When she finds herself in this situation, she pushes through by forcing herself to write whatever she can find in her mind, even if it’s just a recap of what she ate for lunch.

“If you don’t see anything in there at the moment, maybe a couple weeks down the road there could be something worth using,” Warren said.

At school, Warren is a regular visitor and member of the Writing Center, where she shares her

work with Writing Center instructor Lisa Fisher to receive advice and edits.

“Libby was one of the first students to use the Writing Center during its inaugural year, and she continues to use our resources for her analytical and creative writing projects,” Ms. Fisher said.

This year, junior Madeline Chun reached out to Warren to see if she wanted to start a creative writing club. The girls got together and started the group Daisy Fiction Writers to inspire a passion for fiction writing within the community.

“Basically, it’s just an open workshop for anyone who’s interested in creative writing in the Hockaday Upper School to come and engage in workshops, exercises, fun prompts, games, stuff like that,” Chun said.

Warren and Chun hope to host or participate in a writing contest this year in the Hockaday or Dallas community. The group has about 15 members, and students come and go when time allows.

Meetings normally center around a theme.

“In our latest meeting, we had our members write the same story from two different perspectives to show the power of what lens you’re looking through,” Warren said.

Inspired by those around her – close friends or strangers – Warren wrote her way through a sports injury toward the beginning of COVID-19. She

said she wants Daisy Fiction Writers to be a place where students can learn to express themselves through creativity in their writing when it feels like they have nowhere else to turn to.

“Sometimes when your body cannot accomplish certain things, writing shows the power of your mind, and you are much more than just a body,” Warren said.

READ ONE OF LIBBY’S STORIES:

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April 12, 2022

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THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE ON THE SCREEN

reviews Bats for “The Batman”

The Batman’s Star-Studded Cast

Matt Reeves’ film proves a worthy installment in the longtime Batman franchise stars

By Zoya Haq | Arts & Life Editor

When I walked into Inwood Theater at 2 p.m. to watch Matt Reeves’ new film, “The Batman”, I didn’t know what to expect. Would the movie be like the Batman flics of yore, action-packed epics like George Clooney’s and Michael Keaton’s legendary installments?

Would it succeed at carving the same intricate arc as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy? Would Robert Pattinson, “The Batman”’s leading man, join Affleck and Bale in the coveted Batman hall of fame, or slip through the cracks as just another one of the franchise’s many Caped Crusaders?

“The Batman” follows Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne’s journey as, well, The Batman, a masked vigilante in NYCinspired Gotham. Over the course of the movie’s drawn-out runtime - over 2 hours and 50 minutes - Batman collaborates with “good cop” Jim Gordon to track down The Riddler, a sadistic killer (and orphan, like Wayne) who is working to expose Gotham’s corruption via… questionable means, such as murder and mass destruction.

Batman also partners with Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle - otherwise known as Catwoman - to both stop The Riddler and to save Kyle’s friend Annika Kosolov. Fight scenes, seedy interactions and, of course, a Batmobile car chase

5 stars

By Libby Hill | Managing Editor

I’ve been begging to do this review for a long time – begging both the universe for Role Model to release a new album and for the editors to let me write the review about it. And now the time has come.

Surprisingly enough, I first learned about Role Model because of Emma Chamberlain.

She’s just another one of my

scene root the movie in a feeling of suspension. In “The Batman”, you never really know what’s going to happen next.

Director Matt Reeves’ film pays homage to past Batman installments via snapshot scenes and well-known lines, choices that capture viewers and create an air of nostalgia. But the movie’s biggest success is not its plotline (it’s the typical one you’d expect from a Batman movie) or its dramatized script. Rather, it is Pattinson’s masterful rendition of the complicated and brooding Bruce Wayne/Batman duo.

Pattinson’s acting roots Wayne in Batman and roots Batman in Wayne. In other words, Pattinson succeeds at creating a hero who is truly recognizable as both his real

self and as his alter ego. Batman’s mannerisms, decisions and actions naturally complement his identity as Wayne, which helps to create a dynamic and cohesive experience for viewers.

Pattinson’s iteration, then, really does do Batman justice.

Complementing Pattinson’s acting is Reeves’ aesthetic rendering of Gotham.

The shadowy, Underworld-esque clips and scenes pull viewers in, immersing them in the dark maze of the dystopian city.

Not to mention that “The Batman” completely changed my view of Nirvana’s Something in the Way. Now, whenever the song comes on the radio, I won’t picture Kurt Cobain: I’ll picture the dramatic, cloudy world of Reeves’ Gotham.

Without a doubt, “The Batman” proved successful at paying tribute to a beloved character and at forging Pattinson a legacy separate from his role as Edward Cullen in Twilight.

Now, Pattinson joins Clooney, Keaton, Bale and Affleck in the coveted role of “former successful Batman actor.”

Where will this position take him next? DC has yet to decide, but it’s unfortunately likely that Pattinson won’t return for a future film as millionaire Bruce Wayne.

All in all, while it may have been long, and at times slow, “The Batman” is a worthy installment in the longtime Batman franchise. If you’re ever in a brooding mood, or if you just want an excuse to smudge your eyeliner, I have just the plan for you - switch on “The Batman.”

Robert Pattinson

Zoe Kravitz

Colin Farrell Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons

ON THE RECORD

Role Model might be my type Artist’s latest single marks start of new era

obsessions, so when I learned she was dating Tucker Pillsbury, aka Role Model, I decided to listen to some of his music. I was pleasantly surprised and I became a

fangirl, you could say.

I listen to most of my music while I’m driving, so if it earns a high rating from me it’s typically because a song is easy for me to listen to.

This song, “if jesus saves, she’s my type” is perfect for driving. The lyrics are easy to remember, easy to sing along to, and set to a happy tune. After a couple of listens, I was able to sing every word (a very important criteria in my book.) It’s a good length for a song like that – 3 minutes, 37 seconds.

This song is the first single release from Role Model’s new album, and it made my expectations high for the rest.

The rest of the album is set to be released on April 8 – and trust me, I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat to listen to it.

Role Model’s upcoming album, Rx.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

5

09

Tasting Tapioca

stars

W

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

arts & life

OneZo Texas designs delicious boba pearl flavors 4060 TX-121 Suite 128, Carrollton, TX 75010

By Remy Finn and Hanna Zhang | Sports Editor and Copy Editor

We all know about the variety of different flavored teas that are found in bubble tea stores: classic, brown sugar, taro, earl grey- the list goes on. But what would it taste like if the tapioca pearls themselves were flavored? What if a place made black sesame boba? White chocolate boba? Matcha boba? Well, a store in Carrollton called OneZo Texas actually does sell these flavors of tapioca pearls and more. Naturally, your Bubble Tea Club leaders

set out to see if this place and its boba really deserve all of the hype.

As we entered, we immediately noticed the cozy and clean ambience of the store. There were ample decorations lining the store walls, but what popped out the most were the colorful sticky notes covering a glass wall. OneZo values community engagement, so not only do they host raffles, giveaways and collaborations weekly, there is also a wall for customers to write down notes or drawings on sticky notes. Behind the glass wall, we could even catch a peek of the machinery used to make the delicious boba. OneZo chain is the first cafe in the world to make their boba in-store, which allows them to get creative and design different flavors in addition to the regular brown sugar boba found in most bubble tea shops.

The tapioca flavors change each week, so the three tapioca flavors for that day were brown sugar, panda honey, and banana. We were hesitant to try the latter two flavors in a drink, but fortunately the staff allowed us to sample the boba in a small container.

The panda honey was a half-black, half-white tapioca ball; the honey flavor was really well soaked into the tapioca and the texture was perfect.

The banana boba made us nervous at the beginning,

but after trying it we realized that the flavor was surprisingly tasty and very well constructed.

That being said, we decided that this flavor would work better in a fruity drink instead of something like a milk tea. Taking all this into consideration, we rated the panda honey boba a ten out of ten, and the banana boba an eight out of ten. In general, their homemade tapioca balls varied somewhat from the usual kind found in stores like Fat Straws or Gong Cha, and we both found the slightly larger and more squishy boba to be delicious and highly enjoyable.

Moving on to the drinks, we ordered the classic black milk tea and a strawberry milk with a sesame cream, both drinks with their fresh brown sugar boba. The mounted menus were somewhat difficult to navigate at first glance, but we had planned ahead and scouted out their Instagram account so we would know what to order. Even though the store was quite busy, the staff were friendly and finished making our drinks almost immediately. The only downside about OneZo Texas that we discovered were location and price. OneZo is located to the north of Carrollton, so for those living next to Hockaday as a general reference, it took us about half an hour on the highway to get there.

Also, the pricing, even though we were drinking freshly made boba, was a bit high. They only have one cup size there, which is around a 16-ounce size cup, but the milk tea was $4.75 to $5 while the strawberry milk was almost $7.

All in all, we found that the drinks were all very delicious and the boba flavors delectable.

While we thoroughly enjoyed our time there, we are a bit hesitant to return due to its distance from school and our homes. If you live near Carrollton, however, or are willing to make the drive, we highly recommend that you check OneZo Texas out; you won’t regret it.

Photos by Hanna Zhang and Remy Finn

FROM

HANNA AND REMY’S KITCHEN

Ingredients:

Instructions:

•

Boba Pearls 1. In a small pot, heat the water and dissolve brown sugar over low heat.

Make sure the sugar is dissolved.

Heat the liquid to a boil and then reduce to low heat. Now, add 1/2 of the tapioca starch in and mix quickly. Turn off the heat and add the remaining 1/2 of the tapioca starch. Mix until gathered.

2. Place the remaining flour on a board. Transfer the smooth paste and knead into a dough. Continue kneading until smooth.

• • • • • •

1 cup tapioca starch 6 tbsp. water 60 g brown sugar 4 cups milk 1 cup brown sugar 1 brown sugar slab 100 ml water

3. Divide the dough into 4 portions.

Remember to cover the other three with a plastic bag. Then shape one portion into a long log (around 1.5 cm in diameter) and cut the log into small cubes.

4. Round each small square into a small ball.

5. On a large plate, spread some flour and coat each ball with it.

Sugar Syrup 6. In a small pot, melt 2 slices of brown sugar slab and 1cup brown sugar with 100ml water. Heat until

there are large bubbles.

How to Cook the Boba Pearls 7. Heat a large pot of water and cook the pearls for 20 to 30 minutes.

Then transfer the balls into cold water. Wash under running water.

Drain and mix with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup or honey.

How to Assemble 8. Drizzle some brown sugar syrup in a serving cup. Place boba pearls in the cup and pour in milk. Shake or stir before enjoying your drink.

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April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

THE

Tik Tok beauty fads

Are these trendy products worth it?

By Lea Whitley | Castoff Editor

It’s a fact that TikTok influences teenage girls. But as a shopaholic scrolling through a For You Page perfectly catered toward all of my beauty wants and needs, the app’s influence on my spending habits becomes a little bit dangerous. I’ve tried almost every viral TikTok beauty product out there, so I’m here to tell you which fads are worth your money and which products should’ve stayed in the drafts.

1

Dior Lip Glow

This luxury brand lip gloss sold out on all beauty websites practically overnight, and I have mixed feelings about it. I got my hands on it once it became available on the Dior website and, as an avid lip gloss wearer, I love it. It has a thicker consistency than any lip gloss I’ve ever tried and it leaves your lips super shiny. I have let friends borrow it who complain that it’s too sticky and uncomfortable on the lips, though. Those who don’t like the feeling of lip gloss should probably steer clear of this one.

2

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup

If you’re even slightly on the beauty side of TikTok, I’m sure you can picture what I’m talking about when I reference the Charlotte Tilbury contour and blush wands. Just like the lip gloss, these wands sold out in a matter of seconds, so I waited the trend out for a bit and got them online when they restocked. I was disappointed when the contour wand was the first TikTok product I truly didn’t like. The packaging made the product spill into the cap, turning my makeup bag into a hot mess, and the product was too pigmented on my skin tone, leaving me pretty patchy. The blush wand, on the other hand, did meet my expectations and I still use it almost daily. If you like a beachy blushed glow from your makeup, I’d definitely recommend it.

3

Dyson Airwrap

This opinion will be controversial, but for me, I believe the Dyson airwrap is 1000% worth its hype. I specify for myself because I do think the Dyson is not worth the hefty price tag if you were already born with a head that never has a bad hair day. I myself have naturally wavy, frizzy, and color-damaged locks, so blowing my hair out efficiently with the Dyson has already saved me a ton of time (and money I would’ve been spending at the drybar). So my advice is if you’re considering the Dyson, take time to think about whether your hair type will make the price worth it.

4

Gua Sha

I remember scrolling through TikTok one afternoon during a free period and watching a video of a young girl showing before and after pictures using a Gua Sha facial massager daily. I immediately ran to Amazon and bought the cheapest one I could find (which in hindsight, may have been the reason why I didn’t like it). For about a week, I rubbed the pink, jagged rock up and down my cheekbones, nose and forehead for 10 minutes before bed. As the impatient person I am, when I didn’t see results from those seven days, I gave up and tossed the tool in the drawer. I’m not sure if this one’s a true fad or if I just used it wrong, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

AND FROM

HARPER’S THOUGHTS

Staff Writer Harper Harris loves pop culture – and she’s here to tell us what we should know right now.

Celebrity breakups are usually messy, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s has been nothing but it.

After being together for ten years, Kardashian filed for divorce in February of 2021. Only recently West has taken his feelings to Instagram about their split. West is usually very quiet on social media, but now he is all some users see on their timelines.

West’s first post regarding his divorce was posted on Feb. 4, 2022. He was posting about his daughter, North, and her safety on Tik Tok. Then he posted a photo of his now estranged family with the caption, “GOD PLEASE BRING OUR FAMILY BACK TOGETHER.” West has also used his social media to target Kardashian’s new boyfriend, SNL actor Pete Davidson. West posted multiple posts calling Davidson, “Skete,” and mocking him.

I find this hilarious because West has gone through multiple girlfriends since his split with Kardashian. His most infamous ‘rebound’ was arguably with actress Julia Fox. After going on the notorious ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast to explain her connection with West, their month-long relationship ended.

Right after this, West moved on to multiple other girls that look exactly like Kardashian.

It is unhealthy and inappropriate for West to be using his large social media platform to be sharing his and Kardashian’s personal conversations. Posting everything about his personal thoughts and feelings about Kardashian and their split solidifies her decision to leave him.

Kardashian and West have three children together, and he is not making this breakup easy for his kids by making everything public.

West has been public about his struggle with his mental health, especially Bipolar Disorder. I praise him for being so open about it, but just because West struggles with a mental health problem does not mean he has to act so inappropriately online.

After a week-long of constant posts from West, he deleted all of his posts. I like that he decided to delete them, but it does not erase the permanent damage he has brought to his family. West needs to apologize and realize that he is going to be divorced from Kardashian, but realize that it is okay that their relationship has ended.

Creative Commons

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

arts & life

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

SLICKER 1

11

2

1

TESTING THE TRAILS Running routes ranked by safety, shade, surface As the weather gets warmer and people flock outside, here are the best (and worst) trails to try based on safety, surface and shade.

1

2

3 3

4

White Rock Lake Trail 8300 East Lawther Drive Dallas, TX, 75218 Flaunting a pleasant and shaded view of the lake, White Rock Lake offers an easily accessible run location complete with a dog park, adjacent hills, and many safety trail signs.

Katy Trail 3505 Maple Avenue Dallas, TX 75219 With police supervision, quick access to restaurants, lots of trees and both concrete and track surfaces, the Katy Trail offers comfort and safety.

4

Glencoe Park Trail 3700 Glencoe Street Street Dallas, TX 75206 Extending along the DART station, Glencoe Park Trail challenges runners with its hard hills and induces tears with its sketchy pathways and disorienting turns.

Northaven Trail 7940 Northaven Road Dallas, TX 75229 Lacking any and all shade, the Northaven Trail is in a safe, public location but is equipped with rough surfaces and uneven footing.

Caroline Petrikas | Photo and Graphics Editor

Photos by Caroline Petrikas

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THE FOURCAST |April 12, 2022 THE FOURCAST | April 12, 2022

What’s The on...

Word

THE

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

W O R D

By Zoya Haq | Arts & Life Editor and Ambyr Baker | Staff Writer Illustrations by Amber Li

When you enter a classroom, you expect to see the typical culprits on students’ screens — OneNote, Word documents, Gizmos and Outlook inboxes. But there’s a new (and more distracting) pastime on the rise: word games. The meteoric rise of Wordle, a game created by UK-based innovator Josh Wardle, has inspired an online crossword and puzzle renaissance, one that has become especially prevalent among Hockaday students.

Mental Stimulation Playing word games on a daily basis can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years, according to a study published in the journal Neurology. When considered alongside the fact that word games (and other cognitively stimulating games, like

“Word games are like a logic puzzle. They appeal to different skills in the brain.”

Dr. Claire Cothren, English Department

Sudoku) can heighten memory, reason and attention skills, it is certain word games are a smart choice for those looking to keep their brains healthy.

Furthermore, word games are proven to enrich vocabulary and bolster language skills, according to the Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research.

Especially when it comes to Wordle, students have noticed the language enrichment opportunities word games provide.

“There have been some words that I didn’t really understand. So my friends

and I are like, what does this mean?” junior Josie Agnew said. “We’ll then look up the definition, and, honestly, it might be extending my vocabulary a little bit.”

Form III English teacher Dr. Claire Cothren noted the benefits of word games resonate both inside and outside the classroom.

“Word games are like a logic puzzle,” Cothren said. “They help you to not only remember vocabulary, but to refresh your trivia skills.”

Word Games @ Hockaday

While word games’ popularity has soared globally in the past two months, some argue it has especially surged at Hockaday. Students like junior Lauren Kocurek have noticed this phenomenon shine through within their peer groups, specifically.

“People at Hockaday are very competitive,” Kocurek said. “A really simple way people like to channel that is word games.”

Kocurek added that Wordle, more so than other games, has united her friend group in a form of healthy competition.

“My friends and I talk about the Wordle every day, and we always compare how many tries it took to get it,” Kocurek said.

Not all competition is healthy, though. To alleviate the occasional stress that has come to accompany games like “Wordle,” “Taylordle,” and “Quordle,”

Form III English teacher Dr. Cothren plays word games with her morning classes.

“A lot of people play word games competitively,” Cothren said. “But if you play it in a community setting, like a classroom, that dynamic changes in a really nice way. Everybody is working together to reason through what the word might be, and they feel happy and energized.”

Routines & Strategy As the popularity of word games increases, students accordingly adapt their routines to incorporate puzzles.

Junior Josie Agnew said word games add an extra spark of life to a typical day.

“Sometimes I play it right at midnight when it comes out,” Agnew said. “But I try my best to wait until the morning because it gives me something to look forward to.”

Whereas Agnew plays word games as a hobby, students like junior Olivia Park play for their love of competition.

Playing several variations of Wordle, Park has cultivated a specific technique for winning every game.

“First, I warm up for the Quordle with Wordle,” Park said. “And then I use the Quordle as my warmup for

the Octordle.”

As the name suggests, the Quordle is similar to Wordle, but utilizes four word puzzles at the same time. The objective of the Octordle is similar, but solving eight simultaneously.

“I have three starter words for my Octordle,” Park said. “I use ocean, fight and a random final word that incorporates the remaining letters I have.”

From there, Park goes to the word that has the most correct letters, then continues down the line.

“I go in this order to build momentum for the last word, and then by that time, I have most of the puzzle solved,” she said.

While calculated strategy may be Park’s preferred route, Agnew concludes

“Let the spirit of Wordle overtake you.”

Olivia Park, junior success on Wordle is a matter of chance.

“Wordle is a game of luck and solely depends on how many of the right letters you get on your first try,” Agnew said. “This game takes some strategy, but is not really about how good you are.”

In the end, whether your personal goal is to challenge your friends or just yourself, consistent word game practice can only help in the long run.

“Let the spirit of Wordle overtake you,” Park said.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

infocus

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

13

G A M E S QUICK STATS

Based on a survey of 204 Hockaday students...

45%

play word games on a daily basis

play Wordle

90%

75%

Average win rate on Wordle

Play The Fourcast’s Hockaday-themed Wordle!

Graphic by Amber Li

STUDENTS’ FAVORITE STARTER WORDS

A U D

I

A D

I

E U

A L

I

V E

R A

I

S

ACROSS 4. Day 6 attire 6. Debatably half a mile from school entrance; home base of sophomores and juniors 7. Hallmarks of Hockaday 9. Teams in Middle School competition 12. Overflows whenever a major paper due date is coming up 14. Our ferocious mascot 17. Coveted drink, served only at Hockaday events 18. Founder 20. The quintessential Hockaday pattern

O

E DOWN 1. Held every September; home of candy, waving signs, and Taylor Swift Fan Club 2. A shade of green & our favorite dining service 3. Protect The __________ 5. Hockaday students’ go-to backpack brand 8. Now retired pair of shoes 10. Infamous among juniors 11. Gone, but never forgotten 13. Lunch spot close to residence halls 15. Don’t forget to water it!

16. Once an Upper School tradition - where’d it go?

19. Tri-annual sports competition

Scan the QR code above.

April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

14features

“

I help bring integration into classrooms” —Candace Townsley A Day in the Life, p. 16

Daisies raid the Eagle’s nest

Members of The Fourcast staff spend day at Episcopal School of Dallas

By Maddie Stout | Editor in Chief

I

t’s no secret that each Dallas school has a distinct reputation.

Talking about Greenhill, Ursuline, St. Mark’s or ESD all yield a separate reaction and different assumptions about the student experience. But, as any good journalist would agree, the only way to tell the true story is to experience it firsthand. For that reason, JADE Editor KG Estess and I decided to take matters into our own hands: we spent an entire day as students at the Episcopal School of Dallas, and now we’re back to share what we found.

Led by Eagle Edition Co-Editors Emily Lichty and Gina Montagna, the two of us participated in classes, went off-campus for lunch and attended chapel just like any other Eagle. As a Lifer at Hockaday, I was especially interested to experience life at a co-educational school, something I had never done before.

MORNING CLASSES We began our day at 8:40, putting last-minute touches on ESD’s newspaper The Eagle Edition.

Similarly to working on the Fourcast, staff writers often spend time outside of class to work on the paper and seem extremely collaborative and comfortable with each other.

My first class of the day was AP Literature, where we read “The Convergence of the Twain,” a poem

by Thomas Hardy. Class content stayed fairly similar to what I have done in the past, with additional tips on how AP graders would appreciate

an analysis in order to score a five on the exam. Since Hockaday does not offer any AP English classes, it was interesting to see what one was like, although I believe our English department does a wonderful job of teaching the necessities while offering unique classes.

After AP Lit, I headed to Journalism, where the Eagle Edition staff continued to work diligently in the days leading up to their next issue. The process of creating the paper varies slightly from the Fourcast, from their number of “worknights” to the role of section editors, so I enjoyed learning from them and getting inspiration.

Next, we went to AP Comparative Government, with a quick stop in between at the Eagle’s Nest, ESD’s bookstore. Since students have three classes in a row in the morning without a break in between, I was definitely feeling a bit hungry, having missed out on my typical advisory snack. I had no need to worry, though, as the Eagle’s Nest was stocked with a myriad of options.

With a snack of coffee and pretzels, I easily made it through my third one-hour class of the day. While I thought I would not notice the fifteen minute difference in class length, I was surprised to discover that I missed the extra time our classes offer for questions and thorough explanation.

CHAPEL & LUNCH Following an Eagle’s morning

classes, they head to chapel every day, a new experience for me and KG. We sat in the first pew, giving us the perfect viewpoint to watch a senior advisory lead chapel, a requirement for each advisory at some point throughout the year.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from chapel, but I was pleasantly surprised by its reality. It was a nice break from classes, as well as a good opportunity to share positive messages and reflect.

After chapel, students have 45 minutes to eat lunch, a quick turnaround for seniors looking to head off campus. Still, KG and I left school to go to Central Market, one of the few nearby options. We enjoyed our food and made it back with time to spare, ready for our last two classes of the day.

AFTERNOON CLASSES Immediately following lunch, we headed to AP Art, where we took a tour of ESD’s art gallery featuring works by students in the class. Both of our guides were working on their final project of the year, a piece of art they could put in their future dorm rooms to remind them of home.

Between their fourth and fifth classes, ESD students have FLEX period, a time to attend club meetings, speak with teachers or spend time with friends similar to our Conference period. During this time, I headed back to the journalism room to attend a meeting for Itinerary, ESD’s literary magazine which is similar to Vibrato.

Maddie and Gina Montagna, editor-in-chief of the Eagle Edition, ESD’s student newspaper.

Photo

by Maddie Stout Photo

by Caroline Petrikas

Since Itinerary is not typically a full-time class and operates as a club, any student is welcome to join and all work must be done outside of class time. I appreciated the flexibility this offered newspaper writers to work on both publications.

Lastly, I finished the day in AP Physics I. Since I have not taken a physics class since freshman year, I must admit I was slightly nervous, but both my classmates and the teacher were extremely welcoming and I found it quite easy to fit in (and learn!).

TAKEAWAYS After spending an entire day as an ESD Eagle, I can officially say that the differences between our two schools are not as large as I had once thought, ignoring the addition of boys. Still, co-ed classes really aren’t so bad – I could hardly notice a difference, so I have a little bit less to be stressed about going into college.

I also noticed a difference in the focus on AP classes between the two schools. While most seniors I know are primarily in semester classes, the opposite seems to be the case at ESD, an interesting comparison that I don’t think is necessarily better one way or the other.

KG and I greatly appreciate how welcoming our peers were at ESD, especially Emily and Gina. After an enlightening day, we can only hope for more collaboration between our schools.

On the ESD campus, Maddie and KG wait to begin their school day as Eagles. They went to various classes and got to experience daily activities.

Photo by Maddie Stout

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

features

15

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

Students visit the MBL Sixteen students go to Woods Hole to for hands-on experience

By Olivia Garcia | Buisness Manager

A

rriving at DFW bright and early, 16 juniors and seniors boarded a plane to Boston, eagerly anticipating their arrival at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Hockaday resumed its partnership with MBL. For one week, 16 students experienced hands-on learning at the world-renowned facility.

Upper School science teachers Jessie Crowley, Brandi Finazzo and Katie Croft and Karen Roberts from Lower School traveled with the students.

To participate in the program, interested juniors and seniors had to complete an application where they reflected on what they could contribute to the program as well as how they could benefit from the program.

After being selected by a small committee of faculty, the students then were required to attend two meetings prior to their departure for Woods Hole. In these meetings, Crowley along with the other chaperones covered expectations and skills with the selected students.

For the Hockaday students’ first lesson, professors Dr. Kristen Gribble and Dr. Alyssa Liguori introduced the fundamentals of evolution and biological diversity, and taught some essential lab techniques. Throughout the rest of the week, Dr. Gribble and Dr. Liguori continued to work closely with the girls and guide them through several different experiments.

In the lab, the girls’ week-long experiment focused on how phytoplankton are affected by different household chemicals like detergents.

Throughout the week, the girls continued to observe their test tubes and keep count of the number of algae cells. The girls also performed shorter experiments centering around concepts like genetic drift, mutation, environmental conditions, gene flow, and natural selection.

Outside of the lab, Gribble and Liguori brought in guest lecturers. One lecturer discussed climate change and the impact on desert algae while another lecturer taught on worms and regeneration.

“I really enjoyed the guest lecturers as I love learning what people are working on,” Crowley said, “I would have also loved to see the lecturers’ laboratory.”

Dan Calzarette, an animal care technician at the MBL, gave the girls a tour of the Marine Resources Center. The center is home to a diverse range of marine wildlife researchers at the MBL use in labs.

“One of my favorite things we did at MBL was seeing all the animals they had there like starfish, crabs, sharks, and stingrays,” senior Margo Washburne said.

While not performing experiments, attending lectures, or touring the facility, the girls explored the small coastal town of Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

One evening, the girls and chaperones watched the sunset from the pier. Other favorite spots included Pie in the Sky, a local coffee shop and bakery.

Junior Molly McPhail examines a specimen during a lab day at the MBL. Students got the oppurtunity to look at a variety of biological organisms and study their evolutionary habits.

Photo by Caroline Petrikas

“Pie in the Sky holds a special place in the hearts of our juniors and seniors,” Crowley said. “It was a fun destination after a day in the lab.”

Hockaday@MBL provided a hands-on opportunity for students interested in pursuing science in college and beyond.

“It was a super fun and educational experience for me, and I can’t wait to go again next year,” Crowley said.

16

April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Candace Townsley From developing new systems for Upper School to playing board games with friends to taking care of her dog Mickey, Candace Townsley, technology integration specialist, has a packed daily schedule. Here is a look into how she stays on top of her work.

By Hanna Asmerom | Staff Writer

Good morning!

6:15 A.M. RISE & SHINE | Townsley usually

wakes up between 6:15 and 6:30 every day, including weekends. After brushing her teeth, she joins her daily Bible study with friends. “I usually have my coffee during my devotion, as well,” she said. She then plays with her rat terrier and responds to the many texts she gets from family and friends. “My phone usually starts blowing up with texts from my daughters and some from my nieces and nephews,” she said.

8:20 A.M. HEAD TO SCHOOL | To begin the

school day, Townsley makes her way to campus, listening to National Public Radio as she drives. After a second cup of coffee, she sits down and responds to emails. “I get a lot of junk emails,” Townsley said,”so I have to clear out my inbox and respond to the emails that are important.”

8:00 P.M. WIND DOWN | Townsley winds

down by watching true crime shows and documentaries. “I just finished ‘Inventing Anna,’” Townsley said, “basically whatever is on Netflix or Hulu.”

However, occasionally Townsley watches “The Bachelor”. “I know it’s stupid but, it’s a guilty pleasure,” she said. Finally, Townsley goes to bed at 10 every night.

5:30 P.M. ON THE WEEKEND | To relax and entertain her grandchildren, Townsley plays a variety of instruments. “We sing ‘Down by the Bay’ and ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’ together,” Townsley said. She also plays in her church band, showcasing her talent in playing the guitar, piano, violin, cello, flute and kalimba.

See you tomorrow!

4:15 P.M.

GOING HOME | Townsley goes home at around 4:15 and walks her rat terrier, Mickey. “He gets separation anxiety,” Townsley said, “so I try to get home to him as soon as I can.” Every Thursday, Townsley goes to a friend’s house to eat dinner and play board games like Splendor.

9:00 A.M. SCHOOL DAY BEGINS | To begin

the school day, Townsley makes sure not to schedule early meetings so she can be prepared for any problems that may arise.

“If a camera isn’t connecting or there are little tech emergencies, they come up at the beginning of the day,” she said.

12:00 P.M.

GET DOWN TO BUISNESS | In the

afternoon, she goes to her office and works on exploring and learning about new programs to help students and teachers work more efficiently. She also helps students innovate with technology. ”If they want to make a podcast or start a website,” Townsley said,“I help bring integration into classrooms.” One of the biggest things she is working on is putting together a new print system.

Townsley also has a handful of meetings every day.

Photos by Kailey Bergstedt

17 Trumpower tallies up funds for LLS project HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

features

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

Junior raises $85,000 with her team for leukemia research

By Bennett Trubey | Staff Writer

L

ogging in to weekly Zoom meetings, printing sweatshirt designs and emailing potential donors were only a few of the activities that made up junior Millie Trumpower’s fundraising campaign for the Students of the Year challenge.

Students of the Year is a fundraising program created by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to get high school students involved in the search for cures for leukemia and lymphoma.

Trumpower, a junior, participated in the competitive program’s 2021-2022 campaign after a friend asked her to join her team, named Just Beat It. The seven-week philanthropic challenge encourages students in teams to raise money for LLS. Members of the group that collects the most funds by the end of the program are declared the Students of the Year.

To raise funds for her group, Millie designed “Stronger Together” sweatshirts that she promoted on her custom sweatshirt business’ Instagram.

“Usually I get commissioned, so most of the time people give me something to put on the sweatshirt,” Trumpower said. “It was exciting to design something by myself.”

Trumpower’s donations second only to the team leader’s.

The program spanned from Dec. 1 to Feb. 25.

During this time, teams accepted donations and executed the large majority of their campaigning.

“It wasn’t extremely time-consuming,” Trumpower said.

She was able to balance the creation of her sweatshirts, weekly team Zoom meetings and other preparation for the campaign alongside her schoolwork - including the submission of her JRP with relative ease.

The LLS website states that “participants foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing and project management,” which Trumpower agrees drove the campaign.

Photo by Siddhi Bansal

‘It was exciting to design something for myself because I’ve always been interested in advertising and buisness’ Junior Millie Trumpower LLS Member

The sweatshirt Trumpower designed to raise funds

Using her Cricut and iron-on vinyl, Millie created each of the sweatshirts she sold.

“Making each one takes a long time,” she shared, “but that was the main way that I got money.”

Just Beat It raised over $85,000 for LLS, with

Trumpower’s LLS team, “Just Beat It,” raised over $85,000 from Dec. 1 to Feb. 25.

Each week during the campaign Millie wrote letters and sent emails to potential donors. By the end of the process, she had contacted nearly 200 people to ask for donations to her team.

“If you weren’t on top of your emails, then you wouldn’t get as many donations as you needed to,” she said, stressing the importance of skills such as staying organized and punctual throughout the program.

“I felt, honestly, kind of bad at first,” Millie shared about the idea of asking potential donors for money.

However, she explained that she quickly realized the positive impact the funds would have on LLS’ mission and overcame her initial unease.

Looking back on the campaign, it was unlike any project Trumpower had participated in before.

“I’ve done a lot of community service, but nothing fundraising-wise,” she said.

The Student of the Year program pushed Millie out of her comfort zone, introducing her to different ways of serving and bettering her community.

“I did it for my Grandma,” she shared.

Trumpower’s grandmother battled lymphoma on and off for 10 years, ultimately overcoming it, but making LLS’s mission much more personal for Trumpower.

Although Just Beat It did not win Student of the Year, Millie’s determination allowed her team to raise a valuable amount of money for leukemia and lymphoma research.

HOCKA-HISTORY A look back into our past

The invitation for Stein’s 1935 visit

Ela Hockaday (seated) with her friend Miriam Morgan and Gertrude Stein in France, 1938.

Gertude Stein visits Hockaday During a 1935 trip to the United States, Stein visited numerous colleges and stopped by Hockaday, the only high school and junior college on her tour.

Each issue, The Fourcast browses Hockaday’s archives and chooses a moment to look back on. This month, we talk about Gertrude Stein’s 1935 visit to the Hockaday campus.

By Elisa Carroll | Web Editor

A

Gertude Stein at Hockaday, 1935.

s a part of her lecture tour in the United States, American writer and art collector Gertrude Stein, along with her companion Alice B. Toklas, visited Hockaday’s Junior College at the Greenville campus in March of 1935. During her sixth-month stay in the States, Stein gave 74 lectures at universities, art galleries and other institutions to gain an American audience for her writing.

Hockaday was the only junior college and high school Stein visited in the United States. She gave a lecture to the Hockaday Junior college over literature and language on Tuesday afternoon of March 19. Stein included her stay with Hockaday in her 1937 book “Everybody’s Autobiography” and spoke highly of her time in Dallas.

During their time in Dallas, Stein and Toklas stayed with Ela Hockaday at her “cottage” for four days and insisted on trying the regional cuisine.

Toklas, known as an excellent cook, enjoyed Hockaday’s cornbread so much she requested the

Folded paper depiction of Stein (Red Groom, 1975) in main hallway.

recipe and included it in one of her cookbooks, which was published in 1954. As a tribute and thank you for their stay, Ela Hockaday gave Stein and Toklas a cast iron cornstick pan.

Lucio Benedetto, who teaches History of Art, is familiar with Stein’s work and her reputation for being a renowned sponsor and collector of the arts.

“When people are walking through the main admin hallway, and they see the weird portrait of a plump woman in a box and paper cutout, that’s a portrait of Gertrude Stein,” Benedetto said.

“Unfortunately there’s no plaque to commemorate Stein’s visit to Hockaday in 1935, but she was one of the great pioneering female artists and thinkers in the early 20th century, and it’s incredible that Ela Hockaday was able to establish that connection.”

More information and personal accounts of Stein’s visit can be found in the Hockaday Centennial Book.

April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

18sports

“

I think Hockaday has the best lacrosse program in SPC and arguably all of Texas.”

Meet Mae Flanagan, p. 20

Sophie Isom ‘18 makes history

Yale runner breaks record for 400 meter relay

By Remy Finn | Sports Editor

Sophie Isom, a senior runner at Yale, broke the school’s record for the 400 meter relay on Feb. 5 at the Boston University Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite.

B

reaking the Yale University Track & Field 400 meter relay record by 0.82 of a second, Sophie Isom ’18 continues to etch her name in history after previously setting the 4x400, 4x100 and 400 meter records at Hockaday.

Isom’s track & field journey began her freshman year of high school to fill the gap in her spring season and follow in her mom’s footsteps, Isom said. She wanted to run in college, realizing it could help her get into a prestigious school.

Isom’s track future took off at the end of sophomore year of high school, when she stopped playing club volleyball and started focusing on track, Hockaday varsity track & field coach Laboris Bean said.

Isom dedicated the summer after her sophomore year to training. After practicing on hills and training on blocks, everything started coming together for her, Bean said.

Bean attributed Isom’s successful transition from volleyball to track to her dedication and drive.

“She was always focused on what she wanted to do and always gave 100%, even when juggling multiple sports,” Bean said. “When she decided to concentrate on track, her commitment really helped things take off for her.”

Bean said his favorite part of coaching Isom was coming up with creative ways to push her in practice, like making her start later or behind the other girls.

“I always told her she did not know how fast she could go until someone actually pushed her, so I am not at all surprised where she is today,” Bean said.

Isom credits her running journey to her experience and coaches at Hockaday.

“I never would have started running track if not for Hockaday,” Isom said, “And if not for coach Bean, I never would have believed that I had the ability (or have actually had the ability) to run in college!”

With Bean’s coaching, Isom anchored the winning SPC 4x400 relay in 2017 and cemented the school’s SPC track win.

“It was so much pressure because it was all on me but such a great feeling to have pulled it off,” Isom said.

Committing to Yale University in 2018 nourished Isom’s track ability as she continued to improve her times

and encourage her teammates.

“Apart from being a strong competitor, Sophie is a born leader,” Isom’s teammate and roommate Aliya Boshnak said. “The way she carries herself at practice speaks to her character. Everyone naturally looks to Sophie as the example.”

Despite earning a spot on the record board after the 4x400 performance on Feb. 5 at the Boston University Invitational Meet, Isom’s relay team actually didn’t win the race.

“We actually got third which was really funny,” Isom said. “When I saw the time I started yelling and celebrating and we all ran up to each other and everyone was looking at us like…you got third? Why are you celebrating?”

Besides her 4x400 relay, Isom has earned several personal records in the open 400 meter and open 200 meter events and aims to get up there again for another event.

To pay tribute to her roots and encourage current Hockaday track and field athletes, Isom offered some advice: “Work hard. Make good choices. Don’t give up. If you really want to accomplish something, keep that goal in mind in all of the decisions you make and all the things you do.”

“I never would have started running track if not for Hockaday, and if not for Coach Bean.”

Sophie Isom ‘18 4x400m record breaker

Isom sprints down the Photo trackprovided with by a Leena baton Mehendale as she competes for Yale. In 2018, Isom collapsed on the field with a Hockaday teammate after winning SPC. Photos provided by Sophie Isom

Isom poses with her relay teammates Libby McMahon, Aliya Boshnak, and Addison Coy after breaking the Yale 400 meter relay record.

Photo provided by Sophie Isom

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

sports

March Madness Returns 64-team bracket lays out college basketball teams fighting for championship title

By Caroline Petrikas | Photo & Graphics Editor

After a rigorous college basketball season, “Selection Sunday” on March 13 laid out the 68 basketball teams who will be competing in the 2022 March Madness Bracket.

Each team has 25-35 games per season, depending on their level, and the teams aim to achieve the best record for placement in the bracket.

According to the NCAA, the committee in charge of creating the bracket will look at a team’s record, strength of opponents, and quality of wins and losses to rank the teams. This year, Baylor holds first ranking, as the 2021 NCAA Champions with a 27-7 record. On March 13, the 2022 bracket was released and fans began making predictions.

“I really enjoy watching all forms of basketball, especially the NBA, so for me, watching March Madness is a way for me to scout potential NBA players and predict how well they might carry their team to the Final Four,”Jordan Innerarity, US Dean of Students said. “I also like the challenge to see if I can correctly guess how far a team will go.”

The first Division I men’s tournament was in 1939, featuring eight teams; however, the bracket kept expanding until it reached 64 teams in 1985, according to NCAA. The term “March Madness” was not associated with the NCAA tournament until a CBS reporter used it in the 1982 tournament.

Today, the tournament consists of seven rounds that have corresponding names to the number of teams within

Bracket created by Caroline Petrikas

each round, for example, the “Sweet Sixteen,” “Elite Eight” and “Final Four.”

“The March Madness brackets are fun to make and I like being able to see if any of my predictions ended up being correct, ‘’ junior Phoebe Miller said. “I don’t know that much about basketball, so I make my bracket based on some prior knowledge, but it is mainly just randomized.”

People can enter bracket competitions with cash prizes for the bracket with the best accuracy. While people sometimes enter family or local competitions, one of the most famous ones is the “ESPN March Madness Tournament Challenge,” where fans download its app to keep track of their teams and have the chance of winning $100,000 if their bracket is the most accurate. Warren Buffet will pay the fan with a perfect bracket $1 billion, but there has yet to be a perfect bracket in the history of March Madness.

“I don’t follow NCAA basketball as closely as other people, so my general strategy is to look for potential underdogs that have the ability to upset well-known teams,” Innerarity said. “I went to a smaller university, so I like to root for the smaller program, or I root for Villanova because I have a few former advisees there.”

19

AND IN

REMY’S

COURT

The varsity track and field team traveled to Austin for the 94th annual Texas Clyde Littlefield Relays, with impressive results. The team started out strong on March 24 with an outstanding performance by sophomore Margaret Thompson, who achieved a first-place nationwide ranking for high school girls’ steeplechase. Margaret completed the steeplechase in an incredible time of 7:03.28, only a few hours after stepping off the team bus from Dallas. Even more impressive was the fact that Margaret had competed in the steeplechase only one time prior to her Texas Relays finish, at the St. Mark’s BVU Invitational.

On March 26, members of the track team also competed in preliminary races for the 200 meter relay and the 400 meter relay, earning times that enabled them to advance to the finals on Sunday.

The 100 meter relay competed in the preliminary race but didn’t qualify for finals. The preliminary 200 meter relay team’s qualifying time of 1:44.79 ran less than a second over Hockaday’s all-time record of 1:43:90, placing them as the second-best time for the relay in Hockaday history. Overall, the relays competed in the finals to earn a seventh place overall finish for the 200 meter relay and an eighth place finish for the 200 meter relay in Division 1.

The 4x200 meter relay team poses with Coach Bean after a strong finish.

Photo provided by Remy Finn

CAPTAINS’ CORNER

HALEY COLEMAN, softball

KATANU NDAMBUKI, tennis

JULIA HAETZEL, golf

“We’ve got a lot of energy, and I feel like we’re just really excited to go on the field and leave it all out there for SPC.”

“It is so great to be back together as a team.

Everyone is practicing extremely hard and giving their all in our matches. We’re so excited for the rest of the season.”

“So far, the golf team has had a successful season. We’ve gone on two trips, one in Houston and one in Austin, where we played against our bigger competitors from the South.”

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April 12, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

Senior Victoria Chien practices on her horse after school.

Senior Electra Ford executes a jump during one of her shows.

Photo provided by Victoria Chien

Photo provided by Electra Ford

Horseback-riding Hockadaisies Equestrians Electra Ford and Victoria Chien devote hours to their sport

By Campbell Harris| News Editor

S

eniors, Victoria Chien and Electra Ford are devoted horseback riders who compete in horse shows all over the country. Chien began riding at age 7 and Ford at age 4.

Chien started at Merriwood Ranch, a horseback riding camp in Garland.

“From the moment I got there, I was hooked,” she said. “When I came home, I was begging my mom for riding lessons.”

For Chien, a typical day at practice begins with her arriving early to groom her horse, tack the horse up and start warming up. Her lessons incorporate flatwork, trotting, jumping, cross-country and, like other sports, strength and conditioning. At the end of practice, she cools down, untacks and grooms her horse.

After she perfects her skills at practice, Chien attends horse shows.

They are usually all-day events with Chien starting her day at 3 a.m. and finishing the show at 7 p.m.

“When I get to the show, I have to check in for my events, set up my stall, make myself and my horse look presentable, memorize my courses for the day and warm up,” Chien said.

“Being an athlete in a sport with such a high risk of injury and having an animal involved definitely affects me in the show ring.”

Electra Ford While practices and competitions are typical of Hockaday sports, horseback riding requires a much bigger time commitment.

“My drive to the barn can range from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic, and I am at the barn for roughly two and a half hours,” Chien said. “Accounting for travel and riding time, it takes up about three and a half hours of my

day, but it has yet to deter me from horseback riding.”

However, Chien’s time commitment looks much different than Ford’s.

“I travel for riding 20 weeks a year and when I’m not traveling I ride around 15 hours a week,” Ford said. “I think the major difference of doing a sport outside of Hockaday is having to travel to practice and compete.”

Like Chien, Ford has her own horses she practices with.

“Horses are trained starting from a very young age, so by the time I get them they are already trained in their discipline,” Ford said. “Because my horses are on the older side, we work on improving and developing their skills.”

Ford competes in the winter in Florida and in the summer throughout New York. At these shows, she competes at a high level, earning multiple awards and accomplishments.

“Shows are really fun and a great way to meet other riders,” Ford said.

“However they can feel intimidating

when in a new environment with your horse.”

These shows take place over two days, with riders jumping twice each day and participating in a round during which the horse’s form is judged.

Ford said it’s important she stay focused while she competes.

“Being an athlete in a sport with such a high risk of injury and having an animal involved definitely affects me in the show ring,” Ford said.

“However, when I’m in the warm-up ring, I take deep breaths and try to not let other riders distract me.”

Although Chien and Ford understand it would be challenging, they said they hope Hockaday will someday create an equestrian team so girls who compete are recognized as Hockaday athletes.

“It would be an absolute dream to have an equestrian team,” Chien said.

“For now, I think I would be content with getting to connect with other riders at Hockaday.”

ONE TO WATCH Daisies to keep an eye on

MEET

Mae Flanagan

Freshman Mae Flanagan competes for the Hockaday team.

Photos provided by Mae Flanagan

By Harper Harris | Staff Writer

After making the varsity field hockey team in the fall 2021 season, freshman Mae Flanagan set another athletic goal: making the staterenowned varsity lacrosse team in the spring.

Flanagan started playing lacrosse in fourth grade for Hockaday’s youth lacrosse team, HLax, then quickly began her club lacrosse career at GRIT Lacrosse. She also is involved in Bridge Lacrosse.

“GRIT Lacrosse is the club team that I play for and travel with to national tournaments,” Flanagan said.

“Bridge Lacrosse is a team in South Dallas, which lots of great teenage players volunteer for. The team consists of underprivileged kids who want to learn the game.”

While balancing academics and other extracurricular activities, Flanagan spends around nine to 12 hours a week training in the gym and playing lacrosse. She said she does not

mind the amount of time the sport takes out of her week because of the team she has.

“Lots of my friends play on both of my teams, so it is fun to do it with people I know,” Flanagan said. “We are like a family now.”

Flanagan has her family to thank for getting her into this sport.

“My family has always pushed all of their children into athletics,” Flanagan said, “so I have tried basically every sport and lacrosse was

definitely my favorite.”

The award-winning teams and coaches at Hockaday also have pushed Flanagan to be where she is now, which is at a high level for just a freshman.

“I think Hockaday has the best lacrosse program in SPC and arguably all of Texas,” Flanagan said. “They have been super helpful with recruiting, getting noticed by college coaches and getting exposure so you can get the best coaching available to you.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

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April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

“

We need to respect each other’s privacy and create a space of support and encouragement.”

Discussing college applications, p. 22

An all-new way of test-taking

College Board’s revised SAT sparks controversy

By Aadya Kuruvalli |Staff Writer

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ollege Board’s plan to change the SAT has been, at the very least, a controversial decision. Although many students and parents protest that the new SAT makes it harder for individuals to shine on the test, I believe the new format will benefit every student who takes it.

In its most basic form, the SAT is an exam that tests not only your intellect but also your family’s income. The questions on the SAT are not at a much higher level than what students learn in class, but the time constrictions don’t allow students to spend much time thinking about a single question.

Many high school students are able to do math involving algebra and geometry, but not in the SAT’s high-stress environment.

For this reason, most test preparation centers teach strategies along with actual SAT content. The strategies make it quicker and easier to answer the questions. But test prep centers aren’t available to all students; they are expensive, hard to join and require extra parental help — three things many families cannot afford.

A 2015 study by Inside Higher Ed showed in each of the three portions of the SAT, the lowest average scores belonged to students whose families generated an annual income of fewer than $20 thousand.

“Although many students may complain this test reduces competition, I believe it makes taking the SAT a much less daunting task. ” Aadya Kuruvalli Time and money are two things these students have very little of.

However, the new SAT allows for a shorter time frame, fewer questions and adaptable systems.

Every student doesn’t take the same test; the updated version of the exam allows the computer to tailor the questions to the student’s performance level, allowing them to spend less time on each question and be able to finish the test. This new feature will allow students to be more successful on the test and reduce stress levels while taking it.

Furthermore, the new SAT is paper-free and environmentally friendly. Each exam is currently a thick packet of paper with a handwritten essay at the end. A

Graphic by Aadya Kuruvalli

digital version not only allows students to manage their time better on the essay but also to reduce paper waste. The automatic grading system that comes with digital processing isn’t a bad idea either.

The new online SAT is more accessible, eco-friendly and efficient than its predecessor. Although many students may complain this test reduces competition, I believe it makes taking the SAT a much less daunting task.

LIKE & COMMENT Some of our favorite posts recently

Claire Cahoon enjoys Senior Spring Break in Cabo.

Soc ia Spo l Media Spr tlight ing : Edi Break tion Julia Small vacations in The Bahamas with friends.

Audrey Mitts enjoys the sunset on Newport Beach.

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April 12, 2022

THE

STAFF STANDOFF

Sharing college applications

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

We Love It, We Love It Not

Seniors debate whether to keep decisions private or share applications, acceptances openly

Talk openly

Keep it to yourself

By Lea Whitley | Castoff Editor

By Hanna Zhang | Copy Editor

When I started the college admissions process as a junior, I had absolutely no idea what was going on or what I was about to go through. I am the older child of two, so any advice I got from knowledgeable adult figures in my life came from my parents who both applied to only one school and practically signed a dotted line for their admissions criteria. In short, I had no idea how to handle the process.

But looking back as the secondsemester senior who got denied from her dream school (that everyone knew was her dream school) and has absolutely no clue where she’s going, I still wouldn’t change a single thing about how I handled all of the craziness.

I’m a pretty open book. When I like something, basically everyone in my life will know about it: my best friends, advisory, family and even people I sit next to in classes. Without even really thinking about it, this is how I treated where I applied to college. If people were curious and asked me, I happily told them.

I think there are a few reasons I was so casual about telling people who asked about a topic that felt so utterly taboo junior year.

First off, I’ve always worked my hardest as a student, but I was never really one to be competitive with my classmates about anything academicsrelated, so I treated the college process the same. Sadly, I think sometimes the peak of application season can turn groups of driven students against each other. In turn, it can cause college admissions to become a secretive competition rather than a celebration of individual achievements.

The other reason I was so open was because of the way my parents constantly described the college admissions process to me: completely random and picking names out of a hat, to reference a few. The idea solidified in me that the decisions that would come from this process in no way defined me.

It made me feel like I could share my list and not ever be ashamed with what the outcome would be.

I will say to any underclassman, though, that my experience should not be your own personal blueprint. Who you decide to tell about where you are applying should be completely your own decision, not anybody else’s.

The college admissions process is extremely personal and takes a lot out of you, so either reaction, telling people or telling no one, is absolutely, completely valid. Applying to college is discomforting to say the least, so the last thing anyone wants is a friend peer pressuring them to spill where they applied if they are truly not comfortable.

Just like applications bring out the most personal parts of you, telling people where you applied is simply a personal choice.

VS

College applications – the two words that hang over every high schooler’s head like an approaching thunderstorm. Even though I have an older brother who went through this process three years ago, when it was my turn to apply, I felt overwhelmed and burdened by pressure. After hearing about his experiences, I had determined I would be keeping where I was applying, mainly my early decision school, to myself.

For me, the college applications process was personal. It was a time when I had to come to terms with what I had accomplished throughout high school and choose schools that best fit and more importantly, schools within reach. And yet, for my early decision school I reached higher, for a school I knew the chances of getting into were slim, which is why I kept my application to myself. Yes, you may say that we’re all in the same boat, but it’s never easy to tell someone you got rejected or deferred from your dream school.

Whenever people approached me and we started talking about college applications, they would bring up schools and say, “Oh, I think this school really fits you!” and “You would definitely apply here.” Funnily enough, the schools they suggested were never the school that I had applied to for early decision.

Often other people have different perceptions – or expectations – of your best fit versus the school you think best fits, which may distort the colleges you choose to apply to.

Furthermore, the highly selective colleges may only take one or two people from your school, and whether we like it or not, applying to college is a competition. Learning that someone else is applying to the same school may discourage you from applying to the college of your choice, your dream college, just because someone you think is “smarter” or “better” than you is applying there.

During college application season I found myself constantly comparing myself to other people, so to avoid those situations I just kept my applications to myself.

Now, I’m not against people sharing where they applied as long as both parties are comfortable. However, when people began to pressure me into sharing where I had applied – either because they were curious or because of the peer pressure of everyone else having already done so – that’s when I think we need to take a step back.

Applying to college is a process no one is comfortable with. During times like these, we need to respect each other’s privacy and create a space of support and encouragement.

Ring Day Class of ‘23 looks forward to receiving their Hockaday rings and becoming seniors!

Graduation Seniors are excited to graduate and start the next chapter of their lives, but the underclassmen will miss them dearly.

SAT & ACT Juniors prep for and take (or retake) standardized tests, striving for a score they can submit.

Studying for APs Students dread the final exams of the year and are under lots of pressure to receive college submittable scores.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

April 12, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

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Transgender law unjustified

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Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order defies reason

By Annie Hurley | Guest Opinion Writer

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reg Abbott recently passed an executive order outlawing the administration of gender-affirming healthcare for minors in the state of Texas. His reasoning is this: a parent is allowing a “physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child” through their permission and compliance with gender affirming surgeries/healthcare. To this I counter, is a parent that permits their child to have a nontransgender related surgery abusing their child?

As someone who underwent an extremely dangerous spinal surgery during the summer between 9th and 10th grade, I think that I have the jurisdiction to argue no, they aren’t. In fact, I had begged my parents for years to allow me to get this surgery because of the problems that occurred from my scoliosis. This surgery certainly was not without “physical injury” or “substantial harm” – the surgeons cut open my back down to the bone, inserted screws into my spine and attached a metal

rod to my spine, all in order to straighten my spinal curvature.

If I didn’t go through this procedure, I would continue to grow in a detrimental way, with the danger of my death increasing with each day that my crooked spine twisted further. I needed this surgery so that I could have the chance at living a life closer to normal.

For transgender teenagers, this healthcare is just as necessary. Gender-affirming care can save lives.

It has saved lives, as seen in the recently published study “Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youth Receiving Gender-Affirming Care.” It gives TNB youth the chance to live a normal life, or at least a more comfortable life, one in which their physical appearance matches their gender identity.

According to The Trevor Project’s 2021 national survey on LGBTQ+ mental health, 52% of transgender or nonbinary (TNB) youth have

considered attempting suicide, and 20% have already attempted suicide. Seventy percent of TNB people experience symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, and 18% of TNB youth were subjected to conversion therapy, a practice that falls under all the legal criteria of child abuse that Greg Abbott cited in his letter. This practice is still legal in the state of Texas.

Conversion therapy is extremely damaging toward an individual’s mental and physical health; in some cases, the practice even meets the criterion for torture. The Trevor Project’s 2021 survey revealed that LGBTQ+ youth who were subjected to conversion therapy were twice as likely to commit suicide than those who weren’t.

If Greg Abbott is so committed to protecting Texas youth from child abuse, he would create legislation that would outlaw the existence of conversion therapy so that no more children are tortured as a result of their gender identity.

Farewell letters from the editors

By Maddie Stout and Anna Gum | Editors-in-Chief

W

ell, we’re here: April of my senior year, and the last issue of The Fourcast I will ever work on (good luck next month, juniors!) It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached this point – it feels like just yesterday that I was sitting on the opposite end of the absurdly long table in the publications room and didn’t know what a cutout was.

If you know me, you know I love The Fourcast more than practically anything else and have basically for as long as I can remember. It was always Lower School me’s dream to be EIC, and I can only imagine how she’d react if she watched me write this today.

I could ramble on about how great The Fourcast is for longer than the paper’s 24 pages, but I’ll condense all that I’ve learned into three short paragraphs – if there’s one thing that will stick with me from these

H

ere it is: the last story I will ever write for the Hockaday Fourcast. It’s crazy to think that in a few weeks I will walk up those notoriously painful stairs to the publications room and sit at our long conference table for the last time as editor-in-chief.

Since I joined the staff my sophomore year, The Fourcast has held a special place in my heart. From learning how to do cutouts, to filming my first (and only) video for web, it has opened my high school experience to the craziest opportunities and the best friends. I will forever be grateful that I emailed Ms. Conder in May of my freshman year and asked to switch into newspaper.

I could write an entire issue of Jade on everything I love about Fourcast and the memories I have made these last three years, but I’ll try to condense it to

past three years, it’s how to be concise.

1. Everybody has a story to tell. During my time on staff, I’ve interviewed more people from different walks of life than I can count, and never once has an interview been boring. From Tony Award winners to my peers, every single person can teach me something new.

2. Never pass up an opportunity. Or, if you don’t see one automatically, make an opportunity for yourself. How else would I have been able to listen to one of my favorite artist’s albums a month before its release if I hadn’t reached out to his publicist on a whim? Even if it seems impossible, it’s always worth a try.

3. The value of collaboration cannot be overstated.

While Anna and I might be the only two people writing these letters, we wouldn’t have been able to

do anything this year without the other endlessly talented & driven staff members. The Fourcast has taught me that I could almost always use a helping hand, especially when it comes to headlines (thanks, Libby).

Without The Fourcast, I really don’t know who I’d be: at risk of sounding far too sappy, I really am endlessly grateful for the paper and everyone who’s helped with it. To everyone else on staff – there is no better group of driven, talented young women. Y’all are the best.

three lessons I have learned in my time on staff.

1. Listen. If interviewing dozens of people a year has taught me one thing, it’s that everyone has a story and an opinion to share. From underclassmen to local politicians, I have learned so much just by taking the time to listen to the people around me.

2. Use your voice. Whether out loud or in writing, The Fourcast has taught me to speak up. Working on staff and conducting interviews has both helped me develop my voice and shown me how important it is to use it. My proudest moments on staff have all stemmed from someone taking a chance and speaking up. Ask questions and share your perspective.

3. Collaboration is key. Maddie and I have worked together all year, but the entire staff makes the newspaper possible. The Fourcast would not be half

of what it is today if it weren’t for the hard work and creativity of all 24 of us. Beyond that, I know I would not be half of the writer or person I am today if it weren’t for them.

Fourcast: thank you for the lessons and the memories. I am endlessly grateful to the 24 amazing, creative, hilarious girls who make our paper all it is. I can’t believe we have to leave you all, but I am so excited to see what you do with the paper next year. Good luck with InDesign 2022!

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Anna Gum & Maddie Stout

MANAGING EDITOR Libby Hill

NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris

ARTS & LIFE EDITORS Zoya Haq & Melody Hu

FEATURES EDITOR JADE EDITOR

Katherine Grace Estess

WEB EDITOR Elisa Carroll

COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang

BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Garcia

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley

Juliana Blazek

SPORTS EDITOR Remy Finn

VIEWS EDITOR Jane Clark

CASTOFF EDITOR Lea Whitley

PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas

ASSISTANT SECTION EDITORS AND STAFF WRITERS Lacy Green Ambyr Baker Hanna Asmerom Kailey Bergstedt Caroline Bush Aadya Kuruvali Melody Tian Bennett Trubey Harper Harris

FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

Go student journalism!

Maddie

Yay Fourcast!

Anna 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. 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 Editors-in-Chief Anna Gum at agum22@hockaday.org or Maddie Stout at mstout22@hockaday.org.

The Fourcast 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

April 12, 2022

Art by Sarah Roberts

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By Lea Whitley | Castofff Editor

castoff

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL