The Fourcast November 2021

FOURCAST THE

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD

WHAT’S INSIDE

DALLAS, TX 75229

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 2

GRADUATION ATTIRE ALTERNATIVE

PRESERVING THE ROOTS

BOATS TAKE ON BOSTON

The school has instituted an attire option, now allowing students to wear a white cap and gown as an alternative to the dress.

Turning away from traditional note taking, students go entirely digital to eliminate paper waste.

Varsity crew challenges the Head of the Charles regatta, the largest in the nation.

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November 12, 2021

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02news

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

The outrage the mistreatment of Haitian refugees sparked across America is only the first step in bringing them justice.”

Your World Today, p. 04

Bringing awareness to abuse October focuses on domestic violence

By Caroline Petrikas | Photo & Graphics Editor October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Read about the cycle of violence and its widespread impact on women everywhere.

Hear from OneLove Club leaders, Upper School counselors, and Dallas’ Genesis Shelter.

F

rom large-scale media cases like the recent disappearance of influencer Gabby Petito to the unheard stories of the everyday woman, Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October recognizes the survivors and mourns those whose lives were lost to domestic violence.

The words “domestic violence” tend to conjure up an image of physical abuse, but that is merely a fraction of the reality. Domestic violence can be verbal, emotional, physical or sexual.

“Domestic violence is when one person in an intimate partner relationship exercises power and control over the other through a pattern of intentional behaviors,” Jordan Gates, assistant director of clinical and professional services at Dallas’ Genesis Women’s Shelter, said.

One in three women and one in five teens in Texas experiences domestic violence, Gates said. With 503 students in Upper School, statistically more than 100 classmates, peers, teammates were or currently are victims of domestic violence.

To combat these numbers, Upper School students partnered with the One Love Foundation, a national non-profit organization with the goal of ending relationship abuse, and started the One Love Club to spread awareness about domestic violence and help fellow students in abusive relationships.

“I want people to know that they are not alone and how they can get help and recognize what an unhealthy relationship looks like,” club treasurer Grace Hoverman said.

One Love Club invites speakers to come to meetings, creates informational graphics and talks about red flags in relationships such as an overly controlling or critical partner, physical marks or bruises, fear of a partner, being secretive, a loss of confidence or frequently canceling plans.

“It is important to not assume that just because this one red flag is present, that it’s an abusive relationship,” Upper School Counselor Ashley Ferguson said.

However, she said, it is crucial to note when these red flags start piling up and to seek assistance.

Students can help others suffering from domestic violence by volunteering with the One Love Foundation or the Genesis Women’s Shelter to create a safe space for victims.

“Those in domestic violence environments need to feel as safe

‘I want people to know that they are not alone and how they can get help and recognize what an unhealthy relationship looks like.’

Grace Hoverman treasurer of One Love Club and comfortable talking about their situations as possible,” club secretary Taylor Hua said. “Students should make sure that victims know that they have support systems.”

Some survivors expect judgment when sharing their stories, so creating a safe space is vital in encouraging victims to talk about their situations.

“To help a friend who seems to be involved in a domestic violence situation, you want to listen without pause, and you want to listen without giving advice,” Ferguson said. “Many victims are afraid to share their stories because they feel judged for their choices or like people are listening to react to the situation.”

An understanding response to survivors’ stories determines their healing process, Ferguson said.

“There are so many people who do not have that, and they end up staying in the relationship and sometimes getting hurt,” Ferguson said.

Victims of domestic violence often remain in these harmful relationships for fear of losing their children, financial reasons and religious reasons, Ferguson said. They may feel threatened, hope their partner will change or fear lack of support because nobody believes them. Because these relationships did not start out abusive, victims hold out on the hope that things will go back to normal and thus become trapped in the cycle of violence.

“Abuse starts with the honeymoon phase, then things die down. It’ll escalate, then an incident happens, you feel like you’re walking on eggshells and then it calms down again,” Ferguson said. “Then you go around and around the cycle of violence, and the hard part is how you break that cycle.”

Victims face different barriers to seeking help or leaving an abusive relationship, but domestic violence does not discriminate — it affects

Graphic by Amber Li

people of all ages, races, economic, statuses and religions — and they all deserve help, Gates said.

Although domestic violence can occur in any gender or age, it is overwhelmingly more prevalent in women aged 16 to 24, Gates said. Women experience domestic violence more often because of the nature of society.

“When we look at our history, our society was built on a patriarchal belief system,” Gates said.

Physical size and stature also play a role in targeting women.

“As women, physiologically speaking, we are typically less strong,” Ferguson said. “And we always ask, why does he do it? And the answer is just because he can.”

As seen in the highly publicized case of Gabby Petito, Brian Laundrie physically and emotionally abused and manipulated Petito just because he could. When the Florida couple lived and traveled in their van through

their road trip across Western United States, Petito’s Instagram account showed the dual lives domestic violence survivors lead, as she suffered through this abuse in silence.

Petito’s job as an influencer increased publicity and awareness about her case, but also spread information about domestic violence situations as a whole.

“In cases like this, domestic violence advocates and experts are able to spread awareness and reach all ages in providing education about what it is and how prevalent it is in our society,” Gates said.

In a country where domestic violence cases are only increasing, students ask those suffering in silence to seek help.

“Please reach out for help,” Hoverman said. “There are so many organizations and people who would help in a heartbeat.”

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

CHECKING IN WITH

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AFFINITY

New rules, newsletter for Upper School clubs Student council initiative aims to better serve students

Sophomore Sophia Chen, president of the Small Business Big Impact Club, endorses the new club rules.

By Melody Tian | Staff Writer

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ew rules for Upper School clubs, aimed at better serving students and the community, require regular meetings and constitutions for each organization.

“I think these rules just provide more clarity and structure to the clubs,” said Jordan Innerarity, dean of students. “Though it adds a layer of complexity, I don’t think it changes too much.

They’re still going to meet, and they’re still going Students gather at a club leadership to do the fun things that they want to do.” meeting to learn about the new A board consisting of Innerarity; assistant head club rules Photo by Victoria Gonzalez of Upper School Dr. Tiffani Kocsis; Executive Director of the Institute of Social communication system via Impact Laura Day; Assistant Microsoft Teams.

Director of the Institute for “The purpose of the Social Impact Laura Laywell; and ‘Though it adds a constitution is to state the Student Council Vice President layer of complexity, I purpose of the club, make Cassie Liu devised the new don’t think it changes the election process more guidelines. streamlined and make it easier too much. They’re “We wanted to professionalize for leaders who take over in still going to meet, and streamline the process this the future to follow the club’s and they’re still going year,” Liu said. “For example, mission,” Liu said. to do the fun things making sure that all clubs are on While the constitution is used that they want to do.’ the same page for what the school to help establish the mission of a year is going to look like.” club, the meeting requirements Liu met with all the club Jordan Innerarity help with maintaining the presidents explaining the rules Dean of Students longevity of a club and achieving and introducing a monthly their goals. newsletter for clubs.

“I think it’s great they She said the newsletter is a tool implemented a requirement for how often the designed to help both the clubs and the general clubs meet,” sophomore Sophia Chen, president of student body. Not only can it help students the Small Business Big Impact Club said, “because understand what goes on in each club and help I noticed last year that a lot of clubs started out them sign up for the clubs, but it also makes sure really strong, but then after their first meeting it clubs operating under the Hockaday name are died out and they never contacted again.” fulfilling their leadership roles.

Chen said having this requirement is a necessary “The clubs have been really kind of step to allow clubs to continue for the following hodgepodge the last few years,” Innerarity said, year and to make them worthwhile. As far as “so we wanted to add a little more growth and establishing and applying the club rules, the board more opportunities for them to become more has not faced any significant obstacles yet. well established on campus.”

“I think implementing new things are always The rules call for a minimum of four meeting going to have some workarounds,” Innerarity said. times per school year, a club constitution, “So we do encounter small roadblocks once in a submission of meeting minutes and a while, but we haven’t met any major challenges.”

COUNCIL Lucy Roberts, president of the Latin & Hispanic Student Union, discusses her involvement with the newly founded Affinity Council.

By Olivia Garcia | Business Manager Q. What is the purpose of the Affinity Council?

A. The Affinity Council serves to act as a representation of the different minority groups within the Hockaday community. We meet with each other to discuss how to further promote greater inclusion and mindfulness within the student body.

Q. How were you selected to be on the Affinity Council?

A. The Affinity Council is a volunteer position.

The leadership team for each affinity group has a representative on the Affinity Council that they chose within their own debriefings.

Q. How will you connect the Affinity Council and your affinity group?

A. The Affinity Council is an opportunity for individual affinity groups to have a larger voice in the student body. It is a connection from group to council, highlighting issues a specific Hockaday community has noticed and providing a larger platform and greater resources for its solution. In the October Affinity Council newsletter, we included information about Hispanic Heritage Month, building more awareness of what it is and spreading resources.

Q. What does an affinity council meeting

look like?

A. We talk about important events that affect the student body relating to our affinity groups.

The meetings serve as debriefings about what is going on at Hockaday and in the world around us. Last meeting we discussed cultural appropriation. As a council, we are able to brainstorm how to involve the affinity groups in these matters.

Q. Why is the Affinity Council important to you?

A. It is a huge step in providing minorities at Hockaday a larger voice within the student government.

Q. What are you most looking forward to?

A. I’m looking forward to being part of the inaugural Affinity Council and setting a precedent that will be followed for years to come.

TIDBITS & TALES What’s new on campus?

Something to Celebrate

Hockaday, St. Mark’s and Cistercian Upper School students gathered in Metzger Plaza Oct. 9 for the annual Student Council Mixer. They danced to the DJ’s music, ate snacks from food trucks and played games including Jenga and cornhole. In keeping with the theme “Something to Celebrate,” students dressed in costumes ranging from leprechauns to future brides at bachelorette parties.

Haunted Halloween

Seniors hosted Halloween Haunted Hicks on Oct. 28 during Y period. The theme was “Killer Beauty” and seniors dressed in blood-splattered gowns, sashes and crowns. The walk-through haunted house experience included jump scares, flashing lights and bloodcurdling screams.

White Blazer Fitting

Form III students gathered in Tarry House for White Blazer Day on Oct. 22. While munching on white blazer– decorated cookies, they were measured and fitted and filled out the blazer order forms.

Photos by Estee Phaneuf, Remy Finn and Jordan Innerarity

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November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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YOUR WORLD TODAY

THE HAITIAN

IMMIGRANT

U.S. CRISIS

Recently, great numbers of Haitian immigrants have crossed the southern United States border after tragedies in their home country. What does this mean for the world?

By Aadya Kuruvali | Staff Writer

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n recent months, the United States saw a massive number of Haitian immigrants come in through the southern border.

In August, Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake, killing thousands and displacing even more.

This only worsened an already dire situation. Jovenel Moise, Haiti’s former president, was assassinated in July. His death caused major instability and worsened existing poverty. Afterward, many Haitians migrated to the Texas-Mexico border.

But people have been moving out of Haiti long before Moise’s death. After the 2010 earthquake, many Haitians emigrated to South America, especially Brazil, for job opportunities. The 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics provided some money and comfort for struggling immigrants.

But Brazil was never the goal for most Haitians. The goal had always been the United States, where despite the pandemic, job opportunities were still much more abundant than in developing countries.

However, the journey is perilous and taxing. The path from Brazil to the United States crosses through Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. Much of the journey is completed by foot or with the help of smugglers.

The struggle of immigrant families was highlighted by Fiterson Janvier, who told BBC News that his family had passed through 11 countries on the road to America. Along the way, he said, they came across drug cartels, gangs and bandits. Many of the

Illustration by Josie Agnew women he traveled with were sexually assaulted by these groups, although Janvier’s wife and child had managed to hide.

Janvier’s hometown, Les Cayes, had been destroyed by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in August, leaving his mother dead and his father disabled.

Janvier had been living in Brazil, but when asked about whether or not he would return to his homeland, he replied, “There is nothing for me there.

If they’re going to send me back, they

may as well just kill me.”

The shadow of drugs and trafficking loomed over the tired voyagers. Even though smugglers were the ones aiding them in their journey, the migrants faced abuse and extortion throughout the trip. The struggle only grew worse at the American border, where many Haitians were shown no mercy by the border officials.

Disturbing photographs of the struggle of the refugees circulated around social media, but one

scene was spotlighted — a man on horseback chasing after the starving Haitians with a whip in his hand.

These pictures angered many US citizens. Many began to question President Joe Biden’s tactics in approaching the migrant crisis, while others asked why this kind of dehumanizing abuse was still allowed to happen in the United States.

Even after toiling to reach America, there is still no peace to be found for the Haitians. The Title 42 Act, which allows the government to deny people from disease-ridden countries access to America, began the deportation of many refugees. This undermined the idea of asylum for those who had come to escape the hardships of Haiti.

Biden revised the Title 42 Act, which was originally set in place by former President Donald Trump, so that it would only deport single men, allowing families to stay in the country.

Texas has seen many of these migrants move to metropolitan areas.

Although cities such as Houston and El Paso receive more refugees than Dallas does, there are still ways Hockaday students can aid the migrants. UNICEF USA is taking donations to help impoverished children and families in Haiti, while Houston Haitians United set up transitional centers for Haitians. Their organization requires volunteers to help out with registration, organization and providing food.

The outrage the mistreatment of Haitian refugees sparked across America is only the first step in bringing them justice. Hockaday students can help the migrants by donating to causes that help them and raising awareness about the plight of the Haitians.

Women in STEM

Harvard WECode conference teaches girls coding

By Juliana Blazek | Features Editor

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n connecting successful women in STEM and interested high school girls, the student-led Harvard WECode Conference brought together girls from all over the country including Hockaday students and alumni. The Oct. 16 high school conference featured keynote speakers and engaging activities for its participants.

“Seeing and hearing all these amazing women who are leaders in their own respective field inspired me the most as a girl pursuing STEM,” said freshman Sunnie Wang. “I always knew that there were women in STEM out there, but getting to listen to them have conversations and answer our questions really showed me that they are just like me and I can be like them, too.”

The Harvard WECode Conference is organized by undergraduate women who are involved in the Women in Computer Science initiative at Harvard.

Kelsey Chen ‘21 serves as the associate director of marketing and strategy for the conference and has worked to rebrand the conference, design and build the website, create marketing materials and promote the conference using social media platforms.

“Coming from Hockaday, I am passionate about encouraging women in STEM,” Chen said. “Through this conference, I want to form a community of women in tech who are excited to learn and build things together.”

After hearing about the conference, Wang also wanted to get involved. She serves as a high school ambassador of the conference and works to encourage more participation from

her classmates.

“It was my first year participating in the conference, so I had no idea what to expect,” Wang said. “I was excited to get to hear from role models that I want to be like someday about what they did and how they go into STEM.” The conference hosted panels with topics ranging from college life as a STEM student to getting involved in STEM internships, extracurriculars and projects in high school.

“WECode is specifically geared towards women and made for and by students,” Lauren Wattendorf, co-chair of the WECode Conference, said. “As students ourselves, we understand students best and we get to build the conference we want with events and socials.”

Throughout the day, there were two keynote speakers who are women

currently working in STEM who discussed their career paths, while giving advice and inspiring the high schoolers.

“By bringing these students together with mentors in STEM, I hope to create a more inclusive environment for everyone interested in technology,” Chen said.

Although the high school conference was virtual this year, it is usually held in-person on the Harvard campus.

“Each year, the best part of the conference for me is seeing all of the attendees meet each other, gain new friends and feel confident and inspired after the conference,” Wattendorf said.

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Photo by Kim Leeson

Photo by Celeste Smith

news

Leah Segal ‘21 wears a white cap and gown at commencement last May. All but two graduates wore matching white dresses in keeping with Hockaday tradition.

Graduation attire changes Students given alternate option of cap and gown

By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

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fter months of consideration, students now have the option of wearing a white cap and gown instead of the traditional white graduation dress, Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman announced Oct. 28.

In an email to students, faculty and parents, Coleman said the school will continue the tradition of voting for and wearing the white graduation dress, but students also have the option of wearing a white graduation robe and mortarboard. Coleman acknowledged the longstanding tradition of the graduation dress, but commented upon the importance of ensuring the comfort of every student.

“Our goal is for every graduate to feel included, comfortable, and proud on her graduation day,” Coleman said in her message.

While difficult to pinpoint the first instance of pushback against the white dress, controversy publicly arose around the issue beginning in 2015. That year, students led a petition for alternate attire that received more than 1,400 signatures.

Local publications including the wear the cap and gown.

Dallas Morning News and D Leah Segal ’21, one of those Magazine covered the issue. students, said they were pleased with Sabah Shams ’17, a sophomore the decision. when these discussions first began, “I’m really happy that our actions recalled the pain some students, have been made a precedent,” Segal themself included, felt about wearing said. “It’s a beautiful tradition and the white dress. traditions should exist in themselves, “The graduation dress is such a but not without critique.” public thing,” However, Shams said. other members of “Your family the community ‘Our goal is for every and the families have opposed graduate to feel included, of your peers the decision, for comfortable, and proud on are coming to varying reasons. her graduation day.’ see what should “I have met be one of the with some Dr. Karen Warren Coleman students who most important Eugene McDermott wanted to moments of your Head of School express their life, and they are only seeing concerns over something that any modifications isn’t you.” or exceptions to The FAQ presented with the the traditional graduation dresses,” decision reported that each year Assistant Head of Upper School Tiffani since at least 2015, around eight Kocsis said. “Some of their concerns to 10 students have requested an included a perception that it is a break alternate for graduation attire for from the unity the dress intends to varying reasons, with body image and express, the graduation ceremony being religious concerns cited as the top used as a means for political activism two. It was not until 2021, however, and a stray from the fact that Hockaday that two students were permitted to

is, in fact, a girls school.”

While the 2021 exceptions were originally said to be a one-time alternative, after Commencement 2021 the Board of Trustees requested an internal work group be created to research the situation and develop a permanent solution.

“At Hockaday, we try to make sure that all of our decisions are evidencebased,” Coleman said. “This group met from June until late October, and we tried to understand every side of the situation.”

The group studied the history of the graduation dresses, analyzed the actions of schools similar to Hockaday and spoke with alumnae. Ultimately, school leadership decided adding an alternate option was the most empathetic decision for students, a decision the Board of Trustees supported.

“We want students to feel loved and celebrated every single day that they are here, especially their graduation day,” Coleman said. “Your attire is just one piece of that day, but what we’re really celebrating is who you are as a human being and this incredible transition into the next chapter of your life.”

LOOKING FOURWARD Transgender Day of Remembrance 3 p.m. Nov. 17

Social Impact Gift Drive Nov. 30

US Choir Concert at Northpark Dec. 2

Photos provided by Queer Student Union, Sally Hudspeth and Bennett Trubey

November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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06arts & life

Trader Joe’s never fails to win shoppers over with their extensive seasonal selection.”

Trader Joe’s Tasty Treats, p. 10

Nutty for Nutcracker Hockadance leaps into winter performance

By Caroline Bush | Staff Writer After a year without a winter show, Hockadance is back and better than ever: in December, all levels of dance will perform the Nutcracker.

This is the first time Hockadance has ever performed the holiday classic, and to execute a stellar performance preparations began months in advance.

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unlight shines through the windows of the Beth Wortley dance studio as Hockadance students plie, chaine and pirouette into Tchaikovsky’s ballet.

Come December, Hockadance students will execute the story of the Nutcracker, a Christmas classic Hockaday has yet to tackle.

Dance teachers Christie Sullivan and Alex Farrior began planning with orchestra director Charlsie Griffiths for the project in the summer with the goal of integrating two of Hockaday’s biggest fine arts: dance and orchestra.

Sullivan and Griffiths realized they were both planning projects to happen at the same time, so they decided it would be best to come together and do the Nutcracker, a project Sullivan has anxiously waited to tackle.

Casting a wide net

Casting for the performance started from get-go, with the five Hockadance classes each taking on the dance best suited for its level.

“We had some classes that were already cast by class right at the beginning of the year, but other classes like dance theater we did a semi-audition in class,” Sullivan says.

Dance Theater, Hockadance’s highest level, will be double casted as students portray lead roles.

Sullivan says a lot of the casting was going with what logistically worked best with costume changes, classes, timing, etc.

Most rehearsals take place during the school day in the dancers’ respective classes, with some outside rehearsals becoming necessary for bigger roles.

In class, students start by working on their ballet technique at the barre along with a nice stretch beforehand.

Then, they immediately jump into the choreography of the ballet.

Dance Theater Senior Veronica Fang will tie up her pointe shoes and conquer the stage in her dazzling Snow Queen costume. It will be her first time performing live at Hockaday in her pointe shoes, as she sent in a video recording for the dance recital last year.

“Probably the biggest challenge for me is working on perseverance and stamina,” Fang says. “The

“It’s going to be so fun to have live music and know that the whole performance is originally Hockaday.”

Anne Rubi Senior

Students in Dance Theater rehearse “Waltz of the Flowers” during class.

Photos by Remy Finn

dance is six minutes long, so you’re constantly moving and jumping around.”

Fang says she’s been working on stamina at home by jump roping, as well as giving her all during classes.

This year will be the first year she will be performing live on pointe at Hockaday, something she’s been looking forward to for a while since COVID began.

Since the show is double cast, an added challenge comes when the lead roles must also take on parts in other dances. Senior Anne Rubi, who will play Clara alongside senior Elise Little, has had many rehearsals outside of class to learn all the choreography that comes with playing both the lead and these other parts.

Facing challenges

Rubi says she is excited to have the ability to perform many different roles, and to perform in front of parents and friends.

“My dance studio has never done the Nutcracker before,” Rubi says. “I always wished I did, so this has been really fun to do it for the first time and go in being Clara.”

Challenges brought by COVID-19 have not completely dissipated, however. Since students cannot all perform together because of social distancing, Sullivan says the most challenging part of the process has been putting all the pieces together.

Y-period rehearsal time helps with this, as students can be called whenever necessary. Rubi and Fang both say that a lot of their time lately during free periods has been spent in the studio.

“Playing Clara and trying to do it without all of them there is definitely difficult at times,” Rubi says, “but I know especially with a lot of our full

Maddy Grace Sporl, Ava Stern and Anne Rubi practice the Spanish variation.

cast rehearsals it will get easier.”

With social distancing restrictions, Sullivan and Farrior say it has been even more difficult to bring Dance and Orchestra together.

Since the final production will be live, the only time dancers will be able to practice with the orchestra will be during dress rehearsals.

Right now, Sullivan says most of the interaction with orchestra has been through recordings and videos sent back and forth.

Pulling it all together

“It’s nice because one of the orchestra classes takes place at the same time as Dance Theater,” Farrior says. “As we get closer to the performance date, we will start bringing them together whenever possible to solidify that connection in advance.”

Making sure that the dancers are rehearsing to the same music that orchestra members are practicing is one of the biggest challenges now, since the groups have not been able to come together yet. Griffiths has sent them rough cuts of what they do in class, and they send these recordings back and forth to stay connected.

For Rubi, one of the most exciting parts of the production will be the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra. Dancers are used to performing with tracks, and do not typically work with live music until later in their careers.

“It’s going to be so fun to have live music and know that the whole performance is originally Hockaday,” Rubi says, “and knowing that it’s our friends and peers makes it even better.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

arts & life

Packing up their portfolios

07

Senior artists incorporate creativity into college process

By Hanna Zhang | Copy Editor

As early admissions deadlines approached, seniors finalized their fine arts portfolios and auditions to submit to colleges and universities.

Music

Sitting at the piano, senior Lily Fu repeats a passage over and over again, making sure to incorporate the dynamics and techniques pointed out by her teacher. Fu practices each piece daily in preparation to record; as some schools require one piece from each time period of baroque, romantic and classical, Fu incorporates a variety of styles into her recording. Other colleges give a timeframe of 10 to 12 minutes to fill.

“I go see my piano teacher, we go through the piece, she gives me feedback and then I practice what she tells me to work on,” Fu said. “Usually I record at home or at my piano teacher’s studio; if I record at her studio she can give me immediate feedback, which is nice.”

Although Fu wants to pursue music in college, she has chosen not to major in it and instead plans on participating in the activity outside of academics.

However, as music is a large part of her identity, Fu said she believes a music recording will be the best method to fully demonstrate her interest for the instrument.

“I feel like my studies have led up to this point and I feel like now is my moment to show off my progression and talent,” Fu said.

Art and dance

Leaned over her desk, senior Veronica Fang carefully colors her latest piece, the last work to complete her art portfolio. Fang is constructing not just one, but rather two portfolios. Along with putting together her artwork, she is compiling clips from her dance performances throughout high school.

“I’ve been doing art and dance forever, at least since freshman year, so over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of clips and art pieces,” Fang said, “so it’s pretty easy to just gather them and choose the best ones to put in a portfolio.”

Her freshman year, Fang danced up to 18 hours a week. While she used to take sketch class when she was younger, the only studio work she has done in high school has been participating in the Upper School art program. She currently takes AP Studio Art and is incorporating different mediums into her portfolio, like scratch board, oil paint and colored pencil.

The requirements for each college differ. For dance, some require 15 minutes of footage while others require only five minutes. Art portfolio pieces differ in number as well, some imposing an upper limit of 20.

“I’m interested in a major that combines computer science and visual art, something in line with digital art and graphic design,” Fang said. “I’m not really worried about the process.

I think it’s actually pretty simple since I have all the videos and art pieces pretty much ready; I just need to put them together.”

“I know that I’m doing what I like to do and what I want to be doing.”

Cate Goglia Senior Fang’s oil painting “Dragon Fruit Lives,” which she included in her portfolio.

Photo provided by Veronica Fang

Musical theater

Headphones in, senior Cate Goglia scans a script, lip-syncing the words for muscle memory. Goglia aims to pursue musical theater in college and applicants are required to send in a pre-screen of their high school work.

This allows performing arts schools to cut down on their applicant pool.

“It means that you’re applying to apply,” Goglia said.

The majority of colleges do a common pre-screen consisting of vocal, dance and acting sections. They require vocalists to prepare a pre-1970s song and a post 1970s song or two contemporaries contrasting. For dance, colleges request a 32 to 60 second dance snippet, which can either be their own choreography or the choreography of someone else. Finally, for theater, colleges ask for one to two monologues, a 60- to 90-second contemporary closeup and then a 60- to 90-minute classic full body. On top of these clips, some colleges will request a “wild card,” similar to an introduction video for admissions officers to get to know the applicant better.

Goglia said she has been listening to and memorizing a lot of music as well as monologues. She reads all the plays she does monologues from and works with her dance teacher to pick out the most appropriate choreography and most meaningful music.

“Along with that, I’ve been talking to a lot of people, because in musical theater you’re going to be with the same people and professors all four years, so I’ve been getting to know the people in each program,” Goglia said.

While Goglia has outside instructors, she said the fine arts faculty have been a tremendous help getting her through this process.

“I run everything by them before I submit them,” Goglia said. “Ms. Poe helped me find an aria the other day which was lovely, and Ms. Gray has helped me find some monologues.”

While the process is at times overwhelming because of how little of it is in the student’s control, Goglia said it’s been a very exciting process.

“I know that I’m doing what I like to do and what I want to be doing,” Goglia said, “and there’s really nothing else I could imagine myself pursuing as a full time career so this is how I have to get there.”

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Elizabeth’s echoes

Sophomore traces beginnings, continuing journey with music

By Bennett Trubey | Staff Writer

I

Photo provided by Elizabeth Echt

t’s an unscheduled Saturday; the rain slides down the windows of the guest bedroom, her hot chamomile tea sits beside a freshly baked cookie or brownie and Elizabeth Echt is writing music. In the sophomore’s peaceful, inspiration-filled environment, words flow from her mind onto the page and she can turn up her amp as loud as she wants in her makeshift music studio.

“I feel more complete after I write a song,” Echt said. “It’s almost like I have an itching need to write music.”

She started playing the violin when she was 6 years old

“It’s almost like I have an itching need to write music.”

Elizabeth Echt Sophomore and largely credits her fifth-grade obsession with “Hamilton” for her interest in musical theater.

“I started getting into the instrumentals behind the songs, which got me into guitars, bass, violins and drums,” Elizabeth said.

The School of Rock, a music company that puts together performance groups and offers lessons, broadened her interests in vocals and instruments and introduced her to new ways of thinking about music.

Echt now plays the piano, guitar, violin, drums, ukulele, mandolin and bass, and takes voice and music lessons through the School of Rock.

In 2020, Echt self-published an EP, “Keep on Smiling,” and a single,

“Stray,” which are both available to stream on most music platforms.

She said she plans to release more music soon.

Alongside friends and fellow musicians Ali Barnard and Garett Rodriguez, she started The Love Club Band. The indie-rock group has performed at venues such as the Green Elephant and published several songs, including “Paper Doll” and “Wallpaper.”

“I love performing; I live to perform. It’s crazy,” Echt said.

She has performed at locations including the Grandscape, the Sound, the Green Elephant and Poor David’s Pub through the School of Rock, on her own and with her band.

Echt said she is constantly looking for new ways to share her love for the art, such as starting a Modern Band Club and a nonprofit, Visions for Confidence, to provide scholarships for students interested in pursuing the arts.

She recited a quote of Paul McCartney’s to best describe what music is to her: “‘Music is like a

Check out Echt’s songs

Scan this QR code to access Echt’s Apple Music artist page. psychiatrist. You can tell your guitar things that you can’t tell people. And it will answer with things people can’t tell you.’”

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November 12, 2021

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THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE ON THE BIG SCREEN

reviews stars

T

here’s nothing I love more than hopping on the bandwagon of obsession for viral things I adore. Just ask my friends — HillHouse nap dresses, OV dress, Stanley cups — the list could definitely go on.

So, when I found out Sally Rooney’s new book had a merch line and a branded truck driving around Brooklyn, I became an even bigger fan.

Rooney published her debut novel, “Conversations with Friends,” in 2017.

She has since been hailed as the “first great millennial novelist” and published her other bestseller “Normal People”.

Since Rooney is Irish, most of her books are based in her home country.

“Beautiful World” is set in Dublin.

While Rooney has no social media presence, the book is viral in the world of young people thanks to things like Instagram and #booktok, the viral trend

3 stars

Wikimedia Commons photo

AND FROM

HARPER’S

Does the viral book live up to the hype?

CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS

By Libby Hill | Managing Editor

on TikTok that entails teenagers giving their favorite book recommendations (and their reactions to the endings of particularly popular books).

Safe to say, my expectations for this book were high.

The book focuses on the friendship of two women, Alice and Eileen, and each of their romantic relationships.

Alice, the main character, happens to be living a life that nearly parallels the life of Rooney — an author who gets overwhelmed by the spotlight after publishing her first book. (Rooney has said that she never wished for the fame she has received from her novels.)

The book is written in the third person, and switches back and forth between email chains and dialogue. I adored the email chains; I think books that incorporate them are incredibly fun to read.

I was frustrated, however, with the

dialogue. There are no quotation marks around quotes in the book, and the switching back and forth of dialogue was often difficult to keep up with.

Disclaimer: this book is definitely PG-13. Just be aware!

Overall, this book is a great read to distract yourself from schoolwork (it certainly was for me.) I think the characters and how their relationships adapted and changed over time (especially with the impact of Alice’s fame on her relationships) made the read so insightful. I would highly recommend it.

ON THE RECORD

I was an optimist for ‘Optimism’...

Finneas is better behind the scenes

By Harper Harris | Staff Writer

W

hen I found out Finneas was coming out with an album, I was excited, especially because it was his first. I am a fan of some of the songs from his EP “Blood Harmony,” including “Break My Heart Again” and “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night.”

His amazing production of his sister Billie Eilish’s songwriting put him on the map. He uses gothic and deep production to match Eilish’s style and is also a popular songwriter for big artists including Justin Bieber, Halsey, Girl In Red and Kid Cudi.

When “Optimist” came out on Oct. 15, I was hoping the album would be similar to the songs on his EP. I was honestly disappointed.

Without any use of the production techniques that made him famous, the album was gloomy and disappointingly empty. I definitely liked some of the songs, but I was overall disappointed with the album because I know he could have done better.

The opening song of the album, “A Concert Six Months From Now” was not bad. Finneas said this song is about the fantasy of being at the Hollywood Bowl, a premier destination for live music in California. He is singing about

how he wants to perform there to prove to an ex how successful he is.

The main single off the album, “The 90s,” is about his dream to not have social media, which I think is childish and not realistic. He complains about the dysfunctional patterns of popular social media platforms.

My two favorite songs on the album are “Peaches Etude” and “What They’ll Say About Us.” The latter is an optimistic song that preaches about looking toward the future during the period of uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. I really enjoyed the bridge and the overall message of the song.

“Peaches Etude”, named after his pitbull, is an instrumental song. He included the song to show off his accomplishments on the piano. I really like songs that have no lyrics because they are more powerful. The power and appreciation of instruments and sounds come out during instrumentals.

I enjoyed listening to this album, but I was only a fan of about four songs.

Finneas also is going on tour, but I will not be attending.

Finneas thrives behind the scenes writing and producing songs, not when he is the singer. The album was not his best work, and as a fan of his other work, I was let down by his album.

THOUGHTS

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

Thirty years ago Anita Hill sat in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and said the Supreme Court Nominee at the time, Clarence Thomas, had sexually harassed her when he was her supervisor at the Department of Education. Ten days after these hearings, he was voted into the Supreme Court. Even though he was voted in, her statement made a difference. Hill’s actions pushed others to come out about their sexual harassment and assault at the workplace, and this set a precedent of what is appropriate at work.

It has been four years since #MeToo went viral on Twitter.

The first use of Me Too online was in 2006 on MySpace by Tarana Burke, who is widely known as the founder of this movement. She posted “me too” to show support for sexual assault survivors.

Eleven years later in 2017 actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” That tweet has over 17 thousand replies. The Me Too movement gained lots of traction with other people in the public eye sharing their Me Too stories.

Millions of people used #MeToo on Twitter and Instagram and it quickly spread to other countries and languages. The movement became popular in over 34 countries.

The man that had the most accusations was Harvey Weinstein who co-founded Miramax, an entertainment company that produced “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love”. Over 80 women accused him of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape. In 2020, he was found guilty of rape and criminal sexual acts. He was given only 23 years for his disgusting acts against women.

The fact that there were over 80 accusations and he only got 23 years proves that our society has a long way to go to make this world safe for women. We also need to hold those that threaten that safety accountable, including the judges that give very minimum sentences.

After the Me Too movement, we still have more work to do to create a more accepting society for women that want to come forward against their abusers.

We need to believe these women and hold the abusers responsible for their actions.

Wikimedia Commons photo

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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Milkshake Mania

stars

Artisan milkshake bar opens locations in Texas The Yard Milkshake Bar, 4940 TX-121 Suite 100, The Colony, TX 75056

E

By Kailey Bergstedt and Hanna Asmerom | Staff Writers

dt

ergste

ailey B s by K

Photo

Every day you open Instagram, TikTok or even Pinterest, people are posting pictures of more and more extravagantly decorated “artisan” foods. One restaurant chain following this trend is The Yard Milkshake Bar. The Yard opened in May 2017 and debuted on Shark Tank in 2019. It is known for its specialty milkshakes, but also sells edible cookie dough, specialty sundaes in a bowl, layered ice cream sundaes in a jar, cookie dough pops and specially–ordered ice cream cakes and pies. So, of course, when The Yard opened its first store in Texas, located in The Colony, we were eager to go.

When we walked into the store, we were immediately greeted with many different sweet aromas. We were also overwhelmed by the multitude of milkshake flavors to choose from on the menu. Thankfully, the manager was very helpful and recommended the best flavors to try.

We ended up ordering the “Doughnut Touch My Coffees and Cream,” “The Cereal Killer” and “The Texas Twister,” a flavor exclusive to The Colony location. The Yard also offers vegan and lactose-free options, making it available to be enjoyed by everyone.

While we waited for our milkshakes, we observed the scenery and caught glimpses of the milkshake-making and decorating process. The store has a rustic-chic aesthetic with seasonal trinkets scattered around. Between the unfinished wooden furniture, metal chairs and the early 2000s-2010s pop music playing, the atmosphere felt cozy and nostalgic. During our time in the store, we observed families of all ages enjoying their experience at The Yard. Excited squeals could be heard from the younger

FROM

KAILEY AND HANNA’S KITCHEN

Ice cream ingredients:

Ice cream directions:

1. 1 cup half and half 2. 2 tbsp granulated sugar 3. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 4. 3 cup ice 5. 1/3 cup rock salt

1. Put the ice and salt in a large Ziploc bag or Tupperware container 2. In a smaller Ziploc bag, combine half and half, sugar and vanilla extract 3. Put the smaller bag into the large bag of ice and shake!! Continue shaking for about 10 min or until thickened

patrons of the store as the masterpieces were placed before them on the table.

Although we had to wait a few minutes for the employees to make and assemble the milkshakes, we were impressed with the final result. After admiring the incredible presentation, we sampled each one. At the end, we both agreed our favorite was hands down the “Doughnut Touch My Coffees and Cream.”

It is a cold–brewed Caramocha ice cream milkshake with chocolate shavings served in a Mason jar, with an Oreo rim, topped with a warmed glazed donut, a mountain of whipped cream, chocolate sauce and more crushed Oreos.

The delicious yet subtle blend of chocolate and coffee made it the perfect pick–me–up.

The next flavor we tried was “The Cereal Killer.” The marshmallow ice cream milkshake, infused with Fruity Pebbles, was served in a Mason jar with a marshmallow cream and Fruity Pebbles rim. It was topped with another mountain of whipped cream, a Fruity Pebbles treat bar and red marshmallow drizzle. This one was by far the brightest and most colorful. It tasted just like the cereal from our childhoods.

The final flavor we sampled was “The Texas Twister.” This Cookies N’ Cream milkshake with white and blue marshmallow drizzle comes in a Mason jar that’s rim is rolled in blue sugar sprinkles. It was topped with a white chocolate dipped ice cream cone covered in blue sugar sprinkles and filled with blue cotton candy, whipped cream and a chocolate cow. Though we loved the flavor, we agreed it was too sweet.

After enjoying our milkshakes, we washed out our Mason jars. We really liked the opportunity to take a “souvenir” home from our visit. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience at The Yard. It is worth noting, though, that the milkshakes can be a little pricey, costing $16 each. However, you certainly get your money’s worth. The milkshake was delicious, you get to keep the jar and the overall experience was incredible. We would definitely recommend milkshakes from The Yard.

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

Trader Joe’s tasty treats Market offers variety of fall favorites

By Melody Hu | Arts and Life Editor

Trader Joe’s never fails to win shoppers over with their extensive seasonal product selection, and fall is no exception.

From pumpkin-flavored dog treats to butternut squash mac and cheese bites, it’s obvious Trader Joe’s is dedicated to fall products. As an avid Trader Joe’s shopper myself, I tried a variety of fall treats to see which products were worth it.

Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix

This pumpkin bread and muffin mix is perfect for lazy bakers who want a classic fall treat — all you have to do is add eggs, water, and oil! The bread came out super moist, but I wish there was something to compliment the pumpkin, as it started to become overpowering after the first few bites.

xxxxx

Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels

Autumnal Harvest Soup If you like tomato soup, this autumnal harvest soup is perfect for you. It has a tomato soup base with hints of autumnal flavors such as pumpkin, butternut squash, and carrots.

xxxxx

These pumpkin spiced mini pretzels were the perfect mix of sweet and savory. My only complaint is the pretzels under the coating were not crunchy enough.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese Bites

xxxx

Although the flavor combination of butternut squash and cheese confused me at first, they pair surprisingly well. The breading on the mac and cheese bites was crispy, and the inside was cheesy.

Another reason I enjoyed these mac and cheese bites so much was they did not have a strong butternut squash taste.

Spiced Cider

Apple cider is a classic fall drink, and Trader Joe’s apple cider did not disappoint. Although I usually stay away from ciders, this drink had just the right amount of tartness, sweetness and spice.

xxxx

xxxx

Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Corn Typically, I am not a fan of sweet and salty

popcorn, but the maple and sea salt kettle corn changed my mind. Neither flavor was overpowering, and it had the perfect hint of maple. The kettle corn itself was also popped to perfection.

xxxxx

Pumpkin Spice Espresso Beans These espresso beans were covered in a pumpkin spice and white chocolate coating. The sweetness from the coating helped balance out the bitterness from the espresso beans. Although they tasted good, the texture of the espresso bean was too hard for me.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix I love anything with pumpkin and chocolate, so these cookies were perfect for me. The chocolate and pumpkin complemented each other well, and the texture of these cookies was just right.

xxxxx

xxxx

Photos by Melody Hu

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

arts & life

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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SMALL BUSINESS, BIG FLAVOR Female entrepreneurs lead local eateries in DFW area This issue, The Fourcast is partnering with the Small Business Club to highlight five businesses in the DFW area led by women. Whether you’re in the mood for gourmet sliders to a cup of coffee, we recommend supporting these female entrepreneurs.

Photo provided by Holidify

1

Opening Bell Coffee 1409 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, 75215

2

Local Foods Kitchen 4548 Hartwood Drive, Fort Worth, 76109

3

Emporium Pies 314 N Bishop Ave., Dallas, 75208

4

Asian Mint 5450 W Lovers Lane, Dallas, 75209

Photo provided by Houston Chronicle

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4 Photo provided by Emporium Pies

5

Easy Sliders 2701 Main St., Dallas, 75226

5

Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

Photo provided by Asian Mint

Photo provided by Easy Sliders

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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infocus

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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The forecast is in...

College applications and Jane Eyre essays piled on the floor, computers on the brink of dying, a clock hand pushing midnight: welcome to the everyday life of a Hockaday student. Desperate for a pick-me-up to get them through late-night study sessions, many Daisies are snubbing traditional brain refreshers — sleep, food, rest — for an easy fix with difficult long-term effects: energy drinks. Research shows the harms of energy drink consumption, especially in adolescents, heavily outweigh their temporary benefits.

it’s not elsius

by Zoya Haq and Ambyr Baker

M

I

n high-stress environments, caffeine is a common coping mechanism. Yet ironically, caffeine consumption can actually increase stress. Drinking an energy drink, or a similar amount of a highly caffeinated beverage, releases cortisol - otherwise known as “the stress hormone” - into the body, which creates heightened feelings of anxiety and discomfort.

According to a study by the Duke University Medical Center, caffeine’s stress-elevating effects last for multiple hours; a combination of a physical increase in stress hormones and a heightened psychological perception of stress levels in subjects support this conclusion.

Caffeine culture in stressful environments also

Nutrition Facts

Serving size 1 can (12 oz) % Daily Value Caffeine (200 mg) 200% Blood pressure spikes 300% Acne 250% Stress 400%

C

often leads to increased risk of caffeine abuse and addiction. This phenomenon shines through in the habits of the student body; in a survey of 200 Hockaday upper schoolers, 45% said they drink caffeine daily.

Junior Ela Guo said her dependence on caffeine began her sophomore year to help her deal with her school workload.

“I need at least one cup of coffee every morning, sometimes two, sometimes three,” Guo said, “and then another when I get home, to keep myself awake to do my homework.”

Senior Sophia Yung has seen her classmates struggle with caffeine addiction.

“I think caffeine consumption is just a natural response to the workload that’s put on us,” Yung said. “Over the course of high school, especially here at Hockaday, everyone develops some kind of relationship with caffeine.”

Health harms

affeinated drinks — especially energy drinks — carry a hodge podge of health-related harms that affect behavior, skin, blood pressure, and neural activity.

Researchers at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health found long-term research trials on energy drink consumption reflect increased aggressive tendencies, heightened susceptibility to alcohol and cigarette abuse, higher risk of obesity and diabetes and worsened sleep quality.

The CDC recommends adolescents sleep between eight and 10 hours per night; a survey of 200 Hockaday students showed that 58% sleep fewer than seven.

“With schoolwork and other activities outside of school, you run out of time, and you must start eating away at your sleep,” junior Ela Guo said. “Caffeine is what’s necessary to be awake.”

Furthermore, in adolescents who already struggle with acne, caffeine can worsen skin by dehydrating the skin barrier. Because drinking caffeine produces cortisol, the “stress hormone,”

and circulates it throughout the body’s bloodstream, these cortisol increases can also lead to heightened oil production in the sebaceous glands and make teenagers more prone to breakouts, according to a Duke University study.

And because of caffeine’s stimulant properties, consumption of caffeinated drinks can lead to sudden spikes in blood pressure, which can damage the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys, according to the Mayo Clinic. Long term, continued caffeine consumption can permanently alter organs and lead to lifelong damage.

Perhaps the scariest part of caffeine consumption is its effects on the brain’s neural makeup. Because of caffeine’s addictive properties, the Cleveland Clinic found the brain develops a dependence on higher and higher amounts of caffeine, altering the mesolimbic dopamine pathway or the brain’s “reward circuit.”.

“Caffeine is a drug,” Ebinero said. “Any time you introduce a direct drug to your brain, it needs to have more of it to receive equivalent effects.”

ajor manufacturing companies tactfully market their products to adolescents to gain revenue. Enticing consumers with sweetened flavors or magical performance enhancement, these companies largely attract a minor audience unaware of the health implications caused by caffeine addiction.

Residential Nurse Joe Norman said there is a longstanding history of misleading advertising in the United States.

“Deceitful marketing even goes back to the ’50s when the Folgers coffee commercial said it was the American dream to get up in the morning and pour a cup of coffee to start your day,” Norman said.

A 2013 study by the Drug Abuse Warning Network found that the amount of energy drink-related emergency room visits virtually doubled between 2007 and 2011. From this, 30% to 50% of all energy drink consumption was reported to be from children, adolescents and young adults.

On April 30, 2014, the American Beverage Association attempted to curb this unfair exploitation. Requiring products to stop marketing energy drinks as dietary supplements, list the actual caffeine content on labels, and discourage children 12 years old and under from purchasing, the ABA prohibited 95% of the United States’ energy drink distribution to uninformed children.

This policy, however, protects only a fraction of the adolescents affected. According to a 2018 report conducted by the National Library of Medicine, 41% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 had consumed an energy drink within the past three months.

One reason for this is energy drink presence

In a survey of 200 Upper Schoolers...

45%

drink caffeine on a daily basis

More stress, not less

Tricking teens

58%

sleep less than 7 hours a night

Finding alternatives

O

n occasion, caffeinated energy drinks accomplish their intended goal of enhancing concentration and improving cognitive function; yet, these potentially positive health effects can be negated by overindulgence.

According to a psychomotor performance analysis conducted by PubMed, energy drinks considerably improve aerobic and anaerobic ability, reaction time, concentration and memory. Scientists found that a single can of Redbull induces a 24% increase in both physical and cerebral performance.

However, while this study affirms caffeine’s isolated benefits in one serving size, the danger of energy drinks lies within its potency and common over-usage.

In addictive situations, students may consume two, three, maybe even four energy drinks in a single sitting. They may not realize the damaging nutritional makeup of other key ingredients like guarana.

A study conducted by the Public Library of Science reports guarana seeds contain four times the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans.

Along with that, energy drink manufacturers add glucuronolactone and taurine, two ingredients

for which researchers have not discovered the consequences.

Per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an adult can consume up to 400 mg of daily caffeine without negative health repercussions — a limit already exceeded by one 500 mg energy drink.

Though there may be advantages to ingesting these beverages from time to time, the best solution for replenishing your body is food and adequate sleep.

“For most teenagers, simply eating breakfast would be a good alternative,” said Lindsay Hazard, a licensed nutritionist in clinical nutrition.

In the end, no manufactured alimentary supplement can ever outshine the reliability of a wellbalanced lifestyle.

“The best alternative to excessive caffeine,” Hazard said, “is just having a good quality diet.”

“If you drop your pencil, you’re behind. That is the culture of high school.”

Joe Norman, Hockaday Nurse online. Specifically targeting a juvenile age demographic, popular energy drink brands have tapped into social media to establish their name. Euromonitor International, a market research company, reports that between 2013 and 2018, the energy drink category achieved $12.3 billion in sales since the influx of social media advertising.

“Obviously the potency of energy drinks is a lot higher, but due to the influence of social media, these companies are still able to get their product out to the marketplace,’’ Coach A.D. Ebeniro said.

Seen in the hands of popular social media influencers and celebrities, energy drinks have naturally become a staple for overworked teens looking for an immediate energy boost.

“When I don’t get much sleep working late into the night, I definitely need a kick of caffeine to keep me going,” Yung said, “That’s where Celsius comes in. It’s pretty much the only caffeine option for me.”

“Keep going” is a common theme whenever students are faced with high school’s staggering academic and athletic pressure. Thus, while a large majority are informed of caffeine’s notorious consequences, few students prioritize their health over their loads of responsibility.

“The high expectations that students put on themselves are overwhelming,” Norman said.

“If you drop your pencil, you’re behind. That is the culture of high school.”

November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

14features

“

I believe you have to start your morning right.

—Alejandra Suáréz A Day in the Life , p. 16

Two years since the tornado Businesses, families deal with damage from the disaster

By Jane Clark | Views Editor In the two years since destructive tornadoes hit North Dallas, the community has had to adapt and rebuild their lives accordingly. The devastating effects on the Preston Royal area set back businesses months or even years due to repairs and reconstruction. Families who had to relocate have had to rebuild before moving back into their homes.

Among the heavily damaged Preston Royal businesses was the Sample House and Candle Shop.

Because of its location at the southeast corner of the shopping center, it was on the tornado’s leading edge.

“The roof was torn off and our merchandise was mostly water damaged,” said Ellen Aiken, director of marketing for Sample House.

To recover from the tornado, the shopping center decided to rebuild, which meant Sample House had to wait it out, losing business at the Preston Royal location.

“Luckily, many of our customers started shopping at our other locations,” Aiken said. “There was definitely a huge uptick of traffic at our Lovers Lane location.”

Because the Preston Royal location was one of the Sample House’s busiest locations, they did not have the option to relocate.

“We knew that most of the shopping center tenants were coming back as well,” Aiken said. “It has been a long two years, but definitely well worth the wait.”

Business interruption insurance proved to be helpful for the Sample House. However, rebuilding after a natural disaster was very different from building a new store.

“There is all kinds of red tape, waiting for permits and all the different insurance companies involved,” Aiken said. “Once we get our occupancy certificate, we can hopefully move in merchandise.”

Unlike Sample House, Royal China was not directly hit by the tornado, but suffered the same power outages and leaks.

“We were forced to close for around 10 days,” said senior Juliana Lu, the owners’ niece. “After we reopened, business was relatively slow in the beginning, but because of our loyal customers, we were able to bounce back quickly.”

Because the restaurant did not take a direct hit, the damage had little to no impact in the long run for the business, Lu said, adding that

‘We’ve grown more grateful for the things we have because we’ll never know when an event like this is going to happen again’ Juliana Lu Senior Royal China has appreciated their loyal customers through the disaster.

“We’ve grown more grateful for the things we have because we’ll never know when an event like this is going to happen again,” Lu said.

Besides businesses, families also had to adapt to the destruction of the tornado. The Weinmeister family had debris blown through the windows, a tree over into the yard and holes into the roof.

“We waited in the bathroom while it went over us and when we went out, everything was destroyed outside but the actual house was fine,” junior Alexandra Weinmeister said. “Most of our neighbors’ houses were seriously damaged, though.”

The Weinmeisters had to move out and live with their friends for three weeks while the windows and roof were repaired.

“We then took the repairs as an opportunity to remodel partially and because the tree fell in our front yard we redid the landscaping out front,” Weinmeister said.

They have now moved back into their house after living in Weinmeister’s aunt’s house for over six months during the renovations.

After the tornado downed trees, smashed windows and left holes in the roof, junior Alexandra Weinmeister and her family lived with friends for three weeks awaiting repairs.

They eventually moved out for more than six months during more extensive renovations, living at her aunt’s house before returning to their home.

Photo provided by Shea Duffy

The area around the Preston-Royal intersection, in the direct path of the tornado, was littered with fallen trees, power lines and debris from damaged buildings.

Photo by Campbell Harris

The Sample House and Candle Shop was one of the hardest-hit businesses in Preston Royal Center because of its location. The owners have rebuilt at the center.

Photo by Campbell Harris

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

features

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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GOING PAPERLESS Using technology helps students elimate waste

By KG Estess | Jade Editor required. I fill out PDF forms with Adobe and send them by email,” Townsley said. “I use a Rocketbook Wave (feels like paper) to reuse the same spiral notebook again and again. I have a subscription to Scribd so I can read books, magazines, and PDFs online.”

Soysal said going paperless has helped her stay more organized and on top of her classwork.

“I feel like I always used to lose papers bringing stuff home and back, but now everything is much more organized and all in one place,” Soysal said.

Students have been seen around school using iPads and using laptops at school has become an integral part of students’ lives in the digital age.

“I try to remind students and teachers about doing things digitally, in the cloud, and using duplex printing (on both sides),” Townsley said. “As the Tech Board sponsor, I have worked with students each year, encouraging them to find ways to promote less printing or at least responsible printing among their peers.”

Teachers have been accommodating paperless students by allowing the use of online textbooks, posting assignments online, and allowing the submission of assignments online.

“I love it that students are going paperless,” Townsley said. “Everyone, not just students, should think about reducing their paper waste. But, as many times as we encourage it, the motivation to reduce waste has to come from within.”

Completing an assignment on her iPad, senior Naz Soysal works to reduce paper waste at school. She said her teachers have been supportive of her efforts, allowing her to complete and submit her classwork digitally.

Photo provided by Naz Soysal

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y their nature, all schools produce some level of waste. Senior Naz Soysal has decided to combat this issue. By using her iPad, she has eliminated her use of paper in her classes.

“Most of my teachers have been super accommodating,” Soysal said. “Usually, teachers post a lot of their assignments and worksheets online so it’s pretty easy to just download them and complete them on my iPad.” Going paperless has become a movement across the world, as the digital age makes it possible for some students to rely on technology instead of paper.

This movement has helped students and schools save paper and minimize their negative impact on the environment.

Beyond attempting to minimize paper usage, students and faculty have been taking steps to lessen their waste.

“Last year, we were trying to figure out a plan to reduce all of the food waste and plastic that cannot be recycled because of the food in it, but it was hard logistically,” said senior Elise Little, president of the All Green Club. “There’s definitely a way to make Hockaday more eco-friendly in that regard, but it will just take some figuring out. I hope the All Green Club can make progress on that this year.”

Faculty members also have begun to respond to this issue, inside and outside of the classroom.

Technology Integration Specialist Candace Townsley outlined the ways she minimizes her paper usage.

“Personally, I very rarely print, only when

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COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING, PERSONAL SHOPPING, CAR SERVICE AND WIFI

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November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Señora Suárez What does World Languages Department Chair Alejandra Suárez do every day? Well, that answer is a long one, but in short: many, many things. Here’s a peek into a typical day for Suárez.

By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning!

5:15 A.M. RISE & SHINE | Suárez wakes up

bright and early and immediately gives thanks. She then reads an excerpt of a motivational book, currently “The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and The Art of Living” by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

5:45 A.M. GRIND TIME | Suárez heads

to the gym for a morning workout from 5:45-6:45.

“In order for you to have a successful day, I believe you have to start your mornings right,” she said.

4:30 P.M. HEADED HOME | Suárez

leaves school for the day and calls a friend or family member to check in with during her drive.

Upon her arrival home, she greets her Yorkshire terrier Lola and finishes up any work for the next day.

7:30 P.M. PADEL PRACTICE | Suárez practices padel, a racquet sport similar to tennis, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Suárez has faced great success in the sport, and she currently plays at T Bar M Racquet Club.

See you tomorrow!

12:00 P.M.

FAMILY CHECK-IN | Suárez chats with her children, Pablo and Fernanda, both of whom have graduated from college, in their Whatsapp group. “There is always daily communication, which is the best part of my day!” Suárez said. “Sometimes it is just a quick ‘hi’ or a joke, but there is always something.”

8:20 A.M. SCHOOL DAY BEGINS | Suárez arrives at school each day at around 8:20, her precious coffee always in hand. As Department Chair, she makes an effort to greet every member of her team each morning and check in for any possible issues.

9:00 A.M TEACHING TIME | Suárez dives into

teaching. This year, she teaches AP Spanish, Spanish & Latin American Short Fiction & Short Fiction and Spanish Poetry & Pop Music. “As busy as my day is, it’s just phenomenal to be here with the girls,” Suárez said. “It’s so fulfilling.”

Photos provided by Campbell Harris, Zoya Haq and Alejandra Suárez

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

features

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

Some of the bubble tea purchased for a club meeting last year.

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Photo by Nancy Chen

Bubbling up

Club doubles in size, sipping tea while celebrating Asian culture

By Lacy Green | Staff Writer

A

fter its founding last year by current club president Hanna Zhang, the Bubble Tea Club has amounted to be one of the largest special interest groups on campus. Starting with about 50 members last year, the club now has over 90 members signed up .

Amid the incidents of Asian Hate spreading across the country last year, Zhang created the club as a unifying symbol to bring people together to share bubble tea while providing a safe environment to speak freely about Asian culture.

While the number of members has since doubled, the club still had a significant number of members last year, which required extensive planning from the leadership team to be able to bring so much bubble tea to campus.

As most places that sell bubble tea do not open until 11 a.m., the leadership team had to create a list of all the member’s orders and take it to the store in advance, asking them to open early in order to have all of the drinks ready for their club meetings, which took place during Conference. This year, they will have to work with local bubble tea shops once again to find a new plan of action due to the large number of students who have chosen to join the club.

Alongside the president, club vice president Kendall

Marchant plans on continuing their greater mission, as well as making some minor changes to their execution to help the year run smoothly.

“This year is my first year to be part of club leadership as Vice President of the Bubble Tea club, and I’m so excited to explore new bubble tea places and introduce some new ideas we have for club meetings,” Marchant said.

Specifically, one new change that the club might explore is to divide the club into five sections, with each leader being in charge of a group. When it comes time for meetings and other club activities they will break off into their groups to keep an intimate environment while still being able to introduce so many more people to bubble tea.

Other returning members like senior Olivia Nguyen are also looking forward to another year on the bubble tea club.

“I’m so excited for the bubble tea club this year, and I can’t wait to meet the new members”, Nguyen said.

In addition to the excited returning members and leadership team their club sponsor, Vickey Thumlert, is also preparing for another successful year of the Bubble Tea Club.

“As the club sponsor, I support the club in their endeavors and help with meeting dates and

‘I’m so excited to explore new bubble tea places and introduce some new ideas we have for club meetings.’

Senior Kendall Marchant Club vice president

arrangements,” Thumlert said.

During their meeting dates throughout the year, the members will drink bubble tea and celebrate Asian culture, as well as some ice breakers and competitions. While the club will have to make some adjustments throughout the year to accommodate their new members, there is no denying the excitement of the leadership team.

“Even before I joined, I wanted to be a part of it,” Marchant said. “The simplicity of getting a bubble tea to cheer up your day really brings us joy, and we want to share that with as many people as we can this year.”

HOCKA-HISTORY A look back into our past

Some early items of the uniform, including original school shoes and a white blazer.

Uniform evolution

Daisy image changes with changing times Each issue, the Fourcast browses Hockaday’s archives and chooses a moment to look back on. This month, we are focusing on the looking at the Hockaday uniform throughout the years to see how it has evolved.

By Hanna Zhang | Copy Editor

Plaid skirt, white blouse, saddle oxfords, white and green blazers. The uniform featured in almost every picture sports a mix of white and green, capturing the image of a Daisy. Yet, the uniform hasn’t always been this way. In fact, even the classic plaid was not introduced until the 1970s. So, how did the uniform we recognize and wear today come to be?

Amy Spence ’87, director of alumnae relations, said Miss Ela Hockaday required her students to wear a uniform since the school’s founding in 1913.

“I believe the Hockaday uniform helps to promote a feeling of community and unity for all students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade,” Spence said. “I believe it also positively impacts self-esteem for students; the saddle oxfords I wore during my time as a student at Hockaday now hang in a shadow box in my office.”

When the school first opened, students wore itchy wool skirts and starched white blouses.

During physical education they wore black wool knee-length bloomers and a long-sleeved white blouse. Saddle oxfords were colored brown and white instead of green.

It wasn’t until 1973 that Lester Melnick, father of three alumnae, designed the iconic green plaid worn by all students today. The same year, the school introduced pants as a uniform option, a direct innovation from the student body.

“Miss Hockaday was admired and respected because she was fearless, and she was a trailblazer and a forward-thinker,” Spence said.

“I believe the uniform continues to reflect the ideals and standards on which Miss Hockaday founded her school.”

November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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18sports

“

The most challenging part is trying to level out both my fencing and my education.

Meet the seventh-grade fencer, p. 20

School spirit revived

After two years, pep rallies back with a bang

By Hanna Asmerom| Staff Writer Roaring cheers. The timbre of a gong echoes throughout the amphitheater, announcing the return of pep rallies after two years.

Athletic Board Minje Kwun stands at the center of the stage in a cowboy hat and boots, announcing the fall sports teams. School Spirit has returned in full swing.

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hat do you call a well- dressed cowboy? Ranch dressing!” The sounds of jokes like these paired with the bang of the gong filled the pep rally with excitement. Deb Surgi, Athletic Director, encouraged athletes and coaches and declared the beginning of the Southern Preparatory games.

“I was waiting for the next pep rally,” varsity rower, DixeyPiper Auer, said, “it was really fun.”

On Nov. 2, after two years away, the Athletic Board led the return of the highly-anticipated pep rally.

All season, sports teams had been working to prepare for SPC competitions on Nov. 5-7, and the rally was another way to honor the players.

“It was really exciting to be back and cheer on our athletes,” Minje Kwun, head of the Athletic Board, said.

The board was faced with many challenges through COVID and found solutions to overcome them.

The rally was in the amphitheater and was only for Upper School students to attend.

“We weren’t sure what we were allowed to do, there’s not really a guidebook for COVID,” Kwun said.

However, the new changes were not all bad news. The new format allowed for more US bonding and the rally was louder and more energetic than usual, Kwun said. It featured fall sports team walkouts and Q&A sessions with team captains. Varsity volleyball mentioned they are undefeated in SPC, varsity cross country shared some words of wisdom from Coach LaBoris Bean and rowing shared their favorite pre-game hype songs. The event also featured a performance from the drill team.

“We were concerned about the stage but overall, it went great,” Anne Rubi, drill team captain, said.

Taylor Hua, varsity field hockey athlete, said it was a great way for students to get spirited for SPC games. For both Kwun and Hua, the rally meant more than just high school fun.

“It’s symbolic of how we have all grown so much together during the

pandemic,” Kwun said, “Now, these pep rallies mean even more.”

Hua had a similar view on the impact of this pep rally.

“It symbolizes a return to play,” Hua said, “and being able to see our work come to fruition.”

The board’s sights are now set on a school-wide pep rally. With the status of the pandemic being up in the air, Kwun said a normal pep rally is in the works for the spring season.

For now, Kwun said, “Protect the meadow and teach our opponents to never mess with us again!”

Cross Country Captain Leena Mehendale bangs the gong after announcing the team’s upcoming SPC meet at Norbuck Park.

Photo by Leila Tarighi

“I really enjoy getting to still be a part of the athletic community and have my fellow classmates, who are on sports teams, come in and I am able to help them.”

Kate Borson Trainer Juniors Ambyr Baker and Grace Hoverman run the flags in front of the crowd before the Cross Country team takes the stage.

Photo by Leila Tarighi

Junior Lauren Ingram celebrates the successful fall season alongside the rest of the Athletic Board.

Photo by Leila Tarighi

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

sports

ROWING ON THE RIVER

REMY’S

COURT

By Remy Finn | Sports Editor

W

19

AND IN

Crew takes on challenge of Head of the Charles hile their peers prepared for a weekend of Gatsby-themed fun at St. Mark’s homecoming, varsity crew got ready for the biggest regatta in the United States: the Head of the Charles in Massachusetts.

Hockaday boats that placed in the top half of their event earned a bid to participate in the next year’s event. Hockaday’s 4+, or “quad” boat with a coxswain placed 18th out of 52 teams, and the varsity 2x “double” placed 30th out of 54 teams. In a 1x, “single” boat, senior and Stanford commit Jordan Stock placed fifth.

The Head of the Charles Regatta course, on the river separating Boston and Cambridge, is roughly three miles long, goes under six bridges and has three major turns. It’s known colloquially as a “coxswain” race, since the role of the steersman is of the utmost importance on such a complex course.

Lucy Jane Roberts, coxswain for an eightperson boat during a 4,600 meter course, said the way you direct your boat through the course can make a big difference.

“The course is the most significant part of the race because you can cut off 200 meters and row

November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

a shorter race based on the angles of your turns,” Roberts said.

The regatta, which is the largest three-day regatta in the world, attracted more than 11,000 rowers this year and has been running since 1965. As for spectators, roughly 225,000 attended this year’s showcase.

Senior rower Sophie Podeszwa said the event features an incredible ambience.

“It’s a reunion of alumni, new rowers, coaches and random college teams,” Podeszwa said. “And there are lots of organizations that set up too, like US Rowing, boat manufacturing companies and food vendors.”

As for missing homecoming, the rowers voiced no qualms about their absence from the St. Mark’s event. Olivia Weeldreyer, a rower for Founders Rowing Club who is committed to Cornell University, said it was even better than homecoming.

The regatta was very inclusive,” Weeldryer said, “and it felt like we were celebrating something much more substantial than what homecoming is celebrating.”

Former Head Coach of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. The first coach to win the Women’s World Cup twice. The first manager, men’s or women’s, since 1938 to win two consecutive World Cup titles.

Jill Ellis is a big deal, which is why I was ecstatic when I got to meet her in person at the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Luncheon alongside the five other seniors on our varsity Soccer team. The annual event aims to collect proceeds toward athletic scholarships and initiatives at Southern Methodist University.

Held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel on Oct. 27, the event enabled me to speak with Ellis personally before the luncheon began, and I even got to snap a selfie with her and one of the two FIFA trophies present. Once the luncheon started, Ellis answered questions on topics ranging from her home life to her favorite former player on the team.

One of my teammates at the luncheon, Leena Mehendale, was even able to ask Ellis a question about how collegiate athletes can prepare themselves for a life in sports. Ellis’s advice centered around internal preparation and grounding yourself in the knowledge that you will need to self-advocate.

As a whole, the luncheon was a very enjoyable experience and I am so grateful we got to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Jill Ellis is a role model not just for her coaching prowess, but for an empowerment of other women which she continues to cultivate today.

Savannah Frederiksen, Paisley Brown, Sophia Clavenna and Stella Kozielec glide across the water.

Photo provided by Paisley Brown

CAPTAINS’ CORNER

JORDAN STOCK, rowing

SYDNEY EYESTONE, volleyball

LANDRY GROVER, field hockey

“This year has been a redemption from last year since we did not have any regattas last fall. I’m really proud of how this season went.”

“I am so proud of my team and all our work that paid off in our SPC Championship victory. It was such a sweeping success and amazing end to our season.”

“This was such a great season for HVFH. We ended third overall and our team became super close. Having our SPC games at home was so great, especially because of all our fans.”

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November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Photo by Hanna Asmerom

THE

Drill team puts on a show before the color run begins.

Photo by Hanna Asmerom

Middle school students sprint across the starting line of the mile-long course along Hockaday’s sporting fields.

‘I’m just excited to be able to perform in front of a crowd again. Last year we just videod our performances and it was really underwhelming, so I’m excited for that experience.’

Elise Little Drill Team Captain

Brightening the meadow Color Run returns for entire school

By Anna Gum | Co Editor-in-Chief

C

louds of pink and orange and blue erupt, ringing in the fall, as people take off on the running course around campus. Once a year, as the weather gets colder and the calendar flips to October, an explosion floods the campus of color as students, faculty and families throw cups of colored dye into the air for the Color Run. Members of the Hockaday community celebrated the third annual color run Oct. 5. After a year off due

to COVID-19, the race returned with a slightly altered course. The run also did not feature the Wellness Festival from 2019 to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Despite changes, the race maintained its goal of uniting the community.

“The goal is to bring our community together for an action event with the focus on having fun,” Athletic Director Deb Surgi said. “Community, running, color, food, art and wellness are the focus.”

A performance by the Drill Team

was added to kick off the event.

Captains Anne Rubi and Elise Little choreographed a dance for the team to perform. The team rehearsed during routine practices on even-day mornings.

“I’m just excited to be able to perform in front of a crowd again,” Little said. “Last year we just videoed our performances and it was really underwhelming, so I’m excited for that experience.”

The group did face a few challenges, including the higher number of team members they have this year and the length of their dance. Their sponsor Karen Sanchez, Coach Deb Surgi, Coach Jennifer Johnson and managers Maddie

Stout, Hannah Philip and Cate Goglia helped them overcome these challenges.

“They take care of playing and pausing the music, and they record our practices,” Rubi said. “Cate knows all of the choreography so she will also step in and help sometimes.”

With the help of their managers, they managed to choreograph, learn and rehearse their routine in time for the color run. Their routine added to the already meaningful return of the color run.

“Bright colors are often associated with spring and renewal,” Coach Surgi said. “The ability to bring the color run back to our community felt like a new beginning this fall.”

ONE TO WATCH Daisies to keep an eye on

MEET

Jaelyn Liu Liu may be in Middle School, but her age is no barrier as she quickly rises in the ranks as a fencer both locally and nationally

By Anna Gum | Co Editor-in-Chief

It was not love at first sight for Jaelyn Liu and fencing, but she has grown to love and achieve success on a national level in the sport. The seventh-grader began fencing at age 7 to grow her confidence through the combat sport.

The potential of cuts and bruises, however, postponed her interest, and she did not learn to love the sport until she joined the club Fencing Institute of Texas.

“My point of view changed because I found out it’s actually really fun, and we always wear protection so it’s pretty rare to get hurt,” Liu said.

She now enjoys fencing, particularly getting to learn and experiment with new tactics with her teammates.

In addition to enjoyment, Liu said she also found a new sense of selfconfidence through fencing.

Liu poses with her medals after placing in national fencing events.

Photos provided by Jaelyn Liu

“It has helped a lot with my confidence,” Liu said. “I am able to talk a lot more, and I made a lot more friends because my club is pretty big.”

This year, which she considers to be her climactic year, she won several national medals, including a first place summer national medal. She even had the chance to fence against three-time Olympic gold medalist Lee Kiefer while participating in the North America Cup, a national fencing tournament that Kiefer attended.

“I think that might be my greatest achievement if I ever get to fence her,” Liu said before the event.

Her achievement has not come without sacrifice, however. She has had to devote both time and effort, training six days each week, and also has to balance her academics and athletics.

Going between training and school each day, Liu has worked to manage her time and prioritize school.

“Hockaday is my education… and it is my first priority,” Liu said. “The most

challenging part is trying to level out both my fencing and my education.”

While fencing comes with challenges, she has big plans for the future. Liu said she is looking forward to 2028 to potentially compete at the Olympic Games, and also hopes to use fencing as a means to attend a high academic level college.

“I hope to get into a good school because of my fencing,” Liu said, “and to use this sport as one of my advantages in life.”

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

We Love It, We Love It Not

STAFF STANDOFF

BANANA or PUMPKIN BREAD? Fall is here and the staff debates the best bread of fall and provides recipes...

Banana bread bonanza

Rise of pumpkin bread is highlight of fall

By Katherine Grace Estess | Jade Editor

By Elisa Carroll | Web Editor

Sitting in the Starbucks drive-thru across from Jesuit on a dreary morning before school, overtired from studying last night for your two tests today, you pull up to the window. Light fills your car and you feel yourself smile as the barista hands you the greatest creation to ever exit the Starbucks kitchen: banana bread.

This perfect moist loaf contains a magical blend of flavors including walnuts, bananas (obviously), cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Starbucks perfectly adorns their products with crushed walnuts pressed into the crust at the top. To top off the experience, I think banana bread is best enjoyed with a glass of cold milk, preferably almond.

Unlike pumpkin bread, which is only enjoyed in the autumnal season, banana bread is a yearround delight. My favorite breakfast memories are of a loaf of banana bread greeting me as I mosey downstairs after my father’s daily trips to our local Starbucks.

I encourage you, upon your next trip to Starbucks, to turn up your nose at the notion of ordering a boring old pumpkin bread, and guarantee an enjoyable experience for yourself by grabbing a perfectly warmed loaf of banana bread.

If you care to make it yourself at home, reference the recipe below from https://www. simplyrecipes.com/.

VS

Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients: 2 to 3 medium (7” to 7-7/8” long) very ripe bananas, peeled (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups mashed) 1/3 cup (76g) butter, unsalted or salted, melted 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 pinch salt 3/4 cup (150g) sugar (1/2 cup if you would like it less sweet, 1 cup if more sweet) 1 large egg, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups (205g) all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a 4x8-inch loaf pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed banana 3. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour 4. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350°F (175°C), or until a toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. A few dry crumbs are okay; streaks of wet batter are not. If the outside of the loaf is browned but the center is still wet, loosely tent the loaf with foil and continue baking until the loaf is fully baked.

5. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then remove the banana bread from the pan and let cool completely before serving. Slice and serve. (A bread knife helps to make slices that aren’t crumbly.)

Wrapped well, the banana bread will keep at room temperature for 4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the loaf up to 5 days, or freeze it.

Every year as the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, the obsession with pumpkin flavored foods and drinks returns. Say what you want about pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin pie, but nothing says fall more than a loaf of fresh pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin bread has a direct association with my favorite time of year — autumn. Even pumpkin bread’s rusty orange color matches the fall aesthetic.

Its seasonal essence gives it a more special quality than, say, banana bread, which you can enjoy any time of the year. Knowing that something has a finite accessibility makes you appreciate it more. The more you appreciate something, the better it tastes.

The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves creates a trinity of subtle yet strong spices that perfectly complement the bright pumpkin flavor. These flavors synthesize into a pleasant, earthy taste, which creates a perfect, basic bread that allows for additions of other ingredients to amplify its deliciousness.

My favorite things to add are dark chocolate chips and crushed pecans. The richness of the dark chocolate, as well as its slight bitterness, makes it the perfect complement to the subtle spices and sweet taste of pumpkin in the bread. Adding nuts creates a nice crunch to the more spongy, moist texture of the loaf.

Pumpkin bread is one-of-a-kind.

The diversity of its flavors and possible textures blend into a loaf perfect for the fall. With it being so seasonal, each bite is more special and appreciated. If you want a great recipe, check out the one below!

Pumpkin Bread Recipe Ingredients: 2w cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 cups of sugar 2 large eggs 1 and 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1 15-oz can pumpkin 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Winter Sports Starting After successful fall sports seasons, athletes prepare for the start of the winter season.

Seasonal Starbucks Peppermint mochas, toasted white chocolate frappuccinos, snowman cookies and holiday cups are back at Starbucks (even though it’s only November.)

Cold Weather Approaching The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are getting lower every week, making it too cold to eat lunch or study outside.

Directions:

1. Start by putting the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl and whisking it all together.

2. Next, place the butter and sugar into a separate large bowl and combine them using an electric mixer.

3. After combining the butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time, beating them into the mix after each addition.

4. Once the butter, sugar and eggs are all mixed together, add the pumpkin–the mix should be a light orange color.

5. Next, add the combination of flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg from earlier and mix them together using an electric mixer. Finally, pour the chocolate chips into the batter and stir until they are evenly distributed.

Add the pumpkin loaf batter to two greased loaf pans and place in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 65-75 minutes.

Once baked, allow the loaves to cool. Then you are free to enjoy!

JRP Season Stress is in the air for juniors as Junior Research Paper deadlines loom on the horizon.

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November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

Lions, let’s unite Collaboration should take precedence over competition

Illustration by Molly McPhail

STAFF STANCE

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hen seniors Brooke Adams and Landry Grover founded the Hockaday Hype Women this fall, they were excited to post on social media. The idea was based on and partnered with the St. Mark’s Super Fan Men, a sports hype account for the Lions, and Adams and Grover were motivated to create a similar account for their own community. Unfortunately, their actions were met with disrespect by a group of Lions.

One Lion commented “ratio,” urging more negative than positive responses to the Hype Women’s first post, mocking the difference in numbers of fol-

lowers between the two hype accounts.

The “ratio” comment garnered 200 likes from St. Mark’s students, turning the somewhat tame joke into a group mockery of the Hype Women.

Our expectations were modest. We wanted mutual support and respect for the Hype Women in return, but we were not met with that.

The Hockaday student body supports Super Fan Men in our school newspaper. We have a group of 30 girls who cheer on St. Mark’s at football and basketball games as well as pep rallies.

The Hockaday student body encourages St. Mark’s sports in all of their athletic endeavors, whether they are

winning or losing. Daisies deserve the same support in return.

We acknowledge the Remarker’s statements in the October issue about the diminishing connection between Hockaday and St. Mark’s. We agree that fostering this relationship would benefit both schools and we are in support of the solutions they provided.

We want to work toward more collaboration rather than competition with the St. Mark’s students. Instances like the “ratio” comment are not helping us reach this goal. We have realized attacking each other is not productive, which is why we are addressing this issue head on. None of us, especially seniors as it is our last year together,

want this cycle to continue. This needs to be put to rest.

Both of our athletic programs work extremely hard and excel at what they do, one example being Hockaday soccer’s 2020 SPC championship win and their three year reign as North Zone champs. In addition, Hockaday lacrosse boasts a 2021 state win while St. Mark’s basketball and soccer racked up SPC wins in 2020.

Athletics has been one of Hockaday’s cornerstones since our founding, and it is an integral part of the St. Mark’s experience as well. So let’s bring back the mutual support the St. Mark’s and Hockaday communities both deserve. Go Daisies and go Lions!

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November 12, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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Important step forward

23

Graduation decision preserves tradition, offers option

STAFF STANCE

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raduation: long white dresses, flower-adorned hats, rows of daisy baskets lining graduation terrace.

And, beginning this year, crisp white graduation caps and gowns will join the list of Commencement day traditions. On Oct. 28, members of the Hockaday community received an email announcing the introduction of white academic graduation robes and mortarboards as an alternative to the graduation dress.

We fully support Hockaday’s decision to expand the attire options in an effort to allow all graduates to feel comfortable, accepted and beautiful on their final day as Hockaday students.

The decision to offer an attire alternative did not happen overnight. Graduates have been requesting alternatives to the graduation dress for several years. During these years, the Board of Trustees has carefully considered the history of the dress tradition and following the 2021 Commencement, requested that an internal Graduation Attire Work Group form. The work group consulted with 44 peer schools, 39 of which are all-girl schools, and worked with the Board of Trustees, Alumnae Association Executive Committee, the Leadership Team, faculty, and students in the class of 2022.

We appreciate the thorough research and consideration that went into the decision, as well as the respect the board held for the tradition of the graduation dress throughout the process. We recognise, just as they did, the importance of the history and traditions of our 108 year-old school. And, further, we note the importance of changing traditions for the sake of better supporting all students.

By offering an alternative rather than abolishing the graduation dress, Hockaday honored the importance of tradition and the significance the dress holds for many students. Their modification, however, showed that Hockaday is open to adapting for the sake of their students. Change can be hard, but it is also necessary, and we believe this change to the graduation dress tradition will benefit this year’s class of graduates and those to come.

Graphic by Payton Thurman

The white dress will remain a Hockaday tradition even as a cap and gown option is added.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

JADE EDITOR

Anna Gum & Maddie Stout

Katherine Grace Estess

MANAGING EDITOR

WEB EDITOR

Libby Hill

Elisa Carroll

EDITORIAL POLICY

FEATURES EDITOR Juliana Blazek COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Garcia SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris ARTS & LIFE EDITORS Zoya Haq & Melody Hu

SPORTS EDITOR Remy Finn VIEWS EDITOR Jane Clark CASTOFF EDITOR Lea Whitley PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas

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

FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

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 strives to work independently in producing the student newspaper, but the content is subject to prior review by the head of Upper School, the assistant head of Upper School, the communications director and other members of the Hockaday leadership team.

Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the 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

24

November 12, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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Halloween Heroes A selection of outstanding costumes Tennie McFarland

London Rhodus

Landry Grover

KG Estess

Riley Carter

Alia Chand

Leila Tarighi

Martha Duncan Alexandra Dassapolous Elle Chavis

Peyton Gentry

Margaret Thompson

Caroline Warlick

Saxon Moseley

Nancy Chen Jordan Innerarity