the newspaper of gilman’s middle school
volume c
issue 7
may-june 2015
ALL WRITE. ALL RIGHT. proudly serving Gilman School for 100 years
SHE WAS OUR COMMENCEMENT 2015 DENSIT Y Y... ... we are not done learning how to we mean our be ourselves and how to ‘fly solo’
GRANT EMRY, B&G STAFF
photo courtesy of SAlexander
GMS - Of the four teachers leaving GMS this spring, Mrs. Klug has certainly been here the longest. Teaching at Gilman School for 29 years, she arrived here in 1986, the same year as Mr. Gordon Culbertson. That first year, she brought with her the Sixth Grade Science Fair, a long-standing tradition at her previous school and one that has become an incredible tradition at GMS.
Mrs. Klug and her husband, Richard, after the special assembly held on May 25 in honor of her service to Gilman.
In addition to serving as GMS’s Science Department Coordinator for twelve years, Mrs. Klug was a grade chair for ten years, starting in 1998, and was instrumental in the yearly organization of the Expedition 6 trips. During the time she was in the science classrooms, Mrs. Klug was also a Gilman mom. Her two sons both attended Gilman, Kevin graduating in 1992 and Jeremy graduating in 1997. As she retires to spend more time with her grandchildren, Ben, who is five years ols, and Madeline, who is just six months, she will miss teaching kids, but she knows that she will keep in touch with her GMS colleagues, who are now her close friends. Mrs. Klug’s favorite thing about Gilman was that she worked hard but got back so much more than she put in. She strived for excellence and helped others do the same everyday. Her GMS students will fondly remember how Mrs. Klug would often just put a halt to a class to make sure everyone understood the material. She also let her students teach each other in small groups to make sure they were focused and productive. At a special assembly held on May 25, Mr. Wallace, a colleague of Mrs. Klug for the last twelve years, gave a heartfelt speech about his admiration of Mrs. Klug’s work ethic and how she bettered the school in ways that will be remembered for years. In this assembly, Dr. Kwiterovich
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SAYING OUR ‘GOODBYES’ Mrs. Klug, Mr. Gabbey, Ms. Dubansky, and Ms. Gamper all move on from GMS (sniffle)
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When I found out that I would be are two surprisingly similar situations. delivering the commencement speech, Whether you were finding a bathroom I immediately set to thinking. My first in China or discovering that compared to thought – “Ben! This is your chance to tell the new kid you aren’t the smartest one in everyone your opinions – and they can’t class anymore, we all had to think and to go anywhere while you say it. They have navigate in situations that were entirely to listen to what you have to say.” Even new and challenging to us. if that sounds a little like something a I returned to Gilman with a smile Pixar villain might on my face, but I say, I hope you’ll quickly discovered enjoy hearing that the Class I had my opinions and come back to was perhaps even learn very different than something from the one I had been them. a part of months Middle School earlier. is – well, quite Before I knew frankly, Middle it, I was in seventh School is the single grade. End of year craziest thing in expeditions, sports, the world. At what and for me, the other time in your chance to play The life do you have Canterville Ghost. three short years The Middle to completely School faculty was transform as a Class of 2019 Commencement Speaker Ben a huge part of my person, to change Levinson looks back on his GMS years as life right from the from a fifth he also looks forward to the next four. start, even though grader to a freshman, to grow a foot, to first encounters weren’t always positive. lose an octave, to discover who you are, During my first-ever class with Ms. only to lose that image of yourself again, Dimaio, I got up in the middle of class and to gain friends, lose friends? Constant, spit in one of the sinks in room 115, having CONSTANT change and movement. Let’s had a terrible, phlegmy cough. Ms. Dimaio not kid ourselves: it’s absolutely chaotic. called her mother that same evening and And now it’s over. We’re done. We’ve complained about how awful I would be in finished. And what have we done in that class. I now proudly consider Ms. Dimaio a time? What have we gained, and what have trusted source of advice, someone who will we lost? always be sympathetic while at the same When I was in sixth grade, my time telling me to suck it up. parents provided my sisters and me with I met Mr. Gabbey and was forever an incredibly unique opportunity: to travel changed as a person and student, and I around the world and learn about the planet was further educated on what I should we call home and the various people who aspire to be as a man. I participated in my inhabit it. Because of this, some may say first interscholastic athletic experience, that I missed sixth grade, and that’s true Coaches Tully and Mitchell’s cross country in literal terms, but travelling around CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 the world and going through sixth grade
HOLMES’ HOME WELCOMES BABY JACKSON B&G STAFF REPORTS TIMONIUM - GMS has been Baby Central Station throughout this school year, and one more arrived just as the year ended. Jackson Cory Holmes, the first son of Mr. Holmes and his wife, Abby, was born on May 29 at 10:23 a.m. and entered the world tipping the wrestling scales at 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Both Mom and baby are doing great, as are Dad and sister Carter, who Mr. Holmes says is getting a bit louder each day to snag some attention from her baby brother! Congratulations to the Holmes Family on the birth of the little laxerwrestler-to-be!
CELEBR ATING EXCELLENCE Lists of award winners and photos from GMS’s 2015 Recognition Assembly
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EXAMS, SHMEXAMS! Classes of 2020 and 2021 break away from GMS on annual Expedition trips
RUCKER, B&G STAFF
GMS - After two years at Antilles School in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one year in Montgomery County Public Schools, Mr. Neil Gabbey is moving on after nineteen years at GMS. He is the teacher who has had the most effect on me without ever being in his Language Arts class, and I’m sure many other students feel the same. After his two years at Antilles School,
B&G Staff photo
BY
Mr. Gabbey heads south after nearly two decades at Gilman BY JALEN
BEN LEVINSON, B&G STAFF
photo couresty of BHolmes
MRS. KLUG RETIRES AFTER 29 YEARS TEACHING AT GMS
BY
photo courtesy of MCortezi
DESTINY
MATCH POINT
Mr. Gabbey departs from Gilman, having spent the last 19 years at GMS.
he and his wife moved to Maryland. His search for the finest private schools in the area began shortly thereafter, and he quickly found Gilman. Former Head of Gilman’s Middle School Mr. Ron Culbertson hired him to teach Language Arts and serve as an interscholastic basketball coach, which he did for six years. He also coached with Mr. Tony Jordan as an assistant varsity coach, winning two MIAA B-level championships in 2004 and 2005. Probably what Mr. Gabbey is most known for is bringing volleyball to Gilman. After serving as head coach of Bryn Mawr’s varsity squad for five years, he started Gilman’s program, serving as head coach from 2001 to 2015. His varsity teams won three MIAA championships, and this past year, his team finished with an undefeated season at 18-0. He said, “The thing that has changed the most in my nineteen years at Gilman is that I can’t play coach-on-six with my volleyball team anymore,” referring to how he could beat his early volleyball teams by himself. Aside from his impressive coaching career, Mr. Gabbey is also known for being an expert in the classroom. Throughout his GMS career, he taught LA7, LA8, Journalism, and the drama elective when it was a seventh grade quarter course. However, it has been his influence and involvement in the community that continued to make him so special. What may be overlooked in his Gilman career is that he has directed seven Middle School plays and produced five more when coaching volleyball and basketball pulled him away from the theater. With all that he has done, it is easy to forget that Mr. Gabbey has been running Hoops for Habitat for twelve years, and it continues to be a memorable event for the
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FACES & FUN This or That?, 3 Truths & 1 Lie, Know the Flow, and the Best-Most of GMS 2014-2015
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RUNNING TO REMEMBER First-ever Race for Spencer Grace, plus GMSers show they know The Five Ds
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issue 7, may-june 2015
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gms community
mrs. klug (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
mr. gabbey (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
from across the world to across the street
dilvuged the fact that Mrs. Klug was his mentor for three years after he graduated from Johns Hopkins and returned to Gilman to teach. “She was a great mentor, she was very patient with me and spent a lot of time with me on content and classroom instruction.” He added, “School-wise, Mrs. Klug will be missed because she has such great institutional knowledge of the school and has such great experiences teaching boys. Her advice and counsel will be missed by fellow teachers.” “And as a good friend of mine, I will miss our formal and informal conversations about teaching boys,” said Dr. K. With a smile, Ms. Dimaio shared her best memories of working with Mrs. Klug at the May 25 assembly, telling everyone how her mentor always was there to make sure everything was alright. With Mrs. Klug’s departure, GMS’s Science Department was forced to find a new leader. After six years of teaching at Gilman, Ms. Landauer will be the new Department Coordinator. As expected, she is excited about the new position but is upset to be doing it without such a dear and trusted advisor still in the office. “The biggest challenge of the next year,” said Ms. Landauer, “is going to be having to train a new teacher.” Looking back on her incredible career at Gilman School, Mrs. Klug said, “I was here a very long time and a lot of things happened and it went by in a blink.” She laughed and added, “In my head, I’m back to 29 years ago, trying to figure out Mr. Foreman.” He also spoke at the special assembly, smiling from the heart and thanking Mrs. Klug for “straightening him out.” Hopefully in September when she has no labs to grade, she thinks of us...because we will be thinking of her. Perhaps Mme Abruzzo said it the best in the send-off assembly: “Farewell, good friend but not goodbye.” Thank you, Mrs. Klug!
GMS community. Ms. Morcomb, who started at GMS the same year as Mr. Gabbey, was also appreciative of his many talents. She said, “We walked through the doors together, and I want to thank Mr. Gabbey for sharing nineteen years of recipes, gardening tips, and culinary expertise with me. How lucky am I to have someone who is so hard to say goodbye to. He will be missed.” Mr. Byrne, an officemate who took over Mr. Gabbey’s classes during his 2012 sabbatical, said “I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today without everything I learned from Mr. Gabbey. He is as unique as they come, and we’ll miss him dearly around campus.” Eighth grader Jonathan Haywood, who had Mr. Gabbey for both LA7 and LA8 as well as Journalism, said, “Words to describe Mr. Gabbey are energetic, the GOAT, and a person whom I will miss. Whether it’s his amazing playlist that all ears can listen to in the morning, always being available for extra help, and just being the best, I feel very remiss that Mr. Gabbey is leaving.” Mr. Tully, Mr. Gabbey’s mentee, said in a special assembly for departing teachers, “I attribute much of my intellectual and personal growth to his guidance, and I can pretty safely say that their are now 57 different versions of All-American Ball thanks to Mr. Gabbey.” Despite Mr. Gabbey’s long run at GMS, his future plans are not to retire and spend his time shuffle-boarding. He is moving to Savannah, Georgia, with his wife Aileen, their dog, Alvie, and Cory the cat, where he will be teaching Upper School English at Savannah Country Day School. In addition, he will also run the school newspaper, serve as head coach of the girls’ volleyball team, and also man the position of Ninth Grade Academic Dean. We will all remember Mr. Gabbey, and we will never forget the true definition of the Renaissance man that he instilled in all of us.
ms. dubansky heads to isr ael to coach before returning to baltimore to teach at rpcs
L.A. LAW
MS. GAMPER LEAVES GMS TO BEGIN LAW STUDIES
our headmaster’s guide to what is trending...or not!
B&G Staff photo
GMS - After spending three wonderful That was an outstanding decision for years at Gilman, Ms. Dubansky is heading all of us who had the chance to enjoy her as across the street to RPCS..but not before a wonderful teacher and a fantastic coach. she spends the summer in Israel. While at GMS, Ms. Dubansky taught Many of us did not even have a seventh grade Science and also taught chance to say ‘goodbye’. Spanish with Ms. Nelson and taking over Before GMS’s final exams started, for Mrs. Martin during a maternity leave. Ms. Dubansky was Mr. Wallace off, flying to Israel said, “Ms. Dubansky after accepting both always fostered a playing position on connections with all the Israeli Women’s her students.” National Lacrosse At GMS, Ms. Team in the European Dubansky coached Championships and both sixth grade and coaching the Under-19 intramural soccer, Festival Team, which was an assistant on is competing in the interscholastic Scotland in late July. basketball team, and A Baltimore coached IM lacrosse. native, Ms. Dubansky In the last three years, went to McDonogh, she also coached where she was an soccer at Bryn Mawr All-American in both Ms. Dubansky accepted the and lacrosse at lacrosse and soccer, honor to play for Isr ael’s McDonogh. and then continued Lacrosse Team this summer According to before she starts at RPCS. on to Johns Hopkins Mrs. Klug, Ms. University, where she was named to Dubansky “always helped those with less IWLCA and ALC Academic Honor Roll ability” during athletics. Mr. Wallace in her senior season. agreed, saying, “She constantly helped Ever involved in the game she loves, others improve.” Ms. Dubansky immediately started Ms. Dimaio stated the truth when coaching after college while she also she said that Ms. Dubansky is always very worked at a environmental consulting upbeat, something anyone who spent any company. time with her knows. Because she did not enjoy sitting in a Next year, we hope her students cubicle all day, she decided to try teaching and players at RPCS enjoy her sunny as a career that was similar to coaching, personality as much as GMS did - and we a way to work with young people in the know that we will still be able to see that classroom and on the sports fields. glow from across Roland Avenue.
THE CLASS OF 2019 FROM GMS
OUT
SEPP BLATTER AS PRESIDENT OF FIFA
B&G Staff photo
The Minions The Class of 2022 into GMS Corruption at FIFA
FIVE MINUTES AGO
IN
DODGEBALL
TOO MANY ORIOLES
the SMY TH report
SETH HARDY, B&G STAFF
GMS - Having no Ms. Gamper will put the classrooms, working with Mr. Tully in a damper on GMS next fall. After one LA6 and Mrs. Abruzzo and Mrs. Summers exciting year on the other side of the in French A, but she also was GMS’s IS classroom, Ms. Gamper will become a Squash coach and a seventh grade lacrosse student once again. She will begin her coach. Back in the fall, Ms. Gamper also studies at the University of Maryland’s worked with the BMS-GMS production of Carey School of Law The Phantom Tollbooth this coming fall. and served as an Ms. Gamper advisor on the GMS enjoyed her time Honor Committee. teaching, joining the Mr. Tully, one GMS faculty this of her mentors, said, past year as a Callard “Ms. Gamper worked Fellow, and she was very hard. She was happy to understand enthusiastic and Gilman from a brought a lot of energy, teacher’s perspective. and it was a privilege A Bryn Mawr to work with her.” graduate (’11), Ms. She says that Gamper’s twin she will most miss brothers, Charles and the people, students, Richard (’08) attended faculty, and staff alike Gilman, and a few Ms. Gamper was a natur al in that make a school like of her relatives have the GMS classrooms. Gilman special. taught at Gilman School over the last She added, “I have been fortunate to get several decades. a glimpse into teaching at one of the finest She said that it was an easy choice schools in the country, and I will forever to accept the Callard Fellowship last year owe my love for teaching to this place and because she “knew how great Gilman its people. I will miss the students’ energy, was and because [her] brothers and dedication, and intellect that make Gilman grandfathers went here.” She added that come alive each year.” the fellowship program seemed like the Even though we wish her the best in perfect opportunity to teach at the best her own new studies, we certainly hope school in the area.” that she returns to the life of a teacher Ms. Gamper was not only teaching in someday soon.
FLOERSHEIMER, B&G STAFF
CORRUPTION AT FIFA, ACCORDING TO U.S. AMBITIONS
BY
BY JOHN
the Blue & the Gr ay y Staff Finn Council Grant Emry John Floersheimer Seth Hardy Nathan Hedgecock Ben Levinson Joe Mather Varun Maheshwari Enzo Metsopoulos Jalen Rucker Noah Seth Mr. N.W. Gabbey & Mr. Sean Byrne Faculty Advisors
Mr. Don Abrams, Max Cortezi, Tommy Diehl, Ms. Liz Gamper, Mr. Bryn Holmes, Dr. Peter Kwiterovich, Ms. Jill Landauer, Mr. Eric Marner, Mrs. Gretchen Martin, Henry Ryle, Mr. Donell Thompson, Ms. Maryann Wegloski Photography Contributors Mr. Don Abrams & Mr. Cesare Ciccanti Technology Support Contributors: Arvin Elangovan, Ryan Choi, Tyler Deane, Andrew Diehl, Halden Ginsberg, Mr. Bryan Kelleher, Thomas Langston, Alex Lawson, Charlie Nueremberger, Henry Ryle, & Mr. Henry Smyth
gms community
William S. Thomas Prize Andy Andrews Alex Duh Ethan Hoskins John Maragakis Nichi Pandey
Asher Cordish Gregory Diette John Floersheimer Nathan Hedgecock Ben Levinson Varun Maheshwari Xander Martin John McGowan Parker Pearce Lucas Yim Tyler Witherspoon Morgan Zinn
Colonel William Miller Teammate Award Andy Andrews Evan Gilbert John McGowan
Andrew Diehl Ben Levinson Luke Morrill Khai Wilson
Gregory Diette Xander Martin Neddy Wight Tyler Witherspoon
Daniel C. Ammidon Award - Sixth Gr ade Nico Adamo Tyler Deane Thomas Gammie Antonio Mendez-Trendler William Smith
Auden Alsop Cole Emry Alex Gray-Rice Wayne Nelms
Ryan Blumenfeld Andrew Gaag Benson Harlan Charlie Nuermberger Max Sternlicht
Daniel C. Ammidon Award - Seventh Gr ade Zack Anderson Wallace Halpert Saijai Kaushal Ben Peake Jack Tortolani
Nick Boucher Devin Grinnage Jason Hossfeld Daniel Khurgin Aaron Lieberman Piyush Mavanur Matt Rodgville Jackson Tacka Connor Vogel
Daniel C. Ammidon Award - Eighth Gr ade Andy Andrews Hank Bethel Max Cortezi Andrew Diehl Gregory Diette John Floersheimer Jonathan Haywood Seth Hardy Grant Holmes Saad Jalisi Rich Kim Folahan Koleosho Alex Lawson Ben Levinson Varun Maheshwari John Maragakis Xander Martin Avery Merlo Luke Morrill Andrew Nathans Nichi Pandey Parker Pearce Wade Perry Elie Soueid Tyler Witherspoon Morgan Zinn
2015 NATIONAL LATIN EX AM Summa Cum Laude Finn Arthur John Floersheimer Rich Kim Noah Seth
Gregory Diette Robert Fuchs Sean Kim Tyler Witherspoon Morgan Zinn
Alex Duh Ethan Hoskins Xander Martin Lucas Yim
Maxima Cum Laude Andy Andrews Jed Brummett Aleksei Guzman Folahan Koleosho Aaron Lieberman John McGowan Nichi Pandey Elie Soueid
Chase Baker Asher Cordish Kenny Ihenatu Alex Lawson Varun Maheshwari Avery Merlo Cole Philippou Max Verheyen
William Bolin Finn Council Saad Jalisi Ben Levinson John Maragakis Luke Morrill Aidan Radinsky Khai Wilson
three-year middlemen award Grant Holmes Rich Kim Alex Lawson Michael Spencer Morgan Zinn
Ethan Hoskins Sean Kim John McGowan Cameron Ward
team, and learned that I was an athlete, regardless of which sport I chose. And then it was on to eighth grade. One of the first experiences this year was Ex8. When we came back in August, Ex8 loomed and was omnipresent; it was all we thought about at first. Full disclosure: I wasn’t so excited for the trip – away from home, dirty, rainy perhaps, and worse to me and, I’m sure, many of my classmates was that I would have to interact with, be with, hike with, tent with people in my class I thought I didn’t know - even worse, people who I thought didn’t like me. You see, by the first three months of eighth grade, by my second year of middle school, I had decided something: I had decided that I was different. I ran. I swam. I sang. I acted. I didn’t play “popular” sports. I said “fabulous” and wore sparkly ties. I preferred talking with teachers to playing on the turf. I had a group of female friends that was equal to or greater in number than my group of male friends. I was sure I had it all figured out, that was who I was, and if you weren’t cool with it, I was sure the problem was with you, not me. Despite my...our...worries, Ex8 came and went with some amazing experiences. I climbed to the top of Spruce Knob, and Elie Soueid and I were supported and cheered through the dreaded Wormhole. But Ex8 was the beginning of learning about ourselves and was so much more than a week of reality show survival meets middle school boy. Months later, here I am at our commencement, the end of this first stage of enlightenment, and here’s my profound thought: We have NO IDEA who we are yet. If you listen to a single thing I say, it’s this: we cannot stop learning, cannot stop changing, cannot stop redefining who we are because when we stop we doing those things, that’s when we stop evolving as humans. We die - not like actually ‘die’ but you get the hyperbole. We stop ‘being’. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we stop caring about things that matter.” In the words of Mr. Gabbey – a presence that will be missed incredibly, not least of all by myself – be excellent in everything you do, and excellently do everything you can, even if it means relinquishing a definition of yourself you thought you had nailed down for sure. I am not done. We are not done.
What’s next? We’re going to high school. Five years ago, high school was basically as real as Greek mythology is to us now. And in five more years, we will be in college. We have to stick together in high school. We have the potential to be an incredible class, if we try. If we reach out to each other and make new friendships - really make new friendships - with people we thought we might never like, they might surprise you. I will promise to try to make those new connections in the next four years. High school is new and scary and big. Of course it is, but that’s so not a bad thing. Two of my best friends out of a self-imposed small group are leaving this school, and I wish them the best of luck. However, as much as I may miss them, instead of being scared and overly sad, I am excited to bond with members of the Class of 2019 that for the past two years I’ve studiously and deliberately not known. Another moment of honesty: I was so paranoid I was being judged for so long that I kept to myself and my few closest friends. I realize now that my fear of being judged might mean that I have not given many/ some of you guys enough credit. I hope that we can all get to know each other better so that we can have a more productive, more fun student life in the Upper School. I’m just about out of time - I think Mr. Lander is cuing up the band to play me off but I have one more thing to leave you with. Speaking of music...I love musicals... like really love them. To me, they are the most effective form of communicating a beautiful message, no matter what that message may be. Perhaps the best known musical of the last decade is Wicked, which follows the life of the young Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, who isn’t your average girl. I have always related to Elphaba and loved this musical for more than it’s fantastic score. This is a line from the big number before intermission, “Defying Gravity”: “So if you can’t find me, look to the western sky! As someone told me lately: ‘Everyone deserves the chance to fly!’ And if I’m flying solo, at least I’m flying free. To those who’d ground me, take a message back from me: Tell them how I am defying gravity, I’m flying high, defying gravity. And soon I’ll match them in renown! And nobody in all of Oz, no Wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring us down!” Here’s to less flying solo and more flying free!
photo courtesy of DAbrams
photo courtesy of DAbrams
photo courtesy of DAbrams
Hank Bethel Saad Jalisi Folahan Koleosho Noah Seth
commencement (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
photo courtesy of DAbrams
2014-2015 GMS AWARD RECIPIENTS
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photo courtesy of DAbrams
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issue 7, may-june 2015
At left: top, Class of 2019 winners of the William S. Thomas Prize; bottom, 2019 winners of the Colonel William Miller Teammate Award; at right: from top, eighth gr ade winners of the Daniel C. Ammidon Award; seventh gr ade -winners of the Daniel C. Ammidon Award; sixth gr ade winners of the Daniel C. Ammidon
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issue 7, may-june 2015 expedition trips
EXPEDITION
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EXPEDITION 6
walking through giving trees back science center a ‘big 2019ERS DIG IN AT GARDEN HARVEST FARM history in d.c. to baltimore hit’ for sixth graders THOMAS LANGSTON
REISTERSTOWN - Work before play. That’s the deal. At eight o’clock on Friday morning, Mr. Thompson kicked off the Seventh Grade Service Trip to Garden Harvest Farm, explaining to the entire Class of 2020 where we were going and what we would be doing. Garden Harvest Farm is a non-profit charitable organization that is aiming to end hunger. To do this, they plant and grow organic foods on their 100-acre property, which they then give to organizations who then make the food available to the poor and hungry. Garden Harvest Farm also rescues animals. This year, they have rescued a variety of animals, including goats, sheep, and geese. The last time students from Gilman went to Garden Harvest Farm was in 2011, when the sixth grade, the current juniors, went there for their Expedition 7 Service Trip. After arriving at the Reisterstown Farm, Mr. Thompson and Mrs. SeslerBeckman helped circulate gloves to anybody who had not brought his own. One of the workers there, Mr. Dasher, then explained to the students what they were going to be doing. Another employee, Mrs. Larsen, followed up with instructions on how to carry out that activity: spreading mounds of wood chips evenly on top of slabs of biodegradable cardboard as a form of fertile soil to plant two acres of tomatoes. Eventually, these two acres will produce around 100,000 pounds of tomatoes to distribute to the poor and hungry. To complete the task, GMSers split into two groups. One group shoveled the wood chips into buckets and gave the filled buckets to the other group, who then spread the wood chips on top of cardboard they had previously placed on the ground. We did this for about an hour and a half before taking a very refreshing and invigorating snack break of chocolate milk and gummy fruit snacks. Afterwards, the groups switched their jobs and went back to work for another hour and a half before cleaning up and leaving, satisfied in a job well done and knowing that we had helped Garden Harvest in its quest to fight hunger.
BY
HENRY RYLE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After the somewhat lengthy bus ride, the first thing most people realized was the heat. It was a ninety-degree day in D.C., and we were going to do a lot of walking. Our first stop was the MLK Memorial, which is a large statue of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as many of his famous quotes. After that, we went to the Korean War Memorial, statues of about twenty lifesized men running through what looks like a field. On the wall are pictures etched into the marble showing some of the soldiers and other people affected by that war. Etched around the fountain in the center of the memorial are the staggering numbers of those dead, captured, MIA, or wounded. The next site we visited was the Lincoln Memorial fronted by the beautiful reflecting pool and the Washington monument. Inside sits the larger-thanlife statue of President Lincoln. On either side of the room, carved into the walls, are the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. After Mr. Shock gave us a lecture on Lincoln, which earned us twenty points in our Teachers v. Students game, we made our way to the Vietnam Memorial, a long black sheet of granite. On it are the names of every soldier who died, listed in chronological order. We then took a short walk past the reflecting pool to the WWII memorial, one of the grandest memorials with giant pillars dedicated to each state that fought in the two theaters, Atlantic and Pacific. Small images are carved into bronze marking events that happened during the war, including the Invasion of Normandy. After an hour set aside for lunch at the Reagan Building food court, the groups split up, and we had the choice of going to one of the Smithsonian museums. My group chose the Museum of Natural History. After being confronted by a massive T-Rex skull as we walked in, we toured the main building. We made a beeline to the second floor to see the Hope Diamond, dinosaurs, mummies, and, strangely enough, an exhibit on Bollywood. We met back in the sculpture garden at two o’clock to begin our long bus ride home.
wet, wild, and wonderful
CHARLIE NUEREMBERGER
BY
GWYNN FALLS TRAIL - On Friday, May 29, the Class of 2021 embarked on their Expedition 6 Service Day. Before the legendary field trip to Hershey Park, the sixth graders had to get their hands dirty, planting trees and mulching the trees planted last year. In order to back the community, Gilman sent the class to help out the Parks and People Foundation restore the forests of the Gwynn Falls Trail. Gwynn Falls Trail is a frequently used fifteen-mile-long hiking and biking trail that runs from the western edge of Baltimore City to the Patapsco River and the Inner Harbor. Parks and People have planted trees native to Maryland, such as beech, cedar, maple, and oak. Cultivating these forest denizens allows other plants to fill in and restore the overall beauty of Gwynn Falls. Before the bus ride to the trail, the GMSers had been split into groups, each monitored by a teacher. The groups were then divided into two smaller groups: one began planting trees, and the other mulched last year’s trees and hacked away at invasive vines that endangered the health of the young trees. Planting the trees was difficult but rewarding. First, we had to locate a tree, and then we shoveled away the grass and proceeded to dig the hole. The hole had to be twice as wide as the tree and as deep as the bucket housing the plant. Many locations hid bricks and stones in the sandy soil, and we needed help from Mr. Downs and his pickaxe. To get the tree out of the container, we had to flip over the bucket and use the leverage of our feet to work the tree and its abundance of roots out of the plastic container. The tree was then placed into the prepared hole. We backfilled the dirt and spread mulch around the sapling. After the two hours of work, the sixth graders had planted dozens of trees and mulched even more. We all can now look forward to a day when Gwynn Falls and its trail look like they did before the deforestation.
RYAN CHOI AND HALDEN GINSBERG
HARPERS FERRY, WV - For the class of 2020, June 1 and 2 offered an unbelievable experience brimming with soaking wet clothes and 360° spins going down whitewater rapids! Before we could begin our journey, we had to get through all of the necessary safety precautions, watching a safety video while enjoying some Oreos and “Roarin’ Waters” Capri Suns. We then grabbed our PFDs, helmets, and paddles. When we finally got into the water, we were taught the basic commands and strokes and merely which way to lean when we hit a rock. On the way to the first rapids, water wars erupted between all the rafts. We encountered three different classes of rapids, ranging from the ripples of Class I to the more challenging chutes of Class III. The RiverRiders guides were entertaining all day, doing tricks like going down backwards on the bigger drops or “surfing,” which is when we kept our raft up against a large hydraulic within the rapids for a long period of time.
On Monday’s trip, Saijai Kaushal took the first “swim” (a.k.a. fell into the river) while going over Bull Falls, the biggest drop we saw all day, but he was soon joined in the “swimming” ranks by Zack Anderson and Ibbe Ashruf (three times). We went down a total of 17 rapids, paddling a approximately six miles down the Shenandoah and eventually into the Potomac, right where Harpers Ferry sits. Within sight of our take-out spot, many GMSers began shoving each other off of the rafts and some swam to shore. After a long morning of paddling, we were famished. We enjoyed a delicious lunch consisting of fried chicken, chips, rolls, potato salad, pink lemonade, and some Oreo knock-offs. Before departing, we ran to the bus, grabbed our extra clothes, and found the changing rooms as the rain began to fall. We hopped back into the leaking bus and headed back to Gilman with a little sunburn and the fond memories we made with our friends and guides at our sides.
photo courtesy of CGamper
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photo courtesy of MWegloski
BY
TYLER DEANE
INNER HARBOR - On the second day of Expedition 6, the Maryland Science Center was a big hit among the Class of 2021. Before leaving GMS that morning, the entire grade watched an episode of the updated Cosmos that Mr. Wallace selected, and then we headed downtown. Upon arrival at the Science Center, the IMAX film Tornado Alley was the first activity. Due to a technological glitch, the half-watched movie was put on hold until after lunch. The planetarium hosted us for a fascinating show about the “ex-planet” Pluto, giving reasons for why it was “demoted” from planetary status. Finally, we all were given the chance to explore the rest of the museum, where we engaged in the interactive sandwich bag chemistry experiment and many other amazing hands-on activities found in all parts of the Science Center. These were just a few reasons why we all enjoyed our day at the Maryland Science Center. Thanks to all of the chaperones who organized the field trip!
a pretty sweet day BY
ARVIN ELANGOVAN
HERSHEY, PA - Despite a rainy and cold day, the Class of 2021 had an exciting treatfilled day at Hershey Park, Zoo America, and Chocolate World on June 2. After our chaperones distributed our tickets and gave us reminders on checking in at 12:30 and 3:15, we set out to explore the six sections of the park. Many of us headed towards the roller coasters first. The park’s thirteenth coaster, the Laff Trakk, just recently opened, but most GMSers chose to ride Skyrush, Great Bear, and Fahrenheit. After some rides, we gorged and guzzled on the staples of life - food, drink and Chocolate - and some of us decided to head to Zoo America, an 11-acre walkthrough zoo with more than 200 species of animals from five regions in North America, Chocolate World, or other park attractions. In Chocolate World, students created their own candy bars while others went to Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour and to the 4D Chocolate Mystery. My favorite part of the Great American Chocolate Tour was the roasting process, where we could feel the heat of the warming of the chocolate liquid. It really dried my wet clothes! Many GMSers bought souvenirs at the gift shops. I bought several bars of chocolate, including the one-pound bar and the old fashioned candy shop. Daniel Booth liked the roller coasters, particularly Great Bear and Fahrenheit, because they were exhilarating while Duke Cassels-Smith liked the Great American Chocolate Tour. I also thought the chocolate tour was fabulous, showing the process of the transformation from bean to bar. After a fun-filled day, a tired but happy band of sixth graders headed back to GMS. When I arrived at home, my mom told me to brush my teeth immediately, thinking about all the candy I probably had eaten. On behalf of the Class of 2021, we would like to thank the chaperones who made this trip possible! top left, Ben Richardson (’21) is no ‘fakir’ on a bed of needles at the Science Center; bottom, a trio of 2020ers pose with Mr. Lincoln at his memorial in D.C.
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issue 7, may-june 2015 faces & fun
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3 truths & 1 lie Do you know your fellow GMSers well enough to tell fact from fiction? ction GEORGE RUSSELL, 6TH GRADE
GABE OSTEN, 7TH GRADE
He has a cat. He is 5’4” tall. He is the second-oldest in the grade. He is related to TV host Montel Williams.
He has a cat. He has two dogs. He lived in Missouri for ten years. He lives three minutes from school.
LUKE MORRILL, 8TH GRADE
MRS. KLUG, TEACHER
GMS 2014-2015 BEST-MOST
JAMIR ROBERTS CAPTAIN SMITH CHARLES TINI SCOTT STERLING SLOANE AND PETER KWITEROVICH STAUFFS KOLKIN SIENNA DALY JACKSON HOLMES JAY ‘SOUP’ CAMPBELL BEN MUHER, NOAH SETH, & MS. WEGLOSKI ETHAN HOSKINS KEYSHON JONES NICO ADAMO FINN ARTHUR
KNOW THE
He is an archer. He likes goat liver. He owned two frogs as a kid. He has family heritage from Russia.
She has five grandchildren. She is the eldest of four children. She has taught in five schools in her career. She attended Baltimore City Public Schools.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE BY JOE
MATHER, B&G STAFF
GMS - This year, I joined Gilman’s Class opposite people but are very funny. of 2019. I came from Dumbarton along I played on the interscholastic soccer with my good friend Avery Merlo. and baseball team and played on the bears I guess I should start this look back at for intramural basketball. The soccer team my first year at Gilman by being totally was very fun because I got to play with my honest. Last year, friends and against when I shadowed, my friends on other I didn’t really like teams. Gilman. I guess I At recess, I wasn’t comfortable played baselax on or something. Andy Andrews’ But after a lot of team with Avery, convincing by my Will Naylor, and parents, I decided Evan Gilbert. After to become a not having recess Greyhound. for two years, base Now that lax was very fun the school year is with a combination coming to a close I between baseball am very happy to and lacrosse. say that Gilman was Although the right choice. I have missed My favorite Dumbarton, I still class was period 2 Part-time journalist and now full-time see those friends Ancient History Hound, Joe is happy to be at Gilman. almost every Friday, with Mr. Bendann. I really enjoyed the and now I have settled into a new group of jokes he made during class. Mr. Seal was friends here and really enjoy them. my advisor and my LA teacher. I joined I am happy that I chose Gilman and home room 100 with Mrs. Nelson and Mr. am really enjoying myself as a Greyhound, Seal. To me, they seemed like the two most one year behind me now. photo courtesy of DThompson
7TH
FLOW
FACULTY
GMS-AGR AMS
KENNY IHENATU KHAI WILSON JACK TORTOLANI
6TH
BEST ANNOUNCEMENTER MOST D.J. MOST LIKELY TO RUN APPLE BEST CERTAMENER-QUIZ BOWLER
ZACH ODDO TYLER WITHERSPOON & MORGAN ZINN SAGE SASAKI SEAN KIM THOMAS LANGSTON KEILAN ROBINSON NICHI PANDEY KEITH ROBERTS RICH KIM KILBURN RUSSO THOMAS GAMMIE & BENSON HARLAN BACON CHARLIE NUERMBERGER MAX STERNLICHT JEREMY BROWN TALBOT TROY GEORGE CASSELS-SMITH PARKER PEARCE ALEX GRAY-RICE COLE EMRY MATT SPENCER COLE IAMPIERI CALVIN WATKINS WILLIAM GODINE KHARI JONES JASON HOSSFELD LUCAS BARRETO LUKE MORRILL JAMES MACDONALD MR. BLAZE MR. SEAL ALEX DUH BEN RICHARDSON BRUTUS CASSIUS
8TH
BEST BARBIE MOST HARDWARE (TIE) MOST ENERGY MOST MUSICAL MOST BOOKS MOST SHORT-FASTEST MOST MIDDLE-FASTEST MOST LONG-FASTEST MOST BURBAGE! BEST MOVES BEST RIVER RACERS - INDIVIDUAL (TIE) BEST RIVER RACERS - TEAM MOST WORLDLY BEST DIRECTOR MOST STRAWBERRY RED OUTFITS MOST GLORIOUS HAIR MOST PINS RENAISSANCIEST BEST DRESSED BEST TICK-TACK-TICKLER BEST PB&JER BEST DODGEBALL CATCHER BEST DODGEBALL DODGER MOST FLAGS CAPTURED MOST CARS WASHED MOST PHYSICAL GREETINGS MOST BRAZILIAN MOST YODA MOST BOOKS ON HEAD MOST S.E.A.L. MOST SEAL SUMMUS VICTOR/MOST SHOELESS MOST BRITISH (HERE AND THERE) MOST HONOURABLE MAN LEAST HONOURABLE MAN MOST RANDOM WALKS OUT OF MR. SEAL’S LA CLASS BEST GRAMMARIAN (TWO LANGUAGES) MOST FRANTIC SCIENTIST MOST LIKELY TO BREAK HIS BROTHER’S UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS RECORDS MOST LIKELY TO HIT AN ICEBERG MOST QUESTIONS (TO MR. SEAL) BEST FICTIONAL GOALIE BEST BABIES - TWINS DIVISION BEST BABY - MATH DIVISION BEST BABY - HISTORY DIVISION BEST BABY - DEAN DIVISION MOST HACKS BEST SCOOTER (TIE)
SECOND SEMESTER B&G STAFF
B&G Staff photo
COMPILED WITH NO RHYME, REASON, OR MALICE BY THE
See if you can figure out these scrambled GMS identities...
SEAL LAX NOW 7th gr ade
LEGG HID BANNERS 6th gr ade
DALY BURN ELFMEN
Can you recognize your fellow GMSers from just their flow?
photo courtesy of EMarner
8th gr ade
From the Expedition 6 and Expedition 7 Service Learning Trips: left, members of the Class of 2021 prepare to plant trees along the Gwynns Falls Tr ail; right, seventh gr ader Piyush Mavanur works hard at Garden Harvest Farm.
sports
run-walk organized by tommy diehl (’16) continues gilman efforts to fund pediatric cancer research BY
FINN COUNCIL & BEN LEVINSON, B&G STAFF
photo courtesy of TDiehl
GILMAN SCHOOL - Spencer Grace may have lost her battle against cancer, but the spirit of Spencer Grace Tully lived on in the spirit of Gilman School students and their charitable efforts. On May 16, 2015, runners and walkers gathered on the blacktop behind the John M.T. Finney Middle School to honor Spencer Grace Tully in the firstever Race for Spencer Grace, a two-milelong run-walk fundraiser. Eric Gibson (’18) showed spirit and determination, winning the inaugural event - not that ‘winning’ mattered to anyone who came to run that morning.
Tommy Diehl (’16), older brother of Andrew (’19) organized the race to benefit the family of his winter and spring track coach. Tommy said, “Organizing the whole event was a long process, and it couldn’t have happened without all the incredible volunteers and the amazing people at Charm City Run and Gilman School.” According to Mr. Tully, Tommy “came up with the idea during a project for Mr. Dawson’s English class. He was inspired by the Book Drive earlier this year.” Andrew spread word about the Race for Spencer Grace around GMS and volunteered at the event. Afterwards, he said, “It is still being decided whether this was a one-time event or will happen annually.” Obviously touched by the continued outpouring of love and support for his family, Mr. Tully added, “It’s unbelievable. My brother has
Above, event originator Tommy Diehl (’16) announces the start of the r ace-walk; below, the runners are off, including Mr. Tully, standing tall (center) among those running in his niece’s memory.
photo courtesy of TDiehl
As we all know, Spencer Grace Tully, the niece of Mr. Tully, recently lost her battle to cancer, and the profits from this event went towards helping other kids who are currently fighting to beat the disease. All in all, the event was a huge success as over $4,000 was raised to fight pediatric brain cancer with more coming in. The weather could not have been more beautiful as the blacktop bustled with 165 participants early that morning. With smiles all around, people enjoyed snacks prepared by the Upper School’s BBQ Club and energy drinks donated by Aspire Beverages.
commented about feeling drawn back into the community from the support.” Tommy added, “It feels amazing just to be able to give back to a family that has been such an integral part of the Gilman community for so long.” Thanks to all who participated and supported the Tully Family.
CLASS of 2019 FALL SPORTS for 2015
GMS KNOWS THE FIVE DS THIRD ANNUAL STUDENT COUNCIL DODGEBALL TOURNEY RAISES MONEY FOR TWO GREAT CAUSES B&G STAFF REPORTS WITH ALEX LAWSON OLD GYM - If only the spirit of Patches O’Houlihan could have been there. He would be so proud. On May 23, the entire Middle School donned goofy t-shirt uniforms and gathered in the Old Gym after classes
Looney Tunes winning the sixth grade division, beating Team Ultron. This year’s upsets were amazing. Jason Hossfeld had a game winning catch against the third-seeded team in the seventh grade bracket, and Dodgeball for Nepal toppled third-seeded Dodgeball So Hard University in the first round of the eighth grade tourney. In that match, the students in the bleachers rose to chant Sean Kim’s name as he stayed alive for minutes on end before the upset. Other memorable moments included seventh grader Dodge Woloson’s one man comeback to earn a miracle victory and Evan
Above, GMS Student Council Officers William Godine (far right) and Varun Maheshwari and President Gregory Diette explain the rules; below, John McGowan (’19) holds one ball and dodges three!
ended for the third annual Dodgeball Tournament, organized and run by the GMS Student Council. Thanks to the hard work of Student Council leaders Greg Diette, William Godine, Alex Lawson, and Varun Maheshwari, the tournament, now cemented as a GMS tradition, was a success. Once again, teams from all three grades competed in their respective tournaments. This year’s event was a single-elimination draw, though almost every team had the chance to play at least two matches. The unexpected consolation matches, organized on the fly by Alex Lawson, were a brilliant last-minute idea and were a pleasant surprise for eliminated teams to play again. Among all the fun and dodging, GMS students once again were dedicated stewards of the service and giving as the tournament raised over $850 for Red Cross Fund for Nepal and the Baltimore Community Foundation to Rebuild Baltimore. The competition was fierce among all of the grade levels with Three Peat Denied winning the eighth grade bracket over There and Back, The Hacks winning for seventh grade bracket, and Dodging
photo courtesy of DAbrams
‘R ACE FOR SPENCER GR ACE’ R AISES $4000
S
photo courtesy of DAbrams
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issue 7, may-june 2015
Gibert’s (’19) double play for the win! As always, the audience were the life of the entire tournament, while also dodging or even catching wayward throws into the stands. Less competitive groups of students had nothing to fear as the day was as fun even more than it was fiercely aggressive. Hilarious team names, such as Max Cortezi is Dead, proved that most were competing purely for the fun atmosphere. Everyone seemed to have an excellent time, and there was a definite undercurrent of closure as the year continued to draw to an end. Thanks to the Student Council members and to Mr. Kelleher for organizing the event and to all of the teacher referees!
IM BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BUZZ DEFEAT HOUNDS, 13-5, IN 2020-ONLY FINAL BY JALEN
RUCKER, B&G STAFF
OTC FIELDS - Like they say, it only matters how you finish. The Buzz, who finished at the bottom of the league standings in the regular season of IM baseball 2015, went from worst to first and walked away with the title, beating the Hounds, 13-5, on May 22. Due to eighth grade commencement rehearsals, weather delays, and other special assemblies, only players in the Class of 2020 competed in the championship game, and Ben Muher and Ryan Williamson propeled the Buzz to the win. Earlier in the week, the Buzz had defeated the Hoppers, 13-6, in the semifinal game. Karson Kamenetz (’19) hit a homerun in the game. With
the combination of great defense, great hitting, and numerous errors by the Hoppers, the Buzz were into the finals. “The Buzz had trouble with their chemistry early,” said Commissioner Kelleher, “but as the season progressed, they were ready to start winning.” On the other half of the field, the Hounds beat the Astra, 20-7, in a shocker to the IM baseball world, considering the Astra had the likes of Jonathan Haywood (’19) commanding the no-fly zone and Adam Masom (’20) playing shortstop. However, supreme sluggers Teddy Ndje (’20) and Khai Wilson (’19) outhit the Astra and paced the Hounds to the commanding win. Congratulations, Buzz!