February 2021 Volume 21 Issue 3
Featured in this issue: l Reports l Sports News l Reviews
A Speech Contest Like No Other By Max Edelman
Usually, right before winter break, the entire school gathers in the Lasdon Theater for the Harvey School Speech Contest finals. The finals round is the culmination of a monthlong contest where the best speeches are performed in front of the whole school community. However, like just about everything this year, the contest was completely different. Last year, just days before the Lopes Poetry Contest was set to begin, COVID-19 took the world by storm, and for the first time in decades, Harvey canceled the competition aspect of the poetry unit. While some classes still required graded poem presentations, there would not be semi-finals or finals, and there would not be a winner. However, the 2020 Speech Contest would not suffer the same fate. For the first time in Harvey history, all speeches were recorded. Instead of students performing their speeches in front of all their classmates in their English classes, all students recorded their speeches from home, and those speeches were played over Zoom for the class to see. Although there were many changes to this year’s Harvey Speech Contest, some things remained the same.
Of course, speeches still needed to be written with the goal of persuading an audience, and they had to be three to five minutes long. But, most importantly, a winner would be crowned. The Pulse sat down with Mr. Jeff Seymour, chair of the English department, Jan. 12, to discuss how the English department was quickly able to pivot from a traditional speech contest to one that would be possible despite COVID-19. The Pulse’s first question regarded planning and how 2020 Harvey Speech Contest Winner Halima Konteh. the contest needed to adapt. Screenshot courtesy of Karen Grazia. “Our initial thought was if we could do it in classrooms,” Mr. and seniors Keegan Glucksman and Seymour said. “However, we quickly realized that no one wanted to do it with Adama Abdul-Wahab. All eight finalists were selected to compete in the most masks.” Mr. Seymour also stated that unusual finals round in recent memory. due to the ongoing situation, many students were either fully remote (or not in The 2020-21 version of the the United States at all). Meaning, a traHarvey Speech Contest featured a ditional first round of the speech contest unique opportunity to feature judges in the classroom wouldn’t be possible. from all over America. The judges were Tom Leaf of Danbury, Connecticut, Jen This year’s finals included Parrucci from Portland, Oregon, and eight students: freshmen Reid Armas Katie Hacala from Savannah, Georgia. and Kathleen McCullough, sophomores Hudson Chris and Emma Galgano, juniors Renee Chen and Halima Konteh, Speech Contest... cont. on inside cover.
Athletic Dedication Despite the Pandemic By Lauren Grauer
Although COVID-19 resulted in the cancellation of sports for the 2020 spring and fall seasons (and now the 2020-2021 winter season), The Harvey athletic department is hard at work. The Pulse interviewed Harvey Director of Athletics Ray Lacen and soon-to-be NCAA Division 1 athletes Emily McKenna and Kathryn Ogg.
As the two move forward in the softball world, they will not forget the people and experiences that helped them get to where they are today. Harvey was the starting line for Ogg’s softball career. She began on the Harvey softball team in sixth grade and played primarily for Harvey until 10th grade. In her sophomore year, Ogg started playing softball for her travel team called New York Nighthawks. “Playing at Harvey allowed me to really understand that I liked softball. Harvey allowed me to play in a lowpressure environment and gave me the confidence to want to take my softball game to a higher level. Harvey was the foundation for my softball career.”
Mr. Lacen has been putting in countless hours trying to prepare for spring sports. There is not just the usual planning for where home and away games will be, but now he has to think about the health and safety of the players.
The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536
Mr. Lacen’s main goal is to have students get outside onto the field. To make sure sports can go on, the athletic department is keeping an eye out on the state and COVID-19 local levels as well as what the federal government’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the state and county health departments are saying. To make sure proper social distancing is enforced, the equipment in the fitness and weight rooms has been spaced far apart. It is mandatory that all equipment is wiped down after each use.
Emily McKenna and Kathryn Ogg before a Nighthawks game in 2019. Photo courtesy of the McKenna and Ogg families.
While Harvey sports have paused, Kathryn Ogg and Emily McKenna have continued to show their commitment to athletics despite the pandemic. Ogg has committed to play softball at Oklahoma State University and McKenna has committed to St. Bonaventure University.
Meanwhile, McKenna came to Harvey as a junior and planned on furthering her academic and softball career at Harvey. Unfortunately, when COVID-19 hit, McKenna was unable to play softball. However, McKenna still took advantage of Harvey athletics, as she played on the varsity volleyball team. This spring, McKenna will start her Harvey softball career. The Harvey Athletic Dedication...cont. on page 9.