The Picador Volume 8, Issue 7
A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS FOR THE HOLDERNESS SCHOOL COMMUNITY
February 1, 2013
A t h l e t e s F a i r We l l i n G r u e l i n g M a t h l e t i c C o m p e t i t i o n By Jake Barton ’13 and Zihan Guo ’14 Many sports require endurance. Others, brute force. Still more rely on fitness, technique, or just plain talent. But only one encapsulates all of these characteristics. One so demanding, a lifetime's worth of training is inadequate; one so mentally (and physically) trying, the Olympic Committee removed it from their competitions at the turn of the century; one so imposing, only a select few choose to practice it outside of class. Its name: math.
Those brave enough to attempt it must be disciplined in their training. All who compete complete a weekly training log, commonly referred to as “homework.” In addition, competitors must attend twiceweekly practice sessions, which, at times, last upwards of 3 hours.
tition at Tilton School. Unfortunately, drivers of the fan buses received incorrect directions to the meet and instead brought distraught supporters to Walmart. Though slightly unhappy, the mathletes were largely unfazed, refocussing their attention on the task at hand.
After weeks of such strenuous training, Holderness' own intrepid band of mathletes boarded the team's private transport (Van #10) this Sunday amid 10's of encouraging fans in the foyer of Weld. They were bound for a compe-
Time flew like an arrow, and the mathletes had to chase after it. Numbers, shapes, series, sheep, and dogs were running all over the world in that tiny cramped room. Sunlight fell through the windows on the mathletes but
failed to interrupt their concentration. The warriors’ heads were squeezed together as they drew mysterious codes on their papers; many of the codes contained the giant figure of a pig named carrot pie (^p). Carrot Pie is food, but it is also food for math. The individual competition came after the team events, and the mathletes lined up in the same tiny room and placed their buttocks on the static wooden chairs. The air was cold and the warriors were savoring the scent of the meal (Continued on page 7)
Celebrating the Lunar New Year Countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year even though On the 10th of February, many they use the Gregorian calenstudents at Holderness will dar today. The Lunar New celebrate the 2013 Lunar New Year is the new year according Year, the year of the snake. to the 12-moon cycle of the lunar calendar. There are 12 “It's even more chaotic than Christmas,” said Zihan Guo, a different animals, each associstudent from China. “In China ated with different years; these we celebrate the new year for include the rat, ox, tiger, rababout a month, and we have a bit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. two-month winter break.” 2012 was a year of the dragon, The Lunar New Year is celeand the year 2013 is a year of brated as a big event in other the snake. countries in Asia as well, but it Because it is based on the luis mostly known as the Chinar calendar, the date changes nese New Year since China celebrates it most enthusiasti- every year. Last year, the date of the Lunar New Year was cally. In China it is called Spring Festival, in Korea it is January 23rd, but this year it is on February 10th which falls called Seol-nal, and in Vietnam it is called Tet. By Young Soo Sung ’14
Parker Hartnett Sheppe was born at 7:43 AM on January 18th, weighing in at an even 10 lbs. Welcome Parker, and congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Sheppe and Oliver!
Lo, sifted through the winds that blow, Down comes the soft and silent snow, White petals from the flowers that grow In the cold atmosphere. ~George W. Bungay
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