volume MMXIII No. 2
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
students speak out on Government Shutdown by Samira Baird ’16
Phila, Pennsylvania
HOMECOMING SCHEDULE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 All Weekend Self-guided tours of the campus, including the restored Epiphany Chapel 1:30 PM 3:30 PM
All-School Pep Rally Vare Field House, Cherokee Campus
3:45 PM
Girls’ V Soccer vs. GA Landreth Field
4:30 PM
Girls’ JV Field Hockey vs. GA Turf 2 Field
Girls’ V Field Hockey vs. GA Turf 2 Field
6:30 PM
11:30 PM, September 30th, Washington DC. Stressful, hurried, and frustrating, for the House, Senate, and White House, are all attempts to prevent the inevitable time bomb from erupting, but to no avail. Just a half-hour later, the government shuts down. It’s 12:01 AM, October 1st. The shutdown is an indirect fault of both Republicans and Democrats, but a direct effect of the Republicans’ attempt to prevent funding of The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The two political parties have taken different approaches to the shutdown. The Democrats call it a shutdown and are quick to point out all the ways in which services are being taken away from American citizens. Some Republicans have referred to the whole situation as a government slimdown, and are quick to point out the government services that we can live without. While the specific reason for the shutdown was a disagreement over funding Obamacare, the shutdown is deep rooted in the biggest political question of the 21st century, a common thread for all of the problems we have encountered thus far: how involved should the government be in the
life of any American citizen? Andy Mutch, a junior, told me that “Obamacare is a socialist idea. It will put us more into debt than we already are.” This puts him at one end of the political spectrum. A sophomore, who asked to remain anonymous, had a different response. She referred specifically to the results of The Affordable Care Act. “As students, we should be thinking about our individual futures. Imagine being denied health care because of a pre-existing condition, or being pushed off your parents’ health care just out of college.” Sophomore Ryan Torie spoke specifically about Pennsylvania Republicans, who are seeking to end the shutdown. “To me, they seem moderate, and I like that— the best of both worlds.” Mikaela Watson, another sophomore, offered a new perspective on the government’s actions. “The people causing the shutdown aren’t the ones being affected by it, and that’s what bothers me.” In an analysis of post-shutdown action (or lack thereof), sophomore Griffin Banks adds that “the loathness between both sides to reach a compromise is quite disheartening.” He also put the shutdown in
October 2013
11:45 AM
Springside Class of 1963 Garden Dedication Sports Pavilion
12:00 PM
Parents Association Homecoming Fair & BBQ Middle School Playground, Willow Grove Campus
12:30 PM
Springside Alumnae Phyllis M. Vare Memorial Luncheon Haber Room, Willow Grove Campus
12:30 PM
Girls’ V Soccer vs. Baldwin Landreth Field
12:45 PM
Boys’ JV Soccer vs. Shipley Talbot Field
CHA Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner 2:30 PM Harris Commons, Willow Grove Campus Saturday, October 26 10:30 AM Girls’ V Field Hockey vs. Baldwin Turf 2 Field 10:30 AM Talbot Field Rededication & 5:00 PM Reception Sports Pavilion
V Football vs. Episcopal Academy Halftime: Maguire Stadium Ceremonial Groundbreaking, CHA/Springside Class of 1978 photo, CHA Athletic Hall of Fame inductees & 1988 Indepen dence League Championship Football Team introduced Landreth Field Alumni Cocktail Party & Barbara Crawford h’75 Art Show – “A Life time of Work: Painter and Teacher” (Immediately following the foot ball game) Works of art by this longtime CHA art teacher will be available for sale. Barbara Crawford Gallery, Willow Grove Campus
11:00 AM
Boys’ V Soccer vs. Shipley Halftime: 1988 Inter-Ac Championship Soccer Team honored Talbot Field
11:00 AM
Girls’ V Volleyball vs. Baldwin followed by JV Volleyball vs. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 Baldwin Vare Field House 11:30 AM CHA Alumni Soccer Game Talbot Field
an economic context: “The United States is just brushing itself off after the last economic crisis, and if a deal isn’t met, we’re right back in the thick of it.” So what do we take from this shutdown? “It’s a cautionary tale.” says Griffin. “If we can’t put aside pride and lust for our vision of this nation, there will be no nation left to envision.” At the core of the shutdown and the health care debate is a nagging dispute, a persistent question, one that has altered the dialogue of our government for the last few years, if not for several centuries: how involved should the government be in the life of any American citizen?
Editor in Chief: George Calle Junior Editor: Garrison Xian Opinion Editor: Sarrah Schreffler News Editor: Serena McNiff Sports Editor: Joshua Moss Contributers: Jan Alex Samira Baird Rekha Dhillon-Richardson Benjamin Dlin Jordan Fromm Steph Haenn Henry Kelly Emily Kunkel Dean Phillips Alexandra Smilow Elyas Tecle Harrison Tracy Avione Williams Advisors Deidra Lyngard Anthea Waleson
This issue features background on the Egyptian crisis, student views on the U.S. government shutdown, Homecoming dance update, sports news, the importance of the S.A.T., and a preview of the Players’ fall production, Hairspray.
volume MMXIII No. 2
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Phila, Pennsylvania
October 2013
Cross Country • Field Hockey • Soccer • Tennis • Volleyball • Football • Golf • Indoor Track • Squash • Swimming • Basketball • Ice Hockey • Baseball • Lacrosse • Crew • Wrestling • Winter Crew • Softball • Track • Cross Country • Field Hockey • Soccer • Tennis • Volleyball • Football • Golf • Indoor Track • Squash • Swimming • Basketball • Ice Hockey • Baseball • Lacrosse • Crew • Wrestling • Winter Crew • Lacrosse • Softball • Track • Cross Country • Field Hockey • Soccer •
BLUE DEVIL SPORTS Soccer
GOLF
The 2013 Blue Devils soccer team has gotten off to a great start this season led by senior captains Philip Kelly, Anthony Liddy, and Alec Greenhalgh. They’ve started out the season with 10+ wins, including a win against Pennington, a team we have not beaten in the past four years. The team has very high hopes to do well in the Inter-Ac and the Independent State Tournament this season. A tremendous victory over Penn Charter, where sophomore Harrison Kapp scored his varsity and Inter-Ac goal, led the team to a 2-1 victory.
As the season nears its end, the SCH golf team has a lot of accomplishments to highlight. For one, their record has improved from the past two years, and for the first time ever they have reached the .500 mark with a record of 12-12-1. They are currently one game out of 3rd place in the Inter-Ac Conference. In the last tournament, they beat Haverford handily by the score of 238-249, and placed 2nd.
By Henry Kelly ’16
On Homecoming, the team will be facing the Shipley Gators, who the Devils played last year and beat 4-0. Senior captain Philip Kelly says that we can beat Shipley, but “without fan support we are nothing. We really appreciate our fans and their cheers. It’s a big day for seniors—it’s our last Homecoming—and I predict a big game out of my mans C-Breezy (Cole Brown), Liddy (Anthony Liddy) Alec Greenhalgh, Evan Wilson, and Will McCool.” We hope to see all of the student body at the Homecoming game and at the games throughout the remainder of the season.” GO BLUE DEVILS!
Football by Joshua Moss ’14
By Jordan Fromm ’15
The golf team is full of great players from top to bottom, but captain Jack Grasso is most impressed with the play of the 5-8 players: “They have managed to score well in the low 40s in every match, allowing us to compete with the Main Line teams.” The past two years, SCH Academy had a tough time competing with Haverford, Malvern and Episcopal. They have, however, beaten Episcopal in each of the last three tournaments. The SCH team is led by their 1-4 players: Chris Dalglish (9th grade), Matt Giegerich (11th grade), Brian Giegerich (12th grade) and Jack Grasso (12th grade). They consistently shoot in the mid to high 30s to around 40 (for 9 holes). Dalglish shot a season best 35 at the last match. Grasso is also excited about the future of the team. “While some longtime seniors, including myself, Brian Giegerich, and Peter Anthony will be departing, there are contingents of strong players in each of the three grades below us, with Matt Giegerich leading the junior class, Wyatt Smith leading the sophomore class, and Chris Dalglish and Ian Diaz leading the freshmen,” he said. SCH’s last match of the season was at Sunnybrook, their home course, on Monday, October 14th.
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Field Hockey
by Rekha Dhillon-Richardson ’17 According to Morgan Schneer, cocaptain along with Anna Kuo and Allie Billock, the SCH Academy field hockey season has gotten off to a bit of a rough start. With a young team, largely consisting of freshmen and sophomores playing on the starting line-ups, the SCH field hockey team has still been able to win five of their games and two scrimmages. This is an accomplishment considering the The Blue Devils started the 2013 strength of the teams they have football season hot, going on a been facing in their league. three game winning streak with By the time these underclassmen wins against George Washington are seniors and juniors, the field (28-13), Central (27-26 OT), and hockey team will be unstoppable! Pennington (27-0). A rough loss Still, there are many more wins in to Father Judge (0-35) didn’t store for this team as the season affect the team’s confidence. comes to a close. In fact, their Tommie Whitehead, Class of Homecoming game is against 2014, said the team is “much Baldwin, a team they have better than last year, in terms of beaten many times in previous chemistry, focus, and talent. Our years. Schneer feels confident in future is looking bright and an her team’s ability to beat their Inter-Ac championship is within Homecoming match-up. Be sure reach.” to wish the field hockey team With the Inter-Ac season just good luck in the halls! beginning, the Devils’ hard work will be put to the test. Junior QB Paul Dooley will need to put points on the board and find receivers like Owen McAdoo and Dylan Parsons in order to compete with the physical teams in the league. In addition, Kyle Lawlor, a powerful running back, has the ability to make long runs as well as goal line carries. Senior Jeff Mikalonis-Lieberman is a force on both sides of the ball, but his presence will definitely be felt at safety. He said he “wants the QB to throw in [his] direction because [he] will make a play.” The back up linebacker Kevin Li said when his time comes, he will be ready to be an impact player. Even the bench players are looking to help the team in any way they can. The Devils are looking to win now and for years to come.
volume MMXIII No. 2
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
BACKGROUND ON THE Unrest In Egypt
Phila, Pennsylvania
Homecoming Dance Goes to outer space
by Ben Dlin ’15
By Dean Phillips ’15
Hopefully you’re staying current with important world events and have heard of the unrest in Egypt. Sure, you know it’s there, but do you know why the country is in uproar? Sit back. It’s a long story, involving different leaders, foreign intervention, and varying political motives.
election. Mohamed Morsi was elected. He was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group rapidly gaining power and influence in the Middle East. During his year in power, filled with the same problems seen with Mubarak, Morsi’s approval rating dropped, and an uprising to end Back in 2011, the citizens of his reign began. He was removed Egypt overthrew dictator Hosni from power in July, and now the Mubarak, a man who oppressed government is controlled by the civilians, allowed corruption, military. and ruled the country selfishly. So what’s the problem? Well, not Despite all this, he had support, everyone was pleased at Morsi’s support from the good ol’ USA. removal from office. Almost daily, In fact, the United States gives his supporters clash with those astronomical sums of money, who support a new government billions and billions of dollars in and troops from the Egyptian both aid and weaponry to Egypt military. Thousands have died, every year. Now, why would the and it’s likely thousands more will. United States do this for a country Now you may ask, “All right, led by a dictator, in the middle of what’s the U.S. gonna do?” Well, a time when turmoil in the Middle as of October 9th, the U.S. has East is higher than it’s ever been? cut off aid to Egypt. This is a huge
On Saturday, October 26th, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy will celebrate its 2nd homecoming. After the football team battles it out against Episcopal, after all the many sporting events, there is a fun night planned for students: the always interesting and highly anticipated Homecoming Dance will start at 8:00 on the night of the 26th. The Events Council, led by seniors Weatherly Saunders and Craig Alleyne, have worked hard to make the night a success. With the help of other Events Council members like juniors Brian Hamilton and Carlin Rode, the Council was able to fundraise and plan for what promises to be an amazing night. “Weatherly and Craig are great leaders; they listened to everyone’s input when deciding this year’s theme,” said Brian Hamilton. Last week, the Council was able to narrow down Well, back in 1979, U.S. President move, as we are threatening one the themes to three possibilities: Jimmy Carter was able to help of the only positive relationships Fiesta, Outer Space, and Thrift create an alliance between Egypt we have in the Middle East, one Shop. Fiesta would celebrate and Israel. In a time when anti- that’s been getting rockier and Semitic sentiments were high, this rockier in recent years. was monumental, gaining Israel an What is there to do? What will ally in the Middle East. After the come of the power struggle in creation of the treaty (The Camp Egypt? Who is going to lead Egypt David Accords), the U.S. supplied from this dark time? As of right Egypt with aid and military now, there is no answer. There is technology, continuing to this day. no “shining star,” no solutions to Moving back to the present, after Mubarak was expelled, there was a takeover by the military, followed by Egypt’s first democratic
October 2013
Mexican culture and include a red and green color scheme. Outer Space would include shiny, metallic, and bright colors. The popular song “Thrift Shop” by Mackelmore inspired the most intriguing of the theme choices, Thrift Shop. The song promotes the purchase of used clothing from thrift shops. The students would undoubtedly follow all of the themes enthusiastically. From there, however, students voted on their choice, and Outer Space was selected. Though the junior and senior leaders of the Council were elected, the Council also allows any Upper School student to come to meetings and suggest ideas. This strategy has not only allowed the Council to successfully choose a Homecoming theme, but also helps them be open to all ideas in the community. Tickets will be sold the week before the dance for $5 and again at the door for $7.
save Egypt from itself. Only time will tell, and maybe only time will heal the battered country of Egypt.
The Players Present...... December 12-14, 2013 The funny musical with a serious message.
Senior leadership launches Blue and Gold Day in Upper School Assembly.
Parents please note: The musical addresses mature themes. 3
volume MMXIII No. 2
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Phila, Pennsylvania
October 2013
The Dangers of Hairspray By Emily Kunkel ’15
Players’ highly anticipated fall production of Hairspray has generated quite a buzz. But is this buzz one of excitement or concern? I think excitement. Hairspray is centered on a girl’s journey to overcome both size bias and racism in 1960s Baltimore. The musical addresses issues of race in the 1960s, but also forces the audience to address racism in the present world. Unfortunately, the musical, which was seen as progressive at the time of its conception and still today, does display a certain amount of aversive racism. Black stereotypes as well as certain language highlight things that are anything but progressive. The musical features Tracy Turnblad, a white protagonist, as the principle character pushing for racial equality. This raises the question
of how progressive the musical is who would audition” but was also in a modern society. willing to cast the play in a multiIn addition, Hairspray has been racial way so as not to discriminate known to unintentionally create against the actors themselves. racial controversy when cast in a The fall production does feature certain way. In 2012 a production both white and Hispanic actors in Texas raised eyebrows with the portraying certain traditionally hiring of an all-white cast. The black characters, but Garrett feels director of the show commented that it won’t disrupt the flow of that it was simply because no the story and was done in a way black actors auditioned. This is that “the audience wouldn’t even a problem many directors have notice.” to address when casting a racially sensitive show, but is it better to be “politically correct” or to simply allow the actors who auditioned to perform? Jill Garrett, director of the Players’ fall production, commented that she “did have some worries about casting because [she] didn’t know
talk to their kids about.” But with the presence of upbeat songs and fun dances, the musical will be used to entertain the community more than anything.
Now the real question: should you take your kids? The answer is, absolutely! Having noted the musical’s mature themes and somewhat controversial tendencies, the show can still be a great educational tool for young children who are just getting introduced to the topic. Garrett did, however, note that “it is a complex topic for young children to comprehend, and it is something that parents should
The IMPortance of the SAT By Stephanie Haenn ’15
Question: Is it beneficial to take both? Ms. Kimberly: We generally tell students to choose one test and go with it. We offer a comparison test each November that students can take to figure out which test they like better and on which test they’ll be more successful. Question: Are the questions on the PSAT similar to questions students will encounter on the SAT?
When you think of the ideal college application that will ensure you admittance to your dream college, thoughts of a perfect GPA, extensive extracurricular activities, and, of course, high SAT scores come to mind. But how much should you prioritize preparing for standardized tests? I had the chance to interview Ms. Kimberly, one of SCH’s esteemed college counselors, to get a college counselor’s perspective on the importance of standardized testing. Question: In your opinion, should students prioritize standardized tests over grades or clubs? Ms. Kimberly: The standardized testing is only one piece of a student’s application, and almost all colleges will say that they want to admit interesting, engaged students who have explored their
passions and committed to things about which they care deeply. The first and most important piece of a student’s college application is his or her transcript, so grades are very important, beginning with the ninth grade year. But extracurricular activities are important, too, because they reflect the kind of person the applicant is as well as his or her potential to engage in a college community. While it’s important to take the SAT or ACT seriously, I would not recommend “prioritizing” the test over grades or clubs. Question: What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT? Ms. Kimberly: Our college handbook, located on the school’s website, has an in-depth comparison of the SAT vs. the ACT.
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Ms. Kimberly: The PSAT questions are very similar to the questions on the SAT; it’s basically a shortened version of the SAT (and there’s also no essay on the PSAT).
After talking to Ms. Kimberly, it became apparent that every aspect of an application, including standardized test scores, plays a role in presenting a student to a college admissions office. Though the testing process is extensive and can seem unmanageable, SCH provides students the necessary resources to prepare for standardized tests so that they can perform to their fullest potential.
Question: What are the best ways to prepare? Ms. Kimberly: Being familiar with the format of the test and being well rested are the two most important ways a student can prepare for any standardized test. Also, since reading comprehension figures prominently on both tests, reading for pleasure as much as possible is another excellent way to prepare. Question: Are there any unique study tips you recommend? Ms. Kimberly: A plug for the online test prep that we offer: each student has access to Prep Me through his or her Naviance account and can sign in any time for just a few minutes to do practice questions.
The Clemson Tigers team makes its way to the field for the start of the AllSchool Day competitions.
Missed a Senior Speech? They’re all here on the Upper School Dashboard of the website: www.sch.org/usdashboard.