Lion's Tale 41n6

Many students live for summer camp, but some have a less-than-ideal time. Should you go or should you...

The Lion’s Tale

The Lion’s Tale Staff

Editors-in-Chief

Stella Muzin & Lily Rulnick

Managing Editor, Copy

Aliza Bellas

Managing Editor, Web

Ari Kittrie

In-Depth Editor

Gigi Gordon

News Editors

Maya Greenblum & Penelope Terl

Features Editors

Vivi Ducker & Ruby Kotok

Opinion Editors

Maiya Blumenthal & Sophie Schwartz

Cati Werbin

Arts and Entertainment Editor

Sadaf Zadeh

Sports Editors

Tali Loeffler, Mia Forseter & Eliana Wolf

Multimedia Editor

Abby Chesman

Reporters

Gila Safra, Jordana Dauber, Isaiah

Segal-Geetter, Leora Blumenthal, Lindsey Shapiro, Jonah Mellen, Anna Polon, Jonah Mitre, Aviv Stein, Sophia Leinwand & Eliana Abrams

Staff Adviser

Jessica Nassau

Adviser Emerita

Susan Zuckerman

1. Which editor’s birthday fell on the first day of May Production?

2. Which editor was born in Colombia?

3. Which two editors went to the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy?

4. Which editors choreographed 2024’s winning Zimriyah dance?

5. Which editor traveled to Ghana over spring break?

6. Which editor’s parents own Siena’s?

7. Which editors are middle siblings?

Photo credits from left the right: Abby Chesman, LT & Dimensions, Sophie Schwartz, LT, Cati Werbin, LT, Gila Safra, LT & Sadaf Zadeh, LT.

dear readers,

Like most of you, we are very excited for our summers to begin, but the journey to break was certainly not easy. Even though we thought junior year could not get any harder, the month of May has proved us all wrong. In the midst of this craziness, however, we were able to produce a spectacular end-of-year edition for you, all thanks to our incredible staff.

Per usual, this edition covers many highlights from within the CESJDS community. Not only did we try to shine light on spectacular athletes and talented songwriters, we also give a glimpse into the life of one of our amazing security guards, as well as Lion’s Tale and Dimension alumni who have gone on to pursue journalism. To say that the Lions are a skilled group would be an understatement.

With the idea of community in mind, we decided to focus on arguably one of the most prominent communities in a Jewish teen’s life for our In-Depth: sleepaway camp. According to our recent polling, 88.3% of 61 JDS Upper School students surveyed have attended Jewish sleepaway camp. While this seems like a large amount of students, we recognized that each individual has their own story to tell.

Our community has also had the hostages in Gaza on our minds at all times, which made writing about the situation for our editorial a necessity. It has been over seven months since the hostages were taken captive, and we are appalled that over 130 individuals still remain in captivity.

However, when we do have good Israel news to share, we share it, which is why we decided to write about Israel placing fifth place in Eurovision. Though Israel did not win the entire competition, we see this as a huge victory for Israel. The fact that Eden Golan was able to represent Israel so beautifully while facing adversity was incredibly admirable.

As for this coming summer, the Lion’s Tale staff is excited to relax and not worry about production (at least until August). Some of our editors will in fact be spending their time at sleepaway camps, while others will be traveling and interning. We are excited to learn more about ourselves and the world around us, and bring back our new insights to Lion’s Tale. We wish everyone a wonderful break.

Sincerely,

Editors-in-Chief

Editorial and Ethics Policy

The Best of lionstale.org news

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opinion

JDS is too competitve

Maiya Blumenthal, Opinion Editor

Summer vs. winter

Maya Greenblum & Eliana Abrams

Features

Hagshama families at JDS

Jonah Mellen, Reporter

How teachers craft their finals

Penelope Terl, News Editor

a&e

Bridgerton season three

Tali Loeffler, Sports Editor

Guide to romance shows

Aliza Bellas, Managing Editor, Copy

sports

Meet the baseball managers

Vivi Ducker, Features Editor

Where to buy sports gear

Gigi Gordon, In-Depth Editor

As the student newspaper of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, the Lion’s Tale is a public forum for student opinion and expression. All content is determined by students. Its purpose is to inform the CESJDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers. The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news. Signed columns reflect the opinion of the writer; staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of The Lion’s Tale editorial board. The Lion’s Tale staff

welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, all of which must be signed. The staff reserves the right to refuse any material and may edit letters or columns for length, clarity, libel, obscenity and/ or disruptiveness. All other contents copyright of The Lion’s Tale. All rights reserved.

Submissions may be emailed to jdslionstale@gmail.com, mailed to The Lion’s Tale or brought to room 320.

The Lion’s Tale is funded by the Simon Hirshman Endowment for the

Upper School Newspaper and the Kuttner-Levenson Endowment for the Upper School Cultural Arts and Student Publications, and community advertisements. The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisement for any reason. The staff will adhere to the ethics policies of the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Scholastic Press Association. The adviser will be held to the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics.

High School Zimriyah Lineup

Class of 2027

“Johnny” by Bar Tzabary

Class of 2026

“Kol HaKavod” from the musical “Kazablan”

Class of 2025

honoring heroes,

Israeli holidays unite the CESJDS community

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

As the junior class makes its way into a semi-circle during their Zimriyah performance, a sign is held high reading “We will dance again,” in dedication to Hamas’ victims at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7. After a few moments of silence, confetti poppers burst into the air as the Class of 2025 showed their pride for Israel.

Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s independence day, was celebrated at CESJDS on May 14. The day included an art project with Israeli artist and educator Hanoch Piven and Zimriyah, which was directed by high school Hebrew teacher Anat Kaufman.

Class of 2000 in 1999

“It’s great to see the grade bond together over a common goal,” freshman Noah Sacks said. “Especially in such a difficult time, it’s even more important to get closer as a grade.”

Students learned about the goal of Piven’s artwork—to reinvent the meaning and use of everyday objects—before beginning the art project in small groups. After selecting their objects, students crafted portraits of famous Israeli figures.

Zimriyah, under Kaufman’s guidance, was planned by various student committees within each grade and headed by the grade governments.

Zimriyah’s theme this year was “names and faces” to hu-

Zimriyah Throwbacks

Class of 2010 in 2009

manize the victims of the war, serving as a reminder that each individual impacted has a story. Each grade’s song, as well as the activity led by Pivan where students created portraits of famous Israelis using everyday objects, alluded to the theme.

In the middle school competition, the eighth grade won for the first time in their JDS careers, while in the high school, the junior class won for the second year in a row with their song “Tnu Li Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

“Winning this year felt amazing,” junior Aviva Stern said. “We put so much work in during the practices and it just feels so rewarding.”

Class of 2015 in 2014

Leora Blumenthal Reporter

The freshman class peform their song “Johnny” for their first Zimriyah performance as high school students. Photo by Abby Chesman, LT & Dimensions

“Tnu Li Rock ‘n’ Roll” by T-Slam

remembering history

YOM HASHOAH

As a testament to Jewish spiritual resistance, the theme of this year’s tekes, six sophomores each shared the story of one Holocaust victim by reading an excerpt from the victims’ diaries and lighting a candle in their honor. These stories taught students how Judaism was preserved amid persecution.

Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, was commemorated at JDS on May 6 and led by the sophomore class in partnership with the Jewish history department. The tenth grade leads the tekes each year because they study the Holocaust in Jewish history class.

Sophomore Ian Liss interviewed his grandmother, Connie Liss, who told the stories of her parents who were both Holocaust survivors.

“[Learning about the Holocaust] becomes more personal and more meaningful,” Ian said. “It’s one thing to know what happens and another to have an actual emotional connection tied to it.”

There was also an all-day vigil where students read the names of Holocaust victims. During an extended advisory, students watched a film about Jewish teens titled “I’m Still Here,” then discussed it.

“These kids left their mark by writing in these diaries and representing who they were,” high school Jewish history teacher Dr. Sara Coxe said. “At the same, they were resisting what the Nazis wanted, which was for them not to have any culture or identity.”

“It felt meaningful that I got to stand up there and say something, say the Kaddish after hearing the names of all of the concentration camps ... but it was also powerful for me because I was the one to do it.”

Yom HaShoah Vigil Committee Member and sophomore Sophie Moyal

“It was special for me to be able to organize something that’s a school tradition. It honors ... those who were murdered when they shouldn’t have been ... it was emotional yet powerful when reading off the names of victims.”

YOM HAZIKARON

Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s memorial day for fallen soldiers, was commemorated at JDS on May 13. The Hebrew Heritage class led the day, and found meaning in their leadership, particularly since the events of Oct. 7.

As a victim of the Israel-Hamas War and a community member, alumni Omer Balva (‘19) was honored at the tekes. Balva’s life as a JDS student, and a JDS lifer, was remembered.

“[Yom HaZikaron] is really hard, even if you don’t know the fallen soldiers,” sophomore and Hebrew Heritage student Shahar Levi said. “You hear stories every year, so it’s important to keep those memories alive.”

The week prior, Israeli stu-

dents visited every Hebrew class in the high school to give a presentation on Israeli heroism, with a focus on the war.

To maintain this focus for the tekes, three candles were lit in remembrance of Israeli heroes. High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein, whose cousin Hersh Goldberg-Polin is currently being held hostage in Gaza, lit a candle in honor of the hostages. The two other candles were lit for Omer Balva and all those who have fell fighting for Israel.

“We all approached today knowing it was going to be really tough this year,” junior and Hebrew Heritage student Noam Klein said. “It just hit a lot closer to home.”

Sophomore Ian Liss interviews his grandmother and daughter of Holocaust survivors, Connie Liss, during the tekes.

Photo by Netanel Bitton, Dimensions

Hadriel Dayanim shares the story of Aner Shapiro, who sacrificed his life in order to save others on Oct. 7. Photo by Ella Longman, Dimensions

Yom HaShoah tekes Participant and sophomore Malka Lederman

Eighth grade class goes on capstone trip

Away to atlanta

Anna Polon Reporter

As eighth grade student Dalya Lurie sat in an interactive exhibit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) in Atlanta, she heard through her headphones the violence and threats that peaceful protesters for civil rights endured in the 1960s.

The eighth grade traveled to Atlanta for the fourth annual Bridges Capstone trip from May 7 to May 12. The trip builds on students’ experiences and learning from middle school, including themes like community and identity. A big part of the eighth grade curriculum is issues of race and membership, identity and belonging and how groups see others.

To examine this, students read the books “A Raisin in the Sun,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,”

“Night” and “Of Mice and Men” in their English class. According to the CESJDS website, this is part of the eighth grade curriculum because “the emphasis on the Southern American experi-

ence helps students better understand who we are as Americans and as Jews and how we got to where we are now.”

“We see [the trip] as a capstone of the year spent looking at social action and civic responsibility,” Middle School Experiential and Service Learning Chair Rachel Meytin said. Meytin oversaw the planning of the capstone trip.

After arriving on May 7, the students, along with six teachers and two parent chaperones, went to NCCHR and toured The Temple, Atlanta’s oldest Jewish congregation.

The trip included educational yet engaging activities, including learning more about the south’s history. In Atlanta, they visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the Georgia Aquarium and an Atlanta Braves baseball game against the Boston Red Sox.

very interested in the museums and took the time to read and look at many different exhibits.

“It was incredible to see the progression that this country has made,” eighth grade student Will Falk said.

Each day, students were placed into different groups in order to be with a variety of

people. According to Meytin, the aim was to allow students to interact with classmates that they may not have interacted with yet, while still having time to be with their close friends.

“I think it was a really good balance with the museums and learning history, and then also fun,” Lurie said. “The Braves game was really fun because we got to have our freedom and we got to go outside of the group.”

The students also went to Montgomery, Alabama for a day and visited the Rosa Parks Museum, the Legacy Museum and the Memorial for Peace and Justice. According to Meytin, the students she chaperoned were

“We don't want to separate everybody from their friends, but we also want to encourage [the making of] new friends,” Meytin said. “I definitely saw people talking who I hadn't seen talking at the beginning of the trip by the end of the trip.”

Lurie, a new student this year, appreciated the opportunity to bond with her grade and interact with them outside of the school environment.

“I went outside of just my friend group,” Lurie said. “And I bonded with people I haven't really talked with before, be-

cause I had the chance to be put in different groups with them. So it was really cool.”

The trip concluded with a shabbaton at Camp Barney Medintz in White County, Georgia, which was prefaced with a discussion about pluralism. Although students learn about pluralism throughout middle school as one of JDS’ core values, this shabbaton was an opportunity to engage with pluralism firsthand. It also prepares them for the shabbatons they will have in high school.

Both Lurie and Falk especially had fun during the color wars that took place on Shabbat, which allowed them to bond more with their grade with friendly competition. Every morning on the trip, the group davened, and students were able to choose between an egalitarian minyan and a mechitza minyan. On Shabbat, there was an additional option for a discussion. Falk appreciated the options and read Torah on Saturday.

“Everyone got to be where they wanted to be, which was really nice. And there were a bunch of leadership opportunities each day,” Falk said. “And no matter what, you could always help out and contribute to the service if you wanted to.”

Falk felt that being able to participate in services helped the grade bond. Additionally, he said that once everyone settled into the trip, it felt natural to be somewhere other than at school with his grade.

“The trip was great,” Falk said. “I had a lot of fun and there were a lot of ups and just a few downs. So, everyone had a great time.”

United by music

Israel wins fifth place in Eurovision

Sophie Schwartz OpinionEditor

In the 68th year of Eurovision Song Contest, an international competition led by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Switzerland came in first place with Israel coming in fifth.

was rejected, they were going to drop out. However, Israel ultimately decided to change some lyrics and title of the song, and was able to remain in the competition.

All used with permission.

Students volunteer at Center for Natural Urban Agriculture. Photo by Joyce Kammerman.

The Temple in Atlanta was one of the first stops on the trip. Photo by Deborah Feigenson.

On day two of the trip, students attended an Atlanta Braves game. Photo by Guy Koren. In two groups, the eighth grade visited the Rosa Parks Museum. Photo by Janet Ozur Bass. The airport was the first and last stop in Atlanta. Photo by Joyce Kammerman.

Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 Golan performs "Hurricane" in the 2024

In Eurovision, fifty percent of the total vote is from the public and the other fifty percent is from the juries representing each participating country. Although ultimately finishing in fifth place, Israel received second place in the public televote with 323 points, which was only 14 fewer than the first place televote winner, Croatia.

With four Eurovision wins, the competition has become a part of Israel’s pop culture. This year, however, Israel faced new challenges throughout the competition due to the controversies surrounding Israel’s actions in the Israel-Hamas war.

Sophomore and Israeli Shahar Levi, who followed Eurovision, felt that showing her sup-

Hebrew teacher Yaffa Dagony supported Israel’s decision to make this change.

“[Israel’s song] changed many, many times in order to please other people, but I think they did their best,” Dagony said.

“I think it was a good decision to participate, and make the adjustments rather than saying ‘in your face, I don’t want to do it.’”

For months leading up to the Eurovision, protests tried to ban Golan from participating due to controversies surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. According to PBS News, an estimated 10,000 people marched in Malmo, Sweden before the semifinals, accusing Eurovision of supporting genocide. As a result, Golan was accompanied by a security team throughout the competition.

During Golan’s performance, chants such as “Free Palestine” and booing could be heard in the crowd. Even after the performance, Golan was asked in a press conference if she felt she “ever thought that by being [at Eurovision], [she] bring[s] risk and danger to the other participants and the public.” However, Golan didn’t allow any of the backlash or protests affect her performance.

“I am here to show the voice of an entire nation,” Golan said in a New York Times article. “To show that we’re here, that we are strong, but emotional and

bring them home

In the midst of all of the protests seen on various college campuses across the country, it seems as though the Israel-Hamas war has become even more politicized than it had been at its onset. With encampments and worldwide protests consuming our news feed, it feels like the world has lost sight of one of, if not the most, pressing matters of the war: the hostages.

As of May 9, over 130 hostages are still being held captive in Gaza, according to Politico. This means that over 130 innocent individuals with families, friends, passions and livelihoods have been in captivity for over seven months. While this war has proven to be quite polarizing and has sparked mass global division, the matter of the hostages must not be politicized. It should be everyone’s goal, regardless of which side they may stand, to bring the hostages home.

Accounts from released hostages have described the unimaginable conditions they experienced. Many recalled being kept underground in dark tunnels where it was difficult to breathe. Others described having limited food rations. In some cases, people reported that they were beaten. Many female hostages, like Amit Soussana, reported being sexu-

ally assaulted by their captors, living in constant fear of what would happen if they did not comply. How can we allow innocent individuals continue to be treated this way?

Recently, hostage deal proposals have led to nothing but disappointment. The most recent talks proposed returning no more than 33 hostages, and it is still a mystery if these hostages would be returned dead or alive, according to the Times of Israel on May 7.

In addition to these deals, Hamas has continued its psychological warfare by releasing videos of a few hostages that remain in Gaza. For example, a Hamas propaganda video was released on May 11 of 51-yearold hostage Nadav Popplewell. This was the fourth video that Hamas has released; videos were published of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin on April 24, as well as Keith Siegel and Omri Miran on April 28.

While these videos have sparked some hope regarding the condition of the hostages, it cannot be confirmed that any of the hostages that were videoed are still alive today.

While the pressure is on the Israeli government to negotiate a deal and bring the hostages home, it is just as important that the global community do everything in its power to en-

The hostages must remain a top priority

sure the innocent people being held in captivity are freed.

While there are many areas of controversy in this war, there is nothing to argue about when it comes to the issue of the hostages: they need to be freed.

Though it may seem as though there is little an average civilian can do, the truth is that immense power lies in the people. First of all, the international community can continue to raise awareness about the people being held hostage which will in turn put pressure on government officials to bring the hostages home. We must not forget how this war started: Hamas’ brutal attack on Oct. 7, the murder of around 1,200 women, men and children and the barbaric capture of over 230 civilians, according to the New York Times.

If we forget about this cause, the over 130 people still being held in captivity will never return. Their families will never see their brothers, sisters, mothers, father, grandmothers or grandfathers ever again; they will be left to die in Gaza. If we fail at delivering on this cause, how could we move on?

Photo by Sophie Schwartz, LT

- The Lion’s Tale

education miscalculation

Hebrew should be required every year of high school

Aviv Stein, Reporter

Maiya Blumenthal, OpinionEditor

When I went to Israel with my family for the first time in the summer of 2018, I was captivated by the country. Not only did I love walking around and immersing myself in the culture of Israel, but it was a great opportunity for me to work on my Hebrew, speaking to native Israelis on the streets and in shops. I was very proud of the fact that I could converse with Israelis as a rising fifth grader, due to Hebrew I learned in school.

As a Jewish school, CESJDS strives to deliver the best Jewish education possible. This includes education on Israel: its culture, history and language. Furthermore, Hebrew is the one school subject mentioned in both JDS’ Core Values and the “Portrait of a CESJDS Graduate.”

However, students currently have the option of opting out of Hebrew after taking it for two years in high school and can take extra Jewish text classes instead. Because of their emphasis on Hebrew education in the Core Values and the “Portrait of a Graduate,” JDS should not allow students to drop Hebrew.

Learning Hebrew is essential to students’ connection to Judaism and Israel. Hebrew is the language in which the Tanakh, siddur and other religious texts are written. It is important for students to know how to speak, read and understand Hebrew in order to engage with these texts and gain a deeper understanding of their Jewish heritage. Hebrew enhances students’ level of engagement with these texts, and

Highlights of the 12th grade Hebrew curriculum

תרעה”

thus their religion.

Even if a student feels that it is not necessary to take Hebrew because they are taking another language or feel that Hebrew is too challenging for them, JDS should still require these students to continue to develop their connection with Hebrew, so they can feel more comfortable using it later in their lives.

resumes if they take a language in high school.

“Colleges look more favorably upon it if a student sticks with the language once they have started it,” Goldstein said.

“םיילוש is an Israeli drama about the difficult relationship between a father and son who work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem גהנ”

סובוטואה הצרה תויהל

“םיהולא is a story about Eddie, a failed cook, who wants to find love

Currently, if a student drops Hebrew, that class must be replaced by another Judaics class, for the student to achieve their minimum number of Judaics classes. However, Hebrew plays a different role in Judaism than Jewish texts, as it is a common language that connects Jews across the world. While Judaic classes enhance one’s spiritual connection to Judaism, Hebrew is a cultural connector for Jews.

Another reason students choose to opt out of Hebrew is the difficulty of the language. While JDS discourages dropping Hebrew, there are some cases where students have language learning disabilities, in which case the student, or even the school, encourages the student to drop out. While this is an understandable reason, JDS should accommodate these students’ struggles instead, as some knowledge of Hebrew is better than none.

Acknowledging this, High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein emphasizes how JDS strongly encourages students to take Hebrew for all of high school.

“It’s also always been our strong recommendation that students continue with Hebrew for the full three and a half years because it’s part of our core values and our mission of a school,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein also stresses that it is good for students’ college

Dropping Hebrew can close opportunities for some students. Many colleges require taking a world language for three years of high school, so a student who drops Hebrew after only two years will lose the opportunity to apply to colleges with that requirement. Especially now, with the rise of antisemitism and the general hatred and threats towards Israel around the world, it is of utmost importance for Jews to be proud of their religion and maintain a strong connection to Israel. This begins with receiving a Jewish education and learning how to speak Hebrew to be proficient in engaging with Jewish people, Jewish texts and Jewish topics.

Did you know?

The number of Hebrew speakers in the US doubled between 1980 and 2021, from 100,000 to 220,000.

Data from the Pew Research Center

S

ummer houldn’t be erious

Students should take a break from academics while school is out

with time to pursue professional internships and extracurricular experiences. Therefore, teenagers should spend their summers in non-serious ways and harness the freedom that only summer can provide.

Since I was seven years old, I’ve spent my academic years looking forward to my three-week session at Capital Camps each summer. Despite any overwhelming assignments, busy weekends completing schoolwork or extracurricular activities, I always found solace thinking about the freedom that summer would bring.

While planning for this coming summer, with college application season fast approaching, I struggled with how I should choose to spend my time. Should I get an internship that colleges would deem impressive? Should I interview for a job and spend the summer working? Should I spend time compiling essays for my college applications? Each of these questions went through my mind, but in the end, I decided to spend my full summer at camp as a Counselor-in-training (CIT).

The academic year is filled

Students’Summer Plans

According to a study conducted by the American Educational Research Association (AERA), students lose 40% of their learning from the prior year over the summer. I can understand how, for academic purposes, students would want to stay engaged in an academic setting during their time off for this reason. However, students can experience burnout if they don’t allow themselves enough time away from their work and rigorous schedules.

Additionally, non-academic summer experiences are extremely influential and have the ability to shape a student’s identity in the future. Opportunities such as group trips and sleepaway camp foster independence and allow students to experience life from a different perspective. These experiences give students the chance to make new friends, understand how to care for themselves physically and emotionally and learn how

Sophomore Julia Yoskowitz “Traveling”

Activities to do this summer

Travel to a new place with family or a teen group

Sophomore Grady Goldstein “Pre-college program”

to manage their time and money. It is one of the few opportunities teenagers have to leave home and enjoy experiences on their own before adulthood.

A Harvard study found that children who attend sleepaway camp over the summer develop much stronger social-emotional skills than their peers. It wrote that students grew their relationship, responsible decision-making and self-awareness skills during the summer, which in turn helped them upon their return to school and in their outside lives.

I can understand the external pressure that can push students to focus on serious endeavors in the summer. There have been many people who’ve told me I am taking the “lazy” approach to summer and college applications. But I’m grateful that from a young age I’ve been taught to value my growth in settings outside of academic fields.

It is important to take a break and use summer to engage in other experiences. Take a trip, spend a session at sleepaway camp or do something that is free of obligation and responsibility. I recommend that you not take summer too seriously; it’s a choice you won’t regret!

Junior Jessica Rosenberg “Musical theater intensive program”

Aliza Bellas ManagingEditor,Copy

Photos by Maiya Blumenthal

Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees

President Biden’s student loan forgiveness policy is not the solution

loans forgiven. The terms of the programs vary, but the idea is that those who continuously make payments can have loans forgiven by the U.S. government after a set amount of time.

Ari Kittrie ManagingEditor,Web

The end of the school year means juniors like myself will soon need to consider tuition prices for higher education across the United States. This challenge of paying for higher education has been exacerbated by the spike in college tuition costs, seen in the doubling of average tuition prices at colleges and six-figure sticker prices at some elite schools, according to the College Board.

One of President Biden’s most prominent policy planks is to

One flaw with the student loan forgiveness plans is that they disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans and don’t help the lower-end Americans who these programs are directed towards. According to an opinion column in The Hill, “full cancelation would distribute $192 billion to the top 20 percent of earners, and only $29 billion to the bottom 20 percent — meaning that for each dollar given to the bottom fifth of earnings, more than $6 are given to the top fifth of earners.”

Furthermore, the Biden student loan forgiveness plans incentivize colleges and universities to increase their prices. If students know that their student loans will be canceled, they will be less concerned about taking out bigger loans. As a result, schools will charge more money because they will know that students will be able to pay through loans. Thus, this policy will ultimately backfire because students will have to borrow even more funds to pay for college than they did before.

An additional repercussion of Biden’s student loan forgiveness efforts is that they can undermine other federal service-oriented borrowing programs targeted toward national needs. The exception to this is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Plan (PSLF),

Biden’s Policy Goals

Help over 30 million Americans

Debt relief for specific groups of borrowers, like those with longstanding repayment plans

Implement the SAVE plan that regulates tuition

Support existing initiatives

which is a program that requires 10 years of service in a government institution or non-profit in exchange for loan forgiveness. One such program that could be undermined is the United States military, which offers tuition assistance for college in return for service in the military.

According to a Pew Research Survey, 75% of those who enlisted in the military said they did so to obtain the military’s various educational benefits, like tuition assistance for college. Given that the loan forgiveness plan would be an extremely appealing option for college students who could achieve benefits by simply waiting, it’s hard to think that many would opt for military service as a way to pay for schooling.

One solution President Biden could consider is taking funds going toward student loan forgiveness and putting them towards increasing the various existing federal tuition assistance programs including Pell Grants and service-oriented loan and scholarship programs, like the military and the National Service Health Corps, a program for those pursuing healthcare careers in which they receive either loan repayment or an educational scholarship in return for primary care service in an underserved community.

Alternatively, the Biden administration could also ditch efforts to create more loan forgiveness programs and instead focus on improving the existing PSLF program, which is the only one of the loan forgiveness programs that actually requires a service commitment.

As high school students are facing the economic quagmire of college costs, the issue of rising costs and loan debt is extremely important. However, what’s even more important is that the solution we support to fix this crisis is one that won’t make the problem of rising college tuition worse than it already is.

-

Many students live for summer camp, but some have a less-than-ideal time. Should you go or should you..

Sleep On It

Photo by Gigi Gordon, LT

Since the 20th century, sleepaway camp has been a staple in the American Jewish community. Many Jewish teenagers spend summers at camps all across the U.S. These camps have become an integral part of many individuals’ Jewish identities, but their history is a little more complicated.

By the end of World War II, many American Jews returned home from military service and received the benefits veterans were offered, according to My Jewish Learning. These benefits catapulted them into the middle class and the suburbs. As a result, many Jews were concerned that Jewish traditions would be lost and thought Jewish summer camps would preserve them.

Today, there are over 300 Jewish sleepaway camps in North America, according to the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). Each camp offers a unique Jewish experience for campers by putting an emphasis on different aspects of the religion.

According to a Pew research study, 40% of American adults

raised Jewish attended a Jewish sleepaway camp. Per the FJC’s 2022 census, the number of Jewish sleepaway camp participants continued to skyrocket until the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, however, numbers are beginning to reach the same levels as five years ago. For some, camp is a life highlight, while for others, it is less than a perfect experience.

Popular camps

At CESJDS, attending a Jewish sleepaway camp is practically a standard among students as, according to a recent survey done by the Lion’s Tale, 88.3% of JDS students have attended Jewish sleepaway camp. But despite so many locations to choose from, there are a few camps that are more popular within the community.

The first of these is Camp Ramah, which has both day and sleepaway camp options. With ten overnight camps around the globe, Ramah considers itself “the camping arm of Conservative Judaism” and operates under the Jewish Theological Seminarys educational and religious supervision. Many

JDS students attend Ramah New England, in Palmer, Massachussuets, for years on end, and some attend the camp’s other locations as well.

Located in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Capital Camps is another popular destination for JDS students. Similar to JDS, Capital Camps defines itself as a pluralistic Jewish experience, meaning it offers campers the ability to explore Judaism in many ways.

A third popular camp for JDS community members is Camp Yavneh, located in New Hampshire. Yavneh defines itself as a K’lal Yisrael camp, a place where Jews are encouraged to engage in traditions and practices.

Although these three camps are the most popular at JDS, students attend and work at many other camps across the country.

Promoting Jewish culture Jewish summer camps offer many benefits to their campers, some of which continue to impact them in Jewish communities after they finish camp. Regardless of the denomination of the camp, the opportunity to explore Jewish plural-

Gigi Gordon In-Depth Editor

Maya Greenblum News Editor

Stella Muzin Editor-in-Chief

ism is often open to campers.

According to its Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Ed Gelb, Camp Ramah New England is 85% affiliated with Conservative Judaism based on internal polling, and even within that population, a scope of Jewish practices coexists. Jewish camps that don’t affiliate with any denomination of Judaism, such as Camp Yavneh and Young Judea Camp Tel Yehudah, commit themselves to pluralism.

“Even going to a pluralistic school, I feel like I only fully understood pluralism when I went to camp,” junior Azaria Hileman-Shashoua and Camp Ramah New England alumnus said. “I believe that people should have their own ways of expressing their religion, and that is influenced in large part by my experiences at camp, by meeting other people and by seeing what connected them to Judaism.”

Jewish summer camp also benefits other facets of campers’ Jewish education, whether it be Jewish ritual, values and ethics, Torah study, Jewish history, culture or even the Hebrew language.

According to a study by the FJC, kids who attended Jewish summer camp are 55% more likely to feel emotionally attached to Israel, 45% more likely to attend synagogue monthly or more and 37% more likely to light Shabbat candles weekly as adults.

Lasting benefits

The experiences gained at Jewish summer camp arm campers with leadership skills that they can use beyond their teenage years. For Camp Young Judaea and Tel Yehudah alumna Jen Blumenthal, who is also a parent to Camp Young Judaea and Tel Yehudah alumnus Jonah Blumenthal, Jewish summer camp is especially beneficial for kids who do not attend Jewish day schools.

“[Jonah], like me, was in a public high school,” Blumenthal said. “So I think camp was really valuable to supplement the pieces of informal Jewish education [that he didn’t have], and I think socially, he was able to be with other Jewish kids.”

Additionally, summer camps allow campers to grow their inde-

pendence while being away from their parents. By being independent, campers can gain other life skills. A study by the Journal of Youth Development states that 60% of sleepaway camp alumni reported that camp helped them to “a great extent” to “develop independence and self-reliance, teamwork skills, self-efficacy, confidence, leadership, self regulation and communication skills.”

“You’re living by yourself with a group of kids your age, and even younger kids, so you have to learn to be comfortable in that setting, and not only relying on your counselors, but learning how to be responsible for yourself,” Camp Perlman camper and sophomore Julia Yoskowitz said.

Another benefit of Jewish summer camps is friendship. The camp environment can inspire friendships and improve campers’ social skills, according to the American Camp Association. One of the reasons for this is that camp separates kids from their screens, which improves campers’ mental and physical health, according to the Mayo Clinic Health System.

- in-depth -

Other reasons include living with kids of the same age, freedom from the regular social structures of school and home life and freedom from parents.

Jewish summer camps are intended to make their campers feel as though they belong, and support them as they grow up religiously, emotionally and socially.

“You can discover who you are and [want to] be,” Gelb said. “Camps are very supportive places where people can belong, no matter who they are.”

Social culture

While Jewish sleepaway camps offer a lot of benefits to those who choose to attend, there are also negative aspects. Friend group exclusivity is a concern.

“Clique culture is a big issue at sleepaway camps,” junior Dalia Epstein, who has attended Camp Judea and Camp Tel Yehudah, said. “I think that people find the friends they like and stick with them the whole camp and they’re not really open to talking to other people.”

These cliques are often formed in the early years of camp, causing integration problems for new campers.

“I definitely think camp can be isolating if you’re a first year person and everyone else already has friends,” junior and Capital Camps camper Adam Bachrach said.

The clique culture issue is one that many people are comfortable with if they have friends, however it doesn’t promote the value of Kehillah that many Jewish sleepaway camps wish to.

This is likely not something camp administrations can solve. Although they can attempt to prevent cliques, efforts will likely fail.

“I don’t think the camp administration can do anything to solve the problems,” Epstein said. “I think it stems more from the people.”

Hookup culture, or the culture of romantic relationships at sleepaway camps, is another concern at sleepaway camps. In 2012, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) found that hookup culture was “becoming progressively more engrained in popular culture,” and would continue to follow this upward trajectory.

*61 high school students surveyed,

Due to the freedom that campers are afforded at camp, the concern for hookup culture is greater than it is in other social scenes, like in schools or youth groups.

Just like clique culture, camp administrations are met with the challenge of trying to stop hookup culture. But more so, they must change this norm so that it fulfills the Jewish values of the camp.

“You have to be really direct about what the boundaries are, what’s acceptable, as far as what you can do … about how you treat people, [and] what consent is,” Gelb said. “Then you have to have proper supervision around that.”

Some campers also consider hookup culture a challenge as it disrupts the camp environment and doesn’t allow them to enjoy camp to its fullest. Slate ran an excerpt of Sandra Fox’s “The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America”—which explores the history of hookup culture at Jewish summer camps—and found that it has been disrupting the camp environment from the beginning.

Hookup culture puts pressure on campers, and according to a Camp Hemshekh alumna, it has since the 1960s, so much so that it can take away from the benefits that campers might experience.

“I mean, to some extent, [hookup culture] was kind of taboo to speak about. There was some tacit approval from the staff,” Hileman-Shashoua said.

Hazing

Hazing has become another large issue at sleepaway camp. This past summer, Camp Yavneh made the decision to kick out the entire oldest age group of boys from their camp due to hazing.

Mark* is a JDS student who had been attending Camp Yavneh for around eight years, and was kicked out this summer.

“I think the main reason they kicked us out is that they found out about one of our silent football punishments that was pretty extreme,” Mark said. “I think they made the decision based on that.”

Silent football is a popular game played by teenagers at many sleepaway camps and youth groups. The specific rules of the game vary from place to place, but

the main idea is that before the game begins, all the players agree on a certain punishment, and in the end the losing player must complete that punishment.

These punishments are where the hazing comes in. Although they can be lighthearted, they can also become inappropriate and dangerous. They can range from being forced to clean the bunks bathroom to having to jump off the bunks roof, although neither of these specific punishments were used at Camp Yavneh.

“The game is definitely not a civilized game. It’s a teenage-boy game and it’s supposed to make you laugh,” Mark said.

Although Camp Yavneh chose not to be interviewed for this article, they did send a statement:

“Last summer, campers in one bunk violated our code of conduct, and appropriate steps were taken. The matter was reviewed thor oughly and, as we do each year, we have made some program matic changes consistent with the camp’s guiding ethos of derech eretz, or common decency. ”

Playing this game, although fun for many, can turn into hazing behavior very quickly. Since it is played at so many different camps, it is difficult to know if the game itself is hazing or if it depends on who is playing.

cool amps

camps, including the most popular ones in the JDS community. At Capital Camps, the cost for the full summer (seven weeks), is $13,600, averaging out at $1982 per week. Similarly, the cost of Camp Ramah New England for a full summer (seven and a half weeks) is $11,910, averaging out at $1588 per week. For some campers, this pricing is not justifiable. Former Camp Yavneh Yoetzet Halacha and mother of junior Josie Silverbeg, Sarah Gershman understands this.

“It’s expensive and I don’t think it is necessary,” Gershman said. “I think you can have a really nice summer without going to sleepaway camp but if you can do it and you like it, it is a big gift.”

On the other hand, many people can’t imagine their summer without sleep away camp, and believe it is worth the investment.

“I think silent football at camp has been a very negative experience for me,” Jackson*, a Capital Camps camper said. “There is a lot of pressure to play the game but the punishments can be really em barrassing and not something you want to do, you know? But I always feel like if I don’t play people are going to look at me differently.”

Hazing at summer camps is not a unique experience. Period icals like Slate and Vox have writ ten pieces specifically about sleep away camp hazing, and how it is a legitimate concern when sending children to camp.

Financial setbacks

Camp Lehmanis the oldest Jewish sleepaway camp at 132 years was founded by Jewish union activists

“I think camp is pretty expensive but if you can afford it and your child likes the camp then I think it’s a great way to spend your summer and money and is worth it,” Epstein said.

Final thoughts

Regardless of whether a camper’s experiences at summer camp are positive or negative, the impact that it has on the greater Jewish community remains. This impact sets Jewish summer camps apart from American summer camps, making a distinction between the two types of summer camp.

“Camps are very supportive places where people can belong, no matter who they are. You can discover who you are and [want to] be,” Gelb said. “Jewish summer camps are encouraging atmospheres in the Jewish realm. There’s a lot of reinforcement of the joys of Judaism.”

The price of a sleepaway camp can also be an important factor to consider when deciding if camp is worthwhile and feasible.

According to the FJC’s 2022 census, the average cost of Jewish overnight camp in 2022 was $1440 for one week. These costs can be even higher for some

Camp Massad was a Zionist camp that taught Hebrew to campers

Despite its impact, Jewish summer camps cannot meet the needs of every camper, so there are many factors to take into account when deciding how to spend the summer. Nonetheless, Jewish summer camp has functioned as a part of the mosaic of Jewish identity since the 20th century, and its greater impact on the Jewish community will never fade.

stellar security

Cati Werbin Arts & Entertainment Editor

Every morning, as students and faculty walk into the Upper School, they are greeted by a warm smile and friendly voice saying “Good morning, I hope you have a nice day.” That voice is Upper School Security Officer Lesley Pierce’s, who ensures that the CESJDS community remains safe and secure.

Pierce has been working at the Upper School since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year and is at school each day from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aside from greeting everyone at the door, Pierce’s job as security officer is to patrol the school, open doors for students and visitors and make sure that all is safe in the building by monitoring the security cameras.

Prior to working at the Upper School, Pierce lived in Richmond, Virginia and worked at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities Ringhouse as a certified nurse assistant until the COVID-19 outbreak. Post-COVID-19, Pierce worked as an assistant manager of a photography studio at the Wheaton mall, but was inspired by the security officers walking around the mall to become one herself. She has been at the Upper School ever since.

“It was so full circle [after working at the Ringhouse] and I felt like I was supposed to be here,” Pierce said. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Upon her arrival at JDS, Pierce went through an orientation in which she was taught all the information she needed to do the job. She was briefed on how to manage the doors as well as how to execute various emergency procedures and drills.

During the school day, Pierce is in charge of opening the doors for anyone coming to school and signing in incoming guests. She now serves as a friendly face and important member of the JDS community, making sure that everyone in the building not only feels safe, but welcome.

“Just seeing Lesley, smiling and saying hi to all the students feels very personal, like she actually cares,” junior Josie Silverberg said. “In the morning, when you are not in the best mood and you see someone who really cares about you, it really helps start your day off on the right foot.”

Outside of her job as security officer, Pierce works as a professional photographer and loves spending her time outside taking photos of nature. Pierce also enjoys writing poetry and aspires to someday write a book. In addition to this, she is bilingual and taught herself Spanish by listening to slow Spanish songs and watching telenovelas (Latin American soap operas) with

subtitles. After two years, she was able to fully pick up the language and has become fluent.

Pierce is also taking online classes at the University of Phoenix in order to earn a teaching degree for intermediate (third through sixth grade) education. She is currently taking an English course, and needs to take math and general behavior courses in order to earn her degree in three years. Though it is challenging to balance school with her job as security officer, getting to know the students at JDS has inspired her to become a teacher and work to foster relationships with students in a classroom environment.

“At first I wanted to go to law enforcement, but then I realized I want to be in a position where I can help young minds grow and shape their futures” Pierce said.

“Working as a security guard in this position, I can see from the outside how child development is and how certain age groups react to certain things.”

Students and faculty at JDS are extremely grateful to have a caring and friendly person like Pierce taking care of the school each and every day.

“Lesley is a massive help to us, one of the best security guards we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Middle School Executive Assistant Elizabeth Polit said. “She’s always on point, on task, she knows the protocols in and out and she follows them.”

From her post at the front of the building, Pierce bids students a good morning each day. Photo by Ruby Kotok, LT.

H URS After

Eliana Wolf SportsEditor

As students file out of the building every night from sports practice, musical rehearsals or Lion’s Tale production, the Upper School building prepares for its own nightlife. Every night, the Upper School becomes a hub for activities like sports leagues and the maintenance staff’s preparations for another school day.

Several local sports organizations rent out the Upper School’s space, Volo Sports, Nexx Level Plus Basketball and Koa Sports League being the main after-hours tenants. Some of these organizations conduct sports practices on weekdays after CESJDS finishes their own, while others choose to rent over the weekend.

My team here is great ... They’re well-versed in all the events that go on and what needs to be done.” “

-Director of Facilities Operations Bill Belke

These organizations request the space through an online form that the JDS administration checks to make sure they’re legitimate. Most organizations that rent at JDS have long-term relationships with the school, but when new organizations request space at the Upper School, the administration makes sure that the group leaves the space clean and in the condition it was rented in.

There was one incident where the administration decided not to rent the space out again to an organization that remains unnamed to preserve the reputation of the organization.

Following the school day, the Upper School building is abuzz with evening and weekend activities

“We heard from teachers the next day saying that the classrooms were left a mess, that there were things that were taken off the bulletin boards,” Chief Financial and Operating Officer Elanit Jakabovics said.

“So we reached out to all of the teachers who work in the classrooms that we rented… and asked them what happened, what they saw when they came in the next morning. Then I worked with the organization through the issues, but we decided not to allow them to rent at our school again.”

Jewish organizations like B’nai Israel, Ramah Day Camp and B’nai Brith Youth Organization rent out the campus for youth group meetings, summer programming and B’nai Mitzvot services and parties. The Upper School is a popular choice for Jewish organizations since the facilities are kosher and wellequipped to host Jewish events.

“We make sure that it’s not going to cause any unnecessary issues that could pop up,” Jakabovics said. “The types of organizations that want to rent from us are either Jewish organizations that have connections to people in the community or youth groups or organizations that run sports clinics, and even individuals who want to schedule a B’nai Mitzvah for the weekends.”

After school ends, there is a set schedule for all activities at night, run by the High School Principal and Upper School Campus Head Dr. Lisa Vardi. With a master calendar, the administration is updated on all the activities in the building after school ends. This year, Vardi has implemented new programs such as the “Administrator on Duty” to ensure the

4:30p.m. cleaning crew arrives Admin on Duty concludes their shift security guards leave and building closes 7:30p.m. 10:30p.m.

safety of students after school hours. The program requires a staff member to monitor the building until 7:30 each night.

“Their goal is to support whatever activities are here. If there’s an emergency, they go around, they’ll lock all the classrooms at a certain time… the thought [for the Admin on Duty] is that this person is the backup all the time or they’re the one that talks to the security or if there’s a parent that needs something,” Vardi said.

In addition to all the various programming that happens after hours, there is a maintenance team that prepares for another day of classes every day. Hired via an outside company called PMM, the team works on cleaning the restrooms, sweeping the hallways and emptying the trash each day.

“My team here is great,” Director of Facility Operations Bill Belke said. “They know what to do, they have all been here for at least 15-20 years…They’re wellversed in all the events that go on and what needs to be done.”

JDS has a lot of policies and programs in place to ensure that the Upper School is properly maintained after hours, with a large team that coordinates a lot behind the scenes. With all the scheduling logistics, careful care is needed to ensure everything runs smoothly.

“My favorite thing is figuring out the system and thinking about how can we put these systems in place so that the building runs afresh effectively and efficiently and that students, faculty and staff are safe and secure,” Vardi said.

Sophomore Jesse Fisher practices basketball in the gym, as many students and organizations do after school. Photo by Liem Elgrably, used with permission.

- features -

Alex flum

Sports reporter and anchor at DC News Now Alex Flum has pursued a career in sports journalism since graduating CESJDS and the Lion’s Tale in 2014. After studying journalism at University of Maryland (UMD), Flum was a reporter and anchor for a television station in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In 2020, Flum returned to Maryland at DC News Now, where he reports on DC’s professional sports teams as well as local college and high school teams.

In his time at JDS, Flum was a Lion’s Tale reporter, sports editor and the inaugural digital editor-in-chief. Flum was the digital editor in the early years of the Lion’s Tale website, broadcasting sports games and creating Lion’s Tale videos.

“When I was sports editor, I had an idea that we could broadcast the JDS [vs] Hebrew Academy basketball game because people might want to listen,” Flum said. “I was interested in doing sports broadcasting and commentating, so I pitched it and we sat in the equipment closet in the gym for one of the games and … did an audio broadcast.”

The broadcasting of games continued and evolved for some years even after his graduation. Journalism opportunities like the Lion’s Tale are what inspired Flum to pursue a career in journalism.

“[The Lion’s Tale] was really my first exposure to journalism,” Flum said. “I was learning how to cover many different things, and a lot of the skills I developed then I still use now.”

Now, Flum is a part of the DC News Now show “Game Night,” which covers all things sports across the DMV. The show is a year and a half old and Flum hopes to “keep helping it grow to be the top show in DC for sports coverage.

classroom to news room

Vivi Ducker Features Editor

Lion’s Tale and Dimensions alumni pursuing journalism

Mira Beinart (‘22), former section editor of Dimensions Yearbook and current sophomore at UMD, is double majoring in journalism and public health. Ever since she designed her first mod for a spread about STEM day in her freshman year, she knew that design and journalism were passions that she wanted to pursue after high school. Beinart’s enjoyment of her time as a journalist at JDS led her to add journalism as a double major after initially applying to UMD for a degree in public health only.

Today, Beinart is a writer for The Diamondback, UMD’s independent student newspaper. Beinart notes some noticeable differences between the environment of Dimensions and The Diamondback.

“When I’m in the publications room, I know everyone’s first and last name and everything about them,” Beinart said. “Now that I work with The Diamondback, I have to meet all new people. A lot of them are older than me, and it’s kind of scary.”

Beinart looks back fondly on her time as a Dimensions staff member. While working in a more professional journalism environment comes with its challenges. Beinart feels that JDS publications prepared her well to deal with them.

“I think having that experience, working with other people and being in the publications room definitely helped to set my expectations for what was coming,” Beinart said. “It was definitely a really good stepping stone for what was to come.”

Even in high school, Beinart knew that she loved journalism enough to pursue it in the future.

“Make the most of your experience on publications in high school. It’s much easier and a lot more fun in high school once you get to college,” Beinart said. “All of the skills I learned in my journalism classes from Ms. Nassau have really helped me in my work here.”

First ever Dimensions Yearbook cover - 1978

First ever Lion’s Tale Issue cover - 1984

Tess Mendelson (‘21) graduated George Washington University in May 2024 with a major in journalism and mass communications. In her time on Dimensions, Mendelson progressed from a section editor to Assistant Editor-in-Chief to Editor-in-Chief. Mendelson feels her experience at JDS gave her a great advantage in her study of journalism in college.

“I definitely would not have decided to study journalism in college if it weren’t for the JDS publications program,” Mendelson said. “I think that the JDS publications program is definitely one of the strongest in the state; I would argue it’s strongest in the country. I think that all of the skills that I’ve learned from the yearbook really equipped me to want to pursue studying journalism.”

Though she feels JDS journalism gave her many skills, Mendelson also faced challenges in her journey. Specifically while covering the Israel-Hamas war, she realized that she had never experienced writing about such difficult, personal subjects.

“This is very niche for this year, but I think at JDS … I never really had to cover anything very difficult or close to heart,” Mendelson said. “I don’t think it’s JDS’ fault at all; I just think that a situation like that was never presented to me.”

Mendelson is grateful that the skills she learned in high school helped in her college education and that the knowledge she gained through her study of journalism will likely translate into any career path she may choose to pursue.

“I learned more in the publications room than I did in any classroom at JDS,” Mendelson said. “I wanted to love what I did in college, and I loved what I did when I was in the publications room.”

Tess mendelson

Photo by Mira Beinart,

Photo by Alex Flum, used with permission

Photos by Vivi Ducker

Photo by Kristen Nyugen, used with permission

lyrics by the lions

How the songwriters of JDS express themselves through their music

music teacher gary prince

“ I love exposing young musicians to stuff that they haven’t heard before, to new ways of thinking about music.

“

Where to listen:

Lindsey Shapiro Reporter

At five-years-old, while playing an original song for their family on their small blue guitar decorated with Elmo stickers, sophomore Bee Kotler found their love for music. As they were exposed to different songwriters, their music taste expanded, inspiring them to create their own music.

nearby venues including Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, 9:30 Club and more. His main focus, however, is teaching.

“A lot of younger musicians … are just starting to develop their own taste in music that’s distinct from their parents or even the people around them,” Prince said.

“I’ve always liked music,” Kotler said. “My dad introduced me to a lot of great artists such as Eric Clapton, and my saba introduced me to Billy Joel when I was very young.”

Kotler’s deep love of music made songwriting an appealing hobby. They began formally writing songs after taking a music theory class at the Young Artists of America (YAA) summer camp in 2021 and have continued to write songs ever since.

Kotler enjoys writing in many different styles of music. They are currently writing a pop song and a jazz song, and they have previously written classical music as well as a few songs for musical theater.

Playing many instruments, including the guitar, drums and saxophone, Kotler’s knowledge helps them compose music for different instruments, and in diverse styles.

In their music journey, Kotler’s had a few mentors. One main guide in their songwriting is Upper School instrumental music teacher Gary Prince. Prince is also a songwriter, and enjoys helping his students with their craft.

“I love exposing young musicians to stuff that they haven’t heard before, to new ways of thinking about music,” Prince said.

Prince has been writing and playing music since a very young age. His interest in musical composition was sparked because he wanted to play types of pieces that didn’t yet exist, so he took it into his own hands to discover new genres.

Prince been performing since he was 17 years-old at

Another one of Prince’s students, freshman Ryan Klepper, has also begun to immerse himself in the world of songwriting.

As an avid musician and performer, playing trumpet, piano and singing, Klepper was drawn to creating music. When bored at home while having COVID-19, Klepper began to write songs of his own.

“I usually will sample a song, which means to take a clip or … the chord progres sion and make it different, make it your own,” Klep per said.

Klepper sometimes struggles with the fact that when he writes something, it does not turn out how he imagined it, especially when writing for an instrument he does not play.

Klepper begins writing by deciding the chord progression, then add drums to the song and create a melody. He often will not write lyrics for his songs; however, if he is performing one, he tends to write lyrics the day of.

Even though he has only been writing original songs for a few months, Klepper and his band Absent Minded have released their first song entitled “Ab sent Minded” on multiple streaming platforms.

Klepper finds writing songs with others more effective than writing alone. He said that it is helpful to go through ideas with others in Absent Minded to help make changes to improve the songs they write.

“It’s a process of discovery,” Prince said. “Try something out; dig into it and see what’s there.”

Photo from Gary Prince, used with permission

sophomore bee kotler

Photo by Vivi Ducker, LT

freshman Ryan Klepper

QR code to “Absent Minded”

Photo by Ruby Kotok, LT

- arts and entertainment -

Tips on how to bring the red carpet home

Fashion trend takeover

Ruby Kotok Features Editor

The 2024 red carpet awards season was filled with unique styles, ranging from large, billowy silhouettes to raised shoulder looks. Many celebrities were dressed in luxury branded or custom-made designs, making it difficult to replicate the trends seen on the red carpet. However, the concepts can be re-fashioned to conform to the price range and style of the general public. By dissecting the core ideas of the biggest trends, anyone can bring the red carpet to their closet.

One major trend this year was a sort of regency-era corset style, as seen in Emily Blunt’s Schiaparelli Oscars gown and Lea Michele’s Tony’s dress. These bodices are tightly fitted with vertical boning, slimming the waist. If you’re still a bit confused about what this means, think of the corsets the women in Netflix’s “Bridgerton” wore.

While it is unrealistic to procure gowns as intricate as the ones seen on the carpet, there are two aspects of this corset style that can be recreated by anyone. The first is the general shape, a boned bodice made to slim the waist. Corsets have risen in popularity in recent years, making them readily available. Urban Outfitters offers their Out From Under Modern Love Corset, and Edikted has many corset-style

The napkin top paired with a jacket makes a great outfit for any social event. Top is from Amazon and bottom is from Levi’s.

tops on its website. These options are great for teens and are suitable for nights in DC or concerts. To elevate this look, the second aspect of this style can be included: the Regency-era feel of the corset in regards to design and decoration. A linen or tencel corset could achieve this look, as well as more muted colors. Cult Gaia has their pastel green Dorian Top, while NOT JUST A LABEL sells a more modern spun Polite Society top, called Collar Corset Asymmetrical.

A second trend seen is what I call, for lack of better wording, a ‘napkin’ neckline. These necklines are often coupled with an off-the-shoulder top with a raised and pointed piece coming up from the top of the neckline. This neckline was worn most strikingly by Kim Kardashian in her Balenciaga Oscars after party look. While not the most typical neckline and very stark in the case of Kardashian, this style can be toned down to fit a restaurant scene. Revolve offers a very subtle napkin style in their Xenia Top, with an asymmetrical neckline that embodies the style but on a much smaller scale. Reformation offers a slightly different interpretation of the neckline, with subtly pointed black pieces peeking out from under a white bodice. This top feels a bit more elevated, making it perfect for a fancy night out.

The third trend is much more accessible. This trend is simply an outfit featuring the contrasting tones of black and white. As many men returned to a more classic outfit this year, black and white was a very popular combination. Celebrities like Skylar Astin sported black and white, with the actor wearing a double-breasted suit at the Tony’s. Mychal-Bella Bowman also wore black and white at the Emmys in her Prada gown. While both of these looks were embellished with unique silhouettes or jewelry and metal adornments, the core idea of black and white can easily be imitated.

For a more simple, unisex day outfit, a pair of white linen pants and a black linen or cotton button down does the job. The colors could also be flipped, with black bottoms and a white top. A pair of black or white jeans and a contrasting fitted tee or tank would also be perfect for a casual look. A more feminine twist could include a black mini skirt with a white button down, and, for a more comfortable outfit, a black hoodie or crewneck with a pair of white sweatpants is an amazing lazy day outfit.

As you can see, the red carpet isn’t all that out of reach. Fashion is boundless, and there is room for everyone, not just celebrities. By noticing trends and getting creative with adapting them, Vogue-worthy outfits can turn into your daily wear.

Corsets can come in any shape or form, and can be used for both formal or causal occasions. This corset-style top is from Hollister.

Both the black top and white pants are from Aerie.

Photos by Cati Werbin, LT.

Summer Setlist

Four songs to add to your playlist this season

Eliana Abrams Reporter

“Espresso”

By Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter’s new single immediately caught people’s attention with its lively backtrack and catchy lyrics. The song’s subject is someone’s addictive obsession with Carpenter, hinted at by the caffeineinspired title. Carpenter uses playful lyrics to suggest her effect on the guy and his infatuation with her. The lyrics are accompanied by a satisfying delivery, particularly in the stretching out of certain syllables in the words “relate” and “singer.” With fun vibes and expressive lyrics, “Espresso” captures the carefree essence of summer, making it a necessary addition to any sunny day playlist.

“Hell n Back”

By Bakar ft. Summer Walker

While “Hell N’ Back” was originally released in 2019 by Bakar, the latest version of the song featuring Summer Walker came out in September 2023 and breathed life into the song with delightful harmonies and nuanced verses. Walker’s verse not only compliments Bakar’s, but also adds a more upbeat conclusion to the song. When Bakar asks “Could you tell where my head was at when you found me?” Walker responds in her verse, “I could tell where your head was at when I found you.” The additions in Walker’s verse transform the song from portraying a dysfunctional relationship to a cheerful one.

“Passionfruit”

By Drake

Filled with nostalgia and upbeat rhythm, “Passionfruit” is an oldie but a classic, perfect for any summer day. “Passionfruit” is a song about trust in a longdistance relationship, with Drake singing over a dreamy, tropical beat. Released as part of Drake’s 2017 album “More Life,” this track blends elements of R&B, rap and pop into a single irresistible song. Drake’s smooth vocals, accompanied by a windowsdown chorus, reels listeners in. Whether lounging by the pool with friends, cruising down coastal highways or enjoying a sunset on the beach, “Passionfruit” provides the perfect sound for any paradise setting.

Photos credits: Flickr.com

Sabrinacarpenter.com

Commons.wikkemedia.org

Sonymusic.com

Zachbryan.com

Summerwalker.com

Drakerelated.com

“I Remember Everything”

By Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves

Fitting for a campfire with friends, this song hits melodies of country. Released in 2023 as part of Zach Bryan’s self-titled album, the song follows a man reminiscing about a past relationship. Accompanied by a minimalistic acoustic guitar backtrack, the song is accessible for guitar players of any skill level, making it perfect for a summer night sing-along. The song’s lyrics, “Cold shoulder at closing time you were begging me to stay ‘til the sun rose” sung by both Bryan and Musgraves create a sense of an impending end to their relationship that they both don’t want to let go, mirroring the conclusion of summer camps and other beloved summer activities.

- arts & entertainmentROOTED3

Located at: 4916

Check out some new nearby eateries

Rooted3 has a calm environment and offers a number of make-your-own bowls in addition to prepared ones. Each bowl offered comes with greens, a grain base and homemade fritters. These fritters are made primarily from legumes and are flavorful and filling. In addition to being part of your bowl, they can be ordered as a side with sauce ($6.99).

A personal favorite bowl is the Cowboy ($14.85). This dish, like all others we tried at Rooted3, has the perfect amount of freshness to contrast the fritters and grain base. We ordered this bowl with romaine lettuce as the green, and the crunch and freshness of it

DIG BETHESDA

Located at: 4733 Elm St.

Located on Elm Street, DIG stands out with it’s clean, white walls, a bright sign and a large patio, which, on a nice night, is a pleasant place to enjoy your meal. DIG is on the calmer side and paired with its fast service, is an easy place to go in a rush or for a sit-down dinner.

While everyone is familiar with make-your-own bowl places such as Chipotle, Cava and Bibibop that offer ingredients of different cuisines, DIG offers a fresher, more seasonal option. In addition to making your own bowls, DIG has prepared plates, bowls and salads.

We ordered the Tofu, Greens, & Grains Plate ($11.95), the House Salad

perfectly complemented the heavier elements of the dish, including potatoes, fritters and roasted chickpeas.

Rooted3 is located on Cordell Avenue and has sage green accents with ample eating space both inside and outside.

Another thing that makes Rooted3 special is its inclusivity. We dined in the sage green with eaters who have many allergies, and the staff was very accommodating. Rooted3 is vegan and free of the top nine allergens (excluding coconut), making it extremely easy for people who keep kosher or have other food restrictions to dine there.

($10.80), the Seared Salmon plate ($13.80) and a piece of focaccia bread ($3.30).

The word to best describe our meal is balanced. Each plate came with protein, grains and vegetables. Every item was well-spiced, and the dressing complimented the plates. Overall, DIG is a healthier make-your-own restaurant that leaves you feeling good.

DIG is a more upscale version of the typical fast-casual place that leaves you feeling good, as the food is fresh, light and filling. It is also perfect for practically any situation due to its convenience.

Photos by Mia Forseter, LT.

Photos by Mia Forseter, LT.

CORDELL AVE.

HAMPDEN LN.

BETHESDA AVE.

Bistros

An upscale restaurant that brings an innovative twist to Mediterranean cuisine, Ala is a good addition to the dining options in downtown Bethesda. Its location on Fairmont Avenue near Bethesda Row offers easy street parking and pleasant patio seating.

We ordered the Golden Cauliflower ($22) as an entree. The cauliflower was nicely toasted but was coated in many different flavored sauces, which was a little overwhelming. An especially overwhelming taste was dill.

To accompany the entree, we ordered Eriste ($14), chopped egg noodles mixed with chickpeas and spices. The noodles had a very hearty flavor, which paired well with the other dishes.

We ordered the Baba Ghanoush ($14), which was our

ALA

favorite dish as the mixture of smokiness from the eggplant and sweetness from the peppers and pomegranate was a very pleasant balance. We also ordered the side of Fried Halloumi ($16) whose honey and Mediterranean spice coating paired well with the cheese, bringing out its savory flavor.

Finally, we ordered Shish Kunafa ($16) for dessert. While it was described as having a sweet cheese filling, the only sweet flavor came from the syrup, which was tasty, but paired weirdly with the savory cheese.

For the most part, Ala had an impressive variety of food, with quick service, making the experience even more enjoyable.

AVENTINO

Aventino is a posh Italian restaurant with a chic interior and dining experience. Besides the restaurant’s priciness, the biggest challenge was its limited availability. We scheduled our reservation over a week in advance, and there were still only two time slots left, which were both at less preferred times to eat dinner. However, once we made it into the restaurant, the experience was delightful.

As kosher eaters, the menu was a bit limited, however, they were very accommodating and didn’t fail to provide good service.

We started with the Pizza Rossa ($10), a traditional Roman flatbread. The bread was perfectly toasted and the tomato sauce was sweet. We also ordered the Insalata ($16), which is a snap pea salad. The salad included tangy lemon dressing, a nutty almond crunch

and pecorino cheese. We also tried the Cappelletti ($26), a ricotta stuffed ravioli. The cheese was creamy, encompassed by chewy pasta. The dish was enhanced with a sunchoke sauce. Another entree we ordered was the Orata ($46), a type of seabream fish, which was cooked to perfection.

For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Semifreddo ($14). The rich chocolate ganache and crispy coffee nib were balanced out by an atypical basil mint sauce, the perfect way to cap off our meal.

While the food was top-tier, the portions were less than what may be assumed by the price and we left feeling slightly hungry. Aventino fosters high-end food and is perfect for a special occasion, however may be unrealistic for your average dinner.

Located at: 4948 Fairmont Ave.

Price range: $6-$44

Located at: 4747

Bethesda Ave. Price range: $10-$48

Maiya Blumenthal OpinionEditor

Mia Forseter SportsEditor

Gila Safra Reporter

Photos by Gila Safra, LT.

Photos by Maiya Blumenthal, LT.

- sportssports step up

Jordana Dauber Reporter

As a member of the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy’s girls varsity basketball team stepped up to the free throw line to shoot her foul shot, a CESJDS fan yelled “you suck.” This was not the only display of unsportsmanlike behavior seen during the Berman vs. JDS home game on Jan. 12. JDS and Berman fans also made their voices heard anytime they disagreed with the referee or when an opposing player made an error.

This is the type of fan behavior that Director of Athletics Becky Silberman has been

noticing at games over the last few years and is the reason she created the Student Athlete Leadership Committee. Part of the committee’s goal, is to come up with new policies regarding proper behavior at games and to determine how to enforce them, Silberman said. This will include a sports code of conduct, that the committee will help create and communicate to the community.

“I think it’s important [to implement this committee] now for all the fan behavior stuff,” Silberman said.

The committee will also attempt to find ways to promote school spirit and increase fan attendance at games. Students

New student program targets fan behavior

“The hope is to elevate our athletic program [to the point] where it’s inclusive to everyone.”

- Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Landy

in the program will work in partnership with the Athletics Booster Club to increase excitement around the JDS sports teams and the athletics program. One of Silberman’s hopes for the committee is that it will allow students to be a voice for issues concerning fan behavior rather than the administration speaking on their behalf.

“The hope is that the students take leadership and ownership,” Silberman said. “We will work closely together at the beginning and then I want them to run most of it … Realistically I think it’s easier for [students] to listen to their peers than it is to listen to adults.”

bracket double

theSadaf Zadeh Arts & Entertainment Editor

Todd Lazoff (‘24) backs into place to set up for the first serve of his championship game as the rest of his team takes their positions in hopes of winning the league for the second year in a row.

On Wednesday, May 8, the boys varsity volleyball team played WIS in the championship match after having an undefeat ed regular season record. The Lions won their first set with a final score of 25-19 and kept this streak up, winning the sec ond set with a score of 25-17.

Boys varsity volleyball competes in championship game plus two postseason league tournaments

2-0,” sophomore Micah Goldrich said. “We started to rush and started to get ahead of what we were supposed to do.”

Ultimately, the Lions ended up losing the final set with a score of 15-9, causing the championship title to slip away from them.

While players such as Goldrich and junior captain Joseph Vaisman felt that the referee called the Lions on more net violations than they felt they deserved, they agree that there were some things that the team

Used with permission from Scott Wertlieb

Students interested in joining the committee first needed to submit a written application that Silberman and others reviewed. The next step of the process included in-person interviews with Dean of Experiential Leadership and Service Learning Tori Ball, Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Landy (‘18) and Silberman to hear about specific suggestions for improving JDS athletics.

“I’m impressed by people who notice things and are thinking about a lot of perspectives on how athletics work,” Ball said.

Silberman hopes to have one meeting at the end of this year and pick up again next fall. Joining the committee is a serious time commitment as it includes working with

seasons:

other high schools who also plan to implement the committee, such as McLean School. Members will discuss the similar problems they have faced at their schools and solutions that have and haven’t worked with these high schools.

Landy hopes this committee will not only bring more fans to games but also a better environment that helps athletes perform at their best.

“The hope is to elevate our athletic program [to the point] where it’s inclusive to everyone, and [create] a safe environment that our athletes feel comfort able playing in,” Landy said.

getting momentum in the third set, we started getting nervous and that ultimately led to our downfall.”

While this game did not end in the Lion’s favor, it is not the only op portunity the Lions have for playoffs. Unlike other JDS sports teams, the volleyball team participates in two different leagues. One of the leagues that the team partic ipates in is the PVAC, the one that most of the teams at JDS participate in. The PVAC is the most important to the team ac cording to former head coach Scott Wertleib. This is because many of the well-known schools in the area partici pate in this conference, in cluding the school’s prima ry rival Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, making it special to the players, ac cording to Wertleib.

The other league that the team plays in for the regular season and playoffs is the Independent School Volleyball League (ISVBL), which includes schools far ther away, allowing for schools from Montgom

q&a

with Director of Athletics Becky Silberman

What

“The committee was created in order to enhance fan engagement, improve the athlete experience and create and enact a code of conduct. The members of the committee will determine the rest of the goals at our first meeting.”

“Giving the committee the reigns. Our athletic program needs more student involvement.”

“Meet and discuss our goals. Then create a code of conduct.”

ery County, Howard County, Frederick County and Fairfax County to be involved. Some schools that are a part of the ISVBL are Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Atholton High School and DC Interna-

“It’s a good challenge to play some of the larger schools that have older kids,” Wertleib said. “Because [with one exception] we don’t really have senior kids playing at all.”

According to Wertleib, the ISVBL is also significant to the team because students are able to share their Judaism with more districts, as less Jewish schools are in the area.

The ISBVL is a chance for the team to redeem themselves this season. While they lost the PVAC championship, the team plans to improve in preparation for the ISVBL playoffs, in which they only made it to the semifinals last year. The quarterfinal game will be on May 16.

“I hope the boys continue to grow, improve and learn from their mistakes to improve their game as a team so that they can get beyond the semi-finals this year and make it to the [ISVBL] championship,” Wertleib said.

Photo by Brielle Bassin, Dimensions

Interview done via email

Used with permission from Boaz Dauber

Used with permission from Boaz Dauber

Photo from Freed photography

with permission from Boaz Dauber

In the Club

Student athletes play for both varsity and travel teams

Isaiah Segal-Geetter Reporter

Many students spend much of their time outside of class playing sports and are sad when the season ends. However, students like freshman Dylan Shank, a member of the CESJDS boys varsity basketball team, don’t have to deal with the sadness of saying goodbye to their favorite sport until next year, as they choose to participate in year round club teams outside of school.

same time. Silberman said that his coach won’t allow him because there is increased risk of injury when playing on non-club teams.

Students facing the decision of opting to join a club team often choose to compete at the club level because they have a better chance to be scouted than they would playing JDS sports. These leagues often have college scouts who are at the games for athletes who are considering playing in college.

According to Director of Athletics Becky Silberman around a quarter of students at JDS play club sports. They play on many teams either for fun or to keep their skills intact. It can also give them a chance to be seen by college scouts.

Many students play club sports because their sport isn’t offered at JDS. This is what sophomore Ellie Strisik did when she first started volleyball and what many students, including junior Eliav Binstock, do for hockey.

“I was watching hockey with

DYLAN SHANK’S VARSITY STATS #1

Jersey Number Point Guard

28 points Shank scored during season 11-8 season record for the team

Many club leagues schedule their games at a separate time of year than schools do, allowing students to compete on both teams. For example, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, the league that Shank plays in, plays from spring to fall while the JDS basketball season is played during winter. However, some out of school leagues happen at the same time as JDS sports seasons, such as soccer.

The club soccer season and the varsity soccer season happen at the same time, making it very difficult for players to play on both teams, Silberman said. This is the case for junior Dino Becker, who is not able to play for JDS since he plays club soccer at the

DYLAN SHANK’S

CLUB STATS

8 players on the club team

either my grandfather or my uncle one time and my uncle was really good at hockey and I thought it was really cool sport,” Binstock said. “So I got into it, and I started signing up for stuff and playing.”

Some athletes join club teams because it provides them with more equal competition. On a JDS varsity sports team, the range of abilities can be wide, but athletes can find a club team that more closely fits their skill level.

Other athletes may join a club sport before having the option to play that sport at JDS. This was the case for Strisik, who plays on the JDS varsity volleyball team as well as in an out-of-school league for

#5

Jersey Number Point Guard

14-18 age range of the league’s players

Primary position

2 years playing on the club team

Primary position

1 year playing on the varsity team

the Maryland Exclusive Volleyball Club.

“I started doing the volleyball … club before I did it for school because in my middle school, there was no school volleyball team,” Strisik said. “So I think that what leads to school sports is just a passion for the sport.”

Strisik plays most of the time on her club team. She, like other students who spend more time on club sports, mostly plays at school for fun. Shank, however, treats the JDS team as his main team and uses AAU as practice.

According to Shank, one downside of club teams is that kids can’t always form strong bonds with other players like on their JDS teams. This is due to fewer club practices, making it harder to be as close as they are with their school teammates, who they see daily. Shank said that the community on the JDS basketball team is something that does not compare to his club team.

“[JDS’s basketball team has] such a good atmosphere and everybody on the team gets so close,” Shank said.

Photo by Jordan Levy

Photo by Sarah Adams

You go Girl

Tali Loeffler SportsEditor

As 18.7 million people watched the end of the women’s NCAA championship game, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks emerged victorious against the Iowa Hawkeyes with a score of 87-75. The game, which took place on April 7, set the record for the most viewers of a college basketball game.

Women’s sports have been on the rise over the past few years, with increased fan engagement and participation. Deloitte Insights projects a 300% increase in revenue generated by women’s sports in 2024 from 2021, a predicted $1.28 billion, an all time high for the industry.

History teacher Matt Cohen has been writing for Windsr, a website for WNBA fans.

“The base level is superstars are bringing attention and so especially with the college game, we’re seeing a ton of young players playing really, really well,” Cohen said. “When you have these women who are able to be in the spotlight like them, it’s really great to suddenly see people talking about them more like they do for any person in sports.”

The WNBA has been growing and is projected to expand to 16 teams by 2026. This year’s first draft pick, Caitlin Clark, has sold out professional games across the country. Some cities,

including Washington D.C., have moved games against Clark’s team to larger stadiums to accommodate larger crowds.

According to Director of Athletics Becky Silberman, “superstars” like Clark provide young girls with role models in athletic fields of interest.

“Growing up, I was like, ‘I want to be Michael Jordan,’” Silberman said. “I didn’t have any female athlete models, which subconsciously I think that’s a message that little girls are getting. Then they’re getting the idea ‘this isn’t for me, I can’t do this.’”

Silberman believes the growth of women’s sports is partly due to social media bringing attention to female athletics. She also finds that support from influential male athletes brings popularity to women’s sports.

Cohen believes that the current growth of women’s sports in areas like basketball will have a “ripple effect” on the entire athletic industry.

In addition to basketball, female athletics have grown in sports like volleyball, softball and soccer. Last year, the University of Nebraska’s women’s volleyball team set the record for greatest attendance at a female sporting event at their game against Omaha. Additionally, the 2024 Summer Olympics are predicted to have an equal representation of female and

male athletes, for the first time in the Olympics.

As the only female on the varsity baseball team for three years, junior Shalvah Lazarus has an extra appreciation for female stars’ contributions to women’s sports.

“I think that [the baseball team] has given me perspective [on] how important it is for girls to have role models, like older, talented athletes that are also girls and have coaches that are really supportive of them, and have spaces where they feel like they’re not the only one,” Lazarus said.

Lazarus sees a “dropoff” of female athletics after the collegiate level. She thinks it is important to cultivate areas for women to continue to play sports at an advanced level, so the industry grows.

Salary disparity remains an issue for female athletes, particularly on the professional level. For example, when Clark was signed to the Indiana Fever as the first pick of the WNBA draft, she signed with $338,056 over four years. The first pick of the NBA draft this year, Victor Wembanyana, will make $55.1 million for four years.

“There’s a lot of room to grow in terms of women’s leagues and viewership and investment,” Lazarus said. “We should invest in women, pay women and hire women.”

Tennis player Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in challenge dubbed “Battle of the Sexes”

Gertrude Ederle becomes first woman to swim across the English Channel

1960

1926 1972

Wilma Rudolph wins three gold medals for USA Track and Field at the Olympics

President Nixon signs Title IX, prohibiting sexism on the basis of sports in any education program

Summer blockbusters

A preview of upcoming movies and TV shows

Penelope Terl News Editor

Despicable Me 4

July 3

Deadpool & Wolverine

July 26

Photo Credits (left to right): Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios and Disney Movies.

In this book-to-movie adaptation, Harold is grown and is exploring the real world with his purple crayon, which can bring anything to life.

The fourth movie of the series, “Despicable Me 4”follows Gru with his new troublemaker child, Gru Jr., until his life is interupted by a criminal release.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” shows two heroes teaming up to defeat an enemy. This addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the sequel to the 2016 “Deadpool.”

Inside Out 2

June 14

“Inside Out 2,” a sequel to the 2015 “Inside Out,” follows the originals main character, Riley, as she steps into her teenage years an addition of four new emotions.

Cobra Kai

Season 6

July 18

Season 3, part 2

August 15 Bridgerton

June 13

Photo Credits (left to right): Netflix, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Netflix.

Releasing in three parts with five episodes each, the first five episodes of “Cobra Kai” season six will continue the story of competing dojos in Los Angeles.

The highly anticipated third season of “Bridgerton” further follows the Bridgerton family and their quests to find love.

Presumed Innocent Season 1

June 12

“Presumed Innocent” shows the ensuing chaos after a murder occurs in Chicago’s prosecuting attorneys’ office, with one of their own suspected of the crime.

Emily in Paris

Season 4, part 1

Season four of the 2022 Most-Watched Show “Emily in Paris” continues with the story of American Emily at a marketing firm in Paris.