Octagon 2021-22 Issue 5 by The Octagon

THE

OCTAGON

U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668 @scdsoctagon

VOL.45 NO.5 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento, CA •www.scdsoctagon.com • February 1, 2022

BY SAMHITA KUMAR & GARMAN XU

ental health has always been a challenge for high school students, with stressors such as interpersonal relationships, social media and academics – all while they are growing up and discovering their identities. Struggles are common; 1 in 6 U.S. youth ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this problem, leading to an increase in adolescent depression, anxiety or even suicidal thoughts. A national poll conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that 46% of parents surveyed noticed a decline in their children’s mental health after the onset of the pandemic. Country Day has mental health education integrated into the lower and middle schools; middle schoolers take classes in Social Emotional Learning, while lower schoolers participate in educational activities as part of their day-to-day school day. However, in the high school, students must seek help on their own from staff such as those in the Academic Resource

BY GARRETT XU To combat the omicron outbreak and keep students on campus, Country Day has made several changes to its COVID-19 protocols. that students and staff now have mandatory weekly testing instead of biweekly testing, with each week alternating between PCR and antigen tests. PCR testing, which detects genetic RNA belonging to SARSCoV-2, has been the method of

the help they need, which may include referral to outside resources. While a Social-Emotional Learning class was previously required for freshmen, it has not been offered since 2019, before the pandemic.

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“I think it was just the perfect storm of bad stuff that I didn’t know how to deal with.” GRACE ZHAO

Student use of mental health resources Country Day sophomore Grace Zhao, who said her mental health has suffered recently, has used both school and outside resources. and then quarantine rolled around,” Zhao said. “I think it was just the perfect storm

SUPPORT page 3 >>

choice for COVID-19 testing due to its accuracy. However, the tests must be sent to a lab and usually take about two to three days to process. To supplement PCR testing, the school has added immediate antigen testing to keep up with omicron’s increased infectiousness. The antigen test, sometimes known as the rapid diagnostic test, detects SARS-CoV-2’s surface proteins through a quick nose swab. According to Harvard cy compared to PCR, but results are local and immediate – within

15 to 45 minutes. The main purpose of these tests is to maintain a low level of cases on campus, and Country Day is willing to do anything in its power to do so, said Head of School Lee Thomsen. Prevention includes avoiding large gatherings and high contact sports. In the past few weeks, Country Day has canceled two high school basketball games for safety reasons. “We have seen an increase in cases which appear to be coming primarily from the omicron variant,” said Bill Petchaeur, a mem-

CAMPUSCORNER VENDING MACHINES

SNAGGED BAGS

The vending machines have returned and offer a variety of fruit snacks, nuts, crackers and bars priced from $1.25 to

Students reported items missing during a Jan. 25 home basketball game. Multiple backpacks, including laptops, were found with their contents scattered in the middle school bathroom. Campus security responded and the belongings were recovered.

Gatorade, water and tea for $2.50. Students may purchase their items without crowding in front of the machines.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MILES MORROW, ARIJIT TRIVEDI & GARMAN XU

ber of the SCDS COVID-19 tracking team and the school’s CFO. From Jan. 1 to Jan. 22, 43 students and staff contracted COVID-19, including 6 staff, 20 lower school, 9 middle school and 8 high school students. The school tracks COVID-19 cases through a series of steps. Students who test positive go days and no symptoms are present for 24 hours, they return to school. If they still test positive, isolation continues. If a student chooses not to test or if symp-

INSIDE the ISSUE Pet-friendly restaurants nearby A senior, along with her dog, reviews best restaurants in Sacramento with pet-friendly menus. (PAGE 11) GRAPHIC BY ARIKTA TRIVEDI

toms are still present after 5 days, isolation will last 10 days. Next, the tracking team determines close contacts by grades and divisions through assigned seating charts. Close contact applies to students and teachers who have had longer than 15 minutes of exposure within 6 feet of an infected individual. Assistant to Head of High School Valerie Velo will do antigen testing on close contacts on site. isolation start and end days and

OMICRON page 2 >>

02 NEWS STAFF

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

Omicron: COVID-19 Cases by Division Jan. 2-25, 2022

(continued from page 1)

PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sanjana Anand Arikta Trivedi

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Ethan Monasa Arijit Trivedi

NEWS EDITOR Nihal Gulati FEATURE EDITOR Arjin Claire

SPORTS EDITOR Miles Morrow A&E/OPINION EDITOR Dylan Margolis

PHOTO EDITORS Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi PAGE EDITORS Sanjana Anand Rod Azghadi Jacob Chand Arjin Claire Simone DeBerry Nihal Gulati Samhita Kumar Dylan Margolis Ethan Monasa Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi Garman Xu BUSINESS STAFF Arjin Claire, manager Samhita Kumar, assistant Willliam Holz

ADVISER Bonnie Stewart

Middle School: 10

Sound studio updates prepare room for use -

BY EMILY COOK

REPORTERS Adam Akins Andrew Burr Emily Cook Ava Eberhart Saheb Gulati William Holz Lauren Lu Ishaan Sekhon Kali Wells Garrett Xu Ryan Xu

GRAPHIC ARTISTS Brynne Barnard-Bahn Lilah Shorey

Employees: 7

DATA FROM SCDS WEBSITE & EMAILS

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY Nihal Gulati

MULTIMEDIA STAFF Dylan Margolis, editor Arjin Claire Simone DeBerry William Holz Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Garman Xu

Lower School: 22

SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF Arikta Trivedi, editor Ava Eberhart Samhita Kumar, assistant Lauren Lu

PHOTOGRAPHERS Adam Akins Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi Kali Wells

High School: 8

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“Ultimately, I see it as a place where computer classes are taking place, but also lots of kids are recording creatively.”

BROOKE WELLS -

The Octagon is the student-run newspaper of Sacramento Country Day high school. The print edition is published eight times a year, and the website is updated daily. The Octagon is committed to unbiased and comprehensive reporting, serving as a source of reliable information for SCDS students and the school community. The Octagon will publish all timely and relevant news deemed appropriate by the editors-in-chief and adviser. We seek to highlight high-school-related events and spotlight the voices of those with a story to share. Further policies can be found on our website or by scanning the QR code below.

RAPPING IT UP Junior Tonye Jack and RJ Vargo record audio for Jack’s project, “New Day, Same Issues.” PHOTO BY ADAM AKINS

NEWS 03

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

Support: (continued from page 1) of bad stuff that I didn’t know how to deal with.” The decline in Zhao’s mental health caused her to miss classes and struggle with coursework during remote learning in the 2020-21 school year. Things only got worse after she was able to return to campus. “There was a point where I was trying to be a sophomore last year, but it just obviously wasn’t cutting it,” she said. As a result, she went on medical leave for the latter half of the year and repeated sophomore year. She said the school provided support throughout the year. “They arranged that on some days, I could just come to school, and if I didn’t have class, I could just sit in the gym,” she said. “Just being in a different environment helped me focus because I couldn’t get work done at home.” Zhao talked to an outside therapist, who told her she could be suffering from adjustment disorder, which, according to Johns Hopkins, is caused by a sudden upheaval or stressful change, resulting in depression, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. For Zhao, upheaval caused by the pandemic was a major factor. Because of this, she also met the school’s Social-Emotional Counselor and Educator Pat Reynolds, who has a master’s degree in educational counseling. Reynolds is not full-time; she works a three-quarters time schedule from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and is also able to meet based on the appointments and needs of students. Zhao also used Country Day’s Academic Resource Center, or ARC, for help with homework. The ARC — staffed by Learning Specialist Taratip Adams — provides academic and social support to students. Zhao said the resources and accommodations made for her by the school were helpful, but ultimately not extremely useful. “I emailed one of the teachers about ADHD resources because that was something I was looking into a while back, and she just sent me a bunch of planner stuff,” she said about help from the ARC. “But it was kind of ironic — it’s like, the whole point is executive dysfunction, right?” However, she acknowledged that some of her issues had to be solved on her own. “I just had to sort of go through that stuff myself, but they tried,” she said.

Academic and emotional support available ARC’s Adams, who works with middle and high school students, said her role is primarily to provide academic support. “Kiddos come to me if they need help organizing materials, creating study tools or need somebody just to vent to about issues that they’re having,” Adams said. “I am a good starting point for that conversation.” When students have problems that cannot be resolved with academic help, Adams will discuss next steps with Reynolds, who can provide assistance. If students explicitly tell her about mental health issues, she will direct them to meetings with Reynolds. Adams, who does not have training as a counselor, compared herself to a friend.

any type of diagnosing, do any type of interventions in the mental health realm,” she said. A typical student meeting with Reynolds involves identifying dents solve individual issues. “My philosophy is that the answers lie within the person,” I visit with someone, it might be either reestablishing or establishing the safety of this space.” If problems are too large for

“

“We’re the band-aid right? But if there’s something really seriously challenging, then we refer that out.” LEE THOMSEN

Reynolds to solve immediately, she will discuss with students and their parents on reaching out to external resources. “Consulting on campus is a shorter to medium-term arrangement,” she said. “Off-campus provides a more private setting where a person can schedule regular, ongoing, longer sessions and have that happen away from the hustle and bustle of campus life.” However, Reynolds will act as a liaison between the student’s therapist and the school if necessary. Head of School Lee Thomsen compared this to triage. “We’re the band-aid, right?” he said. “But if there’s something really seriously challenging, then we refer that out.” For the upcoming school year, Thomsen said the school is considering creating a full-time position for a mental health specialist who will work alongside Reynolds to provide more resources in dealing with stress generated by the pandemic. “We haven’t created the job description yet,” Thomsen said. The school would search for someone with a clinical license in social and education.

Lack of high school resources and awareness Previously, the Social-Emotional Learning course was a 30-minute, weekly class for freshHowever, Head of High School Brooke Wells decided to stop those meetings this year, as many of the current freshmen had already passed through the Country Day middle school program, where mental health is included in the curriculum. Not all students are aware of the school’s mental health services. A Jan. 6 Octagon poll sent to high school students found that 35% of the 40 respondents said they were not aware of resources like the ARC or having meetings with Reynolds. Fourteen respondents expressed a desire for more resources like occasional peer-to-peer discussions or licensed counselors dedicated exclusively to the high school.

Professional advice Dr. Archana Trivedi, a practicing adult psychiatrist and parent of seniors Arijit and Arikta Trivedi, said mandatory meetings with a health care provider would be better to help get students more comfortable with asking for help. Trivedi added that mental health has become even more important after the pandemic. “I know through my adult patients that their kids are struggling,” she said. “Your early teen and late teen years are a very, very important part of your life.” Once teens miss out on important experiences and social interactions due to isolation measures, their mental health can be severely affected, she said. Regardless of the nature of support available to students, both Trivedi and Reynolds recommend that students struggling with mental health — or even just with negative feelings — seek help. “I always say that they should just try it one time,” Trivedi said. A lot of people don’t want to come forward because of stigma, she said, but everything that happens in a medical atmosphere is “If they come just one time to hear about the options, that will be really helpful.” She added that speaking to a counselor or mental health proant, instead of relying on friends for help. “If a 15-year-old is asking a 15-year-old the solution to the bigger problems, of course, your 15-year-old friend is going to suggest whatever in his or her best knowledge,” Trivedi said. “But they do not have the idea of what all is available outside that.” Reynolds said for students looking for a starting point, a good place to begin is with trusted friends or adults. “Start with someone and tell them what you need them to know,” she said. “You can come in and say ‘I want to ask you about a friend,’ and you’re talking about yourself. That’s perfectly okay.”

Off-campus student experiences Junior Liz Cook has mainly relied on off-campus support, but has also spoken with the school. Her mental health issues seriously began in middle school, she said. As she got older, she began to

have more issues with her mental health, developing depression on top of preexisting anxiety. She saw a therapist off-campus every week, but the situation only got worse, until she was considered a danger to herself and put into temporary psychiatric care. She returned home soon after that but has spent more time onand-off in care for the next two years. “Every time I got out, I was doing better and then a couple of months after I had gotten out I would just plummet again,” she said. “I came home and I was like, ‘this sucks.’ I remembered what the real world looks like, and I remembered that I have work to do.” After her most recent stay in a residential facility during August 2021, she entered an intensive outpatient care program for two weeks and subsequently returned to school. Unfortunately, her mental health again took a turn for the worse by late September until she was no longer allowed to stay on campus. Cook met with the ARC about her mental health issues, who found that the school was not equipped to handle her mental health issues. “At school, it’s not like I have someone following me 24/7,” she said. “So they were like, ‘You cannot be here right now.’” Cook left campus and immediately went to a crisis therapy appointment. She went to the emergency room that day, where she had a realization about her twin sister, junior Emily Cook. “I’ve known her since I was like a literal split cell,” she said. “She’s my life. If she ever had an accident and passed away, I would not survive. And then something clicked.” “I was crying because I love my sister so much,” she said. “I was like, ‘Emily, you’re not losing me yet.’” Cook went home that night, her thought process completely changed. “I don’t know why it switched or when it switched,” she said. “I started to see the good in things and not just the good in the moment.” Cook returned to school the next day; the school required clearance from her therapist or psychiatrist before she stepped back onto campus. She said she had teachers who were supportive. “The teachers are amazing,” Cook said. “If you’re struggling,

they try to make it as good as they can.” However, she was critical of the school’s overall resources; she and Zhao would like to see more available for students. “I think it’d be nice to have a fully licensed therapist,” Cook said. Cook also said that seeking help is an important step for those struggling with mental health. “It’s not going to be smooth sailing,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy. But it’s so worth it.” If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call 1-800-273-TALK for support.

Students not resources on campus

35% Students aware of the mental health resources on campus

No - 35% Yes - 65%

When you need mental health on campus?

Yes - 7.5% No - 70% Maybe 22.5%

Data from a Jan. 6 Octagon poll sent to high school. 40 of the 147 students responded.

04 SPORTS

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

Inside the MInds of COUNTRY DAY CAPTAINs Annalucia King

through careful analysis.

BY LAUREN LU

tening to how they interact with their peers

he basketball teams were tied with

the court. I want somebody who goes out

then-7th grader Annalucia King took a deep breath and poised herself to take the game-deciding free throw shot. “It was so scary because this was the last

King still recalls the words Pitts said to her at that championship game in seventh

ing basketball and is now the captain of Country Day’s girls varsity bas-

secret weapon tonight.” “It really meant a lot to me because a lot

remember holding the trophy for the photo and realizing how fun this game is.”

she was not expecting. right now. I can’t believe King said. “Coach also did sual way. She made me lead

captain until two or three games into the season.” Pitts was still unsure of was shared by the team King said. Pitts chooses her captains

Rod Azghadi & Jacob Chand BY MILES MORROW The morning fog is still lingering on Country Day’s campus as juniors Jacob Chand and Rod Azghadi arrive for their morning basketball practice. The Cavaliers’ varsity basketball team duo of Chand and Azghadi lead the team as an athletic force and inspirational leaders on the court. yet. “We need a Kobe Bryant or a Michael Jorcrum said. ing basketball for Country Day since their

since childhood. Chand’s basketball career started in the second grade with the Folsom Youth Basketball Association. He has been on each of Country Day’s basketball teams since the

so I can improve to make him proud. Basketball is the kind of sport where if you put Azghadi started playing basketball simply as a form of exercise in a church league from fourth to sixth grade. He joined Country Day in the eighth grade and started playing basketball the same year; he has played every year since then.

Pirie also ascribed King’s suitability for the position to her skill and interaction with players on the court. “A big part of Annalucia’s leadership is her amazing teamwork. She’s great at passing and taking the lead with getting

Hailey Fesai BY ARJIN CLAIRE

feeling of sprinting up and down the court when I’m focused.”

Senior Hailey Fesai could see her breath frosting in front of her as she concentrated on ignoring the searing pain in her right leg following a mid-race fall. The resulting broken leg forced then-sophomore Fesai to hang up her skis and begin the long recovery process. sai said. “It really affected me both mentally and physically.”

she has watched her neighbors play her entire life. Her father was the primary reason she

turned a bad situation into a positive one. “My injury taught me to be a te-

we had a great play this season. Annalucia

her competitive spirit and aggressive playing. “My favorite part of the game is the

but as a friend.

they can text me.” can serve as the coach’s voice on the court. “Annalucia has all those qualities. She steps out on the court and tries to be a Sophomore center Rachel Pirie would also have picked King to be captain. “She is always smiling and optimistic. She’s the one that everyone looks to for During their freshman and sophomore enced one win on the Varsity Boys’ Baskethas an overall record of 7-6. “We used to have a losing mindset going

changed the team’s perspective. “We’re beating teams that we got blown “That gets the guys excited and eager to both play and improve more.” want to see the improvement of the team as a whole. adi and Chand attend Ancrum’s basketball clinics to improve their skills. “Anc’s labs” are invitational training sessions for basketball players across schools and even former NBA players.

where from one to three hours including a mage. Ancrum has coached Country Day’s basketball team for 20 years and has seen growth and development from Azghadi and Chand since their freshman year. “Every coach wants guys like them on rive early and stay late. They spend time on it shows in every game.” From the views of has areas to improve upon. The team makes “silly mistakes” that can easily be avoided.

said. “He always wanted one of us to play the sport.” basketball court with the phrase “play with

but I love skiing. I’ve been doing it thing I would ever want to give up.” the Country Day Ski & Snowboard team.

said.

Fesai was the obvious choice for a captain. “Hailey’s always been a natural

struggled with turning the ball over. In one

ways offering help. Even at our Zoom

sidering 15 turnovers to be an obscene amount. The team needs to work on some of its ly making their layups and keeping their heads up while dribbling.

said. “Those two work hard and they don’t that.” “More than anything I want to have fun a team now then that will put us in a good position for our future. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for us.”

but she still came and offered some advice.” She started skiing with her family Snowboard team was a no-brainer for a freshman Fesai. forward to passing on her love and knowledge of the sport to her fellow did when she was younger. “I’m excited to have a team this really want the team to have some set training days where we go up to a resort in Tahoe and practice as a team because it would make it a lot Mr. Kreps trying to plan that out.” is for the team to have a good experience skiing and snowboarding and to improve as much as they can. “Ski and snowboard is a lifetime Kreps said. Although it’s her last season racis hoping for a good season. “I’m a bit sad since this is my last ing forward to that.” PHOTO COURTESY OF HAILEY FESAI

FEATURE 05

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

Senior fencer qualifies for summer Junior Olympics TINA HUAng -

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“You don’t have to be crazy athletic to be good, as long as your strategy and mental game is on point.” TINA HUANG

B -

STORY AND GRAPHICS BY JACOB CHAND

CENTER

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Country Day music is sick.

Hoyos said performances will draw mo interest into Country Day’s music pr grams. She was grateful for the administration support in organizing the 2021 Wint Concert and revitalizing the music pr gram this year. “The administration knows how impo ant music is to general education,” Hoy said. Despite the size of the orchestra, Hoy said the group is special. Few public schools offer orchestra pr grams, according to Hoyos, and the on that do are often basic programs that on meet once a week or after school. Count Day, by comparison, meets every other d “It’s wonderful that the kids at Count Day still have the opportunity to have th well-rounded education,” she said. Rio Americano is one such large pub high school that lacks an orchestra. Wh the school does have, though, is a natio ally-regarded jazz band program that a tracted sophomore Anna Wilson, w plays alto saxophone, baritone saxopho

By ETHAN MONASA and ARIJIT TRIVEDI

How COVID-19 Weakened Country Day Music Programs

itting with her assembled, yet unused trombone after a short Zoom band class, sophomore Harper Livesey decided to quit. During the 2020-21 school year, Livesey left the concert band after four years of participation. She had grown tired of the “boring” and unproductive Zoom meetings. Students rarely played their instruments during meetings, which were usually poorly attended. Instead, meetings often ended early, leaving students to practice after class — alone. Concert band no longer had what drew Livesey to the band Her involvement in the high school garage band was also forced to a minimum. “We tried online, and it just wasn’t good,” she said. “We didn’t have a drummer and a bass player. Around November we just stopped and decided this year was not our year.” Livesey wasn’t alone in her decision to leave music. There was a 35.6% drop in student participation in Country Day high school and middle school music programs from the fall of 2019 to the fall of 2020. dents throughout the school year. This year, the band only has 11 members — seven fewer than the start of the previ-

Music Challenges at SCDS Having played violin for Country Day for seven years, Allison Zhang, ’19, had different sentiments about student perception of music at Country Day. Zhang, a junior at Stanford University, was in the Stanford orchestra until the pandemic. She said she was disappointed with some of the attitudes toward music and the arts at Country Day while she attended the school. “There was less school emphasis and excitement over these performing groups,” she said. Zhang remembered a drama performance where then Country Day English teacher Patricia Fels offered extra credit to students who attended. Zhang said the only people in the audience were family members of performers and students in the English class. Zhang said she also noticed a continuous decrease in participation in the orchestra during her time at Country Day. “That was a problem at Country Day. The orchestras kept getting smaller and smaller every year I was there.” Still, Zhang said Country Day did well overall with the resources the school had. While COVID-19 has caused a clear setback for the music program, Ratcliff said teaching music at Country Day has always been challenging. At Country Day, elective classes are more fragile because of a smaller student body. your program,” he said.

ers in a way it isn’t at larger schools. Ratcliff said electives at Country Day all compete for the same students, whereas at bigger schools the choices of a few students doesn’t have a substantial impact on an individual program. Just as Bolman noticed a decrease in student participation in music, Ratcliff observed the same change while at Country Day. He attributed this to a change in elective requirements in middle school. After middle school leadership shifted from Barabra Ore to Sandy Lyon in 2007, Lyon addressed parent criticism of lacking elective choices, Ratcliff said. In the previous system, the art electives — including band, orchestra, drama and art — were one elective choice, while a few other choices were the second elective. This meant all middle school students were required to take an art elective. Today, there are over 20 electives in the middle school. Art electives are mixed in with non-art electives. Ratcliff attributed the decrease in music students, which he began noticing after 2013, to the increase in electives. “Every year, there would be one or two fewer students,” he said. Music is something that takes years of work before it really begins to pay off, Ratcliff said. Students who are only required to take one year of music won’t appreciate music as much. things that may be a little more interesting or may have a little more meaning to you, or maybe you yourself mature in middle school to the point where music has a deeper meaning,” Ratcliff said. “That happens in the arts a lot.”

ous year. This proved to be an issue, as the orchestra currently has no violas, a key instrument. This limits the music they can play, said Orchestra and Choir Director Maria Hoyos, although it allows her to be more creative with the violin section. The choir shrunk from nine high school students to three during remote instruction before rebounding back to nine this year. mances have been canceled, including concerts, festivals and pep rallies. The longtime band director who taught from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2021, Bob in Country Day’s music programs was largely due to COVID-19 safety

canceled events and performances since the school 13, 2020

35.6%

decrease in student participation since the start of the pandemic

78.7%

of 47 polled high school more music performances.

measures that prohibited in-person meetings. “If you started a year with 18 kids in your sarily because of what the teacher has done,” Ratcliff said. place is not happening.” Like Livesey, sophomore Kaitlyn Dias, a clarinet player of the online format. “I really like the band experience of being in a room together, but being on Zoom, we were not actually learning and playing,” Dias said. “The whole point of band is to be together and work together.” Dias also disliked her homework. During their time online, the concert and jazz band assignments were to record individual parts. These parts were then edited together on GarageBand to create songs that mimicked a full band. For many, like Livesey and Dias, these assignments were far from ideal. “You can’t play to a screen and expect it to be the same,” said Ming Zhu, ’21. Zhu was a clarinet player in the 2020-21 high school concert band, as well as a member of the Sacramento Youth Symphony, which rehearsed in person. The SYS met outside with proper personal protective equipment — masks and bell covers — following COVID-19 safety guidelines. Zhu said it was odd to be rehearsing in person in the SYS and to be fully remote in the concert band at the same time, despite the two bands being in the same area. “Just looking at Ratcliff trying his very best — literally everything he could do under the (guidelines) — to get us to play and then still not really being able to do that just breaks my heart,” Zhu said. but necessary choice to keep people safe, said Head of School Lee Thomsen. This meant a fully remote 2020-21 school year for music, outdoor playing in the fall of 2021, and an eventual move indoors with improved masks and bell covers for the band. The

choir was fully remote for one year before resuming in-person singing with masks. Orchestra practiced the entire time with masks. Although musical progress during remote instruction was slow, Head of High School Brooke Wells said the winter concerts for the bands and orchestra and choir in December 2021 were “phenomenal.” As for festivals, most in California have been canceled. However, Hoyos said the middle school and high school orchestra are planning to participate in the Golden Empire Festival. The festival is smaller due to the pandemic, so the group is on a waitlist. Band director Kurt Pearsall said recovering from the dip in student participation the pandemic has caused is challenging because band is a progressive class. It requires the grade, and continue through the years. Following the 202021 online school year, Pearsall had four students move from about a dozen progress each year. Senior Craig Bolman plays alto saxophone and clarinet in concert band and alto saxophone in jazz band. Bolman noticed a gradual decrease in students since he began playing COVID-19, but the pandemic halted that progress. “When we got back in person, it was like starting over,” Bolman said. “That being said, we’re making faster progress.” Another effect of the pandemic is reduced chemistry within the group. During Bolman’s freshman year, 2018-19, he said the band gelled well. Returning after the pandemic, with many people who haven’t played together, Bolman said that “the vibe” had been weakened. “The performances are basically why we play,” Bolman said. “And that’s kind of what holds people accountable for playing. And some people that might be really good players otherwise just aren’t going to practice as much because they don’t feel the need.” It’s a balance between safety and advancing music, he said.

RP O I NT

THE OCTAGON

Rebuilding the Music Program

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and tuba in Rio’s jazz band and small ensemble group. Wilson began playing saxophone in fourth grade, and at Country Day Like Country Day, Rio was fully remote for the 2020-21 school year. Wilson said Rio’s bands lost some students during online learning, but she was impressed with how many people stayed. When they returned to in-person learning in fall of 2021, Wilson said “everyone was less motivated,” although she added the band was largely unaffected by the in-person rehearsal hiatus. side before moving inside and playing with PPE. Wilson said the music community at Rio Americano is much more tight-knit and separate from the rest of the school. However, band performances, especially Wilson’s small ensemble band, attract substantial interest from the larger school community. Country Day’s music program lost a far greater percentage of students than Rio.

But the Country Day band hasn’t always been as small as it is now. gram was tiny,” Ratcliff said. “When we started building the program, we had a lot of help from the administration. And it was also something new. So it grew a lot.” Peter Mancina, ’07, was part of the growing program. Mancina played bass, and by his senior year was involved in the concert band, jazz band, choir and chamber ensemble. “We had a lot of good musicians, even at a small school,” he said. “We had a killer jazz band.” Mancina said the jazz band had about a dozen students, the orchestra was slightly larger, the chamber ensemble had seven students and the choir had about 10. As the program grew, Ratcliff was able to take the bands to more festivals and opportunities. This growth continued until the increase in elective choices. Ratcliff’s best years were 2006 and 2011 through 2013. During some of these peak years, Ratcliff said the middle school band

fall’s seventh and ninth grade classes — Vargo said the school can begin to shape classes. “Musical interest is always a plus,” Vargo said. “Admitted candidates will include students who bring with them a high level of established skill and also novice musicians excited to learn.” Thomsen echoed similar sentiments. 180 is automatically going to boost up (music) programs,” Thomsen said. “That’s really exciting.” Mancina, who built the Mesa Verde High

School music program over the past seven years, has taken advantage of the larger student body. While his groups lost a few students during the pandemic, they have been relatively unaffected. Despite a slight dip in participation and motivation due to distance learning during the 2020-21 school year, Mancina said his groups have been consistently growing since the program was formed. When it comes to building a program, Mancina said the most important attributes are student-teacher relationships and administrative support. “And then you have to have good opportunities to play,” he said. Ratcliff is optimistic the school can rebuild music programs. “It’s not something that can happen overnight,” Ratcliff said. “But the program wasn’t built overnight. You have to go through three or four years worth of students and cultivate those kids to get them involved.” For Pearsall, the rebuilding process is exciting. “We’re coming back,” he said.

Number of students particpating in music, by school year

78 72

Number of Students

ore ro-

32. “I probably would have had one of my stronger years in 2020 if we were allowed to meet,” he said. While student engagement with SCDS music programs has declined, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management Dana Vargo said interest levels from prospective parents has been consistent, with a slight decrease during COVID-19 as parents are more concerned about safety and school operations. As admission into Country Day becomes

Key

HS* Concert Band HS Orchestra HS Chamber

HS Jazz Band HS Choir

*HS = High School; MS = Middle School 295 total students, grades 6-12

16-17

17-18

18-19

19-20

20-21

21-22

Graphics by ETHAN MONASA and ARIJIT TRIVEDI

08 OPINION

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

EDITORIAL: Bring back “Roasts or Toasts”

igh school math teacher Patricia Jacobsen and biology teacher Kellie Whited wear wigs and tutus while screaming an off-key, customized version of “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice, which playfully roasts the new Country Day graduates sitting on the lighted stage in front of hundreds of high schoolers and their loved ones. While this image may be surprising, many high school students have held memories like this close to their hearts as they eagerly await the day they receive their diplomas. Country Day’s advertised small class sizes of under 30 allow for this unique tradition, coined “Roasts or Toasts,” which makes an important event like graduation much more personalized than simply receiving a diploma, as is practiced in public schools with over 500 graduates. This graduation tradition started 51 years ago when Francie Tidey was Head of School. The tradition involved teachers putting on a skit either playfully “roasting” each of the seniors or “toasting” them with an appreciation speech. Students have the decision to opt for one or the other, and they can let the faculty know if mentioned in the skit. The class of 2020 graduated a few months into the pandemic, making the tradition impossible to accomplish due to quarantine. Instead, seniors

“

“Roasts are only something we can have now in high school. We’re lucky to have small class sizes to where this is possible.” MALEK OWAIDAT drove through the parking lot to receive gifts from their teachers which ranged from books to t-shirts. Afterward, the school released a pre-recorded video of individual short speeches. Last year, with COVID-19 policies limiting the time each teacher could spend on stage, teachers performed one big skit at the beginning of the night and one big skit at the end of the night, not directed at any particular student. Each student got a speech and a gift from one teacher. At the end of the night, a pony and a dunk tank were brought out for the graduating seniors. English teacher Jason Hinojosa, who was in charge of planning the ceremony, described this new event as “streamlined.” Hinojosa’s main support for this new type of graduation was making each tribute to every student fair. “In the past, one student would get a song, costumes and a skit, and the next student would just get someone dressed normally making a speech,” he said. “I think we have changed it from roasts to more like kidding with love, so it’s a little gentler now. Although I still gave some students a hard time last year, which I felt

MY ANGLE: Applying undecided My heart was pounding as I hovered over the submission button for my UC college application. Four years of long school days, weeks of stress over tests and hours of writing college essays all led up to this moment. Pressing this button symbolized the start of the rest of my life and the end of my childhood. Seniors worldwide are in the same position as me — nervous for what the future holds. I, however,

“Cheers or Tears” by Brynne Barnard-Bahn good about. It’s personal, but tighter.” Although having skits for each individual graduate rather than speeches would result in a longer graduation, skits would make the program much more interesting so the event time wouldn’t feel as long. Even if some students wouldn’t get

Teachers will usually contact the parents ahead of time to inform them of roasts if they think it may be hurtful, Jacobsen said. However, Head of School Lee Thomsen said he’s been “uncom-

able to enjoy the roasts of their fellow classmates. Seniors would be more than willing to work together with the teachers by providing stories about their classmates to make each skit more equitable. In fact, the Octagon polled the senior class on Jan. 8, and all 29 seniors responded. The result: only two preferred the format of the 2021 graduation over the “Roasts or Toasts” tradition. Senior Malek Owaidat, who has been

started, a family complained about their child being “devastated” by the roasts. Students who don’t want to get roasted always have the option of being “toasted” with kind words. Many students over the years remember their roasts as a fond conclusion of their high school chapter. Why not focus on the immense joy it brings so many decades after? Why remember the rare few? Head of High School Brooke Wells also emphasized the months of preparation that are required to pull off any sort of graduation. “Teachers really want for the seniors to laugh and have a good time at graduation, and we’re willing to commit months on end to ensure that,” he said. Recognizing the constraints of both time and COVID-19, we want to emphasize that the structure of last year’s graduation would still be very well-received. tion. We want to sit and laugh on stage with our friends as our teachers entertain us. We want to be roasted by the teachers who have been nothing but supportive for so long. Ever since we became high school students, and for some, for over a decade, teachers have likely collected teasing material that might be included in the famous roast. Let us have the “Roasts or Toasts” graduation we’ve been looking forward to for so long.

personalized roast would be much more memorable and unique. “Roasts are only something we can have now in high school. We’re lucky to have small class sizes to where this is possible. Once we go to college, it would be much more professional, and any opportunities of this ever happening are gone.” While the individual speech style of last year’s graduation is a viable option and would be greatly appreciated, the seniors would prefer the “Roasts or Toasts” skits. Seeing your favorite teachers put in the effort to dress up and tease or imitate you makes graduation much more personal, creating the perfect ending to our time at Country Day. In fact, a parent of a student from the class of 2004 still, after 18 years, distinctly remembers former Head of High School Sue Nellis’ roast for her son and considers it the highlight of his high school career.

joined the school six years ago, mainly

On a Jan. 8 Octagon poll answered by all 29 seniors, 93% said they preferred the idea of the “Roasts or Toasts” graduation format, which began in 1971. They said they would prefer the traditional graduation over the concept of the 2021 graduation format.

applied as an undecided major to all of my colleges, a stereotypically risky decision, yet I’m not worried. When mentioning this decision I was often met with concern, family members telling me, “that’s the worst thing you could do,” but I never listened to them. Instead I heard the other half, the ones who expressed their own regrets exclaiming “I wish I had done that!” Without a clear path in front of me, I spent the application process worried about my future. So, the pressure of choosing a major just around me, I saw my friends apply place. At one point I considered choosing some random majors that sounded interesting. That way it would at least seem like I had a plan, right? Yet after an honest discussion with myself I realized the cons outweighed the pros. Guessing about future ventures would only lead to confusion and falsehoods, making choosing a major incredibly unnecessary. what I want to do. After all, isn’t that a big part of the college experience? A large percentage of schools don’t even enforce declaring a major until at least the end of your sophomore year of college, so what’s the rush? College should be a place to engage in new experiences: meeting new people, learning new skills, being away from home, and most want to do with your life, making high school speculations reasonably pointless. My only suggestion to those who is to try not to worry, even if you are the only person you know applying undecided. Just because all your friends are applying with a decided major doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path. Don’t let your decision about your major add to the existing pressures, weighing you down in an already stressful and challenging situation. Make the best of what you have and enjoy what you can. And even if you think you know what profession you’re interested in, you can always switch majors. What happens happens. It is what it is. C’est la vie.

MILES MORROW

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR KEEPING US IN THE BLACK! Anand family, Chand Family, Claire Family, Eberhart Family, Gulati Famliy, Intel Foundation, Kumar Family, Monasa Family, Trivedi Family

OPINION 09

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

EDITORIAL: Why the M&M man should return ood morning, Country demic shifted SCDS online in 2020, the traDay,” college counselor dition died a quiet death. Jane Bauman announcWhile an argument can be made for es in the high school the possible detriments of the M&M man quad. “Today, we have two acceptanc- — as seen in an editorial published in the es to Willamette University!” Nov. 12, 2019 issue of The Octagon — the She calls out the first student’s name, positive and celebratory nature far outthen the second, pausing in between weighs them. for the loud cheers to die down. Both 90% of seniors and 89% of all students students push through the morning polled on Jan. 8 and Jan. 20, meeting crowd to get a handful respectively, agree: Counof candy from the M&M man try Day should bring the candy dispenser in BauM&M man back. man’s arms. First and foremost, Two years ago, before the M&M man is an acthe COVID-19 pandemof all 29 seniors ic, announcing college want the M&M acceptances was a staman tradition to ple of morning meetings— be reinstated. and had been long before Bauman became a college counselor at SCDS in 2013. As part of the tradition, seniors got to choose which decisions to announce, if any, and were congratulated raucously for their 4-year efforts to get into college. Underclassmen, too, benefited; they experienced the highs of the college application process through the seniors and were introduced to potential colleges for their own applications. For the most part, the M&M man was well liked: in a 2019 Octagon poll, 66% of seniors supported the tradition. However, in that year, there was also pushback by a few ’20 seniors and then-counselor Chris Kuipers. As Head of School Lee Thomsen put it, announcing acceptances can have “unintended consequences of negativity, celebrating one student while possibly hurting anoth-

does quite the opposite. Every acceptance announced at morning meeting gets more or less the same cheering and accolades from the student body, regardless of the college or student. In fact, the M&M man is a far more equitable announcement than word-ofmouth: few undergraduates presently know anything about decisions the seniors have received, and if they do, it’s only a few prestigious ones. Almost half of the senior class has already been admitted to a college, but without the M&M man, any acceptances from any school below the top 20 are massively de-emphasized, simply because no underclassman knows about them. Keeping the underclassman in the loop, rather than completely naive to college admissions, will increase their own pre-

“G

90%

er in the crowd.” It was also an unusual practice that few other private schools like Country Day participated in, according to Bauman. So, once the COVID-19 pan-

knowledgement and celebration of seniors’ achievements. For seniors, getting accepted into college is the pinnacle of their high school experience; significant amounts of work have been put into college applications — especially at a college preparatory school like Country Day. This effort deserves to be recognized. Removing this recognition does not alter the emotions that occur from college rejections; learning to deal with failure and disappointment is an immutable part of life. It’s unreasonable, and impossible, to completely shield students from some possible negative consequences of a celebration.

Other SCDS achievements such as National Merit, Cum Laude paredness and the HS Awards are pubfor starting the licly announced. Do they not difficult process carry the same risk for stuwhen it’s their turn. dents unselected? The final piece of In any case, the M&M evidence in favor of man is more than just a conthe tradition is Country gratulation to a senior. It binds Day itself. Country Day’s unique community Our community is strong. together. The seniors are quite literWhat opponents fear the ally bringing the high school along for M&M man will bring out — envy, the ride of their acceptances and the disappointment, bragging, ego — emotional highs of those acceptances. might become evident in a regular That’s not an act of division, but school, but SCDS is no reguof unity. Announcing colleges lar school. At Country Day, after National Decision Day, a student in the crowd is ages after everything’s more likely to applaud their over, just doesn’t have the friends than envy them. same effect as hearing As Head of High School of 46 high school decisions throughout the Brooke Wells often says respondents year. during morning meetings, want the M&M Underclassmen receive we have something speman back. a lot of information from cial here. We are compasthe practice. They get to sionate and intimate enough hear about many new colto honor each other selflessly leges, and begin to associate cerand capable of sharing our highs tain students with certain schools, which without bringing others low. gives them an idea of where they might Clearly, students want it back. Believe apply, or where they might get in. This is in our community’s strength, and restore invaluable to normalizing the opaque the M&M man to its rightful place. process of college admissions. Rather than emphasizing prestigious GRAPHICS BY LILAH SHOREY, ARIJIT colleges to these students, the M&M man TRIVEDI AND NIHAL GULATI

89%

CT -BL CK

Across

Down

1. Great admiration!

2. A popular daily online word puzzle.

4. Classic expression indicating exasperation.

3. Beauty and the beholder.

9. A medieval town leader, a chief magistrate.

5. Mathematical term or “Despicable Me” villain.

10. Totally tubular.

6. The day before.

12. A paper sheet used in hand-drawn animation.

7. Scream.

13. To portion out.

8. Borders Iran and Kuwait.

15. “Cheese” in Spanish.

11. First three letters of the most abundant metal on Earth’s crust.

16. The action Yoda swears against.

14. Full track list, abbreviated.

10 13

12 14

15 16

Across: 1. Awe 4. Oy vey 9. Reeve 10. Rad

12. 13. 15. 16.

Cel Allot Queso Try

Down: 2. Wordle 3. Eye 5. Vector 6. Eve

Answers

7. Yell 8. Iraq 11. Alu (Aluminum) 14. OST

10 A&E

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

SILVER SCREEN VALENTINES

romantic getaway, a lonely February night or a family get-together all fall short of perfection without the viewing of a rom-com classic. So, if you require direction this Valentine’s Day, try this flowchart to create the night of your dreams.

Are you angry that you’re alone this Valentine’s Day? Do you want to drown these feelings of inadequacy and defeat in hatred and other people’s failures? If so, “The Kissing Booth” is the movie for you! Join Elle Evans and Lee Flynn in the classic high school story, where friendships are tested, and the appeal of the All-American bad boy who is averse to wearing a shirt is brought back to the forefront of America’s mind. Hate-watching this movie is a part of American teen culture; each twist lacks surprise, every cliché shows up and the whole movie is disgustingly saccharine and plastic. This is a perfect piece of junk food media — it is bad for you and makes you weaker over the long term — but it sure does taste good.

Musical Magic Do you remember who saved jazz? That’s right, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in their instant classic, “La La Land.” This lovingly constructed and beautifully scored musical tells the story of two Los Angeles performers fighting to make it into the limelight. This film takes a deepdive into a complex romantic relationship and the compromises you have to make for fame. This movie is perfect to watch with a romantic partner on the most romantic night of the year. Despite the bittersweet ending, “La La Land” is effective in inspiring the complete spectrum of emotions.

Family Friendly

Sappy and Sweet For a sappy experience best shared with a romantic partner, I recommend Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” an engaging but still incredibly romantic comedy starring Owen Wilson. Wilson plays a writer plagued by Golden Age thinking enamored with the lost generation. Wilson falls back in time each night he spends on a Paris trip with his fiancé’s family. Wilson also finds love in the new world he travels every night. “Midnight in Paris” is sappy and romantic, and Wilson’s character plays out the cliché of a romantic, while his betrothed is the antithesis of his character. The pure nostalgia and enamoration showcased by Wilson are comforting and result in a film that is worth being shared if you are in an especially sentimental mood.

Dear Dylan is an advice column that responds to questions from anonymous Country Day students. To submit, write your question on a piece of paper and drop it in the newspaper-wrapped box in Room 9. Please do not include your name. Responses are not guaranteed. My friend and I need help. There is someone who is very clingy and does not give us space. We’ve tried to distance ourselves, but they are not taking the hint. How do we tell them that we need a break?

Alone and Spiteful!

If you find yourself stuck at home, cornered and forced to “enjoy” some family time, I recommend “Fifty First Dates.” This Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore classic has Sandler slowly falling in love with Barrymore, who suffered a traumatic brain injury that has made her incapable of recalling her past. Sandler falls in love with Barrymore every day, creating a funny and heartfelt experience. Family-friendly and easily digestible, “Fifty First Dates” will at the very least provide an escape from discussing your lackluster finals.

DEAR DYLAN...

Romantic Revel “Juno” offers an off-the-beaten-path interpretation of the romantic comedy formula. Starring Elliot Page and Michael Cera, “Juno” follows the story of Page’s titular character. Juno is a funny, witty and undeniably cool high schooler who has to navigate through an accidental pregnancy at the hand of Paulie Bleeker, portrayed by Michael Cera. Page drives the film brilliantly. Juno’s voice and internal monolog guide the movie through lilting scenes across Minnesota, expertly highlighting themes of growth while depicting a youthful and poorly understood love between Bleeker and Juno. The film is aided by a powerful score, featuring many songs from Kimya Barris and “Moldy Peaches” that undeniably match the film’s vibe and add a greater dimensionality to scenes across the film. This movie is perfect for couples, friends and almost everything in between. Page, Cera and the supporting cast artfully depict a brutally honest image of the challenges of maintaining healthy relationships while still creating a humorous and engaging viewing experience.

BY ADAM AKINS GRAPHICS BY ARJIN CLAIRE & SAMHITA KUMAR

A: Social awareness falls on a spectrum, and some people require a more direct approach. In this case, it’s crucial to sit this person down and tell it like it is. A neutral environment is ideal, somewhere to prevent eavesdropping. Maybe a walk around the backfield? Like a test, you must be prepared. What are your reasons for distancing the friendship? If they’re too clingy, maybe a candid conversation about boundaries would be best. Whatever it is, articulate it clearly. Don’t tear them down, just express calmly how their actions affect you. Express how much consideration has gone into this conversation. It’s important they know that this is not a rushed decision. Lastly, approach with kindness. This person may lose multiple friends from this endeavor, and the last thing you want is for them to feel like they also just gained multiple enemies. Be supportive. Be understanding. But, be firm. Don’t be persuaded by sadness; backtracking will only lead to more issues in the future. Although you may currently be certain that the friendship is over, listen to their response and be open to the possibility that both parties are at fault. Determining what boundaries to set depends on the situation, but, through honesty, a reasonable limit can be set. My final word of advice? Do it on a Friday. Let them take the weekend to work through their feelings and prepare for the week ahead; no need to leave them confused or upset in the middle of the school week. All of my classmates think that I get 100s on everything, so whenever I don’t, I feel like I have failed them in some way. perfections without feeling like I am letting everyone down? A: In any friend group, there are roles placed on all of its members, but these generalized characteristics are just that, generalizations. Though it may seem you merely serve as extra intellectual merit in your friend group, you are much more than that — embrace those other attributes. Your friends see more than just a successful academic — they see a unique and complex individual. Even though they may assume your performance is “perfect,” I can assure you that they do not mean ill. Often, these comments function as compliments, and although you may not see them as such, you must understand that they are not meant to hinder you. However, if you find them weighing too heavily on you, kindly ask your classmates to stop. Don’t get me wrong, getting a good grade is never a bad thing, but sometimes missing those few extra problems can be a more impactful lesson. Those additional red slashes can teach you to deal with failure: a necessary life skill. Though it’s incredibly cliché, remember that no one is perfect; holding yourself to an impossible standard ends in long-term demoralization. Challenge yourself with realistic and attainable goals, and don’t sweatthe little stuff; give it a few days, and those test grades will have disappeared like tears in the rain.

A&E 11

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

pet-friendly restaurants near me Story by Arikta Trivedi and Dylan Margolis; Graphics by Trivedi and Sanjana Anand

In-N-Out Hopping on the trend of dog-friendly menu items, In-NOut introduced its $1 “Pup Patty.” The treat is simply a hamburger patty without any of the seasonings, such as salt, garlic or onion that could be toxic for your pet. Along with being a great source of protein, the allure of the beef is irresistible to our canine companions. After

he begging eyes of your dog implore you to share as you bite into your juicy burger. “Just one bite!” those eyes scream. Yet, you have no choice but to ignore those hopeful eyes to avoid feeding your dog harmful foods. Unless you are at a pet-friendly restaurant. In an attempt to attract more customers, many fast-food restaurants have

Starbucks The menu item that started it all, the Puppuccino, barely meets the basic standard of a dog treat even at its price tag of $0. But, the aesthetic presentation provides the perfect Instagram picture, which has led to the popularization of the item and subsequently other dog-friendly menu items. While the dessert may be picture perfect, it is just another cup

whined for another patty. While an unsalted patty may be a simple request at nearly purchase the patty again.

treat. Although the dessert garnered innovation at its release, withamong its competitors.

Shake Shack

Dairy Queen

As I enter the Dairy Queen, I expect their usual theatrics to occur. — the most nutritious and delectable of all dog-friendly menu items. tard topped with peanut butter and a dog treat.

small size of my dog — it was reduced to crumbles within minutes as sounds of my dog begging for more once again echoed through my house.

promised in the advertised soft-serve. Rather than receiving a fresh vanilla soft-serve topped with a dog biscuit, I got an uninteresting frothy surprise — a cup of whipped cream. I felt scammed. out the taste test. Without the allure of a dog bone and its

12 ENDPOINT

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • THE OCTAGON

GOODWILL HUNTING: THRIFTING AT SCDS

or over a century, consumers have roamed the racks of thrift stores in search of discounted goods, but, in recent years, stores have experienced a surge in adolescent consumers. At Country Day, this trending method of consumption manifests itself primarily in students’ wardrobes. Senior Masai Dumisani began thrifting independently about six years ago, before it became mainstream among teens, and, although she was never belittled, she recalls the stigma that surrounded it. “In middle school, everybody was like, ‘Oh, you get secondhand clothes?’ in a way that really meant, ‘that’s kinda weird.’ And now, everybody says, ‘let’s go thrifting!’” While Dumisani’s words were lighthearted — poking fun at old classmates — they still ring true; thrifting is now an accepted pastime among teens across the country. According to ThredUp, one of the largest online thrift stores, the secondhand market experienced a 16 % increase among Gen Z consumers from 2016 through 2020. Veteran thrifter sophomore Mia Crowder began thrifting as a bonding activity with her mom over seven years

ago. As their hobby makes its way into 2022, she cannot help but notice the effects the popularization left on prices. “Certain stores like Goodwill seem to up their prices because of higher demand,” she said, raising her

sweater that cost $5 in 2010 now sells for $5 to $15. Although some increase is to be exof that increase. Sophomore

Sylvia

closet with thrifted, timeless

1.025 gigatonnes of greenhouse gasses and is projected to produce 1.588 gigatons

A JAN. 6 OCTAGON HIGH SCHOOL POLL DREW 40 RESPONSES. OF THOSE:

57.5% THRIFT

a pair of high-top Converse. “And for people who need to thrift because it is more cost-effective, I foresee that being a problem.” Crowder’s observations are accurate. A comparison of Goodwill’s 2010 and 2020 Valuation Guides indicates that prices did increase. For example, a

ECOTHRIFT Never before have sliding glass doors been so reminiscent of the pearly gates. Approximately the size of a department store, the EcoThrift on Florin Road is essentially new wardrobe for you and your dog is feaThat’s right. EcoThrift offers collars, leashes and dog treats, too. So, there is just about everything the heart may desire at prices that won’t break the bank. Still, the store is not for the faint of heart. With an average trip lasting anywhere rate keeps the checkout line stocked with snacks. In fact, thrifters are as likely to see someone faint from dehydration in EcoThrift as at a sporting event. But, with blood, sweat and tears going into digging through rack after rack of uncurated clothing, that is just about what any shopper would expect. When it comes down to it, a successful trip to EcoThrift requires patience, grit and most of all, an eye for style.

basics, fears the increasing prices. “I heard about people getting clothes at the thrift store and then upping the prices and selling them on another website,” she said. Ethically, Valverde disagrees with that practice. She argues that thrifting should be an activity shared by everyone, and

FREESTYLE Teenagers swarm the aisles as fast, unsustainable, fashion brands stock the shelves. Branding itself as a “Buy-Sell-Trade Contemporary and Vintage Clothing” store, Freestyle is by constantly changing trends. Upon my visit in early January, I was appalled tops from SHEIN, a Chinese fast-fashion retailer, both priced at $11 each, likely more than the initial owner paid. It is evident that like many buy-sell-trade shops, Freestyle prioritizes trendiness over quality, doing for FashionNova and Forever 21. As far as I am concerned, its tops section

STORY AND GRAPHICS BY SIMONE DEBERRY

is more reminiscent of a fast-fashion retailer than a thrift store. That aside, it is quite possibly one of the best locations in Sacramento to buy discounted Levi’s jeans. New Levi’s jeans cost anywhere from $70 to $100, but at Freestyle, they typically range from $15 to $25. Although they are hardly cheap for a thrift store, considering the quantity and quality, the jeans are arguably worth the splurge. For new thrifters, Freestyle functions as a stepping stone between traditional retail and old-fashioned thrifting. Consider it a spot to hone your craft, so that you may emerge ready to take on the big leagues.

by purposefully increasing prices, some will be unable to continue to purchase thrift-shop items. Still, Valverde and Crowder see this new trend as a generally good method of consumption. Freshman Harper Abeyta, too, is happy to see thrifting becoming more socially accepted among teens. “It’s sustainable,” she said. “So, if everyone is deciding to do it, it should be a good way to combat fast fashion.”

data from the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Textile Exchange. However, thrifting decreases the demand for new clothes, resulting in a reduction in carbon emissions. Thrifting encompasses more than just clothes. In fact, senior Jesus Aispuro spends the majority of his time in the electronics section. “The coolest thing I have probably gotten was a Walkman,” he said, “but a while back, I also saw a PlayStation in a Goodwill.” Aispuro encourages hesitant shoppers to try their hand at thrifting, for as freshman Cecilia DeBerry said, “it’s a sustainable way to partake in retail therapy.”

GOODWILL A perfect introduction for beginners, the Goodwill Industries at 2502 Watt Ave. is the epitome of good old-fashioned thrifting. Upon walking through those automatic sliding doors, shoppers are greeted by the slightly stale scent of secondhand clothing. It’s a sensation that never gets old, like that of an old book, and one that new thrifters quickly learn to love and cherish. Prices, despite having risen in recent years, remain, for the most part, reasonable. The jacket selection, located at the front of the store, is arguably one of the best in Sacramento, with brands like Columbia for a mere $10. Lastly, the household items are a particularly pleasant surprise. With its impressive collection of golf clubs, books, mugs and curling irons, it has just about everything your heart might desire in functioning condition. My primary word of advice? Check every rack, even the unexpected; you