theOctagon
Sacramento Country Day School
www.scdsoctagon.com
VOL. XXXVIII, NO. 1
September 16, 2014
Black team celebrates epic win
In celebration of Country Day’s 50th anniversary, a past editor-in-chief of The Octagon will be featured in each issue.
Marcia Djudzman, ‘90, was editor-in-chief twice—from 1987-88 and from 1989-90. Q: What was it like being “the boss”? A: One day I go into the Cave to do yet more Octagon stuff, and no one is there. I’m furious. I go storming out to the quad and scream to the heavens, ¨What the hell do I have to do to get people to work?¨ Punchline: later Liz Gronke, ’92, and Anoosh Jorjorian, ’91, gave me a bullwhip for my 18th birthday.
(Photo by Kyra Petersen)
editor-in-chief, The Octagon A: We were all given our own
College Board splits one big physics course into two small ones By Elena Lipman Page Editor Instead of AP Physics B, students the two courses with which the Col lege Board has replaced AP Physics B. Each of the two new courses, AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, runs over two semesters and simulates a col physics course. The courses also cov more depth. Since the classes are each a year long, it will give more time to cov er the material sometimes lost in AP Physics B. “A College Board workshop recom mended that teachers skip a topic of our choosing when teaching AP Phys ics B,” physics teacher Glenn Mangold said. Nonetheless, Mangold was usually College Board. Mangold plans on using the same material he wrote for AP Physics B as a foundation for the new course, sup
According to the College Board’s students develop the critical thinking
The key concepts of AP Physics
principles, theories and processes of physics that cut across traditional con
ical world.” However, Mangold said he will teach the course with the seven ideas in the
See Physics, page 3
Teachers tackle new positions By Sonja Hansen Reporter
A
handful of teachers have taken on new classes or positions. Sue Nellis is teaching Compara tive World History; Ron Bell has taken over AP Art History; Mollie Hawkins has become the yearbook adviser; Joe Tellez teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry; and Tucker Foehl has become assistant head of strategic programming. After history teacher Daniel Neukom and Sue Nellis, former head of high school, partially retired and yearbook adviser Joel Rickert left, many classes were left open. Ron Bell Bell is now teaching AP Art His tory in place of Rickert.
ject,” Bell said.
Foehl’s position was created after it views for head of high school that BrookeWells and Foehl were the top two choices. missed opportunity to not Stephen Repsher said. “It
“(Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America) are two areas that are not studied enough.” —Sue Nellis, teacher
everyone’s cultural education.” Often using examples of art and architecture in In preparation for teaching the class, Bell took a was designed to teach new or returning AP Art His
the historical context of the art. The class studied exams, visited muse ums in the area and discussed opportunity. “I’m looking forward to sharing another piece of my knowledge of cultural histo ry in general,” Bell said. The course curriculum of AP Art History will mostly
community. “I love my new position!” said Foehl, who was previously the academic department head at the Baltimore School of the Arts.
Foehl is currently work ing with Julie Nelson, di rector of communications, on updating the school’s the school.
Sue Nellis Nellis teaches Comparative World History in stead of Neukom, who has dropped Ancient History to teach only AP European History. “History classes don’t open up very often, so when Mr. Neukom retired, I used that as an opportunity to step down as the head of high school,” Nellis said. ing the open class. “I was thrilled,” Repsher said. “She’s a wonderful teacher and I was
“(Art history) should be part of everyone’s cultural education.” —Ron Bell, teacher
said. Tucker Foehl As assistant head for strategic programming, Foehl is in charge of enrollment management, over seeing the school’s curriculum, marketing, and cre ating opportunities for students to engage with the
that we had two outstanding candidates and that we had
Nellis has made changes to the Ancient History class curriculum,
Saharan Africa and Latin America. “I think those are two areas that are not studied enough,” Nellis said. “Particularly in the U.S., where we have many immigrants from tures is enriching.” “Ms. Nellis is a great teacher and I’m sure she’ll do
rosoft Word, and then copy it onto the hard drive. That got old really fast, so at some point I just started writing all my stories on the hard drive. But, yes, all of a sudden, magic. I could write the thing and print it out in 9-point Times New Roman! A: Absolutely. We didn’t need Aardvark Printing any more for typesetting. If I wrote a thing, and printed it out and cut it into strips and held it up against the layout sheets and it was too long, I could trim it down and print a new version in 10 minutes. Glorious! The opposite happens and a story’s too short? Find a pull quote and throw it in there. And, of course, no more Aardvark meant no more ¨It has to be at Aardvark by Thursday!¨ which meant we all could slip deadlines as much as we needed to and all that would happen was a Fels lecture. I procrastinated as much as everyone else.
A: It was quite something when I visited my then 8-year-old daughter’s classroom and saw a poster of proofreading marks and told all the kids, ¨I actually made money using those.¨ What was that like? A: I’d been mildly intimidated by Fels when she recruited me in eighth grade. She carried this vicious-looking pen thingy, which she used to punctuate sentences. —Manson Tung For more of Djudzman’s interview, visit scdsoctagon.com.
See Positions, page 7
2 Feature
The Octagon
September 16, 2014
So you’re too cool for Coke?
Marketing campaign leaves out ‘exotic’ names of teachers, students
ByAishwarya Nadgauda
Baby Name Wizard: The Ballad of Dorcas Miner
Online Editor-in-Chief
A
“Sometimes I wish I had an Arabic name.” —Julia Owaidat, junior
“Apparently, the site’s the name “Grant” to be sexy. I respectfully disagree.”
“I just say ‘My name is Daniel, too,’ and we become best friends.” —Daniel Hernried, sophomore
What’s the story behind your name?
“Every Jennifer that my dad knew was a great person, so they named me Jennifer.” —Jennifer Kerbs, junior
“My dad was thinking Charlie. But my mom was like, ‘We can’t name our child Charlie Brown!’” —Emma Brown, junior
ery’ in Irish. As I grew up, that —Keegan Crain, senior
Grant Miner
September 16, 2014
News
The Octagon
Friends recall librarian’s generosity, humor By Emma Williams
Point of Interest 50th anniversary souvenirs
Editor-in-Chief
Recorded readings by middle-school English teacher Lauren LaMay, autographed portraits of high-school history teacher Daniel Neukom and personalized ceramic tiles are just a few of the commemorative items being sold in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary. Fifteen-minute recordings of LaMay reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” will cost $100. “I suppose I could have done readings on something else, but ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ would be
F
ormer librarian Adeline “Addie” Gold died at the age of 92 on June 12. But she will be remembered at Country Day for her hospitality and humor. History teacher Sue Nellis recalled how an imated Gold, who worked at the school from “I remember her being really willing to do whatever needed to be done,” Nellis said, citing a school ceremony for which Gold dressed in gold to represent one of the school colors at the time. Both Nellis and English teacher Patricia Fels said that Gold was friendly and welcoming. “I went out to her house one time in Da vis,” Nellis said, adding how Gold showed her around the property. “They had the most won derful long backyard with fruit trees and gar Fels also remembers the garden, as Gold would grow cherry tomatoes and give some to her. band, history teacher Daniel Neukom. “She would bring over tomatoes, and Fels would have them for dessert because they were so incredibly sweet.”
3
Addie Gold, former high-school librarian, with close friend Claire King, in 2012. (Photo courtesy of King)
“We pored over the plans together,” King said. “I even made a trip to Country Day to look at the things as they were in progress.”
“(Gold) was very salt of the earth.” —Daniel Neukom, teacher
shower, Gold brought her pres
derful produce, which they generously shared,” King said. King was also a school librarian. “We could talk books and reading for hours,” King said. modeled, King and Gold talked about the plans.
Physics: Revised exam tests students’ understanding, not calculator skills on the exam. His own method will include instruction on mechanics, gravity, oscillations, simple circuits and basic waves. Both AP Physics 1 and 2 will have their own exams.
if they can plug numbers into a formula,” Man gold said. write in complete sentences on a physics exam.” These sentences will be used to justify and Mangold added. However, Maya Kupperman, ‘14, and senior Maxwell Shukuya, both of whom took AP Phys “I thought one year was enough time,” Kup other science classes if I took two years of AP Physics.” a second year of physics. topics,” Shukuya said. “Even though we only got a basic understanding, I think it was important to be exposed to everything really quickly. “For someone who was interested in getting a general overview and not a ton of information about a few topics, being quickly exposed to ev erything was good for me.”
she called King every other week to talk about books, art exhib its and neighborhood friends.
and Neukom were travelling in England, they met Gold and her husband, Eli, who were living there while Eli, a Gold and her husband showed Neukom and Fels their favorite pubs and bookstores. When Neukom and Fels met Gold in a pub, they felt very welcomed. been going there for such a long time,” Neukom said. “It was very warm and friendly.” Gold was also known for her sense of humor, a quality which Fels remembers well.
Before Gold came to Country Day, Tim up book titles and place funny fake cards for them in the card catalog. Gold would occasion “Instead of getting mad, she just thought they were hysterical,” Fels said. ten by Davis, was titled, “How To Keep Secrets From Even Your Best Friend.” The description read, “The author describes his clandestine activities with at least two mem
Times Book Reviewer.” Another is titled “Having Fun with Fingers and Hands” and is said to be written by Fels. “She had a sense of humor,” Fels said. “And I
said. “She was of the best grandmother person ality.”
The beginning and end of the story, as well as some of LaMay’s favorite scenes, were recorded. “I included the verdict scene, of course, where Tom Robinson is found guilty of a crime he did not commit,” LaMay said. “I included the Ladies’ Missionary Tea Party because of its stunning display of hypocrisy, and the voices are so fun to do!” Neukom’s autographed portraits will also be selling for $100. In the portrait, Neukom is holding a swahbti doll. These dolls were used by ancient Egyptians as a way to pay their taxes in the afterlife. “(It’s) like a good-luck charm for the afterlife,” Neukom said. Neukom is also wearing a tuxedo in the portrait because of his yearly AP exam tradition. “Each year when the (AP European History) students take the AP exam, I wear a tuxedo to honor (their) hard work and dedication,” Neukom said. “This We Remember—The First 50 Years” ($250) is a book comprised of the school’s history. Julie Nelson, director of communications, who wrote the majority of the book, got the historical information from old Octagon issues, minutes from Board of Trustees meetings, Parents’ Association letters and yearbooks. But Nelson also needed information about Country Day life. “I asked some long-time teachers to contribute to the book by writing about some part of the school that was special to them or something they knew really well,” Nelson said. Such contributors included parent Jay Johnson (one of the ey Tidey (daughter of previous headmaster Pat Tidey and highschool principal Francie Tidey), Sacramento Breakthrough director Adolfo Mercado, publications advisers Sue Nellis and Patricia Fels, and Neukom. In addition, personalized ceramic tiles ($500) are being sold and labeled in honor of alumni, students and families. They will be placed against the bench outside the Matthews Library or in spots throughout the campus. Two different memorabilia packages ($750 each) will be offered. Package #1 consists of the personalized ceramic tile, LaMay’s reading and “This We Remember.” Package #2 comes with “This We Remember,” a personalized ceramic tile and one of Neukom’s portraits. physical campus improvements, and the Faculty Salary Endowment Fund. —Lily Brown
4 Editorial
The Octagon
September 16, 2014
“Purloining Post-its” by Jake Sands
My Angle By Grant Miner
Going native: On the oral traditions of college tour guides I don’t mind all this “caring about my future” busi ness, not really. I just wish somebody had told me it would be so hard. Maybe then I wouldn’t be getting up at the crack of dawn, visiting every college from Portland to Pough keepsie. colleges in a little over a week in the middle of August. A trip like this demands copious notes, because after several colleges the mind begins to break. The tour
EDITORIAL: We started from the bottom; now we’re...still on the bottom In years past, choosing lockers has been chaotic at best. On Orientation Day, seniors and juniors would make a dash for all the top lockers as soon as the high school was dismissed—some would even snatch the Post-it notes distinguishing an unclaimed locker before the meeting started. This year, instead of all lockers being assigned on Orientation Day, the freshmen and seniors who attended Movie Night (which took place the Thursday before school started and was organized by Student Council) After the movie, members of Student Council took their pick. The procedure on Orientation Day stayed omores second). Not only did this new system decrease the chaos of tion of lockers to pick from and encouraged them to participate in Movie Night. Nonetheless, some seniors who didn’t go to Movie Night were stuck with undesirable bottom lockers in the senior locker area (facing the high-school quad). The popular stance is to blame this on the junior Student Council members who chose senior-area lockers after Movie Night. However, Patricia Jacobsen, dean of student life, who headed locker assignment, said that there are still some unclaimed top lockers in the area.
the Editor-in-Chief Emma Williams
Online Editor-in-Chief Aishwarya Nadgauda
Business Manager Zoë Bowlus
Feature Editor Micaela Bennett-Smith
Opinion Editor Grant Miner
Sports Editor Zoë Bowlus
Copy Editor Amelia Fineberg
Social Media Editor Maxwell Shukuya
Page Editors
Micaela Bennett-Smith Aishwarya Nadgauda Maxwell Shukuya Emma Williams
So, really, the problem is that not all of the seniors were aware of which lockers were already taken. This seems to happen every year—there are always a couple empty top lockers somewhere. The root of the issue lies in the Post-it notes that identify unclaimed lockers. They can easily be taken off by wind or students seeking to keep their options open. So why use Post-its? Why not instead have everyone line up by grade and tell Jacobsen which locker they want? It can even still be done by class—seniors and freshmen on Movie omores on Orientation Day. This process would be much fairer, as one can’t sneak by early to get a Post-it or grab a handful just to be safe. And, if someone ahead in line gets your being fast enough. And those busy seniors who couldn’t make it to Movie Night will still have pretty good choices. There’s really no need to blame Student Council— they’ve made the locker process much more streamlined, even giving the seniors an advantage in the race. And, let’s face it, Student Council members organize the majority of the events that make our year worth getting through. The least they deserve are decent lockers.
Octagon Madison Judd Manson Tung Elena Lipman
Reporters
Adam Dean Zane Jakobs Ulises Barajas Lily Brown Annya Dahmani Katia Dahmani Sonja Hansen
Graphic Artists Anna Wiley Jake Sands
Photographers Adam Ketchum Jake Sands Kevin Huang Elena Lipman
Adviser Patricia Fels
The Octagon is published eight times a year by high-school journalism students of Sacramento Country Day School, 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento, Calif. 95864. Phone: (916) 481-8811, ext. 347. The online Octagon (www.scdsoctagon.com) is updated daily.
Orchids
&
Onions
ures, test ranges and business cards. Another peculiar aspect of a college marathon is that you start to recognize patterns. Like Neo, I too could see the Matrix. What stands out the most is the vocabulary, which is recycled from campus to campus. Take, for example, the phrase “We’re a competitive institution.” Translation: “You haven’t an ice cube’s chance in hell of getting in, but we’ll take the accep tance rate bump.” Instead of smashing our dreams with a hammer, they quietly smother them while we lie unsuspecting in our beds. It’s a kindness, really. Another one, used almost exclusively at rural schools, was “We’re not a suitcase school.” Translation: thing to do on campus.” At times I felt a lot like the kid from “The Shining.” students of Middlebury, “forever, and ever and ever.” While vocabulary is your primary key to understand ing a college tour guide, grammar is also key. You see, put into a statement, the less true it is. For instance, when the guide from New York Uni versity puts about seven “nevers” before stating how she never feels unsafe and that she never worries about walking alone late at night, what she really means is serious crimes to not respond to.” The same rule of “inverse negativity” applies to statements about the weather. Yes, Bowdoin representative, I understand the win ter wasn’t a big adjustment for you even better the sixth time. No, I still don’t believe you, because you’re from California like me. We’re a delicate people. On an unrelated note: never be the only person from a warm state on a tour group for a cold college. The smug looks from all the New Englanders will drive you the nearest snowline, but that doesn’t mean I’ve never
O
rchids to. . . the 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee for planning Decades Dress Week in anticipation of the party. It was a wonderful way to unify the community.
O
nions to. . . the students who played on their phones instead of participating in Ancil Hoffman. The point of the day is to have fun with friends, not check fantasy football stats.
O
rchids to. . . Patricia Jacobsen, dean of student life, for playing music at the end of lunch every day. Music makes lunch more enjoyable despite the heat.
nions to. . . the faulty microwaves in the high-school quad. It’s hard to find an alternative microwave to heat up our lunches when the ones in the quad are broken.
O
September 16, 2014
Opinion
The Octagon
5
Fusion Eats Kimchi and bao, meet chips ’n’ salsa
Q&A With Gary Ng, ’02 Gary Ng, ’02, managed and marketed the ChineseMexican food truck “Don Chow Tacos” in Los Angeles from 2008-10. The truck was featured on the episode “Fast Food Their Way” of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Tako Korean BBQ While many might say that the best part of globalization is an increased cultural understanding among vastly removed peoples, I maintain that it’s the food. Of course, leave it to the human race to get bored with food utopia and go Frankenstein on their ethnic foods, birthing the
of hot sauce. For a less spicy option, try the bulgogi I had mine served over nachos, which basically resulted in my Nachos on the bottom, bulgogi slaw, salsa, sour cream and special sauce on top.
Q: What was your position on the food truck staff? er serviced cars. Why is this a problem? Well, when the grease monkeys moved out of their spa cious garage at Suzy’s, tables moved in to replace them. plain small.
After all, might not something delicious in a burrito be equally good on a bed of fries or nachos?
Wrap N’ Roll Sushi
“(It’s) a dish that reminds you of traditional nachos in form and name only.” —Grant Miner, senior
much of the inside of the old gas sta tion, and the space that’s left allows for only a few tables. However, with two bars and several tables in front of the restau
Q: What was the most popular dish? want them in a house; I didn’t want them with a mouse. asada.
quate, if a little hot during the summer months.
cos, a burrito, a salad bowl, a rice bowl, nachos or fries. You then choose your meat, which ranges from traditional Korean fare like bulgogi
managed marketing and operations for the
Q: What was your favorite part about working in a food truck? For the most part, the restaurant is small and plain, save for the colorful murals of Sactown landmarks that brighten the place up considerably.
a meat substitute with some marinated tofu or go the full vegeta ble route with medleys like the okaksu green onions, red seeds, Sriracha and habañero sauce.
bao that make up the Asian side of the menu and Of course, it wouldn’t be a fusion restau rant if there weren’t dishes like bulgogi sliders
“Survival tactic for these nachos: eat tons of guacamole between bites!” —Katia Dahmani, freshman
I ordered the buldak
buldak is that it’s not terribly spicy. I wished it were a little hotter, considering that buldak literally
strips, guacamole, sesame
With the sauces vanquished, I found that the nachos were also killer.
Q: What was it like being in such close quarters with the same people day after day?
time together.
Like a tempura sushi roll, the burrito had tempura shrimp, imitation crab, cucumbers and the fusion twist of green onions, cut cabbage, guacamole and a covering of red Unfortunately, the burrito was missing the guacamole, which
paragus, pickled onions, guacamole, cream cheese rolls and teriyaki sauce. First bite in and I was hooked. yourself to one burrito and no snacks, un less sharing with friends. burrito, and even with two people we had
Eighth grader Ben Miner, senior Grant Miner and junior Adam Ketchum feast on a bowl of Tako’s marinated beef bulgogi nachos. (Photo by Aishwarya Nadgauda)
Sushi burritos were my green eggs and ham, but now I want them the the rain and now I want them on a train.
Q: Would you ever own your own food truck?
6 Community
KJ
The Octagon
September 16, 2014
Rescinded to resolute: Park turns UC defeat into victory
By Micaela Bennett-Smith
get in, which was heart
Feature Editor
want to go to San Di
W
hen KJ Park, ’11, got the news that her accep tance to UC San Diego had been rescinded, she didn’t punch a hole in her wall or go for
selor Patricia Fels tried to reason with the school but had no suc “There was no nego
“I called the person, and she said that not only could they rescind brother in Seoul when she received the devastating letter
but they could put it she could never apply weren’t going to do that because she did this in
She had the option to appeal and send a letter to plead her “I wasn’t that excited about San Diego anyway,” Park said,
ized I wasn’t going to be
(Photo courtesy of Park)
So, at her aunt’s suggestion, Park chose to study abroad for
“I feel so grateful and so blessed that I didn’t
“Sometimes I feel like I’m a hundred years old.” —KJ Park, ’11
Not only did she take classes, but she also had a long list of extracur
(Photo courtesy of Park)
social and friendly people I know,” Lauren Tay “She is friends with everyone and friends
than a chance to let In high school Park said she felt like her
peal, but she also drove to Berkeley and talked to the transfer
“I had a lot of extra time to think about who I am and what I wanted to do with my life.” —KJ Park, ’11
friends, having fun and learning English, but
“I realized I really wanted to study hard and get into a good school, and I think that’s when
For her part, Park recognizes that at only 21 years old, she’s
September 16, 2014
Remainder
The Octagon
Positions: Students pleased with new Medallion adviser, chemistry teacher “I thought it would be a lot of fun in place of Robin Altman and Mi to work with students on a publi chael Covey. Previously, “So far the class has been well taught, cation,” Hawkins said. “There’s so “The students here are really Tellez was do pretty interesting and straightfor creativity, research ward. Ms. Nellis makes certain that much high quality and really want to ing at UC Davis. we understand what we’re studying hard work and fun learn.” that goes into it.” When his and keeps us engaged in class.” “I’m excit —Joe Tellez, teacher time there ed about Mollie was almost Mollie Hawkins up, he heard Hawkins, the assistant librarian, about the open teaching position “She’s really nice. from math teacher Chris Millsback’s Medallion We’ve got a big wife Stephanie. adviser after Rickert left “There’s so much creativity, group and they biology teacher Kellie Whited about the school hard work and fun that goes seem pretty moti vated.” applying for the position. Later, he last year. She into it.” Hawkins is taught a short chemistry lesson to a said she is not —Mollie Hawkins, Medallion planning to have experienced Tellez is most looking forward to with con adviser workshops with the students. “The students here are really high quality and really want to technology depart of people, but went to a conference in San Diego ment and Walsworth, the yearbook’s learn,” he said. publisher. in April and has been mentored lez,” sophomore Kaeleigh Valverde through the Journalism Education said. “He is a happy medium of strict Association. Joe Tellez Tellez has begun teaching the One of Hawkins’s new responsi chemistry and AP chemistry classes bilities is managing work nights.
7
Thank you to our
sponsors . . . for keeping us in the black The Judd Family The Barajas Family The Williams Family The Bowlus Family The Tung Family The Nadgauda Family Docendo Discimus The Fineberg Family
Y o u r a d c oul d b e he r e ! Fo r m or e d e ta il s , c o n t a c t Z o ë B o w l us a t zb o w l us 16 @s cd s s tud e n t.org.
8 Feature
The Octagon
September 16, 2014
K
Tortilla
BABIES
By Maxwell Shukuya
Alumna makes your kid cute enough to eat
“I thought it would be kind of funny if, when you swaddle your baby, the baby would be in a tortilla.” —Katharine Harlan, ’99
Graphic by Anna Wiley and Aishwarya Nadgauda