Octagon 2017-18 Issue 7

THE

O CTAGON

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668

VOL. 41 NO. 7 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento • June 6, 2018

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News • June 6, 2018

The Octagon

Student Council gets two vice presidents; Octagon loses print, online division Procida and Lonergan agreed that Student Council already has a solid list of events throughout the year. tudent Council, the Octagon and Medallion However, there are some minor changes to have chosen their new leaders for 2018-19. events that they want to make, including imThe Glass Knife literary magazine posiproving the location and DJ-ing of dances. tions will be announced in the fall.

“We have heard some complaints about the dances, so we want to make sure that more peoStudent Council ple are active and have fun,” Lincoln said.

Lincoln said that Student Council wants to Junior Monique Lonergan will be taking ofemphasize class bonding next year too. fice next year as student-body president. Her Lonergan said she also wants to get more stuvice presidents will be juniors Blake Lincoln dents involved in activities. and Luca Procida.

“One of the plans I put Adviser Patricia Jacobsen on my application was to and current student-body implement a fun activity president Nina Dym chose We have heard on the last Friday of every these three. month of the school year,” some complaints “Each has a lot of experiLonergan said. ence with student leadership about the dances, so we want “I also want to create on campus,” Jacobsen said. to make sure that more peo- more school spirit for all our Lonergan has been on ple are active and have fun.” sports.”

Student Council for the past —Blake Lincoln two years, and Lincoln has The Octagon been on Student Council for two years.

Like the yearbook, the “Monique has done a really great job of orOctagon will change its organization next ganizing things and planning events,” Jacobsen year. said.

There will no longer be strictly print and Jacobsen added that Lonergan shows a lot of online editors-in-chief. Instead, each ediinitiative and commitment, which is why Dym tor-in-chief will be responsible for editing their chose her. own section across both the print and online “I chose (Procida and Lincoln) to be vice editions. presidents because they have great leadership Juniors Jack Christian and Allison Zhang skills, but they are also very different from each will manage sports and news; junior Chardonother,” Jacobsen said. nay Needler will manage feature; junior Mohini “Blake is very detail oriented, and that goes Rye will manage opinion; and junior Mehdi Lareally well with Luca’s tendency to be very combe will manage the audio-visual elements big-picture oriented,” Jacobsen said. and social media.

“For example, if we are planning a dance, All five editors will hold the title of ediLuca will do a very good job of getting the artor-in-chief. rangements made to get the photo booth set “You need to up.

“But in terms of remembering things like extension cords, tape and decorations, that’s more for Blake’s personality.”

BY KESHAV ANAND

S

GAME OF TELEPHONE Incumbent Student Council vice president junior Blake Lincoln writes down phone numbers for next year’s Student Council group chat. Student Council members met on May 28 during lunch in current adviser Patricia Jacobsen’s classroom to discuss plans. PHOTO BY SHIMIN ZHANG

have a marriage between print and online,” Rye said.

Rye said she learned this from one of the judges at the National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco in April.

“The most important reason to have a group of editors-in-chief is for cohesion,” adviser Patricia Fels said.

“The two publications should be seen as one rather than as the greater print and the lesser online.”

Fels said the editors were chosen because

OCTAGON EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Juniors Chardonnay Needler, Allison Zhang, Jack Christian, Mohini Rye and Mehdi Lacombe

‘Hermit’ leaves shell to be StuCo adviser

BY MING ZHU Valerie Velo, assistant to the head of high school, will become Student Council adviser next year, replacing dean of student life Patricia Jacobsen, who has held the job for 10 years.

Velo said she is both very nervous and excited to become the new adviser. “( Jacobsen) has left a great impression as the adviser,” Velo said. “I’m not sure if I can meet up to the expectations of the students. “(However), I’m really excited to interact with students next year. I don’t get to do that a lot since I’m like a hermit in my

have

they “a di-

verse

group of talents,” are “excellent writers” and “show initiative even if they are sick.”

“Some even email a to-do list of what needs to be done in class that day when they are gone,” Fels said.

As the editor-in-chief for audio and visual, Lacombe wants to work more with the photographers.

Lacombe wants to make sure that everyone knows what pictures need to be taken and when so that pictures with better quality can be taken ahead of time.

All five editors and Fels agreed that the online and print newspapers can be improved.

“In the online edition, we are going to try to incorporate additional media with stories that previously ran in the print edition,” Lacombe said.

“This was one of the recommendations of the judges at the convention.”

Christian added that the editors are also going to work throughout the summer to update the designs of both the print and online editions.

The editors will also work with the younger page editors to become more proficient in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, according to Christian.

But new staff and organization aren’t the only change the Octagon will see next year; a new adviser has been hired to replace Fels following her retirement.

Fels, who has been the adviser all but one year since 1977, said the staff will experience a “big

POSITIONS page 6 >>

office most days.” trying to keep up with everything, I don’t think I can remain as According to Velo, Jacobsen has been preparing her for happy as I want to be,” she said. her future role by discussing what events must happen As the adviser, Jacobsen guided Student Council memduring the school year and which tasks need to be perbers in making decisions and preparing for events, such formed for each. as the Ancil Hoffman picnic, back-to-school movie Jacobsen said she has been playing more roles for night, Spirit Week and dances. the school than she can handle and barely has time “(I will miss) spending time with (members of the to spend with her own family.

Student Council) who want to make the school In addition to being the Student Council year really fun,” Jacobsen said. “It provides adviser and the dean of student life, Jacobsen a nice break from my classroom role.” also teaches Algebra II, Algebra II Honors Junior Monique Lonergan, who will and Pre-Calculus classes. be the student body president, said she “I had wanted to stop advising Student is excited for another “fun” year of StuCouncil for several years,” Jacobsen said. dent Council.

“But I haven’t since I like doing it so much.”

“I’m looking forward to planning new Jacobsen added that she loves events,” Lonergan said. “With a new planning student events but is now adviser, we just need to (learn to) Valerie Velo, assistant to the head exhausted. work as a team.” of high school “With teaching all the classes and

The Octagon

June 6, 2018 • News

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Juniors use proposal essays to push for change

BY KATIA DAHMANI

F

or over 10 years juniors in English teacher Patricia Fels’s AP Language and Composition class have written lengthy, researched essays in which they suggest a change in their community, using argumentative rhetoric and purposeful examples to support their claims.

But this year three juniors have taken the project one step further.

Jack Christian, Gabi Alvarado and Mehdi Lacombe have brought their papers to school administrators to try to effect the changes they presented in their essays.

Christian wrote his essay on press freedom for the Octagon, Lacombe wrote his on implementing an open campus policy, and Alvarado wrote hers on adding an ethnic studies course to the high school curriculum.

Alvarado proposed creating an ethnic studies course that would replace the sophomore World Cultures course.

Prior to having been assigned the essay, Alvarado, president of Chicanx Latinx Student Union (CLSU), had already met with history teacher Sue Nellis and CLSU members junior Yanele Ledesma and senior Esme Bruce-Romo to discuss adding the course. Nellis suggested writing a proposal, Alvarado said.

The next day Fels assigned the essay to her juniors.

Alvarado said that having the course is essential for students from minority backgrounds in order for them to learn about their heritage.

“The school advertises a top-notch education, so we should be learning about other cultures,” she said. “And (adding the course) is a way for other students to learn to be more tolerant (of others).”

Likewise, history department chair Chris Kuipers acknowledged the added inclusivity that would come with an ethnic studies course.

“It benefits all students to have an understanding of the past that includes as many different perspectives and stories as possible,” Kuipers said.

“Fundamentally history is not a singular story of what happened in the past; rather, it is a collection of the shared experiences of humankind.”

But Alvarado said she hasn’t received support from everyone for the change.

“Some (history) teachers have said they think their current curriculum is fine,” she said. “And some students said they didn’t think they should

PERSONAL STORIES Junior Gabi Alvarado, writer of the proposal essay to add an ethnic studies course to the school curriculum, shares her experience of not feeling represented

by Country Day history course material during the May 25 meeting. “It’s one thing not to be represented, and it’s another to be misrepresented,” Alvarado said. “It’s no one person’s fault, but that’s what’s happening at Country Day and it has to change.” PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

have to learn (about other cultures).” resents our community.”

Sixty-seven percent of students respondAdditionally, Bruce-Romo experienced some backlash after she sent a Google form to high ed that they felt Country Day’s history classes didn’t cover enough material on ethnic minorischool students on May 3. ties, according to Bruce-Romo.

“I’ve heard that there have And almost half said been a few students who rehistory classes didn’t reprefused to fill out the form beIt benefits all sent their personal ethnicicause they were totally against ty. Most students who did the idea of an ethnic studstudents to have feel represented in history ies course,” she said. “They an understanding of the classes identified as white wouldn’t even open the form.” or Caucasian, although Seventy-one students re- past that includes as many there were some exceptions, sponded to the poll, Bruce-Ro- different perspectives and she said. mo said. All responses were stories as possible.”

She said many students anonymous to ensure students —Chris Kuipers also shared their experienccould speak freely. es of feeling underrepre“Over the years, some stusented in history classes in dents have felt misrepresented or underrepresented by the history curriculum,” the final, optional question asking for additional the Google form description read. “Instead of thoughts or comments.

Alvarado added the poll’s results into her having two years worth of a Eurocentric history course freshman and sophomore year, (CLSU) newly revised essay that she gave to Kuipers, hopes to introduce a course that better rep- Nellis, head of high school Brooke Wells, as-

sistant head of school Tucker Foehl, head of school Lee Thomsen, English department chair Jason Hinojosa, Spanish teacher Patricia Portillo, third grade teacher Kristi Mathisen and AP Art History teacher Liz Leavy.

Then on May 25 representatives from CLSU, the Chinese Club and the LGBTQ+ Club met with Kuipers, Nellis, Wells, Foehl, Portillo, Mathisen and Leavy to discuss adding the course.

During the meeting the students “presented a very clear case for their experiences in classes and how they wished they could have been different,” Wells said.

In fact, Alvarado, who identifies with the Latinx community, said talking about her experiences made her “kinda” break down.

“I started noticing a lot more this year that my classes weren’t teaching me my own history,” she said. “They were also teaching a skewed version of history that painted many people, in-

PROPOSALS page 6 >>

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News • June 6, 2018

The Octagon

Elissa Thomas says ‘Goodbye, Sacramento,’ ‘Hola, South America’ is just so much fun,” she said.

Furthermore, moving back to South America will allow Thomas to ext year, math and compractice her Spanish more often. The puter science teacher Elissa cost of living is also less, she said.

Thomas will trade Sacra“There are just so many things I mento for tropical South can get from spending more time in America. that part of the world,” Thomas said.

Thomas has taught AP Computer Still, she said she will miss the Science A and geometry for the past friendliness of the school community. two years, and the brand new AP “It’s probably one of the warmest, Computer Science Principles for one. most welcoming places I’ve Before coming to Country Day, ever had the chance to she taught computer science at work at,” Thomas said. a K-12 school in Barranquilla, “I don’t think I’ll Colombia. find that anywhere I Now she said she would like go.” to return to South America.

One of her favorite Though she isn’t sure where memories, she said, she will be, the cities that was going on the interest her the most freshman trip to are Quito, Ecuador, San Francisco Lima, Peru, and for the first Bogotá, Colomtime this bia.

Elissa Thomas, math and computer year. science teacher And though “It was teaching rereally cool mains a job option, Thomas said she is interested in to see all the connections that people a career in tech or IT (Internet Tech- made and how well everyone worked together and got along as a team,” nology) too.

Thomas said that the atmosphere Thomas said.

She said she also enjoyed the in South America is one of the bigcollaborative group projects in her gest reasons for her departure.

“There’s just a certain energy - the classes, such as videos on sorting alculture down in that part of the world gorithms in AP Computer Science

BY HÉLOÏSE SCHEP

N

FIESTA, FIESTA Teacher Elissa Thomas (left) flaunts her dress with a co-worker at the Poillera Carnaval, a celebration of women’s influence and participation in carnaval traditions in Barranquilla, Columbia, in 2015. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF THOMAS

A and design and drawing projects in her geometry classes.

“It just blows me away how creative people are at this school,” Thomas said.

Faculty members and students said they will miss her too. “(Thomas) has been a great roommate here in the tech office,” said director of technology Tom Wroten, who shared an office with Thomas in the Makerspace.

“I looked forward to seeing her each day and having conversations about random things.”

Freshman Sydney Turner, who had Thomas for Geometry Honors, said she will remember how helpful and accommodating Thomas was.

“Whenever I needed help or was struggling, she always helped me, and (she) gave me time to make things up when I missed so much school because of swimming,” she said.

“She would always be open if you wanted to talk to her.”

Turner said she also enjoyed Thomas’s relaxed teaching method and homework policy.

“The homework was due at the end

of every chapter, so if I was busy one night, I could skip that night and turn it in after,” she said.

Before moving away, Thomas said she will travel to some beaches in Southern California with her relatives.

Next year, the AP computer science classes will be taught by new teacher Fred Jaravata (who filled in for Wroten while Wroten was on paternity leave), Geometry Honors by math teacher Patricia Jacobsen and Geometry by chemistry teacher Victoria Conner.

Pre-K teachers will take time to recoup from energetic classroom Fackenthall said she loves teaching the “The teachers here are just so full of talent ning have been side by side in the classroom, youngest kids as everything is always so new and knowledge and good spirit,” Fackenthall inseparable, except for one year when Manning for them. added. taught physical education.

After a combined 59 years at Country Day, “Each student brings their own curiosity “So I am definitely going to miss that camaLike Fackenthall, Manning said she will miss pre-K teachers Barbara Fackenthall and Donna and wonder to class each day, and that’s the raderie.” the camaraderie.

Manning will say goodbye to their very last class magic for me,” she said.

Fackenthall said that one of her most “I’ve loved working with the kids, and I’ve on June 5.

And the hardest part about teaching memorable moments is the annual loved working with the parents,” she said.

Fackenthall started at the school in 1979, alpre-K is definitely “crowd control,” acPitchy Patchy parade.

“It’s that closeness with the families that I though she did not begin as a teacher. cording to Fackenthall.

“After being inspired by the story have enjoyed the most.”

“I came as the all-school receptionist,” FackBut despite sometimes struggling of the character (Pitchy Patchy - origManning said she has also enjoyed learning enthall said. “I had been teaching pre-K, but I to control rambunctious children, inally a Jamaican “Jankunu” festival how children think and feel. just needed a break.”

Fackenthall said she has loved figure), I started the parade with pa“When kids start to break down and cry, it’s After eight years as a receptionist, Fackenproviding support for the famper-bag vests and paper strips,” she really just learning to listen to them and unthall was approached by new headmaster Doug ilies. said. derstand what they’re trying to tell you that is Crone to restart the pre-K program, as the half“I love being able “But it has grown into an important,” she said. day pre-K program was closed in 1979. to help parents just exploration of culture and Over the years, Manning said she has loved “When I came back from parenting leave in relax and go with it,” cultural events, and I hope simply dancing with kids and teaching them Barbara Fackenthall, pre-K teacher 1987 (Heidi Tash-Ngo, ’00, was born in 1982), she said. that the spirit of Pitchy P.E. there was a new headmaster who wanted to re“So even when Patchy will live on.”

She added that she will miss all the quirky open the pre-K,” Fackenthall said. things aren’t looking that rosy, I love being able In her retirement, Fackenthall plans to take and funny moments that happen in the class“He asked me to teach, and I said yes.” to inspire the parents and to just let them know, time to decompress from the fast-paced world room.

And Fackenthall has been teaching pre-K in the big picture, it’s all going to work out well.” of pre-kindergarten.

“The kids are really, really funny,” she said. ever since, inspiring and shaping the minds of She said she’ll also miss her fellow faculty “I really want to reflect on my life and focus “Working with Barbara and being able to hundreds of 4- and 5-year-olds over the past 31 members. on self-care in the first couple of months of my share those funny moments with her has just years. retirement,” Fackenthall said. been amazing.”

“I don’t really have any major plans. I just However, for Manning, teaching pre-K has want to relax, give back and spend time with not always been easy. people that have been really good to me “It is physically exhausting,” Manning over the years. said.

“But maybe in six months to a “You are on your feet 24/7, and year, I’ll create that ‘retirement you have very few breaks because bucket list’ that everyone has.” the kids need to be supervised all One lunch date between Fackthe time by three teachers.” enthall and Manning, who had In her retirement, Manbeen teaching public elementary ning said she will spend several school for 10 years, was all it took months working out and getting to bring Manning to Country stronger, focusing on self-care, Day. like Fackenthall.

“When I had my “I broke my kneecap child, I became interat this time last year, and Donna Manning, pre-K teacher ested in younger kids, I haven’t really had the and I had a (distant time to take care of it and family) connection do my rehab like I should with Barbara,” Manning said. have,” Manning said.

“We met for lunch one day, and she said she Manning said she also plans on spending was looking for a pre-K teacher to work with time with Fackenthall in her retirement. her!”

“Even though we spend every day together, WHO LET THE KIDS OUT? Pre-K students raise their hands to tell teacher Donna Manning their favorite parts For the past 19 years, Fackenthall and Man- we rarely have time to just chat!” Manning said. of their field trip to the farmers market and the Central Library. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

BY JACK CHRISTIAN

The Octagon

June 6, 2018 • News

5

Middle school head reflects on 18 years of laughter, trips

Visit www.scdsoctagon.com for Q&As with more retiring teachers.

BY SAHEJ CLAIRE Head of middle school Sandy Lyon is retiring after 18 years at Country Day, 11 as head of middle school and roughly 14 as a seventh grade history teacher. Two of her children graduated from the school: Kelsey, ’04, and Grant, ’02.

FAMILY TIME Freshman Amy Nelson, parent volunteer Julie Nelson, freshman Beth Nelson and president of the Board of Trustees Jamie Nelson work the 1994 Rummage Sale. Julie chaired a committee of volunteers who organized the Classics Rummage Sale, raising $120,000 for scholarships over 10 years. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF JULIE NELSON

Communications director, school parent, grandparent says farewell after two decades

BY ANNA FRANKEL

“W

hether it was a school day or vacation break, Julie gave voice to all aspects of school life,” former director of development Wendy Ross said about communications director Julie Nelson.

Now, after 22 years at Country Day, Nelson is retiring.

“I started as a parent in 1986 when my husband and I moved from Brooklyn, (New York) to California,” Nelson said.

“My (twins Beth and Amy, both ’98) came to kindergarten. Then, 10 years later, (the school) hired me.”

Nelson said that she was originally hired part-time to manage the database in the development office.

After a year, the communications director job opened up, and she has held it ever since.

She hated the database job, Nelson said, but she enjoys what she does now, which includes managing the school’s communications and email systems. She also creates flyers and programs for all-school events, is the school’s historian and archivist and maintains a photo-

graphic record of school events.

One aspect of the job that she particularly loves is that every day is unique.

“I like the difference between when the kids are here and when they are not here and when it’s summer and when it’s not,” she said.

“There is this cyclical fun part (about it). Sometimes you’re by yourself and there is nothing going on, and sometimes there are hundreds of things going on.

“Some days I am taking pictures for the first grade spring tea, and another day I am making an advertisement for Sactown Magazine.

“I would hate it if every Monday or every Friday was the same.”

Nelson said that helping to organize and facilitate events has been a highlight of her career.

“I was trying to clean out my files the other day, and I came across a file called the Artists’ Picnic,” she said.

“I remember doing all of the flyers and the publicity for it. There was a woman that worked here that was the musical director, Wendy Frampton Holly, and she pulled together this day of music, art and a picnic.

COUNTRY DAY FOREVER Former director of communications Melanie Slootweg, who left in 1996, and current director of communications Julie Nelson stand in Geeting Hall. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF NELSON

“It was family-oriented and very greatest contributions has been her well attended for about five years, work on the annual auction, saying similar to the fall family picnic, ex- that she “has been the brains and cept it had something more than a energy behind the success of the bounce house. It had art and mu- auction all these years.” sic.”

Furthermore, Ross said Nelson’s Nelson said that another great personality made her a great colaspect of her job has been that her league. family is part of it.

“It was a joy to come to work ev“(My daughters) went to school ery day and be greeted by her sunny here and were Lifers,” Nelson said. disposition and good cheer,” Ross In fact, Nelson’s daughter Amy said.

Wells now works “Not to with her mother in mention the She was the the front office and confidence is married to head of development office of all jobs high school Brooke impeccably dream of the dedicated, Wells. done.” “(And) my hus- hard-working, smart and According band ( Jamie, now talented volunteer.” to Ross, Nelthe high school tenproject —Wendy Ross son’s nis coach) was presthat will ident of the (Board continue of Trustees) in the to have the ’90s,” Nelson said. greatest impact is the history she “So for a time, all four of us researched, compiled and wrote. would be on campus at any one She said that this legacy will time.” serve as a gift to “past, present and She said she also enjoyed being a future Country Day generations.” parent here.

“This stand-alone commemora“I chaired the auction twice, tive volume (“Sacramento Country (and) I was president of the Parents’ Day School, 50 This We RememAssociation (PA),” Nelson said. ber, 1964-2014”) will be a rich re“I had a wonderful time volun- source to our ongoing growth and teering, doing all the fundraisers, history,” Ross said. all the parties, but not working full And Ross said that Nelson’s role time.” at the school will be hard to replace.

According to Ross, who retired “She will be missed by every corin 2015 after 27 years at SCDS, ner of the school community - she Nelson has been an essential part was a lifesaver for us all!” Ross said. of the school’s community.

“I always said (that) when she “The headmaster who hired me retired, she would be leaving a cav(Doug Crone) told me how much ernous hole that could only be filled I was going to like the SCDS com- by three to five additional people!” munity,” Ross said.

Even though Nelson has loved “Two of the first people I met in working here, she said that she is the summer of ’88 were Julie and looking forward to retirement. (her) husband Jamie - I immedi“Everyone says I should have a ately knew the headmaster was cer- retirement plan,” Nelson said. tainly right!

“I don’t. I just want to sleep in, “At the time, Julie was a leader wear shorts every day and walk the in the parent body where she was dog. the PA president. She became my “I have worked almost my whole lifeline as I sorted my way through life. I worked at a bakery when I this new community.” was 15, and I have worked since And Ross said that Nelson’s ded- then. It will be very nice not to ication has been vital to the school’s (have to) answer an email on a Saturday.” success.

However, Nelson said that she “She was the development office will remain connected to the school. dream of the dedicated, hard-work“I have three grandkids here ing, smart and talented volunteer,” (Parker Himes, kindergarten, SoRoss said.

“No task was too great or menial phia Wells, second grade, and Spencer Wells, pre-K) and one - she could do it all!”

Ross added that one of Nelson’s more coming,” she said.

Q: What are you going to miss?

A: I think you always miss people more than you miss a building or a place - so the people that I work with.

I love to laugh, and I can remember times when kids would get me laughing in class and I couldn’t stop! I like to do fun things in the classroom.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories?

A: Last year I told my seventh grade class they’d get an A if they rooted for (the University of California, Los Angeles). I don’t know if they went home and cheered for UCLA, (though)!

(I also remember) the trips to Europe that I took a lot of students on over the years - we went to many different places: Italy, France, Switzerland, Greece, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria (to name a few).

And trips to D.C. One year we hit a storm on the way home, and it was super scary. A few girls screamed when the plane dipped. We couldn’t land in Houston to switch planes, so they sent us back to New Orleans, where we refueled and then headed back to Houston.

By the time we got there we’d missed our connecting flight, so at 3 a.m. they bussed us to a hotel. We slept about two hours and went back to the airport. Although it was a long night, we stayed together and had an adventure.

You know, spending quality time with the kids. I’ll miss those things.

I will (also) miss the strong team I had with Barbara Johnson (who died last year). I love my new assistant but also miss Barbara. She helped me in so many ways (with) anticipating the next event to arise and knew everything about the school. She could laugh with me in many situations and helped me edit things at times. I relied on her strength and knowledge a lot.

Sandy Lyon, head of middle school Q: What are your plans after retirement?

A: You know, a lot of people ask me that. In fact, everybody asks me that. I don’t have specific plans right now. I’ll continue to work in some form because I think that’s important for human beings, to keep their minds active and have a sense of purpose in their lives.

I’m also a big reader, so the time to read is appealing.

Q: Are you going to continue to be involved at Country Day? A: We have book club in the middle school that includes people that are no longer in the school, so I’ll stay active in that - see people still and come back.

I still will have (junior) Yelin (Mao) living with me next year. He graduates in a year. So I’ll be around.

6

News •June 6, 2018

The Octagon

Proposals: Newspaper editor presents agreement addressing censorship (continued from page 3)

cluding Latinx people, in a bad light.

“It really hurts.”

Foehl, who said he went to show administrative support for the students, said discussing the representation of minorities is an important conversation.

“We’re making sure we have windows to understand different people and cultures and mirrors that reflect our own identities,” Foehl said.

However, no definite decision came from this first meeting.

“We want to make sure that the class would be in the right place,” Wells said.

“What form this class takes is still up in the air.”

Although Wells said the school probably wouldn’t offer the course until at least 2019-20, the school has already taken steps to add more perspectives to the English curricula.

“In the short run the English and history departments have significantly changed by adding more voices into the curriculum, so that will continue,” Wells said.

Hinojosa’s senior AP Literature and Composition course focuses on presenting the stories of marginalized cultures.

And next year Foehl, who will be teaching sophomore English, said he will focus on the theme of migration

to the West and to California. “(Students) will read ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ ‘Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992’ and ‘Enrique’s Journey,’ which are just some books that fit into the wide subject of ethnic studies,” Foehl said.

Lacombe’s essay proposed reinstating the open campus policy Country Day had almost 25 years ago. Lacombe’s proposal included stipulations that the campus would be open only during the periods before and after lunch and for only upperclassmen with a signed waiver on file.

While writing his essay, Lacombe interviewed Wells, who told him that the proposal sounded “very interesting” and that Wells would like to see how it could work.

So Lacombe emailed Wells the essay when it was done on May 2.

Wells replied with an email saying he would read the essay carefully and “talk to some folks,” according to Lacombe.

“Later Mr. Wells approached me in the quad and told me that his main concern would be people crossing Munroe (Street) since traffic is heavy there, and we don’t have a traffic guard,” Lacombe said.

Wells said he hasn’t implemented his test run of Lacombe’s open campus policy since he is still reading through the proposal and talking to administrators.

MEETING TIME Third grade teacher Kristi Mathisen and AP Art History teacher Liz Leavy discuss junior Gabi Alvarado’s proposal to add an ethnic studies class to the high school curriculum on May 25. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

But the school has responded to Christian’s essay on freedom of the press for students, inspired by several instances of the Octagon’s censorship over the last two years.

In his essay Christian proposed “establishing clear guidelines for both the Octagon and the administration to operate under” so that most censorship conflicts could be avoided.

Because Country Day is a private school, clear-cut protections for student expression and publications don’t exist, as the Supreme Court student press decisions apply to only public schools. However, the Leonard Law (passed in 1992 and amended in 2006) does protect non-religious, private school students in California from being disciplined for exercising freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment.

Christian’s proposal suggested written policies for the type of material that could be censored and the formation of an independent board (comprised of a faculty member, a staff member, a Board of Trustees member, a student, a parent, a teacher, a former Octagon editor and an administrator) to create the written policies, if no agreement could be made between the administration and the Octagon.

This board would create “a reasonable set of rules and guidelines for both the Octagon and the administration to follow” and be on standby in case a conflict arose between the administration and the Octagon, according to Christian’s essay.

Next year’s Octagon editors-in-chief (juniors Mohini Rye, Allison Zhang and Chardonnay

Needler, Christian and Lacombe) met with Wells, Thomsen and next year’s Octagon adviser, middle school English teacher Emily Eustace, on May 21 to discuss Christian’s proposal.

Thomsen declined comment about the meeting because he said it was a “first conversation.”

The editors-in-chief were advised to make changes to Christian’s proposal, according to Christian.

Now that students and administrators are aware of what each is looking for, the group will meet again to discuss the updated proposal, according to Christian.

“I came out of the meeting feeling very positive,” Christian said. “We had a nice, open discussion about censorship, problems in the past and ways we could both improve.”

Positions: New Medallion leadership to focus on improving organization (continued from page 2) change” next year when sixth grade teacher Emily Eustace takes over.

Medallion Juniors Yanele Ledesma, Michaela Chen and Kyra LaFitte will share the role of editor-in-chief.

They were chosen by current editors-in-chief, seniors Smita Sikaria and Nina Dym, according to adviser Tom Wroten.

Sikaria said that the editors-in-chief were chosen based on whether they showed initiative, prioritized yearbook over other extracurriculars and had potential for leadership. “(Ledesma, Chen and LaFitte al-

ways) completed their work on time with the best quality possible, were respectful and were the people that reached out the most,” Dym said.

Sikaria agreed.

“They always took on more than what was assigned to them,” Sikaria said.

Dym said that Ledesma, who has been working with her for two years, will manage most of the design of the yearbook.

“She stepped up this year by taking on more spreads, and she is a quick learner,” Dym said.

“Chen, who has a natural artistic sense, stepped up in design this year as well.”

Dym said that Chen’s initiative and great class attendance led her to choose Chen as editor-in-chief, even

though they did not consider her at the beginning of the year.

“Rockstar” LaFitte’s willingness to redo work was also an important factor in choosing her, Dym said.

“She is the epitome of what a perfect staffer would be,” Dym said.“I really wanted to reward her for her great work.” “(She is also) a mediator in between the two other editors. I know that new staffers will respect and work well with her.”

Both LaFitte and Chen said that they want to improve organization to make the staff more efficient and cohesive, preventing the yearbook from finishing too close to their deadline.

Ledesma said the organization of the yearbook will change as staffers

will be sectioned off.

For example, there will be a copy section of the staff, whose entire job is to simply write and correct copy.

“Last year (2017-18), all students would gather the information and write their own copy,” Ledesma said.

New staffers will now be the ones to do interviews, take pictures and gather all the information for copy.

The copy staff will write the stories. “(We also plan on) adding definite deadlines and establishing a point system to prevent disorganization,” Chen said.

The Octagon

June 6, 2018 • News

7

Students try out food-delivery policy

Safety threat from Postmates, DoorDash leads to new high school rule

area schools like St. Francis Catholic High School.

However, an alternative was disostmates, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Eat24. This cussed, which was eventually put into collection of gastronomic writing by junior Blake Lincoln, who terms represents a small por- will be co-vice president of the stution of a quickly growing industry: dent body next year.

A new set of guidelines was sent to food delivery.

It’s simple. Mark your order from high school students on May 7.

The policy stipulates that deliveries countless restaurants through their are now allowed only during free peapps, and after an address and deriods and lunch. livery time are enWhereas previtered, the food will ously, students It only takes a few arrive, delivered by could have food one of many local seconds to stop by delivered during drivers.

Valerie’s office. ” classes when the These online teacher permit—Mehdi Lacombe food-delivery serted it, the new vices are popular window was put with Country Day in place so that students. there is now a set time frame when In a May 10 Octagon poll of 68 deliverers can be on campus. high school students, over two-thirds In addition to the time restrictions, said they had used these services to Valerie Velo, assistant to the head of order food to be delivered to campus. high school, must now be notified However, this usage has led to a of any orders, and the food must growing concern with strangers wanbe delivered to (and picked up in) dering the campus, according to head the handicapped-accessible parking of high school Brooke Wells. spots.

Unlike the car toppers and uni“(Right now) it’s just a pilot proforms of pizza deliverers, for instance, there are very few identifying features gram,” Lincoln said. “If it works out of drivers through services like Post- well, (the guidelines) will become policy for the high school.” mates and DoorDash.

The new guidelines seem to be efLower and middle school teachers have reported seeing unknown peo- fective in lessening delivery traffic on ple on campus daily. Many were lost campus, Wells said.

“I have not heard of any delivery food-delivery drivers. folks wandering around since we piAnd when a teacher spots an unloted Student Council’s proposal, so known person walking on campus, it looks like a good plan that is going the issue of security and safety arises. smoothly so far,” he said.

While drivers for nearly all of the Now Velo said she is notified about delivery companies go through backonce a day. ground checks, precautions still need These policies are similar to one to be taken, Wells said.

Because of these concerns, Wells currently in place at Jesuit High met with the Student Council on School, where students must order April 30 to find a solution to the po- through the dean’s office. When the tential dangers of high schoolers us- food arrives, the student is alerted through the school’s loudspeakers, ing food-delivery services.

Since many companies require that according to former SCDS student users be 18 years old or older, techni- junior Ben Miner.

However, Country Day’s new polcally, the use could have been banned, as it is in the middle school and other icy isn’t popular with all high school

BY ALLISON ZHANG

P

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR KEEPING US IN THE BLACK!

CHINESE CHOW Junior Mehdi Lacombe notifies Valerie Velo, assistant to the head of high school, about his Postmates order of Chinese takeout from The Mandarin Restaurant in May. PHOTO BY JACK CHRISTIAN

students. While 36 students had no But freshman Hana Lee, who has services, as in the middle school, the opinion of it, 18 - over a quarter - said ordered food under the new guide- guidelines keep food delivery an opthey do not like the new policy. lines, said that the system is more tion for high schoolers. “(This) is something that’s not goLincoln said he foresaw some of complicated.

“It discourages people from using ing to infringe on people ordering the complaints, as “generally, students food,” Lincoln said. “It’s (minimal), can be a little pessimistic or nervous (services like) Postmates,” Lee said. about administrator intervention.”

“And I don’t know if that’s the and it keeps the service available for students.”

However, a few Wells agreed, adding students who had (This program) is something that’s not going that because parents now initially disliked the policy have changed to infringe on people ordering food. It’s (min- must notify the school that their child is allowed their minds. imal), and it keeps the service available for students.” to order food on campus, “It only takes a few —Blake Lincoln parents will be more inseconds to stop by formed about these exValerie’s office,” jupenditures. nior Mehdi Lacombe point, but I don’t order as much any“I don’t think it is a bad thing to said. more.” use a service like Postmates as a spe“(And) having the drivers go to the Lee is one of 24 students who said cial treat,” he said. handicapped spot is also useful be“(But) healthier and cheaper opcause it means I don’t have to wander that they would use food-delivery tions can come from your fridge at around the parking lot looking for services less.

But rather than a full ban on those home.” them.”

Anand Family, Anonymous, Barnard-Bahn Coaching and Consulting, Christian Family, Claire Family, Dahmani Family, Davies Family, Frankel Family, Lacombe Family, Needler Family, Schep-Smit Family, Scott Family, Situ Family, Zhang Family

10

Sports • June 6, 2018

The Octagon

SENIOR STARS Left: Senior Nico Burns feeds a ball to junior Leo Eisner during warm-up before an April 5 match against Forest Lake Christian. Both players won their matches. PHOTO BY CHARDONNAY NEEDLER Middle: Senior Amalie Fackenthal sips honey in the warm-up lane at Rio Americano High School and speaks to junior Joe Zales

(not pictured). PHOTO BY NINA DYM Right: Junior Bella Mathisen watches senior Katia Dahmani (right) pass a ball over the net in the Sept. 18 game against Woodland Christian, the girls’ their first loss of the season. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

Athletically competitive class hangs up their jerseys

After years of leadership, seniors hope current players will compensate for gaps in team blocker. “( Junior) Lia Kaufman’s been working at bet was spring 2015, and then-freshman Ama- ing a setter (to replace Dahmaini’s twin sister lie Fackenthal had just won Country Day’s Annya) a lot,” Dahmani said. “And I trust her second-ever individual section champion- capability, but it’s a really hard role to fill.”

In fact, three of the four seniors on the volship in the 50-meter freestyle. But her mind leyball team have played varsity for four years. wasn’t on the victory.

Volleyball coach Jason Kreps said Dahmani She had injured her hand hitting the pool consistently fired her teammates up. wall during the race and was only moments “If people weren’t giving (the game) their all, away from swimming the 100-meter free. If she didn’t want to choke, she needed to be mentally she would be intense,” Kreps said. “She wasn’t mad. She just brought an intensity to the game, focused.

Fackenthal didn’t win that race but did go on which kept everyone on their game.”

Sophomore Becca Waterson, who is one of to win seven more section championships over Fackenthal’s teammates on the swim team, said the next three years, helping the senior class win that Fackenthal was such a good leader because a total of 10 section championships.

And due to their success and competitiveness, she was always encouraging.

“She makes sure everyone know what’s going athletic director Matt Vargo said he thinks that, on at all tiers of high school swim meets,” Waathletically, this is one of the most impressive terson said. classes he’s had in his 16 years as However, Fackenthal said athletic director. she’s confident that Water“It’s a special class (since) they You don’t son and junior Joe Zales will (play) many sports,” Vargo said. replace a class both become more vocal “You don’t replace a class like this and encourage more people right away.” like this right away.” to join the team.

And while sophomore basketball —Matt Vargo For the basketball team starter Jackson Crawford thinks to step up, the players are that basketball will be affected by going to have to work on the departure of the seniors, he retheir game a lot in the next six months, accordmains optimistic.

“Everyone’s going to grow up,” Crawford ing to Crawford.

Senior basketball captain Reggie Fan agreed said. “All of the freshmen are going to get better; all of the sophomores are going to be better.” that the team will need to step up but is still optimistic.

Two-year volleyball captain senior Katia “There’ll almost definitely be a struggle and Dahmani agrees with Crawford. She said that adjustment period,” Fan said. “But it will get for next year’s volleyball team to be successful, better throughout the year, and they’ll be fine.” certain players will need to step up into leaderAnd senior Nico Burns, who has played on ship roles to replace the departing seniors. the tennis team for four years and won the sin“It’s hard because (the team) is going to be gles section championship his junior year, said without three big positions,” Dahmani said. he is even less worried about his team’s future.

These three roles are setter, libero and middle “It’ll be fine since (junior Leo Eisner) did re-

BY JACKSON MARGOLIS

I

ally well this year,” he said. “They still have some ness of volleyball frustrated her but that Kreps good dedicated players like (junior Eisner) and and co-coach Sarah Song helped both her skill (junior) Chardonnay (Needler).” and mindset.

Freshman Ming Zhu, one of Burns’s team“Back in freshman year,” Dahmani said, “I mates on the tennis team, said he thinks that the was really harsh on myself and couldn’t shake seniors played a major role. off mistakes. But since I’m so competitive, “(Burns is) definitely a (Song) and (Kreps) taught me to leader for the team,” Ming use my competitiveness to improve We’re going to said. “I like his attitude the whole team and not bring mywhen he plays and talks to need to put a self down.” (his freshman teammates).

And according to Dahmani, lot of practice in.”

“Even though we’re this coaching helped her develop —Jackson Crawford closer connections to some team freshmen, he’s usually really supportive of us.” members, leading to more success Burns also said he devel- such as winning sections chamoped a strong bond with teammates. pionships three years in a row.

“I’ll miss my teammates,” Burns said. “It was “When we’re on, we’re on,” Dahmani said. “It fun that I got to bond with them a lot. Some of was never an individual thing for me. It was althe matches are an hour to an hour and a half ways about my teammates.” away in the mountains, so we’d sit together in Kreps agreed that the team played at a very the van and talk and do impressions of faculty high level with the senior captains. In fact, members.”

Country Day didn’t have one league championIronically, Burns said one of his favorite ten- ship until this senior class joined the team. nis moments was a loss in his sophomore year.

Fackenthal said that she will especially miss Burns made the tournament finals as the the support that she received from her peers. number-two seed in 2016 and had to play “Sometimes at bigger (high) schools people against Johann Dias, ’16. Even though Burns don’t care as much about swimming,” Fackenlost, he said he really enjoyed playing someone thal said. “Even if the team is good, there are so talented (Dias played for a year on the Calimuch bigger school sports like football.” fornia Lutheran University tennis team after he And Vargo said that while he doesn’t want graduated.)

The seniors’ athletic talent and dedication the class to leave, he is excited for next year.

“We’re not (trying) to replicate the past,” is why Vargo has enjoyed coaching the soccer Vargo said. “You get a new group and new kids team over the last four years. get new opportunities. Younger athletes become One of his favorite coaching moments was the 2016 soccer section championships leaders and grow, and that’s what’s kind of cool against Sacramento Waldorf, when senior Theo about high school athletics.”

“The talent definitely flows. Maybe not next Kaufman scored the team’s first goal, contributyear, but who knows (how successful) we will be ing to a 3-0 victory.

The competitive aspect of post-season sports in the future.

“We’ve got a lot of good young athletes in the was also a highlight for Dahmani.

Dahmani said that, at first, the competitive- middle and lower schools.”

Sports Boosters’ Athletes of the Month John Snyder

Becca Waterson

Snyder put in a lot of work improving all aspects of his golf game. He matured his sophomore season and became more mentally tough. He played through bad stretches and focused on the next hole.

He was also the league MVP.

Swimmer sophomore Waterson had some training setbacks, but she’s been able to work through those difficulties. This year Waterson learned to be consistent, and that will be the name of the game when it comes to college swimming.

Paid for by our generous Sports Boosters.

For information, please see SCDS homepage under the Quicklink “Parents.”

The Octagon

June 6, 2018• Sports

11

Rushing to complete P.E. requirement, unathletic senior evolves into fitness freak

BY SONJA HANSEN

I

was in the Makerspace a few weeks ago when I tossed a banana peel toward a garbage can and missed. I asked senior Carlos Nunez to pick it up for me. Nunez, being this year’s Parents’ Association Amicus Award recipient, of course complied.

But more unexpected was the noise that escaped Nunez’s lips as he crouched to retrieve my trash. He told the room he was very, very sore from squatting in his Athletic Performance class. And Nunez would still be sore three days later.

To one who is even slightly familiar with Nunez, this statement would seem out of character.

Nunez has frequently been referred to as “a computer science god.” His computer bag rarely leaves his side.

Members of AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles have begged him for help on coding assignments and entreated computer science teacher Elissa Thomas to allow them “one Carlos cheat” during tests.

Nunez said that he would never consider himself an athlete, though he played basketball and flag football in middle school.

During o n e game, upon kicko f f , Nunez began sprinting in the wrong direction.

In his last quarter, however, the senior was forced to become a gym rat.

The high school athletic requirement of two years can be completed through physical education classes, interscholastic sports or independent P.E., according to the high school handbook.

Going into senior year, Nunez was counting on taking two trimesters of P.E. (His commitments to Medallion and the orchestra prevented him from taking any more.)

But the school’s shift from trimesters to semesters for elective classes ruined his plan.

So Nunez decided to join the golf team and go for one semester of P.E. But by March, when golf practices kicked off,

Nunez’s mother Maria had started a playing basketball with his brother.

However, keeping track of his new job.

But according to the program’s reg- forms proved to be another source of “So I couldn’t get to golf practice ulations, which are in compliance anxiety. Nunez (who was voted “most consistently,” he said. “I also didn’t with the California Education Code, likely to win the lottery and lose the want to break any rules about stu- Nunez needed an instructor at least ticket” by his classmates in a 2016 dents driving other students.”

21 years old who is CPR and first-aid yearbook poll) had multiple strategies Once he had fallen behind a sig- certified. to compensate for his forgetfulness. nificant number of practices, Nunez Since Nunez had attended some “I always kept my forms in my considered joining another sport. golf practices already, head of high computer bag or right next to my “There was track, but I hate run- school Brooke Wells decided he computer bag, and I made lots of ning,” he said. “The tennis team meets needed only 12 more hours. copies of the forms,” he said. “I also in the morning and leaves school (for Nunez said Wells told him that if took lots of pictures of the forms.” matches) in the middle of the day. he did not fulfill his P.E. requirement This newly ordained fitness freak “Baseball is taken super seriously, by graduation on Thursday, June 7, has since completed nearly every so I couldn’t miss any practices. And he could still attend graduation but group exercise class offered by Rio I didn’t want to get yelled at. At some would receive a folder with no diplo- Del Oro. Starting in late April, Nunez point I would miss a practice began attending and forget to tell (baseball Yoga Flow, Cycle coach Chris Millsback).”

Plus, Barre Fusion, I was the only boy at Zumba. Everyone kept When asked why he didn’t Yoga, Athlooking at me. When I walked in, the instruc- Power consider the swim team, letic Performance Nunez was surprised and tor laughed at me, but after 10 minutes I was like, and Zumba. asked, “It was swim season?”

“I was the only ‘Whatever! Just give me my credits!’ So I just danced!”

He then settled on inboy at Zumba,” —Carlos Nunez Nunez said. “Evdependent P.E. and approached P.E. teacher Mieryone kept lookchelle Myers ing at me. When I for details. At first ma inside. Nunez said he would have walked in, the instructor laughed at Myers said Nunez been fine with this scenario, but con- me, but after 10 minutes I was like, might be able to cerns over his waitlisted status at UC ‘Whatever! Just give me my credits!’ log his hours by Davis prompted him to jump on the So I just danced!” problem.

And dance he did.

“I would have gotten the diploma “For all of the classes, I tried realwhen I finished (the P.E. require- ly, really hard because I had this fear ment), but I was kind of worried be- that (the instructor) wouldn’t sign my cause on the UC Davis waitlist (ap- sheet if I didn’t,” he said. plication) I saw something that said “I don’t know these people! They you have to update your graduation might have said, ‘Sorry, kid. Better date,” he said. luck next time!’”

“If I got in and then I told (UC Nunez took four yoga classes beDavis) I’m graduating two months cause they were easy and 75 minlate, I was afraid I’d get rescind- utes long. He especially enjoyed the ed, so I didn’t want to take any 15-minute cool-down period, during chances. Not graduating on time which students go into corpse posifelt like it could be a big deal.” tion (lie on their back).

The solution was found through Yoga Flow, which was his favorite, Rio Del Oro Racquet Club. Nunez is emphasizes transitions between posa member, so all of his classes were es and was laid-back, Nunez said, but free, and he simply asked each in- Power Yoga was faster. structor and the group exercise class “(The instructor) would say touch coordinator to sign his independent your right leg to your left elbow while P.E. forms. we were already in downward dog,” he said. “And then she’d say do that five more times!”

Athletic Performance was on the opposite end of the spectrum from Yoga Flow.

“Athletic Performance was kind of fun, but I thought I was going to throw up at one point,” he said.

“There was no way I would have been able to do another class after Athletic Performance because I was like dead.”

Students completed 25 pushups and 25 burpees, then 20 pushups and 20 burpees and continued to decrease the reps by increments of five. Once they had finished, the students ran for three minutes, increasing their speed every 10 seconds.

“I saw (former SCDS student) Marisa (Fat) at the class,” he said.

“I wanted to do the push-ups on my knees, and I didn’t know if I was allowed, but Marisa was doing pushups on her knees, so then I thought it was OK.” Barre Fusion involves a ballet barre and elements of yoga, according to Nunez.

“It was like calisthenics,” he said.

“She’d have us do squats, and then she’d have us do little, tiny squats while we were already in the squatting position.”

Nunez said he was sore for two days following Barre Fusion and for one after Cycle Plus.

“That was interesting because as far as muscle stuff, (Cycle Plus) wasn’t very hard,” he said. “It was a lot more cardio. I sweated a lot during that class. It was wild.”

Nunez said his Cycle Plus instructor had the class sit up and sit down on their stationary bikes and occasionally increase their resistance.

“She’d have us do pushups while we were biking, which was hard because you’re already doing two things, and your brain doesn’t want that,” he said.

By mid-May, Nunez was in a rush to finish his credit, so he took easy classes every day. His 11th (and final) class took place on May 15. It was Yoga Flow, and Nunez said that as he meditated, he felt the stress of graduating on time melt away.

Nunez said that he will definitely continue to work out at the gym, but probably not as frequently.

“Getting buff is not a goal of mine,” he said. “It seems unnecessary and time-consuming. (Biology teacher Kellie Whited) says that most of professional bodybuilders’ muscles don’t even work!”

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE CHAO

Sports Boosters’ Athletes of the Month Leo Eisner

Heidi Johnson

Leo is able to adjust his approach to a tennis match by understanding his opponent’s game. I’m impressed by his willingness to adjust his game and equally by his quiet, but obviously sincere, sense of sportsmanship. —Coach Jamie Nelson

It is hard to have a bad jump then come back and do it again in hopes you jump farther this time. She jumped her personal best in both the triple and long jumps at sections. That’s hard to do when the pressure is on. —Coach Nick Domich

Paid for by our generous Sports Boosters.

For information, please see SCDS homepage under the Quicklink “Parents.”

12

Feature • June 6, 2018

The Octagon

Country Day Stereotypes SCDS works to combat views of school as ‘white,’ ‘exclusive,’ ‘rich’

T

wice in the past two months I stood outside the Save Mart in Loehmann’s Plaza for an hour in the late morning polling 40 pedestrians each time.

BY JACKSON MARGOLIS The first time, April 22, I asked people whether they had heard of Country Day, and if so, what was the first stereotype that came to their mind about the school.

Of the 21 who gave me stereotypes, 43 percent chose stereotypes with a negative connotation while 24 percent chose positive ones. The rest of the responses were neutral.

Those who gave me negative stereotypes, responded with stereotypes such as it has “snotty rich kids,” it’s “exclusive” and it has “white, privileged” students.

However, when I went back on April 29, accompanied by my eighth grade brother Dylan, I asked a slightly different question.

“What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Country Day?” This time, the number of negative responses decreased by 13 percent, (although someone gave me the middle finger), and the number of positive answers by 11 percent.

But I still heard negative responses school website as a marketing tool to according to the same poll. their stereotypes, quite frankly, are that ranged from Country Day’s ex- better show the Country Day dynamLike Krishna, sophomore Savan- turned upside down.” clusiveness to its expensive tuition to ic and encourage families to visit the nah Rosenzweig said she has heard of In fact, to refute a Save Mart pethat it’s mostly white to how it has campus.

SCDS stereotypes from others that destrian’s response that the school is privileged children.

Students like freshman Avinash she thought were either exaggerated exclusive (in the second survey), NelDirector of communications Julie Krishna, who is Indian-American, or simply false. son said that many people think this Nelson suggested that the reason the said that the website can be a useful “(Before I came to Country Day), because of the cost. responses were so different is because tool for eliminating innacurate ste- I heard a lot that most people (here) “A lot of people would say (that) it’s the stereotype question had a nega- reotypes. were going to be rude or stuck-up,” got an excellent reputation,” Nelson tive connotation. said. “It’s got an excellent curriculum, According to Krishna, media Rosenzweig said.

“Surveys are ex“And my brother, who goes to Jesu- but it’s too expensive, because they like the website tremely hard to will both challenge it, told me that I was probably going haven’t bothered to find out that we create,” Nelson said. the stereotype that to get in trouble there because the have tuition assistance, which makes (Stereotypes “And by asking a it more affordable than it used to be.”

Country Day is an teachers are super strict.” form when) question that alNelson said these social stereotypes People who don’t tour the school or almost all-white ready has a precon- people haven’t done any school because it are created because there aren’t a lot attend Open House are more likely ceived answer, you’re investigation. All they displays people of of independent private schools in the to believe (or not deny) false or exgoing to get an ancolor and also give area, so Sacramentans have nothing aggerated stereotypes that they hear, swer that reflects have to do is go on a according to Nelson. prospective families to compare the school to. website and figure out your question.”

However, Nelson and Foehl use For instance, before Rosenzweig a better understandIn addition, Nel- what the school is about.” ing of the school’s the fact that Country Day is unique came to SCDS, she said that most of son said that stein the area to their advantage. the people who learned she would be —Julie Nelson diversity. reotypes about any “We’ve made a concerted effort to attending either hadn’t heard of the In fact, Krishna school form because has had to deal with talk about how we go beyond the tra- school or thought that it was a boardof a lack of inforthis stereotype in ditional academics,” Foehl said. “A lot ing or military school. mation.

Sophomore Shimin Zhang said of the schools in our marketplace are the past. “(Stereotypes form when) people that she hasn’t encountered these stevery traditional.”

“One time I was talking to a friend, haven’t done any investigation,” Nel- and he (asked), ‘Isn’t that school all In addition to the academics, Nel- reotypes, but she also said that most son said. “All they have to do is go on white?’” Krishna said. “So I told him, son and Foehl also emphasize the of the time, people haven’t heard of a website and figure out what that ‘No, it’s actually really diverse.’ Before school’s diverse extracurricular activ- the school. school is about. So if they don’t know, it might not have been as richly di- ities.

Indeed, of the pedestrians at Save then they haven’t done the research.” verse because I shadowed here when “(We explain that) it’s broad, and Mart, only 53 percent had heard of Knowing that the internet is a I was in fourth grade, and I didn’t see it’s not just an athletic school,” Nel- the school only half a mile away. smart way to change stereotypes, as- much diversity.

Foehl said he thinks that the interson said. “It’s not just an art school. sistant head of school Tucker Foehl “But when I came here in ninth There’s something here for almost ev- viewees who had negative opinions and Nelson recently began using the grade, I saw a lot more people of dif- ery student.” or stereotypes of the school school should come visit. ferent races” That said, Foehl acIn fact, from the 2004One time I was talking to a friend and he knowledged that it’s im2005 school year to the asked ‘Isn’t that school all white?’ So I told possible to completely most recent year of pollerase all of the stereoing in 2015-2016, the him ‘No, it’s actually really diverse.’” types since, according to percentage of students —Avinash Krishna him, there are stereoof color at Country types for “everything in Day has increased from life, from Pizza Guys to around 22.5 percent to more than 40 percent, according to Foehl said that the end goal of in- East Sacramento.” polling cited by Foehl. creasing publicity is to get families According to Foehl, another steAnd while 40 percent is not the onto campus because that’s when the reotype that wasn’t mentioned since majority, Foehl said anyone who be- school has the biggest impact on vis- no business owners at Loehmann’s lieves that Country Day is above av- itors.

Plaza were polled is that Country erage in percentage of white students “I hear all the time (from visitors), Day kids are more respectful and for an independent school is mistak- ‘I had no idea that Country Day was thoughtful than other students. en. like this,’” Foehl said. “So they get to “They’re comparing us to Jesuit and In fact, SCDS has around 5 percent the campus and come with certain (St. Francis Catholic High School) more students of color than the aver- stereotypes of what it means to be on and other schools,” Foehl said. “And age independent school in California a campus that costs $20,000-$25,000 they’re saying that Country Day kids and more than 10 percent above the a year. are the best kids that come into their national independent school average, “(But) they come here, and I think businesses and shops.”

DATA DUO Eighth grader Dylan Margolis and his brother sophomore Jackson Margolis stand outside Save Mart discussing poll data. PHOTO BY KRISTIN MARGOLIS

Sophomore Jackson Margolis stood in front of Save Mart in Loehmann’s Plaza on two different Sundays to ask people their opinions of Country Day. On both occasions Margolis first asked people if they knew the school. The first time, he asked those that knew the school what sterotypes they had heard about the school. After a meeting with assistant head of school Tucker Foehl and director of communications Julie Nelson, Margolis returned to Save Mart and asked people instead what first came to mind when they heard the name Country Day. GRAPHIC BY MEHDI LACOMBE

The Octagon

Alumna’s unique career path takes unexpected turns in animal industry

who you know.”

Luckily, Stainbrook had already worked out a backup plan: animal ike many millennials, Chriscontrol. tina Stainbrook, ’06, is still Her interest in animal control searching for a career. And her started in her childhood, when she path hasn’t been easy. often watched “Animal Cops.”

Initially, she wanted to work in While in college, Stainbrook livestock, like cattle ranching. worked at Happy Tails Kennel in San But after graduating from Cal Luis Obispo for two years and also Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2011 with did a few ride-alongs with the local a bachelor’s degree in animal science, animal services officers.

Stainbrook found that due to her After she was recruited to work as small size (a little over 100 pounds), an animal control officer in Clovis, gender and high GPA, she was unshe was “thrown in the truck with employable. other field officers to learn on the job” “Being told that I was born the but received little officer training. wrong gender was irritating, espeStainbrook started as a field officer cially when I had been an effective who worked in the adoption center in livestock intern as a freshman,” Stainthe afternoon. brook said. “(I’d) get calls from anything like, At one of the workplaces she ap‘Hey, we found a dog; it’s loose. Can plied to, the employer was particularyou come pick it up?’ to ‘There’s a dog ly blunt. running crazily, and it’s biting people, “He said that due to my GPA, he and we need your would be obligated help.’” to make me a manBut some situaBeing told that ager; however, he tions were scarier. was looking for some I was born the A few months into ranch hands only,” wrong gender was irriher career, her boss Stainbrook said. brought her to the “He (also) said tating, especially when house of an armed, that he employed I had been an effective mentally unstable many men who livestock intern.” man who was known would not be com—Christina Stainbrook to threaten officers. fortable working “I didn’t know under a female mananything (about the ager. situation),” Stain“As much as I protested that I brook said. “There were something wanted to work my way up from the like 30 police department officers bottom, he made it clear that I was there, including the Special Weapons too small to be of use.”

And Tactics (SWAT) team.”

She also encountered problems “And I’m like, ‘What am I doing because she wasn’t raised in the live- here? I’m not a cop.’ And they’re like, stock industry.

‘Well, all we know is that they have “I’ve since realized that a lot of dogs in there.’” these ranches are a family/friend afStainbrook and her boss found out fair,” Stainbrook said. “It’s a lot about they had been called in because the

June 6, 2018 • Feature

13

BY LARKIN BARNARD-BAHN

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PUPPY PILE The pets of Christina Stainbrook, ‘06, hold handmade signs for the upcoming wedding of their “parents.” Stainbrook said involving “furry children” in her wedding showed her and her fiance’s relationship. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF STAINBROOK

FURRY FAMILY The grandparents of Christina Stainbrook, ‘06, visited her during her first year of working for animal control. Stainbrook’s uniform has changed three times since. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF STAINBROOK

officers believed those dogs were be- Stainbrook’s boss. said. tween them and the allegedly armed Due to the difficulty and stress of Additionally, as a part of the police man. the job, there is a high turnover rate, department, Stainbrook - whose uni“We’re hiding around the sides of she said. form was similar to that of a police the buildings, and (the officers) are Stainbrook was on call not only for officer - faced general threats against like, ‘Go, go, go!’” Stainbrook said. the adoption center 24/7, but also for officers.

“You’re standing between a guy the police department on Thursday “I was told when I moved (to Clowho you don’t know if he has weap- nights, making the work never-end- vis), ‘Be careful. Don’t go just to any ons - you assume that he does - and ing. gym; they might know who you are officers who have weapons behind “So you’re out there with a dog hit because you’ve made a call on them,’” you,” Stainbrook said. “You’re in the by a car at two in the morning; you she said. “So they have a police gym middle trying to get the dogs out of haven’t slept, and then you’re at work and that sort of stuff. They warn you the way so the officers can do their the next morning trying to take care constantly to protect yourself around job.” of the same thing,” Stainbrook said. being careful about your identity and After the SWAT team confirmed As a result, Stainbrook said she who knows it.” the man was not in the back of the wasn’t able to “shut off ” mentally.

As a result, Stainbrook often covhouse, it sent in Stainbrook and her “If you care about your job as much ered up her uniform before going boss to take about 12 pit bulls and as I did - I mean, I put my heart into home. puppies out of the chained areas of that job - you constantly wonder if “(Let’s say) I read a report one day the yard. The guard dogs had never you made the right decisions during that says that there are threats against seen people before, and it was a strug- the day,” Stainbrook said. officers, and I recognize the address gle to remove some of the larger dogs, “It’s not like putting a cereal box (as) an apartment a few doors down,” according to Stainbrook. up and walking out in a grocery store. Stainbrook said. “I may not know the “We (went) in with basically a Your inventory doesn’t just sit there individual, but if I wear my badge catch pole, so we’d have to catch all night.” home, I become a target.” them and then lead them out,” StainLike her time as a field officer, All of this left Stainbrook feeling as brook said. “You’ve got if the career had become an 80-pound animal on her entire life. Since she your catch pole, and if If you care about your job as much as I did will be getting married in you’re like me, it’s not a October, she said she also - I mean, I put my heart into that job - you good size difference.” wanted to be able to have Stainbrook said she constantly wonder if you made the right decision a home life. and her boss removed during the day.”

Although she said she the dogs and brought doesn’t really miss Clo—Stainbrook vis - which she called them to medical professionals before sheltering the “armpit of the valthe animals. ley” - she does miss the “It was our job to make sure that work at the adoption center also had animals after moving back to Sacrathose animals were safe and cared its dangerous moments. mento. for while (law enforcement) decided Since animal control is a part of “It was a pleasure to nurse kittens what to do with the people,” Stain- the police department, Stainbrook that had been thrown in the garbage brook said. had access to criminal records. A few like trash or give care to an animal “And that’s often what we do; we times per week, a prospective adopter that had never seen the inside of a end up sheltering the animals during would have a history of animal cruel- home,” she said. “Changing their lives that period when something else is ty, according to Stainbrook. was so fulfilling. I have to settle for going on.”

“So let’s say a neighbor called on changing the lives of my pets now. I After working in the field for a them for animal cruelty: a dog was want them to be the happiest darn year, she and her department decided chained with no food, no water,” pets ever!” she was better suited for working at Stainbrook said. “You go out, and you To satisfy her need for caring for the adoption center and doing be- find (the dog) emaciated. I’m going to abandoned animals, Stainbrook said havioral modification for the animals take that information and say, ‘That that she will foster animals. there, according to Stainbrook. So she was two years ago. There is no way in “I used to foster while I worked at became an “as-needed field officer” heck I’m giving you a new animal.’” the shelter, and I know it makes the and was called mainly for situations But some adopters wouldn’t take difference for so many animals while that fell within her livestock training “no” for an answer. they recover either emotionally or specialty.

“I had to call the cops a few times physically,” Stainbrook said.

To work in the adoption center, because I had belligerent people in my Nevertheless, she said she doesn’t Stainbrook received training at con- lobby,” Stainbrook said. “They would ventions and group trainings called say things like, ‘I’m going above your regret the time she spent as an animal control officer.

“Dogs Playing for Life.” The latter head - I’m going to get you fired!’”

Her parents, former physical edhelped her develop a playgroup sysAlthough Stainbrook said she was tem for dogs to help them release never threatened with violence, some ucation teacher Bill Stainbrook and energy and stress, thereby improving people behaved aggressively - even if former Spanish teacher Lucinda Ashby, are supportive of her tritheir social skills and immune system. they didn’t think they were.

But about three years ago - four “If somebody is standing over you, al-and-error career path, she said. years into the job - Stainbrook said and you’ve just told them, ‘No,’ and “I never know where I’ll end up,” she was thinking about leaving. they refuse to leave, that’s a threat Stainbrook said. “If my zig-zag path In fact, seven years is the longest (because) they won’t respect you thus far is any predictor, it means I her employer has had an animal con- enough to get out of your space, (and need to enjoy being flexible and take trol officer stay, with the exception of they might) follow you,” Stainbrook what I find, as it makes me happy.”

14

Opinion• May 8, 2018

OCTAGON STAFF

The Octagon

“All Booked” by Jacqueline Chao

My Angle

PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Annya Dahmani Katia Dahmani Sonja Hansen

By Jackson Margolis

Panic at the Boardwalk!

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sahej Claire Chardonnay Needler DESIGN CHIEFS Mohini Rye Allison Zhang BUSINESS MANAGER Larkin Barnard-Bahn NEWS EDITOR Jack Christian FEATURE EDITOR Mohini Rye OPINION EDITOR Allison Zhang PRINT SPORTS EDITOR Jake Longoria ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR Bryce Longoria SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Bri Davies PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Jacqueline Chao MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Jake Longoria Harrison Moon Bryce Longoria, assistant David Situ, assistant

T

PAGE EDITORS Jack Christian Annya DahmanI Katia Dahmani Anna Frankel Sonja Hansen Mehdi Lacombe Jackson Margolis Mohini Rye Héloïse Schep Allison Zhang REPORTERS Keshav Anand Sarina Rye Kristine Schmitz Spencer Scott Elise Sommerhaug Ming Zhu GRAPHIC ARTISTS Jacqueline Chao Mohini Rye PHOTOGRAPHERS Jacqueline Chao Shimin Zhang ADVISER Patricia Fels The OcTagOn is sacramenTO cOunTry Day’s high-schOOl newspaper. iTs purpOse is TO prOviDe a reliable sOurce Of infOrmaTiOn On evenTs cOncerning The high schOOl in Or-

Der TO infOrm anD enTerTain The enTire schOOl cOmmuniTy.

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sTaff sTrives

fOr accuracy anD freeDOm frOm bias in iTs sTOries.

significanT

will be nOTeD anD cOrrecTeD.

The OcTagOn

errOrs

shall publish maTerial

ThaT The sTaff Deems in The besT inTeresT Of The schOOl cOmmuniTy.

The

sTaff

recOgnizes The impOrTance Of having accuraTe anD reliable infOrmaTiOn in OrDer TO be well infOrmeD anD On which TO base DecisiOns anD OpiniOns.

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anD relevanT news, subjecT TO The excepTiOns:

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slanDerOus Or libelOus maTerial; ma-

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EDITORIAL: Hey, admin, let’s get going on these proposals!

he juniors pursuing the solutions that they first created for the AP Language and Composition proposal essay have done all the hard work - many interviews, hours of research and late nights weighing the pros and cons of solutions (see “Juniors use proposal essays to push for change,” p. 3).

Now the baton has been passed to the administration.

But implementing new policies or even courses in the high school can be tough especially near the year’s end.

Nevertheless, having classes that focus on minority history is vital to a balanced education, especially in this age of racial tension. Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill in 2016 that will create an ethnic studies program for all the state’s public high schools by 2019, and in Oregon and Indiana, it’s already a requirement.

SCDS can’t fall behind.

But because the school is small and previous attempts to introduce a Civil Rights class were unsuccessful, it’s infeasible to introduce a new course overnight. A better solution is to meld ethnic studies into the high school curriculum, gradually introducing it to all humanities classes - social studies and English alike.

There are many areas in which this can be done.

Take, for example, the literature in English classes.

Currently, of the 28 high school English books, only seven were written by authors of color.

English classes should include marginalized voices by using books written by diverse writers and discussions on minority history, which English teacher Jason Hinojosa already does in his classes.

Underrepresented voices can be included outside the traditional class setting, too.

In February, assistant head of school Tucker Foehl visited the Urban School of San Francisco, where freshmen took six-week-long classes on identity and ethnic studies, another possible approach.

Other policies should be implemented as well.

Junior Mehdi Lacombe’s proposal on an open campus, a policy the school ended 25 years ago, should be reintroduced.

Just as junior Blake Lincoln’s quick fix for food delivery via third-party apps such as DoorDash and Postmates was readily accepted, Lacombe’s should at least earn a test run.

And allowing juniors and seniors to leave campus during lunch would have a procedure similar to that of Lincoln’s proposal: parental permission and a sign-out at the high school front office.

Juniors and seniors are responsible enough to not cause a ruckus in the neighborhood

or put their safety at risk; most drive to school, after all.

These juniors and seniors, specifically the editors of the newspaper, are also mature enough to thoughtfully and conscientiously exercise their freedom of speech.

Junior Jack Christian’s proposal to guarantee the Octagon’s right to freedom from censorship should be given a trial run - especially in an era where the president attacks major media outlets for supplying “fake news,” wherein First Amendment rights are more important than ever.

The community - both inside and outside the school - has the right to know what is happening on campus, the good and the bad.

More and more schools are censoring student newspapers - Country Day must not follow in their footsteps and should give the policy in Christian’s proposal essay a go.

Christian proposed a series of guidelines for censorship that the Octagon and the administration would agree to.

No such policy exists currently, and without agreeing on what should and should not be censored, the freedom that the newspaper has as an outlet for student expression - one more way in which students may, as the school’s mission statement says, “think critically” - will be extinguished.

CAMPUSCORNER Should we have an open campus policy for upperclassmen?

“I think its good to have it for the juniors and seniors because it gives them more responsibility, and it teaches them to manage their time and utilize their free periods. It’s also something for people to look forward to.”

“It just kind of seems dangerous. If the school is ‘public,’ then anyone can come onto campus, which seems concerning.

I think even leaving my house is risking my safety. By not having an open campus we can at least control who comes in and who leaves.”

LUCA PROCIDA, JUNIOR

EMME BOGETICH, SOPHOMORE

It was July 2010, and I had fallen 65 feet off the Giant Dipper roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk - or at least that’s what my mom thought.

I had arrived in Santa Cruz the day before with my parents and my brother Dylan. You know, the stereotypical West Coast family vacation.

My grandma found some “screaming” deal at Costco - or if you want to sound classy, Kirkland - on all-dayaccess boardwalk tickets, and just like every other 21st century preteen, I believed that I loved roller coasters.

My brother was excited for the trip because of the arcade games and their “high-quality” souvenir prizes; my mother was looking forward to taking pictures of the family to put on the Christmas card; and my father was driving us there.

Once we arrived on the Boardwalk, only one thing was on my mind: riding the Giant Dipper. It was the largest ride in the park, (70 feet), and the largest roller coaster I had ever seen.

I should’ve seen the signs.

First, there was almost no line. Instead of interpreting this as “Danger!,” my 9-year-old brain saw this as a good thing: smaller line equals more rides.

As we walked through the line, we noticed that there were television screens placed above us that displayed a repeating clip that gave some information about the ride.

It opened in 1924 (OK); it lasts 1 minute, 51 seconds (That’s good!): and it has a 65-foot drop.

I didn’t really grasp that last piece of information until my mom and I were locked into the car and only moments away from entering a black cave. It wasn’t until then that I really conceived how high 65 feet is.

While I wasn’t quite finding the derivative of velocity of the roller coaster, I knew at the time that if people fell the length of this ride, they would die.

But as my mind went into survival mode, the ride began with a screech.

So let’s pause here. You’re probably thinking, “Oh, I’ve heard this story a million times. Whether it be roller coasters or meatloaf, the writer always starts skeptical and then loves it by the end. And since I know what is going to happen, I will redirect my attention elsewhere. Hmm, that’s a cool comic.”

But you’re mistaken.

As we reached the peak height, I looked left and saw my mother smiling, which almost gave me hope.

But then I saw how high up we were.

I realized that to have any chance of survival, I had to make the distance between me and the ground as small as possible. So I crouched far down into the ride car.

After the first big drop, my mom turned to make sure I was all right.

And I wasn’t there! “JACKSON” she screamed at the top of her lungs, looking around wildly.

“Here I am, Mommy,” I shouted, as I sat up, thoroughly embarrassed at what a chicken I had just become. All she could do was laugh in relief.

The rest of the ride wasn’t as bad, but once we were pulling to a stop, I was more than ready to get off.

But the Dipper didn’t stop, and I thought it was going to go around again.

“Stop the ride!” I shouted.

Then I realized that we were just pulling forward to let everyone off.

The Octagon

June 6, 2018 • Opinion

15

SENIORS SAY ‘SAYONARA’ Editors-in-chief bid adieu with funny memories, bittersweet farewells Katia Dahmani As a freshman on staff in 2014, I felt like hot stuff when my first story - a food review of sushi burritos - was assigned to me for the highly esteemed print issue.

With this confidence I visited Wrap N’ Roll Sushi in Midtown with my older brother Yanni, ’13, then returned home and got to work.

I thought I had cranked out an incredible culinary critique that showcased my unparalleled writing skills. Instead I got pages and pages of comments on my Google Drive document. (And they weren’t positive “Great work, Katia” comments, either.)

Seniors criticized my repeated use of the word “delicious”; apparently, this word had no place in a food review.

On top of that, adviser Patricia Fels, whom we all call Fels or Edna (I mean, come on, she looks exactly like Edna from “The Incredibles”), gave me only a check (kind of like a C) for my grade.

Feeling defeated, I thought I would never amount to anything more than a reporter on staff.

But never using the word “delicious” in a food review was just my first lesson on staff that helped me work my way to the top.

I learned how to guilt Fels into writing my pages’ headlines after what seemed like hours of complaining, surprise everyone with the amount of delicious food I could stuff in during paste-up dinners, make a crooked checklist on the Cave’s whiteboard that others could barely read, quiet down a room filled with noisy freshmen, and, most importantly, work together with staffers.

And what’s that? That’s editor-in-chief material.

As annoying and loud as certain redheads can be, my four years on staff have pushed me to become more patient and collaborative.

Just as paste-up week always seems to

Annya Dahmani

It’s a Friday night, and I’m at a high school football game, cheering loudly in the stands for some school I don’t go to.

I’m enjoying the school spirit that I rarely ever got to experience firsthand when someone asks me, “Where do you go to school?”

“Country Day,” I respond.

Seeing a confused look emerge on their face, I quickly add, “It’s a small private school in Sacramento.”

“I’ve never heard of it,” the person replies.

And after 13 years of attending Country Day, I’ve had this same conversation countless times.

Usually I don’t care about having to explain where I go to school, but at the beginning of my sophomore year, I had an experience where I felt differently.

I was scrolling through Twitter when someone slid into my DMs (direct message, for those who aren’t social-media savvy).

It was from a boy who went to Rio Americano High School, asking where I went to school.

I thought I knew how this conversation would pan out.

EDITORS UNITE Senior editors-in-chief Katia Dahmani, Sahej Claire, Sonja Hansen and Annya Dahmani sit on stacks of newspapers to read the two latest Octagon issues in the Cave. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JACK CHRISTIAN

work itself out in the end and result in a great issue (and sometimes even finish in time for Fels to meet her husband, Daniel Neukom, for happy hour), the community that is our staff worked itself out in the end.

Coming into senior year as one of three print editors, I had my doubts over whether I could work with my twin sister Annya and alpha co-editor-in-chief Sonja Hansen, but we managed it.

But now it’s time to talk about something more important: appreciation for others.

I’m grateful for my four years on staff.

Four years of improving my writing. Four years of free dinner during paste-up week.

And four years with the talented kids that make up our staff and the devoted adviser that is Fels.

Thanks for everything, guys. I’ll miss the crazy nights of paste-up so @#$%&*! much.

Fels won’t like my profanity, but I have to stay true to myself.

So I sent a DM back saying, “I go to Country Day, but you’ve probably never heard of it.”

“I’ve heard of it,” he responded. “It’s that rich, snobby, weird-kid school, right?”

“Nope, wrong school,” I sent back.

I wasn’t about to let the school I’d attended for basically my whole life get trashed.

Moral of the story: Country Day may suck at times, but it’s where some of us make our best memories. So don’t take it for granted.

I mean, where else do you get to learn about countless conspiracy theories (Shoutout, Dr. Baird - I truly miss you), have a class of only two people (my sophomore French IV class with Lily Brown) and see a manifesto for the first time right before your very own eyes (sophomore year was quite interesting)?

And where else do you get the opportunity to be a part of something as awesome as the Octagon? Honestly, staying at school until almost midnight once a month and putting together a 16-page issue sounds like a drag, but it’s actually so much fun being trapped in a room the size of my closet.

The Cave holds some of my best SCDS memories, from spreading elopement rumors (I’m sorry, Amelia, for starting these with Adam) to hearing neighbors on a hunt for their cat (RIP, Milo) to listening to Fels say “nini” (pronounced “neenee”) to mock my sister Katia’s tweets.

So, in the end, I’ve gotta say: there’s no place like Camp Country Day, my friends.

Peace out. And go, Bruins!

Sonja Hansen I should have taken ceramics. It would have been so great. Nobody gets upset over a clay pot, sends angsty emails over your color choice, or calls you in for a meeting because your paperweight was “a little too controversial.”

Ceramics projects don’t have due dates. And as soon as you’re done with your assignment - boom - instant Mother’s Day gift!

When you work on a ceramics project, you can listen to George Harrison, turn your brain off a little and spend hours selecting pastel colors while enjoying the sunshine and breeze that blows through the outdoor studio.

That studio nestled behind the art room, overlooking the lower school playground and 30-foottall evergreens, would have been my safe haven.

Instead the stinky Cave is home. Superman

Sahej Claire “Hi, my name is Sahej. Nice to meet you. By the way, I don’t like chocolate.”

After all the ragging my friends have subjected me to over the years, I may as well begin to introduce myself like this in college. Though I don’t see my disliking chocolate as something that merits special attention, the despair and wailing that I hear after my confession would say otherwise.

I don’t know if I can pinpoint exactly why I don’t like chocolate. I just don’t enjoy the taste; I’ve never found it appealing. It’s an odd imbalance of being simultaneously overly bitter and overly sweet and can be fixed only by the immediate removal of any chocolate present.

Over the years I’ve learned to avoid sticky situations - birthday parties featuring chocolate cake, generous grandmothers with chocolate candies in their purses, the Nutella jar being passed around - but that just makes the fallout when I finally reveal my secret all the worse.

has his mighty Fortress of Solitude. I have this sweaty shack in which “There’s always room for one more!”

It’s 96 degrees in here. I’m currently squished between 15 staffers who are squawking about how “We need to change page seven to page five!” and “Where are those pictures I asked for?” and “Oh, my God! I just lost all my pages!”

At the beginning of the year, junior Chardonnay Needler and senior Sahej Claire designated a day to clean the Cave. I contributed by picking out a roach smashed in between the space bar and Alt-key. Private schools provide a life of luxury.

Instead of going home with paint splatters on my hands, I go home with bloodshot eyes from staring at a computer screen.

But the thing about taking a ceramics class is that you can’t change a person’s life or a community’s understanding of a subject through a little bowl. As far as I know, the world’s revolutions were rarely brought together by a spicy-looking vase.

Worst of all, ceramics is not taught by Patricia Fels. If it were, students would likely be overwhelmed with snippy comments from their adviser. But they’d also have the great fortune of associating with the smartest, most fearless person I know.

But I must say that I’m thankful for those who know me well enough - the Octagon staff - that this is no longer a shock.

After my three years on the Octagon and countless hours spent writing, editing and being not-so-productive at paste-up, the staff has become a little more like an incredibly dysfunctional family.

Despite the numerous arguments and shouting matches we get into, we somehow still manage to pull it together and produce content that we’re all proud of.

I am so grateful for the immense amount of time and effort that the staff dedicates to every part of this publication. They truly embody the facets of good journalism, and I can’t wait to see where they all go.

I have learned so much over my three years, not only about writing and journalism but about leadership, communication, collaborative effort and above all - the power of a collective voice.

But without adviser Patricia Fels, I never would have learned so much, and we never would have accomplished all that we did. As much as we joke about calling her “Edna,” she really does embody the character’s dry wit, blunt honesty and sincerity, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

So to both Fels and the staff, for all of the great times and wonderful memories: thank you.

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Backpage • June 6, 2018

The Octagon

Farewell, Fels: longtime Octagon adviser is ‘out of here’ Travel along her professional journey, from Stanford graduate to retiring teacher

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fter 41 years of teaching at SCDS, English teacher Patricia Fels is retiring. This means an end to what many students may be familiar with - such as her infamous class tangents, endless allusions to Adam and Eve and plethora of black-cat knickknacks scattered throughout the room.

It’s also the end of a time dear to a far smaller group of students:

the Octagon staff.

Fels, who’s been the newspaper’s adviser for “as long as there’s ever been an Octagon,” has directed the publication from its beginning in 1977, when it was full of AP-style errors and plagued by atrocious design (as she admitted herself ), to its current form, in which the entire staff mourns the mistaken inclusion of an Oxford comma.

With her retirement, it’s the ending of an era.

So while the standard retirement story focuses on what the person plans to do once the year is out, this is a special circumstance - this is a tribute to the person who made the Octagon what it is today. And a proper tribute starts at the very beginning.

STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY MOHINI RYE

(Fels’s lucky pen)

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Patricia Fels, at the time still a Stanford graduate student with some teaching experience (she had taught three English classes at Palo Alto High School, to be exact), had a job interview with former headmaster Clayton J. “Pat” Tidey to work at SCDS in the spring of 1976.

It didn’t go too well - or so she thought.

“When the interview was over, I walked out thinking, ‘Well, I’m not gonna get that job,’” Fels said.

Fels is rarely wrong, but she was this time.

Following the interview, Tidey invited her to come look at the campus officially.

And while she drove right past the school on her first visit (in Fels’s defense, she said it didn’t look much like a high school at the time - more like a “bunch of junky buildings in a group”), she was still hired to start working in the fall when she was 22. And she would stay at Country Day until her retirement at age 64.

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Although she always stuck to English classes, Fels has taught seventh graders all the way up to seniors.

However, she said that she did have her favorites (and least favorites) when it came to classes. According to Fels, seventh grade was “not the best fit.”

“They were too young - they didn’t get my sense of humor,” she said. “They would forget a pen, and I would say, ‘Well, that’s an F for the week,’ and they’d burst into tears!”

For that reason - among others - the juniors were more to her liking. Not only did teaching juniors allow her to teach AP Language and Composition (which she said she prefers to the senior AP Literature and Composition), but it also didn’t involve dealing with second-semester seniors.

Other than teaching English classes, Fels also had several other jobs throughout the 41 years, such as being a college counselor for 18 years and the literary magazine adviser for four years (when it was called “Nepenthe”).

Arguably, her biggest job outside of her English classes started when the Octagon published its first issue in the fall of 1977.

Fels had been editor-in-chief of the yearbook when she was in high school, but since Stanford didn’t have a yearbook, she resorted to joining its newspaper, The Stanford Daily - a pivotal point for her future.

“Ultimately, I realized that I was much better suited to work on a newspaper,” Fels said. “Yearbooks have so much design to them.”

Fels said her background in journalism was partly why she was hired; Tidey made starting middle and high school newspapers an element of her job.

And while the middle school newspaper has been passed around to multiple advisers, Fels kept advising what came to be known as the Octagon for the rest of her career.

(Gigi, her “kitty cat”)

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Being Octagon adviser led to a fair share of successes and disasters - too many of each to count, but enough to recall some of the best and worst.

First, the disasters. One of the most significant took place in 1982-83, when Fels quit after an issue over a car-accident story.

“A lower school kid got off the (Country Day) bus and started to cross the street and was hit by a car,” she said. “It was a minor injury, nothing serious.”

However, then-headmaster Tidey said that the Octagon couldn’t run a story because he was worried a parent might sue.

“Ridiculous! If they were going to sue us, it wouldn’t have been because of an Octagon story,” Fels said.

And so Fels quit - or tried to, at least.

“I left school in the middle of Octagon, but it was weird,” she said. “(Tidey) just didn’t believe me.”

It turned out to be a happy ending: Tidey’s daughter, Ashley, ’83, who was editor-in-chief, convinced her dad to let the story run, and Fels stayed on as adviser.

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As for retirement plans, the list so far is short. First is a not-yet-finalized trip to France for the 100th anniversary of the World War I Armistice since Neukom has always been fascinated by the war.

(They plan to brave the November weather.)

However, too much traveling is out of the question.

“We can’t leave the kitty cat at home all the time!” Fels said.

Other than travel, Fels mentioned that she has an approximately four-foot stack of New York Times Sunday editions to read through.

“I’ve always promised Dan that I’ll go through each one once I reach retirement,” she said.

Other activities on her to-do list include sleeping more (especially without the looming threat of papers to grade) and learning to cook better (although Fels maintains that she is already a “decent cook”).

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Ultimately, in the more than four decades that Fels has been at the school, it’s become entwined with her personal life. Not only did she meet her husband, former history teacher Daniel Neukom, when she first came to work at SCDS, but she also made countless friends (both former students and faculty members) through the school. “(Almost) all my friends come from Country Day or someone we met through Country Day,” she said. “It’s incestuous.”

But now that her teaching career is finally coming to an end, Fels said that what she’ll miss most is the interaction with students.

“The way that I keep track of how the world is changing is through being around you all,” she said. “I really like to know that I’m keeping up in a certain way.”

Fels also said that she’ll miss performing the graduation skits.

“Graduation is the first time since eighth grade that I’ve sung and people have had to listen to me,” she said.

9 Fels’s food of choice:

“Honestly, I have no hobbies except for reading,” she said. “And there’s only so much reading you can do in a day.”

She said she’s considering signing up to be a listener for audio books to catch mispronounced words, but, as she pointed out, “Some of the books would be absolutely dreadful.

“And, really, who would want to put themselves through listening to bad books?”

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But there were also golden moments in Octagon history, such as when the staff won its first National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award in 2002.

“There were years before that I didn’t even enter (the Pacemaker competition) because I thought we weren’t good enough,” Fels said.

“But that year we entered, we became finalists, and we won.

“We didn’t win another Pacemaker for 10 years, but that was incredibly exciting because I always thought the advisers who won Pacemakers were like gods.”

Of course, Fels said that she also had her favorite memories outside of the Octagon, such as when her juniors scored 11 5s on the AP Language and Composition exam in 2015-16.

“That was really quite a pinnacle,” she said.

Several years later, in 1987, there would be a time when Fels thought about quitting the Octagon “for real” due to the stress of caring for twin daughters (Francie and Kelly, both ’04) while working.

“I just didn’t know if I could do Octagon on top of everything else,” she said.

However, fate was not on her side when it came to passing on the job.

“The reality was that - shocker - no one else wanted to be Octagon adviser!” Fels said.

She was later convinced to keep the job after being given an additional free period to lessen her workload.

Lamentations aside, maybe fate was working in favor of the future Octagon, which would have been irrevocably changed, or even nonexistent, had Fels really quit.

FELS’S TOP FIVE...

CLASSROOM PET PEEVES

BOOKS SHE’S EVER READ

WAYS TO AVOID GRADING PAPERS

1. Dropping metal water bottles 2. Checking cell phones 3. Chatting with a friend 4. Talking during movies 5. Eating * - especially when it smells good

1. “Atonement” by Ian McEwan 2. “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro 3. “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett 4. “The Accidental Tourist” by Anne Tyler 5. “Angle of Repose”

by Wallace Stegner

1. Reading with the cat 2. Doing laundry 3. Cleaning the bathroom 4. Going on a run 5. Reading tweets (or “checking my Twitter posts,” as Fels said)

* @ junior Joe Zales

(Honorable mention: playing Solitaire on her cell phone)