Octagon 2024-25 Issue 1

Sacramento Country Day School celebrates 60th anniversary

BY KATE BARNES

In 1964, the year of Sacramento Country Day’s founding, the school had 14 students enrolled, ranging from age six to age fourteen. In 2024, 60 years later, the student body has grown to 598 students across 14 grades. Events are planned throughout this year to celebrate the school’s

60th anniversary and its growth.

Since the school’s 50th anniversary in 2014, sweeping changes have occurred. These include growing enrollment, new policies enacted, and, futurewise, the administration’s plan to build a new performing arts center in the middle school.

According to Head of School Lee Thomsen, the school’s 60th anniversary celebration is not expected to be as large as the 50th. He

and the administration plan to honor the anniversary by way of several small events.

“We’re going to try to piggyback on some other events that we already scheduled,” he said.

Some of these include the Founder’s Day Picnic taking place on Sept. 14 - the day the school was founded.

In addition to the annual auction being 60th anniversary-themed, the chalk mural

high school art students will be creating on Oct. 4 will also reflect this milestone. The mural is anticipated to incorporate a collection of past themes, with students crafting various sections inspired by different chalk murals made throughout Country Day’s history.

Some of these past chalk murals include

Country Day institutes new policy, banning phones in classrooms

BY ANISHA MONDAL

Inspired by the book “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, the Sacramento Country Day administration implemented a new phone policy for the 2024-25 school year. This policy states that teachers collect all high school students’ cell phones and smartwatches at the beginning of every class period.

Due to the increased misuse of social media throughout the teenage community, the staff collectively agreed to eliminate phones from class to allow for more productive use of time.

CAMPUSCORNER

HOMECOMING

On Oct. 5, Sacramento Country Day is hosting the annual Homecoming Dance. The dance will be held in the High School Quad from 7-10 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided. The theme is Disco Fever, and tickets are $30 on the week of Sept. 23-27 and $40 from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

After reading Haidt’s book, Head of High School Brooke Wells learned about how the rise in the teenage mental health crisis was directly connected with an increase in social media usage.

“The fact that students are always connected to their phones means that they’re not connected with the world,” Wells said. “We want to reconnect them to the world.”

Some students believe that the policy is unsuitable for addressing excessive social media use. Upon reviewing the faculty’s email about the policy, senior Simon Lindenau noticed some shortcomings.

“For high school, the reason why we have this new policy is because of inap-

CLASS TRIPS

From Oct. 7-11, high school students will be going on their annual class trips. Freshmen students will be going to South Lake Tahoe, Sophomores to Greenhorn Ranch and the Juniors to Ashland. Seniors will have on-campus college workshops on Monday, Oct. 7 and Tuesday, Oct. 8.

propriate social media use,” Lindenau said. “I don’t understand how removing our phones during class is supposed to combat this social media issue.”

To solve the issue regarding excessive phone usage, Lindenau proposed that it would be more appropriate to have teachers take away phones from students who are using them during class. The student would then be able to retrieve their phone after class ends.

Since the implementation of the new policy, Wells has noticed a change in students’ attention spans.

“Students seem less distracted. When I put my phone in the cubby, I find myself

much more connected to the class compared to when I have it in my pocket,” Wells said.

Junior Ava Dunham has also noticed her ability to focus improving while following the phone ban.

“I know back when I had my phone in my backpack, I would feel vibrations and I would panic over whether I was getting an important email or text. In the end, my mind would wander,” Dunham said.

She has also noticed an increase in participation level overall in some of her classes. With fewer distractions in class, PHONE POLICY

INSIDE ISSUE the TIKTOK VIRAL SONGS REVIEW

Read a review critiquing TikTok’s most viral songs of the year.

(PAGE 11)

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIKTOK

BAXTER BIRTHDAY High school students pose with

Country Day’s anniversary. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARA SHIN

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Ava Eberhart

Saheb Gulati

Zema Nasirov

Garrett Xu

COPY EDITORS

Eesha Dhawan

Saheb Gulati

Ryan Xu

NEWS EDITOR

Aaryan Gandhi

FEATURE EDITOR

Eesha Dhawan

SPORTS EDITOR

Andrew Burr

A&E/OPINION EDITOR

Kate Barnes

TECHNOLOGY TEAM

Ava Eberhart, manager

Daniel Holz

Rebecca Lin

PHOTO EDITOR

Rehan Afzal

PAGE EDITORS

Rehan Afzal

Andrew Burr

Jesse Dizon

Ava Eberhart

Aaryan Gandhi

Ava Levemore

Anisha Mondal

Anika Nadgauda

Zema Nasirov

Garrett Xu

BUSINESS STAFF

Aaryan Gandhi, manager

SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF

Ava Eberhart, co-editor

Anika Nadgauda, co-editor

REPORTERS

Noor Alameri

Lukas Chung

Ava Levemore

Vivian Li

Parsiny Nijher

Maggie Nuñez-Aguilera

Jacob Rabe

Jack Robinson

Maddy Schank

Zachary Vando-Milberger

Andrea Yue

Ryan Xu

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rehan Afzal, editor

Simon Lindenau

Anika Nadgauda

Zema Nasirov

MULTIMEDIA STAFF

Ryan Xu, editor

Andrew Burr

Jesse Dizon

Anika Nadgauda

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Claire Gemmell

Anika Nagauda

Zema Nasirov

Gavin Wang

ADVISER

Andrea Todd

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

Mural dedicated to late alum Diane Mark Frost, ’76

BY AVA LEVERMORE

Vibrant sunset colors and wildlife fill the high school campus’ new mural, designed to reflect the inspiration behind it: Sacramento Country Day alumnus Diane Mark Frost, ’76.

Country Day high school students were commissioned by alumni to create a mural in memory of Frost, who passed away from cancer in March 2023.

Frost attended Country Day from fifth through 12th grade, graduating in 1976. She attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to study ballet. Frost later went on to receive a degree in information technology.

The mural was requested by former Country Day alumni, who wanted to pay tribute to their friend in a lasting way.

An unveiling of the new mural took place on Aug. 2.

Amy Wells, ’98, Associate Director of Advancement for Country Day, said Frost’s friends who were Country Day alumni reached out to request a mural memorializing Frost, who was known for her love of California and Arizona landscapes, Wells said in an email.

“These friends are spread out across the country, and their time here on our campus is what still ties them together. So doing something with Country Day was a way to celebrate that connection,” Wells wrote.

Frost danced in numerous Nutcracker performances, including one with the Sacramento Ballet.

“The mural, depicting Frost dancing, speaks to her identity as a ballerina — an art and discipline that inspired her throughout her life. As a lifelong athlete, Diane exuded strength, determination, resilience and tenacity,” wrote Wells.

Seniors Mia Crowder and Kaitlyn Dias, AP Art students, drafted a proposal for the mural and presented it to Head of School Lee Thomsen. In this proposal, they created a budget and showed the mural design.

After a proposal for the mural was accepted by Thomsen, Crowder and Dias teamed up with art students Sylvia Valverde, ’24, Juliette Zuniga, ’24 and Claire Gemmell ’26 to get to work.

Gemmell created the design for the mural.

“I had a few drafts of what I wanted it to look like, and I landed on one. I took a picture of those sketches and put them into Procreate,” Gemmell said.

Procreate, an editing app, allowed Gemmell to overlay images and parts of her sketches.

The projector then cast her digital design onto the wall at night so the artists could sketch it.

The sketch depicted Frost dancing

across the Arizona landscape with flowers and butterflies surrounding her.

Starting the last couple weeks of school and continuing to the beginning of early August, the group would paint.

It was a bonding experience for the artists.

“The mural fostered conversations and connections that I wouldn’t have been able to have without it. It brought us together,” Gemmell said. “I made long-lasting friendships.”

According to Crowder, everyone intuitively knew their roles, and through the process, they not only collaborated but also bonded with one another.

“I think it was incredible that our team of multiple artists with different art mediums could paint one big picture together,” Crowder said.

The process of making the mural was tedious yet rewarding for the artists. At times they would be stressed about the proportions of different areas of the mural, but in the end it all turned out beautifully. They would keep each other focused while still having fun, Gemmell said.

“I feel proud, and I think it really adds a new space on campus because it is so bright and colorful,” Gemmell said.

When the painting was finished, an unveiling ceremony was held, where various Country Day faculty members, students and alumni came to look at the mural.

Junior Morgan Hansen describes the unveiling ceremony as dramatic and emotional.

“We had these boards from the art room where we made a walkway, so you couldn’t see the mural immediately when you walked in. So it was like a surprise,” Hansen said. “Mia gave a speech, and the alumni who commissioned the mural were almost in tears.”

Many plans for the area around the mu-

ral are still yet to come.

The Environmentalist Club plans to plant hot pink flowers that bloom often.

The artist's plan is to expand the area around the mural by including a collaborative seating area with tables for eating and studying together, landscaping with hydrangeas and other greenery, and ceramic butterflies like those in the mural, but continuing along the fence for a visual effect.

The lower school students will be asked to glaze the ceramic butterflies, adding to the sense of community imbuing the mural area. It was an honor for the artists to be able to create art in such a meaningful and lasting way on Country Day’s campus, said Gemmell

“The school and the community is important to me and it was really nice just to know that I have made my mark and hopefully helped to create a more inclusive socialization space too,” Crowder said.

Latest Phone Policy: Reducing Distractions in Class

(continued from page 1)

students are more attentive and no longer need to fabricate participation, Dunham said.

Dunham noted that removing cell phones from classrooms could benefit students academically, especially since students have different learning styles.

“Although I can’t say that it’s benefited my academic performance, if you’re someone who is good at absorbing mate-

rial in the classroom, having less distractions could definitely help improve your academic performance,” Dunham said.

The primary inconvenience Dunham has noticed with this policy comes with leaving her phone in her previous class.

“Sometimes I’ve left my phone behind in my last class and since our phone is so tied to us because it’s important and expensive, there’s always a moment of panic. And sometimes I have to wait because another class period has already started,”

she said.

As a stepping stone to help the Country Day community grow closer together and avoid the harm of social media, the faculty hopes to continue and adapt the policy accordingly.

“There’s a lot of conversation about total cell phone bans,” Wells said. “But to me, this phone policy seems like the right move for our community.”

BRUSHSTROKES OF REMEMBRANCE Sylvia Valverde, '24, adds final touches to art mural in honor of Frost. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIA CROWDER

A MEADOW OF BUTTERFLIES The second art mural illustrates Frost in a meadow surrounded by nature. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIA CROWDER

The Octagon wins 21 awards, wins general excellence in CA

BY MADDY SCHANK

In February 2024, The Octagon submitted articles published during 2023 for the California News Publishers Association’s California Journalism Awards, a statewide competition honoring California print news. The results were announced on July 13.

The Octagon won the most awards in the campus publications division, competing against colleges as varied as Santa Rosa Junior College, San José State University and Stanford University, and won more awards than The Sacramento Bee.

In the “Columns” category, Ishaan Sekhon, ’24, won first place, senior Aaryan Gandhi won second place and Lauren Lu, ’24, won third place.

In the “Enterprise News Story or Series” category, senior Ava Eberhart won first place, senior Saheb Gulati and junior Zema Nasirov won second place and senior Garrett Xu and junior Rebecca Lin won third place.

In the “Coverage of Student Government and Campus Administration” category, Samhita Kumar, ’23, and Garrett won first place and Garman Xu, ’23, won third place.

In the “Profile Story” category, Lu won first place and Eberhart won third.

In the “Writing” category, Lu won first place, Eberhart and junior Eesha Dhawan won third place and Lu and Gulati won fifth place.

Junior Rehan Afzal won first place in the “Feature Photo” category and second place in the “News Photo” category.

Adam Akins, ’23, and Nasirov won fourth place in the “Sports Action Photo” category.

Brynne Barnard-Bahn, ’23, won first place in the “Illustration” category and Lu won fifth.

The Octagon won first place in “Online General Excellence” under the management of Siri Atluri, ’24, Eberhart, Lu and Garrett.

The Octagon also won first place in “General Excellence” under the management of Garman, Akins, Kumar and Simone DeBerry, ’23, earning The Octagon a $1,000 prize.

Overall, the publication won 21 total awards, including five additional firstplace prizes, one second-place award, three third-place awards, one fourth-place award and two fifth-place awards.

Eberhart, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Octagon, won two first-place prizes and two third-place prizes.

Eberhart helped select article and photo submissions from the 2023 academic year alongside former Co-Editor-in-Chief and

Lu as well as current Co-Editors-in-Chief Garrett and Nasirov.

“We just wanted to get a diverse selection of stories, get a lot of names in there, a lot of people on our staff and just whichever ones we felt got a lot of interaction from our community,” Eberhart said.

After the initial process, they reviewed their choices with the rest of The Octagon’s staff before submitting the selected pieces.

Five months later, the results were announced. When The Octagon’s staff were notified of their awards at bootcamp, Eberhart was proud of her fellow staff. “It was Lauren, Garrett and my first year being EIC’s, and it was kind of scary going into it. So it was really validating knowing that we did something right,” she said.

Andrea Todd, adviser for The Octagon, was also excited by the staff’s success.

“It was my first year as adviser. I had no clue what to do. Ava did all the work and walked me through the process. Still, I was a proud momma bear when I saw that award tally,” Todd said.

60th Anniversary: Baxter is now officially a senior citizen

(continued from page 1)

last year’s myth-inspired mural, 2019’s climate-themed mural and the 2017 mural dedicated to Japanese animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.

A notable change recalled by students and faculty is the difference in class size compared to 10 years ago.

The most growth has occurred in the high school, from 115 students in 2014 to 182 in 2024, a 58% increase in a decade. Crucially, the school changed its use permit four years ago, allowing for this increase in size.

According to Head of High School Brooke Wells, the greater number of students has increased the number of course offerings.

“It allows for more computer science, more upper-level humanities, and more upper-level math classes because there’s more kids to take those classes,” he said.

Extracurriculars have also improved due to having more members. Wells mentioned the recent formation of the boys’ volleyball team, as well as the growing music and musical theater programs.

“Things like that are a function of having

more kids who are all into the mission,” he said.

Contrastingly, lifers (students who have attended Country Day since kindergarten) do not necessarily support this growth, citing lack of physical space and strains on individualized education. Senior Zealand Schroeder is one of those.

“There’s an upside and a downside because you don’t get as much attention from the teacher, but it’s nice to have a bigger class,” said Schroeder, who has attended Country Day since kindergarten.

Senior Cara Shin, a Country Day student since Pre-K, added that some teachers struggle with large class sizes and not enough space.

“I’m not sure if we have the facilities and amenities to handle all those people,” she said.

Thomsen agrees.

“The biggest challenge we’re facing is about space, physical space,” he said.

As a solution, Thomsen detailed how the school is working on a capital campaign that will build a two-story building where the middle school ‘L building’ and multi-purpose room currently are located.

The building will include a performing arts center, updated art room and space for the mu-

sic program, in addition to more classrooms.

“That will give us a lot more classroom space for kids. Right now, we’re really, really maxed out in terms of it. We’re using every inch of possible space for classrooms or offices,” Thomsen said.

Construction on the building is estimated by Thomsen to start in the summer of 2027 and be completed by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year.

These plans for the future reflect the expansion of the school ten years ago in 2014, when the middle school center for science, mathematics and technology opened to students according to the school’s website. By 2034, Country Day’s 70th anniversary, the campus will have been expanded significantly twice.

Outside of the school’s growing need for more space, a change specific to this year that was not necessary just a decade ago is addressing AI and technology. Speaker Dino Ambrosi, founder of Project Reboot, an organization promoting healthy tech relationships, has been invited to speak on the topic.

One Country Day keystone that has not changed, however, is the school’s sense of community, according to Wells and Shin. Both said

that in their combined years at Country Day (21 years for Wells and 14 for Shin), it has been the thing they appreciate the most.

Wells in particular said that he appreciated the school’s mission in addition to the community.

“The way everyone buys into that mission of being compassionate and creative, smart and critical thinking, I like the way that it all comes together,” Wells said.

Shin added that the community made her feel at ease, especially with her teachers.

“I truly know and feel comfortable with most of my teachers, just either talking to them in person or writing an email to them about anything,” Shin said. “I just feel really comfortable at this school.”

Similarly, high school English teacher Jane Bauman said that she appreciates the academic freedom, identifying it as a constant throughout her 22 years at the school as a teacher.

“One of the things I’ve loved about working here is that I have so much input,” she said.

“And that’s just really cool.”

“It makes it a great place to teach.”

RECORD AWARD Junior Rehan Afzal wins first in Feature Photo, and senior Garrett Xu wins first in Coverage of Student Government and Campus Administration, among others.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Seniors Ava Eberhart, Saheb Gulati, Aaryan Gandhi and Garrett Xu and juniors Zema Nasirov and Eesha Dhawan pose with their awards. PHOTO COURTESY OF CECI DEBERRY

BIRTHDAY PICNIC On Sept. 14, Country Day hosted the Founders’ Day Family Picnic in celebration of Country Day’s 60th Anniversary. PHOTO BY REHAN AFZAL

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

This past summer, the high schoolers and faculty of Sacramento Country Day engaged in a shared literary experience by reading “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers.

This science fiction novel explores themes of self-discovery and connection through the journey of Dex, a tea monk, and Mosscap, a robot.

This summer reading has sparked contrasting opinions and intriguing discussions on campus.

The Octagon asked two teachers and two students — English teacher Jason Hinojosa, Head of High School

Brooke Wells, junior Rya Allen and senior Ash LaPlaca — to share their favorite parts of the book, critiques and lessons they learned.

Q: What was your favorite part of the book?

Hinojosa: I really enjoyed the conversations between Sibling Dex and Mosscap. There was something so innocent and earnest about their exchanges, like they were each eager to understand the other, despite — or perhaps because of — their significant differences.

LaPlaca: My favorite part of the book was probably when Dex has a big breakdown and realizes they have no idea why they are even doing this whole journey. Mosscap has to comfort them the best it can by holding Dex’s hand and giving them whatever “warmth” or comfort it can provide.

I enjoy this scene because it gives us more insight into Dex as a character. We learn why they became a monk in the first place, which was just so cute. It also shows a vulnerability that I think was always lurking near the surface but had never had a chance to get out before.

The dam that held all of their bottled-up frustrations, anger, sadness, anxiety and fear were finally let free.

Allen: My favorite part was probably the ending. It really tied the entire book together when Dex and Mosscap swapped roles, with Mosscap serving tea to Dex.

Wells: I just really like the idea of a team monk. I think that it is really interesting that you just go and have tea with people, and

LaPlaca: I honestly did not have a part that was my least favorite, but if I had to choose one, I would say the part where Dex hasn’t really figured out how to be a tea monk yet. I only say this part because of how awkward it was and how much second-hand embarrassment I felt. When the woman they were trying to comfort started to try and give them advice, I just felt so bad for Dex.

Hinojosa: There wasn’t anything I really disliked about the book. I just wished it had been longer and gone deeper into the world the author had built.

Allen: My least favorite part was most definitely the background. I’m not good with stories involving worlds alternate to ours (like with different continents like Panga) or the ideals of that world. In general. I don’t enjoy much fantasy.

Q: What lesson did you take away from this book?

LaPlaca: Human beings are always striving toward something, even if we don’t know what that thing is. It might be crickets chirping, a new purpose, a new home, a new job or simple happiness.

I also learned that one cannot usually achieve these things without the company of someone else to help them along their way.

Being present with others can have a proudly positive impact on both you and the other person — or other being, in the case of Mosscap.

I think so, and it kind of leads directly to you guys and our theme this year of attunement. It brings up the question of how do you connect. Just all those questions about what really makes something real versus not real.

Q: How do you think this book relates to Sacramento Country Day’s community?

Hinojosa: I think we do a pretty good job of listening to one another and caring for people who need care. I think we can do better, and this book felt like an encouragement to do so.

Allen: I think this book correlates to Country Day with how our community treats each other with respect and is supportive of one another, like the relationship between Dex and Mosscap.

Q: Is there a lesson you hope others will take away from this book?

Hinojosa: Slow down. Be still. Hold space for other people. Hold space for yourself.

Allen: I hope others learn from this book to treat others with respect and as equals, and to go after whatever it is you want, even if it’s crickets.

LaPlaca: I hope other people take the lesson that you never have to always know your purpose, even when other people are trying to tell you what you’re meant to be, meant to do, meant to say, meant to wear. You have to figure out what makes you happy and what fulfills you. Nobody is the same, not everyone fits into the same boxes. I also want people to take the lesson that they don’t have to go through everything alone. Find a shoulder or two to lean on and trust — they will make what seemed like an impossible journey seem simple.

Wells: Yes, I mean it’s why we have advisory teas now. The idea of taking a moment for yourself, and just be for a minute, and then think about what makes you satisfied. There’s this world of ours and it goes so fast, so what makes you feel complete?

STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANIKA NADGAUDA

fall sports preview

Boys’ Varsity Soccer

BY ZACHARY VANDO-MILBERGER

The Sacramento Country Day boys’ varsity soccer team began its season on Aug. 27, with a 5-3-1 record, currently sitting in third place in the Sacramento Metro Athletic League. The team, featuring a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, aims to build upon their last playoff appearance and strive towards more improvements throughout the season.

Head of the athletic department, Matt Vargo, hopes the team will improve this year regarding multiple skill factors, regardless of their score or placement in the league.

“Our goals are to try and get better every day, individually and as a team,” Vargo said.

Senior Andrew Burr, co-captain of the boys’ varsity soccer team, believes the team will be able to make it to the playoffs with the drive and dedication of new players.

“I think a realistic goal for the team this year is winning the championship game. We’ve got a pretty good team this year,” he said.

To reach the championship, the team must conquer roadblocks that Burr hopes they will push past.

“One of the biggest weaknesses that we’ve had in previous years is a lack of communication both on and off the field,” Burr said.

With the addition of 6 freshmen to the team, both Vargo and Burr agree that this skill will take time to build. Along with communication, Burr sees potential in the new ratio of seniors to freshmen, which creates a balance that will hopefully help the team improve.

“The leadership of seniors and the skill of underclassmen will create an interesting dynamic where we can be successful,” he said.

The team will play against Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy on Sept. 24 at Country Day.

Cross-Country

BY JACK ROBINSON

Every Monday and Friday afternoon, Sacramento Country Day’s cross-country team meets at Cordova High School to train their stamina and pace in above 100 degree weather. With the start of the season, changes in personnel have shifted preparations and goals, as three new runners join the team and a star runner drops out of the race.

Cross-country coach Joe Hartman hopes to aid the athletes in realizing what they are capable of, as he loves to see everyone on his team experience a degree of success.

“It’s a realization the athletes obtain by doing what they didn’t think was possible at the start of the season.” Hartman said. “We love to have success stories at the front of the pack and the back of the pack.”

Senior Wyatt Hall, a veteran of the cross-country team, hopes to place at state finals again this year and continue improving his running time. Though in respect to the season, Hall believes the team is at somewhat of a disadvantage since senior Andrew Burr’s sudden injury, a clean break across his right shin bone.

“Our best runner broke his leg, and we’re such a small school that without him being able to run, we just don’t have the numbers to have a very competitive team,” Wyatt says.

Hartman believes that Burr’s injury could be a lesson learned of overcommitment,

since he was competing in soccer simultaneously.

Though Hartman still sees him as a strong competitor.

“No one will rehab with more conviction than Andrew,” he said. “There are some great things ahead of him this spring and at the next level.”

Hall says that while the team is much smaller than a typical cross-country team, he thinks that this could still be a great season for individual progression.

“I think individuals can still have an absolutely incredible season,” Hall said. “Sophomore Jacob Rabe and freshman Carly Townend; they are both really good, and I think they’ll do really well this year.”

As the team prepares for the obstacles that lie ahead, Hartman believes in his team’s capabilities and looks forward to a season spent preparing for the league championships

The first cross-country meet will be held on Oct. 30 at Sacramento Adventist School.

Girls’ Varsity Volleyball

BY MAGGIE NUÑEZ-AGUILERA

Midway through the season, the girls’ varsity volleyball team is navigating through a season of adaptation. This year’s team has the largest ratio of underclassmen to upperclassmen in Sacramento Country Day varsity volleyball history, with a ratio of 5-to-4.

Despite the overwhelming amount of underclassmen on the varsity team, specifically freshmen, both Physical Education Department Chair Jason Kreps and senior Cara Shin, co-captain of the team, agree that this is anything but a weakness.

“It’s one thousand percent an opportunity for growth. I think the freshmen are so good that sometimes I expect too much from them, and I have to take a step back and be like, ‘Cara, they’re freshmen,’” Shin said.

Kreps said that with the team’s inexperience comes the need to work on the fundamentals of the sport itself.

To combat this challenge, Kreps hopes to integrate activities outside of volleyball practice into players’ routines.

“Just last Friday, I took them all to the Sacramento State volleyball game. They watched D1 volleyball so they’re able to see an example of what they could be,” Kreps said.

For the team’s success, Shin and Kreps agree the team will have to address one of the team’s greatest weaknesses: communication.

“Communicating with each other on the court is really essential to a team, and it’s something that we’ve been struggling with for a while now,” Shin said.

New varsity player, sophomore Kimberley Yin, agrees, and adds that it is important to understand other teammates’ habits and play styles in order to function as a team.

“It’s a team sport — you can’t really do anything by yourself. It’s important to know your teammates and

communicate,” Yin said.

Looking forward, Kreps and Shin have set unique goals for the rest of the season. Kreps’ ultimate goal is to let the team focus on collectively growing at the sport and striving to reach their full potential, regardless of whether they win or lose.

“I just want them to play to the best of their abilities and grow in the sport,” Kreps said.

Shin, on the other hand, is driven by a clear competitive goal — making it to playoffs. As she aspires for the team to push their limits and prove themselves as strong competitors.

Both Kreps and Shin are hopeful for the team’s improvement and a great volleyball season, as displayed in the team’s first league win against Valley Christian Academy on Sept. 12, 3-0.

Despite some early challenges, the varsity girls volleyball team remains determined to improve their game and strengthen their communication skills with every practice.

“I think we have a lot of room for improvement, but we’re going to do great in the later season,” Yin said.

With the young team eager to grow, they show promise for a competitive and exciting season as they work hard to reach their full potential.

The next varsity girls’ volleyball game will be held on Sept 26 against Cristo Rey High School at Country Day.

PHOTO BY SIMON LINDENAU

Aurora Cardenas

Despite Sacramento Country Day’s Latin program being projected to phase out in upcoming years, new Latin teacher Sabrina Gluch wants students to view Latin as an “eternal” language that will never truly disappear.

Gluch Green Spaces, New Faces: Meet

Besides Vatican City, no country has established Latin as their official language, making it less valued than other more spoken languages, such as Spanish.

However, Gluch believes that this is what makes Latin eternal.

“It transfers so much from the past; so much knowledge — philosophy, geography, all the thoughts that people back then had: their culture, their habits, their food, their sports and their political systems,” she said.

Gluch is also fascinated by all the information taught to people by ancient authors. She loves how most texts from even ancient Greek culture are preserved through translations to Latin.

“Translated works from Greek philosophers like Plato are really important for study and complex in knowledge,” she said.

Originally from Hamburg in Northern Germany, Gluch studied the required course of Latin for eight years in the Bavarian school system.

“Latin reminds me of an attorney with a structured, clear personality,” she said.

In the 2000s, Gluch’s childhood dream urged her to study medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. However, Gluch ultimately chose to study civil and criminal law simply when medicine wasn’t available as a course.

She ended up loving her study of law and enjoyed learning about people’s rights and fears in society. She holds a Master’s degree specialized in Information Law.

After meeting her husband online and sharing numerous video calls, Gluch moved to the United States for marriage and a new experience.

Gluch was prepared for teaching in the U.S., having taught German at BlueDomain, an online non-profit platform, to people from all over the world. She enjoys meeting people from other countries and getting to

New Sacramento Country Day Spanish teacher Aurora Cardenas believes that shaping young minds is the most important job in the world.

For Cardenas, languages are integral.

“When you can speak a language that someone else can speak, you can reach people that way,” she said.

After Cardenas graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2021 with a master’s degree in Spanish, her original goal was to find work as a college teaching assistant. However, she found it difficult to do so.

She initially ruled out public high schools, having had bad experiences with student behavior, violence, vandalism, stealing, bullying and a lack of discipline on the school’s part when her daughter was in a public high school. Instead, she taught Spanish at Natomas Middle School for a year before transitioning to elementary school Spanish at Ambassador Learning Academy for a year and Whispering Pines Christian School for two years.

After a semester teaching in the lower school at Country Day last year, Cardenas found herself drawn to the school’s community.

“It’s so peaceful, it’s so friendly, it’s so nice. There is kindness everywhere,” she said.

Cardenas loves the community-building activities at Country Day.

“It’s what the parents do. All these treats that they bring to the high school, these little things, and the lunches,” Cardenas said. “This is a luxury compared to other places.”

know them. The highly structured grammar of Latin also built for her a base to learn English in the U.S. at a quick pace.

Arriving at Country Day made her realize she has a greater passion for teaching compared to legal work.

Despite only teaching Latin for a few weeks at Country Day, she finds her students eager to learn.

“They’re all great kids. They all have their foundation, but I wasn’t the teacher that taught them this foundation.” Gluch said.

She spends a lot of time figuring out all of her students’ levels to adjust the way she teaches. Her main goal is to help them reach their full potential and bring them to a point where they can succeed on the AP Latin exam.

Freshman Zandra Stern enjoys her class.

“She’s very adaptive,” Stern said. “Also, she’s a German lawyer. That’s just a cool description in the first place.”

Stern finds people from other countries who know other languages and are involved in other cultures more interesting. She views Gluch’s long journey of becoming a lawyer worthy of respect.

Despite all the high regards of her former career, Gluch finds working as an attorney to be dry and mind-based, as she has to deal with a lot of papers, files and writing.

Meanwhile, Gluch finds teaching more fulfilling as she is able to interact with people, which to her is more rewarding than the more solitary nature of her previous career.

“I’ve ended up in the right place.” Gluch said. “So far, I really can say that I did not have any bad experience at all.”

Outside her work, Gluch researches topics that interest her, such as history. She loves learning about the past, peoples’ histories and the way they dealt with things.

In her years in Germany, Gluch was highly into Gothic fashion. She loved the late eighteenth-century’s style of dresses with corsets and even created her own to sell.

Cardenas has always aspired to teach older students, so when a position to teach high school Spanish opened up at Country Day, she determined that it was a perfect fit.

“I like to reason with my students. I like to explain things. I like to make my students think critically all the time,” she said. “I don’t like to have students learn like robots.”

Outside of teaching, Cardenas has a passion for travel.

Having lived and worked in Spain, Germany, Brazil and the United States, she has developed a philosophy of learning from the people in each place and adapting that to her life. She then carries that with her to the next place.

“I take the positives, learn from them and apply them,” Cardenas said. “Every country has very different things.”

For Cardenas, travel is not only a hobby but also an educational experience.

In July, she traveled as part of a medical mission in Tanzania, seeing more than 4000 patients in 15 days. This experience led her to believe that humanitarian work gives valuable perspective.

“To have that consideration toward others is, to me, more valuable than gold, more valuable than anything,” she said.

To Cardenas, travel even outside of humanitarian work is just as valuable.

“I love to learn. I love to learn other cultures. I love to know other people, and to learn their languages,” she said.

Sabrina

“Sometimes I still use those dresses that I made for Halloween because they’re much better than what you can buy from a store.” Gluch said.

In addition, crocheting is one of her most significant passions during her free time. She learned it from her grandmother, who survived World War II in Poland and earned money knitting and crocheting during the war.

Crocheting offers a mindless and therapeutic way for Gluch to relax and clear her mind. She particularly enjoys crocheting altering patterns as it allows her to bring her focus totally onto the work through counting the stitches.

So far, her most grand piece is her round table doily, which took up to weeks to perfect.

“Crocheting brings me in at the moment and it looks nice. I’m already bringing my kids into it.” Gluch said.

Meet the New Teachers

Caroline Hersh-Rodeen

The shuffle of footsteps fills the English room as students place their sticky notes, covered with interpretations of the day’s lesson, on the board. With each note, the difference between wage and gift economies becomes clearer through the diverse perspectives in the classroom of Sacramento Country Day’s new English teacher, Hannah Hohle.

For Hohle, the best aspect of teaching English is hearing the various ideas and perspectives when discussing class books.

Hohle grew up in a rural Japanese village, roughly two hours away from Kyoto. Because of the relative isolation, Hohle spent much of her time outside with her siblings and writing, typically stories about her cat, Saba.

Hohle then moved to the east coast when she was 9 years old. In 2010, she attended college at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in American studies.

In 2012, she went abroad to study in Hong Kong for her junior year of college. Hohle moved to Washington D.C. in 2014 and earned her master’s degree from Lesley University in 2016.

She returned to California to teach other teachers and work as a teaching consultant at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. As Hohle wanted to be an English teacher all her life, she taught English at Marin Academy for

Ever since she was a young girl, Caroline Hersh-Rodeen, Sacramento Country Day’s new computer science teacher, has been passionate about STEM subjects — it runs in her family.

“My dad was a computer engineer so I was exposed to it early on,” Hersh-Rodeen said. “And then math, I just always liked it. It made more sense than English to me.”

Hersh-Rodeen remembers there only being one woman, a secretary, in her dad’s entire office. Witnessing this, she felt an even stronger passion toward computer science, specifically in trying to encourage other females to join the field.

“I didn’t see women in computer science or women in math really heavily, and so I didn’t really know that that was a thing that I could do until I got to college,” she said. “As far as a teaching influence goes, I think it’s just trying to be visible as a woman in STEM.”

Hersh-Rodeen teaches AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles and Pre-Calculus Honors.

So far, her students are impressed.

“I really love the energy that she brings to every class,” junior Ava Dunham said.

Dunham takes AP Computer Science A and believes that Hersh-Rodeen has created a unique environment.

“She definitely makes it very inclusive. She tries to help everybody as best as she can. It’s great,” she said.

Although Hersh-Rodeen has been teaching for 11 years, it wasn’t always on her radar.

“At first, I thought I’d want to go out in the real world and do math, computer science and also environmental science because that’s another one of my passions.”

Her first job after college was as the education and National Public Lands Day programming intern for National Environmental Education Association.

There, Hersh-Rodeen worked with teachers and environmental educators nationwide to develop curriculum and materials promoting getting kids outdoors and interacting with what she calls “the natural

four years before moving to Sacramento, where she now teaches English 10 at Country Day.

“I wanted to find a new school where I could continue teaching, and Country Day seemed like a welcoming place,” said Hohle.

In her free time, Hohle mainly watches the NBA and the WNBA, although she doesn’t play basketball herself.

“I could talk about basketball for hours,” Hohle said.

As a Sacramento Kings fan, Hohle loves the community and energy at basketball games, as she feels it is a good way to connect to others.

“Basketball is very immersive. Once I’m watching, I’m so focused and so present,” Hohle said.

In addition to basketball, Hohle also loves rock climbing.

Hohle started rock climbing in 2018 and now climbs at least three times a week. She does indoor climbing at Sacramento PipeWorks, a rock-climbing gym.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rock-climbing gyms started shutting down so Hohle decided to start running along trails in Marin County, inspired by the many runners in the school she used to teach at, Marin Academy.

“I’ve run a few half marathons and I’ve also done

world.”.

“It wasn’t until I was working probably five or six years when I was like, ‘I think I want to work with kids,’” she said.

Hersh-Rodeen previously taught at Cristo Rey High School in Sacramento and would drive past Country Day on her way to work.

“It wasn’t until I caught a part of a boys’ basketball game two years ago that I’d realized Country Day had a high school and looked up the website,” she said.

She got serious about teaching at Country Day when it was time for her daughter to start preschool.

“I was really looking for a small, awesome environment for her to start school. I started looking at Country Day for that, and then noticed that they had a computer science job,” she said.

Hersh-Rodeen decided to apply mostly because she desired a good school community for herself and her family, and was especially drawn to Country Day after meeting Head of Science Department Kellie Whited.

“She showed me that this is the kind of faculty and community that can play with each other in a caring way,” she said. “This is the kind of place where people belong and have fun with each other.”

Aside from computer science and math, Hersh-Rodeen enjoys birding and accompanying her daughter to playgrounds and swimming pools. She also enjoys gardening.

“I think gardening is sort of my therapy. I feel like, as human beings, especially in the world we live in now, we’ve gotten so separated from dirt,” she said. “I feel so much better after I’ve been out in the sunshine for a few hours than if I’ve been stuck inside or just looking at a screen.”

Hersh-Rodeen is focused on giving students sufficient preparation for important exams in both computer science and pre-calculus. She believes that anyone can succeed given the opportunity.

“I think just being sort of present and being like, ‘Hey, look, you can do this too.’ It’s cool. Even just showing up to make it an inviting place for people of all types, all genders, races and ethnicities.”

shorter races,” Hohle said. She is currently training for the California International Marathon, which takes place on Dec 8. She hopes to finish the race in under four hours.

Ceramics is another hobby of Hohle’s.

“It’s a really great way to release some creative energy, especially after a stressful day at work,” she said.

After completing a ceramics course at a community college in Marin, Hohle soon found ceramics as a way to relax and unwind.

“I would make vases, little sculptures like persimmons, and mugs for tea and coffee,” Hohle said.

Hohle is currently looking for a new ceramics studio after moving to Sacramento.

One of Hohle’s favorite books to teach is “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui, which is an illustrated story about Bui’s parents’ life during the Vietnam War and their escape to the United States.

“There’s so much analysis you can do by looking at visual language,” Hohle said.

Hohle likes Country Day’s friendly atmosphere and small number of students, as she feels like she is able to get to know all of the students better.

“My goal for my English classes is to make everyone feel confident as writers and to feel like they belong.”

Hannah Hohle

“No

EDITORIAL: Seniors request class trips instead of “senior week”

Senior class trips died with the graduation of the Class of 2023.

Instead of solidifying bonds we’ve created with classmates and traveling to unique places as we did in our freshman, sophomore, and junior years, as seniors we are expected to use the time to work on college applications and to take the SAT.

They call it “senior week.”

With this change, there has been a growing demand to bring back what many seniors believe they deserve: class trips.

In a May 27 Octagon poll, 96% of 27 students in the rising senior class requested the return of senior trips.

For the Class of 2025 in particular, prior class trip experiences have generally been negative.

“I remember we didn’t get a trip in freshman year, and sophomore year was more of a struggle than an actual trip,” senior Imani Thiara said.

During the 2021-22 school year, the current senior class did not have a trip due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, Country Day implemented a lackluster “Fun Week” with activities typical of County Day’s Fall Family Festival (movie nights, picnics, games) which ran only three days. Hardly eventful.

Although Country Day had limited options considering the COVID-19 guidelines, it doesn’t account for the poor destination choice for the Class of 2025’s sophomore trip: Death Valley.

“We spent nearly 13 hours on a bus. It’s different if we spent 13 hours making wrong turns and ending up at Disneyland, but Death Valley’s a place where you spend 13 hours to see nothing for miles,” Thiara said.

The best part of class trips is class bonding, whether a stu-

dent is making new friendships or building upon existing ones.

For senior London Hoffart, the junior year trip to Ashland, Oregon serves as a perfect example.

“I’ve definitely gotten closer with people that I’m already friends with because we spent so much time together. Even now, we still have inside jokes from that trip,” Hoffart said.

To better benefit the college application process, Hoffart suggests that senior week gets moved to the summer. This provides more time to write essays without the intrusion of school work or other extracurricular commitments.

“I personally started writing essays in mid-July just so that I wouldn’t feel behind when the school year started. But, I don’t see much value for a senior week in October because a majority of my essays will be done for the Nov. 1 deadline,” Hoffart said.

Although a summer senior week would be more beneficial, Director of College Counseling Alicia Perla poses logistical issues.

“When I hosted the University of California (UC) and Common Application workshop for seniors, faculty wasn’t required to be on campus up until the first week before school,” Perla said. “So, it’s almost impossible to have a senior week during the summer.”

Along with logistical concerns, Perla said this year’s schoolday SAT also falls into senior week. In essence, the reestablishment of a senior class trip eliminates the opportunity for seniors to take the SAT in time for results by the Nov. 1 college application deadline.

However, the main reason senior week was put in place instead of class trips was to alleviate students from the stress of college applications, according to Perla.

“With the last class that had a senior trip, I heard that several students weren’t really focused on being present for the trip because they were working on college applications,” Perla said. “Well, students would still attend plays, but a couple of them would go find a coffee shop to work during their free time.”

Ishaan Sekhon, ’24, a member of the first class to have senior week instead of a trip, said he would’ve preferred a trip in October. Additionally, Sekhon was able to finish all of his applications, applying to 28 colleges.

“It’s one last year to have that kind of bonding experience with your friends,” Sekhon said. “My class was especially disappointed because we had a history of getting ripped off for trips.”

Now, as the Class of 2025 try to enjoy their last year of high school, they’re also tasked with the last major part of the college admissions journey.

With that being said, it’s important to emphasize taking necessary breaks for fun. Sure, there’s senior sunrise and other school traditions, but the bonding that comes from class trips is unparalleled, ultimately raising morale for the rest of the school year.

Quite frankly, a non-optional senior week is unfair to students who are ahead in the process or satisfied with their SAT or ACT scores, and have the option to use that week to bond with friends. It’s more effective to let seniors decide if they want to go on a trip or stay back to work and take the SAT. After all, as seniors near adulthood, they will need to deal with similar decision-making responsibilities in the very-near future on their own.

EDITORIAL: Self-regulation of phone use instead of phone ban

This year, Sacramento Country Day joined the growing number of institutions across the country introducing new restrictions on phone use.

This represents a profound change to the status quo, as phones have become ubiquitous tools in our daily lives — including school environments.

A 2023 study from Common Sense Media found that 97% of students aged 11-17 use their phones during school hours for an average of 43 minutes each day, receiving a median of 237 notifications, many of them during class.

That constant stream of notifications has long been a concern for schools. In a survey by Pew Research, 72% of high school teachers identified phones as a “major problem” in the classroom.

Schools are now, finally, taking action. Under Country Day’s new policy, phones are collected at the beginning of each class, and students can only access them during specific times, like breaks and lunch.

The goal here is clear: to remove distractions, foster focus and, ultimately, improve our ability to engage with our curriculum.

But has it worked? And more importantly, given how hard such policies are to enforce, is banning phones really the best way forward?

On one hand, there’s the legitimate concern that phone usage, especially during class, interrupts focus and reduces engagement. It’s not just about Instagram notifications or text

messages — it’s the constant mental pull to check your device, which many students have felt.

But there’s more to the story.

After all, phones can be useful tools, whether for note-taking, accessing online resources or using educational apps.

Our phone ban, while preventing us from using phones, also prevents our parents from reaching us. Given the growing concerns over school safety and the rising number of school shootings, this isn’t a trivial worry.

In fact, it was compelling enough to make New York City revoke their phone ban in 2015, citing parent concerns as a key reason.

It’s also easy to think that banning phones is a silver bullet for our collective distraction problem — but a ban impacts more than just parent communication.

There is a profound opportunity to use these formative years to help students develop healthier relationships with their devices. Shouldn’t school be a place where we learn how to balance our usage in a way that’s responsible and mindful? Otherwise, we risk letting badly adjusted students into a workforce that won’t be so strict in its policing.

However, in a world where the status quo for phone usage at school is becoming unacceptable, phone bans do remedy some issues.

Senior Saheb Gulati has come to appreciate some aspects of the ban, as he finds a strange sort of relief in not having to worry about managing his own screen time.

“Before the ban, I remember constantly thinking about the opportunity cost of what I could be accomplishing or doing on my phone during class,” Gulati said. “Now, there’s a sense of freedom — a standardizing effect not too dissimilar from school uniforms — in knowing that everyone is in the same boat, without the distraction of our devices.”

Although phone bans may lift the burden of responsibility from students around device usage, it cannot be seen as a perfect or permanent solution.

While it has helped curb distractions in the short-term, it’s not teaching students how to self-regulate. Restricting phone use may be necessary right now, but we should also consider how to help students build healthier relationships with their devices in the long-term. If Country Day’s goal is truly to prepare us for life beyond school, learning how to manage our phone usage responsibly should be part of that process.

But one thing is clear: we can’t afford to ignore the digital revolution happening in our school. Especially as new technologies like AI become more prevalent, staffulty will need to carefully navigate the tradeoffs of different technologies at school.

For now, phone bans may be a necessary evil, but the real challenge will be teaching students to manage their devices in ways that enhance, rather than detract from, their learning and wellbeing.

Senior Trips” by Claire Gemmell

MY ANGLE: Improving my public speaking skills changed my life

BY ANIKA NADGAUDA

During the first Mock Trial practice of my freshman year, all students were assigned to give a short speech in front of the rest of the team. My name was called first, so I stood up and went to the front of the room.

After I said about three words, I dropped my paper and ran out of the room, my heart beating faster than ever.

My whole life, I have struggled with social anxiety and public speaking, and learning to get past it was the best thing that happened to me.

The fear of public speaking is also known as glossophobia, and if you struggle with it, you aren’t alone. According to a Forbes article on public speaking, many famous individuals including Mahatma Gandhi, Harrison Ford and Thomas Jefferson all suffered from glossophobia.

Pushing myself into activities such as Mock Trial that require public speaking is one of the main reasons why I have improved so greatly.

My freshman year, I cried before every trial in Mock Trial, and constantly had panic attacks during class presentations. My heart would beat fast, my vision would get blurry, I would get cramps in my hand and I would hyperventilate and cry.

Now, I am able to confidently stand up in the front of a courtroom and speak calmly.

As a sophomore, I had to give a 10-minute presentation on a topic I spent an entire semester researching. I expected myself to be a nervous wreck before my Sophomore Project presentation but I truly wasn’t and it felt like a breeze.

Of course, this is a difficult process for many, including myself, as it is a state of mind that you have to work hard to change.

First, you must identify the root of your nervousness when speaking in front of others. For me, it was my anxiety.

Although my anxiety has never fully disappeared, I have learned how to grow around my anxiety and lessen its intensity.

I have found it incredibly helpful to meditate and control my breathing for 30 minutes before I have to go up and speak publicly. I also try to exercise before I have to do something that makes me nervous to use up all of my extra energy that would otherwise translate to anxiety.

I also find it incredibly helpful to practice several times with an audience. I start off by practicing in front of a mirror, then my parents, and finally in front of my friends. I like to ask them for constructive criticism, so that when I go up to give my presentation I know that I have tried my best to make it as good as possible.

But there are also many ways to decrease your public speaking anxiety. Personally when I’m speaking in front of an audience, I often imagine that everyone is wearing funny costumes, or sometimes I pretend no one is even there.

After developing better public speaking skills, my grades have gone up due to improved presentation skills, my confidence has increased and I have improved significantly in Mock Trial.

My mental health has skyrocketed after I stopped worrying so much about what everybody else thought of me.

I have two older sisters who both work at professional jobs and the advice they have constantly given me is that my public speaking abilities is what will set me apart from others. Honestly, from watching them grow and tremendously succeed in the professional world, I agree with them.

Whether it was pitching volunteer ideas for my scout troop or advocating for myself in front of teachers, I have found that the more confident I was the more seriously I was taken.

It is my belief that without growing past my anxiety revolving around public speaking, I would not have won Most Valuable Player on my Mock Trial team, or gotten my Silver Award for scouts.

I know that finding ways to improve your public speaking is difficult, and Mock Trial isn’t for everyone. However, there are so many ways to start small and build up from there.

During English class, you can try to volunteer to read passages of the book every once in a while. Once you feel comfortable doing that you can start raising your hand to answer questions in math or science classes.

You might think that just because your future career does not involve public speaking that it’s something you can avoid forever. In reality though that’s not true.

In order to get basically any job you will need to go through interviews with several people, and if you don’t have good speaking skills you just won’t get the job. In college you are going to have classes where you will be required to answer questions or speak in front of everyone. What are you going to do then?

Even outside of the professional world you will need good public speaking skills. What are you going to do when it’s your best friend’s wedding and you are meant to give a speech? Back out? Run away in the middle of the speech? It’s so much better in the long run of your life to just start young and work on addressing the issue head-on.

In today’s world, networking and connections often leads to success, and that’s only possible through public speaking. The ability to stand in front of a group of people and tell them your ideas in a concise and confident manner is something everyone should learn to do.

So take those opportunities that you were too scared to do, read that poem out loud and answer that question about electron configurations.

ADVICE: College decisions and breaking hoco traditions

BY ANONYMOUS

This advice column responds to questions shared by Sacramento Country Day students anonymously. To submit, send a question to the Google Form sent out on Sept. 5. Responses are not guaranteed, but all submissions are welcome.

Q: I’m feeling an incredible amount of pressure from my parents and friends to attend an Ivy League or other top university. Everyone seems to believe that Ivy Leagues are the “golden ticket” to success. Are they actually? How do I deal with this pressure and figure out what’s right for me?

For the past few weeks, Sacramento Country Day’s high school quad has echoed the same questions:

“Is my SAT score high enough for Ivies?”

“Should I join Mock Trial for a better shot at Harvard?”

“Will my future be ruined if I don’t get into Yale?”

With seemingly every turn, the conversation of college is inevitable. The truth is that college season is here, and it’s very real. As fellow high schoolers, we want to let you know you’re not alone.

The sheer weight of expectations of those around us is enough to make anyone doubt their future. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to chase after these prestigious names, especially when everyone around you seems to treat an Ivy League acceptance as the ultimate measure of success.

But before you get swept up in the frenzy, take a step back and ask yourself if the Ivy League schools really are this “golden ticket” to success.

No.

Yes, these schools offer excellent resources, networking opportunities and brand recognition. However, admittance does not guarantee automatic happiness and career fulfillment.

That’s why it’s more important to ask yourself: What does success mean to me? Is it just about prestige and status? Or is it about finding a place where I feel inspired, challenged and able to grow into the best version of myself?

That being said, you must understand the pressure you’re receiving from family and friends is not out of spite; it’s the opposite. The pressure comes from a place of love and tradition, but their vision of success might not align with your goals and passions. And that’s OK!

Dealing with the pressure starts with understanding that your worth is not tied to a name or diploma. For goodness sake, you’re a whole person! You have a whole life and purpose! I can guarantee you that your life and purpose is not tied to getting into a prestigious college that your grandpa’s friend’s friend’s cousin knows about.

If you really feel like it is, it’s time to separate their expectations from your own desires. Take time to explore what truly makes you happy. I urge you to go find what makes you excited and what makes you mad. If deriving crazy, brain-altering Riemann Quadratic Calculus formulas makes you ecstatic, find a university that offers an environment for you to explore your mathematical passion. If a certain socioeconomic policy or topic makes you furious, find a university that shares your mission of social change.

The bottom line is that if your ideal path doesn’t lead to an Ivy, that doesn’t mean you’re settling or missing out. There is

nothing to miss out on if that path was never meant for you to begin with.

Once you figure out what you want in life, don’t back down. Have a conversation with your family; explain that while you appreciate their enthusiasm for prestigious schools, your choice should reflect what fits you academically and socially. Be confident in your decision, whether it’s a small liberal arts college, a state university or yes, even an Ivy League, if that’s where you truly feel you belong.

Just know that whatever choice you make, your friendly anonymous Advice Column writer will always support you. It’s most important to pick a school where you feel you belong most — mentally, academically and personally. You know yourself best, so when you let go of others’ expectations, you’ll find the clarity you need to figure out what’s right.

Q: The homecoming dance is coming up and there’s someone I want to go with. He’s popular so I’m worried he’ll go with someone else, especially since I’m really shy. Would it be weird if I asked him to go with me since usually it’s the guy who asks the girl? What should I do if I were to ask them out?

It’s 2024; don’t let outdated traditions hold you back. Gone are the days when only guys asked girls to dances. If you’re interested in him, there’s nothing wrong with taking the initiative.

In fact, confidence can be really attractive. While stepping out of your comfort zone might feel scary, this is a chance to show him that you’re the confident and genuine person we

know you are.

That said, it’s important to approach the situation thoughtfully and carefully. For starters, ask said person face to face. Asking someone in person is far more effective and genuine than sending a text or using social media, giving you a better chance of success.

Speaking of success rate, let me let you in on a secret: boys love when girls go the extra mile to put thought into something special just for them

You could make your crush feel special by incorporating a thoughtful gesture. If you know his interests, try to personalize your approach. For example, if you’re good at baking, make him some homemade cookies or brownies. Or if he’s into a hobby that you both share, consider crafting something related like a basketball-themed friendship bracelet or drawing characters from his favorite movie.

When the time comes to ask him to be your homecoming date, try to allot a private moment where you can have a relaxed conversation with him alone — maybe in the school garden or at the lower school swings during lunch.

It’s important to remember not to bring your friends when you ask him, and hopefully he doesn’t either. Keep this special moment just between the two of you. You don’t want to put him on the spot in front of others, as it might make the situation feel awkward for both of you.

At the end of the day, if you chicken out, other chicks will get to him first, so don’t let fear or tradition stop you. Be confident, be yourself and he’ll fall head over heels for you. Good luck!

“Will You Be My Hoco Date?” by Gavin Wang

Mendocino Farms

Can food be healthy and still taste good? With various food items that include vegan choices, Mendocino Farms offers an array of options for different palates. Mendocino Farms also boasts a four star rating on Yelp, so I was eager to walk into this restaurant and eat some delicious food. I went to the one located on Fair Oaks Boulevard — a four-minute drive from school. With the distinctive cow located above the bold logo-branded Mendocino Farm’s sign, it is not hard to miss. After taste-testing several dishes, I found that four menu items stuck out — for better or for worse.

Peruvian Steak

If I were to describe this sandwich in one word, it would be bold. The Peruvian Steak sandwich shocked me with the punch it could pack in just one bite. On the surface, it just looks like a normal sandwich, but the flavors of the juicy, spicy marinated meat hits, followed by the refreshing taste of lettuce, tomato and sweet red onion. Although the bread is toasted I did not really feel a strong crunch. The real crisp of this sandwich comes from the onions that are generously placed between the two buns, adding to the fire of the marinated steak. I would say without it, the sandwich would not taste as complex. This sandwich is an amazing option for spice lovers! I would order this again, but it wouldn’t be my first choice because I am not that great at handling spice.

The aroma of pickled veggies and meat filled the air around me. Memories of eating the pickled sandwich after school with my mom and sister started to rush back to me as I stared at Mendocino Farms’ take on the Banh Mi. The sandwich is different compared to the traditional Banh Mi, and is made using ciabatta, instead of the Vietnamese baguette, and has grilled pork cube slices, instead of thin slices of meat. Nonetheless, this sandwich was nothing short of amazing. The crunch of the sandwich creates this nice texture that lays the groundwork for the juicy flavors of the pork and pickled flavors of the veggie to come through. The smell of the grilled pork hits you before that first bite, and the flavors seem to all work in harmony to make the almost perfect sandwich in my opinion. Although there are many differences from the original, I would say that the take on this sandwich is still pretty close to the traditional Banh Mi taste. I will definitely order this again.

Farmer’s Market Pesto Salad

Refreshing shades of green leaves, red bell pepper, and orange carrots are the first thing that catches the eye while taking a glance at the Farmer’s Market Pesto Salad. Fresh mozzarella decorates the salad, while the smell of fresh basil and pesto lingers on top of the refreshing taste of the vegetables, working in harmony with each other. Within the harmonies, the lettuce added a nice crunch, while the pillow-soft pearled mozzarella added a nice creamy touch to this flavorful piece of culinary art. Honey-roasted almonds added sweetness and complemented the lightness of this salad. The pesto isn’t overpowering in this dish, and works with the other ingredients perfectly. The taste reminded me of my mom’s salad she would make for me and my sister, giving me a familiar sense of home and comfort. If I were to recommend a salad from Mendocino Farms, I would recommend this limited edition salad, and due to it being so unforgettable I rated it a five out of five stars.

Mama Chen’s Chinese Chicken Salad

In a word, basic. It tastes like the whole salad was marinated in cashew nuts, making it a nutty mouthful. The fried wonton bits added a nice crunch and texture to this salad. The chicken breast was moist within the first few chews, but shortly after it tasted like the meat was sort of dry. I think that this outcome was a result of the chicken being overcooked. All of the ingredients went well together, but they didn’t make for something memorable or impactful to the tastebuds. Like the “Not So Fried” chicken sandwich, Mama Chen’s Chinese Chicken Salad is missing something, an extra flavor to help it deliver a bigger punch. Unlike other homemade Chinese chicken salads that I have tasted before from family friends, this salad was not as vibrant or colorful as they were, and did not live up to my expectations. Due to falling short in taste, I gave Mama Chen’s Chinese Chicken salad three out of five stars.

STORY

BY JESSE DIZON; GRAPHICS BY AARYAN GANDHI AND GARRETT XU; PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIZON

Mendo’s Original Pork Belly Banh Mi

Viral Beats or Empty Feats?

Popularity isn’t always measured by talent when it comes to viral songs. Making a song go viral on TikTok depends on external factors like who uses it and how well it works with trending dances/memes, often leading to popularity even if a song lacks musical quality. So, here’s the real question:

Are viral TikTok songs any good?

Sure, a song needs to sound somewhat good if it wants to go viral. However, it feels like the distinction between good and bad music has become practically non-

existent. This influx of subpar, yet viral, music threatens to degrade the standards of the music industry as a whole.

Just imagine a world where making money doesn’t require talent — is that what the future of music looks like?

Fortunately, most of the songs reviewed here were musically acceptable. However, the popularity of most songs stemmed more from the trends associated with them than from their inherent quality.

STORY BY JACOB RABE; GRAPHICS BY ANISHA MONDAL; PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIKTOK AND SPOTIFY

“Makeba” was first used for a TikTok of Bill Hader’s dancing in a Saturday Night Live episode. However, the song has stayed popular not just because of the meme, but because it has been used as a soundtrack in countless TikToks. Creators generally use trending songs in their TikToks in hopes of getting more views and money — even if it’s unrelated to the context of the video.

Despite this, listening to “Makeba” transports you to a completely different world. The subtle, jazzy trombone solo initially sets a slower-paced mood, yet the listener’s expectations are immediately slashed by the introduction of a groovy, almost growling bass line and melody. The repeated strumming of the guitar harmonizes with the chanting vocals, bringing in a sound unique to the current music industry.

The lyrics reference Miriam Makeba, a South African singer and civil rights activist against apartheid (racial segregation). Jain dedicated the song in her honor, inspired by her legacy and determined to make her known among future generations.

Despite the song’s uniqueness and homage to Makeba, there is one fatal problem with the song: It quickly becomes painstakingly repetitive.

The groovy bridges between the chorus (which are the only redeeming qualities of this song) do not make up for how jarring the repetition is. The constant “Ooohe” goes from novel to flat-out grating, and each repeated “Makeba” genuinely drives me insane. (The name “Makeba” is repeated 41 times in four minutes!)

Listening to “Apple” reminds me of those old-school, ’80s disco songs — much like the song “Let’s Get Physical” by Olivia Newton-John, which has an upbeat, high-energy feel similar to “Apple.” The simple yet catchy theme is accentuated by an electric, groovy bassline accompanying the pulsating synths.

Though the lyrics sound innocent, Charlotte Aitchison (known professionally as Charlie XCX) sings about her intergenerational trauma with her parents. The lines “I split the apple down symmetrical lines / And what I find is kinda scary” may resonate with listeners; Aitchison realizes that she is half of each of her parents, and thus, carries all of their flaws and issues.

Once the song had gone viral after a dance created by social media influencer Kelley Heyer in a TikTok, everyone — from “Roblox” to Aitchison herself — flocked to film themselves dancing to the song.

Although the lyrics may resonate with those struggling from intergenerational trauma, the song’s repetitive chorus quickly loses its charm and originality. The line “Drive, drive, drive, dr-dr-dr-drive” in the second chorus can be jarring for some listeners, especially since it serves to interrupt the main melody in the second chorus.

It’s touching to see an artist show a vulnerable part of themselves through music, yet the song still lacks the aspects it needs to stand out completely. I’m not saying that the song is bad, it’s just difficult to deny that it may be another generic pop song with a slightly different beat.

“Symphony” by Clean Bandit (feat. Zara Larsson) has one of the most unexpected resurgence stories on this list. Originally released on March 17, 2017, its renewed popularity came from a TikTok by @heiratet that went viral on Aug. 18, 2024. The TikTok showed a dolphin jumping out of water with the contrasting caption “I’m depressed”. Because of its unusual dark humor, this viral meme pushed the song to the No.1 spot on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. “Symphony” explores the grief of a man who loses his loved one in a bike accident. Words like “rhapsody” and “radio” repeat frequently, emphasizing the use of music terminology in expressing their feelings.

The song begins with a simple synth melody, followed by soft, reverberating vocals that sing alongside the orchestral strings in the background. At the climax, the song fuses electronic beats with orchestral strings, creating an illegal combination that unexpectedly works.

This song is simply beautiful in comparison to the other songs on the list. The way the violins mimic the vocals in the chorus, and the way a note can be heard repeating on the line “And now your song is on repeat” — it’s just interesting to see so much detail packed into a song. Even so, “Symphony” falls short of achieving a perfect rating.

While its blend of classical and electronic music is creative, it ultimately doesn’t push the boundaries of the EDM genre enough. Nevertheless, “Symphony” remains a memorable track.

After Tommy Richman teased “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” on TikTok, the thirteen-second snippet quickly racked up over six million views. Once fully released, the song became the soundtrack for nearly every TikTok imaginable, which I believe is for good reason.

“MILLION DOLLAR BABY” introduces the song with a low, looping vocal track. Being a haunting yet hypnotic introduction to the song, it quickly draws the listeners in. But it’s that ridiculously funky melody in the bassline that dominates the song from start to finish. With the melody that lies in the bass, Richman conjures a spell that lures in the listener with its grooviness. That spell is completed once Richman’s almost trademarked sound is introduced, which hits you like a truck when fused with the bass. An off-beat staccato synth line enhances the original bassline, clashing harmoniously with falsetto vocals that fluctuate in octaves

Fortunately, Richman brings a more wholesome meaning to his vocals — singing about staying out of trouble to protect the music career that’s worth a million dollars to him.

The song revitalizes the music industry with something completely fresh, fusing retro-inspired instrumentation into a modern pop song. With all of its greatness, the song could potentially hold the title of Song of the Summer for many people, all while still containing unconventional aspects, like the use of a cowbell. This song is difficult to get tired of, so it definitely deserves all of the fame it’s gotten.

Q: Why did you choose to attend Sacramento Country Day?

A: The academics, the class sizes and mainly, the community. Community is very important to me. If you have a strong community of people who aren’t afraid to talk to each other, then you can develop good high school relationships with other students who are not just within your grade.

I chose Country Day because it also reminded me a lot of my middle school, so I knew I would be a good fit here.

Q: How was your previous school different from Country Day?

A: Country Day is more of an outdoorsy school. At my other school, a lot of our classes were indoors. Here we have lockers outside and we eat outside.

At Country Day, you interact with other grades more. You get more opportunities to do so in electives like the school newspaper.

Q: Do you have any hobbies?

A: Basketball is my favorite hobby. I’ve been playing it since I was 7 non-stop. My dad played basketball in high school and my family just likes basketball in general.

I remember playing my first game when I was in second grade. My dad put me in it, and I remember really liking it. That’s when I started watching the sport a lot more, and I thought of it more as an interest, rather than a sport.

Q: What is one cool fact about you?

A: When I was eleven, I was playing basketball and I tripped and fell and shattered my knee. My knee is fully constructed. So if you see my knee, I’m like, half cyborg. If I get an x-ray, or if I go through security, it beeps because of the metal inside of it.

Q: Do you have any extracurricular activities?

A: I dance at Musical Mayhem Productions in Elk Grove. We do various genres of jazz and ballet. I have dance class every day of the week except for Fridays after school.

I am also a part of the school yearbook, Medallion. I am excited to start taking yearbook photos and writing stories. I enjoy interacting with children and cannot wait to write about the lower schoolers.

Q: Why did you decide to come to Country Day?

A: I wanted to attend a school with a greater academic reputation. I wanted to go to a smaller school because I wasn’t in love with going to a bigger school.

One difference between the two schools is the student spirit. People here are more welcoming and there’s a lot of bonding time given.

Everyone here is dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves. Everyone has a goal and that’s what I think is different from my other school.

Q: Are you looking forward to anything this year?

A: I’m looking forward to joining the tennis team this year. Joining a school sports team will be a new experience for me. I’ve been playing tennis for about five years inconsistently. Tennis is my family’s sport, so everybody plays it. I learned how to play it through my parents.

Q: Did you do anything special this summer?

A: I went to a summer camp, Skip’s Music Stairway, where I was able to join a band called the Busted Plug as the lead singer and guitarist.

We performed together in Roseville. We mostly performed pop, rock and punk music. It was my first time working with this group of people. I’m planning on continuing that camp next summer and I’ll have the opportunity to work with a new band.

I’ve been singing for most of my life and I’ve been playing the guitar for almost three years now. I used to take lessons but I stopped taking them due to time constraints.

This year, I joined the Garage Band here at Country Day as a guitarist. Hopefully, I’ll get to choose songs that I like. We’ve already chosen the songs for this semester but maybe next time I’ll get to help choose some.

Q: Why did you decide to attend Country Day?

A: Country Day was closer to where my parents work. It was originally a 30-minute drive, but we recently moved closer to this school. My mom got a few recommendations from other parents who have sent their children here and we heard it was a good school.

Freshman Parsiny Nijher previously attended Merryhill Midtown Middle School in Sacramento.

Freshman Caroline Fung attended Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School in Elk Grove before joining Sacramento Country Day.

Freshman Harriet Agyeman previously attended the Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts Academy in Natomas.

Stories by Eesha Dhawan, Ava Levermore and Anisha Mondal; Graphics by Andrew Burr; Photos by Rehan Afzal