Vol. 44, Issue 2

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The

November 9, 2018

Knightly News

p. 7 ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Wows Audience

p. 8-9 Letters to the Editor: Extended Time

p. 13 Volleyball Back-to-Back Champs

Tim Hornor: American Veteran, History Scholar Darren Rosing Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: Tim Hornor

Veterans Day is a national holiday observed annually on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to people who served in the United States Armed Forces, such as Pace Upper School’s History Department Chair Tim Hornor. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors all veterans of the armed forces – living or dead.

The American holiday originated as Armistice Day and was celebrated around the world to commemorate the end of World War I. In recognition of the first Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to Americans on what the holiday means. “To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory,” he wrote. The name was changed in 1954 to Vet-

Tim Hornor poses at age 23 in front of his HumVee in Korea. According to Mr. Hornor, he “was the first person to ever get a flat tire in a HumVee.” eran’s Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Mr. Hornor was involved with the U.S. Army dating back to the beginning of his college years, as he served in the

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) as a student.

After his sophomore year of college, he completed his basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, proceeding to Air-

want assemblies than we have time to fill,” said Mr. Gannon. “I have to make a bit of a judgment call on what it is and where it fits.”

Often, Pace’s leadership addresses topics that are relevant and significant. On account of past events, Pace has hosted several mental health speakers, addressing common problems and solutions. Usually led by upper school counselor Sara Eden or sponsored by Pace’s Student Advisory Board, these assemblies are designed to raise awareness of student issues and how to cope with them.

On Oct. 19, SAB arranged for Happy Tails, a pet therapy organization, to visit Pace. After teaching the community how pets provide physical, social and emotional support for all ages, Happy Tails brought dogs for students to pet during the lunch period.

“Issues of diversity are always a priority for us,” said Mr. Gannon. The Pace community has thus engaged in a variety of diversity and inclusion assemblies, including digital content producer Omar López Thismón’s story of being Puerto Rican and

growing up in the United States, a celebration of Diwali with Bollywood dancing and traditional Indian foods, as well as Herschel Greenblat’s Holocaust survival story. These assemblies are intended for the student body to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures as well as to foster empathy. “It was really interesting and meaningful to hear a first-hand account from someone who experienced all the horrors of the Holocaust,” said sophomore Emily Butler.

Isdell Center for Global Leadership Director Trish Anderson also requests time for assemblies to deepen students’ understanding of the ICGL theme for the year. Through videos and other introductions, Ms. Anderson and the ICGL scholars worked hard to prepare the community for Jeff Goodell’s energy conservation assembly on Sept.

24. “I enjoyed Jeff Goodell’s presentation because he taught us about current world problems and how we can fix them,” said freshman Meghna Singha.

While speakers like Mr. Goodell discuss crucial issues in our society, engaging the whole student body is some-

borne School at Fort Benning in Georgia after his junior year of college. There, he also completed Ranger School. “Ranger School is an incredibly grueling experience,” said Mr. Hornor.

“While I was there, I averaged roughly 41 minutes of sleep a night, ate one dehydrated meal a day, and walked around 20-30 kilometers a day for two and a half months.”

Army Rangers spend their time in Ranger School pushing their minds and bodies to the limits so they can eventually lead soldiers on highly difficult missions.

After college and training, Mr. Hornor began his service at Fort Lewis in Seattle. There, he served in the 2nd Infantry Regiment, which was the only motorized infantry division of the Army at that time.

“After my time there, I was selected to go over to Korea and serve in the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment over the DMZ, which was the most forwardlydeployed unit in the free world,” said Mr. Hornor.

The DMZ is the Demilitarized Zone that has separated North Korea and South Korea since the end of the Korean War and the signing of the Korean

(Continued on page 2)

Assemblies Expand Academic, Cultural Horizons Abby Meyerowitz Opinion Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Abby Meyerowitz

With a cappella groups, puppies and even multi-cultural dancers taking over the FAC stage each week, you might mistakingly think Pace has become its own Cirque du Soleil. Through Pace’s Wednesday morning assemblies, the community gains a broader worldview unattainable from inside the walls of a classroom.

Whether these assemblies are entertaining or educational, the community gains a new perspective on different cultures, ideas and the world.

Planned and organized by Head of Upper School Mike Gannon, the assembly calendar for the entire school year is booked solid. Along with certain required assemblies, including the dean of students’ presentation of the honor code and other various award ceremonies, teachers can approach Mr. Gannon and suggest their own ideas for assemblies. “More often than not we have more people who

Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company Gas discusses energy sources at an assembly on Oct. 24. times a challenge. “It’s very hard for any single speaker to make a tremendous impact on the majority of students, all of whom are coming in tired at

eight in the morning, with all their tests and quizzes,” said Ms. Anderson. “Unless students feel

(Continued on page 12)

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Pace News

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 2

Math Team + New Members = Success Abby Meyerowitz Opinion Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Abby Meyerowitz

“Come for the doughnuts, stay for the math,” repeats the Pace Academy math team as they congregate for their weekly Thursday morning practice. Led by faculty advisor and upper school math teacher Jason Smith, the math team is a competitive group of numerically minded students that gather to compete in online and national math competitions.

The students are not only drawn to free doughnuts, or “the breakfast version of dessert,” as Mr. Smith likes to call them, but they are also fascinated by the challenges that these math competitions present.

Along with their weekly meetings, the math team competes in 10 competitions held throughout the year on Saturday mornings. The team participates in a group ciphering section, where they collaborate on 10 problems, solving one at a time as fast as possible, and an individual test section consisting of a multitude of complex multiple choice questions.

At a recent competition at Luella High School with 600

(L-R) Stephen Yang and Kargil Behl solve a tough problem during their Thursday morning math team meeting. statewide competitors, Pace’s own secret weapon, sixth grader Stephen Yang, placed fifth overall in the JV division.

Students additionally participate in an online Math Madness tournament in which schools compete one-on-one with each other, using the top five individual scores on each team

to advance to the next round, NCAA March Madness style. In a recent competition, the top five scorers, from first to fifth place respectively, were junior Alan Tapper, freshman Kargil Behl, junior Jackson Hamel, senior Sophie Beck and junior Austin Fuller.

Under the leadership of cap-

tains and seniors Abigail Lund and Lily Reckford, the math team has expanded and gained more popularity than ever. The captains’ passionate attitude and enthusiastic approach to guiding the team has contributed to attracting more attendees.

“For this year, we wanted to emphasize not just the math

up and cheers other people up, too.” One of the student leaders of the club, junior Jason Rosenbloum, has been to Disney parks 27 times. He enjoys the club because it gives him the chance to both express and explore his love of Disney. “I have had a love for Disney since I was young, and I feel like this lets me express my interest to everyone in the club,” said Rosenbloum.

Not interested in Disney?

Do not stress. This year, senior Brogan Smith and junior Jimbo Smith founded the fishing club.

This club meets a couple of times a month for an afternoon of fishing at Blaylock Lakes.

Both Jimbo and Brogan love to fish, and they decided to create this club to share their enjoyment with anyone interested.

“I strongly believe that everyone should get outdoors and participate in activities, and fishing is a fun and easy way to do this,” said Jimbo. “It teaches patience and lots about the outdoors.”

Juniors Allie Appel, Nikki Rubin and Sydney Thomas, along with senior Alex Allen, created the dance club in order for students to have a fun way to learn a new form of communica-

tion. Although the club leaders are still working out all of the details, they plan to meet about twice a month.

A variety of dance styles will be explored in order to give club members a vast knowledge of dancing techniques. “Dancing is an amazing art form that communicates a whole different dimension to storytelling,”

said Appel. “It is a fun way to express emotion and be active.”

Dance club sponsor, history teacher Caitlin Terry, completely agrees with Appel. “I think dance is an incredible art, representative of culture, and it is important for freedom of self-expression,” said Mrs. Terry.

“Being a historian, looking outside of written narrative is

but the team component as well,” said Reckford. “Through hype-up speeches and even the establishment of a team mascot, Abigail and I are turning math team into more of a community rather than common ground.”

The effect of the captains’ approach to math team has been substantial. Students are not only attending for the math, but for the team atmosphere (and free doughnuts), too.

“It’s the people that encourage my return each week,” said senior Abby Ray. “Math team has become a tightly-knit group that can solve complicated problems but also laugh with each other and with Mr. Smith.”

Launched years ago under the leadership of Dr. Martha Kasilus, a former Pace math teacher, the math team has expanded as Mr. Smith stepped up to coach the team. With the problem-solving skills and mathematical minds of the team members, Mr. Smith holds very high hopes for the team.

“I anticipate a victorious year ahead of us,” said Mr. Smith.

“We’ve got a talented group of students who are passionate about mathematics, committed to the team and determined to succeed.”

Pace Clubs Offer Something for Everyone Jamie Kornheiser Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: Jamie Kornheiser

Pace’s upper school club fair gives students the opportunity to form unique groups around specific activities. Each year, students create new clubs and carry on the legacy of old ones. Clubs like KnightFlix and Student Ambassadors are well known, but new additions of lesser known clubs have allowed students to express more uncommon interests, creating a variety of clubs for everyone.

The Disney club is the hidden gem of Pace Academy.

Founded in 2016, it is sponsored

by Spanish teacher Dra. Paula Pontes and allows students to relax by watching Disney movies and singing Disney songs. Dra. Pontes, who has been to Disney World and Disneyland a combined 74 times, says the purpose of the club is to calm down and escape from the stress of school.

“Sometimes we are so stressed out and that is why I even like to incorporate Disney in the classroom,” said Dra. Pontes. “I feel like it cheers me

important to me, and so supporting a group that engages in selfexpression and cultural diversity was a no-brainer.”

Pace has many more clubs that all offer unique opportunities, and Student Council has a list of them. Contact senior Abigail Lund or the club leaders to get more information.

(L-R) Jason Rosenbloum, Matthew Quintana and Alex Allen enjoy the short film ‘Lava’ during a Disney club meeting on Oct. 16.

Tim Hornor: American Veteran (Continued from page 1) Armistice Agreement in 1953.

Although the zone itself is demilitarized, both sides of the four-kilometer-wide strip of land are some of the most heavily armored sections of the world.

“I got shot at there,” said Mr.

Hornor.

After serving along the DMZ and becoming a Commander of Indirect Fire for the DMZ, Mr. Hornor was selected to become a Ranger instructor at Ranger School.

To get this position, one has to have passed their own Ranger training and have received the top evaluation in all of their stationed posts. “If you look at me, I’m 5’7” on a good day,” said Mr. Hornor. “I don’t look like your

typical Ranger, but I did it.”

This Veterans Day, Mr. Hornor will do what he does every year to commemorate his service and the service of veterans around the country. “I live in Decatur on the seventh floor of a

building, and I hang the American flag from my balcony. I think of all the people like me – all the people who have done so much more than me – and make it a day to remember that anyone can do anything,” he said.

Pace News

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 3

Five Minutes with Jayden Thomas Charlie Hirsch

Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2019

teacher?

JT: Ah, that’s a hard one. Probably Smenny or Mrs. Terry.

KN: Who’s Smenny?

JT: Mr. Smentek.

KN: Who is your favorite football teammate, and why?

JT: Probably my boy [sophomore] Justin Johnson, you know.

We’re just boys. I don’t know, we have this thing where like on the field we’re just brothers and same with off the field, so we just have a close bond.

KN: Do you have a biggest fan or supporter?

JT: Definitely, my mom. She’s always in the stands, screaming.

[Chuckles] KN: How do you spend your free time?

JT: In the summer, most of the time I go fishing, and now I either fish or hang out with friends.

KN: Last question: so far this season you have 18 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns, but which was your favorite catch this season?

JT: Definitely the one-handed one I had in the first game against New Manchester for a touchdown.

KN: Alright, thanks for talking with me.

JT: You, too.

Photo: Charlie Hirsch

Knightly News: Hey, JT. Jayden Thomas: What’s up?

[Throws the football to sophomore Sam Selig on the other side of the gardens.]

KN: So, you play baseball, basketball and football, right?

JT: Yup. KN: Do you have a favorite?

JT: I would say my strongest is football, but I like them all.

KN: Cool, cool. Which positions do you play?

JT: Baseball, I play third, center field and shortstop. Football, I play wide receiver, safety and corner. Basketball, I play small forward. [Catches the ball from Selig.]

KN: So, you have WR offers from Michigan, UNC, Ohio State and UVA. JT: Yessir.

KN: Any thought as to which you prefer right now?

JT: Right now, probably OSU because they recruited me the most, plus there’s stuff on Twitter about how they like me.

KN: Cool. If you could go out with any female, who would it be?

JT: [Smiles] Umm, any female?

KN: Any female in the world.

JT: In the world? Sheesh. Definitely Kylie Jenner.

KN: Alright. Where do you expect to be 10 years from now?

JT: I don’t know what I’m gonna be. All I know is, I’m gonna be rich.

KN: Cool, cool. If you could eat any food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

JT: Definitely pizza.

KN: Do you have a hard time balancing school and sports at all?

JT: Yeah. It’s challenging, but I just gotta get through it, because I’m an athlete and academics are important, too.

KN: Do you want to be a multisport athlete in college?

JT: I would like to, yeah. If I did, it would likely be baseball and football.

KN: How’s your relationship with QB1, senior Jared Rayman?

JT: Oh you know, me and Jayray, we’re boys. We like to fool around in practice; we have fun.

We get the job done on the field, too.

KN: Nice. Do you have a professional player after whom you model your wide receiver game?

JT: Um, I would say probably Julio [Jones], or Stefon Diggs.

KN: OK, who’s your favorite

Sophomore Jayden Thomas combines his passions for Kendama and music in his school outfit before senior night.

Community Engagement Keeps Evolving Program undergoes name change, secures new partnerships Jamie Kornheiser Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: Omar López Thismón

Every Pace student is familiar with the Community Engagement program, whether they are part of the lower, middle or upper school. Throughout a student’s career at Pace, he or she is given countless opportunities to give back to the community around them. But each year the program evolves, and these changes have become especially evident over the past few years.

One of the biggest changes with the program occurred last year. The program’s name changed from the Service Learning program to its current name, the Community Engagement program. This change in title highlights the program’s prime objective: encouraging students to physically interact with their communities in order to help others around them.

The program has begun to partner with other programs and departments around Pace to get as many groups involved as possible. One of these partnerships is with the Pace athletics department.

Isdell Center for Global Leadership Associate Director Zeena Lattouf believes that this partnership benefits the athletes in addition to helping out those in need. “Engaging with your

Freshman Jayden Gasque helps paint a hallway at Price Middle School on Freshman Community Engagement Day on Oct. 10. community, volunteering and being a part of a team have a very similar purpose,” said Ms. Lattouf. “That purpose is basically thinking about the greater good above yourself. It makes a lot of sense for people who are on the same team to be willing to volunteer together because they are so used to thinking about the team or the community above themselves.”

Another new partnership for the Community Engagement program is with the Diversity and Inclusion program. A large part of volunteering is understanding the background behind

the community being assisted, and why it is underserved or why there is less accessibility for residents to necessary resources.

The Diversity program brings in experts who educate others about the issues that occur in and out of the Pace community every day.

A significant change in Community Engagement this year is the way students document their volunteer hours. Pace is one of the first schools in Georgia to use the app MobileServe. By using MobileServe, students no longer have to fill out a physical form, streamlining the process

of logging hours. Using the old system, students had to get a signature to confirm their volunteer hours.

The new system, which can be done using students’ phones or computers, has multiple, easy ways to validate the hours. There are options to get an on-thespot signature, take a picture of the service, send a verification email to someone at the place of volunteering or even geolocate.

MobileServe also shows users upcoming volunteer opportunities, making it easier for students to not only document their hours, but also to learn about

many options to help the community.

Many students at Pace serve in leadership roles to help get other students to engage in volunteering. Agape is an organization where students have the chance to help underprivileged youth with math, reading and other homework.

Junior Erin Hood, one of the community engagement leaders for Agape, has been participating as a volunteer there since seventh grade, and feels that it is important to give back. “We are so privileged to be able to receive such a good education at Pace, so it’s important to help others who might not have these opportunities,” said Hood.

There are places to volunteer all around Atlanta, and each place offers different activities to help the community. At the First Presbyterian Church in Midtown Atlanta, students have the opportunity to serve a sit-down breakfast to people who are homeless.

One of the student leaders, sophomore Kate Mallard, is able to see the world beyond Pace through her volunteering experiences. “We are kind of in a bubble, so [volunteering] allows you to be exposed to different styles while also making you appreciate what you have,” said Mallard. Make sure to check MobileServe for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

Pace News

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 4

Students Watch, Discuss ‘America to Me’ Charlie Hirsch

Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2019

students are to think and talk about race. The show demonstrates that beyond good intentions, white students as a group need further education when it comes to issues of race.

The show begs the question

the first episode, contrasting Pace and its student experience to that of Oak Park. The environment was inclusive, interesting and informational. Parallels were drawn from the pilot of “America to Me” to the environ-

Photo: Starz

The Pace Academy Board of Diversity (PABD) launched a viewing open to all upper school students of the new high school documentary series, “America to Me.” Documentary director Steve James takes his audience to Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where he spent an entire year following the lives of several black and biracial students.

The result is a 10-part series that examines the racial, socioeconomic and class divides at a school where students of color make up 50 percent of the student body.

James chose Oak Park because it should have been a diversity success story. The established homeowners fought to keep the area integrated in the 1950s, and young black families moved there in hopes of an equitable, diverse school for their children.

But the first episode depicts the school board reviewing ACT score disparities for their black

and white students. It reveals that white students score an average of nine points higher on the test and that their average has gone up over two points in the past 15 years. The black student average, on the other hand,

Kendale McCoy (center), a student at Oak Park High School, is featured in the 10-part documentary series “America to Me” on the Starz network. has not budged. More concerning was the school administrators’ lack of urgency when it came to bridging the divide.

Another striking disparity highlighted in “America to Me” is how ill-equipped the white

that if this diverse student body with a 94 percent graduation rate is not getting it right, then what school is?

PABD leaders and juniors Taylor Doucet and Julia Kelly led a post-watch discussion of

ment at Pace. Possibly the most important realization of “America to Me” is the inadequacy of good intentions when racial issues are this deeply rooted.

PABD members spoke highly of the collective student body and

welcoming community. However, they also agreed there is more that must be done.

“You can tell walking around campus that people tend to be with people who look like them,” said Doucet. “[Kelly and I] want to change that.” Doucet predicts shared benefit for all students if a shift takes place. “If you only communicate with people who look like you, you aren’t going to learn about anybody else,” she said. “In the workforce, you are going to be with people who don’t look and act like you and you need to be prepared for that.”

Why do racial and gender groups form? The discussion touched on common answers like shared experience and identity. A more poignant answer is that it’s easier to be with people who “just get it.”

Education is just one mission of the Pace Academy Board of Diversity. The questions posed and the depth of the topics discussed are unlike any others at Pace. PABD is always looking for more student participation, and the “America to Me” viewing series is a great opportunity for less-inclined students to get involved.

Teachers Hit the Books Along with Students

“

”

Mr. Stevens is part of the extension school at Harvard, which is a flexible program that allows students to pursue their academic passions while still maintaining a life outside of school. Mr. Stevens spent last summer at the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he plans to return next summer. However, during the school year, he is able to take courses online at night.

“It is a surreal experience being a teacher during the day, and then putting on the student hat at night,” he said. “All of a sudden your lens on viewing what the teacher is doing changes in a really valuable way.”

One of Mr. Stevens’ main focuses is bringing the skills he learns back to the history classroom. He has begun pinpointing the key skills that his students will need to have when they advance to 10th grade.

“They need to learn to write clearly and in an organized fashion, and then be able to articulate their thoughts with some verbal eloquence,” he said. He is unsure what his future holds, but he does hope to be able to incorporate his knowledge of government policy into the Pace classroom.

Mr. Whyte began his early education in his hometown of Tampa. He attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he was involved in athletics as well as academics. After switching his major in his junior year, he began focusing on psychology rather than math. “It was my biggest regret of college,” said Mr. Whyte. “I wasn’t mature enough

Photo: Mary Childs Hall

ing almost every day to write his thesis. “It was incredibly helpful for me as a teacher because when you read and write that much, you learn way more,” said Mr. Gannon. “My command of Pace students are not the the material was much stronger only members of the community after that experience.” who take strenuous classes and Similarly, Mr. Stevens has learn more every day. Class of begun the process of furthering 2020 Dean Grady Stevens and his education. As a high school Math Chairperson Gus Whyte student, he stuck to sports, espeboth take time from their busy cially lacrosse. “It was a big part schedules to pursue advanced of my identity,” said Mr. Stevens. academic programs in hopes of “However, AP U.S. History my growing as teachers. junior year really made me fall Mr. Stevens has a master’s in love with the Enlightenment degree in classics and Mr. Whyte philosophers, so I knew that has a bachelor’s degree in psywas what I wanted to focus on chology. However, both decided in undergrad.” After graduating to take one step further in their high school, he attended Johns educations. These Hopkins Univertwo teachers are My first go sity, where he not alone, as other around as a student, studied philosophy faculty members I was not as strong as and classics. have also studied I should have been.

After earning while working at It’s exciting to go back his master’s deand be a student now gree, he began the Pace.

Head of Up- that I know what I am Ph.D. application, per School Mike supposed to do. but soon had sec– Mr. Whyte Gannon chose to ond thoughts. “I go back to school realized that what ten years after graduating from I did not want to do was spend Brown University, where he rethe rest of my life translating ceived his undergraduate degree Greek in a library for 12 hours a in political science and economday,” said Mr. Stevens. ics. While working at Pace as a After leaving Johns Hopkins, teacher and coach, Mr. Ganhe found his way to Pace Acadnon earned his master’s degree emy, where he has been teaching in history from Georgia State since 2014. “After a few years University. here, I felt like I was still inter“Typically a history master’s ested in going back to school and degree takes two years, but it pursuing another degree,” said took me about five because I Mr. Stevens. That was when he was doing it while teaching,” found the program at Harvard said Mr. Gannon. He took night University, where he is currently and summer classes, and also working on a master’s degree spent an additional year workfocusing on U.S. foreign policy.

Mary Childs Hall Staff Writer Class of 2021

Mr. Stevens is a student at Harvard University in addition to working at Pace. to realize the value in studying math.”

Straight out of college, Mr. Whyte found a job at a boarding school in Salisbury, Connecticut, which he enjoyed. “The chance to coach, teach and live in a dorm sounded very appealing to me,” said Mr. Whyte. “However, after a few years at the boarding school, I decided it was time for a change.”

He moved south to Atlanta for the warmer weather and to be reunited with family and friends, where he soon became acquainted with Pace. “Pace was the type of school I wanted to work at because academics are the first priority, but extracurriculars are important too,” he said.

After realizing that teaching was his passion, he began to look at options for graduate school and applied to a program at Vanderbilt University. He chose Vanderbilt because it had a good reputation and would allow him to study during the summer so

he could continue teaching.

He is currently working on a master of education degree with a focus on independent school leadership. Although the program takes place during the summer, there are a few projects that he needs to complete this fall and spring. He also has to travel to Nashville for a few weekends this year.

Mr. Whyte is excited to use what he learns to become a better administrator and department chair. “My first go around as a student, I was not as strong as I should have been,” said Mr. Whyte. “It’s exciting to go back and be a student now that I know what I am supposed to do.”

After seeing the teacher side of things, he says he better understands what it is like to be a student. With a new focus on topics that are relevant to what he loves to do, Mr. Whyte cannot wait to see how this experience changes and benefits him as a teacher.

Pace News

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 5

Student Advisory Board Spurs Conversations About Mental Health Mary Childs Hall Staff Writer Class of 2021

Junior Emerson Barrett enjoys Pet Therapy Day on Oct. 17 with a golden retriever in the gardens. a member of the club since her freshman year, wanted to become president because she truly loves SAB. In her role, she leads meetings and helps to organize projects.

“I want to put my own touch on things by making improvements and creating new events,” said Myers. She has known people who have had mental health issues, and she wants to be able to help. “Seeing the effects on people I care about makes this club very meaningful to me,” said Myers.

Along with new leadership, there have been many other changes to SAB. “We got Tshirts this year which we hope will help more people become aware of who we are and what we do,” said Mrs. Eden. One of the most significant changes, however, is the open member-

ship to anyone who wishes to join.

In the past, SAB only accepted applications from two to four students from each grade, but this year the group has a total of 34 members. “As the mental health club we are about being inclusive and promoting positivity, so why would we turn people away?” said Myers.

“Also, the more hands on deck, the better.”

Freshman Giana Karamanolis chose to join SAB this year to be a part of building a balanced Pace environment. “I believe that advocating for the mental health of students is very important, particularly in such a hardworking educational atmosphere,” said Karamanolis. She is also excited to plan fun events.

SAB works hard each week to plan events, but their work

Photo: Mary Childs Hall

Across the country, one in every five high school students struggles with mental health problems, but many schools are unprepared to help students identify and deal with their troubles. However, the Pace Academy Student Advisory Board (SAB) is different. SAB welcomes the discussion of these tough issues in order to help those in need.

SAB’s mission statement claims that it’s “a group of students committed to nurturing the student body through education of and support for mental health issues in order to create a tolerant and thriving community.”

SAB hosts monthly events to involve the whole community and focuses on specific issues including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Upper school counselor and AP Psychology teacher Sara Eden is SAB’s faculty advisor, a position she has held for all 11 years she’s taught at Pace. “We really want to raise awareness of the problems facing high schoolers,” said Mrs. Eden. “I believe we can this year because we have a really great energy and group.”

Mrs. Eden anticipates that this year’s success will come from the strong leadership.

Seniors Blair Myers, Grace Pottorff and Kathryn Reisner serve as president, vice president and publicity manager, respectively, while junior Insha Merchant is secretary. Myers, who has been

began even earlier than the school year. “We had a summer retreat on campus where we got to know each other and brainstorm ideas for the year,” said Mrs. Eden.

So far, SAB has organized Unplugged Day on Sep. 27, where they promoted the benefits of disconnecting from technology, and Pet Therapy Day on Oct. 17. Pet Therapy was a first-time event this year that allowed students to interact with dogs after taking a moment of gratitude.

SAB worked with a pet therapy organization, Happy Tails, that works to comfort, support and heal people through animal-human bonds. “We really just wanted to brighten people’s days with this fun activity,” said Myers.

Merchant believes that the

event went very well. “I enjoyed it because I don’t have dogs, so being with them at school was something I really loved,” she said. “Also, I think this event helped people to begin to realize that, well, SAB is kind of cool.”

November is dedicated to raising awareness about depression. On Nov. 4, members of SAB, along with other students and Pace faculty members, participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk in Piedmont Park which helped raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Suicide is part of Pace’s story, as we have lost two students this way,” said Mrs. Eden.

With the walk, SAB hoped to honor the lost lives and help those who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. “We went together as a Pace team in order to support anyone dealing with these things,” said Merchant.

As the semester winds down in December, SAB will focus on relieving stress to help students in winter exams.

SAB’s main goal for this year is to educate students to help them become more comfortable talking about mental health. “We want to change the mentality of people feeling uncomfortable going to talk to the counselors,” said Myers. “I hope that it can become a more normal thing as people begin to speak up for themselves.”

For anyone interested in learning more about SAB, contact the student leaders or Mrs. Eden. Also, make sure to follow their Instagram account, @paceacademy_sab.

Students ‘Drop Everything and Read’ Eden Kerker

Lifestyle Editor Class of 2019

Graphic Illustration: Genna Schwarz

many high school students are busy and that it’s difficult to find the time to read. His solution is to ask permission to take over a teacher’s class and give students time to read that they would not have otherwise had.

Mr. Ball has already worked with teachers in all upper school departments to bring a cart full of books (and doughnuts) into their classrooms for students to enjoy. “Students can select a book from the cart, or grab one they’re already reading, and then we just drop everything and read for the remainder of the period,” said Mr. Ball.

“It gave a breath to the normal academic day,” said Math Chairperson Gus Whyte.

“Mr. Ball came 15 minutes into class, and for the next half hour everyone read quietly, including me. I would do it again for my other classes.” After the class, a few students even checked out a book to continue reading at home. “I was reading “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls and checked it out,” said junior

Photo: Matt Ball

Juggling hours of homework, extracurricular activities, time for friends and family, and most importantly, sleep, many students dismiss the idea of reading for fun. But Director of Libraries Matt Ball has started a new initiative to promote reading as a pastime called Drop Everything

and Read (DEAR).

“Besides being fun, there are many excellent benefits that we can get from reading,” said Mr. Ball. “It can reduce our stress levels and make us more relaxed.

It increases our knowledge, expands our vocabulary, and improves memory, as well as focus and concentration. And maybe most importantly, reading broadens our horizons and makes us more empathetic towards other people.”

Mr. Ball recognizes that

Mr. Whyte’s Pre-calculus class temporarily forgoes math to read.

Emma Shelton. “I don’t usually read for fun because school is pretty stressful, but now I’m going to doing it more.”

Adding time to read to an already busy schedule may seem more stressful. But by jumping into the universe of a new book, it actually allows people to escape the stress they may normally feel. Also, it may even help improve academic perfor-

mance.

“Reading makes us better communicators, especially in writing,” said Mr. Ball. “It shows us people, places and circumstances that we might not otherwise encounter, and allows us to see the world from someone else’s perspective, possibly a perspective that we might not otherwise have even considered.”

Pace News

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 6

Freshmen Develop Passion for Service Genna Schwarz Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2019

Photo: Christine Carter Freshman Jason Tapper (left) and his classmates unload boxes of clothes to be organized for the Bloom Closet on Oct. 10.

experience of helping our community that much better."

The Bloom Closet provides Georgia’s foster children with new or gently used clothing, shoes, baby gear, books, toys and school supplies. After traveling all the way to Fayetteville, freshmen volunteers organized donated items in the shop, which provides a dignified, free shopping experience for foster children.

"The Bloom Closet was a hands-on experience that truly made me feel like I was making a positive impact on a life that was less fortunate than mine," said freshman Amalia Haviv.

"Deeply thinking about what I was doing made me feel good and pushed me to be more enthusiastic about my jobs for the day. I would definitely go back."

The Bloom Closet, in addition to being part of Community Engagement Day, is a regular service opportunity at Pace led by seniors Madeline Arenth and Leah Mautner.

Another service destination was the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, a non-profit which is dedicated to protecting and preserving 30 acres of native habitat in Atlanta's urban environment.

The students were tasked with pulling up Chinese privet, an invasive species common in Georgia that kills other plant life.

"The Chinese privet was all over the preserve and was surprisingly easy to pull out," said freshman Clare Hsu. "After a while, we got used to it and we got to have fun while helping out, despite getting horrible mosquito bites."

Photo: Zeena Lattouf

Engaging with the Atlanta community's service organizations is not only a 40-hour requirement in the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School. It's also a passion and major activity for many students. Volunteerism allows people to become active members of their community and help those in need, and participation can spur the development of skills in collaboration and critical thinking.

Organized by Isdell Center for Global Leadership Associate Director Zeena Lattouf and Freshman Transitions Program Coordinator Lee Wilson, Community Engagement Day exposes students to some of the service opportunities available

in the Atlanta area. On Oct. 10, all freshmen volunteered at one of five sites: the Atlanta Beltline, Bloom Closet, Blue Heron Nature Preserve, Essence of Hope and Price Middle School.

On a portion of the Atlanta Beltline adjacent to Piedmont Park, one group of freshmen worked to clean up the appearance of the path. Their tasks included shoveling and redistributing mulch, rearranging bricks and rocks and picking up trash.

"We got to see an immediate change in the appearance of the trail which made it that much more meaningful," said freshman Grant Thompson.

The trash was mainly left over from Music Midtown, and without the students' help, much of it would have remained. "We listened to music, ate snacks and talked with each other while we worked," said freshman Claire Farinella. "It made the amazing

Freshman Donovan Johnson organizes food donations for Essence of Hope during Freshman Community Engagement Day on Oct. 10.

Essence of Hope aids people whose lives have been adversely affected by homelessness and hunger. These people have endured addiction, alcoholism, HIV, AIDS, mental illness, domestic violence and an abundance of other struggles.

There, the students organized food donations, helped the staff get ready for their clients and handed out the food they sorted.

"I really enjoyed volunteering at Essence of Hope because I got to meet a bunch of interesting people and everyone I met was so nice," said freshman Alison Silverboard. "It was a really cool experience, and I would definitely volunteer there again."

At Price Middle School, Pace volunteers painted over pen and pencil markings on the

walls of the school and cleaned up trash. According to freshman Giana Karamanolis, the freshman volunteers learned about the school's mission to inspire all students, as they are part of the "Purpose-Built Schools Atlanta" organization. These schools strive to create high-performing schools in low-income areas in Atlanta.

"Working at Price Middle School was a great experience and an opportunity to give back to a school committed to helping its community, not only through education, but also through the guidance of kids who have difficulties at home," said freshman Marielle Frogman. "I’m grateful to have gotten the chance to contribute to such a compassionate undertaking."

Students Struggle In Pace Parking Lot Charlie Warren News Editor Class of 2019

The Pace parking lot has proven to be difficult to maneuver. on campus for the first semester, and the other half parking the next semester, along with promises of money and snack bar credit for those who wanted to give up their spot.

Thankfully, such extreme measures were not implemented with the Pace administration asking faculty to volunteer to park off campus and take a shuttle or walk from St. Anne's.

Several teachers gave up their spots on campus to create room for the students in return for monetary compensation.

The parking predicament this year clearly echoes the issues of last year. Again, the small lot barely fits the upperclassmen and faculty. To combat this overcrowding, the parking forms sent out to students over the summer also included an option to liqui-

Photo: Charlie Warren

While some middle schoolers and even some underclassmen might underestimate its issues, the junior and senior classes along with the faculty know all too well the dangers of the Pace back parking lot. Pace has made a few changes to it over the years to accommodate the growing numbers of students and faculty members.

But last year’s parking situation was lackluster in its ability to safely accommodate all the upperclassmen and faculty, resulting in numerous collisions, ranging from small "love taps" on someone’s fender, to ripping off a woman's car door.

"The spaces are so tight, if one person parks poorly then that messes up all the spots around them," said senior Ann Rafeedie. "And parents need to stop dropping their kids off in the middle lane. That's how accidents happen."

Last year, there were not enough parking spots for the junior class, causing the administration to suggest solutions such as half the juniors parking

date one’s parking spot for snack bar money. In addition, some faculty members have opted to park at St. Anne's again.

The tight nature of the spots themselves is quite distressing, with very little room for error.

This is not the ideal scenario for a class of novice drivers. So far, this year's students have only had a couple of fender benders and taps, but more accidents are

sure to come as the year progresses.

To make matters worse, the carpool line has repeatedly been backed up. This causes parents dropping off, picking up, and even parking to wait for students, to file into the second lane of the parking lot, further clogging the already choked lanes.

With cars backed up onto West Paces Ferry Rd., several students have been late to school due to the traffic. "My trek from Dunwoody went from 40 minutes to 60 minutes to get to Pace in the morning," said senior Andrew Ladden "strictly because I could not pull into the parking lot on time."

However, there is hope.

Plans for a new, state-of-the-art parking lot have been drawn.

This new lot will take out half of the lower practice field, creating new spots as well as three brand new facilities for housing athletic equipment and security offices.

The new parking lot is a component of the proposed Master Campus Plan that Pace has put forward. While this year's upperclassmen can't enjoy the fruits of the new plans, future students will likely no longer deal with the issues of Pace's infamous parking lot.

Pace News

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 7

‘Beauty and the Beast’ Wows Audience

Photos: Fred Assaf Left: The people of the village surround Fuller (center left), and Carson (center right). Right: Miller as the Beast (left) and Pottorff as Belle (right) share their first dance.

Bennett Boushka Staff Writer Class of 2021 The Pace fall musical opened with the curtains down and projector screen set up. An audio recording welcomed the audience to the show and proceeded to tell the backstory of “Beauty and the Beast.” Pace Director of Libraries Matt Ball narrated the terrific introduction as pictures drawn by lower schoolers illustrated Mr. Ball’s words.

The show began with Belle, played by talented senior Grace Pottorff, and the village ensemble singing and dancing to the classic song “Belle.” Then senior Jeremy Leven stumbled onto the scene with his large, cumbersome invention.

He did an excellent job playing Belle’s father Maurice, a scatterbrained elderly man and inventor. His voice, along with Pottorff’s, paired beautifully in their duet, “No Matter What.”

Junior Austin Fuller and sophomore Jack Carson, playing Gaston and Le Fou, respectively,

showed off their acting skills as they made their way onto the stage. Fuller as Gaston tried to impress Belle. Carson, as Gaston’s goofy sidekick, made the audience laugh out loud many times. Fuller had a beautiful, baritone voice well suited for his songs. The comic interactions between this duo were a big source of entertainment.

Later on in the show, they are joined by D’Arque, played by sophomore Jack Brown, who successfully pulls off the dark, mystical tone of the song “Maison De Lunes.”

As the show moved from the village to the Beast’s castle, the audience saw new characters.

Senior Emily Schmitt, playing the clock, Cogsworth, and junior Matthew Quintana playing the candelabra, Lumiere, greeted Maurice at the castle.

Quintana did an exquisite job portraying his character, using an authentic French accent. He and Schmitt were very funny as they interacted with their characters’ contrasting personalities.

Sophomore Audrey Holton did a terrific job playing Mrs. Potts, utilizing an English accent

identical to the original Mrs. Potts. Freshman Cole Kaplan as Chip, the teacup, was skillful in playing the role of the younger character with his cheerful voice and constant smile. Holton showed off her beautiful voice in her first song with Belle, “Is This Home?”

Seniors Abby Ray and Raina Williams capped off this group playing Babette, the feather duster, and Madame de la Grande Bouche, the Wardrobe, respectively. Ray is an excellent dancer, and demonstrated strong acting skills as did Williams.

All of these characters formed an excellent ensemble who brought the whole show together with their humor; they all came together for the popular “Be Our Guest” song.

After a rocky start, junior Andrew Miller brought it back for an excellent performance. In his first scene his mic cut out so the audience could not always hear his lines, but after that, it was smooth sailing for Miller.

The Beast is not an easy part to play, for he has many complex emotions. But Miller successfully portrayed the Beast’s longing

for Belle while also showing that his outer shell was not ready to express these emotions.

Miller effectively showed the Beast’s character arc through the story, developing the way the Beast felt about Belle with the song “If I Can’t Love Her,” closing the first act. Throughout the show his acting was strong, ending with the final kiss.

Fine Arts Center Technical Director Scott Sargent, along with FAC Assistant Technical Director Rachel Hunter and their students, put together a brilliant set for the musical. Many viewers said the show’s set was way beyond high-school level.

From the beautiful village, to the castle that rotated 360 degrees, the set was amazing.

There were many special effects that enhanced the audience’s experience even more.

Fog machines were used to create a spooky effect as the cast moved through the woods.

Maurice’s invention was very detailed and even ran to make it look like the machine was chopping wood, and when it stopped working, a spark flew out of the top of it.

The scenes in the dining room were complemented by a beautiful stained glass window that appeared to be glowing.

The “Be Our Guest” number included two spinning wheels of plates, a cupboard with moving objects and a dangling line of cutlery. The final scene featured wind, making the rose petals swirl around in the glass case, and the audience loved when Miller was lifted into the air by a cable.

Director Sean Paul Bryan hired an orchestra to play the strings and percussion parts of the songs, upping the professionalism of the show. The costumes were also fantastic; the staff of the castle all had very creative costumes. Williams’ wardrobe was comical and impressive in its ingenuity. The Beast’s head was over the top; it was magnificent how real it looked.

Many teachers have said the musical was the best show they had seen in their time at Pace. With the spring musical “Disaster!” coming this April, “Beauty and the Beast” has set the bar high for the productions to come.

Students Get High Marks at WUMUNS XI Staff Writer Class of 2021

When one thinks of Model UN, cults, regicide and the first civilization are not usually what come to mind. However, from Oct. 12-14, these topics, among others, are what eight Pace upper school students discussed at the 11th annual Washington University Model UN Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri. Pace students worked on several committees, including Ad Hoc (The First Civilization); League of the Public Weal, 1465; Gotham City Council; and the Hollywood Communist Agenda under the Second Red Scare.

“Pace students did a great job with participating in each of their respective committees,”

said chemistry teacher Dr. Melody Walter, one of the chaperones for the St. Louis trip.

Students used knowledge from their experiences at Pace in order to effectively engage in their committees and pass directives that could quickly solve crises that were presented.

“Students needed to critically analyze their topics and learn how to independently research in preparation for their committee,” said Dr. Walter. “I was proud of how most folks were willing to participate and jump into discussions. It is challenging to speak publicly, especially about a new topic.”

English teacher Robert Kaufman, the other Pace sponsor for this year’s conference, said “it was really interesting to hear students talk about what they were passionate about, especially when it wouldn’t be relevant to

Photo: Robert Kaufman

Isabel Battista

Pace students, flanked by faculty members Dr. Melody Walter (left) and Mr. Robert Kaufman (right), traveled to St. Louis to participate in WUMUNS XI in mid-October. discussions in Pace classrooms.”

According to Dr. Walter, some committees participated in “heated discussions” while others were calmer and spent time in order to effectively solve the issues faced in their committee.

Among some of the events that took place in committee were the creation of “Ratholicism” in sophomore Elliot Mathis’ committee, the murder

of two French kings and an assassination attempt on the pope in the League of the Public Weal, and the ultimate elimination of the United States’ democratic system in junior Francesca Vaneri’s committee, the Hollywood Communist Agenda.

In the end, Mathis received a verbal commendation for her work as Commissioner James Gordon in the Gotham City

committee, and junior India Behl was awarded outstanding delegate for her portrayal of Arak the Shaman in the Ad Hoc committee. Behl acted as Pace’s head delegate for the conference.

“The trip had many unexpected turns: from delegates plotting against the pope and planning treason to fun-filled dinners, plenty of chocolate and a pretty great time,” said Behl.

November 9, 2018

Opinion

Letters to the Editor Readers respond to Co-Editor in Chief Charlie Hirsch’s op-ed appearing in the Sept. 28 issue, “Extended Time Needs Change”

The Knightly News - Page 8

The Knightly News 966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors in Chief: Charlie Hirsch Genna Schwarz Managing Editor: Jill Rawls News Editor: Charlie Warren Opinion Editor: Abby Meyerowitz

Michael Callahan Guest Writer Director of Academic Resource Center

“Fair is not equal. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.”

In responding to Charlie Hirsch’s op-ed published in the September issue of the Knightly News, this quote comes to mind.

The resonating theme of his article focused on the idea of fairness when it comes to academic accommodations such as extended time for assessments.

As a learning specialist and advocate for students with disabilities for 20 years, I urge you to look at this issue through a different lens. Rather than thinking of yourself and looking at extended time as an unfair advantage, try to imagine what your life would be like if you were challenged by a disability. Now imagine if your peers questioned the fairness of your accommodation. How would that feel?

It is safe to say that most of us would never question someone’s need for a service dog to navigate his or her community or another using a wheelchair or an elevator to move to and through our campus. However, when it comes to learning differences we question the fairness of accommodations.

The academic struggles that some of your peers face are real, documented, and proven by science. The fact that they are able to hide their challenges and why some may question the fairness

of accommodations is a testament to their intelligence and their ability to compensate.

The use of accommodations does not ensure better grades as the original op-ed suggests.

Rather they attempt to make traditional academics, like the ones taught at Pace and many other similar schools, accessible to every student.

Achievement at rigorous college prep institutions is no longer only for traditional students. With the aid of academic accommodations and resources, a more diverse population of learners is able to access and enjoy academic success as well as positively contribute to our community.

As this is my life’s work, I feel passionately about the subject and could speak on several different aspects of my job as a learning specialist. However, my focus will be to shed light on many of the mistruths of the aforementioned article from Sept. 28 as well as providing information regarding accommodations.

In order for a student to receive accommodations they must participate in a comprehensive psychological educational evaluation. These evaluations last approximately six hours over the span of two days. The licensed psychologist who performs this task also retrieves information from the student, their parents and their teachers.

The evaluation itself contains numerous tests that include both cognitive and achievement testing and they have been thoroughly tested to be valid in-

Fair is not “ equal. Fairness

means everyone gets what they need.

”

Photo: Mary Childs Hall

Sophomore Hannah Pace prepares for an upcoming test in the Woodruff Library.

struments. Thus, the thought of a student being able to “beat” or “cheat” the test in order to demonstrate a disorder is unfounded.

The tests are reliable and the psychologist would be able to tell if a participant is attempting to “fix” the results.

It is also unfounded that by merely participating in a comprehensive evaluation, one will receive accommodations.

The objective of the evaluation is to determine students’ strengths and challenges and to rule out any learning difficulties.

In order to receive academic accommodations at Pace as well as at most institutions the testing must reveal the following: a diagnosis, history of challenge, functional limitations, rationale for specific accommodations, and recommendations of accommodations.

There are many students who have participated in the process of an evaluation where there was an absence of one of the aforementioned requirements and who were not granted accommodations. Finally, these diagnoses cannot be “bought” as suggested in the original op-ed. Licensed psychologists have gone to school for too long and have too much at stake to falsely diagnose a disorder, including, but not limited to, losing their license.

The article also mentioned the unfairness of seeing the test and coming back later to complete it. Although beginning the test in one period and coming back later does happen, it is rare.

Many of our neighboring schools are quite jealous of our academic schedule that allows students to begin and complete their tests in one sitting.

As we all know, we have two testing periods a day, the second

Lifestyle Editor: Eden Kerker Sports Editor: Will Zook

Staff Writers: Isabel Battista Bennett Boushka Kalissa Green Mary Childs Hall Kathryn Hood Zachary Howard Jamie Kornheiser Darren Rosing Social Media: Ben Ginsberg Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker

Web Content Editor: Aman Hashim

The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students.

The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the

and last period. The 20-minute break exists after the second period of the day in order to facilitate extended time, and a student with a test during the last period simply uses time after school to access their extended time.

What students may not be aware of is that many teachers do not allow students to see the entire test, when on that rare occasion they need to split the test. Rather, they will give those students a few pages during the first sitting and the remaining pages once they return.

Again, I would look at this through a different lens. How “fair” is it that some students have to come back and take a test after a school day when their peers can be done for the day?

Who really wants to spend more time on a test than they have to?

Learning disorders and ADHD are perhaps the most common challenges, however

editor and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints.

Neither Knightly Newsgenerated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy.

Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org.

they are only a few of the diagnoses that affect learning for millions of people. These are complex issues that are difficult to understand since the underlying challenges are mostly invisible to the naked eye.

I challenge you to approach accommodations in the realm of education with the same openness, support and empathy that you would show to someone with a physical disability.

If you would like to learn more about these academic challenges and accommodations, please know that the doors of the ARC are always open.

Here are additional resources if you would rather research on your own: ldaamerica.org, additudemag.com and dyslexiaida. org.

Editors’ Note: Mr. Callahan is the Director of the Academic Resource Center at Pace Academy.

Opinion

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 9

Letters to the Editor: Extended Time and, at times, it seemed they would never stop.

I used to call Spencer “the minimalist” when it came to his artwork. His was easily recognizable because it had covered A teacher now for 23 years, I very little of the paper, included have taught many a student with no detail or color, and looked as a diagnosed learning difference. though it had taken him about And I have, to the best of my 17 seconds to complete. At that ability, dutifully accommodated time, I didn’t realize the larger each according to their provided implications of his minimalist IEP. To be honest, in retrospect work product.

I didn’t always understand why One day, the pre- school various accomdirector called me While most modations were to her office at necessary or how children excitedly pick- up. She said they would help the that Spencer was individual students learned their alrefusing to practice in front of me. I phabet and enjoyed writing his letnever questioned ters. I explained to the process of but I often wonher that Spencer learning to write, seemed to struggle dered.

Now, as a Spencer grew frus- with holding a mother of a child pencil. In fact, he with dyslexia and trated and anxious. hadn’t chosen a ADHD, I get it. dominant hand yet.

The tears began Both diagnoses He used both but and, at times, it are only a very could seemingly small part of who seemed they would write well with Spencer is, but at neither. never stop. this stage of his Her response, life, they influence him in every “Well, he just needs to chose a aspect of his life; they influence, hand.” What I wanted to tell her drive and shape our family in was, “ Well, tonight I will tell every way and every day.

Spencer he can’t have dessert When I asked my husband until he decides once and for what memories he has of our all if he is a lefty or a righty.” I eleven years with Spencer as kept my mouth shut instead and they relate dyslexia and ADHD, walked out with the shiny yellow I expected he would recall a flash cards she recommended we couple of specific moments in drill with Spencer every night. our family history. Instead, he More tears on the way. said, “Mostly, I remember so When Spencer was six, he many tears.” And, he nailed it was watching the Disney Chanwith respect to our “pre-diagnonel on television. Payton Guest, sis” days. an actress on one of the shows Spencer was the child who he often watched, appeared in one day exclaimed, “I have a lot a public service announcement. of songs in my heart.” Clumsily She was talking about dyslexia. and happily whirling through She explained what it is and that his days in the most beautiful she herself has dyslexia. of ways, he had a heart of gold.

I will never forget sitting on But, this all began to change the couch and watching Spencer when Spencer started prewalk closer and closer to the school. television fixated on her and While most children excitclinging to every word she said. edly learned their alphabet and When the commercial ended, he enjoyed the process of learning turned to me and said, “Mommy, to write, Spencer grew frustratthat is what I have.” We would ed and anxious. The tears began subsequently go through the

Krista Wilhelmsen Guest Writer Dean Class of 2021

”

Martha DownerAssaf, Ph.D

Guest Writer

Junior Dominique Turner finishes her test with extra time in the Academic Resource Center. psycho-educational testing differences. They are investing process and verify Spencer’s a lot of love and time in him and self- diagnosis. remain positive about a kid who Spencer consequently spent is often in two steps forward, two years at Schenck School. one step backwards mode.

Despite the ironies of the With him in good hands, school’s name, it I devote my days was life-changing being a better The diagnosis to for Spencer and teacher to each and the remedia- student in front of we will be forever grateful for tion have stopped me. I now underthe many ways stand the various most of the tears. accommodations it has impacted (saved?) our lives. But dyslexia and that many of my The diagnosis and have. I also ADHD’s impact is students the remediation realize that there are have stopped most ever present. certain things that of the tears. But, I can and should do dyslexia and ADHD’s impact is as a teacher to help them. And, ever present. there are most definitely things One of Spencer’s most I should not do in this same important jobs in life at 11 years regard. old is to learn. His job is to be Before I had kids I certainly a student. This means confrontmeant no harm to my students, ing his diagnosis every day. We but my past approach to teaching have some good days and some was in many ways not ideal for really bad days in this regard. students with learning differBut, we are moving forward and ences because I was blissfully making progress; our wheels are unaware, and, at the end of the no longer spinning. day, failed to educate myself Spencer is now back at Pace until personally impacted.

Academy and in the fifth grade.

While I run on a low level of He spends his days with teachanxiety with respect to Spencer’s ers who know of and value his future, I find myself feeling

“

”

understood at Pace Academy Along those lines, schools are built for certain kinds of learners and test takers. If you don’t fall in that narrow band, it can be a bit of an uphill battle.

Good for the kids who thrive in a traditional school setting; not all kids are wired to thrive in that environment.

Finally, please remember that students who actually need extended time in order to communicate all that they have learned also take twice as long to do their homework, read and complete assignments. School is laborious for them. It’s very, very time consuming and difficult.

To the children who need extended time and are using it properly, I think you owe them an apology, and if you still think you’re right, take off your glasses for the rest of the semester;

see how it goes. Or look online.

See what it looks like to read when you’re truly dyslexic. Read

optimistic quite often in the face of my students. I identify with students that have learning issues. And, their many successes and achievements give me hope.

They are just as capable as the rest of us even if their process of learning is different. And, if demonstrating their numerous talents and abilities depends upon spelling amnesty, or the use of a computer, or completing answers directly on the test rather than on a scantron, or extended time, or whatever else will draw out a skill waiting to be tapped, then so be it.

The accommodation pales compared to the benefits. Nurturing each of our students must remain our commitment. We will be a stronger Pace community for it.

I often say that I am so glad my twins are so different.

There’s no need for two people who are exactly alike. The same holds true in the classroom.

There is no need to have a room full of identical students. Our differences are what make us awesome. Our differences, learning and all, should be celebrated and respected.

it might something this like if truly you’re lysdexic.

Photo: Genna Schwarz

In response to your editorial about extended time and testing, I’d like to offer a couple of thoughts.

Your operating premise is that students/parents who are abusive of this “perk” are the rule and not the exception. I beg to differ with that. Many students excel with appropriate learning accommodations because they’re twice exceptional.

They are very bright, but they have a learning difference.

There are not a lot of schools where bright students with learning differences can thrive and meet their potential. Pace is one of those places as a result of thoughtful planning, hiring

and implementation of learning resource centers.

Many people in the special education community have commented that our school educates those who are twice exceptional exceptionally well. I do encourage you to read about being twice exceptional as there are countless articles written on this topic. I suggest the work by Beckley or Callahan.

Secondly, asking a child who truly has a disability to take a test without extended time is like asking the child with CP to function without her wheelchair or a student who needs glasses to take a test without those glasses.

It’s a proper accommodation so that a child can reach their Godgiven potential. Perhaps you can ponder the difference between equity and equality. It is my belief that the difference between equity and equality is commonly

Photo: Abby Meyerowitz

“

Opinion

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 10

Beard Rule Needs an Update Aman Hashim

Web Content Editor Class of 2019

There are many cases where not shaving has a bigger meaning, such as No-Shave November. This month-long movement urges people to appreciate their hair in honor of cancer patients who lose theirs to treatment. We are encouraged to forego shav-

ing and donate money to aid the fight to end cancer.

I do not believe that anyone should be able to rebel and do what they want. But since females at Pace are allowed to put strands of blue and purple in their hair, someone can spray

paint their entire head blue, and boys can wear earrings, then males should be allowed to have beards. Students with beards do not negatively affect anybody or detract from the professionalism of our school.

and permanently” destroyed his personal life, while activists outside protested for his removal as a nominee.

Not only was the hearing a struggle of conflicting political parties, but it also concerned one of the most controversial topics in the country at the moment: society’s attitudes toward victims of alleged sexual assault. Many have seen this hearing and the election of Kavanaugh, along with the #MeToo movement, as a turning point in America’s views on sexual assault, but has anything actually changed?

The answer is a mix. The fact that some senators automatically didn’t bother to listen to Ford, and accused her of lying for political gain proves we still have a long way to go. It also seems like we are repeating the past. Events like Kavanaugh’s confirmation

have happened before, under the same cloud of sexual assault.

Twenty-seven years earlier, Judge Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual assault by Anita Hill, with the same results as the Kavanaugh hearing. In both cases, sexual assault allegations became central to the confirmation hearings and threatened to either hinder the confirmation to Supreme Court or completely derail it. However, both Kavanaugh and Thomas were eventually confirmed.

In the present, one of the earlier events that bolstered this level of frustration and anger among protestors was the fact that President Donald Trump allegedly sexually assaulted at least 22 women. The allegations were made during his campaign, similar to allegations about Kavanaugh being made

after his nomination. And even after widespread controversy as demonstrated through numerous protests, Trump was still elected president.

These events point to the same thing: guilty or not, men of power have been given leeway in cases where the topic should warrant that each case be carefully scrutinized. Just like in Kavanaugh’s hearing, many jumped to the conclusion without evidence that Ford was lying about the assault for political gain. This happened even though Ford was a reluctant witness, knowing full well that her life and that of her family would be turned upside down by agreeing to testify.

The way the issue was dealt with reflects the struggles of past sexual assault victims, who have been told that they misremembered or were lying, and often have been laughed at after coming forward with their stories. Though all of this happened in the Kavanaugh case, this hearing and its effects are actually a mark of improvement. What marked this change?

People speaking up.

So what is prompting people to speak up? The answer is the reigniting of the #MeToo movement. Social activist and community organizer Tarana Burke created the phrase “Me Too” on MySpace in 2006 to help survivors of sexual harassment and assault realize they are not alone. The phrase was popularized in October 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano used the hashtag #MeToo soon after the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein came to light and were widely publicized.

The hashtag led sexual as-

sault survivors to share their stories to bring attention to the magnitude of the problem of sexual assault, and to give empowerment to people formerly afraid to tell their stories.

The #MeToo movement was revived during and after the Kavanaugh hearing, with thousands more people bringing attention to sexual assault on social media, increasing the number of allies of sexual assault victims, and bringing awareness to the problem of assault in workplace environments.

This social activity caused the Kavanaugh hearing to stand out from other events in the past.

Many victims aren’t afraid to speak up anymore, which is a sign of change for the future of how sexual assault survivors and cases are treated.

The #MeToo movement has groundbreaking potential, and we are already seeing change.

In terms of gender equity, Washington state has passed a bill promoting gender-equal pay. Starbucks has announced total equity of pay of men and women. Even in the Kavanaugh case, some conservative male voices have said Ford’s claims are worthy of serious investigation, unlike in the Anita Hill hearing where her claims were almost immediately denounced.

We see here both liberal and conservative sides are treating cases more seriously, instead of immediately accusing a woman (or man, in some cases) of lying.

No matter if Kavanaugh is innocent or guilty, this hearing has undoubtedly created an opening to change how sexual assault cases are looked at, with the revival of the #MeToo movement as the first step in the right direction.

(L-R) Head of Upper School Mike Gannon cracks down on juniors Rohan Jatar and Ben Caldwell for their beards.

After Kavanaugh: A Cornerstone for Change Kathryn Hood Staff Writer Class of 2021

On Oct. 6, Brett Kavanaugh smiled as he was confirmed to the Supreme Court, while protesters’ screams of “shame, shame, shame” echoed outside.

This event happened almost a month after the Washington Post published Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers.

The news of the alleged sexual assault sent the Senate confirmation hearing of Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court in a whole new direction. Wavering between shows of defiant rage and sorrow, Kavanaugh claimed the hearing had “totally

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite Protesters rally against Brett Kavanaugh at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. as the Senate debates his confirmation.

Photo: Aman Hashim

“Aman, shave that beard!”

“Aman, you’re getting a demerit for that facial hair!” Too many times I have been called out for the stubble on my face, and it’s time this antiquated rule comes to an end.

Pace Academy should reexamine the student handbook rule established decades ago that does not allow beards yet does allow mustaches. The guidelines in the handbook were made to preserve the safety and discipline of students. However, as society progresses, rules should progress as well. Pace is restricting the chance for students to show maturity, growth, selfexpression and cultural identity.

Teachers argue that beards present an unprofessional and non credible look. But some of the most famous men in history had beards. Abraham Lincoln, Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin all had beards. They

were not singled out for that feature, but instead were known for their breakthrough discoveries and impacts at large. Even multiple admired Pace teachers have beards. Professionalism and beards are not mutually exclusive.

Another Pace faculty member informed me that we who have this middle phase of “scruff” look like “complete [garbage]” and we appear to be too lazy to shave. But many teenage boys who have the ability to grow a beard embrace that characteristic and believe that it enhances their outward appearance and confidence in a positive way. If I think that stubble looks better on me than being clean shaven, then I should be allowed to express that choice.

Many cultures have distinct features that pertain to their identities such as different hairstyles or clothing. In my culture as a Muslim, teenage boys having a slight amount of facial hair or even a full beard is very common. I am beyond proud to be a Pace student but at the same time, I embrace my culture.

Vol. 44, Issue #2

Lifestyle

The Knightly News - Page 11

Students Indulge in Fun Activities Aman Hashim

Web Content Editor Class of 2019

Over the past few years, the Pace student body has engaged in many ephemeral fads and trends. Last year, Heelys,

Rubik's Cubes, flannels for boys during the winter and BASEketball, a combination of basketball and baseball, were popular. Many iPhone and video games also captivated the Pace community, including the well known trivia game "HQ," the combat-filled craze "Fortnite" and the handheld NFL-based

game "Madden Mobile." Despite being less than three months into this school year, the students are already obsessed with new games.

Walking into the Inman Center, one is likely to see a sophomore boy playing with his Kendama, a wooden toy that originated in Japan. The activ-

Photo: Aman Hashim (L-R) Sophomores Gus Thomas, Eli Mautner and Logan Baker prepare for a face off with their Kendamas.

ity involves attempting to land a ball attached to a string onto the indented platform of the wooden figure.

“I love the Kendama because it really strengthens my hand eye coordination and my reflexes,” said sophomore Gus Thomas. “It gets really competitive with my friends to see who can land the ball the most times. I'm fairly decent, not going to lie.”

The students began playing with Kendamas in September when sophomore Robert Houser first brought one to school. “I immediately fell in love with the toy because I’m all for mind games,” said Houser. Some have even gone so far as to make an Instagram page, @kenrippers, that displays their skills publicly.

The junior class congregates largely in the Seaman Family Student Commons, locked in on their phones playing "Clash Royale." The top rated iPhone game requires a strategic mindset where one places troops in their battlefields in order to overtake their opponent. The game combines elements from collectible card games, tower battles and multiplayer variations.

“Clash Royale brings excitement into my life each day as

I aspire to always win,” said junior Evan Duncan. "Clash Royale" first infiltrated the junior boys when Duncan got tired of playing "Fortnite." He encouraged his friends to participate in tournaments within their group for some competitive pride. Since then, these boys are always sneaking in a quick game in the Commons, looking to defeat their opponents.

In the gardens, more often than not the seniors are playing hacky sack, trying to keep the ball in the air as long as they can. The seniors live for this game, and any time they get a free moment they immediately head outside to play.

“I’m not really sure who started this game, but it's so addicting,” said senior Ben Nottingham. “Personally, I am really skilled at the 'off the knee hit' but it's just a fun game overall.”

Usually the seniors get in big circles ranging from 5-10 people and try to see if they can improve their score each time.

As soon as the ball hits the floor, one quickly hears the shouts of dismay.

However, nobody tends to blame another. Instead, they pick the ball up and get right back into it.

mance — even though Paul McCartney, U2, Elton John and David Bowie (among others) had also performed at the concert.

Revitalized, Queen launched a 1986 performance tour which lived up to its reputation, with some critics describing the band as the best in the world.

That tour would be Queen’s last, however. Freddie Mercury was diagnosed in 1987 with AIDS, ultimately succumbing to the disease in 1991 at the age of 45. Although he was very private about his illness (Mercury only

disclosed his AIDS diagnosis the day before his death), he is nevertheless credited for raising awareness of the disease and for his reputation as a legendary performer who dared to express himself unabashedly.

With his death, the world mourned the loss of one of the greatest and most iconic musicians of all time. With the release of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” viewers get a glimpse into why Freddie Mercury and his rock band, Queen, are so legendary.

'Bohemian Rhapsody' the Story of a Rock Legend Ben Ginsberg

Social Media Editor Class of 2020

in flamboyant and theatrical outfits, purposely, it seems, feeding into the open question of his homosexuality.

The meteoric rise of the band’s success was a combination of unstoppable hits, recordsetting album sales, and a wildly outrageous presence among Hollywood elites and the nightlife in the 1970s. Queen's success seemed unstoppable until the mid-1980s, when the band's popularity stalled.

Their decision to perform in apartheid South Africa (in violation of worldwide divestment efforts and a United Nations cultural boycott) is cited as being one of the main reasons but Rolling Stone Magazine reported that one of the biggest factors may have been the difficulty that fans were having in accepting Freddie Mercury’s apparent homosexuality. Regardless, the success of Queen appears to have stalled during that time and a comeback seemed unlikely.

Just as the band considered disbanding, however, Queen was invited to play at the July 1985 Live Aid concert. Although reportedly hesitant to accept the invitation, their decision to do so launched one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

A review of the media coverage of the historic concert reveals that Queen’s performance stole the entire show, with many describing it as an unexpected rebirth from the moment that the band members took the stage.

Opening with Mercury sitting at a piano performing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” stories describe the audience of 72,000 singing the lyrics by memory as if Queen was the main perfor-

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

“We Will Rock You,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “We Are the Champions,” and of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” are just some of the many songs made famous by the British rock band Queen. Queen is arguably the greatest rock band in history with Brian May on the keyboard, Roger Taylor on the drums, John Deacon on the guitar and the legendary lead vocals of Freddie Mercury.

The biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” opened in theaters on Nov. 2 and tells the story of Freddie Mercury and Queen, tracking the meteoric rise of Queen and the band's spiral downward before their triumphant reunion at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London on July 13, 1985.

Playing the role of Freddie Mercury, Rami Malek has given an Oscar-worthy performance portraying the man regarded by many as one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on Sept. 5, 1946 on the East African island of Zanzibar. He spent the majority of his childhood in India before moving to Middlesex, England when he was 18.

He joined a blues band called Wreckage while studying at the Ealing College of Art, and it was during this time that a fellow student introduced him to Roger Taylor and Brian May, founding members of a band called Smile.

Smile became Queen when

Freddie joined Roger and Brian as the lead vocalist and, shortly thereafter, bassist John Deacon joined them. They would stay together for the next twenty years.

Within two years of the band’s formation in 1971, EMI Records and Elektra Records signed Freddie Mercury and Queen and their debut album, “Queen.” The album was hailed as one of most exciting developments in the history of rock music. “Bohemian Rhapsody” was released in 1975 and topped the charts for nine weeks.

Although critical reaction was mixed, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” single became one of the best-selling singles of all time and is frequently considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

After their epic 1975 album entitled “A Night At the Opera,” it seemed like the band could do no wrong, with hit after wellknown hit from “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “We Will Rock You” to “We Are The Champions” to “Another One Bites The Dust” to “Under Pressure” (in collaboration with David Bowie), all of which ranged in style from pop to rock opera to disco to hard rock.

Sources credit Freddy Mercury for Queen’s dramatic persona. According to Rolling Stone magazine, he was responsible for the name of the band, aware that it was open to all sorts of interpretations, including homosexuality. With his black fingernails and leather bodysuits, he was the one who convinced the other members of the band how to dress and how to make a statement on the stage.

He seemed to relish dressing

Freddie Mercury performs live in New Haven, Connecticut at a WPLR show.

Lifestyle

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 12

The Wait Is Over: 'Tha Carter V' Arrives Lil’ Wayne brings the heat with his 12th studio album But Wayne was indeed able

Will Zook to finally release the album in

Sports Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Weezy F. Baby and the F is for "finally." After over seven years of anticipation, including a legal battle and many changes to the album, Lil Wayne dropped “Tha Carter V” on his birthday, Sept. 28. The man who claims to never write down his lyrics has finally dropped the highly awaited follow up to "Tha Carter IV," released back in 2011.

This album, the fifth installment in Lil Wayne’s “Carter” series, seemed for a long time as if it would never see the light of day. Lil Wayne, a.k.a. Tunechi or Weezy, sued his former label, Cash Money Records, and its founder, Birdman, for $51 million in 2015. Wayne claimed that because Birdman refused to release his album, he was forced to settle the dispute in court, where he eventually gained sole ownership of the album.

As the backstory to the album built, fans worried that “Tha Carter V” would suffer the same fate as Dr. Dre’s unreleased masterpiece “DETOX.”

partnership with his own label, Young Money Entertainment.

While the album allegedly was finished back in 2014, the final product shows that Wayne continued to tinker with it over the past few years. Features from artists like the late XXXTentacion and Travis Scott would not have been possible in 2014 since neither had come close to the worldwide stardom they have today.

Wayne brings versatility to the album, which is no surprise, considering his reputation for stepping out of his comfort zone, i.e. his rock album “Rebirth.”

From the braggadocious “Dedicate,” where he maintains the same rhyme scheme for multiple verses, to the much more vulnerable “Let It All Work Out,” where he describes his suicide attempt at age 12 after being told by his mom that he was not allowed to pursue rap, Wayne creates a shifting persona of himself throughout the record.

“Dark Side of the Moon” proves his ability to craft a melodic love song, and it also features a surprisingly pleasant feature from Nicki Minaj. All of

Dwayne Carter Jr., a.k.a. Lil Wayne, finally released the highly-anticipated "Tha Carter V" in late September. these songs show his capacity to test different styles, while still pleasing fans and critics alike.

The production of “Tha Carter V” elevates it to the next level. Wayne applies a beat on “Uproar” that was previously used on an older song of his, “Green Ranger,” but his ability to switch his flows creates a

completely different sound. He also samples the Dr. Dre classic “Xxplosive” on the Snoop Dogg assisted “Dope N****z,” giving a shout out to one of the kings of West Coast G-Funk rap.

As 2 Chainz simply explains on one of the tracks, “if it wasn’t for Wayne, it wouldn’t be.”

Wayne’s lasting contributions

Tuk Tuk: A Taste of Bangkok Charlie Warren News Editor Class of 2019

For adventurous people looking to get a taste of some unique and exquisite cuisine, I highly recommend Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft, as it has some of the best ethnic food I have ever eaten.

Tuk Tuk's menu, inspired by the food from the streets of Bangkok, makes it the perfect dinner location for dates, family functions or group events.

The restaurant is situated in a third-floor loft setting in Brookwood Place at 1745 Peachtree Rd., with a stunning balcony view of the Atlanta skyline. The atmosphere is fairly modern but still pays respect to its Thai roots, as Thai phrases cover some of the walls and Thai magazines line others.

A slideshow projected on the back wall cycles through pictures of the bustling street life of Bangkok, including different food dishes and monuments, as well as the tuk-tuk vehicles that shuttle people throughout the

streets.

The menu includes several different options including salads, small plates, curries, noodle dishes and entrees. “The best way to experience Tuk Tuk is to definitely eat family style,” said owner Dee Dee Niyomkul in an interview with Atlanta Eats.

"Traditionally with Thai food, we all share our food. We have a lot of small plates on our menu that it's great to order five or six and just share them all.”

A particularly authentic Thai dish is the Mieng Kum, consisting of roasted peanuts, coconut

Photo: Charlie Warren

Freshman Jack Warren poses for a picture in the tuk-tuk taxi inside the restaurant.

and dried shrimp served in a spinach wrap, which came from a family recipe passed down from the owner’s grandmother, who herself was a street vendor in Bangkok.

I started with a few small plates, and later ventured into the entrees section, first tasting some crispy calamari and delicious marinated beef skewers. I then went with the Prik King for my main course, which combined a base of jasmine rice with a mixture of beef, crunchy green beans and lime, with a spicy curry sauce to top it off.

I was also able to sample the Massaman curry, which combined jasmine rice, chicken, potatoes and peanuts in a lighter, less spicy dish, and the Pad Zee U, which consisted of flat rice stick noodles and sautéed pork.

Each dish has its own unique flavor and accent but is still elemental enough to mix and combine to form delectable meals.

Tuk Tuk has received numerous accolades, including the Diner’s Choice Award by Open Table. It was recently named one of the top Thai restaurants in the United States by Travel + Leisure Magazine and was voted Atlanta's best Thai restaurant by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The restaurant is truly deserving of such recognition and I highly recommend a visit.

As a testament to how authentic and original Tuk Tuk is, owner Niyomkul said it best: “We’ve definitely brought food from 10,000 miles away a lot closer to this city.”

to rap through his “Carter” and “Dedication" series, as well as his numerous other albums and mixtapes, have influenced newer rappers like Trippie Redd and A$AP Rocky, just to name a couple. Even if this is Wayne’s last album, as he alluded that it could be, his legacy will for sure outlive his career.

Assemblies Expand Horizons

(Continued from page 1)

this motivation to learn, they can easily sit through assembly and tune out.”

To avoid this, Ms. Anderson suggests the forming of a committee composed of program leaders, certain faculty members and some students interested in student programming to help curate the assembly schedule. This way, only assemblies that truly interest the students can be scheduled rather than ineffective ones.

Despite the diverse, informative and entertaining variety of assemblies, Mr. Gannon believes that academics trump all else once students arrive to school.

“I’m a traditionalist in that I think that eight to three is why we’re at school,” he said. “To my mind, Algebra II, U.S. history, and chemistry are the most important things we do, way more important than anything else.

The external stuff is great, but we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that chemistry matters more.”

Others at Pace think differently, however. “There’s a healthy balance among our leadership around that,” said Mr. Gannon. “We take a team approach to most things we do here.”

Sports

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 13

Believe It! Volleyball Back-to-Back GHSA AAA State Champions Kalissa Greene

Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: Fred Assaf

It would have been completely understandable for the varsity volleyball team to sleep in the trophy room after last year’s AAA state championship win – the team’s first ever for Pace.

Instead, the team broke barriers with a back-to-back state title on Nov. 3 at McEachern High School, defeating Westminster for the second year in a row.

Tensions were high and the gym was rocking as fans from both teams made their presence known. The Knights overpowered Westminster in four sets, losing the first 16-25, and taking the rest 25-20, 25-22 and 2521. “The only thing that makes a state championship win better is two state championship wins in a row,” said junior Ada Jane Agolli, who contributed mightily to the team’s success.

The journey to the state championship was filled with adversity, including injuries and sickness, and varsity head coach Anna Bush guided her team headfirst. The momentum for the state playoffs came directly from the area tournament matches.

On Oct. 17 Pace faced a fierce match against Lovett at home. The match consisted of close points and tough plays.

Lovett pulled away with the first set at 25-19, but Pace turned the next set around with a major comeback of five straight points to win 25-21. Pace won the match 2-1. Even the blackout caused by Hurricane Michael could not stop this victory.

A huge impact in the match

Pace varsity volleyball defeats Westminster for their second GHSA AAA state title on Nov. 3. was previously injured player and junior Lucy Ferry. “Coming back from my ankle sprain was really frustrating,” she said. “It took six weeks for me to start practicing again, but even then I couldn’t do everything. My teammates and coaches were really supportive during my recovery. My first kill in the match against Lovett got my teammates really excited and I am, of course, happy to be back on the court.”

On Oct. 18, the Knights traveled to Westminster to take on the Wildcats for the Area Championship. This huge rivalry turned this important game into an epic battle, especially since the Pace team had previously lost against the Wildcats during regular season and defeated them in the state championship the previous year.

Pace immediately responded

to Westminster’s attacks and shut down their defense. The team barely breezed by the Wildcats with 25-23 and 25-19 wins in the first two sets. Emotions were high and Pace was unable to sustain their level of play, with Westminster sailing to a simple 25-12 victory in the third set. But the Knights began to stop trading points and won the fourth set 25-10 “Winning area this year felt amazing, especially because we had so much fun on the court and played as a team,” said junior player Dominique Turner.

“Beating your rival on their home court always feels good.”

The first and second round of the State playoffs on Oct. 20 in Inman against Appling County and Islands High Schools were effortless for the Lady Knights.

Pace defeated both schools in straight sets, 3-0. Next up was

develop, not only physically, but also understanding the game better,” said freshman Nile Bennett.

The upperclassmen on the team also take on a big responsibility with all the new players coming into the program. “The freshman class has been very good at listening to what we tell them and applying it to the field,” said Assaf.

The strong senior class has been leading the team since summer, and helped the underclassmen get ready for the season. “Sam Assaf was a good mentor; Ahsan [Hennings] and Cam [Hamilton] were also good mentors throughout the summer and so far through the season,” said Rocker. “They taught me not only about football, but also how to work hard every day.”

This season, the freshmen had a remarkable impact on the team. Freshman Lawrence “Deuce” Jordan II in particular has had a astonishing performance. Alongside senior running back Keashawn Perryman,

Deuce has been busting through holes for big gains and has the stats to show for it. Deuce’s incredible speed and elusiveness makes him a tough runner to bring down. He finished the season with 608 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

“On the first day in pads [freshman] Xavier Agostino made it past [senior] Chilton Tolliver in a one on one,” said Assaf. “We were all really impressed.” Agostino is a defensive lineman with tremendous strength and quickness off the ball. Agostino has made 24 tackles this year, including three sacks.

Alongside Agostino are Rocker and Bennett. They are both big and strong, and with a little more experience will make a major contributions next year.

Freshman quarterback Jae Williams, although lacking much game experience, has been working hard with the quarterback coach to develop. He is expected to replace graduating

the quarter finals on Oct. 27 against North Hall. That day home court advantage paid off when nothing short of perfection was reached with a straight set win of 3-0.

Pace moved on to play Lovett in the Final Four at home on Oct. 30. Knights had played Lovett twice this year and won, but only the winner of this match would make it to state. Pace was determined to make it to finals with another straight set win of 3-0, and succeeded in doing so.

“It just feels so nice,” said junior Sasha Ratliff. “I really felt the team supporting each other and it made me happy to be a part of this great match against Lovett even though I could not play. They went out and killed it.”

The moment of truth was captured when the players stared across the net at the Westminster

team at the state championship.

Coach Bush best depicted the match and season goals: “We matured a lot this season. We had a lot of adversity this year as far as injuries, sickness and even players bursting into tears at practice. There was a lot of tension during state the championship match, but especially after our first set loss at 25-16.

The team’s fortitude and calmness – how they knew they could play better – was really amazing to see. I hope everyone looks at our state championship journey and doesn’t fast forward. It’s not just about this one game. Win or lose there was a lot more that we got out of this season.”

Senior Davis Mathis returned this year after a major back injury and surgery last year. She worked on and off the court to be able to play this season, and she was a valuable contributor in the state championship match.

“It was icing on the cake to see the team win and watch my daughter back on the court,” said Davis’ mom Jenny Mathis.

This has been an outstanding season for varsity volleyball.

Next year, new faces like Ratliff, who was ineligible to play this year, will shine on the court.

However, the team reflects as six seniors have ended their final season. “I can’t believe we won,” said senior Alexandra Baker, who provided tremendous leadership this year. “This is the best way to end my senior year career at Pace.”

The other seniors – Sophie Beck, Paige Fleming, Mathis, Nicole Petrosky and Lily Reckford – are also happy that their last game was with this championship team.

Freshman Football Players Excel on the Field Bennett Boushka Staff Writer Class of 2021

Freshman Lawrence “Deuce” Jordan II races by defenders in the season opener vs. New Manchester. senior Jared Rayman at the quarterback position next year.

The team plays Monroe Area

Photo: Fred Assaf

In June, the Pace Academy football team welcomed 10 new freshmen onto the squad. “I was very excited when I saw the new freshmen,” said senior Sam Assaf. “I could tell there were many big guys joining the team.” The team embraced the new players, quickly getting to know them.

“We are a very close group, only having 37 guys, and I think that helps us,” said Assaf. The freshmen quickly adjusted to the new team and got to work. “The team welcomed me very well,” said freshman Hunter Rocker.

“They were all very nice and the transition was smooth.”

The freshmen are typically only 14 years old when they arrive on campus to start training for the season, so they are still developing as young men. “The coaches have really helped us

High School (away) in the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 9.

Sports

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 14

Mountain Bike Team Rides into Offseason Charlie Warren News Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Katherine Tolliday

While many students from the Pace community engage in fall extracurriculars, there is one fall sport that requires lots of grit and determination, yet tends to fall under the radar. The Pace mountain biking team has experienced tremendous growth in the years since its initial launch in 2016, bringing on new teammates each season.

As one of the upper school’s four club sports, the mountain biking program might be the most inclusive sport at Pace. The team is open to every student, girl or boy, from sixth graders in the middle school to seniors.

However, even though this sport is available to a wide range of people, it is not the sport for everyone, as it requires stamina and strong calves, as well as the ability to take more than a few hard falls. The trails often include slick rocks, roots and branches, as well as steep inclines and narrow descents.

The mountain biking team operates much like the cross country team in relation to scoring. During a race, each competitor has a tracker pinned to their bike, which allows officials

Junior Ben Tolliday rides into a clearing on the final downhill stetch at the Bartram Trails race on Oct. 7 in Milledgeville. to keep accurate records of individual times. Races themselves vary between team rides, which accumulate and compare the scores of a particular team as a whole to other teams, and individual races, which track the times of riders and rank them on their individual success.

The races can also range in length and difficulty, depending on the location. The team travels

all over North and Central Georgia, from Lake Blue Ridge to Milledgeville, to compete in these races. However, the practices twice a week can be just as competitive.

“Practice is my favorite part about mountain biking because we all race each other and become closer as a team,” said freshman Jack Warren.

The team competed in five

races this year, with the last race taking place in Jackson, Georgia on Nov. 3.

For most practices and races, the top three finishers for the team were junior Ben Tolliday, senior Ben Solomon and sophomore Aiden Critz.

Coaches Dan Brooks and Jessie Marshburn built a strong foundation this year, attracting several freshmen and middle

Although not a GHSA sponsored sport, and therefore called a “club,” the team still has enough players to field an A-team and a B-Team, including both male and female athletes.

The B-team, consisting of mostly freshman and sophomores, finished with a 5-9 record, earning them a seventh-place regular season finish.

In the playoffs, however, the team rose to the occasion, finishing fifth out of the 10 Division 3 teams. “Playing on the B-team was great because we got a lot of game time and we understand that we will be the future of the program, so it was great to get that game experience for next

year,” said junior Alan Tapper.

Although the B-Team had a successful season, the Ateam was the squad that really captured the attention of many in the Pace community. The A-team made history for Pace water polo, finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record. In addition, senior Andrew Jenkins broke the record for most goals in one career. “It was a huge honor to be able to break the record,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins has made the AllStar team the past three years, was selected to first team AllState and was the Division 2 Player of the Year for the second year. Jenkins finished his final

regular season at Pace with a 2. On Sept. 30, they headed to career total of 335 goals and 47 the state tournament, beating assists.

Norcross and North Springs to As the only senior on the compete in the state championteam, most of the leadership ship game against Collins Hill. responsibilities fell to Jenkins.

The Knights lost to Collins Hill “It was tough to be the only 8-13, earning the title of state senior, but I really runner-up in Divienjoyed most of It was a huge sion 2. the players on the As Division 2 team, so I had fun honor to be able runner-up, the team doing it,” he said. to break the went on to play Jenkins the Division 1 record. – Senior in wasn’t the only tournament in Cumone contributing, Andrew Jenkins ming on Oct. 6. The however, as junior Knights lost to two Blake Maner made the Division tough teams in the D1 tourna3 All-State second team, junior ment – Norcross High, the top John O’Brien was named to team in the state and undefeated, the Division 2 All-State secand Lakeside High, ranked No. ond team, and Jackson Hamel 4 in the state – resulting in a 7thjoined Jenkins on the Division 2 place finish in Division 1.

All-State first team. In addition, Jenkins scored his 100th goal eighth grader David Grice made during the game against Lakethe Division 3 All-State first side, making this the third seateam and was named the Divison in a row that he has scored sion 3 Player of the Year.

100 goals or more in a season.

Other big contributors included sophomore Amalie Little and junior Harris Greenbaum who played goalie, widely considered to be one of the toughest positions to play in the sport.

11-1 (school record) “I think [playing goalie] is so difficult because you have to Division 2 State be able to tread water and then Runners-up in an instant shoot out of the water and be able to block a ball Awards: thrown extremely hard right at – Andrew Jenkins: First you,” said Greenbaum. “But I Team All-State, Division like the challenge, and it’s been a 2 Player of the Year – Jackson Hamel: Division lot of fun for me.”

2 All-State First Team The team began with a – Blake Maner: Division scorching nine-game winning 3 All-State Second Team streak, going 9-1 through the – John O’Brien: Division 3 first 10 games. The team’s 11-1 All-State Second Team regular season record earned them second place in Division

Water Polo Wraps Up Historic Season Zachary Howard Staff Writer Class of 2020 Every year as fall rolls around, many people turn their attention to the football team and its success in recent years. However, one of the most successful teams of the fall has been the Pace water polo team.

Coached by P.E. teacher John Ague as well as middle school math teacher Andy Lopuszynski, the team has been gaining traction over the past few seasons, this season being the culmination of their efforts.

schoolers, paving the way for a solid, well rounded team in future seasons.

This year, Solomon was the team’s highest ranking member.

“It’s cool being the only senior on the team because I can be a real leader for the younger kids and show them the ropes,” said Solomon. “I’m excited to see how they turn out in a few years.”

“

”

Season Results

Photo: Harris Greenbaum Junior and goalie Harris Greenbaum (pictured) started at goalie and was instrumental to their division runner up finish..

Sports

Vol. 44, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 15

Joelle Zelony Dribbles Her Way to Tufts Eden Kerker

Lifestyle Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Fred Assaf

Upon starting to play basketball at age five, senior Joelle Zelony never imagined being where she is today. Next fall, she plans to swap out her blue and white Pace varsity basketball jersey for the blue and white jersey of Tufts University.

Joelle has always loved basketball, but when beginning her search for colleges she wanted to find a school that offers both a high caliber of academics, as well as a valued basketball program. She initially aimed to play for a Division 1 school, but once she saw Tufts, she was sold.

“I chose it because I like their program better than some other D1 programs, and they contend for the national championship every year, which is pretty cool,” said Zelony. “I’ve worked so hard and it’s just so rewarding to be able to play at such a great university. Plus, Coach Carla Berube coaches one of the USA teams, and I know I will learn a lot from her.”

During her high school career so far, Zelony has been recognized as all-region player for the 2016-17 and 2017-18

Senior Joelle Zelony prepares to shoot a free throw against Westminster last year. Zelony recently announced her intentions to play collegiately at Tufts University. seasons and co-offensive player of the year for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. She has also been selected as team co-captain for the past two seasons and is definitely a fan favorite with many of her teammates.

“I’ve spent seasons inside

and outside of Pace basketball watching her grow into a leader and constantly trying to improve her game,” said senior co-captain Paige Fleming. “She works very well with her teammates and makes sure everyone on the team feels included and always

gives 100%.”

Her teammates are grateful for her constant energy and encouragement. “She’s one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met, both on the court and off the court,” said senior Madeline Janki. “She’s the first

of playing competitively at her club and three years at Pace, she has decided to pursue playing volleyball with Brown University’s team post graduation.

Agolli’s height initially led her to play basketball with the hopes of playing at a high level in the future. However, her parents’ passion for volleyball eventually resonated with her and became her passion as well. “My parents took me to a Georgia Tech volleyball game when I was

younger, while I was still playing basketball, and the environment of the whole gym was electric,” said Agolli. “I instantly knew I wanted to be a part of something that special and invigorating.”

At the age of 13, the first step in her path to Division I volleyball at Brown was trying out for club volleyball, leading her to A5 Volleyball Club where she plays on team 16-1 in Alpharetta.

“My favorite part of club volleyball is the super high intensity,” said Agolli. “A lot is expected out of my team since we are one of the top teams in the country, so I’m always being pushed past my comfort zone.

I know that I am becoming a better athlete every time I step into the gym. I am also able to connect with my teammates in a way that’s different from my friends at Pace because we go through so much, physically and emotionally, together.”

Although Agolli has attained an impressive result from her years of playing by committing to the application process at Brown, her journey was far from effortless. This past year, she had to switch positions on her club team for the season.

“It was very different and frustrating at times playing a completely new position I had never played before,” said Agolli.

“I wanted to be good at it right away, but it took time. I went to tons of extra practices and stayed for extra reps after my regular practices to really get consistent and powerful in the position.”

With a block jump of 111.0”, an approach jump of 120.0”, a

vertical approach/reach of 23.0”, and a broad jump of 92.0”, the outside hitter has had a major impact on the Pace volleyball court since her start in ninth grade.

“She is hilarious, friendly, and a joy to be around on and off the court,” said senior Nicole Petrosky. “I’ve loved watching her improve and am so proud of her [verbally] committing to Brown.” Agolli has loved watching the Pace volleyball program grow every year. They are now beating teams Pace has never beaten before. Her favorite memory was winning the state playoffs final four game against The Lovett School her freshman year.

Agolli had been talking to Brown representatives for a few months prior to her commitment.

They watched her at tournaments and she had been communicating with them through emails and over the phone.

She always wanted to go to a school that prioritized academics along with athletics, with most of her communication being with Ivy League schools.

After visiting in early September, she knew that Brown was the perfect school for her. “I clicked with the team instantly and just had a feeling that was like, ‘this is it,’” said Agolli.

“I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter of my life in college and I can’t wait to just play at an even higher level. It’s been my dream since middle school to play volleyball at the collegiate level, so it’s very rewarding and humbling to be here now.”

one to get to practice and the last one to leave.”

But Zelony wasn’t always just a basketball star. “People actually may not know that I used to play soccer,” said Zelony. “I played it until middle school and I loved it, but I dropped it once I started getting serious about basketball.” Zelony is the perfect example of how shortcomings don’t define a person. In seventh grade, she was playing for the AAU travel basketball team, Peak Performance, and she was distraught after hearing she didn’t make the top team.

As a result, she decided to work hard and overcome the challenge. “That’s when I stopped playing soccer,” said Zelony. She devoted herself to focusing on basketball and proving her skill and tenacity.

Little did she know, it would be that work ethic that would ultimately lead her to Tufts. “I’ve been on the top team since then and I guess that’s the reason I really love the sport,” said Zelony.

“I worked so hard for it, so it’s great to see it pay off.

It’s just fun for me and I never get tired of it. If I’m stressed, I always have basketball. It is also so great to be surrounded by a group of people who also love to do what I love to do.”

Ada Jane Agolli Sets Herself Up for Ivy League Genna Schwarz Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2019

Junior Ada Jane Agolli is the 6-foot-3 product of two European professional volleyball players, Artan and Ogerta Agolli. Her parents have been both role models and her biggest supporters throughout her volleyball career. After four years

Photo: Fred Assaf Ada Jane Agolli (right) taps the ball over the net during the Area Championship game versus the Westminster Schools on Oct. 11.

Sports News, Upcoming Events Congratulations to Cross Country!

Girls team placed 3rd at the state meet Junior Paula Sandoval placed 6th, freshman Laura Arenth placed 8th Boys team placed 4th at the state meet Junior George Adams placed 10th Football: First round of playoffs on Nov. 9 Basketball: First game Nov. 10 vs. Marist School @ Home, Girls at 1:30 p.m., Boys at 3 Swimming and Diving: First home meet Nov. 15 vs. Loganville High School Wrestling: Meet vs.

Lovett School Nov. 21 @ Lovett

Sports

November 9, 2018

The Knightly News - Page 16

Pace Scores with Coach Sharman White Coach “Sharm” hired as Associate Director of Athletics and head boys basketball coach Jill Rawls

Managing Editor Class of 2019

Photo: Sharman White

A highly-esteemed individual joins Pace Academy as not only Associate Director of Athletics, but also as head boys basketball coach. In his over 20 years of coaching, Sharman White has won more than 80% of the games he has played and earned no shortage of prestige along the way.

After getting a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern and master’s degree from Coppin State University, Coach White’s career began at Carver High School in Atlanta. He then coached and served as athletic director for 10 years at Miller Grove High School, but switched to the collegiate level in 2016 as an assistant basketball coach for the Georgia State Panthers.

Coach White is excited to coach on the high school level once again. “[Coaching in college], you’re basically working with grown men, which is different than working with guys in high school,” he said. “When teaching in high school, you’re showing them the ropes, and trying to get them to the point of

Coach White (right) works with Max Christie at the USA Basketball Mini-Camp that was held Oct. 5-7 at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. where they want to be – if they want to go to college to play, or if they just want to get a good experience out of it.”

Growing up, Coach White did play basketball. However, he always saw himself being

a coach one day. “When I was younger, I coached little kids in my neighborhood just because I wanted to be a coach,” he said.

“It didn’t take much for me to understand that and know that.”

He pursued his dream, and

he happens to be quite good at it. Of all the titles he has earned, he has been most humbled by leading the USA Basketball Under-16 Junior National Team to a gold medal in Argentina in 2016, and by being named Na-

managed to leapfrog their preseason projections: the Atlanta Braves. Coming into the year, the Braves were seen as a team that was loaded with talent. The only problem was that this talent centered around the minor league system, and they were still a few years away from competing. However, from the get-go the Braves showed their ability to go toe-to-toe with the best in the game.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook gave the Braves 20-1 odds to win the National League East, a division that included the World Series hopeful Washington Nationals and the shutdown pitching staff of the New York Mets. However, neither the Nationals nor the Mets nor the Philadelphia Phillies could keep pace with this young and exciting Atlanta team.

The Braves combined veteran talent with prospect potential to snag the NL East and land a spot in the playoffs. With a career-best year from 34-yearold Nick Markakis, typical dominance from annual MVP candidate Freddie Freeman and a breakout year from rookie phenom Ronald Acuna Jr., manager Brian Snitker compiled a roster that proved the Braves would be a legitimate contender in the very near future.

The biggest question mark going into the season – the pitching staff – offered up-and-comers a chance to show their stuff as well as gain valuable game experience. Mike Foltynewicz in particular had a breakout season that saw him take control of the rotation, finishing with a 2.85 ERA, sixth-best in the National League. Prospects like Touki Toussaint and Max Fried also stood out as important assets for the future. The bullpen did struggle for the majority of the season, but midseason acquisitions and another year of growth for young pitchers will help once spring training rolls around.

This offseason will present tough decisions for the Braves’ front office, specifically General Manager Alex Anthopoulos. Snitker has already signed an extension through 2020, with a team option for 2021, but that is not the only question. Over the next few months, Anthopoulos must choose whether to surrender prospects for more veteran players that could contribute immediately, or wait for those like third baseman Austin Riley or starting pitcher Mike Soroka to continue to develop.

These decisions will convey whether the Braves want to be instant contenders for the 2019 season, or if they will show faith in their farm system, one that Snitker has been a part of since 1977. Either way, things are pointing in the right direction for the Braves, who will look to build off of this year’s momentum and move out of the rebuilding phase.

tional Coach Of The Year on two separate occasions. The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) recognized him as Coach of the Year in 2016 and USA Today named him the 2013-2014 USA Today National Coach of the Year.

The Pace basketball players started working out with Coach White at the end of August and are looking forward to their season under his leadership. “Coach White is a very organized and composed coach,” said sophomore Josh Mininberg. “[His] experience will show during the season, as he will bring highlevel schemes as well as the right kind of basketball.”

Senior Myles Todd also has high expectations for the season.

“Practices just started, but I already see potential in the team,” said Todd. “I think that Coach White will be great because he has coached so many high schoolers, so he knows what to expect.”

So far, Coach White has been loving his time at Pace. “I think it’s a great place,” he said. “I love the culture of the school; I love the faculty, the students, the community, the parents. I think this is one big family and it’s an honor to be able to work here and to be a part of it.”

Braves Defy Preseason Odds, Win Division Will Zook

Sports Editor Class of 2019

While the 2018 Major League Baseball season had a few surprises, for the most part it played out as expected. Three of the four LCS teams (Red Sox, Dodgers, Astros) were early season favorites, but one team

Photo: Wikimedia Commons Veteran Nick Markakis rounds the bases for the Atlanta Braves, who saw unexpected success this season.