VOICE
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March 2013 Volume XXIX, Issue VII
Pembroke Presents:
Into the Woods
Asher Abrahms Staff Writer Take a journey…Into the Woods. In this epic fairytale, worlds collided as James Lapine’s book and Stephen Sondheim’s musical score were realized amid the Hall Student Center stage. On March 8th and 9th, the Pembroke Hill theatre and music departments brought to life the sweetness and gaiety, anguish and grief, seduction and scandal present in the intertwined plots of several Grimm fairy tales. This down-to-earth pseudooperetta presented a captivating dichotomy between the happygo-lucky nature of fairy tales with which we are all too familiar and the more elegiac reality of such classic stories as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. Each of these characters has a wish granted in the first act, but the consequences of their desires returns to haunt them in the second half of this enchanting production. [Continued on Page 3]
The Official Newspaper of the Pembroke Hill School Inside the Issue Ben Gallagher ‘13 on iTunes. . . . . . . Page 10 WPA Lock-In: Good or Bad? . . . . . . Page 12
Artist of the Issue: Riley Sloan
Recipes for Spring Got a sweet tooth? Page 18 and 19.
Month in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Caption Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 19
Feature: Rotating Schedule Learn more about what Upper and Middle School students really think about Pembroke’s newest reform. Pages 5, 6, and 7.
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2 Feature
The Many Faces of
Riley Sloan
Photo Credits to JoLynn Caldwell and Ellen Cagle
Emily Beasley and Emily Ramza Staff Writers Riley Sloan ‘13 is proof that something good can come from a Nicolas Cage movie. Sloan, who claims to draw his acting inspiration from Nicolas Cage, is an active member of the Pembroke Hill Thespian Club and the Chorale. He is also a member of an elite male a cappella group outside of Pembroke called the Y Chromotones, directed by the Shawnee Mission East Choir Director, Ken Foley. Sloan came from humble beginnings as an actor. At the age of six, he told his mother he “had no idea what happened to [his] sister’s birthday cake.” Since then, he has participated in many Pembroke plays and musicals. Sloan enjoys portraying “crazy, evil, or ridiculous characters, preferably with an accent.” Since his freshman year in high school, Sloan has played many characters who fit that description, such as eerie Jud Fry in Oklahoma, machiavellian Saunders in Lend Me a Tenor, and lovesick Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This month, he is playing Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf in the Winter Musical Into the Woods, demonstrating
his versatility as both an actor and singer. However, for Sloan, it is really the people he works with on the theatrical productions whomake his experiences worthwhile. “The theater community has provided friendships that got me through high school,” he says. Sloan credits much of his theatrical success to the excellent mentoring he has been exposed to at Pembroke. “Since beginning drama freshman year, PHS theater has shaped who I am. Mr. Hill, Mr. Diff, Ms. King, and Mrs Cain have all been amazing role models.” In addition to his incredible success in Pembroke’s theater community, Sloan also excels in the academic field of Pembroke. To name a few of his academic accomplishments, Sloan is a managing editor for the Voice, created a passed Senate Bill as part of Youth In Government, was one of eighteen seniors who were 2013 National Merit finalists, and is part of Pembroke’s 2012 Envirothon team that placed first in the continent among forty-four schools from the U.S. and Canada.n
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(Above): The Prince stands with his new wife, Cinderella, as her family congratulates the couple. (Bottom right): The Witch holds her daughter, Rapunzel, and sings “Stay With Me.” Photo Credits: JoLynn Caldwell
A Moment in the Woods
Asher Abrahms Staff Writer
(continued from page 1) As Mrs. Rachel Cain, one of two co-directors along with Mr. Joel Diffendaffer, remarked, “We’re asking the audience to allow the fantasy of a fairy tale to be a part of their consciousness as they’re watching it.” One of Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically complex show where actors can demonstrate their skill at dark comedy. Indeed, Cain explains that “Sondheim is notorious for being difficult—there are good reasons why adults don’t even attempt it because it’s so challenging.” Remarking on the depth of meaning present in the score, accompanist Joy Steincross said: “The lyrics and melody are very intricate. As you peel them back layer by layer, you continually find new meaning.”
Together, Cain and Diffendaffer, along with choreographer Vanessa Severo and set designer Kelly Vogel, made room for every emotion, thanks to a talented cast led by Megan Carter ’13 (Witch), Grace Vedock ’16 (Cinderella), and Ian Purdy ’14 (Baker). Noteworthy performances by Zach Helder ’13 (Rapunzel’s prince) and Riley Sloan ’13 (Cinderella’s prince) in “Agony” (along with other numbers) gave the show its truly believable element, while demonstrating the skill of its performers. Another starry highlight was the sweetly interpreted, tender duet, “It Takes Two,” performed by the Baker (Purdy) and his wife (Kat Gentleman ‘14). In the face of snow days and sicknesses that affected particular members of the cast for weeks, the cast and crew successfully pulled through, growing each day as individuals and actors. Cain saw “kids who worked their tails off…who adapted every
day and made adjustments at every rehearsal—which is working at a professional level.” Beth Wang ’14 (stepsister Florinda) said: “It’s been really exciting seeing everybody grow into themselves as actors and actresses.” The cast and crew also effectively captured the more technological aspects of this show. Especially interesting were Art Kent’s lighting, a three-dimensional shadow puppet of the crows that speak to Cinderella, an on-stage scrim on which the growing of the beanstalk was projected, and the bass-pounding rumble of the giant’s footsteps that vibrated throughout Hall Student Center. Particularly commendable was the life-size puppet crafted by art teacher Mr. Jason Lips of Milky White, a cow controlled by two performers that incorporated elements of Japanese Bunraku puppetry. Despite the challenges presented by the music, the cast came through
to expertly perform each song. Combined with an intricate set, elaborate costumes, technological finesse, and Diffendaffer’s laudable musical direction, Pembroke’s Into the Woods truly cast a spell over its audience. n
4 Feature
Alumni in the News:
There’s a New Nixon in Washington Paige Pepitone Staff Writer There’s a new Nixon in Washington, D.C. Although Mike Nixon, ‘96, is not to be confused with the 37th president of the United States, he plays an important governmental role as Senior Housing Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Working with the White House, Treasury, and other federal agencies, Nixon designs and pushes legislation that is aimed at fixing the housing crisis, that continues to plague the American economy. Nixon looks upon his time spent at Pembroke Hill High School fondly and is now a member of the alumni association. “Pembroke was an excellent preparatory experience that provided a well-rounded and overall strong foundation for exceeding in college and grad school,” he says.
“[Pembroke also provided] the work ethic and appreciation for diversity necessary to successfully meet the challenges in my career, first in banking, and now as a policymaker.” Nixon recalls two specific teachers who imparted important lessons to him that he has carried with him far beyond the high school classroom. Latin teacher, Mrs. Nancy Lacy, who dedicated part of her lunch period to helping Nixon translate advanced Latin poems, and Social Studies teacher, Dr. Bob Tostevin, who provided Nixon the opportunity to have meaningful, college-level discussions in AP European History. “To have such individual, dedicated and special attention was a true hallmark that I didn’t fully appreciate until I grew older and was able to compare my experience with peers both in college and afterward,” he says. After graduating from Princeton
University in 2000, Nixon worked in the private sector in investment banking. He then went on to receive his Master of Business Administration degree through the Accelerated Executive Program at the George Washington School of Business in 2009. After the economic crisis of 2008, Nixon was inspired to take a public policy position. “[I like the challenge] of finding a robust solution to a very difficult problem,” he says. “That resolve to tackle a hard problem was certainly fostered at Pembroke.” Nixon meets regularly with stakeholder groups, mortgage investors, and consumer advocacy groups to discuss various policy issues, like the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. But through it all, Nixon remains a Kansas City boy at heart. “My mom still lives [in Kansas City], so it makes it really easy to get up to campus when I’m home to visit fac-
Photo Credit to Paige Pepitone.
ulty and staff,” he says. “Campus has changed quite a bit since I graduated, but for the better.” n
Allie Jones Helps Make Wishes Come True Isabella Barnes Middle School Staff Writer Seventh grader Allie Jones loves helping others, so when she heard about the goal of The Make-A-Wish Foundation, she knew she wanted to do something to help. “I started doing fundraisers for Make-A-Wish because of the fifth grade bake sale. It was one of the choices of a charity [to support], but I did not know what it was. I did some research and I really love the idea of helping kids” she said. According to its official website, the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s goal is to “grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” These children can wish to have any occupation, go anywhere, have anything
and meet anyone. Since its founding foundation, Jones began holding in 1980, over 250,000 children around fundraisers. Her first fundraiser was the world have had their wishes held during the summer after her granted. Many of these children still fifth grade year. She had a bake sale, thrive today, growing into happy, raising about $2,000 for the Foundahealthy adults. Some of these adults tion. Jones also began holding raffles at support the Foundation, using their talents to raise money to aid chil- school. Last year, many students endren like themselves when they were tered to help support the Foundation and to have younger. When “The Foundation helps kids get one a chance at a s k e d last wish during their life threaten- winning a Kindle Fire. why she one chose the ing illness. I thought how awful it Only F o u n d a - would be not to have your biggest name was to be drawn, tion, Allie wish come true.” and a week said, “The later, Mrs. F o u n dation helps kids get one last wish Mohr took home the brand-new deduring their life threatening illness. I vice. Through the collective efforts thought how awful it would be not to of the school, the raffle raised about $1,000 dollars. 100% of those prohave your biggest wish come true.” To raise money to donate to the ceeds went to The Make-A-Wish
Foundation. This year, Jones is holding another raffle at school where she will give away an iPad mini. Tickets will go on sale sometime in the next few weeks for five dollars apiece. “I really enjoy doing things that make me feel good about myself and that help kids. I love kids and feel so good when I can do something to help them out.” said Jones. By supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation both inside and outside of school, Jones has demonstrated exemplary character and truly embodies the spirit of compassion that The Pembroke Hill School has attempted to achieve. For more information on how you can support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit their webstite at http:// www.wish.org/help. n
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Pembroke Hill Presents:
The Rotating Schedule RED WEEK Mon M
Tue T
F
8:509:40
Free 2
9:409:4010:30
Meetings Meetings Meetings Meetings Meetings
10:3010:3011:20
3
4
5
Free 6
7
11:2011:2012:10
4
5
Free 6
7
1
12:1012:1012:101:25 1:25
5 5
2:152:152:153:05 3:05
Lunch Lunch Free 6
4
4
BLUE WEEK Fri
1
3
3
ThursTh
8:008:50
1:25 1:251:252:15 2:15
Free 2
Wed W
5
5
Free 6
M 6
T 7
W
Th
Collab TIme
4
F 1
(8:00-9:20)
7
1
Collab Time
4
2
Meetings
Meetings
1
5
Meetings
(9:45-11:05)
(9:45-11:05)
1
2
1
5
3
2
3
2
6
4
(11:20-12:40)
(11:20-12:40)
Lunch Lunch 7 7
1 1
Lunch Lunch Free 2
Lunch 3
Lunch 4
2
6
5
3 3
4
5
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch 6
4 4
5
6
3
7
7
(1:30-2:50)
(1:30-2:50)
Lunch Lunch Free 6
7 7
1 1
Lunch Lunch Free 2
7 7
1 1
Free 2
3 3
6 Feature
g n i t ta
Ro
Cindy Wang Assistant Editor After several years of hard work and contemplation, the Pembroke Hill Middle School and High School have decided to implement a rotating schedule for the 20132014 school year. This controversial topic has been quite a conversation starter for the entire Pembroke Hill community, with students, teachers, and parents voicing their opinions. With many pros and cons, the rotating schedule holds the potential to be either extremely effective, disastrous, or somewhere in between. The rotating schedule is just what it sounds like: a schedule in which the classes are the same and in the same order,but just in a different time pattern every day. The schedule will rotate on a ten-day, two week cycle with a Blue week and a Red week. Classes will still begin at 8:00 am, with the exception of every other Wednesday, on which classes will start at 9:45 am for high school students. On these Wednesdays and the following Thursdays, a block schedule will take place. Half of a student’s classes will meet on Wednesday for 80 minutes, and the latter half will meet on Thursday for 80 minutes to allow for longer activities such as labs or in-class essays. Block days will also include 50 minute lunch periods for upper schoolers. Says Dr. Bellis, “What is really exciting is that now both divisions will be on the same schedule, which will allow them to maximize their joint effectiveness. It relaxes the daily pace a bit for students without taking away any instructional time, and it allows for more collaboration among teachers.” Many students seem to see this change in a negative light, arguing that it is pointless and confusing. Says freshman Mickey Ferguson, “I don’t think that it’s the best idea for the school because you still have the same classes that you do now, but with blocks and times that can be hard to follow.” In addition, Cynthia Wang ‘14 states, “Sometimes people like to and/or need to have a free period at a set time every day. With the rotating schedule, your free period could be first, last, before lunch, and that can get really inconvenient.” However, there are students who seem open to and even optimistic about this new step for Pembroke Hill. Junior, Jon Styslinger offers, “Besides the slightly confusing rotations, it probably won’t be that bad.” Harold Edwards ‘13 also explains, “It’s like working out. You constantly need to change the routine in order to keep your body engaged. It’s the same thing for the brain. The rotating schedule allows for the brain to stay actively engaged and focused.” In a nutshell, what seems to be evident is that the dividing line between the pros and cons of the rotating schedule is blurry. While the rotations may be a bit confusing at first, at least you’ll have a late start to look forward to every other Wednesday. While 80 minute class periods may sound unappealing and boring, at least you’ll have that 50 minute lunch period. And really, if you think about, not that much has changed. Free periods and meetings period still exist, and seniors can still enjoy off campus privileges. The only noticeable difference is that you’ll be able to have any particular class at any particular time of day. Junior, Jon Chu, sums up the schedule quite nicely, “The rotating schedule is like a wagon wheel; it rotates.” Although that may be oversimplifying it, in the end, isn’t that really all it is?
u le
“It relaxes the daily pace a bit for students without taking away any instructional time, and it allows for more collaboration among teachers.”
d e Sch
Middle School to Adopt Rotating Schedule Devon Dietrich Middle School Staff Writer This coming August will be a time of great transition at Pembroke Hill because the schedule for the entire Ward Parkway campus is changing. The result will contain elements of both rotating and block schedules. When I first learned of this shift, I was anxious. However, as I became more familiar with the details, I thought of Thomas Jefferson’s insightful words: “I am not an advocate for frequent changes, but institutions, as new discoveries are made, must advance also to keep pace with the times.” This quote perfectly describes how I feel. Yes, change is always notably tough, but in the end it may bring what is best. “No pain, no gain,” in a sense. And, as more and more research has been done on the relationship between course scheduling and the ability of students to learn, I am sure Pembroke aspires to do the best for students and faculty. The new schedule will be on a ten-day cycle with a “Red” and “Blue” week. Middle and Upper School schedules will coincide at many points, ensuring that students who take high school courses will not miss out on valuable exercises in their other classes. In the Red Week, all classes will meet on a rotating schedule. Instead of having Advisory as the 3rd class each day, that will be a “Plus Period.” During that 45 minute time slot, students may take chorus, study hall, or their elective of choice, and have guaranteed access to help from teachers. Students will still have daily Advisory, but it will meet before or after lunch. The Red Week schedule also ensures that students will have a ten-minute break every day in the afternoon. Blue week has several differences from Red Week. Each Monday, Tuesday, and Friday will mirror the Red Week’s rotating schedule. However, each Wednesday and Thursday will be on a block format. On Wednesdays the Ward Parkway campus will have a late start. On Wednesdays, teachers will continue to start at 8:00 a.m. and to sharpen their lesson plans and collaborate with their colleagues. “It will be wonderful for teachers to discuss topics with their grade level peers, [and] also [have time] to meet with teachers in the same discipline [across] grades 6 through 12. This will allow us to look more closely at our curriculum and identify improvement opportunities,” Dr. Leonard said. After this teacher-oriented time, students
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“[This schedule change] will allow us to look more closely at our curriculum and identify improvement opportunities.” Dr. Leonard If you could vote on adopting the proposed schedule or not, what would be your response and why? •“I like the new schedule and how it has a Red Week and Blue Week, so it changes every week too.” ~Julian Sanders, 6th grade •“Yes, because it will include several breaks during the day. I also like how we get a late start on Wednesday.” ~Daniel Bauman, 7th grade •“I like how the schedule is now, changing it would be hard and confusing for everyone.” ~Emily Dickey, 6th grade will attend only half of their classes, but for 80-minute sessions. On Thursdays, there will be no late start, and students will attend the classes they did not have the previous day. Assemblies will likely be held on Thursdays, although the faculty is still determining the most appropriate time. The longer periods have caused many to wonder will students be able to pay attention for 80 minutes without a break? How do the teachers plan to make use of the extra time? Mr. Enns is a new teacher at Pembroke Hill, is used to longer class periods. He previously taught at the United Nations International School in New York, where he taught a 100-minute science class each week. He stated, “Having shorter periods makes the day go by faster, and maybe moving to a longer period would be a con for some students. As a pro [though], it prevents students from losing focus during long lessons... I think shorter periods make my class feel more rushed, since once you take care of the opening activities and the homework discussion, there’s 10 minutes used. That allows for [only] 30 minutes of actual instruction
time, which isn’t a lot when you’re trying to teach a complicated concept.” Under this new schedule, sports practices will be held immediately after school. This could result in an overlap of sports workouts, club meetings, and Science Olympiad practices. Consequently, Dr. Leonard said: “Conflicting activities will be a challenge, and my hope is that coaches and club sponsors will remember to focus on the kids’ experiences and be flexible to allow for students to participate in multiple activities rather than forcing kids to choose.” Mrs. Wright, a Science Olympiad volunteer since 2005, thinks: “The program’s practice schedule will have to be adjusted, but [the Science Olympiad coaches] have made adjustments to our schedule over the years and should be able to figure out a solution. With thought and flexibility, the school should be able to continue to offer the Science Olympiad experience to all interested students.” In conclusion, as Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change!” n
8 Student Life
Debate: Mock Trial Maya Patel Managing Editor
As one of the most accomplished and successful teams in the Upper School, the debate team has been adding to their abundance of trophies throughout its extremely successful year. The team travels both locally and nationally, participating in debate, speech and performance, and mock trial events. There are three types of debate, including Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Lincoln Douglas Debate. The speech and performance events include extemporaneous speaking, duo acting events, oratory, and more. Competing against 25 to 40 schools, often with over 1000 competitors at a tournament, Pembroke’s debate team routinely wins top awards. One of its most notable achievements this year was its first place sweepstakes at the Blue Springs South tournament, which was the highest finish in school history at this particular tournament. Individual students have also earned prestigious awards and top places in the other tournaments
they have attended. However, all their success doesn’t come without hard work. Raymond Fang ’13 says they prepare by “doing practice debates, giving practice speeches, and doing a lot of research and preparing files for debate and forensics events like extemporaneous speaking.” Debate offers so many unique opportunities, and Fang describes his experience by saying, “It's definitely been a huge part of my high school experience, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.” Pembroke Hill’s debate team has had some amazing accomplishments thus far and will only continue to place highly in the tournaments to come. Most recently, Philip Laddin ‘13, Sam Thomas ‘13, Daryl Rosenblum ’13, Harneet Kaur ‘13, and Patrick Innes ‘14 have qualified to National Forensics League National Tournament in their respective events. n
HU
Jon Chu
on this... Usually it is in one’s best interest to stay as inconspicuous as possible while at the airport. Unfortunately, when I was flying over Presidents’ Day Weekend I ended up looking extremely suspicious. I was at the airport and going through security. I put my bag through the x-ray machine, but to my surprise the security official, looking concerned, took my bag out and put it back through a second time. Now he looked even more worried, and he called over a few other security personnel who all seemed to have the same disturbed reaction. A woman took my bag out and asked who the owner was. Reluctantly I told her it was mine, and she began to search it, for what I wasn’t quite sure. But she seemed determined to find something, asking if there was anything sharp or pointed that would poke her. When she began leafing through my clothing it suddenly dawned on me. A couple days earlier, I had found a broken pair of scissors, and for whatever reason I had stuck the broken blade in my pocket. But it wasn’t just a regular pocket; it was a somewhat concealed pocket halfway down the pant leg. Well, here was something both sharp and pointed, something which I had previously denied the existence of. I pointed the lady towards the pair of pants and she pulled out the hidden blade, while I sheepishly tried to explain myself. I was that sketchy person at the airport with a shank in his suitcase. She shoved everything back in the bag and put it back through the x-ray. This time, everything was okay, and to my surprise, the security lady offered me the scissors blade back. Apparently they were worth searching the bag to find, but they didn’t seem so dangerous that they needed to confiscate them. n
Above: From left, Peter Taggart ‘14 and Patrick Innes; fifth from left,‘14, Cianan Lesley ‘13 and Raymond Fang ‘13 placing in Policy Debate. Photo Credit to Maya Patel.
Emily Beasley Staff Writer Recently, the Pembroke Hill Library added a new research database to the Pembroke Hill website: American Historical Newspapers. The database offers newspaper articles over historical events and people from the year 1690 to 2000. As a student, the database is an amazing opportunity to gather primary research sources; or even a way to read first opinions and reports on one’s favorite subjects. The article resource can be accessed under the History & Biography tab of the Pembroke Hill Library online page. If you have any questions about the new American Historical Newspapers site, feel free to ask librarians Ms. Erickson and Ms. Tullis. n
Student Life 9
Charming Home Turned Successful Vegan Café
Arianna Lane and Kathleen O’Keefe Assistant Editors On the corner of 39th and Genessee sits a quaint two-story home. Little did we know it housed 15 employees, 10 tables, and a multitude of friendly and eclectic customers. Slightly out of our realm, as we approached the café counter, we were unexpectedly greeted by a frail elderly man dressed in overalls and a rainbow hat. “What kind of air does a cow breathe?” he asked us, “Dairy air!” His excitement on this warm Saturday afternoon was apparent as he swayed back and forth in laughter. His inviting demeanor was a more than an ideal welcome to the Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Coffeehouse. True vegans themselves, Ashley and Michael Valverde had always wanted a coffee shop to call their own, one where they could enjoy every item on the menu. With Ashley’s mother, an experienced baker, and Michael’s history in the coffee business, they had no hesitation opening their own business. “Mud Pie is a place for coffee and baking to be intertwined,” says co-owner Michael Valverde. The three bedroom house is filled with cozy tables and chairs, comfy couches, and local art on the walls. Two years ago, when Mud Pie was first getting started, Michael found himself constantly picking up his one year old daughter’s toys. It soon dawned on him that he should designate one of the rooms as the kid’s space. “It’s the perfect place for parents to have a cup of coffee without
Photo Credits to Kathleen O’Keefe
worrying about keeping an eye on their kids” Michael Valverde says as he cleans up from the kid’s birthday party the night before. When asked about the favorites on the menu, Michael lights up with excitement and says, “I could go on for hours!” Specifically, the customers love savory and sweet pastries such as their pumpkin chocolate chip muffin and blueberry scone. Michael and Ashley have even created their own versions of popular candy, such as their infamous butterfinger bites. Because of the vegan environment, the owners enjoy investing in an assortment of dairy-free milks. Just to name a few, they offer soy, almond, coconut, cashew, hemp, and rice. Michael says that they are constantly adjusting the menu to please their customers. After enjoying a warm blueberry scone and a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, we knew that we couldn’t have been more pleased with our first
KC Crawl discovery. If you want to stop by, Mud Pie Vegan Bakery is open from 7-8 on weekdays and from 8-9 on weekends. The unexpected but delightful and twist on the traditional coffeehouse, Mud Pie certainly
a five star experience.n Until next time,
Kathleen & Ari
10 Opinion
iTunes is Ruining the Album Experience Ben Gallagher Contributor When was the last time you bought a full album in a store?Contrary to public knowledge, artists are still producing albums that carry a message. However, this message, or storyline of the album, is becoming harder and harder to deliver to audiences. This problem is entirely because of iTunes and other digital media libraries. On iTunes, consumers are able to download single songs from the record instead of purchasing a fulllength album. Because of this, listeners often only get a morsel of the story an artist is trying to tell. These ignorant purchasers do not seem to understand the effect of their transactions. They are losing the story of the album by buying only one song, as well as fueling the mainstream monster (songs are overplayed because radio stations see that everyone is buying one song from a record). In 2011, after being infuriated by the iTunes album-spoiling epidemic, Jon Bon Jovi decided to lash out against former Apple CEO and iTunes mastermind Steve Jobs. Bon Jovi presented his opinion: “Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business. Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album, and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pic-
tures and imagining it…” Although this jab comes off as a tad outdated and nostalgic, Bon Jovi makes a valid point; the presentation of the physical album has lost a lot of its aesthetic beauty. The rapper Macklemore also expressed his view of the transformation of the album experience in a promotional video for his recent album, The Heist: “Music… it used to be something that came in a package; something that gave it a personality, it gave it a style, it had a font, it had a physicality that you could pick up. You took the wrapper off, you pulled the booklet out, and you got to know the artist better.” To combat this loss, Macklemore, who “wanted to do something different” than other musicians, hired eighteen separate painters and designers to furnish cover art for each track on the deluxe edition of The Heist. The box containing these pieces of art and the physical CD was made of alligator skin, which Macklemore hoped would create consumer incentives to purchase it. If there is an antidote for the damage iTunes is causing to the album experience, it is to somehow provoke listeners to go and pick up a physical copy of a CD. Next time your favorite artist drops a record, go out and purchase the case, the cover, the disc, the booklet, and keep the satisfaction of preserving the traditional, organic album experience for the next generation. n
Opinion 11
To Hit or Not to Hit?
That is the Question Riley Sloan Managing Editor
I think that the environment is interesting. The idea of living and inorganic systems all interacting through processes that shape our world, creating a cycle of life and death which is as raw and powerful as it is tender and beautiful? Pretty badass. But I’ve always been troubled by the idea of invasive exotics. If you’re unfamiliar with them, these are animals (or plants) which have spread and established out of their native ranges, usually because humans brought them there. Take, for example, the European Starling, which was brought to the U.S. because some idiot wanted to introduce every species of bird mentioned in a play by Shakespeare into America. They now outcompete native birds, screwing up the ecosystem. Another example is the Silver Carp, a fish brought here to control algae. That’s fine, except that they can weigh fifty pounds and jump ten feet out of the water, knocking fishermen off of boats (look it up on Youtube, ridiculous). Anyways, I don’t like invasives. To be honest, I want to kill them. When I see European starlings on the road, I try to hit them. They are ugly pests that outcompete native birds and cost the government who knows how much in damage control. But then I started thinking: is that screwed up? I’m thinking about these birds in terms of the whole picture, the good of the ecosystem. But why does some bird which is just living out its life deserve to die? When we think about morality for humans, we tend to think about
the individual: we judge people on their individual choices. But when I think about morality for Starlings, I think about the population: what affect does the bird have by existing. You may hold humans to different standards, but take animals out of the mix. What we’ve got here is two opposing ideas of morality. On one hand, judging by an idea of efficiency, natural order, and purity. Starlings mess up the ecosystem, so they deserve to die. On the other hand, an idea of harm and fairness. The Starling has never done anything wrong, so it doesn’t deserve to die. Interestingly, The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt talks about
They were about living life in a rational ‘virtuous’ way to find happiness. I think of them as morals (an idea of doing the right thing) and ethics (the rules we need to maintain order). I’m not going to tell you whether ethics or morality are more or less important than each other. I don’t know. Yes, we need a minimum drinking age. I don’t want to see first graders wasted. So we have one, and therefore it is ethically wrong to drink underage- you’re breaking your social contract to abide by the laws. But is it morally wrong for me to have a beer? Does it harm anyone? So take some time to think about ethics and morality. Wherever you come down on what is ethical or what is moral or how the two values coexist, conflict, and complement each other, at least you are thinking about it. The most important thing that Aristotle left us with is that happiness comes from virtue and virtue comes from reasoning. Humans are set apart in nature by unique thinking abilities. In terms of evolution, we are made to think. The true path to happiness is not just following your moral and ethical code, it is thinking through your moral and ethical code. So next time you see a European Starling in front of you as you drive, think about whether you should hit it. Because just thinking through the issue makes you a better person. n
When I see European starlings on the road, I try to hit them. these opposing moralities in a different context. He shows that conservative people find a value in authority and purity, whereas liberals only conceptualize morality through harm and fairness. One example is the issue of illegal immigration. Conservatives tend to focus on how illegals ruin the system and hurt the country by their presence, while liberals tend to focus on the individual immigrants and their children who did nothing wrong. In fact, you can see these two sets of moralities going back all the way to Aristotle. He talked about them as ethics, or living the best life as an individual, and politics, creating the best society and laws. Together, they were not so much about absolute laws of right and wrong like we think of today or the Bible preaches.
Above: a European Starling. Photo credit to “This is for the Birds” (CC: BY/NC)
12 Opinion
WPA Lock-In Cynthia Wang Managing Editor
PRO
As the date of Pembroke Hill’s annual WPA Dance approached, groans could be heard throughout the hallways. “They’re making us stay until 10:30 this year,” someone whined, “This is going to ruin my life.” Complaints such as these were common throughout the week, reaching their peak during the dinner before the dance. Fast-forward to the actual dance. Loud music blares, lights flash, and people are jumping around and having fun. There is yelling, laughter, and...crowd-surfing? This scene is nothing like the dance people were complaining about a mere hour ago. At 10:25 PM, people stop dancing and mill about in front of the doors, slouching around and saying, “This dance was so stupid. Why did they make us stay so late? Where’s my iPhone? I have to text my friends and complain about how lame WPA was.” This accurate picture of Pembroke
Riya Mehta Managing Editor
Hill students the night of February 9th does not add up. Admit it. You thought WPA was fun. Without the worries of having to call the party bus when you finally decide to leave, you just hung loose and enjoyed the night. Everyone was released at the same time, so hey, why not? Moreover, all of your friends were in the same place at the same time, so you were finally able to see and admire all of your friends’ outfits and share funny dinner and picture stories. Judging from the general vibe of excitement in the air that night, required attendance until 10:30 on WPA night was more of a boon than a burden. There were more people with which to dance, more songs, and more energy overall. WPA served as a perfect opportunity for a lot of inter-grade interaction, which almost never happens. Plus, the DJ even played the classic, “Stacy’s Mom.” Tell me you didn’t enjoy dancing to that. n
CON
This year, Pembroke Hill students were required to stay at WPA, the winter dance, until 10:30, and I believe that many have good reason to dislike this new rule. First, students felt that the goal of this new rule, which was to increase student participation at the dance, was not met. Emma Starr ’14 explained, “I don’t think it added anything to the dance except for a lot of restless energy while people waited to leave. I understand that they tried the lock-in as a way to promote participation, but I don’t think that goal was achieved at all. Most people arrived as late as possible, and, by 10:15, most people were gathering their stuff so they could wait by the door.” If the goal of the new rule was clearly not met, then why keep it? Another problem that students faced as a result of this new rule was the significant increase in traffic leaving the dance. Since everybody left the Commons at the same time, even
“
getting to the doors leading outside was a struggle. Once outside, students’ cars were all leaving at the same time, so many people had to wait even longer to leave the campus. Finally, this new rule restricted students’ ability to make their own decisions, and many students did not like feeling “forced” to follow a rule with which they did not agree. Lucy Davis ’14 comments, “I am completely against it, and quite frankly do not know why it started. It isn’t so much the time commitment, but the idea behind this new rule.” While each of the aforementioned reasons has valid reasoning behind it, I think Lucy’s explanation gives voice to the many students’ complaints. WPA is a school-sponsored event, but students feel that since the dance is for them, they should control what time they leave. Students choose their picture, dinner, and after-party locations and times, so they feel the right to at least have some say in when to leave. n
I can understand both the pros and cons of this new rule...I’ve been one of the last 10 people at the dance before, and I remember having a great time without the mosh pit and body surfing. However, I can understand the school’s rationale in enforcing the new rule. The dances are school events, not an excuse to go party, and people should be there to dance. I also think that is a waste of time and money for the school, which has to fund the DJ and supply chaperones, as well as the students, who often have to buy new clothes and expensive dinners, when 80% of attendees only stay for twenty minutes. -Beth Wang ‘14
Sports 13
Athlete of the Issue: Isabella Way Middle School Staff Writer After a long, harsh winter, most of us are looking forward to seeing the flowers and trees come alive again and hearing the melodies of the birds that have been missed for a long
Devon Dietrich
time. Spring is just around the corner, and with spring comes spring sports. For some, spring also means track. One of these track athletes is Devon Dietrich, a very good runner who shows a lot of promise for this year’s
track season. Devon has been a competitive runner for the last three years and has participated in cross country and track throughout middle school. At fourteen years old, she has already had a number of accomplishments,
such as winning numerous medals in road races and track or cross country races. Her peers and coaches know Devon is a driven, hard-working, and outstanding runner. n
Photo Credit Isabella Way
Interview With Devon Dietrich Q: Why do you like to run? A: Running has always been a favorite way to decompress for me. Getting outside is great and offers a much appreciated change of settings instead of sitting and studying all day. In addition, the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a race or event is extremely gratifying. Q: How did you get into running? A: I really got into running after completing the “Bolder Boulder” 10K race in the summer of 2010. I ran with my cousins in Colorado, and I placed 13th out of over 100 in my age and gender group. That is when I probably first discovered how much fun running is.
Q: What are the pros and cons of this sport? A: Some pros of running is how relaxing and enjoyable it can be, especially when doing it with a friend. However, knowing your limits is key. You have to listen to your body, because if you don’t you could end up damaging your knees and straining too much. Q: What advice would you give to people who are beginning to run? A: Don’t push yourself, but don’t give up. You aren’t going to become an Olympic medalist overnight, but if you never dream big, you’ll never be “big.” Your potential is defined by no one else but yourself.
Q: Is there a song on your iPod that you like to play over and over while you run? A: No, but during longer races like the mile, I like to sing songs like “Trouble,” by Taylor Swift in my head to keep me pumped. Q: What do you do for fun when you are not running? A: I like to go to movies with friends or hang out. I even like to study Science Olympiad. Yup, I’m a nerd! Q: What are your goals for this season? A: My goal is to work my hardest and hopefully trim down my mile time by a few seconds.
14 Sports
Athlete of the Issue:
Marjorie Townsend
Kate Berkley Managing Editor Senior Marjorie Townsend has been riding horses for as long as she as she can remember. She competed in her first competition at the age of five, and since then horseback riding has not only been a hobby of Townsend’s, but her passion. Horseback riding is a family activity for Marjorie. Townsend’s mother, uncles, and grandparents rode horses and competed in horse shows. “It was only natural that I take an interest in horses,” says Townsend, who now rides at her grandparents’ horse farm, Ever Glades Farm. “My grandmother in particular was the one who fostered my passion for horses. She and I have a very close relationship and [riding] was something that we could both bond over and enjoy together.” Townsend rides several times a week during the school year, on top of numerous other activities including the musical. In the summers, Townsend rides every day and works at her grandparents’ farm as well. “It is a lot of work,” Townsend emphasizes,“ but the feeling of working hard at something for months or years and accomplishing your goal is amazing.” Townsend specializes in Saddle Seat, a type of English riding, though she also has ridden Western and Dressage, as “learning different types of riding gives you a better overall understanding of riding and your own seat.” She competes throughout the year in horse shows primarily in the Midwest, and in these competitions she has earned several awards and national recognitions. Townsend won Junior Exhibitor Three Gaited World’s Grand Champion in 2010 and Junior Exhibitor Five Gaited Pleasure National Champion in 2011. Townsend was also selected to be on the 2013 United States Junior World Cup team, an enormous honor for which she was chosen out of hundreds of applicants. Just this past month, Townsend traveled to New
Top: Townsend at the 2010 competion in Louisville where she won the Junior Exhibitor Three Gaited World’s Grand Champion. Bottom Left: Townsend competing. Bottom Middle: Townsend, middle, posing with cousins Alice Rowland ‘16, right, and Will Rowland ‘19, left. Bottom Right: Townsend with her horse. Photo Credits to Marjorie Townsend.
Orleans to meet and practice with her team, which is the equivalent of a junior olympic team. She described the experience as “amazing” and is looking forward to competing with the team in April at the competition. While Townsend does
not plan on riding competitively in college, she does intend to continue to ride recreationally at local barns and when she is at home in Kansas City. “I cannot imagine my life without riding” Townsend says. “I love the challenge of riding new horses,
I like watching the younger horses’ progress, I love meeting new people at horse shows and at camps from all over the country, but most of all, horseback riding is something that I love to do with my family.”n
Athlete of the Issue: Ellen Cagle Copy Editor
Sports 15
Lucy Gross
For senior Lucy Gross, swimming is more than just an after-school activity. She explains, “[Swimming] has always been there for me. When I get stressed out, I can forget everything while I’m in the pool for a couple of hours.”Gross has been swimming for most of her life, and her tenacity has paid off in high school. She has four varsity letters and was captain of the Pembroke Hill swim team this year. This past February, Lucy placed fifth at the Independent League Championships in the 200-meter freestyle and the 500-meter freestyle. Even more impressively, she was only seven-tenths of a second away from qualifying for the state competition in the 100-meter freestyle. Being on the Pembroke Swim Team is no picnic. During the season, the swim team practiced for two hours every night after school and on Saturday mornings. In addition to time in the pool, teammates regularly lifted weights and worked on strength training. According to Gross, “staying focused and determined every day” can be challenging at times, especially considering the demanding practice schedule. Although Gross said that Olympic swimmers like Missy Franklin, Nathan Adrian, and Natalie Coughlin inspire her, she also cited her teammates as influences: “The team motivates me to work harder even when I think I can’t,” she said. “If you aren’t feeling motivated, the team can really pick you up.” Gross’s swimming career will not end at Pembroke. She plans to attend Grinnell College next fall and will be a member of the swim team there. n
Lucy’s Accomplishments - Earned varsity letter each year (4) - Captain 2012-2013 - Fifth at Independent League Championships in 200-meter individual freestyle - Fifth at Independent League Championships in 500-meter individual freestyle - Seven-tenths of a second away from qualifying for state in 100-meter freestyle - Accepted to Grinnell College and plans to swim there
Above: Gross comes up for a breath during her 200-meter freestyle race at the Independent League Championships. Bottom Left: Gross and teammates pose after winning medals for their relay. Bottom Right: the Swim Team poses after finishing the two-day Springfield Invitatational meet.
16 Feature
February in Review Kissing Booth for Love LAB
Color Wars Dodgeball Tournament Color Wars Minute-to-Win-it competition
February Food Drive for Harvesters
The Envirothon team during their training day Snow day fun Science Olympiad places 1st at Regionals
From the Archives 17
Drugs and Alcohol at PHS Reprinted from March 2005 Annie Prasad Editor-in-Chief According to the [2005 Sex, Drugs and Alcohol] survey, 52% of Pembroke Hill students have consumed alcohol in high school, and 34% have smoked marijuana since then. In Missouri and the United States, statistics show that 32% and 35% (respectively) of teenagers in this age group have consumed alcohol. Marijiana use of students in Missouri and the United States is also drastically less than that of Pembroke students. Our student body has already been educated about the dangers of drugs and drinking through Wellness sessions, we’ve already been through the “shock” therapy of shose graphic Students Against Destructive Decisions and Peer Helpers-sponsored assemblies, and we’ve been breathalyzed at our dances. Students have been down nearly every route for drug/alcohol prevention and education at Pembroke. Yet we still have to ask ourselves whether it’s all been effective. Kids are still getting high and drinking, aren’t they? Education can only help students so much; ask any kid and he/she will tell you that, ultimately, all the Wellness sessions boil down to conveying how harmful drug and alcohol use can be and why you should avoid it. Sure, at the time the staggering statistics that we hear grab students’ attention, but it isn’t unrealistic for them, when they’re next offered a drink or joint, to remember that three out of ten Americans will somehow be involved in an alcohol-related accident in their lives? The scare tactics behind slideshows of
gruesome motor vehicle crashes have a similar effect. The gore and pictures of cracked skulls and bloodied appendages make us squirm and, sometimes, leave the room. Yet the age-old “it’ll never happen to me” belief always seems to prevail, and, inevitably, kids become numb to the impact of the assemblies. By no means am I criticizing the approach of Wellness sessions or committees, whose goal of spreading facts and educating the student body has been fulfilled. But hoping that education and fear will stamp out drug and alcohol use completely is a lofty goal. According to one anonymous Pembroke Hill student: “Drinking is socially acceptable. Smoking pot is becoming more and more socially acceptable; it is in movies and TV shows.” With the incrasingly prominent role of alcohol and marijiana in many social situations, then, perhaps preaching total abstinence is ineffective, even idealistic. Maybe a more realistic approach is teaching kids responsibility and encouraging better judgment. Continues the student quoted above: “In so many other countries around the world the kids are responsible about their behavior with drugs and alcohol. People for the most part can choose what they want to do and whether they want to do it at all.” So maybe the solution to reducing the confounding percentage of students who have tried alcohol and/or marijuana since 13 doesn’t lie in the notion that education can gradually abate future drug use altogehter but in the studernts’ abilities to act responsibily, regardless of their choices come Saturday night. n
Why are the results for Pembroke so much higher in comparison to Missouri and the nation?
Reprinted from March 1998
Is drinking a problem at Pembroke Hill? “I think there’s a lot of drinking going on, but I don’t think it’s a problem.” - Desi Vargas, Sophomore “Everyone drinks, but that’s not the problem.” - Ben Wells, Junior “From what I hear, they say yes.” - Shara Kennedy, Freshman “I think those students at our school who choose to drink do so responsibly.” - Brandon Hunnick, Senior “I don’t consider it a problem, but I consider it a concern. We may have more incidents percentage-wise.” - Kathy Williams, Faculty
Voice Editors Resign Amidst Scandal Reprinted from March 2003 Editorial Board Departing Seniors In a shocking development for the Pembroke Hill School newspaper, all but two top-ranking editors announced their resignations early this morning. Though the full reasons have yet to be disclosed, we have spoken to several inside sources in an effort to discover the true motiva-
tions behind this power shift. What we have uncovered is a web of scandal and intrigue. It appears that that Editor-in-Chief Peter Hamilton, a career member of the Voice, resigned under pressure from the Board when Accounting turned up unusually large and unexplained Voice receipts at Banana Republic, Polo, and Priscilla’s. However, Hamilton will depart with a full golden parachute in exchange for dropping charges of
discrimination against the “vertically challenged” which he lodged this year. Managing Editor Neil Khare’s resignation was less of a surprise after a year full of his charges of discrimination against Asians and a scandal involving a certain colunist. No resignation has been received from Managing Editor John Murphy as he sketchily disappeared almost a year ago, or at least that’s what we’ve heard. Managing Editor Charlotte
Kemper was committed to a convent against her will for intruding upon a special Senior-Managing Editor relationship. Most shocking of all though, is the stepping-down of beloved Board Chairman, Dr. Jeff Loeb (J. Lo). Although he claims he wants to spend more time with his family and take on new repsonsibilities, we’ve heard whispers that the REAl J.Lo has enlisted him as a double. n
18 Voices
March Recipe Spread Best Blueberry Muffins
Submitted by Christine Zheng Batter: 3/4 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/3 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup milk 1 cup blueberries (or chocolate chips) 1 egg
Crumb Topping: 1/2 cup white sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup butter, cubed 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients in one bowl; then, pour the batter into a muffin pan that can make twelve muffins. Mix all the crumb ingredients in a small bowl, and make sure the sugar is well blended with the butter. Add more butter if you need to, and then sprinkle the crumble right on top. Bake at 400 degreees for 20-25 minutes.
Kansas Sunflower Spring “Peeps” Cake Cake recipe source: Magnolia Bakery, New York City Submitted by Paige Pepitone For the cake: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 1/2 cups self rising flour 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the chocolate frosting: 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 2/3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted 1/3 cup half-and-half cream 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour three 9 inch round cake pans; then, line the bottoms with waxed paper. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flours and add in four parts, alternating with the milk and the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition. Divide batter among the cake pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack. To make the frosting: Cream the butter in a small bowl. Blend the cocoa powder vanilla, confectioners sugar, alternately with the cream. Beat with an electric mixer, until the desired texture is achieved. To assemble the cake: When cakes have cooled, ice between the layers, then frost top and sides of cake. Decorate cake to look like a sunflower by pressing yellow “Peeps” chicks into cake, to resemble petals of the flower.
Voices 19
Pavlova Submitted by Cormac Chester Recipe from Nigella Lawson Base: 8 free-range egg whites 500g/1lb 2oz caster sugar 4 tsp cornflour 2 tsp white wine vinegar ½ tsp vanilla extract
Caption Contest
Topping: 650ml/1 pint double cream 10 passion fruit 10 fresh or canned lychees (drained if canned), peeled, stones removed 300g/10½oz raspberries 25g/1oz icing sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350F 2. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and draw a rough 25cm/10in diameter circle onto it with a non-toxic pencil. 3. In a bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed, then whisk in the sugar, one tablespoonful at a time, until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed. 4. Sprinkle the cornflour, vinegar, and vanilla extract over the egg white, and fold in lightly with a metal spoon. 5. Spoon the meringue onto the baking parchment within the marked circle and, using a spatula, flatten the top and smooth the sides. 6. Place into the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 250F. Cook for an hour, then turn off the oven and leave to cool completely. 7. Once cool, remove the meringue base from the oven (you can keep the meringue in an airtight container for a couple of days or store in the freezer for up to one month). 8. When you are ready to assemble the pavlova, invert the cooled meringue disk onto a large plate or a serving stand, and peel off the baking parchment. 9. For the topping, in a mixing bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed. Spoon the cream onto the meringue base, spreading it onto the edges in a swirly fashion. 10. Cut the passion fruit in half, and scoop out the seeds, and any pulp and juice, into a bowl. 11. Tear the lychees into pieces and add to the passion fruit. 12. Place the raspberries and icing sugar into a food processor and blend to a smooth sauce. 13. Dollop the passion fruit, lychees and their juices over the cream topping. Serve immediately.
This snow sculpture was found at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on a snow day. Submit your captions on the Voice website. Remember, the password is “raider.”
Use this QR Code to access the website
20 Voices
Letter From the Editors
Dear Readers, We love snow days. There’s nothing better than staying home in your PJs and curling up with a large cup of cocoa. So, by all means Dr. Bellis, please give us more. However, we were disappointed by the snow day on February 22nd. Why? We had planned a lunch with Dr. Bellis, attempting to revive an old tradition and hoping to open discussion between students and the administration. It took us weeks to plan but only a few inches of snow to cancel it. Of course, there’s no one to blame in this situation--except for mercurial Kansas City weather. Thankfully, we are in the process of rescheduling for our talk through Richelle Cirino, Executive Assistant to Dr. Bellis. So, this is where our readers come in. We have some topics to discuss with Dr. Bellis, but we could always use more. To make our lunch productive, we need to create an open forum. We hope to represent the whole student body, so we need your input on any school-related matter. If you have any concerns that you feel need to be addressed by
the administration, feel free to let us know. We will bring up any questions you have during our lunch. It is hard for us right now as both editors-in-chief and seniors. We are looking forward with anticipation, excitement, and nerves towards the end of the school year. We are saddened to
dent wants to read." We are still limited on what we are allowed to print and write about. In the From the Archives section, we included an article about drugs and alcohol. This issue faced Pembroke students eight years ago and still faces students today. It is important that this issue is brought to attention. Although we are restricted from writing about such topics, it is imperative for this issue to be addressed. We also have the other front as seniors. We are beginning that countdown to graduation. It saddens us to know we will be leaving our school we (well, most of us at least) have come to love. We will go out, as our time as editors and students comes to a close, as proud alumni of Pembroke Hill. We know the paper is not perfect. But, our genuine devotion and eagerness will allow us to make the necessary strides towards improvement. Our ardor for the Voice is blatant; we do what we do because we love our paper.
The paper is inherently the same paper it was a year ago, only with a fancy new cover.
The Pembroke Hill School 5121 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64112
know our time as editors is coming to a close. To be blunt, we are disappointed. The paper is inherently the same paper it was a year ago, only with a fancy new cover. It’s like trying to use some band-aids to fix a torn ACL. It just doesn't work. We have made small changes, but there’s still a long way to go. We can only hope that the future editors-in-chief continue to strive to make the paper the best it can be. We have no doubt that the paper has potential. It is difficult for us, in one year, to turn the paper from "that boring school newspaper" to "that school newspaper every stu-
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news blurbs about pembroke the middle and upper school science olympiad teams... both placed first in the regional competition and qualify for state alice roland... is a three time world champion of champions and the junior challenge cup national champion for horseback riding courtney bacon... won the jim mullen award for skaters, the highest possible award for a carriage club skater daryl rosenblum, philip laddin, sam thomas, patrick innes, and harneet kaur... all qualified for nationals in debate harold edwards... signed to play football at the university of missouri of technology and science erin lowe, jay mehta, ben bracker, and zoe honeck... placed in national history day regionals
Yours Truly, Jeffrey and Ritika
The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertaining events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. All comments, concerns, and complaints should be forwarded directly to the Editors in Chief. As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Letters to the Editors. The editors reserve the right to not publish letters. The Voice also accepts advertising and like articles. The editors reserve the right to not publish advertisements. Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at phsvoice.com. The Voice is YOUR newspaper. Please read responsibly.
Editors-in-Chief Ritika Abhyankar and Jeffrey Rubel Head of Design Wanda Czerwinski Business Manager Miriam Swartz Photo Editor Kathleen O’Keefe Web Designers Michael Rubel Copy Editors Ellen Cagle Aden MacMillan Ben Shadid
Faculty Sponsors Matt Clothier (head) Joel Causey Managing Editors Kate Berkley Taylor Carr-Howard Sarah Koch Riya Mehta Maya Patel Riley Sloan Cynthia Wang Assistant Editors Raymond Fang Arianna Lane Cindy Wang