The Voice - May, 2015

THE VOICE VOLUME XXXII | MAY 2015

PASSING THE

TORCH, PG 6

Contents May 2015

On the Cover:

Walter Fromm ‘15 and Tripp Dearborn ‘16, 2015 and 2016 student body presidents, respectively. Article is on pages 6 and 7.

May Day

May Day, ironically held on April 30th this year, is a long-standing PHS tradition that celebrates students from both campuses

24 Spring Sports Wrap-Up

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As the school year comes to an end, so do Spring Sports. Here is an archive of the teams’ scores and awards

Graz

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Prom

Retellings of this year’s Casino Royale themed Prom

A group of PHS sophomores recently hosted their exchange students from Graz, and as soon as summer begins, our students will be off to Austria to become exchange students themselves

Buzz

Summer

Vacation Ideas: World’s Most Visited Cities (from Forbes Magazine)

1. Bangkok

2. London

3. Paris

June 21

is the official first day of summer.

Mosquitoes have been around for more than 30 million years.

July is National Ice Cream Month.

4. Singapore

5. New York

6. Istanbul

The U.S. has more than 12,000 summer camps.

France’s Eiffel Tower can grow by more than six inches in summer due to the expansion of the iron on hot days.

No plans this summer?

Here are some ways to occupy yourself in KC! take an art class at the Kansas City Art Institute or the Nelson go down the tallest water slide in the world at Schlitterbahn go to all three First Fridays eat only ice cream for every meal from as many different places as you can go down Brush Creek on a raft (only for the daring) get a job! have a picnic in Loose Park go camping in Loose Park (is that allowed?) write a song go to the pool ride every ride at Worlds of Fun in one day learn how to drive / get your license if you don’t have it already learn how to play an instrument play a summer sport (if you want to play roller derby, talk to Olive) go to the West 18th Street Fashion Show read ten books go on a day trip to Lawrence

Summer Concerts Buzz Under the Stars Night #2 Sunday, June 7 Boulevardia 2015 June 19-21 “Weird Al” Yankovic June 30 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes July 6 Buzz Beach Ball July 25 Buzz Under the Stars Night #3 August 4 Foo Fighters August 21

Pros and Cons: Advisory Communities Saurabh Goel Managing Editor For the past few years, Pembroke Hill has renewed its emphasis on developing good virtues within the student body with its “Character Initiative.” This initiative consists of four main tenets that the faculty and administration have agreed should be the foundation of good character in the school, which they based on student feedback: compassion, integrity, scholarship, and respect. This idea seems to be an interesting way to promote good values, and advisories have discussed its messages at great length. Despite the excellent work already being done, the new advisory community system, beginning next year, is another way to use more time discussing morals in even larger groups.

Currently, the advisory system is simple. Every Friday,

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each advisory, sponsored and led by a faculty member, meets for about twenty to thirty minutes to discuss the following week’s agenda, the given materials, and perhaps, in some cases, mourn the current state of their lives. Some advisors go the extra mile and take a more personal approach discussing topics such as character. In general, though, students seem satisfied with their Friday meetings, which allow them to talk about their problems, while still leaving them enough much needed time to work on homework, socialize, or sleep.

The new advisory community plan essentially creates a house system in the high school that seems to draw its inspiration directly from Harry Potter (even communities/houses are named after former headmasters). Various advisories are grouped into communities that will meet every Friday after the

normal advisory time and discuss character and school values - and that’s not all. Newly elected student advisory captains and community captains will also play a vague, and currently unclear role in these groups.

Meeting in a community every Friday for an extra thirty minutes seems like an effective way to instill good values in students, right? Well, most students don’t agree. From the student perspective, this system robs them of their valuable study time that typically comes after advisory. One sophomore, who will remain anonymous, said that the new system “is terrible” because it will encroach upon the “rare free time” students have outside of class. Furthermore, many students prefer being able to have discussions within their smaller group where they are more comfortable; for most, expanding to a

large scale meeting defeats the purpose of personal, meaningful discussions the initiative is supposed to encourage. Junior Spencer Thut expressed that “the current advisory system works pretty well.” He added that his advisory, like most others, does have “genuinely good discussions,” and “putting more people in a room, in larger groups, would encourage less openness.”

His words, as they usually do, inspire us to take action that will be a compromise for students and faculty. Perhaps, a plan that efficiently uses student time while still encouraging meaningful discussions will arise from his words of wisdom.

In the meantime, however, with respect to the current advisory community plan and the character initiative, if we work it harder, make it better, and do it faster, it will, ultimately, make us stronger. n

Behind the Scenes of The Trojan Women Shaina Desai Managing Editor

On May 8th and May 9th, the Pembroke Hill Theater Department performed the last production of the school year, The Trojan Women.

This depressing, yet eye-opening, Greek play manifests the hardships of the wives and daughters of warriors. These warriors fight bravely and die in the war because Athena and Poseidon, two Greek gods, vow to destroy the Greeks as they journey home, leaving the surviving men dead at sea. A Greek herald continuously delivers bad news to the women, and, with each visit, he further burdens the women by telling them about more deaths and more orders they must follow, including separating daughters and mothers who are then given to different masters. As the plot escalates, the audience hears about the catastrophic outcomes of myriad women, who are all daughters of a queen named Hecuba. Although the play is generally depressing, the cast executed the play wonderfully and tried to find light-hearted moments to brighten the atmosphere. Read below to find out the actors’ comments about the rehearsal process and the play itself.n

Matthew Nelson ‘15 V: As a senior, what is unique about this production compared to other ones you’ve been involved in?

MN: This production in particular is unique because of the creative licence that we (the actors) are given. Since the play is very old and translated many times in many different ways, there is no one way to go about performing it, so there’s a lot of input on the actor in this respect.

V: Anything else you’d like to add?

MN: Since this is my last production, I am honored to have it be with such an awesome cast, and I couldn’t have gotten here without the help of our director, Ms. King, and of course Ms. Cain.

Erin Lowe ‘18 V: As a freshman, what has been your favorite part about this production and your initial involvement in Thespians in general?

EL: As a freshman, the Thespian Society has been very welcoming to me, and they’ve been like a family to me since day one. Being involved in the shows here has been a great way for me to get to know people from all grade levels, as well as challenge myself with a multitude of different roles.

V: What do you like/dislike about your character?

EL: I like how Cassandra admits to being crazy, and I think that many of her speeches contain great wisdom; but, the other characters are unable to realize that throughout the play, so they just label her as mad.

Olivia Lesley ‘17 V: Compared to other plays you have stage managed, how is Trojan Women unique?

OL: Trojan Women is different from the other plays I have stage managed because the chorus is like its own character but is comprised of individuals sometimes telling their own opinion or memories.

V: What is the best part about being involved in the play without being on stage?

OL: I love being able to give ideas for the chorus, and also seeing the choices made by the chorus on how to tell their story to the audience.

Jack Reardon ‘17 V: What has been your favorite part about this production so far?

JR: I would say that my favorite part of the production so far has been the growing closeness of the cast as a whole, which can’t really be attributed to one single moment. Oh, and Oreo’s. Lots and lots of Oreo’s.

V: As a chorus member, what are some difficulties you, as an individual or as a group, have faced as the rehearsal process has gone on?

JR: The entire chorus has faced a lot of challenges in rehearsal, as we attempt to dissect the script in great enough detail where we can derive some form of action or split up speaking parts/choral parts.

Maya Hill ‘16 V: How is this play different from other plays you’ve been involved in, both inside and outside of school?

MH: I’ve never done a Greek tragedy before, so it is fundamentally different from any other play I’ve done. The emphasis on monologues in Greek plays is new and exciting for me, but definitely challenging.

V: What do you like/dislike about your character?

MH: I like that above all, throughout the show, Hecuba remains a mother to whomever is left to be mothered. She was once a mother to 50 children. Those instincts don’t just disappear. I’m not sure there’s anything I truly dislike about her. I dislike what the Greeks and Helen did to her. It isn’t fair.

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The Pembroke Hill student body prepares to say goodbye to 2014-2015 President Walter Fromm and welcomes 2015-2016 President Tripp Dearborn

The Presidential Transition Emily Cohen Copy Editor

“[H]is accomplishments and influence as student body president reach even farther”

The student body president has a difficult job: to explain the work Student Government does for the students of Pembroke Hill. Additionally, the student body president reads pages of assembly announcements without mumbling or stumbling, lists students’ names without butchering them (or at least try), and generally leads the students in every event. When elections roll around every spring, students decide who will best fulfill this laundry list of tasks. In 2014, we elected Walter Fromm.

For the upcoming school year, we elected Tripp Dearborn. As power passes from one executive to the next, Fromm reflects on the past year as Dearborn looks to the future.

When asked about the legacy he hopes to leave his successor and fellow students, Fromm replied, “I would probably say blue pants for blue week.” His pants never failed to remind us of the late starts and double days, but his accomplishments and influence as student body president reach even farther. He and other Student Council leaders organized one of the most successful and heartwarming fundraisers in recent years at Pembroke Hill: the Bowsketball game. This event raised money to fulfill Haley’s wish to swim with dolphins.

Fromm also enjoyed being able to lighten the often tense, stressful atmosphere of the school through his weekly jokes and “the Earth Day festivities.” Fromm’s presence as a leader will be greatly missed.

Though he has only been a student at Pembroke Hill for one year, Dearborn has obviously made an impression on his fellow students. From his renowned positivity to his rhyming speech during presidential elections, it is clear students have fallen for Tripp. He considers himself fit for the role as student body president because, he explains, “I think I’ve got a lot of communications skills and ideas that I can bring to the table.” Furthermore, he noticed in the past year how Fromm’s profound ability in keeping the school running smoothly and students happy, and he says, “I want to [continue] Walter’s legacy and what he’s been doing.” He also hopes to collaborate with other student representatives to introduce new plans. Overall, Dearborn’s thoughts in regards to next year is, in a characteristically optimistic tone, “I’m excited!”n

“[I]t is clear students have fallen for Tripp.”

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KormFOOD Wes a Su t tpor t, M ra O

Mickey Ferguson Columnist Korma Sutra is a cute little Indian restaurant in the heart of Westport. The staff there is welcoming and the decorations are on point. BUT, can this great little hole-inthe-wall beat out other Indian restaurants?

Atmosphere: Korma Sutra is beautifully decorated with vibrant colors. The eyecatching window art really draws the average hungry person to Korma’s lively inside hideaway. Score 4.5(punches)/5 Korma Sutra Platter: A combination of Korma’s best appetizers on one plate!

With seven different appetizers to try, the variety on this plate was exciting! First, I tried the Gosht, a lamb sausage. It was very chunky and flavorful with poignant spices.

I would not recommend it to those who are not adventurous with their taste buds.

The Veggie Pakora, a mix of fried vegetables, was enticing. It had a good taste, but the fried aspect really overpowers what’s inside, making it hard to taste. The Paneer pakora, a cottage cheese ball with a fried coating, was my least favorite. It was dry, and the cheese was difficult to chew. I would not recommend it to anyone. Next, the Chicken Pakora, was salty and tasted like fried chicken. If you are not into trying new dishes this would be the meal for you. The veggie samosa, my favorite, was a fried potato pea mash. The potato and pea mash has a very light and safe flavor, but still draws you in with the pleasant mix of starch and vegetable. After these I tried the Alu Tikki, which was not originally on the platter menu, so you would think it would be a great bonus! But no, it was

salty salty salty! All I could taste was salt! It was like eating a patty of salt. Finally, I had the Shrimp Pakora, which is basically fried shrimp. It tasted like a chewy fried shrimp, with no spices or anything that popped.

Score 3.5/5 Chicken Tikka Masala: A entree combination of a sauce, chicken, and a side of rice brought in a large portion! Overall, I really liked this dish. I thought it was so delicious and definitely worth it. The Basmati Rice was very light with no crazy flavors. I really love plain rice, so this was perfect for me. I was a little disappointed in the sauce, only because I got medium and it was SO mild! I love spicy food, so the mildness of the sauce was strike one. Despite the lack of heat, the sauce was delectable. It was a creamy, semi-sweet tomato-based paste that has a small tang to it! Finally, the chicken was not as moist as I would like, but unless you’re scraping the sauce off you don’t even notice! The chicken had the same yummy flavor as the sauce. The rice, chicken, and sauce all together were almost perfect. Score 4.5/5 Dessert Honey ball and Rice Pudding: These small desserts come with meals, so they’re sort of free?! The honey ball was a dry, dense fried ball covered in honey!

Mixing fried with honey always results in something heavenly. I really liked it! The Rice pudding was a soupy, sweet rice with milk. It really sweet, but also too warm. I’m not a huge fan of rice pudding, but I know that if it was cooler, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Score: 3.5/5

Winner!

Overall Rating: 4/5

FIGHT ace al , KS P k r a a i P

d d n n a I Overl

India Palace is a small restaurant in Overland Park. With approachable staff and appetizing choices, what is not to like?

Will India Palace come out on top?

Atmosphere: When I walked into India Palace, I wsa instantly bored. The decorations at India palace are limited to a few, small paintings that are spread around the walls. I found this restaurant’s atmosphere bland and basic. Score: 2/5 Papadum Lentil Cracker and Chutney: India Palace’s Papadum Cracker was very palatable. I loved the crunch it had as well as the infusion of the lentils. Their green mint chutney was not too spicy, and had an excellent rich flavor. Their brown tamarind chutney was quite sweet, and pretty disappointing. It tasted exactly like BBQ sauce.

The orange onion chutney was chunky and spicy. There was so much spice that I could barely taste any flavor. Score 3/5 The Palace Platter: A combination sample plate with India Palace’s best appetizers! This plate was significantly smaller than Korma’s, with only four morsels to try. First I tried a Samosa, a lightly fried potato and pea mash. This appetizer was divine, and the mix of the mash and the light frying was fantastic. Second I tried the Veggie Pakora. This dish was very very fried and I could barely taste any vegetables at all. Next I ate the Paneer Pakora. This Pakora was much better than Korma’s; it had nice fried consistency, and the cheese was thick and very enticing. Finally, I tried the

Alu Tikki. This was less salty than Korma’s, which was very beneficial for its starchy, fried flavor. Score 3/5 The Palace Mix Grill: A combination of sizzling chicken tandoori, chicken tikka, boti kabab, seekh kabab, tandoori shrimp, and grilled onions. This mix did not have the fish or peppers that Korma’s did. The chicken had a weird consistency, but a really sapid taste. It was my favorite meat in the mix grill. The lamb was well done with a very distinct taste. It was a little too gamey for me. The Gosht had a sausagey consistency and was very dry, so I would definitely not recommend it. Next, the shrimp had no flavor besides a extremely shrimpyoceany flavor. It was yucky, and I did not like it at all. Finally, the onions were tasty but were not cooked well enough. I love onions so these onions were a huge letdown. Score 4/5 Chicken Tikka Masala: A diced chicken tandoori cooked in a mild tomato sauce. I was very excited about this dish because I love tomato curry sauces! The chicken itself was very flavorful and very moist! The rice was very basic and nothing out of the ordinary. Now the sauce was not very thick; it was almost soupy. It was very sweet and a little spicy which made it very delectable! I really enjoyed this dish and would recommend it to friends! Score: 4.5/5 n

Loser...

Overall Rating: 3/5

Tinder: An Evolving Social Culture Anonymous Staff Writer Human attraction and technology are very different from, almost opposites of, one another; one is intrinsic, the other is artificial. However, combine the two, and you’ve got something called Tinder. Created just two years ago by Sean Rad, Justin Matten, and Jonathan Badeen, Tinder is an app that enables people with Facebook profiles (so, pretty much the majority of society) to meet others based on their location, amount of mutual friends, and shared “likes.” All one has to do is swipe right (if attracted) or swipe left (not attracted).

Sounds simple and, in a way, shallow, but you’d be surprised how intriguing and worthwhile the Tinder experience can be.

At Pembroke, there is a surprisingly abundant amount of Tinder users. I’ve talked to several classmates about their experiences, and the similarities of their Tinder habits really goes to show how the social habits of individuals are influenced by the constant atmosphere they are surrounded by: school. Not only do the majority of these students say they always swipe right when they come across someone they know, but they also message them something flirty just for laughs. Even if a Pembroke Tinder user sees a fellow Pembroke student whom they have never talked to appear on the screen, he/she will still swipe right just for kicks. Moreover, there’s a weird curiosity as to whether or not the other user has come across his/her profile and decided to swipe right. Yes, the “likes” really do matter. However, when this curiosity is met and the two users match, it is undoubtedly awkward if they happen to walk by each other in the halls the next day or are behind each other while waiting in line at the bookstore for a chocolate bar or a bag of Gardetto’s. The patterns detected in Pembroke’s Tinder users, I believe, reflect the changes in society and how individuals

interact with one another as a whole.

Apps, specifically social media related, are virtual realities created to amuse individuals: Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, you name it. For Tinder, however, there is an aspect of it that goes beyond pure amusement. Believe it or not, Tinder is used seriously by many as a way to find “love” or whatever you want to call it. For me as well as other Pembroke students I’ve asked, Tinder’s more so a booster (as shallow as it is)

for one’s self esteem; nothing serious. Yet, the various Tinder users and their purposes for downloading this app create a diversity that matches (pun intended) no other.

However, we do not realize this diversity until we directly experience it. One might swipe right, match, and forget about this “instant connection” in the myriad of his/ her other matches; however, if the person whom they are matched with decided to message them, genuinely wanting to know him/her, the possibility of something more than just pure amusement is brought to the surface. All people have to do is be open that is, if somewhere deep down in their subconscious they actually dreamed of finding their “Tinder prince” or “princess” - and not be afraid to admit there’s another

motive behind their download of Tinder than just fun. I guess this kind of idea is hard to take seriously; even as I’m writing these very words, I’m laughing. Yet, here is a truth in stating that Tinder can lead to lasting and meaningful relationships or friendships, and these human connections are nothing to be ashamed of. Sure, they might seem contrived or artificial, and, in a way, they are, but the reality of the interactions and experiences that these connections enable prevails over the mere virtual formation of it.

Technology has catalyzed society’s progress in various aspects. Is this catalyzation good or bad though? Does technology’s role as a catalyst accelerate society toward something greater than what it already knows or has it accelerated society prematurely, exhausting all its potential and with no battery left to recharge?

We really cannot come to a conclusion.

These matters are too subjective to have a universal verdict, but because of these individuals’ distinct perceptions of technology (and of Tinder), there lies a framework of society that is so incredibly new and open to experimentation. With technology, we are given access to try more, know more, realize more, feel more, but it’s a matter of maximizing it to enhance our tangible reality rather than lose face in a virtual reality. So, with that, we can learn a bit from Tinder. There is no shame in swiping that screen of yours, but don’t mechanize yourself by over-swiping.

There is an appeal to how accessible human interaction is in this day and age, but don’t exploit this accessibility. Lastly, the line that divides people and technology has inevitably lost its distinction, but remember which one came first and find balance between the interchangeability of this duality.n

Sleep Habits: Get Your Zzz’s

Gunjan Gaur Managing Editor It’s 1:47 a.m. You’re fighting to keep your head from drooping down onto your chest, and your eyelids are suddenly much heavier than usual. All the lights in your room are at their brightest, and you’re playing loud, fast music. There’s a cup of coffee in front of you, but your body still refuses to stay awake. Inky darkness presses on your window, and you can hear snores from elsewhere in the house. The muscles in your neck and back are screaming from hours of bending over that math worksheet, English essay, and study guide for tomorrow’s history test… Come on, ten more minutes, just ten, you tell yourself, but very soon, you succumb to your body’s unrelenting protest and to the attraction of your warm, comfortable bed (albeit covered in papers and books). You accept defeat and go to sleep to wake up four and a half hours later, feeling as though you’d just closed your eyes.

These kinds of nights are comon among many high school students, especially during the last three weeks of school. Most teens need about nine hours of sleep each night.

A lot of us

consider ourselves lucky to achieve seven and a half, thanks to homework, AP exams, finals, band and choir concerts, extracurricular competitions, sports practices and games, theater-related activities, and commitments outside of school… The list goes on. A look around the students in a last period class on Friday confirms the chronic sleep deprivation. Their faces appear hollow and exhausted, and most students lack the energy to answer their teacher’s questions. This lethargy continues to occur despite efforts made on both the faculty’s and students’ parts.

Sleep-deprived students face many disadvantages. They experience mood swings, anxiety, depression; they can also exhibit aggressive or inappropriate behavior. Furthermore, abnormal appetites, acne and other skin problems, and improper growth manifest among students who are sleepdeprived. Students also say they have trouble focusing both in and out of academic settings after sleepless nights. Drowsy students can be as incapable of driving as drunk drivers, making sleep-deprivation potentially deadly. When a body needs sleep, it will get sleep, even if it happens to be behind a wheel at the moment. Furthermore, a tired student cannot pay attention, take notes, solve problems, memorize facts, or write as

effectively as a properly energized one.

What can we do to succeed in school but get the sleep we need to do so? Firstly, it is important to set wake-up alarms at a reasonable time: not so early that you could have gotten more sleep, but not so late that you’d get behind schedule. When said alarm goes off, try to resist the temptation to hit the snooze button; five more minutes of unfulfilling half-sleep are not worth being rushed or late to class. Certain smartphone apps like Sleep Time are said to sound an alarm at a time that suits your sleep cycle by detecting movement in your bed while you sleep (works best with non-memory foam beds). Though it’s been said countless times, stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks close to bedtime. In fact, it is best not to eat or drink much at all within two or three hours before you go to sleep.

Stay away from computers, iPads, televisions, or phone screens before bed. Since many classes’ homework requires the use of the iPad or a computer, plan to do these digital assignments first so you can do paper homework before bed. If it’s possible, obtain hard copies of reading materials for class. Take time to relax, but limit distractions that will unnecessarily subtract from potential sleeping time. All these recommendations are easier said than done, but they are truly beneficial for most people. If you need more sleep (and chances are, you do), make a conscious effort to follow these tips as often as possible, and the results are likely to be rewarding. n

q&a Lindsay Luchinsky and Natalie Dameron Staff Writers

mr. tom medlock

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Voice: What is your favorite video game?

Medlock: the Galaga arcade game.

V: How long have you worked at Pembroke?

M: 19 years.

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V: If you had three words or phrases to describe yourself, what would they be?

M: Reflective, loyal, purposeful

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V: What’s your favorite song or album?

M: The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

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V: In your opinion, what species is most likely to seize control of the planet?

M: Definitely the cockroaches.

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V: If you had to make the argument that the Science Hallway is the coolest hallway, what would you say?

M: There are always some loud freshman girls in that hallway.

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V: Do you play any instruments?

M: I used to play the recorder and the piano V:What is your favorite memory at Pembroke?

M: As a category, all cross country moments.

dr. kimberly cho 1

Voice: What is your favorite video game?

Cho: Legend of Zelda.

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V: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

C: Spain...mmm...tapas!

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V: Favorite chemical/element you have in your possession at Pembroke?

C: No comment.

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V: In your opinion, what species is most likely to seize control of the planet?

C: Canis lupus familiaris.

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V: Do you have any pets? If not, do you want any and what would you name them?

C: Obi-Wan Kenobi, a German Shepherd; Keira, my Wheaten Terrier; Tenshi, my testy Siamese; and Larry, the enormous turtle who hangs out by my dock.

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V: What is your favorite band/album?

C: Radiohead [is my favorite band]. Props to Medlock on his excellent [album] choice…though Wish You Were Here and Meddle are hard albums to top.

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V: If you had three words or phrases to describe yourself, what would they be?

C: Driven, nerdy, caffeinated.

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V: For how long have you worked at Pembroke, and what is your favorite PHS memory?

C: 7 years...18 years if you count my hardworking days as a student. [Also] as a student: Latin banquets! The Latin I students were “servi.” As a teacher, Cooking Club seasonal dinners with Elizabeth You.

kc crawl The

Better Cheddar

Christine Zheng and Sarah Chamberlain Columnists

Ancient Athenians regarded cheese as the food of the gods. Today, the denizens of Kansas City clearly share this opinion as they pack into The Better Cheddar, located on West 48th St. The Better Cheddar is a hidden jewel, obscured by the various corporate stores on the Plaza. The Better Cheddar stands as a unique presence in the grandiosity of designer stores because of their humble locality. We talked to Misty, a proud employee of the shop, about just how special The Better Cheddar is while we also sampled the various cheeses, ranging from rich blue cheeses to smoky cheddar.

There is no doubt The Better Cheddar is unique in Kansas City.

“The localness gets people excited,” says Misty, and we understand why. Can you think of one other store dedicated to the art of cheese in this city? We couldn’t, and neither could Misty. This kind of experience might be commonplace in places like Paris, but definitely not in Kansas City. Not only that, but the proximity of the dairies in Kansas City, like Green Dirt Farms, allows for fresh cheeses to be sold all year round. Misty explains that Missouri provides most of the sheep milk cheeses, and many of the cheddars come from Kansas. As for deciding what cheeses to sell, the owner makes most of the decisions. He explores different options based on his mood and on research. There are some cheeses though, that are continuously bestsellers or traditional cheeses that you can always find and enjoy.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Psh. How relevant is cheese

to my life? It’s just food.” Despite cheese being such a small part of our diets, think about those warm spring evenings and cloudless summer afternoons when the weather is fit for an idyllic picnic.

Such a picnic should include high quality cheese, warm, crunchy bread, and the finest refreshments - and, of course, a beautiful basket to hold these jewels, too. The Better Cheddar provides all of these necessities, as if it were made for couples or friends wanting to have a lovely picnic, be it at the Nelson-Atkins Museum or Loose Park. The demographics of The Better Cheddar really prove this, as Misty states, “We usually have older people come around during the week, but during the weekend, we get lots of young people going for picnics or on dates.”

Although the store might seem small compared to the larger shops in the Plaza, the value it holds means much more. There are aisles of finely brewed beverages, neighbored by shelves of local jams, salsas, and dipping sauces. Picnic baskets lay on the top of the shelves, varying in size and color, waiting to be held by lovers and friends. There is even a little cove tucked in the farther end of the store that is loaded with heavenly Italian chocolates and toffees.

Next time you are in the mood to go on a picnic or just to eat some delicious cheese (and other treats), swing by The Better Cheddar, pick out the Stilton Blue Cheese (Misty’s favorite), shamelessly sample some more cheese, and leave as happy and satisfied as can be. n

AFS WRAP-UP Lizzie Shulman Managing Editor Traveling abroad is an experience like none other, and few know it better than Pembroke’s two foreign exchange students. Olivia Genova ‘17 and Joshua Koni ‘16 both joined the Pembroke Hill community at the beginning of this school year, coming from Spain and Cameroon respectively. From becoming stars of the track and field team, to wearing traditional African clothing to Prom, they’ve truly made the most of their year. We at The Voice interviewed them to hear about their experiences in America; read below to see their reflections on this year. n Olivia Genova Host: Sara Doane ‘15 V: Why did you decide to travel to America?

OG: Two summers ago I spent three weeks in England with a host family, and I wanted to spend two months in London this past summer, but it was as expensive as a year abroad. I wanted to improve my English and meet new people. I wasn’t sure about coming here alone, but it was a great opportunity and I’m glad I chose to come.

V: What have you learned as a foreign exchange student?

OG: That even though Spain and America are so far away, there are a lot of similarities. I also learned how to manage my own money, how to take care of myself when I was sick, how to make new friends and how to trust a complete stranger. I had to lead a way to tell people what I needed or wanted when I didn’t know how to say it in English.

V: What activities did you participate in at PHS? Which activities were your favorites, and why?

OG: I played Field Hockey and I’m doing Track and Field right now. I really like Track and its team.

V: How is school different in the United States?

OG: The teachers make the difference. Here the teachers are super nice, and they let the students know that we can ask for help if we need it, even if it’s something outside school.

V: How have you taken parts of your home country’s culture with you to America?

OG: Probably putting olive oil in everything.

Joshua Koni: Host: Walter Fromm ‘15 V: What do you like most about attending Pembroke?

JK: The teachers at Pembroke are very nice and easy to approach for assistance. I love the interaction between the students and the teachers. It feels great to be part of these teacher-student relationships. I also love Color Wars and blue weeks, [as well as] the opportunity to try new things and meet new people.

V: How have you taken parts of your home country’s culture with you to America?

JK: I love ‘selling’ and sharing my culture, and I find the opportunity to do this when doing presentations. It’s interesting to compare some of the differences and similarities between the American culture and mine.

V: What activities did you participate in at PHS? Which activities were your favorites, and why?

JK: I loved running on the Cross Country team with so much “Team Love,” and now I am currently enjoying playing tennis (for my first time) on the Tennis team. I was also part of the high school musical, Urinetown. . . . After watching High School Musical, [I really wanted] to be in a musical, so I really enjoyed participating. It was my favorite because I love dancing.

first fridays

Ellie Miller Staff Writer The Crossroads District: Not only a place where one might sell their soul to the devil in the popular television show Supernatural, but also the location of the monthly gathering of thousands of local Kansas Citians and visitors to experience live music, art and other performances. First Fridays is a great opportunity for artists to show off their work in an informal environment, unlike that of the Nelson-Atkins or the Kauffman Center. In turn, enthusiasts have the chance to meet with the artists and talk

to them firsthand about their inspirations and techniques. For a break from visual art, you can head down to one of the various venues staging live music (in the next couple of months, be sure to check out both Gogol Bordello and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals). On top of that, there are always street artists and fun activities to do while walking around, so it’s never boring.

First Fridays is accessible to everyone; one of our very own Pembroke Hill juniors has been featured. Anya Loboda ‘15, who

found out about First Fridays through her father, had the opportunity to showcase some of her art during the festivities. Loboda says, “It was really fun and a great way to show my art to a lot of people.”

First Fridays are held year round from five to nine P.M., rain or shine. So, if you’re looking to buy art, hear some live music, or just look around and enjoy the nightlife, head down to First Fridays at The Crossroads and support Kansas City culture. n

THANK YOU, paige and michael!

Elizabeth Gerson and Megan She Editors-In-Chief As a chapter of the Voice ends and another begins, our staff felt it necessary to highlight our leaders for this past year: Paige Pepitone and Michael Rubel. Their impeccable leadership and passion helped this publication evolve into what it is today. As a tribute to Michael and Paige’s service to the Voice and the school, we have asked them to divulge their experiences working for the paper and reminisce on some of their favorite memories.

Voice: What has working on Voice done for you this past year (in essence, what have you learned from your experience)?

Michael: I really love the Voice, and have enjoyed running it, but I don’t see myself going into journalism. So, really, it’s sort of been a fun experiment where I learned to manage a process and lead a group of people in creating a product. That has taught me a lot about how to lead, and has shown me where my weaknesses or strengths are. The management experience I’ve had on the Voice, more than learning how to format a page or edit a picture, is valuable to me going forward, no matter what the undertaking.

Paige: Whether we’re a broadsheet newspaper or a glossy magazine, I’ve always felt the Voice was aptly named. Quite literally, I believe the publication functions to vocalize the spirit of Pembroke. The strong sense of community and collaboration present at Pembroke manifested itself at every Voice paste-ups. It might be cheesy, but I was constantly humbled by how each issue was the result of the effort of an incredibly talented, dedicated group of individuals: writers, designers, even the actual people being featured in the articles. If I’ve learned one thing from this experience, it’s the importance of working with a group of people to achieve an end goal.

“Each issue was the result of the effort of an incredibly talented, dedicated group of individuals.”

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Voice: What will you miss most about it?

Michael: Honestly, seeing students do the crossword. That seems silly, but watching people actively engage in something we produce–evident when they fill in our puzzles–is rewarding above all. Maybe we just start a publication called “the Word,” where’s it’s a 32page crossword magazine.

Paige: Distributing the paper.

It was always exciting to break open the boxes and hand out the magazines. People would generally pick up the new Voice as soon as they noticed it, so we’d get to see people’s candid reactions to the publication. The evidence that our work reached PHS students made the whole experience a lot more rewarding. The staff receiving recognition for their work made all the pixelation struggles and article panics worth it.

Paige and Michael, thank you.

Thank you for the debut of the Voice magazine era, the delectable baked goods, and for relinking all of our photos. Thank you for the paste-ups jams and for the humorous emails that somehow make deadlines a little better. Most of all, thank you for guiding us through yet another successful volume of our beloved publication. We all will miss you both dearly. n

“The management experience I’ve had on the Voice is valuable to me going forward, no matter what the undertaking.”

A Night to Remember

Bella Foote Staff Writer Prom: the four letter word that sends countless teenage girls throughout the nation into a state of panic in an attempt to find the perfectly fitted long dress. The formidable expression that shoves young men into the throes of ill-fitting tuxedos and elaborate corsages. Year by year, the prom invitations, now nicknamed “Promposals,” are getting more and more creative. They range from simple puns on poster board, complete with candy for extra persuasion, to expensive necklaces paired with a bouquet of roses, to horses carrying the askers on their back. The new slogan for prom now seems to be “Go Big or Go Home.” However, prom hasn’t always been such a momentous occasion. The idea behind prom, short for promenade, originated in the late 1800s. Held in local colleges, the actual dance was an attempt to instill good manners and social etiquette into the minds of the youth. Respectful pupils of the senior class would show up to the gathering dressed in their best Sunday attire to sip tea, dance, and awkwardly converse with their peers, all under the watchful eye of the omnipresent chaperones. Then in the 1930s, the tradition of prom began to expand, including banquet style dinner, live bands, and fancier venues. From there, it progressed into the phenomenon it is today.

This year, Pembroke Hill’s annual prom took place at the Uptown Theatre. The Uptown, built in the 1930s coincidentally around the same time prom tradition began to change, is an ornate theatre that, on prom night, was filled with twinkling lights and Casino Royale-themed decor. After being ambushed by the parent paparazzi, beautifully-styled young ladies and their wellgroomed dates entered the theatre and began to feast on the senior-nominated buffet style food consisting of tilapia and macaroni and cheese. And then students actually began to dance along to the music. Not just the awkward shuffle that typically makes an appearance at Pembroke-sponsored dances like Homecoming and Women Pay All; full on dance moves were broken out. Even teachers danced; many students claimed their favorite part of the night was witnessing the swing dance that took place between Mrs. Reams and Griffin Culp ‘16. As junior Catherine Fredette so eloquently stated, “In a way, prom marks the beginning of the end.” For Seniors, prom is the final dance of their high school experience. Feelings of nostalgia often mix with the highly anticipated thrill of prom. It does, in fact, mark the beginning of the end, and is a rite of passage for high school students throughout the nation. n

“In

a way, Prom

marks the beginning of the end.”

Seniors Top Cities Lawrence, KS: 10 seniors Raleigh-Durham, NC: 6 seniors Boston, MA: 5 seniors Columbia, MO: 5 seniors New York, NY: 4 seniors Denver, CO: 4 seniors Colleges with Most Seniors Attending University of Kansas: 10 seniors University of Missouri: 5 seniors University of Denver: 4 seniors Southern Methodist University: 3 seniors University of Missouri, Kansas City: 3 seniors

Seun Adebo William Amend Alexandra Anderson Anne Marie Andrews Ahmad Ansari Sam Bailey Meredith Baum Emily Beasley Danny Betancur-Garcia Brett Bethune Adam Bixby Joseph Blond Hallie Bodamer Lauren Brands Cheyenne Brown Matthew Burcham Matthew Burke Ben Davis Emily Dema Abby Dercher Claudia Dillow Domenico DiMare Sara Doane Meredith Dunham

Indiana University at Bloomington Amherst College Ithaca College Santa Clara University University of Missouri, Columbia Wake Forest University Northwestern University University of Kansas University of Missouri Kansas City Georgetown University Southern Methodist University University of Denver Wake Forest University Auburn University University of Iowa University of Denver Dartmouth College American University William Jewell College Kansas State University Miami University Boston University Columbia University Ithaca College

Forest Eckhardt Allison Ernst Preston Fleenor Emma Foster Walter Fromm Angela Garza Mikey Geduldig William Gheorghita Katie Graves Beck Guastello Katie Hall Brendan Hein David Helder Caroline Hogan Sommer Howard Billy Humphrey Mikaela Judy Maura Kessler Cole Kiersznowski Alex Kittoe Eric Koch Paul Kovach Sam Kramer Elizabeth Lacy

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute DePaul University University of Missouri Columbia University of Arkansas University of Puget Sound Texas A&M University, Kingsville Emory University University of Southern California University of Missouri Columbia University of Kansas Emerson College University of Kansas Manhattan School of Music Southern Methodist University Vanderbilt University University of Kansas University of Kansas University of Kansas Stanford University University of Denver Massachusetts Institute of Technology Creighton University Washington University in St. Louis St. Olaf College

Chris Laddin Henry Latshaw Tammy Lee Allysa Lisbon Andrea Lu Jack Malone Caroline Massey Parker Mathews Grace McFee Katherine Medlock Zarq Mian Lucy Miller Anton Nagy Matthew Nelson Paul Newell Isabella Pallotto Andrew Parkerson Paige Pepitone Dylan Peters Brooke Peterson Adam Polkinghorn Audrey Pritchett Emily Ramza Molly Reardon

University of Missouri Columbia University of Missouri Columbia Boston College Georgetown University Case Western Reserve University University of Wisconsin-Madison Sarah Lawrence College Duke University University of Tulsa Lehigh University University of Missouri, Kansas City University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carleton College Colorado State University University of Oklahoma Davidson College University of Virginia Pomona College Duke University Southern Methodist University University of Kansas Miami University Marquette University Trinity University

Amanda Rivard Michael Rubel Clarie Seo Ben Shadid Carlie Sherman Austin Shockley Lucy Sorrell Ty Spurgeon Carter Steer Joe Thomas Alexandria Thomas Trevor Tsue Tim Utz Dakota Van Deursen Kel Walls Cindy Wang Julianne Waters Ryan Welte Lizzie Whitney Remy Williams Rachel Wurzer

University of California, Santa Barbara Williams College Johns Hopkins University University of Notre Dame North Central College University of Kansas Bard College University of Kansas University of Denver Tufts University Baylor University Stanford University Colorado State University Stevens Institute of Technology University of Missouri, Kansas City University of Pennsylvania Cornell University Vanderbilt University Wesleyan University Georgetown College University of Kansas 19

UnBiased Opinions with Sergi DeAnda Why the new Star Wars has to work (and why I think it will) Whether you are a Star Wars fan or not, nobody can deny that the opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be one of the biggest events of 2015. As the film enters post-production and two trailers having been already released, many are hoping more than ever that this film will be just as good as the original movies. With the horrors of the prequel trilogy still fresh in their minds, fans are putting a lot of pressure on director J.J. Abrams to make this one better, and frankly, I can’t blame them.

First off, let’s not kid ourselves here: We must admit that the prequels were bad movies. They were awful, even. I mean, sure, Revenge of the Sith had a few merits to it, but overall, this trilogy just was an absolute nightmare. And with only 10 years having passed since the last prequel came out, people don’t forget easily (myself included). However, I’m fully confident that J.J. Abrams won’t mess up this movie, with the biggest reason being that George Lucas, the creator

of the entire Star Wars franchise, has minimal involvement in the actual making of the movie. Lucas is currently working as the “creative consultant,” which I assume means that the adults at Bad Robot do the real work while he sits around trying to find ways to sell merchandise. Not to completely throw Lucas under the bus, but he’s made enough mistakes with the movie series that he shouldn’t be allowed to have too much control over them. Just to prove my point, look at the production of the last six Star Wars movies. The best Star Wars movies were made when Lucas did not write the scripts or direct. For example, in Empire Strikes Back, the undisputedly best movie in the entire saga, he only produced and made the storyboards. Then, if you look at The Phantom Menace, which most consider to be the worst Star Wars film, you might notice that he both wrote and directed it. Essentially, what I’m trying to say here is that George Lucas does have a grand vision and an exceptional mind.

He needs to leave the details of his vision to people who are just simply better at what they do, like J.J. Abrams.

Another good reason that Abrams is better suited to direct is that he has already successfully directed a reboot of a sci-fi series: Star Trek. Back in 2009 when Abrams came out with his reboot of the classic movie saga, the series was dead. There hadn’t been a Star Trek movie for 7 years and the last one that came out was just as bad as Phantom Menace, if not worse. Then came the reboot in 2009 and the series was revived, with a sequel coming out in 2013 and another one planned for 2016. Who’s to say Star Wars doesn’t need a bit of revival? If anyone was to do it, I would pick J.J. Abrams. As long as George Lucas doesn’t get too involved in the production of the movie and Abrams stays in charge, then the Star Wars series is in good hands. n

REVIEWS Movie Review: It Follows Olive Honan Designer It Follows (which came out March 27th) is a different take on a horror movie, created by essentially unknown director David Robert Mitchell, and starring a young, nearly unknown cast. While some viewers may have been disappointed because they expected a typical, dumb-yet-frightening horror movie, I was pleasantly surprised. The movie follows a girl named Jay who sleeps with a guy she doesn't know, and upon doing so, becomes part of a paranoia-inducing, idiopathic curse. After their involvement, the unknown boy informs Jay that he has passed "it" along to her, and now "it" will follow her until she passes "it" along to someone else.

Wherever she is, "it" is following her, walking slowly toward her, waiting for a chance to take her life. The eerie being in the story, "it,” can take the form of any person: someone Jay may know or someone she has never met. Since "it" is passed along with sex, the story becomes an obvious metaphor for a person living with an STD and the fears they face. Of course, one cannot get rid of an STD by having more unprotected sex, but it portrays the fear and pressure well. Overall, I think this film shows the new directions horror films are moving. The cinematography and soundtrack are both quite impressive and rare for any movie, let alone a horror movie. It was more of a thriller than an actual horror film because of the constant feeling of uneasiness and lack of truly terrifying scenes. It Follows was a film I enjoyed due to its deviation from the archetypal horror movie, and I think it's a film worth your time.n

Music Review: Labyrinth Ear Christine Zheng Columnist This album starts out like a sequence in some dream in which spring is eternal. For me, spring is about dozing off under the sun, melting into a state of bliss. Fortunately, Labyrinth Ear has created an album perfectly paired with this desired state of being. The first track, “Blue Apple,” releases spiral tunes that wrap around and carry you into this dream, and from there on, you’re brought to some Garden of Eden where you are God. Emily’s vocals cause the subtle melody of each track to liquefy into a waterfall pouring streams of light, especially in “Droplets of Pearl” - my favorite track. But what really makes this album stand out among other great spring albums is its incorporation of both wordless and lyrical tracks. This integration creates a sublime, ethereal sound throughout, heightened by the use of synths and subtle bass -- listen to how “Dawns and Dusks” perfectly sets the stage for its succeeding track “Burnished Bronze.” The Orchid Room is an album meant to be listened to with shuffle off and eyes closed. So go find yourself a nice spot outside, listen to The Orchid Room, and soon enough you’ll start to see and feel paradise. n

21

Spring Sports Wrap-Up Gina Pepitone, Lauren Washington, and Ellie Miller Staff Writers The girls’ soccer team has played well this season, improving in each and every game.

Captains Hallie Bodamer, Audrey Pritchett, Amanda Rivard, and Kealy Kornitzer led the team this season and kept everyone motivated. A definite highlight of the season was defeating Bishop Leblond as Hallie Bodamer stated: “Last year they destroyed us, so it felt so awesome to be able come back as a brand new team and show them what we’re made of!” With a lot of new faces this season, Hallie Bodamer commented that to increase the bond both on and off the field, “We love having team dinners and team sleepovers!” As the season is winding down, the girls’ soccer team hopes to win districts and make it to state!

The girls’ lacrosse team has been led this season by captains Anne Marie Andrews, Kippy Terry, Catherine Fredette, and Claudia Dillow. Catherine Fredette and Emily Green have led the team in scoring this year, while freshman Reagan Mitchell has been named most improved. This year’s MVPs are Chloe Montague on offense and Meg Esrey on defense. According to freshman Carmela Nunez, “Lax is the best” because she gets to “hangout with [her] favorite people everyday!”

Track this season is full of very talented individuals. Though physically gruelling, track is a place for students to make new friends and stay in shape. Since last year, members on the track team have doubled. Last year, the team was lucky to have formed one relay team; this year, however, the team has six or seven relay teams. The Pembroke track team has medaled at every meet they’ve attended this year. Collectively, they scored more points than in the past five years combined. The team is made up of many underclassmen who have dedicated themselves to this sport. With the majority being younger students, track coach Ms. Taber acknowledges this was a growing year for the team. Nonetheless, the coaches are very impressed with the results of all the dedicated team members. Overall, all spring sports this year have been a success, despite wins and losses. The dedication of all the athletes is enough to prove that this was an outstanding season.

The boys’ lacrosse team is receiving significant contributions from a number of players.

Junior Ford Johnson headlines the group, leading the team in goals, shots, and ground balls. Meanwhile, Alexander Carolan leads in assists, points, and caused turnovers. Other notable names are George Story, who has the team’s best goal percentage, and William Park, with the most faceoff wins. Goalie Eric Koch paces the defense with 98 saves so far this season. With four games left to play, the team’s record currently stands at 4 -7.

Boys’ golf has had a very successful season. Captains Charlie Hamilton, Preston Fleenor, and Beck Guastello led the team to many victories. The beginning of the season started out with a bang when varsity attended a tournament in California over spring break. Since then, both JV and varsity have been nearly undefeated. The team is very optimistic about winning districts and advancing to hopefully win state. Overall, the boys’ golf team has had a great year so far, with high hopes for the years to come.

The boys’ tennis team this season has been very successful. Dale Eshelbrenner coaches the team along with assistant coach, Max Fearing. Halfway through the season, Coach Eshelbrenner’s dedication and talent was recognized by KSHB 41 Action News when they interviewed him and the team. Junior tennis player Cormac Chester commented about Coach Eshelbrenner during the interview: “He really wants everyone to try as hard as possible and have fun. It’s not about the win-win-win mentality, but about having fun and being a better tennis player.” With little time left in the season, the team would definitely like to do as well in state as they have in the past years.

This season, the Pembroke Hill baseball team faced many challenges. Before games even started, the varsity team was down two starters, Joe Thomas and Thomas Christianson, due to injuries. Though these two star players are irreplaceable, underclassmen on the team had to step up and fill their positions. To name a few, Tommy Wolfe, Garrett Kincaid, and Garrett Presko, all freshmen, took on the challenge and filled in on the varsity team.

Young as they are, they took this experience to better themselves as players. Even though the team lost more games than they won, over the course of the season, all the players had the chance to improve on their skills as individuals on the team.n

Guten Tag, Graz!

Shannon Fang Managing Editor Prerequisites for the Graz Exchange: a love of traveling, an eagerness to meet new friends from halfway across the world, and the wish to immerse oneself in another culture. This summer, eighteen sophomores will temporarily live with families in Graz, Austria, as a part of this exchange program.

The students will also tour Vienna and Paris on their trip to Europe.

In addition to Pembroke Hill students visiting Graz, the Graz students who they

will live with over the summer recently visited Pembroke Hill. Their trip consisted of touring Kansas City and experiencing the simpler treasures of the city (and US). Luke Ossie ‘17 says: “We played frisbee, had a Nerf war, and played football in Loose Park. We also went to Walmart, Target, Chik-Fil-A, Five Guys, and even bowled.”

Other students went to swim, shop, watch a Sporting KC game, and eat at Oklahoma Joe’s. The students from Austria were able

to familiarize themselves with American culture, and, despite the language barrier, the Pembroke students and teachers visiting Graz will be given the same opportunity to absorb Austrian culture. Undoubtedly, the Graz exchange students have already become good friends with their Pembroke hosts, and their time in Austria will only further their friendship.n

“I love to travel internationally and want to see as much of the world as possible throughout my life. I had such a great time with Tomas, and he and the other Graz students taught me so much! I’m looking forward to having even more fun in Austria.” -Luke Ossie ‘17

May Day: Carrying on the Tradition

Photo Credits to Lisa Blevins Laura Hibschman Senior Designer Any past or present student, parent, teacher, or faculty member at Pembroke Hill knows one annual celebration very well: May Day. We remember the music, the dances, the flowers, the dresses, the races, the queen-crowning, the lifer procession, and, of course, the May pole wrapping competition. But to fully appreciate the beautiful event we celebrate this month, we must also look back almost a century to the history and significance of this long-standing tradition.

The idea of May Day dates back to the Romans in Great Britain centuries ago, whose traditional five-day celebration featured many of the same characteristics adopted into our May Day today. Each year, the town chose one woman who represented a specific quality in the superlative--be it beauty, youth, height, or honor--to reign over the festivities as May Queen. Robin Hood, accompanied by his men and girls throwing flower petals, participated in a procession that then gave way to a pageant, competitive games, and dancing.

When Miss Helen Ericson joined the recently-founded Sunset Hill School for Girls in 1916, she established many school traditions. It was then that May Day--today one of Pembroke’s most iconic events--was established as a Spring pageant. At the first May festival, students in costume enacted a dramatization of “The Sleeping Beauty” and performed simple folk dances. Over the years, the celebration has changed again and

again until it has become what we know today as May Day. At earlier May festivals, the May Queen was elected from the Sophomore Class as the girl who best represented beauty, graciousness, consideration for others, spirit, service, and charm. Ericson emphasized creativity by encouraging students to write and recite an original nature poem throughout the year, which would be judged by a committee and the May Queen. Each poet was bestowed a flower, and the girl with the best poem was named the Poet Laureate.

By 1938, the ceremony had expanded immensely; all 190 students of Sunset Hill became included. Costumes were redesigned to emulate authentic 13th century designs, classrooms were opened up to exhibit student artwork, and a larger variety of activities such as games, dances, contests, and May pole wrapping were introduced. As the tradition continued, the activities and themes varied from year to year. After 1945, the May Queen became elected from the Senior Class and Kindergarten Teacher Mary Catherine See played the piano for the entire program. About ten years later, recognizable traditions began to emerge; girls carried hoops of flowers and danced to Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers, the same dance fourth and fifth graders dance to today.

Since the merger in 1984 when May Day and Field Day (of Pembroke Country Day) became one, Pembroke has celebrated the Old English May Day that current students are familiar with. While participants are now almost entirely lower school students, seniors

have the opportunity to cross back to the Wornall campus and relive their childhood memories for a day. All seniors can judge field day events and compete against the fifth grade class in the tradition of wrapping the May pole; the “lifers” (students who have attended Pembroke Hill since Kindergarten) are also recognized in a procession through a tunnel of flowered hoops created by the Waltz of the Flowers dancers. For Sunset Hill and Pembroke students old and new, May Day is one of the most memorable school experiences.

For the May Queens, the day holds even more significance. In regards to being elected May Queen her senior year in 1990, one former Queen explains, “I was grateful to my fellow students, and [the fact] that the honor was connected to Sunset Hill tradition made it particularly heartwarming.” The celebration also emphasizes the notion of continuity and the journey from kindergarten to senior year, and lifer Catherine Cooling Davis ‘02 could not have said it better: “I remember participating in May Day throughout the stages--from being one of Robin Hood’s little men in green felt outfits to dancing in a pastel dress that we passed down from year to year and from sister to sister. I remember a loud outdoor speaker that blared the music in such a familiar and tinny way...[and] loving to cover our rings in flowers and be barefoot in the grass. Being crowned May Queen was such a special culmination of all my years as a participant in May Day. I dried my crown of roses and kept it until just a few years

ago.” The 2005 May Queen, Emma Cohen Atwood, shares these sentiments, saying, “[I]t felt like the true mark of the end. There is no better way to close out your tenure at Pembroke Hill than to celebrate in a way that you did every year of your childhood.”

The memory of May Day, unlike the flowers on the hoops, is not ephemeral. In the lower school, girls look up to the May Queen as someone they want to be; for the lucky few who do get elected their senior year, it is a moment they will cherish forever. As Atwood explains, “To this day, I remember the name of the May Queen my first year at Pembroke. As an 8-year-old it seemed like the biggest honor to be crowned in front of the whole school. I looked up at the court on stage and thought, ‘that’s where I want to be’...It is a memory I share only with those who have also attended Pembroke, [and] that’s pretty special.” Attesting to how widespread this feeling is, Davis tells of how special May Day is to her to this day: “Now that I’m no longer a student, May Day is still a very special memory. Especially because I don’t live in Kansas City anymore, it’s a unique memory of how unique and wonderful Kansas City and our school is.”

The moral of the story? May Day isn’t just a day to wear pretty dresses and flowers in your hair. It’s a story, a tradition, a memory, a connection. It has maintained the same significance across generations, and many will cherish the experience forever. Carrying on the tradition, senior Isabella Pallatto was able to create lasting memories of her own by being elected May Queen of 2015.n Photo Credits to Beth Bryant

Alice Rowland With the graduation of the class of 2015, choices of college and style of curriculum have been revealed. By now, graduating seniors have decided where they want to study and what type of career they desire. In choosing a school, they have also chosen a lifestyle. When asked, some will declare their dreams of going to med school or being a molecular engineer. These proclaimed dreams, although deemed broad and exciting, are already stifling these students’ intellectual growth. By choosing a pre-professional track at the mere age of 18, any young adult has narrowed their capabilities into one sector of a vast and expanding career field. A liberal arts education, by contrast, gives a young adult the freedom to choose and expand their already existing talents before they constrict themselves to one particular field. “Art,” from the Latin ars, means “skill” and with “liberal” derived from liberalis or the Latin “freedom,” the term “liberal arts” exemplifies the western ideal of freedom to develop the skills that make us human. The liberal arts, or the humanities, as a theory of education, aspire to promote the individual freedom to encounter many different forms of education while pursuing an education.

You could also reverse the order. Ars liberalis represents the skills of freedom necessary to any individual’s responsibility as a citizen of the United States. In a country that promotes individual freedoms and at a school that preaches “Freedom with Responsibility,” the liberal arts education is the key for unlocking the world around us. An education in the humanities does just that because it educates the individual in the human experience. Through a liberal arts education, a student is asked to interpret and value the human experience in all its varieties and to become more sensitive and empathetic to this experience. By participating in a more technical education, an individual is desensitized to these raw human emotions, and even if they know the rate of decay of an atom, they haven’t gained any insight into what really makes people tick. If we, as a society, want to have the most educated and enlightened populace, then we need to ground ourselves in an education that respects the human experience.n

James Parkerson The arrival of May and the end of the school year is a bittersweet time for college seniors. Much to the dismay of many, they must say goodbye to their college days and enter the real world – the workforce. The senior class is usually a mixed group of young adults who either already have jobs waiting for them or frantically panic to find a job after graduation. One half is comprised of STEM and business majors, while the other half is made up of sophisticated and intellectual liberal arts and humanities majors. Which group has the jobs you ask? Easy. Not the liberal arts majors.

Liberal arts was considered to be the general and necessary education of young savantes and intellectuals.

However, in this modern age, a liberal arts education is not a practical education. Higher-learning educational institutions should prepare students to be functioning members of the workforce. Where does contemplating the works of Shakespeare and Homer fit into a typical job description? Sure, there are careers out there that require critical and deep thinking that are made for liberal arts educated students, but these jobs are in short supply and difficult to obtain. Those who get these types of jobs attend the most prestigious and elite universities; you have to be the very best and brightest to have any chance.

On the other hand, students who are educated in pre-professional and professional programs have tremendously better odds to receive jobs upon graduation. Unlike the liberal arts and humanities majors, these students are specifically taught to master a certain set of skills that they will utilize in their chosen career path.

“Gotta have skills to pay the bills,” as my mother told me.

The issue simply comes down to this: professional programs train students to succeed in their chosen career paths while liberal arts educations teach students to be “intellectuals.” Being a critical thinker is great, but most people, who are not suited for a liberal arts curriculum, would rather be making money. College is expensive. Most individuals attend college with the help of financial aid, so wouldn’t they prefer to have a job that makes them feel like their education was truly worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars? It is very common for parents to tell their children to become doctors or engineers to secure a stable financial future; no parent ever says: “Honey, you should really be a poetry major.”n

Raider Club

Davis Brooks Managing Editor As of May 1, 2015, the Booster Club will officially be known as the Raider Club. Many people are unaware of the newly-christened Raider Club’s dayto-day impact, since it operates almost entirely behind the scenes. However, this club provides countless services for our students and coaches. Currently, eighty percent of our student body plays a sport - activities that would be unavailable without the Raider Club. The club provides vital pieces of sports equipment; even the small tokens, such as the t-shirts sold at the annual school barbecue, are thanks to the Raider Club. Since 2001, the Raider Club has donated over $380,000 to Pembroke Hill athletic programs, and it hopes to increase this amount over the upcoming years.

More important than the name change, The Raider Club aims to establish a stronger identity in Pembroke

Hill athletics. To do so, the club will be selling merchandise with the new Raider Club logo in the Pembroke Hill Bookstore. The Raider Club eventually hopes to sell its clothing and merchandise in the stands at school athletic functions and even online. Buying items with the new logo will reward students and their relatives, as not only are they purchasing quality, spirited products, but they are also supporting the school’s athletic program. Another hope the Raider Club has is unifying support for Pembroke Hill’s high school athletics between both the Lower and Upper School campuses. The Raider Club’s selling of new merchandise will allow parents with students in middle and elementary school to support the school’s athletics.

Along with past fundraisers the club has held, the Raider Club hopes the selling of the new logoed merchandise will create more opportunities for the

school’s coaches to receive athletic grants for their programs. Another change to look forward to in the upcoming year is an upgrade in concessions. The club has purchased grills and new products to encourage even more support and promotion for the school’s athletics.

With such a large percent of the student body participating in a sport, the Raider Club is doing an impressive job supporting our growing programs. Pembroke Hill has won fiftyeight MSHAA state championships - the second most of any highschool in Missouri. This level of achievement could not have been met without the Raider Club’s support. With the new changes to the club, Pembroke Hill sports will continue to grow and improve from their already impressive positions.n

“Dam” Straight with Dylan Dameron ‘16: Big god, small god, blue god, green god. The idea of one true religion has been tackled by philosophers for years. A Dudeist would argue that…well, I guess they wouldn’t argue at all. Instead, they would just tell you to “Take it easy, man,” and then continue to tell you about how they hate the Eagles. Yes, Dudeism is a real religion based on the lifestyle of Jeff Bridges’s character from The Big Lebowski. This Coen Brothers’ classic centers around “The Dude” and his unfortunate circumstance. He shares the same last name, Lebowski, with a multimillionaire, who becomes the victim of a supposed kidnapping. I’ll spare you a plot summary by saying that the Dude has a rough life, but he does not care. His unconcerned attitude inspired fans to create a religion in his honor. Like Buddhism, Dudeism is a non-theistic religion, meaning its followers do not worship a God. With over 250,000 priests worldwide, Dudeism preaches non-preachiness and insists its followers practice as little as possible. Dudeism is structured around being at peace with oneself and not really doing anything. One of their main philosophies is, “Life is short and complicated, and nobody knows what to do about it. So don’t do anything about it.” However absurd this may seem, Dudeism is recognized as a real religion and actually has some valid philosophies. Happiness is pretty much a Dudeist’s only motivation. They practice selflessness and try their best to be true to themselves and others; most importantly they just want to abide. Because Dudeists are encouraged to not preach their beliefs, the religion is very easy to follow. Any individual is welcome to join Dudeism and take life as it comes to them. A religion that strives for the happiness of individuals, practices acceptance of all beliefs, and tries its best to not force itself onto people is, in my mind, a pretty rad religion. But that’s just, like, my opinion…man.n

29

1. Mikey’s face is tatted 2. Pikachu is sitting on Caroline’s shoulder 3. Adam’s sandals are gone 4. Billy is wearing sunglasses 5. Meredith Baum and Amanda Rivard are swapped

Find six differences between the photos.

Answers, upside down, are below.

Puzzles

Find the Differences

Crossword ACROSS 5. Last name of our 2015 Prom King as well as a

popular Parks and Rec comedian.

8. APUSH students enjoy this review on the weekends with Dr. Niermann.

9. 2015’s Premier League champions.

10. Comedian who made humorous, if not slightly offensive, remarks at the White House Correspondence Dinner.

11. Name of the brand of popular leather sandals; commonly worn with fuzzy socks.

12. Compassion, Integrity, Respect, ______.

14. The only senior flute player in PHS band.

15. Last name of 2015’ May Queen.

17. The name of this year’s spring play.

18. Name of Italian Club faculty sponsor.

19. Name of PHS’s Ward Parkway campus Wi-Fi

DOWN

1. Dr. Cho’s favorite band is ________ 2. History teacher leaving PHS 3. Avengers: Age of _______ 4. State hosting this year’s National Science Olym-

piad 6. First name of this year’s Senior Acquisition Award winner 7. If he didn’t teach at PHS, he’d like to be a truck driver 8. PHS Ward Parkway campus is on the corner of State Line and _______ 13. Student who did senior Capstone on social media and its relation to depression 16. Feisty young Royals ace who recently recieved a 5-game suspension

Letter from the

Editors

Allow us to introduce ourselves.

Our names are Elizabeth Gerson and Megan She, and as you’ve most likely already inferred, we are your new Editors-in-Chief for the 2015-2016 season. We both arose from humble beginnings; as Freshmen, we first began to stretch our journalistic muscles by writing an article here and there, but as the year progressed, we found ourselves fully enraptured by our school paper and its role in the Pembroke Hill community.

We were welcomed into a group of some of the most dedicated students in the school as we worked to piece together the paper page-by-page, word-by-word, and pixel-by-pixel. We were drawn to the concept of unadulterated student expression. Each and every article brought forth the student perspectives the Pembroke community needed to see, so, in essence, the Voice served its literal purpose: to provide a platform for any student to be heard.

After discovering what the Voice truly encompasses, we truly fell in love with the publication and all it does for the school (cliched, we know, but bear with us).

Through every single rewarding experience we’ve had during our work with the Voice, we feel as though it is of absolute necessity that we give back to the community tenfold, which is where you, our readers, come into play. You motivate us to provide you with a magazine of utmost quality; there is no feeling like the wave of satisfaction experienced when we observe students, faculty, parents, and alums devour a new, hot-off-the-presses issue with expressions of awe and delight plastered upon their faces. With the continual support you have given us in years past, we vow to bring you the creative, polished aesthetic as well as the cutting-edge content that so many of our predecessors have delivered.

As we ascend to our new positions for the upcoming volume, we are constantly reminded we are under your jurisdiction; we want to publish what you want to hear and what you want to see.

As long as we have your support, we know we’ll create a publication to be proud of. We hope you enjoy taking this journey with us, and we’ll see you again next year.

Elizabeth and Megan

THE VOICE

The Official News Publication of the Pembroke Hill School 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.

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.

Whispers News Blurbs From Around School

chorale, madrigals, and top of the hill... all won gold first places in their choir competition in Chicago. william esrey ‘16.. won first place at a varsity golf tournament and scored several lacrosse goals in the same week, starring for both teams. sommer howard ‘15... won the best capstone award, designing a toms give-back program for early childhood education. garrett prescoe ‘18... can throw an 88 mph fastball. carlie sherman ‘15... was recognized as an outstanding individual performer in the chicago choir competition.

Editors-in-Chief Megan She and Elizabeth Gerson Senior Designer Laura Hibschman Copy Editors Emily Cohen Christine Zheng Gina Pepitone Head of Digital Cormac Chester Business Manager Elizabeth Shulman Photographers Bella Barnes Mickey Ferguson

Managing Editors Davis Brooks Shaina Desai Shannon Fang Gunjan Gaur Saurabh Goel Elizabeth Shulman

Staff Writers Bella Barnes Sarah Chamberlain Natalie Dameron Shaina Desai Mickey Ferguson Bella Foote Grace Green Designers Jaqueline Kincaid Shaina Desai Kate Kramer Shannon Fang Jillian Jetmore Olive Honan Lindsay Luchinsky Lauren Washington Ellie Miller Will Park Illustrator Gina Pepitone Olive Honan Daniel Stark Middle School Coordinator Lauren Washington Christine Zheng Jaqueline Kincaid

Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice.

Columnists Sergi DeAnda – “Biased Opinions with Sergi” Olive Honan – “The Buzz” Christine Zheng & Sarah Chamberlain –”KC Crawl” James Parkerson and Alice Rowland – “Calvin and Hobbes” Dylan Dameron – “‘Dam’ Straight” Mickey Ferguson “Food Fight”

The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.

Faculty Sponsors Dr. Matt Clothier and Mr. Joel Causey