May 2014 by Pembroke Hill Voice

The Voice May 2014 | Volume XXI Issue I

College Decisions

Debating Gun Control

2 Feature

Willkommen, Graz Students! Sarah Chamberlain Staff Writer During sophomore year, many students apply to participate in an exchange program with a school in Graz, Austria; those selected host students then travel to Austria and stay with the people they hosted here. This year Bella Foote, Anya LoboKit Frazen, Ellison Rooney, Sergi DeAnda, ilton, Parker Beaham, Spenser Thomas, James Andrews, and Jack Copaken were the sophomores selected. The hosts met the Graz students at the airport. During their stay in America, the Austrian students attended classes with their host and participated in a variety of group activities. The Graz students experienced American cul-

This year they went to a Royals game, the

wished for “more free time with [her] exchange because they were only here for one weekend and [she] wanted to do more with them.” The Graz students were very surprised at how big everything was. The hosts and visiting students become very close while during these activities. Sergi DeAnda said his favorite part of Graz was “how open most of the students were and also looks forward to going to Austria after

Mr. White at his last May Day as Principal, handing a lifer ribbon to senior Charlotte Johnston. Photo credits to Barry White

A Tribute to Mr. White

Gunjan Gaur Copy Editor This year marks the end of an era in

the city as a whole.” She said, “They live next to beautiful mountains and the city is experience.” teacher and has, since then, held an array of positions at the school. With the end of this academic year, he plans to enter, in his own words, “semi-retirement”-- this means that, fortunately for us, he will be serving an ambassador-type role, interactas well as adding his own knowledge and experiences to the school archives. Nevertheless, we will miss his presence on the Wornall Campus, where he guided us to be the people we are today. ly blessed to have served the school for forty-seven years,” and we are indubitably curiosity and love of learning and teaching through everything from his invention of “Great Brain Presentations,” lower school

Club, which has existed for the past four

life… I love to be involved in any and all and sports.” But what sticks out most about the self-proclaimed “Big Cheese” is his kind and gentle demeanor. Those of us who spent time in the Lower School remember Rogers performances, track team coach-

treats his students with a balance of gentleness and invigoration, which is perfect could choose only one value to instill in his students, he would choose, as one could guess by his disposition, “kindness to self and others.” As I walk through the halls of the Upper School, I catch glimpses of the actions of many of his former students, and I like to think he has been successful. While writing this tribute, I nostalgically remember my days on the Wornall Campus. With a smile, I recall my four-sentence “paragraphs” and wonder how they turned into four-page essays. I look back on some of my lower school friendships, which have strengthened so much since then. I relive the day I visited Pembroke

of what has made him so valuable to the community. When asked about his activGraz hosts and visitors pose on a tennis court. Photo credits to Elena Humphrey and Anya Loboda

answer, saying, “[T]he school has been my

ulations on semi-retirement!

Feature

A Trip Down Memory Lane with Dr. Tostevin and Dr. Graves Megan She and Shaina Desai Managing Editor and Staff Writer With the retirement of history comrades Dr. Bob Tostevin and Dr. Carl Graves, the Pembroke Hill community will be losing two very remarkable and very dear educators, as well as friends, who have enhanced the school since the 1980s. Not only will we remember the intellectual prowess of our educators, but we will also miss the silly, warm, charming -

“In a faculty meeting, I got down on one knee and asked him to WPA ‘14. His response was something like, 'No way in hell.'" -Mrs. Cain

long, extraordinary careers at Pembroke Hill. Although we will miss seeing them in the halls every day, we wish them all the best in the future. Thank you for all the great years, Dr. Tostevin and Dr. Graves!

-Anonymous

“Well, he wrote a book.” -Trevor Tsue ‘14

“I once commented that I like that blue plaid jacket that he wears to school all ter that, he would come up to me and give me blue plaid jacket updates and tell me if he was going to wear it the next day. I’ll miss that so much next year.” -Cindy Wang ‘15

"One time Billy Humphrey ‘15 called me ’Som' in class and Dr. Tostevin goes, ‘Dimsum? You just called her dimsum?’ Yeah, the name stuck.” -Sommer Howard ‘15 freshman year was ‘I don’t understand why people say, We’re pregnant. We are not pregnant, you boob! Men cannot get pregnant. You don’t see me walking around with a baby in my belly’” -Anonymous so I went to the library to make photocopies for my research paper. When I returned later, I saw Dr. Tostevin leaning over my desk, furiously writing on what looks like my map quiz while the class is chuckling in the background. When I sit down, I see what looks like my map quiz, but all of the answers are wrong. He had taken a blank map, copied my name onto it (trying meticulously to mimic my handwriting), used my pen to mark all incorrect answers on the map, and then graded it to give me a score of 0/5. A copy of this forged quiz is hanging in my dorm room, and the original is in a frame I gave to him before graduation. To this day, I don't know my actual score on the quiz.” “Well, he and I have a pact that he's coming to college with me. We have it all planned out. There's gonna be lots of frisbee. I also hope to get to borrow some of his sweet ties." -Beth Wang ‘14

“I was twenty minutes late to class once because I was talking to Dr. Graves in his

“It was a privilege to have Dr. Graves in class. His commitment to his students is remarkable.” -Anonymous “I have lunch duty with [Dr. Graves] a lot, and literally every day he says to me, ‘Now remember, Meredith, it’s cool to be late to school!’" -Meredith Dunham ‘15 Beginning: Began teaching at Sunset Hill in 1982 Classes: World History to 1500, World History Since 1500, English. Extracurricular Activities: Coached softball, 9th grade, and Liberals Club sponsor. Fun Facts: He wrote a book called The Promethean Illusion. He enjoys baked goods and consuming the delectable pastries of his culinary-inclined students. He also rocks the sweaters for the sweater weather, and his ties are artsy and killer. He hates the color pink. His all male advisory, considered a cult, often indulges on quality and gourmet treats: McDonald’s breakfast items. He enjoys making bets (often sports) with his students, the stakes are hearty edibles such as cookies and bacon.

Beginning: Began teaching in the fall of 1985 after the merge of the two schools Classes: World History to 1500, American Civilizations, 7th grade American History. Extracurricular Activities: He started the Debate program at Pembroke Hill. He has also helped with Youth in Government for the last ten years. Fun Facts: In times of need, Dr. Graves transforms into his alter-ego, the rap-tastic, rhyme spewing humanitarian with the sick beats and moves: G-Blood. Warning: don’t touch the posters in his room… ever. He really, really likes trains. He takes pride in his lunch duty mentoring. After retirement, he plans on lecturing about history on a radio show.

“When we see Dr. Graves, we all think of a venerable history teacher, but we all know that on the inside, he’s just a -Adam Starr ‘14

Check out G-Blood’s swaggity rap on a grave matter!

BUZZ

Q&A: Grant Forsee

Ellie Gorny

12th Grade

9th Grade Control. Alt. Delete!

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old Who is your fantasy boyfriend? you are? 9 ½. What is your guilty pleasure? What song best describes you? What is the scariest thing you have ever done?

(Ever wish you could just delete a part of your life?)

What do you think about more than anything else? If you had a warning label what would it say?

acter in?

Really Short Reviews bery. #BringBackOurGirls (Nigerian Kidnapping) The Quiet Ones

roN burgandy vs. ron swanson

Neither Hot Nor Not Just Meh List... Ron Burgundy

That Should Be a Word

Cramace (CRA-mace), n.

CATEGORY Bragging Rights Recurring Motif Cute Weakness Best Quality Sexiness

Ron Swanson

Pop Quiz: The Terminator Edition What is the terminator? A) Arnold Schwarzenegger B)

C) “While studying for Tostevin’s test, Sebastian’s cramace became so intense others thought he may D) be having an aneurysm.”

Answer: A) and C)

Photo Credits to Associated Press

Catching Fire

Best Lip Warmers (The most stylish staches known to mankind)

Lost and Found: Human Foot

Devon Dietrich Olive Honan

4 Feature

Media

Cindy Wang Managing Editor As the days of the Flappy Bird craze pass, a new game has taken everyone, particularly the Pembroke Hill student body, by storm. Created by a programmer based in northern Italy, Gabriele Ciruli, “2048” is an addicting sliding block puzzle. Players shift number tiles up, down, right, and left on a 4-by-4 grid to create tiles with bigger numbers, with the ultimate goal of reaching a tile with the number 2048.

Ender’s Game Review Cormac Chester Web Designer Card is not a new book. It is, in fact, nearly thirty years old. However, the message it sends is everlasting. The book is about a young boy called Andrew “Ender” Wiggin

While I can’t speak for others, I know that for me this game completely ruined my life up until the point when I beat it. Every day, all I wanted to do was pull out my phone and move numbered tiles around. Unfortunately for me, I always fell short and would end up with a 1024 tile. But the day I did beat it, it was an exhilarating feeling. It’s not enough to just describe it as a feeling of accomplishment. It was more than that.

en Wiener’s boyfriend Jason felt when he threw a shoe at Damien during the North Shore Winter Talent Show. In the words of Sarah Sampei ‘14, “It’s the greatest feeling that you will get. Ever.” But it’s not just me. Other Pembroke students share their struggles to control their addiction and their tips to help keep your eyes

School, where prepares for the upcoming war. After defeating the buggers, Ender decides to go to the bugger home planets on a colonization mission. The real beauty of Ender’s Game is not Ender’s overall success against the Buggers, but rather, how he thinks and why he thinks what he does. His older brother Peter, who was

came up with this comparison. If you haven’t read Ender’s Game

as an education center for Earth’s brightest children to become space warship commanders. Set in the future, after two alien “bugger” invasions, these children are to be the commanders in the next war against the buggers. Af-

his over-aggressive nature, constantly torments Ender when he is Earthside. As Ender becomes educated in space, Peter becomes a politician, eventually sorting er than violently. One of Ender’s profound thoughts is his remark that despite him being less aggressive than Peter, he sorts out

and overcoming several obstacles, Ender travels to Command

contrast really highlights Ender’s thinking, as it was Ender who

your 8-by-11 math homework:

Julianne Waters ‘15: “It’s the most addicting thing since crack cocaine. To stay focused on school? Get to 2048 and then forget about it. Or lose your iPhone in the park like I have just done.”

iOS games in the past. Any persistent distraction from the game can permanently push 2048 from the foreground. For many people, this distraction has been ‘Piano Tiles.’”

Jiseop An ‘14: “Well, I played the game once and got to 2048. Then I quit.”

So, at the end of the day, if you want to play, do so at your own risk, because the only way you will ever get rid of your addiction is by beating it.

Adam Starr ‘14: “It is less mindless than many popular and “addictive”

I have read it many times and listened to it on audio even more. The book has enlightened me, and Ender is one of my biggest role models. Ender’s Game is one of the best novels in the last thirty years, and per-

Super Meat Boy Review Matthew Nelson Contributor If there is one thing I have learned from playing video games, it is that people like a challenge. Gamers can Boy. The plot of the game is sadis-

tic, but is overshadowed by its rapid gameplay and challenging levels, and that’s okay. The game will have you punching things in anger in mere minutes, but sheer frustration will make you come back and play more and more until you beat it. But this isn’t Flappy Bird: its challenging level design and unlockables make the game incredibly fun, and its humor, though somewhat dark, is hilarious. Super Meat Boy is by far one of the most fun, angry, and simple games that I have ever played.

but I hear the abjection. Gummo, lives of small town residents of Xenia, Ohio who never recovered from a tornado that hit back in omon and Tummler, spend their that contrast with their unrealized innocence. Whether they

bikes around the neighborhood, one can see how broken their

a portrayal of the despair youths feel after a tragedy in a sordid, lethargic town; it portrays something so normal that it becomes Gummo Movie Review twisted. They live in this place Christine Zheng without a second thought, as if Assistant Editor Broken. I hear it in the narrator’s there’s no place in this world but voice - it’s like he’s behind me, whis- here. It’s the only place they have pering in a tone that sends chills left to live, and the only place they down my back. Incomprehensible, have left to feel.

6 Feature May Day: Outdated or Beloved by All?

Photo Credit to Alison Palmer Emily Dema Managing Editor The annual Pembroke Hill May Day celebration is highly anticipated by students on

Racism In School and Out

Off-Campus

By Shannon Fang Staff Writer Since Donald Sterling bought the Los Angeles Clippers in 1981, he has been accused multiple times of racist remarks, but none were ever validated. However, recently he was caught on tape telling his or be seen with a black man. The Clippers protested by wearing their shooting jerseys inside out and were prepared to boy-

Commissioner, Adam Silver, announced ever imposed on someone. He was given “for life from the Clippers organization or the NBA. or practices... tion the appropriate one for Sterling? This is the question I asked students and teachers, and the answers varied greatly. Many believe Sterling is an old, racist man who deserves every punishment doled out. On the other hand, some questioned the brutality and fairness of the punishment. When Sterling made his remark, he was in his own private home and did not know he was being recorded. One student said, “ it’s not fair that the public got to hear them.

us.” Everyone has insensitive thoughts. So should Sterling be punished so cruelly just for having an insensitive opinion? If someone says rude thoughts about people he works with, but in his own house, the moment one’s views are released into the media, any punishment is reasonable if ling’s statement that is the concern. The circumstances in which something was said were personally insulted by it.The punishment is so harsh because what he said was made public, and the ordeal altered the at-

Is racism prevalent at Pembroke Hill?

Photo Credits to Flickr Creative Commons

On a daily basis, we hear racist remarks or slurs, but usually as jokes. One student says, ” and this is the statement is forced to ignore it and laugh along. If he/she stands up and challenges the person who made the remark, the inevitable reply is the dreaded phrase, “Calm down, it was just a joke.” Though another student stated, “ lightly.” Therefore, when someone makes a racist joke, it is presumed that the person more for the sake of making people laugh. However, being aware that a racist comment is meant as a joke does not make it feel like less of an insult, it just compels us to ignore it. I have been a victim of this myself, and I am sure many others have as well. This is an issue that cannot easily be because I can be racist towards myself,” and many times, those making racist jokes someone.

8 Calvin and Hobbes Lizzie Whitney Managing Editor Guns are far too present in our country. They’re easy to buy, and easy to use. Too easy, evidently. The accessibility of guns has led to a number of shootings, which have with the Aurora incident in 2012, the media has focused on these violent crimes, and with good reason. They’re no longer ignorable. They’re happening, and they need to be stopped. No more should innocent Americans die at the hands of a trigger-happy bigot or crazy who suddenly got the idea to go shoot up a local movie theater, zoo, or school. well as one of rights. I understand that the Bill of Rights

Calvin and Hobbes:

allows for the possession of weapons, but this is far from ument to keep it relevant and acceptable for the times. The Declaration of Independence sets forth the main goal of our government—to protect its people’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This protection is its

doesn’t mean we arm all the toddlers with rocks. Besides, carrying a gun will not protect you from a bullet. If we place, there would be less reason to have a gun for self-defense. Guns would also be much harder to obtain for the incite a massacre.

ranks far lower in importance. We’ve now reached the point where one’s right to carry a gun infringes on others’ rights to go about their lives—their lives and their pursuit of happiness. And self-defense is hardly a reasonable excuse to hold guns. Just because one toddler hits another with a rock

gun control to take a more prominent place in our government’s agenda. As a result of our lax gun laws, Americans are dying, and others live with the all-too-real threat of being the next victims. How long do we have to wonder take action.

Calvin and Hobbes 9

Debating Gun Control Eric Koch Columnist As the Founders drafted the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Constitu-

The Republic -

2014 College Decisions by the Numbers 14 Students by U.S. Region

Universities

Colleges

Technical Institutes

Art Schools

37 20

15 Large (13,000-20,000)

Very Large (20,000+)

Adam Starr Aden MacMillan Alec Ebersole Alec Hursh Anna Williams Arianna Lane Arlet Van Houtan Asher Abrahms Beth Wang Betsy Sundeen

Pomona College University of Southern California Trinity University University of Southern California University of Denver University of Southern California Elon University Pomona College Princeton University Texas Christian University

Max Montague Maya Patel Melissa Annecchini Mimi Childress

Corrinne Smith-Winterscheidt Tufts University Courtney Bacon Baylor University Cynthia Wang University of Pennsylvania Daniel Han University of Chicago David Heddens University of Kansas Donjo Lau University of California at Los Angeles Emily Bricker Stephens College Emily Trenton Syracuse University

Cameron Chartier Carly Minis Caroline McKnight Charlie Mueller

University of Kansas University of Kansas Indiana University at Bloomington Texas Christian University Denison University University of Kansas

Emma Starr Erin Krahn

Bowdoin College

Carleton College University of Colorado at Boulder Kiara Lewis

Hannah Adams Henry Wurster Ian Purdy

Sewanee: The University of the South University of Kansas Lawrence University

Students by School Size

Mid-Size (7,000-13,000)

Small (2,000-7,000)

University of Mississippi Duke University Marist College University of Southern California

Morgan Peterson Southern Methodist University Nathan Kent Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Kate Berkley Brooke Blevins

Christine Hein

March Zheng

Noah Bortnick Patrick Innes Peter Taggart Quint Underwood

Sara Mian Sarah deSilva

Very Small (Less than 2,000)

New York University

Teddy Murray Teddy Thum

Colorado State University Yale University

Victoria Turner

Chapman University

Wesley Neville Will Block Zach Cobb

University of Mississippi Texas Christian University University of Notre Dame

University of Kansas Babson College University of Denver Stanford University

University of Missouri Columbia

Emory University

Sarah Park

University of Missouri, Kansas City Northeastern University

Zoe Honeck

Truman State University

Opinion

tHAT’S WHAT SHE SAID words of wisdom from megan she ‘16

OVERTOUN BRIDGE

estate. I know, it seems dull, but bear with me here. The White family, a prominent family of the law and entrepreneurial scene of 1860s Scotland, bought the Overtoun farm (east of Dumbarton, if that helps at all) in hopes of building a vacation mansion. However, the curse of old age and disease was cast on the family and most of them were dead by the turn of the century. And, like most luxury mansions of that time, the Overtoun Mansion was turned into a hospital during World War II. But the family history of this estate is not the interesting part. Most posh estates went through the same phases this one did: everyone dies, then it gets turned into a war hospital where, again, everyone dies. The reason I’m writing about this estate is not for the mansion, but for the bridge: whelmed and depressed dogs. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but it still holds some truth. The mystery of Overtoun Bridge has been so problematic ten involved. Since the mid-1950s, at least one dog

by their owners prior to the day of their deaths (can dogs be suicidal anyway?). The similarities between all these cases? All of these dogs come from well-to-do families and accompanied their owners on a stroll across a scenic bridge on a clear day. In all of the cases, each owner said he/she were just walking across the bridge when his/

But what motivates the dogs to do this? There are many theories, and many of them involve the supernatural. In 1994, Kevin Moy, a local, had thrown his infant was the anti-Christ. Later that year, Moy same bridge (but failed). So hauntings were a sort of go-to answer to this problem. Mythologically, Overtoun, in Celtic culture, is believed to be the place where the walls between earth, Heaven, and Hell are the thinnest. Many people believe that because of the hypersensitivity of canines, they could sense beings from either destinations and were jumping to their calling. More logical is the theory posed by Glasgow animal and environmental experts. They investigated under the bridge and found a nest of minks. Minks, known for their extensively odorous body glands, were then blamed for the deaths. Experts of the minks. But where’s the fun in mink

dogs leapt to their deaths. All of the vic-

more interesting.

Photo credits of the estate and bridge to the Flickr Creative Commons

Megan She Managing Editor While on a bout of procrastination and random link-hopping on Wikipedia on an exceptionally mind-bashingly stagnant day, I came across a particularly peculiar

The Overtoun Estate, east of Dumbarton, Scotland

The Overtoun Bridge

Trail view of Overtoun Bridge

Off-Campus

The Crisis in Ukraine Are we approaching a World War III? Grace McFee Copy Chief

What Happened

As Russian troops gained complete control of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula on March 2, 2014, the movement of thousands more troops further into the region caused worries about the future of Ukraine to mount in Kiev. Due to Ukraine’s EastWest divisions, tensions have erupted internally, recapitulating the external pressure from Putin’s Russia. Ukraine’s people have begun to choose sides, sympathizing with Russia’s claim to a historically Russian-controlled Ukraine, or with Ukrainian president Oleksandr Turchynov’s pro-Western government. Losing the eastern regions of Ukraine has become a major problem as Turchynov admitted his forces were unable to stop pro-Russia militias who were taking control in the East. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest eastern city, has been transformed into a pro-Russian protest camp; many say they would prefer that Russian troops invade the city instead of submitting to Kiev’s rule. The United States and the European Union have enforced sanctions against Russia, but so far, Putin has remained amused at their feeble attempts to halt what he sees as a mission of reunification. As of now, it is difficult to judge whether internal tensions will ultimately cause the dissolution of a Ukrainian state, or if Russian will bow to Western pressure.

Photo Credits to Flikr Creative Commons

What the Columnists Said What the Editorials Said

Irina Gokieli, a guest columnist for Forbes, argues, “Can this scenario be avoided? Probably not, as long as Putin is in power. He cannot stop because he is out of his mind and he will not budge from his goals. . . and what about Ukraine? Look, we just wanted to get rid of a domestic criminal regime, and then found ourselves in the middle of a global tectonic crisis! I wish we could respectfully refuse this honor. But . . . in all these grandiose games there is one small actor, discounted by everybody: the people of Ukraine.” Is there any way for the world to reasonably justify the annexation of Ukraine, not to mention the world’s lack of decisive response? And should the superpowers really decide the fate of a nation of 44 million people? “It’s appeasement all over again,” complains Ms. Jones, a Pembroke Hill history teacher. While Putin’s status as the next Hitler is debatable, he is clearly toeing a dangerous line. Many people believe Ukraine should be an American priority in global affairs, and are advocating for a show of force to discourage Putin. However, John Robson from the Toronto Sun disagrees: “Sympathetic as we all are to Ukraine, it is not a core Western interest that it finally be pried out of Russia’s chilly orbit. And while we may have this mythical worldwide “Responsibility to Protect," Russia has nuclear weapons and a big army.” The World War III pandemic has been plaguing foreign policy for the last several months, bombarding governments with impasses and hard choices. Is the world retreating once again into a policy of appeasement? Or are indecisive diplomatic responses the best way to deal with a potential threat? We, and Ukraine, will have to wait for this answer.

“What began in Ukraine three months ago as a protest against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovych has now turned into a big-power confrontation reminiscent of the Cold War and a significant challenge to international agreements on the sanctity of the borders of post-Soviet nations,” says the New York Times. “Much of European history suggests that the attempt to get languages, ethnicities, and political frontiers to coincide is doomed to end in frustration, tragedy, or both . . . but Mr Putin does not seem to have read that history,” remarks The Guardian. While the United States has been uncharacteristically reluctant to interfere, “Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly is unconcerned about provoking the other side,” says the Washington Post. However, it is important to remember the confusion present on both local and international scales. Spiegel International asks, “Is the ‘reunification’ with Crimea merely the last twitch of a former Soviet superpower as its successor state Russia rebels against a future as a less meaningful regional power? Or is it the beginning of a wave of re-conquests from a country that has seen itself for centuries as a hegemonic power in Eastern Europe? Is Putin a neo-imperialist or is he just a national leader with his back to the wall, one who is merely interested in protecting his country's security interests?”

14 Middle School

Facelift for Freshmen-O Bella Barnes Staff Writer lenging for anyone, particularly because the transition from being at the top to be-

new, something exciting. Sometimes this transition is tough, but never fear, for the

both fun and incredibly awkward, as is usual with anything in middle school. Meeting the new kids was both exciting and a bit awkward. The people in my advisory seem nice and funny--I can’t wait to -

for all incoming freshmen. “The mission of the program is to help freshmen feel comfortable in the upper school by giving them the time to bond as a class, meet upsports, and activities that a person can do, and be encouraged to become involved,” nator. -

during meetings period. The session is usually spent listening to speakers talk about a men get to hear from the upper school club

could be used to go study or meet with clubs, teachers, or friends.” Exciting news for the program is on the

opportunities. The period also features discussions on topics such as class elections, time management, upper school dances,

Hill will be implementing a program called to the existing program. According to Mrs. tion program will use junior leaders who will act as facilitators in small group activities,” whereas previously, both juniors and seniors acted as leaders. “They will be spe-

Students will be divided into color groups her experience last year, Natalee Merola ‘17 says, “We played games that allowed us to bond, and I got to know a lot of the

the fun and results that we would like to see,” she adds. Hopefully the introduction

their new peers, students are introduced to a few upperclassmen who helped out with and actually has some very interesting and

and-greet between the new and existing

fact that I got to know some upperclassman, and I felt comfortable asking them questions,” Merola adds.

an introduction to their new advisories. This event, which I just experienced, is

man year, consisting of weekly gatherings

enjoyable for all. I look forward to seeing these changes in action as I enter the high school as a freshman next fall.

most people that information is generally tation goes from orientation to a completely worthless ordeal, which, unfortunately, replaces your free meetings period which

Photo Credit: Mrs. Williams-Griffin

Freshmen Fears and Dreams Gina Pepitone Staff Writer As the school year draws to a close, the class of 2018 says goodbye to middle school as they prepare for their next four years in high school. “I feel like during eighth grade I learned how to use my time wisely, so I feel like I am prepared for the homework increase in high school,” says year. Although middle school has been a memorable experience, high school holds many adventures and obstacles in the future. According to a recent poll, over half of the students are looking forward to high school because of the new students and upperclassmen there will be to meet; however, certain aspects of high school just won’t be the same as middle school.

“and I will miss all of the nice teachers and the community.” Besides being a time to pick-up vital study skills that students will carry with them through college, middle school is also a time for students to discover themselves academically and socially. only helped me to learn about the student I am, but the person I am, too.” Many eighth graders have expressed their excitement about the new opportunities, courses, and electives high school has

student. Amidst the excitement, there are also many things that make eighth graders nervous. The main source of these worries is the amount of homework high Lauren Washington ‘18 says, “I am most prepared for high school by utilizing my time to do my homework, taking responsibility in class and on assignments, and speaking up in class. All of these skills and many more I have developed school and take on a new chapter in their lives.

for art, and he will be pursuing his talent

“[Middle school] has helped me become more independent,” says Sophie Utz ‘18, “and I will miss all of the nice teachers and the community.”