theVoice
the official newspaper of the pembroke hill high school volume xxv issue vii
********* Tibetan monks spoke and chanted at Centennial Hall for Pembroke Hillians as part of the Empty Bowls project to raise money for Tibetan monks organized by art teacher Chandra Ramey. *** Ten years after performing at the White House, Singly None, Pembroke Hill’s girls Acapella group, is reforming, marked by their abduction of new inductees last Wednesday. *** Colin Baker was selected to intern in Paris for a month this summer at ICB Europe, through a program generously set up by Eric Wrobley ’85. Article page 3 *** Greta Shum has been awarded the Woods Scholarship, earning a full tuition to Harvard’s summer program and following in the footsteps of Hanna Park, 09. Article page 1 & 3 *** Nick “the Romanian Hammer” Gheorghita topped the Pembroke Hill Squash Ladder at the end of the Pembroke Hill Squash League’s first season. Article page 4 ***
Gordon: advice for the class of 2009
Kemper: rethinking the drug policy
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Debate goes to nationals
Seniors dominate 3rd quarter Sk-Doops
Isaac Alpert Contributor
Wake up around 6 a.m., have a quick breakfast, dress in a suit (MSHSAA ruling, of course), go through four rounds without lunch or dinner, and then receive a trophy. This formulaic schedule can only be attributed to the sport of high school debate. Now, while most people would opine that this is the absolute worst way to spend one’s weekend, to a select few at Pembroke Hill, debating is anything but a waste of a Saturday. How many other high schoolers can claim that they know about the Brayton Cycle of a Gas Turbine Modular Helium Nuclear Reactor, or have an in-depth discussion about Heideggerian philosophy, or even speak about the horrible fate of the Appalachian coal miner? Well, although unknown to the majority of the high school community, these very skill sets are what won Pembroke Hill the title of the number one team in the Show-Me District. What started out as a group of less than fifteen Pembroke Hill students has grown into this number one team in less than three years. Therefore, I can easily say this objectively and without any bias… Pembroke Hill has had an epic win. Please turn to page 3
Future of Skdoops program is hazy Evan O’Keefe Correspondent
Junior Chase Hodge celebrates his victory. Photo credit David Kemper.
Hodge wins Presidency Focus on “the little things” resonates with voters David Kemper Senior Editor
The Pembroke Hill student body elected Junior class SecretaryTreasurer Chase Hodge president of the student body for 2009-2010 on April 1. Hodge carried 55% percent of the vote, beating opponents Derek Judd and Elizabeth You by a respectable margin. “My opponents were all very qualified and would have been very dedicated,” said Hodge, “In the end it just had
something to do with people voting for me. Can anyone ever really tell you why they won?” While Hodge did not credit his victory to a single factor, he suggested his familiarity with the underclassmen may have played a crucial role: “One of the main reasons I probably won is because of my better connections with students in the other grades. I know alot of guys from soccer and golf and my little sister is a freshman,” said Hodge.
In addition to being student body Presidentelect and Secretary-Treasurer of the class of 2010, Hodge is a varsity soccer player and a member of the golf team. Being familiar with even a small segment of the underclasses may have been critical to Chase’s healthy victory: “For the non-juniors it becomes kind of a popular vote kind of thing,” explained Carlton McClain, ‘10, “Some people just go with whatever
“I voted for Chase Hodge because he seemed to really care about what he was talking about in his speech” - Luke Davis, ‘12
“I voted for Elizabeth You because her speech was very professional and I could tell that she really cares about the school.” - Ali Corbin, ‘11
“I voted for Derek Judd because I felt that he had the best prior experience, being a good friend.” - Preston Owen, ‘10
Wesley Gross and the Irascibly Pembroke Boys Peggy Pruitt Sophomore-in-Chief
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*** The Class of 2011 elected David Kipke as its president, Mattie Merriman as its vicepresident and Austin Caldwell as its secretary. *** The Class of 2012 elected PJ Lawhon as its president, Joelle Woodson as its vicepresident and Esme Nulan as its secretary.
Please turn to page 2
Three is company
Vice-President Wyche called for a student government review of all clubs at Pembroke. Article page 2
The Class of 2010 elected Haleigh Harper as its president, Isaac Alpert as its vicepresident and Blake Pierce as its secretary.
free
Collet: a letter to the future
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see page 13
Anderson: 2009’s all that
Junior Lewis Sharp will represent Pembroke Hill at Missouri Boy’s State this summer.
President Weindling dropped the ban on selling soda in the bookstore during lunch hours.
nine words see page x
april 2009
inside the issue
the know
theof 2009 The Class class of Words 2009 in in Nine
Wesley Gross with his photography. Photo credit David Kemper.
In the face of the economic crash and burn America is going through, Raider alumni are still committed to art. The Irascible Pembroke Boys, also known as Jack Rees ’74, Jimmy Walker ’86, and Wesley Gross ’09, are showing their work
at Gallery F in the old Firestone building at 20th and Grand. Jimmy Walker is an entrepreneur and creative mind who saw the need for an art show during what some call the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. “None of us are doing this to feed our families,” said Walker, “We were not going
Legend bids farewell
Harvard here I come
Greta Shum wins Woods scholarship for a summer at Harvard Corrie Vesely Assistant Editor
Congratulations to this year’s winner of the prestigious Robert Wood’s Scholarship, Greta Shum! She won an all-expense paid, eight week trip to Boston
this summer to study astronomy and writing at Harvard. Since its establishment in 1983 by the Woods family, the Robert Wood’s Scholarship has annually given one lucky Pembroke Hill incoming senior the opportunity to experience life as a scholar in one of the world’s best universities. Being both wellrounded and extremely involved in school life, Greta stood out from the other four candidates as someone who could Please turn to page 3
to listen to everyone in the world today talking about how bad the world is. We refused. No matter what the economy is doing, if you can work, if you can make it right, you’ll make money.” Twenty percent of gallery sales go directly to The Pembroke Hill Please turn to page 15
The Class of 2009 earned another SkDoops title 3rd quarter, narrowly beating the Classes of 2010 and 2012, and leaving the Class of 2011 far behind. The seniors won with 84 points, the juniors had 76, the freshman with 53, and the sophomores finished with a strong 21. This is the end of the first year for Skdoops, a competition organized, and named by LAB (the Leadership Advisory Board) with the goal of boosting attendance and spirit by awarding points to members of each class who attend school events. Events that have been Sk-Dooped have ranged from volleyball games to One-Acts, and even some Sk-Doop specific events have been created, such as the second quarter rap battle, which was widely credited with delivering the juniors the second quarter Sk-Doops win. But one year in, the future of the Skdoops program is looking hazy, as the number of Sk-Dooped events has dramatically dropped, and the program has been barely visible or heard of since winter break. This fact is apparent when one realizes that the Class of 2009 won first quarter with 283 points, requiring the average senior to attend nearly three events. Compared to that, the seniors’ third quarter tally of 84 points seems paltry. The Leadership Advisory Board’s SkDoops competition theoretically seems like a good idea: unify the student body while simultaneously promoting individual class pride. However, as seen by the results, this school-wide challenge has not caught the interest of a large portion Please turn to page 2
After 35 years, one of Pembroke’s most beloved teachers is retiring Colin Baker Contributor
Dr. Schulkin enlightening his juniors about the intracacies of American History. Photo credit John Doe.
For those who have never had him as a teacher, I pity you. For those who have never spoken with him, I weep at night for you. And for those who couldn’t pick him out of a crowd of two, I fume with disbelief at you. He is considered a legend around here, a veritable fount of knowledge. This man has been guest speaker at universities, conducted research on virtually
everything historical, from 1950s suburban growth in KC to the Murderer’s Row Yankee lineup, and individually taught thousands and thousands of students in his 35-year career, just to mention several highlights. And, to my great dismay, we’re losing him in just a few weeks. So, to recognize Dr. Schulkin’s retirement, I recently asked him to share some thoughts about his time here at Pembroke. Please turn to page 14
News
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April 2009
volume XXV Issue VII
Sk’doops: The Legion’s journey from 51st to 1st Wyche calls for student government review of clubs The future of Pembroke Hill’s Robotics team has adapted In the Robotics and which have become F.I.R.S.T. Robotics this program Mark Reardon and C Programming defunct. is an international class, the team added Contributor "The clubs are for competition between has a hazy pneumatic pistons to the the students; it only high schools. There robot to remove forty On Saturday makes sense that stuare various regional future inch diameter balls from November 1 , the dents should review c o m p e t i t i o n s st
Continued from Page 1 of the student-body. Seniors are still happy to have triumphed in the third quarter, though. “Glad we won, of course. Sk-Doops is a good idea, but only in moderation, like anything. It should continue because I sense the younger grades aren’t has proactive as our superior spirit swarm,” said Colin Baker, 09. Such thoughts encompass much of the school’s overall feeling of the contest; many would agree that they enjoy Sk-Doops, but there are a considerable number of students who have concerns about the program “Something about quantifying school spirit,” said Rebecca Achtenberg, ‘10. “I think that in order for Sk-Doops to continue, the people in charge need to do a better job of informing the student body about when the Sk-Doops events are,” said Noah Davis, 12. NickAnderson, LAB member, suggested, “While some people continue to strongly oppose Sk-Doops, I think overall it’s been a really big success. Every game and event that we Sk’dooped, I always saw people searching out the “Sk-Doopers” in order to get points for their grades. I would really like to see Sk-Doops continue in the future, but I think there’s a lot of room for improvement.
Pembroke Hill Robotics Team, The Legion, took first place at the soonto-be annual CowTownThrowDown hosted by Cerner Corporation. The Legion competed against thirty other teams from throughout the Midwest, some of which were founded in 1996. Pembroke Hill’s robotics team entered its first competition in March of 2008 placing 51st. The team didn’t stop work after the competition in March.
This was Sk-Doops first year, and I have to admit that we were pretty disorganized at times. However, LAB should be able to come back next year with a super ace Sk-Doops plan.” However, the program definitely has its fans. “Sk-Doops was a great idea, even if the name is annoying. It got people to come to a CX meet and thats def a first. Let’s rename them Swag or something. ‘Come watch us run if you want some swag,’” said Lilly Fisher, ‘09. Regardless of such enthusiasm, with the Class of 2009 graduating and a new student government and LAB forming, many of the creators of Sk-Doops will not be around next year. This could create problems for the new contest, but Nick Anderson and other LAB members are optimistic about its future. “Sk-Doops did an excellent job serving its
a six foot ledge. This new function, paired with improved driving skills, made the team geometrically more competitive. Mr. Hodgman, an engineering mentor to the team and PHS parent commented, “The team didn’t rest on their laurels after their competition in March. This fall, they designed and built the pneumatic powered ball displacer, which gained points in their elimination rounds.”
throughout the world, from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, and Mexico to the Netherlands, the U.K., and every state in the U.S. Each January, schools watch a kickoff broadcast detailing the type of competition that year. Kits of parts are then mailed to each team and the six-week build-time begins. The PHS Jan-Term week aligns perfectly with the kick-off allowing students organized time to design, build and market our robot. n
Tom Bellis (right) and Jack Starr represented PHIG at a recent club fair. Photo Credit David Kemper.
In a student government meeting on April 8, Vice President Peter Wyche called for a student government review of the clubs of Pembroke Hill to determine which are effective
them," said Wyche. The idea was met with general approval. "It's a good idea. Reviewing is a nice way of saying purging the bad clubs from the system," said Junior Class President Andy Miller, '10. Pembroke is currently home to more than 27 clubs and publications, ranging from S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving) to P.H.I.G. (Pembroke Hill Investment Group) and Bowling Club. n
Skdoops has been credited with encouraging large fan turnout at many games. Photo credit Jack Stewart.
purpose—encouraging attendance of school events and increased support for the school in general. Currently LAB plans to improve
Sk-Doops (official trademarked spelling) for next year, and anyone who has a suggestion on how to do so can simply bring that suggestion
to a LAB member and consider it done. SkDoops is what you want it to be,” said Jay Todd Max, ‘09, a member of LAB.
He concluded, “The seniors dominated this year not just because we are seniors, but because ‘09 is an extraordinary class.” n
Chase Hodge & the presidency : the road to victory Continued from Page 1 everyone else is doing.” Hodge’s victory was credited to a wide variety of reasons: “He has a great personality, he’s always really nice to everybody, and I think that Abraham Lincoln kind of look really helped him,” said Côme DeMontille, ‘10. Within the Junior class, many credit Chase’s victory to his message of focusing on the little things. “Being a good student body president isn’t about grandiose promises that can’t be delivered. Rather, being a good student president is about the little things,” said Hodge in his speech. This message resonated with voters like Max Perryman, ‘10: “Chase has some great ideas, like bringing gum to the bookstore and the coat rack in the commons. I don’t think I’d ever use it, but it’s still a good idea.” Some voters simply credited the victory to Hodge’s all-around appeal: “Chase is obviously the most qualified candidate this school has seen in at least fifteen years,” said Andy Miller, ‘10. Hodge had not felt as confident going in. “My opponents
were formidable,” said Hodge. Derek Judd was one of those opponents. “I’m obviously dissapointed that I lost, but I think Chase will be a good president,” said Judd. Judd offered a much broader agenda than that of Hodge, calling on the student body to see student government in a new light: “I’d just like to see an improvement over what we’ve
looking for a promise of: ‘you guys have good ideas, give them to me, and I promise I will do everything in my power to act on them. Even if you guys bring up something completely outrageous, I’ll still bring it to student government,’” said Alpert. Judd fully supports Hodge now. “Chase will do fine; I’m completely confident in him,” said Judd. Judd was not alone
“Being a good student body president isn’t about grandiose promises that can’t be delivered.” seen lately. Take the whole process of government and improving the school a little more seriously,” said Judd. Many voters preferred this broader focus. “How Derek spoke of bringing together all the grades was a very good selling point that Chase didn’t really touch on,” said Isaac Alpert, ‘10. “I want to see something progressive done. I like Chase, but his promises need to be more progressive than selling pieces of gum or a coatrack. I’m just
in his confidence in the president-elect: “He’s the person I wanted to win,” said current student body Vice-President Peter Wyche, ‘09 “He should be humorous in assembly and do everything Adam and I didn’t get done, like the dodgeball tournament. He needs to be sure to work with the administration to ensure that student interests are addressed and work on this whole drug testing fiasco.” Student body President Adam Weindling, ‘09, added to this advice: “Stay strong even
through the hard times; it’s going to be tough. “I am glad Chase won because I think he is the man for the job,” said Weindling, “He seems to have a lot of people who really like him. That’s important because people will listen to him. He’s got a good work ethic. He does well in school. He’s a friendly guy. I don’t see why anybody would be afraid to go up to him and say, ‘I’m having an issue with this.’ Not to mention that he’s been active in student government as long as I can remember. He already knows what’s going on.” Hodge’s involvement in student government inspired him to run: “I really enjoyed student government as a junior class officer and I wanted to do more,” said Hodge, “It makes me feel good when my class is happy. It’ll make me feel even happier when I improve the school for the whole student body.” Such desire to make Pembroke a better place won over voters like Jacob Sinclair, ‘10: “Of course I voted for Chase. He’s the man. He’s Caseman,” said Sinclair. But the election was best summarized in the words of Jørgen Sandvik of Norway. “Chase is a winner.” n
News Analysis Chase, Congratulations on your election as Pembroke’s Student Body President. It is an honor and a challenge that has been issued by the Pembroke student community, and you have much work to do. Here are a few pieces of advice, to help you on your way: 1. Always ease in to tyranny. Let the people get to know you, get to love you, before you begin to rule with an iron fist. It makes things simpler. 2. Crush any opposition as quickly as possible, before they gain any power and become difficult to dislodge. You can ignore the Voice, as it is the mouth piece of the government, and you’re the government now. 3. Your one and only goal is the accumulation of personal power. If you get things accomplished along the way, that’s fine. 4. Fear is a powerful motivator. 5. Freshman are naturally timid. Exploit that. 6. Always eat a good breakfast. 7. Enemies are easy to deal with - watch your friends. 8. Fortune favors the bold, but victory favors the prepared. Best of luck, Benton Glaze
News
volume XXV Issue VII
April 2009
Page 3
Debate goes from rag-tag to powerhouse
Colin Baker wins ICB internship in Paris this summer. Mimi Starr Correspondent
Eric Wrobley ’85, owner of Paris-based IBC (www.icbeurope. com), generously founded an internship three years ago allowing one PHS graduating French student to go work at Parisbased International Communications Brokers for 5 weeks. This year, the lucky recipiant, Colin Baker, will go to Paris in June and July to teach English to French business people. Mr. Wrobley chose Colin for the internship because “he is a very stong French student; the essay he wrote in French as part of the application requirements for the internship was very impressive.” His essay explains his love for everything French and travel, as well as his desire to continue his study of French, while also exploring other languages. He believes
Colin Baker, at left, strolled through Paris with Andy Miller, center, and Ben Ketter on the French trip. Photo credit David Kemper.
that the internship will allow an opportunity for his goals to be fulfilled. Colin mentions, “I was honestly suprised to hear that I recieved it,” but later explained just how much he is looking forward to the experience: “the thrill of living in Paris for 5 weeks and working there... I’ve never had a normal job, like nine to five, Monday through Friday, so this will be an awesome experience
to live and to work in Paris—and teaching French businessmen English. I don’t know what to expect.” To apply for the Paris Internship, Colin had to fill out a basic application (name, age, siblings, activities, etc), along with writing an essay (“Why do you want to do this internship?”) He interviewed with Côme de Montille, Madame de Montille, and Madame
Huycke, completely in French. But, taking French from 4th grade to senior year would make one pretty confident with the language. In the interview he was asked questions such as “how safe and confident would you feel alone in France?” or “what advantages do you have to teach over a native French speaker?” But on the whole, Colin described the process as pretty laid back.
Colin’s first trip to France was last summer with Madame Miller on her annual French trip. She took a group of PHS students first to Paris for 5 days, then to a small town called La Ciotat in the south of France. The group also lived with a host family for three weeks. So, when you see Colin in the halls, be sure to wish him félicitations! Bon voyage! n
Shum to summer at Harvard Continued from Page 1 really make the most out of this amazing experience. Her schoolbased activities (The Voice, Science Olympiad, French Club, Soccer) give credence to the fact that Greta not only has a very strong academic background, but also takes full advantage of all that high school has to offer. At a school like Pembroke Hill, when academic megastars are pretty much around every corner, proving oneself to be the best of the best as Greta has done is a huge accomplishment. Even so, she remains pretty modest about her win, stating only that she hopes “to gain many new friends...and benefit from this experience.” Most of all, though, Greta would like to thank the Wood’s family for their “overwhelming generosity...and giving [her] this once-in-alifetime opportunity.” Greta Shum follows senior Hanna Park, who was last year’s recipient of the Robert Woods Scholarship. I sat down to interview her in order to gain a better insight into her summer ‘08. She was obviously overflowing with enthusiasm about her experience and had plenty to share. Corrie: How did your eight weeks at Harvard change you for the better or for the worse? Hanna: All of the students I met at Harvard were from such diverse backgrounds from all over the world. I didn’t really have anything in common with anyone. I enjoyed being exposed to so many different cultures and lifestyles and I think it made me a more well-rounded person to
really see what life was like outside of Missouri. Also, because I lived on my own for eight weeks without my parents, I was forced to become much more independent in that short amount of time. I had to do my own laundry, handle my own finances, be on time to class, manage my free time...my Harvard experience really challenged my life-skills, which I think did me well. Corrie: What did you enjoy most about your experience at Harvard? Did you meet a lot of quality friends? Hanna: During my summer at Harvard, I grew so much as a person in so many aspects of my life. Because everyone was sort of getting used to living away from home and probably struggling with this adjustment, the bonding between fellow students was inevitable. No one really knew each other there, so I had to be the one to put myself out there, to be proactive in making friends. I definitely made some amazing friends that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life. Corrie: What did you study? Hanna: I studied Psychiatric Anthropology--which is pretty much the study of diseases from an anthropologic point of view. I also took a gender studies class, which was interesting. Corrie: Do you have any tips for people who may want to apply for the scholarship in the future? Hanna: You definitely can’t expect just to gain academically from this experience. You have to go into it wanting to come out of it as a more mature person. Corrie: Do you have
“You’d be foolish to let an opportunity like this pass you by and do nothing about it.” - Hanna Park, 09 any final comments that you would like to add? Hanna: I was excited that I got the scholarship but I wasn’t excited for the right reasons. At
first, I was mostly eager because, you know, I thought my mother would be happy for me. At the same time, I was a little worried about
News Analysis Brad Bolman Contributor
Imagine two suit jacketed boys seated in desks in front of a large audience of people. One boy stands, ready to deliver an oration qua snarky, Southern drawl on the quirks and eccentricities of the C.I.A.'s covert involvement in Iran... Snoozefest. That's the past and this is now, so there has to be something better, right? Enter policy debate. It's like a presidential debate on 'roids combined with a little heady politico-philosophical jargon and a hefty bit of International Relations theory. Or, more simply, two teams of two people attempting to make the other team look like fools about issues far beyond the intellectual capacities of your average high schooler. (This is not to say that you are stupid, but until a student can come up to me and literately argue either pro or con for United States assention into the UNCLOS or the ability of Lacanian theory to be applied to modern politics, then we'll talk.) Now, imagine all of this discussion being done at speeds from 250-400 words per minute. As fun as it is exciting, as entertaining
as it is time-consuming. Policy debate is the single greatest school activity you will sign up for. It's got the research of newspaper, the computers from computer club, the sex appeal from fashion club, the fancypants intellect of book club, the political involvement without the ignorance of Liberals and Conservatives club, and the delicious food of cooking club. Debate is kind of like an autoreplenishing refrigerator: it's all you'll ever need (for sustenance). The activity is simple, every round one team will affirm a topic and one team will negate. The only rule in debate are the speech time limits. Everything else is... up for debate. Get it? It's funny because the sport is called debate... The cool beans bit is that you can affirm or negate from literally any angle. You could rap, you could dance, or you could just read an enormous amount of research that you've done. The options are endless and the space for creativity is enormous. I've seen debate rounds won on the argument that federal government bill texts are racist, that bombing Iran is good, that humanity must traverse the psychoanalytical
leaving my friends here in Missouri for eight weeks to live with a bunch of strangers. But, truthfully, my experience at Harvard was absolutely the most fun I have ever had. I think everyone should apply for the s c h o l a r s h i p . . . y o u ’d be foolish to let an opportunity like this pass you by and do nothing about it. n fantasy to break down capitalism, that nuclear winter will engulf the entirety of the world bringing food production to a standstill and cause the extinction of the entire human race. In an essence, policy debate is a forum for ideas, both ridiculous and not, to be interrogated and better understood. Policy debate helped me to near-perfect History test grades on international history, gave me a new ability to discuss almost any issue, regardless of whether or not I have any knowledge about it, and brought incredible research know-ho to my table. Debate also brought a lot of trophies and plaques and medals to my mantle. It made me and a host of fellow fools top-ranked debaters in the nation. And you can be that guy/girl too! Now, you're probably saying "I'm not smart enough" or "I don't have time." Neither is true because debate is the great equalizer. Anyone can become good if they're willing to try, and just like Pringles, once you pop the fun don't stop. You might be busy, but so is everyone on the team and trust me there's still plenty of time for anyone else your heart could desire. At the end of the day, all this article is is a typed-up infomercial. SHAMWOW! In one
Continued from Page 1 But just how did this small group turn into the power-house known as the Pembroke Debate Squad. It was a combination of sweat, lots o’ hours spent researching, going to at least one debate camp every summer, practice debates, and more sweat. That used-to-berag-tag team is now a squad of more than 30 students, all who enjoy that Saturday schedule. And it is that very schedule that enabled the team to qualify eight students for the National Tournament in scenic Birmingham, Alabama; furthermore, four students qualified for the state competition that takes place at the end of April. At the risk of sounding too cliché, it has been a long road that led the Pembroke debaters to this point. The season started out with Mr. Douglas Miller driving four students to Chicago to compete at New Trier High School. From there, the season only progressed, with tournaments held by Kansas City Kansas Community College, Montgomery Bell Academy, Harvard, and Pembroke itself. So with the season coming to a close, I think everyone can honestly look back and reflect on the overall success of the entire squad. Looking forward to next year, the team can only get better. Just like a mudkip evolving into a marshtomp, the Pembroke Hill Debate Team will get stronger and will show its dominance not only around Missouri, but also around the entire country. And keep checking in for results from the National Catholic Forensic League Tournament which takes place in Albany, NY (Pembroke is sending three teams), and the National Forensic League Tournament in Birmingham. Also, feel free to join the team. You, too, can possess the same aforementioned skill set with just a little practice and time; and who knows, maybe you could someday be driving with Mr. Miller to Chicago for a tournament at New Trier. n minute the majority of you will walk away and forget you ever read this piece of demi-propaganda or any other articles in the paper forever, or, you can change that. You can be like "Heck yeah, I wanna debatez!" Making a change in your life used to equal starting a diet, but not anymore. Unless by starting a diet you mean a diet from lameness... by joining debate. That joke wasn't good, but debate is. Here's how to do it: 1. Contact anyone on the team, 2. Email pembrokedebate@gmail.com 3. Talk to Mr. Douglas Miller. SHAMWOW! If you'd prefer nobody know you are on the debate team, don't worry, we understand. ;) n
Athletics
Page 4
April 2009
volume XXV Issue VII
Track is off to a “Frosh Start” Tiffani McReynolds Contributor
Colin Baker, ‘09, watches Spencer Collet, ‘09, play squash in Chicago. Photo credit to David Kemper.
Nick Gheorghita wins squash ladder. David Kemper Senior Editor
Nick Gheorghita becomes first Pembroke Hill Squash League Champion Senior Nick Gheorghita topped the Pembroke Hill Squash League Ladder at the end of third quarter, becoming the first ever champion of the Pembroke Hill Squash League. This was the first year of the Pembroke Hill Squash League, founded by Colin Baker and David Kemper. The Pembroke Squash ladder was active
Cheer for your peers! Boys’ Lacrosse nFriday, May 1st – Republic at 7:30 PM (V) nFriday, May 1st -Republic at 9:00 PM (JV) nSunday, May 3rd – Fox at 10:00 AM, Clayton at 2:00 PM (V), Fox at 11:30 AM (JV) nWednesday, May 6th – Shawnee Mission East at 4:00 PM (V), Shawnee Mission East at 5:30 PM (JV)
Boys’ Tennis nFriday, May 1st --St. Louis Tournament (V) (Away)
nSaturday, May 2nd --St. Louis Tournament (V) (Away) nMonday, May 4th-St. Joseph Central (JV/V) at 4:00 PM (Away)
Baseball nTuesday, May 5th-Saint Pius X 4:30 PM (Home) nFriday, May 8th-Bishop Le Blond at 4:30 PM (Home)
Track and Field nFriday, May 1st-Belton Invitational at 3:15 PM (Home) nTuesday, May 5th-Piper Relays 4:00 PM (Away) nTuesday, May 12th-St. Joseph Invitational 3:30 PM (Away)
from January through March, with more than 40 participants. Nick Gheorghita, the Romanian Hammer, fought his way up the ladder throughout the third quarter, putting his tennis skills to work. “I always aim for the Achilles,” said Gheorghita. Gheorghita plays tennis as a spring sport. “I learned that I am the best squash player at Pembroke Hill,” said Gheorghita, “I think I’ll go professional.”Quite s e r i o u s l y, h o w e v e r , the Pembroke Squash League seems to have been a great success,
introducing dozens of students to playing squash for the first time. The ladder began in January with a couple weeks of instructional days. After those first couple of weeks, official play began, with players starting in randomized rankings. From there, players were encouraged to play two games a week. The system worked smoothly apart from having enough courts. The organizers rapidly discovered that with 40 players and two courts, if everyone played a game a week, the two courts
would be constantly full of squash players, even if they were free at all times. Alas, the biggest problems encountered by squash players were waiting for soccer or baseball to finish using the squash courts. Two of the Pembroke’s original four courts have been converted, one to a maintenance room, the other to a room for treadmills. Despite that minor hitch the season ended well, especially for Nick Gheorghita. Said Gheorghita, “being a champion feels good.” n
Like other spring sports teams, the Pembroke Hill track and field team is eager to begin its season. This year ,the team is focused on new beginnings, thanks to some new coaches: Tomas Hernandez, the long jump coach, and David Schroeder, the pole vault coach as well as a load of new freshmen. Although the team is primarily made up of freshmen, the class differences have not caused any division within the team. Instead, there is an abundance of team unity and love. How could a team be divided after working together for approximately 32 minutes to set up the new team tent? Yes, the track team took 32 minutes to set-up their new track
tent, but at least they’ll be more than ready to set it up speedily at their upcoming meets. Unlike other local track teams who have already had nearly five meets, Pembroke’s team has been unable to compete in any meets. This small obstacle may end up being a good thing for the team; we are anxious prepared to compete in the future! The chance to show off our preparation and hard work came to a halt when our meet in Holden, Missouri was canceled due to inclimate weather. Though we were very disappointed, the team sucked it up and went to practice that day. With the return of a few loyal veterans and a new troop of freshmen, the track team is sure to have an eventful season loaded with new records and new stars. n
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PHS Boys’ Lacrosse team endures bad weather and still plays hard. Andy Miller Contributor
Spring Break has ended, and the 2009 Pembroke Hill Lacrosse season has begun. The team, led by eleven seniors, hopes to defend its conference championship from last year and make a deep run in the state playoffs. When asked about the team’s potential this year, Senior defenseman Jay Todd Max replied, “We only lost a couple key seniors from last year, so with most of our starters returning, a solid defense, and the fact that the pre-season number one has lost three of their first four games, we are looking pretty good.” The Raiders’ attack consists of returning starters Will Bolen and Jacob Sinclair, along with Sophomore Brady Bates, making his Varsity debut. The defensive unit will be led by Ryan Grojean, Jay Todd Max, and James
“Moose” Holcomb. The large group of midfielders includes Juniors John Heddens and Blake Pierce, Seniors Guerin Schwarberg and Dexter Pearson, and Sophomores Sean Fredette and Mark Baum. Finally, both Alex Larios and 1st year player Tony Leyh will be the team’s goalies this year. The players are also excited about their new head coach, the charismatic David Colbert, who was the Raiders’ assistant coach in 2007 and 2008. The program continues to grow this year, with 44 players on the combined Varsity and JV squads. 21 of these players are underclassmen, which bodes well for the future of the program. So far, the weather has prevented the team from playing a few games, but they managed to fit in a decisive 19-1 victory over Shawnee Mission South. Jacob Sinclair led the team
in scoring with 5 goals, while Bolen, Bates, and Schwarberg contributed 3 goals apiece. With this victory behind them, the Raiders now look forward their first of two road trips to St. Louis to take on conference opponents Wentzville and Webster Groves. Pembroke Hill is the only Kansas City school in its conference, so the team travels a great deal each year. The Raiders will face tough competition from St. Louis teams, but most of the players remain optimistic, “It will take a lot of hard work,” says Sinclair, “but hopefully we can go all the way and win a state championship.” Blake Pierce adds, “This year is the year we’ve been getting ready for since January. Once we fix a few minor issues, we will have quite a solid team!” With such great potential, the lacrosse team will certainly be exciting to watch this year. n
Take a look at Blue Collar Baseball Max Gall Contributor
Raiders Blue Collar Baseball had a good weekend April 10, winning the Clinton tournament trophy. The tournament, in which the Raiders played three games, took place in Clinton, Missouri. Richard Wright had a solid pitching performance in the Raiders’ first match
up against the Clinton Cardinals, in which the Raiders won by a score of 8 runs to 2. Against their second opponent, the Bolivar Liberators, the Raider’s won by a score of 16 to 5. Jack Dudenhoeffer had a strong pitching performance for the Raiders, helping them move on to the Championship game. In the championship game against the Archie Cyclones, Geoff Butler
pitched a number of solid innings, while Jack Dudenhoeffer delivered an emphatic home run over the left field fence. The Raider’s ended up winning the game, and the tournament title by a staggering score of 16 runs to 3. In other baseball news, Jack Dudenhoeffer was recently named as a KC Star athlete of the week for the week of April 2, 2009. n
“Once
we fix a few minor issues, we will have quite a solid team!”
20 09
The Graduating Class of Joe Wiseman Sierra West Helen Higgins Guerin Schwarberg Lilly Fisher
Caleb Wurth Jake Myron
David Smart Emma Sorrell Spencer Collet
Jack Adams
Nick Leyh
Ava Amirahmadi
Joe Wilkinson Geoff Butler Sam Olsen
Katie Greenbaum Cole Stewart David Kemper
Jessica Terry
Morgan Gonder
Kate Munday Adam Swaim Ben Thomas
Allison Kipke
Jordan Snyder
Lane Washburn
Betsy Brandt Marilyn Robb Kelsey McClellan Anthony Leyh Emily Glaze
Claire O’Laughlin Olivia Mertensmeyer
Stephanie Goel
Elliott Goff Shannon Dietch
Geraldine Fontaine Hannah Smith
Edward Merriman
Louis Ernst Jack Dudenhoeffer Bryan Wertz Andrew Elsberry Devin Hallquist CJ Slaughter
Mark Reardon
Bobby Sight
Wesley Gross Hanna Park
Jack Kelly Cameron Wilkerson Anna Stelmach
Brittany Sanders
Catherine Pogson
Stephan Franke
Adam Weindling
Emily Bamberger Dillon Bond Emily Crenner Michelle Batlle Brooke Van Lear Peter Wyche Annie Burcham Aubrey Thrane
Nick Anderson Jessica Bly Jordin NelsonWill Patterson Ellen Levitt Jay Todd Max Jordan LeMay Homayon Ghassemi Kristen NelsonDaiki SampeiJorgen Sandvik Shajiah Jaffri Banoo Amighi
Stephanie Johnston
Deven Morris
Colin Baker
Austen Schmidt Alexandru HostuicTommy AliberJeff McRobert Doug Walsworth Rebecca QueenAlex Raridon Jasen Nichols Corrie Vesely Dexter Pearson Ben Reisler M. Dave Nair Ryan Grojean Chris Somers Betsy Sallee William Bolen Eliza SpertusMichael PenceKatie DuffyBrennan Power Ryan Buck Priyanka PatelBennett Zobrist Kathryn HjalmarsonKaren QinNick GheorghitaAnn Linder
Let’s Go Far Away By Ryan Buck
Progression : Verse C# / G# / A#m / F# Bridge D#m / B / F# / C# Chorus F# / C# / D#m / B Look now, times are goin fast Right now, things that make our past Are coming back up to say hey As we retreat, sayin ‘Go Away’ Come now, your life is beautiful Be real, admit it’s wonderful You think the worst of your life is Something you can’t control Then I look you right in the eyes What do you say, much to my surprise “Come on, baby, lets go for a ride Take my hand, I’m right by your side” Oh, let’s go far away/ far away from here. To leave this life behind. Oh let’s go someplace new to start over again Hey, girl, where do you wanna go? Be real, tell me if you know You say, “Hey, how about France?” And I say, “Awh. Hell, why not?” Then I look you right in the eyes What do you say, much to my surprise “Come on, baby, lets go for a ride Take my hand, I’m right by your side” Oh, let’s go far away/ far away from here. To leave this life behind. Oh let’s go someplace new to start over again
Springtime at Pembroke. By Katie Greenbaum
I love Pembroke in the spring. I love that everyone is in a better mood. I love when people are out on the quad after their lunch. I love watching the frisbees fly through the quad. I love that everything is green. I love having choir outside. I love hearing the lawnmowers outside during every class. I love the flowers around the school signs. I love having to wear a sweater in school during the spring because the air conditioning is so cold. I love May Day and how it excites the ENTIRE school--Pre-school-12. I love picnics in the quad--not the food, but having EVERYONE outside. I love sitting on the benches in the quad and reading. I love how energized people are after spring break. I love the countdowns that people have until summer. I love signing yearbooks outside. I love graduation in the quad.
Friday in the Commons
By Nick Anderson
Friday in the Commons. Bagels and cream and cheese. There’s a smell in the corner someone ordered Chinese. Oh it its dome9, they so fine and hip. Sittin’ in the back right corner of the Commons. I proceed behind me to more green chairs, BFSU, oh my god, right there! They got blank stares, red eyes…they must be tired. Oh look there’s jadams with a redbull, he’s wired I’ve been inspired to write this rap, About the best grade ever 09’s all that. Take a whiff you can’t smell our crap, Take a look and find us on the x on map. I walk through the Commons I listen I observe, Ghita’s laugh, spilled trash, “hey help me with this graph” “yo bro lets go get food” “that’s gay it’s only 10:30 dude” “brenno!! Omg where are you?” “ …shut up.” By the round tables I find jbly and her cats Chattin’ about this and chattin’ about that Drama last weekend, A rumor starts leaking. “is it true?” “yeah, facebook offish, they’re not speakin’” in walks D-Kemp, Colin, and the crew they’re callin’ out to you, they imbue spirit through hell yeah I’ll sign up for squash! And rugby too. H china, meat, grill, kinner and dude, Nicknames are chill, don’t forget shnoob, Vanessa, franke kong, Ralph and smellie, Do I put jelly on my bread? No that’s Jack Kelly There’s more nicknames as I walk into CC That’s college counseling where B lenga be, They say her name’s b lenga, she’s got a lot of anga Seniors are the facebook, and you others are xanga! I’m not a stranger to writing raps, This one’s about 09 cause we’re all that, Take a whiff you can’t smell our crap, Take a look and find us on the x on the map. To sum up my year: There was jake and amir. Skdoops cheers, lots of work Both school and volunteer. XC in the fall with medlock and rosie Scenarios on the bus and getting real cozy. Live love disk is everything you need, “Expectations we will supercede” Panama was chill until we got grilled But we still had fun cause study hall was ill. It seems so surreal, getting close to the end. I’ll remember my teachers and won’t forget my friends. The time grows short that we’ve got to spend A legacy forms two thousand nine ascends. I comprehend the rhythm of rap, Get a load of this, 09’s all that, Take a whiff you can’t smell our crap Take a look and find us on the x on the map.
“Y
ou measure a democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.”- Abbie Hoffman. The same can be said for the Pembroke Hill community. We can measure the thought provoking nature and effectiveness of our education by how much leeway we are given in terms of free speech. Granted, obscenity is never permissible, we are an upstanding educational community; however, topics that are taboo and not obscene should be permitted regardless of possible backlash. In terms of The Voice, the common argument against taboo topics is that parents/alumni can read this and thus harbor negative thoughts toward the high school community. The problem in that logic is that we do talk about these things in our classes, our Commons, amongst our peers, and to lead a parent to believe that these topics are not the subject of frequent conversation is misleading to those parents who believe their children will be entering a utopia of rainbows, sunshine, and innocent Telly-Tubby euphemisms upon becoming a freshman. In an educational environment, ignorance is the acuum in which irresponsible behavior appears. With that charge in mind, I herby plead the junior, sophomore, and freshman classes to heed my warnings and consider what I am about to say.
I
f you believe something at our fine school could be changed for the better, SPEAK OUT! If a teacher, an administrator, or our headmaster tells you “no” on grounds that do not involve obscenity or simple logistical nightmares, petition and form a grassroots movement among the student body to show how the consumer (and yes we are the consumer) would like change. Don’t believe that the phrase, “the customer is always right,” does not apply to private education. Pembroke Hill is a service industry; as in you serve us, not the other way around. The community relies on a symbiotic relationship between administrator and student and I believe that the end of this year has proven that the very relationship I described above is in danger of becoming a one-way street. Our parents pay upwards of seventeen thousand dollars a year for us to have rights. Not privileges, but rights. We have the right to voice our opinions, and that right has been respected; however, I also believe that we have a right for our opinions to not fall upon deaf ears. That right, in my opinion, has been violated. I am not allowed to say certain things in this article.
I
served as the section editor for the opinion/editorial section of The Voice this year. I saw articles ranging from debates over the Commons Café to debates about gay marriage. I wish I saw more articles that reflected whispers and conversations in the Commons about problems people had with the school and its decision-making. I wish I saw more articles in which people signed their names to statements in which they respectfully disagreed with the upper echelons of leadership at this school. When I came to Pembroke Hill as a sixth grader, and entered the high school as a freshman, I felt comforted by the present reminder that my opinion mattered and that if I believed that a certain thing was wrong, or that a certain decision was made under a lack of information or misinterpretation thereof we, as students, could help guide our administration as they guide us in a safe and open environment. I wrote the article last issue about our drug policy because I honestly believed the rights of the student were infringed upon. I honestly believed the administration was not evil and had the capacity to do better by the Pembroke Hill community. I still believe this, but take this as a warning: That opinion is in peril of changing.
I
charge the classes that will be in high school next year, protect this opinion of mine from changing so that when I get the survey of Seniors past next year in my college dorm room, I do not fill out that I am anywhere close to ashamed of having been a student here. The common belief among many high schools is that the forum for open discussion of taboo topics is very much a college/university idea. What makes Pembroke Hill great is that we say it is not. We say that those topics belong in high school and that we can talk about them in an open and safe environment. I pride myself on that. If that changes, Pembroke Hill could change in my opinion to being an over glorified prep school in which the ignorance in the community reflects the ignorance some parents have of the student body’s subversive and sometimes harmful activities. I say it again; ignorance is a dangerous vacuum in which irresponsibility creeps. The more we talk about it, the less subversive activity will happen. This is my fundamental belief. To the lower classes, pick up where the Class of 2009 left off by going there, and stating taboos. I promise you, our community (and even as an alums it is still our community) will be better for it. Famous Sixties protestor Abbie Hoffman once boldly stated, “Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit.” The fight against an ignorant community is our revolution. Stand up. Be heard.
To The Future Spencer Collet Final Editorial
ofm e a m o M o r n i t e a s g Sixteen years. Thirty-two semesters. Sixty-four quarters. Hundreds of names and faces. The Voice staff encouraged the members of the Class of 2009 to write about their experience at Pembroke Hill, and after sixteen years I was somehow hit with a serious case of writer’s block. I considered my many memories at Pembroke Hill: slaving over the computer keyboard in an attempt to complete “Type to Learn”, heavy flowered May Day hoops, awkward Monday mornings following unfortunate weekends, rest rugs, and ridiculously cheesy Showcase choreography. I am completely overwhelmed with experiences and memories since I first walked through the doors of Pembroke Hill in 1993, yet I still found it impossible to determine what on earth I should write about. After considering the many memories, I decided to simply recount the wonderful, and not so magnificent, moments in the lives of the Pembroke Hill Class of 2009. Handmade Earth Day t-shirts, the mysteriously missing paper gingerbread men, “We’re Doin’ a Show”, the everlasting image of Ms. Lander feeding her snake, girls chase boys, grade bonding during Sophomore Retreat, the huge rainbow parachute, trapping Scollet under a box during Showcase rehearsal, snagging the couch during Lower School library class, ruling Youth in Government 2008, lunch trays with indentations for specific food, d9, Ms. Stauffer’s intricately decorated Native American classroom, 6th Grade Campout, Thumper, “I Sing the Body Electric”, Jailbreak, WordMasters (20/20!), dodge ball victory 2007, Comfy Chair Room, working at Exchange City, the exceedingly dull trip to EarthWorks, “Homicide”, green weenies, street painting festivals, Predator vs. Prey, boys dressing up as the Spice Girls in the 5th grade talent show, Innis Playground, Silver vs. Gold Spelling, D.E.A.R, book fairs, Guerin getting beat up by a girl, “quiet coyote”, capture the chicken, daily snack time, Tyler Crouch, cucumber sandwiches and crochet at DKemp’s, Art Waldron, the excitement when flip flops were officially allowed in Middle School, 2nd Grade Souper Bowl, scooters, 5th Grade Day at Snyder’s, dozens of Bar/Bat Mizvahs, “Eatin’ Goober Peas”, singing with the Gant Sisters, Grandparent’s Day, Pommier ‘da bomb, and the wild night at Will Pat’s.
e
The class of 2009 has experienced together first kisses, picture days, and dreadfully long SATs. On weekdays we spend every moment of free time chatting in the Commons. After school we bond as teammates at practice and as a cast at rehearsal. We support each other at football and basketball games on Friday nights, and we relieve our stress at the same parties each Saturday. As our last months together tick by, I know it is most important to appreciate the last memories we have as the Pembroke Hill Class of 2009. I am often graveled with my peers. I have experienced an awkward encounter, or two, with a fellow classmate, or two. Despite the less than fortunate moments and the less than endearing feelings we may occasionally allow to tarnish our opinion of the Class of 2009, we undoubtedly have a multitude of fantastic memories to treasure. We don’t all get along perfectly, and we may not even know each other as well as we’d hoped we would. Not every moment has been ideal. However, when I look back on my childhood, the “best years of my life”, I will only have the faces and memories of our incredible class to recall how truly incredible these years have been. I personally want to wish every member of the class of 2009 the best fortune in the future. I am eternally grateful for my friendships, and even those friendships that have been lost have certainly not been forgotten. I am more than willing to forgive those that have done wrong, as I hope those that I have offended are prepared to forgive me. Furthermore, the members of the Class of 2009 have hopefully not only impacted the lives of each other, but the lives of others who have absolutely altered our overall experience. I genuinely hope the faculty and younger students at Pembroke Hill remember our achievements and character, as I am sure the members of 2009 will remember the monumental impact others have had on our class. In the grand scheme of our lives, our time at Pembroke Hill is short; however, I hope each and every student in the Pembroke Hill Class of 2009 can always evoke the memories of the fantastic adventure of our time at this remarkable school. By Jessica Bly
I entirely didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I left home for Quito. I spent the long plane ride regretting my decision to travel not only so far from home but away from my friends on what was my senior Spring Break. It was late and raining when I arrived to Quito, and I soon found myself in country whose culture was all but foreign to me, and whose language I had only a basic understanding. I was out of my element, and I knew then that this trip was about to take me far out of my comfort zone. I came to Ecuador to volunteer with the country’s improvised children alongside an organization known as UBECI. I worked with children in the urban markets, in a children’s hospital , and in a rural schoolhouse. These programs were entirely in Spanish and over the course of the last two-weeks, I seldom heard any English. This, however, was only a small part of the challenge. The children that I worked with had daily suffered physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, all of which is unspeakable. Many of the children begin working with their parents in the markets as early as the age of three. Others were simply abandoned and left to fend on their own. In the process, these kids were force to mature overnight, often acting as parents for their younger siblings. Poverty and circumstance stripped these children of any sort of childhood and for many of them their pain was evident. Their faces, their timid demeanor, their silent expressions articulated their condition more than any words could. Many of these kids had never experienced any sort of positive affection. I quickly learned that for them a smile and hug meant everything. So, for the last two weeks I traded physics for coloring, calculus for the art of making pasta necklaces in an effort to give these kids a chance to simply be kids. Though I felt a bit out of place as the youngest and only male volunteer, it was nonetheless rewarding to see these children open up to us. The reality that these children face is unthinkable. Ecuador’s educational problems are systemic and cyclical and unfortunately few of these kids will break the cycle of poverty. Progress and improvement will take tremendous international and domestic efforts, which at the moment are nearly nonexistent. However, to see these kids smile, to see them laugh was hope. Ecuador’s people, much like Americans, have dreams and aspirations for their children, but lack viable opportunity. As my time comes to a close, it is tough to leave. Though I had come and done exactly what I had agreed to do, I couldn’t help but want to do more. Though I had come to help these children, the effect that they had on me was much greater than any contribution I could have made. With the great opportunity and resources all of us have, comes equally great responsibility to those who lack such prospects. Kindness, even in the smallest form, can be a powerful force. In short, these last couple weeks have forced to take few things for granted. Life, I have learned, can be very delicate, so hold the ones you care about close.
Life
Is Delicate
By Homayon Ghassemi
After eighth grade, I transferred from Pembroke to Shawnee Mission East. The first day of freshman year I was astounded by just how many people were constantly moving through the halls. It was like rush hour, every hour, and every day. All I could think about was how nice it was at Pembroke, where, with a ninety-person class-size, everyone knew everyone and there was very little or no confusion or stress. Some of my favorite memories from my Pembroke Hill career are Showcase, cross-country, basketball, and the many classes like science with Mr. Longhoffer, who always kept it fun, or math with Mr. Seifert, who always gave me trouble for being a KU fan. Showcase was always a fun time of the year. Mrs. Anderson was somehow always able to get rowdy and restless seventh and eighth graders, each year, to work together and produce a high quality show, year after year. I’ll also always remember when I broke my ankle, 14 seconds into the third game of the eighth grade season. I always had fun at cross country practice, running to the Nelson or around the Plaza. As for any words of wisdom? Just have fun and enjoy it. By Chad Allen
I Will Always Be Glad I Was a Raider
I wouldn’t change my experience in middle school at Pembroke Hill for anything. It was a crucial part of my life where I enjoyed many great classes, activities, and life experiences. I was fortunate to have caring teachers and quality friends who truly made my time there a memorable one. They helped shape me into the person I am today. I decided to leave after middle school for Shawnee Mission East High School. The teachers prepared me so well at Pembroke that I was ahead of many of the students who had attended public middle schools. I have a lot of fond memories at Pembroke and will always be glad I was a Raider! By Paige Anderson
When I look back on Pembroke Hill I will remember my teachers. I am so thankful for the time and effort that they put into class every day. I don’t think there is another place in Kansas City where I can find teachers that act as mentors and friends. My Spanish teachers have given me the confidence to act as a translator in Guatemala. I loved learning the subjunctive in Profa Martinovic’s class and discussing poetry in Sra. Eshelbrenner’s class. My science teachers have encouraged me to persevere through my ‘not so favorite’ classes and have always been available to offer extra help. I still laugh when I think about Mr. Jone’s ‘sketchy voice’. My English teachers have imparted in me a love of reading and writing. My favorite books have been: The Odyssey with Dr. O, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Ms. Rosenfield and Snow Falling on Cedars with Mrs. May-Washington. My math teachers have been so much fun and positive role models in the classroom. I loved Mrs. Reams’ guitar hero and Singstar parties. And Mrs. Pottenger’s HiHat runs made a boring day exciting. My history teachers have taught me about learning from the past and applying the past to our future. Dr. Graves - thanks for looking over my 500 drafts of the term paper. And thanks to Mr. McGee for dealing with me for three years! Finally, the art teachers have been enthusiastic and supportive of all my creative endeavors. I loved working on the Yearbook with Mr. Bass and LAB with Mrs. Creek. Thank you to the entire PHS faculty for all you do, it does not go unnoticed. Whenever people ask me about my time at Pembroke I am quick to point out how thankful I am for my education. It is precious to me, and I will make you proud as I go on to college.
20 09
By Rebecca Queen
We Must Never Forget Our Teachers
The Graduating Class of
Then End of A Beginning
Okay Senior Contribution... I have had no idea what to write for awhile. The only things that came to my mind that were kind of interesting to me was about Asian Club since now they have a yearly goal/event to merit. Asian Club... kind of a small club... known for its food... everyone thinks you have to be Asian to be in it (which is false!)... in truth, probably not taken seriously. Wellll this year, I was fortunate enough to be president of Asian Club (due to the lack of competition during elections). I really wanted to get Asian Club off its feet. We did Kin Lin Runs last year which worked, but it wasn’t easily done nor effective since Kin Lin delivers anyway. We also did Dumpling/Crab Rangoon sales, which were a great success considering the dumplings were donated, but it was kind of asking too much from the suppliers. So this year, I tried to think of something that was off the menu that we can pre-order and the restaurants could easily make mass amounts of, doesn’t already deliver, and was close by to pick up the orders. Thus, I thought of Kona Grill. The first sushi run we did worked relatively well. The pick up and the whole process was smooth, but there were not a lot of orders. I shrugged it off thinking the second time around would be better. Ha funny joke. I wish there were a place like Spanish Club’s awesome runs with Chipotle but with Asian food. This perplexity is to be continued. But what’s more exciting is the the big goal/event, the Chinese New Year Celebration with PHS’s lower school kids! Much like the French Alliance event at the lower school, Asian Club members will create several different stations that will enlighten the students at the lower school campus about the Chinese culture. Through some prepping and discussions this year, we decided the first annual celebration at Pembroke will take place next year. This will be such an exciting event because the lower school kids look up to the high schoolers, and we can be role models and illuminate their minds while having fun. Although I will not be here next year, I am glad that Asian Club now has a goal to accomplish each year. I hope it will become a yearly tradition, and when I return years later, I hope to see Asian Club’s Chinese New Years Celebration still prosperously up and running! By Karen Qin
We Must Keep In Touch
By Emily Bamberger My earliest memory takes place at Pembroke Hill. I was two years old, a student in Mrs. Head’s Early Years class, and it was the day I had been looking forward to for weeks: the day we got to paint our feet in an acrylic rainbow and walk across butcher paper to create souvenirs from our childhood. I can still remember the anticipation, the tickling of the paintbrush, the great globs of paint, and, finally, the copious amounts of soap and water it took until I was clean. My name and age were written in black sharpie on the bottom of the page, and I proudly bore it home. Now, many years later, I am finally a Senior. The butcher paper footprints, along with many other treasured mementos of the past, have long been lost, and what remains are the memories and experiences that have molded my life to date. In sixteen years I have made friendships, learned more about time management than I would ever have believed possible, and would like to think that I grew as a person for the academic and social strides I have made. There are many, most of whom joined the class of 2009 in its later years, who would tell you that Pembroke Hill is an experience that should be left to high school, or, at the very least, middle school. It is true that I never had the experience of learning in a truly different environment, and that I have spent many years in an environment that, at its best, fosters academic curiosity, and, at its worst, is a pressure cooker of academic and social competition. It is also true that I, like many, occasionally grew weary of the enormous amounts of effort required to succeed in such an environment. However, given a second chance, I truly believe that I would still be here today, writing yet another essay long past the hour when I would rather be asleep. For each ounce of the effort that I poured into Pembroke these sixteen long years, there is no doubt in my mind that I have been rewarded many times over. In exchange for academic effort, I have been granted the interest and encouragement of numerous wonderful teachers, many of whom continue to share their subjects with me with such levels of passion that I cannot help but be captivated. In exchange for years of waning and waxing friendships, I have attained a social network in which I can feel comfortable with an entire class of very different individuals. Pembroke has given me incredible opportunities and support, and I am very grateful. Therefore, as I sit and recall the footprints, the friends, and the hundreds of other memories that have dominated the last sixteen years of my life, one wish I have for the future comes to mind. Next year, the class of 2009 will be scattered, and we will never again regain the unity that we share this year. However, I am not willing to banish what has been almost my entire life to fading memories and long lost mementoes. Thus, my wish for the future is that we stay in touch with each other and the school. Twenty-five years from now, I would like to return to Pembroke, meet the new members to our family, and share the memories of the past.
There Are
When the alumni come back form college on breaks to visit the school, and we see them surrounded by people hugging and asking how school is, I think to myself how cool that would be to come back a year from now and have people come and say hi to me and inquire about my new environment. I then wonder how cool it would feel to finally be a college student. But then I realize…I have to be IN college first. I’ve waited, dreamed about, and pined for graduation day for the last four years. Every day I found myself saying, “I cannot wait to be a senior and get out of dodge.” I wrote the papers, finished the test banks, and gave the presentations. I pulled the all-nighters, memorized the AP terms, and sat in the test rooms for hours on end. I suffered, maneuvered, challenged, and succeeded everything that came my way. Now that my senior year is coming to an end, I find myself saying, “I can’t believe it’s over. I wish it wouldn’t end so soon.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m bolting off to college the minute move in day will let me. I’m lucky to be going to my first choice in a place I love. I’m excited to start the new part of life, be on my own, and begin a career and blah blah blah. But what about high school am I going to miss when I go off to college? Or will it all just go by the wayside… I will miss the small world Pembroke created for me. We created our own area here where the teachers and students can actually interact on a more personal level. I know I’ve heard colleges advertise that more than their actual programs, but here that’s real. I’m going to a school where I’ll more than likely be a number and not a person, and be taught by a teacher’s aid or a grad student than the actual professor. I’ll miss going to see Mrs. McIntyre to make up dissections, seeing Mr. Schmidt in the math lab for help, and even playing peanut with Mr. Beeler. I’ll miss the ability to know every face in the hallway. Maybe not by name, but I know that every face I see at school is one that is familiar and one that I have interacted with at some point. I turn corners in the math and science halls and see my soccer freshmen standing in a group and know that even if they’re talking, one of them is bound to stop and shout me a, “Hi Stephanie!” or run and give me a hug. I’ll miss rehearsal and practice every day after school. I’ll spending time with my winter family of 30, singing and dancing, stomping and striking, all while putting on an amazing performance. I’ll miss Quiktrip. I’ll miss my carloads of good company joining me for a Coke for meetings, joking and blasting music. I’ll miss feeding an entire cast off of my QT run (which believe me can be done). I’ll miss the Lady Raiders and having my entire spring break, instead of one week dedicated to them. I’ll miss spitting seeds and yelling on the bench with my posse. I’ll miss the ability to be a part of everything. I’m a thespian, a soccer player, and a member of three clubs and a board, and still have time to get homework done. But more than anything, I’ll miss my friends. They have made high school for me. I wake up every morning excited to see what shenanigans we’ll get into. It’s goofballs like them that make me want to be at school. I suck at keeping in touch, and sadly the world knows that, but that’s because other than for relatives, I’ve never had the will to. Now, I have the Class of 2009, full of amazing people to keep in touch with. Everyone made this experience a unique one, which is something that college can’t offer: a class that has the ability to affect everyone in a different way. I have never been more connected to a group of people more than my friends. I have people from every grade and many personalities that know I will always have their back and hopefully have mine as well. If someone asked me if I could do it all over again, would I? Of course. Even knowing now the ups and downs I’ve faced, the drama that is high school society, the aches and pains of junior year, the scared-to-death out-of-place feeling of freshman year, and the anxiety of waiting this year, I would definitely do it again. I have had some of the most amazing times with awesome people, both of which I’ll remember for the rest of my days. My advice for the future grades is to make due with what you get. In the end, no matter what happens, there are no regrets. It always seems hard and impossible at times; I felt like college would never happen, graduation would never come, and I would have to jump back to freshman year all over again with no end in sight. But everything is worth it. Every paper, every test, every annoying thing that we hate about high school will work out for the better. College is the paradise where we take what high school gave us and we apply it to our first taste of the real world. But first, we must endure what’s necessary unfortunately. By Stephanie Goel
N o
R e g r e t s
I feel like the whole “ ’09 unity” is very overrated and beside from wilpats party, who I hope throws another this summer.
If asked “why it isn’t working,” the answer would be that there are too many “cliques.” It is the saddest excuse I have ever heard; it is kind of true, but it is not the only reason. Like a sport, this is a team effort, everyone has to contribute or it will fail…horribly. In order to relate it to basically everyone, food will be used as a metaphor. When we are young, (results may vary), we like simple foods, like fruit, cheese, meat, each separately. As we mature, our taste develops and we start to like more foods and combinations of foods. Ants on a log, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, any sandwich as long as it’s only the basics: meat, w/ or w/o cheese, and bread w/ or w/o crust, or just PB&J. We also start to eat fast food, cling to the first thing we like first, like chicken nuggets and sauce or a cheeseburger with nothing on it, vanilla ice cream with sprinkles. Again, at this point our taste buds have yet to mature but as teens, we begin this grand ritual, for various reasons other than being adventurous (we are starved as teenagers so at night we find it appealing to “rape the dollar menu”). The food that we don’t like begins to dwindle to the point where we can actually say that we have tried it and it blows; sometimes we never know exactly the reason why and other times we know because the food is too spicy/tangy/insertyourpreferencehere and you just don’t like that. We still like the old PB&J it’s just something we would settle for on an off-day. Pizza begins to taste better with other toppings, each topping unique to our individual taste; our once cup of vanilla ice cream becomes an ice cream sundae topped with everything we desire. Here’s our problem, as a grade, when we receive the sundae and realize there were cherries and you hate cherries, “what are u gonna do?” Now this is the part where it becomes more controversial. First, let me say something before I explain it, “Suck it up.” When it comes to the sundae, many in our grade are apparently not going to suck it up and eat the cherry but take it off with a little of the surrounding ice cream to ensure maximum effectiveness. This is one year out of your life that you have to be friendly towards someone you hate/may hate/ or just don’t enjoy hanging out with, it’s really not that hard, even if you don’t have the reasons said above and you think their not going to enjoy themselves at the party, it’s their responsibility to also suck it up and try and have a good time. Explanation (hurray another metaphor): If you’re at your girlfriend’s house and she decides to make dinner, or not even that, you’re at her house and are eating with her parents, The one thing on god’s green earth that you hate the most is served. What are you going to do? Say, “I’m out?” well I would (psyche city), but I doubt many other people would. If you don’t get this metaphor by now I can’t elaborate anymore because it is over, well, the older the label the finer the wine is a good finisher since I forgot exactly what I meant finish it off with. Oh and it’s not like you are going to see any one besides your friends for a while after we graduate. By Deven Morris
What Is Unity?
As We Look Back
As I get ready to graduate from Pembroke, I can’t help but realize what a different time this is for me than for those in my grade who have been here for a long time. For the lifers, this must be an incredibly sad yet often anticipated time. I could not imagine being in the same institution for my entire life. I admire their loyalty and dedication to the school, and I know that they have had a unique experience of Pembroke. Then there are the people who are one or two obnoxious years away from being able to wear the “lifer” badge. The people who came in the first or second grade, who have been here a reeeaaaalllly long time, must feel the same way. They are leaving the only place that they can probably remember attending. For these people, PHS traditions like May Day and Clothesline must mean a lot at this time of year. And then there are the people who came later. Many of my classmates came in middle school, and some did what I did and transferred in as freshmen. ! Regardless of when we came, I think that every single senior has had a slightly different experience. Some people will leave as quickly as they can, never wanting to return to the classrooms where they took excruciating finals or to the cafeteria where they choked down lunch for four years. Other people don’t know anything other than Pembroke, and they will eagerly anticipate coming back to scrimmage their old teammates or to watch the next generation of thespians perform without them. But regardless of how we feel now, whether we think that going to school at Pembroke Hill is the greatest thing since summer vacation, or if we couldn’t imagine feeling more stifled and oppressed, I have a feeling that our opinions will change. As we go convinced that we will out in the world and meet eventually see Pembroke not as the more people, attend hallways that we walked or the classes different institutions, that we took, but as the place where we and realize just made life-long friends and benefitted from how lucky we teachers who want n othing more than to are, I am help us. Right now, in the fourth quarter bitter of our painfully long yet way too about the fast senior year, we’re probably Capstone and not thrilled that some of our teachers could technically force us to take their final. I can’t help but think, though, that we are someday going to look back at the teachers we have had, the Dr. Salingers and the Mrs. Wells, the Profas and the T-Pots, the Mr. Griffiths and the Mrs. Hendricks, the college counselors and the coaches, the Dr. Schulkins and the VZs, and realize that we have learned from not only incredible educators, but truly caring, dedicated, and fantastic people. By Kate Munday
“It is time for you to get a watch.” —Ava Amirahmadi “High school is like life: some good, some bad.” —Kate Munday
“Knock Knock. Who’s there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock.” —Nick Anderson “Dear Pembroke: study hard, enjoy your life, seek balance.” —Jay Todd Max
“Computers, procrastination, Beethoven, internet, physics, quiet, dogs, Nantucket, epiphany” — Adam Swaim
“Look under there! I just made you say underwear!” —Lilly Fisher “Best part? Sitting outside when the weather gets warm.” —Emily Crenner “Oreo, Rex, Bumbles, Pat, Frownie, Sapphire, Aster, Elvira, Monet.” —Jessica Bly “Have fun while it lasts, look back in years.” —Bryan Wertz “Been fun, it’s almost over, ready for something new” — Katie Greenbaum “I wasn’t at the All-Class party and it sucks.” —Emily Glaze
“I would do it over again in a second.” —Ann Linder
“It made me want firsts. Don’t tell my parents.” —Katie Duffy
“Thanks for showing me how rich life could be.” —Claire O’Laughlin
“Wow, I am never going to do that again.” —William Bolen
“You’ll see me running into doors twenty years later.” —Kelsey McClellan
“Nine words are not enough to express my experience.” —Rebecca Queen “Stars, skies, eyes, surprise, surrounded by infinite passion, last.” —Deven Morris
“Sixteen years. Lots of work. Good times too. Goodbye.” —Emily Bamberger
“Well, pretty much everything after 3 o’clock was fun.” — Jack Adams
“So what if I laugh at my own jokes?” —Ellie Levitt “I told myself: everything is a matter of perspective.” —Colin Baker
“Growing up. Living, Laughing, Hating, Loving, Enemies, Memories, FRIENDS!” — Eliza Spertus
“And I am a better man because of it.” —Wesley Gross
“Once upon a time, she lived happily ever after.” — Stephanie Johnston “Define 09? Like Fine Wine From a Grape Vine” —Cameron Wilkerson “Took risks. Made mistakes. Wanted to quit. Still standing.” —Shajiah Jaffri “In my next life I’m going to public school.” —Dillon Bond
“I came, saw, studied, and I went to college.” — Jeff McRobert
“The cycle of struggle and payoff. It’s called work.” — Banoo Amighi
“Freedom without any responsibility in three to five pages” —Spencer Collet
“Pembroke has been the best choice I’ve ever made.” — Hanna Park
“The best and the worst year of my life.” — Adam Weindling
“Most of what I’ve known, hopefully prepared for unknown.” — David Kemper
“PHS, simply the best, small nest, of future success. — David Smart
“I liked the art and English departments the most.” —Anna Stelmach
“Straight C student starting in ‘95 ending in ‘09.” — Jack Dudenhoffer
“I find good jokes usually…maybe… do the trick. “ —Stephanie Goel
“Uh, it looks like Mardi Gras threw up here.” — Michelle Batlle
“Why do today what you can always do tomorrow?” — Allison Kipke
“Hide’nSeek: eight years of hiding, five years of seeking.” —Karen Qin
“What, now, another in class essay? No big deal.” —Ryan Buck
The Class of 2009 in Nine Words
Page 14
Schulkin April 2009
volume XXV Issue VII
Dr. Schulkin: looking back on 35 years at Pembroke and looking forward to the future Continued from Page 1 As you can imagine, it is very difficult for me after 35 years at the school to do more than share a few selected thoughts and memories. Ironically, it is only in the past few weeks, with my retirement imminent, that I have taken the time to reminisce about my years at Pem-Day and Pembroke Hill. My earliest memory of Pem-Day is one of gratitude, gratitude for finding a job at a very good school attended by bright young men with a strong desire to learn. The early 1970s was a difficult time for people like me, recent Ph.Ds in the humanities and social sciences who went to graduate school to embark upon a career in college teaching. There were, at that time, probably 100 well qualified candidates for each position as a college professor of history, so I had, I believed, only two choices: 1) play the “publish or perish” game by taking a series of one-year, temporary jobs at a series of colleges; or 2) apply for a job teaching at a private school. As husband and father of two young sons, I opted for the latter. It was a more stable alternative and potentially equally rewarding. Only after I was offered and accepted the position at Pem-Day did I realize what a good decision I had made. Not only would I get to teach very good students, my two sons would be eligible to attend the school with full tuition scholarships. The fact that my two sons were able to attend our school on full tuition scholarships is one of the reasons that I have stayed at our school for thirty-five years and feel a special connection to it and affection for it. While I was searching for a job and needed a way to support myself and my family, I decided to focus on developing the best method I could of teaching history to young people. My training as a graduate teaching assistant was non-existent: it was sink or swim: you were assigned to History 101 and told to teach it. With time to reflect and needing income, I decided to apply to the Chancellor’s Office at my university, the University of California, Berkeley, for a grant to develop and teach an experimental course. I entitled my proposal and the course “How to Read History,” and those of you who have had me as a teacher will recognize the method that I developed in that class. The method consisted of the following series of steps: 1) as you read the history book, try to
new responsibilities elsewhere. Barbara Judd and Lorraine Gordon joined our team when it was still headed by Mrs. Marchiony and Mr. Burke has picked up where she left off. Throughout my tenure as a college counselor, we have worked closely as a team, ably assisted at first by Virginia Helmstetter and, since her retirement, by Becky Lenger. I will remember each and every one of them fondly. I realize that by including the names of those colleagues with whom I have worked most closely that I am failing to mention many others whose friendship and collaboration I value a great deal, but if were to continue to name all of them the list would be much too lengthy to print in the Voice. Suffice it to say that working with such a large number of outstanding colleagues has been one of the highlights of my experience at Pembroke Hill.
identify and then state the author’s thesis; 2) examine the author’s evidence in an effort to answer the question “How well does the author’s evidence support his/her thesis?”; 3) write an analytical essay explaining how well you believe the author supports his/her thesis. Learning how to identify an author’s thesis, then proceeding to analyze the thesis critically on the basis of evidence, that has been what I have tried to impress upon my students in every class that I have taught. It is a valuable set of skills whether you are taking a history class, trying to decide which candidate to vote for in an election, attending law school or just trying to make a mundane decision. Q: What are some Pembroke memories that stick out the most in your mind? A: I have so vivid memories from my years at Pem-Day and Pembroke Hill that it is very difficult to chose just a few to share. Once of the things that I liked about Pem-Day when I first began teaching there in the fall of 1974 was how welcoming the entire community was, especially the parents. I will never forget walking through the Plaza one day with my wife and children only to have a parent go out her way to greet me and to introduce herself to my wife and sons. It made me feel both welcome and appreciated. Another very positive memory was winning an award for my teaching, the Reed Award, which had been established by an especially appreciative and philanthropic family. After the merger, I applied for and was eventually awarded a Sosland Family Chair to spend a year completing a
Dr. Schulkin enlightens his juniors. Photo Credit to David Kemper.
involved in teaching with technology. One of my proudest accomplishments in this latest phase of my career has been the publication of two articles on teaching with technology, the second of which resulted in a long distance telephone call from a nationallyknown college professor inviting me to be a guest lecturer via a conference call in his social studies methods class. It made proud of
“I have benefited a great deal from working with a large number of exceptionally fine human beings who also happen to be great teachers.” four-part Social History simulation that I had created and was using in my U.S. History classes, taking advantage of another opportunity offered by Pembroke Hill as a result of the generosity of another philanthropic family. Shortly thereafter the school administration supported my application to the New Media Classroom program, and I entered the most recent phase of my teaching career, one in which I have become heavily
the fact that the teaching that my colleagues and I do at Pembroke Hill is worthy of attention as “best practice” in the eyes of other educators throughout the nation. One of the things that I value most about my years at Pembroke Hill has been my relationship with my colleagues. The faculty at Pembroke Hill is very collegial, and I have benefited a great deal from working with a large number of exceptionally fine human beings who
also happen to be great teachers. There are two groups of colleagues in particular who I have worked with for many
Q: How Pembroke evolved since you came here in the late 1970s? Has it changed for the better or for the worse? A: Like every school, Pembroke Hill has changed a great deal in the past thirty-five years. Some changes have been for the better, others for the worse. The most positive change, in my view, has been co-education. Pembroke Hill became a better school than either of its predecessor
“I would like my students to remember me as a teacher who genuinely cared whether they learned what I tried to get them to learn.” years whose company I have enjoyed and who have helped me become a better teacher and college counselor. The first group, and the group that I have worked with the longest, are my colleagues in the Am Civ program. A number of these colleagues are among the “founding mothers and fathers” of the program, which was created in 1988, shortly after the merger. Among those colleagues whose names current students will recognize are Barbara Judd, Lorraine Gordon, Steve Salinger, and Valerie Ostarch. Carl Graves and Julie Lester joined us soon thereafter. The second group of colleagues who occupy a special place in my heart are those I have worked with in college counseling. My mentors as a college counselor were Ed Quigley and Mary Beth Marchiony, each of whom has either retired or taken on
schools after the merger in 1984. The quality of our academic offerings improved and the social environment improved even more substantially in my opinion. Q: What, above all, have you hoped to impress upon your students? What do you want your students and your colleagues to remember you for? A: There are three things that I would like my students and colleagues to remember me for. First, I would like my students to remember me as the teacher who always asked “What’s your evidence?” Second, I would like my students to remember me as a teacher who genuinely cared whether they learned what I tried to get them to learn. Finally, I would like both my students and my colleagues to remember me as a teacher who prided himself on devoting
just as much time and energy to helping those students who earned a “C” in my class as to those who earned an “A”. Q: How has your time at Pembroke changed or had an impact on you? A: As the incidents that I have related in the previous paragraph indicate, teaching at Pembroke Hill has provided me with the opportunity to broaden my horizons as an educator and get involved in a long series of interesting and worthwhile professional activities. It has been anything but a dull, routine existence. I have been able to continuously improve my teaching skills and learn a great deal about a variety of new technologies. I have become a self-described computer nerd. Q: Is there anything you regret doing or not doing at while at Pembroke? A: I cannot think of anything I regret doing or not doing while at Pembroke Hill. In fact, my career at Pembroke Hill has been marked a series of opportunities presenting themselves and my taking advantage of them. That’s how I became a college counselor. Enrollment at the school had increased and it had become necessary to increase the size of the college counseling staff. Everyone on the faculty who was interested in becoming a college counselor was invited to apply. Having originally trained to become a college professor and being very familiar already with a wide-variety of colleges, I applied and was fortunate enough to be selected. The rest, as they say, is history. Q: What are your plans and/ or goals for retirement? Do you have any projects coming up? A: My plans for my retirement are threefold. First, I am going to look for opportunities to offer my services pro bono as a college adviser to families who are underserved and cannot afford to hire a private counselor. Second, I plan to continue to do research and write. At the present time my first writing project is a book on the Holocaust that other teachers would be able to use as a kind of core text in a course on the Holocaust. Finally, my wife and I are planning to spend much of our time in southern California either walking on the beach or lying on the beach and reading our favorite books. We also plan to travel to foreign lands whenever that opportunity presents itself. n
Arts
volume XXV Issue VII
April 2009
Page 15
The Irascible Pembroke Boys
Pembroke voices carry far in the windy city
Above: Chorale members stop for a picture in Millenium Park. Below: Singers dance their way down a hallway at the competition. Photo Credit David Kemper.
David Kipke Correspondent
Singing, shopping, jousting, Chicago, and Van Gogh’s “Bedroom”. It is a list worthy of Carson’s “Carnac the Magnificent”. What do all of these items have in common, you ask? All were experiences from this year’s choir trip. The Chorale, the Madrigals Singers, and Top of the Hill all left on Thrusday, April 2nd for Chicago with their director, Mr. Diffendaffer, and their accompanist, Mr. Craig, to participate in the Heritage Music Festival. All three groups performed brilliantly, with Top of the Hill receiving a “gold” honor, and Madrigals and Chorale both receiving “silver” honors. However, this year’s trip did not consist solely of a choral performance. On Friday night, after singing at the festival, the choirs were treated to a breathtaking performance by the world-renowned Blue Man Group. At the performance,Pembroke Hill’s own Jay Todd Max was selected by one of the “blue men” to come and participate in one of the acts on-stage!
The choirs also were able to tour the Art Institute of Chicago and view amazing paintings from the likes of Monet, Lautrec, and even Van Gogh. However, there are two words from this year’s choir trip which will never be forgotten: Medieval Times. Before the festival gave out its awards, it treated all of the choirs to dinner and a performance at Medieval Times. It would take millions of words to even begin to encompass the hilarious experience the choirs had that night,
but to summarize, there were tights, there were knights, there were fights, and much to the fright of the spectators, there was no silverware in sight. However, after Medieval Times, the trip ended as quickly as it had began, and the buses were boarded to take the choirs back to Kansas City. Ultimately, this year’s choir trip was a wonderful, unique experience for everyone involved and was a resounding success. The returning students should undoubtedly be excited for next year! n
Continued from Page 1 Arts Council. Walker’s portraits of his family are done by matting heavily Photoshopped digital pictures on wood, then melting an overlay of veneer on top for a Tintoretto-like effect. The portraits on display at Gallery F are of his wife and children, who inspire and delight him. Walker credits Don Adams, Pembroke’s art teacher before Ms. Creek, as an important support during his early art career at Pem Day. “He let me nearly burn down the Upper School three times,” said Walker, who thrice snuck bit of copper into the pottery kiln, which The Irascible Pembroke Boys show is in space on the melted through the base ground floor of the Abdiana Building (formerly the Firesof the kiln, risking fire. tone building) generously donated by the Abnos family. Jack Rees is a successful architect, graphic designer and based on ‘information new art building, last contractor who learned architecture’. fall. much at Pembroke His sculptural works He was impressed Country Day about are abstract forms in by Wesley’s work, and confounding people’s transparent materials contacted him about expectations. This talent covered with color in doing a show. leads into the mission simple patterns like The content of of his work, which is stripes or more involved Gross’s images may presenting a balance of layers of dots. involve such disorder, innovative and familiar Wesley Gross, the but the composition of material to entice the youngest of the three, is a Gross’s photographs is onlooker and play with current senior at PHS who delectably neat and tidy. his mind. The ugliness of a has ventured through According to Rees, Kansas City’s decaying building in disrepair is “If you only give people structures for the past transformed by Gross’s what they expect, objects several years for the sake magic camera angles and have no teeth. If you give of his photography. use of light, which gives people things that are “I usually walk the grimmest staircase a only absolutely brand through a hole in the celestial glow. new that they have wall,” says Gross. The show does not never seen before, they Why venture through have a closing date as tend to be invisible. The pigeon poop and rotting of press time, so see the perception happens wood in his spare time? work of these fine artists inside the viewers head. “I find the aesthetic as soon as possible. My goal is to create things very attractive. I enjoy As final word of that when you suck them the adventure of visiting advice from Jimmy in through your eyes, such places, and I find Walker: “Believe in plays with your gray the decay soothing.” whatever you think is matter.” He refers to his subject beautiful. If you think Rees designs his matter as urban ‘entropy’, you can make beauty, 4/16/09 as11:24:09 AM pieces PembrookHill_POP_QuaterAd.pdf based on two or ‘chaos’ one learns don’t ever stop trying.” sets of conditions. The in Mr. Jones’ chemistry Inspiring words, first are the conditions class. especially in a time when imposed by the space. Jimmy Walker saw art is all the more vital to The second are self- Gross’ art at the opening maintaining our sense of imposed conditions of Centennial Hall, the joy. n
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For unique Senior photos that capture the real you, book your photo session with Peter Obetz. Schedule before June 1, and receive 3 free Facebook images and twenty-four wallet photos from your $150 print order. To view Peter's work, or to schedule your sitting, visit peterobetz.com or call 913 709-1281. Art by Brennan Power ,‘09
Opinion
Page 16
April 2009
Give Us Us Condoms Spencer Collet Opinion-in-Chief
Hey fellow students. Let’s talk about a little invention that has revolutionized the way that the human race looks at sexual relationships. Condoms. Yes I said it, condoms: those little latex gods that keep teenagers adults out of unwanted pregnancy and the Pope in public relations nightmares. There are Trojans or Lifestyles, ribbed or smooth, thick or thin, hell there are more types of condoms than flavors of Jolly Ranchers, and that’s excluding the ones flavored like Jolly Ranchers. The most awesome thing about these inventions, however, is that in some high schools they are readily available at the nurse’s station. These schools include
free condoms as an integral part of their high school wellness education. These schools, in my opinion, are on the forefront of the fight against unsafe sex and prevention of STD’s. Let’s face it, abstinence is not enough; we must provide a cheap and acceptable alternative as part of our wellness program. Students at Pembroke Hill have sex—sometimes with each other and sometimes with students from other schools, but it happens. To have safe sex, one must use a condom. In order to get condoms, one must go into a drug/convenience store and buy them. Now some of us look as though we are older than we are, but to those of us that look
Seniority Rules For Y Chromotones: But a new generation rises Jay Todd Max Contributing Writer
Providing options for the students of Pembroke Hill
Photo credit: http://pimpedfiction.com
our age or in my case much younger than that, we can get a judgmental stare from whatever high and mighty cashier scans our box of Trojans. This guilt does not drive a student from having sex; it just drives a student from using a condom. Not using a condom, in terms of preventing STD’s and pregnancy, is utterly unacceptable. For this reason I implore the school to provide readily available condoms for its students to use outside school. The condoms are cheap, they are a symbol of responsibility, and more importantly, they prove the school is proactive in encouraging healthy habits in their students lives. n
volume XXV Issue VII
What do the PHS Thespians, Bobbing for Sea Urchins, Pembroke Hill Lax, Pembroke Hill Football, Rockhurst and Shawnee Mission East’s Choraliers have in common? All of those groups have members who are also members of Y Chromotones. The Y Chromotones is an all male a capella singing group under the direction of former PHS Choir director Ken Foley. This year the group’s members, often called “Y’s” and occasionally called “Y’s guys”, include high school males from schools around the city such as Pembroke, Rockhurst and SM East. The Pembroke Hill Y’s include Ryan Buck, Spencer Collet, David Kipke, Jay Todd Max, Dave Nair, and Adam Young. For years Pembroke Hill has had a large membership within Y’s, but with Foley’s move to SM East, the Pembroke Y’s are calling more than ever for new Raider talent to uphold the PHS tradition. In the past the
Y Chromotones have showcased such voices as Wally Foreman, Eddie Higgins and Brennan Caldwell in classic songs like Pinball Wizard by The Who, Lose Your Love by Outfield and Streetcorner Symphony by Rob Thomas. But there are not only storied landmarks for Y’s in the past, there are exciting things on the horizon for the current Y Chromotones. This year they might appear on iTunes. In the past the Y’s have recorded their songs and distributed them on CD, but soon the songs might also be sold on iTunes. Another thing to look for is the spring concert. Each year the seniors in Y Chromes get to choose a song to lead and sing it at the spring concert in addition to the songs the group sings as a whole. So with this year’s spring concert approaching, the Y’s are gearing up with such songs as Alexi Murdoch’s Orange Sky sung by Ryan Buck, Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours sung by Spencer Collet, The Republic Tiger’s
Buildings and Mountains sung by Jay Todd Max and possibly even Train’s Drops of Jupiter sung by Dave Nair. So you’ve read about the Y’s of old and the current Y’s, and hopefully it’s inspired you (if you’re male) to plan on trying out for Y’s and lay in the pages of its record books for all of time. If in fact you are interested in trying out for the Y Chromotones, just talk to one of the members, and they will keep you in the loop for dates. Typically the auditions are in the summer, and they are always a good time. Y’s is a group for high school guys who enjoy music and want to sit around and sing good music. A note for everyone, even those of you who do not intend to audition (especially you all of the female persuasion), look for Y’s music on CDs and on iTunes around the end of the school year, and most of all look for updates about the spring concert. Come and enjoy the music. n
Suggestions Throughout the school year, the Voice has collected suggestions about anyone, anything, anywhere in a cardboard box in the commons. Here are the results.
Never give us up! never let us down! never run around and desert us! never make us cry! never say goodbye! never tell a lie and hurt us! Have real oatmeal in the commons cafe One assignment per night for AP French
There should be some assembly where all the maintenance people and lunchroom people are introduced (and any other non-teacher-staff).
They work hard for us every day and few people know who they are Get computers that don’t take 4.21 hours to load to replace the ones that do, or don’t shut them down Try harder
Let students on the wireless internet access their email accounts like aol, gmail and yahoo
Less suggesting
Superhero day
Get a better sign out in front
give me a piece of your pizza
Put one o’clock lunch back the way it was. It was fine. We made it through 1st quarter fine
Jimmy Johns in the cafe Move choir back to 12:10 Senior breakfast
Red Bull in the bookstore Someone invent Jolly Rancher perfume
Free spirit shades
Get rid of capstones!
1st semester senior ditch day Bring the senior lounge/room back Instead of moving 16-17 to meetings, how about we just cut the day short on days like that? No homework 2007 “El Collosus” should have won - hands down Don’t rep the pep Grow up More chocolate chip cookies Get me into college What happened to the lunch food? Get lazy-boys for every senior only play good music in the commons Better lunch food or Einstein Bros in the commons Pep club shouldn’t steal other people’s bulletin boards plasmas in the commons Let us stay in the building until at least 5:15, some parents work later! Lunch for everyone during finals week! Let us watch our movies after school in class rooms Change the cheerleaders’ cheers! I suggest that people be nice to everyone for the last quarter. End the embargo.
opinion
volume XXV Issue VII
April 2009
Page 17
Rethinking the Drug Policy LG: Advice for the Class of 2009 David Kemper Senior Editor
Last month Spencer Collet called for a change in Pembroke’s drug policy. The actual call for change was buried at the tail end of the lengthy article, dragging the reader at one point through a half column long citation of the school handbook, so, in the probability you didn't make it past that, here is Spencer's point, reproduced for your convenience: “I implore the school to revise its drug policy by specifying that a saliva test is the only acceptable testing option for the school.” I disagree. Collet is calling for the use of saliva drug testing for the sake of enforcing the letter of the school rules, citing that the short term residue tested in a saliva test is appropriate for the school’s policy of no tolerance of drug use at school. However, he neglected the intent of our school's policy. Rather, his change would push Pembroke towards being more tolerant of drug use when Pembroke should become less tolerant. Drug use is a problem at our school, and however much many parents would like to turn a blind eye to the problem, often not even being willing to admit that their child drinks, much less smokes weed or snorts cocaine, it is a serious one. Collet called on the school to not deal with what he said our parents should deal with, but if the parents are not dealing with a problem, why should the school stand by as a student’s life is harmed? Yes, I believe in freedom for students and yes, I find that Pembroke has gone too far in restricting the rights of students in many ways that have a negative impact, much of it subconscious, on the mentality of the student body, but drug policy is not one of those ways. To the contrary,
in my four years in the Upper School I repeatedly found myself astonished by what the administration lets slip. The zero tolerance policy has resulted in a few days of suspension here and there for drug use, bringing marijuana on school field trips, and many other infringements of school policy I would have fully expected to have resulted in expulsion, and those are for the offenses that
the bullet that killed a victim of drug violence. Drugs are bad. The parents want a drug free school; the administration wants a drug-free school, and we should have a drugfree school, so let’s reconsider Pembroke’s whole policy, shaping enforcement around intent. Make the use of illicit drugs at any time during the school year the business of the school, but drop the zerotolerance clause. Should a student be suspected of using illegal drugs, test them ap p r o p r i at e ly, but if they test positive and it's their first offense, require that they go through an appropriate counseling or rehabilitation program while being suspended from school. Immediate expulsion would do little to solve the real problem while causing innumerable new ones for a family that should be addressing their child's situation. A repeated offense would result in expulsion. Next, trust the students to elect the student representatives of the disciplinary committee once again. They are there to fairly enforce school policy, and the students better know who actually follows that policy than the faculty and administration. Finally, open up discussion of the drug problem at Pembroke. This is a problem that plagues most high schools, but, as a small, private school, we have the opportunity to truly confront it. Bring back the headmaster’s quarterly forums and open up direct discussion of how the school community can confront this issue. Yes, it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but, as once appeared on the physics board, transcendence often comes through discomfort. Let’s push our comfort level and transcend this problem. n
“Do not conform the testing method to the policy but conform the policy to its intent.” are caught. I have found myself stupefied at some of the stuff I have seen students get away with from blatant alcohol use to the seemingly obvious effects of some pretty hardcore drugs. Collet criticizes the school for using a test that reveals drug use after school and on weekends because the school’s policy is to only be concerned with what happens during its hours, but maybe the change that is necessary is not to conform the testing method to the policy but to conform the policy to its intent. The intent: have a drug-free student body. Why? This could go on for a while, but while drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroine are well accepted to harm the body, even marijuana use, often considered harmless, causes deaths. For example, the U.S. is the demand that fuels America’s drug wars that have cost thousands upon thousands of lives, and consumers at places like Pembroke drive that demand. While drugs such as cocaine often grab the news, marijuana sales in the U.S. provide the majority of the cartels’ income, income that is used to kill more innocents. Ever spent more than a dollar on marijuana? Your fun may have paid for
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Ms. Gordon Contributor
I’m not exactly sure why someone on the newspaper editorial board thought I had the gravitas to qualify for a spot in this last issue. After all, MB thought I had wandered up to the podium accidentally last year at commencement dinner, and my seniors in English routinely ignore my threats. Given my love of satire, you’ll need to understand that irony and hyperbole are second nature to me, so don’t be offended. The end-of-year activities have started, and, with them, the usual moral quandaries: do we really let people who have not been at PHS since diaperhood dance around the May Pole? After all, if we do that, then we might have to re-consider our exclusivity policies at certain country clubs, and that precedent would bring the end to civilization as we know it. Ethical dilemmas such as whether to show up for class aside, the end of the year brings with it both silliness and seriousness. You seniors will soon be leaving (let us hope), and so the remaining days are bittersweet. Everyone aches for the arrival of that sweetscented May evening in the immaculately manicured quad where parents’ eyes brim with tears, and
graduates, robed and mortar-boarded, text each other, completely ignoring the words of wisdom delivered for their benefit. Your summer will pass more quickly than you can imagine so don’t waste it. Work, play, travel, read, relax, and befriend your parents: you have no idea how much you will need them in the immediate months to come and after you graduate from college and come home to live because you don’t have a job or are procrastinating by getting another degree. Learn something about your city before you leave it. No doubt, next year, if you travel to schools beyond Booneville or Wichita, you will get the predictable sneers from East Coast snobs or the vacant stares from the West Coast denizens when you tell them you’re from the Midwest. Don’t let them needle you with comments about Toto or cow-tipping, or unnerve you by calling up the antics of the notorious Fred Phelps or the FlatEarth members of the Kansas School Board. You have every right to be proud about Kansas City. The Bloch Building addition to the NelsonAtkins was voted building of the year by Time magazine in 2007; the zoomiest sports complexes around the world are designed right here in KC by
firms like HOK and HNTB; the World War I Liberty Memorial has garnered international recognition. Enlighten the unenlightened. Stay in touch with your friends and make new ones. Whether you IM or text, give each other support; first semester is scary, especially since you have no control over the bizarre eating and sleeping habits of your roommate(s). Don’t be shy about striking up a conversation with total strangers among your fellow students; remember – you’re from the heartland. Being genuinely warm to people comes more naturally to us. Remember us, those of who have tried for years to teach you. We have sweated blood to make sure you know at which end of an essay to place a thesis and how to perform sophisticated m a t h e m a t i c a l calculations so you can decipher your bank statements. Most importantly, laugh. You’re practiced at laughing at us, your parents and teachers, but learn to laugh at yourself as well. A well honed sense of humor gives anyone an advantage over those who take themselves seriously and annoy all the rest of us. P.S. If you text me, make sure you identify who you are (O.M. and A.K. can clarify). Seriously. n
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The Forum
Page 18
April 2009
volume XXV Issue VII
Leslie Thompson ‘11 describes her experience with MACLA in the Dominican Republic Leslie Thompson Contributer
Generally speaking humans look alike. Rarely, in terms of odds, does the human body deviate from the basic form of the human form, such as two legs and arms, a nose, ears, and all that good stuff. In terms of deviating from the basic human plan, I speak of physical deformities such as not having an ear. This scale of malformation certainly draws negative and unwanted attention. Just this February, I was volunteering in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and witnessed several cases of people with malformations and post traumatic scaring. Now reach up and feel your ears. They are symmetrical,
for the most part, a normal looking ear. Imagine you have that normal looking ear on your right side, but on the left side of your head there is a knarled mass of soft flesh about the size of a quarter. That is the type of mal development I saw in the Dominican Republic. How I came to be in the DR was through an organization called Medical Aid for Children of Latin America, MACLA. MACLA is a Kansas City based, nonprofit organization consisting of plastic surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other volunteers. All these selfless volunteers provide their time and skills
His chin was pitted with scars, and he was missing large sections of his lower and upper lips. The injury inhibited his ability to speak and eat. The boy’s parents would not let him attend school even though he yearned to learn. The parents were too ashamed of their son’s appearance. Photo Credit to Leslie Thompson The goal of who couldn’t close the surgery was to to correct congenital (genetic) and traumatic his mouth. When he give him the ability deformities. This was about two, he to close his lips. The included organization and the had fallen and cut surgery up his chin and lips. muscle graphs and volunteers provide love and high quality This area promptly skin graphs. Although surgical care to the contracted an infection the damage can not be children of the DR and which devoured his completely repaired, Bolivia that they would flesh and resulted in his life has improved. scaring. His mouth was With the surgery he not otherwise receive. An example permanently stuck in a should be able to speak, of a case I saw was grin exposing his dried eat and close his mouth better. of a ten year old boy gums and rotten teeth. considerably
The Past Fifteen Years:
t
the
The Ultimate Pembroke Hill Quiz for Seniors
___A) A substitute teacher with a breakfast cereal name ___B) “Life’s too short for joy, kids.” ___C) Wrote the textbook ___D) Scholar Bowl Meeting ___E) Draaawwwllllinngg, “sex is overrated” and Jenga ___F) Rejected Elliot Goff for prom ___G) “Seriously?” ___H) “What color was George Washington’s white horse?” ___I) “Anyone want a Green Weenie?” ___J) Khaki ___K) Named his fetus Cletus. ___L) Exlax in the coffee. ___M) “Do I look like Boofoo?” ___N) Quit the CIA (or at least says so) ___O) Critters of the day. ___P) Oregon Trail. ___Q) Famous for cheese dip and fish fry ___R) Homestar Runner ___S) ego sum magistra ___T) “Don’t steal muffins.” ___U) Knows where EVERYTHING is in the library ___V) Hickphonics ___W) Not fan of hippies, but fond of explosions ___X) Changed name ___Y) Former Yale football player who loves coffee ___Z) Formed own morning coffee club ___AA) Trains ___BB) “Am I speaking Swahili?!?!?!” ___CC) Cute, Oxford graduate with an accent.
1. Mr. Young 2. Dr. Salinger 3. Mr. White 4. Mr. Longhofer 5. Ms. Kellogg 6. Mrs. Wells 7. Mr. Pessalato 8. Mrs. Kubicki 9. Ms. Gordon 10. Dr. Schulkin 11. Mr. Sigler 12. Dr. Graves 13. Mrs. Pommier 14. Ms. Jones 15. Mr. Hill 16. Mr. Jones 17. Ms. Trotta 18. Mr. Lewis 19. Mr. Medlock 20. Mr. Christian 21. Mr. Woods 22. Mr. Schmidt 23. Mlle. Croibier-Muscat 24. Mr. Griffiths 25. Mrs. McIntyre 26. Mr. Beeler 27. Ms. Erickson 28. Mrs. Lacy 29. Mrs. Reams
A.5 B.1 C.6 D.10 E.7 F.29 G.9 H.4 I.3 J.11 K.22 L.13 M.15 N.14 O.25 P.17 Q.26 R.24 S.28 T.8 U.27 V.19 W.16 X.20 Y.18 Z.2 AA.12 BB.21 CC.23
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Editors-in-Chief Rima Abhyankar and Greta Shum
The Class of 2009 Seniors-in-Chief Shajiah Jaffri David Kemper
Designers-in-Chief Ava Amirahmadi Wesley Gross
Opinion-in-Chief Spencer Collet
The Senior-Staff Jessica Bly, Homayon Ghassemi, Corrie Vesely Stephanie Goel, Kate Munday, Jay Todd Max The Contributors Nick Anderson, Katie Greenbaum, Ryan Buck, Colin Baker, Emily Bamberger, Rebecca Queen, Karen Qin, Deven Morris, Mark Reardon The Exiles Chad Allen, Paige Anderson Artiste Brennan Power
The Underclassmen Sophomores-in-Chief Peggy Pruitt Mimi Starr The Contributors Leslie Thompson, Isaac Alpert, Evan O’Keefe, Brad Bolman, Andy Miller, Tiffani McReynolds, Max Gall The Helper Nelson Collet
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Most important, he will look more normal and not be stigmatized, which often happens to people with deformities. As much as MACLA has benefited the people of the DR, it has also benefited me. I have learned the beliefs and views of another society. Also, I have learned more about science and technology. I feel I have directly helped children, even through the small part of entertaining kids and fetching supplies for surgeries. I highly encourage you, the reader, to volunteer in the DR or send donations. There are plenty of ways to get involved. Go to www. MACLA.org. n
The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year. The paper is intended to be an open forum, created by the students for the students, alumni, faculty, parents and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. All comments, complaints and concerns are accepted in the form of a letter to the editor. These letters can either be sent to The Voice at the Pembroke Hill School, 5121 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64112 or be emailed to voice.phs@gmail.com. The editors reserve the right not to edit or omit letters which they deem to be too long or contain questionable or unverifyable subject matter.
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