Nevarmore
Ravenscroft School
Ravenscroft School
7409 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615
April 2015
Students complete substance abuse survey
CaseyHarris
Editor
In January, the entire Upper
School, and the eighth grade students, sat in 9:35 advisory period to completed the survey that Peter Bogue, Head of Upper School, introduced to the juniors and seniors earlier in the fall. Part of the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Education Program, the survey was given in a test-like environment, with students required to leave all belongings in the hallway. The Students Attitude and Behavior Survey is provided by Freedom From Chemical Dependency (FCD), an organization that works with schools and communities in the United States and more than fifty different countries around the world to provide substance-abuse prevention services. It is a fifty-question assessment that, according to the FCD website, measures the “students’ actual
attitudes and behavior with regard to alcohol and other drugs, as well as their perceptions of the behavior and attitudes of their schoolmates.” The results are then broken down into a by-grade, by-gender, and by-risk report that includes information on how to communicate the data to students, faculty, and parents. According to Renee Soulis, the FCD correspondent for Ravenscroft School, the survey will “help to quantify at which grade certain substances start to become used by students.” Dr. Susan Perry, Assistant Head of Upper School for Faculty Development and Student Guidance, referred to the survey as a “tool” and a reference, used as a starting point to target Ravenscroft’s program. Perry believes that this survey will be an instrument to identify the drug and alcohol problems that might be occurring in the student body.
An administrator’s input: “Once the data is returned from the FCD, Ravenscroft can then assess developing a strategic plan for alcohol and drug prevention education. We will use the data evidence based research called the ‘social norms model’ to help open a new era in creating a healthy school community and reducing student use and abuse of substances. We want to be one of the schools that embrace this approach. As community we are committed to doing everything we can to address one of the most significant threats to our students’ lives and our school community’s health.” - Susan Perry
Assistant Head of Upper School for Faculty Development and Student Guidance
Artwork by Morgan Shuey, ‘ 15, used as promotional material for SPEAK.
SPEAK day lacks senior turnout Upper School Administration disappointed by lack of senior student support for event
Emi Myers This
Editor
year’s second annual SPEAK day failed to attract full attendance of the senior class. “Sixty-six out of 119 senior students arrived on time on January 16 for the half day of student led workshops and presentations,” said Amy Lamond, Upper School Administrative Assistant. This attendance record precipitated a grade-wide meeting with Peter Bogue, Head of Upper School, and senior advisors outside of Murphy Hall. Bogue called the meeting
the following Monday, January 20, during the 9:35 period to express his disappointment in the senior class. Students were asked to separate themselves into three groups: students who attended SPEAK, students who did not, and the students who had a hand in organizing the day. Seniors were then asked to reflect on this visual. “Students worked incredibly hard to develop and lead this program committing time well after school for months and by the seniors not showing up, they, maybe unintentionally, signaled to the group that they didn’t care,” said Bogue. His disappointment was ex-
acerbated by the fact that seniors are the “natural leaders of the campus.” Of the 51 absent students, Bogue said he suspects a minority did not attend SPEAK because of legitimate plans but most students thought it was a non-academic day and opted for a long week-
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“Students worked incredibly hard to develop and lead this program committing time well after school for months and by the seniors not showing up, they, maybe unintentionally, signaled to the group that they didn’t care” - Peter Bogue Head of Upper School
end instead of attending the diversity awareness day. Reed Margolis, ‘17 and SPEAK organizer, said, “I believe that a majority of the seniors did not attend because they wanted to take a ‘non-academic half day’ off. They felt like their high school career is almost over; therefore, they feel like their attendance is not needed.”
“The whole point of SPEAK is to raise awareness about diversity and inclusivity issues. If the only people who show up are the people who are already aware, then SPEAK is not serving its purpose. We missed the target audience,” Margolis added. Seniors who were not present missed NC State Professor Rupert Nacost, the opening speaker, 6 student led workshops, and closing performances by a Ravenscroft student and the spoken word group Sacrificial Poets. SPEAK is one of a few student led programs to be a part of Ravenscroft’s board initiated strategic plan to create a more “culturally aware and inclusive community,” said Bogue.
2 Table of Contents Page 2 Addams Family Katherine Booth
Calendar
Page 3 Speaker Alexis Jones Haley Gardner
Page 4 Measles
Adam Jordan
Page 5 Rhonda’s Cafe Prices Brett Hansel
Page 6 Survey Opinion Casey Harris
Page 7 Editorial
Emi Myers, Casey Harris, Austin Morin, haley Gardner
Page 8 twinkle twinkle ‘croft stars ERIN Kelly
Page 9 Starbucks Katherine Booth
Off-Campus Lunch Axel Barth
Page 10 American Sniper Review
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Fall play: The Addams Family musical Katherine Booth Staff Writer
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hey’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky... The Addams Family. This year, Ravenscroft’s Middle School and Upper School presented The Addams Family Musical. Louis Mallison ‘15 and Lauren Walsh ‘16 played the power couple, Morticia and Gomez, while their two children Wednesday and Pugsley were played by Elle Schantz ‘20 and Nick Walsh ‘21. The other members of the Addams clan, Uncle Fester, Lurch, and Grandma Adams were played Matt Sheaffer ‘18, Ford Layman ‘15, and Gwen Shope ‘15, respectively. This musical deviated from the typical story of the Addams family and dove into the story of Wednesday’s boyfriend and his peppy parents, Uncle Fester’s new love, and family conflicts. With new jokes, plot, and cast members, Ravenscroft’s the Addams Family Musical brought a fun twist to the classic and lovable story. Wednesday’s boyfriend, Lucas, played by Andrew Thrash ‘17, and his two parents ,Alice and Mal Beineke, played by Haley Murdoch ‘16 and Chazz Upchurch ‘15, bring a fun twist with their cheery manner. After one night at the Addams household, the Beineke family experiences a clash of personalities and emotions while dealing with the dark and mysterious Addams Family. The cast members had been preparing for this show since November, putting in hours of
Cast of the Addams Family Musical: Zoe Nagel, ‘19, Lauren Walsh, ‘16, Louis Mallison, ‘15, Matt Sheaffer, ‘18, Cory Carr, ‘16, Haley Murdock, ‘16, Elle Schantz, ‘20, Ethan Fisk, ‘18, Jessica Kim, ‘15, Brianna DeStaffan, ‘17, Nick Walsh, ‘21, Bailey Foster, ‘21, Maragret Russell, ‘20, Rachel Ansett, ‘16, Madeline Zucker, ‘18, Melissa Kong ‘19, Chazz UpChurch, ‘15, Stagecraft Instructor Russell Vacanti, Drama Instructor Jason Sharp, Ford Layman, ‘15, Andrew Thrash, ‘17. practice. The actor’s schedules consisted of daily rehearsals as well as occasional Saturday choreography sessions. Outside of specified rehearsal time, all students had to be sure to memorize lines, cues, and music. All their hard work certainly paid off, as the entire cast worked cohesively to successfully perform the musical in front of hundreds of audience members. While attending a rehearsal, it was clear that the actor’s were very receptive to feedback from both the director, Jason Sharp, and the music director, Marilee Vana. At the beginning of their usual Tuesday rehearsal, Sharp said to the entire
“I thought that it was a very unique effort at bringing a new kind of musical to Ravenscroft. However, I thought that some parts of it were not as well executed as they could have been. It was a good try- and I applaud the efforts of the entire cast and crew.” - Caroline Gainey ‘15
cast, “Please remember to stay in character a lot longer, wait until you are all the way off stage. So, principals, remember this because I know it is something you can fix. The exits were basically non-existent yesterday, so try and focus on this more today.” The exits during that rehearsal improved significantly, demonstrating their attempts and overall hard work to improve. The final week before the first performance, the actors had to incorporate costumes and makeup, which made rehearsals much more challenging. Adaptability was key, and the entire cast and crew worked to make sure that these editions had a
“I thought it was great. It looked really professional, and they looked like everyone was really into it.” - Camilo Corrales ‘18
somewhat smooth transition. Overall, the general vibe among the cast was a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Of course no theatrical production can be complete without a little drama. The Addams Family’s beloved Grandma, played by Gwen Shope ‘15, got injured the week before opening night. She fell off her horse and suffered a concussion that made rehearsing very difficult. With a little panic, Sharp had to search for a potential replacement for Shope. Thankfully, however, she overcame this immense obstacle and was able to perform her eccentric role despite her setback.
“I thought the set was incredible. Everyone did a wonderful job. The on stage cast was really tremendous, and I was floored when I found out about Wednesday actually being a middleschooler. [Everyone] did a super, super, job. I enjoyed it; it was funny and a lot of fun.” - Rick Cameron, Math Instructor
Parker Mikesh
Netflix
Melanie Moravec
Page 11 Baseball & Softball Spotlight Sydney Jordan
Wrestling
Chandler Hammersla
Page 12 1000 Point Ravens
Parent Conferences Teacher Workday
Easter/Passover Chapel
Chris Little
Raven College Players
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Nevarm re nline
MJ Malone
------------------------------------------------Spring Break-----------------------------------------------
ACT Testing
--------Special Olympics--------
4th Quarter Interim
-----------------------------------Teacher Appreciation Week-----------------------------------
Prom
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3
Alexis Jones is That Girl
Jones addresses Upper School students about self-worth, social media, and success Haley Gardner “A
Editor
s long as you live a life of mere consumption, and not of contribution, you will never stand in the warehouse of joy,” said Alexis Jones as she echoed the words of her mother as she addressed the Upper School community. Jones, an Empowerment Speaker, visited Ravenscroft to talk to Upper School students about respect, courage, and the improvement of our generation on January 15th. Ravenscroft US students were broken into two groups by gender, and Jones spoke to each group individually in what she called a “conversation.” Jones explained the struggles she faced attending a “super rich school” in Austin, Texas and comparing herself to her wealthier peers. Jones said that “we are all tethered by our insecurities and we all share that self-doubt,” but we should
not let our insecurities define us. After her father told Jones that he could not afford the University of Southern California, her “dream school,” Jones persevered and earned a scholarship. She explained that we are a “generation of dreamers” and the “generation of why not,” and we have the ability to change the world. Jones also addressed the standard of beauty and success, and how our generation needs to redefine it. When Jones moved to Los Angeles, California to attend USC, she thought living in Beverly Hills with the “perfect job and the Abercrombie model boyfriend” made her special. However, she experienced a wake-up call when one of her peers referred to her as “Alexis Jones, the girl with the perfect life.” According to Jones, even though she appeared to have “everything,” she really had nothing. After this realization, Jones changed her motivations from attaining beauty, fame, and wealth to helping others.
“After graduating from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a masters degree in Communication Management, Alexis Jones hosted a TV show on the Red Carpet, worked at Fox Sports, ESPN, and participated on the TV show Survivor. Through her novel, I Am That Girl and her speaking tour, “ProtectHer: Redefining Manhood,” Jones is working to inspire young men and women nationwide.” Image is from a video by Ally Wilson.
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Boys
Girls
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ones first elaborated on social media’s impact on sense of self, and how we are deceptively “photoshopping lives” on Instagram. For example, Jones shared that when she was parasailing on a small island in Turkey, she posted a seemingly “perfect selfie.” Though the image made her experience seem incredible, Jones revealed that she vomited multiple times mid-flight and felt very sick afterwards, thus proving that people’s perfect lives aren’t always what they seem. Jones commented that social media tells us to be rich, famous, and beautiful and that “beauty is commensurate to self-worth.” However, Jones divulged that when she was working on the red carpet, she learned that many attractive and wealthy celebrities are actually “dark and unhappy.” She explained that none of these frivolous qualities are truly important. Instead of glorifying superficial characteristics, women and girls need to start having meaningful “conversations about things that do matter,” Jones said. She posed the question, “At what point as girls and women were we taught to be so mean to each other?” She explained that there is a symbiotic relationship between how you treat yourself with how you treat others, and that self-respect is crucial. “I dare you to embrace the miraculous in you… the ubiquity all the flaws and all the insecurities,” Jones said.
eferring to herself as a “connoisseur of good men,” because of her strong relationship with her older brothers and her father, Jones clarified that there is a “huge discrepancy between boys and men.” Jones described that “the world gives a definition of manhood and success,” but we need to redefine it by asking the question, “What is success to you?” She stated that boys and men need to decide who they will choose to be. “Are you doing your job with kindness, compassion, grace, and humility?” she asked. Jones also explained that “girls are clawing for a beauty that it unattainable, and it is devastating for them.” She said that many girls will do anything for a boy’s affirmation, and used the Disney movie, the Little Mermaid, as a depiction of womanhood. Though Ariel, the mermaid, has everything, she still will do anything to marry Eric, the prince, and she eventually gives up her voice for him. Jones interpreted that the Little Mermaid teaches girls to be “mute, dumb, and smoking hot.” In the same way, “boys are programmed to have as many chicks as they can, but that is microscopic to what they have to offer the world,” Jones noted. She expressed that, instead of simply agreeing with what society says, it is important to formulate your own opinion and make definitions of “cool” for yourself. “Manhood could be integrity and leadership- the real life superhero,” Jones remarked. She stressed the importance of having the courage to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. For example, when Jones’ father was dying, her fiance expressed compassion and offered partnership, things which Jones said she desperately needed but had no courage to say it. Jones concluded by asking, “Will you protect the girls in your life better?”
Ravens share thoughts on presentation What was your opinion about Alexis Jones’ visit? “At the beginning of her speech she told all the guys about the unimportance of material objects and that life shouldn’t be built around the accumulation of wealth. By the end of the talk I learned all about her pro basketball player husband, her customized Range Rover (which she always dreamed about as a child), and her 15 min. of fame on Survivor. This left me confused.”
“I realized feminism isn’t just a bunch of women trying to prove that they are better than men. Honestly, feminism to me is just a way to unite ladies everywhere so we can all support each other and be the best we can be.”
“I felt she did the feminist movement a disservice. She was more concerned with her hair then her message. She spoke as if women were not able to take care of themselves. I feel she is one of those people who is more concerned with being famous than with having anything meaningful to pass on to society. I don’t think she really understands a young man’s point of view and she doesn’t represent women who think for themselves and who have a desire for equality. She set feminism back rather than move the women’s movement forward.”
-Ford Layman, ‘15
-Mary Neff, ‘17
- Joyce Fillip, US Faculty
Should students have been separated by gender? “Yes, it allowed Alexis Jones to cater to one specific group versus having to generalize for the Upper School as a whole. It allowed her to address specific problems versus addressing broad concepts.”
“No, I couldn’t give my own opinion to the guys during the small groups. Also I think that people who are homosexual could feel discriminated against if we separate by gender in the context of relationships.”
- Jackson Stocks, ‘17
- Chandler Presson, ‘17
“Yes, I think I was more comfortable being separated by gender. The thought of a boy being in an environment where girls are opening up about their experiences and being supportive of each other makes me feel very uncomfortable.” - Lila Winter, ‘17
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News
Measles outbreak: Ravenscroft’s immunization policy
sponded, “6 students...do not have complete immunizations and some of those are medical [exemptions], like a child who’s on chemo who cannot receive the final MMR shot or the final chickenpox shot until they finish their chemotherapy.” One of the six students is Liam King ‘15, who is open about his family’s decision to use more holistic medicine. He says the choice began with his father, who suffered numerous serious health problems in his 30s. After drugs from western doctors proved ineffective, William King saw a local Eastern-medicine physician, Dr. Pittman, whose methods involve herbal remedies rather than drugs. After being cured of his problems, Liam’s father extensively researched Eastern medicine, and concluded that Liam King ‘15, with his dad, William. holistic medicine, which excludes nia is that the state has more lenient vaccinations for diseases like the vaccination exemptions than other measles, was best for him and his dam ordan states. The California Department of family. STAFF WRITER Public Health’s “Shots for School” Liam, who is now 18, defends his winter, as many stu- vaccination program states that “a his now-adult decision not to get vacdents and faculty roam the hallways parent or guardian may have a child cinations: “I think that when I was a with coughs and runny noses, many exempted from required immuniza- baby, and still currently, what they are worried about surviving the flu tions if immunization is contrary to put into vaccines, [mercury and aluseason and this year in particular, a his/her beliefs.” Sixteen other states, minum] you shouldn’t put into anydifferent, far-worse sickness: Mea- not including North Carolina, have one.” He believes that the mercury sles. The most recent outbreak, which similar laws in place. This so-called and aluminum included in those vacstarted at Disneyland in California, “personal belief exemption” is in ad- cines are harmful to humans, and he has affected a total of 17 states and dition to the medical exemption that says that reading the ingredients in various vaccinations will reveal sev170 people, according to the Centers all states have. According to Ravenscroft eral components that shouldn’t be put for Disease Control and Prevention into the body. (CDC). The debate about vaccina- school nurse Martha Janes, Students are not the tions and personal freedoms has North Carolina law requires only unvaccinated members spread even further than the virus that all students are vaccinated of the Ravenscroft commuitself, and, unlike the Measles, has unless they have a special exnity, as at least one member infected Ravenscroft with curiosity emption for medical or reliof the Upper School facabout the school’s policy on immu- gious reasons, and she adds that “we do have a few students who ulty, Bill Pruden, Director nizations. of Civic Engagement and In the year 2000, The CDC do have those exemptions and determined that the measles virus had they are allowed [not to be “6 students do College Counselor, never been eliminated in the United States fully vaccinated].” All Raven- not have com- received the measles vacbecause of the highly effective MMR scroft students have to abide plete immuni- cine. Pruden says, however, that he really had no (measles, mumps, and rubella) vac- by the same policy regarding zations” choice of whether or not he cine. However, the term ‘eliminated’ vaccinations, as public-school was vaccinated: “I must admit that I doesn’t mean that the disease has students because the state law been completely eradicated, just a extends to all schools in North Caro- was not vaccinated for measles--but lack of continuous transmission over lina, according to Janes. When asked not because of an conscious personal how many students throughout all or family decision, but rather be12 months, according to the CDC. The reason that the out- three divisions of Ravenscroft had cause, as one of the older members break has been so rampant in Califor- incomplete vaccinations, Janes re- of the Upper School faculty, the vac-
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cine, which was available for public consumption in 1963, was not yet available.” Because of this, Pruden says he actually fell victim to a case of measles at a young age despite being quarantined from his siblings, who had contracted the virus. Bill Pruden’s story is just one of many examples as to just how contagious the measles virus is. This is why the CDC says “the best way to protect against measles is to get the [MMR] shot.” The biggest argument against vaccinations for measles and other
diseases are the potential side effects. While the CDC says that the MMR vaccine, like any other drug, can have side effects, they say the measles vaccine is “very safe.” The most common side effects for children are minor issues, like a fever and rash, and more serious side effects, like a high fever that causes a seizure is extremely rare, only about 1 in 3,000 people have this side effect.
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What’s your perspective on vaccinations? “VACCINATIONS ARE THE BEST!” - Zoe Welsh, Head of Science Department
“The decision whether or not to vaccinate is not a matter of individual liberties. When an individual chooses not vaccinate himself, he is not simply making a decision for himself...He is making a decision for the health of the entire community.”
“My aunt is a devoted outdoors woman who owns a horse ranch. However, she had polio as a child. It has a caused her a lifetime of suffering and she is now disabled by it to the point that she can no longer ride and can barely walk. We are so lucky that we no longer have to fear this disease.” - Karen Carroll, Math Instructor
-Laura Naslund ‘15 “My take, from the perspective of a doctor’s son: there is no link between ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) and vaccination.” - Jaxson Stocks ‘17
Don’t forget to sign up for AP Exams: Talk to Mrs. Pirotte if you want to take an AP exam for a class you are not taking at Ravenscroft
Measles Outbreak The measles outbreak in California is rapidly expanding, with officials now confirming 51 cases of the illness in the U.S. and 1 in Mexico. Officials said there was now evidence that the measles outbreak had spread beyond people who visited Disneyland between Dec. 17 and 20 and has infected people in the broader community.
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5
Paycheck Fairness Act
Inflated, unmarked prices lead to students’ overspending in Rhonda’s Cafe
Act proposing equal pay for women rejected while New Pay Secrecy Policy introduced
who have noticed overspending on sive and makes no sense compared food items at school. to just filling up a personal water Staff Writer Sahib Singh ‘17 has experi- bottle.” enced this and now his parents track Over half of the 157 students tudents are overspending his spending online. Sahib frequent- at Ravenscroft that responded to a in Rhonda’s Cafe, and they probably ly bought Mentos, muffins, cheese survey on prices and spending in sticks, and water bottles from Rhon- Rhonda’s Cafe have gotten in trouble don’t know that they are. Many students have been no- da’s, but when his parents noticed with their parents as a result of their ticing the high prices of food items that he had spent close to 350 dollars overspending, and almost all of the students that took the survey bein Rhonda’s Cafe. Aramark Food in Rhonda’s, they were furious. While he still buys from lieve that a visible price list would Service supplies Rhonda’s Cafe with go a long way in preventing their each item and decides on the dollar Rhonda’s, he says he has defioverspending. Many complained amount to price each item. Raven- nitely cut down on his spending, about the high prices and inscroft does not play any part in pric- staying away from items like the $2.00 cheese sticks. sisted that a price list should ing. Andrew Williams ‘17 be available at the cashier’s However, because of convedesk. nience pricing, Aramark is able to also has ran into trouble Although Rhoncharge customers at significantly when purchasing items da’s Cafe provides a conhigher prices than local grocery from Rhonda’s, specificalvenient way for students stores. For example, a Chicken ly water bottles and mufto quench their thirst or satCaesar Salad sold in Rhonda’s Cafe fins. This quickly became isfy their hunger, the prices is priced at $6.00, while it can be expensive, so his parents made are often a bit excessive. bought at half the price in Harris Tee- him stop buying the water bottles. Instead, he started to bring However, students must ter. a water bottle from home and it realize neither Ravenscroft Hungry students have has served him well. He also soon nor Mrs. Rhonda are to no choice but to buy the high switched away from buy- Sophomore Andrew blame, but rather priced items from Rhonda’s ing the overpriced muffins William’s brings his own the company that unless they pack their own and instead bringing water bottle to school. provides the food. snacks to school each day. muffins from home The lack of postbought from Harris Teeter ing of the prices of food “Due to the fact that because “they were less items in Rhonda’s can expensive and of much cause students to go far our prices change better quality than those over their balance withfrom our vendors and sold at Rhonda’s.” out knowing. Without we have tried new While he still does a price list available items, it has been hard buy from Rhonda’s occasionat the cashier’s desk ally, especially Chick-fil-A and without confirto keep an updated days, he is happy to switch mation of one’s total, a price list. A new price away from buying Rhonda’s student can easily lose track list will be posted in products as he states, “I of how much he or Sahib Singh, ‘17, once haven’t paid special atshe is spending on a the next few days.” bought six water bottles tention to the prices at daily basis. - Karen Jones in one day in Rhonda’s, but buying Students ofFood Service Director of Rhonda’s Cafe. two water bottles every ten have gone home Aramark day becomes very expento angry parents Photos by Brett Haensel
Brett Haensel S
Allyson Take M
Staff Writer
ore than 50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law. The law states that “No employer... shall discriminate... between employees on the basis of sex by paying wages to employees in such establishment at a rate less than the rate at which he pays wages to employees of the opposite sex.” When the law was signed in 1963, women earned 59 cents to a man’s dollar, according to the U.S. Department of labor. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Caucasian women earn 78 cents to a man’s dollar. African American women earn 64 cents and Latinas earn 54 cents for every dollar a man makes. The Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced to Congress in both 2009 and 2011 by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) in an attempt to close the loopholes in the Equal Pay Act. The proposed act would have made wages more transparent, required that employers prove that wage differences aren’t related to gender, prohibited companies from taking retaliatory action against employees who raise concerns about gender-based discrimination, and protected employees who identify and draw attention to gender based wage discrimination. However, Senate Republicans failed to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act in September of 2014. The bill received 52 votes, despite needing 60, to outweigh a Republican filibuster, or an action that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly. Republican National Committee National Press Secretary Kirsten Kukowski wrote in an e-mail that the act was unnecessary, due to the fact that “it is already illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender” because of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. She said that the law would have made “it nearly impossible for employers to tie compensation to work quality, productivity and experience, [thus hurting] all workers, especially women.” In April of 2014, President Obama signed a presidential memorandum instructing the Secretary of Labor to propose a rule that requires pay transparency among federal contractors. A press release from the White House Office of the Press Secretary explained that the new regulations must require federal contractors to submit “summary data of compensation paid to their employees.” On September 15th, 2014, the same day as the Paycheck Fairness Act vote, a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor “announced a proposed rule that would prohibit federal contractors from maintaining pay secrecy policies.” It states that federal contractors and subcontractors may not fire or discriminate against any employee “for discussing, disclosing or inquiring about their compensation or that of another employee.” To get more information on upcoming legislation concerning this topic, go to www.govtrack.com and search for “women’s employment.”
Ravenscroft community weighs in on fault in Cleveland police officer shooting of 12-year-old “Blame” Survey Results:
Tiger Harris
Staff Writer
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ace relations between AfricanAmericans and police officers has been more tumultuous this year; especially since the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri on August 14, 2014. Then, in November in Cleveland, Ohio, a 12-year-old boy named Tamir Rice was shot to death within on Friday, November Photo of Tamir Rice, License CC-BY 22, 2014, almost 2 seconds after authorities arrived. An anonymous caller reported to the Cleveland police department that a young black male, probably a juvenile was brandishing a gun around in the park. The caller also stated twice that the gun probably was fake. With this unrest in mind, The Nevarmore wondered how the Ravenscroft community felt about fault in Tamir Rice’s situation since, when discussed during Journalism/Newspaper class, many were unaware of his death. Interesting class discussions developed about the topic of the huge difference between the Ferguson community’s reaction with riots that attracted the national spotlight and the more peaceful, smaller demonstrations in Cleveland. In fact, on November 24 after the announcement that there would not be a federal indictment of the police officer who shot Brown, 200 people marched from the Public Square to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway which cause businesses there to temporarily close. But, there were no riots or looting as there had been in Ferguson. In the Ferguson case, Brown, 18, had committed the crime of shoplifting and was shot as he was being chased by the police, Rice, 12, had not committed a crime and was not running at the time of the shooting. The survey was sent to Ravenscroft faculty and students to see whom our community felt was to blame. Samaria Rice, Tamir’s While the top answer was “Police Officer,” results varied and the numbers show that the Ravenscroft commumother, being innity felt the death of Rice could not be blamed solely on terviewed after the one person or persons, it was a tragedy that attributed shooting. to the faults of many. Photo License CC-BY
Tamir Rice [16]
Police Dispatcher [8] Rice’s Mother [12]
Police Dept. [9]
Police Officer - his individual response was the issue [36.4%] Tamir Rice - at 12 years old should have known not to take orange safety tip off toy gun making it look real. [20.8%] Rice’s Mother - Allowing her son and daughter to play alone at park unsupervised. [15.6%] Police Department - lack of training and bad judgement when hiring officers [11.7%]
Police Officer [28]
Police Dispatcher - for not relaying to officers that the caller mentioned the gun looked as if it was not real. [10.4%]
Basic facts in the Rice Case:
An anonymous caller reported to the Cleveland police department that a young black male, probably a juvenile was brandishing a gun around in the park. The caller also stated twice that the gun probably was “fake.”
Police officers, Timothy Loehmann, 26, and Frank Garmback, 46, responded to the scene and shortly after arriving Loehmann fired two shots, one hitting Rice in the chest. Upon hearing gun shots Rice’s sister, 14, ran to her brother’s aid but was stopped by officer Garmback. She was “forced” to the ground, handcuffed, and placed into the back of the officer’s squad car. Rice was buried on December 3rd but his death still leaves many unanswered questions. Officer Loehmann, the shooter, joined the Cleveland police department in March of 2014. Before working in Cleveland, Loehmann resigned from another job as a police office in a city a few miles south of Cleveland after a supervisor described him as “distracted and weepy” and “emotionally immature.” Loehmann had also been described to have “a pattern of lack of maturity, indiscretion,” a “dangerous loss of composure during live range training” and an “inability to manage personal stress.” So why was he able to receive a job that he was previously deemed incapable of performing? The shooting has continued to add fuel to the fire concerning police brutality and unnecessary violence among inner city communities. This is the third death in four month span that has publicly been attributed to the abuse of police force.
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Opinion
Survey says... Student attitude and behavior survey aims at an accurate picture of student alcohol/drug usage & “perception” of usage leaving students with many questions about anticipated results A survey could distort reality Casey Harris by asking questions that lead students Editor
Overall, the school’s imple-
mentation of a student-body survey has good intentions. Unfortunately, many students have an “us vs. them” mentality that may impact the responses, especially among the upperclassmen. Working with an established, experienced company such as Freedom from Chemical Dependency, or FCD, is promising for the effectiveness of the survey, as a professional correspondent works closely with the school to interpret the data and plan out the consequential actions. There are still concerns, however, with the idea of a student-body survey overall. As with most of the school policies regarding drugs and alcohol, the argument can be made that Ravenscroft is stepping into a realm traditionally dominated by parental discussions in the home. Some might view school as strictly an academic institution that should not try and teach morals or beliefs. Furthermore, the school has no way of knowing what topics are deemed appropriate or “off limits” in a student’s household, and therefore might overstep its boundaries. Some questions have also arisen in regards to the accuracy of an anonymous survey that asks very specific questions to a cross section of the community with different experiences and opinions. AP Statistics teacher Ed Durham points out that questionnaires involving sensitive subjects, those that deal with unlawful or embarrassing activities, often have response bias. This means that the survey will most likely underestimate levels of use, and not portray an accurate assessment of the student body.
to answer in a certain way. The wording of a question could influence a student’s response and therefore alter their results. Durham does acknowledge, however, that there are ways to adjust findings to portray a more accurate data that are based on the experience the FCD has with such surveys and their inevitable bias. Inaccurate or false depictions of students could also come from the anonymous nature of the survey. Students logged into the survey using randomly generated codes and the only identifying questions within the survey ask their age, gender, and grade. While some students might be more likely to answer questions honestly as a result of not having to identify themselves, they might also take the opportunity to give less-thantruthful answers about other students. Also, as some of the questions involve a students’ perception of his or her peers, this could potentially create a false representation of certain demographics that is based solely on opinion, hearsay, or harsh feelings. For example, a freshman student might overhear a rumor of a senior partying excessively, and incorrectly assume, and therefore indicate, that all seniors party excessively. Eighth graders that scarcely ever come into contact with high schoolers, much less seniors, cannot possibly have an accurate idea of their activities, and yet they were asked to answer questions about “How often do you believe seniors drink?” The possibility of skewed data surrounding activities that involve legal consequences as a result of student drama or “perception” is concerning. While Dr. Perry stated that one of the goals of the Ravenscroft Drug and Alcohol Prevention Education Pro-
Cartoon by Melanie Moravec
Is 8th grade perception senior reality? gram is to create an environment where students feel safe, a questionnaire dealing with sensitive subjects is very likely to do the opposite. Specific questions might make students’ uncomfortable, and it is worth asking whether middle schoolers should be questioned about “heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogens” when they might not even know what those substances are. It will be interesting to see how the bridge between the students and the teachers regarding drugs and alcohol is made and whether or not this survey will positively impact the Ravenscroft community.
The administration’s opinion discussed
According to Peter Bogue, Head of Upper School, the survey will be used to show the inaccuracy of many student stereotypes dealing with drugs and alcohol. The data from questions involving peer perceptions will be shown against the data from questions dealing with individual behavior. It is important for to students to know that while they might think a larger percent of seniors drink or party, there are few who actually do, says Bogue. If students know that in reality, not everyone is doing it, they might feel less pressure to engage in dangerous or risky behavior.
A
ccording to the National Institute of Health, the three most important aspects of school-based prevention programs are structurehow each program is organized; content- how the information, skills, and strategy are presented; and deliveryhow the program is implemented. The Institute goes on to say that the most effective school-based prevention programs not only give information, but also focus on interactive conversations and activities with the students. Most of Ravenscroft’s Drug and Alcohol Prevention Educa-
tion Program has been designed and acted upon with little information ever reaching the student body, much less a significant amount of student input. While the administration did hold an assembly to introduce the survey, only the Junior and Senior classes were addressed, and how the survey would be used, other than as a part of the program, was only briefly touched on. Students walked away knowing they would be taking a survey as part of Ravenscroft’s program, but not with a clear idea of what it would be used for.
By not being completely up-front and transparent with the student body regarding the survey, as well as Ravenscroft’s program overall, the administration creates opportunities for misunderstanding and skewed opinions of Ravenscroft’s goals. Also, as of right now, it has been decided that the full report will not be released. Students need to be fully informed and aware of what is going on in their community in order to understand and accept what Ravenscroft is trying to accomplish.
Editor’s note:
It still remains unknown when the results of the survey will be released, and how/what parts of it will be disclosed to the teachers and students. When asked to send a short questionnaire about student reaction to the survey, the administration declined. This is another example of the vague way in which the school is delivering its Drug and Alcohol Prevention Education to the students.
Freedom from Chemical Dependency http://www.fcd.org/
FCD’s Mission: According to their website: “FCD’s mission is to work with schools and other organizations across the United States and around the world to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to make intelligent, healthy choices about alcohol and other drug use. We endeavor to: • Provide educational communities with the guidance and training necessary to implement comprehensive, effective approaches to substance abuse prevention • Educate students, parents, teachers and school administrators on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs • Promote awareness of drug addiction, including alcoholism, as a progressive, chronic and often fatal disease • Teach children and adults how to recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and to intervene appropriately • Empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drug use • Encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit drugs during the growing years.
FCD knows that each school community has unique needs. Fortunately, with extensive experience, we also know how to pair community needs with effective opportunities to enhance student wellness. FCD prevention specialists, a diverse set of highly-trained professionals passionate about prevention, are flexible, versatile, wellinformed and eager to help keep healthy students healthy around the globe.”
In North Carolina:
Along with Ravenscroft School, FCD works with: - American Hebrew Academy - Asheville School - Durham Academy - Charlotte Country Day School - Trinity Episcopal School
Around the World:
FCD works with schools in more than 40 countries around the world.
Editorial
Nevarmore
7
SPEAK Nevarmore editors share their thoughts on the required 2nd annual SPEAK day Emi Myers
Sarah Lowery
Editor-In-Chief
Associate Editor
If
we are truly striving for equality on-campus we need to respect everyone’s thoughts and actions without regard to our own personal agendas. I am in favor of freedom. I am in favor of diversity of thought and expression even if it means fostering an environment which allows a spectrum of opinions ranging from the most fervent advocate of affirmative action to the full blown racist. This freedom would permit parents to choose how to instill morals, values, and beliefs in their children as well as the freedom for individual students to think and speak however they wish to as they mature into young adults. Sensitive issues like substance abuse and diversity awareness do not belong in school curriculums. Schools should be charged with the responsibility to teach students core subjects and make all other ventures a choice for students and their families. Without this choice we risk having a community filled with the same type of people with the same type of opinions and same basic views on everything. I do not see the value in forcing diversity awareness down the throats of students. It is both entirely ineffective and runs the risk of pushing already wary students to more radical points of view.
Nevarmore
This paper serves as a communication link within Ravenscroft School and between the school and the local community. The Nevarmore staff strives to produce a professional-quality publication that follows the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists. Our overall objective is to print the news for and about our students and other members of our school and community in a fair and objective way with the utmost regard for integrity.
I
believe that SPEAK is a great student-led project. But, since the program is so new, I think that the leaders are still learning what works and what doesn’t appeal to students. I think that students should make their best effort to keep their minds open and attend the event. However, because we don’t have school the following Monday, I can definitely understand why so many students missed.
Austin Morin Associate Editor
Haley Gardner Associate Editor
I
fully support gender, racial, religious, and social equality, but I don’t think SPEAK effectively addressed any of these issues. I feel that was the main reason many seniors skipped was because they felt there was not much Associate Editor to gain from attending. The day was a perfect opportunity to make a four day weekend and it was also during a week in which many college applications were due. It was a perfect storm for a low attendance day. A personally disagree with sad thing about the day was that a majority of our group discussions students being required to attend revolved around addressing “Ravenscroft stereotypes,” rather than disSPEAK. I think it is a good program cussing much bigger issues in society. I thought it was odd that SPEAK for those interested but goes against was required but the Environmental speaker earlier in the year was not. some of my personal and religious A good education should already prepare a student to face such beliefs. I also think it is very oneissues in society, an educational day like SPEAK is unnecessary to ac- sided and promotes a specific opinion/view, and I complish this goal. If Ravenscroft wants to teach students to embrace do not agree with that. diversity then it should be incorporated into the curriculum.
Faculty Advisor: Helen Velk
Casey Harris
I
Editorial Team: Emi Myers, Editor-In-Chief Haley Gardner, Casey Harris, Sarah Lowery, Austin Morin, Associate Editors
Wire Service
The Nevarmore subscribes to MCT Campus, which provides photographs, national news & entertainment services to high school newspapers.
I
think SPEAK is a great way to bring the Ravenscroft community together to discuss our similarities and differences. It is effective in allowing students to be vulnerable and openly share their thoughts about society. During the last SPEAK event, I really enjoyed the speaker, Dr. Narcoste, and his message about micro aggressions and how they have a larger, negative impact on others than we might intend.
The unsigned editorials in this issue are a reflection of the combined opinions of the editorial team. Responses in the form of a letter are welcomed and will be considered for publication.
Editorial Content:
1) The students on The Nevarmore staff will print articles which have been researched to the best of their ability to obtain the most complete information. 2) The information will be presented in an objective, truthful and fair manner. 3) When personal commentary is given it will be in good taste on issues that have been researched, analyzed and where expert opinion has been sought, and then presented to the best ability of the writer. 4) No material which is obscene, libel or anything that will cause a “material and substantial disruption” of the school day, according to accepted legal definitions, will be printed.
8
F Nevarmore TWINkle, TWINkle ‘Croft Stars
eature
Macklemore, Famous Rapper
Julia Bowen, “Claire” on Modern Family
Peter Bogue, Head of Upper School, & Tom Bergeron, AFV Host
Reed Margolis, ‘17 & Mark Ballas, Professional Dancer
David Hansen, ‘15 & Zac Efron, Actor
Helen Velk, Journalism Instructor
Douglas Elks, ‘17
Justin Timberlake, Singer & Kevin Flinn, English Teacher
P
Pronunciations explained g n i l z
uz
Kobina Johnson, ‘16 | <kobina> |
“People usually pronounce my name ‘ko-BEEN-a’, but it’s actually ‘KO-bin-a’”
Ben Kasierski, ‘17 | <kasierski> |
“It’s “Kuh-zer-ski” but it’s been pronounced “kah-zeer-ski” or even “kazE-es-ski.” The first tries are always very close *If you can’t pronounce the name “Ben” correctly then there’s probably something else wrong...”
Sahib Singh
Staff Writer
I
n our diverse community, there are many people with unique names. Their names are often mispronounced or misspelled. Though some students feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when a teacher or peer mispronounces their name, many of these students don’t have the courage to correct their teacher or their student peers when it happens. Kevin Billerman has experienced awkward pronunciation situations, as he said, “I usually have a problem with students’ last names, and I have had parents correct me.” Lee Owen, a US faculty member, commented, “I feel bad, and I want students to correct me when I mispronounce their names so they don’t feel uncomfortable.” Amy Lamond explained that in order to gain the correct pronunciation of someone’s name, she often has to “ask around to see how other teachers and students say them.”
Laia Roura, ‘18 <laia>
“People mispronounce my name too, they pronounce it “Leia” like Princess Leia from Star Wars but it is pronounced “Laia”
Vaden Ellwanger, ‘16 | <ˈveɪ.dən > |
“People often say my name as “BAden” instead of “Vaden” or sometimes I’ve gotten “Vada”
Mark Laskowski | ləˈskɒfski | History Instructor
“Growing up, we often were
amused by telemarketers who would call up and ask for Mr. Luckowski or Mr. Laskowitz or Mr. Luswuzooski. And of course, we never bought any products from them because--and this is the first rule of business--you need to learn your customer’s name.”
Menaka Atree, ‘16 | <menaka> |
“People often mispronounce my name as men-AH-ka instead of MEN-a-ka.”
Nevarmore
Feature
9
JO U R N E Y: An epic quest to find the perfect cup of “coffee”
AV A
J
Katherine Booth
taste. That is when my Starbucks journey started, I slowly progressed into ordering drinks with more coffee and less sugar . For those of you ready to enter the daunting world of coffee, you can follow my steps and you will be drinking coffee in no time.
Staff Writer
I
always saw people walking around with Starbucks cups, and never really understood the draw. I had heard from lots of friends how helpful coffee could be, but absolutely could not get over the bitter
Step 2:
Step 1:
Cafe Vanilla Frappuccino
Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
Step 3:
Once you are used to the taste of the
T
Chai Tea Latte
You will get used to
Vanilla Bean Frap, you will be ready for the Cafe Vanilla Frap. The same sugary flavor now with a shot of coffee to give you a caffeine boost. (95 MG of Caffeine)
his may be the easiest step towards a coffee life, this is a sugar filled, cold, cup of vanilla deliciousness A.K.A the “Starbucks milkshake.” Does this drink wake you up in the morning? If yes, then that would be from all the sugar, 57 g to be exact, because this drink contains NO caffeine.
the slight coffee taste, and are ready to move along. Switching to a warmed Starbucks drink is a necessary adjustment, and a Chai Tea Latte is the perfect option, with the same amount of caffeine per cup, it is a small jump in the right direction. (95 MG of Caffeine)
Step 7: Freshly Brewed Coffee. This is a pure coffee, caffeine filled,
Step 4:
warmed drink. You can now walk into Starbucks like a boss and order an actual cup of coffee. At this step, you have earned the right to judge all the other teens ordering “coffee” that is actually about 3/4 sugar, 1/8 milk, and 1/8 coffee.
A
step up from the soothing chai, a warmed caramel sugar taste mixed with espresso, this has more caffeine and less sugar than the
Step 5:
(330 mg of caffeine)
Iced Caramel Macchiato
Step 6:
The same caramel taste, now
Iced Coffee with milk.
with ice and less sugar. This drink no longer has the syrup froth in every sip like the warmed version, so it is more coffeetasting, but as the ice melts it gets a milder taste. (150 MG of Caffeine)
Similar to the Macchiato, this drink has a lot less sugar, but is still sweeter and less bitter than pure coffee. After you get used to this drink, it is just a small step to straight coffee. (165 MG of Caffeine)
Caramel Macchiato
previous drinks. (150 MG of Caffeine)
Off campus lunch guide 1-4 mins
2 mins
3 mins
2 mins
3 mins
5-7 mins 5 mins
5 mins
5 mins
5 mins
7 mins
7 mins
Ravens’ Favorite Places for Off-Campus Lunch Chick-Fil-A Moe’s Southwest Grill Cookout Tenko PDQ Jersey Mike’s Subs Chipotle
2 mins
3 mins 7 mins
3 mins
3 mins
3 mins
Ravens share their favorite lunch destinations: 3 mins
3 mins
3 mins
3 mins
4 mins
4 mins
Jersey Mike’s Subs: “It is very quick and easy when you order on the mobile app, and you can skip the line to get back to school well before 6th period.” - Keeton Glenn, ‘15
Chipotle: “It is probably the freshest, most delicious thing out there. Chipotle is my life.” -Skye Deitelbaum, ‘15
Whole Foods: “It has great options and is healthy. The only downside is it’s a little pricey.” -Crawford Sloan, ‘15
Tenko: “I love hibachi style food, and it’s a lot of food....I
love food.” -Hannah Makepeace
Nevarmore
10
Review
The growing popularity of Netflix Melanie Moravec
Staff Writer
Overtime, electronic trends have defined generations. These devices include Walk-
mans, VHS tapes, Ataris, and iPhones, which brings attention to one particular on-demand streaming service that has gained tremendous popularity in the last 15 years: Netflix. Garnering 57.4 million subscribers since its launch in 1999, Netflix has been replacing expensive cable plans and helping students procrastinate everywhere. The online streaming service’s success most likely stems from the convenience of being able to watch a large variety of movies and TV shows for around $9 a month on laptops, gaming consoles, and smartphones. In 2003, when the seniors were starting Kindergarten, VHS was still ruling the video playing world in America, but DVDs were beginning to catch up. Six years later, DVRs and Blu-ray were starting to alter convenience and video quality for viewers, and by 2010, Netflix boomed. Most Popular Netflix Movies Among Ravenscroft Students & Faculty
Most Popular Netflix TV Shows Among Ravenscroft Students & Faculty
Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in 2015’s American Sniper Photo from MCT Campus
American Sniper shines red, white, and blue at the box office Parker Mikesh
Staff Writer
A
merican Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as the legendary sniper Chris Kyle, covers the journey of one man’s quest for absolute patriotism and determination to serve a nation he fully supports and believes in. Directed by none other than Clint Eastwood, the film’s direction and visuals are stunning, and the actors are spot on with their representation of the harsh realities of modern day warfare and the horrors which follow many soldiers back home once their war is over. This work of cinema is a must see for anyone patriotism and honor. Within the first ten days after being released, the film generated 200 million dollars in box office sales alone, and it has continued to generate interest and discussion since its release date, both across the United States and around the world. Chris Kyle has been immortalized by this film, and it may very well go down as this generation’s equivalent of Saving Private Ryan. The film focuses on the mental and physical sacrifice of soldiers, specifically Chris Kyle. This idea carries throughout their deployment and portrays how difficult it is for soldiers to return home after combat. Bradley Cooper went through an enormous transformation for his role enhancing the resemblance between Chris and Bradley, adding to the believability of the film. Bradley Cooper followed a steady workout routine and dieted carefully to gain 40 pounds of muscle to solidify his look for the film. The southern drawl which is so heavily laden in Bradley’s voice rivals that of a real Texas native. His commitment to the role not only helped with the portrayal of the story but also an insight into a real war torn household. The violence and emotions that pushed Chris throughout his life are perfectly presented to the film’s audience by Bradley, with a masterful understanding of what it means for a man to devote his life to his country. The family aspect and the choices that have to be made by Chris Kyle during his tours overseas builds slowly during the rising action of the film. The terrifying day to day action which Kyle becomes accustomed to affect his civilian life. The level of stress at which Chris Kyle operated was beyond that of everyday pressure. He puts his life on the line constantly to save the man or men closest to him while on duty. The concept of brothers in arms is showcased in this film with Eastwood’s masterful directing, and the climax of the film leaves the viewer with clenched fists and a heavy heart as the realization of what has happened settles in.
Chris Kyle poses with his .308 sniper rifle in his home. Photo by: Paul Moseley
The Wolf of Wall Street Now is Good
Mean Girls The Interview
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Skyfall
House of Cards Friends Gossip Girl The Walking Dead Grey’s Anatomy The Office Parks and Recreation American Horror Story Bates Motel
Parker’s Picks Hidden Gems: Great Lesser-Known Movies Kings of Summer Dear Zachary I Spy Snatch 12 Angry Men The Big Lebowski Tucker and Dale vs. Evil The Terminal Tropic Thunder Drive City Island City of God Life is Beautiful Donnie Darko Defiance Lawless Man on Wire
Nevarmore
Sports
11
Baseball and softball season outlook Sydney Jordan
Staff Writer
L
ast year both the baseball and softball team lost 6 seniors each. As the fresh season looms ahead, both teams look to build their teams in the quest for success. Head Baseball Coach Jim Gibbons, says that he is “looking forward to seeing the contributions we will get from returning varsity members Junior pitcher Sean Wingo and Sophomore infielder Patrick Dorsey. The team will also welcome newcomers Chris Reynolds, ‘17, Colby Muldrow, ‘17, Ben Zucker, ‘17, and Justin Zachary, ‘19, from the JV program. Gibbons is ready for the upcoming season and sees plenty of potential, while also pointing out that the baseball team already has a lot of strong, determined boys. The baseball team is gearing up for a touch start to the season as they will be playing against Charlotte Latin, Charlotte Country Day, Greensboro Day, and Forsyth Country Day. Tommy Corchiani ‘16, says they “will have a great year and the team will be extremely strong, where no school is a threat, and we lack nothing.” Varsity Softball is excited for their upcoming season and player Michelle Powell ‘15, believes there is great potential for success. “NRCA and Gibbons have always been really tough games” said Powell. Rebecca Qubain ‘15, said that Wake Christian and Wilson Christian are their biggest competitors. In these big games, a lack of returning players could become problematic. “We only have 5 returning players and this year the team has been opened up to the 8th grade. I think that we will have a mix of young and experienced players”, says Emma Dement ‘16.
Varsity wrestler Wes Stroud ‘15 going in for a pin. Photo by Ally Wilson
Varsity Wrestling team pins down TISAC tourney Chandler Hammersla Staff Writer
T
he Varsity Wrestling team rounded out a successful season with a first place win at the TISAC tournament on February 12 with a record of 25-6. Coach Durham says that this season was the most successful s e a s o n since the restarting of the wrestling team in 2007-2008. He said the seniors will be missed Brendan Gilbert ‘15 next year, holds his opponent h o w e v e r the seven
down in a half nelson position. Jeffery Hines ‘15, prepares to smack one into the outfield. Photo by Ally Wislon
Stevie Cummins ‘18, guarding third base.
Justin Bednar ‘15, running in from the feild.
Photo by Ally Wislon
Photo by Ally Wislon
Spring Sports Updates Varsity Softball Record: 0-3
Varsity Baseball Record: 3-3
Varsity Boys Lacrosse Record: 3-1
Varsity Girls Lacrosse Record: 3-1
Varsity Boys Golf Record: 3-0
Photo by Ally Wilson
underclassmen starters are expected to step up to the plate and continue the team’s success. “Practices were very efficient and well run because our experienced wrestlers knew what to expect and executed without having to be told every minor detail,” Coach Durham adds. Both Coach Cummings and Coach Durham’s favorite memory of the team was that backups were always ready to compete when starters were sick or injured, ensuring a key win for the team. Team bonding and friendships carried the team through a season of success. Senior Tristan Hammersla said that “everybody is friends with everyone and we all get along really well.” Both Tristan and Liam King agree that the team will suffer a loss, as would any team that loses eight team members, however they are confident that other members will rise to the occasion and lead the team in another successful season in the 2015-2016 school year.
Varsity Boys Tennis Record: 3-1
Varsity Girls Soccer Record: 1-5
Varsity Boys Track Record: 2-0
Varsity Girls Track Record: 2-0
Varsity wrestler DJ Washington ‘16 working towards a win against opponent. Photo by Ally Wilson
Want to listen to the Ravens baseball team live? There are two radio broadcasts left this season with play-by-play announcer Adam Jordan ‘16. Please scan the QR code to follow Ravenscroft School on The Cube.
Nevarmore
12
Sports
Ravens soaring on college courts Nevarmore takes an in-depth look at former Ravenscroft athletes competing in Division I college basketball and how the school has prepared them for success in the future.
MJ Malone STAFF WRITER
Cailin Dorsey’s 1000 point celebration (Dasha Teyf ‘17, Ned Gonet, Cailin Dorsey ‘15, Caroline Dorsey ‘22 Patrick Dorsey ‘17). Photo by Collin Thrash
Varsity Ravens score big this season Chris Little STAFF WRITER
Remarkably this year, senior varsity basketball players Cailin Dorsey and David Reynolds both reached the seemingly unattainable feat of scoring 1000 career points for their respective basketball teams. On January 15, 2015 against st. Mary’s, Dorsey scored her 1000th point. “It was awesome!!!” exclaimed Dorsey of that historic bucket. “The other coach called a time-out right after and all my teammates ran out onto the court and hugged me. They were all so excited for me, it made me tear up a little bit,” added Dorsey. She
Cailin Dorsey, ‘15, for three. Photo by Collin Thrash
David Reynolds, ‘15, attacking the basket against Cary Academy. Photo by Collin Thrash
attributes her success as an athlete to her family and teammates. Lightning struck twice in 2015, against Cary Academy senior David Reynolds also scored his 1000th career point. “It felt great. I was happy to reach this milestone as I had dreamed of always playing for the varsity basketball team since 5th grade,” explained Reynolds. He credits his success on the court to his parents, Varsity Basketball Coach, Kevin Billerman, Middle School Basketball Coach, Jimmy Cox, and Head of School, Doreen Kelly. Both Cailin and earned all conference and all state honors while leading both of their teams to TISAC conference championships. David led the boys to a 21-7 record and Cailin led the girls to a 25-5 record.
12 Other Boys Varsity Basketball Players in Ravenscroft History Hit 1,000 Point Benchmark Pete Whiting, ‘74
Marc Campbell, ‘05
Dean Shavlik, ‘80
Dominic Parker, ‘08
Stephon McQueen, ‘96
Ryan Kelly, ‘09
Nate Williams, ‘99
Madison Jones, ‘12
Corwin Davis, ‘01
Anton Gill, ‘13
Trey Lewis, ‘03
Marcus Bryan, ‘13
R
avenscroft high school is widely regarded as an institution that helps prepare students for college academics and athletics. Within the past five years, Ravenscroft has sent 46 individuals to compete at the collegiate level. Of those 46 students, 11 have been a part of Division I basketball teams. Isaac Copeland ‘14, Anton Gill ‘13, and Madison Jones ‘12 are a few of the most recent Ravens to have been featured on the big stage. Although two or the three transferred to boarding schools, all three athletes were a part of the 2012 Ravenscroft 3A State Championship team coached by Kevin Billerman. Isaac Copeland ‘14 was a five star recruit out of Brewster Academy according to ESPN’s Recruiting Nation. Isaac transferred to Brewster for both his junior and senior years after attending Ravenscroft. He proved to scouts that with his height and versatile vision of the court he could succeed in the college atmosphere. On March 3rd, 2013 Copeland officially signed to play with the Big East giant, Georgetown located in Washington D.C. From then on, he has been nothing but a spectacle towards his audience. As a freshman, Copeland has already found his way into the starting rotation multiple times and has emerged as one of the most gifted players on Georgetown’s roster. He is averaging 5.8 points per game while shooting .494 percent from the field. Recently the 6’9 forward has been named the Big East Conference Rookie Of The Week for his outstanding performances in recent contests including Marquette, Villanova, and Butler. Copeland even
Isaac Copeland ,‘14, represents our nation’s capital tremendously, and he’s only a freshman. Photo by Sonya Williams Harris. made a game winning shot in dying seconds to lead the Hoyas to victory over Butler 61-59. Anton Gill ‘13 was a junior at Ravenscroft during the team’s 2012 State Championship run. He was an acrobat in the air and left many in awe during his time on the court. Gill had made the decision to attend Hargrave Military Academy for his senior year to further his basketball development. After picking up interest from multiple colleges, Gill had decided to take his talent to Louisville. Playing under Cardinals head coach, Rick Pitino, is a once in a lifetime opportunity that Gill could not pass up. He continues to contribute in Louisville’s ACC campaign averaging 3.1 points per game off the bench. Another Ravenscroft alumni making a name for himself in college basketball is Wake Forest guard, Madison Jones ‘12. Jones was a leader on the Ravenscroft championship team and was essential in productive ball movement from baseline to baseline. Jones committed to Wake Forest and since has not looked back. Now a junior, Jones starts at the guard posi-
tion and continues to implement his knowledge of the game within the Deacon’s system. He is currently averaging 5.2 points per game along with 3.1 assists per game. Ravenscroft’s many student-athletes continue to strive on the court and in the classroom. Who know’s how many more collegiate competitors there are in the school’s system. Only time will tell.
Madison Jones, ‘12, contributes greatly to Wake Forest’s back court presence. Photo by Chuck Liddy.
Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball Teams Win 2015 TISAC Conference Championship Titles Congratulations to both teams on their respective winning seasons. The 2015 titles mark the 9th consecutive conference championship title for the boys’ team and 2nd consecutive for the girls.