VOL. CI
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Drowsy Chaperone Takes Off!
Westminster’s New Turf
BY J u l i e l ebl anc '13
BY C a rol i ne br ady '12
RICHARD BERGEN PHOTOGRAPHY
The cast of “The Drowsy Chaperone” travels to their honeymoon The very anticipated production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” did not disappoint. From February 17-19, the Westminster community supported Dramat as they put on a show that definitely showcased their hard work throughout the winter trimester. The Drowsy Chaperone is about the day leading up to a wedding (or weddings!) that involved many obstacles and funny antics. It was apparent to all that the cast worked extremely well together.
Heather Frew '13, who played Kitty, a ditsy aspiring actress, said “It was one of the best casts I’ve been a part of at Westy! We definitely worked well together and helped each other out.” This cast’s chemistry was evident throughout the three performances. Laura Tingley '13, who saw the show Friday night, said that it was her favorite play or musical she has seen at Westminster, and that she felt the right people were cast for each part.
Although the audience might have been unaware, many of the actors were sick during “Hell week,” the week leading up to the play where both the tech crew and the actors are swamped with rehearsals. Some even resorted to silence in classes to save their voices for the show! However, the show went on and everyone sang and spoke perfectly; not missing a beat. Heather would like to say that she was so impressed and thankful for everyone who came to see “The Drowsy Chaperone.” In response, everyone should thank Dramat for putting on such a great show!
RICHARD BERGEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Randy Doyle '12, as Man in the Chair, converses with the audience as he narrates “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Westmimster to Build Two New Dorms BY C a rol i ne br ady '12 News: Do you see the new dorms as a big step in the context of Westminster’s Master Plan? Philip: There is a campus Master Plan which includes many proposed facilities. It is important to have a campus Master Plan to know where things might go as opportunities arise. Our campus master plan includes a full scheme for dormitories, athletic and art facilities, as well as a dining hall. The Master Plan does not say what the next step is but rather outlines possible future steps. The batting order depends on strategic planning and philanthropy. News: How do you belie ve the new dorms will enhance Westminster’s community and student life? Philip: First of all, the dorms being replaced, Andrews and Squibb, are traditional, institutiona l-st yle dormitories with long, small corridors and students living on both sides of the hall. Some people compare them to barracks. The new dorms are intended to be more home like. Students will live on one side of the corridor, there will be big-
INSIDE
NO. 5
GUND PARTNERSHIP
An artist’s rendition of one of the new dormitories, to be built in the same style as the current Edge dormitory. ger common rooms, and faculty Philip: When students return apartments will be better inte- from spring break, construcgrated into the architectural plan. tion areas will be fenced off. The Only two faculty families live in construction work will be conSquibb. Each of the new dorms tained to those areas that will be will house four faculty families. fenced off from pedestrian and The living environment will move other traffic so that campus life from institutional to domes- can proceed without interruption. tic. The architecture of the new Technically, construction has dorms will be coherent with the already started with the arrival of school’s Tudor architecture. The the Ulrichs’ new home, which is new dorms will be slightly bigger across from the observatory. versions of what we know as Edge House. News: When will construction on the new dorms break ground? How will it affect campus life?
Earthwatch with Mr. Pope Page 2 A Taste of Westy Page 3 Yale MUN Page 3 15 Ways to Fail a Term Paper Page 4
SMART INC..
An artist’s rendition of the new turf field to be located by the lower athletic fields News: How do you belie ve the new turf field will benefit Westminster’s athletes? Da ly : It is goi ng to bri ng Westminster up to par with our competitor schools. We are one of the last schools among our competitors to have a turf field. The turf will allow us to host tournament games. It will also be a great venue. The field will have lights, enabling us to have on-campus night games in the fall and in the spring. News: When will the turf be ready to use and where will the new field be located? Daly: They have already begun construction by cutting down
trees and flattening the field. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of July and will be ready for use for the fall season of 2012. The new turf, which will run north and south, will be located in the area just beyond the maintenance shed on a plane that will be a little lower than the grass fields. Just as you clear the shed your vision will extend from the road across the turf field out to the grass fields. News: Which sports teams will use this field? Will this change where other teams practice? Daly: The primary utilization of the field will be by First Field Hockey in the fall and First Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse in the spring. Other teams, depending on how we schedule games, may be able to use the turf as well. It’s important to remember that we are adding an athletic field, not replacing one. News: What is the advantage of practicing on a turf field versus practicing on regular grass? Daly: For field hockey we will now be able to practice on the Continued on page 3
Faculty Perspectives MR. AND MRS. POPE: News: Are you sad about leaving Squibb? Popes: Yes, we are very sad. Our family has lived here happily for 11 years. Our daughter Evelyn only remembers living here; but we are excited for the new dorms because it is a great thing for the school. News: Where will you live after Squibb? Popes: We don’t know yet. Perhaps a tent on the quad? News: What will happen to the Squibbly Cup? Popes: The Squibb spirit will never die. There will always be “Squibb for Life Boys”. Therefore it is the same for the Squibbly Cup. Sometime in the year 2014 the lights will come out, 250 hot dogs will be cooked, the sticks and pads will be found, the dumpster will have the Duddy protector, and the Cup will be raised once again! MR. AND MRS. ULRICH News: What are your feelings about moving to a different part of campus? Ulrichs: We are very excited
about our new house, but sad at the same time to be moving out. We’ve lived here for 8 years, which is the longest stretch of time we’ve lived in the same place on campus. Both our girls spent their high school years in this house, which was fun given how close they got to be to school. We have a lot of great memories here. Old houses are full of charm and character and we love all the beautiful features this house has. The yard and surrounding woods are beautiful and in the winter we can look out the back of the house and see the Heublein Tower and the lights of downtown Simsbury. It’s a really pretty part of campus. At the same time, we are looking forward to moving into such a nice neighborhood and to another really pretty part of campus. Many of our closest friends live there so it will be fun to have such nice neighbors. We feel very fortunate to be moving from one great house to another. Mrs. Ulrich’s commute to the office will double so she may have to invest in a bike!
Ciao Ragazzi e Ragazze!
Mr. John Sandoval
Sydney Rivers '13 tells the tales of her time in beautiful Italy with SYA. page 3
Do you really know him? page 2
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Monday, February 27, 2012
2
Features
Earthwatch: Mr. Pope Travels to Ecuador BY Ajay ga rg '15
Mr. Pope does manual labor during his research in Ecuador I n Ju l y 2 011, t he one and only Mr. Pope traveled to Ecuador through the Earthwatch program, where he found much more than the 4 foot worms and cool looking birds that he described to the school in his allschool presentation in February. For a quick geography lesson, Ecuador is in South America and its capital is Quito. Rain forests in Ecuador are literally covered in clouds and are better known as “cloud forests.” They are home to
rare animals like tree frogs, poison dart frogs, over 300 types of birds with distinctive calls, and over 1500 species of exotic plants. Earthwatch’s main project in Ecuador is the Santa Lucia Cloud Forest Reserve. Its purpose is to help preserve as many forests in Ecuador as possible. On his trip, Mr. Pope met new people and because there was no “city life,” they all got to know each other well on the reserve. The sense of a small community is as important
there as it is here at school. The weather on the mountains is quite pleasant, in spite of being in a cloud forest. It is not too hot, and not too cold. Mr. Pope commented that the most exhausting part was trying to dry out his clothes in the drying houses. Everything gets thoroughly soaked due to the cloud forest and the humidity. Clothes take about three to four days to dry. One of Mr. Pope’s contributions to the research was to conceal a camera in the foliage so that the team could watch the actions of animals, like bears and bobcats, in their “free time.” The uninhabited cloud forests are a unique habitat for rare animals and offer a rare chance for people to watch the animals on their own and to see their natural behaviors in the wild. M r. Po p e ’s j ou r n e y t o Ecuador was an experience of a lifetime, and he says the part he remembers most was “All the animals,” because “They’re just so mesmerizing you get lost in the peace.”
Friday Night Lecture Series: Mrs. McDonald Speaks About MLK BY Ph i l i p song '15
What sets Martin Luther King, Jr. apart from the rest of the world is a somewhat complex concept. He’s the face and namesake of statues, buildings, and a holiday, and he is regarded as a legend in American culture. During the second Friday Night Lecture of this year, speakers and listeners sat down to think about what made him so special. According to Jake Medina '12, who delivered the opening address to the discussion, this American luminary, was not above normal men, but rather stood side-by-side with them, and is remembered by his fierce passion for change and his belief in his dreams, rather than his accomplishments or his political skill. In the second part of the Martin Luther King Jr. lecture series, Mrs. Pam McDonald, who works in Westminster’s library, d iscu ssed t he qu a lit ie s a nd dreams that defined the great Dr. King. In the heart of the lecture, Mrs. McDonald addressed the topic of conf lict resolution through non-violence, a belief and tool that Dr. King utilized throughout his entire civil rights campaign. Highlighting events in his life, such as his rousing speeches, attack s on his own house, his efforts to prevent riots, the assassination of another controversial civil rights leader, Malcolm X, and finally King’s own untimely death, Mrs. McDonald demonstrated Mr.
11 Things You Didn’t Know About Mr. Sandoval BY Da r by dr ake '12
You may know Mr. Sandoval as an art teacher or as a diving coach, but Darby Drake '12 discovered these 11 surprising things about him in her interview for Westminster News. 1. He was born on Friday the 13th, in July. 2. In his age bracket, he is curr e nt l y t he Na t ion a l Si l ve r Medalist in the 1 meter Masters Diving event. 3. He was the first in his family to finish college, which he funded himself, and he is the only Sandoval with 2 Masters degrees. 4. His undergraduate majors are in jewelry and ceramics.
5. He spent a day with Robert Rauschenberg. Elizabeth Murray critiqued his work. He has met many artists and art historians such as David Hockney, Andres Serrano, Annie Leibovitz, Eric Fischl, and Robert Hughes. 6. While on vacation in Spain last summer he began the “4 Hour Body Diet” and since then has lost over 50 pounds. 7. Some friends in New Mexico call him by his nickname “Sandy.” 8. He is ha lf Mexican, ha lf German/Irish, half introvert, and partially deaf. 9. He has been a mechanic, dishwasher and frycook, janitor, retail sales worker, cashier, lifeguard, furniture designer and builder, and swim instructor. 10.He has been reincarnated many times. His previous lives include a Chinese boy living in a coastal town, a saltwater fish, and a soldier in Emiliano Zapata’s army. 10. He explains and deconstructs philosophy to himself by creating crate-like assemblages that exploit the symbolism inherent in found objects. Lately he has been tackling the works of Walter Benjamin. 11. He has an obsession with beaches.
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Caroline Brady
Associate Editor-in-Chief Ronald Yeung Mrs. McDonald poses in front of one of the many Black History Month displays that can be found in the library. King’s cool-headed wisdom and strong opinions via a collection of various snippets of audio and video clips. “There is such a thing as the freedom of exhaustion.” Dr. King booms vehemently in one of the tapes. “Some people are so worn down by the yoke of oppression that they give up . . . to accept injustice or segregation passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right.” Dr. King was a rare kind of man. A simple kind of man who believed so fiercely in his dreams that he stopped at nothing to achieve them. Dr. King sought to reach his goals only through means of non-violence, because, as Mrs. McDonald described, he knew these three things: One, that his actions could create change; two, the urgent neces-
sity of “now”; and three, most importantly, that he himself and all the people fighting for civil rights or for any change, could not be guilty of wrongful deeds. In honor and for a deeper understanding of Dr. King as a leader and as a man, Mrs. McDonald’s lecture ended on a high note, and everyone who left Gund Reading Room that night took a little of the ambitious fire of Dr. King with them.
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News Editors Isha Garg Julia Lee
Opinions Editors Mae Mullen Donald Sonn
Students Editors Jake Cahill Kathleen Gudas
Features Editors Bella Zimmer Molly Mullen
Sports Editors Darby Drake Greg Jarvis
Layout Editor Danielle Amiot
Creative Editor Sam Boures
Faculty Advisor Sara Deveaux
Photo Editor Charlie Beck
Caitlin Pittorie Julie LeBlanc Gwen Pastor Atesha Gifford Eleni Tebano Contact Us The Westminster News Westminster School 995 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT 06070-1880 © 2012 The Westminster News The text of the articles is printed in 10-point Adobe Garamond.
Staff
Julia Benson Laura Tingley Bridget Gorham Alli Devins
The opinions expressed represent those of the authors, not necessarily those of The Westminster News or Westminster School. We invite all members of the community to share their opinions in these pages. The News reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, clarity, or factual accuracy, and are published at The News’ discretion. Anyone interested in contributing to The Westminster News should contact Caroline Brady '12, Ronald Yeung '13, or any member of the Editorial Board for information on how to submit writing, phtographs, etc.
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Monday, February 27, 2012
3
Features
Ciao Raggazi e Raggaze!
Dear Sage
BY sydney r i v e r s '13 I am studying abroad in Viterbo, Italy this school year. My experience has been indescribable, however, I would like to tell you guys a little bit about where I am. I live in a small town about forty-five minutes north of Rome called Viterbo. It is a walled-in city that, in the ancient times, was used to protect the Pope when he was exiled. I live with a 71-year-old Italian “nonna”, grandma, who fits every Italian stereotype. Everything she makes is homemade: her jam, alcohol, pasta, pasta sauce, and the list goes on. At first when I got here it was really difficult because I did not know one word of Italian, and Nonna did not know one word of English. However, through simple hand gestures and sounds we were able to get around. School started and ever since I have been taking two hours of Italian everyday. I still deal with times when it is difficult to communicate but my Italian has improved immensely. My history classes have transitioned to be taught in Italian, which is one thing I never thought I would be able to handle until now. I think that the biggest thing I have gained in Italy is a second family. Italian culture is
Sydney Rivers '13 with her Italian family very different from American culture in that Italians immediately welcome and love you as much as they love their own family. I refer to all of them as cousin, sister, grandma, aunt, and uncle. Another great aspect of SYA is that it allows me to travel independently and with school trips. As for independent travel, most weekends the school lets me travel anywhere in Italy, and even places outside of Italy. It was not until my first independent travel in Milan that I realized how much fun it can be. I also learned how much can go wrong: getting off at the wrong train stop, closed metros, and of course, getting lost. We learned to travel at minimal costs: sleeping at a hostel, making our own lunches, and always asking for student discounts. However, without these obstacles, I could never say I lived
A Taste of Westy
the experience. We also travel with the school frequently. In fact most Fridays we go to Rome. It is the best experience educationally because while I study Ancient Roman history I also study the art behind it in my art history class. Then, the school brings us to see what we have been studying. I’ve been here for five months and I have already been to Milan, Rome, Spoleta, Venice, Ravenna, Verona, Ferrara, Padova, Tarquinea, Bolognia, and Gaeta. I will spend the next vacation traveling with the other students to Naples and then to Sicily for ten days where we will visit numerous cities, such as Syracuse and Polermo. I can’t wait! For the past month we have been studying Sicily in every aspect: the Norman influence of Art, the ancient historical context, and the rise of Archimedes in math class. I’m so happy to be here and highly recommend it! The hardest part is deciding to come and stepping on the plane, but once you arrive everything falls into place. I miss you guys and cannot wait to see everyone at Westminster again!
New Turf
BY ca i t l i n pi ttor i e '13 While at Westminster, we know that it is difficult to offer the plethora of food options that we are when we are at home. This is why we, the Westminster News, are here to help! We offer ‘out of the box’ ideas to help you be creative in the dining hall! I bet you’ve never made a milkshake in the dining hall, now have you? Well today is your lucky day! Below is a recipe to make a milkshake in the dining hall, using everything available there. You don’t even need a blender! If you’re a boy, or if you don’t like to cook, we haven’t forgotten about you! The second recipe is for those who want to seem sophisticated and cook something great, but lack the skill to do so. You may have already read that the next recipe is cereal, and are thinking to yourself, ‘Psh, cereal isn’t a recipe! I can make cereal, anyone can make cereal!’. However, this is cereal prepared in the Dining Hall. It an extreme challenged compared to at home in your kitchen. Westminster Classic: Milkshake Ingredients 3 scoops ice cream (any flavor) 1/2 cup whole milk 1 T chocolate syrup, caramel, etc. (when available in Cushing, i.e. Sundae Bar) 1/2 cup of ‘topping’ i.e. chocolate chips, whipped cream, strawberries, etc.
Directions: 1) Scoop 3 scoops of ice cream (flavor of your choice) into a plastic cup 2) Put it in the microwave for 3 intervals of 10 seconds set on low, taking it out every 10 seconds and mixing with a spoon, with motions like you’re whipping it. 3) Stir in the whole milk, add a little more for a thinner milkshake, vice versa for thicker 4) Stir in ‘toppings’ gently 5) Eat with a spoon or straw! (Probably not a straw… there aren’t any in the Dining Hall…) For Those Who Cannot Cook: Cereal Ingredients: 1 cup of Cereal 1 cup of Milk Directions 1) Using a bowl, fill UP TO THE LINE BUT NOT OVER THE BRIM with cereal (two complete turns of the plastic dial should to the trick) 2) Add milk, C A R EFU LLY AS TO NOT LET CER E A L EXCEED THE RIM OF THE BOWL 3) C a r r y t h e f i l l e d b o w l CAREFULLY back to your seat, DO NOT get a spoon until the cereal has reached your table safely 4) Get back up and go get a spoon.
Dear Sage, W hy has the dining hall stopped serving dessert? It’s my favorite part of the meal! There used to be so much right at the end of the hot food line. Where did it go? I know dessert isn’t exactly healthy, and the dining hall is on a health kick, but where are the cookies and pies? I want dessert again! Deserted By Desserts Dear Deserted, Well, maybe you haven’t noticed, but the dining hall has not gotten rid of desserts. All they did was move them to a different part of the dining hall. There is a new table in the upper left corner behind the salad bar just waiting for you. Maybe they wanted to encourage people to eat salad, so they strategically put the salad bar before the desserts. Or maybe they just wanted everyone to get more exercise by walking further to reach their desserts. Either way, dessert is still here, don’t you worry! Dear Sage, I have this girlfriend who is perfect in every way. She’s nice, funny, and extremely good-looking. However, she doesn’t understand my sports schedule. In my book, basketball beats everything. I can’t miss practices, and I need a full 3 hours before games to
go to the gym and mentally prepare myself. My girlfriend doesn’t understand any of this! She always wants to spend time with me, and even goes to my games to ‘try and support me’. She’s only a distraction to my basketball career! Do you think she’d be cool if I broke up with her for the winter season and asked her out again in the spring? Tennis isn’t nearly as time consuming and mentally strenuous as basketball. Restrained Baller Dear Baller, I don’t k now how you r girlfriend would take it if you broke up with her for the winter… Don’t you think she may be a tiny bit mad? You should get her involved in an activity so she doesn’t bother you all the time with dumb things like wanting to spend time together. Introduce her to managing a team or maybe even Gym Crew, which I’ve heard is a favorite. I completely understand how she could be a distraction when watching you play. I mean who does she think she is just sitting there in the audience and cheering you on? Clearly she is trying to sabotage your basketball career. Ending it now but telling her she can have you back in the spring is probably your best bet. I suggest you break up with her by texting her; girls never get mad when it’s by text! .
Model UN at Yale BY Br i dget G or ham '13
A crew of workmen gets started on the turf field project surface on which most of our opponents compete. More and more of our away games are on artificial turf, including all tournament games. In the future, we will not have to adjust from grass when we go to play on an artificial surface. Every turf field is different; this field is specifically designed for field hockey and lacrosse with shorter blade length, which does not slow down a field hockey ball.
What Excites You Most About the Upcoming Vacation? No Homework
45%
Homecooked Meals
10%
Going Somewhere Warm
45%
Nia Francis '13 and Shani Rosenstock '13 wait to hear the results of the conferences at the Awards Ceremony on the last day Fr om Ja nu a r y 19 t h t o Ja nu a r y 22nd, t went y n ine Westminster students, along with Ms. Heckman and Ms. Devaney, attended the thirty- eighth session of the Yale Model United Nations conference. The four days were very fun and exciting and included opening ceremonies, committee sessions, and the delegate dance and movie night. After an hour bus ride to New Haven, Westminster delegates arrived at their rooms and prepared for the opening ceremonies. At the opening ceremonies, the delegates listened to inspiring speeches about the deplorable conditions of rape, trafficking, and other acts of violence mainly in Africa, but also in many other countries. After the opening cere-
monies, the delegates all followed the Chairs of their committees to the meeting places. Committees’ topics varied from the militarization of space and weapons in the Middle East, to the nuclear crisis in Japan, to reproductive health in conf lict zones. Delegates were thoroughly prepared with their topics and were very enthusiastic to begin to debate. All in all, the debates were very successful. Some delegates spoke for the first time ever in assembly and other delegates even created resolution papers of their own. Sunday, the day of the closi ng c eremony, a r r ived ver y quickly. After four days of hard work, late-night planning sessions, shopping at the Yale campus store, making new friends, and fro-yo runs, it was time to return to Westminster. The delegates watched a very amusing slide show and applauded Donald Sonn '12 as he received his “Best Delegate” award. After four long days, the delegates were sad for the end to come, but very excited for the Boston MUN to be held February 24-26 and the thirty-ninth session of Yale Model United Nations next year..
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Monday, February 27, 2012
4
Student Life
Art Independent Study: Kathy Kim BY C a rol i ne br ady '12 News: Where do you find inspiration for your pieces? Kim: I look at pictures from my travels for inspiration. I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection pieces recently. News: How are your pieces related? Do you currently have a specific focus? Kim: Last year, I did more cultural stuff. My concentration was the cross from Asian to Western culture. But this year I am doing pieces that are centered on identity. Because I am graduating this year, I want to create pieces that I can look back and reflect on. I’ve been working on some abstract self-portraits. News: What art classes have you taken at Westminster? How has
your art changed since you came here? Kim: I came as a sophomore, so I took introduction to studio art that year. I took AP Art last year and I currently have an independent study. My art has definitely progressed since I came to Westy. News: What are your favorite mediums to use? What is your favorite style to use? Kim: I like using charcoal and pastels. The effect isn’t as strong and the colors blend together well. I also enjoy using paint. News: What is your method? Where do you usually work on your pieces?
BY shan i rosenstock '13
Kim: I either work in my room or in the art studio. I look at my pictures, do a sketch, and think about which medium would create the effect that I want. Once I decide on a medium I actually sit down and start on the project. News: What advice do you have for aspiring Westminster artists? Kim: I would encourage them to continue taking art classes! It can be difficult to find time in a busy schedule but taking art courses is a very worthwhile experience. It is enjoyable, forces you to challenge yourself, and helps you to find yourself.
A selection of Kathy Kim’s artwork from her Independent Study this year. These pieces and more are currently on display in the Hamilton Art Studios.
15 Ways to Fail a Term Paper BY a l l i de v i ns '13 and e l en i tebano '13 1. Disregard all help anyone gives you. 2. Spend all class time on twitter tweeting about how you hate history. 3. Drink a lot of water so you can waste precious time going to the bathroom. 4. Lose you deadline sheet. 5. Forget to put footnotes. 6. Use excuses like “My dog ate my note cards” and “My computer crashed.” 7. Spend more time staring off into space than actually writing note cards. 8. Change your topic halfway through the project. 9. Spend more time temple running and scrambling with friends than working on the paper. 10. Knit a sweater and hand it in when the rough draft is due. 11. Distract you teacher using candy. 12. Bank on a Hill Holiday to finish your rough draft. 13. Write it all in a foreign language. 14. Get kicked out of the library during all your free blocks. 15. Break all your fingers.
Senior Spotlight: Emmet Shipway
Quote of the Week
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence
Emmet Shipway is a sixth form day student who is a very involved member of our community. He is a co-captain of Westminster’s Cross Country and Track teams and also plays on the Second hockey team in the winter. His favorite sport is cross-country, but he is really looking forward to the upcoming track season. This year has been his most enjoyable and busiest year on the Hill. He is tak-
ing AP Calculus AB, Geology, AP Comparitive Government, English 6, AP French, and is playing in the band. He doesn’t know where he is attending college yet, but he is looking forward to the college experience. For Emmet, “the prospect of going to college has been both exciting and nervewracking, but overall the year has been really fun.” His favorite Westy memory was the French Trip last spring. He traveled to France with nine other students and Mme Deveaux and made many new friends. He saw all the sights in Paris and even dined at the top of the Eiffel Tower! He and the other students were able to travel South to Provence where they saw le Pont d’Avignon, a bull-f ighting stadium, the papal palace, and Les Beaux-deProvence. Emmet has a very interesting family. His brother was a Sailing Olympian in 1992, and now lives in Martha’s Vineyard with his two children. His sister is a marketing executive, and lives in New York City with her two children. Emmet is always on the move and has contributed a great deal to our community.
Senior Spotlight: Natalie Biedron BY D om i n ica pa r k '14
Although Natalie Biedron '12 has been at Westminster for four years, she still remembers how she felt on the first day of school her Third Form year. Natalie said that she described herself then as “tall and awkward with frizzy hair. Not much has changed since then!” This year, Natalie has enjoyed The Outsiders class with Mrs. Spencer and living in Miliken on Mr. Griffith’s hall. She remembered the impact that the Sixth Formers had on her when she was a Third Former. (She also loves the cinder block walls!) In the winter Natalie enjoys swimming and also the people on her team. Her favorite moments at Westminster were when she met her roommate Atesha Gifford '12, who she describes as “cool and pretty,” and when she chose swimming instead of basketball as her winter sport. Other moments
include when she had her first cookie pie, when she became a “regular” at Little City Pizza, and when Rachel Kennedy and Meaghan O’Herron did a “strip tease” during Ms. Gassert’s bachelorette party. She also loves to order from Brookside Bagels. On the other hand, Natalie’s worst memory is when she lost a squash match to a twelve-year-old boy who came up to her thighs. She also noted that her favorite song to dance to at the stud is “Rack City” and also that on her way to the stud, she likes to sing “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine. When asked “How do you feel when you leave your stuffed animals at home and forget to bring them to school?”, Natalie responded, “I bring Eeyore with me everywhere. He is never left behind.” Natalie may be graduating this spring, but will always be young at heart.
By the Numbers BY ATE SH A GIFFOR D '12
450: the dollars raised for charity by selling carnations for Valentine’s Day 389: the number of students singing in chapel after Mr. Mac’s chapel talk 0: the inches of fallen snow in the past month 389: the number of students excited for spring break