The Roundtable Volume 13, Issue 1

The student-run publication of Stuart Hall High School | 1715 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Volume 13, Issue 1 | Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Knights set out to win postseason Knights victorious over Red Devils 64-59 and are now 21-4 for season

Owen Murray & Sartaj Rajpal

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Staff

ith the wins over University on Tuesday, Marin Academy on Thursday and San Domenico on Saturday, the Knights are now 21-4 for the season and look forward to the playoffs.

“We’re gonna approach the post season just like we have approached all the previous games,” guard Joseph Weinstein ’20 said.

“All we have to do is play together, and we know if we do that we will come out victorious.”

Tuesday’s 64-59 victory over the University Red Devils notched the Knights their 20th win.

“The UHS game was big, not only for me, but also for the guys I’ve been playing varsity with for a while,” guard Alex Byrd ’19 said.

“That was my first time beating UHS in their home since I’ve joined varsity.”

Byrd dropped 11 points and had some assists, but his teammates say that his contribution shouldn’t only be measured in stats.

“Byrd was a leader during that-

game,” starting point guard Tomás Wolber ’20 said. “He always leads by example, showing us how to compose ourselves on the court and play hard.”

Wolber also contributed greatly himself, with two 3-pointers late into the third quarter that increased Stuart Hall’s lead.

The players say winning the state championship is feasible this year, especially after making it all the way to finals last year.

“We definitely know we can win NCS and then make a push into the state bracket like we did last year,” senior forward Spencer O’Brien-Steele ’19 said. “The ultimate goal is to win a state championship, which I think we are capable of doing.”

O’Brien-Steele isn’t the only one with confidence heading into the postseason.

"We plan on going into the postseason 10-0, and we’re playing to win the league championship,” Byrd said. “We have the potential to make it back to state if we stay focused and play as a team.”

Jacqui Carlson | With permission

Nigel Burris '21 fights for the ball with a University Red Devil. The Stuart Hall Knights beat University on the Devil's home court for the first time in three years.

Winter dance starts off semester Dance offered card games, photos, dance floor

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Nik Chupkin | The Roundtable

Seniors Wellsley Cohen and Skyler Dela Cruz decorate the Flood Mansion's Gallery for Winter Formal on Jan. 25. The gambling-themed annual dance featured snacks, drinks, card games and a dance floor in the Reception Room.

Sartaj Rajpal

Staff

tudents played casino games, danced and socialized with friends at the Winter Formal in Convent’s Main Hall on Jan. 25.

“Winter Formal is a great opportunity for everyone to mingle and relax as a community and have a good time,” Ryan Darwin ’20, Stuart Hall Spirit and Community Representative, said.

Unlike other Convent & Stuart Hall dances, Winter Formal featured casino games such as poker, blackjack and roulette. The $20 admission included game tickets as well as drinks, donuts and access to the dance floor.

“The casino games and the dancing were some of my favorite things at Winter Formal because they made the dance more en-

gaging,” Eon Kounalakis ’21 said.

“The games allowed the dance to cater to people who didn’t want to be on the dance floor.”

Finals Week just prior to Winter Break necessitated having the dance in January.

“It is pretty hard to schedule an event very close to finals, which is why the dance doesn’t take place before Christmas Break,” Darwin said. “There is also a grace period after break typically used for planning and re-adjusting in the second semester, so mid-tolate January is typically a great time for a school wide event like this.”

Attendance for Winter Formal set a new bar at 315.

“Anytime you can get an entire school together for an event like this is dope,” Darwin said. “Seeing everyone happy, whether they’re dancing, playing poker or just hanging out is a great feeling.”

Whether they were playing games or dancing together, the formal gave students an opportunity to bond with peers.

“Time away from school to relax and build relationships is just as important as time at and in school, so if you can mix fun and excitement with school, that’s a pretty special thing,” Darwin said.

IF YOU CAN MIX FUN AND EXCITEMENT WITH SCHOOL, THAT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL THING."

Upcoming Events

7 Feb.

8 Feb.

10 Feb.

College Varsity Wrestling One Less Hungry Admissions Panel 5 for 9-11 All day 6 - 7:30 p.m.

St. Patricks St. 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Syufy Theatre Vincent HS Columbus Room

11 Feb.

14 Feb.

Spring Sports Orientation

Track and Field Meet

6 - 7:30 p.m.

Syufy Theatre

All day Holt Arena, Idaho

18 Feb. Winter Break

The Roundtable | February 5, 2019

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Pura vida

Sophomores go to Costa Rica in annual class trip

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Owen Murray Staff

he sixth-annual Sophomore Class Costa Rica trip in mid January emphasized community through coed group activities, exposed students to a different culture, and taught them about conditions students face around the world.

“I now have stronger bonds with my classmates after the trip,” Zachary Rodriguez said. “Doing activities with them all day made me realize that we all treat each other as brothers and sisters.”

Convent & Stuart Hall students participated in outdoor activities such as horseback riding, swimming, ziplining, and surfing during the day. At night, they had

chances to dance, participate in a talent show, and listen to live music.

“Being outside of school with my friends in an environment where we had challenges like jumping off of a waterfall forced us all to grow closer to each other,” Convent student Driscoll Callan said.

Although the majority of the trip revolved around outdoor excursions and activities, students say the day of service was particularly memorable.

“Even though we were serving kids from another country who spoke another language, we still had a great time playing sports and trying our best to communicate with them,” Rodriguez said.

Sophomores served at a local

elementary school for one day by playing with the local school children, giving them school supplies, and helping them renovate their classrooms.

“We were able to speak Spanish with them and just have fun playing sports and running around,” Alexander Ellis said.

Sophomores say that they didn’t only enjoy playing with the Costa Rican students, but that they also learned a lot from the children.

“Most people around the world don’t grow up in schools that have the same resources as our school,” Ellis said. “Not everyone goes to school in a mansion, so it was a wake up call for a lot of us to experience reality.”

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1. Anthony Sharp and Teiva Ulufatu dance at the classwide salsa dancing competition. Groups of students took mandatory salsa lessons, and the three best couples danced in the class-wide competition.

Greg Lobe | With permission

2. Audrey Pinard jumps off of a Nuayaca waterfall.

Students rode horses to the swimming area and with the assistance of guides, could opt to climb the falls with ropes and jump off. Peter Wolfe ’21 | With permission 3. Dagny Wallace helps a little girl up a play structure at a local school. Groups of students went to three

Costa Rica schools to bring supplies, repair property and play with children. Greg Lobe | With permission 4. With the help of a tour guide, Mikal Yonas locates a sloth in the trees at Hacienda Baru. The eco-resort was once cleared for farmland, but was restored to a biodiverse jungle habitat over the course of three decades. Peter Wolfe ’21 | With permission 5. A group of sophomores prepare to play catch with a football at the Hotel Villas Rio Mar pool. After the morning activities, students ate lunch and had free time. Jaylen Chu | With permission

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