MAY 17, 2019 | VOL. 70. ISSUE 6 GRADUATION APRIL 25, 2019ISSUE | VOL. 70. ISSUE 5
PHOTO BY LEILA PULASKI
THE REVIEW ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL 2401 CLAREMONT LANE HOUSTON, TX 77019 WWW.SJSREVIEW.COM
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NEWS
THE REVIEW / MAY 17, 2019
After loss of Coach Kensinger, team vows to play on
PHOTO / GRACE RANDALL
The girls' lacrosse team embraces in the center of the field after a 12-8 win in the City semifinals against Lamar. Four days earlier, their coach Angie Kensinger and her husband Stuart died in a plane crash outside of Kerrville, Texas. By Ella West
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efore the start of the City semifinal game against Lamar, the Maverick girls' lacrosse team ran onto the field with ladybug ribbons in their hair and stood hand-in-hand with their opponents from Lamar. Together with the hundreds of fans in attendance, who were also adorned with ladybug ribbons, they took a moment of silence in honor of coach Angie Kensinger. Three days prior, on April 22, a twin-engine plane crashed just outside of Kerrville, Texas. The crash took the lives of all six passengers, including Kensinger, affectionately known as Coach K, and her husband Stuart ('81). On Caven Field, fans held up signs decorated in ladybug stickers and messages such as "Play for Coach K." Before the game, the JV teams gave two roses to each varsity player: one for Coach K and one for Stuart, whom the team had nicknamed "Mr. Coach K." On a table near the field, students and coaches gave out ladybug cupcakes and stickers.
The Kensingers once lived in a house on Ladybug Lane in Vero Beach, Florida, where the team occasionally traveled for tournaments. Coach K inherited her love of ladybugs from her mother, and the team adopted ladybugs as their second mascot. The ladybugs thus became a symbol for the impact Coach K made on St. John's and the greater lacrosse community. Having beaten the Lamar Texans earlier in the season by just one goal, the Mavs knew that the Texans would be hard to defeat in the rematch, but in the first six minutes, the Mavs scored three goals. By the time the emotionally and physically drained team had wrapped up a 12-8 victory in front of more than 300 fans — the largest crowd to watch a lacrosse game in School history — most of those in attendance had spilled onto the field to support the players. While the players appreciated the crowd support, they acknowledged that the team dynamic was equally important. "Winning the game improved the team dynamic because it strengthened us and brought us together to honor Coach K and everything she has done for the program, not just the team," freshman goalie Saviana Augustine said. Throughout her 22 years at St. John's, Coach K was a ubiquitous presence. She was always there to support every lacrosse team, from the sixth graders to the JV teams to varsity. She had a gift for making each girl feel special and knew the names of every girl in the program. "[Coach K] cared about every single one of us, wanted to know all about our personal lives, our parents, our siblings, what was going on, what classes we were taking and everything about us," senior goalie Mary Leonard said. "If you showed up to practice and had a bad day, she would know instantly. She was so much more than a coach." On the day of the crash, a school holiday, the team arrived on campus for their 4 p.m. practice to prepare for the City semifinals against Lamar. After 30 minutes, Coach K had not yet arrived. The team knew something was wrong. Assistant coach Nicole Morris drove to Coach K's house, where a neighbor told her that
there had been a plane crash possibly involving the Kensingers. At 5 p.m., Headmaster Mark Desjardins arrived at the practice field and sent the team home. Administrators and coaches made the decision not to tell players at practice since the news of the crash had not yet been confirmed, and there was concern about the players being able to drive home safely. As the news spread, the team gathered at captain Alexandra Lewis's house less than two hours later. At 9 p.m., players received an email confirming the tragic news. On the day of the semifinals, the St. John's eighth-grade team won the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference Championship against Kinkaid, 7-6. Both middle school teams wore ribbons in their hair as a reminder of Coach K, and Kinkaid players gave each Maverick player a red rose before the game. After their win, the eighth graders went straight to Caven Field to support the varsity team. During the game, each Texans player wrote Angie Kensinger's initials on their arm, and when the game was over, the Lamar players gave each St. John's player a letter expressing their sincerest condolences. Episcopal's lacrosse team also attended the game to show their support. In Dallas, the Hockaday Daisies were one of many lacrosse teams across Texas that wore red arm bands with AK on them to honor Coach K. The impact of Coach K's passing was felt by four former players on the Northwestern University lacrosse team: Kate Copeland ('17), Carson Copeland ('17), Nell Copeland ('15) and Lindsey McKone ('16). The Wildcats remembered Coach K through traditions such as celebrating "Cinco de Michael," a holiday created by Coach K that combines the music of Michael Jackson with the festive traditions of Cinco de Mayo and lacrosse. Soon after Coach K's death, Northwestern won the Big 10 tournament, upsetting Maryland, the No. 1 team in the NCAA. McKone scored a season-high six goals. "Every time that I step on the field, I have a little angel on my shoulder," McKone said in an interview with US Lax Magazine. "I know that there is someone watching over me, and I can play the way that [Coach K] would want me to play — with poise and confidence." After winning the semifinal game against Lamar, the Mavs lost to Kinkaid in the City championship. During the game, the team knew they were struggling and could have played better, but they were still reeling from the loss of Coach K. At SPC, the Mavs placed fourth after winning the first round against Greenhill, then losing to the Episcopal School of Dallas in the semifinals and Hockaday in the third-place game. At the State tournament, the Mavs beat St. Michael's but ended up losing to ESD again in the semifinals. When the ESD Eagles defeated Kinkaid in the finals, they hoisted the newly renamed Angie Kensinger Trophy. From now on, no matter what team wins the State tournament, Coach K will be there.
Additional reporting by Grace Randall
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SJSREVIEW.COM / NEWS / MAY 17, 2019
IN MEMORIAM: Angie and Stuart Kensinger
Kensinger legacy rooted in compassionate giving
PHOTO / LESLIE DUNCAN
PHOTO / COURTESY OF EDEN EPNER
Angie Kensinger coached lacrosse for 22 years at St. John's, winning 11 SPC and 12 State championships. Her husband Stuart ('81) co-founded Jerusalem Peacebuilders, a charity dedicated to fostering peaceful relations between Israelis, Palestinians and Americans. By Sophia Lima
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n Monday, April 22, lacrosse practice began as usual with players stretching and chatting about Easter weekend. The girls had no clue that within an hour they would receive news that would turn their lives upside down. Earlier that day, lacrosse coach Angie Kensinger, 54, and her husband Stuart ('81), 55, were tragically killed in a plane crash just outside Kerrville, Texas, on their way to their home in the Hill Country. They are survived by their son Phillip ('16), a junior at Washington and Lee University. In the days that followed, it became clear just how much of an impact the Kensingers had made upon St. John's and the world. The other passengers on the twin-engine plane were pilot and family friend Jeffrey Carl Weiss, architect Scott Reagan Miller and landscapers Marc Tellepsen and Mark Damien Scioneaux, all of whom had ties to St. John's. Angie Kensinger grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, and attended New Canaan Country School, where her love for lacrosse began. She graduated from The Hotchkiss School then attended Yale University, where she was a member of the crew team and played lacrosse. At Yale, she also met Stuart. After graduation, she worked at Harper's Bazaar in New York City. She later moved to Austin and then San Francisco, where she worked for a catering company, before moving to Houston with Stuart. She began coaching at St. John's in 1998.
Coach of a generation During her 22 years at St. John's, Coach K coached 403 games, with an 87.3 winning percentage. Her teams won 11 SPC and 12 State titles. Players attribute Coach K's success to her unmatched passion. She spent her free time watching college lacrosse games, designing plays and rewatching game film to perfect practice plans. She also helped numerous girls reach the collegiate level. "Coach K was my rock in the recruiting process," said captain Andie Kapiloff, who will play next year at Swarthmore. "Not only did she believe in my ability to play at the next level, but she was willing to put the work in to get me there." Kapiloff said Coach K was with her every step of her recruitment process by sending emails, calling college coaches and putting Kapiloff in contact with St. John's alumni who had gone through the same process. She would even call Kapiloff before and after each camp to
give her pep talks and remind her to be herself. "She knew my dream was to play college lacrosse, and she sacrificed her time to help me get there," Kapiloff said. "I am so grateful." Kensinger instilled a love of lacrosse in younger girls. Kapiloff first played lacrosse in 2009 at one of Coach K's T-Rex winter camps. Although she arrived with no equipment, Kapiloff remembered how excited Coach K was to have her and how she made an effort to speak to every player at the camp. Coach K's summer team, SwizzleSticks, inspired the formation of the club team in 2013. SwizzleSticks offers lacrosse clinics, camps and tournaments for girls in third through eighth grade with no prior experience required. Coach K made lacrosse enjoyable by cultivating a tight bond among teammates. She was constantly brainstorming creative activities for the team. Some of her traditions included playing charades at team dinners, setting up a snack bar in her car trunk before games and celebrating "Cinco de Michael," which combined festive traditions like a piĂąata with her love of Michael Jackson's music. She also enjoyed friendly competition and instilled it through weekly wall ball challenges and scrimmages in which the winning team would be rewarded with Pinkberry gift cards. Coach K taught a generation of players how to be strong women on and off the field. "She prioritized sportsmanship, effort and improvement over victory," Kapiloff said. "Whether we won or lost, she believed in us and our abilities." Former captain Jennifer Trieschman ('16), a junior field hockey player at Columbia, created a GroupMe chat called "Coach K's Team" with 195 members, including friends, coaches and former players. For the past few weeks, members have been coping with the loss by sharing memories and photos dating back to her first year as a St. John's coach.
Building bridges Coach K's husband Stuart, affectionately known as Mr. Coach K, was equally passionate and interested in bettering the lives of others. Stuart grew up in Houston and graduated from St. John's in 1981. He matriculated at Yale and then received an MBA at the University of Texas. After working for Wells Fargo in San Francisco, he and Angie moved back to Houston so that Stuart could follow in his father's footsteps as a commercial real estate developer. With a passion for serving others, he was a board mem-
ber for many charities and even founded his own organization with his lifelong friend Nicholas Porter in 2011. The charity, Jerusalem Peacebuilders, is dedicated to fostering relationships between young Israelis, Palestinians and Americans. The organization conducts summer camps and is led by a full-time staff in the U.S. and Jerusalem with the goal of creating school programs, adult pilgrimages and education programs. Most recently, they helped build a radiation therapy center in Gaza City. Stuart was also the Mavs lacrosse team's No.1 fan. During this year's spring break lacrosse trip to San Francisco, multiple players were injured in a game, so Mr. Coach K drove then-JV players Sloan Davidson and Tyler Kennedy across the Golden State Bridge so they could play with the varsity team. While Stuart drove them around, he gave the girls a full tour of San Francisco and told them anecdotes from when he lived in the Bay Area. Richie Mercado ran track with Stuart at St. John's and became lifelong friends with the Kensingers. "Angie was always smiling, positive and willing to work with us on field use when we had track," said Mercado, the SJS boys' track and cross country coach. "She would always wish our teams the best and come up and congratulate me and hug me when we won cross country or track and field SPC." In 2016, the boys' track team won SPC for the first time in 30 years. The Kensingers and the lacrosse team came out and cheered the whole way through, celebrating and singing the alma mater with them afterwards. Stuart also participated in the Big Bend trip for many years. Although he had not been on the trip since 2017, he had recently told coach Brenda Mercado that he wanted to return next year to lead hikes and help out. On Friday, June 17, at 10 a.m. in Flores Hall and Campus Center, there will be an opportunity for the St. John's community to gather and pay tribute to the Kensingers. To honor their legacies, the Angela and Stuart Kensinger Scholarship Fund for Girls has been created to benefit summer leadership and peacebuilding programs with Jerusalem Peacebuilders.
Those who would like to contribute can donate to Jerusalem Peacebuilders c/o Kensinger Donnelly 3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 301 Houston, TX 77056.
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SJSREVIEW.COM / MAY 17, 2019
FEATURES
Trifecta of language teachers to retire
PHOTO / GRACE RANDALL
The retirements will mean the world languages department loses a combined 67 years of St. John's teaching experience.
Au revoir, Madame Vest
Hasta luego, Srta. Lopesuarez By Celine Huang
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panish teacher and movie enthusiast Jessica Lopesuarez will retire after 19 years of service. Lopesuarezcurrentlyteachesthefilm-centricSpanish Seminar as well as Spanish III. Lopesuarez was born in Wisconsin and raised in Austin, but the majority of her family is from Mexico City. Surrounded by native speakers growing up, Spanish was her first language. She only learned English once she started school. Lopesuarez majored in marketing at Texas State University. After visiting her sister at Elsik High School in Alief ISD, she developed an interest in teaching, so she returned to Texas State to get a teaching certificate. In 1996, Lopesuarez moved to Houston and began teaching at Elsik. After four years, a friend at St. John's encouraged her to apply for a Spanish position. "It was meant to be," she said. "I wasn't pursuing working at a private school or St. John's, but I'm glad I did." According to senior Mycah Clay, who has taken classes from Lopesuarez for three years, her caring nature helped Clay feel supported and secure in the classroom. "Making presentations can be stressful as it is — doing them in a foreign language can be a nightmare," Clay said. "Lopesuarez made us all feel extremely comfortable throughout the entire process. I could count on her to be smiling at us the whole time." According to World Languages Department Chair Aline Means, Lopesuarez's hard work and devotion to her job benefited her colleagues. "She's very kind and open, and she has a way of spinning things and making you look at the bright side," Means said. "She has a natural empathy for other people that we're going to miss around here tremendously." Since her parents are older and still healthy, Lopesuarez wants to travel and spend more time with them. She will also travel with her boyfriend, who often takes trips abroad in the middle of the week. Lopesuarez plans to pursue personal interests, including cooking, reading and reconnecting with friends, that she sometimes neglected due to school obligations. She looks forward to enjoying a freer, less structured lifestyle, especially not having to wake up at six and being able to savor a cup of coffee. "I'll now be able to take my dogs for a leisurely walk in the morning in addition to the afternoon — just enjoy the little things in life that we sometimes take for granted." Lopesuarez intends to remain an active part of the SJS community, perhaps as a substitute teacher. "I will miss those daily interactions with the students and my colleagues," she said. "This is work, but it's fun being in the classroom with the kids. That's what makes it difficult to leave after all these years."
By Abigail Poag
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ong-time French literature devotee and teacher Jacqueline Vest is retiring after 36 years of service. She has taught every level of French and currently teaches French I, French III and French Literature and Civilization. Vest is one of four retiring teachers to be named Faculty Emeritus, given to teachers over 65 with 20 years of service or any teacher with 25 years of service. Born and raised in France, Vest enjoys sharing her lifelong love of the French language and literature with her students. Her passion is infectious, and many of her former students go on to study French in college and beyond. Junior Jordan Fullen, who took Vest's French I class last year, recalled how excited Vest was to teach the class traditional French nursery rhymes. Vest encouraged her students to sing along, which, according to Fullen, frequently ended in "discord" despite their best efforts. French teacher Shelley Stein ('88) took French IV from Vest and still considers herself Vest's student. She uses some of the same grammatical charts Vest used to teach topics such as direct and indirect pronouns. Vest would take Stein's class to Andre's, a French bakery formerly in the shopping center across from Lamar. "It was exciting to have someone so authentically French," Stein said. "She's true to what she loves, and that's how she won us over." After moving to the United States in her 20s, Vest taught at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia before coming to St. John's in 1983. Two of her three sons, Gabe ('91) and Stefan ('89), attended St. John's. According to Aline Means, Chair of the World Languages Department, Vest's experience and knowledge of the School have benefitted the department over the years. When Means started at St. John's in 2001, Vest helped her become accustomed to the inner workings of the School. "As a young, new teacher, I was able to learn so much from her," Means said. "[Working with Vest] has been a true learning and growing experience." Means praised Vest's development of "fabulous French speakers," adding that many of Vest's former students return to visit her. "She has really helped cultivate a love of the Francophone world," Means said. Vest plans to move to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she will join her son, his wife and her 8-year-old granddaughter. She enjoys spending time outdoors and looks forward to hiking, painting and reading, as well as traveling to France. "It's a big change, [but] it's time," Vest said.
再见, Gea 老师 By Ashley Yen
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nly the second Chinese teacher at St. John's, Jing Gea will retire after 12 years of service. Gea, who singlehandedly teaches all levels of Chinese, has contributed to the expansion of the Chinese program. Born and raised in Taiwan, Gea moved to the United States to attend Brigham Young University for graduate school. "When I moved over, I had to settle down and just start my life," Gea said. "It was very challenging." After graduating from BYU, Gea moved to Ontario, Canada, where she began teaching art and then Chinese at her children's Chinese school. After earning her teacher certification in Canada, Gea also taught Chinese at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School in Oakville, Ontario. She decided to move to Houston for the warmer weather and to be closer to family. Joining the St. John's community in 2007, Gea notes the many changes the School has undergone. "The School keeps getting bigger and bigger every year," Gea said. "When I first came here, it seemed like I knew every faculty member." For Gea, the new schedule implemented two years ago was the most drastic shift in her time at St. John's. "The first year of the new schedule was so scary, especially because I teach four different classes," Gea said. "I'm still adapting right now, but it was a good change." As the only Chinese teacher, Gea has the opportunity to teach many of her students for four years. "I get to know each student really well," Gea said. "I hope they don't get sick of my teaching, but I really like every student. Each and every one of them is very different." Gea hopes that the incoming Chinese teacher will bring fresh perspectives and teaching methods to St. John's. "Over the past two years, our class has cultivated a dynamic with Ms. Gea," sophomore Jenny Green said. "It'll definitely be interesting to shake things up, although I am sad that she's leaving." Gea plans to move back to Utah to spend more time with her five grandchildren. "They will keep me busy, especially because they live in different places," Gea said. She also looks forward to revisiting her artistic interests and picking up a paintbrush again. Gea said the best part of teaching at St. John's has been getting to know her students. She will miss her students and colleagues the most. "All the students are very committed to learning and well-behaved," Gea said. "It made my teaching easy. Everything just worked out so perfectly here."
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SJSREVIEW.COM / FEATURES / MAY 17, 2019
US librarian retirement-bound
Farewell to departing faculty and staff Julie Ballew
2 years
Janet Blair
4 years
Alison Brown
5 years
Philip Cannon
3 years
Gisela Cherches
6 years
Christian Davis
4 years
Jing Nan Gea
12 years
Pat Hamilton
6 years
Larry Henderson*
28 years
Courtney Hoffman 18 years PHOTO / CLAIRE SEINSHEIMER Before announcing her retirement, librarian Peg Patrick spearheaded the opening of the Academic Commons.
By Lily McCullough
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ibrarian Peg Patrick, who spearheaded the transition from a pre-digital library to the modern Academic Commons, is retiring this May after 27 years of service. While she is known for making announcements with her deadpan delivery over the PA regarding ice cream in the library and summer reading, the librarian also has a passion for riding motorcycles. Patrick worked first at Elsik High School in Alief ISD as an English teacher before becoming a librarian. After discovering she preferred the social aspect of teaching more than the grading, Patrick became a librarian for the school. “I looked around the school, and quickly realized that I had the organizational skills and the love of reading to become as librarian,” Patrick said. Patrick applied to work at SJS in 1992 following the encouragement of a former Elsik colleague and now former SJS faculty member Carol George. Patrick’s time at SJS can partially be characterized by her role in the movement toward digitizing the library.
“When I came here, there was this huge card catalog that had probably a hundred drawers of little catalog cards,” Patrick said. “Finding things was a little more tedious.” The switch to a library in the electronic age, however, has not diminished Patrick’s expansive knowledge of its contents. “If you ask her a question about any type of research, she knows exactly the books that she has purchased,” Assistant Librarian Suzanne Webb said. “She has that brain that remembers everything, and she knows exactly where that book would be on the shelf.” The reading room in the new Academic Commons is one part of Patrick’s legacy at SJS. This type of space was sorely lacking in the previous library and served as a consistent source of complaints from students desiring a silent space, an issue that has been resolved with the renovation of the Academics Commons. “She really fought to make sure that not only was there a silent space for students to work and read but that it was
going to be big enough for everyone who wanted to be in there,” Webb said. Following her retirement at the end of this academic year, Patrick will be taking a “fall color tour” to New Hampshire this coming October, one part of her hope to travel more. Patrick plans to continue volunteering her time to help teach first and second graders to read. She further intends to take some classes possibly involving history, world religions, or learning a new language. Patrick and her husband are also avid motorcyclists and may buy a new Honda Gold Wing to use to travel around the country. “We would love to explore more of the Western United States — a motorcycle is the way to go to see all of that beautiful scenery,” Patrick said. According to Patrick, the presence of the faculty and students have been integral to her experience at SJS. “The faculty is so talented, gifted and kind, and I know I’ll never find that many people like that in one place,” Patrick said. “I will miss the students — they keep me young.”
Danielle Iseli
5 years
Claudia Kechkian
2 years
Pia de Leon
4 years
Joanne Levy
18 years
Jessica Lopesuarez 19 years Molly O’Brien
1 year
Peg Patrick*
27 years
Susan Quill
5 years
Marion Riddell*
31 years
Donnie Shafer
5 years
Andrew Stewart
4 years
Gargi Vaghmare
3 years
Jacqueline Vest*
36 years
Jordan Warren
2 years
Rachel Yarborough 9 years *Denotes being named Faculty Emeritus
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THE REVIEW / ADVERTISEMENT / MAY 17, 2019
Congratulations to the St. John’s School Class of 2019
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Snap Scores Percentage of Seniors Who Applied Somewhere in Texas
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SJSREVIEW.COM / MAY 17, 2019
CULTURE
Quadrangle strives to keep senior pages classy S By Indrani Maitra
eemingly the only time that students ever put down their phones is the day the yearbooks come out. People flitted about campus on May 10, attempting to collect sufficiently heartwarming messages from friends and comparing signature count with resolute zeal. For one day, the Quadrangle was the most popular book on campus. One of the first things people look at, besides the index to see how often they appear, is the the iconic senior section, this year consisting of 165 portrait pages complete with quotations and nicknames. As the most personal section of the yearbook, it is also the most scrutinized. Editors and advisers of the Quadrangle are mindful of the potential for future embarrassment, such as Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s high school yearbook and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s blackface photo in his medical school yearbook. The Quadrangle does not allow senior pages to go unchecked, instead prioritizing the integrity of the yearbook over personal autonomy. Quadrangle Editors-in-Chief, Grace Meng and Ashley Kim, along with four section editors, organized an “exhaustive yet effective” process in which seniors submitted their photos, quotes and nicknames in advance for their pages. The Quadrangle sent a Google Form in early September for seniors to submit their desired quotes by late October. The senior editors compiled a spreadsheet of the quotes, which then underwent extensive review by yearbook advisers Susan Barthelme and Suzanne Webb. Questionable quotes, which include profanity, sexual innuendo or other problematic references, were flagged for review. “A lot of quotes tend to be cultural references or sayings from our generation that our advisers or the administration wouldn't know about,” Kim said. “It's our job to really comb through those, since we do know what's going on culturally in society and what things
PHOTO / MAXX SHEAROD
Alexa Addison picks up her copy of the Quadrangle on May 9. This year's theme, "The Story of Us," illustrates how "we, as Mavericks, authentically engage in our community during every moment of our time at St. John's." are actually offensive or refer to anything bad or inappropriate.” Quality control of the senior quotes is stringent. Although a quote itself might not be overtly explicit, if the song or other source contains inappropriate content, it will not be approved. The same rule applies to quotes from television shows and films. When students come in to make a case for an unapproved quote, Webb has a simple litmus test: “I just tell them sing the song for me. If it's not a song they're comfortable singing to me, it may not be the best option to use on their senior page." In addition, if a nickname is not clearly a derivation of the person’s name, it might not be approved. “If a nickname isn't super obvious or an inside joke, years from now people can look back and make their own interpretations,” Meng said. “That’s why the nicknames and quotes have the most potential to be controversial. Sometimes those interpretations can be
problematic.” Webb reminds students that the Quadrangle is distributed to students as young as five years old, so it needs to be appropriate for everyone from kindergarten students to those in the Upper School. “If a child is intrigued by a certain song quote, we can’t have it from an explicit song," Webb said. "It would not be appropriate for our community.“ In the end, the Quadrangle seeks to uphold senior tradition while avoiding potential backlash. According to Meng, despite the extensive vetting process, each page is ultimately emblematic of each senior. “We understand it’s frustrating, and we want everyone to have the quotes that they want to have,” Meng said, but it is important because "you don't know how those things can come back to haunt you.”
Review garners national recognition By Staff
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he 2018-2019 school year marked a time of unprecedented recognition for the Review, both within the School and nationally. For the first time in the Review's 70 years, the School mailed copies of the newspaper to every Upper School household, free of charge, thanks to financial support from Headmaster Mark Desjardins. "I wanted our parents to get the opportunity to see and experience one of our best assets, and their reaction has been extremely positive," Desjardins said. "Since most parents complain that their kids don't share anything about school, it gives them an excellent platform to engage in some meaningful discussions." This year was also one of the most lauded in the publication's history. For the first time, the Review entered contests sponsored by Quill and Scroll, an international high school journalism honor society. The Review won the Blue and Gold Award, the top prize for comprehensive writing. The Review also received a Sweepstakes Award in four categories, including Audio Podcast Series. The Pod on the Quad podcast also swept the Single Episode category with Online Editor-in-Chief Sophia Kontos winning first and third place for "The Pannill Panel" and "SAC Roundtable," respectively, and staff writer Ella West taking second for her episode "Women Runners." Assignments editor Izzy Andrews won the Profile Writing award for her article on novelist Katherine Center ('90), and over a dozen writers, photographers and videographers contributed to the Review Online's midterm election political package, which won first place for Political Writing. Photographer Claire Seinsheimer won third place in News Feature Photography. For the second consecutive year, the Review Online earned Distinguished Site status from School Newspapers Online. Distinguished Sites meet SNO's exemplary journalistic standards. Seventeen writ-
ers won a total of 24 Best of SNO Awards for articles that appeared online. The Review received additional accolades for work published during the 2017-18 school year as well. In November, the National Scholastic Press Association awarded the Review its second-ever Pacemaker Award. The Pacemaker was conferred on 28 middle and high school newspapers across the United States in recognition of their exemplary reporting and writing. In March, the Review also received a Silver Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in the hybrid newspaper/website division, extending its six-year streak of earning a Crown Award. "I'm so honored to have received so much recognition for the work we produced this year," Editor-in-Chief Iris Chen said. "It really speaks to the level of dedication and commitment to journalistic excellence that each and every one of our staff members has displayed." Next year's Editorial Board has been restructured to match the growth of the publication. There will be four print Editors-in-Chief: Izzy Andrews (Content), Mia Fares (Administrative), Sophia Lima (Managing) and Leila Pulaski (Design). Abigail Poag and Noura Jabir will serve as assignments editors and Sara Doyle, Indrani Maitra and Ella West as copy editors. SJ Lasley and Sinclair Mott have been named Online Editors-in-Chief, with Laney Chang and Fareen Dhuka serving as Assistant Online Editors-in-Chief and Megan Chang and Ashley Yen as section editors. Additionally, Taylor Britton will serve as Design Editor, Ryan Doughty as Video Editor, Claire Seinsheimer as Photo Editor and Celine Huang as Visuals Editor. Mehak Batra is the new Business Manager. The Review is advised by David Nathan, Shelley Stein ('88) and Chuy Benitez.
GRAPHIC / MATTHEW HENSEL
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THE REVIEW /
CULTURE
/ MAY 17, 2019
PHOTO / CLAIRE SEINSHEIMER
Caught on tape: Sculptures pop up around campus By Kate Willey
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wo mysterious figures dangle from the trees, towering over all who walk by. Romeo, kneeling on the Great Lawn, professes his love to Juliet on the Mewbourne balcony. Harry Potter casts a spell on books in the library with his wand, making them levitate. Disembodied legs protrude from walls in the Atrium and Great Hall. These and many other whimsical tape sculptures have appeared each day in random locations around campus. The figures were created by students in Dan Havel's Three-Dimensional Studio Art class. Havel introduced the project a few years ago. Larger classes mean more sculptures get displayed. This year, 19 students collaborated on nine figures. The class curriculum includes a unit on casting objects — making a mold of an object using material that is different than the original object. For the tape sculptures, students wrapped each other in tape to construct lifesized figures. Students began the casting process in early March, practicing first on inanimate objects like books and plastic fruit. After gaining skill and confidence, they started working with human models. To create the molds, students wrapped the limbs of people in their group with a protective layer of cellophane before coating it with several layers of clear, heavy-duty
packing tape. After finishing the tape job, they removed the mold by cutting a seam with safety scissors, then taping the mold back together. Havel instructed his students to come up with a scenario in which the sculpture would interact with a chosen environment. A group of freshmen (Trey Al-Uqdah, Eve Kroencke, Sydney Chon and Eleanor Kershner) chose to create a model of Harry Potter, which can be found in the library pointing his wand at floating books. "Coming up with the idea for the project was easy," Kroencke said, "but we faced a lot of structural difficulties, which were hard to deal with." Plastic Harry Potter's legs were too weak to stand on their own, which made them unstable and prone to collapsing, so the group placed sandbags in the feet and crumpled paper in the leg, which improved the sculpture's sturdiness. To prevent Harry Potter's back from hunching over, they inserted a wooden pole, which kept the boy wizard upright. Despite the artistic setbacks, Kroencke enjoyed seeing all the creativity that went into the figures. "It wasn't just a structure that stood there," Kroencke said. "We got to play with where he was standing, what he was wearing and how he interacted with his surroundings." Other figures weren't so lucky. Known as the "tree hug-
ger," one figure in the Plaza that had been in an embrace with a tree fell victim to the Houston weather. Havel's main goal was to let the students explore the concept of public art and what happens when it is not in a gallery but out in the world. To inspire his students, Havel showed the class a video about Mark Jenkins, an artist who installs lifelike figures around urban centers to observe how they interact with their surroundings. "Before he showed us the video, I thought that public art was a waste of time and resources," Kershner said, "but it showed me that you can create art from anything." Students in the class gained a new appreciation for public art through their experiences. "If you install something in a gallery, people are going to walk in and expect art, and they may gain inspiration, but ultimately they just see art thrown in their faces," Kroencke said. "The difference between art in a gallery and public art is that you may not be able to touch it, but you can almost feel it. You get to interact with the space that it's in." For Havel, the charm of public art lies in its unpredictability. "The most exciting thing about public art is that it surprises you during your normal day. You might turn the corner and see an astronaut," Havel said. "It makes you giggle a little."
SJSREVIEW.COM / MAY 17, 2019
SPORTS Girls' golf, boys' track triumph at spring SPC By Ellie Monday
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By Wenqing He
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irls' golf conquered the course at Woodforest Golf Club on the first day of SPC, which boosted their confidence for the second day and led to their third SPC championship in a row. All four of their scorers — junior captain Christine Wang, freshman Ashley Yen, junior Denise Pan and senior captain May McCabe — made All-SPC. Coached by Joseph Soliman, the team had its doubts going into the tournament even though they had won SPC for the past two years. Their inconsistent play in previous tournaments and stiff competition from other schools were a cause for concern. "In the tournament before SPC, we lost by a significant amount for the first time in the past two years," Wang said. "We were feeling stressed and pressured because we were expected to win this year, so we had to work a lot harder and play a lot better than the last few years." The Mavericks faced some unexpected difficulties on the links. The greens were unusually hard, which caused the balls to run fast and made for some challenging putts. Wind became a nuisance, and questionable pin locations prompted the John Cooper Dragons coach and the greenkeeper to inspect the terrain on day two of the tournament. Players complained that the pin locations were far more difficult than a high school tournament should have been. Despite the obstacles, the Mavs dominated by finishing below 300 shots on both days to finish 55 strokes ahead of the CHRISTINE WANG runner-up Kinkaid Falcons. Captains credit the victory to the team chemistry that grew at the end of the season. "We were all just really happy," PHOTO / JOSEPH SOLIMAN McCabe said. "That's the happiest I've been in all four years of golf."
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ith one event to go and a narrow 1.5-point lead, boys' track and field coach Richie Mercado had a difficult decision to make. Senior Genson Hooper-Price, one of the team's strongest runners, had tweaked his hamstring earlier in the meet. Hooper-Price could have run in the 4x400-meter relay at the risk of aggravating his injury and losing the championship, but in the end, the team, anchored by Hooper-Price, edged into first by 0.04 seconds. In doing so, the track and field team won their third SPC championship in four years by outpacing the runner-up St. Mark's Lions by 11.5 points. In the 4x100-meter relay (Hooper-Price, along with seniors Collin Fullen and Lethan Hampton and junior Will Skinner) finished first and were 0.13 seconds away from breaking the School record set last year. The 4x400 relay team also won for the second year in a row. "The [relay team's] camaraderie is really strong, which was part of the reason as to why we did so well," Fullen said. Hooper-Price and Fullen took first and second place, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Hooper-Price also took third in the 400. Fullen finished third in the 200. Juniors Douglas Parsley and Davis Thames finished first and fourth in the 800-meter dash, respectively. "The best moments are always at the very end," Fullen said. "We are super happy about our victory as we huddle together and sing the alma mater at the top of our lungs."
DOUGLAS PARSLEY
PHOTO / BENNY HE
Underdog Mavs get on a serious roll, finish second By SJ Lasley
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s the fourth seed in South Zone, the softball team wasn't expected to make the SPC finals, but on a hot muggy afternoon, there they were playing Episcopal for the championship. Led by coach Isis Barron-Hutchinson, the Mavs worked their way to the finals after an action-packed weekend. In their opening game, May 2, the Mavs run-ruled the Hockaday Daisies 15-0 in the third inning. On Friday the Mavericks beat the North No. 1 seed Greenhill Hornets, 8-6, in a game that featured an hourlong weather delay. "I was annoyed with the rain delay," captain Lauren Harpold said. "It's always difficult to pitch three innings and then sit for an hour and a half before pitching again." Harpold pitched every inning from the quarterfinals to the finals. "We did a good job of staying in a good mindset," she said. The upset victory meant the Mavs would play two games on Friday. In the semifinals, the Mavs had an opportunity to avenge a 9-1 loss earlier in the season when they squared off against their archrival, the Kinkaid Falcons. Throughout the game, nearly every Falcon fly ball was caught, and the Mavs ran the bases aggressively, leading to their only run. Witht the Mavs clinging to a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the last inning, the Falcons loaded the bases loaded with two outs as Kinkaid's final batter fouled off numerous Harpold pitches. Finally, she sent a grounder to
shortstop Abby Schlanger, who threw to Leah Beach at second for the forceout to end the game. "That win was the best part of my weekend," Harpold said. "The Kinkaid game will go down as one of my favorite games I've ever played in my softball career." In the finals against the top-seeded Episcopal Knights on Saturday, the temperature and tensions were high. After several contested plays and the ejection of a key Knights player for using an illegal bat, the Knights ultimately proved too much for the Mavericks, resulting in a 6-1 defeat. For captain Sophie Lazear, getting back to the finals was a fitting way to end her high school career. "Winning SPC my freshman year, and then making a championship appearance my senior year really felt like a full circle moment," Lazear said. "I just felt really proud of us. We weren't supposed to make it that far, but we really came together that weekend and played like the team we are." Despite the loss, the underdog Mavericks left the field with a sense of accomplishment and pride, repeatedly chanting their team mantra, "Let the big dog eat," which was inspired by their underdog status. "If you look at our regular season stats, the SPC results exceed everyone's expectations," Harpold said. "Nobody thought that our team could make it to the finals, and we caught every team we played by surprise. Our mantra kept us going through the weekend."
PHOTO / RICHARD LAZEAR An unexpected winning streak, including a 1-0 win over Kinkaid, propelled the Mavs to the SPC championship game. The Mavs took home the second place trophy after losing 6-1 to Episcopal.
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THE REVIEW / OPINIONS / MAY 17, 2019
THE REVIEW
STAFF EDITORIAL
Choose your own way to say goodbye
E
very school year is full of goodbyes, but this year feels especially defined by departures. Even pop culture has reflected the trend. In "The Avengers: End Game," we bid adieu to some of our favorite superheroes, and in the final season of "Game of Thrones," we have seen the demise of, well, just about everyone. Sadly, the goodbyes we faced as a school this year have not been fictional. In November, we lost Will McKone after a long battle with an inoperable brain tumor. Regardless of whether or not you had a personal relationship with Will, his death impacted the St. John's family, and we saw our community support system at work in the months following his passing. In April, we were stunned yet again by the untimely deaths of girls' lacrosse coach Angie Kensinger and her husband Stuart ('81). Through the pain, members of the community comforted each other. We can't help but admire the strength of the St. John's family. Tragedy has inspired students to do things that they never thought they would, like running a half marathon as a tribute to Will or
setting up a pregame custard stand to honor Coach K's "dream" job. In between the laughter and tears, these losses have left many of us heartbroken. Each member of the St. John's community has had to grapple with ways to say goodbye, whether to those who are gone too soon or next week as we say farewell to seniors and retiring teachers. Some of us required several boxes of tissues to move towards closure; others might not have shed a tear. Some of us needed time away from school, and others buried themselves in their work. No matter how you say goodbye, you're doing it the right way. As the school year comes to a close, we can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. We have said goodbye so many times and under such tragic circumstances. As the seniors move forward — with their whole lives ahead of them — we should be celebrating. So why does their departure feel so bittersweet? Lately we've been overcome by a sense of nostalgia as we see seniors carrying their younger siblings on their backs
through the Quad. We struggle to let go of our friends and mentors who guided us and challenged us to be the best that we could. And we can't help but remember the wonderful memories and times that we have shared with the seniors. It's human nature to resist change, so seeing those we look up to moving on leaves us feeling alone and afraid. All these goodbyes can feel particularly trying. Take your time. Say goodbye however you need to gain some closure. Know that the people around you are going through the same thing. Take comfort in the unfailing strength of our community. Yes, life is filled with tragedy and loss, but when we look at the senior class, so full of hope and new beginnings, we are reminded of the immense spirit within our storied cloisters. It's the students, the teachers, the coaches and all the people here that make St. John's so special. We wish the seniors the very best in their future endeavors, and we ask them to remember the friendship and love that defined the time that we shared.
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Our final thank you to the SJS community
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hen we first came to St. John's as bright-eyed freshmen, we had so many milestones to look forward to: our first SJS-Kinkaid football game, our first article published in the Review, our first school dance. And just as quickly, they turned into lasts: the last Senior Tea, the last day of classes and, now, our last issue of the Review. We've built up each of these events to be momentous turning points, as if they would fundamentally transform our high school experience. But for all the months and years of anticipation and expectation, they were just days. It turned out that the moments in between were the ones that meant the most to us. We wish we could go back and relive those days, savoring the time we spent with our friends and family just a little bit more and stripping back some of the anxieties surrounding schoolwork. In the end, that one abominable test grade or the all-nighters we pulled to write synthesis papers were largely/ mostly forgettable, whereas the relationships we cultivated over our time at St. John's will sustain us for the rest of our lives. As we prepare to leave, we find ourselves filled with gratitude for the people who have made our journey so amazing. To our teachers: Thank you for your belief in us and your determination to make us better, more engaged people. To the Review: When we first sat next to each other in the staff room as two unassuming freshmen, we never could’ve imagined how much The Review would mean to us now. You are our people. None of you get nearly enough credit for everything that you do. When people see the final product, they don’t see how every graphic was painstakingly crafted, how every comma was carefully mulled over and how each photo took hours of diligent planning and coordination. They can’t see the sacrifice that went into each issue, all the missed birthday dinners and the time spent holed up in the Review room while our peers were cramming for tests. But we recognize your hard work, and we want to say that it's truly been our privilege to work with every writer, designer, photographer, business staff member and videographer that has passed through The Review. And to all the people stepping up to fill the positions vacated next year: Com-
St. John's School 2401 Claremont Lane Houston, TX 77019 sjsreview.com SNO Distinguished Site 2018-2019 Facebook SJS Review Twitter @SJS_Review Instagram @sjsreview Snapchat @sjsreview
Member Columbia Scholastic Press Assn. Gold Crown 2015 Silver Crown 2014, 2016-2019
Member National Scholastic Press Assn. Pacemaker 2015, 2018
Blue and Gold Award 2019 Editors-in-Chief Sophie Caldwell, Iris Chen Senior Assignments Editor Eli Maierson Assignments Editors Sophie Gillard (News), Maggie Ballard (Features), SJ Lasley (Sports), Izzy Andrews (Culture), Lilah Gaber (Opinions) Senior Design Editors Prithvi Krishnarao, Clara Brotzen-Smith Creative Director Stephen Kim Assistant Design Editors Amélie Perrier, Siena Zerr Illustrations Editor Mia Fares Senior Copy Editor Shani Israel Copy Editors Hrishabh Bhosale, Noura Jabir, Sophia Lima, Abigail Poag Photography Editor (Print) Leila Pulaski Photography Editor (Online) Theo Sanders Assistant Photography Editor Reygan Jones Business Manager Andrew Duong Assistant Business Editor Mehak Batra Online Editors-in-Chief Ryan Chang, Sophia Kontos Online Section Editors Laney Chang, Fareen Dhuka, Sinclair Mott Senior Technology Officer Matthew Giordano Video Editors Jack Shea, Alex Tinkham, Thomas Hunt Asst. Video Editor Will McKone, in memoriam Staff
PHOTO / CLAIRE SEINSHEIMER municate with each other, be unafraid to pursue stories that might be controversial and, as delicious as Cane’s is, try ordering healthy food for late nights every now and then. We’ll be eagerly awaiting every issue of The Review in Massachusetts next year. To our fellow seniors: You have made our time at school so wonderful. Together, we crafted arguably the best senior prank in school history. We witnessed the growth of SJS each year and the construction of the Academic Commons. We also faced several heartbreaking tragedies this year and managed to emerge stronger as a community. After we graduate next week, our hope is that, to quote Vitamin C: “s we go on we remember all the times we had together. And as our lives change come whatever we will still be friends forever.” To my sister Ella: Just because I don’t acknowledge your presence in the hallways doesn’t mean I don’t feel it. It makes me smile when I spot the red flash of your matching shoes in the hallway or when you send me a link to a clearly fake video of a penguin doing backflips. Remember that 1,600 miles can be bridged instantaneously any number of ways. I’ll always be your biggest fan and most devoted listener, no matter how far away I am. To quote one of your favorite songs, “Hey sister… If the sky comes falling down, for you, there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do.”
To my brother Christopher: I can’t believe that we’ll both be freshmen next year, you in high school and me in college. I also can’t believe that you’re taller than I am. I’ll miss screaming along to “Low” by Flo Rida in the car with you on the way to school, but don’t worry — I’ll only be a FaceTime away. Freshman year will be new, and it might be scary, but I have the utmost confidence in you. No matter where the next few years take you, I am proud of you always. To our readers: All we can ask as journalists is that our stories inspire thoughts or actions, and your reactions to our articles have challenged and bolstered us. By reading our paper, you have allowed our truly amazing group of young journalists to grow and to shine. Thank you. Here's to an amazing four years.
Aatiqah Aziz, Max Beard, Taylor Britton, Megan Chang, Ella Chen, Katina Christensen, Wyatt Cyprow, Ryan Doughty, Sara Doyle, Caitlin Ellithorpe, Lucy Haire, Wenqing He, Matthew Hensel, Celine Huang, Ethan Kinsella, Nat Larsen, Russell Li, Bailey Maierson, Afraaz Malick, Lily McCullough, Camille McFarland, Hamzah Mir, Indrani Maitra, Ellie Monday, Davis Rae, Eloise Reasoner, Rahul Rupani, Matthew Samson-Williams, Maxx Shearod, Claire Seinsheimer, Gabrielle Solymosy, Eric Strawn, Mira Thakur, Nina Varma, Ella West, Kate Willey, Ashley Yen
Advisers David Nathan, Shelley Stein ('88), Chuy Benitez Mission Statement The Review strives to report on issues with integrity, to recognize the assiduous efforts of all and to serve as an engine of discourse within the St. John’s community. Publication Info The Review is published six times during the school year. We mail each issue — free of charge — to every Upper School household with an additional 1,000 copies distributed on campus to our 695 students and 98 faculty. Policies The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Headmaster or the Board of Trustees of St. John’s School. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the entire Editorial Board unless otherwise noted. Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the school. Submission Guidelines Letters to the editor and guest columns are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and taste. On occasion, we will publish letters anonymously. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received. Letters and guest columns can be emailed to review.sjs@gmail.com or hand-delivered to the Review room (Q210).
SJSREVIEW.COM / ODDS & ENDS / MAY 17, 2019
ODDS & ENDS Lifers
Caitlin Ellithorpe
THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
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WORD FOR WORD Prithvi, real talk. When is the last time you cried?
- Senior Stephen Kim
We should make a calculus parody video - senior with you.
Harrison Fernelius
This whole class has been a parody. - Mr. Friedman
60 SECONDS WITH SPICY SENIORS
PHOTO / CAROLINE PRESSLER
LUCIAN BENNETT-BRANDT Nickname Luche Dream Job Full-time mountain man Favorite Spot on Campus Senior lot Weird Hobby Glacier spotting Quirk My laughter Theme Song "Country Roads" or "Taj" Patronus Kodiak bear Love to Hate Climate change Hate to Love Beans Relationship Status Happily married
Red Carpet Date Steve Irwin Phobia Yellowstone erupting tomorrow Doppelgänger Charlotte Perkins Gilman Known For Sprinting Book Toyota Prius owners manual Zodiac Sign Pisces Slogan If you wanna get crazy, we can get crazy Allergies Urban sprawl Follow me? @sjs_OSEC
PHOTO / CAROLINE PRESSLER
SHELBY JORDAN
Nickname Shelbot, Shebs, Shel Dream Job A detective, with an editorial position at Vogue on the side Favorite Spot on Campus Great Lawn Weird Hobby Photoshopping random stuff Quirk Other people's utensils can't be pointed at me when I eat Theme Song "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen Patronus Ocicat Love to Hate Crust Hate to Love Weird stomach noises in a quiet space
Relationship Status Single but not lonely Red Carpet Date Matt Bomer Phobia Paper cuts until you die Doppelgänger Brittany Pierce, Bella Hadid Known For Platform shoes Book The Longhorn Who Waltzed Across Texas Zodiac Sign Taurus Slogan *mini dab* Allergies Salt = hives Follow me? @shelbyfsjordan
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THE REVIEW / MAY 17, 2019
Top Six Online Stories of the Year Visit us at www.sjsreview.com
PHOTO / THE MCKONE FAMILY
(1) 'Where there's a Will there's a way': honoring Will McKone The St. John’s community lost one of our own in November. Will McKone represented all that a Maverick could be: kind, courteous, spirited and genuine. SJ Lasley and Shani Israel wrote about his life and legacy.
ILLUSTRATION / MIA FARES AND CELINE HUANG
(3) Midterm mayhem: The impact of politics at St. John’s This multimedia package, which came out just before the 2018 midterm elections, includes articles, illustrations, a video and a podcast. The package won the Quill & Scroll Sweepstakes Award for best political coverage.
PHOTO / CLAIRE SEINSHEIMER
(5) Why the camo tradition should have stayed St. John's loves tradition, so when all Upper School students were allowed to wear camo to the all-school pep rally, some felt it was no longer special. SJ Lasley presents the case for limiting camo to seniors and varsity athletes.
PHOTO / THEO SANDERS
(2) Freshman band Claremont Heir appears on Special Music Megan Chang interviewed freshman rock band Claremont Heir about starting out and how they balance school and practice. The article is paired with a video by Jack Shea and Alex Tinkham of the band playing Weezer's "Buddy Holly."
PHOTO / LILAH GABER
(4) Laptops stolen by 'Whataburglar' after Episcopal game Lilah Gaber was enjoying Whataburger after the Episcopal game with friends when someone announced that three seniors' cars had been broken into. The burglaries fueled rising security concerns both on and off campus.
PHOTO / CHUY BENITEZ
(6) Annual Big Bend trip threatened by government shutdown The Big Bend trip is designed to teach students about the great outdoors, but this year it provided eighth graders with an impromptu civics lesson. Writer Ashley Yen detailed how the school responded before and after the shutdown.