March Issue

thereview VOL. 64, ISSUE 6

TWIST OF FATE

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL

MARCH 2013

Wrestling seizes first SPC title

Pinning! After seven years under Coach Alan Paul’s leadership, the Maverick wrestlers finally broke St. Mark’s 41-year chokehold on the championship. See page 13.

HEAD FIRST

JAKE NYQUIST

Hagerty appointed interim head of Upper School

BY ALYYAH MALICK Following a five-month search for a new Upper School Head, Headmaster Mark Desjardins appointed English teacher Ann Louise Hagerty as Interim Head of Upper School next year, her last term before retirement.

The search for Upper School Head began after Kef Wilson announced in October that he accepted a position as Head of School at Savannah Country Day School in Georgia.

Desjardins formed a 12-person committee co-chaired

by Lower School Head Chris Curran Ann Loiuse Hagerty and Upper School Counselor Pat Reynolds to conduct the search process.

“We wanted a seasoned administrator who had both the background and experience in a highly selective independent school setting and some knowledge and interest in 21st century curricular issues, faculty evaluation and professional development,” Desjardins said.

The committee reviewed over 60 applications and selected three finalists after a series of phone, Skype and on-campus

interviews. One candidate declined the offer to continue as a finalist; the other two were Spanish teacher Cara Henderson and David Clark, Assistant Upper School Head at the Pine Crest School in Boca Raton, Florida.

The committee invited the Board of Trustees, Student Affairs Council, affinity group officers and parent group leaders to meet the candidates. Faculty participated in forums for the two finalists, and department chairs and other senior administrators interviewed both.

“Those who met the candidates filled out interview evaluations that asked for strengths, challenges and a rating on qualifications specific to the job,” Reynolds said.

The committee submitted data from all its sources to Desjardins to assist his decision.

“I am pleased with the process we went through,” Reynolds said. “The committee is a very dedicated, very energetic, very thorough and very thoughtful group.”

In the end, Desjardins decided to pursue an interim option rather than appoint a new Head of Upper School.

“We will begin the process of building a new campus center next April and start a discussion about growing the size of the

school,” Desjardins said. “Both projects can have a major impact upon the life and culture of the Upper School. I felt it was critical, especially as it relates to the potential growth question, to have more clarity before making a firm commitment as to who the future leader of the Upper School would be.”

Desjardins felt that Hagerty was the best fit for the Interim Head position, and after some consideration, Hagerty accepted his offer.

“I was honored, and I was appropriately sobered,” Hagerty said. “It’s a huge responsibility.”

Hagerty first came to SJS as a German and Latin teacher 32 years ago. She became Chair of the Foreign Language Department and served as the School’s first Academic Dean for 20 years before returning to the classroom as a Latin and English teacher four years ago.

“The Head of Upper School has to manage multiple constituencies all in real time. It is a constant balance between leadership and management,” Desjardins said. “Ms. Hagerty is familiar with every aspect of the Upper School, and she truly has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues on the faculty.”

Continued on Page 2

CENTERSPREAD This issue’s centerspread focuses on The Quadrangle, dating all the way back to its former years as The Rebel. We explore previously printed material that would be considered taboo nowadays and sit down with the current yearbook editors to discuss this year’s layout, the evolution of the yearbook and senior surveys.

thisedition

NEWS FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT BEYOND OPINIONS CENTERSPREAD SPORTS ODDS & ENDS

2 3 5 6 7 8 12 14

2news THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

ON DISPLAY

Artists show mixed media at CAMH

BY CHRIS ZIMMERMAN

newsbriefs

The Middle School’s Boys’ Choir and Upper School’s Men of Chorale will combine their voices to sing the National Anthem, April 22, at Minute Maid Park.

SJS students will be given discounts on tickets to the Astros game versus Seattle.

Freshman Matthew Brown, member of Men of Chorale, said, “I’ve been going for a couple years now, and though intimidating at first, it’s a great experience.”

Winnie Brandfield-Harvey

STACIE DUDLEY

CLAIRE DORFMAN

COLLINS YEATES

Young talent This year’s youth exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Museum encourages young artists to explore the dimensions of human nature. “I used the theme of self-discovery and created a photoweave that I thought was symbolic of this aspect of humanity,” junior Claire Dorfman said.

At the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), artwork portraying human nature hangs in exhibition spaces — artwork created by teens, including four SJS students.

This spring, the CAMH’s Teen Council coordinated “Perspective 181: Human Nature.” The eighth biennial youth art exhibition features artwork from 49 different students.

The exhibition’s theme is human nature and its differing interpretations.

“Mr. Havel recommended the festival to me,” sophomore Kate Bomar said. “He told me my artwork would fit the theme.”

Bomar made a screen print dealing with homosexuality in her 2D Studio Art class.

“I have always been very passionate about homosexuality and ‘being okay with yourself,’” Bomar said. “I wanted to

communicate that through art.”

Sophomore Collins Yeates has a photo featured in the exhibition. His piece, “Tell Me I’m Pretty,” deals with social norms and stereotypes.

“It was the whole idea that people think they have to hide themselves if they think they don’t look good,” Yeates said. “It’s saying to society that I don’t want to follow its standards, and I think the council liked the kind of sass that it had.”

Other artists featured in the exhibit include juniors Claire Dorfman and Stacie Dudley.

Sophomore Martha Jamail serves as one of the 15 members of the CAMH’s Teen Council.

“Sophie Asakura (’12) recommended I look into the council, so I applied over the summer, and I was accepted,” Jamail said.

“The council works on a bunch of projects like a music festival and a fashion show, but our main thing is the exhibition.”

One Teen Council job was to decide which of over 300 submissions to display.

“A lot of the submissions were photography, so it was hard to choose out of so many,” Jamail said. “We generally tried to see how the submissions answered the question and topic of human nature.”

Jamail enjoyed seeing the wide range of work created for the exhibition, such as a chalkboard with a simple drawing that visitors could embellish.

“I thought it was really neat to see teenagers’ ideas of human nature,” Jamail said. “I noticed a lot of art that included schoolwork and cliques and other high school stereotypes that really showed the teenage point of view.”

Interim search committee to reconvene next year Continued from Front Page Reynolds said, “She’s very thorough and a very hard worker; nothing will slip through the cracks. She takes into account the needs of everyone in the group and makes the decision that seems to fit the most needs.”

Although she will miss teaching, Hagerty looks forward to her position next year.

“To me it represents a new challenge, and I enjoy challenges,” Hagerty said. “I look forward to seeing this job from a different perspective and working with a

wider variety of people.”

The role of an interim can be tricky: the appointment is temporary, yet people expect the interim to function as a regular leader, responding to situations and making appropriate changes.

“I think the main duty of an interim is to keep things together,” Hagerty said. “I don’t plan to make any huge changes because that would not be my prerogative.”

Hagerty will retire after her term as Interim Head and may move to San Marcos, Texas in order to be closer to three of

her four grandchildren who live in Austin.

“My advisory will be seniors next year, and I decided several years ago to retire after they graduated,” she said.

Desjardins plans to reconvene the committee next year to conduct a similar search process for Head of Upper School.

“I think most of the advisory committee members would like to serve again,” Desjardins said. “There may be a few minor tweaks, but the committee did an excellent job, and we had terrific chemistry.”

Seniors in AP Biology enriched their study of ecology by visiting the Welder Wildlife Refuge, March 19-20.

In addition to hiking and kayaking, the students learned about gathering data and surveying vegetation.

“We went out at night in a truck and shone spotlights into the grass to see if we could spot any animals,” senior Natasha Kumar said. “We saw lots of deer, javelinas and rabbits.”

Cara Maines Wednesdays during ninth period, hip-hop songs blast from VST 204 while senior Caroline Spears and junior Zack Lee teach choreography in their newly formed Dance Club.

“On our club application form, Zack and I wrote that the point of Dance Club is to make prom better,” Spears said, “but I just really like learning and teaching dance.”

Emily Sherron Juniors participated in a community service class project Mar. 19 at the Habitat for Humanity house built by SJS students this school year.

Students made flower pots for houses in the neighborhood and planted a garden at the Habitat house.

The project was followed by a dedication ceremony during which project leaders Carolyn Brooks, McKenna Gessner, Mackenzie Mott and Steven Stein reflected on their experiences.

Alyyah Malick

MARCH 2013

INSPIRATIONAL ACCOUNTS

features3 THE REVIEW

NICOLE LANG

Reflecting on the past In fifth grade, Caroline Spears traded her soccer cleats for a back brace, the result of a Chiari 1 malformation that required multiple surgeries. Seven years later, she has made a successful recovery and now pursues her love of hip hop four hours each week, including classes at Soundbox Studios.

From back braces to hip-hop classes: Spears recovers from spinal condition, surgery

BY AMY KANG When senior Caroline Spears discovered she had scoliosis in the third grade, she never imagined that her spontaneous condition would turn out to be a much more serious.

Two years later, the Spears family consulted a fourth doctor who recommended an MRI scan.

“When they ordered the MRI, I didn’t really think about it – it didn’t really strike me as important,” Spears said. “The doctor said there might be a .1% chance that the scoliosis was something else, so we went just to make sure.”

The results reported a Chiari 1 malformation; in other words, the base of her brain had overgrown by nine millimeters into the spinal cord. The condition was exacerbated by a syrinx – the spinal fluid that should have been outside the cord cushioning it was entering the spinal cord.

“I used to get headaches, nausea and numbness; the doctors were especially worried that the numbness would progress because the spinal fluid was wearing away at the nerves,” Spears said.

Before entering high school, Spears had three surgeries to correct both the malformation and the syrinx. The first two, performed by a specialist in St. Louis, were intended to reduce the pressure caused by fluid within the spinal cord.

“They both failed,” Spears said. “It wasn’t the doctors’ fault – I went to great doctors, but there isn’t a fixed procedure that you do with Chiari because there’s so many different permutations of issues you can have. Each doctor has different techniques that work on different types of people.”

One year after her second surgery, Spears went to the Texas Medical Center where the doctor inserted a tube into the spinal cord to drain the fluid. After working for eight months, the tube clogged and had to be removed.

In the fifth grade, fatigue and headaches caused by physical and emotional stress forced Spears to discontinue any sports.

“I had my first back brace for a year during the fifth and sixth grades, but I didn’t care about the braces as much – it was the headaches,” Spears said. “I’ve been exempt from sports since forever because whenever I tried to do anything active or didn’t get enough sleep, I would get tired, and as soon as I got tired, I would get a headache; the only thing to do then was to lie down.”

After quitting soccer, Spears found herself with few accessible activities, constant headaches and too much free time.

“For the first few months, I just read all the time, but it got boring eventually,” Spears said. “It wasn’t so much that I couldn’t play soccer anymore than that I just didn’t know what to do with all that time.”

Reviving an interest she discovered in kindergarten, Spears began researching butterflies to build a butterfly garden in her yard and received a certification for her work.

“It took me a year to figure out what to channel all that time into,” Spears said. “At first, I was just on the computer, or reading, but I decided, ‘this isn’t going to be a thing, I’ve got to do something.’”

For her fourth and final surgery, Spears

traveled to Iowa to see Dr. Arnold Menezes, a top-ranked doctor specializing in cranio-neurological surgeries. He removed the clogged tube, cauterized the base of the brain, realigned the neck, took out a vertebra to reduce the pressure, inserted metal rods to reinforce the spine and opened spaces for fluid to flow out of the spinal cord.

“The surgery took him eight hours; it was a really intense, difficult operation, and I’ve had an incredibly high regard for both Dr. Menezes and the entire medical profession ever since,” Spears said.

From discovering the Chiari 1 malformation to her recovery following her surgeries, Spears’s family offered support.

“During her last surgery in Iowa, our family basically lived in a hotel for that summer,” Spears’s brother, sophomore Stephen, said.

After coming to SJS in fifth grade, Spears also found support amongst her friends.

“During seventh grade, especially with all the bar mitzvahs, I’d dance for five minutes, but then I would be too tired and go lie down on the couch,” Spears said. “My friends would leave the dance to come hang out and talk with me – they’ve always been absolutely encouraging and kind.”

Spears’s surgeries have brought her family closer together.

“I’ve gone to all of her surgeries except for the first,” Stephen said. “I think my sister and I are probably closer together than most siblings.”

Now, Spears has made an almost complete recovery, putting headaches, numbness and fatigue in the past and growing as

a person for it all.

“Caroline has always been a strong person, but I think her experiences have made her even more resilient,” senior Maddie Clayton said.

Despite lacking full rotation of her neck and missing a vertebrae, Spears dances four hours a week and attends classes at Soundbox Studios.

“I got really into dance after I got my neck brace off,” Spears said. “I remember I was watching ‘Step Up’ with Maddie when we decided to take dance classes.”

This year, Spears shared her passion for dance by founding Dance Club and spearheading the East Asian Affinity Group’s (EAAG) dance performances for both the People of Color Conference and the EAAG assembly.

Spears is also president and founder of Harry Potter Club and president of the Environmental Coalition of Students (ECOS).

“Her passion for her activities is infectious, and she is the reason why I am a part of both Dance Club and EAAG,” Clayton said. “I’m really impressed that she’s able to lead so many activities and still manage to do an outstanding job.”

For Spears, her experience has become the impetus to immerse herself in extracurricular activities.

“I get really interested in things because I always feel like I need to be involved,” Spears said. “I needed something to define me outside of my medical history; it’s always going to be a part of me, but I’d like to it be something that I grow from, not something that I grow towards.”

4

THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

GIVING TO GREECE

Financial crisis leads to foundation of nonprofit

BY LIN GUO “Eugenia would like for us to be able to help schools tomorrow.”

Donations will not be sent directly to Greece but are instead given to a local manufacturer. Adopt-A-Greek School is supported by the Papadopoulou biscuit company, who will deliver snacks to the Parent Teacher Organizations of the schools. The schools will then send a letter back to the organization detailing what they received.

“Everyone wants to send money to Greece, but they want to make sure all the money is going to the right place,” Kakadiaris said.

Six schools have expressed interest in Adopt-A-Greek School and are in the process of completing applications detailing their specific needs.

“We’re focusing on providing snacks and heating oil. When we get the applications back, we’ll see what else they need,” Kakadiaris said. “We’ll learn what works and what doesn’t and what size of donation is feasible.”

Kakadiaris hopes to fund four projects and raise at least $500 in goods per school. Adopt-A-Greek School has already received a pledge of $1,000 and will accept

donations through its upcoming website.

“Each campaign will have its own page, pictures and a forum for students’ comments on what they received,” Kakadiaris said.

Sophomore Juan Phillipe is the web designer for the project.

“Eugenia messaged me; she needed help with the website because she doesn’t have experience in making a website herself,” Phillipe said.

Phillipe has been learning web design for the past four years and sees the site as an opportunity to both practice his skills and help Greek children.

“I started working on it in early January and only spent two to three weeks on it,” Phillipe said. “We’ve been adding stuff slowly, so it’s not finished yet.”

Kakdiaris and Phillipe plan on having the website up within the next two weeks.

Kakadiaris hopes to inform the SJS community of the project by making a Facebook page and inviting friends. Her sister, Alexandra, currently attending Lanier Middle School, is reaching out to her peers as well.

“I feel that while you may not necessarily be Greek or know about what’s going on,

if you can help by donating five dollars, why not help a movement?” Kakadiaris said. “If people see a need, they move to help alleviate that pain.”

Creating a nonprofit organization has been a valuable experience.

“It takes a lot of planning, and getting nonprofit status is almost the last step of the process,” Kakadiaris said. “You have to learn to be able to articulate your ideas and get people on your side in a minute.”

Mr. Kakadiaris agreed that successfully building a nonprofit is not an easy or quick process.

“When Eugenia shared the idea with us, immediately we realized the urgency to move forward, but putting the elements into place takes time,” Mr. Kakadiaris said.

“Forming a nonprofit is like setting up a business.”

Kakadiaris is motivated by a strong sense of duty to her country and wants to continue the organization for as long as possible.

Kakadiaris said, “Unfortunately the problem in Greece isn’t going away, so I see this as a sustainable organization I can work on for the rest of my life.”

scenes behindProp Closet the

Eugenia Kakadiaris only had to see the news to be inspired.

While watching a Greek broadcast with her family, the sophomore wondered how she could help alleviate the financial situation in her family’s native country.

“We constantly hear news reports about kids fainting from not having enough to eat,” Kakadiaris said. “Some cities aren’t able to get heating oil for schools in winter.”

Kakadiaris’s decision to take action to aid these schoolchildren is now in the final stages of becoming reality.

Since the end of 2011, Kakadiaris and her family and friends have been working to get 501(c)3 tax-exemption status for Adopt-A-Greek School; part of that process requires being recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as an official nonprofit organization.

Adopt-A-Greek School is currently fiscally sponsored by the Hellenic Cultural Center of the Southwest and is in the process of approval for nonprofit organization status.

“To be recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit organization is a really lengthy process,” Kakadiaris’s father, Ioannis, said.

NICOLE LANG

Apropos of nothing “It’s a constant struggle keeping the place clean,” Benjamin Garmon said. “After a show the room tends to get really messy for a week until I can clean it again.”

BY OLIVER RUHL There is only one location on campus where you can find medieval weapons, newspapers from the ’50s and a 12-foot Cyclops puppet: the prop closet.

Tucked away on the second floor of the VST, the two dark and musty rooms hold some of the campus’ most outrageous items.

When Technical Director Benjamin Garmon was hired two years ago, the prop closet was a disaster zone.

“One of the first things they told me was, ‘Never go in the prop room, ever.’

Everything was just in piles, with Christmas trees in one corner of the room and antiques in the other,” Garmon said.

That summer, Garmon and a crew of students cleaned the room and installed heavy duty shelves. The numerous props were organized, boxed and returned to the room.

“I told everyone working that if their verbal description of an item contained the words ‘gross’ or ‘broken’ it should be thrown out,” Garmon said.

The prop closet houses some of the strangest props imaginable.

“It’s a magical world of stuff that no one would ever want or use,” sophomore Jack Ramzel said.

One can find bottles of wine, vintage

suitcases, furs and even real bombs from World War II. The bins containing these props are aptly labeled with titles such as “gambling and money” and “the bin of dead fowl.”

A largely unknown fact about the prop closet is that props can be checked out by anyone for personal use.

A sign-out sheet is hung on the wall, and props can be taken for school projects and other uses.

“Props are the often forgotten thing that really makes a show,” Garmon said. “It’s important to find things that are [of the proper] period, otherwise the audience focuses on the misplaced prop instead of the musical or the play. There is no room for shortcuts; everything must be accurate.”

The prop closet has lodged two residents, Linda the Mannequin and Sterling Burdine (’12). Burdine took residence in the closet his junior year until he was asked to go home.

“It was absolutely terrifying. He would just go and sit there for a while during his free periods,” junior Justin Bernard said.

“I think that Sterling used the prop closet to try and live in 1950,” Ramzel said.

But whether the closet is used to store props or live students, it is one of the campus’s most exciting and mysterious locales.

entertainment

MARCH 2013

THE REVIEW

5

ROUND OF APPLAUSE

Double-casting, time crunch worthwhile for musical participants

BY HANNAH TYLER “5, 6, 7, 8!”

As the dancers launch into “Too Darn Hot,” dance teacher Victoria Arizpe (‘86) looks on nervously, watching the dancers hit their marks as she counts to herself silently.

This number has been in development since November; each step, down to the ball-changes, has been choreographed perfectly. Now it’s up to the dancers to nail the routine.

As the dancers hit their final poses, Arizpe calls for everyone to relax. She gives hurried notes and then shouts, “From the top!”

The dancers scramble to their opening spots to run the number again. To get “Too Darn Hot” perfect, they will have to run it many more times.

The time commitment for “Kiss Me, Kate” rehearsals differed from person to person.

“We had a lot at the beginning, but it lightened out towards the end after we learned the numbers,” junior Meghan Chapman said. “We started early because our numbers were really hard, and we had to have enough time to learn them.”

Senior Hannah Worscheh, who played Lilli in the Black Cast, had a varied time schedule.

“I did a lot of my rehearsals during the school day so that the directors could focus on the chorus numbers in the evening,” Worscheh said. “Even then, I had rehearsal

TOMMY TUNES

about five hours every week after school, which was tough to manage with swimming.”

Since the musical was double cast only for female parts, the boys were in both casts, which meant twice the rehearsal time. This scheduling was especially difficult for boys in principal roles. Junior Justin Bernard, who played the male lead, Fred was sometimes at school for almost 12 hours a day.

Production week also brought challenges for the technical crew who had to learn the show and adjust to their new jobs.

“Once the show starts, my face is in a script struggling to keep up with who’s on stage at what time, adjusting levels and gains and trying to figure out where that awful humming sound is coming from,” Production Manager senior Katie Owens said.

Although the time commitment grew overwhelming for many, senior Erin Granberry, Lilli in the Red Cast, was quick to acknowledge the benefits of rehearsals.

“I wanted to be there as much as possible.

The more I was there, the more confident I knew I would be when the show actually came,” Granberry said.

Despite the hefty rehearsal schedules, both the cast and crew were pleased with the final result.

Senior Taylor Gutierrez said, “Even though it’s a big time commitment, it’s worth it to put time into things you enjoy.”

‘Kiss Me, Kate’ cast, crew snag six nominations

BY HANNAH TYLER

EMORY STRAWN

Just kiss him While on the phone with her current love interest, Lili (Erin Granberry) teases her ex-husband Fred (Justin Bernard). Due to the numerous girls who auditioned for leading roles, this year’s musical was split into two casts for all female parts.

EMORY STRAWN

Dancing duos Sophomore Aanie Shah and senior Josh Dickerson performed in “Cantiamo D’Amore,” one of the numerous dance sections in “Kiss Me, Kate.” The choreography, by dance teacher Victoria Arizpe, was nominated for a Tommy Tune Award.

The nominations have come in for the 11th annual Tommy Tune Awards (Tuesday, April 16th), and SJS was nominated in six categories: Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, Best Crew and Technical Execution, Best Supporting Actor (senior Sam Burkett) and Best Featured Performer (seniors Rohan Ramchand and Spencer Lepow).

The Tommy Tune Awards recog-

nize excellence in musical theater in the greater Houston area. They are named after Tommy Tune, a ninetime Tony Award winner .

“I am honestly thrilled to be nominated because I have gone to the Tommy Tune Awards many times over the years, and I’m so excited to finally be among the nominees,” Burkett said. “I know several nominees in different categories, and it is really

exciting to see my friends’ hard work and dedication be rewarded.”

“The best part is being nominated alongside one of my best friends,” Lepow said. “We just connected onstage, and I’m glad that both the audience members and the judges seemed to like our number. After six years of doing musicals at SJS, I couldn’t think of a better way to end my career.”

6beyond THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

IN TUNE

COURTESY OF LAUREN PASTOREK

From her status as an honorary member of the Cherokee Nation to receiving a Sprinkles cupcake from Suri Cruise, Lauren Pastorek (’96) has enjoyed myriad experiences since starting her career as a performer.

Though Pastorek was active in the fine arts department — her credits include playing the lead role of Fiona in “Brigadoon,” dancing in Terpsichore and touring Europe with Kantorei after her senior year — she began performing long before she started school.

Robert and Christine Pastorek, Lauren’s parents, both played in the Houston Symphony as a double bassist and a violinist, respectively.

“I spent many weekends and evenings when my mom couldn’t find a babysitter playing and doing homework in the dressing rooms at Jones Hall,” Pastorek said.

“I’m sure that the constant sound of orchestral music from an early age influenced my growth into an artist.”

Pastorek picked up her first musical instrument at age three when she began playing the violin, but she always loved to demonstrate her vocal abilities as well.

“I would sing everywhere from the house to the playground. My parents finally got tired of hearing it, so they sent me to musical theater classes at HITS,” Pastorek said.

She also joined the Houston Grand Opera’s Children’s Chorus and sang in the

Wortham Center alongside famous opera stars.

Pastorek came to SJS in her sophomore year after attending Memorial High School.

“I realized I could and should get a better education,” Pastorek said. “I needed to be in an environment where arts were highly valued but where I could also receive the best possible academics.”

Pastorek expanded her horizons, utilizing her fivefoot-eleven stature as a boon on the volleyball court while still participating in arts inside and outside school.

Pastorek was also involved in the taping of UPN’s “Rockets Kidz Jam.” “While the show wasn’t a critical success, it was a lot of fun,” Pastorek said. “Being on the TV show helped me know a lot of people at a new school quickly through my heightened visibility, though I think my modest celebrity status made everyone a bit wary of me.”

After graduating, Pastorek wanted

Shining on stage Lauren Pastorek (’96) appeared in “The Producers” at Flat Rock Playhouse in 2010. While Pastorek still performs occasionally, she devotes most of her time to teaching young performers.

BY MEGAN ROUTBOURT

to devote herself to performing, so she attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. She participated in opera and operetta roles while commuting to the University of Rochester for German Studies. Upon graduation, she went to the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music to get her master’s degree.

“I was blown away by the size of the endowment at Cincinnati,” Pastorek said.

“Both the Opera and Musical Theater departments put on multi-million-dollar productions, and I felt blessed to be a part of them.”

In her twenties, Pastorek struggled to succeed in New York. She lived out of a suitcase and crashed on couches, running from auditions to voice lessons, dance classes and odd jobs.

“It was a whirlwind of excitement,” Pastorek said. “I’m so glad I went for it and didn’t leave any door un-knocked upon.”

Pastorek worked as a crossover artist in New York for five years, performing in musical and straight theater, opera and

“My parents gave me a valuable piece of advice: if you can picture yourself doing anything else, do it.”

Catching Up With Wrestling Captains

‘A whirlwind of excitement’: Pastorek rides a high note to big stages in New York

Lauren Pastorek (’96)

concert music.

“I was very lucky; my gigs practically overlapped, something that is nearly unheard of,” Pastorek said. “I attribute it to my insane work ethic, which I developed at SJS.” Pastorek still performs occasionally, but she now focuses on teaching a studio of young performers in New York.

“It’s very important to work with younger people. It keeps you grounded and fuels you with renewed energy,” Pastorek said.

“More importantly, I would feel selfish not sharing everything I have learned with a new generation of young performers.”

In the course of her career, Pastorek has performed in the Kennedy Center and every state except Alaska. She has also worked with big-name celebrities such as Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. Suri Cruise even gave Pastorek a bouquet and a Sprinkles cupcake to congratulate her on a performance. Pastorek is also an honorary member of the Cherokee nation.

While being a performer can be incredibly difficult — it often means working long hours without pay, fighting for the next gig and enduring devastating rejection — Pastorek would not change a thing about her career.

Pastorek said, “My parents gave me a valuable piece of advice: if you can picture yourself doing anything else, do it.”

Zach Long (’12)

Cameron Steele (’11)

Rush Moody (’10)

Right now I’m pursuing a double major in economics and mathematics at Stanford. I also tried out for the football team as a long snapper and made the team. Once you wrestle in life, everything else is easy. The most fun I ever had wrestling was going to the prep national tournament at the end of my senior year. Wrestling at that high of a level is a truly awesome experience.

When I wrestled in high school, every practice and every meet was incredibly tough but worth it.

Now, I go to the Ross Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, and I am majoring in mechanical engineering. I was a pledge at Alpha Tau Omega, but right now I am taking a gap semester away from college.

Wrestling is great because even when you lose, it teaches you to overcome adversity and learn from your mistakes. After I had a disappointing finish at State my junior year, I was inspired to work harder and make All-State the next year.

Currently, I am studying Computer Science at Stanford, and I play for the Stanford Club Rugby team. I am also president of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

opinions7

MARCH 2013

THE REVIEW

EDITORIAL

Show participants should receive arts credit While it is an Editorial Board tradition to discuss writing an editorial about the need for plays and musicals to count towards the fine arts graduation requirement, the Editorial Board, regrettably, has not written one in the recent past. With several members of the Board participating in productions throughout the year, the Board finally has decided to take a public stance: productions should count for fine arts credit.

The work involved with the musical, or any theater production, is much more time-consuming than anyone would ever expect.

The school handbook, which the Board has indeed read, describes co-curricular programs eligible for fine arts credit as “performance-based ensembles open by

audition that supplement the general curriculum in dance and music.”

Going purely by this definition, theatrical productions seem worthy of some credit (only one credit is necessary to graduate).

Not receiving any credit for the long hours of rehearsals spent both dancing and singing puzzles the Board.

While it is the Board’s understanding that the current policy is in place in order to encourage students to take the various fine art classes offered, we do not feel as if receiving credit for productions would lead to a significant reduction in people taking those courses.

Students, on the whole, enjoy fine arts classes, so to think that suddenly no one would take fine arts classes is misguided.

Many students, frankly, are not cut out for productions, which is why the Board believes the various fine arts classes offered will always be appreciated.

Beyond that contention, if the fine arts graduation requirement is in place to ensure students receive a well-rounded education with exposure to the arts, participation in a production more than guarantees such edification.

According to these policies, someone could be the lead in multiple productions, spend more hours in the halls of the VST than awake at home, and yet still need to participate in a class or ensemble to meet the graduation requirements for a fine arts credit. And with over two dozen members in Johnnycake’s International Thespian Society (ITS), which requires 100 hours of

theater participation for inductment, many students are doing work for no credit.

ITS records show that the production week for last year’s musical, “Chicago,” required approximately 60 hours of rehearsal. That’s almost as many hours as a full year of participation in any ensemble.

Simply put, the fine arts credit policies should be updated to include productions due to the hard work spent in the name of fine arts. At the very least, let students earn a half-credit for participation in any production. Students would earn the other half-credit in a one-semester class.

The Editorial Board would be satisfied with this compromise, as it would still encourage students to take fine arts classes, yet it would also reward students for time spent practicing and performing.

Second semester senior year is unlike any other semester in the Upper School experience. No longer do students really concern themselves with academics, as most transcripts for college applications have been submitted. Instead, days are spent eating off-campus for lunch, mentally preparing oneself for sports practices with two-hour power naps or, even more simply, hanging out.

Teachers generally give seniors a break, easing workloads and lowering expectations. And while three-and-a-half years of the Upper School can be quite a grind, I don’t know if that justifies taking an entire semester off. As a close friend put it the other day, the School has essentially become a really expensive day care. While my parents would surely recognize that SJS day care is top notch, I don’t really think that’s what they had in mind. So I propose some sort of alternative second semester experience.

Before I proceed, some caveats: not all second semester classes are pointless (which would seem to be the implication of my previous paragraphs). In fact, two of my favorite classes are this semester. So

this proposal does not come from dissatisfaction. Rather, I think there are different, more effective (and less traditional) ways to structure second semester senior year.

It is a rite of passage for the Editorial Board to express the need for an interim term similar to those of Kinkaid and Episcopal. Second semester senior year might better be served as an interim term, during which students can explore areas of interest and learn in a less traditional academic environment.

Students could spend the portion of second semester prior to Spring Break taking classes while planning an independent study of sorts to pursue for the six weeks of classes after Spring Break.

Seniors who have always wanted to learn German could find a tutor and spend six weeks in an intensive program. Students who have really wanted to learn more about cars could spend time taking apart and reassembling an old car. The experience would not be an education in the traditional sense, but the experience could be just as edifying. The student who wanted to start a small business could work with a local entrepreneur.

There would be, of course, some logistical issues that would need to be ironed out. But I hope these potential conflicts would not prevent, at the very least, a conversation from happening. Second semester can be a time to take risks without fear of damaging one’s college prospects (which is what students tend to fear most).

Despite the onset of senioritis, some seniors have still been hard at work. This issue’s centerspread features our sister publication, The Quadrangle. The centerspread looks at past yearbooks and what it takes to produce a quality publication.

The Quadrangle seniors were certainly not taking any days offs until their deadline.

dearreader,

thestaff Andrew Vogeley

Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association-Gold Medalist 2011-2012 National Scholastic Press Association-6th Place Best of Show, First Class 2012

Parker Donaldson

design editor/asst. business manager

Valerio Farris

Lydia Liu

Braden Doyle

Samantha Neal

Anya Ring

Amy Kang

design editor

design editor

copy editor

online editor

online copy editor

Carolyn Brooks

Caroline Cowan

Iman Charania

Nicole Lang

Alyyah Malick

Spencer Lepow

assignment editor

assignment editor

assignment editor

Andrew Vogeley Editor-in-chief

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL

editor-in-chief

managing editor

Enjoy this issue,

social media editor

photography editor

business manager

Staff

Eugenia Kakadiaris Suman Atluri Winnie Brandfield-Harvey Nikhila Krishnan Pallavi Krishnarao Daniel Brenner Joseph Caplan Jessica Lee Guan Chen Cara Maines Gabe Malek Rebecca Chen Elliot Cheung Nina Manian Ian Mellor-Crummey Jake Chotiner William Clutterbuck Matthew Neal Iris Cronin Kanchana Raja Chloe Desjardins Caroline Reasoner Joshua Dickerson Megan Routbort Elaine Dong Oliver Ruhl Emily Sherron Claire Dorfman McKenna Gessner Benjamin Shou Anirudh Suresh Lin Guo Stephanie Guo Jennifer Trieschman Caroline Harrell Hannah Tyler Virginia Waller Scott Hereford Orion Hicks Tiffany Yue Christopher Zimmerman Anna Huang

Advisers

David Nathan Shelley Stein (’88) Steve Johnson

Mission Statement

The Review strives to be an engine of discourse. We seek to inform and engage the St. John’s community.

Publication Info

The Review is published eight times a school year. We distribute 900 copies each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 584 students and 80 faculty.

Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages.

Submission Guidelines

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. Letters to the editor and guest columnists are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and good taste. On occasion, we will publish letters without a name, provided the editor knows the author’s identity. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received or advertisements. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the school. Either e-mail letters and guest columns to avogeley@sjs.org; give them to Andrew Vogeley or David Nathan in the Review Room (Q-210); or mail letters to The Review, 2401 Claremont Ln., Houston, TX 77019.

1995

Emory I don’t think Senior Surveys are going to be [around] next year because we’ve told everyone that it’s not worth it. It has been way too much work for us, way too much stress, way too much editing.

Annie When we went into it last year, it wasn’t a tradition we wanted to lose. We’ve had five or six long meetings with Dean Popp, sometimes Ms. Inman, sometimes Mr. Wilson too, and [we’ve made a] number of compromises [to get] their approval.

Emory If [next year’s editors] decide to take our advice and not do Senior Surveys next year, it’ll be much better for the sanity of the editors. Annie and I spent the first day of winter break going through every single survey we got, trying to think of the most perverted way each could be construed.

Jake I don’t think we’re going to do it next year. Honestly, if someone decides that they want to come along and do all the work, I’m sure we’ll be happy to put it in, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

Annie Looking ba lot of people woul of alcohol sitting n now it would just

SENIOR PHOTOS

SENIOR SURVEYS

Last year, Senior Surveys were removed from the yearbook and were published in a supplement, which was given only to seniors. Two sections, “Found At” and “Theme Song,” were also cut. Following this change, this year’s editors discuss the future of Senior Surveys.

Emory There aren anyone to change just unable to type

Annie I don’t thin generally considere

Emory We rarely they tend to look o dard template but

Annie My favorite their cat. Easily th

QUADRANGLE THRO At school reunions, people don’t flip open a copy of the student newspaper. Instead, they open a yearbook and are flooded with memories. The Review sat down with Emory Strawn and Annie Gocke (editors-in-chief) and Jake Nyquist (photo editor) of The Quadrangle to discuss the evolution of the yearbook as well as the recent changes in Senior Surveys.

1979 1977 Emory We met with a yearbook specialist, and he helped us design some layouts that we’re using throughout.

Annie This year we decided to divide it by seasons instead of academics, fine arts, sports, etc. We’re trying to get some sort of text on each page, like a quote or a survey.

Emory Look at the cover of the 1983; there’s the Confederate flag. Even the mere idea of that now is so ludicrous.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

DESIGN

1983

In the above photo,

Emory Things we types) as well as pe words (the backsto

Annie I think the People are very aw in school-sponsore surveys; they could offended, but it’s s

Emory Even thou uptight, when you might not be offen plain to the admin Lower School page tor has to do them

“ ” Ben Easton (’77) (center left) on having guns featured in his senior page:

My reason for posting this series of photos was to show off my love of hunting. You can chalk these choices up to 17-year-old machismo. I knew it was a bit much. I had really wanted a genuine hunting scene, but these are very rare since we’re always busy in the middle of a real hunt — we don’t have photographers following us around. There was nothing wrong with my choice then ... or now. There was not the absurd hysteria around guns in those days.

I doubt there was a teacher or administrator who gave a second thought to my creative choice.

Tom Bateman (’74) (center right) on the bottle of alcohol in his senior picture:

1977

The photographer was a classmate who also provided the house and the bar. A number of us from the class of ’74 had spent a lot of time at that particular location — why not memorialize it? The photo does not endorse underage drinking — the drinking age in Texas was reduced from 21 to 18 in August, 1973. Most, if not all, of the senior class could drink legally. The bottle of Chivas was not a commercial endorsement — it was a prop.

1974

ack at old yearbooks, it’s hilarious to see what people have done for their portraits. A ld hold rifles in their pictures, and there were even a few where the students had bottles next to them. While doing something like that in the past might have been acceptable, be weird.

John Strawn (’78), Emory’s dad and former yearbook editor-in-chief, on his experiences with the yearbook:

The production process was hectic, and we worked a lot of late nights getting it done. It seems that that has not changed. The only way to submit the pictures was to physically mail them by the deadline. We did not have a lot of writing in the book other than senior quotes, so there was not much need for editorial supervision. I am sure that our advisor watched for anything inappropriate. Even 35 years ago, the administration was politically correct. As for inappropriate photos ending up in the yearbook, I invoke my Fifth Amendment rights.

n’t any rules around senior photos, just common sense. I don’t ever remember asking their quotes other than the occasional one written in Chinese or Korean that we are e into the box.

nk we’ve ever really had trouble with the senior pictures. I think the portrait pages are ed more serious than surveys.

see creative photos anymore. When people do take artistic liberty with their photos out of place and almost goofy. Also, we used to let people have variations on the stanthis year we decided that we liked the uniform look and took away that option.

es are the ones where people have some fun. One picture this year is someone holding he best picture.

OUGH THE YEARS 1984

e aren’t allowed to mention include the obvious (sexual things, swear words, those eople’s names (the thought is that those people may be offended) and acronyms/fake ory to those could be rude or offensive).

restrictions that have been put in place are largely the result of the time we live in. ware of political correctness, and the administration has to be liable for what is said ed publications. So that being said, I understand their concern on the topic of senior d potentially be sued, and of course, they want to make sure that no one is hurt or still frustrating to have so many limits on what we can and can’t say.

ugh from the outside all the rules and regulations put on us might seem crazy and u get down to the matter, the reasons are completely sound. Although kids themselves nded or hurt by things that go in the book, their parents might be, so they could comnistration about it, or in the worst case, sue. For example, the yearbook used to do the es, but so many parents complained about them that now a Lower School administram to make sure each kid is adequately represented.

THEN AND NOW

, Republican teachers make themselves known in the then-Democratic state of Texas.

1977

2009 Emory It used to be so much difficult before digital. They would have a dark room and print all the photos, and there was no easy way to do it like now where Jake can take like 10,000 photos in a weekend and then edit them all and put them up and we can pick from them.

Annie If you’re looking back, way back, there’s a lot more text on the page, and I think in becoming more digital we’ve been able to use a lot more pictures, which is good, but we lost that text. This year, we’re trying to make it more stories, and when you look back, you don’t just see a picture, but you get exactly what was happening at that moment.

10

THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

UNIVERSIFIED

College from a different perspective

BY LILY BROWN

notes

1

for the next generation

Keep track of your awards and accomplishments — especially community service hours.

2

If you have special skills or interests, like a particular sport or theater, begin to work at it in earnest — depth of service is more important than superficial involvement.

one

We like our interims to have names that are homonyms of famous recording artists. At the very least, consider Hagerty-Hendrix.

two

Milk and Cookies As a former academic dean, you know the importance of scheduling. For that reason, we humbly request chapel schedule every day with a nap period instead of chapel.

5

Try to finish all your applications before winter break — maybe even before exams?

6

Allow your parents to be part of the process.

Communication is key!

7

Try not to pin all your hopes and dreams on one school — you may be disappointed.

8

Most importantly, know that you will end up at a college that is right for you.

BY JOSHUA DICKERSON

Who’s the boss?

Understand that the title of “Head of Upper School” is really a formality. Ms. Leakey runs this place, and everyone knows it.

Student Property: No Trespassing Senior Country is sort of a home away from home for the seniors. Translation: a bunch of 17-year-olds call Senior Country home. It is not a place for a distinguished person such as yourself to ever enter.

seven

The Hendrix Experience

4

Consider your parent’s financial circumstances. Have an open, honest conversation, and start researching scholarships when you create your college list.

The Room of Requirement As the new Interim Head, you will now know the Secrets of the Sump, which include the cafeteria’s cornbread muffin recipe. It is not to be trifled with.

Use the Force

eight

topnine

3

Pay attention to your GPA. It is easy to forget about it, and, although the transcript is not the most important component of an application, it will help you get in the door.

REQUESTS FOR MS. HAGERTY, INTERIM UPPER SCHOOL HEAD

four

We had all bought the dream. We imagined ourselves walking through the leafy campus, wondered which restaurants we would try, made sure we

straps and begin writing her synthesis paper and studying for midterms.

Rejected by the school of her dreams, Lily began to tackle the next 10 applications. She entered the phase I call “Wallpapering the Universe.” Up to that point, much of our college process had been a cat and mouse game between Lily and us. She is a very private person and prefers to take care of her business without our interference — as parents, we prefer to interfere.

For example, there was the matter of a college in Santa Fe that appeared to want Lily a lot. The curriculum is based on the English system and included readings by all the great thinkers of history. To me, it sounded like heaven.

To Lily, it was not even an option. According to her, “applying to that school would have been the worst mistake!”

When I still insisted she at least apply, the negotiations began: “Listen, I’ll apply to this other school you want, if you don’t make me apply to that one…”

Soon we will find out if any of the wallpaper stuck.

five

In “Universified,” senior Lily Brown chronicles her journey from applications through acceptance. In part six of the eight-part column, Lily’s mom, Mechelle, explores the stressful and rewarding college admissions process from a parent’s perspective.

had enough air miles saved up for those necessary trips home.

I knew the answer before Lily got home. We had all decided to read the news together, but, as a mother, I wanted to be prepared. Lily is one of those people who feels the need to work for what she wants, and things usually turn out in her favor.

“She didn’t get in,” I whispered to her father.

Lily sat down and logged into the web site. Holding our breath, we read the results — not accepted, not deferred, but denied.

We were heart-broken but not for the loss of a college or an opportunity.

Rather we were heart-broken for our daughter; her pain was very raw. We could do nothing but attempt to comfort her.

Soon enough the doorbell rang. Two friends arrived, CVS bags filled with junk food. Another friend made a Tupperware full of cookie dough — the healing had begun. Not two days later, Lily had to pull herself up by her boot-

ELAINE DONG

It would probably be a good idea to have a brief chat with all the teachers at some point, but it is imperative you attempt a full conversation with Dr. Sharp. Only then can you possibly have the fortitude of mind to lead the Upper School.

One thing you know is that SJS is a school rich in history and steeped in tradition. One of our time-honored traditions is the annual administrators’ ghost ride. All the Upper School administrators choose a sweet whip and just ghost ride it down the carpool lane on the first day of school.

Likewise, third-floor Mewbourne is only a place for students to sprint to and from the safety of the classroom.

SJS is a pretty good place, but with some stigma attached. Expect the faculty to be excellent and the parents a little bit (or alotta bit) crazy. Don’t expect too much from the students, that way you’ll be even more amazed when you see us perform superhuman feats,

nine

“Alotta bit”

six

Third-floor parkour

three

You won’t fall for this, but it’s worth a shot

MARCH 2013

THE REVIEW

11

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

Online textbooks: Superior alternative to printed counterparts?

IN SUPPORT

BY BENJAMIN SHOU

Textbooks are a crucial part of a course’s foundation. Outside the classroom, textbooks are the primary resource that students use to seek answers.

Traditionally, textbooks are heavy, hardcover books that take up space and break students’ backs, but online textbooks have transformed their time-honored role. I love these digital textbooks for three simple reasons: they are lightweight and portable, cheaper than conventional textbooks and much easier to navigate.

I have an iPad, so once I store an online textbook on it, I don’t need an internet connection to access it. This method of retrieval is extremely convenient since I can view the online textbook whenever and wherever I want. Since I also use my iPad to take notes at school, I always carry it around, and it is much lighter and more convenient than a traditional textbook.

Even for people who don’t have an iPad, having an online textbook on their laptop is considerably easier to use because they won’t have to haul a 15-pound textbook — an online textbook is much easier to tote around.

Another factor that makes online

AGAINST

textbook more convenient is the search function. We all know the feeling of not knowing one little pesky term or frantically searching through a whole chapter for the answer to a single question. By pressing Ctrl + F when the online textbook is open, you will jump directly to whatever results come up, eliminating the need to fumble through an index or glossary.

And, let’s be honest, even if you aren’t the one paying for your books, price is still an important issue to consider. Normal print textbooks require many extra fees when being produced, such as middleman fees and publisher surcharges. With online textbooks, though, these problems are avoided and prices are much lower. In fact, the prices are so much lower that a trigonometry textbook was disused this year for a cheaper online textbook.

So while print textbooks are still much more common in schools, I think that an online textbook’s usability is what sets it apart from its print counterpart.

Under normal conditions, I would grudgingly accept the positives of my house’s loss of Wifi. But the morning of Dec. 20 was no ordinary morning. That was the day of my physics midterm, and I desperately needed to review buoyancy.

Not a big deal, right? Wrong. Surprisingly enough, my online physics textbook was inaccessible without internet connection.

Online textbooks are a waste of cyberspace and a disappointment to students who don’t wish to cuddle with a microwave-emitting iPad. I may or may not be slightly bitter from my physics ordeal.

To those concerned with a textbook’s effects on posture and spine curvature: yes, an actual 1,000-page textbook would be a medical hazard. Consider this, though: in-class notes are often more helpful than textbooks because teachers specifically highlight crucial information. With the exception of math textbooks, most people leave their 15-pound burdens at home.

Oh, Lydia, the environmentalists cry, don’t you know how many trees have to be cut down to provide those textbooks that you might never crack open? Yes, I know, a lot. The best time of the year, though,

BY LYDIA LIU is the Used Book Sale, when we have the chance to sell our books to students who are unaware that they can buy the same book on Amazon for 95% cheaper. The sale also helps future scholars go green.

Bad news for publishers, but good news for our woody friends on tree farms.

The one aspect of my online physics textbook that annoys me the most is its interactivity. The computer simulations are fun and engaging...when they work, that is. Every other time, the textbook freezes.

That’s right, not only does the once-animated simulation turn into an unmoving picture, but I am also unable to access any other part of the textbook.

Yes, online textbooks are a step towards a more technologically advanced future.

But for those of us who will always prefer HarperCollins Publishers to Amazon’s Kindle, online textbooks are a lost cause.

Honestly, we spend enough time staring at a pixelated screen anyway. 21st century students should stand up from their desks and get some fresh air outside...or at least reach for that dust-covered textbook on the top shelf of their bookcases.

CALL ME MAYBE

Please leave a message after the beep

BY JOSEPH CAPLAN The age-old questions of communication evolve alongside us humans.

In the beginning, “Urt, should I simply leave this juice drawing on the cave or send a messenger pterodactyl to tell Urk he left his club in my cave?”

Then, “Hey, Adonis, should I pray to Hermes to send a message to Alexia that she left her scrolls here, or should I pray to Isis?”

And, today, “Hey, Thomson, should I text Trent that the movie starts at 8:00 or call him? I’m wasting so much time just thinking about it.”

You see, while the question of technology evolves over time, the answer, or at least the means of verifying the answer, remains untouched. We, the people of Earth, look for the straight line in practically every situation; we look for the lazy way out.

So, Urt’s friend sent a pterodactyl because he refused to find out what juices were. Adonis’s friend prayed to Hermes because he refused to confront his sexist self about his unwillingness to pray to goddesses. Thomson’s friend sent a text because he was too lazy to vibrate his delicate vocal cords.

One can argue that, in any of these cases, the answer dependends upon the

communicator. In fact, you could even say that both options are equally lazy. For example, Urt drew a juice drawing on the cave because he was too lazy to go out and rent a messaging pterodactyl.

This synopsis brings us to a problem I constantly face: the question of communication. Personally, I hate texting; it takes way too long, and I never seem to get my point across.

Sadly, my friends often disagree. When I try to call people, instead of hearing a voice, I see a little message alert at the top of my phone relaying, “what’s up.”

It’s not that I don’t understand why texters lean towards texting. I see the good sides — a lack of awkward pauses, a feeling of joy whenever the text alert vibrates and the control over the conversation you feel when the other person has replied because the conversation is now in your hands.

I get it, but I don’t buy it. Calling is more efficient, more personal and, while it might not strengthen your thumb muscles, after a little while your vocal cords will bulge like a rice bag filled with potatoes. I’m just like Urt’s friend: for me, calling is the lazy, easy way out, so I plan on putting those Verizon minutes to use.

NICOLE LANG

I’d rather talk Amidst the multitude of 21st-century texters, junior Joseph Caplan prefers to use his phone through the conventional method of calling. “Personally, I hate texting,” Caplan said.

“It takes way too long, and I never seem to get my point across.”

12sports THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

SPRING FEVER

TEAMS TALK SPC

GOLF

LACROSSE

TENNIS

Boys’ Captains: Chris Farish, Henry Shepherd

Boys’ Captains: Spencer Lepow, Josh Thomas

Boys’ Captains: Ben Griffin, Jonathan Newar

Girls’ Captains: Anna Cain, Paige Killelea, Meredith Lloyd

Girls’ Captains: Monica Dayao, Mary Ellison

Girls’ Captains: Martha Daniel, Amanda Leavell, Lauren Resnick, Robby Rybarczyk

Boys’ Captains: Xavier Gonzalez, Jason Shyu

With tough non-conference schedules, the baseball and softball team’s records don’t necessarily indicate their potential for SPC success. The baseball team (7-8 as of March 27) recently finished as runner-up in the Father Wilson tournament at St. Thomas. “We are all very excited about this year’s team, and anything less than a championship will be a disappointment,” senior captain Chris Farish said. The girl’s softball team (10-10-1) has stepped up their competition this year, playing several public schools in tournaments. “We think this is our year [to win SPC],” junior captain Meredith Lloyd said.

While the boys’ team has had trouble in the beginning of the season, the girl are more confident going into SPC. Despite poor results in their first two tournaments, the boys’ team remains positive looking forward.

“After only losing one top-five player last year, and with some talent coming from the underclassmen, I am excited for how we play at SPC,” senior captain Josh Thomas said. The girl’s team, on the other hand, has remained strong with returning contributors like sophomore captain Monica Dayao. “We have some good talent on the team,” junior captain Mary Ellison said. “I think we will do well at SPC.”

Both lacrosse teams have remained dominant this season and look promising headed into counter games. The boys (9-2) stayed strong with leading scorers senior Paul Loya (23 goals) and senior captain Jonathan Newar (19 goals). “Our offense really came together over the Spring Break trip (to North Carolina),” said junior Carl Bernicker. “We’re looking to win SPC this year.”

The girls, who have yet to lose an in-state game, look to repeat as SPC champs. “Our depth on the bench and large number of returning players have contributed to our success,” senior captain Robby Rybarczyk said.

TRACK AND FIELD

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL

BY PARKER DONALDSON PHOTOS BY CLAIRE DORFMAN AND JAKE NYQUIST

Boys’ Captains: Nathan Avery, Andre Gras, Ryan Reza, Philip Taffet

Girls’ Captain: Clare Hewitt

Girls’ Captains: Stephanie Guo, Jackie Modesett, Sam Night, Allie Robinson

The teams face turnover and injury in pursuit of an SPC title. “Most of the team is new; however, I think that we work well together,” senior captain Jason Shyu said. Six boys’ players graduated last year, but nationally-ranked junior captain Xavier Gonzalez has stepped up to lead the team to wins over Dobie and Lamar. The girls’ team has also remained competitive despite a critical injury. Freshman phenom Natasha Gonzalez (Xavier’s sister) is out for the year with arm troubles. “Everyone has gotten a lot better,” senior captain Clare Hewitt said. “But the North Zone teams are usually tougher.”

While both track and field teams have started the season strong, the girls show the most promise at winning SPC. “The season is off to a great start,” senior captain Allie Robinson said. “We have a lot of young talent, which adds a fun dynamic.” Thanks to the girls’ success, the team beat Episcopal in a recent dual meet. The boys, however, are still training hard to contribute to the team.

“The boys’ team is looking to be as good as possible by pushing ourselves to beat other teams while also improving our personal times and marks,” junior William Mercado said.

strikezone When we were planning, we had to take into consideration that some of the games might be pitting sixth graders against seniors. That fact made us change some of the games to be more all-ages friendly.

Head Prefect Guan Chen

221 2 1

Points earned by the Winston house in their Field Day victory. This year saw the loss of events such as cage ball and video games but gained matball.

Taub house once again netted last place and staged a walk-out, which was imitated by the rest of the teams after they heard their places called out. Winston senior Ryan Reza said, “I thought it was awesome because my small team was the best small team ever. We won seven games, and it was great competing with middle schoolers.”

Significant injuries suffered during Field Day. Sophomore Isabel Wallace-Green tore her ACL during the filming of the Harlem Shake video. Sixth grade student Morgan Self fractured her arm while completing the obstacle course.

Times Field Day has been combined between the Middle and Upper School. The goal of the Prefects and the Administration was to promote House solidarity. The combined Field Day also offered a chance for quality 6-12ing.

NICOLE LANG

Somewhere over the rainbow Students eagerly await their Field Day events.

Attendance was solid with Middle and Upper School joining. For more Field Day coverage, see The Rearview.

MARCH 2013

THE REVIEW

13

CREATING A DYNASTY

Full Nelson Under Coach Paul’s guidance, captains Nathan Avery, Eric Hobby and Ben Stein have trained to capture the SPC wrestling championship title ever since middle school.

“Coach Paul’s biggest strength is that he’s a great motivator,” Hobby said. “He’s good at teaching, but he’s also able to get the team focused and ready to work better than any other coach I’ve seen.”

NICOLE LANG

Seven-year switch: How Coach Paul shattered St. Mark’s wrestling dynasty

BY REBECCA CHEN When Coach Alan Paul arrived in 2006, he instilled in his sixth grade class the belief that striving for second was not good enough.

Six years after that introduction, Coach Paul’s first class of sixth grade wrestlers brought the SPC championship trophy home for the first time in school history.

“One day in sixth grade, Coach Paul got us very excited about winning a championship and getting to hang a banner in the gym,” captain Nathan Avery said. “A bunch of friends and I decided to join together, but the main reason was because of Coach Paul.”

For Coach Paul’s first senior class, St. Mark’s’ monopoly on SPC represented an insurmountable challenge.

“When I came here, I remember asking the varsity kids what their goal was. They told me they wanted to take second place because nobody could beat St. Mark’s,” Coach Paul said. “I remember just thinking to myself, ‘Who told these kids that?’”

This year, the Mavericks were determined to end the St. Mark’s dynasty.

“We outworked them; we dressed better than them on the bus; we rode the bus better than they did; we warmed up better than them; we prepared better than them; we had more swag than them, and we went in their gym, and we put something on them that Mr. Clean can’t get off,” Coach Paul said.

After six years of hearing about the championship, the wrestling team did what their predecessors thought impossible. They beat St. Marks, who had not lost a championship in 41 years.

“I feel very accomplished that we get to finally bring the trophy to Houston,” captain Eric Hobby said. “It’s something

I’m not going to forget for a while.”

Fellow captain Ben Stein (138) agreed with Hobby’s sentiment.

“Winning my weight class was one of the happiest moments of my life,” Stein said. “As soon as the ref blew the final whistle, I ran around the mat jumping up and down. I was so excited. It felt good knowing that I got to where I am from all the work I put in.”

Coach Paul has been focused on winning and helping his team compete at the highest level since he began coaching.

“I don’t think it’s all fully sunk in for me yet,” Coach Paul said. “It was a great accomplishment for the wrestling program, for the school, for the boys and for me.”

Coach Paul came to coach at SJS seven years ago.

Before that, he coached wrestling at Kinkaid while attending the University of Houston.

His middle school team won the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference (HJPC) Championship all five years he was there. He left Kinkaid to assume a full-time coaching position at St. Francis and won HJPC each year he coached there as well.

Mark Reed, then the Assistant Headmaster, contacted Coach Paul about an opening for head wrestling coach.

“Many people at St. Francis told me to really think about what I was doing because I wouldn’t win at SJS. That actually made me make up my mind,” Coach Paul

said. “I will go to SJS. And we will win.”

The biggest change Coach Paul implemented was in the way wrestling coaches approached the middle school program.

“It was me being in the mat room with the middle school on a consistent basis,” Coach Paul said. “There were even times when I would not be at varsity practice and leave that to my assistant coaches. I would go to middle school matches.”

The wrestling coaches disciplined the team to bring their equipment, dress in uniform and come prepared to practice.

“We hammered them when they were puppies like that. And now, in high school, it’s second nature for them,” Coach Paul said. “It’s the culture in the wrestling program.

I don’t tell them to do it, they just do it.”

“My first impression of Coach Paul was a man who wanted to win by doing things the right way,” Stein said. “Every year I’ve been on the wrestling team, Coach has stressed the importance of being prepared for our practices, duals and tournaments.”

From the start, Coach Paul has told the team that they were going to win SPC one day.

“At first I thought he was crazy and had his sights set too high, but as our program progressed, I realized how achievable his goals were,” Hobby said.

Coach Paul shared his thoughts on the key to success with the team.

“It’s just about having confidence in yourself, believing in yourself, working

“[Wrestling] is not an easy sport, practice is not easy, but that’s what makes winning so sweet.”

Coach Alan Paul

hard, believing that you put in the work and the winning will take care of itself,” Coach Paul said. “If you do all these things and believe that you’re going to win, then you have a good chance to win.”

“If nothing else, Coach Paul is a great motivator,” Stein said. “He instilled in all the wrestlers the values of working hard and getting back up after losing.”

Commitment is one of the most important traits in an athlete and in a coach to Coach Paul.

“When I first came here, it was always ‘I have all these other things to do, so wrestling isn’t a priority,’” Coach Paul said.

“It was just something they wanted to put down on their college applications.”

Over the years, the wrestling team has become more focused.

“The team has gotten continuously better and stronger until this year it just gelled together,” Coach Paul said.

Many factors contributed to the win this year, including the team’s dynamic.

“The unique thing about the bond in here is that it’s one of just complete and utter unselfishness. It’s never about just one person,” Coach Paul said.

In the end, the victory came purely from dedication.

“If you ask any wrestler, one of the things they’re most proud of is how hard wrestlers work,” Coach Paul said. “It’s not an easy sport; practice is not easy, but that’s what makes winning so sweet. We earned it, no one gave it to us.”

The performance was a group effort.

All three senior captains won their weight class. Freshmen Reed Brace and Yo Akiyama also won first place. The Mavs won by 10 points, outpacing Kinkaid 163-153 and beating St. Mark’s by 26.5 points.

14odds THE REVIEW

MARCH 2013

GOT A MINUTE

Sixty seconds with Daniel Jellins name state of mind grade tv show hero sport to play sport to watch professional sports team cafeteria item comfort food starbucks love to hate hate to love place to live dream date dream occupation superpower

jellins stressed junior parks and rec parents football tennis texans snapple fo sho bread bread bread smoothie king stupid question parent’s advice houston shakira… her hips don’t lie judge water controlling powers and mind control

holiday dream vacation restaurant sing in the shower? fav spot on campus treasured possession i collect the best thing can’t beat this feeling down just do it! motto

christmas island, chilling at the beach dot’s café yes corner of quiet library only in the morning when no one is there 1896 and 1900 mckinley campaign buttons presidential books i ever ate my uncle’s bread laugh isn’t that a slogan? it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees

WORD FOR WORD

Discourse about prom, historical realities and clever comebacks I think half the female population in the school wanted to kill Natalie Plummer after Justin Bernard asked her to prom.

Marion Gibson, President of the Justin Fan Club.

At Big Bend, I thought I had seen weird until I watched Jake Nyquist eat his contacts because he didn’t “want us to find a contact in our sleeping bags.”

An SJS Confessions post exposes the Big Bend Diet.

Josh Dickerson: Why didn’t you go to the senior retreat?

Mr. Friedman: I don’t retreat, I only advance.

Dr. Peterson: It’s almost impossible to live solely on Social Security nowadays, especially if you live an SJS lifestlye. You wouldn’t even have enough to pay your servants.

Carl Bernicker: They’re called butlers.

Hi, this is Ms. Patrick, Upper School librarian. Drop the bass.

Ms. Patrick in the prom invitation video.

Ms. Bigge: If you leave copper out and exposed to air, it oxidizes. What happens when you leave gold

#FirstWorldProblems in History class.

THE COMIC STRIP

BY GUAN CHEN

Mr. Friedman explains life without a rearview mirror.

Jack Simmons: People take it.

Future kleptomaniac.

MARCH 2013

Meh List

Charted

BY ELAINE DONG

ends15 THE REVIEW

one

four

three two

Desks in S104

five

The Oz franchise

six

“Where mediocrity is the standard” Complaining about Field Day

Timberlake comeback

Gray smoke

Tuesdays off

SOCIAL MEDIA

Trending around campus twitter

@RealTimeWWII

why we love it

Calling all history buffs! This twitter account is a portal back to 1940 and the start of the second World War. The ex-history student who curates this account plans to live tweet the events of World War II as they happened 50 years ago.

The account, which began last year, has been chronicling the events of the Allies and Axis powers.

Liven up your newsfeed with updates on recent treaties signed and attacks

made. The feed includes pictures and quotes as well. Recent tweets include: US Secretary of State Sumner Welles privately telling Soviet Ambassador of decoded Japanese signal — suggesting Germany plans to invade USSR. 15,000 people now crammed into Krakow’s ghetto; Nazi regulations permit 4 families to 1 flat. Jewish properties given to German settlers.

why we love it

tumblr

Microwhat

TEACHERS’ CORNER

Blast from the past My friend Eddie and I sneaked into our high school (interior windows left unlocked) over the weekend Kem Kemp: goat sneaker and left dear Ms. Quattlebaum, our English teacher, the gift of a live goat.

When she returned to school on Monday, her classroom was full of many small gifts, and we never told anyone our evil little secret. We also sent her a corsage from two of the “hoodlums” in our class.

Years later at an English conference in San Antonio, I made a trip to Dillards on the River Walk to get some boots, and as I looked down the row, Ms. Quattlebaum, that old high school English teacher was trying on the same boots. NO LIE! It was at that point that I realized I had become the “old school marm, an English biddy,” those that I had once pitied and pranked.

Secretly, I kind of liked those strict grammarians, yet I vowed I would “revise” that image should I ever become an English teacher, which was certainly nothing I seriously ever considered in high school because of being bored out of my mind under the tutelage of Ms. Quattlebaum while reading “Beowulf ” or Shakespeare.

Ever wondered what a microwaved bar of soap looks like? What about a bowl of gummy bears? Or a banana?

This blog is for those who are constantly plagued by the desire to microwave whatever they have in hand.

Microwhat presents before and after pictures of microwaved anything and everything — from polaroid film to a plastic cow.

Presented on colorful backgrounds in fast-moving, before-and-after gif form, this blog is highly entertaining and surprisingly convenient for those of us whose parental units would disapprove of such actions.

Recommended for pyrotechnics and the curious types who don’t quite have the guts to follow through with their half-baked ideas.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

NICOLE LANG

WHEE care Univision interviews junior Kristen Santiago at the state capitol.

Women Helping Empower Each Other (WHEE) traveled to Austin to voice support for legislation that would reduce human trafficking.

therearview 2.

3.

1.

4.

FIELD DAY

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

To a bird, the conglomeration of Upper and Middle School students on Skip Lee Field must have looked like a spilled packet of M&M’s.

Though there were perhaps a few stray candies lying around that day, the Field Day participants had only one thing in mind: earning the bragging rights that come with

6.

1. Strike out During matball, sophomore Joe Kang pitches for his Hoodwink team.

4. Zebra Crossing Junior SAC representative Sira Ntagha officiates during the inflatable obstacle course.

2. Goal-oriented Prefect Harry Elkins demonstrates how to complete the obstacle course.

5. That’s one small step for man... In his last Field Day, senior Jake Horowitz helps lead Hoodwink to a second-place finish.

3. Winston wins Sophomore soccer star Ben Bieser trades his cleats for a hockey stick to make a goal.

5.

winning.

For the first time, seniors with a mere two months left in their SJS careers cheered alongside sixth grade students just beginning their middle school years.

As the first whistles sounded, the same mantra resonated in everybody’s mind: Let the Games Begin.

7.

6. Hot potato During the sack race, seniors Bianca Rombado and Nathan Avery manage to keep their balance while rounding orange cones.

7. Red shirt, blue shirt Freshman Paige Avery and sixth grade student Emma Britton demonstrate the true spirit of a combined Field Day in the fun relay. photos by Jake Nyquist story and captions by Lydia Liu