Review's December 2012 Issue

thereview VOL. 64, ISSUE 4

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL

DECEMBER 2012

’TIS THE SEASON

Holiday cheer inspires community service

NICOLE LANG

Secret Santa The season of gift-giving heralds new opportunities for students to give to others. Community Service creates holiday goodie bags for SJS staff while Student Affairs Council hosts a holiday toy drive for underprivileged children.

BY MEGAN ROUTBORT Allie Robinson grins as she describes the holiday gifts poster hanging on the Community Service board. “‘We should take a chance to do what we can to help other people this holiday season,” the senior said.

“Here at SJS, the holidays are as much about giving as receiving,” Community Service Coordinator Marci Bahr said.

During the month leading up to Winter Break, students juggle family commitments, college applications and midterm exams. Yet they still make time to serve others.

Dozens of community service projects take place during the year, peaking during the holidays. Events kicked off with the Gulf Coast Blood Drive, Nov. 15.

“Christmas is the season of giving, and

blood is one of the greatest gifts you can give,” junior Daniel Bland said. Sixty-one people agreed and donated blood.

After “Frankenstorm” Sandy hit the northeast, the SJS community put forth a monumental effort to aid victims, despite the 1,600 miles between Houston and New York. Spanish teacher and Long Island native Isabella Maldonado provided inspiration for HurricAID, Nov. 18.

“Many people from my hometown were not only affected by Hurricane Sandy but devastated by it,” Maldonado said.

Maldonado worked with Bahr, the community service officers and juniors Mary Ellison and Preston Ray to raise nearly $3,000. She also joined several local Zumba instructors to teach classes and donated Zumba items for a raffle.

“We had fun and did something good for our health while raising funds for people who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy,” Maldonado said. “It was Zumba for a great cause.”

Doing good is not limited to the Community Service Program. Every year, the Student Affairs Council (SAC) sponsors a holiday toy drive. This year, 164 children will receive gifts from Upper School advisories, the business office, Advancement and the library.

“Helping with the toy drive is great because we’re getting the whole school involved in doing something nice for kids who don’t have as much as we do,” sophomore SAC representative Stephen Wang said.

Advisories chose kids to “adopt” for

the Christmas season and purchased gifts based on wish lists. SAC representatives will then organize and deliver the presents.

“With the toy drive, the whole community gets together and brings the spirit of giving,” junior David Ziemnicki said. “It helps kindle the spirit of a season that we all really enjoy.”

The Community Service program also assembles holiday goodie bags for SJS staff each year to recognize their work.

Opportunities to serve do not end with midterms. After their last exam on Dec. 21, students can deliver nutritious meals to preschoolers in northwest Houston.

“When we go to the houses at Christmastime, we wear Santa hats to show our spirit,” Bahr said. “Small gestures can bring big smiles.”

TAKE THE STAGE

EAAG dancers open diversity conference CHAPEL Check out this issue’s centerspread for community members’ personal reflections on our Wednesday morning traditions.

thisedition

NEWS FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT BEYOND CENTERSPREAD OPINIONS SPORTS ODDS & ENDS

2 3 6 8 10 12 14 18

BY TIFFANY YUE “Gangnam Style” blasted from the VST men’s dressing room as East Asian Affinity Group (EAAG) members, boys and girls alike, put their dance skills to the test.

EAAG performed at the 25th National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference (PoCC) Dec. 6 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

EAAG faculty sponsor Jack Soliman, one of three co-chairs of PoCC, asked EAAG officers early in the school year if they were interested in performing during the opening ceremony.

“I had envisioned an SJS affinity group performance for the opening or closing ceremonies,” Soliman said. “This is a great opportunity to perform as a group and represent SJS and our affinity group on a national level.”

EAAG performed three dances at the conference, one traditional Chinese fan dance and two dances to Korean pop (K-pop) songs. EAAG co-president Elaine Dong taught the fan-dance choreography while senior Caroline Spears taught the dances for “Fantastic Baby” and “Gangnam Style.”

Spears found teaching the dances to be more time-consuming than she had expected.

“It was worth the time, though, because K-pop dances are really fun,” Spears said.

Rehearsals were held all over the school, often in the VST men’s dressing room.

“Dancing to ‘Gangnam Style’ five feet away from a urinal was definitely a new and interesting experience, although not one I’m hoping to get used to,” sophomore

Katherine Wu said.

Non-EAAG members participated as well, including seniors Pranav Bhamidipati and Sam Burkett.

“I was a little nervous about doing it at first because I’m supposed to represent SAAG, but I saw pretty quickly that the two [affinity] groups aren’t mutually exclusive,” Bhamidipati said. “I can represent my heritage and appreciate others’ at the same time.”

PoCC featured several speakers, including a presentation by Middle School history teacher Jermaine Thibodeaux.

Over the last year, Soliman has helped organize the conference.

Soliman said, “I am very proud and happy to have played a significant role in preparing for PoCC.”

2news THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

GAME ON

Game nights, festivites allow affinity groups to spread culture

BY LIN GUO and REBECCA CHEN Students of all grades and ethnicities played games, watched movies and sated their appetites with cultural dishes at affinity group festivities.

South Asian Affinity Group (SAAG) held a Diwali lunch celebration on Nov. 13 and a Bollywood Movie Night on Nov. 10, while East Asian Affinity Group (EAAG) held Asian Game Night on Nov. 17.

Senior and SAAG member Rohan Ramchand said, “I see groups like SAAG, EAAG and others as ways of spreading our culture and creating a common base around an idea that transcends social or age gaps – our race, culture and heritage.”

Senior Aparajita Maitra said, “These groups provide structure to the very diversity that St. John’s is proud of.”

Junior Srini Kumar coordinated the Diwali party to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights. Students contributed both savory and sweet foods, including samosas, naan, laddoos and jalebi.

“I think the fact that the food wasn’t spicy and that most of the items were pure sugar made it appealing to a lot of people,” sophomore Meghna Dara said.

“It was a really fun time when everyone got to taste a bit of South Asian culture and enjoy it with their friends,” Kumar said.

Both Asian Game Night and Bollywood Movie Night, which were open to all students, helped spread the popular culture of their respective heritages.

Caroline Spears agreed, “They’re an awesome way to let people who don’t know a lot about a culture to get more involved.”

newsbriefs

Though usually in May, seventh grade’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. coincided with the height of the presidential elections, Nov. 5-9.

“We got to go to the Newseum two days after the election, and students got to see the wall of front page headlines,” Middle School history teacher Pablo Ormachea said. “I enjoyed seeing the students take in the different perspectives.”

Christopher Zimmerman Quiz Bowl teams traveled to Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., for the Harvard Fall Quiz Bowl Tournament, Nov. 10. The varsity team placed third and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. The junior varsity team won two of its matches.

Freshman and JV captain Alex Hammerman said, “We put up a strong fight, and the tournament was a great experience for us.”

Suman Atluri IAN MELLOR-CRUMMEY

Affinity for fun Members of EAAG cheered as the likes of Metaknight and Marth danced across the TV screen. November hosted a multitude of affinity gatherings from SAAG to EAAG

Senior Maddie Clayton hosted Asian Game Night after partygoers ate Asian cuisine potluck style at a nearby park.

They then played games like Dance Dance Revolution, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mahjong.

“I think I may have lost my voice from screaming after losing every Super Smash game,” freshman Amy Dong said.

EAAG co-vice president John Kim said its annual events like Asian Game Night and Dragonboat serve as examples for other affinity group events.

“Not a lot of other clubs organize events annually,” Kim said, “These events bring people closer together and are a lot of fun.”

Kim enjoyed attending SAAG’s event

and hopes to see more affinity groups host out-of-school parties.

SAAG was partly inspired by EAAG to have a Bollywood Movie Night.

Dara, who hosted the event, said, “We heard EAAG had a game night, and we wanted to do something for our affinity group.”

Attendees watched the Bollywood film “Zindegi Na Milegi Dobara,” sampled Indian cuisine like aloo gobi and pulao and also played party games.

“John Kim tried to make mango lassi,” Dara said. “It was his first time making Indian food, and he didn’t know how to work a blender.”

BONJOUR

Jon Peterson’s senior elective class, America in the World Since 1945, toured College Station’s George H. W. Bush Library, Nov. 13 to complement the class’s study of Bush’s presidency.

Senior Amanda Leavell said, “They had a model room of the Situation Room, so we pretended we were the president.”

Jake Chotiner

English Department Head Dan Alig will leave SJS at the end of the school year to return to his second home in Atlanta and become Principal of Upper School at the Lovett School, a college-prep day school.

Alig said, “I’m going to miss the daily intellectual challenge and the creativity here.”

Read the full story on The Review Online.

Alyyah Malick

French field trip provides a taste of cinema, cuisine

BY EMILY SHERRON Giddy French students entered the packed Sundance Movie Theater and took their seats, waiting for the French film “Le Tableau” (“The Painting”) to begin.

While classmates were either competing in SPC or sitting through a quiet Friday of academic classes, French I and II students took Nov. 9 off to immerse themselves in French culture.

Upper School French teacher Shelley Stein (‘88) organized the field trip, which included lunch and a screening at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival. Upper School English and Math teacher Dwight Raulston, who is fluent in French, attended as a chaperone.

“The idea behind the field trip was to get out of the classroom and see a wonderful movie that is not available on Netflix,” Stein said. “I looked for chaperones who could speak French because the students were supposed to speak only French at the lunch tables.”

The field trip provided a break from school and served an academic purpose.

“I thought it was a very educational experience,” sophomore Isabel Wallace-Green said. “It was really awesome to watch a movie in the language I’m studying.”

“Le Tableau,” an animated film directed by Jean-François Laguionie, is told from the perspective of characters inside a painting. The “sketchies” wonder why The Painter has abandoned them unfinished. This conflict between the “sketchies” and the finished figures represents social conflict.

“The film made me wonder if we live in an actual painting,” sophomore Dara Ladjevardian said.

After the movie, students ventured to Au Petit Paris, a quaint French restaurant, where students enjoyed classic French foods like quiche and profiteroles and had the opportunity to ask the pastry chef questions in French.

The chef discussed his inspiration to move to Houston from France, his love of cooking and his favorite dessert, truffle

COURTESY OF LOUISE MALEK

Le Tableau French teacher Shelley Stein and her students watched “The Painting” at Sundance Movie Theater. The film tested the students’ knowledge of French and inspired philosophical

and goat cheese ice cream.

“I loved chatting with the chef, but I won’t be trying truffle ice cream any time soon,” freshman Mia Mirkovic said.

Many agreed that his stories were a high-

light of the trip.

Freshman E. Robins said, “I thought the whole trip was a really good break from the traditional French classroom.”

features

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

3

SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE

Upperclassmen achieve highest scouting honors

Reach out and rock Jackson Jhin orga-

nized a benefit concert at St. John the Divine for his Eagle Scout project. “Boy Scouts has been a long journey and an integral part in my growth,” Jhin said.

BY MATTHEW NEAL

Steven Spielberg, Neil Armstrong, Hillary Clinton and Mariah Carey. Several students will join these famous people in achieving Scouting’s highest honors.

BRAVE BOY SCOUTS To reach these ranks, scouts must complete arduous, but fun, tasks.

“I have flown airplanes, learned how to budget, and made friendships that will last me a lifetime,” junior Daniel Jellins said.

Senior Jackson Jhin earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout after dedicating hundreds of hours to scouting. He began as a Cub Scout in fifth grade, partly influenced by his older brother, Chas (’10), who is also an Eagle Scout.

Jhin recently completed his Eagle Scout project, a requirement for Eagle rank that benefits a specific community-service organization. He coordinated a food-drive benefit concert at St. John the Divine for the Christian Community Service Center.

“It was an incredibly fun event, not to say that it didn’t involve abundant planning, but I am extremely happy in being able to accomplish my goals,” Jhin said. “I wanted not only to benefit the community through the food drive, but also to help my fellow high school musicians connect and network with each other.”

Jhin chose this project for his love of music as well as a desire to be more creative. Over three months of planning were required for the two-hour concert to run smoothly.

Jellins, who has been a Boy Scout since first grade, is also an Eagle Scout.

For his project, Jellins presented a video to fifth graders at Gregg Elementary explaining the three branches of government.

“I have always been interested in reading about politics, our American Government and especially our Presidents,” Jellins said.

“So for my Eagle Scout project I really wanted to do something that was close to my heart.”

Junior Austin Allday aided Agape Development Ministries for his Eagle project by building a fence around an empty lot

where the Third Ward church had put a playground.

The church needed a fence for insurance purposes.

“I originally joined Boy Scouts because a lot of my friends were doing it, but then I finished it out because it looks good for college,” Allday said.

Senior Jack McKay became an Eagle Scout a mere five hours before he turned 18, the age deadline for the award. McKay began Boy Scouts as a fifth grader because many of his family members were involved.

“Boy Scouts to me means staying dedicated, learning how to be a leader and being responsible,” McKay said.

GOLDEN GIRL SCOUTS Like their male counterparts, Girl Scouts also devote time and energy to achieving their highest rank, the Gold Award.

Senior Katie Beittenmiller began Girl Scouts in a troop of around 30 girls that now has only nine members. To earn the

EAGLE SCOUTS

GOLD AWARDS

Preston Boyer

Aly Crain

Grayson Crady

Kasey French

Harry Elkins

Brigid Hilton

Daniel Jellins

Paige Killelea

Jackson Jhin

Carly Rapp

Jack Kaplan

Kristen Santiago

Jack McKay

Jack Simmons

Ryan Reza

Molly Vitek

Austin Allday

Katie Beittenmiller

IMAN CHARANIA

Gold Award, scouts must read two journey books about a particular subject, earn a leadership award, complete the orientation and fill out a ten-page application.

“I read books called ‘Sow What,’ about local food production, and ‘Girltopia,’ about gender roles in the media,” Beittenmiller said. Beittenmiller also organized a lunchtime presentation on gender roles in the media to raise awareness.

Junior Kristen Santiago, who started as a Brownie in first grade, is the only one in her troop of five to receive a Gold Award.

“I read journey books on the environment and went to a farmer’s market,” Santiago said.

Senior Aly Crain began Girl Scouts in first grade and finished her Gold Award in October.

“For my project, I organized an event during which girls from Yellowstone Academy, a school in the Third Ward, came to a law office downtown,” Crain said.

“I invited seven professional women, including lawyers, small business owners and priests, to come and speak to these girls about their experiences during their education and careers.”

With over three million members and volunteers each, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts impact the lives of many men, women and children.

Santiago said, “Being a Girl Scout has given me an opportunity to reach out to society and better the lives of children.”

“Boy Scouts has been a long journey and an integral part in my growth,” Jhin said.

“My initial thoughts about Boy Scouts were molded in part by my brother and also by my naive idea about high adventure activities. However, my difficult experiences in Boy Scouts are an essential part to how I approach leadership.”

4

THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

WORK IT OUT

Balancing weekday jobs, school I can do my homework, and it works out really well.”

With soccer starting, Melcher probably will not work on Wednesdays and will stick to Saturdays instead.

“I want to, and I feel like I can continue with it. It’s a little stressful sometimes,” Melcher said. “Having a job definitely made me rearrange my schedule.”

Sophomore Martha Jamail also works during the school week at the Contemporary Arts Museum.

Sophie Asakura (’12) worked at the Contemporary Arts Museum and recommended Jamail to apply for a job there.

“My mom had always enjoyed the museum, so I decided to go by and try.”

Jamail said.

Jamail started working in August and goes to the museum every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“Now that cross country is over, I can feel things beginning to ease out, but it hasn’t quite started yet,” Jamail said. “It was really hard, and I had a couple sleepless nights.”

Even with the stress of her job, Jamail has not thought about quitting.

“I know that school comes first, but my

MONIQUE GROEN

Expert multitasker Although she ran cross country during the fall, Martha Jamail also worked at the Contemporary Arts Museum. Having a job helps students improve their time management.

work hasn’t been so much of a burden that it’s gotten in the way of my schoolwork,” Jamail said.

Jamail enjoys her work and has drawn a lot from her experience.

“I’m learning time management,” Jamail said. “I also learned how much work goes into taking care of a store because it’s a lot.”

scenes behindThe Sump the

BY REBECCA CHEN Many students struggle to manage academics, sports, extracurriculars and some semblance of a social life. Add a weekday job, and this already daunting task seems even more overwhelming.

Sophomore Jennifer Melcher works at Made in France, an antique shop close to school. She started in early August, soon after the store’s opening.

“I was not sure if I could do it during the school year,” Melcher said. “The owner told me to just come whenever I could, and it turned out I could come during the weekend and sometimes after school.”

Every week, she works on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“There are always conflicts, especially during cross country,” Melcher said. “I would come straight from a meet, go home really fast and get there as soon as I could. I’d always be in contact with the store owner, though, and she’d be okay with it.”

During cross-country season, Melcher worked from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays when there was no practice.

“There was always the issue of homework,” Melcher said. “A lot of times I just have to be there [behind the counter], so

ANNA HUANG

T100 The sump room has inspired a number of theories regarding its contents, from dragons to muffin hoarding.

BY JESSICA LEE Sump assumptions: everyone has some.

The contents behind that nonsensically labeled door are a mystery to most students, and the true nature of the sump room may actually surprise.

The majority of students pass by the sump and pump rooms daily when heading over to fine arts or athletics through the Fine Arts Tunnel.

“I was told during my tour of the high school as a prospective freshman that the sump is the most mysterious room on campus,” senior Pranav Bhamidipati said.

“My running theories are that it’s either the Room of Requirement or a portal to Narnia.”

“I think the rooms contain twin dragons named Pump and Sump,” junior Zack Lee said.

“I think the sump room is where the cafeteria stores its infinite amount of chocolate chip muffins,” sophomore Alex Cherches said.

While students often believe the rooms and their purposes are mystical and exciting, the sump/pump is actually used to regulate water.

“The reason the general public never gets to see these is due to the sanitary conditions that may be a threat to your health,” Facilities Supervisor Steve Revell said. “It

isn’t uncommon to see a number of critters in these rooms.”

The pump room functions as the hydraulic elevator’s control system. The adjacent sump room controls the school’s fire suppression and relief system. Inside the room, a series of valves and wells prevent the backflow of accumulating rain and groundwater.

All the pumps operate by a float system.

In the case of the mechanical room, as waste comes into the well, mercury floats rise and send a signal to the control panel to turn the pumps on or off.

“Willard Fair, a full-time plumber, maintains these rooms,” said Revell. “His requirements are unique. Smells, sounds, everything is important.”

The football captains got an exclusive tour of the sump/pump rooms for this year’s Kinkaid video. In one scene, they walked out of the rooms into the Fine Arts Tunnel, fist pumping and yelling, “Sump!

Sump! Sump!”

Past sump assumptions involving secret passageways, magical dragons and a caché of chocolate chip muffins behind those locked doors can now be banished: a look behind the scenes of the sump/pump rooms have finally revealed their true purpose.

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

5

FASHION FORWARD

BY EUGENIA KAKADIARIS

SLOANE BY DESIGN VIRGINIA WALLER

At four years old, Sloane Gustafson knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up, and her dream occupation was not to be a veterinarian or rock star.

The junior’s appreciation for color and art had sparked the fashion designer within her.

Now, 13 years later, Sloane has designed countless pieces and learned from some of Houston’s best designers. After participating in five fashion shows and putting on one of her own, Gustafson has gained enough experience to make her dream a reality.

When she was eight, Gustafson began attending art classes at the Glassell Junior School, an art institution dedicated to helping children and teens realize their artistic potential. There, she gained an appreciation for art that has remained to this day.

“I enjoy all forms of art and love going to modern art museums to find inspiration,” Gustafson said.

At 14, Gustafson joined the school’s four-hour fashion designing classes on Saturdays.

“When I’m at Glassell, I don’t allow many distractions,” Gustafson said. “I’m in my zone and extremely focused.”

In addition to the time spent at Glassell, Gustafson works from home, sewing and beading her own pieces.

“My mood board is a bunch of rip-outs from magazines that I use to find a color palette, and then I go from there,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson’s work has been featured in fashion shows for Glassell, the Contemporary Museum of Art Houston and TickleMe-Pink, a charity that raises money for breast cancer research. At Glassell’s fashion

showcase, Gustafson won Overall Best Designer out of a handful of talented young designers from all over Houston.

Gustafson’s work has led to internships with big names in the Houston fashion industry like Chloe Dao and David Peck.

“I think adults recognize when a young person puts time and effort into a passion, and they take that person seriously,” Gustafson said.

This summer, Gustafson will be attending a program at Parsons, a famed design institution in New York.

“It’s a make-it or break-it program,” Gustafson said. “I’m really excited about the experience I will get.”

While developing her talent at Parsons, Gustafson will also intern with Oscar de la Renta this summer, an opportunity for which she is equally excited.

In addition to her work with other institutions and designers, Gustafson created a fashion show of her own, working for nine months and using her friends as models.

The show raised $50,000 to fight domestic violence through education.

Junior Cameron Hull, a friend who helped Gustafson create the fashion show, said, “She combined two things that were really important to her, and it had this amazing result. She’s a really creative and passionate person.”

Gustafson hopes to attend a university with its own fashion program. She plans to major in business.

Gustafson’s dedication has others convinced it will take her far.

“It never ceases to amaze me how dedicated Sloane is to her fashion designing,” junior Srini Kumar said. “She is always working on pieces or thinking about what she could be making in the future.”

Student designer Sloane Gustafson dedicates a large portion of time towards working on her fashion line. This summer, Gustafson will employ her talents as an intern at Oscar de la Renta.

IN THE LAB

The blue light of the blowtorch casts an eerie light onto junior Anna Huang’s face.

But Huang is no mad scientist.

This past summer, Anna and her sister Esther, a senior at St. Agnes Academy, entered the Siemens Competition, a contest that supports high school students interested in math and science. Out of 1,600 entries, the judges award 300 semifinalist projects and dub 30 individuals and 30 teams as regional finalists.

Anna entered the Siemens Competition for the first time this year after performing extensive research during the summer. Due to their profound interest in science, she and her sister decided to start an original project rather than continue with a preexisting one.

“I was first interested in science in elementary school, when our teacher presented us with an aquarium and told us to write down all of our observations over a period of time,” Anna said.

In an Austin-area lab, Anna worked on a project based on Raman spectroscopy, which uses properties of light to reveal the chemical structure of different substances.

“Our mentor [Dr. Donglei Fan] gave us a lot of literature to read,” Huang said.

“We found out about all the difficulties

surrounding Raman spectroscopy and decided to try to solve some of them.”

Anna attempted to develop a stronger and more efficient technique for distinguishing single molecules with nanotubes.

One of the standout moments during her time in the lab was using the blowtorch to shape a platinum wire into an electrode.

“The hardest part of the project was probably getting the project started and figuring out how to deal with failed experiments,” Anna said.

When Siemens released the lists of semifinalists and regional finalists online, Anna nearly missed the good news. After checking the names of semifinalists and not seeing her name listed, she almost did not even look at the regional finalists.

Even though her doubts vanished once seeing the list, Siemens sealed her achievement by calling the next day to schedule travel plans.

The sister duo traveled to Cambridge, Mass., to present their project to a panel of judges at MIT, Nov. 1-4.

“The trip to MIT was definitely an amazing experience,” Anna said. “Meeting people my age who had done so much and hearing their projects was both fun and eye-opening.”

Huang named Siemens Regional Finalist

BY ANIRUDH SURESH

COURTESY OF ANNA HUANG

Science sisters During the summer, Anna Huang and sister Esther worked on the challenges facing Raman spectroscopy. They presented their research at MIT after being named regional finalists.

6entertainment THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

PIANO PRODIGIES

Carnegie Hall hosts sophomore musicians

BY REBECCA CHEN With world-renowned acoustics and over a century of hosting brilliant performers, Carnegie Hall is often thought of as the ultimate performance venue for professional musicians around the world.

Sophomore Katherine Wu will play in Weill Recital Hall, one of the three Carnegie Hall performance spaces Dec. 22.

“I feel really satisfied and super excited,” Wu said.

Wu won second place in the Sonatina and Sonata International Youth Competition, organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas.

Both the first and second place winners are invited to play at Carnegie Hall.

“Since it’s just a winner’s recital, I’m not as nervous as I was in the Chopin competition,” Wu said. “But since it is Carnegie Hall, I’m pretty nervous to play for such a big audience in such a big hall.”

Contestants submitted recordings of themselves playing two selections of music from a list provided by the competition.

Eighteen finalists were selected to perform in front of judges at the Omni Marina Hotel in Corpus Christi last April.

Wu chose to perform “Fantasie Impromptu” by Chopin, a piece that she performed in Chapel last year.

“I definitely felt more comfortable [at Carnegie] than playing in front of glaring judges at a competition,” Wu said. “It was also right before going to Corpus Christi, so it was like a practice round for me.”

To get the opportunity to perform in Carnegie, Wu practices for around five hours each week.

“You have to balance your practicing

with homework,” Wu said. “The good thing is, sometimes with homework you can stop, practice, relax and go back to homework.”

Wu supplements her short 30-minute practices on weekdays by playing one to two hours on weekends.

“Practicing is never fun, but you have to do it to get good at the instrument,” Wu said.

From the start, Wu has been able to memorize music and retain it for a long time.

Wu has participated in competitions since she was six, COURTESY OF STEPHEN WANG including the National Winning works Sophomore Stephen Wang has been invited to play in Carnegie Hall, dubbed as one of the trickiest Guild Piano Playing places to get to.

Though schoolwork occupies weekday afternoons, Wang practices several hours during the weekend.

Auditions.

Wu performs on the National level, which and Strings Competition. requires 10 pieces to be “Piano has always been a hobby of memorized and played for judges.

Both Wu and Wang admit that music can mine,” Wang said. “I’m a music guy, and “The way I keep myself collected and be difficult, but that effort leads to wellI like listening to music, so being able to calm during competitions is by getting deserved rewards. into the music,” Wu said. “It’s pretty much create that on the piano is really fun.”

“Practicing is hard sometimes, but when Wang commits eight to nine hours muscle memory.” you see results, it really pays off,” Wang each week for piano. The majority of his Sophomore pianist Stephen Wang also said. practice time is on the weekends. had the opportunity to play in Weill Wu said, “Practice, determination, “Because of school, sports and Recital Hall last May. patience, perseverance and having a extracurriculars [practice is] hard to do Wang performed “Döhnanyi Rhapsody genuine love for the instrument are what on weekdays,” Wang said. “My weekends in C Major” after winning second place in really make you a great musician.” consist of three hours of piano a day, just the American Protégé International Piano to get caught up.”

FESTIVE MELODIES

Holiday-themed albums top music charts

BY MCKENNA GESSNER As the leaves begin to fall and snowflakes cloak the city…

Just kidding, we live in Houston. Even so, the essence of the winter season has arrived.

With winter comes a string of holidays, time to relax with the family and, above all, new music.

My feelings toward this season’s soundtracks are mixed at best.

I enjoy music with holiday cheer, but I cringe after the third consecutive song with

the words “jolly,” “sleigh” and “winter” plays before Thanksgiving has even gone by.

Concerning holiday music in general, just listen sparingly and you will enjoy it.

Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, you don’t have to refrain from tapping your foot to the beat of a Christmas jingle.

New songs and revamped versions of classics keep us on our toes each year, and this year’s holiday albums have truly exceeded my expectations.

Holidays Rule Despite its mundane title, this alternative album sparked my attention with songs from artists like the Civil Wars, the Shins and fun.

This album is for all indie music lovers.

Tracks like “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (Civil Wars), “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (Rufus Wainwright and Sharon Van Etten) and “Sleigh Ride” (fun.) convert holiday classics into alternative jams.

On This Winter’s Night

CeeLo’s Magic Moment

Who wouldn’t want to sip hot cocoa to Lady Antebellum’s “On This Winter’s Night”?

While mostly comprised of the group’s mediocre renditions of Christmas classics, it has a distinct highlight: the album’s title track. Those looking for songs to put them in the holiday mood should definitely consider the newly-released album.

This is the perfect pop album to brighten up gloomy nights and pick up the pace.

“Silent Night” is the track that earns this album a spot on my recommendation list, with “What Christmas Means to Me” as a close follower. CeeLo Green’s voice is versatile enough for a decent holiday album.

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

7

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Deck the theaters with winter movies

BY HANNAH TYLER

The Hobbit

Zero Dark Thirty

The Guilt Trip

Les Misérables

DEC. 14 (PG-13)

DEC. 19 (R)

DEC. 19 (PG-13)

DEC. 25 (PG-13)

The adaptation of the prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” series will be split into three parts, and the first is set to hit theaters this holiday season.

Peter Jackson, the director of the first three LotR films, returns to the helm of this new fantasy trilogy. Martin Freeman (Dr. John Watson from the popular BBC show “Sherlock”) plays the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, and Ian McKellan and Elijah Wood reprise their roles as Gandalf and Frodo Baggins, respectively.

The movie follows a troupe of dwarves that trek across the mythical lands towards the Lonely Mountain in an attempt to reclaim a stolen treasure.

With the assistance of Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and his fellow dwarves will face Smaug, the dragon that guards the treasure.

Die-hard “Lord of the Rings” fans are eagerly anticipating this film, but casual moviegoers — those not familiar with the series and just looking for an exciting adventure movie — are also sure to be entertained.

This movie, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, began production before the terrorist’s death, and it had to undergo major changes after that momentous event. Despite these setbacks, “Zero Dark Thirty” promises to be a gripping and memorable drama. This film is director Kathryn Bigelow’s first since “The Hurt Locker,” her 2008 success that won six Academy Awards. She has brought together an all-star cast featuring Jessica Chastain, who has recently skyrocketed to fame through her skilled performances in “The Help” and “The Tree of Life.” This drama will be thrilling, interesting and action-filled, and it may even bring Bigelow more Oscar gold.

Centered around the covert mission to assassinate Osama bin Laden, this film charts the decade-long journey.

The movie will garner fans from all demographics as those who remember Bin Laden’s capture will be able to witness a side of the mission the media failed to uncover.

Popular comedic actor Seth Rogen and legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand star in this film about an inventor and his abrasive mother on a road trip. Across 3,000 miles, the mother and son duo get on each others’ nerves but come to realize that their lives have more in common than they originally thought.

While the plot may seem cliché, many of us can attest to the fact that prolonged car rides with parents are far from pleasant. This film will tug at audience’s heartstrings as they reconsider the bonds of parent-child relationships when forced to spend hours on end together.

Streisand and Rogen are joined by Danny Pudi, Adam Scott and Colin Hanks (yes, the son of Tom Hanks) in supporting roles. This star-studded cast is sure to make this story about family bonding and reconnecting with past loves both hysterical and heartwarming.

This is probably the most highly-anticipated film of the holiday season.

The world’s longest-running musical makes its transition to the big screen under the direction of Oscar-winner Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”).

The film features an impressive roster of stars: Anne Hathaway (Fantine), Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) and Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert), just to name a few. The movie made headlines early as stars began fighting for roles; the casting buzz was almost inescapable, and the tabloids continuously ran articles until the movie was finally cast. Even after casting, gossip surrounding the intense regiments stars like Hathaway went through to prepare for the role continue to attract attention. The hype has created considerable pressure for “Les Miz” as it enters the holiday film ring, but early reviews have lauded the movie, which makes it sure to be Oscar bait come award season. The already amazing musical should only get better on the big screen.

MAVERICK MUNCHIES Jus’ Mac

2617 Yale St. http://www.jusmac.com Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mon-Thurs, to 10 p.m. Sat and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun $7-10 for typical meal

Jus’ Mac and cheese time PHOTOS AND STORY BY IAN MELLOR-CRUMMEY Macaroni and cheese is like the Swiss Army Knife of food. It can be a side or main dish, and it can be augmented and improved by adding a variety of extra ingredients. The people at Jus’ Mac have devoted themselves to perfecting macaroni and cheese. They’ve almost accomplished that goal.

Jus’ Mac sports a menu loaded with creative macaroni-based dishes. Though this eatery also offers paninis, soup and salads, it would be a mistake to order anything but its namesake.

The fried mac balls, served with marinara sauce (and bacon, if you so choose), combine a perfectly golden outer shell with a creamy, cheesy center.

The mac and cheese entrees come in all vari-

eties, from the pesto-based Cheese and Chong to the innovative Taco Mexi, which sports the unlikely addition of avocado. The macaroni is cooked perfectly, and the cheese sauce is superb.

You are unlikely to find better macaroni and cheese in Houston, and I highly recommend return trips to try the entire menu.

Those looking for a healthier meal, as unlikely as that is considering the inherent unhealthiness of Jus’ Mac’s dishes, have the option of substituting whole wheat or low-carb pasta.

A personal-size entree with a drink will cost just under $10. Do not expect a light meal, but do expect that you will leave completely satisfied.

8beyond THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

LEGACY OF SERVICE

MADISON HOUSE INSPIRES ALUMS

BY CAROLYN BROOKS

Through Madison House at the University of Virginia (UVA), Mav volunteers become Cav volunteers.

Madison House, UVA’s community service organization, serves as a resource and home base for the 3,000 student volunteers. There are over 20 student-led projects coordinated by Madison House, and UVA Cavaliers give more than 110,000 hours of service each year.

SJS alumni have taken this volunteer force by storm.

Katherine Brock, Clay Callaway, Walker Hobby (all ’10), William Carver and Christy Lee (both ’11) are active in Madison House projects, and Brooke Schuler (’09) is the student co-chair.

Coming from a service-oriented background, these alums knew they wanted to continue volunteering in college. Madison House provided the perfect opportunity.

“I loved my experience with SJS community service. SJS really instills in you the value of serving others and giving back to the community, and that definitely carried over in my decision to be involved in service here at UVA,” Lee said. “SJS was also really great at giving students control over service projects, and I loved

“I like the idea of long-lasting change that Big Sibs revolves around. Altering a child’s path through life is a momentous task that requires extreme patience.”

Walker Hobby (’10)

COURTESY OF KATHERINE BROCK

Big sis, little sis Katherine Brock and her “little sister,” Samone, spend time together during the week. Brock participates in the Big Siblings program, which is organized by the University of Virginia’s Madison House.

that the grant system allowed concepts to turn into reality.”

“Mrs. Bahr did an amazing job organizing great events and bringing out the selflessness in students, much like Madison House does,” Hobby said. “SJS helped cement community service as a part of my life and partially inspired me to continue serving in college.”

Though both Madison House and SJS Community Service are similar, college volunteering differs from high school service.

“My volunteering experience at UVA has been much more independent,” Hobby said. “While the structure at SJS is perfect for its environment, I now schedule my service hours myself and use Madison House more as a resource than a home base.”

“UVA really leaves a lot up to the student, which I think is great for a college setting,” Lee said. “You get to decide which program you would like to volunteer with, how involved you would like to be and students are constantly working behind the scenes to facilitate these programs and decide how they will run.”

The enthusiastic nature of volunteers does not fade in the transition from high school to college community service.

“My UVA and high school community service experiences both have the same spirit of excitement and passion for service,” Lee said.

Hobby said, “Both SJS and Madison House have a very social volunteering environment, which functions well for each program.”

Madison House, originally called the Virginia Young Men’s Christian Association, was founded in 1856 as the first collegiate YMCA in the United States. The UVA YMCA focused on creating campus-based spiritual opportunities, and members were active in volunteer activities

as an extension of this goal.

In 1968, the organization changed its mission and became completely service-oriented, dedicated to volunteering for the good of the University, the students and the greater community.

The new and improved volunteer group became known as Madison House in 1975.

Lee is the Program Director for Adopt-A-Grandparent, a program in which students are paired with an elderly resident of a local nursing home to visit regularly. For Lee, her most valuable volunteering experiences have come from her work with this group.

Lee said, “My adopted grandmother, Miss Candy, has struggled with health and family issues for many years, but she is always so fun and energetic when I come and visit, which I find really inspiring.”

Brock, Callaway and Carver all participate in Big Siblings, a program that pairs student mentors with underprivileged children from the Charlottesville community. They meet with their little sibling three hours each week over the school year.

“The goal is to develop a positive relationship built on trust and respect that benefits the child even after the program has ended,” Hobby said.

“I like the idea of long-lasting change that Big Sibs revolves around — altering a child’s path through life is a momentous task that requires extreme patience.”

Brock agrees that being a Big Sib is a serious undertaking.

“I knew it would be a big time commitment and very important that I could keep up a strong relationship with Samone [her little sibling],” Brock said. “I’m so glad I have stayed involved. It’s been great to see her develop over the past year.”

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

9

SANDY BEACHES

Though Sandy disrupted the daily routine of many northeastern residents, the hurricane could not stop the outpouring of local and national support.

ILLUSTRATION BY ELAINE DONG

Sandy brings surge of communal outreach

BY ALYYAH MALICK

Though Hurricane Sandy’s 90 mph winds left devastation in their wake and disrupted millions of lives, the disaster forged a bond of community unbroken by falling trees and loss of power.

John Allman, Head of School at Trinity School in New York City and former headmaster of SJS, witnessed this phenomenon at his school.

Trinity lost a week of school due to the lack of public transportation, but its community came together to assist others in their time of need.

“Every day, I was moved by the incredible generosity of our school community – so many people volunteered to house families, to work in ravaged neighborhoods, to collect needed items, to help others with transportation,” Allman said.

The lack of subway transportation also disrupted the daily routine of Elena John (’97), who lost her power and water in downtown Manhattan and ended up taking showers in her office uptown. When walking home from work, she observed an instance of New Yorkers gathering together.

“I crossed into the area where there was no power, and there were all these people gathered outside of a 7-Eleven. The store had brought a bunch of power strips out front, and people were charging their phones. Everyone was getting on with their lives as best they could,” John said.

Hurricane Sandy also forged stronger ties between friends. Columbia freshman Ariana Dickey (’12) camped out in her friend’s room during the storm.

Catching Up With Swim Captains

“We made a tent out of his sheets, built a campfire out of colored paper and spent the night with a big group of our friends cutting out paper leaves, attaching them with string around the tent, listening to good music and just talking with each other,” Dickey said. “I got closer with my friends that night than I had during the two months of school that preceded Sandy.”

Dickey acknowledged her luck: Columbia did not lose power and avoided severe damage. She regrets that others in the city were not as fortunate.

“The most heartbreaking situation I heard about was when [New York University Langone Medical Center] completely lost power, and the patients, even the ones on life support, had to be carried down the

stairs,” Dickey said.

Those who feel that they escaped Hurricane Sandy unscathed still remember the tragic events that occurred elsewhere.

“I work at an art gallery uptown and heard many terrible stories about the galleries in Chelsea flooding and artwork being damaged. Some of the artwork is replaceable, but I did hear of some irreplaceable works of art being ruined,” John said.

Allman recalled, “In a neighborhood in which some of our students and parents offered volunteer assistance, several elderly citizens died in their powerless homes three days after the storm when a cold front moved through the region and the inhabitants were unable to stay warm enough.”

MARISA ONANIAN (’12)

DANIELLA COVARRUBIAS (’11)

LUCY GAO (’10)

I’m a freshman at Columbia University and a member of the Columbia A capella group Notes and Keys. My highlights as a swim team captain at St. John’s were bonding with the team at Greenhill, giving and receiving pep talks, and hearing Coach Raper’s inspirational stories during practice.

As a swim captain, I was able to motivate my friends and help better their swimming experience by sharing the love I had for swimming, despite all the hardships and complaining, with my teammates. I never forgot that love, and I now work as a swimming instructor and lifeguard at Rice University’s pool, where I now get to watch my friends on the Rice swim team practice and compete.

Unfortunately, Rice University doesn’t have a club swim team, so it’s been hard to swim regularly, but swimming is still a huge part of my life and my main form of exercise. I still wear my high school swim hoodies proudly and my team pajama pants. My nickname has actually become Captain Gao since I wear my senior year hoodie so often.

GOING TO THE

Personal reflections on the meani direction of the spiritual side of St

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY THE EDITORIAL B

What is Chapel made of? One part church.

One part VST. Two parts of confusion over the difference between Chapel and Assembly.

To assess the role that Chapel plays in the structure of our school, we interviewed a cross-section of our community. We posed a series of questions to administrators Headmaster Mark Desjardins; teachers Reverend Greg Han (Chapel Guild Coordinator and faculty sponsor), Barbara DiPaolo, Gara Johnson-West, Bobbie Oldfield and Kyle Parrish; and two students: senior Natasha Kumar and junior Carl Bernicker.

What does Chapel mean to you?

Han So many things: a time together outside of classroom experience and hopefully a time to slow down and consider important questions about beliefs and to listen to people with interesting stories and enjoy listening to fellow classmates provide music or other performing arts offerings. It’s a variety of things.

DiPaolo Chapel is a break from the routine every week, a time for people to stop, reflect on what’s been happening, what’s going to happen… there’s not a tremendous religious focus on it. We do a good job of trying to be all-inclusive without being too inclusive, so I look at it as a time of reflection more than any kind of preaching.

Bernicker I like that it’s a break from the monotony of morning classes. I like a lot

of messages that the speakers give—they don’t necessarily apply to only one aspect of one religion. There have been a lot of great speakers that give great messages on a broad range of topics.

Kumar Chapel means: shorter classes and catching up on sleep. Sometimes you’ll have the really good speaker, and I’ll be like “wow!” Sometimes you’ll have the ones that are super religious, and sometimes it gets annoying because I get that they’re religious, but I wonder what they have for me. Not all the students are super religious like that, so not all of us can identify. We’re a ton of different faiths, so when it’s super hard-core Christian, it’s like “Well, okay, if you say so.”

I respect that it’s their opinion, I just can’t identify with that.

What are your thoughts about Chapel in the church vs. the Lowe Theater?

Han I like both places. I value the beauty and holy ground of the sanctuary but also I like the VST because, space-wise, it allows us to sit closer together.

Parrish I think having a sacred place like the church in which to conduct Chapel is wonderful, even for a school like SJS which has never had, to my knowledge, a formal

affiliation to the church or an institution of that kind, and having the church as our neighbors has been incredibly positive for our school. Having the services in the VST when the speaker might not be someone the church wants preaching from their pulpit, or the school feels is more appropriate in the VST, or a speaker that 15 to 20 years ago the church wouldn’t have wanted, it’s great to have in the VST.

VST. There’s no difference between that and an assembly in the cafeteria or event in the plaza.

Johnson-West I prefer it in the church.

My students do not, but I do not prefer the VST. I just prefer the church because I’m an Episcopalian, and for me personally it is a very easy way to be [spiritual in the church].

But I will say this, what I do not care for in the church is that there is something about it that makes it more sterile, less emotional.

Desjardins I think it’s more of a feeling of reflection. You’re oftentimes thinking about what somebody has spoken about and how that relates to your own particular daily experience.

Desjardins I think that the times we have [Chapel] in St. John the Divine, I tend to feel more of a spiritual connection, and then I think that when we have Chapel in the VST, that it tends to be more of a secular experience. I’m a traditionalist, I like having Chapel in St. John the Divine. I love divine spaces, and I like spaces that, when you walk into them, you know that it’s important for your mind to be in a different place. [St. John the Divine] does that moreso than the

What feelings do you typically have when you leave Chapel?

Oldfield It depends on what I’ve heard. The message is important to me. Overall, it is a moment of quiet and relaxation and then back to work.

Bernicker I’m either dreading a quiz or a test that I haven’t prepared for enough, or I’m glad I heard the message. A lot of people’s speeches really stand out; for example, Rohan [Ramchand’s] speech was awesome.

I didn’t really know much about Hinduism, and I learned a lot from him. Mr. Van Gundy’s speech got me fired up before the [Kinkaid] game. It depends on the speaker, but a lot of the time, I’m really glad I heard the speaker.

COLUMN

Grappling with Chapel experience

E CHAPEL

BY IMAN CHARANIA

ing and t. John’s

BOARD

IAN MELLOR-CRUMMEY

Do you feel religiously satisfied in Chapel? Is it Chapel’s purpose to?

Parrish No and no. I think that as a school, our mission is to facilitate spiritual growth, but I don’t think that ultimate spiritual satisfaction can come from a program that our school offers. It’s just not written into the school’s DNA. And that’s okay. That’s just not something I looked for as a student here, and it’s certainly not something I’ve looked for as a teacher.

Bernicker I like the thirty seconds of reflection, and though I don’t participate in the Lord’s Prayer, it all helps me feel spiritually refreshed. The speakers also do a great job of making me feel refreshed. I don’t think that St. John’s is as Christian a school as it was when it started, and the speakers that do a really good job of giving messages that apply to everyone, regardless of faith. Even if you’re not religious, you can get a lot of the messages that the speakers convey.

Oldfield I don’t think it’s the duty of Chapel to do that for me. The message is usually very general in nature, covers topics applicable to all regardless of their religious beliefs.

What would you say to the people who find themselves uncomfortable by the more religious aspects of Chapel?

Han I honor their sense of being uncomfortable. I would love to hear what it is that spurs their uncomfortableness. I would ask them to come and talk to me.

Desjardins I don’t think you should be. I think to get that level of satisfaction, you have to pursue your own avenue. You get that from going to whatever you do, however you worship, whether it be a temple or synagogue, a church, a mosque. It’s trying to be all things to everybody, and when you try to be all things to everybody, I think that you tend to water down the spirituality part of it. I don’t think the purpose of Chapel is to evoke the same type of spiritual experience that somebody would get through their own particular venue of worship.

DiPaolo I can understand when we’re saying the Lord’s Prayer, that is definitely Christian, but I think the kids who are not Christian, there’s enough respect for them that no one’s sitting there saying, “Oh look, he’s not saying anything.” Even the Christians half the time aren’t saying the prayer anyway, so I don’t think it really marks you as a Christian or a non-Christian, but it certainly is a Christian rite that is connected every time you’re in Chapel. Nobody’s ever told me

they feel uncomfortable by it. I’m sure it’s something they’ve always done and will continue to do.

Bernicker It’s different for me because I grew up in a setting that was not exclusively Jewish. I’ll go to church with my mom on Christmas and Easter; I’ve been exposed to and know a lot about the customs of both Christianity and Judaism. It doesn’t really bother me. Nothing about what other people believe has really ever affected me. What really matters to me about Chapel and the speakers is that they have a good message, no matter how they deliver it. If they juxtapose a good message alongside the idea of believing in Jesus, I will have no problem listening to the message at all.

Kumar Initially it was awkward because I’d never heard the Lord’s Prayer or the hymns. I didn’t know what to do, and it was awkward.

Now, I’m used to it. I’ve memorized the Lord’s Prayer, and sometimes I have competitions to see who can memorize all the words. The church doesn’t actually bother me too much, and I accept it, but it was just awkward at first.

I know all the words to the Lord’s Prayer. I know all the words to a medley of hymns. And, as an Ismaili Muslim, I also know all the words to the Dua. I entered SJS as a sixth grader with no real knowledge of Christianity; I only knew that Christians are “of the book,” too. Christianity was just another Abrahamic religion that didn’t really enter my daily life.

My first Chapel was a revelation.

I remember sitting in Chapel while my classmates said the Lord’s Prayer around me. I felt both extremely awkward and confused – I thought SJS was a secular school.

I remember feeling intensely uncomfortable because I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Should I pray too? Was I supposed to have learned this over the summer in addition to reading “Where the Red Fern Grows”?

I put the dilemma out of my mind as the school year went on. I learned to zone out during the Lord’s Prayer by taking it as a moment of silence.

But I couldn’t quite escape the feeling I would get when I would stand in silence as the hymns were sung. And although I never attempted to pay attention to the Lord’s Prayer, I found myself automatically reciting it in my head because I had managed to learn it through osmosis.

When I talked to my older sisters, who had also attended SJS, I found they had similar experiences. Two out of three could still recite the Lord’s Prayer from memory with no prompting, yet none of them could remember our honor code.

I found it odd that they had completely forgotten the honor code, the statement written at the top of every test and major paper, but still remembered the Lord’s Prayer.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Chapel. I appreciate the speakers we have and the stories we get to hear. I think that hearing from people of different faiths and learning about their personal experiences is important.

But having the speakers book-ended by hymns and acolytes takes something away from the message for me. To me, it says, “We acknowledge your viewpoint, but that’s not how we do things.”

It makes it somehow less meaningful to have a stirring, non-Judeo-Christian spiritual message and then force that message into the confines of a Chapel service. It feels like we’re giving preference to one religion even while we learn about another.

I leave chapel some days more confused than when I went in. The contradictory messages and influences in our chapel program take away from the ultimate goal of chapel, to foster community, not confusion.

12opinions THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

EDITORIAL

Chapel identity crisis: a problem of perception Chapel means different things to different people. And instead of shirking from discussions on what Chapel is and what Chapel means, let us, as a community, have a frank conversation on Chapel as an institution. The Editorial Board hopes to spur the discussion with this issue’s centerspread and this editorial. But before we begin, some context and background is necessary.

When the School was founded, spirituality was included in the mission statement. Chapel, ostensibly, is meant to fulfill this quest for spirituality. Chapel began essentially as an Episcopalian service. The official school charter stated that the Chapel liturgy must be set by the Rector of St. John the Divine.

As the School continues to become more diverse, differences in opinion on Chapel’s structure and purpose have increased. These diverging opinions can be categorized into general camps: those who want Chapel to retain a more traditional, Judeo-Christian feel and those who want Chapel to be a more secular, ethics-focused experience.

As a result, Chapel Guild is stuck having to balance these two completely understandable sides. The Editorial Board must note that Chapel Guild and their faculty

dearreader,

sponsors, Rev. Han and Mr. Bonasso, have done a fine job within the parameters they have been given.

Nevertheless, the mixed signals and contradictions in the Chapel experience remain apparent, some of which can be hard for students to reconcile. The confusion ultimately muddies the effectiveness of the Chapel message.

The purpose of Chapel is not always clear to the Editorial Board. If Chapel is meant to fulfill the spiritual component of the School’s mission statement, why are there decidedly non-religious and non-spiritual elements of the Chapel experience? And if Chapel is trending more secular, then why do traditional elements such as the Lord’s Prayer and hymns remain?

The mixed signals become clearer when one considers that a few weeks ago students recited the Lord’s Prayer in the Lowe Theater right before senior Rohan Ramchand relayed his experiences as a Hindu. The Chapel message does not always fit the setting or rituals.

Part of the problem might simply be branding. The Editorial Board understands that the Book Fair and affinity group programs are technically assemblies, but when it occurs in the Chapel time slot, the distinction is blurred,

If I were ever featured on a baseball card, my position would be listed as Left Bench.

Last year was my first on varsity baseball.

I did not expect much playing time, and, frankly, I was just excited to be on the team.

I did not, however, want to be a freeloader, nothing more than a glorified fan sitting on the bench. So I had to embrace a role.

I took pride in my execution of the standard backup role: pushing the starters hard in practice and encouraging them from the bench during games. There is a natural tension in fulfilling this role because most backups want to become starters. This tension, if not used in a positive manner, can ruin a team. And last year, it did. Backups were upset they were not starters. Instead of channeling this desire to start into hard work and pushing the starters to become better, the team shut down. We talked behind each other’s backs and we secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) rooted for others to fail. The season did not end well. While we had the talent to compete in Division I, we finished 13th in SPC. But this mindset is not limited to the baseball team. SJS is a competitive place.

thestaff Andrew Vogeley

Parker Donaldson

Valerio Farris

Lydia Liu

Braden Doyle

Samantha Neal

Anya Ring

Amy Kang

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reasons. One, I want our baseball team to be better. We have the talent. To all the players: put the team first and be happy for your teammates’ successes. I understand everybody wants to play, but if you are not playing, practice hard and root harder. Hard work and improvement will earn playing time. Complaining about playing time will not. Second, I believe that a reduction in competitiveness and an increase in the appreciation of our classmates’ successes would serve to strengthen the SJS community.

I believe The Review has fulfilled our role in the community: we have some fantastic content in this issue, from our Chapel centerspread (with an excellent photo from Ian Mellor-Crummey) to the stories on our SPC-winning teams, Field Hockey and Girls’ Cross Country. Hopefully you will be genuinely happy for these two teams. If nothing else, as the wise Jeff Van Gundy would say, fake it.

Sincerely,

Andrew Vogeley Editor-in-chief

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

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Obviously. But for seniors, the competitiveness and stress rise to another level this time of year, when early application college decisions begin to trickle in.

Many of us are applying to the same selective colleges. When someone finds out they are in, how will we react? If someone gets into a college from which we were rejected, what will we say?

When former Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy spoke during Kinkaid Week, he spoke of the true meaning of honor and integrity. Teams were held together, he said, when each individual knew that everybody else would be genuinely happy for his or her successes.

The SJS community should be like a team. If we are to strengthen the bonds of our community, we need to start being happy for each other. We need to celebrate the successes of others.

This attitude of not being happy for others extends to the classroom as well.

Instead of wishing for others to fail a test, be happy when your classmate does well.

At the risk of sounding like a big ball of clichés, I put forth this maxim: if you focus on trying your hardest, the rest will usually take care of itself.

I am writing this letter for several

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL

editor-in-chief

managing editor

which causes more confusion regarding the purpose of Chapel. While students do learn during these assemblies, spiritual growth does not necessarily occur.

Making explicit the distinction between the two types of gatherings could lessen the confusion. Having assemblies on days other than Wednesday would also help alleviate any confusion.

We think spirituality is crucial to students developing into well-rounded individuals. And we think Chapel is the appropriate time to nurture this spirituality. However, spirituality does not necessarily equal religious.

The Editorial Board understands that discussions of Chapel can be, shall we say, spirited. The Editorial Board does not believe it is our place to advocate for a side in this Chapel discussion. Decisions like that are above our pay-grade. Instead, the Editorial Board merely wishes to point out the contradictions within the Chapel experience and place them within a larger context. It is important for our community to understand the role Chapel plays at the School so that we can take full advantage of the Chapel experience. This is why discussions exploring our sometimes uneasy relationship with Chapel are crucial.

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Staff

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

Advisers

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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 herin 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 advertisments. 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.

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

UNIVERSIFIED

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Waiting on the world to change

BY GUEST COLUMNIST LILY BROWN

In “Universified,” senior Lily Brown chronicles her journey from applications through acceptance. In part four of the eight-part column, Lily offers an inside look at the stress that comes with waiting for a decision.

The worst part of the college process is waiting – I’m worse than a little kid on Christmas Eve. Most early applications are due between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, and after that, all you can do is wait. You no longer have any control over your applications.

When you submit your applications, you’ll usually get an email from the college giving you a username and password that you can use to check your application status. Every day for the past month, I have checked mine, and every day for a month, it has shown the same message: “We have received all materials necessary to begin the review of your application. Thank you for your interest!”

The month and a half between submitting my early applications and hearing the verdict has been, so far, one of the most stressful times of my life. Of course, the

second after I submitted my applications, I remembered that one obscure award that I won last year in Chorale – The Taylor Gutierrez Award – that would have definitely gotten me into every single college to which I applied.

All I’ve done for the past six weeks, apart from pretending to write more essays, is worry about my application status. After I applied early, I didn’t want to think of the possibility that I could get rejected, so I have been incredibly positive. At the same time, I don’t want to get my hopes up, so I have constantly checked myself and downplayed my talents and abilities. It’s exhausting.

I don’t think my experience is unique— most people I’ve talked to about the subject agree. Some are much more anxious than others, but a general layer of stress seems to have descended upon the senior class right now.

It is a matter of days until I find out whether I got into my early application schools. I am unbelievably nervous, but I’m happy that it’s all almost over.

I sometimes have moments when I suddenly realize that I’m a senior, and that I won’t be returning to St. John’s next August. It’s shocking how quickly seven years have passed.

I talk to my friends’ younger siblings about their problems and drama in Middle School, and I’m amazed at how everything has changed since I was a sixth grader.

Did you know that they use iPads in sixth grade math? iPads! As much as I would like to forget it, I vividly remember being in Middle School, and wishing to be in Upper School. I know I’ve waited impatiently for senior year for the past three years of high school. But now that we’re

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ELAINE DONG

here, I can’t believe that we’re already halfway through our last year of school.

The wait seemed incredibly long and arduous when I was counting corn kernels for forever in Biology, or when I stayed up for my first all-nighter at the end of 10th grade, or when my laptop broke the night before my honors paper was due in junior English, but looking back, it’s all gone so quickly.

I think the key to enduring the wait for

senior year, and the wait for college decisions, is to realize that it’s only for a short time. Know that everything will turn out right in the end – even if it’s not the result you initially wanted.

Underclassmen: don’t worry about college until you start College 101 in junior year – until then, it’s not worth the stress.

Seniors: Good luck to all of you! You deserve to get in wherever it is that you want to go.

RULES FOR SENIOR COUNTRY

BY JOSHUA DICKERSON

We may disagree on what constitutes terrible music, but please, we shouldn’t walk into Senior Country and mistake it for a bar mitzvah party.

Foosball and ping pong deserve just as much respect as Smash. Give the tables some space and stop crushing ping pong balls; it’s just not cool.

Don’t be obnoxious in Smash Don’t overuse the C-stick and then expect respect as a Super Smash Bros. Brawl player.

In fact, don’t use Kirby, Pit or Pikachu if you want respect. Play Ganondorf or go home.

If you leave food, it will be eaten Also, don’t leave your smelly cafeteria plates around. We despise the smell of tilapia when trying to play Smash.

Don’t steal couch cushions

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Don’t play terrible music

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Doing so is like standing outside in a hurricane and complaining about getting wet. If you really want to get work done, go to the library or Senior Porch. If it’s too loud for you to sleep, then you’re not tired enough.

Respect non-video game players

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Don’t complain about the noise

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We the seniors of SJS, in order to form a more perfect, mostly self-governed entity, should agree to these tenets of the Country in order to keep things running smoothly. Herein lie a few rules we should read – and maybe follow.

When couches mysteriously lose pillows and cushions, it defeats the purpose of having a couch. And you really don’t need four cushions to be comfortable; you’re just being a hoarder.

There are few things as embarrassing (and frankly, hilarious) as someone erupting after a game only to find a teacher or administrator right behind him.

We already have two TV’s; do we really need a third? The answer is no. Also, we need to get the stolen Xbox cord back. Seriously, who would do that?

Senior Country is a privilege, so let’s make sure it’s a privilege we keep. Entering second semester, be nice to the administration, which really has been good about trusting us in our space.

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Don’t abuse the privilege

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Don’t play Smash on the third TV

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Be on the lookout for adults

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THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

H2OPINION

Caplan attempts to swim upstream

BY JOSEPH CAPLAN Dihydrogen monoxide, also known as water, is a fantastic paradox. As a Michael Phelps-like prodigy, after my first five weeks of swimming, I have become quite acquainted with this special specimen.

Recently, during my first swim practice of my life since I was three years old, I tried to keep up with the freshmen girls.

I suddenly realized the ultimate universal truth of universal truths: an asthmatic, out of shape, five-foot-five, chubby wanna-be-gamer does not belong in the racing lanes.

As the team finished their cool down exercises (and I was only halfway through the warm-up) I clambered out of the pool breathing so loudly that the Jedis mistook me for Darth Vader. I asked my friend and swim team captain, Jeffrey Fastow, “So, uh, Jeffrey, that’s a, uh,” I caught my breath, “a hard practice, right?”

Jeffrey then looked me in the eye and said, “That practice was basically a typical warm-up.”

I felt the snap, crackle and pop of dismay. “Water! How could you betray me

HOLIDAY DRAMA

so?” I cried to myself as my innards began to burn. “I thought we had a relationship.

I thought you loved me…”

I put on my flippy-floppies, dragged my dignity out to my car and sulked the long way home. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Joseph, you silly goose, why would you say that water is, and I quote, a ‘fantastic paradox?’

This pool, this torture, this water is a paradox because it somehow manages to have a positive influence on my life.

Swimming is like Chinese water torture, except it doesn’t scar you for life; instead, it inspires you to be efficient and effective.

I’m not sure if swimming has had such a positive influence on my life because it makes me love land more or because it’s an outlet to let off built-up stress.

No matter. Swimming, as painful as it is, as stupid as I look attempting to finish the two 50-yard laps, as much and as it makes me want to cut off my burning thighs, it also, somehow, makes me happy.

NICOLE LANG

Swim or sink Junior Joesph Caplan braves the rough waters of the Briar Club as part of his first foray in competitive swimming. Caplan recently participated in his first swim practice since he was three years old.

New winter break schedule sparks debate

IN SUPPORT

AGAINST

BY VALERIO FARRIS

Let me just start off by asking who enjoyed school starting a week later this year. All of you? Okay, great! Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s keep that in mind as we debate this year’s altered Winter Break schedule.

As many of you may know, Winter Break officially starts Dec. 21 and ends Jan. 8.

There has been grumblings about school concerning this schedule change, but I for one am a fan. Yes, there is less time before Christmas to get into the socalled “holiday spirit,” but the extra time after New Year’s is much appreciated.

The holidays are far from relaxing.

Christmas is overwhelming, Hanukkah is overwhelming (x8), and don’t even get me started on New Year’s. I can honestly say that I’m often more tired at the end of the break than I am at the beginning.

Those holidays sure can take their toll!

But in all seriousness, there’s nothing worse than ringing in the New Year and going to school two days later. And imagine everything you could do with a whole week in Jan.. You could count your presents, or hibernate, or watch an entire season of a show or eat holiday leftovers—if they’ve lasted that long. The possibilities are endless!

Think about a three-day weekend.

Everyone loves Monday off as opposed to Friday off. Having that chance at the end of a break to capitalize on all missed opportunities is the perfect reason why

BY ELLIOT CHEUNG people should enjoy the new schedule.

Now that Dec. 21 is the first day of the break, what better way to celebrate our last day on earth than by rejoicing in the close of our first semester? It’s a double party: enjoy the end of the world while simultaneously celebrating the end of the semester! The first day of break is always the most exciting, so now the day will be twice as exciting.

Holidays are for family, but these new days provide for more opportunities to socialize. The end of December is obligatory family time filled with fruitcake and latkes, board games and holiday movies.

Adding days to the end of break allow for more social interaction with friends after the clamor of the holidays.

Meanwhile, those days before the holidays will be so filled with holiday shopping that finals seem pleasurable in comparison. I would say that a Saturday work hall is delightful in comparison to the Galleria during Dec. As you celebrate New Year’s this year, and the clock counts down from ten, realize that the world of papers and math tests isn’t a mere two days away, but a week. I challenge everyone to enjoy their later vacation and take advantage of the week in January. I know I can think of a multitude of ways to spend a week free from not only the pains of school but also the stress of the holiday season.

So Winter Break got moved back.

By almost a week. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the change. The late start to the break seems a slight nuisance at first glance, but it has some considerable consequences.

The late start to Winter Break means that any winter vacations (or, more realistically, college visits) will have to wait another week—a week filled with school.

Shopping for holiday gifts will be a nightmare because school ends just four days before Christmas. Yes, I could get it done before school lets out, but when staring into the face of the beast known as midterms, Christmas shopping becomes the least of my concerns.

On another note, if the Mayans do happen to be right about the world ending, the late winter break conveniently starts on doomsday, meaning that the start of Winter Break is also the end of the world.

Of course, to make a fair assessment of the calendar change, I also considered the positive effects of starting Winter Break late. This didn’t take long because I found none.

School does in fact begin later in January, but if that can be considered a benefit, it is tenuous at best. The break is not extended at all by its ending later in January; it simply gives us less time to enjoy the festivities of the holiday season and replaces Christmas revelry with the festivities of post-New Year’s January.

How nice.

All jokes aside, it has simply been too long since we’ve had a major vacation.

I am feeling a bit burned out at this point, and I can assume other students feel the same. SJS is famous for its heavy workload that challenges students. Yes, the large amount of work assigned to students yields great results, but it also generates a lot of stress.

Every so often students need a break.

An actual break, not just a typical, two-day weekend (which is filled with homework anyway). Winter Break is the only significantly long break we get until Spring Break in March, and it is a much-needed respite from school life— delaying it a week only allows the stress and pressure to build up even more.

Now, some of you are probably wondering if I overlooked the three days off we get for Thanksgiving. I didn’t.

Thanksgiving Break seemed to float by before I could even finish listening to Nicole Westbrook’s “It’s Thanksgiving.”

But for those of you chastising my disregard for Thanksgiving Break, I bear good news (unless you hate holidays, I suppose, in which case I feel really bad for you). My prayers have been answered: Thanksgiving Break is being extended next year, so we’ll have a full week off to sleep in and eat way too much!

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DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

XC TRIUMPHS

Cross country girls run to victory

BY LYDIA LIU AND AMY KANG Shrieks of joy filled the air as a trophy, topped with a lanky runner mid-stride, rose above a crowd of girls in red jackets.

Captain Martha Daniel brushed a stray tear away — the girls’ cross-country team had won SPC. After crossing the finish line at SPC, freshman Margaret Trautner (6th) had mixed emotions.

“Why are you crying?” Daniel asked the lanky freshman. “You did great!”

Trautner replied, “I’m crying because it’s over!”

After winning SPC in 2009, the team has placed third the past two years. For seniors, this year was the last chance to recapture their freshman glory. And they reclaimed the SPC title with the help of underclassmen runners.

Even though 10 girls ran for the Mavericks, only the top five times counted toward the final rankings.

Four freshmen earned All-SPC Honors.

Francie Williams (10th) joined Trautner in the top 10, while Maya Bhandari (16th) and Noel Higgason (17th) rounded out the top 20.

“I didn’t know what place I had when I crossed the finish line,” Trautner said.

“All I knew was that I had met my season

goal of sub-20 [minutes] and that it hurt more than anything.”

Junior Molly Vitek (27th) was the final SJS scorer.

At cross country SPC, school rankings are determined In cross country, each runner receives a score based on her place when crossing the finish line. Teams try to accumulate the lowest point total when the top five scores are added together. SJS and Hockaday both had a final team score of 79.

The tie is broken by looking at the sixth scorer for each team. Freshman Olivia Havel beat Hockaday’s sixth runner by nearly a minute.

“I knew we were capable of doing it,” Head Coach Rachel Fabre said, “but it’s just a sport where everything has to be on for the win to happen.”

Though the first-place announcement brought surprise, the team had anticipated a good showing at SPC after winning South Zone without their top five runners.

Vitek said, “We’ve always thought that our strength is in our depth.”

additional reporting by Pallavi Krishnarao

fifthquarter

COURTESY OF HECTOR SANTIAGO

Crossing the finish line Bolstered by underclassmen talent, the cross-country team came home with the SPC first-place trophy. “The victory was a culmination of all the hard work we’ve put in,” junior Molly Vitek said.

A lot of us have been here before, but we have to stay hungry. It’s a new year, so there are new roles. We are all trying to find ours. We work hard, but we are a really loose team — we appreciate the fan support.

Kory Haywood, basketball co-captain

JAKE NYQUIST

Slam dunk Justice Winslow does a windmill dunk during warm-ups. The Mavericks are 8-2 this season.

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Points per game scored by Justise Winslow.

The ninth-ranked junior, according to ESPN, leads the team in scoring and rebounding (13.1 per game).

Winslow’s averages have increased each year, and this is the third straight season that he has averaged a double-double.

Winslow’s best game, statistically, came in a loss to Westside (40 points and 17 rebounds).

Freshman on varsity basketball – Paul Labanowski.

The younger brother of two dynamic volleyball players, Jane and Carolin,e the 6’5” forward has appeared in seven games.

Labanowski is the first freshman to make varsity since Winslow.

Three-point attempts in 10 games.

Kory Haywood leads the team with 23 made threes and Yusef Chabayta has connected on 16.

Seven different players have drained a shot from long distance.

As a team, the Mavs are shooting 30% from downtown, compared with 40% on 2-pt shots.

Juniors Wain Wanguri and JT Trauber lead the team in 3-pt percentage, 43% and 36%, respectively.

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THE REVIEW

DECEMBER 2012

BACK TO BACK

Déjà vu: field hockey wins again

BY PARKER DONALDSON COURTESY OF TOM HOPWOOD

Bringing the heat With players from all grade levels, the field hockey team drew on both their talent and team unity to capture SPC gold. The girls ended their championship season with a 20-3-1 record.

As senior captain Robby Rybarczyk walked up for the first stroke, the field hockey team experienced a moment of déjà vu. During the 2011 SPC finals the girls were in strokes against Fort Worth Country Day. This time, it was the semifinals.

Rybarczyk made a clear shot to the back of the net. FWCD responded by tying the score at 1-1.

The team was tense as they stood watching their teammates.

With another stroke from senior captain Sam Night and a shutout from freshman goalie Kelsey Bing against the four remaining FWCD shooters, the Mavericks won, advancing to the finals, 2-1.

“Before the strokes, I was really nervous,” Bing said. “But the team was cheering me on, which made me feel a lot more relaxed and confident.”

With the Falcons out of the way, the girls were able to play with confidence against Hockaday in the finals. The Mavericks won, 3-1, clenching the SPC championship title for the second year in a row.

“Winning back-to-back SPC Championships is a tremendous accomplishment for our field hockey program and a true testament to a total team effort,” Director of Athletics Vince Arduini said. “The combination of a talented group of athletes, a very dedicated and hard-working coaching

staff at all levels and the outstanding work of our athletic trainers and managers made this past year truly unique.”

The coaches started this season with a challenge.

Though there were 16 returning players, the team still had to adjust to a new group dynamic.

Senior Amanda Leavell joined the team after not having played since freshman year. Two freshmen, Jennifer Trieschman and Junior Olympian Bing, joined the squad, and the team had to alternate between goalkeepers (Bing and returning sophomore Libby Manela).

This new slate of players proved successful. Leavell became one of the leading scorers (12 goals), including the breakaway shot that secured the South Zone Championship over Kinkaid, 3-2.

Bing and Manela became the perfect goalie duo with a total of 84 saves (87% of attempted shots), a seven-year high.

“This team made up their mind early on that they would focus not on the prize, but instead on pursuing excellence as an everyday mantra toward achieving success,” Head Field Hockey Coach Craig Chambers said. “There were hurdles as always, but they never faltered in their confidence as a team that they could maximize their potential.”

The team faced a rough patch late in the season with a three-game losing streak, but the captains encouraged the players to overcome these setbacks.

“Being captain has been one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had to do,” senior Natalie Plummer said.

“I loved watching this year’s field hockey team as they played with great heart and intensity. They were unselfish and relentless in their drive to win back-to-back SPC titles.”

Headmaster Mark Desjardins

“Lots of work goes on behind the scenes to make sure the season goes as smoothly as possible. It has given me the opportunity to test my dedication, resiliency, leadership and love for the game.”

Plummer was one of four senior captains along with Carly Gamson, Night, and Rybarczyk.

Their hard work resulted in a five-game winning streak in counter games including the final counter against Kinkaid in the South Zone Championship. The Mavericks have won South Zone six straight years.

The team scored 95 goals this season, led

by Night and Rybarczyk with 14 each.

“I loved watching this year’s field hockey team as they played with great heart and intensity,” Headmaster Mark Desjardins said. “They were unselfish and relentless in their drive to win back-to-back SPC titles.

They are the gold standard for all other programs in the SPC, and that is a great tribute to the coaches and players.”

Despite obstacles along the way, the players yet again proved themselves as field hockey powerhouses.

“Their confidence in themselves and their belief in each other brought them to the finals and it certainly carried them through,” Chambers said. “This group justly earned their championship and had a great time doing it every step of the way.”

DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

ATHLETES

IN THE

SHADOW All-star students Benjamin Shou performs at the US Figure Skating Championships. Emory Strawn spends six to eight hours each week participating in the Greater Houston Rowing Club. Sara Reddy has only been fencing for two and a half years, but she has already qualified for Nationals twice. Ranked 12th in her age group statewide, Natasha Gonzalez receives PE credit for playing tennis. Swimmer Elena Skaribas qualified for Junior Nationals after winning gold at Texas Championships.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT COURTESY OF BENJAMIN SHOU, EMORY STRAWN, SARA REDDY, NATASHA GONZALEZ, ELENA SKARIBAS

BY PALLAVI KRISHNARAO They practice up to nine times a week. They dedicate their lives to the sport they love. Yet they remain invisible, their accomplishments unnoticed by the majority of students.

Unconventional sports are often disregarded in school, yet that does not deter dedicated athletes from participating.

SJS offers an option to obtain P.E. credit for sports that students play outside of school.

Many students take advantage of this opportunity to pursue their passions with recognition of their commitment.

Freshman Benjamin Shou has been figure skating since the age of six. His rigorous schedule is similar to that of a school athlete’s — he spends three-and-a-half hours a day skating and travels to tournaments on weekends.

“Despite the intense commitment, skating has taught me many things about hard work, perseverance and how to balance a full-time school life with a full training regimen,” Shou said.

Shou is currently ranked sixth in the juvenile division of the 2012 United States Junior Figure Skating Championships, the largest figure skating competition in the United States. The results of this competition are

used to determine the U. S. Winter Olympics teams and to rank the most successful figure skaters in the nation.

Junior Sara Reddy opted out of P. E. to spend more time fencing. She practices six to eight hours a week, working to win local medals and qualify for Nationals. Although fencing is not well known, Reddy believes it is the most satisfying sport.

“I enjoy fencing because you don’t have to be extremely coordinated or athletic to fence – you just have to love it,” Reddy said.

Athletes who play sports that are offered school year-round outside of school can also get an exemption from P. E. Freshman Natasha Gonzalez spends two hours a day playing tennis during the school year, and she appreciates the extra time she gains by opting out of P. E. “It is extremely helpful to skip P.E. because it puts an extra hour in my day to play tennis,” Gonzalez said. “Right now I am using the extra hour to put in a workout after school in the weight room.”

The time she spends practicing for tennis certainly pays off in her matches – she is ranked 12th in Texas in her age group even though she has not participated for a while

due to tendonitis and a stress fracture in her elbow.

Sophomore Elena Skaribas swims for Dad’s Club Swim Team and practices around eight times a week for two-and-a-half hours.

Swimming year-round allows Skaribas to continually improve her skills for the school swim season. For Skaribas, swimming is not just a sport.

“I can’t imagine my life without it — it’s very satisfying to do what I am passionate about and be an accomplished swimmer,” Skaribas said.

Skaribas was part of a gold medal-winning relay team at Texas Championships that qualified for Junior Nationals. She missed the Gulf Record by two-hundredths of a second.

Though she did not opt out of P. E., senior Emory Strawn participates in crew at the Greater Houston Rowing Club. Crew requires physical fitness and upper body strength, and the physical demands of rowing make it even more attractive for Strawn.

“It’s really fun to finish a hard workout,” Strawn said. “Call me a masochist, but I love being sore after working out because I know I have accomplished something.”

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18odds THE REVIEW

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WORD FOR WORD

SECONDS name grade state of mind color movie tv show book hero breakfast vegetable love to hate hate to love misery place to live dream occupation fav spot on campus treasured possession motto just do it omg like us on facebook

“ ” DECEMBER 2012

Patrick Kowalski good enough i lost it black as a raven lord of the rings game of thrones game of thrones/lord of the rings yes, i am red meat, tears of the wicked the yellow one evildoers school my shirt gondor pirate the patcave my honor have bravery get in my instagram men do not say such things you already know 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

THE COMIC STRIP BY GUAN CHEN

Don’t ever play leap frog with a unicorn.

Mr. Swan

Christina Moss: When I was little, I would look at the door frame until it started moving up and down.

Joseph Caplan: Your parents let you drink when you were five?

Junior English class discussions

The straw that breaks the camel’s back is coming. And it might be Les Chantdudes.

Taylor Gutierrez lamenting his end-of-semester stress

Every time I hear someone threaten secession I just want to throw a history textbook at their heads.

Dean Popp expressing anger at those who ignore history

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DECEMBER 2012

THE REVIEW

CHARTED

BY ELAINE DONG

WHAT’S TRENDING?

twitter account

: one

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“Where mediocrity is the standard”

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MEH

50-cent lemon wedges

Wreaths on cars

South Dakota

Jokes about the Apocalypse

Paloozas

STAY CONNECTED

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@MaverickEats why we love it

The time between breakfast and lunch is a hefty four-anda-half hour block.

And while tacos may quell our hunger on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the rest of the week, students expectantly await their midday meal. Follow this twitter to get daily updates on the schools’ cafeteria menu.

tumblr Bread People why we love it

Imagine a world where everyone’s heads are replaced with a giant loaf of bread. This blog brings that world to life. Pictures include Challah Abdul, Ace Venchurro, Bialy Joel and our favorite pastry/painter Fritter Kahlo.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

onlinesjs.org/review

twitter@sjs_review facebooksjs review instagram_thereview

Les-Chantdebut!

The Les-Chantdudes thrill their lunchtime audience with dulcet tones.

VIRGINIA WALLER

therearview 3..

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MAKE IT COUNT

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1. Dancing in the dark During a tech rehearsal, dancers from the Student Choreography Showcase experiment with different poses.

2. Shoot for the stars Captain Wes Wallace goes up for a layup before a home game against Lamar.

Working for Glory

For every game-winning shot, there are grueling drills on the court. For every perfect pirouette, there are stubbed toes from when a dancer’s balance was not quite right. For every soccer breakaway, there are endless conditioning drills.

We see players running up and down the field, dancers leaping across the stage and wrestlers pinning down their opponents. Unless we participate in those sports or fine arts, we are unaware of the arduous practices and rehearsals that culminate in the perfect final moment.

In this issue of the Rearview, we explore a different dimension of games and performances. Practices are not the most glamorous aspects of sports and fine arts, but those after-school sessions are crucial to a team’s success.

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3. Gras on grass Captain Andre Gras practices his dribbling skills.

6. Wiping the floor The girls exchange basketballs for towels during a conditioning exercise.

4. Spinning and twirling A Terpsichore dancer rests after a tiring lyrical combination.

7. Stretch it out With members from all grade levels, the wrestling team is off to a 9-2 start.

5. Just do it Coach Jeff Ritter offers tips to the team.

photos by Nicole Lang (1) Claire Dorfman (3, 5, 7) Anna Huang (4, 6) Jake Nyquist (2) story and captions by Lydia Liu