thereview VOL. 64, ISSUE 2
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL
OCTOBER 2012
SPEED RACER
Granberry takes fast, furious track
Senior races wacky ‘lemons’ BY IMAN CHARANIA Erin Granberry ended her first car race with a body gash and a broken lip. And that was just her car. Granberry suffered these damages while driving in 24 Hours of Lemons, a junk-car endurance race that took place Sept. 29. According to its website, 24 Hours of Lemons sponsors “nationwide series of endurance races for cars that cost $500 or less.” Race rules also require that “vehicles must be acquired and prepared for a maximum of $500.” Granberry is following in her father’s tire tracks. Jeff Granberry has been racing in Lemons for four years. Mr. Granberry took home the National Championship in 2009 and was named Driver of the Year. One of the race’s quirks is the car décor. Teams go out of their way to create cars with interesting themes. Granberry’s car was the Mick Jaguar, a Saturn with a bright red mouth and a tongue sticking out on the front grill, reminiscent of the Rolling Stones insignia. “They say that you can’t spend more than $500, but everyone cheats and bribes the judges. They usually get a brand-new engine and just throw some dirt on it. The judges even have a stamp that they’ll put on your car that says ‘bribed,’” Granberry said. Even with the $500 limit, safety is paramount, and money spent for safety gear is not included in the $500 budget. Granber-
thisedition
NEWS FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT BEYOND OPINIONS CENTERSPREAD SPORTS ODDS & ENDS
CENTERSPREAD Explore the differing grade level opinions on Cotillion and weigh the pros and cons of Prom and Homecoming.
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ry’s safety gear alone cost more than $2,500. “You have a lot of fire-resistant clothes, and then you also have a cool suit, which is basically a shirt with pipes in it that has water running through them to keep you from overheating,” Granberry said. Participants have to be 16 years or older with a valid drivers license, and the rules do not require COURTESY OF JEFF GRANBERRY participants to have any Life is a highway While her peers may avoid 60 mph highways, Erin Granberry drives at speeds up to 95 mph. Acformal training. Granbercording to Mr. Granberry, “Erin’s time on her first race was better than any of her teammates’ first race times.” ry wanted to prepare, so she took lessons over the Granberry said. failures. summer at a track and raced her own car. Granberry struggled due to the road “They wheeled me over to the awards Despite her preparation, Granberry track’s clockwise layout, requiring all right on a toilet as my punishment,” Granberry drove only two laps on the first day of the turns instead of the traditional countsaid. race, dubbed “Gator-o-Rama,” because she er-clockwise ones she had practiced. Although Granberry did not get to finish was hit twice and spun out both times. She decided to try again on Sunday, and her first race, she enjoyed her driving “I thought I was making a bad impresshe raced with no snags until the last ten debut. sion on the judges even though most minutes of the race. After she had spun out “It wasn’t fun so much as it was excitracers spin out a bunch in their first race,” twice, the judges yanked her car from the ing,” Granberry said. “It’s the entire expeGranberry said. race and gave her a punishment. rience that you get, and especially if you’re While turning, another car ripped off the “We were so close to finishing, but when an aggressive driver, you get to vent all of bottom lip of her Rolling Stones tribute I spun out twice, they just pulled our your frustration at the track. It’s fun to get and also tore open one side of her car. car,” Granberry said. The judges punish out there and compete.” “The first time I was hit, my car took drivers in need of retribution, giving them some damage, but I kept going while the tongue-in-cheek penalties for driving guy who hit me spun off into the grass,”
ACROSS THE STREET
With Lombardi in New York, Middle School makes adjustments BY TIFFANY YUE Students are not the only ones taking classes. Head of Middle School Eric Lombardi is taking a year of leave to attend Columbia University. Mr. Lombardi is working toward a master’s degree in the Klingenstein Fellowship at Columbia’s Teachers’ College. “I am about as lucky as anyone has ever been to have the chance to be in this program while SJS is saving my place back in the Middle School,” Mr. Lombardi said. The Middle School administration adjusted to accommodate his absence, appointing Dean Megan Henry as Interim Head.
“Everything is new, but it’s been very professionally and intellectually exciting and stimulating for me,” Ms. Henry said. To replace her as Dean, Ms. Henry wanted someone interested in leadership. “When you’re in a position like this, the level of trust you have with your administrative team needs to be very high,” Ms. Henry said. History Teacher Marty Thompson (’91) is now Interim Dean of Middle School. “I miss the classroom routine a lot, but some of the things I’ve gotten to do are important, too,” Mr. Thompson said. Since Ms. Henry is expecting a child,
she will take a maternity leave in December. Mr. Thompson will assume primary leadership of the Middle School. The students notice only a slight difference in the administration. “It feels just like last year. With a new Dean though, there is a bit of excitement and curiosity,” eighth grade student Max Blekhman said. Mr. Thompson said, “It’s like a sports team when somebody is injured. Everybody else has to pick things up and change a little bit of the way that they function.”
2news THE REVIEW
OCTOBER 2012
GIVING BACK
Community Service to build Habitat for Humanity home Profits from concession stand fund $75,000 project
newsbriefs Freshman Benjamin Shou, nationally ranked ice skater, founded Ice Club with faculty sponsor Harriet Reynolds. Ice Club meets once every two or three weeks at school and over the weekend at the Galleria skating rink. Shou created the club for members to have fun away from the heat and to learn about ice sports. MATTHEW NEAL
BY MCKENNA GESSNER Four years after its last build, the Upper School will construct another Habitat for Humanity house, a $75,000 project. Senior Carolyn Brooks approached Community Service Coordinator Marci Bahr to present the idea of building a house for the organization. Bahr is enthusiastic about the November project, and she is eager to see students “use their brawn as well as their brain” in the Habitat project. Financing such a huge undertaking is a significant task. The project to build the school’s last house in 2008 had special permission to raise funds. For this year’s project, Bahr and the community service officer board approved a $75,000 grant. Profits from the concessions stand, which countless athletes and spectators frequent, contribute to the grant fund and fuel most of the school’s service projects. According to junior George Davies, a community service officer and manager of the concessions stand, the key to its success is customer service and convenience. With student, faculty and alumni contributions, this house build will involve a large portion of the SJS community and make a significant impact on a local family.
SECURITY UPDATE
Church gunman has security on high alert BY JAKE CHOTINER
Mathematical Problem Solving (MAPS) Club is meant for students who desire to learn more math outside of the classroom. “I started MAPS with Philip Taffet because we really love math and wanted to get others involved,” junior Xavier Gonzalez said. MAPS strives to help students achieve better scores on the American Mathematics Competition tests that all honors math students take in February. MAPS currently consists of approximately fifteen members and is on the lookout for more. SUMAN ATLURI
NICOLE LANG
Contributing to a cause Community Service Coordinator Marci Bahr, sophomores Mackenzie Mott and McKenna Gessner, Habitat for Humanity coordinator Nikita Williams and seniors Carolyn Brooks and Steven Stein proudly display their $75,000 check. Starting in November, the project will help build a home for a local family.
The house will be be built for the Austin family. Ondrice Austin is a single mother with two children. Although construction at the build site is restricted to those 16 or older, underclassmen are encouraged to work on wall
An armed robber held up an employee at the Church of St. John the Divine, next door to SJS, Sept. 22 around 7 a.m. The suspect saw a woman alone in her car and held her at gunpoint. He fired the gun but did not injure the woman. The suspect had recently robbed five other people in the area. The Houston Police Department is currently investigating.
builds and beautification of the house. One of the four project leaders, Sophomore Mackenzie Mott, said, “It is a really good way to connect to our community while helping others.”
“I walk through that parking lot. It makes me think twice and reminds me that crime exists everywhere,” Spanish teacher Stephen Kehs said. According to Security Coordinator Andrew Blitch, students should be aware of this crime. “Look around for suspicious looking vehicles. If you see someone suspicious, don’t park there, and call 911 or River Dale
Patrol,” Blitch said. In response to the robbery, Blitch enlisted more security guards to patrol from 5-7 a.m., one at the Scotty Caven lot and another at the St. Luke’s parking lot. Sophomore Katherine Wu said, “The robbery was very surprising because SJS is supposed to be a safe campus. I still consider it to be safe. Hopefully, it was a one-time thing.”
FunRun provides opportunities for students to participate in recreational Houston races. Founded by senior Maddie Clayton, junior Elise Viguet and sophomores Eleanor Jackson, Zoe Margolis and Megan Routbort, the group participates in races a few times each month. According to Jackson, FunRun will also have “cool runs around town,” including the Firefly Run, a race in Reliant Stadium, which is illuminated by neon lights. CARA MAINES
After a summer of entertaining her grandmother with paper cranes in Singapore, junior Mikaela Juzswik realized she could easily teach others the beautiful, yet simple art of origami. Juzswik and junior Claire Jones created Origami Club, where they teach members how to shape paper into a life-like objects. Juzswik said, “Claire and I are really trying to make Origami Club a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone, whether they’ve done origami for years or only use paper to do homework and kill trees.” WINNIE BRANDFIELD-HARVEY
features3
OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
BOT BUILDING
Real-life WALL-E After competing in his first robotics competition in middle school, Vasia Pobedinski discovered his talent for programming mechanical innovations. His theory about the future of robotics may require biologists to reassess their current definition of life.
ANYA RING
Pobedinski builds award-winning robots BY JESSICA LEE
What began as a childhood curiosity sparked not only a lifelong passion in robotics, but also a competitive outlet. It’s about “the whole process of problem solving, watching your robot try to take one step and tumbling to walking one out of ten times and finally watching it succeed,” Vasia Pobedinski said. “The evolution is very inspiring.” In the summer before fifth grade, the sophomore took a programming class, but robotics was not an integral part of his life until he competed in the All-Earth EcoBot Challenge in sixth grade. “I really enjoyed my first competition, but T.H. Rogers stopped supporting robotics so I decided to start my own club independently in seventh grade,” Pobedinski said. In eighth grade, Pobedinski’s persistence paid off when his team won third place at state at KISS Institute for Practical Robot’s Botball, a competition that requires robots to compete in game play settings. After coming to SJS in ninth grade, Pobedinski wanted to keep working and competing with robots. “Given the reputation for very bright people at SJS, I thought that they would be very open,” Pobedinski said. When Doug Elliot first saw the basketball robot at the SJS Club Fair, he was amazed at how the president of Robotics Club could create such a sophisticated invention and decided to sponsor the club this year. “I wanted kids to be in the spirit of being innovative and creative,” Mr. Elliot said. “Science is so scripted, so I think it’s nice to build creative inventions.” For the Autonomous Aerial Vehicle contest last year, Pobedinski programmed a quadrocopter, a flying robot with four helicopter plates. He placed third nationally and caught the attention of local channel ABC 13. “I had never thought of being on TV especially for robotics. When I think of robotics, I just think about
creating inventions,” Pobedinski said. Although most robots Pobedinski builds are for competitions, he has recently done other projects like programming a remote-controlled car from Target to be autonomous. “It was more interesting than the quadrocopter because it involved building, taking apart the electronics and programming,” Pobedinski said. Pobedinski uses birthday presents and old materials from previous competitions to build his robots. One recycled creation is his basketball shooting machine, which he calls Laser Dragon. Last year, Pobedinski entered Laser Dragon to play three-on-three basketball in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics competition, sponsored by DiscoBots, a collaboration between robotics groups from Houston area high schools. “Robotics is an all-inclusive outlet for creativity. It does not require artistic ability just pure ideas and determination,” Pobedinski said. “Recently, I have been very bogged down with school, but if you really want something enough you can always sack something else and make time for it.” Pobedinski has developed theories about robots in future society. Even though he believes robots will not literally take over the world such as in the movie “I, Robot,” he does believe that humans will interact with them to some degree. “If humans were to become entirely dependent on robots, by then robots would have to be so developed to the point where they will be considered life,” Pobedinski said. “We will have to question the definition of life and redefine it to one that encompasses the mechanical composition of robots. And redefine it to one that encompasses the mechanical composition of robots.”
“Robotics is an all-inclusive outlet for creativity. It does not require artistic ability, just pure ideas and determination.” Vasia Pobedinski
THE REVIEW
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
DANCING THROUGH LIFE BY IRIS CRONIN
COURTESY OF VICTORIA ARIZPE
Dancing Queen Since entering a professional company at age 15, Arizpe has performed for numerous choreographers in productions.
OCTOBER 2012 Victoria Taylor Arizpe (’86) has credentials that span far beyond those of an ordinary dance teacher. Arizpe has been a ballerina, pageant dancer, Tommy Tune Award winner and dance teacher. “Dance was something I was very driven to do, and because I was already dancing in a professional company when I was 15, despite my age, I knew it was possible for me,” she said. An SJS lifer who participated in the school dance program in middle school, she switched her focus to an intense, off-campus dance regimen in high school. “I was heavy into ballet after school, so I wasn’t as involved in the program here,” Arizpe said. “I don’t know how our homework load then compares to that of students now, but I didn’t have that much trouble balancing dance and work. I thrived on the structure; it left no room for procrastination.” Arizpe started dancing at the age of three in “a creative dance class.” Five years later, she began her formal training in an intensive, ballet-only dance academy. At 13, an instructor at her studio started teaching jazz. At her parents’ insistence, she continued to focus on ballet, taking jazz on the side until
she was 15. In high school, Arizpe began to concentrate on jazz. “Ballet classes dropped down to once or twice a week, which was really different,” Arizpe said. “I had been doing four ballet classes a week.” After graduating, she pursued a career in dance. “I did lots of performances with Theater Under the Stars (TUTS), and I toured with them in Seattle for a while,” Arizpe said. Arizpe also had other dance jobs. “I did fashion shows for Foleys, and I went down to Corpus Christi at one point and danced in a hair show for Redken.” She also performed at the Miss Texas Pageant in Fort Worth, where she worked with Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman. Arizpe has performed with well-known directors and choreographers during her time at TUTS, including Rob Marshall, the Oscar-winning director of the movie version of “Chicago.” In 1984, Mr. Arizpe began dancing and choreographing with the Delia Stewart Dance Company, Mrs. Arizpe’s first professional company. Through dance, Arizpe met her husband, Alex, whom she married
in 1992. They began their own company, Uptown Productions, Inc. in 1988 and choreographed for clients like Verizon Wireless, Nike and Shell Oil. “We basically blended my classical ballet and jazz training with my husband’s social, street style dances to create whatever our clients needed for events.” Arizpe returned to SJS in 2010 to teach Impulse, Caprice I, Intermediate Caprice and Terpsichore. “She finds ways to make class interesting,” sophomore Eleni McGee, said. “She motivates you to work harder and push your boundaries.” Arizpe choreographed the last two US musicals, “Anything Goes” and “Chicago,” which won a Tommy Tune for Best Choreography. “She has a talent for bringing out the best in every dancer, which translates to an amazing show every time,” said junior Camilla Manca, who was in “Chicago.” “The two casts in “Chicago” were a lot of work, not just for me but for the students, but I think they turned out really well,” said Arizpe. “They allowed me to see the whole picture for every number.”
scenes behind The Kinkaid Video the
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On-screen spirit A screenshot preview of the Kinkaid Video features faculty members Ruth Bellows and Dwight Raulston. The complete video will be unveiled Friday, Oct. 26.
BY STEPHANIE GUO Andrew Chennisi and Yusef Chabayta both started brainstorming the Kinkaid Video at the beginning of the school year. Problem was, they were both working separately. When Chabayta and Chennisi separately approached Dean of Students Stephen Popp to express their desire to direct the Kinkaid Video, Mr. Popp suggested they discuss it with each other. “We decided to do it together since we both had some good ideas,” Chabayta said. “We wanted it to be done efficiently and professionally from the start.” “We wanted to do things a little differently than before, so we were excited to take on the project,” Chennisi said. Chabayta and Chennisi began writing and editing the script in early September. “We’ve had six or seven meetings with the administration and probably spent three or four hours editing with them, but then they also gave us notes to continue editing by ourselves,” Chennisi said. He estimated that he and Chabayta spent around 10 hours editing the 35-page script.
Senior Meredith Lawrence is also part of the crew, handling props and scheduling. “We both have prior experience with filming, but Andrew likes to do the shooting, so he’s usually the one holding the camera,” Chabayta said. “We’re hoping to use 60 to 70 people,” Chennisi said. “Most of these people are going to be seniors because those are the people we reach out to most easily, but there are definitely opportunities for underclassmen to be in it.” Chabayta cannot compare their project to a single movie or TV show. “I couldn’t pick one. The video references so many different movies and TV shows like ‘Hot Tub Time Machine,’ ‘Batman,’ ‘Family Guy’ and last year’s Kinkaid Video,” Chabayta said. Chennisi hopes to be done filming by mid-October. “Our project’s going to be different than normal,” Chennisi said. “It’s going to be different -- it’s going to be really funny.” “I’m definitely excited for the Kinkaid Video, especially since it’s my senior year,” senior Savannah Ezelle said.
entertainment5
OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
EN POINTE
Burkett balances ballet, books BY HANNAH TYLER Sam Burkett joined Theatre under the Stars (TUTS) in fourth grade. Nine years and 14 shows later, the senior remains an integral part of TUTS. “I don’t even remember my life before TUTS,” Burkett said. A Houston-based musical theater company, TUTS produces both adult and youth performances at Houston’s Hobby Center. Burkett is a student of the Humphrey’s School of Musical Theater, TUTS’s highly professional youth program, and has devoted his time and talents to his performances with TUTS over these past nine years. “When I started at TUTS, we did your idea of cheesy musical theatre, which involved a lot of glitter and sparkles. It’s gotten more professional every year, and the caliber has just gotten higher and higher,” he said. Now, Burkett spends eight hours in dance class and three hours at Friday rehearsals. When he’s in a show, his rehearsal time goes up to 25 hours a week. “I make sacrifices,” he said. “In middle school, I never did activities; I always picked study halls to get my work done.” For his junior year, Burkett lived in Rennes, France, as part of the School Year Abroad program. “While I was in France, I was away from musical theatre for a while and let myself pursue my other interests more. School was a hobby, but France changed my perspective.” Burkett still participates actively in TUTS. He is a member of the chorus and had a featured role as Aaron, a Harvard student, in “Legally Blonde, The Musical.”
TUTS officials offered Burkett a role in the show without an audition — a testament to his strong relationship with the program. Along with the major time commitment of five-hour rehearsals all summer, Burkett also had to train for the show’s physically taxing dances and an intense number in which he sang a solo while executing advanced yoga positions. “I had to do a lot of cardio preparation and a lot of work on breath control so I wouldn’t pant as I was singing my solo,” he said. Tech week— the last week of rehearsals before the performances— was also a challenge when coupled with school. Burkett had six hours of rehearsal for the first three days of tech week and missed school the last two days of tech week to rehearse and perform student matinees. “Legally Blonde” was performed seven times in four days, and all performances were sold out. “He was fantastic. The singing, the dancing, the whole musical; everything was great, and Sam did an amazing job,” said senior Erin Granberry. “It was great to see him back doing what he loves after a year in France,” said senior Hannah Worscheh. “It was incredibly enjoyable to see one of my closest friends do what he loves onstage. He was hilarious,” said senior Lily Brown. Of all the TUTS shows in which he has participated, Burkett said “Legally Blonde” was the most enjoyable. As for the future, Burkett said, “I am taking classes every week and hopefully will be doing shows next semester and during the summer.” COURTESY OF CLAIRE MCADAMS
Passé perfect Burkett combined his singing, acting and dancing skills in the recent TUTS production of “Legally Blonde, The Musical.” Senior Hannah Worscheh said, “It was great to see him back doing what he loves after a year in France.”
MAVERICK MUNCHIES Monster PBJ Found off West Alabama near the Menil Collection on Thurs., Sat., Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For all other times, check out www.monsterpbj.com. $3 Junior $5 Classic $7 Monster
Twist on American classic PHOTOS AND STORY BY IAN MELLOR-CRUMMEY Monster PBJ, Houston’s first and only peanut butter and jelly food truck, offers more than just the classic sandwich your mother used to make. A menu filled with fresh-ground nut butters, locally produced jams, fresh fruit and additional sweet spreads like agave, nutella and honey, makes the standard PB&J much more customizable. Their entire menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly and they even have gluten-free bread and chip options. Picky sandwich eaters can have the sandwich grilled and the crust removed before choosing between four cutting styles for their finished sandwich. Those looking for a quick after-school
snack can pick between the $3 Junior, made from one slice of bread, and the $5 Classic, made from two slices. Those looking for a more substantial meal can go for the $7 double-decker Monster. I chose the Monster with almond and peanut butters, apple and blueberry jams and honey on wheat bread, which was delicious and filling. Monster PBJ’s purple, monster-festooned truck can be found in the parking lot off West Alabama near the Menil Collection every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It keeps foodies updated on its location at other times via Facebook and Twitter.
6beyond THE REVIEW
OCTOBER 2012
BEJEWELED
MILLER
STRINGS IT
TOGETHER BY AMY KANG
COURTESY OF TAYLOR MILLER
“It’s a huge time commitment, but it’s definitely worth the reward.” Taylor Miller (’11)
Within nine years, Taylor Miller’s (’11) jewelry business grew from selling out of shoeboxes at baseball games to being sold in 42 stores across the country. Miller, a sophomore at Southern Methodist University, built her business, Hazen Jewelry, from the ground up. Her career began at age nine with the reconstruction of a pearl necklace. Taken from her grandmother’s costume jewelry, the necklace was the first of many pieces Miller would create. “It all started just for fun; it was just another little girl’s activity,” Miller said. “Family members told me to call it Taylor’s Bead Box or something of the sort, but I wanted it to be something that was long-lasting,” Miller said. “A friend and I came up with the name ‘Hazen’ out of nowhere, and to a nine-year-old, it sounded sophisticated so it stuck.” Carrying a shoebox filled with beaded creations to her brother’s baseball games, Miller sold her first pieces to the players’ mothers. Miller’s younger brother, Jack, reaped the benefits of having a jeweler sister. “It was great because I always had jewelry for friends and teachers,” the junior said. While in fourth grade, the first store to
Catching Up With Johnnycake Presidents
sell Miller’s jewelry was Oxford Floral in Oxford, Miss. Since 2002, Hazen Jewelry has boomed and is now featured in dozens of stores in America and in Barbados, West Indies. “Seeing my jewelry in stores is hugely rewarding,” Miller said. “To see that people gravitate to it when there are so many options is really confirming and inspires me to continue doing what I’m doing.” While at SJS, Miller built her business even with a heavy academic workload. She attended a wholesale market in Atlanta each year to show her jewelry and traveled to other markets to hold trunk shows and home show. “It’s a huge time commitment, but it’s definitely worth the reward. Jewelry-making gives me the creative outlet that is much needed,” Miller said. “She is a very diligent worker, so I feel that out of everyone that I know, she would be best able to balance her school work with her business,” Jack said. Miller dealt with her busy schedule by allotting her holidays and less busy weekends for making jewelry. “I have always found it more efficient to block out large time slots to work on jewelry rather than just doing a little here
SARA ANN ZIEMNICKI (’12) I’m at SMU now. College is a lot of fun, and living with people who are completely different is eye-opening. I’m currently not involved with theater, but I still love the arts, and I’ll never stop loving them.
and there,” Miller said. “This year at SMU, I don’t have classes on Fridays, so they have become my official Hazen Day to work on everything business related.” Miller draws inspiration for her pieces from her surroundings, including student fashion on the SMU campus, seasonal colors or the interior design of places she visits. “After I take trips to places with unique landscapes, I find myself drawn to stones with the same hues that are in those landscapes,” Miller said. The design process begins at her wholesaler in Houston and Dallas where she purchases her stones and puts together her color combinations. She then experiments with the different texture, shapes and colors to create the individual pieces. “Sometimes, something will go really well, and clients will love it -- other times, I’ll have to remake them for reorders,” Miller said. “The greatest lesson I will continue to carry with me is the importance of balance,” Miller said, “Life isn’t just grades, school, work, fun, etc. but rather a little bit of all of these elements combined.”
MEL YUAN (’11)
ELAINE FLOWERS (’10)
I’m at Rice majoring in mechanical engineering. I’m still involved in theater; I did lighting design for the Rice Player’s Production of “The Baltimore Waltz” and was a stage manager for a student-written show “The Failures,” which is something of a traveling show.
I’m currently at the University of St. Andrews in my third year as an English major. I can’t say I’ve done much theater stuff (unless Ceilidh dancing counts), but I’m taking advantage of all the great concerts close by, like Bon Iver, Muse and Marina and the Diamonds.
opinions7
OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
EDITORIAL
Life, liberty and the support of Homecoming Vintage spirit ribbons are a far cry from today’s mum-less Homecom-
We’ve all seen the classic Homecoming movie. Girls in long dresses, guys in tuxedos. Huge mums adorn ecstatic girls as they anxiously await the crowning of the Homecoming Queen and King. At SJS, Homecoming takes on a completely different form. Gone are the formal attire, crowns and anxiety. Instead, expect a crowd of costumed students filling the cafeteria and bouncing in unison to the DJ’s beats. While we recognize this scene is not the traditional homecoming affair, we appreciate what Homecoming has to offer. In the midst of Kinkaid week, Homecoming
theme is sure to prove just as successful. And we can’t forget to mention the food. Note to SAC: Just because the Woos have all graduated doesn’t mean we can’t still serve their trademark wookies this year. We love gettin’ our groove on at Homecoming, but sometimes the constant presence of teachers hinders our boogie shoes. Teachers, we understand why you chaperone, but no one likes breaking out their funky chicken while making eye contact with the person who grades their papers and tests. In the vein of busting a move, nothing is more conducive to a good dance than a
good DJ. Kinkaid Week and Homecoming are all about school spirit and support. What better way to promote this idea than looking inwards for a DJ. We propose our two resident DJs, Jackson Jhin and Andrew Chennisi. Both are sure to provide jams to keep the party going. We suggest that people appreciate Homecoming for what it is. It’s not your typical experience, but Homecoming is by far one of our favorite events. We don’t want many changes to occur, but we believe our above suggestions could help take Homecoming to the next level.
While generally I’m not one for extended metaphors, I would like to expand on my “engine of discourse” idea I outlined in my first letter and discuss your role, as the reader, in the establishment of a successful and enduring newspaper. If we are to extend this engine metaphor, the reader becomes the fuel that keeps the engine running. Without fuel, the engine is nothing. Before I proceed any further, let me explain a few things. Fundamental to understanding the role of the reader is the knowledge that we produce The Review for the community, not just for ourselves. The role of the reader is to interact and engage in dialogue with The Review. For too long, the community has been passive in its interaction with The Review, content to merely read The Review (which, of course, is much appreciated). While The Review can still be a quality school newspaper with this level of interaction, in order to become a truly great school newspaper, the role of the reader must expand.
Without input from the reader, The Review becomes less of a voice of the community and student body and more of a mouthpiece for the opinions and viewpoints of the 50-plus staffers. It is our job to produce articles and designs that are worthy of conversation; it’s the reader’s job to carry on that conversation. There are several avenues through which you can voice your opinion and continue the conversation. The most traditional is a letter to the editor. If you feel strongly about something, or would like to comment on a story we ran, send a letter to me. If we feel the letter will contribute to the conversation and encourage intelligent discourse, we will print it. With the expansion of our online presence, interacting with The Review is easier than ever. Talk to us on Facebook and let us know what your thoughts are. We will continue to use Facebook as a place not only to keep you updated on our online content but also as a place where you can interact with other members of the com-
munity and discuss what are, hopefully, engaging articles. If Twitter is your thing, tweet at us, and we will respond. Break out #thereview and who knows, maybe we will “trend.” Thanks to everybody who submitted Instagram photos to our Photo Editor Nicole Lang for The Rearview. It is this type of interaction I foresee as improving our newspaper. Returning to the metaphor, interacting with The Review keeps the engine running at peak performance. Thanks for reading (and interacting) and enjoy this issue.
dearreader,
thestaff Andrew Vogeley
Parker Donaldson
Valerio Farris
Lydia Liu
Braden Doyle
Samantha Neal
Anya Ring
Amy Kang
design editor
copy editor
online editor
online copy editor
Carolyn Brooks
Caroline Cowan
Iman Charania
Nicole Lang
Alyyah Malick
Spencer Lepow
assignment editor
assignment editor
assignment editor
Andrew Vogeley Editor-in-chief
Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (Gold Medalist 2011-2012) and the National Scholastic Press Association
design editor/asst. business manager
design editor
Sincerely,
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL
editor-in-chief
managing editor
MATT SNIVELY
serves as the perfect opportunity for students to dress up, get out and just dance. Some mourn the loss of the stereotypical homecoming experience, but we think that our version of Homecoming is stress-free and just as fun. Prom and Cotillion offer the opportunity to dress up and complete the pictures, dinner and after party routine. Homecoming is like Cotillion’s down-to-Earth cousin. Each year, SAC devotes their time to delivering the perfect Homecoming, and we think they have yet to fail. With themes ranging from vibrant neon to nautical nonsense, this year’s red, white and blue
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Staff
Nikhila Krishnan Suman Atluri Winnie Brandfield-Harvey Pallavi Krishnarao Jessica Lee Daniel Brenner Joseph Caplan Cara Maines Gabe Malek Rebecca Chen Nina Manian Elliot Cheung Jake Chotiner Ian Mellor-Crummey Matthew Neal William Clutterbuck Iris Cronin Kanchana Raja Chloe Desjardins Caroline Reasoner Megan Routbort Joshua Dickerson Claire Dorfman Oliver Ruhl Emily Sherron McKenna Gessner Lin Guo Benjamin Shou Stephanie Guo Anirudh Suresh Jennifer Trieschman Caroline Harrell Scott Hereford Hannah Tyler Orion Hicks Virginia Waller Anna Huang Tiffany Yue Eugenia Kakadiaris Christopher Zimmerman
Advisers
David Nathan Shelley Stein (’88) Steve Johnson
Mission Statement
The Review strives to be an engine of discourse. We seek to inform and engage the St. John’s community.
Publication Info
The Review is published eight times a school year. We distribute 900 copies each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 584 students and 80 faculty. Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages.
Submission Guidelines
The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained 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.
THE FORMAL GAMES Y
BY AMY KANG, LYDIA LIU & ALYYAH MALICK
’all, there’s Cotillion drama.” The door to the Terpsichore dressing room swings open as sophomore Isabel Wallace-Green steals the floor to spill the latest Cotillion gossip. Though sophomore Cotillion is five months away, many girls are already planning their groups and asking dates. Sixty four sophomore girls are attending this year.
Each year, the Junior League invites sophomore, junior and senior girls from SJS, Kinkaid and Episcopal to attend Cotillion, a formal dance held at different venues such as Minute Maid Park, Downtown Aquarium and Hudson Lounge. Girls must bring dates to this formal event. For first-time Cotillion participants, the experience can be overwhelming. “The asking part was kind of stressful because I've never done anything like that before,” Emma Gobillot said. Wallace-Green hopes everyone will relax. “It's really not that big of a deal; there will be other dances. I wish everyone would just chill out.” There are positive sides to the hectic planning. “It was fun looking at the ways the girls asked the guys, like I got a whole ton of balloons with ‘Cotillion?’ on my locker,” sophomore Raymond Yuan said. “I’m just excited because I like parties,” sophomore Aanie Shah-Phillips said. “I think it's entertaining to watch Cotillion freak-outs, but not participate,” sophomore Tamara Shan said. “It just seems so stressful.” Cotillion participation drops from sophomore to junior year. Last year as sophomores, 90 percent of the class attended Cotillion.
“I can’t drop $500 on a single evening in good conscience unless I’m having a very good time, and while Cotillion is fun, it’s just not that fun,” Stacie Dudley said. “I went last year, and it was really fun, but I think once is enough. Also, junior year is busy enough as it is,” Vicky Zhang said. Others judge Cotillion worth the experience. “It was fun last year, and any excuse to dress up is a good excuse to go,” Katherine McFarlin said. “I think every girl should go because it’s a fun way for our whole grade to get together and be with Kinkaid and Episcopal as well,” junior Paige Albert said. Those who do choose to go to junior Cotillion are less nervous because they have experience. “I think junior Cotillion is less stressful than sophomore Cotillion because we actually know what we’re doing this time around, but it’s perhaps less exciting for the exact same reason,” McFarlin said. Boys experience similar emotions as each Cotillion passes. “Having gone to sophomore Cotillion, I think I’m not as unexpectedly excited — I’m still excited, but I actually know what to expect, so it’s a different kind of excitement,” Daniel Bland said.
PROM Students are divided over whether prom or Cotillion is more enjoyable. “I liked Cotillion more than prom because having the dance with Kinkaid and Episcopal switched things up a bit. The music and the lights were better, and prom didn’t have black jack,” Vicky Zhang said. “I really enjoy prom because it has all the exciting aspects of Cotillion but is only our school,” Taylor Gutierrez said. “I feel like it is just more comfortable and more enjoyable being able to dance with your classmates instead of someone from another school that you don’t know that well.” Students notice the difference between the two formals. “Cotillion and prom are different because prom is a school-sponsored event; people act differently in Cotillion because there are no teachers,” Cameron Childress said.
Though more students attend Cotillion as seniors than sophomores, they tend to be more relaxed about the event. “Senior Cotillion is your last one, so it's a little more sentimental,” Cameron Childress said. “It's also about having a lot more fun than all of the other years.” “There is always that excitement of it being our senior Cotillion,” Taylor Gutierrez said. “Sophomore year is definitely one of the more stressful because you're like ‘AHHH! I have to escort my date!’” Seniors assume a laid-back attitude for their last Cotillion. “I actually forgot about Cotillion until a few days before, so I wore my own suit and grabbed flowers at the grocery store the day of the dance,” Sam Burkett said. Some enjoy watching the drama the sophomores create over Cotillion. “I think I was definitely most excited for Cotillion sophomore year just because it was new, something we hadn't done before,” Allie Robinson said. “It's funny to look at the sophomores now scrambling over dates and talking about all the Cotillion drama, even though their dance is months away.” While a sophomore would have a nervous conniption if her date canceled, a senior would not falter. Annie Gocke’s date sophomore year had a sporting conflict on the
HOMECOMING Some students prefer the stress-free nature of Homecoming to the formal mood of Cotillion. “I like how homecoming is for the whole Upper School, and it’s really casual because you don’t have to worry about bringing a date,” Gutierrez said. “You get to just hang out with your friends and dance without all the formalities of getting a limo, taking pictures, going out to eat and having an after-party.” “I like that there is a theme, because everyone has fun dressing up for it,” Allie Robinson said. “And I like the more laid back feel of it— I have a lot of fun being with my friends from all grades, not just my own.” Other students enjoy the formality of Cotillion. “Cotillion was definitely more fun because homecoming is really casual. Sometimes it’s just fun to dress up and take a million pictures and go to a different venue,” Zhang said.
It’s raining green With the never-ending expenses of attire, membership, transportation and food, Cotillion can become a financial drain. Despite the cost, the excitement of having a night out with friends lures juniors and seniors back after their sophomore Cotillions.
PHOTOGRAPHER: NICOLE LANG, MODELING: KASEY FRENCH
day of Cotillion. The experience repeated itself this year. “I think it was a much bigger deal for me sophomore year because it was my first Cotillion, and I just wanted everything to go perfectly. I was more prepared and flexible this year,” Gocke said. Sophomore boys certainly follow Wallace-Green’s advice to relax. “For guys in general, no one really cares whether they are going to be asked or not,” sophomore Dara Ladjevardian said. “I mean, it would be nice to be asked, but it’s not a main concern of the daily life of a guy.” Boys are split over whether they or girls have the advantage regarding cotillion. “I’d rather be a guy in Cotillion since guys don’t really have to worry about much stuff,” junior Jonathan Chen said. “Plus, choosing a tuxedo is really easy too since you just match the girl’s dress.” “I actually think the girls are at an advantage — if you’re a guy, you’re obligated to say yes to the first girl who asks you to Cotillion because you simply do not refuse a girl who asks you,” Bland said. “Girls, however, can say no to guys asking them to prom, so they definitely have the advantage in that they can, to some extent, choose who they go with.”
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THE REVIEW
OCTOBER 2012
UNIVERSIFIED
Applications cause superstition, awkwardness BY GUEST COLUMNIST LILY BROWN
In “Universified,” senior Lily Brown chronicles her journey from applications through acceptance. In part two of the eight-part column, Lily offers an inside look at the early decision/early action process and application superstitions. If you told me three months ago that, in October, I would be superstitious, I would have laughed at you. Now that it’s October and the early action/decision deadline is drawing closer, I am going crazy. In August, I made the choice to apply early decision to my absolute dream school. If you ask me what that school is, I will give you incredibly obvious clues —“Oh! I’m looking Northeast!”— but I won’t say the name of the school. For some unknown reason, that strikes me as bad luck. I don’t go to any extreme lengths to hide my applications or my list of schools from everyone; I don’t even mind people asking me face-to-face what schools I’m applying to, but something tells me to stop when I’m about to tell someone the name of my dream school. When you decide to apply early decision, it’s a big deal. At that point you have decided to drop all other options if you get in. I don’t like to make choices that narrow my options, which is a terrible mental state because, in general, every choice we
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make somewhat narrows our options. For me, and probably for most seniors, early decision was a difficult choice to make. I’ve definitely become much more emotionally invested in my acceptance. The main reason I’m so nervous about my early decision application is that it’s binding. I have to sign an agreement that commits me to the school, should I get in. Early action is different, though. An early action application is due around the same time as early decision, but it is not binding. Early action basically shows a school that you have a high level of interest in them. Despite the emotional toll it has taken, I absolutely love the early application system. I could not imagine having to wait until April to know whether or not I got into my favorite school; by then, I would be incredibly frustrated. At least this way I will know the verdict on the vaguest of days: Mid-December. One aspect of this entire process that I definitely have taken for granted is my friends. Things haven’t gotten too weird for me yet, but, recently, I did have my first brush with college-related awkwardness when a fellow senior humblebragged about her resume. My best advice about discussing college applications is don’t be obnoxious. Even if you have a question about something as seemingly insignificant as a resume, ask your college counselor. Sure, some people are okay with your asking them questions like that, but don’t take the chance that they’re not. Some people won’t even think its a big deal, but they’ll still feel weird about it. Try to hold off on the weirdness for as long as possible. It’s senior year, why not embody all the clichés possible? Live in the moment, carpe diem, live every day like it’s your last, YOLO! Don’t let college stuff ruin the relationships you’ve spent the last four years building.
ELAINE DONG
Treading water As the deadline for college applications looms on the horizon, seniors find themselves drowning in academics and extracurriculars. It’s hard to imagine that by spring the process will be over.
COUCHES IN THE UPPER SCHOOL BY JOSHUA DICKERSON
Over the past three years, I’ve been around the school a lot, and I’ve become a bit of a couch aficionado. Whether or not you use couches to relax, sleep or work (because that’s totally how I use couches) you have to admit, they’re pretty awesome. I have personally tested each and every one of these vital pieces of furniture and present you with my findings.
Trammel is not normally what I would consider relaxing. Temperatures vary greatly and the background noise of ping-pongers yelling and slamming paddles is jarring to say the least. However, when a good rally gets going and the pings and pongs become methodical and soothing, any one of the four couches will let you slowly drift away.
Sophomore/Junior Couch While the two couches are wildly different, they oddly compliment each other. Sophomore couch is a great place to nap, as it’s blocked from the skylights by the stairs. Junior couch, on the other hand, is awkwardly one of the longest couches in the school, and not a very good place to sleep thanks to aforementioned skylights.
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Mr. Nathan’s Room Is it a couch? Is it just a really comfy chair for really big people? I wish I knew. Regardless, that thing in Mr. Nathan’s room is comfortable. Its striped pattern and casually strewn blankets serve to draw unsuspecting comfort-seekers in, and once they sit down, gravity does the rest.
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Senior Country No, Senior Country does not feature the most amazing couches in the school, but that’s because they have to be durable. Even though the cushions are saggy, the cloth is warmer than plastic, presumably to help counteract the Arctic-living experiment our school is conducting on the Seniors.
Second Floor Mewbourne The first floor doesn’t have a couch, and the third floor is sketchy. Second floor is just right. It offers a spectacular view of Claremont and affords one the opportunity to gaze out the window, contemplating the world, presumably while a friends attempts to snap an “artsy” picture.
Freshman Couch
Ah yes, the beginning of the SJS couch experience. The freshman couch is special in many regards as it is the official fish hangout spot, and for that very reason, is the grossest couch on campus. Seriously, the last time I sat down there I got sick.
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Trammel
A sleeper pick. It’s pretty secluded and a good place to relax. One must be careful, however, with what you say and how loud you say it. Even though the couch may feel secluded, people can hear you up and down the hallway.
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Ms. Flowers’ Room There are few couches on this continent that can rival Ms. Flowers’ for sink-into ability. It’s truly impressive how good this couch is at relieving stress from other classes and focusing the mind on English. Looking under the cushions reveals a decade’s worth of pencils, pens and scraps of paper.
Backside of Second Floor Quad
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Review Room Where do I begin? There are, after all, four couches available in The Review room (Q210). While two of them are only pretty comfortable, the other two are so plush they could decelerate a speeding bullet. It’s entirely possible to get lost in these gentle, dark-blue beasts.
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OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
FAMILY DYNASTY
Labanowski trio towers over volleyball competion BY PALLAVI KRISHNARAO A combined 229 inches of Labanowskis dominate the volleyball courts, exerting their towering physical presence over opponents. Freshman Paul Labanowski isthe newest addition to the towering trio. Caroline, a junior, is a three-year varsity starter. Jane, a senior, is a co-captain. Paul, in his first year ever to play volleyball, made the boys varsity team. “It’s a great experience being on a varsity team. It makes high school a less intimidating place when there are friendly faces around,” said Paul. “Playing sports has helped me mature because it requires self control and maturity to play to the extent of my abilities.” Caroline and Jane have been playing volleyball since middle school. “The 6th grade P. E. coach was really impressed that I could serve overhand,” Caroline said. “That’s all it took to be good at volleyball in middle school.” Caroline and Jane, who also play basketball, have to work hard, on and off-season, to improve and stay in shape. “The workload is what sets SJS apart from other schools. Athletes don’t only succeed in the gym; we also have to succeed in the classroom,” Jane said. Height is undoubtedly an asset in playing basketball and volleyball, but it takes more than size to excel. Coupled with the heavy SJS workload, an immense amount of time and dedication is required. “You can pick three out of four things: sleep, sports, grades, or friends,” Caroline said. Caroline and Jane have an unspoken
understanding with each other that helps them succeed on the volleyball court. Caroline appreciates that her older sister is always there for her as support. “I love the game and love to share it with the people I respect, especially my sister,” Jane said. Caroline enjoys playing volleyball, particularly because of the camaraderie. “We support each other no matter what,” she said. While their height helps them on the court, it can be a challenge in every day life. People constantly interrogate them about their size, asking questions about their diet and exercise. “The worst is when people gasp and you immediately know they’re whispering about you,” Caroline said. “Today, lower schoolers started screaming about my height while I was walking by, and the sad thing is that it annoyed me.” “When we were in the airport once, this security lady, after looking at my entire family, said “I didn’t know I was in the land of giants” Paul said. Jane finds that she is even tall among other tall people. “When I go to national volleyball tournaments, I still find myself oogled at by everyone who walks by.” Even though their height makes them stand out in a crowd and attracts unwanted attention, the Labanowskis would not give it up. “I definitely can’t wear heels because I would be way too tall,” Caroline said. “Some days, I would jump at the opportunity of being short, but being tall is ultimately worth it.”
The Big Labanowskis All standing over six-foot-three, Caroline, Paul, and Jane Labanowski find themselves ambivalent about their height off the court. In sports, though, their vertical advantage helps to propel their teams to success.
redzone 84 3 5 We need to make sure we hit the point of attack hard on the offensive line and lock down receivers on defense. Episcopal is probably the hardest team we are going to play. We need to forget about the loss and focus on correcting the mistakes we made during the game.
Logan Smith
Points scored by running back Logan Smith this season. Through six games, Smith has totalled 14 touchdowns -- 12 rushing and two kick returns. Smith ranks third in SPC in points scored. Smith’s explosive running style and ability to get to the edge has helped the Mavericks stretch the field. Smith’s 719 yards ranks fourth in SPC. He even has one of the team’s ten receptions. Smith was recently featured on KHOU, alongside fullback Nathan Avery, in recognition of their success.
Interceptions recorded by senior defensive back Grayson Crady who is tied for first in the SPC for interceptions. He also has the second most tackles on the team, behind junior Wain Wanguri.
Receptions by junior tight end Risher Randall, who has accumulated 121 yards on the season as well as one receiving touchdown. Randall also contributes as a safety on the defensive side of the ball.
OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
FIELD OF DREAMS
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Game day preparation Groundskeepers Bruce Warren and Ruben Chavez spend the 12 hours prior to a game prepping the field for the players. Besides serving as a playing ground, the beautiful field embodies the Maverick spirit.
Gridiron artists paint on unconventional canvas BY REBECCA CHEN Sixteen hours - that is how long it takes to get Skip Lee Field mowed, painted and cleaned up in time for football games. Bruce Warren and Ruben Chavez are the men doing the landscaping. They have been the landscapers at SJS for over 10 years, working all year to keep the grounds in tip-top shape. “The groundskeepers do a great job,” Steve Gleaves, athletics facilities coordinator, said. “They take care of the fields and everything outside for all the school athletic functions.” Before hiring full-time groundskeepers, SJS had maintenance personnel take care of the grounds using tractors and chemical sprays provided by an outside company. In 1998, Warren heard about a job opening at SJS from a customer at his landscape service. Chavez joined him as a full-time landscaper in 2000. Warren and Chavez oversee the mowing,
maintenance and painting of every field. “All fields have the same amount of work; we just have more painting for football seasons on Skip Lee,” Warren said. “Maintenance-wise, fertilization, insecticide and herbicide are all the same. Football is a lot more painting than other sports.” One of the best parts of Warren’s job is the students. “I’ve seen kids grow up here,” Warren said. “It seems like yesterday they were in fifth grade, and today they’re seniors in high school.” “Bruce has always been a friendly face at SJS. He does a great job with the field,” sophomore Stephen Spears said. “They do a little bit of everything whenever we need it,” Coach Gleaves said. Their workday begins at 6:30 a.m. when most students are still struggling to get out of bed.
“Every day is busy. We have to get everything ready by 2:30 p.m. each day for all the different teams,” Warren said. “The busiest day is game day.” To prepare for game day, Warren and Chavez must tackle each piece of landscaping separately. The morning of the game, they paint the white yard lines and the Maverick star so that the paint stays fresh for the game. For an average game, they use around 110 cans of paint on the field. “I love everything looking great for games,” Warren said. “Coaches, parents and other teams all comment on the field and how it’s in great condition for the kids to play on.” “I make sure all the fields are about the same; there’s not much difference between any field, no matter if it’s soccer, lacrosse or field hockey,” Warren said. “I don’t have a favorite one, but evidently the football
field will really catch your eye because you’re looking down on the field and can really see the details.” Skip Lee Field was featured in the calendar for Pioneer Athletics, which provides field-marking paint to the school. The best twelve fields were put in a calendar. “I’m really proud of the effort put in to keep the field looking great,” junior Daniel Treat said. “It’s the best field I’ve ever seen.” “There’s not any field at any school that’s like ours. There is really no comparison. We have the best fields all around. We have all-natural grass, not fake turf,” Warren said. To students, a field is just something players run over in a mad attempt to score a touchdown. But to Warren and Chavez, the field serves as their temporary canvas, one they revisit every Thursday in preparation for Friday night’s game.
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WORD FOR WORD
SECONDS
willy trieschman junior red, white, and blue headcase by sam chambers 30 rock soliman 6 stuffed crabs peanut butter on celery no thank you my return to sports lone star state pop 80s labanowski sisters coach trieschman how ‘bout them texans tall things always in reach spring break the jeep anything with 19 timing green lights sya thought i signed up for a year in vietnam special touch picking winners motto you gotta shock the world
name grade color book tv show hero cafeteria item vegetable starbucks happiness place to live sing in the shower dream date dream occupation sports team superpower holiday treasured possesion i collect the best thing did you know?
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THE COMIC STRIP BY GUAN CHEN
Anyone know what a trilobite is? I have one as a necklace- my husband gave it to me as a present. I said, “Oh, Jay, a fossil for a fossil!” Alice Kagi, Faculty Emeritus, subbing for AP Bio
Maddy Schulz: What’s in the gyro?
Senior Mom: Chicken.
Maddy Schulz: Is there lamb in the chicken?
Conversation at Senior Tea
Matthew Reasoner: Why can’t we wear jorts to free dress day? Ms. Inman: We reserve the right to not tell you why we do things.
Senior Class Meeting shenanigans
“Quick Time player quit unexpectedly?” More like as per usual. Bookfair speaker Arun Chaudhary experiencing technical glitches
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OCTOBER 2012
THE REVIEW
CHARTED BY ELAINE DONG
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“Where mediocrity is the standard”
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The first Presidential Debate
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Make-up pictures postponed
Playing Trinity Valley in SPC
Sophomore Couch
Empty Purell Dispensers
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Pepsi
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MEH
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Zooey Deschanel joins the twittersphere in this fake account. Follow her quirky Siri inquiries. Results include: “Siri, adult high chairs: yes or no?” “Siri, can you buy hats for phones?” “Siri, find me a list of food sculpture art galleries.”
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Breast cancer survivors Eva Chan and Brenda Mercado join Team SJS at Race for the Cure.
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7. 1. #ItsASmallWorld Sarah Dyer (@sdyer07) sees the Plaza in a new dimension, using the Tiny Planet app. 2. #LookingGlass Captured by Catherine Sullivan (@csullz), Madeleine Angus and Andrew Chennisi experience a boymeets-girl moment. 3. #BurningUp Science class sparks an artistic inspiration for Janie Alcorn (@urmomliz). 4. #PunchingTheEasterBunny Just in time for election season, Kendall Allen (@kendallen) snaps a shot with former White House videographer Arun Chaudhary while visiting Dean Popp’s Government class. 5. #SloanCubed Freshman Sloan Rucker, sophomore Sloan Crady and junior Instagrammer Sloane Gustafson (@slog) share a name and grade bonding moment at a Friday night football game.
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6. #QuadLife The weather provides a perfect excuse for Dr. Raulston’s senior English seminar to hold class outside and a prime opportunity for Michael Cregan (@creegs95) to explore his phone’s camera functions.
10. #MaverickPride Claire Dorfman (@biggurlclur) photographs students in their Beat Episcopal shirts. The North Campus turned into a sea of red as students and teachers united in a mutual desire to win.
7. #RenaissanceMan George Davies, as seen through Bonnie Bering’s (@weasleysecretly) lens, is the Knight of the Storied Cloisters with his trademark chainmail garb.
11. #TunnelVision Taken by Martha Daniel (@thelastginger), the old tunnel bridges both sides of the campus and serves as a graphic subject for pictures.
8. #SchoolMottos Cloudy skies do not obscure Martha Daniel’s (@thelastginger) view of the iconic “Not Without Honor” banner at a home football game.
12. #FreeTheSpirit Cross-Country captain Martha Daniel (@ thelastginger) captures a team huddle at the Richard Romo Classic.
9. #LeapinLizards “Christie Dawson captured a lizard and asked me to eat it, but I had a photoshoot with it instead,” said Jordan Wilson (@jawsattack).
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Addicted to Artsy In the era of smartphones, Instagrammers from the Storied Cloisters present a new view of campus. From football games to science labs, candids to #InClassPics, photographers capture the unique and spirited aura of the school. Be sure to check out the Review Online (www.sjs. org/review) for additional photos. Also follow us on Instagram @_sjsreview.
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12. layout by Nicole Lang, story by Amy Kang and Lydia Liu