The Belfield Banter November, 17, 2023
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Fall Family Fest: The Festivities by Henry Dozier — As a yearly tradition, we gather together to celebrate our teams and our school community. ON the night of fall family fest, there was a sea of maroon and white in the Lower School Circle, food trucks lined the sidewalk under the fall foliage of orange and yellow leaves. Tables lined the road packed with families enjoying the food bringing our broader school community together, and introducing new people to the group. The weather was nice and the food was great, parents chatted and laughed while kids raced through the parking lot, playing in Chandler courtyard and grabbing treats from the tables close to the entrance of the LV. Kids laughed and played on the playgrounds in vintage STAB jerseys as music hummed from the speakers of the football field, as the games began. As the earlier sporting events ended, we all came together in the parking lot as the sun set over the field hockey field. Everyone made their way towards the stands of the football field, as the field lights shined, the concession stand started working, and the game began. As always, the Fall Family Fest really shows how much the St. Anne’s Belfield Community cares, and is a great way to bring our community together.
The St. Anne’s-Belfield Student Newspaper
Mental Health Moment: A Review of Jess by Rose Ryan-Byrne — Two weeks ago, as a school, we watched a short film on mental health. The film, created by Cici Yu ‘24, discussed topics of mental health and the struggles teenagers commonly face. The film follows Jess, a teenage girl attempting to manage the pressure put on her by her mother over her SAT prep course, her toxic and aggressive boyfriend, and her friends that influence Jess into negative eating habits. The film opens in Jess’s room, where she is supposed to be completing her SAT prep. She instead finds herself distracted by her phone, then rushes to pretend she has been making progress on her assignment when her mom comes to check on her. This scene served as a perfect opener and did an excellent job of setting the tone for the movie. It showed a relatable and common experience amongst today’s teenagers. From there the movie has an excellent style of progression. Showing Jess’s deteriorating mental health in scenes through repetitive actions, such as Jess continuously clicking a pen as a representation of her anxiety and stress. Films revolving around the mental health of teenagers can seem awkward to watch, in most part to do with the increasingly relatable nature of the films. Page 1
November 17, 2023
A Recap of Little Women by Carter Kelly and Ezra Biggs
— Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 masterpiece, Little Women, remains a timeless tale of sisterhood, heartbreak, loss, and the enduring power of love. The recent theatrical adaptation, brought to life by St. Anne’s-Belfield’s talented cast and crew masterfully captures the essence of Alcott’s beloved novel. Marmee, played by Izzy Sanok ‘24 , the caretaker of the March family household, has love and compassion for not only her daughters, but all who cross her path which is immediately apparent when she asks her girls to share their Christmas morning breakfast with a cold and nearly starving mother who lives next door. Throughout the story, Marmee presents stability for the girls. Izzy’s captivating and emotion-laden performance makes the character of Marmee all the more sympathetic for the audience.
Sonia Kamath ‘24 took on the monumental and iconic role of Jo March. Jo is a tomboyish writer, and when first introduced to her, she is a teenager filled with passion and emotion. Through acting and dialogue, Jo is presented as having a certain unplaceable anger about her. Her teenage tantrums, irritation, and general rage at the world merge for a complex. Sonia’s performance is clearly a highlight of the production. Sonia’s portrayal captures the complexities of Jo’s character, making her a relatable and endearing figure for the audience. The effort and dedication on the part of the actress is abundantly clear, and this can be said for the entire cast. Amy, the youngest of the March sisters, begins the play displaying a wide variety of childlike behaviors and an immature temperament. Throughout the play, her character begins to shift into an older and more mature woman. Amalie Hendricks ‘26 exhibits her impressive range, as she changes her acting as the show progresses to fit the developmental changes of her character through her impressive expressions and mannerisms. By the end of the play, Amy’s demeanor has evolved drastically and she is a crucial reason the play is considered a “coming of age” story.
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Mental health is a difficult issue to discuss, especially for those who suffer due to their mental health. Cici did an incredible job visualizing this struggle. An action that obviously takes great talent in film, as well as considerable bravery in order to open up about these struggles on a larger scale. While reading this article, if you are struggling with your mental health, remember that you have resources to help you. Reaching out to Mrs. Speidel, an advisor, or another faculty member you trust is always an option. If you are struggling, remember that you are not alone.
Homecoming Recap: The Survival of the LLC Floor by Cadigan Perriello
— With the new Lourie Learning Center (LLC) decked out with lights and decorations, St. Anne’s-Belfield’s 2023 Homecoming was brought to life full of energy and excitement. From the arrival of DJ Double-u, students gathered for a night of music and fun, and later even some architectural difficulties. No one can deny the hype brought to the dance floor this homecoming, especially not the floor of the LLC, which ended the night in much worse condition than it started. The sophomore class went all out to produce an amazing and eventful first dance of the 2023 school year. Roughly an hour into the dance, the lights came on momentarily and, Mr. Hart’s voice rang out asking people to move away from the center of the floor. A mixture of confusion and amusement trickled among the crowd until word got around that our energetic dancing had caused some mechanical issues with the floor and basement of the LLC. As the news spread, some moved away from the center of the floor while others were encouraged by the news and continued to dance the night away. All things being said, the building did not suffer any major damages and the students were all safe, however, everyone learned a lesson regarding the energy the STAB students can bring to the dance floor. Shoutout to the sophomore Senate leaders, Amalie and Daniel, for their hard work and organization of such an amazing and eventful homecoming. Final shoutout to the St. Anne’s Belfield students who made this homecoming a one to remember, not just for the possible damages to the LLC floor, but also for the energy, dancing, and excitement brought to the night.
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November 17, 2023 Meg March, played by Sofia Tache ‘25, is the eldest of the sisters in the March family. Meg’s position as the oldest child meant that she needed to display a level of maturity that could have been difficult, but Sofia did an amazing job with Meg’s character development and her struggle to be a caretaker for her younger siblings. Sofia did an excellent job of showing how In the beginning, she demonstrated a strong desire for material wealth, but by the end the happiness felt by the audience demonstrated how much Meg had changed as a character and how well Sofia portrayed this development. Beth March, played by Cadigan Perriello ‘25, embodied the idea of living in the moment throughout the play. The energy and dedication put into the role gave Beth a relatable personality and her death all the more sad. Her quiet but significant impact on those around her could not go unnoticed--especially the void she left once she was no longer in the play. Described as the musician, her gratefulness upon receiving a piano from Mr. Laurence, played by Nadine Jingo ‘24, seemed genuine, and Cadigan was able to make both Beth’s actions and speech fit the excitement of the moment while holding true to Beth’s shy demeanor. Overall, Cardigan’s portrayal of Beth was the reason this play contained so many emotions like love and loss which this production thrived off of. Laurie Laurence is introduced as a lonely and isolated teen boy, but as he is made an honorary member of the little women’s family as he grows into a more playful and energetic character. Spicer Edmonds’ ‘24 impressively plays both of these polar opposite emotions which brings this production to life. As he later battles with growing up and questioning his place in the world, he adopts even more diverse emotions like desire, love, and later heartbreak. Overall his full commitment to expressing all these emotions in obvious ways and subtle ones allowed the production to just feel that much more real. It’s safe to say this theatrical production was a triumph of storytelling. The insight the narration segments provided was practical and valuable; the way the original novel meets the theater production through this small detail only adds to the richness of the play. The cast’s dedication to their roles and the crew’s meticulous attention to detail combine to create a production that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. Across the entire production, a profuse amount of effort and hard work was clear. Bravo to Mr. Watson, Mrs. Beisswanger, Mr. Mangiano, Mr. Browning, Señora Herrero, Cici Yu, and the entire tech and stage management team for running the not-so-glamorous part of the show. The cast was peppered with seniors, who will be dearly missed with their absence in next year’s plays. But as of now, the stage had no sparsity of underclassmen, who will no doubt be the stars of the future.
Issue II
Global Events: Israel and Palestine War Background and Updates by Ari Kastello and Lyra Stewart — On October 7th, 2023, militants from the Islamic terrorist organization, Hamas, stormed out of the Gaza Strip, a small coastal area between Egypt and Israel, by land and in hang gliders. They began attacking Israeli military positions as well as killing civilians who lived near the border. This attack was devastating and caught the normally well-prepared Israeli military off guard. The shocking brutality and violent attack led to over 1400 civilian deaths and an estimated 250 more being taken hostage, including people from Israel, the UK, France, and the US. These hostages still have not been released. After three days, Hamas attackers were driven out of Israel and back to the Gaza Strip. Several days later, the Israeli cabinet officially declared war on Hamas and sieged the enclave. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) had made preparations for an attack on Gaza City, this military operation has been complicated by an extensive tunnel system that Hamas designed. The siege of Gaza has been controversial because of the civilian deaths and consequences, and other governments have requested that more aid be allowed in. The war has had a human cost in Gaza such as the explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital, which the US and British intelligence determined to be a failed Hamas rocket launch. Because Gaza City is one of the densest in the world, airstrikes often have many civilian casualties. Hamas also frequently places military targets in apartment buildings which can lead to civilian deaths.
The Gaza Strip is nominally independent of the Palestinian Authority, the government of the West Bank. The West Bank is run by the Palestinian Liberation Front or Fatah. The IDF took the Gaza Strip after terrorist activities occurred that targeted Israel in 2000. The IDF withdrew in 2005 and returned the area to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority held elections the next year. Fatah, a secular nationalist party won the election in the West Bank. Hamas, an Islamist party, won the elections in Gaza and has not held an election since. Over the next 15 years, Hamas launched rockets from the Gaza Strip that continually target Israeli civilians. This is an ongoing conflict with a long history and no easy solution. Page 3
November 17, 2023
Op-Ed: A Spirit Week Rundown by Sebastian Laza — This year, Spirit Week consisted of “Benjamin Button Day,” “Fan Day,” “Adam Sandler Day,” “Gone Fishin,” and “Dress to Impress.” While some of these themes were very creative, I believe there were choices that would have resulted in higher participation rates. “Adam Sandler Day” was by far the best on the lineup with the most students participating in the theme. “Benjamin Button Day” might’ve developed more student spirit if it were “Time/Age Day,” having seniors be grandparents and freshmen babies. In addition, the sophomore and junior classes found it difficult to dress dissimilar to our uniform while dressing as teenagers and adults, resulting in a severe lack of participation, excluding the creative genius of some students like our very own sports editor Hadley Booth.
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An Autumnal Playlist by The Belfield Banter Editors
“Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” by Fleet Foxes “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest
“Campus” by Vampire Weekend
“Cherry Wine” by Hozier
“You, Me, Lonely” by FIZZ
“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
The theme of “Gone Fishin’,” although more creative than other options, resulted in sweatpants and low spirits. Team Day, while being generic, stood out as one of the better themes of the week as creative ideas don’t always result in majority participation and aren’t always the best way to go. Something as simple as a grade color day would have been a nice addition especially considering it could have replaced Friday’s theme. “Dress to Impress Day” unfortunately was a bit of a dud considering the overlap with chapel dress, making the theme non-existent. Other themes to replace “Dress to Impress” could be “Decades Day” or “Anything But a Backpack Day.” Schools in the surrounding counties, such as Western Albemarle High School, have a huge student body participation during their spirit weeks and I think it’s smart for us students to ponder, “How can we use their spirit as inspiration for our own?” In order to strengthen our school community, we must work together to create spirit weeks inclusive, expressive, and fun for all individuals, so how can we work to improve our own? It’s an oversimplified process that non-Student Life Committee members don’t take into account. To increase student turnout, we must share our opinions with our student leaders, whether good or bad.
“When The Suns Hits” by Souvlaki
“Ivy” by Taylor Swift
“There She Goes” by The La’s
“Nature” by Hauschka
“Lone Star” by Tony Marcus
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November 17, 2023
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Editor’s Note
“Fear and Friday’s” by Zach Bryan
by Izzy Sanok
“Vienna” by Billy Joel
“What Once Was” By Her’s
“Kesati”by Ibrahim Hesnawi
— Dear Readers, Happy- early- Thanksgiving! I’m thrilled to present you all with our second issue of The Belfield Banter. In this issue, we get a rundown of the festivities of Fall Family Fest from Henry Dozier and Rose Ryan-Byrne’s insight on the film Jess, written and directed by senior Cecilia Yu. Additionally, we have some new voices, Ari Kastello and Ezra Biggs, sharing their thoughts and insights on the War in Gaza and the Fall Play Little Women. And, Cadigan Perriello and Sebastian Laza shine some humorous light on events that took place during Homecoming and Spirit Week in October. In addition to our articles, The Belfield Banter staff have compiled a playlist for the fall that we’d like to share with you all! We recommend listening with headphones, outdoors and accompanied by a warm beverage in order to feel all the coziness of the season.
“Friday I’m in Love” by by The Cure
“Dopamine” by Mehro
“When You Sleep” by My Bloody Valentine
“Floating” by Julee Cruise
“Winner” by Conan Gray
“Treehome95” by Tyler, The Creator
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star “We Fell in Love in October” by girl in red
I’ve found seeing similar faces and convening with my peers to be the highlight of my days as the weather’s turned frostier, the days have shortened and extra-curricular activities have come to a close for the season. The simplicity of brown leaves paving the brick outside Randolph Hall and the warmth of smiles in the commons make days feel as rosy as the summer breezes we experienced earlier this school year. However, I find solace in the melancholic nature of late autumn. Listening to our staff playlist and strolling through campus while pondering the fleeting-ness of this season moves me to reflect on the time we have left together as a community. Although it may seem to be an eternity, the month of May is only a mere 6-month jump away from where we are. Such reflection reminds me of the gratitude I have for my senior peers as well as the acquaintances I’m so grateful to work with through our student publications. As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, I encourage you all to find time in your day to reflect upon the little things that keep you in orbit. Although we should be grateful for the grand occurrences in our lives, the minor mundanities deserve thoughtful attention as well. I hope you all find some light and comfort this holiday week! And, we are always accepting articles via email. Please email lstewart24@students.stab.org and isanok24@students.stab.org with inquiries! All the best, Izzy Sanok and The Belfield Banter Editorial Board Page 5
November 17, 2023
Issue II
2023-24 Staff of The Belfield Banter Lyra Stewart, Senior Editor Rose Ryan-Byrne, Managing Editor Henry Dozier, Assistant Managing Editor Sebastian Laza, Assistant Managing Editor Cadigan Perriello, Associate Editor Sonia Kamath, Features Editor Lovissa Price, Assistant Features Editor Sofia Tache, Column Editor Carter Kelly, Assistant Column Editor Hadley Booth, Co-Sports Editor Annie Leahy, Co- Sports Editors
Banter Publications Editor-in-Chief Izzy Sanok
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