Oct 5th, 2020
Vol. 4
BELFIELD BANTER THE
Th e S t . An ne’s -B el fi el d S choo l S tud en t New s l etter
In This Issue:
CONNECTING WITH OUR BOOMER DADS, A GUIDE FACTS OVER FEELINGS, A POEM BY GARDINER SPENCER
you in excruciating detail! The easiest way to approach this is through the European Theater, but if you’re feeling ambitious and culture-deprived, Rami Malek starred in a reasonably accessible miniseries about the war in the Pacific helpfully entitled, “The Pacific” (2010).
HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR FATHER WITHOUT REALLY TRYING: A GUIDE TO BOOMER DADS
2. Jam out to some dad rock. I will not go so far as to write that all dads have the same taste in music, but I will say that if a song has appeared in the soundtrack of something written by Aaron Sorkin, your dad’s probably pretty into it. This includes the discography of Dire Straits, Don Henley, James Taylor, Buffalo Springfield, and more. If you have a guitar, learning “Bad Moon Rising” is super easy, very on-season, and will absolutely knock your dad’s socks off. Why talk with him about politics, when instead you could drive to Lowe’s together while listening to “Baba O’Riley,”? Sure, he’ll talk about the speaker quality the entire way there, but you’re well on your way to discussing more profound topics like, “What happened to Mark Hamill?”
by Ellie Powell -Amid coronavirus concerns, students are spending more time than ever with their families. Whether you are part of our virtual cohort or our in-person community, many of us have become closer to our parents during the global pandemic. But beyond proximity, how do we truly get to know our family members through these extraordinary circumstances? We have been given an unprecedented opportunity to improve and deepen our familial relationships, but I have found that this may be easier said than done. Here, I have included three easy tips on how to connect with your father today. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– – 1. Learn a single fact about World War II. In the immortal words of comedian John Mulaney, “All of our dads are cramming for some World War II quiz show, and I can’t wait to watch it.” Indeed, most fathers I know have at least two D-Day related books on their bedside tables, and while reading these in full may accomplish very little, your father will beam with pride if you ask him once about how many U-boats were really destroyed in combat. Buckle up, folks, your dad is about to explain mid-twentieth-century German maritime law to
3. Watch M*A*S*H. If there’s one thing I know about your dad, it’s that he likes M*A*S*H and you know what? He’s actually onto something with this one. Obviously, I must preface my statement by saying that watching the first three seasons of M*A*S*H is a futile pursuit for most socially conscious high school students, but seasons four through eleven are infinitely watchable. What’s stopping you? Go into your living room, find the M*A*S*H DVD set that your father bought in the 90s, and strategically time it so that your dad walks in while Alan Alda’s speaking. I can almost guarantee you that he will say, “Oh, M*A*S*H? I watched that when I was your age. That Alan Alda’s really something,” and voila--you’ve trapped him. Look on as he sits down next to you on the couch and chuckles along with the vaguely progressive humor of white, seventies television. This is truly the prophesied gateway to speaking with him about your hopes, fears, dreams, friend group drama, and relationships.
ENOLA HOLMES: A NETFLIX REDUX OF A MYSTERY CLASSIC STAB CROSS COUNTRY: FALL UPDATE FACULTY FEATURE: MS. MUHA GETTING TO KNOW THE BANTER STAFF
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To conclude, I must share that when I asked my own father how he would suggest connecting with your dad over quarantine, he stated, “Well, in my case it would have to be a seance, wouldn’t it?” My mother supplied, “Enjoying anecdotes about the foibles of our fellow man,” which is perhaps the best advice within this piece.
facts over feelings by Gardiner Spencer -right, because you are so level-headed so above all the rest what a profound unawareness to believe the moon or one’s own blood doesn’t jerk us all around without an unconditional hesitance feelings are the closest to facts that we will ever get after all it is a feeling that compels you to mask vitriol as intelligence
photo accompaniment by Sam Sidders
ENOLA HOLMES: A REVIEW by Noelle Robinson -Mystery, romance, adventure, family, and comedy encapsulate the essence of the enrapturing Enola Holmes. On September 23rd, Netflix released a new take on the classic tale of Sherlock Holmes. Goodbye Benedict Cumberbatch, welcome Henry Cavill, as the new incarnation of the world-renowned detective. However, in this adaptation, Sherlock leaves center stage, in favor of Enola, his younger, wittier, 16-year old sister. Millie Bobby Brown, a favorite from Stranger Things, portrays the character coming of age while navigating both boys (Louis Partridge) and big city life. Christy Lemire, a FilmWeek critic, called her performance, “a delight, joyful, just radiant, effervescent, [with] incredible comic timing.”
Throughout the film, an underlying message of individuality, change, and equality reached the viewer through the movie’s strong female leads, who remain in narrative contrast with a naïve Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Eudoria Holmes, Enola’s mother and role model, teaches life lessons, puzzles, and encryption to her daughter rather than the activities considered typical to women in 1884. During the film’s many flashbacks, we come to understand the strong bond between Enola and Eudoria. On the other hand, Sherlock lives under the viewer’s radar, without friends or a Watson to accompany him through his character arc. Nonetheless, we watch him slowly open his heart to love, and grow to appreciate revolutionary ideas. Lastly, the action and romance. Louis Partridge depicts Viscount Tewkesbury with a loving and shockingly kind twist. As we learn from the trailer, he brings Enola into personal and potentially dangerous issues of his own security, in which Enola always seems to save his life. Why would someone want to kill Mr. Tewkesbury? Where has Eudoria gone? Will Sherlock or Enola find Mrs. Holmes? So many questions to answer with both riddles and clues. Snuggle up for a delightful, action packed one-hundred and twenty-three minute roller coaster ride detailing the perils of growing up, understanding who you are, fighting for your life, and changing the world. Oct 5th, 2020
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STAB CROSS COUNTRY: FALL UPDATE by Hannah Laufer With STAB opening, many factors of day-to-day life have changed, from our free time to the way we now must walk in the hallways. These extra steps towards a safe academic environment have allowed us to stay open, even permitting certain sports to begin. Cross country, for example, is considered a ‘Low Risk’ sport, thus allowing all athletes on campus to participate.
This exciting news has not come without its challenges. Coach Beardsley said of these developments, “All our runners have different abilities; gauging them and pushing them while keeping [the team] safe is what we are most focused on.” Though runners are allowed to take their masks off while actually running, all warm-ups and cool-downs are done with masks on as well as with enforced social distancing. Even training locations have been specifically chosen to minimize possible coronavirus exposure. While on Tuesdays, runners can be seen on the Learning Village campus, all other days, we can cheer them on from the Upper School! Finally, cross country meets have been set up in a “dual meet system.” During a typical year, there would be anywhere from twenty to fifty schools competing in one meet, but now, only two schools are allowed to compete at a time, thereby completely changing the structure of the beloved races. While these precautions have made it so that cross country is not necessarily the same as it has been in years past, the welcoming atmosphere and happy faces have remained a positive force through the pandemic!
FACULTY FEATURE: MS. NOELLE MUHA an interview with Jack Dozier Ms. Muha began at STAB this year as an Upper School Teaching Fellow -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -Are you new to the Charlottesville area? I was actually a first-year at the University of Virginia for a short while before transferring to George Mason, so I am familiar with Charlottesville from the perspective of a student. It’s been super fun to revisit the town as an adult. I have enjoyed getting to explore the Downtown Mall, going for my first Bodo’s bagel in 7 years, and trying out all of the different local coffee shops. I have been scouting out all the local hiking spots - so far I’ve really enjoyed the Ragged Mountain Reservoir loop, as well as sections of Rivanna River Trail - if anyone is familiar with other local good hiking and running spots please let me know! What made you interested in teaching? I come from a family of teachers; my Mom teaches art at an elementary school in northern Virginia, and both her parents were educators on Long Island. I grew up a teacher’s kid, always hanging around before and after school while my Mom worked. My first job in high school was working at a science camp for kids in my hometown of Reston, Virginia. I loved it so much I’ve stayed in educational or camp settings for the majority of my professional career thus far, including working at high adventure camps, teaching third grade, and volunteering with Girls on the Run. What do you like to do for fun? It’s funny, because I feel like I’m just now rediscovering what I like to do for fun. I love to bake, mostly sweets but, like a lot of other quarantined folks, I have jumped on the sourdough bandwagon in the past year (with limited success). I enjoy getting outside, so I’m excited to be so near the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will never turn down a good House Hunters episode, and I am looking forward to starting the new season of Great British Bakeoff that just premiered on Netflix. Oct 5th, 2020
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STAFF BIOS Meet the Belfield Banter 2020 Staff! Eleanor Powell, Editor-in-Chief Hello all! My name is Ellie Powell, and I am so excited to be leading The Belfield Banter this year! I typically write opinion pieces, articles about culture in our community, and help out with our featured faculty interviews. Please reach out to me if you would like to write for The Banter, or work with us in any other capacity!
Jack Dozier, Junior Editor Hey everybody! My name is Jack Dozier, and I am the Junior Editor of The Belfield Banter. I also co-founded the Library Club. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, and working on my literacy project, @booksforva.
Emily Gohn, Features Editor Hey y’all! My name is Emily Gohn and I’m the features editor for The Belfield Banter. I enjoy writing horoscopes most, and I’m looking forward to working more closely with the newspaper this year.
Hannah Laufer, Sports Editor Hi, my name is Hannah Laufer! I’m a current junior, and the head of the sports section of The Belfield Banter! I write about current sports/games within the STAB community, and dabble in both local and national politics!
Emma Finley-Gillis, Director of Graphics & Formatting This is my first year with The Banter, and I’m glad to be on board! Right now, I’m in charge of doing the spreads each week, our logo, and helping out with the other graphics-orientated needs of our staff and writers!
Sonia Kamath, Director of Student Outreach Hi everyone! My name is Sonia Kamath, I’m a freshman here at STAB, and I’m heading up student outreach for the newspaper this year! You’ll see me write anything from opinion and review pieces, to interviews and top tens. As a rule of thumb, if it’s not sports, I’ll write about it! Loo k o ut fo r o ur wee k ly edi t i on s c on t i nu i ng t h i s fa l l !
Oct 5th, 2020
Vol. 4