BELFIELD BANTER THE
November 2nd, 2021
Vol. 2
The St. Anne’s-Belfield School Student Newspaper
In This Issue:
SUNSHINE AND SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
ST. ANNE’S-BELFIELD SCHOOL’S 112TH CONVOCATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF DR. AUTUMN GRAVES
IN REMEMBERANCE: DR. JOHN YOUEL
A REVIEW OF NETFLIX’S “SQUID GAME”
was the school’s first outdoor convocation, and the first time in 18 months that our school community was able to gather and formally recognize Dr. Graves as our Head of School. With the sunshine at their backs and masks on their faces, the Class of 2022 walked the Convocation aisle joined by their lovedones— knowing that COVID-19 had denied the Class of 2021 this treasured school tradition.
STUDENT POETRY
SCRAPPY SAINTS: VARSITY VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE
COACH JOHN BLAKE: 25 YEARS VIRGINIA VOTES: AN INTERVIEW WITH DNC CHAIRMAN, JAMIE HARRISON
LOCAL BUSINESS: VIRGINIA DISCOVERY MUSEUM YOUNG ROYALS, AN HONEST REVIEW
FACULTY FEATURE: MR. KUSHKIN
SUNSHINE AND SHOOTING FOR THE STARS:
St. Anne’s-Belfield School’s 112th Convocation and the Installation of Dr. Autumn Graves by The Belfield Banter Editorial Board — On Friday, October 15th, 2021, the St. Anne’s-Belfield School community gathered to open the school’s 112th Session and to install Dr. Autumn Graves as our 15th Head of School. As Dr. George Conway, St. Anne’s-Belfield School’s 13th Head of School, recognized, it
Beyond the simple pleasure of (safely) gathering as a group for the first time in a long time, a highlight of the afternoon included Dr. Graves radiating her enthusiasm for our school’s future with space travel by drawing on Gloria Steinem’s quote, “Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” Dr. Graves invoked feedback from the 218 faculty and staff members she interviewed last year, President Kennedy, and Katy Perry to outline her focus areas of people, place, program, and potential for guiding St. Anne’s-Belfield into the future. Additional program highlights included comments from Student Body Presidents Channing Shilling and Hudson Stoltz, performances by the Saints Chorale, Orchestra, Elements of Sound and Treblemakers, and an incredible rendition of “Make Them Hear You,” from the musical Ragtime, sung by Dr. Graves’s brother, Paul Spencer Adkins. The Convocation and Installation closed with an invitation to all guests to attend the afternoon’s Fall Family Fest and a surprise performance of Panic at the Disco’s “High Hopes,” performed by the UVA Brass Band.
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Nov 2nd, 2021
IN REMEMBERANCE:
DR. John Youel
by Jack Dozier — During my time at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, I have always loved Convocation, our school’s century-long tradition of coming together to begin the year. In recent years, Convocation opened with bagpipe soloist Dr. John Youel, who played and led the Board of Trustees, Head of School, faculty, and the senior class and their lovedones as they entered the Conway Convocation Center (CCC). The tradition of Dr. Youel leading the Convocation procession began after the completion of the CCC in 1997, and it has been cherished by students, faculty, and community members.
I recently learned of Dr. Youel’s passing, and I was saddened to learn that our Convocation processional would not be accompanied by his playing. Hearing the first notes of Dr. Youel’s traditional opening song, “Scotland the Brave,” alerted the crowd that the processional was beginning. It was always one of those irreplaceable moments where you felt a tangible sense of community between you and the 1000+ people surrounding you. Dr. Youel was missed at this year’s Convocation, and I hope his family knows what a difference he made in our school community.
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A REVIEW OF NETFLIX’S “SQUID GAME”
by Qiming Fu — [A mostly spoiler-free review for those who have yet to watch it] Since its release, “Squid Game” has climbed the Netflix charts like a dark horse; its views have increased exponentially, and its influence spreads like wildfire. The show is revolutionary to Netflix, not only in that it is on its way to become the most-watched Netflix Original show ever, but also in that it overcomes the linguistic barrier of subtitles that have been thought to dampen international success of releases. The audience’s quick adaptations to the inch-tall wall of text opened doors to many productions in the future, showing proof that diversity of language does not serve a considerable problem for the enjoyment of movies or shows. The show itself is extraordinary and is like nothing else Netflix Originals has done before. The plot was well thought out, stretching a scene that could be summarized in sentences to a forty-minute episode, while still, somehow, being fast-paced. With strategically-placed slowed moments, emotions could swell and linger even long after a scene ends (a box of tissues is a must-have for Ep 6). The cast was interestingly portrayed, with none being immediately likable, if likable at all; yet, the opposite sides of humanity were so vividly present amongst each character. Though it felt like you shouldn’t, it was difficult to not sympathize with the characters during the cruel trials of the games. In each character, two opposing sides of human nature are bound onto them, and they reveal different reflections during different scenarios. They reveal just how complex and conflicted humans can be, as well as the depth we are willing to go for our own benefit. While the external conflict of “Squid Game” is grand and cruelly creative, it is more worthy of applause for the internal conflict that existed amongst every character, regardless of their screen time. Similar to the central theme of the games, every character was “equal” in relation to the audience. There was no hero or villain; all the characters were just as corrupt as each other. Each character reached a point in life where there was no moral value worth more than the value of money. The plot gave each episode unpredictability and pushed the rare demonstrations of human kindness virtue than we otherwise deem it to be.
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Although many viewers found the ending unsatisfactory and depressing relative to the earlier tear-jerking moments, the overpowering triumph from its previous episodes still marked the show as a complete success. The amount of media attention “Squid Game” is getting– for example, the trending honeycomb challenge across platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels– is well deserved. Despite many critics’ nitpicked flaws, it is worth watching and should have a place in your Netflix queue.
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SCRAPPY SAINTS: The Varsity Volleyball Game Covered from the Bench by Lyra Stewart and Hannah Laufer
— Our Saints took to the court on Friday, September 3rd to challenge the Collegiate Cougars in a game of volleyball. The Saints won the first point of what would become a very close match. STAB’s team had extremely strong serves, with team captains Jordan Spencer (#10) and Khamare Steppe (#19) serving five and six aces, respectively. Despite the grit and determination of the Saints, the first set ended with Collegiate winning with a score of 25-21. The close score of the first set gave the Saints confidence and made them even more eager to win than before. Sophie Gangemi (#4) won a point with a beautiful middle block. Our setter, Kalli Monahan (#9), set up perfect balls for our hitters. The second set ended similarly to the first with the Saints losing 18-25, but that didn’t dampen STAB’s spirit and enthusiasm.
I Wish I Were a Gold Jewelry Person by an anonymous student —
I wish I were a gold jewelry person I wish I were a gold jewelry person
Unfortunately, the final set followed the pattern of the first two with the Saints losing 18-25, resulting in an overall game score of 3-0. Despite being bested by the Cougars, the morale of our Saints stayed high, and they played better than they ever have before. The bench cheered after every point and each player on the court gave it their all, especially STAB’s libero, Hallie Spanos (#7), who ran after every serve. While the Saints may not have beaten the Cougars this time, STAB’s head coach Charlotte Devine expressed her pride: “I’m really proud of our transfer from practice to game, the team’s wonderful energy, and our scrappy defense.”
because maybe then
I would be a fair-skinned girl tanning for fun
and maybe then
people would write songs
about the color of my eyes and maybe then
I wouldn’t hate myself so much because then
I wouldn’t have to hear
about how my eyes are small how fragile and young I look just like a little girl
so innocent and delicate and so I sit here alone waiting
and wishing
that I were a gold jewelry person art credit, Izzy S. 24’
photo credit, Izzy S. 24’ Page 3
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COACH JOHN BLAKE: 25 YEARS
by Max Buford — After 25 years as the Varsity Football Coach, Coach John Blake announced that he planned to retire at the end of the season. Before Coach Bake arrived at STAB 25 years ago, the Saints football program was not nearly as impressive as today. Coach Blake came to St. Anne’s-Belfield School from Western Albemarle in 1997 and quickly made a name for himself after winning two state championships in his first three years leading the Saints. Last Friday marked the last time he will ever coach on Frank Addonizio Turf Field, the last time he will ever run out of the endzone through an inflatable football helmet, and the last time he will ever be able to lead his team in front of a home crowd. To celebrate this moment in his career and express their appreciation, former players returned to the Belfield Campus to support him in his final home game. Players from all eras of his coaching tenure returned, including retired NFL player and Superbowl champion Chris Long. The astounding amount of returning players speaks to Coach Blake’s lasting effects he has on his players. I have only been a part of the program for three years, and I know that I will remember my time playing for Coach Blake for the rest of my life. One of the things I will be sure to take away is his belief that no matter what you are doing in life, you should always give it your all. That belief is reflected in the poem he reads before each game, “The Man in the Glass.” This poem speaks to never cheating the person staring back from the glass and, in return, forces you to reflect on whether you gave it your all. He lives true to that message in everything he does, especially when it comes to coaching football. It never ceases to amaze me how much effort Coach Blake steadily puts into our team, and it always makes me want to push myself to do more. He makes a mark on each of his players, and I have been honored to be coached by him. The football program has a bright future, all due to the foundation set by Coach Blake during his 25 years at STAB.
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JANINE DOZIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIRGINIA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
an interview with Ally Alvarez — AA: How was VDM established, and what are its core values? How has VDM evolved? JD: In 1981, a group of community-minded individuals determined that to be a best-in-class City, Charlottesville needed a children’s museum. Through persistence, imagination, and proceeds from a yard sale, the founders incorporated the Children’s Museum of Virginia (now the Virginia Discovery Museum) and dedicated it to foster intellectual curiosity and development for the children of Central Virginia. The Virginia Discovery Museum has undergone significant growth in admissions in recent years due in large part to the Museum’s establishment of a Sponsored Admission Program, through which clients of 54 community agencies who work with underserved community members come to the Museum free of charge. Children’s museums have a long history of community building through the inclusive nature of fostering learning and joy for all children. AA: What led you to become the executive director of the Virginia Discovery Museum? Do you have a background in education or management, or was this an unexpected career path? JD: I have a very non traditional path to becoming a children’s museum director! After college, I worked in finance and consulting around the world and for some very interesting clients. I am most proud of my work with UNICEF, the children’s charity of the United Nations, in bringing attention to UNICEF’s work in educating girls, sourcing clean water, and preventing the recruitment of child soldiers. I was an American Studies major in college, and always thought I would either make my way to teaching or public service. It wasn’t until my family moved to Charlottesville and I joined the Board of Directors of the Virginia Discovery Museum that I found a way to match my skills with public service work. AA: What inspires new exhibits, and how are they created? JD: The Museum staff works closely with our Educational Advisory Committee (EAC) to design our exhibits, programs, and events. Once we have identified a learning need and conceptualized an exhibit, we try to find a strategic sponsor whose values align with the Museum’s offering. For example, STAB is the sponsor of the Discover Outdoors exhibit at the Museum, which aligns with the school’s outdoor preschool experience. STAB is in (cont p5)
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company along with UVA Children’s Hospital, VPM (the local PBS affiliate), Bama Works Fund, Wegmans, and Bank of America. We are embarking on a new project to restore the Museum’s historic carousel on the Downtown Mall. Several local companies have agreed to sponsor one of the carousel horses– a few horses are currently unclaimed if any STAB community members are interested! AA: Have you noticed any developmental challenges that have stemmed from the early introduction of technology and screens in today’s children? If so, how has the VDM addressed this? JD: The Virginia Discovery Museum has intentionally been low-tech, as our Educational Advisory Committee believes hands-on learning and imaginary play are critical elements of brain development in the first five years of life. Our exhibits and experiences are designed to encourage children to collaborate and engage and socialize with children they may not know. The Museum was closed for 18 months during the pandemic and offered our programs in a virtual or outdoor format. Since reopening on September 7th, we have observed both the resilience and fragility of children. Children are resilient because they have been incredibly cooperative in complying with the Museum’s new masking requirement. In terms of fragility, we are seeing the social and emotional impact of the pandemic on young children, in that they have a more difficult time regulating their emotions and navigating relationships. Due to this, our staff has been spending more time planning adultled activities to serve as ice breakers. AA: Could you elaborate on the Museum Teen Internship program for students interested in becoming a VDM volunteer? JD: I enjoy working with the over 300 volunteers each year who are vital to the Museum’s operations, the majority of whom are students at UVA, PVCC, or high schoolers. I am very thankful to Mr. Stinnie for being a wonderful community partner in recruiting STAB students to be Museum volunteers, summer interns, and senior interns. Anyone interested in becoming a Museum Intern can learn more at vadm.org/ museum-teen-internship.
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AN HONEST REVIEW
by Sasha Rinkevich — During the past year-and-a-half, television has become a much bigger part of my life. Activities that were no longer doable during a pandemic, like going to the movies or a concert, were replaced with nights in watching TV. Like many others, I’ve exhausted Netflix’s offerings and have been forced to branch out. I’ve enjoyed documentaries, period pieces, musicals, stand-up specials, and sitcoms alike. But one of my favorites was the unlikely Nordic Netflix hit, Young Royals. The show tells the story of a high school-aged Swedish prince who is sent away to boarding school and encounters both the usual turmoils of teenage life and the challenges and pressures that come with being royalty. While the story itself was entertaining, what I found most endearing about the show was its refreshingly realistic portrayal of teenage life. Well, relatively realistic. The central storyline of being a prince at a prestigious boarding school isn’t relatable to many, and the moments such as fights and parties were dramatized to no end. However, the characters and performances felt down-to-earth and unfiltered. As someone who spent their middle school years watching shows such as Glee and Liv and Maddie, I became accustomed to distorted portrayals of high school life where each character felt like the embodiment of a stereotype and the actors (starring as teenagers) were really in their mid-twenties. I watched a range of shows, but they all seemed to include fairy tale endings, photoshopped skin, stereotyped characters, and a lack of diversity. But, “Young Royals” feels like the antithesis to each of these tropes. For starters, the actors are close in age to their actual characters: for example, Edvin Ryding, who plays protagonist Prince Wilhelm, is eighteen. This gives the performances a sense of authenticity, and it makes the characters feel much more relatable because the actors are drawing from their own recent experiences and actually appear to be the ages of their characters. Additionally, the cast and characters are incredibly diverse: a range of body types are portrayed, as well as races and ethnicities. Additionally, neurodivergent characters are represented by actors who are neurodivergent themselves. Acne isn’t photoshopped out or covered with heavy layers of makeup. And (without
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giving away too much about the plot), the relation—ship central to the show is queer: one character is gay and the other doesn’t label himself. Their relationship isn’t built from stereotypes, yet still touches on the additional burdens of homophobia and difference in socioeconomic status. Furthermore, each character is complex: “good” characters that the audience is rooting for make mistakes, “bad” characters show redeeming qualities and display inner conflict. While one may argue that these details are insignificant, I believe that they carry great weight. The media that we consume affects how we understand our world and see each other. I love and cherish the shows and movies that I grew up on. But in their shortcomings to portray a realistic and imperfect teenaged world, they fostered insecurities and misconceptions, and failed to represent many who weren’t straight, white, cisgender, or skinny. The Disney Channel and CW shows I watched as a kid didn’t do much in the way of representing a range of gender identities, sexualities, races, abilities, or body types. Everything felt extremely filtered and curated. Seeing a show that overcame many of these previous shortcomings become so popular while still maintaining the beloved lighthearted nature that defines its genre gave me immense hope for the future of television. “Young Royals” is an extremely enjoyable watch, as it brings together familiar dramatic and comedic elements of its predecessors but feels much more modern and realistic. It was renewed for a second season in September, which is slated to come out in 2022. If you’re looking for something new to watch, I’d highly recommend checking it out!
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VIRGINIA VOTES: AN INTERVIEW WITH DNC CHAIRMAN, JAMIE HARRISON by Izzy Sanok —
Disclaimer: This piece is an opinion piece. The Opinions/ Column section does not necessarily represent the opinions of St. Anne’s-Bel-
field School, The Belfield Banter, or any community member, other
than the author(s). The contents of this piece are fully determined by its author(s).
— On a warm, Sunday afternoon, a cohort of staff members from The Belfield Banter gathered, with press passes in-hand, in the press box of the Ting Pavilion at a Terry McAuliffe event. At the event, there was a chance for local journalists to ask questions to The Democratic National Chairman, Mr. Jamie Harrison. What are your thoughts on Terry? Does the DNC back Terry’s campaign, and how so? JH: “It’s good Terry is bringing in folks who show the diversity of this state and country. We’ve been focused here in Virginia for months and seeing his hard work, so the DNC has been committed to Terry McAuliffe.” What role does this election play from the DNC’s perspective? JH: “This race as a whole is very important in terms of setting the table for midterms… so we wanted to make sure we get these democrats into the house all up and down the ballot. I’m proud of the work that’s been done so far.” How has Terry McAuliffe reached the younger generation of voters? What are your opinions on his campaigning and the chance of him losing the younger crowds? JH: “He represents progress. What young people want is the freedom to live their American dream, to do the things that are important to them. They want to live in a place where reproductive freedom is something they have. They want to live in a place where people don’t have 18th century mentality about marriage equality. It’s 2021, and Glenn Youngkin is talking about how marriage equality is wrong. Why can’t someone just love who they love? Why can’t they be who they want to be? It’s a slippery slope. We have made progress in this country so that those words that Thomas Jefferson wrote so long ago that all people are created equal can mean something. You can love who you want to love, you can be who you want to be. We don’t need Neanderthals like Glenn Youngkin drag us back into some bygone time. People want someone who understands that climate change is real, and guess who caused it? We did! So, guess who must fix it? We have to! This is a state that is leading the nation in terms of progress. We can’t go back, and we won’t go back.” Page 6
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FACULTY FEATURE: MR. SETH KUSHKIN
by Jack Dozier — JD: What are you most excited about in leading the Saints athletic community? SK: I am most excited about working with our student-athletes and coaches. There is a passion in our community for athletics and, although the past year has been hard around athletics, I am thrilled to have everyone beginning this school year competing in a safe and healthy manner. I look forward to growing our participation on Saints teams and establishing programs that are strong and sustainable from year to year. JD: What made you interested in working in the education sector? SK: I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and was a “Lifer” at a wonderful Independent school. My experiences in the classroom, and especially on the teams that I played, grew my interest in wanting to work professionally around athletics. I was a 12 season athlete throughout high school, and every season that I played was another opportunity for me to grow as an athlete and a leader. Whether coaching College Women’s Basketball at the Division I level or working as a Director of Athletics, I have always seen the work I do as a form of education for those I coach and work with every day. I love what I do and feel there is nothing better than learning life lessons through athletics. JD: What are you most excited for about the 2021-2022 Saints athletic program? SK: There are many aspects of the Saints athletic programs that I am excited about. I look forward to working with both our student athletes and our coaches to build sustainable programs for all of our sports. I enjoy watching our middle school athletes play with smiles and a passion for their sports. There is nothing better than watching students in the stands cheering on their friends and fellow St. Anne’s athletes while competing in the sports they love. The future is extremely bright as a Saint, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.
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JD: What is your favorite pastime outside of school? SK: When I am away from school and regular Saints athletic competitions, I love watching college athletics, especially my Wisconsin Badgers. I also enjoy playing golf, hiking, and spending some extra time with my family.
2021-22 BANTER STAFF Sasha Rinkevich - - - - - - - - - - - - - co-Editor in Chief Jack Dozier - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - co-Editor in Chief Emma Finley-Gillis - - - - - - - - - - - Managing Editor Hannah Laufer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Column Editor Ally Alvarez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Features Editor Qiming Fu - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Creative Director Izzy Sanok - - - - - - - - - - -Assistant Managing Editor Sonia Kamath - - - - - -Director of Student Outreach
Look out fo r our reg ula r editions continuing this f all! Page 7