May 2016 | The Pine Needle by St. Christopher's School

May 2016

From the Editor-in-Chief By Alyx McKinnon ’16 When I started the year as editor-in-chief of The Pine Needle, I told Mrs. Thomas: “I’m gonna shake things up.” With two initial issues rivaling any other student publication I had seen during my time touring colleges, a goliath 16-page paper topping off 100 years of newspapers, and a magazine with three times that many pages promptly shattering that tradition, I think it’s safe to say I did indeed shake things up. I’d say the decision to switch the format to a magazine for this paper was one we didn’t make lightly, but as I’ve been telling everyone, we kind of just did it for the heck of it. As to whether or not it stays like that next year, that will be up to rising senior editor Gunther Abbot and the rest of the staff. I really can’t understate how much work Gunther has done on this magazine. Some of the best layouts in this paper saw hours of work from him. Of course, I have to thank everyone. All the students and faculty alike who’ve contributed, been interviewed, and written for us have made these a tremendous year. Editor John Szymendera managed to show up, as he does, when we most needed him to save the day. Mrs. Thomas, in this paper and throughout the year, was the good cop to my bad cop, the brass tacks to my big picture, and the wisdom to my instinct. I can’t say enough that in or out of the office, I would not have made it through this year without Mrs. Thomas. Going forward to New York University, I can honestly say putting together this paper with my team will be what I miss the most. Each and every memory I’ve shared with The Pine Needle staff is treasured, and all this year’s papers will hang proudly on the wall of my dorm room.

From the Junior Editor By Gunther Abbot ’17 When I approached Mrs. Thomas and pitched the magazine idea, she returned me a worried stare. She countered with something along the lines of “it’s been a newspaper for years” and “are you out of your mind?” Although she didn’t exactly say the second thing, we all knew it would be a monumental change. Just a month ago we had touted the 100th anniversary of The Pine Needle, which is one of longest running continuous high school newspapers in the state with the same name. How could we make such a fundamental change? “But it will be a pain for the archivist!” Mrs. Thomas retorted. Flashing back to a month ago, I remembered us pouring over decades upon decades of papers stashed in the archives, meticulously sorted and bound. “Exactly” I replied. We are always asked what mark we will have upon the school, and what positive difference we can make on the community and institution. What better mark to make than a frustrated archivist and a (possibly) out-of-place magazine dated May 2016 among stacks of newspapers? The reality is not that we are changing The Pine Needle, but that the newspaper is undergoing a midlife crisis. The paper is beginning to realize that it is old. A hundred years, to be exact. To compensate, it spends some money on a fresh coat of glossy paint, shrinks down to a sexy eight-and-a-half by eleven, and embraces what all the kids are using these days: images, the hallmark a magazine. Big images. Double-page images. It knows its younger counterparts, such as the internet, cannot compete with the novelty of a beautifully laid-out printed paper that you can feel in your hand, display on your desk, or hold over your head in the rain. It also knows how people read the paper: no longer for news, but for features. Sometime in the ’40s or ’50s, bi-weekly issues of The Pine Needle were a cornerstone of school culture, providing the latest information primarily on sports. Now, still equally as important, it serves a different role. Instead of reporting strictly game scores and hard news, The Pine Needle acts as a document of school culture, attempting to capture the essence of a St. Christopher’s experience. It

spotlights students’ and teachers’ hobbies outside of school, new clubs or movements forming on campus, and provides a platform to hear opinions that might not get circulated on a day-to-day basis. With a magazine, we can shift attention away from hard news—already widespread after several months— to features, opinions and the composition of the magazine itself. In the magazine’s composition, more care can be taken to bring the story to life on the page with images, large quotes and creative layout. As I was told in Mr. Wood’s English class over and over, a work’s form and content provide its meaning. Form is an element that is unfortunately overlooked in many student newspapers, and can result in text simply slapped on a page. With proper reciprocal care in layout and images, a story can become more than just text, it can become a work of art. To follow through on this grand vision, our team put together a 48-page megalodon of a magazine. I apologize for using that word, I would normally use my go-to “behemoth” if I had not already used it to describe our scrawny 16-page paper earlier this year. It has some of what we believe to be “art” I talked about; that is, great content presented in a great setting. This magazine is the product of a lot of really talented people, of whom I owe numerous thanks. Alyx McKinnon, our fearless Editor-In-Chief; I don’t know how he does it, but somehow he manages to stay composed through his nightmarishly stressful job of owning the responsibility of the paper. Not only that, but he’s great at it. I’m going to miss working with him. Also to Mrs. Kathleen Thomas, whom I owe my entire career on the Pine Needle to. In no other place than St. Christopher’s would I have been welcomed by the newspaper staff being a non-writer, and later given the opportunity to take a place at the helm. But before I lose you, dear reader, in a barrage of self-glorification and thank-yous, I implore you to write for your student newspaper. As it is sometimes said, “you are part of the American experiment,” you equally are a part of the Pine Needle experiment. How it is, where it goes, what form it takes— it’s up to you. You are the students, and this is your publication.

Table of Contents 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18

Almost, Maine Sportable Spokes Career Day Josh Sundquist Arts Expo Faculty Talent Show ID Cards Robotics Goes To States Pohanka Teaches Advocacy E-Sports Starts Strong Mason Lecky Billy McGuire: Renaissance Man Hutchison Shoots For The Moon Whitley Joins The Marines Pascal Reeck Danny Torres Jan Šilha Judge Hannah Lauck Rodriguez Honored By RTD Master Sergeant Visits STC Alumnus Spotlight: Carl White

X-Term 19 Saints In The Big Easy 21 Anna Julia Cooper TEDx Gets Creative 22 Trash Pickup Thwarted Saints Remember 9/11 23 A Taste of Ireland 25 Saints Storm The Beaches 27 29 30

College Sports Commits Dr. Van’s Health Initiative Are You Stressed? CAT’s Out Of The Bag

Teacher Departures 31 Mr. Boyd 33 Mr. Stillwell 35 Mr. Spears 36 Dr. Smith 37 Dr. Suskind 38 Mr. Roy Mr. Franzese 39 2016 College Decisions 41 Editorials 43 Oak Needle

The Pine Needle Staff Editor-in-Chief Alyx McKinnon ’16

Senior Editor

Junior Editor

John Szymendera ’16

Gunther Abbot ’17

Faculty Advisor Mrs. Kathleen Thomas

Staff Nick Sherod ’16 Pierce Edlich ’16 Malcolm Ilnicky ’16 Collin Mistr ’16 William Rodriguez ’18 Henry Rodriguez ’18 Kinloch Nelson ’18 Henry Barden ’19 James Gilmore ’19

Photo/Art Credits Edward Millman ’16 Emma Phillips ’16 Dylan Gibbs ’17 Baylor Fuller ’19 Mr. Cappy Gilchrist

Masthead by Dylan Gibbs ’17

Cover Art by Baylor Fuller ’19

Contributors Jack Holdaway ’16 Will Brown ’16 Nathan Johnson ’16 Honsa Šilha ’16 Neil Dwivedi ’17 Jackson Barkstrom ’17 Connor Liggan ’17 Fuller Wise ’18 Tate Lifson ’19

Almost, Maine

Ampersand’s spring play another success

mpersand finished the year with a beautiful production of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine, a play composed of short scenes depicting life and love in the titular Maine town beneath the Northern Lights. The play was a hybrid of Ampersand’s fall and winter shows, with the connected narrative of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee but the disjointed style of single act pieces reminiscent of the Winter One Acts. Almost, Maine, directed by Mr. Rusty Wilson, ran April 28-30. Almost, Maine: the town that “almost doesn’t exist.” Technically it’s a loose conglomeration of houses and buildings that never got organized enough to become a real town. But real or not real, on one cold, clear winter’s night Almost’s inhabitants experience the power of love in a myriad of ways.

By Henry Rodriguez ’18 Highlights from the play included a prologue, interlogue and epilogue that functioned as another scene in themselves interspersed around the tales. This additional act featured Cameron Lovings ’19 and Laney Yoo ’19 as Pete and Ginette, sweethearts who wander out to watch the stars on a remote bench and teach each other the lesson that being close together is only a matter of perspective. Another one of the best scenes, “Getting it Back,” featured Gayle (Katie Jennison ’16) canceling her relationship with Lendall (Jess Reynolds ’16) by bringing back a mountain of the “love” he gave her, represented by a pile of red pillows. To her surprise, he can only return a tiny, sad pincushion of forgotten warmth. Their bond is repaired after Lendall comes out with the rest of her love; just as small, but this time compressed into a diamond ring.

Almost, Maine’s set design contrasted greatly with the simple, utilitarian design used in the Winter One Acts. A few detailed props such as a bench, a small house and a set of café tables cycled in and out of performances. Symbols of love, such as the aforementioned pillows and a painting of a heart, served as striking examples of symbolism. The background of the set was lit to resemble a dark, clear night speckled with stars. The northern lights shone radiantly above a snowy stage covered in birch trees. The set and the audience’s seats seemed to be worlds apart. Though the play didn’t draw crowds quite as large as the ones in the fall, the acting was superb. Ampersand made up for a lack of sophomores from St. Christopher’s by picking up many gifted freshmen. Said actor Nate Smith ’16, “We’ve had a lot of freshmen, and they’ve shown a lot of talent and enthusiasm.” The Pine Needle

Sportable Spokes Slam Dunk Saints

By Nick Sherod ’16

s people, we often make a habit of taking our bodies for granted. We seem to always look for flaws in our appearances. For me, it’s my feet. I wear a size 15. Up until I was about 12, everyone would tell me “act your shoe size, not your age,” as I would be the 7 or 8 year old wearing a size 8 or 9. We all have something that we wish we could fix about ourselves, that we think would totally change how we’re viewed or how we view ourselves. But what if that thing was taken away from us? How much different would our daily lives be? Trying to play basketball, the sport I love, in a wheelchair showed how much I took my physical attributes and abilities for granted. The wheelchair basketball game was part of the Journey to Manhood series, an ongoing program by the Center for the Study of Boys at St. Christopher’s. We first listened to Josh Sundquist, and then a group of us students played against athletes who were part of the Sportable Spokes, a team that had just come off of winning the National Championship. Along with the game, the Sportable employees

conducted disability etiquette session in the Upper School chapel. I honestly thought it would be easy, shooting and moving around in a wheelchair. I figured once I rolled up and done the court a few times and took a few shots that it would be just like a regular game in Scott Gym. Some other players and I helped bring in wheelchairs, and after setting them up we got in them and practiced a little. Trying to dribble, making sure I didn’t break any of the rules and shooting were difficult tasks, but once I started to make some shots I figured I had officially gotten the hang of the game and was ready to go. The game started, and I quickly realized I was out of my league. Trying to dribble with actual defenders was nearly impossible. The Sportable athletes were much quicker and were tactically smarter, setting screens and playing actual basketball. We were outmatched, and it was clear. They were making outside shots, scoring on breaks and stealing from us with ease. I went about 2-10 from the field and really could never get a hang of the movements, as we got embarrassed out there, losing 37-13.

Career Day Provides New Perspectives

he annual Career Day for juniors and seniors was held again this spring with a couple of changes from the previous year. This time around, three speakers of different professions were on campus, and every student rotated to each one throughout the morning. Last year students only attended two of the three options. This year’s speakers were Suzanne Abbot, who works for WestRock, Nick Marlton ’11, a civil engagement specialist, and Aaron Rhodenizer, a U.S. Marshall. Ms. Abbot, the mother of Gunther ’17 and Hugo Abbot ’21, talked to students about her career and job as

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senior director of global creative and marketing for WestRock, formerly MeadWestVaco, a company that makes the cardboard multipacks for companies such as Coca Cola and Anheuser Busch. She detailed the process of designing a box to make it more noticeable to the target consumer and also explained some of her experiences on sales pitches. Marlton, cousin of Jeb Bemiss ’16, and two co-workers described their budding careers working in the social arena. Marlton talked about the process of fixing a community problem and made the point that effort and

In spite of the beatdown I had just received, I gained a new appreciation for basketball and for the things that I have. The Sportable athletes had every right to complain about their deficiencies, but instead, they have become top-notch athletes in their own right. Talking to them, they were probably more motivated and determined than any person I know. One could even that wheelchair basketball is more difficult, as your lower body is a huge part of the game and you don’t use your lower body at all in a wheelchair. It inspired me to work that much harder in my own life. Those athletes showed me that I can overcome most anything, no matter how I feel about my shoe size. Nick Sherod, St. Christopher’s all-time leading scorer, will play basketball for the University of Richmond next year.

By John Szymendera ’16 interest go a lot farther than skills. Companies can teach the skills, but they cannot teach effort. Mr. Rhodenizer brought in his bomb detecting dog Wanda and explained his career as a U.S. marshall. On the job, he’s called in whenever assistance is needed and works with his dog to detect the presence of explosives. He described the training necessary to prepare Wanda for the field and the many opportunities he has enjoyed, such as trips to Germany and Puerto Rico. Career Day came to a close with a 30-minute question and answer session and the always appreciated Chick-fil-A.

Photos by Mr. Cappy Gilchrist

“We Should Hang Out Sometime”

Paralympian Sundquist inspires perseverance B y Tat e L i f s o n ’ 1 9

osh Sundquist is a 31-year-old man from Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is a professional skier who’s participated in numerous tournaments around the world. Oh, and he only has one leg. But he doesn’t let that interfere with his natural athleticism, for he’s the only person to ever be a member of the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team and the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team. Sundquist began his talk with a story about an experience he had while tipping cows one night with friends. They reached one that was a little larger than the rest; maybe it was better fed as a baby, maybe it was big boned, or maybe it was a fully grown, roaring mad bull. Sundquist wowed the audience by demonstrating how he escaped the bull (or at least outran his friends), using crutches as two extra legs and doing a quick loop in the gym. Sundquist’s bull story teaches the message that everyone has a goal in life. Whether that’s getting into a certain college, making a certain sports team, or getting a good part in a play, everyone has one, and Sundquist

asked how we would respond when the metaphorical bull steps in front of our goals. When we hit a roadblock, would we give up then and there, or would we outrun it? As a child, Sundquist’s goal was to make a travel soccer team and get a cool lime green jersey like his friend had. And the bull that stepped in the way was the cancer that took his leg. After his amputation, he obviously couldn’t join that soccer team so he decided to take on skiing. Through practice, he became a terrific skier and joined the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team. And later in life, his dream of being on a travel soccer team came true; he made the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team, which travels all around the world. His next story involved a girl in his high school math class that he had a crush on that year. On the last day of school, he finally mustered up the courage to say, “We should hang out sometime.” She said yes, and they went to a golf course that summer. On the sixth hole, he hit a gorgeous shot that landed inches from the hole and celebrated by jumping up and down turning his

artificial foot backwards. This startled the other golfers, and kind of ruined his date. Sundquist related back to his bull story by mentioning that in his first week of high school, an upperclassman tripped him and said, “You aren’t a pimp, so don’t walk like one.” Despite these hardships, he got up, took one step, then another step, and another step. When a bull stands in your way, he said, you have to just keep walking. Sundquist remembers the most difficult walk of his life, his last twolegged walk, going down the hall just before surgery. But the best walk of his life was his walk in front of 30,000-plus people at the Paralympics. He made a powerful connection between the two; the best walk of his life could never have happened without the worst walk of his life. He concluded by saying that we’re not what we’re missing, we are not the sum of our parts, we are a whole. We are defined not by what we are, he said, but what we do, and our character. In the words of Sundquist, despite whatever happens, despite whatever adversity you may face, whichever bull may step in front of your goal, just get back up, take one step towards your goal, then another, and another. The Pine Needle

2016 Arts

Expo

Photos by Gunther Abbot â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17

Photos by Edward Millman â&#x20AC;&#x2122;16

Faculty Talent Show The Pine Needle

The “Card Project” Here to Secure and Simplify By Gunther Abbot ’17

You may have seen magine a school in which every student teachers wearing them possesses an ID card that can be used to recently, and administraunlock the doors, pay for lunch, buy things tors before them. This is at the bookstore and check out books at because administrators’ the library. This could all be possible in the cards have been issued not-so-distant future thanks to the “card for testing purposes project,” led by Director of Academic concurrently with Technology Hiram Cuevas. electronic lock He envisions a central database that unifies the library check-out system, dining installations on many doors. The hall payments and bookstore purchases. While cards have been dispatched to teach- cards are laminated, with a photo, barcode, ers, this grand vision is a ways off. “A lot credit-card-looking number, and $10 of these discussions haven’t even been had replacement fee notificayet,” Mr. Cuevas said. The program was Administrators’ cards have tion. As of mid-April, these cards can only originally conceived been issued for testing unlock some doors and by the Crisis Management Team for security purposes concurrently with check out books from the purposes. In an ideal electronic lock installations library. While the cards were situation, all doors on many doors. generally well accepted, on campus would be many felt it did not fit in locked at all times and with the small, community-oriented culture students would use their cards to unlock of St. Christopher’s. “At some level these them. Administrators later realized the don’t feel like St. Christopher’s” Upper numerous other uses the cards present.

Robotics Team Heads to States By Collin Mistr ’16

nknown to most people around school, the Robotics team recently scored big. The team competed in two major competitions this winter. The robot didn’t perform well in the first. However in the second, after some major improvements to the robot, the team managed to qualify for States at the Norfolk competition in late January. One particular improvement was unusually complex. Partially designed by team member DT Badley, this device enhanced the ability for the robot to lift itself into the air by grabbing onto a bar on the course and pulling itself up. “I designed multiple versions of the device,” he said. “The first few didn’t work, but I finally managed to

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get the design right.” The device consisted of a pole with a hook, which grabbed onto the bar. When the pole was contracted, it lifted the robot off the ground. While this contraption worked during practices and the qualifying competition, it malfunctioned during States, causing a significant loss of points and other problems with the robot itself. For a low-key activity activity around the St. Christopher’s community, Alina Cichocki, team coach, believes that they did very well competing against other teams that treat this activity as a varsity-level sport. As a result of this malfunction, the team unfortunately didn’t place in that final competition. However the team gained a great amount of experience to use on next year’s robot.

School Head Tony Szymendera said. “You shouldn’t need an ID to know each person.” The team decided that in terms of crisis planning, it was necessary for everyone to have a card and have it displayed visibly. The primary reasoning is that, in case of an emergency, younger students could identify faculty members. The cards also include a currently nonfunctional credit card-style number which may later serve as an account number for the bookstore credit balance. Mr. Cuevas hopes to get these cards in the hands of Upper Schoolers sometime “within the next academic year.”

Pohanka Teaches Advocacy Online By Neil Dwivedi ’17 and Henry Rodriguez ’18

nline learning at St. Christopher’s took a new twist this semester with Upper School Instructional Technologist Carey Pohanka’s class on advocacy. The course centered around student choice and was openended in nature. Students decided their own topics to advocate for and were let loose to develop their own paths to tackle their issues. “We have students learn about themselves and look at the wider world,” said Ms. Pohanka. Topics varied from homelessness in the city of Atlanta to mental illness in private schools to gay men and drug abuse. The only rule was to choose a subject of personal passion. The students learned to advocate for their issue using both 21st century skills and older methods. They made use of social media, rhetoric and the Socratean modes of persuasion: logos, using logic and facts; ethos, wielding your credibility and authority on a subject; and pathos, utilizing feeling and emotions. At the end of the course each student participated in a “virtual conference” between students from many different GOA courses. There they presented TED talks on their topics. To prepare for the course, Ms. Pohanka traveled to Seattle during the summer to receive training. She met with her colleague from Hong Kong, who taught the other section of the class. The mannerisms for teaching the course are lax and allow for freedom; there’s no set curriculum, unlike a traditional class such as algebra or history. Her students ranged from as far away as South Africa to Indonesia to all over the United States. They learned as much from each other as they did from intense research. Ms. Pohanka said, “They are amazingly talented and I’ve loved hearing perspectives from students in different parts of the U.S. and around the world.”

E-Sports Club Starts Strong, Looking Towards Future By William Rodriguez ’18

ew clubs have made more of a stir among students and teachers than the recently established e-Sports Club. A wave of laughter rippled across the chapel the day Senior Pope Whitley stood up and announced that e-Sports would be having their first meeting, but several months later the club is still going strong. The e-Sports Club boasts the membership of more than a dozen high schoolers from all four grades, who meet often in Spanish teacher Stephanie McCully’s classroom to compete in and play “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” and more. Members regularly bring their own consoles, controllers and TVs to play on. “The club started as just a way to play video games,” admitted founder and co-head Kameron Miller ’16, as he focused on a game of “League of Legends.” “We knew the school doesn’t condone gaming in school, so we made this club so we could do it.” However, now the club has become more seri-

ous. “E-sports are a real thing. It stands for electronic sports,” said Miller, who believes that gaming can take as much time and commitment to improve in as a physical sport. Ms. Stephanie McCully, the group’s faculty sponsor, agrees somewhat with Miller’s beliefs on gaming. Ms. McCully, herself an admitted “World of Warcraft” junkie, says that while e-sports should never actually replace sports at STC, it’s important for kids to have an hour or so to themselves to unwind. As the fledgling club moves on to its second year of existence, it’s unclear who exactly will replace Ms. McCully as the sponsor of e-Sports Club after she leaves at the end of the year. However, the leaders have their eyes on promising St. Chris faculty. Mr. Chris Whalen’s stellar performance at the “Super Smash Bros. Melee” tournament shocked crowds, and the new English teacher is being thoroughly considered for the job.

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Lucky to Have Lecky Getting to know our new headmaster

hough future Headmaster Mason Lecky will lead the school come next September, most people have only seen him during a surprise visit one morning in chapel. Even for those who were able to peer above the heads of their classmates to catch a glimpse, little is known of Mr. Lecky’s plans for the school or about his personal life. The Pine Needle reached out to our upcoming headmaster for answers to these questions and more with a Skype interview in mid-April. When directly asked if he had any major changes to put in place as soon as he takes office, Mr. Lecky’s immediate answer was no. He believes it would be “pretty foolish” to come into a completely new school with any sort of agenda. Mr. Lecky plans to spend some time listening to and observing the culture of the school, as well as getting to know the faculty and community. “We will develop initiatives together over time,” he said, while also assuring us that the school will not be stuck in the status quo.

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By Henry Rodriguez ’18 Mr. Lecky’s diverse teaching and administrative background was one of the primary reasons behind his selection. He taught at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. and currently leads St. Andrew’s School in New Orleans. The former he recalls being similar to St. Chris, as an all-boys prep school focused on the “whole boy experience.” The latter is a smaller, co-ed K-8 school that offers a more well-rounded curriculum. He hopes to bring the best aspects of both schools here. Though the Lecky family has happily lived in New Orleans for seven years and wasn’t looking to leave it, Mr. Lecky did not want to pass up a chance to lead St. Christophers, which has “a great growth trajectory.” Both his parents, his brother and several other family members live here in Richmond as well. Though he attended Collegiate for 13 years, which Mr. Lecky admits “might feel a little strange” here at first, he hopes the students and community will have fun with it.

If current Headmaster Charley Stillwell will be remembered for his emphasis on educating the whole boy and the adoption of a “Second Century Vision,” Mr. Lecky may attempt to underline the value of service. He is of the opinion that a school shouldn’t “be too self-centered” and represents itself best by serving its city, community and local charities. Outside of school Mr. Lecky enjoys running, playing basketball and simply being outdoors. As a hobby he likes to read novels of all genres, but especially appreciates historical fiction. Having experienced the excellent music in New Orleans for many years, he wishes to connect to Richmond’s rapidly growing scene. Mr. Lecky went to college at the University of Virginia and obtained a master’s in education from Harvard University. His daughter Mary (4) will attend St. Catherine’s while his sons Patrick (9) and Carter (7) will go to school here.

Renaissance Man

Billy McGuire in his own environment By Henry Barden ’19

e’s a biology mastermind who hasn’t played a video game “since ‘Asteroids’ in a pizza parlor in

birds would land on it and defecate on the soil below. By the time his neighbors moved in, well-fertilized trees had grown 1982.” to block his view of their house, giving him Nonetheless, Mr. McGuire, St. Chrismore privacy. topher’s science department chair leads an He keeps a tremendous variety of interesting life, while residing peacefully on animals as well, including cows, bees and his farm on Sabot Hill. chickens, and his greenhouse includes a Speaking with Mr. McGuire for just 15 plethora of plants, like cacti. Mr. McGuire minutes revealed that his house has quite a also keeps a collection of bowties, cleverly story behind it. Except for the home itself organized in the electromagnetic spectrum, and one tree in his backfrom red to violet on a He was offered his first rack he constructed from yard, he either raised or built everything else on Model T when he was 10, antique rakes. his property, from the During his free time, on one condition: that he decorative boxwoods to could take it apart and put Mr. McGuire works in the rows of fruit trees linhis garage, either buildit back together. ing the entrance, which ing a boat, his current supplement his diet. project, or working on In his words, “It’s like building from the one of his eight Model T Fords (all of ground up.” which are from the early twentieth centuHowever, his Rome certainly wasn’t ry), modifying parts using his 1926 original built in a day. One day he decided to make tool cabinet designed specifically for those an apple pie using some harvested apples. cars. He was excited when the pie was finished, His love for the car comes not only and when asked why, he said he had been from his childhood, but also from the fact waiting for it for 15 years, as the trees he that it sparked part of the Women’s Rights planted had finally grown and borne fruit. Movement. It enabled every man and At one point when Mr. McGuire lived woman to own a car, as they was made in the house, his neighbors were moving cheaply through the assembly line, providin close by, so he built a wire fence so that ing women with previously unavailable

liberties, such as going out with friends. He said, “I’m driving a piece that changed the face of the earth.” He was offered his first Model T when he was 10, on one condition: that he could take it apart and put it back together. Since school didn’t interest him as much, he accepted the challenge. Finally, in regards to his teaching, he even considers himself to be constantly gaining biological knowledge: “Biology isn’t just something that I teach. It’s something that I actively engage in and learn from daily.” He compares what he teaches to planting an apple tree: his students may not find a use for the Krebs Cycle, a complex biological process, now, but perhaps later in life they will. The Pine Needle

Hutchison Shoots for the Moon

By Henry Barden ’19

yler Hutchison sees light from tens of millions of years ago. It’s all part of his passion for photography, specifically in astronomy and the universe, which manifests often in his everyday life. At the start of our interview, he said, “I took, probably, about 200 pictures of the moon last night.” Hutchison takes his photos using a telescope and his phone or a DSLR camera, spending several nights a month either in his yard or on a “Sky Watch” elsewhere with family and a group from

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the Richmond Astronomical Society capturing images of distant places frozen in an archaic era. Although his pursuit of the cosmos began during his eighth grade summer, his eye for photography became evident far earlier. During a Middle School field trip, he took a picture of the rear view of a train with a “little point-andshoot camera.” He thought it was okay, but everyone else told him the picture was wonderful: “I knew he had talent when I saw that picture,” said his mother. He received his own camera in 2012 and has been using it ever since. One of his first space photos is of the crescent moon, taken at such an angle that the whole, spherical shape is visible. His dedication is also clear: while showing me one of his pictures, he commented, “If you want to see this

region, you’d have to get up at about three or four in the morning.” One of Hutchison’s admirers is a gentleman named Madhup Rathi: “He’s been doing [astronomical photography] for 20 years, and he says my pictures are some of the best he’s ever seen from a beginner.

The moon on this spread was photographed by Tyler Hutchison.

I’m very, very grateful to have somebody like him helping.” He and Hutchison see each other time and again at popular photography site Belmead Plantation. The subjects of Hutchison’s pictures range from the moon to planets and stars,

even clouds of the Milky Way Galaxy, and his nexus of astronomical knowledge extends from interstellar light travel to the differences in constellation visibility based on the time of year. He has been recognized on multiple occasions, such as winning a “gold key” in the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, one of the most prestigious awards of that contest. Another picture of the shadow of the Earth, which, according to Hutchison, most anyone can take under the correct conditions, won another award. Perhaps Hutchison is most in love with the time travel aspect of his photography. On his photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy, which is approximately 30 million light

years away, he said, “It’s incredible to look at because you realize this is light from 30 million years ago.” He even connected this concept to St. Christopher’s using a star: “Gamma Geminorum is so far away... that the light from it is about as old as our school, about a 104-5 years old, so light you see is what Gamma Geminorum looked like back in 1911 or so.” We ended our discussion with the remark, “I take a lot of pictures.”

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Pope Whitley Joins The Marines By Nick Sherod ’16

hen duty calls, you respond. It did for Pope Whitley ’16 and he is answering, even though his parents wish he hadn’t. Whitley will enter the Marines as part of the Delayed Entry Program. On June 13 he’ll head off to Parris Island, S.C., where he will do three months of basic training, followed by combat training for a month and then six weeks of job training. Starting at Hampden-Sydney College, he will drill one weekend a month. For Pope, the Marines was not a childhood dream; he has no immediate family in the military. He simply knew that he wanted to do something adventurous and that he did not want a regular desk job. “The Marines are the ones who kick down the door and invade places... I just want to be that guy.” Pope’s parents didn’t necessarily want him to join, but he pretty much signed up for it without them knowing. While they are stressed, they have

been supportive of their son following his dreams. While Pope does understand his parents concerns, he is pretty set on going although he could still walk away without facing any penalty. “They say if you’re not scared you’re stupid or you’re lying, but I guess I won’t know until I get there,” the senior said. Pope wants to be an officer after college and eventually join the Special Forces. Right now he is running track, focused on long distance running to help with his stamina. He believes that

his time as a wrestler has prepared him for any mental challenges that he might face. The call to service hits different people at different times, and for Pope it has hit him here during his time at St. Christopher’s. The Marines refer to themselves as “The Few and The Proud” and Pope Whitley is sure to make us proud as a he goes through his journey to become a Marine.

Photos By Edward Millman ’16

Foreign Exchange Pascal Reeck By Pierce Edlich ’16

hemistry Olympian, physics standout and robotics team programmer are just a few accomplishments of exchange student Pascal Reeck. Hailing from Leipzig, Germany, Reeck is a part of the Assist Exchange Program, which provides scholarships for international students to attend independent schools in the United States. Reeck has spent his time in the States both furthering his academic successes and discovering aspects of life as an American. Coming from a science-based school in Germany, Reeck has continued to assert himself in math and science classes at St. Christopher’s. Despite learning in his second language and being far from home, the German sets a high standard in classes. AP Physics teacher Dr. Alina Cichocki says,

Danny Torres

By Fuller Wise ’18

eople like to express themselves. This was the answer I got when I asked Danny Torres ’16, a Colombian exchange student, what he wanted people to know about Colombia. This made sense, because the moment I sat down with Torres, I knew that he liked to express himself. He has an amazing personality. It was evident that he was a hard worker who makes the most out of every opportunity. Torres is in the eleventh grade. He has one brother who is 23 and wants to study sports and recreation in Colombia. However, Danny has other ideas for the future. He plans to return to America after he finishes school in Colombia. Torres views America as the “country of opportunities.” He says that you can “take advantage of what you want.” He

“Everyone in the class compares himself to Pascal.” In addition to participating on the Varsity soccer and futsal teams, Reeck has been an integral part of the robotics and Science Bowl teams. In robotics, Reeck has managed to program the robot with great success. The programming of the robot was even described as the “best ever” by proctor Dr. Cichocki. While immersing himself in the St. Christopher’s community and getting to travel around Richmond and beyond, Reeck has discovered some surprising aspects of life in America. “After a while you realize all of the things that you assumed are the same for everyone aren’t,” Reeck says. Other than obvious weather discrepancies between sunny Richmond and gloomy Leipzig, Reeck has noticed a significant

difference in the American cuisine. For example, when speaking of mac and cheese, Reeck said, “I’ve never heard of that. I’d never had that before I came here, and it’s so good.” Reeck has also stumbled upon Qdoba, Chipotle and a new favorite breakfast food: pancakes. Reeck has also noticed a different approach to friendship in America. As a new, unknown student Reeck expected to struggle to talk to classmates and find friends. Despite initial fears, he recalls that “there was always someone I could talk to, and that just really helped me out in the beginning.” Reeck has come to notice a more open approach to friendship in America compared to Germany, where it can often take months to consider someone a friend. Reeck has enjoyed making friendships in both the American and German senses here at St. Christopher’s.

is a great soccer player, and hopes to use this talent by playing at the college level in America. Danny’s commitment to soccer and his work ethic are some of the most interesting things about him. He said, “I have to believe that I have good abilities.” His abilities come in large part from his amazing work ethic, which helps him work every day in order to get better. For Torres, school in America was a big switch from school in Colombia. While our day consists of seven periods and after-school athletics, Danny’s school in Colombia doesn’t have periods at all. They just stay in one class the entire day. Unlike St. Christopher’s, the teachers rotate instead of the students. Also, students at Danny’s school don’t participate in school sports, and they’re are only five other eleventh graders in his class. However, the St. Christopher’s community has been a big help in helping Danny make the switch between life in Colombia and

life in the United States. A major difference that Torres identified between the United States and Colombia are the personalities of the people. In Colombia, people laugh, joke around, sing and play with “anything that can be found.” People there are creative and innovative. On the other hand, Danny says that the personalities of the people in the United States are “more calm” and less energetic. Finally, I asked Danny what he’s grateful for. His answer was for God, because he “found his purpose in Him.” He said that he has received many amazing opportunities in life, including the exchange program. Despite his faith, he doesn’t believe in luck. According to Danny, life is a process It’s about improving each and every day. Danny has had an amazing experience here at St. Christopher’s and we wish him luck (even though he doesn’t believe in it) finishing school in Colombia. We look forward to his return to the United States. The Pine Needle

Hey, you’re that Czech guy, right?

What’s your name again? My American dream come true By Jan Šilha ’16

“S

tart spreading the news, I’m leaving today” and a few more lines of this famous song went through my head as I gave a last wave to my parents across the departure hall in the Prague airport. My two-month long adventure was just beginning. Even though I’ve been to the United States before, this time it was something completely different than our vacations here. As strange as it may seem I didn’t know what to expect, and looking back at this point, any expectations would’ve been probably wrong. Because I never thought that my time in Richmond could be a life-changing experience. Why is it so, that two months can do so much? Basically because there is always something new to discover. In my case it is not only St. Christopher’s School, but also the life of an American family, both different from their Czech counterparts.

I never thought my time in Richmond could be such a life-changing experience. One characteristic of the United States that I encounter daily is “big.” Everything is big. Cars, shops, packages, roads, houses, schools, and last but not least, thinking. We go to smaller markets, and even the big ones can’t compare to Target or Walmart here, with far less variety of goods; nothing like garden utensils and food all-in-one. If you tried to drive an American pickup truck in Prague you may as well get stuck in its narrow streets! It is uncommon to have big cars, most people don’t need them. Finally, I’ve never seen so many student-

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made projects, ideas, groups in one place. Our students generally don’t spend much time on extracurricular activities, and, by the way, we only have athletics once a week. The everyday morning meeting in the chapel surprised me, and it’s great because all the students can be in touch and important information can reach everyone. At our schools, it is difficult to get people informed, because you can only use e-mail, which is not nearly as effective. What impressed me further is that everything is organized here. You know all that stuff with the “American dream,” right? So, that’s exactly it. When I was first really excited about it, Mr. Gilmore, my host dad, described it this way: “You need something, we have it.” And he was so right. You may be surprised, but in the Czech Republic, if you need something, you don’t always get it! There are many things that make me positive about my stay. I remembered one situation when I overheard some students complain that there is chicken too often for lunch, but for me, chicken or no chicken, this is the best dining hall I’ve ever seen. I am trying to say that we have to be so grateful for all those bits and pieces which seem so unimportant but

make a huge difference. We shall not forget to appreciate what we have. There is, however, something, I must tell you. It is the best part of my experience, and I value it the most. All the American people I’ve met so far are amazing. You behave so nicely! Always offering help and being respectful, kind and warm. It is so comfortable to live in an environment like this. Not that my life at home was not comfortable, but in general Czech people are far more reserved, and simply said, they would rather frown than smile, and they do not greet you often. You would experience this particularly in shops where they don’t even talk to you. By now I just realized what a pity it is that I am here for only two months, because I simply love it. And you know what? I have even started to consider applying for college here. So let me say this: after I take off from Richmond International, I will probably feel so sad that I am leaving. But at that moment, a new adventure just begins for me; my future life with a trace of “that stay in Richmond at St. Chris’ where I went, when I was… wait… 17? Oh, you must be kidding me!”

Judge Hannah Lauck speaks to Upper School

Tell It to the Judge By Henry Rodriguez ’18

hose who believe that a real court is always as flashy, rowdy and clamorous as one from Law and Order are in for a shock: in U.S. District Judge Hannah Lauck’s court, one must keep their jacket buttoned, never talk with their back to someone else and never move around the room without permission. Judge Lauck joined the Upper School in early April as part of the Paul Camp Speaker Series for a talk on civility. Also well known at St. Christopher’s as the wife of English Department Head Jay Wood, Judge Lauck handles cases in the Eastern District Court of Virginia. She graduated from Wellesley College and attended Yale Law School, giving her the same resumé as Hillary Clinton (though Judge Lauck doubts she will run for president). She became the first female district judge in the area after being nominated by President Obama in 2013. Judge Lauck’s court, known as the “Rocket Docket” for its speedy decision making, settles Constitutional cases, civil actions and criminal prosecutions. On her court, Judge Lauck said, “In 100 percent of my cases, generally 50 percent of the people lose... that means they can lose their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.” Inside, laws become fairness incarnate. Her Honor lauded George Washington’s tenets of civility as especially vital in a courtroom, summing them up to the statement that “rules apply.” In the American justice system, Judge Lauck

said “those who lose do not riot because they got a fair shot.” Besides ensuring a formality of dress and attitude, these rules make person-to-person interaction necessary. Though confronting a murderer or being accused of killing someone is difficult to talk about, this is necessary to make it more difficult for witnesses to testify falsely. Judge Lauck believes that virtual communication, by providing anonymity, blurs accountability and prevents thoughtful conversation. “If you have a powerful idea, but cannot communicate with civility and with clarity, you will not be heard,” she said. In her profession, being able to read, write and think well are crucial. To demonstrate the virtues of civility, Judge Lauck cited an unusual but relevant case from 1994. When a drug kingpin in police custody was on a scheduled visit to the dentist, his associates recaptured him with automatic weapons drawn, and one asked if he should shoot a deputy nearby. The drug lord told him not to, as this deputy had treated him with respect and courtesy during his time in jail. Besides the rare exceptions, court work is not too exciting, she said. Judge Lauck tends to limit publicity of her judicature, believing that a trial should never be about the judge. Her favorite job is overseeing naturalization ceremonies of immigrants. In the span of a few minutes and through the weight of a few words, “You’re an American no matter who you are and what you look like.”

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Rodriguez Honored By Richmond Times-Dispatch By Connor Liggan ’17

arlier this March, our very own William Rodriguez ’18 was awarded runner- up to the Correspondent of the Year award from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The sophomore beat out all competing correspondents with his letter “Accepting risk is price of freedom.” The piece addressed the refugee crisis and how we should not be afraid to open our doors to those displaced by the crisis in Syria. Rodriguez was, to his surprise, called out for his achievement when Mr. Hamill Jones announced his name one morning during chapel. “Is there a William Rodri-

guez here?” asked Mr. Jones, followed by Rodriguez’s uncomfortable reply of “uh, yeah?” which elicited laughs from the audience. Mr. Jones went on to have the chapel congratulate Rodriguez. Here’s Rodriguez’s response to some of our questions: What motivated you to send in the letter? “I was angered by someone else’s letter, which I thought was kind of ignorant.” The letter in question compared the refugee crisis to a single poisoned M&M out of 10,000, and asked if one would eat from the bag.

Did you think you would be awarded runner-up for Correspondent of the Year? “I did not think I would win because usually older correspondents win the award.” Rodriguez believes his success is attributed to the fact that the Richmond Times-Dispatch places value in high school students caring about current events, as well as the amount of time he spent writing it. Will you continue to send letters to the newspaper? “I have visited the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and I will likely send more letters on things I care about. I recommend anyone to send in letters because writing a letter can actually be pretty easy, and it’s a really rewarding feeling seeing your work being published.” I suggest we follow in Rodriguez’s footsteps and do something we are uncertain of. You may be more successful than you think.

Master Sergeant Visits St. Christopher’s By James Gilmore ’19

magine being in the Middle East right now and the terrors that you might witness. A master sergeant has been on 15 deployments there since 2001. For safety purposes, the U.S. Army Master Sergeant who visited St. Christopher’s in April must remain anonymous, but for the purposes of this article we will call him Mr. Johnston. A relative connected him with Mr. Greg Tune for his American Soldier class. He visited there as well as senior 9/11 to Now and World History I classes. The Special Forces are a unique military force that has five specific missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense,

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special reconnaissance missions, direct action and counter-terrorism. As a member of the military during 9/11 Mr. Johnston was among the first 100 troops sent into Afghanistan. He is also part of missions where there can be no failure. When these missions are assigned, the government is saying that his life is not worth the life of the hostages that are being rescued. They have not lost a hostage to date. His job requires tremendous courage and knowledge. He has to train every day to make sure he does not put his home country in jeopardy of being exposed. His focus is to rescue hostages and to defuse IEDs. Finding people in the world who want

to be in the Special Forces is rare. He was once a young man who wanted to be a plumber, but joined the army to try and pay for college. “I wanted to be part of the solution.” he said. “Not the problem.” Mr. Johnston, who describes himself as the man on the ground, talks on the radio and writes reports. He said he likes the work, but that it is not his defining quality. He has been shot twice, but luckily is still in perfect condition except for being deaf in one ear. For his acts of courage he has received two silver stars, four bronze stars for valor, six regular bronze stars, two army commendation medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and a pending distinguished service cross, the second highest award for military valor in the United States.

Biking For A Cause Alum Carl White ’12 Signs Up For Cross-Country Ride By Pierce Edlich ’16

his summer, class of 2012 alumnus Carl White will travel to beautiful Half Moon Bay, California, following his graduation from the University of Virginia. Rather than taking the conventional route via airplane, White will make the 4,000-mile journey on two wheels. Beginning May 30, White will ride his bike from Connecticut to California while doing service work through the organization Bike & Build. White first got the idea of biking across the country when he was a student at St. Christopher’s. “The physical challenge and grand scale of such an adventure particularly appealed to me,” he says. Despite his early inten-

A typical day involves eight hours of riding. When not on the road, riders spend time sightseeing, meeting the locals, and most importantly, spreading awareness. tions, White put both his trip and his biking dreams on hold during his time at UVA. After joining the cycling club for one day,

he instead chose to focus on the rowing club as his source for exercise. White has also spent his time earning a major in aerospace engineering and a minor in astronomy. As he approaches graduation, he has decided it is time to put down the oars and the books and pursue his transcontinental biking ambitions. White discovered Bike & Build, and he instantly knew it was the program for him. “When I learned that Bike & Build’s program would allow me to cycle coast to coast while accomplishing service work, the decision to join was an afterthought; I instantly knew I had to experience Bike & Build,” White said. Bike & Build takes groups of young adults on biking trips around the country while participating in affordable housing projects. According to the Low Income Housing Coalition, one out of every four rental households is considered extremely low-income. These people often spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing and struggle to pay for other essentials such as food, health care and education. Through the Bike & Build initiative, young people are helping spread awareness. A typical day involves around eight

hours of riding. When not on the road, riders spend time sightseeing, meeting the locals and most importantly, spreading awareness. After ample research leading up to the trip, all riders are well educated on the affordable housing cause. Group members help inform local communities through presentations and discussions. There are also build days along the route where riders volunteer with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and YouthBuild. Although White and the 31 other bikers will be roughing it throughout the journey, such an expedition comes with a price. Each rider must raise at least $4,500 before the trip begins on May 30. The money raised will be used to fund the trip, and it will also be donated to the affordable housing cause. To support White and Bike & Build, visit http://classic.bikeandbuild.org/rider/8614. Donations are tax deductible and can be matched by an employer.

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-term

Photos by Emma Phillips ’16

Saints in the Big Easy By Collin Mistr ’16

’ve wanted to visit the deep south of the United States for quite some time, and with the New Orleans X-term trip I finally got the opportunity. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the excitement never ceased. Each day was something different, as the vibe of New Orleans is drastically different from that of Richmond; the streets are much more lively, the buildings are much more ornate, and there’s just much more going on in the city. The tours our group took included both a music heritage tour and a ghost tour. We also visited the World War II Museum, a jazz concert at Preservation Hall, a Pelicans basketball game, Tulane University and much more. We stayed for five days in the relatively

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nice and newly renovated Hotel Indigo. We dined at different restaurants for each meal, however the very fancy Antoine’s stood out as some of the best food I’ve ever had. Treated to a classy four-course meal, we ate within one of the restaurant’s many fancy private dining rooms. We were given a tour of Tulane University’s Hogan Jazz Archive by Associate Curator Lynn Abbott, brother of our very own Dean of Students Billy Abbott. The curator discussed the history of jazz, played some jazz music of different time periods and showed us how the recorded music and sheet music is stored. He also explained to us how during Hurricane Katrina, not one article of the archive had been lost or damaged. A man in Jackson Square plays a gourd banjo.

Our group also had the great opportunity to meet our new headmaster, Mr. Mason Lecky, and his family. We first met him at the Preservation Hall jazz concert. Later he joined us for the Pelicans game, where he brought and introduced us to his two elementary-school-age sons. We also had the chance to help out one of the only grocery store owners in the heavily Katrina-affected Lower Ninth Ward. While there, we laid concrete in the building,

painted the exterior walls, and cleaned up the area around the store itself, along with that of a nearby house that the owner intends to make into a café. The experience, while hard work, was actually quite enjoyable. The great weather that day, as well as pretty much the whole week, made the experience even better. We also helped out some kids at the Moton Charter School. Here, our task was to get together with students and interview them while they do the same with you. Then, we helped the kids write stories about us, while we also wrote a story about them. At the end, we shared our stories with the rest of the group. Overall, my experience in New Orleans was great. The whole week was a constant good time, of which there was never a lull. New Orleans is by far one of the most lively and historic cities I’ve ever been to, and I definitely intend on returning sometime in the future.

Our cohort after helping clean, paint, and repair the Lower 9th Ward Market.

Kannon Noble ’17 using his brute strength to kick a pole out of the ground.

Graham Mauck ’17 and I moving debris from the landscape around the market.

The streets are much more lively, the buildings are much more ornate, and there’s just much more going on in the city.

Vanessa Revilla ’17 and Isabella Sims ’17 lay concrete.

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Freshmen gain new perspective at Anna Julia Cooper School By James Gilmore ’19 The eighth grade girl has a smile on her face all day. You would never know that both of her parents are in jail. Working with kids who deal with bad situations on a daily basis made me witness a whole different part of the world. X-term week lets St. Christopher’s students see different parts of world and experience other people’s lives. As a freshman I got the chance to work with kids at AJC, a middle school in the East End of Richmond. When I arrived my classmates and I were welcomed with open arms. By the end of the week I felt like I was part of the school. My favorite part about it was get-

ting to know the students and how they learn. The teachers were fun to talk to and you could see the bond that they form with their students. Everyone is known throughout the school on a first name basis. The whole school is just another home for the students, and the faculty makes it a family. Finding out what some of these students have to go through made me think about how mentally strong they have to be. I learned a lot about myself going to AJC and it has changed the way I view others.

TEDx Cohort gets creative in the Big Apple

s a sophomore, this was the first time that I entered into X-term with a choice of my own. Luckily for me, I made a good choice with the TEDx cohort and got to work with a great group of people in a great city: New York. For the past two years, the cohort has put together a TED youth event that involves St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s, where the students speak in the typical TED talk style about things that are important and interesting to them. The theme for this year’s TEDx project was BUILD, so the TEDx group took on New York City looking for a creative spark

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By Fuller Wise ’18

that might help us put on a memorable event. Fortunately, this spark was ignited when the group participated in an improv class that took us out of our comfort zones and urged us to solve problems in various ways. Reflecting on my time in New York, I realized that, by stretching us by putting us in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, we had a number of different experiences in the city that we would never had otherwise. From exploring Chinatown to Audrey Villanueva ’17 getting off the subway at the wrong stop, we were challenged in new ways. We weren’t even able to sleep at night because the bright lights

from Times Square made it seem as though it was daytime. As the trip came to a close, I realized that broadening your horizons and deviating from your realm of comfort is what TED is all about. During X-term, the beautiful city of New York made us think differently about ourselves and introduced us to different aspects of what the world is like outside of St. Chris. After a long wait with lots of hard work by the cohort, the TEDx event finally came. In between student speakers, inspiring TED talks picked out by members of the cohort played and were a big hit with the audience.

Saints Remember 9/11 By Will Brown ’16

H Trash pickup thwarted By Kinloch Nelson ’18

nearby shooting stalled our efforts to pick up trash in Highland Park on the north side of the city. We were volunteering for Storefront for Community Design when three people were shot on Tuesday of X-Term Week near the place where we were working. Thankfully no one was killed, but the incident gave the organizers cause to send us elsewhere. Storefront is a Richmond-based nonprofit giving pro-bono design assistance to local businesses by helping with logos and storefronts. A group of students from St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s School teamed up with it to clean up the Highland Park neighborhood. On the opening Friday of X-Term, Storefront kicked off its mission with help from Executive Director Ryan Rinn. Students picked up trash with the help of local volunteers and designed an anti-littering campaign. Storefront member William Rodriguez said, “It was really relaxing to just walk around and pick up litter, but I couldn’t help but detect a hostile vibe from the locals.” Though the shooting seems like it might scare us into not doing community service, I don’t feel intimidated by this tragedy. After a day of discussion about the shooting on Wednesday, we got right back to work with a freshman cohort in the East End Cemetery. If anything, I was more inspired to do community service because of this. Our experience serves as a stark reminder of the injustice in our country and the lifestyle difference between lower income areas and a place like St. Christopher’s.

aven taken Mr. Hamill Jones’s 9/11 to Now class during the first semester, I felt that an X-term trip to New York City would be a perfect opportunity to explore the topic further. Under the intrepid leadership of Mr. Clarke Miller, Mrs. Karen Wray, and Dr. Andy Smith, the end product did not disappoint. For the first four days of March, a group of 17 St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s students descended on the Big Apple. The trip began inauspiciously, with a certain individual taking a nasty tumble, tripping over his Peter Blair hanging bag on the steps of the train. After sheepishly picking himself up off the concrete boarding platform, the unharmed party ascended the steps successfully and the trip was fully underway. The next five-or-so hours were filled with semi-edible cuisine from the cafe car, the fragrant aroma of the bathroom and an Internet connection that belied the train’s moniker of the Amtrak “Silver Bullet.” The sights and sounds of “The City that Never Sleeps” kept us occupied until our ungodly 10 p.m. curfew. Sighting a Rastafarian dressed as a marijuana plant advocating the legalization of weed only enhanced our educational experience. The following morning, we journeyed to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial in Lower Manhattan, built on the sight of Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers once stood. The museum was incredibly powerful, with that terrible September day portrayed from countless perspectives. The vast building displayed a wide array of visual, auditory and tactile artifacts from the point of view of the victims’ families, first responders, political leaders and ordinary citizens. The twisted steel beams or footage of stranded office workers jumping from over 80 stories can be difficult to look at, but they help to gain a better understanding of the significance of the event. Perhaps the single most powerful part of the museum is the blue wall dedicated to the victims. The commemorative work of art, entitled “Try-

ing To Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning,” is composed of 2,983 individual panels, one to represent each person who died that day. The memorial is located right outside the museum, and its most iconic features are the two reflecting pools that now occupy the foundations of the North and South Towers. Looking at the water flowing into a seemingly bottomless basin, I couldn’t help but feel a sort of sinking emptiness, one that must have been magnified many times over for anyone more closely related to the day. Our excursion to New York had its share of lighter moments as well. From the nosebleed section of Madison Square Garden, I learned that Knicks fans will happily pay colossal sums to sit in plastic seats and boo their own players–with good reason, given the team’s dreadful performance over the past several decades.

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A Taste of

Photos by Edward Millman ’16

What I Learned From Our Journey to the Emerald Isle By Jackson Barkstrom ’17

ith our trip to Ireland, we hoped to both see the beauty of Dublin and to experience a bit of Irish history. We were lucky enough to experience both of these and more. Highlights include the James Joyce Tower and Museum, St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals, O’Connell Street, Glasnevin Cemetery, Temple Bar, the Dublin Writer’s Museum, the plays Juno and the Paycock and Cyprus Avenue, and the 5,200-year-old Newgrange monument. Gerry, an animated Dubliner with a passion for social networking, and and Osh, a Roman and certified Italian food snob, pro-

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vided historical context. Gerry taught us a lot about the Easter Rising, the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Civil War and “The Troubles” of the late 20th century. However, the trip was more than just sightseeing and learning some facts only Mr. Smith would bother to know. It was a learning experience I will never forget. I realized the trip was special sometime after watching the David Ireland’s play “Cyprus Avenue.” The brand new dark comedy went from hilarious to shocking to horrifying, making audiences heads spin with questions of national identity. “What does it mean to be Irish or British?” the play asked, revisiting a question that Ireland has struggled with since its independence. The question brought to life

the Irish struggle for freedom that began 100 years before with the 1916 Easter Rising, giving post-1900 Irish history relevance to present day. After “Cypress Avenue” I saw just how important history is to Ireland. The stern, proud nod of an old woman claiming ancestry to Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell, the complete silence after a train car overheard my question about the greatest modern Irish poet—everything started to make sense. No longer was Irish history simply history; it was a part of everyday life. I will never fully know what it means to be Irish, but I do know that history is what makes Ireland Ireland. And looking out over the coast from the Joyce Tower, I felt pretty close to being Irish too.

of Ireland

incredible part of our history that played out on the ground upon which I stood, magine Mr. Hudepohl and Mr. Whitmade the war more a reality to me. low chatting it up with three Brits in a Our trip consisted of three days in Nor100-year old French chateau, nibbling mandy followed by three days in Paris. For on some French Pâté and Brie. our stay in the countryside, we were given Then imagine 15 high school students hospitality by an expatriate British couple stumbling around trying to avoid being stewho maintain a 100-year-old chateau. The reotypical tourists, usually failing. We were 100-acre grounds include a hedge maze, loud on the plane and received a death pond with small island, stable, guest house glare from a Paris airport worker. One of and other buildings. With a comforting us set off a merchandise aura, the place felt like alarm in the airport, “Paris is a 180-degree shift home. and our van was paid “Make sure you can from Normandy; not a 15-second horn blast touch your passports,” meaning better or worse, from a French bus driver Mr. Hudepohl shouted just different.” whose lane we were apover our heads as we parently blocking. walked out the door of We were led over the hillsides of Northe chateau for the last time. Our destinamandy by the brilliant former two-star tion—Mont St. Michel, a 1,000-year-old British General Graham Hollands, who castle-looking chapel build upon a hill on knew more about the second World War an island just off the coast, and then Paris. then he could tell us about in a year. He The city made some interesting first was also the most British person I’ve ever impressions. It introduced itself with a met (in France nonetheless.) It’s a shame front-row seat for some live music on the we could not have been with him longer. subway and a troubled man rambling off “It was a logistical dog’s breakfast, something I couldn’t to put it mildly,” he said, describing the understand. many thousand tons of wire mesh that Mr. Hudepohl, with the Allies brought to construct air strips. the signs of an experi“This twitches my antennae slightly,” he enced traveler, quickly remarked as we walked through the solemn glancing behind him and German cemetery. keeping his hands over With him we followed the trail for the his pockets, offered a clasBattle of Normandy, code-named “Operasic math teacher analogy: tion Overlord,” from the beach landings to “Paris is a 180-degree the paratrooper drop zones further inland. shift from Normandy; not Standing on the beaches, contemplating the meaning better or worse,

By Gunther Abbot ’17

just different.” Other than French speakers and baguettes, there weren’t many similarities with the fast pace of a big city versus the quiet of the countryside. I remember Drew Vanichkachorn simply A tank at Utah beach remarking, “this is very stressful” as we hopped from subway to subway holding tight to our suitcases and checking constantly our pockets. But don’t mistake this as complaining, because I enjoyed every part of the trip. As I see it, you’re not fully experiencing the city unless you “live” with it for a few days and get an all-encompassing experience. We visited all the landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the palace of a Versailles, which both proved to be much larger in person than expected. We also toured some less visited sites, as described by our guide, including the American Cemetery at Serenes from World

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Mr. Bernie Whitlow in front of our chateau in Normandy

Pointe du Hoc in Normandy

War I and the Memorial of Fighting France at Fort Mont-Valérien, the latter of which Mr. Hudepohl described as “probably the most sacred place in all of France.” I left this trip feeling two things: infinitely more respect for the second World War, and much more respect for France and French culture— except for the $5 Cokes and bewilderment at the concept of “free refills,” which could use some work. The French really know how to do their vending machines though, with contactless payment methods, credit cards and bagged, sugary waffles. They wouldn’t listen to me, but whoever brings sugary waffles to the vending machines of America would be a millionaire.

Photos by Gunther Abbot ’17

Does this look like a shot straight out of Saving Private Ryan? That’s because it is, from the American Cemetery in Normandy.

A baguette on our car’s dashboard, which was surprisingly normal in France

Mr. Bernie Whitlow with (from left) Helen Wallace ’17, Caitlin Biggs ’18 and Ben Walters ’16 under the Eiffel Tower

A model of a C-47 plane used on D-Day at the paratrooper museum at Sainte-Mère-Église

College Sports Commits

By Pierce Edlich ’16

Will Cox ’16

Brandon Thomas ’16

Three-time school record holder Will Cox will swim at Davidson College next year. At St. Christopher’s, Cox has learned how to be a student athlete by balancing academics and athletics. “I am the swimmer I am today because of my coaches at St. Chris,” he says. “St. Chris has also taught me to work as hard as you can always no matter how painful it is, in the pool and in the classroom.” The All-American freestyler looks to drop time at Davidson and hopefully swim in the Atlantic 10 and NCAA championships.

All-Metro track phenom Brandon Thomas will continue his sprinting career at Virginia Tech. Thomas leaves behind an impressive legacy at St. Christopher’s, but he will most fondly remember breaking the school record for the 4x400 relay and becoming a state champion. Thomas credits much of his success to his patience through the many ups and downs as a runner. “Missing my entire sophomore year due to an ACL injury required more than just therapy and rest,” he says. “It truly did teach me that patience is a virtue.” With his talent and perseverance, Thomas will surely make some noise at Virginia Tech.

Joey Cuevas ’16

Jack Spruill ’16

Swimming / Davidson College

Track and Field / Virginia Tech

Track and Field / College of William & Mary

Football / Sewanee: The University of the South

Joey Cuevas will continue his track career at the College of William & Mary. The mid-distance runner graduates as a Prep League and state champion in indoor and outdoor track. Cuevas also helped break school records on the 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams. On his decision to attend William and Mary, Cuevas says, “It’s a smaller school than some colleges. The team was really cool and very nice. It’s also just a really good school that has a good reputation.” Cuevas looks forward to making his mark in Williamsburg.

The Sewanee Tigers football team will get a hard working and talented defensive end in Jack Spruill. The All-Prep football standout has enjoyed a successful career with highlights including defeating Collegiate on the road as a junior and playing in the Big River Rivalry Game. Spruill advises other aspiring athletes to take lifting and conditioning seriously. “They can be the difference between good and great players.” Spruill looks to make an impact at Sewanee, whether on the field or in the weight room.

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Ben Vaeth ’16

Soccer / Sewanee: The University of the South Ben Vaeth’s impressive soccer career took flight when he scored the stoppage time game-winning goal in the state semifinals as just a freshman. Vaeth went on to help win the state championship as a junior, and he hopes to continue his winning ways at Sewanee next year. Vaeth will, however, miss high school soccer. “I’m lucky enough to be playing for four more years, but playing for my school will definitely be one of the things I miss most about St. Christopher’s,” he says. The All-Prep, All-State midfielder plans to make an immediate impact at Sewanee and hopes to win a conference tournament.

Coleman Andrews’16

Golf / Sewanee: The University of the South Golfer Coleman Andrews also picked Sewanee to continue his athletic career. Andrews is a two-time captain of the St. Christopher’s golf team and was All-State his state championship junior year. After an impressive start to his senior season, Andrews looks to graduate as a two-time state champ. “It’s been an incredible journey,” says Andrews on his time at St. Christopher’s. The University of the South was a “perfect fit” for Andrews who looks forward to working with Coach Nate Parrish and the Tiger golf program.

These seniors are headed to play a sport in college as well and have been interviewed throughout this year for the Pine Needle. Ross Abrash, University of Richmond, Baseball Jeb Bemiss, Cornell University, Baseball Matthew Fernandez, University of Richmond, Tennis Jack Hodgson, Washington and Lee University, Lacrosse

Boyd Peete ’16

Golf / Washington and Lee University Boyd Peete will continue to pursue perfection in both academics and athletics next year at Washington and Lee University. The state champion golfer has enjoyed a successful career at STC, and has earned All-State and All Prep honors while forming great relationships with teammates and coaches along the way. Peete advises young athletes to “go to the best academic school you can. Sports are fun, but they won’t be there forever.” Peete will hit the books and the links next year in Lexington.

Sean Menges, University of Richmond, Lacrosse Joey Prata, Virginia Tech, Wrestling Drew Romig, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Soccer Nick Sherod, University of Richmond, Basketball Tazle Sumpter, University of Richmond, Football Charlie Swanson, University of Michigan, Swimming

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Health and Wellness Takes Top Priority

Artwork by Dylan Gibbs ’17

Dr. Van Heads Mental Health Initiative

wo counsellors will come on board next year, one for the needs of the Lower School and one for those of the upper echelons, to address various student complications more personally and be an aid to those uncomfortable talking with teachers. This extension to the St. Christopher’s community is only one part of Director of Health and Wellness Ann Vanichkachorn’s school-wide initiative for greater well-being: “My job is to protect the entire St. Chris family, so while this wasn’t a direct charge, it’s part of my mission,” said former obstetic gynecologist whose name is usually shortened to Dr. Van. Her initiative centers around taking different yet effective approaches to better mental health by tapping into student concerns. One challenge at the forefront of this operation is sleep, or lack thereof: “If you don’t get good rest, you can’t concentrate, you can’t focus, and you can’t memorize, so it doesn’t matter how much work you’re putting into whatever you’re doing as it

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By Henry Barden ’19 may or may not be effective,” she said. Another mission is to help students navigate school life and strike balances with their workload and other activities. Some help has already been established on this front, such as the Center for the Study of Boys, which is working to evaluate and address the needs of students. Along the lines of positive change, the school website remodel entails an extensive wellness section featuring educational resources including one on health and nutrition, and even an informative segment on addictive drugs so that students can understand their deleterious effects. In addition, an online training section on the website will provide athletes with season-specific exercise programs, the Health Department will provide training specialists to talk to the teams, and nutritionists will help answer questions like, “If some of the swimmers are having to get up at four in the morning to train, how should they eat to get through the day?” Individual nutrition counseling is also

coming soon, helping participants to meet goals, athletic-based or not, based on specific needs, such as diabetes. It will factor in what habits someone may already have in place: “We actually will create a plan that works better for you in terms of health, and it’s going to get you to your set goals faster,” Dr. Van said. Also, SAGE Dining is working to revamp the dining menu and make healthier options more prevalent. Last but certainly not least, all rising tenth graders will certify themselves in CPR by the end of their health class so that “if you’re ever confronted with the opportunity to save a life, you’ll know exactly what to do,” Dr. Van said. Dr. Van is equally excited about every aspect of the improvements to come, but says that the biggest challenge will be getting students to buy in. Headmaster Charley Stillwell believes she is doing an “outstanding job,” and is fully behind her. He said, “We are very fortunate that she is part of the St. Christopher’s community.”

Are You Stressed? By Kinloch Nelson ’18

hether it be from hours of daily homework or pressure to get into the “right” college, everyone faces some stress. Problems arise when that stress becomes a health issue or an impediment to getting work done. In the fall, a group of teachers including Mr. Matt Roy and Dr. Kim Hudson organized a half-day stress program. During this program, students learned about the science of stress from psychologist Dr. Stephen Twente, got a lesson in how eating affects stress from Food Service Director John Ernst, did some yoga and played with dogs trained to help relieve stress. This same group also sent out a survey in which they asked questions about the sources of student stress, hours spent on homework and hours of sleep. Dr. Hudson said, “A lot of students indicated they feel a lot of pressure,” and

that a large part of this stress comes from parents. In response, a Parent Enrichment Program was held to remind parents that “yes, your sons are mostly working hard.” Other sources of stress include family issues, homework and wanting to “measure up,” like trying to get into the right college. Dr Hudson said that a lot of students struggle with this idea of “self-concept.” Freshman Henry Barden said that his stress was because of the schoolwork. He said that teachers don’t account for the work given by other teachers, and that this “can cause nights that turn into mornings... In my normal daily life, I feel stress most of the time.” Senior Collin Mistr said that his stress was “only because of school,” and sophomore Andrew Clark said, “Obscene amounts of homework don’t help me be a better student.”

However, some students had differing views. Junior Gunther Abbot said, “It could be 1940 and I’m going to war...I’m just happy where I am.” Along with Abbot, sophomore Ralph Levy said, “Sometimes, if it’s late at night, I’ll just take a deep breath and say, it just doesn’t matter that much.” Being up late at night seems to be a common theme. According to the aforementioned survey, 72.5 percent of students say they don’t get enough sleep to feel well-rested. In 2015, the Upper School had a chapel talk from Dr. James Maas, one of the world’s foremost sleep psychologists, who said that high school students didn’t sleep enough, suggesting that schools should start later in the morning. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that schools start at 8:30 or later.

CAT’s Out of the Bag

he Community Assistance Team, or CAT as it’s commonly known, might just seem like another one of those mystery organizations that sets out to accomplish some unknown goal, but CAT member Kim Hudson is quick to dispel this notion. According to Dr. Hudson, CAT is there as one part of a much-needed support system for students. She made it clear that there are some problems just too big for students to handle, and that’s what CAT is for. CAT provides a resource for students

By Kinloch Nelson ’18

when they or their classmates have one of these problems, whether it be substance abuse or a family issue. Another misconception is that students who talk to CAT about issues will face disciplinary action. Though CAT is not a way to avoid punishment, if students are proactive and seek help, they will not be disciplined. CAT awareness is one of the biggest issues that hinders the effectiveness of the group, but in the past two years, CAT members have been working to increase understanding of their vision. During these two years, CAT has gone into health classrooms to make sure that students know about it, but for any student who missed this opportunity, it might still be unfamiliar. Senior Malcolm Ilnicky said, “I thought [CAT] was supposed to be a secret.” Despite the importance of confidentiality, awareness is one of the biggest

parts of its mission. Dr. Hudson said, “Part of being a member of this community is looking out for each other...The whole reason that CAT functions is because we care about you all.” Another new addition is the placement of the CAT posters around school. They were designed by Mrs. Livick’s photoshop class to increase student awareness. Part of CAT that sometimes leads to the most confusion is the question of anonymity. CAT referrals cannot be anonymous, but they are confidential. A student can’t just put a slip of paper on a CAT member’s desk that says that “X needs help with his drinking” and expect to get a response. Even with increased awareness, CAT might still face some issues. Senior Pierce Edlich said, “I wouldn’t even think of the CAT.” Sophomore William Rodriguez said, “I’d be reluctant to go to CAT with the knowledge that they’d instantly share whatever I had to say with parents.” The Pine Needle

We’ll miss you Professor Bear After 50 years, Mr. Boyd Calls It a Career

he image of an impeccably drawn cartoon bear omnipresent on a Chamberlayne Hall bulletin board epitomizes math teacher Jim Boyd ’54. He, of course, is much more than that, but he has made math fun for 50 years of St. Christopher’s students by turning Professor Bear and Doctor Dog into school icons. The school mantra, “We can’t all be scholars, but we can all be gentlemen,” might set a good example for students, but Mr. Boyd shows us how to be both. A graduate of St. Christopher’s, Mr. Boyd studied at Hampden-Sydney College and University of Virginia before returning here to teach. One of Mr. Boyd’s most impressive scholarly achievements is his three master’s degrees, two in math and one in physics. He has published hundreds of papers in journals worldwide and has helped students achieve some of the same feats by co-authoring papers with them. He was also named a fellow of Hampden-Sydney in the natural sciences. When Mr. Boyd first arrived, he taught math, physics and even English. “He is

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BY KINLOCH NELSON ’18 really interested in the idea of the whole his classroom is a welcoming place for any boy,” said former French teacher Joe Knox. student. Upper School Chaplain Melissa In addition to his scholarly nature, Mr. Hollerith said, “He sees the good in every Boyd is the perfect southern gentleman— boy, the potential, and I think that’s what calm, respectful, smart and kind. He’s almakes him such a great teacher.” ways polite. This trait shines through when Mr. Boyd has a certain unreplicable Mr. Boyd refers to everyone, even students, enthusiasm for this school and for the with as formal a title as possible. Mr. Knox people who are here. According to the said, “If I saw Mr. Rev. Hollerith, “He’s “He sees the good in every boy, the first one in chapel Boyd in the halls the potential, and I think that’s every morning, and today, it’d be nothing but ‘Mr. Knox, what makes him such a great I always think, ‘The how are you doing Bear is in his spot.’ ” teacher.” today?’ ” His respect- The Rev. Melissa Hollerith He always begins fulness is reflective each day ready to of a simpler, kinder world that sometimes teach, but also to learn. In my time in Mr. seems forgotten. Even though some of that Boyd’s class, nothing stood out more than is captured on this campus, Mr. Boyd takes the discussions, maybe even arguments, it to another level. that we had. He was almost always right, One of the most memorable parts of and I see that looking back, but I can never Mr. Boyd’s class for any of his many lucky say that he didn’t intently listen to what I math students over the years is his tradition had to say. of Coke raffles; he always seems to know Another facet of Mr. Boyd’s personality just when Upper School students need a is his way with words. Though he’s firstly quick boost to get through the day. a mathematician, Mr. Boyd’s wit and Whether it be a guessing game for a poetic talent always give students a laugh Coke, four omits from the ACME testing when he writes a short poem at the end of service or just Mr. Boyd’s friendly smile, a test.

His expertly drawn characters, Dr. Dog teachers. and Professor Bear, are sure to show up After retirement, Mr. Boyd first plans to on anything from a “Q and A” homework have his knee repaired, but after that he has assignment to one of his weekly tests. In yet to settle on anything specific. “I hope more recent years, Mr. Boyd has served as to keep doing math,” he said, chuckling, the introduction to Upper School math for “Maybe travel, but I’m mostly happy at many ninth grade geometry students in home.” what he calls his favorite class, and we’ll Mr. Boyd has a special talent for taking be hard pressed to find someone better on students of any level, evident in the vaequipped to offer under“Jim Boyd is like all of the riety of his classes. classmen their introducFrom ninth grade old great teachers rolled into geometry to the adtion to the Upper School. When talking to Mr. Boyd, one. He embodies the highest vanced Calculus 3 he’s clearly humble and students who have ideal of this school.” reserved, but what he does -Joe Knox eclipsed the normal say is worth hearing. “This math curricuplace feels very much like home,” he said, lum, the Hampden-Sydney graduate with “Teaching is an extension of family. It’s the honors can teach any student. “Jim Boyd finest of professions.” is like all of the old great teachers rolled He cited his family’s history in teaching into one. He embodies the highest ideal of as an inspiration. At the dinner table, rather this school,” said Mr. Knox. Former math than talking about the best baseball players, department chair and another longtime his family might instead discuss the best teacher at St. Christopher’s Mr. Richard

Towell said, “Mr. Boyd is just one of those people who brings a history to the school.” Mr. Boyd’s witty remarks about the state of learning or the motivation of students are a gentle rebuke to any student who dares to ignore his lessons. Phrases like, “You wouldn’t come to a football game without a football,” and, “Education is the only thing people are willing to pay for and not get,” show how much Mr. Boyd values preparedness and a desire to learn. Simply put, Mr. Boyd is a legend. “It’s been a great run,” he said. This is the first time he has considered retiring, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “There’s nothing much more fun than the exchange of ideas,” he said, but he also knows that it’s time. When asked if he had any advice for other teachers, he said, “Do your own thing. That’s one of the great things about this place, that teachers have been permitted to do their own thing.”

Stillwell Leaves a Lasting Impression By Jack Holdaway ’16

or the past 18 years, the St. Christopher’s community has been blessed to have the leadership and initiative of headmaster Charles Stillwell. As a Pine Needle writer, I am never supposed to publish assumptions of what other people are thinking, but I am completely confident in saying that everyone in the St. Christopher’s community is thankful for what Mr. Stillwell has done for this school. What many will remember about the headmaster is the spirit and excitement he brings to his job each and every day, which sets the tone for the passion the faculty and students bring to learning. Out of the countless people roaming the halls between classes, our headmaster is the most enthusiastic. He continually embraces every student and asks how they are doing. “Mr. Stillwell always has done a fantastic job of getting to know everyone,” said Joey Cuevas ’16. “He always has checked

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lissa Hollerith. in on me throughout my time at St. ChrisIn every facet of school life, Mr. Stilltopher’s.” well’s fingerprints are easily noticeable. Mr. Stillwell has propelled the school Under his guidance, the quality of the St. into the 21st century, and, through his Christopher’s experience and the resources vision, St. Christopher’s is well prepared for students have drastically improved. to combat the challenges of today. He has The construction of the Kemper Athletic maintained the core values of the school while instilling a fresh sense of community. Center and Luck Leadership Center since the turn of the century have expanded the The strength of the honor system and missionary work combined with a new empha- capabilities of school curriculum, whether it be in the classroom sis on the relationships What many will remember or extracurriculars. between teachers and about the headmaster is the “Looking back on students have created a wonderful environment spirit and excitement he brings the old field house to go to school. The to his job each and every day. and cafeteria, it is remarkable how school truly recognizes much our campus has changed in just over each boy for his own talents and interests. “I think Mr. Stillwell has always worked a decade,” said Mac Ukrop ’16. “The Luck Leadership Center and Field House have hard to make sure St. Christopher’s celebrates and honor every boy’s gifts whether bolstered what we are capable of accomplishing.” they are an athlete, scientist, musician, or In addition, the Building Leaders from writer,” said Upper School Chaplain Me-

the Inside Out symposium series brings a wide variety speakers to campus to share encouraging stories and lessons and has touched people from not only this community but other areas of town. The series, which occurs every three years, has brought renowned individuals such as Ben Carson, Colin Powell and David Robinson to St. Christopher’s during the past decade to share their powerful messages with an audience of hundreds. “I think the symposium series he established brought amazing, inspirational voices to our community and the greater Richmond area,” said Reverend Hollerith. “These speakers’ messages will continue to impact how people live and lead in their communities for years to come.” A memory from a member of the class of 2016 is one that best embodies who Mr. Stillwell is as a headmaster and more simply as a human being. The student, playing

in a travel lacrosse tournament in Maryland, competed in the championship against Mr. Stillwell’s son Henry, who graduated last year. In the heat of the game, he went in for a hit on an opposing player and immediately fell to the ground. After stumbling to the sideline, he again fell and started to cry out of sheer pain. Suffering from an obvious concussion, he has really little memory of what happened after, except for a certain man who came to embrace him. Mr. Stillwell walked all the way from the other side of the field, gave him a hug, and checked to see how he was doing. “Mr. Stillwell is a man in whom there is no guile,” said Mrs. Hollerith. “He never seeks credit, nor does his ego need the limelight. If only every leader had those traits.”

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Middle School Loses a Mastermind Mr. Phil Spears’ s legacy By Nathan Johnson ’16

y all accounts, Mr. Phil Spears is a natural-born educator. With a father who was a Baptist minister and a mother who was a nurse, Mr. Spears comes from a family of service, which probably influenced his decision immediately after high school to become a teacher. He attended Washington and Lee University where he captained the football team, participated in several music ensembles and earned a B.A. in English literature. Mr. Spears went on to hold a number of jobs before coming to St. Christopher’s, and one job in particular has “informed his professional life ever since,” he said. Located in the inner city of Baltimore, this Jesuit school where he worked enrolled primarily male minority students from families below the poverty line. This experience placed him firmly “out of his comfort-zone” and gave him new perspective on problems facing boys in tough social and financial situations.

Those who have had more personal interaction with him can see is truly a man of much wisdom, alongside his other talents. Dealing with teaching and counseling less privileged students deepened his understanding of the problems that all children face while growing up and how to help them get through and learn from these hardships. Mr. Spears arrived at St. Christopher’s in 2000 to fill the dean of students position. He has coached football, baseball

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and basketball and taught English and Spanish before moving to Forum, a health class emphasizing group participation and coversation; he even headed up the Beaux Ties in its early days. In addition, he started the Saturday Academy and City Saints programs for inner city students and rose to the position of the Middle School division head. What has made Mr. Spears so effective in all his positions is his affinity for helping boys to learn and grow as they pass through the often difficult and awkward time that we all remember as Middle School. The Rev. Melissa Hollerith noted that Mr. Spears empathized with and served his students in the Middle School as

he “forgave their quirks” and “encouraged the good” in all the people around him, showing them how to value and respect themselves. Reflecting on his time here, Mr. Spears said that he appreciated counselling boys through this difficult time in life, and that, in particular, helping them through their discipline issues, prolonged sicknesses, or other crises have been the “hard but meaningful part” of his job here. Mr. Spears has made quite an impression here: his dazzling Elvis Presley impersonation and his regular “bad jokes” after every chapel service are the popular memories of this division head, but those who have had more personal interaction with him can see that he is truly a man of much wisdom, alongside his other talents. Mr. Spears is moving on to the Canterbury School in Greensboro, N.C., where he will assume the headmaster position beginning in the 2016-17 school year. The Canterbury School “shares the same values & community spirit” as St. Christopher’s and even uses similar language of educating the “mind, body and spirit” of their students, Mr. Spears said. The Canterbury School will be lucky to have our Mr. Spears to lead them next year, and he has the best wishes of everyone at St. Christopher’s as he continues on his life’s path.

Shakeup In The History Department Dr. Andy Smith leaves teaching role By Alyx McKinnon ’16

core curriculum. While things are still in the planning stage, Dr. Smith will be in charge of travel service within the Upper School. These trips give students the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes. “You don’t get it out of a textbook. You don’t get it out of a speaker,” he says. These opportunities could take someone across Richmond (“by the raceway is not like the West End”) or someplace as far as Cuba. He adds as a personal goal, “I would love to start a partnership with a Native American reservation.” Dr. Smith hopes students will “experience for a moment what someone else’s life and circumstances are like… this is about empathy.” Mr. Szymendera says, “What often gets overlooked is the reflection piece.” Students often don’t get the chance to stop after working in the community to step back and think, to say, in Mr. Szymendera’s words, “Oh my gosh, there are people in this world who everything is stacked against, how do we help them?” Dr. Smith isn’t really sure what his legacy at St. Chris will be. “I never think about that question,” he says, “Your legacy is what it is.” But whatever legacy at the school may be, you would be hardpressed to find a teacher who’s had an impact on students quite like Dr. Smith.

received his Ph.D. from Virginia Comr. Andy Smith has tired of his hismonwealth University in school law and a tory teaching over in Luck Hall, master’s in school administration from the affectionately termed “Siberia,” University of North Carolina at Chapel and will instead be working to tweak the Hill, will take on an administrative role, curriculum and, eventually, enhance the working alongside teachers on their curSt. Christopher’s service opportunities. riculum. “He now can Dr. Smith has held You would be hard-pressed be a greater resource to a number of different the entire faculty” said to find a teacher roles at St. ChristoUpper School Head Tony pher’s in the 42 years who’s had an impact Szymendera. “[He’ll] he’s spent here. “I was on students quite provide sort of hands-on hired to be an eighth support.” grade history teacher,” like Dr. Smith. In addition, Dr. Smith he said, but after a few will enhance our service learning proyears, “because [he] was getting bored,” gram, working to make it a part of our he moved to teaching English. The role only stuck for two years, though, as he was “Godawful at the poetry.” Serving as assistant principal for a year, he reached his height in the Middle School as “chief warden of the creatures” (Middle School head) in ’84. Reminiscing, Dr. Smith looked back on memories while there like the disaster of September 11 and the time one of the classrooms caught fire, “billowing really nasty, black smoke.” Dr. Smith and another teacher had reentered the building to ensure everyone had evacuated, but as windows started to explode from the heat, they fled shouting expletives more akin to the vocabulary of an Upper School student. By 2002, Dr. Smith took on his current role as a history teacher in the Upper School and ultimately chair of the history department. Within more recent years, he moved towards the dorm rooms of Luck Hall. He worked initially as director of special projects, which had him working on our accreditation as a private school every 10 years, on symposiums, and even our first crisis management plan, which notably lacked a lockdown policy as “nobody thought we needed it. My how the times have changed.” Dr. Smith, after Hurricane Katrina, gutting houses. Going forward, the good doctor, who

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Suskind Says Goodbye, but Stays a Saint Fifth grade teacher to head St. Cat’s Middle School By Malcolm Ilnicky ’16

hen I walked into Dorothy Suskind’s fifth grade classroom, she immediately asked me if I would help her feed the class pet: a ball python that goes by the name Angel. The snake, along with the rest of the Lower School, will miss Dr. Suskind when she moves up the block to St. Catherine’s, where she will be the new head of the Middle School. Dr. Suskind may just seem like your average fifth grade teacher, but she’s so much more. One night a week, she teaches a content reading class at the University of Richmond for middle and high school teachers, which covers how to teach reading in subjects such as math, science and social studies. Although she loves her fifth grade boys, Dr. Suskind enjoys working with adults, with whom she can share teaching ideas and strategies. “Dorothy has been a mentor to me as a teacher-researcher, always encouraging me and others to try new approaches in teaching the boys and helping us see the boys’ perspectives,” says Suskind’s dear friend and colleague Betsy Tyson. Even before she came to Richmond to teach, Dr. Suskind was an assistant professor in education at the University of Mary Washington. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. and master’s in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. In the past few years, she has teamed up with her STC colleagues and become an action research coach for the Center for the Study of Boys, where she has helped launch St. Chris as a research institution. Dr. Suskind first came to St. Christopher’s in 2008 and has been well loved by her colleagues and students ever since. “I have the best fifth grade team,” Dr. Suskind says about her colleagues. “We are really

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good friends.” And just like all friends, Dr. Suskind loves to laugh and share ideas with them. “It’s hard to have a bad day when you’re around a bunch of fifth grade boys,” Dr. Suskind says about her witty group of students. Dr. Suskind even created a Twitter account for her class where they share ideas with other schools. “If the kids are doing it for an audience, they are far more excited to do it,” she says. She prefers to teach this ready-for-middle-school age group because she finds that they all have big ideas, and she can have complex conversations about the world with them. Aside from laughing and having fun, writing is one of Dr. Suskind’s favorite things to do with her students. She will miss spending an hour going around to each individual, talking to him about his writing and pulling from her own ideas to help strengthen his skills. Dr. Suskind has a lot of ideas to pull from, as she has published one book and 13 academic journals of her own. Along with writing, Dr. Suskind is an avid reader, usually digesting two or three books a week. You may be asking yourself, where does she find the time? Well, Dr. Suskind makes time by getting up at 4:30 to write for the two hours before her two sons wake up and listening to audio books

as she runs three to five miles every day. “I always wonder how she can accomplish everything she does each day, but then I remember she is the energizer bunny!” says Mrs. Tyson. Despite being a modern-day Renaissance woman, Dr. Suskind stays humble. As for next year, Dr. Suskind looks forward to a new chapter of her life at an administrative level. She eagerly awaits the opportunity to impact the lives of even more students as the head of St. Catherine’s Middle School. Dr. Suskind credits two amazing mentors with taking her under their wings and pushing her to think creatively and outgrow herself. “I am excited to take on a new role that will give me the opportunity to support girls, families, faculty and curriculum on a more global level,” Dr. Suskind says. She will truly miss St. Christopher’s, and she is grateful for all the opportunities given, such as attending conferences in Australia and South Africa. Dr. Suskind loves research, and the school has been so supportive of professional development that she can’t thank it enough. Dr. Suskind’s wisdom, curiosity, and passion for learning will sorely be missed in the Lower School next year, but we all wish her the best in all her future endeavors.

Matt Roy

Interviewed by William Rodriguez ’18 Years teaching at St. Christopher’s: Three Subject: Chemistry Coaches: JV lacrosse, JV soccer What he’ll miss most: Mr. Roy will miss the many opportunities he’s been given as a teacher, coach, academic advisor, CAT member, and faculty sponsor of RAMPS club. He also enjoyed the company of “the squad:” fellow teachers Mr. Buck, Mr. Whalen, Mr. Asare and Mr. Watson. In Richmond, Mr. Roy loved experiencing the many different restaurants and the awe-inspiring feel of driving down Monument Avenue. Favorite STC memory: Saying he loves the humor boys bring to class, Mr. Roy admits he’s “lucky enough to laugh every single day here.” His funniest memory is Christopher Flippen’s overall sense of humor. Future plans: Mr. Roy will soon leave for Chicago with his fiancée to be closer to both her new job and her family. Luckily, he’s already found a new job at St. Ignatius College Prep teaching science, due to a high demand for those in STEM fields. He says he will always look back on STC fondly and is eager to apply what he learned here to the next step in his life.

Richard Franzese Interviewed by Henry Rodriguez ’18

Years teaching at St. Christopher’s: Two Subjects: Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, “life” Coaches: Indoor and outdoor track What he’ll miss most about STC: Mr. Franzese is sad that he’ll miss the sophomores and juniors develop academically and graduate, especially the ones he taught. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be a complete part of that process,” he said. Favorite STC memory: Although he can’t pick absolute winners, Mr. Franzese remembers advisory discussions and track team performances (especially in the relay) most fondly. He also loved seeing students in his classes progress in their learning and understanding of the subject. Future plans: Mr. Franzese will defect to North Carolina, where he’ll live near Raleigh with his wife who will practice medicine in Fort Bragg. He hopes to continue teaching high school, though he’s open to going into applied “maths” as a mathematician. When asked if he’s thought about returning to Britain, he responded “Yeah!” though his wife’s job in family medicine prevents him from returning for at least 10 years. The Pine Needle

Ross Whitney Abrash — University of Richmond

Bryce Warren Fortner — Virginia Tech

William Coleman Andrews — Sewanee: The University of the South

John Philippe Girerd — University of Virginia

Daniel Joseph Bader — University of Virginia

Zebulon Vance Gordon III — Bucknell University

Mason McKay Bailey — High Point University

Frederick Crane Gray — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitzgerald Bemiss II — Cornell University

Alexander McGiffert Hale — Virginia Tech

Benjamin Patton Bencks — University of Virginia

Alexander Donnan Wheeler Hamilton — Auburn University

William Hill Brown V — Princeton University

Ryan Patrick Hansen — The College of William and Mary

Samuel William Cain — James Madison University

Emmett Poindexter Hatcher — University of South Carolina

Lucas Walter Campbell — Emory University

John FitzRandolph Hodgson Jr. — Washington and Lee University

William David Cox — Davidson College

John Christian Holdaway — University of Georgia

Coleman Lytton Cox — James Madison University

Thomas Reece Holleran — James Madison University

Hiram Joseph Cuevas — College of William and Mary

Malcolm Fulton Ilnicky — University of Virginia

J. Hunter Ellison Dabney — Virginia Commonwealth University

William Hunter Jefferson — Virginia Tech

Charles Christopher Wilson de Venoge — James Madison University

Nathan Walton Johnson — University of Virginia

Rohan Dhar — Pennsylvania State University

Colin Eldridge Knight — Virginia Commonwealth University

Owen Maxwell Dodge — University of Virginia

Davis Tyner Lupold — Roanoke College

Peter Shand Duke — Virginia Tech

Connor Joseph Masterson — University of Virginia

William Pierce Edlich — University of Virginia

John Stephen McCauley — College of Charleston

Chase Andrew Evans — Texas A&M University

Stephen Tankard McCray — Virginia Tech

Ryan Lee Everhart — University of Virginia

Scott Michael McGowan — Virginia Tech

Matthew Emanuel Fernandez — University of Richmond

William Alexander Wood McKinnon — New York University

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Grayson Craig Meck — University of South Carolina

Nicolas Emmanuel Sherod — University of Richmond

Sean Christian Menges — University of Richmond

William Francis Simopoulos — University of Virginia

Paul Christian Metz — Virginia Commonwealth University

Colin Matthew Smith — Southern Methodist University

Kameron Keith Miller — The College of William and Mary

Nathaniel Burwell Smith — Northwestern University

Edward Joseph Millman — Virginia Tech

Joseph Elna Spruill IV — Sewanee: The University of the South

Collin Lee Mistr — University of Mary Washington

Tazle Alexander Sumpter — University of Richmond

Jonathan Edward Najarian — Wake Forest University

Charles August Swanson — University of Michigan

Matthew Joseph Nelligan — University of South Carolina

John Anthony Allen Szymendera — University of Virginia

John Timothy O’Neil — Boston College

Edmund Bradford Tazewell IV — UNC at Chapel Hill

Noah Thomas O’Neill — University of Virginia

Brandon Okoth Thomas — Virginia Tech

Miles Ashton Parrish — Colorado State University

Jack William Trunick — James Madison University

Horace Preston Payne III — Harvard University

Samuel Rangeley Turner — College of Charleston

Winston Alexander Boyd Peete — Washington and Lee University

James McIlhenny Ukrop — University of Virginia

Jacob Brian Pitney — University of Arizona

Gregory Benjamin Vaeth Jr. — Sewanee: The University of the South

William Jeffrey Pohanka — Virginia Commonwealth University

Riley Chapman Varner — University of Colorado, Boulder

Lewis Franklin Powell IV — Washington and Lee University

Wilhelm Harry Venitz — Virginia Tech

Joseph Robert Prata — Virginia Tech

Sylvester Pierce Walmsley — University of Virginia

Jackson Hunter Reinhart — University of Southern California

Benjamin MacDowell Walters — Davidson College

Julian Sargeant Reynolds III — Tulane University

David Osina Weatherford — University of Virginia

Andrew Peter Romig — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Donald Pope Whitley III — Hampden—Sydney College

Ralph Parker Ross IV — Longwood University

Jack Holloway Workman — University of Virginia

The Pine Needle

EDITORIALS

Inclusivity Needs to Have a Top-Down Approach By Nick Sherod ’16

very school has a set of institutional values and core beliefs that are made clear. For us here at St. Christopher’s, the foundation is honor. We all have to sign a document saying that we will abide by the honor code, and we are all aware of the penalties if it is broken. While the honor system is not perfect, it is made clear in our documents that being honorable is required to attend St. Christopher’s, as well as expected. It’s what set us apart and makes our school what it is. As far as issues of inclusion and diversity, it seems that we are less clear. If you go to the Second Century Vision page on our web site, you’ll find under “Core Beliefs” that “we value the power of relationships and community.” Under “Essential Qualities for Second Century Leaders” you’ll find things such as “respect for others” and “adaptability and openness to change,” which are the closest things to trying to make this school as inclusive as possible. While those don’t really make our stance on inclusivity clear, what’s even more alarming is that under “Priority Areas of Focus,” these things don’t appear. While I’m sure we as a school value inclusivity, it is not clearly stated as an area of importance.

I Voted for Myself

t was the moment I had been dreaming of, voting for the first time. I expected to walk through a tunnel, get handed a freshly printed piece of paper and a golden pen and after completing my vote I would be greeted by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who would be spelling out my name as confetti fell from the ground. To my displeasure, all I did was show my identification to people sitting at a desk. I was handed a not so freshly printed sheet of paper, filled in the bubble beside the name of the person I was voting for, and just exited without any cheering or fanfare. I was very unsatisfied at the actually voting process but what was even more difficult and disappointing was the process of deciding on a candidate.

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One of the things that is quite often stressed as part of the Second Century Vision is that we are prepared for an everchanging world. While that sounds great and is a very important goal, how can we truly be prepared for what’s ahead if our surroundings don’t come close to what we will face later on? In my opinion, what makes the honor system so great is that it governs itself. At this point, I know what is considered honorable and not honorable, and while I may not get caught for an action, at the very least I know there could be a consequence, and I know what is expected of me as a student. Why can’t inclusivity be just as valuable to us as a school? A student knows that he can’t tweet something like “shout out to my friend for giving me the answers to that quiz” because he knows that he is in clear violation of the honor code, thus the honor system has done its job. But a student can also tweet a message of hate towards a person or group of people and get away with it, usually with no consequence. It is allowed because inclusivity is not deemed explicitly important by our school, it is almost suggested that we be inclusive and that show respect to certain to everyone. Yes, the honor system has been around

To be honest, I am not the most informed voter. Politics and the government in general all are just over my head. It never really mattered because I wasn’t going to vote so I never really felt the need to be informed. Because I was able to vote in this upcoming election, I tried to read up on the candidates to see who I was going to vote for. I read articles. I tried watching the debates to gain knowledge but was disappointed to find that I could watch the same childish banter from Snooki and JWow on Jersey Shore. I watched some individual rallies, but most were marred with vicious protests and more trash talk, I was still left without answers. My next stop was CNN, which I heard from others is the most unbiased of all the major news outlets. As I did my research I kept coming to the same conclusion after

for 100 years. But it would not be able to stand if we didn’t think it was important. Inclusivity is not deemed as important, so it is not taken as seriously. There are things that “you are not supposed to say,” but that leaves room for personal opinion, as everyone’s filter is different. In the honor system, you may not think copying someone’s worksheet is necessarily “dishonorable,” but you know what the consequence is therefore you are much less likely to copy off someone. That’s what needs to be made clear in terms of issues of diversity: It doesn’t matter what your opinion is on a certain topic or a group of people, disrespect is unacceptable and you will be punished for it because it is something that we as a school take very seriously. The argument against consequences for slurs and other disrespectful terminology is that it is a slippery slope. Do all honor offenses get reported? Of course not, but at least we know the rules. If we had something like that in terms of terminology, while every time someone says something that goes directly against our stance on inclusivity, it is made clear that there is a policy against it and that if you are reported there will be consequences. While the policy would take time to get into our community, at least people would be aware. By Nick Sherod ’16 every video and article: no frontrunner emerged. It seemed as if every candidate had major deficiencies and it became more obvious that every voter was trying to pick the lesser of all the evils as opposed to the best candidate. I was confused and lost and felt like any answer I picked was going to be the wrong one. As I rode to my local voting post with my dad, I had finally come to my conclusion. I walked in, unfortunately to no fanfare as expected, and was ready to vote. I went behind the desk and voted for an unlikely candidate. I wrote myself down. That’s right, Nicolas Emmanuel Sherod for president. Who better to do the job than myself ? So for those eligible to vote, remember to give me a shot. Nick Sherod: Keeping It Real. #Sherod2016.

Why Climate Change Exists By Jack Holdaway ’16

ome people don’t take climate change seriously or even neglect it’s existence. The topic is pushed to the back burner, and our global community procrastinates to act on the issue like one of us would do when a test or a paper is on the horizon. Climate change is real, and we are at crossroads where our global community needs to decide if we will give it the consideration it deserves. One of the reasons I believe that people don’t take this issue seriously is because they don’t understand what global warming really is. Yes, it means that temperatures on Earth are rising, but do you know how you are contributing to the problem? Rising temperatures are caused by the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), and even water vapor. CO2, the most common greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, is a product of fossil fuel combustion and released from car tailpipes and energy-generating power plants. Methane is released from cattle flatulence, which is more of problem than it deserves to be. N2O is emitted into the atmosphere from aircraft as a result of burning jet fuel. Greenhouse gases are extremely devastating to our environment because they linger in the air, trapping heat energy radiating from the Earth’s surface and ensuring that this heat remains in our atmosphere. The additional heat induces higher temperatures, which poses great harm to the world’s ecosystems, as hotter weather causes Arctic ice to melt. The thawing ice cues rising ocean waters, warming water temperature, and changing water densities, which can alter important oceanic currents like the Gulf Stream. An intergovernmental panel on climate change has determined there is a direct correlation between rising CO2 levels, which are the highest ever known on Earth, and increasing temperature. As of 2010, CO2 reached 389 ppm, meaning for every million parts of the atmosphere, 389 of those parts were CO2 molecules. The consensus among of the scientific community is 450

Artwork By Dylan Gibbs ’17

ppm is the global tipping point, when our planet will suffer certain environmental harm that it will not be able to recover from. To put that into perspective, the CO2 levels are suppose to reach 560 ppm by 2050. With the United States bearing the

honor as the highest emitter of CO2, I believe our generation has the responsibility to effectively fight the threat of global warming. Using energy more efficiently and investing in renewable energy sources is the future our world should be heading towards to ensure our planet’s health.

The compiled results of a survey of 111 Upper School students.

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The Oak Needle St. Christopher’s Finest News Source

Spears Resigns Following LanSchool Exposé: “I am not a crook!”

Lowly Freshman Intern Discovers The Pine Needle Actually at 99th Anniversary

Does Recycling Count Towards Community Service Hours? Read Both Sides of the Debate

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Spanish Armada Sunk By Student

of two seasoned Spanish teachers, Asha Bandal and Kimberly Mayer, in a swashbuckling sword battle with the unruly student on board their flagship, the Descubre. However, the battle resulted not only in the destruction of the dress code, but the entire Spanish fleet. The offending high schooler, whose name has not been revealed, was said to have victoriously sailed away from the debris into the sunset with his tricornered hat still perched firmly on his head. “We were completely unprepared for this kind of resistance.” said Admiral Varner as she clung to a piece of floating wreckage.

Arcadian Learns How To Shorten URLs

By William Rodriguez ’18 The seemingly invincible Spanish Armada was left in shambles this week by a daring soul who crusaded through Chamberlayne’s vast ocean of a basement sporting a hat, no belt and an untucked shirt. Even after intense pressure from the Admiral of the World Languages Department Suzanne Varner to adhere to the dress code, the salty sea dog refused to walk the plank. Admiral Varner enlisted the help

Administration to English Department: Clocks Required By Gunther Abbot ’17 An investigation into consistently late English teachers reveals clocks are lacking from most classrooms. Calls for teachers to “Hurry Up Please It’s Time” became more vocal in recent months, prompting the investigation. English Department Chair Jay Wood denies the accusations, claiming that he has an internal clock “accurate to seven

Are We Being Poisoned Every Day? By Guillermo Verdasco St. Catherine’s has never been checked for radon levels. A deadly gas that causes lung cancer, radon could be poisoning the student body. “You can’t see or smell radon. Testing is

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thousandths of a second.” Mr. Randolph also denies wrongdoing, although students often report him showing up to class several minutes late. The clock in Mr. Smith’s room is broken and has a note taped on it reading “Gatsby time.” Mr. Smith was late to a scheduled interview on the matter. The controversy climaxed when an English Department meeting was forced to start 35 minutes late after teachers were confused on the correct time. The administration has since mandated properly working clocks in every English classroom. the only way to know your level of exposure,” reads the Environmental Protection Agency web site. Deadly and undetectable, radon could be at St. Catherine’s. Until someone drops dead or the school finally tests for it, no one will know for sure. Radon isn’t just scary because it kills unnoticeably. Radon is naturally occurring. No one would suspect a chemist if someone died of radon poisoning; 21,000 Americans

By Kinloch Nelson ’18 and Henry Rodriguez ’18 After finally learning about the wonders of the line tool, the Arcadian staff once again needed a lesson; this time in URL shortening. In the Arcadian’s final issue of 2016, a long and cumbersome link was forced upon many readers. “It just hit me like a truck,” said one reader. “I couldn’t believe that they expected me to type in such a long link.” Others complained of cracked nails, sore knuckles and sprained wrists after dutifully attempting to follow up on what was supposed to be a well-intentioned attempt to better inform readers from their second favorite school publication. After this incident, the Arcadian learned how to use popular URL shorteners like bit.ly and goo.gl, and they hope to avoid a similar situation. die of radon-caused lung cancer every year. However, St. Catherine’s has done nothing to mitigate the risk despite its magnitude. Students all across campus are outraged that their safety is being disregarded. “We pay way too much money to die at this school,” said sophomore Isabelle LeBey. For $30,000 a year, students expect proper Radon safety procedures. But no. Apparently, testing for Radon goes against the “moral values” of St. Catherine’s School. “We do not believe in discrimination,” reads a statement on behalf of the school. “From oxygen to radon, all molecules matter here at St. Catherine’s.”

This issue of the Oak Needle is dedicated to the unwavering Mr. Scott Mayer while procturing countless hours of AP examinations.

perseverance and ineffable stamina of

Mr. Mauck, Still Recovering from Burns, Puts Together JV Team for next Year’s BoB

Oak Needle Discovers Small Caps Button, Mr. Wood Elated

E-Sports Demands Spot in Arts Expo: “My no-scope [sic] headshot [sic] montage is art too!”

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St. Christopher’s Community Message From the Administration From skills-based learning to cultural competency, St. Christopher’s pushes the envelope when it comes to facilitating student leadership. Skills-based learning tops the list of priorities on our school’s Second Century Vision. Our Saints Action Research Teams make sure to utilize the Best Practices For Boys™ on their Journeys to Manhood. The all new Center For The Study Of Boys helps our students self-define in a center where they can be studied in a boy-centric environment. It teaches essential 21st Century Skills that foster global citizenship and engagement. Here at St. Christopher’s, inclusivity is part of our primary mission. Awareness of community issues is something that we instill in each and every one of our students. That’s why all of our students are all open-minded, accepting individuals with a

College Board’s Office of Testing Integrity Supercedes Honor Council By Kinloch Nelson ’18 After a hard-fought court battle, the College Board has ruled in favor of its Office of Testing Integrity, allowing them to overrule the decisions made by the Honor Council. The Office of Testing Integrity released a statement after the Honorable President

high capacity for tolerance. Another piece of the puzzle in Educating the Whole Boy™ is making sure that every student can serve to his full capacity, a phenomenon we call Servant Leadership. We define leadership as “using one’s character, wisdom, and life skills to make a positive difference in the lives of others.” We strive to add the “servant” aspect to this concept. Community is one of the major pillars of a good community. We consider community to be very important in reinforcing community values, because a wholesome community is a globally engaged community. From their start in the kindergarten community working together on projects like the Lower School Community Garden™, to their communal graduation as fellowmen in the senior community with more than 50 hours of community service under their belts, STC boys have been thoroughly embraced in the encompassing, warm blanket of community. of College Board gave his ruling. “We’re very pleased with this result, and we’d like to remind each of our servants...err.. students that if they see anything suspicious while taking an AP test, they should make sure to report it. Scores may be cancelled.” The Honor Council also issued an address, saying, “Despite today’s events, we are open to the idea of working with the Office of Testing Integrity. Their mission is similar to ours in that we’re both trying to preserve a fair and just environment.” The Office refused to comment on this response outside of a brief, “We’ll see about that.”

Nate Smith Spends Final Chapel Sleeping, Misses Jones’s Comment on Sleeping in Class Page 21

Mr. Mayer Complains of “Nightmayers” after 100th Hour Spent in Scott Gym Page 7

Mr. Mayer Convinced Scott Gym Named For Him After 200th Hour Spent Inside Page Mayer

Mr. Mayer Forgets School Code After 47,18,90 Minutes Spent in Mayer Gym From AP student pack

Mr. Mayer, Worried About Future, Visits LS Classes for a Sticker Removal Workshop From section I booklet

Mr. Mayer Begins to Have Visions of AP Number Label Boxes After 400th Hour AP Number Label (from Student Pack)

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Farewell, Mr. Stillwell p. 31

Mr. Boyd, Unemployed X-Term Showcase

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College Decisions Oak Needle Label Here (on Page 43)

p. 19