“Needling the faculty, staff, and students for 96 straight”
The Pine Needle
St. Christopher’s School
Richmond, Virginia
October 2013
Number 1
Volume XCVI
The Dawn of the New Dinesty By Henry Fauls Senior Editor
This Is Our Turf
By Merrick Furman Junior Contributor
It was an all-out turf war. After serious deliberation and thought, a committee of coaches and administrators decided to put in turf. Proponents argued that an artificial field would allow the school to maximize practice space, while some favored the tradition and the better playing environment that the grass field provided. After about a month of delays the new turf arrived just in time for the Saints first home game of the year, Sept. 13. Granted, this was not the planned completion date; rain and grading issues bogged down the construction, scheduled to be completed
for the first day of football practice, Aug. 12. Now Saints football and lacrosse players will play all their home games on artificial turf. The change is a much-anticipated new addition to the Saints’ list of great athletic facilities. The award winning grass of Knowles Field is not gone; it has merely moved a couple hundred yards south to the Middle School field. “The best turf in the Commonwealth” is what Athletic Director John Gordon had in mind when he decided to revamp the already award winning Knowles Field. Although Knowles Field was undoubtedly one of the nicest natural grass playing surfaces in Virginia, Coach Gordon
said it would benefit the St. Christopher’s athletic department to have a field capable of hosting contests in all weather conditions and all times of the year. The new turf is expected to last about 25 years, which provides the Saints football program with a nearly maintenance-free playing surface for the foreseeable future. The process attracted many college and high school representatives who are interested in attempting the project at their schools. The new turf consists of a fourlayer system to ensure proper drainage, including a cushioned, foam shock pad, designed to minimize the force of impact on players, thus Continued Field, Page 6
Under the Hood with Partee
By Charlie Parrish Junior Contributor
Now many of us have heard the stories of how Sam Partee built a car with his bare hands from stones imported from Mexico. While much of that statement is ridiculous, there is some truth to it. There may be no stones or imports involved but he effectively rebuilt much of his car, a BMW E39 M5. BMW ,the company that produced the car, uses E39 as the name for this style of M5 which was produced from 1995-2003. The M stands for Motorsport, BMW’s high performance division. The 5 is used because the car is based off a regular 5 series sedan that has been tuned for the highest performance possible
and given a plethora of luxurious features. It all started long ago when Partee and his dad would work on another BMW. “I was always really interested in cars, but ever since my dad and I started working on his M5 I became obsessed with working on that type of car.” Fast forward to the present, and we see Partee again working on an M5, however this one belongs to him. Partee loves this car, saying he will keep it for the rest of his life. “I’m never going to get rid of it, I will build and rebuild this car until the day I die.” According to Partee, when he first got the car any other normal person would have been satisfied with it, but he was not. He described it as driveable but not where he wanted it. As of now, he has replaced or
rebuilt the entire upper engine, all of the suspension components, the right motor mount, the motor brackets, the transmission mounts, the intakes, the ABS brakes system, the fender, the hood, the stereo system and all the fluids, and he plans to keep working until he reaches perfection whenever that may be. Out of everything on that impressive list, the transmission mounts and motor mounts proved to be the hardest job because they were difficult to get to and required the engine to be lifted. Due to the lack of an engine lift, he had to improvise, using a car jack with a piece of wood between the mount and the car to prevent damage to the car. Partee did much of this work in the freezing cold, which he described as “horrible,” but he powered through with flannels, gloves Continued Partee’s Car, Page 6
The red cups—new and cool but not that big of a deal. Until you uncover why they’re here. Walter Ellerbe is the man behind this school-spirited change who hopes that the darker plastic will improve the longevity of the cups. Our new chef boasts an unbelievable background, from fullback at the University of South Carolina to the owner of several award-winning restaurants. Beginning his high schoool career as a 5’10”, 225 lb. tailback who sprinted a 4.4 40 and threw 345 pounds up on a bench press, Chef Ellerbe moved on to play at the University of South Carolina from ’86-’90. From there, he made the transition to semi-pro ball for the Triangle Cardinals in Raleigh, close to his home in Durham. After a modest stint with the sheriff’s department, Chef picked up a full time job at a Marriott in Raleigh where he decided to take advantage of the company’s continuing education program. The blossoming chef landed a spot at the Culinary Institute of America for five out of the seven years he worked at Marriott. Because of a mix up his final year, he was sent to another premiere culinary school in South Carolina, Johnson & Wales University. Chef Ellerbe fell in love with the instruction there and earned an associates and bachelor’s degree. After graduation, Mr. Ellerbe, while working as the chef at Capitol City Chop House, answered a call from former President Jimmy Carter’s publicist, hoping that his boss could have dinner there. Though Chef thought it was a vicious prank contrived by his friends, not only did Carter eat at his restaurant, he also asked Chef Ellerbe to cook for him on the last leg of his tour. He accepted, and that tour landed him in the Tidewater area where he started working for Sage Dining Services at Norfolk Collegiate School. The New York Giants and the New York Jets offered him a job as the executive chef for their joint offseason camp after his first run with Sage. A successful 10-day excursion that turned out to be more of an interview earned him the job as Continued Chef, Page 5
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The Pine Needle
2] Summer Adventuring, Some Aren’t October 2013
Whether it is making a summit bid on Mt. Shasta, spending five days alone in the wilderness, or peaking Junior Contributor Mt. Kilimanjaro, students Richard Hamrick, Harvard Smith and Houston Hardy used summer as an opportunity to build leadership skills, test others, and, most importantly, test themselves. By Joe Goode
Houston Hardy
Richard Hamrick Richard Hamrick, a junior, spent three weeks in and around Yosemite National Park on a trip sponsored by Moondance Adventures. After whitewater rafting, backpacking, and climbing, Hamrick traveled to the Cascade Mountain range to conquer Mount Shasta. Unfortunately, he did not summit the 14,179-foot mountain due to a series of small avalanches. During the climb, a ball of ice hurtled down the mountain and crashed into the femur of Hamrick’s guide, who had to be airlifted off of the mountain. Hamrick learned a lot about teamwork through his experience on the mountain. “I learned how to be team player,” he said. “I learned how to be part of a team rather than being the leader.”
Senior Houston Hardy went on a three-week trip sponsored by Moondance Adventures. He and 12 other teenagers travelled to Tanzania. During their first week, they refurbished an elementary school classroom in the village of Munguere. After that, the group spent their second week climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. At 19,341 feet tall, Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa. The altitude especially affected Hardy. “I really had to push past my limits,”
During the third week Hardy and his group went on safaris around Tanzania. Hardy elaborated on the biggest lesson he learned from his experiences. “Just seeing the kids really makes you appreciate how many things we have been blessed with.”
Injuries Are Adding Up By William Maddock Junior Editor
Keeping a football team healthy is a matter of luck as much as anything. Suffice it to say the Varsity team has had less than perfect luck so far in 2013. “Every football coach in America has uttered the following words: ‘We will be fine so long as we stay healthy,’ ” said head Varsity football coach Michael Turner. Injuries have plagued the Varsity football team this year, ranging from concussions to sprains to torn ligaments. These injuries have knocked out a number of starters as well as backups, some for one game, some for the rest of the season. A few of the players
Harvard Smith Junior Harvard Smith went on a trip sponsored by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He spent three weeks backpacking, camping and taking classes in the Wind River Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. Smith took classes on leadership, first aid and geology. He spent the last five days of the trip hiking from camp to camp with three other students and no instructor. Reflecting on what he learned from his trip, Smith said, “Sometimes a big part of leadership is doing what others tell you to do and helping other people.”
The Pine Needle Editor-in-Chief Peyton McElroy
Senior Editor
Junior Editor
Henry Fauls
William Maddock
Senior Contributors
Junior Contributors
Alec Ball Samuel Coltrane Michael Nordahl Harry Smith Cooper Yoo
Joe Goode Charlie Parrish Merrick Furman Jack Jiranek Fitz Fitzgerald John Fergusson Alex Shedd
Sophomore Contributors
Freshman Contributors
Malcolm Ilnicky Jack Holdaway Coleman Cox Will McKinnon Jack O’Neill
William Horne Ricky Stockel
Photographer Zaid Al-Moghrabi Faculty Advisor Mrs. Kathleen Thomas
Special Thanks to Mr. Cappy Gilchrist for Help with Photos
Jumping Distances
By Alec Ball
While most summer reading choice book groups were discussing thematic elements of their books, students who read “Jump Rope Training” were on a Skype call with an Olympian. Buddy Lee, the author of “Jump Rope Training” and former Olympic wrestler, spent an X period answering the student questions. English teacher Mr. Jay Wood, was the faculty sponsor who has pursued athletic passion his entire life, from coaching Varsity soccer to being nationally ranked in squash in his younger days. “I picked the book because
but also his life philosophy as an athlete who had reached the pinnacle of his sport. Lee excitedly added at the beginning of the call that it was his “first ever Skype call with students,” and he spoke on the importance of having passion for everything one does in life. Charles Moore ’14 participated adding “Our Skype call with Buddy Lee gave me a new outlook on what his book meant to him. He was an exciting and fun individual.” As a special parting gift, Buddy Lee sent each student participant an autographed poster and a speed jump rope as thanks for their time spent asking him questions.
During the month that I spent as an exchange student at Christ Church Grammar School in Western Australia, there was one class that stood out from all the rest of my courses: Marine Studies. Despite its lackluster name, it is arguably one of the greatest original ideas to ever come from Australia. The entire class consisted of the group’s taking half a
dozen motorboats out on the water and trying to see how fast we could make them go before they began to belch black smoke and stall out. A gregarious instructor who appeared to be the Australian version of Mr. Miller in almost every way, including tone of voice, presided over the class. He did not particularly seem to care what we did with the boats as long as we did not ram them into the pier on which he stood.
Wrestlers Speak...
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Hudson Taylor
On Sept. 26, Hudson Taylor spoke in chapel about creating a culture of inclusion and acceptance at St. Christopher’s. He was a collegiate wrestler at the University of Maryland who majored in performance art. Since graduating, he has created the organization Athlete Ally, which promotes awareness and acceptance of members of the gay community in sports. “The culture doesn’t define you; you define the culture,” said Taylor.
Walker ’15, Cole Gayle ’14, Sean Menges ’16, and Cole Claiborne ’15 as well as many others have made significant contributions. One thing injuries have had very little effect on has been the team’s attitude. Manager William Boyd ’15 said, “I’m impressed with how the team has come together and fought through the injuries.” The injured players have stayed connected to the team and helped keep the attitude positive. “I’m exceedingly proud of how the injured guys have remained connected to the team, finding ways to contribute, as well as of the guys who have adopted a ‘next man up’ attitude,” Coach Turner said. At 4-2 and in the heart of the season, the football team is making the best of what it has in spite of the missing players and has its sights set on a return to the playoffs.
Life In The Land Down Under
Junior Contributor
I have been a lifelong fan of jump roping, and I wanted to expand my awareness of it as a fitness activity not only for myself but for the sports teams I coach,” said Mr. Wood. He had difficulty reaching Lee who was out of the country but after calling his office multiple times managed to get through. Mr. Wood initially attempted to bring Buddy Lee to campus, but when it became clear that it was not an option he began exchanging emails and eventually talking with Lee twice on the phone. As a result, he set up the Skype call for the students who read Lee’s book as an opportunity to ask questions not only about jumping rope
who have missed time with injuries are Fleet Wallace ’15 (partially torn MCL), Stephen Bunda ’14 (torn meniscus), Conner Williams ’14 (broken finger), Ryland Ansell ’14 (torn MCL), Charles Moore ’14 (concussion, ankle sprain), Tyler Anthony ’14 (broken nose) and Ned Farley ’14 (concussion, two stress fractures). Coach Turner said many injuries are the result of many guys on the team playing multiple positions this year. For seniors, a serious injury could mean the end of their football careers. Senior Ned Farley, a linebacker and running back, said, “It was kind of weird realizing I wouldn’t ever play football again, but I had a good first half of the year, so I’m ending on a good note.” For the team as a whole, injuries can potentially affect attitude and, perhaps most importantly, outcomes in games. “It has taken a toll,” said senior Conner Williams, “We were not at 100 percent for a game [against Benedictine] that we needed to be at 100 percent.” Other guys have been forced to fill the void left by injuries. Assistant Coach Greg Tune said, “Injuries happen in sports; next man up. It’s been catastrophic in terms of talent level, but the next guys have to step up and get it done.” Tripp
Reporter’s Notebook: By Jack Jiranek
Senior Contributor
The Pine Needle
October 2013
After a couple of these fun and laidback “classes” on the river, we were subjected to the easiest boat safety test I have ever taken. At the end of our time in Perth, both Ben Moore and I were quasi-legally allowed to operate powerboats in the state of Western Australia. Before our arrival, the class had also received SCUBA-diving certifications and was involved with the surfing/lifesaving program. Overall, this experience made me contemplate how much richer the curriculum of our school would be if we were to follow this example and periodically take time off from our daily schedule to drive a dozen or so powerboats in an confined area for the span of a block period. This truly Australian idea of having a class based around driving outboard-motor boats really quickly just for the sake of burning gasoline and trying to jump over a classmate’s wake made my trip.
Anthony Robles On Thursday Oct. 3, Anthony Robles spoke to both the Middle and Upper schools. Robles, born with one leg, was a Division I NCAA wrestling champion from Arizona State University. He talked about perseverance in the face of adversity, and the challenges he overcame to become the unstoppable symbol he is today. Robles explained how he never allowed his disability to hinder him, never considering himself handicapped.
Teacher After Hours...
Oh Golladay, My Golladay
By Harry Smith Senior Contributor
This man has a reputation that precedes him. He is arguably the most interesting man in the world. A man of many names -- Don Golladay, Dandy Don, Donny G, Mr. G, or Doc -- is a 45 year veteran of St. Christopher’s. Students may think that they know the man who spends his workweek as teacher and coach of the Bulldog football and lacrosse teams, but he actually has a life outside of school. Does he really have a car full of dead babies? Does he always spill his coffee when he checks his watch? The world may never know. But, I do know one thing: he is more than a math teacher. Originally from Woodstock, Va. in the Shenandoah Valley, Mr. Golladay was a high school football star who impressed the scouts at the University of Richmond where he later played fullback and linebacker. But this rugged football player has a nostalgic side. He’s just a kid at heart. Every Saturday Mr. Golladay busies his hands at The Toy Center in the model train department, selling and repairing Lionel trains. His eyes gleam like a child’s when he hears the clickety-clack of the Lionel train cars that he has just repaired. Not just cerebral and athletic, Golladay reveals his artistic side as the bass player and back-up singer for “The
Company Store,” an old-time music band with the stamp of Americana. It is not a surprise that Mr. Golladay’s favorite performance piece, “The Engineers Don’t Wave from the Trains Anymore,” alludes to his wistfulness for the heyday of the iron horse. The band has strummed many chords at venues throughout the state, including the Richmond Folk Festival. Sample the talent of one of St. Christopher’s own on iTunes. So if you are surprised to stumble upon Mr. Golladay in The Toy Center or at a musical event or even at a Richmond Spiders football game, don’t be afraid to wave because I’m sure he’ll wave right back and flash his unforgettable Donny G smile.
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The Pine Needle
October 2013
Fresh Faces...
Michael Rossetti By William Maddock Junior Editor
Mr. Michael Rossetti spent part of 2010 teaching Algebra at University Nevada, Las Vegas in Singapore. That’s just one of his many international experiences. Mr. Rossetti has also traveled to Italy, Costa Rica, Canada, Thailand, Laos and Malaysia. He has a special interest in Asia and spent a year in China living mainly in Shanghai and exploring the country, staying with families as well as in hostels and hotels. While there, he visited many of the major tourist attractions but also marked his own path. “I just find the culture to be one
Aitor Arrondo
By Jack Holdaway Sophomore Contributor
In the summer of 1998, Mr. Aitor Arrondo took a break from his job on a cattle ranch and traveled down the East Coast by way of Greyhound bus, exploring the cities along the way. He and his coworkers stayed three nights per city as Mr. Arrondo soaked in American culture and what it means to be an American. “What an amazing country,” he said. “… Each state is different. Everything is big. There is so much to discover.” Mr. Arrondo’s travels that summer mirror his journey through life – ever moving. The new Spanish teacher has ventured between the United States and his native Spain for the majority of his life. After growing up in Legazpi, Spain, Mr. Arrondo received an undergraduate degree from the University of Basque Country in philology and applied linguistics. He continued his studies in the United States, attending the universities of Iowa
that I understand. It’s so different from here; it’s just kind of an adventure.” At one point he was fluent in Chinese, but said he doesn’t have many opportunities to speak the language anymore. Mr. Rossetti comes to St. Christopher’s as a geometry and precalculus teacher as well as a cross country coach. He and his wife Allie moved to Richmond two months ago. Since arriving he has spent time biking and running on Belle Isle and the Buttermilk Trail. “I love this city,” he said. “There’s a lot to do outdoors, a lot of good restaurants.” Mr. Rossetti received a bachelor of science in mathematics from Walsh University and a master’s of applied mathematics from Case Western Reserve University, both in Ohio, his home state. He has eight years of teaching experience at the college level in addition to his time at UNLV Singapore. He taught at Sanda University and Case Western for one year each and spent the last six years teaching various math courses at the University of Akron. Teaching is one of Mr. Rossetti’s passions. “It’s fun to see people learn something new, to see the light bulbs turning on, to share what I know.”
and Georgia where he received his master’s in Spanish literature. Afterwards, Mr. Arrondo taught at private schools in Atlanta and Brooklyn before returning to Spain to teach in Barcelona. Mr. Arrondo has been impressed with the attitude and respect of students in both the classroom and athletic field since his arrival. “I’ve been to three private schools, and this is the school where the students respect in a better way. I am impressed,” he said. What Mr. Arrondo offers to his students is a wide perspective of languages and an experience in linguistics. He has mastered four languages: English, Spanish, Basque and Catalan. Basque and Catalan are independent languages spoken in the specific regions of the Basque Country and Catalonia, respectively. Outside of his classroom, Mr. Arrondo has been helping coach the JV soccer team and playing in his own league on weekends. The new Spanish teacher keeps in shape in other ways. Students can see him riding his bike down St. Christopher’s Road to and from his house on Monument Avenue. Mr. Arrondo’s arrival on campus will be a definite boost to the languages department. “He brings a unique perspective and a wealth of cultural experiences to our community,” said colleague Sue Varner, “We are thrilled to have Mr. Arrondo join the world languages department.”
Kelly Parker By Ricky Stockel Freshman Contributor
Few can claim to have met Usain Bolt, and fewer still to have taught him how to salsa. St. Christopher’s new Middle School Spanish teacher has done both. Ms. Kelly Parker also made a cameo in a music video by reggae artist Mark Lyttle, continues to practice the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, and has lived in several countries, moving here from Jamaica in August. Ms. Parker approaches Spanish with her unique style, incorporating props, pictures and other visual tools. She believes that children learn best when using action and motion and that so far her students are having fun and learning well. She was born and raised in Kansas and attended the University of Kansas, majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Ms. Parker then moved to Guatemala where she volunteered a school. This first adventure in education inspired her to teach. Back in the States, she dove headfirst into the classroom, beginning as a Spanish instructor at a rough Kansas City middle school where 99 percent of the students were on reduced price lunch plans and many went home to dysfunctional families. She served as the soccer coach because, unlike the rest of the faculty, she could communicate effectively with the entirely Hispanic team.
Derek Porter
By Will McKinnon Sophomore Contributor
Dabbling in tuba, basketball, and hip-hop, Derek Porter, a new geography and history teacher, looks to be an excellent addition to the Middle School staff. After completing his undergraduate work majoring in Education and Social Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Mr. Porter earned his master’s degree from Yale University last spring. In the past, he’s taught in the middle school and summer programs at Washington Jesuit Academy in Washington D.C. Mr. Porter spends some of his free time with music; in his sophomore year of high school, his school marching band, in which he played the tuba, won state in the drum line. Nowadays, he spends his time making beats on Garageband or mixtapes with his friends. As well, Mr. Porter has been spending time getting involved in casual basketball games. A Minnesota native, Mr. Porter has never lived below the Mason-Dixon Line, but he said, “I really like the city; I’ve been able to make a lot of friends so far.” He said that people here are friendlier than when he taught at a school in Washington D.C., and
“It was by far the hardest year of my life,” Ms. Parker said. “I had no books, no curriculum and taught four different classes. It was hard … but it was well worth it… In the end I really liked it.” Ms. Parker won a Fulbright Scholarship for teachers, a merit award that gives grants to study and live abroad. She traveled to Argentina for six weeks to live and study the culture. Ms. Parker then took a job at the International School of Jamaica. There, she taught Ziggy Marley’s daughter and members of the Jamaican Bobsled team. While there, she also had an encounter with world record-setting runner Usain Bolt at a salsa club. When she saw the celebrity, she asked him to dance. Bolt turned her down claiming that he could not salsa. Undeterred, Ms. Parker taught him a few moves, something her students will likely learn, too.
he’s been able to join church groups to meet new people. Many of Mr. Porter’s friends growing up had parents who were divorced, which made it all the more meaningful that his parents were able to have a huge impact on his life. “I never felt like my parents were ever pressuring me to become anything. I think when you have a climate of love, it allows success to thrive,” he said. Arriving at St. Christopher’s, Mr. Porter was excited to see a mission that he believes in too, and even more excited to see that St. Christopher’s is actually dedicated to fulfilling it. Rather than just having a slogan on the website, Mr. Porter said, “They are actually serious about doing what they say they do.” Mr. Porter is excited to be working with the staff and teachers at St. Christopher’s, and said he’ll have a lot of great mentors going forward.
The Pine Needle
October 2013
Dr. Ann Vanichkachorn By William Horne Freshman Contributor
When the new director of health services, Ann Vanichkachorn, found the development assistant lying in a pool of blood, she quickly and professionally assessed a severe head laceration and got Mrs.Hamby to St. Mary’s Hospital. The short, energetic doctor responded to the situation within minutes and the patient described her as “cool as a cucumber.” As a child, Dr. Vanichkachorn always wanted to fix things. Her love of surgery may have started with her grandmother’s ability to completely debone a duck without breaking the skin. Even in her position now as director of health wellness, Dr. Vanichkachorn misses doing surgery. The valedictorian of her high school class, she then went to the University of Pennsylvania and later graduated from medical school at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Then, she returned to her college to complete her residency, after which she practiced as a physician who took care of women’s health care, pregnancy and births. Along with her medical prowess, Dr. Vanichkachorn and husband, an orthopedic surgeon, founded the nonprofit organization VanSpine. This program helps local families in need with things like getting a little money for a car or financing medical care. The
Chef
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the executive chef for the Giants; however, he turned that down so that he could take an incredible opportunity to open two restaurants of his own on the Eastern Shore. Though Chef loved his time as the owner of those, he eventually sold both to secure his future and so that he could “just have fun with cooking.” His next endeavor, Savor, his own idea with the slogan “Virginia’s LowCountry Cuisine,” was a highly praised restaurant that continued to receive awards two months after he sold it. Soon after selling Savor, Chef headed back to work for Sage. Before leaving Sage and Norfolk Collegiate the first time, he had secured Sage’s employment at St. Christopher’s. Upon return, he decided to come to STC.
organization has fundraisers such as New Year’s Eve parties. Three years ago, Dr. Vanichkachorn stopped practicing medicine to focus on her sons, Drew ’17 and Josh ’19. However, she decided to return to the medical field and spread her knowledge and love of medicine to benefit others. In her new position here, she will try to organize new health classes that cover such progressive and touchy subjects as the effects of long-term marijuana use. “We’d like to expand the scope to include comprehensive wellness for the students, faculty and staff,” she said. This means that the emphasis on health in the curriculum will take a big step up. The new health program intends to make sure that everybody, students and faculty, knows not just how to treat themselves when they are sick, but how to avoid getting sick in the first place. This program will make sure that everyone knows what to do in terms of sleep, hydration and nutrition. Dr. Vanichkachorn is the first staple in this new health program and brings a lot to the table. With her knowledge, curiosity and energy, she is ushering the school into the beginning of a new phase. In the words of Headmaster Charley Stillwell, “She is a rockstar.” When Chef Ellerbe arrived to school, he immediately clicked with the staff. He and cafeteria veteran John Ernst had intriguingly similar backstories, only adding to the quickly formed synergy. Though Chef plans on opening a restaurant in Richmond at some point, he doesn’t plan to leave STC, due in part to the closeness and sense of community that attracted him. Chef wants his own abilities to benefit the commu-
Matt Roy By Jack O’Neill and Malcolm Ilnicky Sophomore Contributors
Matt Roy was always looking to make a difference growing up in his small town of Kents Hill, Maine. During Mr. Roy’s youth, he described himself as a “science guy” and was eager to take that passion into college. After his initial interest in a pre-med curriculum, Mr. Roy eventually switched his major, earning his degree in secondary education chemistry from The University of Maine at Farmington. Unlike most with his degree, Mr. Roy opted against the most common job of public school education and followed his mom’s example to teach private school. In high school, Mr. Roy was a star lacrosse and hockey player. While on the JV hockey team, his coach approached him with a peculiar summer job offer. He gladly accepted the position of a Zamboni driver and spent his summer melting and smoothing the broken ice. This past summer he was reliving his high school glory
days as a street hockey and roller blading camp counselor when he suffered a gruesome elbow injury; while warming up, he lost his balance, fell backwards and slammed into the pavement. His cast stayed on until a week before school began. When Mr. Roy arrived at St. Christopher’s, he loved the environment from the start. But, like many new experiences, it was scary for him. Being alone was his biggest fear, but as an assistant coach of the Varsity soccer team and bogged down with four classes, he quickly realized that his free time would be limited.
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When he does have free time he is a huge movie buff and fantasy football player. When not listening to Dave Matthews noodle chords on his acoustic, Mr. Roy loves to sit in his furniture-deprived living room and admire his draft picks as they grind it out on the gridiron. Not to mention his favorite team, the Miami Dolphins, is having its best start since ‘02. Occasionally he will slide a Harry Potter movie into his DVD player just for fun. Mr. Roy looks forward to discovering all the wonders that Richmond has to offer.
Which one is Matt Roy and which is Merrick Furman? We still can’t tell.
Guess Who’s Back, Back Again By Fitz Fitzgerald Junior Contributor
nity; he wants his lunches here to feel “comfortable and homey,” hoping that, through all of the craziness and stress of high school, “the short lunch period can be a time that students can just relax and hang out over a good meal.” And that prospect of excellent food to come looks promising Chef brings an immense amount of talent and experience to his new home here at St. Christopher’s—let’s hope he stays for a long time.
Oh, so you missed us? Matt Chriss returns to St. Christopher’s this year with a new role as a Middle School history teacher. Though he taught freshman World History during the 2011-2012 school year, he wanted to explore other opportunities, leaving for a Baltimore commercial real estate company. While there, he helped coach the Gilman School lacrosse team several days a week. “It was the highlight of my day to leave and go coach,” he said. “It’s kind of what got the ball rolling to come back here. I realized how much I missed it.” He knew he had fallen in love with Richmond and the St. Christopher’s community, and teaching was a better fit than commercial real estate. Now, though only a couple weeks into school, Mr. Chriss has realized Middle School teaching is much different than teaching in the Upper School. Activitybased classes help keep the students entertained and on task. Mr. Chriss wants “to make the students’ experience better than it would have been otherwise.” He strives to improve as a teacher and foster meaningful relationships with both students and faculty. He is learning a great deal from Middle School history teacher Cliff Dickinson, whom
he described as “one of the smartest and most talented people I’ve ever met.” Mr. Chriss graduated from Brown University where he played goalie on the lacrosse team for four years and earned honors as All-Ivy, All-New England and MVP his senior year. His experience tutoring kids with his college teammates at an elementary school near Brown sparked his interest in teaching. Being a member of a college athletic program gave him a sense of what it means to earn something. The team motto was, “Expect nothing, earn everything.” He seems to still follow this motto. Mr. Dickinson said that he is one of the first teachers to school every morning and spends a lot of time preparing for his classes. He added that Mr. Chriss has already earned the respect of the boys and faculty for his work ethic. “You should never settle; always try to improve and take advantage of opportunities to get better,” Mr. Chriss said. Mr. Chriss will coach lacrosse at all levels as well as seventh grade football and sixth grade P.E. “He’s a cool dude and a lot of fun to work with,” said Mr. Dickinson. “If I were 25 again, I’d definitely hang out with him on the weekends. He’s a down-to-earth guy.” Welcome back Mr. Chriss; we missed you too.
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The Pine Needle
Joseph’s Technical Dream Cast By Alex Shedd Ampersand, the joint theatre company of St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s, will present its “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” starting Nov. 7. The show, which is all music with minimal dialogue, stars Saunders Ruffin, Annabel O’Hagan and Maddie Gunter. It also features a professional director from the Richmond community, Jan Guarino. “It’s an exciting show with an extremely talented cast,” said Guarino. Zoe Huling, Ampersand student producer, added that the play is “family friendly, and so much fun to watch.” With a cast of more than
Field Continued from Page 1 preventing injuries. The new Knowles Field looks sharp, featuring a permanent red fleur-de-lis at the 50-yard line and a red “Saints” in each end zone. The football and lacrosse programs will use the new turf for games and for practices at the coaches’ discretion. Soccer can be played on Knowles, but it lacks permanent lines for the sport. Large practice equipment, such as blocking sleds will
Machine Pops Into Cafeteria By John Fergusson Junior Contributor
Junior Contributor
20 singers and dancers, this musical production is no easy task. Although the actors play their parts, the theatre’s unsung heroes are its stage managers and tech crew.
be left on the Middle School field for convenience. The football program, unaffected at the Varsity level, did have to move two Junior Varsity games to a newly renovated Middle School field. Also one home game against Trinity Episcopal School was moved there due to the delays. In addition, preseason two a days were forced to remain on the Middle School field. The surface the football team plays on may be different but the attitude is still the same.
With Ampersand veterans such as Richie and Mary Stuart McGuire at the helm, the production is sure to be another smashing hit, hopefully achieving or going beyond the level of success of past musical productions such as “Chicago” and “Guys and Dolls.” On the technical side of things, Ampersand’s yearround tech crew is constantly hard at work. “It’s not overly complicated, but it’s a fairly dramatic set,” said Maury Hancock, theatre director at St. Catherine’s and technical director for the play. “You’ll like the way it looks; I guarantee it,” said Saunders Ruffin, who plays Joseph, the lead.
Partee’s Car
Continued from Page 1 and a hat. His work has paid off though; he has boosted the horsepower to about 450. Partee knows his machine pretty well, “I constantly take it apart and put it back together because I am fascinated by machines and cars.” He credits most of his mechanical knowledge to his father who often lends advice. One of Partee’s dreams is to go with his dad to the Nurburgring, a racetrack in Germany, considered by many to be the Mecca of car enthusiasts. Partee also is offering to put in new car stereos for people through his ParteeSounds business. He will do the job for half the labor charges of retail outlets such Best Buy. It would take a very good argument to deny that what Partee has done is truly extraordinary. He has taken up a forgotten art. We live in a time when most people can’t be bothered to do anything with their car other than drive it. Car washes,
October 2013
The food staff has introduced yet another impressive piece of equipment to the Luck Leadership Center: a popcorn machine. The new chef Walter Ellerbe had several things to say about why the contraption was added. “We thought that adding it kind of lightened it up a bit and made it more fun in the cafeteria,” said Mr. Ellerbe. “You know, there’s something about the smell of fresh popcorn that really just gets you ready to eat.” It also turns out that popcorn isn’t always just another buttery, unhealthy indulgence. “It’s actually a really healthy snack alternative,” he said. “We’re using canola oil as a substitute for butter, and canola oil has no trans fat.” Chef Ellerbe isn’t really concerned with students’ spilling popcorn, saying, “Oh yeah, of course [that will happen].” However, Mr. Ellerbe has reason to think that spilling is of little concern. “We thought [the concern] was minimal compared to what it would do for student attitudes, and it really is no more of a concern than the normal spilling of food in a cafeteria.” independent mechanics, dealer warranties and such have made it far too easy for people to avoid hands-on interaction with their cars. Partee is a part of a dy-
It seems clear that most students like to eat popcorn. As one junior pointed out, “Popcorn is yummy.” However, there seems to be mixed reviews and questions regarding the logistics of the machine coming from some students. Said one senior, “It wastes a lot of money and energy that could be spent elsewhere; it generates a lot of lines in the entrance to the cafeteria, and it generates a lot of waste.” Another question some students have is about the machine’s ability to hold enough popcorn for everyone who wants it. “I could see problems with the amount of popcorn in it,” said one junior. Regardless of some people’s opinions about machine management, there is one underlying opinion that most all seem to agree on: popcorn tastes good.
The Pine Needle
October 2013
A New Student Reflects By Coleman Cox Sophomore Contributor
“Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” But that was just what I needed to do. I wanted to put a microscope up to everything at St. Christopher’s upon my first day at the school, even if that meant some slightly extreme social contact. Be careful what you wish for. My initial week at STC was, as I’m sure it was for many, a vortex of new places, faces and challenges. Not that that has to be a terrible thing. In fact, getting to embody the spirit of the “New Guy” was in its own way liberating. However, the sequence and order of things here at STC was simply unconventional to me, even coming from a past of “private schools.” As I made a beeline to my pew during my first morning chapel, the booming acoustics and aesthetics of the
wooden building hit me right away. Beginning with a short message on faith from Mrs. Hollerith, I started to gather a sense of my new school. I knew that during the coming days chapel would become a comforting routine. As the classes piled in, faces and personalities registered in my brain, and the schedule (breaks, classes, clubs, after-school, etc.) became familiar. I uncovered a mass of extracurriculars, spanning from the unfamiliar, PAC, to staples like The Pine Needle. But what really made my transition smooth was the relaxed and personal atmosphere that I found in both teachers and students. The experience of being new at STC was less constricting than past schools and allowed that rightbrained instinct in me to seep into my “school life.” At stressful times a game or two of ping-pong could relieve my critical brain blocks. I’ve already got some pretty choice hymns and team chants stuck in my head.
Hurt Blows Minds By Cooper Yoo Senior Contributor
ing breed that is willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears required to properly take care of a car.
The New Car Club When I first heard about a car club being created at St. Chris, I had but one question. How in the world was this not a club already? Think about it, cars are some of the most universally loved creations out there. Yet in 2013 there were clubs for philosophy, sports, environmental issues, politics, and even one dedicated to Major League Soccer team, but not one club dedicated to cars. That is, until now. Recently Jack Bassett and Sam Partee created the Saints Car Club and founded Cars for a Cause, a non-profit organization. Andrew Elmore, the assistant pole vaulting coach, will be the faculty sponsor. The club’s main purpose is to help guys learn more about cars by talking about them and more importantly restoring a beaten up car throughout this year and donating it. The main goal for the first year is to raise money to buy a high mileage car and restore it to like-new condition. Once completed, the car will be donated through the nonprofit with the plan to someone who has applied for a car from a charity group. The nonprofit project, Cars for a Cause, is being run with the help of a company called PlanG. The founding fathers, Partee and Bassett, will be coheads and will provide most of the mechanical knowledge, drawing on their experience from working on their own cars. They will also organize events like going to G-Force to race go-karts and will spread their extensive wealth of knowledge about cars to the other members. -- Charlie Parrish ’15
One Thursday afternoon in early September during C period Honors Chemistry, an explosion rocked the Gottwald Science Center causing the whole school to file out onto the soccer field. Luckily the explosion was small and contained, but it still managed to set off the fire alarm and call over the fire brigade. Mrs. Hurt was wrapping up class with an experiment to captivate her students and spark their interests. One sure-fire way to capture tired sophomore students’ attention is an explosion. The demonstration Mrs. Hurt performed was meant to show just how volatile alkali metals are. Basic chemistry tells that Na (sodium) is dangerously reactive when in contact with H2O. Mrs. Hurt dropped the small cube of Na into a beaker of water which explosively erupted. The blast itself was no problem since Mrs. Hurt does this every year and is qualified to contain it. But the vapor caused quite a bit of commo-
tion. The resulting water vapor from the explosion traveled up into the air vents triggering the fire alarm. “I was really surprised,” Mrs. Hurt said. “I knew I had done it, but I was still shocked. I’ve done the experiment hundreds of times, and something like that has never happened before.” However, Mrs. Hurt easily herded her students outside without stirring up any real concern. In the end, the firemen quickly opened a window to let the steam out and left. The students went back to class and picked up where they had left off. If anything, the whole ordeal proved the readiness and efficient nature of our local fire department. Students were just happy to miss class. This was the first time this year that the firemen have been called to STC. On Sept. 30, the fire alarm went off yet again. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t Mrs. Hurt that time. It was rather a malfunction in the water system that caused the second evacuation. The school’s emergency procedures have been heavily tested; we’ve cut seconds off our response time.
Reporter’s Notebook:
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How To Ride the Bus
By Michael Nordahl Senior Contributor
Part of the St. Christopher’s philosophy is “a continual commitment to helping boys grow intellectually, physically and spiritually to become men of character.” The key part of this statement that I wish to emphasize is being “a man of character.” A man of character is polite and uses common courtesy throughout his daily life. However it seems to me that the bus rides to and from St. Catherine’s have the ability to bring out the worst in us. First of all, I would like to examine the frantic rush at the end of the ride when every student desperately scrambles to get off the bus. This stampede is frankly preposterous, as everybody is going to be able to depart eventually. Wait your turn. Most people don’t
seem to realize that the seats are staggered for a reason. It is common sense that if the row opposite yours is farther forward then you should let that row disembark from the bus first. It is an everyday occurrence to see the people in the opposite row behind you get up and shove past so that they can shave a few measly seconds off of their time getting off the bus. It is ludicrous to see people jostle past when it accomplishes virtually nothing for them besides making them look like rude and unrefined third-class citizens. Another common occurrence is a general disregard for the bus line to get on. A huge mass forms at the bus stop and people in the back become inpatient and side-
step the line to make their way to the front. If there are people in front of you in the line, then stay behind them. It is more important to maintain your dignity rather then be a little bit early to class. I know Mr. McGuire’s class is captivating, but must you bowl over three people to get there as soon as possible? How is it that the entire student body calmly exits the building during a fire drill, yet when it comes to boarding bus first, they completely lose all of their composure? I know that we can act better than this. Our pride and dignity should mean more to us than getting on and off the bus first. I don’t suggest locking out the bus driver either.
Vasaio Returns To Varsity
By Sam Coltrane Senior Contributor
For Guse Vasaio, the pride of playing for more than just himself, for more than just the team, but for St. Christopher’s as a whole is an experience he couldn’t pass up. Vasaio, in particular, brings a perspective that not many players can bring. “Playing for your school in my experience has an entirely different feeling to it,” he said. “It gives you a whole new sense of pride in everything.” Vasaio played his first two years at St. Christopher’s on the varsity level. When his junior year rolled around, he decided to take his talents to a club team as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, a top tier youth league. In his year away from St. Christopher’s, he realized he wanted to come back and do his best to help the team. “After Academy season ended I was sure that I was going to come back with St. Chris in the fall.” This year’s team is different from his sopho-
more year at STC. He has a solid understanding of his role as one of the leaders, but also appreciates the true “team” dynamic this year. “This team has a lot of leaders,” he said. “We have four great captains and everybody else on the team from freshmen to seniors holds themselves responsible to lead the team.” Vasaio also mentions how different it is seeing freshmen rise to leadership. “During my sophomore year two of the current captains were freshmen so to see them now as the team’s primary leaders is really cool.”
Even with a focus on the true team dynamic, there isn’t any doubt that Vasaio’s presence has had a strong impact. He frequently stays after practice putting in work with younger guys. Vasaio understood the lasting impact he could have on the team and the school as a whole. “I felt that, it being my senior year, it might be my last opportunity to do something that I can do well, and I wanted to be able to do that for St. Christopher’s.” Another aspect of the team that Vasaio likes is the ability to see younger players from the perspective of an older teammate. In particular he has connected well with Garrett Levy ’17. “My freshman year, I was the same height and weight as him, and I think that we are similar players, so it’s very exciting to get to play with him and to see how he develops as a player and a person.” The aspirations of returning to the title game and ultimately bringing home the title are up to the team. Vasaio said, “I think we are the only limit on our success. This is a really great team.”
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The Back Page
October 2013
In an increasing effort to fulfill our role as the administrative watchdog, The Pine Needle has joined forces with Wikileaks, the international online organization which publishes secret information, leaked news and classified media from anonymous sources. Together we seek to expose malfeasance and to give the student body the truth. Can you handle it?
The Spyfiles #1
Wikileaks has released “Spyfiles,” which contain definitive proof of the existence of the school’s intelligence agency, the IT department. Students, who have feared for years that Mr. Johns closely monitors their internet activity, are only half-wrong. The real spies reside unseen in their top-secret lair in the bowels of Luck Hall. With their supercomputer and hated Barracuda web filters, these faceless agents watch everything and everyone. Codenamed the Second Century Vision, this operation is part of an ongoing administrative effort to control the lives of the students and embrace the future. Gone are the days of good old fashion espionage. Say hello to indiscriminate data collection, and remember, Big Brother is watching.
Wear Anything Day Funds? Wikileaks has recently uncovered a massive embezzlement scheme. The Missionary Society, led by Hollerith, imposed arbitrary rules on the way to dress and then convinced students to pay money in order to break them. Called the Wear Anything Day, this racket has been going unquestioned on for years, as students are eager for any excuse to untuck their shirt tails. Under fronts like the “American Heart Association,” the money has been sent to offshore banking accounts in the Caribbean, giving Hollerith a comfortable early retirement. Her aim is “Service,” first class service that is.
Detainee Policies
The Hurt Locker What the administration has claimed was just a routine science experiment gone wrong in Mrs. Hurt’s class is actually a massive cover-up of a much more serious situation. The recently leaked video footage reveals that Mrs. Hurt, who has extensive experience in explosive ordinance disposal, failed in an attempt to dismantle an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Fortunately, the device failed to detonate, injuring nobody. No parties have yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which would appear staged except for the fire alarm and chaos. Mrs. Hurt took advantage of the situation, using the crisis as an opportunity to demonstrate to her class how exciting and useful chemistry can be, especially when life and limb are on the line. Don’t be fooled.
Chriss Escapes Justice
Matt Chriss, former intern and whistleblower, famous for exposing the great scandal of 2011 has been recently granted asylum in the Middle School after a year spent running from Richard Towell, the administrative bounty hunter. All we know is that Mr. Chriss made it to the MS; Mr. Towell has not been seen since. Tensions run high between Mr. Szymendera and Mr. Spears over the status of Mr. Chriss, as Mr. Szymendera has been pushing for an extradition to try to bring him to justice. This is a major step backwards in the campaign to improve relations between the Upper and Middle Schools, which in recent years have been poor due to disputes over cafeteria use.
All Bets Are Off Sources have revealed the terrible violations of the rights of detainees in the administration’s forced labor program. The inmates spend an hour and a half in a black site deep within the athletic center, slaving under the dangerous conditions of sleep deprivation and soul-destroying boredom. In protest of their inhumane treatment and cruel and unusual punishment, numerous students have gone on a hunger strike; however, Mr. Tune, in a display of absolute control, forces a cafeteria meal down their throats, hence the name “Breakfast Club.” The frequent use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” and the abysmal conditions constitutes a humanitarian crisis. Think twice before you FTS x2 and join the BC.
Sources uncovered the uncontrolled Upper School Faculty Gambling League (USFGL) that plagues our grounds. The faculty places bets on anything ranging from academic performance to disciplinary action. Naturally, Mr. Carlson and Mr. Boyd keep the books and set the odds on each student, deriving complex mathematical formulas to determine the proper valuations. Headquartered in the “Flounge,” the league oversees the exchange of thousands of dollars in cash every month. Gambling addiction is a serious concern for some teachers such as Mrs. Woodaman who always believe that they can dig themselves out of the hole. Worries over unfair practice and cheating constantly swirl about the faculty, usually involving Mr. Tune who has won $16,567, betting on the student with most hours. The student body must know that its behavior in and about school directly impacts the teachers’ cash flow. You have money riding on your head.