St. Luke’s School Established 1941
377 North Wilton Road - New Canaan, CT - 06840 www.digitalsentinel.org
October 2013 Respice — Adspice — Prospice
From the Oval Locker Ben Decatur President
Well, it’s only been a month but we have had quite an eventful year so far! The Seniors have claimed the College Counseling Office, the Juniors have realized how hard an academic year this will be (as well as the disadvantages of not being able to drive to school!), the underclassmen are just happy to be in high school, and the new students are now starting to cherish the welcoming spirit and sense of community that so characterizes the St. Luke’s experience. We have all survived the construction outside our front door; in fact, many of us played a part in it by signing “the beam” two weeks ago. Plus, we all endured the “Great Water Scare of 2013.” The spirit of the Class of 2014 is certainly contagious, and it has spread throughout the entire student body. In short, this year is shaping up to be a special one.
Building a Better Future, One Beam at a Time Monika Gabriele School News Correspondent For the past seven weeks of school, students and faculty have walked past constant drilling and cement pouring. Incredibly, the enormous project that St. Luke’s has launched has only just begun: construction will be going on for another seven months. When the ten months that construction is scheduled to take end, however, the student body will have access to the incredible addition, complete with four new science labs, prep rooms, office space, and a black box theater. According to Mrs. Gabriele, who is the co-chair of the building committe, the Administration hopes that this new wing will allow students to experience a transformed curriculum in their science studies. The project is on schedule and now that the steel is up, the next stage will be to enclose the structure. Once that is done, work inside the new wing will commence. An important step in this process will be to furnish the new rooms. Luckily, the School has put a tremendous amount of thought into how each room will be laid out - to the point that Mrs. Gabriele and Head of School Mr. Davis have been spotted trying out possible furniture options. Importantly, these furnishings will include Harkness tables in each classroom, in order to facilitate the seminar-style instruction so common in St. Luke’s humanities classes. In addition, there will be lab tables against the walls of the classrooms in order to ensure that students
will be able to put their newfound knowledge to work. In the hallways, there will be small meeting areas with chairs and tables where students can meet with teachers or do homework. These alcoves will be lined with whiteboard material so students can do practice problems and exercises.
The Country and Western dance in September was certainly a success, as Upper School students proved that they could do the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and square dance. Moreover, the revived St. Luke’s tradition of the Founders’ Cup has taken off, as students showed off their intellect in the second event: The Founders’ Cup Challenge, a Jeopardy-like contest in front of the entire Upper School. Now we transition into perhaps my favorite time of year on the Hilltop: Spirit Week and Homecoming. Spirit Week is a time when sometimes you have to put your inhibitions aside (while staying in dress code, of course!)
“When we were looking at the spatial design,” said Mrs. Gabriele, “we really wanted the hallways to function as more than just hallways. We wanted it to be a space where students could gather and collaborate.” The classrooms themselves will be primarily for Upper School students, but the addition is sure to become a common area for all students, even more so because of the black box theater being built below. The theater, which will be accessible via a small hallway near the WSLX studio, will seat one-hundred and fifty people and will eventually be outfitted with a tech space similar to that found in the Seldin Performing Arts Center. “It’s going to provide great flexible space for theater groups and after school activities to rehearse,” Mrs. Gabriele told the Sentinel.
see page 3, “New Addition”
and just go all out. On Tuesday, students will be dressed from head-to-toe in neon. On Wednesday, the safari theme will certainly prove to be interesting, as students could come in as anything from a zookeeper to various jungle cats. Thursday, Career Day, is a chance for students to foresee their futures, dressing as firemen, doctors, or judges—just to name a few roles. And of course Friday is Storm Day, a chance to show off the new Homecoming see page 2, “Oval Locker”
Student Constitution
Soccer Season
In addition to the science wing, a new entrance is also being built. The new walkway will feature a vestibule with a small reception area, as well as a glassed-in walkway.
Inside this issue...
Homecoming Previews
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October 2013
HILLTOP NEWS The Sentinel Staff Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Bates Sports Editor Will Bloomer School News Editor Melanie Bow Arts Editor Ian Corbet World News Editor Mac Zech Social Media Director Drew Lord Staff Photographer Julia Muller School News Correspondent Monika Gabriele World News Correspondent Megan Evershed Staff Writers Ben Decatur Will Twomey Josie Williams Scotty Zech Contributing Writers Bennett Newman Ms. Perry Riley Vaske
“Oval Locker,” from page 1 shirt or any St. Luke’s apparel. But Spirit Week is not the only exciting part of Homecoming on the Hilltop. The mantle of Pep Rally emcee has been passed down to Mr. Lundquist and Ms. Dormady, both of whom will certainly pump up the Storm crowd using the 1942 St. Luke’s “Victory Song” that has recently been rediscovered deep in the files of St. Luke’s School’s rich history. Following the Pep Rally, Upper School students will be treated to a movie night: a showing of a comedy to let everyone lay back and relax. And of course, Saturday night will be the long-awaited Homecoming Dance, an opportunity for students to demonstrate their moves and hopefully rejoice in victory with the St. Luke’s athletes. But don’t worry: the end of Homecoming certainly does not mark the end of the festivities, nor an end to the tireless work of your student representatives. The 2013-2014 Student Government, as well as a group of dedicated students, has been working assiduously on the adoption of a student constitution, that includes some controversial measures such as the possibility for students to amend the Honor Code, to allow only students to vote in elections, and to prohibit students from running for both Honor Council and Student Council simultaneously. We are also hoping to get alumni in the St. Luke’s constitution process, especially when it comes to changes to the Honor Code. Although the document is still in the works, we are hoping to have the student body ratify the constitution in the coming months. In addition to the Constitution, Student Government is hoping to pull off a bonfire on the opening night of the fall play (which is also the night before Varsity Football’s away game against King). Perhaps, we will vanquish the Viking once again and send the Storm on to victory. Moreover, students should look forward to the upcoming Founders’ Cup events, specifically the continuation of the Founders’ Cup Challenge and a possible dodgeball tournament. So far it has been a pleasure to serve all 283 members of the Upper School. Student Government’s emphasis on bold and new ideas has certainly taken shape, as none of the Spirit Week themes have been tried before and the events surrounding Homecoming have been refreshed and revamped. The spirit on 377 North Wilton Road is infectious, and I cannot wait to see how the year unfolds. In the meantime, the vivacious Class of 2014 will continue to make this school year the best it’s ever been—even better perhaps than the days of Blakely, Kidd, Von Fabrice, and Oliphant!
At SLS, Founding Fathers (and Mothers!) Hard at Work Monika Gabriele School News Correspondent
Although most of us are usually more familiar with the term “constitution” when it is in the context of the United States, a group of St. Luke’s students has been working together to apply the same principles of fairness, reason, and transparency to our own student government. Once ratified, the student constitution will act as a guiding document for future generations of administrators and student representatives, outlining the procedures and processes of all aspects of Student Government, in the Honor Council, Student Council, and Club Council. “The Student Council feels that what have become informal precedents, such as the president’s newer duties like running town meetings and writing articles for the Sentinel, need to be formalized,” said Sebastian Bates, Student Government treasurer and chair of the Constitutional Convention, on the current responsibilities of the elected officers. Under the draft constitution that the Convention recently approved, these duties (and many others) are clearly mapped out. The same is done for each position in government. Though not necessarily changing the way things are done, the document acts a reference for all members of the student body to understand what they can expect from their student leadership. Bates described this as one of the key points of the document, explaining that “the student body needs to be able to judge their elected representatives in the context of what they can and indeed cannot do.” One of the most vital points in the constitution regards the Honor Code. After defining it and declaring its value to the St. Luke’s community, the document then proposes a new process to amend the code itself. “Both the Honor Council and the Student Council are concerned with relevance of Honor Code,” Bates told the Sentinel. He went on to explain that many students have argued that the Honor Code needs to be revised in order to keep it fresh and relevant to new student bodies. “The Constitution addresses that problem,” he declared. The process that is laid out in the draft constitution is similar in principle to honor code processes at liberal arts institutions such as Haverford or Bryn Mawr (both in Pennsylvania). Through an annual meeting (or “Plenary Session”) of all members of the SLS community who want to be involved – be they student, parent, faculty member, see page 3, “Constitution”
Contributing Photographers Jenna Decatur Mrs. Smock Liz Kremer Faculty Advisors Stephen Flachsbart Jim Foley The Sentinel is a proud member of the Fairchester Student Press Association, and is dedicated preserving and promoting student journalism. If you would like to contact the Editorial Board of the Sentinel, please visit our website or e-mail us at sentinel@stlukesct.org
Members of the Constitutional Convention gather to officialy sign the draft constitution.
October 2013
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HILLTOP NEWS “Constitution,” from page 2 or alumnus – those who have made a commitment to the Honor Code will have the chance to discuss it. While ultimately the decision to amend the Honor Code is left in the hands of current students and faculty (at least in the draft currently under discussion), Student Government clearly hopes that this consultative process will reignite interest in what has been described as the “moral compass” of student life here on the Hilltop. Other provisions in the draft constitution lay out how elections will be run and how records will be kept, for instance. Some even attempt to answer the fundamental question behind student self-governance in general: what can any one student government be trusted to do, anyway? The document attempts to balance the will of the student body for more autonomy against the interests of maintaining order and the well-being of St. Luke’s School as an institution. “It makes the student government more legitimate,” explained Bates, “[the constitution] establishes the relationship between elected representatives of the student body and members of faculty in a fair and open way so that know where they start.” Rooted in honesty and respect, the constitution is sure to become a living part of the St. Luke’s foundation. Like the Honor Code that it emphasizes, perhaps the student constitution will in time become an key tenet in the definition of our community as a whole. “New Addition,” from page 1 The four pillars that hold up the traditional portico at the entrance to the school will be inscribed with the core values of the Honor Code, and will connect the traditional entrance with the hallway to the new science classrooms. In front of the entrance, the Sentinel has been told, will be a “plaza area with seating and planters,” bringing back to the Hilltop the glory days of eating in the courtyard. “This is an exciting new chapter for the St. Luke’s community and really captures the focus on STEM studies,” says Mrs. Gabriele. Indeed, students and teachers alike are excited to welcome this fantastic new addtion as a piece of their home. It will surely be a valuable addition to St. Luke’s academia and will no doubt reinvigorate our mission as St. Luke’s students to “Enter to Learn.”
A Fireside Chat With Tyler Klein Drew Lord Social Media Director
S: Cool. What’s “bar wrestling?” TK: I meant excluding wrestling, I was just trying to sound intelligent. S: Oh, gotcha. Anyways, I hear you’re good at hacking. What’s your coolest hacking story? TK: In 8th grade, we had Declamations, which is when every 8th grader has to write and present a speech on a person that they think is important, I guess. The Declamations were split up into two nights, and streamed online via a camera in the back of the room. On the night that I wasn’t presenting, I joined into the Livestream chat with what was deemed an “inappropriate name.” I was then booted from the chat. I decided that I had to retaliate. I proceeded to use a very simple program (I will not disclose the name), to flood the site with millions of packets of data. The livestream lagged out, and it severely inhibited people’s ability to watch the livestream. S: Wow. TK: It was a pretty cool thing, I was pretty proud, to be honest. S: Yeah, I would be too. Did you get in trouble for the hack? Or has it been a secret until now? TK: I never really got in trouble, I did speak to Mr. Chuhta about the event. To be honest, I don’t know if it would even be under the jurisdiction of the school, or of anyone for that matter. I guess the school could have punished me, but legally, I did not infiltrate the framework of the site, so nothing I did was illegal at all. I just simulated a bunch of computers visiting the site at once. This works kind of like the St. Luke’s network does. After school, it only takes you 2 hours to download a Word document at the blazing fast speed of the network. But during the day, when more than 5 people use the network, it’ll take you a good 4 and a half hours to load a YouTube video. It’s understandable, though, since the mice they have powering the routers must get tired of running on their wheels.
of some of the student body, but it was his creative outlook on life that kept them tuned in. Morrison found a way to spice up the harsh truisms of life, and the lessons and solutions he offered. The most important of these was to “remember that opportunity never comes around twice.” Morrison described his path to Internet stardom and a successful career in comedy as “unpredictable,” and refused to answer the question that many students were most interested in: how does one become successful in show business? Explaining that any one person’s path into his industry – or indeed any industry – is necessarily different from any one else’s, Morrison instead emphasized the importance of being happy. He described this as the “most important” part of life, and urged students to chase happiness rather than the moneymaking jobs lionized by society. He stressed the necessary part happiness must play in one’s own crusade to find the perfect job. The essential question, he explained, is: what are you interested in? In addition, he gave his own secret for success: time management. He described how it was vital for him, in the early days, to set aside time in which to think the creative thoughts that have become the basis of his career. He offered this advice: “If you’re a writer, freewrite for twenty minutes every day. If you’re an artist, express yourself in your own way without hesitation.” Another tidbit of wisdom that Morrison expounded upon was the importance of spontaneity. A noted prankster during his career on the Hilltop, Morrison explained that he always believed in acting on the spur of the moment and living his life “in the present.” He said that he always tried to do everything that interested him, and didn’t regret it. Indeed, he suggested that it was better to regret doing something, than it was to regret never doing anything at all. “There are a lot of fun swear words out ,” he explained. “But none would hit me as hard as being called boring.” said Morrison. Those who didn’t enjoy the Lunch & Lead as much as others found a few faults: some argued that Morrison’s reliance on his notes “ruined” his attempt to conntect with the student body. However, these naysayers were in the definite minority.
S: Totally feel you. In light of career day (and all this hacking talk), what would be your dream career? TK: I would really enjoy owning a large company, but not a company in any specific field. Partially because it would be cool to make bank--and partially because I would be famous, and then it would be much easier to find attractive women to hangout with. S: Sounds like a solid plan. Anything else you’d like to tell our readers? TK: “It’s in doing whatever that one becomes whoever.” S: Thanks, Tyler.
Lunch & Leads Start Strong Josie Williams Staff Writer
Sentinel: Hey Tyler, thanks for sitting down with me today. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself. Tyler Klein: Well, I play hockey all year, which is pretty much the only sport I’m actually good at, bar wrestling, which isn’t offered at SLS. My academic strengths are definitely more math and science oriented. My most odd hobby is certainly my addiction to headphones.
On Wednesday, October 2, the 2013 Lunch & Lead sessions (also known as the Class of 2012 Speakers Series, as the Class of 2012’s senior gift was an endowment to help finance this effort of the Center for Leadership’s) began with a talk by Brooks Morrison ’06. This hilarious, powerful, and ultimately touching speech from a St. Luke’s alumnus left the SLS students with some deep thoughts to reflect upon. The twenty-five year old actor, comedian, and writer gave the students a fresh and new perspective on life during and after his St. Luke’s experience Morrison began the Lunch and Lead with the question, “Who wants a dollar?” which certainly perked the interest
In addition, regardless of whether you thought this Lunch & Lead was a stroke of genius or terribly bland, one cannot deny the outcome of the event was pretty outstanding. With a whopping seventy-eight students and faculty members in attendance, the Lunch and Lead was held in the Fireplace Common area instead of the usual location, the Global Classroom. This humorous, inspiring, and all -round great way to spend a lunch period will be a hard act for other guest speakers of the Lunch and Lead to follow.
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October 2013
HOMECOMING FEATURES Alumni to be Inducted into SLS Athletic Hall of Fame
Homecoming Previews
Sebastian Bates Editor-in-Chief
Will Bloomer Sports Editor
Established in 2011 by a group of administrators and alumni, the St. Luke’s Athletic Hall of Fame exists to “acknowledge those who helped bring recognition, honor, and distinction to the School through their athletic endeavors.” In the years since its creation, twenty members of the St. Luke’s community have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, including faculty members like former headmaster Mr. Whitcomb and beloved coach and teacher Mrs. Demarco, and alumni from all periods of St. Luke’s history, such as Clifford C. Thomas, Jr. (from the Class of 1946) to Patrick Powers (from the Class of 2000).
Homecoming is on Saturday, and Varsity athletes will be showcasing their skills. Let the Sentinel fill you in on what to expect from the six teams.
Boys Soccer The Boys Varsity Soccer team is playing Columbia Prep this Homecoming at 2:00. The team has had a shaky start to its season, losing two games in the final minutes, and ending up with a ties against Forman, a team we usually dominate. Despite the lack of results from Mr. Gammill’s squad, the team, 1-4-1, has been putting in goals, scoring eight times in their last six games. With speedster Jake Brandt up front, the midfield prowess of Christian Arita, and the return of senior captain Jeff Mitchell, Luke’s will have a strong game. Let’s hope for a win!
Cross Country Our runners are faster than ever this year, and have top place finishes to prove it. Most notably, freshmen Will Foster placed eighth at the King meet and won the Hopkins meet, with a time of 18:34. Also noteworthy, senior captain Wyett Dalton placed twelfth overall at the King meet with a time of 21:03. The team does not have an official race on Saturday, but there is a “Fun Run” open to everyone at 10:30 am. Please join them!
This year, three individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame: Robert S. Salomon, Jr. ’55, Peter Ornousky ’76, and Lauryn Nicasio Soden ’01. In addition, a team will be inducted (as permitted under the bylaws) for the first time in the Hall of Fame’s history: the 2003 Girls Varsity Soccer team. Of the three individuals, Mr. Salomon is likely to be most familiar to the current St. Luke’s student body, as he visited the school last year in order to give a Lunch & Lead, “Not for Profit: Leading the Charge to Save St. Luke’s.” As a student at St. Luke’s in the fifties, Salomon won twelve varsity letters and played all three sports offered by the School at that time: football (in his senior year, he would serve as captain of the football team), basketball, and baseball. He also worked on the Sentinel, and served as student body president and editor of the Caduceus. In later years, he would serve as the first chairman of the St. Luke’s Board of Trustees, and saw our school transition from a for-profit to a non-profit institution. Mr. Ornousky came to St. Luke’s in 1972 and, like Mr. Salomon, went on to win twelve varsity letters during his time on the Hilltop. While a student, Mr. Ornousky won both the Junior Loyalty Cup and the Headmaster’s Award, and was recognized with the Stephen Miller Award (given to the top SLS baseball player) twice.
Girls Soccer As per usual, the Girls Varsity Soccer team has found themselves in the middle of another impressive season. With six wins and just one tie with a strong Rye High School team, the girls are certainly considered favorites for their match against Christian Heritage this homecoming at 12:00. Look out for senior Salma Anastasio to net a goal or two (or three) and for senior goalkeeper Melanie Bow to make some key saves.
Football Storm Football is coming off a string of tight games. At one win and three losses, the team’s record is not a fair reflection of their performance. Losing by just one point against the Hopkins School, and losing by only four against Riverdale Country Day school, the squad fought out all of their games till the end and has proven that they can hold their own against any opponent. The boys face Rye Country Day School on Homecoming. If the team’s past performances are any indicator, the Storm’s football players should put on an awesome show.
After he graduated in 1976, Ornousky attended Susquehanna University, where he played baseball for four years. He went on to play baseball in the amateur leagues, and in time transitioned to playing slow-pitch softball, where he led his team to All-American Status in 1987. Mrs. Soden is one of the first individuals from the twentyfirst century to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, having graduated in 2001. Like Salomon and Ornousky, Mrs. Soden won twelve varsity letters as a standout basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey player (she served as captain on all three teams in her senior year). A National Honor Society inductee and the recipient of the 2001 Senior Bowl, she went on to attend Middlebury College, where she led the Panthers to two NCAA field hockey finals and the 2003 NESCAS Tournament final. While St. Luke’s became a co-educational school in the early nineteen-seventies, it was not until the fall of 2000 that a girls’ soccer team was begun, which makes the achievements of the 2003 Girls Varsity Soccer team even more impressive.
Field Hockey At a respectable 2-2-1 record, the Varsity Field Hockey team is looking talented this year. Goalkeeper Sally Rose Zuckert is playing exceptionally well, nabbing two shutouts already, and senior captains Kai Burton and Seeley Fancher are running the midfield. The team had an especially great performance against Hopkins, in which the score stayed level through regulation time. The girls went into overtime and were able to fend off many Hopkins attacks to protect the tie. Look for another close game against Cheshire Academy on Saturday.
Volleyball After a tough loss against Holy Child on Wednesday October 2, the Volleyball team will look to rebound this Saturday against Sacred Heart. Senior Riley Vaske and her younger sister, sophomore Abby Vaske, have led the front line for the girls, and junior Abby Washer has dominated the serving game. Expect a strong showing.
In that year, the team managed to match the total number of goals scored in the entire history of the program (21 goals), and to win both the FAA and New England Class C tournaments. One member of the team is also unique in being the only SLS soccer player – male or female – to have scored 100 goals in her career on the Hilltop. When the Sentinel approached Mr. Hirx, the Director of Alumni Relations, for a comment on this year’s inductees, he had this to say: “This year’s inductees represent a wide range of generations, sports, and involvement beyond their athletic achievements. We are truly honored to be able to recognize our alumni in such a great way.”
October 2013
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ARTS Avery Bachman, Painter
Hunters Strike Gold
Monika Gabriele School News Correspondent
Bennett Newman Contributing Writer
“Painting is something I have always enjoyed as a child,” Avery Bachman told the Sentinel. Take a brief look at her work, and this evolving devotion is quickly evident. However, the most amazing part of Bachman’s creativity is the depth of her vision. After noticing one of her pieces in Ms. Perry’s office, the Sentinel staff sat down with Avery to learn more about this champion of the Art Department. Most of Bachman’s work follows an abstract, modern theme. Not confined to a single subject, Bachman experiments with different techniques and colors. “If I’m painting something assigned in class, I usually plan it out,” Bachman told the Sentinel. Her intricate preparation beforehand translates into work that expresses true emotion and meaning. One of her pieces, Portrait I, depicts a pair of bright blue eyes with designs surrounding the nose and eyelines. The doodle-like figures provide an interesting juxtaposition of real life and a metaphysical world. Within the irises, the mixture of colors reflects deep texture and composition. Shading around the nose gives a striking contrast of shadows to highlights.
Albums like Hunters’ 2013 self-titled LP are things people often come across in the search for something a little less mainstream. However, what separates Hunters, a Brooklyn-based punk/alternative rock band, from the rest of the “indie” bands out there is their ability to take risks and experiment with their music. They don’t try to please everybody, but instead cram all of their punk, grunge and indie influences into, in this case, a ten-track masterpiece. When it comes to rock albums, I don’t think I have heard one better than this in the past several years. The seemingly monotone, in-your-face singing style combined with the contrast between the male and female vocals really contribute to the feel of the album, and the fullsounding, straightforward instrumentation never makes you feel like something is missing. Another thing that is worth noting is the variety of sounds that are presented. There are definitely a couple heavier songs, such as “Narcissist.” This is quite a deceitful opening track, for not every song is as heavy as this one. It begins with a distorted, sluggish bass line that kicks off the album perfectly, providing for a rather turbulent and unruly feeling. If you have some fairly loud speakers somewhere in your house, plug them in and see if you can make your neighbor’s house shake. The next song, “Street Trash,” gives off a similar vibe. It begins with low-frequency feedback and shortly after explodes into a simple I-V (C-G) chord vamp. A series of unwell yet melodic guitar bends accompany the verse vocals, which are full of rebellious lyrics such as “If you hold me in I can push right down” and “If you say no I can be there now”. However, in contrast to the heavier songs, “Wonder” reminds you of some of the classic indie bands such as The Cure and maybe even The Stone Roses with its lighter, more melodic guitar and vocals.
Somewhat offhandedly, Bachman told the Sentinel that she “love[s] the different colors and depth that can come from paints.” Her casual attitude towards her talent brings a sense of effortlessness and tranquility that translates in her work.
All ten songs are amazingly crafted and well structured, and the mixers did not fail to impress either, for none of the songs have an ‘empty’ sound. Though not everyone loves this kind of music, the one thing that nobody can deny is that this album has an invigorating and upbeat energy and is the perfect way to wake up after you have been yelling at your alarm for twenty minutes. Regardless of your musical tastes, Hunters is undeniably a great album full of energy and creativity, and is definitely worth a listen.
Shakespeare Comes to SLS Riley Vaske Contributing Writer
Calling all theater lovers, Shakespeare enthusiasts, and students! This year’s fall play is William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and with an all star cast, aerials, and even teacher participation it can be expected that more than just Mrs. Doran and her Honors Shakespeare class will be in attendance. Senior Clare Livingston, who will be playing the role of Helena, has high hopes for the show. “It’s going better than we could’ve hoped!” said Livingston, “we’re off book and the costume fittings are just around the corner. It’s shaping up to be a play unlike any other in my St. Luke’s career.” Clare is a veteran thespian; however, this year the SLS stage welcomes a newcomer in the role of Lysander: sophomore Jeff Lane. According to his fellow cast members, Lane has been doing a stand up job in his theater pursuits. “[This is] actually the first time I’ve performed anywhere,” said Lane. “The play has been great so far.”
The brilliant use of feedback and noise throughout the album, such as in the song “Seizure,” is something that definitely needs to be mentioned. Though feedback definitely does not appeal to everyone, it represents the band’s fearlessness and creativity, for they use the guitar not just for playing chords but also to contribute to the overall sound and atmosphere of the album. “She’s So” is another track that exemplifies their boldness with their music. It begins with eight bars of a fifth chord that turns into a flat-fifth chord, giving off an experimental vibe that might make some people, who are bigger fans of pop music, want to stop listening Songs such as “Blackheart” that feature Izzy Almeida on vocals remind you of riot girl acts such as Bikini Kill and Joan Jett, with angst-filled lyrics like, “We said we don’t need to, but I’m still that way.”
Another one of her pieces is hanging in Ms. Perry’s office. It depicts a beautiful landscape with a road leading to a mountain range. Bachman’s manipulation of colors in this piece brings a striking sense of unity within the landscape, despite the contrasting colors. Within the hills, dark green shadows hold bright wildflowers.
What makes this play so special is the high involvement of some of our community’s most beloved faculty members. Among the cast is Ms. Reagan, Mr. Davis, and the ever animated Mr. Flachsbart. As for Dr. Bramlett, who will be doing aerial work in the show, Livingston says she is “incredibly impressive” and that the cast “just [watches] in awe as she does acrobatics and moves her body in ways [they] didn’t think possible.” A Midsummer Night’s Dream boasts one of the most diverse casts in recent memory, made up of many new faces and old to the stage. Veterans Mac Zech ’14, Malcolm Joung ’15, Megan Evershed ’15, and Ian Corbet ’14 (you may remember him in his breakout role of “Attendant Three” in last year’s performance of Dracula) share the stage with newcomers Charlie Hobbs ’17 (new perhaps to the Upper School, but an longstanding member of the Theatre Department), Elizabeth Guillen ’15, and even the pride and joy of St. Luke’s, Sebastian Bates ’14.
The most striking example of texture is in the yellow path that leads the way to the mountains. Bringing together yellows, browns, and oranges, the path leads viewers pleasantly though the windy road from the foreground through the background. As your eyes travel through the piece, Bachman takes you on a journey into a calming, tranquil state of mind. So take a gander at Avery Bachman’s work. She is a fantastic painter who is sure to color the world with her exquisite and refreshing palette.
garage rock and grunge bands from the past. However, their ability to create soft, melodic riffs is also heard frequently throughout the album, giving it an indie rock edge.
Hunters is definitely one of the best modern punk albums I have ever heard. It is clear that they draw influence from pioneer punk bands like The Ramones as well as from
So make sure to leave room in your calendar for a production unlike at any other at St. Luke’s (and schedule time to meet with Mrs. Doran beforehand if you are unfamiliar with the language of Shakespeare!). The production will hit the stage on the evening of Friday, November 8, and again, for a matinee, on Saturday the 9th.
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October 2013
OPINION An Invitation: Let’s Rethink Our Dress Code Liz Perry Head of Upper School
heritage wanted to wear a shirt with a mandarin collar-which is a collared dress shirt that is worn with no necktie-would we require him to buy a button-down shirt and tie instead? Why? There are endless permutations on this question if we consider cultures from around the world.
What is a dress code? It is a set of guidelines to regulate how we appear. Many places have dress codes: offices, clubs, gyms, even some restaurants. And, of course, most schools. In a few places, such as the gym, the dress code might include purely functional rules. But in most spaces, dress codes are cultural. They are a way of signaling norms that are shared in the community.
And what is the effect on our relationships when we talk so much about what we look like? The very first day of school this year, following our school rules, I stopped a girl and told her I thought her pants were not in dress code. She looked genuinely surprised and told me she had just bought the pants as part of her back-to-school-shopping specifically because she believed they were in dress code. She turned around so I could look at the pockets on her pants. We discussed the pockets. We discussed the cut and fit of the pants. Let me reiterate that it was the first day of school. I had never met this student before. We were not discussing what books she had read over the summer, or what classes she was looking forward to, or how preseason practice had gone. I was standing outside the school, examining the pockets of her pants and discussing them with her. This is a ludicrous act for an educator.
In the weeks since school began, I have enjoyed almost every aspect of my new role as Head of Upper School. St. Luke’s students and teachers have been incredibly welcoming, I have loved sitting in on classes and watching teaching and learning in action, and it has been a joy to see student leadership in action on everything from the Inspirica Walk-a-thon to the Founders’ Cup competition. But there is one aspect of my new role that I do not savor: explaining and enforcing the current dress code.
So why do we have a dress code at St. Luke’s? My experiences prior to St. Luke’s give me context for this question. One school where I taught had virtually no dress code--the only rule was that clothing could not depict anything that would be against school rules if it were spoken or were real. Students there routinely wore shorts, flip-flops, jeans, and tee shirts. At another school, by contrast, there were rules so strict they even governed the style and size that girls’ earrings could be. Students at these two schools looked quite different from each other, but the key question is this: did the students wearing shorts and flip flops learn less algebra or American History? I think you know the answer. Learning is not affected by what you are wearing. So if a dress code does not improve student learning, then what does it accomplish in a school? It accomplishes the same purpose as it does in an office or club: it establishes a cultural norm. St. Luke’s has a dress code because, like most schools, it wants to create an intentional culture. I admire that sense of purpose. So what kind of culture do we create through our current dress code? I would argue it is a culture that is overly focused on appearance. We regulate virtually every aspect of student appearance. And that means we need to check every student, every day: is your appearance correct? Is it “appropriate” for school? Ah, the word “appropriate.” This is the heart of the matter. A great deal of adult focus on dress code has to do, if we are honest, with changes in a young person’s body. And usually, we are talking about changes in girls’ bodies. When a girl’s blouse is unbuttoned too far, or her skirt is too short, we use the word “inappropriate.” What we should say is this: “We want you to grow up feeling affirmed in your size, shape, and appearance. In a culture that teaches girls from a young age that their beauty is their most valued attribute, we want you to reject that standard. We want you to present yourself in a way that highlights your intelligence and character. Go change the world, not your nailpolish!”
Part of growing up is figuring out how to present yourself to the world. Every young person does this. How am I going to wear my hair? What brand of sneakers am I going to buy? What kind of bag or backpack am I going to carry? If we are going to have a dress code, it should make these questions easier to answer, not more difficult. Many schools solve this problem with a uniform. If a school requires a uniform, the philosophy is clear. Zen Buddhist monks all shave their heads and wear a robe; the thinking goes, “shave your head and then I will see who you really are.” In other words, take the emphasis off your appearance, and then you can concentrate on--in their case--spiritual growth. This is coherent. We do not have a coherent dress code. We have a list of rules that, to a newcomer, seems almost arbitrary. No patterned pants. Why? No fleece vests. Why? Last year: no Toms shoes; but this year, they are okay. Those fifth graders sure do look adorable in their ties, but when pressed, I cannot explain why we require them to wear ties. Is it because Brunswick does, too? Surely we are beyond that.
Does the current dress code reflect the diverse communities from which our families come? If a student of Indian
Megan Evershed World News Correspondent
As the crisis in Syria winds its way off of our newsreels and is replaced with the Nairobi attack and the government shutdown, I would argue that this is actually the time that we should be most engaged in the Syrian conflict. As governments around the world question the validity of the chemical weapons agreement reached recently and wonder whether to take further action against Syria, UNICEF is hard at work. The UN expects there to be 3.5 million Syrian refugees by the end of this year. That’s about the same number as the population of Connecticut. What if our entire state was displaced by 2014? It’s a terrifying thought. Even worse, the numbers climb daily, approximately 2,500 children cross the Syrian border every day, fleeing a war-torn country and seeking safety in foreign places. Most of the refugees are currently living in camps in countries that have also had internal conflict in the recent past, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. The wounded that make it safely to refugee camps need medication and supplies to take them through operations and through recovery. These supplies are needed for a specific, allotted time. But, what about the refugees who suffer from diabetes or continual afflictions that require regular medication? They need a constant supply, and UNICEF and other human rights organizations are doing their best to guarantee this. UNICEF Executive Director, Antony Lake, told the BBC that government donations to their organization have been incredibly disappointing. Talk of invasion and allies and opposition against terrorism have been whispered for weeks, but there has been a staggering neglect for those fleeing the conflict, those that are in desperate need of supplies. On the other hand, with the donations UNICEF has received, they have been able to immunize 2 million children and supply 10 million victims with water. Unfortunately, this generosity is not enough. The crisis in Syria is worsening.
I invite the Student Government to work with Dr. Bramlett and Mr. Foley, their able advisors, to bring me a proposal for a simplified and relaxed dress code. We need a coherent dress code that we can all agree on. My vision is for a school where the adults spend less time focused on what students are wearing and more time focused on what they are learning.
Children who have been displaced cannot wait for the war to be over to resume their lives. Their education needs to begin again, and one million textbooks were delivered to the UNICEF camp to supply the million children who have been forced to relocate. Half of the children in Lebanese schools are Syrian. Children in Jordan that would normally be engaged in classroom activities are drawing pictures of war and atrocities they have witnessed. Recently, the European Union has donated $45 million towards Syrian child protection and to promote education in the refugee camps. Hopefully, with education and with the life experience they have gained through this horrible and outrageous ordeal, these children will harken a brighter and more positive future for Syria. We must hope the children who have witnessed the human rights abuses in their mother country will work towards a greater future, where it’s not the government versus the people, but rather the government and the people working together..
I have heard the argument that the dress code is good preparation for adult life. This can’t be true because adults don’t wear skorts. And anyway, St. Luke’s graduates have four long years to lose the habit of wearing a necktie and leather shoes before they join the work world (and if they work at Google, they will never wear a necktie again). Does the current dress code help us better achieve our school’s mission of instilling the values of lifelong learning and social responsibility in our students? If our dress code really focused on social responsibility, it might read: “Students may not wear any item of clothing which was manufactured in a sweatshop.” That would be one way to leverage a daily act, the routine of getting dressed, and make it an occasion to think about our school’s mission of social responsibility every day.
Taking Refuge in Syria
In 2009, the Sentinel ran this picture to demonstrate proper, in-dress code attire. The students that saw it have long since gone, yet the code hangs wearily on. Is it time for a change?
Focusing on chemical weapons is important, but of equal import are the victims of the attacks – victims of chemical weapons or any other kind of weapon. Victims who are wounded or displaced need our attention as well. It’s hard to imagine these facts and figures on the page as real people, but they are. And they deserve our support.
October 2013
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JUST FOR FUN Top of the Hilltop Movie: Gravity Song: Royals College: Alaskan Bible College Celebrity Miley Cyrus Food: Undercooked Pasta Question: “What’s your top choice?” Hashtag: #humpday Activity: Dropping courses TV Show: American Horror Story - Coven
Founder Profile: Edward Bradford Blakely Sebastian Bates Editor-in-Chief
In September, when the tradition of having several intramural teams compete at St. Luke’s was revived by the Student Council, the Sentinel agreed to run profiles after the four men after whom the school Houses are named: Edward B. Blakely (after whom Blakely House, which has taken on the mantle of the old Gray team), Harold Oliphant (whose Oliphant House wears white), Dr. Joseph R. Kidd (whose namesake, Kidd House, succeeds the old Maroons), and William K. Von Fabrice (in whose honor Von Fabrice House, which takes as its color black, is named). This is the first of those profiles. Edward Bradford Blakely, better known to his contemporaries as “Ned Blakely,” was born February 9, 1878, in New York City. As a boy, he attended the nowdefunct Berkeley School, which had been founded in 1880 by a Harvard classicist named John S. White. White emphasized athletics and military drill as well as collegepreparatory academics at Berkeley, and this early emphasis on the concept of “mens sana in corpore sano” (or, “a sound mind in a healthy body”) may have influenced Blakely when it came to name his own school. After all, St. Luke’s is named after the patron saint of health, and emphasized physical as well as mental education from the beginning.
YMCA. This was the beginning of his teaching career. In 1922, he noted that “what engineering knowledge I possess has been acquired through practice, but without my previous education I could not have accomplished what little I have.” He had by this point begun teaching in earnest, opening a summer camp (Camp Mechano) in Maine that sought to teach boys the “knowledge and experience” they would need in order to “take up engineering as a profession.” It may have been while operating this camp, with his wife serving as an able partner, that he met Harold Oliphant. In addition, Mr. Blakely had gone back to his classical roots by the mid 1920s, as he was teaching Latin as a master at St. George’s School in Newport.
He had by this point married one Amandita Rivera, the daughter of the Spanish consul to St. Louis. The young Miss Rivera was an actress, who had appeared in “many of the early productions of Klaw & Erlanger,” a New Yorkbased theatrical partnership. Indeed, she may have been on tour in Australia in 1895 and had performed on Broadway in 1900, two years before her marriage. In 1907, he became superintendent of the Ardsley Motor Car Company in Yonkers, and in 1908 became supervisor of the testing departments at Daimler. Two years later, he became a teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School, and also taught a night class in gas engine practice at his local
Sebastian Bates Editor-in-Chief
This month’s Random Kid is Nicholas Lange ’17. The Sentinel sat down with Nicholas in order to ask him a few questions.
In 1928, Blakely and Oliphant opened “St. Luke’s School for Boys” in New Canaan. Reflecting Blakely’s upbringing, the School promised to provide an opportunity for a “healthy, outdoor life” as well as a sound education. In addition, Blakely maintained his interest in mechanics by operating a machine shop. By the 1930s, Blakely was operating the school as sole headmaster. The early years passed quietly – the New York Times records St. Luke’s as having lost a football game to Hopkins, 27 to nil, in 1930, while mentioning a win against King in November of the same year – but tragedy was soon to strike. In 1931, Amandita Blakely, who was helping to run the school as “vice president,” died. In the same year, a recent graduate of the school died as a result of a serious car accident. In time, Blakely remarried a local widow, and in 1934 wrote to the New York Times calling for a return to the classics, saying that “the road to real education can never be made a primrose path,” and that “the study of Latin is of very great cultural value.” That said, the tragedies he suffered may have had some influence in his decision to sell St. Luke’s to Dr. Kidd and Mr. Von Fabrice in 1936. Six years later, Blakely served his country as a chief of facilities to the War Production Board. He would return to government service during the Korean War as well. He died in 1965, having been retired for ten years.
The Sentinel: What is your full name? Nicholas Lange: Nicholas Christian Lange. S: What do you like to do in your free time? NL: In my free time I enjoy playing and watching football, shooting baskets, golf, volunteering with Home for the Brave to help returning veterans, serving at Mass and spending fun times with family and friends. S: Are you good at anything in particular? NL: I am a good listener and friend. S: What is one thing no one knows about you? NL: One thing no one knows about me is that I lived in England for four years. S: What is your favorite book and why? NL: The Giver, by Lois Lowry. It was a compelling read with a thought-provoking ending. S: What is your favorite color? NL: My favorite color is blue. S: What will you do after you graduate? NL: After graduating, I plan on attending college, and to hopefully play college football. I want to attend medical school and think I will become a pediatrician, since I enjoy children and am very patient.
Blakely followed in the footsteps of his headmaster by attending Harvard as a member of the Class of 1902. According to the Harvard Crimson, Blakely’s time in Cambridge was marked by athleticism: he played football, represented Harvard at the annual meets of the International Gymnastics Association, swam, and even competed in an intercollegiate strength test competition. He also served as a director of the Randall Hall Dining Association. After he graduated from Harvard, Blakely went on to work as manager of the New York Automobile Repository in New York City. This exposure to automobiles may have inspired his love of mechanical engineering, as he soon (after a stint operating a garage in Newport and working as a chauffeur for industrialist E. E. Smathers) became known as a racing enthusiast. Blakely is recorded as having given the “fright of their lives” to a group of Charlestonians in his favored car, an American Mercedes with which he was to win several races.
Random Kid of the Month
Top 10: Rejected Student Constitution Amendments 10. Taxes on Underclassmen 9. Right to an Attorney at Honor Council Hearings 8. Capital Punishment for Failing to Use Tongs 7. Daily Naptime 6. Student ID Barcode Tattoos 5. Right to Sit in the Hallways 4. Mandatory “Two-Minutes’ Hate,” Directed at King 3. Right to Free Speech (During Fire Drills) 2. Right to Bare Midriffs 1. The Power to Force People to Read the Sentinel
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October 2013
SPORTS BVS Searching for Answers Will Twomey Staff Writer
After a tough season last year, the St. Luke’s Boys Varsity soccer team is off to a disappointing start. Despite early setbacks, the team is optimistic that the season will produce more victories. “The rest of the season looks bright as long as we continue to work hard and focus on playing our game the best we can,” said Christian Arita ’15, one of the team’s most potent offensive weapons. The team opened the season with a home victory over Hamden Hall, but they were not able to capitalize on that victory to establish any momentum. That initial win was followed by a disappointing loss at home to Canterbury, tough losses on the road at Rye Country Day and Masters, and a hard-fought tie with Forman. Milo Judge ’14 told the Sentinel that “lapses in concentration are what caused the two goals in the game against Masters.” Milo went on to say that, although they have not scored many goals this season, the offense looks strong. Furthermore, he hopes to see improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Injuries have been factors in the slow start, with captains Jeff Mitchell ’14 and Judge both missing most games this season. Milo suffered a fractured growth plate back in September, while Jeff Mitchell just recently sprained his ankle. A quick recovery seems likely for Mitchell, and Milo himself hopes to be back in time for Homecoming on October 19.
Varsity Captains Spotters’ Guide
Liz Kremer Contributing Photographer
Salma Anastasio ’14, one of the captains of Girls Varsity Soccer
Coach Martin had more encouraging words to say about Homecoming, commenting, “It’s important that the guys remember why we play in the first place…it’s because we love the sport and we love the group. When you play those big games, that’s what gives you that extra boost of energy to succeed”. Coach Martin’s optimism about Homecoming may be well-founded. Despite a disappointing performance against King on October 9 (final score 7-3, with captain Robert Powis ’14 refusing to comment on the game to the Sentinel, saying that he “wanted nothing published” about the team’s performance), the Storm scored an impressive five goals against Hyde on October 12, for a 5-1 win. As we head towards the Storm’s Homecoming showdown with Columbia Prep, the boys have no reason to be overconfident; however, if they put on as strong a showing as they did at Hyde, then a major will may well finally be on the cards.
Will Twomey Staff Writer
The new school year has brought many new faces to the hilltop - a new Head of Upper School, a new Dean of Upper School Student Life, and two new coaches. Coach Egan and Coach Hedges (who coach Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Field Hockey, respectively) are both new to the SLS family, so we decided to sit down with them and hear what they’re all about. Part of an all new coaching staff for the volleyball team, Coach Egan is eager to make her first season at SLS one to remember. Before coming to the Hilltop, Coach Egan coached for the CT Juniors in Woodridge. She coached a team during the season, as well as the offseason program that runs for the teams year-round. Coach Egan has a strong volleyball background, having played at both the high school and collegiate level. A former volleyball player at St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull, CT, Coach Eagan went on to play on the Hawks, the Division II volleyball team at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH.
Kai Burton ’14, a Varsity Field Hockey captain
Although unable to contribute on the field, Milo remains a key leader for the Storm. He stressed the need for the team to focus on their training program. “Because we only have sixteen players, we need each and every player to be fit to compete with other teams.” Milo also praised the younger players for their commitment and their perseverance. “I’d say the underclassmen have performed well given the pressure they’ve been under.” Assistant coach Hunter Martin had some very positive things to say about the team. When asked about one thing that the time needs to improve on, he answered: “playing our strengths…the guys on the team are very ambitious and realizing ambition is realizing how the group can be most effective together. We have to focus on obliging the other team to play our game rather than us playing their game”.
New Faces in SLS Athletics
When asked how she thought the season was going after a complete overhaul of the coaching staff, Coach Egan the Sentinel that “I think we have done okay with the new coaching staff. It had been a difficult transition for all members of the team...it’s taking some time to get into the groove but I think as the season progresses the team is coming together.” Captain Sasha Clark, a senior, feels the same way about the season, telling the Sentinel, “We have a really young team, and an entirely new coaching staff, so it has taken some time to adjust.” The girls have started off the season 3-5, and only look to get better as the season progresses.
Sasha Clark ’14, a Varsity Volleyball captain
Coming in as a new coach to a new school is always a difficult task, but that task becomes especially difficult when replacing one of the most respected coaches on the Hilltop. This fall, Mrs. Demarco gave up her position as head coach of the field hockey team, and was replaced by Coach Hedges. Despite having big shoes to fill, Coach Hedges certainly is the right person for the job. Before joining the Storm community, she coached field hockey at New Canaan Country School, and currently coaches a local club team, where she coaches indoor and outdoor teams ages 12-19. She is originally from Massachusetts, where she coached club teams and at Nike and Revolution field hockey camps around New England.
Wyett Dalton ’14, a Cross Country captain
Her love of the sport began at an early age, as she played from elementary school all the way into college. She attended Mount Holyoke College, where she played for four years and served as captain. As if that wasn’t enough, she travelled abroad to Scotland where she played on one of Edinburgh’s eight elite women’s teams. She currently plays on an adult co-ed team in Manhattan. When asked how she thought the season was going so far, she had many positive things to say, telling the Sentinel, “So far, we have made serious progress as a team. We have a strong unit, and girls who are willing to push past their comfort zone to achieve the high expectations that they have set for themselves.”
Ben Lavietes ’14, a Varsity Football captain
She also had a message for the rest of the FAA: “We are right with our league competitors, showing them that St. Luke’s is ready to play and will be a force to be reckoned with this season and seasons to come.” The girls have had a successful season so far, split with an even record at 2-2. They look to improve as the season goes on, and to come out strong against Cheshire Academy at Homecoming. The Sentinel encourages the entire SLS community to come and see these new coaches in action during Homecoming. Our staff certainly will!
Robert Powis ‘14, Boys Varsity Soccer captain