IN THIS StudentsISSUE...request
Learning to live with college admissions decisions.
YAC student leaders organize Black History Month Assembly
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“In the beginning of the school year, I asked about having the option to use a gender-neutral bath room,” Eskenazi said. “I was told after a couple days that I could use the bathroom in the nurse’s office. Ever since then, I’ve been using the nurse’s office when I need to use the restroom. This means that I am spending ten minutes [of class time] just to go to the bathroom.”Eskenazi also noted that he “felt that I needed to extensively reason why I needed to use a single stall bathroom. And while that may not put me in a dangerous situation, because I am pretty much out to anyone in my life, it poses exclusionary restrictions to those who are not out.”
Dance team members address the audience before their performance.
SPORTS TEAMS SMASH RECORDS
Cece Olszewski, ’22 Arts and Entertainment Editor
Unlocking the door to equality
Haven GSA pushes to unlock unisex bathrooms
The assembly also highlighted the creative talents of Strath Haven students, featuring a musical duet performed by Sweeting and RobinsonLeary of “Strange Fruit”, by Billie Holiday, and a rendition of “Dinosaurs in the Hood” by Danez Smith, re cited by Koné. The last component of
How many gender-neutral bathrooms can be found in the high school as of today? One? Two? As it turns out, there are five. But as of February 25, only three of those five are reliably unlocked and acces sible for student use. Before the 25, it was impossible for students to predict whether these bathrooms would be locked on any given day. In addition to the barrier of locks, nearly all of these restrooms are located at a considerable distance from most classrooms in the building, forcing non-binary and transgender students to miss valuable instruction time in order to access them.
Strath Haven does have a policy in place to combat these issues. It’s called “Gender Expansive & Transgender Students - Ensuring Equity and Non discrimination.” This policy states that gender nonconforming students “shall have access to a restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.” The policy also states that administrators should “make every ef fort to provide students with reasonable access to an alternative restroom,” such as a single-stall restroom.
In addition to these statements, an insightful testimony was given by Carolyn Eskenazi (he/him, ‘24), who is non-binary.
SPEAKING UP Sophomores Anika Goswami and Carolyn Eskenazi join GSA Presidents Zoe Feinberg and Sylvan Prey-Harbaugh to deliver a presentation on gender neutral bathrooms to the Wallingford Swarthmore School Board on Monday, March 1 2022. | Photo courtesy Kai Lincke
Several Haven teams and athletes qualify for high level competitions.
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Photo courtesy Kai Lincke
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students of all gender identities and sexes.”
“As a student of Strath Haven High School, I feel that I should have a right to explore my identity,” one student wrote, “[But] I feel pressured into being a female at a school that claims to be a safe haven for
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
TIME FOR ACTION
On February 22, 2022, the Young Activists Coalition lifted their voic es together during their Black History Month assembly. The assembly, which was held in the gym after being resched uled, featured poetry, musical and dance performances, and a video compiled by YAC members.Theassembly celebrated black culture through dances and music, as well as sharing the perspectives of Strath Haven’s black community. The assembly was enlivening, educational, and student-run. YAC leaders spent two months planning the event and making the video shown during the assembly.
changes to Holocaust curriculum.
Juniors Collin Woodland, Nailah Sweeting, and Asanne Wade presented an informational outlook on the black community, the “depriori tization of Black Americans” in their presentation titled “We Strive, We Thrive”.Following the presentation, the dance team, which consisted of juniors Dyvne Lee, Aïssata Koné, Michaela Santisi, Amelia Andrews-Sullivan, and Nailah Sweeting, performed choreo graphed dances inspired by Ghanan, South African, Nigerian, Congolese, and Gabonian cultures.
Striving and thriving
“Does the nurse’s office qualify as that? Sure,” Eskenazi said in an interview. “But I still felt like I had to out myself, and that could be very un safe for some students.”
“We chose songs based on how influential the artists were during their time,” Lee said. “Push it”, “Rhythm Within Us”, as well as songs by Be yoncé were among some of the songs chosen.
Panther Press
Four student representatives from the GenderSexuality Alliance spoke at the WSSD school board meeting on February 28 to address this issue. Zoe Feinberg (‘22), Carolyn Eskenazi (‘24), Sylvan PreyHarbaugh (‘23), and Anika Goswami (‘24) brought the issue to the attention of both the school board and the Strath Haven community, proposing both short-term and long-term solutions which were wellreceived.The student representatives read anonymous statements from non-binary and transgender Haven students who expressed their own experiences of discomfort in using the school’s binary bathrooms.
February 2020. My microeconomics class is filled with boisterous discussion as everyone reads updates about a new virus that has just started to spread in the United States. We laugh and shake our“It’sheads.literally the flu,” we say. “Why is everyone getting so nervous about this?”
One month later, we learned that school would temporarily close to allow some time for the virus to die down. We eagerly discussed our plans for the time off, and said goodbye. “See you in two weeks,” we told each other.
Since then, it’s been a long, slow journey. The last two school years have been chaotic and uncertain. We’ve made it through several changes, including hybrid schedules, six foot distancing, desk wipedowns, contact tracing, outdoor dances and distanced assemblies.This spring marks our third year of the pandemic. All around us, things are starting to come alive again: green shoots are bursting through the thawing ground, daffodils and crocuses are stretching towards the spring sunlight, and birds are returning to sing from pink-budded trees.
We still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic life. But, each day, we move a little closer—to each other, to spring, to warmth, to “normal”—whatever that may look like. Life has changed, but there’s still light. Keep looking towards it.
Oliver OpinionsStockman
Kai Editor-in-ChiefLincke
My favorite musical is “Six” because it’s aided me greatly in my aspirations to become one of the first male girlbosses. Gabe GraphicsLawson Definitely “Chicago”. It’s the first show I worked on and the jazzy music and style are really unique. Editors Sawyer Bock ,’22 Giorgia Mari , 22 Morgan McErlean, ’22 Cece Olszewski ’22 Oliver Stockman ’22 Graphics Gabe Lawson, ’22 Aaron Loving, ’22 Editor-in-Chief Kai Lincke, ’22 Nate Harrington ’22 Nuala McHugh ’23 Aidan McLean ’23 Kaia Smith, ’24 Jillian Thomas ’24 Collin Woodland ’23
“A Chorus Line”, and anything Dave Malloy has written.
Kai Lincke, ’22 Editor-in-Chief
The Panther Press is first and foremost a reflection of the opinions and interests of the student body. For this reason, we do not publish any anonymous or teacherwritten submissions, and we do not discriminate against any ideology or political opinion. While we are bound by school policy (and fund ing) and we will not render any article neutral, individual points may be edited for obscene or inflammatory content. Finally, the articles published in the Panther Press do not necessarily re flect the views of the editors or advisers.
LEDITOR
Editor Graphics by Aaron Loving, '22 EDITORS’ PAGE2 STAFF Winter 2022 Advisers Mrs. Danielle PerriconeMr.MunnRobert Zakrzewski Staff Writers Gabriel Ball ’24 Matthew Chen ’23 Ella DiBonaventura ’25 Luci DiBonaventura ’25 Bella Emmanouilides ’22 Julia Gray ’23 Artists Matthew Chen Ella RorySylvanJackJessDiBonaventuraFarhatHenryPrey-HarbaughSimmons Reawakening WE ASKED OUR EDITORS: What's your favorite Broadway musical?
KaiWarmly,Lincke
PantherDisclaimerPress
Sawyer Bock Sports
I really like the music from “Dear Evan Hansen”!
I love the storyline in “Wicked”—it’s interesting to see another side of the Wicked Witch of the West. Of course, the music is amazing too!
“In the Heights” has my heart.
Cece Olszewski Arts and Entertainment
“Sweeney Todd” might be my favorite. “Hadestown,” “Chicago,” and “Cabaret” rank high.
Dear readers,
I think the music from “The Phantom of the Opera” is so cool, I’m obsessed.
We would not return to school for another eight months.
Aaron GraphicsLoving
filled with instrumental and choral concerts, dance performances, and musical productions. Student athletes are returning to the track, fields and courts without distancing and masks. The school has come together for assemblies, presentations, and events.
Morgan McErlean Haven Happenings
And, as you’ll read in this issue, our community is coming alive again too. The auditorium has
Giorgia Mari Detours
It’s
For some reason, these students decide to attend Chess Club during fifth block on Mondays and Fridays, rather than heading home to play online or do something else.
Considering the time constraint of fifth block to complete the competition, the group decided to play “five minute games. When it’s your turn, your clock winds down from five minutes, and when you move, you begin your opponent’s clock instead. This means that you lose the game if your opponent puts you into “checkmate,” as well as if your time runs out. With five Chess Club members and a few onlookers in attendance, it was decided that the most highly-rated player, Caleb Young, should have the easiest path to the final, essentially a “bye”.
Ijoined Chess Club for a day to participate in a true showdown. When I entered room 304 on Friday, December 14, I expected to observe Haven’s finest chess players in their natural habitat, but I was actually integrated into their community. As Mr. Babcock sat in the corner of the room working intently on his computer, Jonah Shor began to unpack the 2 chess sets and organize the impending tournament.
Collin jokingly (but perhaps accurately) suggests something deeper than that.
Round One:
3
Stop by at Chess Club for comradery, calculation, and competition.
With the goal of “portraying the black experience at Strath Haven multidimensionally,” Collin Woodland explains that the assembly spotlighted black voices in a creative Whilemanner.the assembly was conducted for Black History Month, the performances were also meant to reflect the issues that YAC had already been fighting for within their club, such as striving for a more diverse curriculum that celebrates the cultures of marginalized communities.AsWoodland stated in his presentation, “These issues are not necessarily old. They’re fairly recent, and more importantly, ingrained in the fact of our society.”
The Chess Club is new to in-person school, as the leaders intended to start the club right as the pandemic began.
It is clear that this club mirrors the chess world with mostly male-identifying players. I asked the group if any girls had ever been a part of the club.“Yes, one,” they replied. However, they emphasize that Chess Club does not discriminate on the basis of gender, and I would say the group would benefit from some Strath Haven queens.Itiscertainly an engaging environment. Some members reference the staple that snacks are at the meeting. During my winter visit, they kindly offered the group candy canes. Further, it would be impossible to attend Chess Club without having a laugh; the games are characterized by funny mistakes and strategicThisdynamics.culture is characterized by frequent, friendly jabs such as, “Just stop the
Semi-final:
Caleb appreciates the in-person connection and the physical chess boards at school rather than playing online, and Shor adds that there’s more weight to your moves when other people are there to watch.
Shor shares that the idea for “Chess Club really started in school, with playing chess in class, and it progressed to playing chess after school.”Manthan
The semi-final featured only one matchup, and Caleb awaited the winner. The group circled around Jonah Shor and Matt Chen, and though I gathered that Jonah may be favored, the game seemed to be up in the air. Jonah was off to an early lead, but Matt gradually came back, making up a deficit of a few pieces. The momentum shifted again when Jonah put Matt in a “fork,” and after Matt defended, he was running out of time. As Matt scrambled at the end of the game, he gave away his knight and his clock beeped; Jonah would face Caleb in the final.
Championship:
Watching the game, I had no clue what my strategy would be in Jonah’s position. Caleb quickly gained a small “material advantage” and the players traded their queens in a multimove maneuver. A few minutes into the game, Caleb was able to make three consecutive “checks” on Jonah’s king, the last one being a game-ending checkmate. It was an entertaining event, and Caleb was the decisive victor.
clock so he can think about it,” which was directed at a flustered competitor.
“I would say it’s a sense of community, but also, I feel like chess is a metaphor for life. With the various challenges and adversities, you never know what you’re going to get.”
the assembly depicted a video where black students discussed their personal passions and creative endeavors. The students interviewed included Ell Perry, Anjali Robinson-Leary, Collin Woodland, Emmanuela Sackey, Jaiden Whitfield, and Nikki MacDonald.
(pawn to) B4 You Go
“Making change is extremely stressful. The change we want to see shouldn’t be in the hands of students, but in administration and staff,” Andrews-Sullivan said. “Our school doesn’t show much appreciation for its diversity, [so] The Young Activists Coalition
wanted to do it themselves, since we’ve been trying to [suggest] new ways of diversifying curriculum and expression within the school.”
Club leaders aimed to highlight students’ experiences and accentuate their talents.
Winter 2022
HAVEN HAPPENINGS
PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE Jonah Shor and Manthan Dhingra hover as Akshay Risbud contemplates his next move.
game, offering Jonah few chances to attack.
YAC hopes to change this narrative. Having advocated for the new social justice course in the curriculum the previous year, YAC also hopes to contribute to the school’s first “International Day” on March 24.
Photo courtesy Kai Lincke
Striving > from page 1
Sawyer Bock, ‘22 Sports Editor
Dhingra attests that he, Marcus Lin, Jonah Shor, and Akshay Risbud recruited “hundred of members” at the activities fair, including Matt Chen and Collin Woodland. The players all noted that Akshay, a “very influential” founder of the club, a “legend” who “brings a lot of passion,” seems to be the only known legitimate threat to Caleb on the chess board, although Caleb shares, “I played him once. I beat him.”
For Manthan, the group “is a great outlet to display his chess prowess” and is a good activity to fill the time before track.
Whether it’s planning for the upcoming International Day or for a presentation for the middle school, YAC has no intention of slowing down. Students involved in YAC are driven by a continual frustration and desire to see change.“Ifthe payout is seeing other kids not have to struggle with what we have, it’s worth it,” Andrews-Sullivan concluded.
Entering the championship as the clear underdog, Jonah was the fan-favorite. But from the start of the game, Caleb played a solid
Along with its sister club CoSaTide (Council of Students Advocating for Transparency, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity), YAC is at the forefront of school diversification, working on community building through the development of certain school policies, such as one that Koné reports addresses “hate speech and harassment.”
“We’re always trying to crowdsource for creativity,” Robinson-Leary said. “We want to give a platform for people to perform their creative powers, whether it’s art or music or whatever… and we showcase them in the best way that we possibly can.”
In the first round, I was invited to challenge Caleb, and the winner of our match would be sent automatically to the final. Theo Runiewicz would play Matthew Chen beside us and after, Jonah would play Collin Woodland. Even as someone who ~kind of~ knows how to play chess, when my five minute clock started, I was overwhelmed. I lost my most important piece, the queen, after about five moves and kept forgetting to tap the clock after my turn. Though I put up a decent fight, I had lost most of my pieces when I ran out of time. I probably didn’t have a chance from the beginning—when I first noticed Caleb’s confident and amused grin even under his mask. Though I could not pay attention to the other game during my short-lived Chess Club career, Theo also “blundered” away his queen against Matt, who moved onto the next round. Collin held his hand over his clock the entire game against Jonah, and despite energetically commentating over his defeat, he often failed to notice when the cool-headed Jonah “checked” his King.
Though YAC members are proud to help improve school culture, they express that it can be challenging to lead the change as a student.
I
Jones added that a new phase of curriculum review will be coming after the curriculum audit and strategic plan are complete.
propaganda to Ghettoization. She includes how “the brutality of the extermination camps goes beyond the gas chambers and also includes perverse medical experiments.”
“Memorizing facts and dates is not as important… the education system needs to be teaching about how the Holocaust started, the history behind it, and ways to prevent it in the future,” sophomore Meredith Seidman said.
unlocking all gender-neutral bathrooms in the high school, as well as informing all students of where these bathrooms can be found. Longterm solutions involved the construction of unisex bathrooms in easily accessible locations, along with the designation of gender-neutral restrooms in every WSSD building, not just the high school.Following the presentation, school board president Kelly Wachtman emphasized the im portance of expanding this concept to the other schools in the district, noting that “we usually
Marseille references Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and political activist.
Students’ experiences show that while Jewish students may not have been called slurs at school, or been the targets of violence, there is still a level of insensitivity that exists in classrooms.Part of this may be because students haven’t had enough education about the Jewish experience. Grossman explains that she has “learned very little through school. Most of my education [has been] on my own or at my HebrewHaven’sschool.”curriculum does currently study the Holocaust in eleventh and twelfth grade. Senior English classes’ core text is “Man’s Search for Meaning”, in which author Viktor Frankl uses his time in concentration camps to contextualize the pursuit of a meaningful life.
“Teaching and learning of the Holocaust is a part of our history, and its priority should be evident in how we are offering those experiences to our students,” Marseille said. “I think all of our curricular experiences can be significantly improved… I call this the ‘NonNegotiables’ of the curriculum. Holocaust education in a Non-Negotiable, as well as the suffrage of American Indians, Chinese Americans, African-Americans and all other marginalized groups throughout history.”
“This work will focus on elementary grades and could well lead to deeper discussion around the infusion of society, cultural proficiency, and Global Competence content. The Holocaust and the resonance it has to this day could begin even earlier than the proposed middle school years if this is the outcome of the review, ” Jones Superintendentsaid. Dr. Wagner Marseille agrees that the Holocaust should have more weight in the curriculum.
talk about these things at the high school level, but we have students in the elementary school level that need to have a safe and welcom ing place according to their gender identity as well.” In response to the students’ presentation, WSSD superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille will “begin to address the remaining areas that are locked, effective tomorrow.”
Unlocking >> continued from page 1 Winter 2022
A4call for comprehensive education
Students call for re-evaluation of school’s Holocaust curriculum
Director of Education Denise Citarelli-
Jillian Thomas, ’24 Staff Writer
The short-term solutions provided by the GSA representatives included permanently
As a result, Seidman is leading the charge to incorporate more Jewish history— beyond the Holocaust— into the WallingfordSwarthmore curriculum. She began this summer by delivering a speech at a school board meeting, which can be found on her Instagram.
This is valuable information, and it is good for students to be aware of the atrocities committed towards marginalized groups during the Holocaust— Jewish students deserve to have their history learned in a comprehensive way. However, students suggest that the curriculum should expand beyond the facts.
n a recent survey about Holocaust education, fifty-three percent of Strath Haven students answered “No” to the question “Have you ever learned about antisemitism in a school setting?” Eighty-one percent of Strath Haven students are not aware of the increase of antisemitic hate crimes and rhetoric in May 2021, which accompanied both the Israel-Palestine conflict and the rise of media attention. Most students’ knowledge of the Jewish experience was limited to the Holocaust. However, antisemitism endures beyond the Holocaust; it has been on the rise for years, intensifying with the recent hate crimes, and creating an uncomfortable environment for Jewish individuals.
That extends to the classroom, where many of Haven’s Jewish students have endured insensitive comments during lessons and discussions.“Inmiddle school after talking about concentration camps I was asked if I was afraid to shower,” Ella Grossman, a Jewish student, explained. “In eighth grade we had to debate about how to treat neo-Nazis in history class and truly the whole thing was insensitive and uncomfortable—having to [play] ‘devil’s advocate’ about the lives of Jewish people.”
“At the time of my speech, it was received very well… it felt really amazing to be able to receive that sort of assurance right then and there,” Seidman explained.
Seidman has worked with the WSSD superintendent, Dr. Marseille, to “discuss the curriculum, and ideas for improvement.” She hopes to meet with Marseille and the director of education to improve Holocaust education, wishing for “a more in-depth and current-day type of Holocaust Administrationeducation.”officials have responded to students’ concerns about the gaps in the existing“Wecurriculum.haveindeed recognized several gaps in our curriculum on multiple levels. We are conducting a curriculum audit and an equity audit that will provide us with deeper understandings of where these gaps reside, and will also guide us in mending the gaps. Student voices and awareness of how our curriculum is lacking, what we are not teaching are all important to us,” Assistant Director of Education Ashwina Mosakowski said.
Junior history courses explore the Holocaust during the World War II unit in Modern World History III. History teacher Ms. Alissa Harvey explains that the education surrounding the Holocaust is complex; it includes the preceding events, reading material, and visual aids. The course includes “excerpts from Mein Kampf” and discussions about “Hershel Grynzpsan, Kristallnacht, the Nuremberg Laws, and so forth.” Harvey delves into portions of the Holocaust that are little known, ranging from scapegoating and
“Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor,” Wiesel said.
Seidman and other students note that the curriculum continues to lack books about heroes in the Holocaust. They believe the curriculum needs to include more education about current antisemitism and neo-Nazis in addition to the Holocaust information. Furthermore, they believe that these lessons need to be introduced prior to eleventh and twelfth grade, as younger students need to learn more about Jewish individuals’ experiences and struggles.
Marseille is reminded of this quote often. It embodies his desire to have more student impact on the curriculum, and reiterates the importance of a robust Holocaust education. With antisemitism on the rise, it is ever important that Haven has an adequate Holocaust curriculum. Even with the current eleventh and twelfth grade units that cover the Holocaust, there is always room for improvement—which will hopefully result from meaningful collaboration with school administration. These changes can possibly entail education on lesser known Holocaust figures other than Anne Frank, and reading books such as “Night” by Elie Wiesel and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” by Heather Morris. Education on lesser known topics, such as the fact that the Holocaust extended itself to North Africa, is important as well. It is crucial that the community stays continuously informed about not only the Holocaust but antisemitism and Jewish people in general. Education is the first step in becoming an ally.
HAVEN HAPPENINGS
This is another issue addressed by the policy: “All persons, including students, have a right to privacy. This includes keeping a stu dent’s actual or perceived gender identity and expressionAccordingprivate.”to the GSA’s presentation, when forced to request access to gender affirm ing bathrooms, transgender and non-binary stu dents are outed to school personnel, “actively contradicting WSSD’s privacy guidelines.”
Video from the school board meeting can be found on the WSSD YouTube channel .
Winter 2022
Will video reapplications redefine weather-related school cancellations?
Above all, his work is a reminder that art has no“Artlimitations.isexpression. Film is an expression of art, from the lens to the light to the paper on which it started on,” Sacks said. “It always has the potential to inspire—which art is also made of.”
District continued with their tradition of snow days. Some were confused as to why the district chose this path, while others argued that three inclement weather days are built into the sched ule, so no harm was done.
Reconsidering5 the snow day
Senior Noah Sacks directs his team of students to execute his vision for his single take film.
Matthew Chen, ’23 Staff Writer
Senior Noah Sacks merges art, film in interpretation of “Synesthesia”
various challenges and mishaps, from mastering lighting techniques to assembling a DIY camera track. After three weeks of preparation and ten different takes, Sacks and his team of six finally called itIncomplete.theend, the process was rewarding for both his crew and himself, as the team quickly learned that when working on longterm projects, reflection is critical in producing the best“Iresult.didn’t understand the necessity of letting things sit,” Sacks said. “You can’t make really fast decisions when it comes to making videos that involve translating music and lights and lighting techniques.”
As Sacks prepares to continue his passion for film after high school, he advises others who are interested in videography to “let your mind soar and bring it down to a science.”
S
VISION INTO REALITY
Photo courtesy Matthew Chen
With the adoption of new technolo gies in recent years, this dynamic has started to change. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the effectiveness of teleconferencing platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams as substitutes for in-person schooling, leading some schools to question the need for snow days. Many schools have gotten rid of snow days, believing they waste instructional time when school could be conducted online. A notable example of this are the schools of New York City, who an nounced last year that there would be no more snow days. Snow day advocates have fought back against this, arguing that snow days are a cherished tradition that have inspired countless memories. They also provide a short break for students and staff, often providing much-needed rest.
The planning process for the video was far from easy. Sacks listened to the song over one hundred times to formulate his vision.
The genius of the idea is in its simplicity. Sacks was clear in stating that the piece was going to be filmed in a single take, within a still frame, and with only one subject. There would be little post production editing and camera work, as Sacks chose to instead highlight the dynamic array of colors and lightingEachtechniques.technique and transition was meticulously thought out and planned. Every detail was precise, from the color of light passing over the subject’s face, to the coordination between the rhythm of the music to the pattern of the lights. This display was all meant to emphasize and illustrate the complexity of the music.
Theindividuals.debateabout snow days is likely to continue in school districts across the country for years to come. This year, the WallingfordSwarthmore School District has decided to continue snow days. On Monday, January 3, the district declared a snow day under the threat of a winter storm, and on Friday, January 7, wide spread snow near 4 inches blanketed the area, prompting another snow day. Despite all of the controversy and debate, one thing is certain about the topic of snow days: no matter what happens, the magic of snow days will never be lost on those who have experienced this age-old tradition.
“It plays a big role in working as a team, finding the technical aspect in art, and being constantly creative,” he said
Sacks stresses the importance of using local artists in his work, as the song used was part of an album recently made by senior Cece Olszewski.Appreciating its wide range of vocals and instruments, Noah chose the piece “Honeybee,” which, he said, was both “simple and complex at the same time”. The song fit perfectly with the film, with the voices and instruments being almost personified by the lights.
Creativity is an idea that quite literally surrounds Sacks and his passion for filmmaking. While he has worked on various other filmmaking projects, Sacks’ ability to mesh together art and film comes to light in his latest piece,WithSynesthesia.hiscurrentcircumstances and available resources, Sacks sought to create something different. Combining music and film, his piece communicated the beauty of sound through the depiction of light.
Here in Wallingford-Swarthmore, stu dents and staff have a different perspective.
Mr. Kevin Haney, a 10th grade English and public speaking teacher and district parent, feels that the snow day tradition must continue.
The piece was a visual interpretation of a song. Although it was simply sound and film, what Sacks had produced was far more compelling than the commonality of a music video.
HAVEN HAPPENINGS
Unconventional Passion
Sacks’ first introduction to film came when a film company used his house as a set. After experiencing the production live and speaking to the directors of the company, Sacks realized how nuanced production is and became interested in the industry.
now: a word that can spark emotions ranging from joy and excitement to disappointment and resignation. Adults fear a day of shoveling and white knuckle driving out on the roads. Stu dents around the world become electrified, antic ipating what is to come— whether they enjoy the snow itself or simply want a day off from school.
Gabriel Ball, ’24 Staff Writer
“We need to stick to our traditional snow days because nothing detaches us from the stress of life like hot chocolate, family, and friends,” Haney said.
What do you want to do after high school?” is a question every high school student has heard as they prepare for life after graduation. When it comes to one’s future profession, many students are a bit uncertain. This is not the case for senior Noah Sacks, who has his eyes set on a more unique career: film.
“I basically closed my eyes and imagined what I saw,” he Carryingsaid. out the idea was no simpler. Fifth blocks in the media lab were filled with
He argues that snow days are a much loved tradition which enables students and their families to come together and relax. Both teach ers and students emphasize that they appreci ate a day off and would be upset if they were replaced by virtual days.
Another issue is access to online teach ing for some in the district. With the elimination of this issue, many argue that the use of snow days is wasteful and prevents students from learning. However, snow day advocates say that snow days are not wasteful and provide an op portunity for students to unwind, de-stress, and have fun.Locally, schools have been divided over the subject of the snow day, with several schools discarding the tradition in favor of virtual days. These include the Montgomery County Public School District, which has de cided that they will likely end the use of snow days in order to allow students to continue learning virtually. This decision was precipi tated by frequent snow days last year and the need to extend the school year later into June. Several school officials voiced opinions that the snow day was irrelevant and a detriment for both students and staff alike.
“It would be an overall positive for my academics but you can’t beat a day off,” an anonymous student said.
This outlook reflects the educational impacts of the snow day, but also discusses the helpful and enjoyable benefits of the tradition for many
In 2020 and 2021, much of the school year was taught online due to the ongoing CO VID-19 pandemic. When snow storms occurred, however, the Wallingford-Swarthmore School
An asynchronous Election Day would have counted as an instructional day and lengthened our break by one day. However, it is evident that this is simply not good enough for
Collin Woodland, ’23 Staff Writer
@shhs.bad.fits
@shhs.affirmations
Dibonaventura suggested that a twelve day break would still be less than ideal but more feasible, and product of the Colorado state public school system, Lydia Pita, held firm at the two week minimum she was accustomed to before moving to Pennsylvania.
There is not much to say that has not already been said about @shhs_bad_park_job. If anything were to qualify as completely neutral, it would be this page. On the one hand, targeting people’s parking can seem unfair; maybe causing a little bit of anxiety amongst Haven drivers. On the other hand, some people are really bad parkers.
t Haven, the first half of January has always been an awkward period for students in sweeping the cobwebs away from winter break while transitioning into fall semester finals. This year especially, students have found themselves irregularly overtaxed in coming back from a break that was widely criticized as illegitimate.
@shhs_sleeping and @shhsposture
I am mostly confused by this one. As an alternative to this page, I will suggest @shhs.good.fits.
Election Day was ultimately designated a teacher in-service day. Because the school district has to meet their state-mandated requirements of instructional learning days, this off day had to come from somewhere else in the schedule; unfortunately this “somewhere” impeded into winter break.
accessible, students believe that a substantial break from the everyday stress of school should be equally valued.
A
Though these students were confident that these extensions are reasonable windows, they were intent on securing as much break time as they could possibly get from the school. When students are desperate for any outlet to alleviate their school anxiety, the question begs of what the school can do to effectively deliver on their promises of mental and emotional wellbeing.While
To be honest, I am not quite sure this fits into the same category as the other Instagrams on this list. However, in my mind, it is a staple on the Strath Haven adjacent Instagram space. As the best Strath Haven Instagram–in my entirely unbiased opinion–@pharbzofstrathhaven represents the pinnacle of Pharbz (Phoebe Bridgers) content personalized to the Strath Haven experience.
Amongst colleges, universities, and even high schools, various Instagrams adorning the name of the school and some concept–be it sleeping, parking, or even a famous musician–have popped up. At Strath Haven, students have created many such Instagram accounts. This is my definitive ranking.
In light of these responses, the question of what an ideal break would even look like must be considered. The options proposed by these same students were anything but drastic.
@shhs_(enter here)
students intent on a longer time off.
Affirmation pages are reliable classics and Strath Haven’s is no exception. Its (not-so) daily affirmation posts really provide a bright point in the lives of Strath Haven students who follow this Instagram. I encourage all students to follow this beacon of consistent hope and claim every positive affirmation that comes their way.
@pharbzofstrathhaven
2 4 1 5-Morgan McErlean, ’22 Haven Happenings Editor Winter 2022 artwork by Ella DiBonaventura, ’25 3
“The sheer workload that’s spread out between four classes, also with the kids that do a lot of extracurriculars, can be really taxing, so I think a longer break would’ve definitely helped with mitigating that stress,” he said.
“Not only is it just a week, but teachers assigned work; so we have looming finals and the additional pressure to worry about your grades, as well as not being able to travel, relax, or even sleep off the burnout over your weeklong break,” she Educationalsaid.burnout amongst Haven students has become so notorious the school has even gained the moniker “Stress Haven” around campus to refer to the extreme volumes of work that is demanded. Therefore, whenever a break comes up, it’s often used as a time where students are able to unwind and step away from the rudimentary stress they receive from their day-to-dayJuniorworkload.LukeDiBoniventura expands on this topic by expressing his thoughts on the questionable mental health of Haven students.
From these accounts, it is clear that Haven students are not confident the school is sufficiently prioritizing their emotional well-being. Although Haven has implemented initiatives to improve student mental health such as eliminating class rank, and making mental and emotional health services more
OPINIONS
’Tis6 the season to be… under pressure?
When asked if she was satisfied with the length of winter break, junior Lydia Pita replied with a simple but emphatic: “No.”
To be honest, both of these are a little boring. There is nothing much else for me to say. Not a fan. And, I have no fear of being on @shhsposture.
Administration must evaluate length of winter recess, other breaks
Starting on December 23rd and spanning ten days, the briefness of this winter break is anything but a random scheduling discrepancy, but rather the result of an unsettled school board dispute from early January of last year. The Board was challenged on the decision of whether Election Day should be held as an asynchronous day for students or a teacherin-service day as previously outlined. As all students likely remember how asynchronous days worked out, with the levels of work assigned, they were anything but a day off. Teacher-in-service days, however, are true off days for students, as they remain home while teachers complete training and workshopping.
When asked to elaborate, Pita responded with a more passionate sentiment.
some factors in the creation of this year’s reduced break were out of the school’s control (more specifically, COVID’s impact), in WSSD’s unofficial 2022-2023 calendar for next year, Winter Recess has remained the same at ten days. Accordingly, the school board must reconsider the length of future breaks to allow students more of a break from the stress of school life. It is time for the administration to listen to the concerns of their students, and for the students, in turn, to demand their voices be heard by the powers that are supposedly putting them first.
@shhs_bad_park_job
build their college community. They see your statistics—your activities, household income, race, GPA, test scores—but they don’t truly see the real Frankly,you.
Each chapter of this book covers some topic and talks about anything from the internet to Canada geese. Yet somehow John Green writes each chapter in such a way that it feels way more personal than a lot of mem oirs. It really shows all the little pieces that can make up a person. With the amazing storytelling also comes a lot of fun facts which were more interesting and engaging than I thought. I now feel very prepared to have a dis cussion about the creation of Monopoly and the soccer player Jerzy Dudek.
The answers don’t lie in who you are or what you have accomplished. Most of the time, being denied admission isn’t about you or your credentials; it’s about the college.
Kai Lincke, ’22 Editor-in-Chief
it’s impossible for colleges to see your value from a sheet of paper—espe cially with their limited reading time. In a “Los Angeles Times” article, Sara Harberson, former associate dean of admissions at Penn, reports that she was forced to become “a speed-reader” to make it through all of the applications.
This book also provides meaningful commen tary on mental health and what it means to be human. This book both sent me into an existential crisis but also made me believe that life gets better. There were some chapters that I didn’t love but the ones that I did made up for it.
Besties 4 B00ks Review: “The Antropocene Reviewed”
OPINIONS
since 2019
source: The Common App
Your heart sinks.
target groups.Thebottom
Your years of hard work have led up to this expressionless consolation letter.
line is: your admission sta tus is not about you—it’s about them. There are so many little factors that influence colleges’ decisions. Maybe you didn’t meet their target demographic; maybe you didn’t choose the pro gram or major they wanted to expand; maybe they filled all of the spots before they got to your application. Not being accepted is not the same thing as being rejected.
Aside from the numbers, being denied admission to college typically isn’t about the student and their credentials— it’s more about the college’s needs. Selingo explains that col leges have a sort of shopping list of different characteristics or demographics that they hope to include in their incoming class. These lists change every year—one year a university may want to admit more English majors and first generation college students; the next year, they may target marching band students or students living more than five states away. Colleges want to build a well rounded community, so they need a student body with diverse interests, experiences, and characteristics—a medley of students. Even outstanding applicants can be denied a spot if they don’t fit into the college’s
You’ve worked hard in school for twelve years. You’ve studied for every test, poured hours into essays and projects, and got ten involved in everything you could. You’ve balanced sports and activities with rigorous coursework, oftentimes sacrificing sleep and social outings, all to get into the school: your dream college.Now,it’s finally time to learn your fate. Your hands shake as you open your application portal. You take a deep breath, click on “status update” and “Deardiscover:student, thank you for your ap plication. We regret to inform you…”
As the shock wears off, the questions set in: what was wrong with your applica tion? Should you have taken more AP classes? Should you have gotten involved in more ac tivities? Did you accomplish enough?
We’ve all heard the adage that with enough hard work, you can achieve any goal; it’s the American dream. But according to journalist Jeffrey Selingo, that dream is not re flected in college admissions. In his 2020 book “Who Gets In And Why: A Year Inside College Admissions”, Selingo explains that you can devote hours to studying for standardized tests, collecting activities and writing the perfect es says, but college admissions officers don’t see any of that work. To them, you are a sheet of paper, with various assets that they can use to
Kaia Smith, ’24 Staff Writer
7 Winter 2022
This year, CNBC reports that the move to test optional caused a 22% overall increase in applications—which forces admissions offices to move through applications even faster than before.
“To read and evaluate more applications with the same number of admissions officers, colleges are cutting corners,” Harberson said. Furthermore, the admission boom has sent acceptance rates plunging, as most col leges have not added spots to accommodate the additional applicants. With more students vying for the same number of spots, admissions have become even more competitive.
College admissions decisions do not define you
Only you can determine your future.
As more admissions decisions roll in, be kind to yourself. Take some time to acknowl edge how far you’ve come: you went through high school and applied to college in the midst of an international pandemic, when the world and the college admissions process were com pletely turned upside down. That alone is a momentousYouraccomplishment.admissionstatus does not define you; you alone determine who you will be. You are worthy, you are valued, and you will make a difference—wherever your path may lead you.
This novel is worth the read, and a very good book to read to take a break in between novels since there is a little story each chapter that doesn’t rely on you reading the previous ones. Sometimes reflecting on others makes you reflect on yourself. This book definitely made me do both.
numbersoverallincrease in applicationsincreaseapplicationscollegein to highly schoolsselective of applicants sent scorestest
his is it: the moment you’ve been waiting for.
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COMIC | Gabe Lawson, ’22
“The Anthropocene Reviewed”, written by John Green, is a nonfiction novel but it still paints a beautiful picture of who John Green is.
by the
In January, auditions took place outdoors by the third-floor entrance to allow the actors to be maskless and safe. These auditions brought a very unique energy that was unlike any other typical SHHS Theater audition: One by one, students sang a portion of one of five provided songs from Into The Woods in front of the panel of directors and other students. Roars of cheers and applause followed every performance, ensuring that each performer felt confident, comfortable, and supported by everyone around them.
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Avery Cavanagh, Ella Grossman, Sophie DeCristofaro, Allison Hubbell, and Bella Emmanouilidies perform a tapnumber.HostsJess
One of the audience members, Julia Feldman, was pleased with the performance.
Photo courtesy Rory Simmons
“Dance Haven was pretty manageable and as long as it didn’t conflict with anything, the choreographers were pretty flexible with everyone’s schedule,” she said.
Bella Emmanouilidies ’22 and Kai Lincke, ’22 Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief
Orr and Cece Olszewski perform an original song that they wrote about Dance Haven.
Choreographer Claire Ross agrees.
“I was really [concerned] we might not have a second weekend,” he said. “But by 10:15 Monday morning, when I listened to Bella, I knew: we’re going.”
In between dances, Dance Haven hosts Jess Orr and Cece Olszewski also performed fun skits, such as a ukulele parody song, adding some comedy and laughter to the performance. They encouraged audience members to play their own part in Dance Haven as well, by yelling things out from the crowd and making commentary when they liked something during the dances.
Dance Haven leaders Allison Hubbell, Bella Emmanouilides and Avery Cavanagh persisted to bring the performance together, making it a fun environment for everyone. All the dancers’ hard work paid off, ending the show with many positive reactions from the audience.
of classic storybook characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel. Sondheim, Shankweiler’s favorite composer, passed away in November, making this year’s show a dedication and tribute to one of the greatest writers in musical theater history.
rest of the cast moved around to fill any other holes. In less than a week, the cast learned new songs, lines, and staging—elements that normally take months to learn. Shankweiler praised the cast, especially Emmanouilidies, for their ability to rapidly readjust.
8 Winter 2022
he Strath Haven Theater Department took viewers on a fairytale adventure during their spring musical production of “Into The Woods”. Under the direction of John Shankweiler, the cast of twenty-three students presented six weekend shows, from February 25 through March 6.
The cast was excited to get into the swing of things with daily music rehearsals starting January 10. The rise of Covid cases at Haven posed new threats for the production, especially after a few members of the cast started to test positive early in the rehearsal process. However, the cast still managed to practice safely for several weeks leading up to the performance.JuniorElla Grossman, who plays Jack’s mother in the show, was grateful for the music department’s “amazing job at prioritizing safety”, adding that rehearsals were “a great distraction from the stress of school and ShankweilerCovid.” made sure that all of the actors maintained a safe distance from one another during masked singing rehearsals. To avoid any emergencies, each role had an understudy from within the cast, something not done in recent years. Students were responsible for their own part as well as learning their second role.
Photos by Kai Lincke, ‘22
Anything can happen in the woods
The true magic occurred behind the scenes while the cast prepared for the show. They faced several obstacles, from Covid precautions to limited rehearsal time and a last minute cast rearrangement, but they persevered under the pressure to take their audiences on a journey through the woods.
Into The Woods, written by Stephen Sondheim, is a musically and lyrically complex show that journeys through the tales
developed appendicitis and could not continue her role. Bella Emmanouilides, Quinn’s understudy, pivoted from her role as the stepmother to take on the female lead. The
Lilly Hodges, another performer at Dance Haven, danced previously for twelve years. She expresses that the practice schedule wasn’t too challenging to fit in.
This came in handy after Sammi Quinn, who played the Baker’s Wife,
Luci DiBonaventura ’25 Staff Writer
“I had two dances and it was definitely manageable; I practiced around two hours each week,” she said.
n the evening of December 17, 2021, Dance Haven returned to the stage for the first time since 2019. The student-led dance group performed many different styles of dance like tap, jazz, ballet and contemporary with very diverse styles of music. Dance Haven was a way for dancers to express themselves, show off their skills and connect with others.
Students have already begun rehearsing for their next performance, which will be held this spring.
DANCE HAVEN SCENES
Senior Bella Emmanouilidies, one of the Dance Haven leaders, leans towards the center of the stage.
Josie Tolson, Natalie Caputo and Mekhi Williams glance at Archie Bracegirdle, who plays the Baker.
Some of the students, like Ross, were given the opportunity to work on choreography in the dances as well as performing. They were able to choose the music they wanted to use and the choreography sequences for the dancers.
Dance Haven participants were excited to showcase their hard work. While some of the performers were beginners, many have been dancing for years. They view Dance Haven as a way to have fun and keep up with dance. One Dance Haven performer, Sydney Williams, expresses that she enjoyed being in the show.
“It turned out better than I expected and I loved seeing all the dances. You can tell everyone really wanted the performance to be good and I was very impressed,”she said.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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A form of expression Dance Haven returns with choreography, comedy
Strath Haven Theatre forays into forest for spring musical production
Above all, this show proved the cast’s flexibility, dedication, and commitment that the show must always go on.
“I’ve been dancing since I was two and decided to join Dance Haven because I’ve heard from dancers at my studio that it was a lot of fun,” she said. “I got to meet new people. It was fun to hang out with everyone and see all their dances and how creative they were.”
For the students who participated, Dance Haven did not interfere with school work or their extracurricular activities.
Photo courtesy Kai Lincke, ’22 Andrew Bird Smile Big Thief Sarah Alex G Angel Olsen Strokes Big Thief Dirty Projectors Angel Olsen
to Mr. Dilan Kansara, a student teacher from Temple University, to conduct the piece “Till Earth and Heaven Sing,” on only his third day working with the program. Kansara explained the piece’s significance as a “Black National Anthem” and the importance of appreciating and uplifting such music.
Overall, the album was excellent. I enjoyed listening to her vocals, and I was fond of most of the remakes of her older songs, especially “All Too Well”. I am personally not a huge Taylor Swift fan, but I do appreciate
ecember 21 marked a historic event for the Strath Haven Symphony and String Orchestras, Silvertones, and Camerata: their first performance in front of a live audience following two years of silence. On March 16, the symphonic band and wind ensemble took the stage for the first time in over 1,000 days.
Haven musicians return to the stage for first concerts in two years
“I think the singing masks really im proved the concert because we all looked so funny wearing them,” said senior Gretha Fer gus, an alto in the Silvertones and Camerata, as well as a member of the PMEA District 12 Chorus.The March concert included perfor mances from Haven’s instrumental groups, the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra. The con cert program reports that the pieces displayed “splashes of sonority that sound like aural explosions of light” and “Fireworks!”
One of these explosive songs was writ ten by Tchaikovsky, “1812 Overture,” which often represents Russian nationalism. In order to balance this piece during a humanitarian crisis and at a crucial moment in global poli tics, the string orchestra prepared the Ukrainian National Anthem, which encouraged many audience members to rise.
Pignataro literally passed his baton
Sparrow
D
Curated by Cece Olszewski, ’22
n November 12, 2021, Taylor Swift released her newest album, “Red (Taylor’s version)”. “Red (Taylor’s version)” was a remake of one of her older albums, “Red”, released in 2012, now including 31 songs and over two hours of music. It contains plenty of new songs that no one had heard before its release, as well as many massive old hits, such as an extended ten-minute version of “All too Well”, “I Knew You Were Trouble”, and “We Are Never Getting Back Together”. Right away, this album gained a lot of popularity, and it was pretty much the only thing people talked about, charting No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Taylor Swift has now been working on redoing her old albums, redoing her album “Fearless” at the beginning of 2021. “Red (Taylor´s Version)” is currently the second out of the six albums she is remaking.
her music, and I think she is a very talented singer and songwriter. Although it was a very long album, I never found myself wanting to skip any of the songs. The genre of the album is pop country, and even though I do not like country music, the album was delightful to listen to. This album shows Taylor Swift is a very versatile artist with her music and a very talentedWhatsongwriter.thisalbum did well as it kept the original components of her older album, “Red”, while also adding new elements. It was somewhat nostalgic hearing a remake of “Red”. The album really shows how much she has grown to become a better artist. Her most recent albums have been pop music, so hearing her sing country music again is exciting, and shows that she is a diverse singer.
With so many songs on the album, it is difficult to choose just one favorite. I did like all the songs on the album. However, one of my favorite songs off the album is “Babe”. I loved her vocals on this song, and it was very catchy. Another song I loved was, “Sad Beautiful Tragic”. What made this song exceptional was the astounding lyrics. The lyrics all flowed well and told a story. My least favorite song on the album was “Stay Stay Stay”. It was not a terrible song, but it was inferior to the other songs on the album, as it sounded repetitive.
The first time I listened to “Red (Taylor´s Version)”, I was walking into my first-period class, hearing a ton of excitement. We spent the beginning of class just listening to the album and sharing our thoughts on it. I heard mostly positive things about the album; it seemed like many people enjoyed it.
“It was thrilling to be back in our auditorium performing for a live audience,” choir director John Shankweiler said. “Virtual performances cannot come close to replacing live ones.”The performers used singing masks for vocalists and instrument masks for wind play ers. The student musicians seem to have a great attitude about these adaptations.
Ella DiBonaventura ’25 Staff Writer
9
Someday The
Spring
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Taylor Swift’s latest re-record doesn’t disappoint.
Search For Life
Students clearly felt the significance of once again coming together to meaningfully cel ebrate music.“Iwas happy to have the opportunity to perform live in front of an audience again,” baritone player Henry Stockman, ’22, said.
Cece Olszewski, ’22 and Sawyer Bock ’22 Arts & Entertainment Editor and Sports Editor
Winter 2022
Reclaiming her sound
THE PANTHER PLAYLIST vol. 4: songs for spring The Panther Playlist~ 10 songs, 39 min 8 sec 1 Simulation Swarm Big Thief The Start of Something Voxtrot Sisyphus
Shut Up Kiss Me
Scan here to access the Spotify playlist!
Overall, this was an exceptional album. If you have time, I recommend listening to it.
Pignataro expressed that returning to the auditorium was a special experience for both the performers and the audience.
“There’s nothing like music reach ing the ear, the mind, and the heart of another person to make a difference,” Pignataro said. “And that can only be achieved by being in the same space, so to do that is what we’re all about. It was very freeing to make that impact, especially after all the hard work we’ve done for the past two years.” ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Shark
In December, under the baton of con ductor Nicholas Pignataro, the orchestras per formed a program of Mendelssohn, Bologna, Nishimura, and Beethoven, with the connect ing thread of sound quality as the focus for the instrumentalists.Directed by John Shankweiler, the Silvertones’ program consisted of literature spanning from the sacred Baroque (Lotti) to
Breaking the silence
the present day (Whitacre, Rusby). The Cam erata was split into two ensembles, soprano/ alto and tenor/bass, before combining to sing a series of pieces connected by the presence of beautiful musical moments and harmonies.
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 caused the cancellation of the spring concert and was followed by a long stretch of rehears als exclusively over Zoom, where students resumed their instrumental and vocal studies virtually. In-person rehearsals started up again in the fall semester, and the musicians began readjusting to playing in a group setting. These musicians showcased their hard work this year at the December and March concerts, the first of which included a masked and socially-distanced audience, and the sec ond reflected the new mask-optional policy and a fuller crowd. Both concerts were livestreamed to be accessible to families and com munity members watching from home.
Senior Callie Sophocles plays the violin during the December 21 concert.
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my teammates and coaches that will last forever,” OgundeWhilesaid. the season may not have gone as many had hoped, the solidarity and spirit of the team continues to be unmatched.
“My favorite part about being a senior is how the younger guys on the team look up to us, and how I’m able to share my experience
Even as the season came to a close, members of the team voiced how they persevered against the odds. Junior Jaden Jauregui, recently making a comeback from a low ankle sprain, shared his experience with returning from an injury.
12 19 32 Winter 2022 3025 22 23 26 27 28 29 343331 24 ACROSS DOWN SOLUTION:
“Once I started to get back into the swing of things, I feel like I have been playing my best,” Jauregui said. “As the season has gone on, I have felt better with every game.”
“Despite the many losses we had as a team, I enjoyed every minute grinding with my guys. Above all, I am glad that I was able to spend time and make good memories with
Other team members echo Jauregui’s attitude. Even when facing multiple injuries—as well as the pandemic—the players agree that their morale and persistence is what makes the team special.“It’sdefinitely not the season I expected or anyone expected, but we’re keeping our heads up,” Jauregui added.
Senior Alonzo Ogunde reaches for the ball during the tip off of the January 27 game.
Photo courtesy Jack Henry Julia Gray,
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The tension was palpable and the heat was on at the Haven men’s basketball Senior Night on February 1. Although the boys left with a close loss against Springfield, the talent and effort displayed on the court had Haven’s parents and student section alike on the edge of their seats. Some exceptional players who put up big numbers in the Senior Night game were Jack Edwards (#5), Jaden Jauregui (#1), and Alonzo Ogunde (#11). Before the game, the team’s seniors, Ryan Doherty, Matt Shuler, Noa Livingstone, Asher Mansor, Marshall Wenger, Alonzo Ogunde, and Finn Szybist were all celebrated for their contributions to the team in their final year.
Nuala McHugh ’23 Staff Writer
with them,” senior Alonzo Ogunde said.
Haven Mens’ Basketball on their 2021-22 season
by Julia Gray, ‘23
Instead of feeling discouraged, the team used this as an opportunity to focus on things other than wins, and acknowledge the camaraderie that makes them so great.
With many of the games being close and full of spirit, the energy in the bleachers was always strong and served as a way to bring Haven’s community together even after the excitement of the Fall sports season. As usual, the student section always made sure to show up and show out, bringing their unparalleled support to every game. Roll Panthers!
’22
DETOURSThe10
CROSSWORD |
inside hoop
The workedplayersincredibly hard both on and off the court to make this season great, and their dedication clearly paid off on the scoreboard, at times, with this season including action-packed wins against Penncrest, Ridley, and Holy Ghost Prep.
Senior Night is always a bittersweet event, especially for the Panthers’ basketball team, a tight-knit and motivated group of players. Many of this year’s seniors were sad to see their time on the team come to an end but reflected positively on the impact that they made.
Imhotep Institute Charter High School is located in North Philadelphia, and it is a public school independent of the School District of Phila delphia. They have students from all over the place, not just Philly. In fact, they have recruited football players from up to six counties.
“You could just tell the energy in the locker room prior to a game is different because they know they’re playing in front of their family and friends,” he said.
Nate Harrington, ’22 Staff Writer
“We’re making sure to wear masks every single meet,” state champ Sydney BergstromWrestlingsaid. is another sport that had trouble keeping separated and masked. The intense and vigorous sport requires one to grapple with an opponent just inches away. Yet, before and after the matches, the team made sure to mask up and spread out as they cheered on their teammates.
During the previous sports season, safety was number one but a close second was making the season special and a step towards normalcy.“The goal [for the season] is to make senior year—for seniors—the most memorable experience that they could have,” Coach Haney added.Forall senior athletes, the past season was their last in high school, so they wanted to make it special. That came with necessary health and safety precautions, but also with fans, great performances, and, in time, getting as close to normal as possible.
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“[The crowd] brings a different environment into the game and can actually impact the game as well,” senior Ryan DohertyCoachremarked.Kevin Haney agrees with this sentiment.
Unfortunately, their next game would prove to be the end of a great run. The mighty Panthers of Strath Haven were up against the mightier Panthers of Imhotep Charter, and our team was shut out 36-0 in front of a sold-out Ridley High School.
A successful and safe winter sports season
Should neighborhood schools play private schools that recruit players?
Teams find balance between athletes’ safety, ability to compete
Opinion: the competition question
place have kept outbreaks to a minimum.
n November 26, 2021, Strath Haven High School’s football team made history yet again. On a bone-chilling night during a tense overtime at West Chester Rustin High School, quarterback Sam Milligan dove into the end zone for a two-point conversion, securing a district title for the Panthers, their twelfth in school history. “I can smell the chocolate!” announced one of radio broadcaster’s Brian Carroll’s assistants, hoping the Panthers would advance to the state title game.
Girls Indoor Track dashes more records at States
On Sunday February 27, the girls indoor track team competed in the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) Indoor State Championships at Penn State University. The team qualified in all four of the relay events, with Teghan Sydnor and Alexa Brown qualifying individually.Sydnor broke a school record and placed second in the state for the 60 meter hurdles. Brown placed third in the state for the shot put, pulling off a strong performance of 41-01.50 feet.
Aidan McLean,’23 Staff Writer
Another Central League member who ac counted for Haven’s only other loss, Garnet Val ley, was beaten handily by Saint Joseph’s Prep, a
The team is notorious for sending students to college football powerhouses. In fact, more than 50% of the team have signed to a Division 1 school. One of those players is Enai White. A new commit to Texas A&M, he was consistently ranked a five-star football player and one of the best defensive players in the nation. He was recruited from Pennington, New Jersey. Imhotep has also produced four NFL players in the last decade.
“Safety always comes first,” Athletic Director Pat Clancy remarks. This sentiment reflects Haven’s position on the past winter sports season. From indoor track to basketball to swimming, all teams took precautions. Of course, some sports had an easier time dealing with the spread of COVID; staying spread out and ironically outdoors during indoor track practices is much easier than swimming in a mask, yet both sports did their best to keep everyone“Wesafe.practice on the track outside,” indoor track long-distance runner Celest McConnell said. The cold is one of the conditions that indoor track athletes had to endure in order to minimize risk of outbreaks. And the indoor meets were no less safe, as athletes “wear their masks … then take them off right before [they] get onto the actual track” according to senior sprinter Hannah Driscoll.But for swimmers, meets were a source of anxiety, not just because of the competition but because of the pressure to ensure that everyone involved is at the least possible risk to catch COVID. The protocols that were in
But, as more people came back into the gym to support the Haven teams, the transmissibility of the Omicron variant loomed. This new strain’s rapid spread could have compromised the safety of the athletes and caused a return to more strict COVID protocols. And with fans back in the stands, it rested on their shoulders to make sure themselves, the people around them, and the athletes stayed safe.
As a member of Pennsylvania’s largest marching band and a huge fan of the sport, I have attended all but one Panther football game this season. I can confidently say that it is unfair for public, neighborhood schools like Strath Haven or Garnet Valley to play against public or private, tuition-based, recruitable schools like Imhotep and St. Joe’s Prep. It strongly takes away the entertain ment and competitiveness of playing neighboring schools and puts schools like Strath Haven at an unfair disadvantage.In2000,when the Panthers won their second straight state title, they had a similar roster (better, though, as it included more NFL-bound players) but solely played against public, neighbor hood schools. Before defeating West Allegheny for the state crown in a strong fight, we breezed past Berwick and Manheim Central. There will be times where we play public schools like Garnet Valley and lose, but that is just football. It’s still more entertaining, and fair, if private schools compete in their own league. It would be better for public schools like Strath Haven if state playoffs were more like the way it was back in 2000— public versus public.
“We wear masks on our travel buses, and we clean our room and mats with a disinfectant before practices and meets, ” fourtime state qualifier and two time state medalist Chase BarlowBasketballadded.isa sport that stood somewhere in the middle—not able to spread out as much as track but certainly able to socially distance and wear masks more than swimming.The basketball team emphasizes that the return of fans has really been special this year.
SPEED Winnie Stach smiles as she runs the 3000. Photo courtesy Sylvan Prey-Harbaugh
In all relays, the team performed well. The four by eight-hundred meter relay composed of Nora Chen, Rowe Crawford, Hannah Driscoll, and Hannah Prokup placed ninth, only one spot from a medal. The distance medley relay team, Rowe Crawford, Casey Conway, Marin Faggoli and Hannah Prokup, medaled, placing eighth in the state. As the team’s coach, affectionately known as Coren, would say, they are Strath Haven and they acted like it.
Morgan McErlean,’22 Haven Happenings Editor
Winter 2022
As Athletic Director Clancy summarized, “I think it’s good to have fans back, if we can follow the protocols.”
private, tuition-based school, the same day Strath Haven was knocked out of the playoffs. Garnet Valley was undefeated at the time, and having won their 6A district title by a landslide, they were favored to win against Saint Joe’s Prep. Saint Joe’s Prep had three graduates drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft alone, and like Imhotep, had a very strong showing of college recruits. Saint Joe’s Prep has played games across the country against national high school football powerhouses and even some small college teams.
Suico must also consider fencing after graduation, as he is already eligible to represent the Philippines’ international team. No matter what he decides, Suico’s experience with fencing has been especially formative and allowed him to grow into the admirable person his peers know him to be.
Suico’s weekly commitments are now quite consuming. During the week, he spends hours driving to another state for two to three hour practices, often starting his homework at 11 P.M., or he works out independently on his one “off” day. Over the weekend, he usually travels for a tournament or drives to New York for practice.During his many commutes, Suico shares, “I often say I do a lot of homework, but… I usually just sleep because it’s also my only time to catch up.”
of the season was placing first during a competition at Ridley High School for their traditional routine.Marin Lent,‘22, one of the team captains, feels like the program has really grown and that the team is starting to gain respect from the district commu nity in response to their success ful season. Looking back at the year, Lent expresses, “I’m really proud of my team and I can’t wait to come visit next year . . . and continue to cheer them on.”
High-stakes Bouts
“Seeing my placements getting better each time was a physical representation of how
“But, I’ve been told that there’s a price to pay to become a good athlete, and I definitely see it because the more practice I put in, the less time I have outside of school but the better I do in fencing,” he said.
However, Zach did not fit the mold of most competitive fencers, who participate in an individual sport that requires significant expenses for coaching, travel, and equipment. Suico explains that many fencers from across the East Coast become prodigies at a young age.
As a senior, Suico is looking into the future, and considering that he “has a conflicted relationship with fencing” due to the immense pressure and time commitment, he is not sure what role the sport will play in his life moving forward.“I’m applying to schools that don’t have a competitive fencing team, but I’m also applying to schools with a competitive fencing team. Some people might say it’s a waste of… I wouldn’t even say talent, but an opportunity to succeed in fencing, but it’s something that I’m not sure I even want to pursue in the future,” Suico said.
Still, he says academics come first, followed by fencing, and lastly, friends and other activities, which Suico recognizes “is pretty brutal to say.”
“When I started, it was two hours of practice three days a week, and it was something I did for fun,” but as competitions were added to the schedule, “I moved over to places in Long Island and New Jersey, where the practices were getting more intense,” he said.
Suico says that although the Luxembourg competition is his biggest accomplishment on paper, “on a personal basis, my biggest achievement would actually be winning this competition called Capitol Clash, which is the biggest youth circuit in the country.” Over four years of attending the annual tournament, he saw encouraging results, as he gradually improved from 250th out of 250 to bringing home first place.
Zach Suico lunges at life
In addition to cheering at varsity football and basketball games, Haven Cheerleading cheers at competitions. The team made it to states for the very first time this year, reaching semi-finals. They also earned a bid to nationals, which they have not made in ten years, for both their traditional and game day routines.
The senior’s journey from a gym class phenom to an elite fencing competitor
“I had no experience with fencing, but we started learning footwork and blade work, and [Ms. Roane] thought I started picking it up a little bit faster than other people, so she invited me to join the recreational club outside of school,” Suico explains.
on March 5, and almost won the Central League championship. At Districts, eight wrestlers moved to the next competition in the post season, regionals, more people than have ever moved on in Strath Haven history.Thewrestlers emphasize that their strong team dynamic helped them find success.
Oliver Stockman ’22 | Opinions Editor
Photo courtesy Zach Suico
Suico quickly caught up with other fencers as his training regimen intensified.
The team performed im pressively over the entire sea son. They clinched the District One South Championship title
Winter 2022
“People think of wrestling as an individual sport, but as a team, your teammates really help you out-whether it’s during prac tice or even during meets,” junior Ben Farabaugh said.
Photo courtesy Zach Suico
Strath Haven wrestling has crushed several records this season. On March 12, Chase Barlow, Kelton Brunner, Ben Farabaugh and Sam Milligan made it to the PIAA State Championship, marking the most wrestlers that have made it to states in one year. Barlow placed fifth in the state. In the women’s competition, senior Hannah Spielman placed third in the state.
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“In middle school, and especially elementary school, I was really shy and introverted, but for some reason, when I started fencing, it gave me more confidence in myself, to not only talk to other people but to be proud of myself,” he said.
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He adds, “Fencing really taught me about pushing myself and how pushing myself out of my comfort zone can really help me with other things in life.”
While competing at the Universal Cheerleaders Associa tion’s Nationals in Orlando, Flor ida, the team reached the semifinals for their game day routine. Another competition highlight
Morgan McErlean ’22 | Haven Happenings Editor
Proud Parrier Suico poses after medaling in competiton
As a fencer who has reached the global stage, Zach Suico is one of the highest-level athletes at Strath Haven. Suico confirms that he has ranked first in the state of Pennsylvania, third in the most competitive six-state region, and thirty-eighth nationally. Since he has dual-citizenship, he was able to represent the Philippines at World events in Luxembourg and Switzerland.Despite this remarkable standing, it seems that he’s under-recognized in our community; many people don’t know about his fencing, perhaps because of the sport’s relatively low publicity or lack of school affiliation.“It’s hard to bring club sports into school because there’s no senior night,” Suico said, adding that he only shares his fencing accomplishments when others ask about them.
Wrestling smacks down records
But Zach’s aptitude for fencing is undeniable; he was discovered in sixth grade gym class with Ms. Roane, a former elite fencer, who immediately saw his potential.
Suico’s results certainly demonstrate that his fencing has improved with increased training and “Overexperience.time,itwent from competing locally, to competing regionally, and then competing nationally, and more recently, competing on the world circuit for my age group,” Suico said.
my fencing was getting better,” he expressed. As Suico’s parents began to notice his potential, they pushed him in the right direction, a presence to which he attributes much of his success. Suico’s mom worked to manage the family’s scheduling, while his dad was dedicated to learning about fencing and has been one of Zach’s most influential coaches.“I think without my family’s support, I wouldn’t be given the opportunities I am today. For someone who was very young, not knowing how things worked, it was very helpful that they always tried their best to help me,” Suico said.
Suico (right) attempts to score a point in the game to 15.
This speaks to another reason not everyone knows about SHHS’s star fencer: Suico’sThoughhumility.he would likely (and characteristically) deny this, Suico does not draw attention to his talent; in fact, he notes that he “wouldn’t even say talent,” once referring to it as “somewhat of a skill.”
Haven spirit goes national