The Bell: May 2016

www.suffieldacademy.org

Esse Quam Videri

The Suffield Bell Volume LXXXIII, NO. 4

Established 1835

May 2016

“Graduating” Faculty

Photos by Pat Cordes ’18

Nick Vardakas ’18

At the close of this school year, two of our beloved faculty members, Ms. Alison Vigneau and Mr. Thomas Salamone, will be departing from Suffield.

Ms. Vigneau grew up in Stowe, Vermont, where her parents have their own local business—The Round Hearth at Stowe Mountain. The Round Hearth is described as a “homey, year-round mountain resort with dorm-style rooms & meals, plus skiing & outdoor recreation.”

The Round Hearth is right down the road from Mt. Mansfield. They often host ski teams, summer camps, high school groups, and weddings at the lodge. Ms. Vigneau attended Gordon College right outside of Boston where she studied Sociology and played field hockey. After college, she worked at Bridgton Academy for two years as a sports information intern. While working at Bridgton, she earned her masters from Northeastern University in Sports Leadership. She then found Suffield through a friend of hers. Ms. Vigneau currently works in the marketing office at Suffield as the coordinator of social media and the web. She is also a dorm parent in Samii, a leadership teacher, and she coaches the varsity field hockey team. After leaving Suffield at the end of this year, she will be moving back to Stowe to be the Director of Marketing and Sales as well as the Wedding Coordinator at the Round

Hearth at Stowe. She urges many students to sign up for the Stowe trip next year so that you can visit her! We wish Ms. Vigneau the best of luck in her future endeavors!

Mr. Salamone grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. From Boston, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which he calls the “middle west.” In his opinion, Milwaukee is “one of America’s great middle sized cities.” Mr. Salamone attended Marquette University in Milwaukee where he studied history and French. After college, Mr. Salamone moved to Calais, France where he worked in a French high school. As Mr. Salamone said in our interview, “I came to Suffield from the wind swept English Channel in Calais, France.”

Mr. Salamone has been at Suffield for four years. Here at Suffield, he teaches French and works with the Suffield crew program. During his free time, Mr. Salamone enjoys taking trips to the Berkshires and Lake Sebago in Maine. He calls his trips up North his “escapes to the woods.” From Suffield, Mr. Salamone plans to go to graduate school in Montreal. In Mr. Salamone’s words, he says he “plans to continue life for a little while on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River.” We wish Mr. Salamone the best of luck in his future adventures!

Features

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Revisit Day Sarah Swanson ’18

The Suffield Bell Editors-in-Chief Billy Cordes ’16 Shanelle Watson ’16 Assistant Editor-in-Chief Editorials & Features Kaitlyn Nigro ’16 Assistant Editor Editorials & Features Sarah Swanson ’18 Arts Editor Simon Park ’16 Sports Devina Bhalla ’18 Layout Peter Suh ’16

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Isabelle Attianese ’18 Hattie Bauchiero ’18 Devina Bhalla ’18 Caroline Gingold ’18 Carlin Molander ’18 Caleigh Horrigan ’18 Kate Rookey ’18 Elias Smith ’18 Sarah Swanson ’18 Nick Vardakas ’18 Photographers Pat Cordes ’18 Juhi Rayonia ’18

FACULTY ADVISORS Editorial Tanya Andrysiak Molly Gotwals P’09 Design & Layout Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16

Photos by the Suffield Academy Marketing & Communications Department

EDITORS

Mr. Cahn’s lunch announcement prior to the week of revisit days sparks temporary excitement and anticipation in the dining hall, but few truly know how revisit days are constantly on the minds of those working diligently in Suffield Academy’s admissions office. In fact, planning for revisit days cannot be pinpointed to any one section of the year, as it is a topic commonly discussed throughout all seasons. This year an impressive 85 families attended the Saturday revisit day and approximately 30 families attended revisit days on Tuesday and Thursday. As these numbers grew and changed it became increasingly important not only for admissions officers to be flexible, but for tour guide leaders to fulfill their responsibilities. This year, as Amy Samenuk ’09 noted, “Tour guide leaders became a part of the admissions office for the day.” Their influence was invaluable as they were the first people to greet revisiting families entering through the parking lot below Tisch Field House. The smiling faces greeting prospective students epitomized the importance of every interaction between students during their visit. As Eva Hafner ’18 suggests, “Revisit day is important because it is how we as a school make our last

impression on accepted students.” This year, in response to student surveys, the admissions office introduced “Saturday Night at Suffield” in the student union to display a sample of the activities offered here on campus on Saturday nights. The plan was successful in providing a structured, yet informal environment for prospective students to build relationships with their future classmates. The event’s central location drew all students across campus to enjoy live music, fresh fruit smoothies, and a photo booth. As a result of the admission officers’ dedication, Suffield is welcoming a diverse group of talented students onto campus this fall, including many who paid their deposits at the end of their revisit days. Although the success of these revisit days is rewarding, it is clear that their significance goes beyond the admissions office. As revisiting student Elaine Wang stated, “Suffield Academy is not just a secondary high school that I wanted to get into for a good education, it had something special inside that no other schools that I applied for had.” This year’s revisit days showcased that “special something,” as students stepped up all around campus to help out and show their pride for our community.

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Features Editorials

Prom Controversies Caleigh Horrigan ’18 As we near the end of the spring term there are many different events coming up; however, one of the most exciting occasions is prom. In our 21st century society it has become completely acceptable and even normal to go to prom without a date or with friends. In addition, there has been huge buzz about a new trend called a “promposal.” For those of you who are not familiar with the term, it is basically the act of asking someone to prom with some sort of romantic or extravagant gesture usually involving posters or gifts. Videos and photos of promposals have been all over social media and high schools across the country. There have even been some here in Suffield in recent years. In order to

find out what Suffield students’ opinions about promposals are, I conducted a few interviews to get their thoughts. Many adore the concept, and when asked her opinion on promposals, Savannah Ziba ’19 immediately exclaimed, “Oh my God, I love them!” and described them as, “a dream come true.” Will Robidoux ’16, a promposal veteran, also said, “You want to make the person feel very loved.” He added that, “They should be very extravagant,” which makes sense considering last year his promposal was in the form of a song he wrote and performed with the accompaniment of the Chamber Singers.

However, there is also a lot of pressure and anxiety for those executing the promposal. Rory

Tettemer ’18 says that personally, “I’d only do it if I knew they’d say yes.” Amelia Hern ’17 also had some insightful opinions about the subject, “I think that there’s a lot of pressure on the guys. There are high expectations to make an original promposal.” As one of the students who is critical of promposals as a whole, Jackson Pentz ’19 observed that, “It’s a social construct that has been made. It’s what people expect.”

Overall, most students are supporters of this exciting and fun new tradition and as Maura Eagan ’16 says, “There are definitely some corny ones and some lame ones, but for the most part I think they’re fun to witness. It gets everyone excited for prom.”

Photo by Sedley Benitz ’18

Photo by Aubrey Sanford ’18

Photo by Alison Vigneau

Music in the Union Devina Bhalla ’18

My first memory of the union is sitting on a perfectly homely red couch with a countless number of my peers around me as we met each other, conversing to the tune of a senior’s favorite song. Though we have fairly moved on from those old red couches, we have unfairly moved on from one vital puzzle piece in our union. Music. Since the first day of the 20152016 school year, a call for music in the union has been made. The preseason of my freshman year was marked with bonding, bonding that has a clear and definite tie to sitting on the

terrace singing and fooling around to the beat of a song. This was prevalent throughout my whole freshman year and goes past just me.

Many of my peers would stand to agree how music has been a positive influence on their experiences at Suffield, especially in the union.

Going from no music to music in the union is a simple and helpful fix that promotes bonding and friendship, goes beyond grades, and travels throughout the community. Though there is valid debate about the content of the music that should be played in such a public place, this

does not justify taking away music entirely.

Furthermore, it is an opportunity for the concerned to have a conversation with the parts of the student body who are calling for music to be brought back. Completely eliminating music in the union is killing a conversation that had great potential for growth between the faculty and the student body before it even had the opportunity to begin. Bringing back music in the union has the potential to be the perfect addition to the Suffield community if the conversation could actually get started.

Editorials

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Dress Code

Photos by Juhi Rayonia ’18

Carlin Molander ’18

YES!

NO :(

The bones of girl’s dress code can be summarized into dressing polished, presentable, and professional, in addition to a few technical stylistic requirements. However, these codes are often disregarded by the female student body in the name of fashion or impassiveness.

Issues arise as girls struggle to rationalize how a difference in a pant’s pocket can alter their professionalism or why exposed shoulders warrant them unpresentable. The simple answer is that tradition dictates a certain look to be ideal for the general populous to be able to adhere to and excel in. Frustration stems when we are unable to write or edit our own code on how professionalism and refinement can manifest

in modern fashion. While some aspects of our code are logical and stand enforcement, others are rapidly being engulfed by the evolution of acceptable style. I often wonder when dressing whether what I am wearing reflects what one would wear in a career climate. Fortunately, due to dress code, I am able to observe clear guidelines as to what would be expected in this type of setting, as well as become comfortable in such clothing. However, an intensely debated topic within dress code is exposed shoulders.

My shoulders cry to be free on the days in which the temperature spikes and my cardigan has become a two tone failure of deodorant.

The reason why a girl wears a tank cut top is to

DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK! avoid overheating; layering a cardigan negates this and in turn causes self consciousness and dread of sweat. For example, a solution to this would be an exception for blouse material tank tops. This would greatly improve the morale and comfort of the female population. Overall the issue with girl’s dress code is that to any rule rebuked or inch given there will be those who blatantly disregard the lenience and continue to wear clothing of choice. No one can tell you how to dress your body so you feel respectable and confident. However, a guideline as to where to start is an expectation and necessary evil which private school promotes.

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Arts & News

Next Year’s Musical?

Isabella Attianese ’18 There is a lot that goes into deciding Suffield Academy’s fall musical. The greatest factor in choosing a show is finding out what rights are available. For example, shows like Wicked and Hamilton do not have rights available; therefore, we are not able to perform them.

Another important aspect is looking at the cast members from the previous year, not thinking about prospective students, to decide what show would work best. Mr. Dugan explains the current situation, “I am losing a ton of guys this year, and because all senior guys will be gone, I know it will be a female-centered show.” Suffield has many strong female artists, which ultimately influences Mr. Dugan to look into musicals with a large number of female roles. The content of the show is also a major factor, because the Performing Arts Department would like to pick a play that will be entertaining for the entire Suffield community to watch. As Mr. Dugan says, “It’s not only about the actors, but about the

audience.” Another key factor is asking others what their opinions are and listening to their thoughts on the different choices. A massive part of the decision is based off of cost and the set needed for the production. Due to the small stage in the Performing Arts Center, it is difficult to do any musical that needs an extravagant, complicated set. Also, anything too costly involving many props and costumes can be eliminated from the possible options. It is important to look at the production vocally and really examine the music, because this has to be performed by our students and has to fall in their vocal capabilities. It is also imperative to look at dancing requirements and to make sure that our students have the ability to do what is required for the show. As of right now the options for next year’s musical are 9 to 5, Heathers, Legally Blonde, Gypsy, Side Show, Chicago, and Sister Act. However, the list will most likely change and the final decision will not come out until this summer.

ILLUSTRATION BY SIMON PARK ’16

Class of 2020: Who Will be Joining Us Next Year?

Caroline Gingold ’18 If you are a student at Suffield Academy, you know that a great deal of work goes in to choosing which applicants will be accepted into our school. Admissions is focused on the importance of the interview process, the applications, acceptance decisions, and revisit days. With the closing of the admissions season, the question that remains in every member of the Suffield community is, whom, exactly, will we be seeing on campus next year? We have all had a sneak preview as to who will be coming, as many of these students attended the revisit days. Well, it comes as no surprise that Suffield will be adding a multitude of impressive students. Associate Director of Admissions Amy Samenuk ’09 writes on the backgrounds of these students that, “New students will be joining us from

around the world and around the country, coming from a wide range of public and private high schools and middle schools.”

The new members of the Suffield community total to one hundred and sixteen and come from all around world. Joining the countries already represented at Suffield we have new students from Norway, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Bermuda, Japan, and Jamaica. In addition to this, Austria will now be represented at Suffield Academy.

As for domestic students, there are accepted applicants who will be coming from Alabama, Texas, California, Maryland, and many other states. One could say that next year is the year of the siblings, as we have twelve siblings who will be joining us. Finally,

four more faculty kids will be attending Suffield during the 2016-17 academic year.

On the athletic fields and in the classroom, make sure not to mistake our older looking new faces for new faculty members! A new PG class will be joining us the fall and will greatly benefit the school in many areas. Amy Samenuk estimates that the PG population will total around twelve. These students will be coming from Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maryland.

Unlike this past year, two female PGs will be attending Suffield and will contribute to the cross country, track, and lacrosse teams. As this year comes to a close, we can all look forward to seeing these amazing new people walking around the campus when we return in September.

Sports

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Team Recruiting

Photo by Juhi Rayonia ’18

Hattie Bauchiero ’18

The process of recruiting for high schools is vital to the development and rigor of high school sports. Though most simply see Suffield Academy focusing on the specific recruitment for football and soccer, those are not the only teams that go scouting for new skillful players each year. A sport not quite so recognized, girls squash, is no exception. Girls’ squash is a harder team to recruit for because of the fact that it simply is just not as common a sport as others.

Fewer girls are going away to school for squash, and if so, they head straight for a top-tear school. If a skilled player lives in a town with a country club offering professionally coached

squash, and she is able to participate in the U.S. Squash tournaments at these clubs, there is no real need to spend more money to board at a high school. Hence the pool of talented players for schools like Suffield Academy is smaller, making the recruiting process even more difficult. Looking forward into next year, varsity squash coach, Jonathan Edwards, already has begun to prepare for next season, despite the difficulty of the sport’s recruitment.

Emma Tryon ‘16, the number one-seed player for four years at Suffield Academy, graduates this year, leaving the squash program in search of someone capable of filling her place. Though

Coach Edwards admits the team will be sorely missing a reliable and strong player, he truly believes that the team can still train and fight to continue the program’s current success.

However, in order to accomplish this task, every team member needs to do her part. Coach Edwards describes the key to success next year is to “get [current] players excited about playing, and wanting to get better.” With the addition of several newly scouted and recruited squash players and the current returning players, next year’s season is something to look forward to. Its results will depend on the devotion of the players.

Athlete Comparison: Lebron vs. Kobe Kate Rookey ’18 and Elias Smith ’18

The controversial matter of LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to join the Miami Heat is a topic that has riddled pro-sports discussions. His decision to leave cost him thousands of fans, but it has also given him the chance to win two national championships and become one of the leading rebounders and scorers in the NBA. Although switching teams caused most people to question LeBron’s loyalty, there is no doubt that switching, in turn, helped him to become one of the most outstanding players the sport has ever known. LeBron’s choosing a different team allows him to go someplace better, win more championships, and break some records

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in the NBA. This then increases his chances of retiring as one of the best players in history. He cannot be faulted for wanting to win a couple titles and then go back home. Just because Lebron decided to change teams does not make him a worse player or person.

Loyalty and star athletes are words that have hardly gone together in modern day sports. The days of drafting the “next big thing,” having him play on the team for years, and then having him retire on the same team that put their faith in him as a top draft pick are few and far between. Kobe Bryant is one of these exceptions. In an age where agents tell their clients to follow the money and the market, few

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words are said on the behalf of loyalty to a fan base and team, a team that put its faith in the player in that original draft, before he became a star. However, through it all, Kobe stayed put. He remained in LA all twenty years of his career, and because of this, his legacy will live longer. Just as Bird and Magic or Mantel and Williams, Kobe dedicated himself to one city.

In contrast, LeBron has moved once and may again; therefore, no city can truly feel he was theirs or cared about their people. LeBron’s retirement will not feel nearly as special as Kobe’s for the people of any city. Kobe’s was filled with love, admiration and mutual loyalty.

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