T he L og thelog@taboracademy.org
Tabor Academy’s Student Newspaper Volume 93, Number 3
December 2018
Being Here Now Examining an initiative here at Tabor
Pin courtesy of Mr. Quirk
by Sam Monaghan
This year, Mr. Quirk has given the Tabor community a phrase to think about this school year. This phrase is “Be Here Now”; it’s a simple, intuitive movement which emphasizes engagement and safety. “Be Here Now” refers to people’s use of technology around campus and suggests that the Tabor community needs to commit to putting away our phones. The goal was to bring attention to how members of the community routinely use technology. Mr. Quirk explained that “the idea is meant to be simple and flexible as the year goes on.” The movement was made to evolve as the year progresses, influencing how attached to devices the community is and encouraging more personal interaction. One of the main motives behind the movement was to have students feel that they have “permission” to find time away from technology; “Be Here Now” serves as that permission.
we have surrounding us if we’re forever looking down or being distracted.” Mr. Quirk’s hope that students’ time at Tabor is meaningful and substantial.
It has been a couple months since the Tabor community first heard the phrase “Be Here Now,” and there have been mixed results on how the movement has been going so far. When asked how “Be Here Now” has influenced the way he uses technology, Ryan Grace ’19 responded, “It has made me become more aware of my phone usage. I put timers on my Instagram and Snapchat where it only lets me go on for 30 minutes a day.” Ryan’s new habits illustrate how the movement has some students thinking about and controlling their technology use. However, the addictive nature of social media is a hard habit to break, and this is a process that will continue. On how the community is doing so far this year, Mr. Quirk explained, “We have made some progress, but I would like to see a little more self-discipline, and hear more people talking to each other about it.”
Another point of emphasis with “Be Here Now” is truly appreciating Tabor’s unique location. So often students remark how fast their time at Tabor goes by, but if students take more time to value each moment around the Tabor campus, their time will be more Overall, the movement has prompted a successful start to the meaningful. Mr. Quirk remarked, “It is very hard to appreciate all school year with room for improvement as the year progresses.
A Heads Up for This Winter’s Musical Learning more about the musical Heathers
by Cat Shakin
After Tabor’s 2017 production of Grease, we didn’t think it could get better. However, we were proven wrong when last year’s musical In the Heights debuted and will likely be proven wrong again with this year’s production of Heathers. Heathers is a classic show about high school that deals with a wide range of social issues and views them through a satiric lens. The writers of the play do not introduce serious themes in a serious way, and manage to keep the general mood more playful than depressing. Director Mr. Howland—who chose the show, his last at Tabor—claims that “Heathers is a very funny show, one that brings humor to some very difficult adolescent topics.” Among these topics are suicide, LGBTQ+ intolerance, bullying, substance abuse, school shooting/bombing, sexual harassment, and self-hate. The school has appointed two dramaturges that will act as consultants to the cast. A dramaturge’s job is to advise Please recycle this paper.
the cast and crew on the themes and setting of the play in order to ensure that it is accurate. Dramaturges Grace Mead and Tayler Rogers will talk to the school about how these issues and other themes are involved with the show. They will also be working with Ms. Bride and Mr. Petrocelli on how to help Tabor become more aware of these issues.
Senior Kelsey Boch looks forward to this year’s musical. She explains, “I have been in the three past musicals, and I am so excited for Heathers this year!”
Tryouts for Heathers began the week of November 11, and Mr. Howland says that “[he] can practically guarantee that [everyone] will have an amazing time.” The winter musical will be held on February 14, 15, and 16. See the cast and crew pull off the hardships of high school in a comedic way.
Album Review on p. 3 Featured Athlete on p. 5
2 Topics? Placement? What’s in a name? by Yujin Hong
While the new Advanced Topics courses, AT in short, will give more flexibility for teachers in choosing course materials and more time for students to explore topics they enjoy, some students are concerned about this transition. They wonder why the school would change a system that is already in good shape.
In some courses, however, where “the skill is the content,” the changes are minimal. Ms. Marceau speculates that “students will be as prepared taking AT Spanish as taking AP Spanish.” Some students also express that they do not feel much change in their courses. Suzu Seki, a student in AT Environmental Science says, “I feel like it’s One of their prime concerns is that taking the AT courses will give almost the same as last year’s APES.” Tabor students a disadvantage in the AP exam. Since the courses are Only the history, science, and Spanish departments have embraced not focused on preparation for the exam, which happens every May, this change so far, but there might be more to come. “The English but instead on “long term” skills, students might miss out on some department and other languages are definitely considering it,” topics or strategies for the test. Ms. Marceau suggests that “students explains Ms. Marceau. Based on what they believe will make the class will be prepared for the test if they are willing to do a little self-study experience most meaningful for students at Tabor, departments will on the side.” make any changes after evaluating this year’s courses.
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One thing we can do for the environment I walk to places whenever I can, especially places close by! I recycle and use a reusable water bottle. I turn the lights off when I leave for a long time, but I leave them on if I’m coming back soon because I learned that the surge of power uses the most enegy, not the power itself.
T he L og Co-Editors: Leah Kleinfeld Abby LaCasse Jack Marshall Owen Sughrue
The Tabor Log is the student produced newspaper of Tabor Academy. The Log is distributed to students, faculty and staff. The Tabor Log welcomes letters to the Editors. Please send submissions of fewer than three hundred fifty words to thelog@taboracademy.org. The Log reserves the right to edit submissions for space and/or clarity.
Editorial Board: Ben Ackerman Kelly Chang Harper McKerrow Eari Nakano Tayler Rogers Cat Shakin Photography: Photo Pool Faculty Advisor: Helene Sughrue
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An Easy Listen for a Lazy Afternoon Student review of Rebelution’s Free Rein by Ben Ackerman
Album cover for Rebelution’s Free Rein
Led by guitarist Eric Rachmany, Rebelution is a reggae-rock group based out of California. The band has released six studio albums, the most recent of those titled Free Rein. Throughout their five previous LPs (Long Playings or albums), Rebelution has cemented itself as the premier American reggaerock ensemble with chart-topping hits and consistently solid albums. Known for their unique vocals, booming dub bases, and ear-grabbing trumpets, their 2017 project Falling Into Place was nominated for a Grammy. Free Rein doesn’t stray from the course, but adds highlights to their résumé throughout the 12-song project.
and bright Rachmany vocals characterize the best songs, which include the aforementioned “Celebrate,” as well as “City Life” and “Legend.” Other notable songs include “Settle Down Easy,” a relaxing, slow love song perfect for a late night on the beach. Reminiscent of their 2009 song “Lazy Afternoon,” on “Settle Down Easy” Rachmany serenades the listener, singing “nothing compares to you.” Conversely, the album falls short on songs like “Trap Door” and “Constellation,” where the tempo slows and the subject matter darkens.
Rachmany and his band have a knack for releasing continually interesting music without dramatically altering the sound that has kept them popular for 15 years. While it would be interesting to see Rebelution take a musically experimental leap, Free Rein delves into new elements of their core sound to keep their fans engaged. For example, they use Jamaican reggae producers such as Philip “Winta” Jones and Don Corleon, which brings authenticity to the roots-reggae Rebelution is known for its fiery openings; their 2009 album, The tracks like “Legend” and “Celebrate.” Bright Side of Life, led with four of the band’s all-time hits. Free Rein doesn’t disappoint, starting with “Celebrate,” perhaps the best song Overall, Free Rein is another noteworthy project from Rebelution. on the album. The piece begins with a classic Rebelution dub baseline While it doesn’t surprise the audience with brand new concepts, it is an easy listen for long car rides, boat rides, or summer vacations. and a piano melody that fades into a lengthy guitar solo. Rating: 7/10 Free Rein is at its best when Rebelution is having fun. Lively trumpets
Meet Two of Our New Faculty Members
Getting to Know Dr. Kniesler Getting to Know Ms. Silva by Owen Sughrue
by Gabby Bao
Photo by Gary Lawrence
Thinking about her time so far this year, Dr. Kniesler admits, “It has been a whirlwind. It’s been a good whirlwind, but one nonetheless.” Everyone—new or returning, student or faculty—can relate to the busy-ness of a Tabor fall. Dr. Kniesler also remembers her first interview at Tabor, “wondering whether or not Tabor was really like it was when [she] interviewed here.” Fortunately, it has been. Dr. Kniesler credits “kind, welcoming faculty and polite, engaged students” for her “pleasant surprise” in learning Tabor really is the place she wondered it might be when she first visited.
Before Tabor, Dr. Kniesler was an English major and anthropology minor at Mount Holyoke College. Then, she got her master’s degree in Scotland, studying Women’s Writing and Gender at the University of St Andrews (British punctuation standard). Most recently, Dr. Kniesler received her doctorate from the University of Florida in Victorian Literature.
Looking ahead to this year, Dr. Kniesler explains, “I’m very excited for the crew season to get going—to get to work with the great group of girls on the crew team and great coaches, too.” Dr. Kniesler rowed crew at Mount Holyoke and is anxious to get out on the water here at Tabor. As all faculty do here at Tabor, Dr. Kniesler manages teaching, dorm parenting, coaching, and many other parts of school life. So far, Tabor has been a good, albeit busy, place for Dr. Kniesler. In the coming year(s), let’s ensure that Dr. Kniesler continues to see the Tabor that she hoped she would a few months before she arrived.
Ms. Silva, the Director of Student Activities, has had a wonderful, if busy, start to the year as a new faculty member at Tabor. Additionally, she coached her first season of Girls’ JV soccer and is a dorm parent of Bushnell. As Director of Student Activities, she endeavors to arrange better weekend activities in response to students’ requests.
“When you see the demand, you have to react to the demand, ” Ms. Silva noted, “and use the resources for what’s best for the students and what they look forward to.”
Photo by Gary Lawrence
After studying English for several years in college and beyond, Dr. Sarah Kniesler now teaches English here at Tabor. In addition, Dr. Kniesler is a dorm parent in Lillard and will coach crew in the spring.
As a member of Tabor’s Class of 2014, Ms. Silva returned this fall as a full-time faculty member who had already reconnected with the school, having coached here last winter. Since she has come back, Ms. Silva remembers some of the funny and silly moments she experienced here. In Mr. Dineen’s Algebra 1 class, she was “... confident about my answers on the first test and decided to hand it in early. Mr. Dineen asked me ‘You sure you don’t want to look over anything?’ and I nodded. But when I got my test back, I looked at him and said ‘What?! I only got a 73!’” Ms. Silva agrees that she was fortunate to meet Mr. Dineen, who took the time to get to know her well as a student and softball player, and now as a colleague.
Upon returning to Tabor, Ms. Silva has received a warm welcome from her old teachers and coaches, but confesses that she has difficulty calling them by their first names. She realizes and appreciates how invested faculty members are in their students, saying, “They certainly put in a lot of time to make sure that every student will feel [that] they are heard and supported.” In this new role, she is inspired by fellow faculty members to “make the same impact on her students.”
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Tabor Holiday Traditions: Some things change, some things stay the same “A Christmas Card” in Music by Eari Nakano
The entire festival is much like a whole production, the selection of songs are strung together with readings selected by Mrs. Gardiner. She also selects a reader from each grade, to help convey one story. With Dr. Zhou as the new conductor, she has “high expectations with
Photo by Photo Pool
It is that time of the year again, the temperature drops below freezing and students begin running out of fuel, anxious to go home. The festival of Lessons and Carols unites the community during this hectic period of the school year. For this festival, as the entire choral program congregates as one, performing traditional Christmas carols. According to Ms. Gardiner, Lessons and Carols “annually draws hundreds to the chapel to ring in the season with carols, music by the masters, and readings drawn from scriptures that tell the story of rebirth of hope from darkness.” This year, however, new choral director, Dr. Zhou will be conducting the choral groups. Having seen the program the last two years, he says that his favorite part of being a part of Lessons and Carols is “the whole thing. Seeing what people walks away with, the joy that the carols provide, giving people certain feelings through the unity of the students voices.” The five choral groups—Mixed Chorus, Female Chamber Choir, Madrigals, Tabor Tones, and the Nightingales—perform the pieces they have been working on for months.
his professional background, experience, and judgement. I assume that it will not be drastically different from the previous years.” Dr. Zhou is looking forward to conducting this year’s Lessons and Carols, while “keeping the frameworks of Mr. Horne’s creation.”
The Festival of Lessons and Carols is open to the entire community on Sunday, December 9, at 7:30 pm, in the Wickenden Chapel. All are welcome to attend. The program will also streamed on Tabor’s Facebook page.
A Meal Anticipated All Year...
by Abby LaCasse
Weeks in advance, the staff begins to prepare for the meal, brainstorming the festive dishes and choosing holiday decorations. To keep things interesting, the staff changes the menu each year. They work hard to create a collection of foods that will get everyone
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Photo by Photo Pool
Holiday Breakfast has been a Tabor tradition for almost fifteen years. In the past, it has been the last meal of the calendar year, before students leave for Winter Break. Yet over the last decade, this tradition has been changed into a community event for everyone to enjoy. The venue itself has changed as well. While the old dining hall was cramped, Mr. Sirianni said that the new dining hall “works nicely” and the “better layout helps support the crazy number of students and staff that come to enjoy the meal.” Still, the renovation has brought some challenges as well. Using what was then the executive dining room, the staff could begin to set up the breakfast weeks in advance. Now, the staff must set up at the last minute, in order to not ruin the theatrics of the event.
in the holiday spirit. The night before the breakfast, the team stays until 11 o’clock to complete all the cooking and decorating so that the dining hall is magically transformed before everyone arrives to enjoy this special meal.
Favorite winter tradition?
Favorite winter games to attend?
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Featured Athlete by Tayler Rogers
If you have ever stood on the Duffy-3 sideline during a Girls’ Varsity Soccer game or watched Girls’ JV-A basketball in the field house, you know that Cat Barry is a force for Tabor athletics. After discovering Tabor at a private school showcase run by her eighth grade club soccer program, Cat fell in love with our school by the sea. She chose Tabor because “so many [other schools] felt like they had been ‘done’ before.” She longed to make an impact on the community she would be in, and for the “opportunity to challenge [herself], build something amazing, and develop personally.”
Cat Barry
junior, and missed nearly her entire freshman season due to injury.
However, Cat is not focused only on scoring goals. She has taken other benefits from “wearing the Tabor jersey,” such as learning “what it means to be a teammate.” She highlights that “although I never will be 100% perfect all the time, [playing for Tabor] inspires me to bring my best to every practice, game, or workout, because I know if I give anything less than everything, I am cheating more than myself.” Cat also has a deep appreciation for the fans who come out to watch her teams play, describing the highlight of her Tabor athletic career to be This is exactly what she has achieved in her time playing for Tabor a comeback during a playoff game against St. Mark’s, where as soon as thus far. In the late summer of 2017, Cat committed to play soccer at she saw the “Tabor fans roaring down the hill to the field,” she found the University of South Carolina, and recently broke Tabor’s 40 soccer the energy to lead her team to earn the points back and win the game. goal record, scoring 43 goals in her Tabor career so far. This record Cat Barry is a force to be reckoned with in Tabor athletics. is remarkable; but it is even more remarkable because she is only a
Photo by Photo Pool
Cat Barry dribbling past the Governor’s defender
Winter Sports Preview: Must-See Games by Jack Marshall
As a successful fall season ends, the winter season begins. Mr. Leary Friday night game. believes this winter will be an exciting time full of home games, While in the Fish on January 9, stroll up to the wrestling room for an matches, and most of all, loud Seawolf spirit. exciting match against Lawrence. As Mr. Leary says, “This is a huge The Boys’ Varsity hockey team, captained by Tyler Harvey, Connor opportunity because we have not had a one-on-one match in the Guyette, and Owen Rudicus, looks forward to the upcoming wrestling room for many years.” This match will be an awesome time season. The skilled team will compete yet again in one of the most to support the Wrestling team and their captains: Liz Seero, Nick competitive high school hockey leagues in the country. Some big Losardo, and Justin Pernell. games include Lawrence on Friday, January 25 at 6:45 and Milton at Last but not least: the squash teams. Both Boys’ and Girls’ squash home on Wednesday, February 6 at 5:30. Next up is the talented Girls’ are bound to have successful seasons. With Sophie Browning and Varsity hockey team. Captains Cindy Giandomenico and Annie Berry Sabrina Harden leading the squad, their big matches will be against will guide the team in their important games against Lawrence, on St. Mark’s on December 1 at 3:30 and against Moses Brown on December 7 at 6:45, and against Nobles at 3:30 on February 16. The December 8. In addition to the girls’ team, the boys’ team, captained team is full of college-bound talent competing in an excellent league. by Aly Hussein and Owen Sughrue, have a huge match against Nobles This should be a fun winter to be in the tank. at 3:30 on January 30.
Upstairs on the Roller Court, the Boys’ Varsity basketball will face This winter season promises exciting teams and games. With some Milton on February 15 at 5:30 for a Friday night game, a time that knowledge of Tabor’s teams and their biggest games, enjoy rooting often draws a large, loud Tabor crowd. The skilled Girls’ Varsity each other on this winter. basketball will play Nobles on Friday, January 11 at 6:00 in another
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Getting to Know Garrett…
Q: What are the best and worst purchases you ever made?
A: Best purchase is my Julio Jones jersey and the worst purchase was my iPhonecharging case. It broke in a week. Q: If you could change your name, what would you change it to and why?
A: James just because it is my middle name and I like it more. It is also just different. Q: Greatest fear?
Who is Garrett Horton? by Harper McKerrow
Garrett Horton ’20 is from Atlanta, Georgia, and he brings his unwavering support for the Atlanta Falcons to Tabor’s campus. Garrett claims to probably be the only Falcons fan at Tabor, and openly acknowledges his great dislike of the New England Patriots, especially after Super Bowl LI in 2017. Garrett can be seen sporting his Falcons jersey every time they play and loves to challenge Patriots fans to games of Madden in Lillard North’s common room during any free time. When Garrett is not busy exercising his skillful (or lucky) video game maneuvers, he can be found helping out with the winter musical as the lighting designer. This is Garrett’s first year in the head lighting position and it will require him to change and design the lighting for each scene. Garrett’s work is literally behind the scenes and we hope this provides a way to get to know him a little better...
A: Heights. Ladders are a big no-go for me. Q: Where would you most like to live?
A: Washington, DC, or Houston, Texas. Q: What do you most dislike? A: New England Patriot fans.
Q: Favorite Dining hall food? Least favorite?
A: Bacon is my favorite and curly fries are a close second. My least favorite is the fried chicken because it is too dry. Q: If you were a superhero, what power would you possess? A: Teleportation or super strength.
Q: What would you do if you found a penguin in a freezer (still alive)? A: Feed it, take care of it.
Q: What do you think of garden gnomes?
A: Super creepy, and pointless. Seriously, what is the point?
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