The Sapling May 2015

the SAPLING Tabor Academy’s Freshman Edition of Student Newspaper

thelog@taboracademy.org

Volume 9

May 2015

Is the Rumor about a Schedule Change True?

A block change proposal has underclassmen buzzing

by Sydney Cohen

Walking through the halls of the Stroud Academic Center, groups of students talk in hushed tones discussing the rumor of a schedule change. Is this just a rumor or the beginning of a new block system at Tabor?

The proposal includes an alteration to the block system. This alteration would change the current eight-block system to a seven-block system. It would extend overall class blocks to 50 minutes that would be held four times a week. This idea

Another portion of this schedule change would include every class having the opportunity to have a lab block. This lab block would be used to work on projects, and students’ interactive skills such as editing, talking with teachers and process-based learning opportunities that are occasionally neglected.

Within this proposal is the idea of both

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

Despite the hushed chatter, this change truly is just a rumor. Mrs. Marceau, who is part of the committee putting this proposal together, clarified that as of right now, this rumor is only just a proposal. It has not yet been brought before TASC but will be shared with them soon. Marceau also shared some of the possible changes that they are addressing within this proposal.

Earlier this year, Marceau shadowed a sophomore from breakfast check-in until the end of the academic day. During her experience shadowing this student, she discovered that students are involved in a high pace school day with a very frantic block schedule.

was introduced due to the lack of teaching time. From a teacher’s perspective, currently there is not enough time to incorporate all they want to teach in one class block. It is difficult to stretch out lessons and as a result of the short blocks, teachers must hold classes that seem to occur at a very fast pace. As of right now, teachers have on average 130 hours of teaching time over the course of the year.

If the block system were changed, and classes were extended, teachers would gain 16 more hours of teaching time, allowing them to stretch out their lessons and teach at a slower, more manageable pace. This proposal also includes fiveminute longer lunch blocks to give students more time to eat, and slow the pace exhibited during the academic day.

A new proposal would change the current block system.

Wednesday and Saturday classes always beginning at 8:30 AM. This idea is based on a study that shows that teenagers do not get enough sleep. The later start on these two days would allow students who find themselves exhausted during the academic day to catch up on their sleep and be more refreshed and awake during classes. This proposal also includes the idea that each class would have a longer block every other week.

Finally, this schedule change would include a revised schedule for speakers during times such as All-School and chapel. This change lengthens the time each speaker has in order to have enough time to speak.

If this schedule change fails to go through for next year, it is highly possible that an alternate form of this proposal will be created in the future. Yet, as of now, no changes have actually occurred.

Bride Takes Over as Dean of Students Teacher, Dorm Parent, and Coach Mel Bride will join the administration next year

by Abigail Mottur

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

of school are to extend the wifi on Friday nights when there is no Saturday class the next day. Also, she may want to take another look at the dress code for both boys and girls.

Bride is excited to join the administration next year.

Although it is only her first year at Tabor, it has not taken long for Mrs. Bride to make a huge impact on the community through coaching the JV Field Hockey and Varsity Lacrosse teams, living in Spring Street dorm, and teaching Spanish classes. She has “loved getting to know the Tabor kids and wants to work closer with them to

Inside the issue

make their experience more fun and more transformative,” in her new position as the Dean of Students.

Bride has great ideas to make the weekends more fun for the upcoming year such as off-campus camping trips, pillow polo, foursquare tournaments and bubble soccer games. Her ideas in terms

Tabor Siblings p. 3

Bride is currently a Spanish teacher and absolutely loves it. One of her favorite parts about being a teacher is “the energy that kids bring to class everyday.” She always knew that she wanted to work with kids when she was growing up but she was not sure what she wanted to do. Her own experience from boarding school is a huge contributing factor to her becoming a teacher. She has also taught at a school in Honduras, at a middle school, has been the director of development at an environmental non-profit, and a stayat-home mom.

Mrs. Bride has made some great memories at Tabor even though she has only been here for a year. Some of her favorites have been JV Field Hockey, her Spanish Elective Trip to Hathaway School

in New Bedford, a Spring Street dorm trip to a multicultural dance performance at Wheaton College, and all of her classes.

When she was driving her dorm to the dance performance she “accidentally drove the Tabor bus on the walking paths by mistake due to the mounds of snow.” Even though she says that was an embarrassing experience it is now a funny memory that she has made.

“Memories are only going to be made if you try new things,” says Mrs. Bride.

She wants all students to take part in making the weekends more fun. “Don’t just wait for the weekend activities to be posted, bring your ideas to the student activities council!” Bride really wants all the students to be a part of the weekends and other school events. She also hopes to work with kids to give a meaning to “All A-Taut O.” Bride is overjoyed to be our next Dean of Students and cannot wait to make an even bigger impact on the Tabor community.

Sections

Tabor News.................................1,3 Editorials.......................................2 Center Spread.............................4,5 Opinions........................................6 Sports.............................................7 The Back Page................................8

Dance Program p. 7

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Editorials

Tabor News

Feature

Opinions

Sports&Arts

Weekends at Tabor Revealed

What do students need to do to make the most of their free time?

by Lillie Lovell The overwhelming majority of the Head of School candidates included ideas in their speeches about how they can improve life at Tabor. A very prevalent speech topic was the weekends. We heard a large portion talk about improvement in the quality of the weekend activities. Weekend activities can be readily changed because we have the control of if they are fun or boring. Boredom is a common problem with teenagers, especially in this technological world. Our attention span can sometimes be very short and we constantly want to be entertained. If more people stayed on campus on the weekends, then there could be more fun activities and the demand for more diverse activities would be greater.

A very common complaint is that everyone leaves on the weekends. Yet, this is not necessarily true. There are 508 students at Tabor this year and 360 of those students are boarders. But even

when it is a closed weekend the number of students drops dramatically because there are so many day students. On open weekends about 150 students go home.

There are 93 international students who tend to stay on campus. Tabor has 289 students from Massachusetts and 144 of those are boarders. There are 24 students from RI, 18 from Connecticut, 10 from New Hampshire, 4 from Vermont, and 3 from Maine.

So 348 students at Tabor live in the New England Area, a large percentage.

According to Mr. McCain, geological diversity is good and it is something that they are working on improving at Tabor.

Nonetheless, even if one lives nearby, they can still stay on campus if they choose to.

When Mr. McCain went to Tabor in the 1980’s, Tabor had overnights that one could take to get away from campus.

Freshmen were only granted two per semester. As one got older, more

overnights were awarded. This rule is no longer in effect although we do have about 12 closed weekends a year.

The weekend protocols have changed dramatically.

Weekends are an opportunity to relax after a week of rigorous work. Many students choose to go home and see their family. It is good to go home and still remain close with your family while at boarding school but part of boarding school is actually boarding. I encourage everyone to try to stay on campus more often on the weekends and to get involved in the community and try new things. There may be more to do than you think. The weekends are what you make of them. There also do not need to be scheduled activities (though they are helpful) because you can have fun with your friends rather than sitting around being bored and complaining that there is nothing to do on the weekends.

Does “Cilantro” Measure Up? Learn about Cilantro co-owner, Padee Phimolmas, and her new restaurant

by April Mihalovich After practice, my whole family herded into the car for a dinner at Cilantro. I ordered my favorite, the Classic Fried Rice. As usual, the rice was great, and the meal was nice and spicy, just how I like it! Tabor students have had mixed feelings on how the food measures up to the previous House of Thai, but I’m sure Mrs. Phimolmas and her family’s cooking will win the seawolves over.

Mrs. Phimolmas is from Bangkok, Thailand, and she traveled with her two kids, Peter (7) and Preme (12) to the United States a year and a half ago. Her main reason for coming to the United

States is because she wants “[her] kids to have an education here and to learn English while they’re young and it’s easier to make friends here while they’re still young.” When asked if the kids take an interest in the restaurant, Mrs. Phimolmas replied, “At first [the restaurant] was exciting, but now it’s not. They understand why we have to run the business, though.”

Curious about her cooking, I inquired what her favorite dish was, and she said her favorite to eat is Pad Thai, while her favorite to make is spaghetti. Although she has stayed true to her Thai cooking,

she admitted, “I make the taste less spicy for Americans!”

Finally, I asked about her future plans, or what direction she sees for the restaurant. Will they open a second location? Mrs. Phimolmas said, “No, I am not thinking about that, business is good. We especially have a lot of takeout.”

Getting to see Mrs. Phimolmas and her twin sister, co-owner Tammy Keyes, was great. Their hard work and sacrifices for their family really make going to eat at Cilantro a better experience, even though the food can speak for itself!

Dining Hall Strives for a “Greener” Facility Tabor Dining Hall comes close to joining the Green Restaurant Association

by Grace Douvos Since Tabor Academy is the “School by the Sea,” we have an obligation to be as environmentally friendly as we can be.

There are many people helping out with this at school, one of whom is Mr. Sirianni. He and the kitchen staff are working very hard to become part of the Green Restaurant Association, an association that focuses on helping to make restaurants and kitchens “greener.”

To earn this certification, kitchens are evaluated from top to bottom. Evaluators first make sure that the food is environmentally friendly by doing things like checking how much beef they serve as opposed to chicken because there is

more carbon used processing beef than chicken. Then, they check to see if the equipment, lights, and water flow are earthfriendly. It is judged out of 100 points, and once a kitchen earns these 100 points, they may become part of the Association.

The Tabor kitchen is very close to obtaining this award and they just have a few more small changes to make. Mr. Sirianni is very impressed with the kitchen’s progress and believes we are only a few steps away from becoming a part of the Green Restaurant Association. He hopes that more restaurants decide to do this because even if it is a little bit costly, it is worth it to protect our environment.

T h e Sapling Editors-in-Chief: Caleigh Harden Julia O’Rourke

Faculty Advisors: Merry Conway Helene 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 less than three hundred fifty words to mconway@ taboracademy.org. The Log reserves the right to edit submissions for space and/or clarity.

Photography: TA Photopool Maggie Finley Lili Blouin Caroline Bracken Layout: Jennifer Joung Wendy Liu Section Editors: Ellen Scheiring Jason Ma Denizalp Goktas

Bobby Balboni Jack Gordon Staff Writers: Sydney Cohen Abigail Mottur Blair Lalor Ryan Kirk Lillie Lovell April Mihalovich Grace Douvos Abby Loftus Gavin Smith Mary Hanrahan Madison LaCasse

Patrick Daly Jack Murray Brian Lee Danielle Plunkett Julia Jeffries Zoe Boardman Julia Peterson Hannah Rolighed Jack McCain Chase Compson Victoria Milso Lily Coleman Lilly Carlson Caroline Post Brett Needham

The Back Page

In case you missed it...

• Hodge’s promposal has 1,000 views on YouTube • LOVE IS THE HIGHEST VIBRATION • ‘Tis the season for awkward advisor breakups • Matsumura House is going to be awesome! Oh and by the way, it’s a boys’ dorm.

• Looks like some are cramming in those final hours as the community service deadline approaches.

• Flowers and leaves are sprouting... come on, spring.

• Denny envies the white rhino.

• PHIL was everywhere.

Editorials

Tabor News Feature

Opinions

Sports&Arts

The Back Page

The Truth About Tabor Siblings

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For some, Tabor really is a home away from home

by Abby Loftus You have seen and heard of most of the siblings here at Tabor, but do you really know how they feel about having each other here? I’m here to tell you what some students said about their experiences and thoughts on having a sibling here at Tabor.

A lot of the Tabor siblings that I talked to brought up the topic of communication with his or her sibling. Jack Shakin ‘17 said, “It is good that I have someone I can talk to without being judged and who has shared my experiences.” What Many students attend Tabor with their siblings, like Parker and Abby Loftus Jack says really capitalizes on why talking to your sibling me about the bonding moments they share during car rides at Tabor is so important. Siblings share so many of the same with their brothers and how “having a brother at Tabor is experiences and have a lot of the same views as one another. like having a constant spy watching [their] every move.”

A big part of communication between siblings is advice. As Boarding students with siblings love having a family member Kat Mitchell ’17 says, “I look to Ned for advice on anything who is always there if anything happens. “I love having a from a social level to a best friend level.” It is very helpful twin at this school. Even though I don’t see Willy everyday, and resourceful to have an older sibling at Tabor who has I know I always have a best friend close by,” says Andrea gone through almost all of the same things that you are Tardif ’16. At the end of the day, it is so very important to facing. As Maryclare Bracken ‘17 states, “It is really helpful take advantage of having a family member going to school having an older sister at Tabor because with her two years with you. As Sarah Houle ’18 puts it, “We have to use each of experience here before I arrived, Caroline was able to help other as a backbone to live responsibly by ourselves without me through my first year at Tabor with things such as exams our parents. Paul has helped me with many things while and orientation.” here at Tabor. I am so thankful and I love him very much.”

Day students Georgia West ’18 and Allie Alfonso ’18 told

Photo by TA PhotoPool

I can say that having my brother with me here at boarding school is one of the best things about being away from home.

Parker keeps me in line while we are away from our parents, or at least he tries. Despite my positive outlook on having him at Tabor with me, he gave me a one-word response on how he feels about having me here: “annoying.”

Twitter What’s on your mind?

Follow @TaborLog on Twitter for updates Georgia West @georgiathejungl the girl who switched between the two giant horns in the middle of the song during the concert is the real MVP Ashley Dowling @ashleyd123_ the wifi on campus lately <<< Mayo VII

Beebe Renovations in the Works

@ ‫ ‏‬m_a_2358

by Gavin Smith

Houligan

Plans to update the student lounge are underway

The Beebe Grill at Tabor Academy is one of the busiest social places on campus during the week and the weekends. The Beebe is located in the Fish Center and it is a fun and safe place where boarding and day students can socialize and relax. The Beebe Grill is an ideal location for dances, open mic nights, and trivia games. Regularly, people watch sports games, play video games, or grab a bite to eat.

The Beebe has served as a focal point for all things social after school and on the weekends; however, all of this use has caused a great amount of wear and tear on the facility. It can be seen in the old leather booths, old couches, and old pool table. The Beebe also includes a flat screen television with games, movable chairs and tables, and a snack bar, which serves burgers, fries, candy, and smoothies.

Earlier this year, the Tabor Academy Student Council (TASC)

proposed to renovate and redesign the interior of the Grill and this idea soon caught traction as students began to speak up. TASC is currently in the process of renovating the Beebe. This project will be lead by Mrs. Quirk, Saltonstall Architects, and a committee of students, who will give a good perspective on the new design.

Rumors about the design include having more pool tables, more TV’s for sports games, and new seating areas. On April 29 a meeting was held to make a decision on the new furniture that will be added this summer. As many students have said before, Tabor needs to be a more fun and social place. This renovation will be an important step in improving weekends and will help students enjoy their free time throughout the week. Next year is sure to start well with an updated social hub on campus.

What Does Your Spring Fate Hold?

by Maddie LaCasse and Mary Hanrahan Aries (3/21-4/19) You’re determined and ambitious so during the spring months you can be found tearing it up on the sports fields or crying into a bag of chips whilst cramming for finals. You always try your hardest to excel, but don’t forget to have fun!

Taurus (4/20-5/20) You love to support your pals in whatever they do, so this spring you’re most likely going to be the one that always shows up on the sidelines to cheer them on. Despite your maturity you might want to quit life to lie in bed and eat oreos.

#TeamMK2015

@sarahhoule67 Aw I’ve been staring at my history presentation since 8:30 and its 11:30 and I only have the title done Brad Tripp @brad14t The coolest thing about Tabor is being surrounded by people who are making it happen. Congrats to everyone on the acceptances Jack McCain @Jmac2329 You know you got a good playlist when the skip button starts to collect dust

Gemini (5/21-6/20) This spring your FOMO will kick into overdrive.

With all the events going on around campus, you’ll be found at every one like the social butterfly that you are. You can turn any negative situation into a positive one so people love being around you.

Cancer (6/21-7/22) This spring you will be hitting every club in the Southern Massachusetts circuit. Just kidding.

You’re actually going to spend a large majority of your time curled up in bed watching Netflix.

You did it all winter, so why stop now?

Leo (7/23-8/22) You love attention and this spring you are most likely going to be strolling through campus singing songs from the Shrek soundtrack. Despite efforts to stay healthy, you may indulge in the dining hall sweets. But don’t worry; you’ve earned it.

Virgo (8/23-9/22) This spring you already had a studying schedule for finals written as soon as we came back from Spring Break. You can be found keeping your room clean, staying away from the ice cream machine in the dining hall, and always getting your homework done early.

Libra (9/23-10/22)) You will be found mastering your sport and working out in the weight room or spending extra time in the ceramics studio. You tend to be a little bit self-involved so do not forget to support your friends in what they are involved in on campus too!

Scorpio (10/23-11/ 21) This spring you are going to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it is leaving the comfort of your dorm to enjoy the sunlight, or switching up your order at Dunkin, take a chance and it might just pay off!

Sagittarius (11/22-12/21)

Capricorn (12/22-1/19) This spring you can be found leading in all different areas on campus. You have high ambitions and achieve your goals so you are admired. You say what you feel, so instead of saying everything that comes to mind, try to think before you speak.

Aquarius (1/20-2/18) You are a free spirit who can’t be tamed. Your liveliness will bring joy to many this spring but your determination for success will keep you on track in the classroom and in your social life.

Stay positive this season; your inner diva will be fighting to be released around every corner.

Pisces (2/19-3/20) You are a very desirable person and tend to have great artistic abilities. This spring, in between hanging out with all of your friends, hitting the squash courts, or spending time with your teammates, you will be found getting in touch with your more creative side.

You are one funny little guy. This spring you are going to be exploring your outdoorsy side by taking long nature walks to Dunkin and making all your friends laugh down by the waterfront.

Don’t let Grey’s Anatomy get you down.

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Lengendary

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Editorials

Tabor News Feature

Opinions

Sports&Arts

The Back Page

Is Foundations Really Necessary?

Freshmen consider whether or not they need mandatory introduction class to adjust

by Danielle Plunkett

Ms. Fish, one of Tabor’s Latin teachers, says that, “Tabor Foundations is a great class for those who need help with their study skills; for those who don’t, it’s a waste of time.” But how do you discern a student in need of help from one that’s just fine on his or her own?

You can’t. Even so, there were only one or two classes that actually focused on study skills rather than, say, spoken poetry or the Archives. So if study skills aren’t the main focus of Foundations, what are the students doing for that one block every week?

According to the Tabor website, Foundations is a class used to “introduce freshmen to the people, programs and policies that will play a significant role in their Tabor experience,” and some classes did their job, like the tours of the Braitmayer and the Fish, the Four-Year Plan, and the peer interviews that gave students a more in-depth look into the lives of their peers.

However, as many students say, most classes did not seem as relevant as others. For instance, learning a

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

It is likely that every single freshman has complained at least once about the mandatory class that is supposed to introduce them to the Tabor community and it’s not uncommon to hear the upperclassmen gripe about their experiences in “Strategies for Success.” As freshman Maddie LaCasse puts it, “It’s a little frustrating to sit in a stuffy room playing an archaic block game when I could be studying for my bio test.” But is Tabor Foundations really as pointless as the students claim it is?

Freshmen are required to attend one Foundations class each week during a free block.

bunch of Tabor cheers that are not used and attempting to fit as many blocks as possible between two walls of plastic did not directly relate to the Tabor experience.

Although the topics of some of these classes do not directly relate to the Tabor experience, it is inarguable that Tabor Foundations has helpful classes that make

the Tabor adjustment a little easier. Freshman Hannah Strom suggests that Foundations become a semester course rather than a full-year course, so “students still get the benefit of the good classes.” This is just one of the many solutions to the problem, but it still gives the faculty who facilitate the program something to think about.

Students Want Computer Science Opportunities

High school computer science courses can play an important role in a student’s future

by Jack Murray “The future of humanity is computers. Therefore, we must be ready,” says Tabor computer engineering student Chris Kearley about the importance of computer science classes. He believes that classes like computer engineering and computer science are important in increasing the variety of courses offered as well as key for encouraging new applicants to choose Tabor.

Photo by TA Photopool

Knowledge in the field of computer science is important for increasing chances of landing a job in a technical field or getting into a specific school. One of the first assignments you could expect to receive when taking a computer science course is to build a computer out of a box of parts. You will learn how everything works on both a hardware side and a software side, learning to program in languages like Python or C++.

Many Tabor students are eager to take computer science and computer engineering courses.

“We focused a lot on making games using pygame, especially puzzle games,” Kearley says. Student Bendrix Bailey states, “I had no previous knowledge of computer

science before taking a course, but by the end of the term, had programmed my own platformer game, The Adventures of Pip, all by myself.” Bailey is a perfect example of the difference only one semester can make in the knowledge of a subject. He is now working in a group of three to build a prototype of his own self-driving car.

The group is designing, building, and programming it all on their own, using their earlier knowledge on programming and circuitry.

It is easy to see the amazing work that is being done in these classes and this could just be the beginning. Aside from Photoshop and InDesign, computer science classes are not yet accessible to freshmen at Tabor. The school does not even seem to advertise that we have them.

Strong computer science classes can help people get into colleges and work at jobs that may never have been open to them before without valuable skills like programming and engineering. Information technology and computers really are the future. We should make the most of it.

Common #AsianMisconceptions @ TA

Korean-American student shares the stereotypes he faces on a regular basis

by Brian Lee It is understandable that some Tabor students may have stereotypical thoughts about Asians. Some topics may include a higher performance or quality of academics, sports, or food. In my case, I am a Korean-American and I am faced with many racial stereotypes.

To make things clear, North Korea and South Korea are not the same country. Although there is no malicious intent, it is quite uncomfortable for Koreans to take jokes about North Korea or their supreme leader. Upon my arrival at Tabor, I was faced with questions such as: “Where are you from?” or “How is it adapting to a new culture?” At a glance, these questions are quite understandable, mainly because I may look different. But they stem from false

assumptions.

To tell you a little about myself, I was born in in New Jersey; I am an American citizen. I now live in Seoul, South Korea, and I have gone to an international school my whole life so I am quite used to “American culture.”

I also learned the English alphabet before the Korean alphabet and I have spoken English all my life. These are just a few of the misconceptions that I faced almost daily at the beginning of the school year but fewer assumptions have been made since meeting more people and making friends.

There are many more stereotypes such as: “Asians are smarter,” “International students can’t speak English,”

“Asians only eat noodles and rice,” and “Koreans enjoy eating dogs,” (not true). We cannot put a scale on a person for their intellect and it is quite rude to judge how smart someone is based on their ethnicity. In fact, out of twelve freshmen on the high honor roll, there is only one Asian.

I am not doing too well in biology and have received grades below 80’s… multiple times. It may be true that some of the international students do not speak English fluently because it is not their first language. However, we must know that it is very rude to make fun of their accents. Asians are no different from other students at Tabor. Please feel free to reach out to any of us at Tabor… we’re nice.

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7

Sailing Team Handles Emergency Well

Tabor athletes and coaches react quickly in dangerous conditions

by Julia Jeffries

With over 500 students, many faculty members, and staff, Tabor Academy must be prepared to handle any type of emergency.

During a race, a female from Martha’s Vineyard was hit by the boom of another boat. Her body went numb

All coaches on the water handled the emergency smoothly. The injured girl was driven to Hoyt Dock in a coach boat and was not moved until the paramedics arrived. She was taken to the hospital in need of surgery. She is now better and will be able to return to the water soon.

Coach Hurd later explained that the rescue of the girl could not have gone any smoother and applauded the team for taking initiative to de-rig, wash sails, and stay out of the way. The coaches and students took the right actions and these actions paid off in making sure that everyone was safe when the meet ended.

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

This spring, the Varsity and JV sailing teams had a multi- team home meet during which the wind was gusting up to 30 knots, about 33 mph, hitting the maximum wind the team will sail in. The JV teams were pulled off the water after many sailors capsized but the varsity teams kept sailing. Many boats capsized in the heavy wind. Coach Hurd, in all his time at Tabor, had never had to call 911 while coaching before.

Towards the end of the rotations the wind picked up and multiple boats were capsizing and death rolling each race.

and into shock as she fell into the 30 degree water. She was pulled out of the water, the race was ended, and within 3 minutes all other boats were on the docks and were being de-rigged.

The sailing team had to be careful as they sailed in harsh conditions.

Dance Program Continues to Grow Fall and Spring Dance Teams have continued to expand over the past five years

by Zoe Boardman

Photo by Lily Blouin ‘16

In the past, the dance program at Tabor was small. Current dance instructor Danielle LaTulippe came to the program just five years ago. Before her arrival, the dance department did not have a stereo, mirrors, costumes, or funding. In the past few years the size of the team has increased monumentally, growing from barely a dozen people to over twenty members each season.

“Our first year of competition we brought only eight students to one competition,” LaTulippe said, “now we take a team as large as twenty-five dancers to up to three competitions [each] spring.” Co-captain of the dance team Samantha Chan said that the team has “gotten a lot of recognition from the community from finally getting a budget, being listed on the sports calendar, and being a part of spring athletic awards.”

Thanks to an improved program, more funding, and more awareness for this group and other performing arts groups, the dance program has definitely been on the rise.

Many new members of the dance team join as a result of participation in the musical

The size of the dance team continues to grow.

and other theater programs. Because one major component of the musical is dancing, and the choreography is less technical and intense than the two normal dance seasons, many people find their way to spring dance from there. Samantha Figueroa left spring lacrosse for dance after being in the winter musical. “I like dance,” she said. “In the schedule for the musical, you have share your time equally between singing, dancing, and acting. In dance I can dedicate myself 100% to dancing.”

The Tabor Academy Dance Company has an exciting future. Co-captain of the dance team Nicole McLaughlin says that we are fortunate to have “a talented choreographer that takes each dancer’s strength into consideration; [the] TADC has taken a huge leap.” Performances have been getting better, too. “Every year, the dance recitals keep getting better and more entertaining,” says Chan. “The audience always grows.”

This season’s dance recital is on May 14th at 6:30 in Hoyt.

How Can You Get Involved in Music?

Take advantage of the wide variety of opportunities to participate in singing at Tabor

by Julia Peterson and Hannah Rolighed

of the Mixed Chorus, Female Chamber Choir, Male Chamber Choir, and Madrigals. Mari Daly, a freshman in the Female Chamber Choir, said, “I love that Tabor’s music program is varied and there are so many different options.”

Photo by Caroline Bracken ‘15

You can also do extra singing after school with different groups. Open Mic night, which is another way to get up in front of other students, is a unique offering at Tabor.

There are also groups that you can do after school such as the Tabor Tones and Nightingales, which are a cappella groups that meet twice a week.

Tabor students have many opportunities to get involved in singing.

Tabor offers many classes, activities, and events for students to get involved with music. Our school has many different ways for students to put themselves out there and try new things or continue with their singing if they have experience. If you are really interested in singing, Tabor offers electives that allow students to sing in class almost everyday. These choral groups consist

Another way to get involved in singing is by taking voice lessons during a free block. This way you can get music education even if you are not in one of the larger groups.

Mr. Horne is the fabulous choral director at Tabor Academy. He also is the music director for the musical.

He teaches new students how to love and appreciate all different types of music. Mr. Horne can also be seen on the chapel stage every Monday and Thursday playing the beloved organ. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and is one of the best musical directors around. He has answered a few questions about his love for music and teaching:

1.) How long have you been a part of Tabor’s music program?

I am finishing my 19th year.

2.) What is your favorite part about teaching music?

It is NEVER boring.

3.) How do you choose the songs for the students in each class to sing?

I like to think the songs choose themselves—I have an intuition that a certain song may accomplish certain goals I have and also be fun for the group and then hope that I can get students to love the way they sound singing it.

4.) What do you love about playing and singing music?

Just about everything. There is a liberating sensation of spontaneity that only seems to occur when you feel really comfortable with a piece of music and have the opportunity to unveil it in front of the public. But I also love the process of bringing a group of musicians up to speed with all the skills necessary to sound their best.

Rehearsing has its own kind of beauty and I enjoy it as much as performing.

Editorials

Tabor News Feature

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

Meet the Freshmen Faculty Kids

By Jack McCain

MIA: Georgia West

I had the pleasure of interviewing some of my fellow freshmen class Fac Brats.

“Is it weird seeing your parents at school everyday?”

Maddy Kistler: No, because my dad’s awesome.

Ollie Bride: No, because I never see my mom.

Luke Muther: I try to avoid my parents as much as possible. So I guess you could say yes, it was awkward to see your parents at school during the day.

“What is it like to live attached to a dorm of the opposite gender??

M.K.: I don’t remember much other than living attached to a boys’ dorm so it’s normal now.

O.B.: It can get kind of uncomfortable at times but I have learned to live with it.

L.M.: Well, one of the worst feelings in life is when your parents make food for the dorm and you cannot have any.

Julia Pardo: I hate it. I can’t cut through the dorm when it’s cold… and they get really cold.

“What is it like having known some of the teachers for your whole life? “

J.P.: I hate it so much. Some teachers will bring up awkward moments from my past in class.

Sports&Arts

The Back Page

Props & Flops u

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quick questions

Opinions

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Flops to sinuses and teary eyes. Thank you, pollen.

Props to the school year coming to a close.

Props to the modified freshman sleep-in schedule.

Flops to being a freshman at sit-down dinner and leaving last.

Flops to breakfast check-in when you have a free first block.

Props to shorter exams this year!

Props to it being warm enough to wear Jack Rogers.

Flops to heat finally working in the dorm when it gets warm outside.

Flops to April showers...still waiting for May flowers.

Props to students who participated in the Spring Concert. Their hard work really shows.

Flops to finals for making this a stressful spring.

Props to getting regular chocolate milk back.

Flops to having to say goodbye to so many great faculty members.

Props to all of the students earning great leadership positions!

What’s in Your

Life Jacket?

by Brett Needham

M.K.: It’s alright.

Ella Withington is a freshman girl here at Tabor Academy. She attends our school as a day student and found a particular interest in our sailing program. Ella enjoys sailing our school’s Flying Juniors and brand new Z420s. Ella happens to keep some very interesting items in her personal flotation device…

O.B.: I have known them for like half a year, so…

Hockey Puck: Ella says the one of her very good friends, Nick Marshall, threw a hockey puck at her and for some weird reason, she feels compelled to keep it.

L.M.: I enjoy it but it is very awkward walking by some of them in the hallway.

“What is your favorite place on campus?”

L.M.: The turf; that is where I play the beautiful game All faculty kids have enjoyed their stay here at Tabor for as long as they have been here.

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

Where are in Japan are you from?

Ron: Tokyo , Daigo: Tokyo, Oscar: Osaka

Do you ever use Japanese in front of English kids?

All the time, a lot really, when we want to talk about funny things.

What have you seen in America that you don’t see in Japan?

Girls don’t wear yoga pants in Japan.

Space Blanket: Ella keeps a space blanket in her life jacket because her mom wants her to be safe while on the water. In case of an emergency when there is limited heat available, Ella can use the space blanket to reflect her own body heat back towards her and potentially save her own life.

Gloves: Ella also keeps gloves close to her because she says that they help her hands grip the lines and tiller of our boats.

Sunblock: Ella uses this when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are very strong and she needs to protect her fair, European skin from being toasted.

Sunglasses: Lastly, Ella keeps a pair of sunglasses in her personal floatation device to protect her sensitive retinas from being parched by the strong rays of the sun on a bright day.

Photo by Maggie Finley ‘18

Team Japan

Whistle: Ella keeps a whistle in her PFD because apparently it is a United States Coast Guard regulation to have a whistle attached to your life jacket at all times.