Voice
Thayer Academy’s Student Magazine
November, 2010
Vol. 14, No. 1
Stuff Best of the Worst
• McCauley Braun, Allie Morey & Greg Terrono
Witless Winter Wars Themes Just before Winter Wars, there is always a scramble to come up with the best theme. In the process of brainstorming, far too many ridiculous ideas are thrown around. Here are some of the worst theme ideas that the class deans have ever heard.
Brenden Sullivan photo
1) Bizarre Multiple Births Elves and Fairies Spandex
2) Impossible to Execute Avatar Santa’s Workshop
4) Just Plain Bad 3) Offensive Polka Dots Cowboys and Indians Terrorists Jersey Shore Cross Dressers Public School Students Rappers Monkeys Polka dots. The worst.
By the Numbers 1
# of lightning storm alarms pulled
30
# of dress code violations
15
# of ankles taped in the trainer’s room
5
# of campus tours per day
6
# of pep rally skits
60
drawings on desks and tables
4
British kids at Homecoming dance
6
pairs of flip-flops worn in November
3
kids in the library actually doing work
page 2
Catastrophic College Essay Topics Straight from the College Counseling Office, these college essay topics are definite no-no's. All of these are based on the information we received from the counselors; some of these were actually written. 1) Travel Essays “I’m Super Diverse and Traveled to Botswana!” “One time, at Band Camp…”
2) Romance Essays “My Boyfriend and Why I Love Him” “After Prom 2010”
3) Hate Essays “I Hate Oprah!” “Why I Hate School”
4) Cliché Essays “After the Rain Comes a Rainbow” “Live, Laugh, Love”
Tiger One
• Allie Morey
Greg Terrono art
Nutrition Facts Freshmen Winning Winter Wars.............................................. –50% Being in Dress Code ......................................................................80% Library Being the Loudest Place on Campus............................98% Girls Using Showers in the Locker Room ..................................2% Boys Using the Only Shower—All at Once ..........................100% Chance the Football Team Wins ..................................................20% Fitting 15 Girls at One Lunch Table ............................................90% Attendance at Blackouts................................................................45% Elevator Use by Healthy Students ..............................................58% Having a Clean Lounge ..................................................................30% Seniors Getting Their Senior Portraits In On Time ................70% Underclassmen Walking Down Washington Street ................99% Chance Sean Fernald is Being Rude ......................................–100% Trainers Diagnose a Life Threatening Injury ............................80% Ingredients Murph, Mr. Clarke’s glasses, Sylvanus’s bust, tour guides, athletes, BFL… artists, actors and actresses, new teachers, bagels on Mondays, perky freshmen, lazy college-bound seniors, new library chairs, 50” Mac computers, pricy prom tickets, long lines at lunch, 16 peer advisors, musicals, Monday Morning Meetings, 5-second breaks, mountains of homework, class officers, community council, 1 tiger suit, iced coffees, VOICE, bake sales, 1 million steps in Main, Facebook accounts, college visits, Semi dresses, empty parking spaces, Frisbees, musicals, cast parties, team dinners, pep rally, Varsity Girls… varsity boys?? Tweets, Hunter rain boots, collared shirts, 12 ergs, 5 Gmail accounts that actually work, 3 sTAnd announcements, motorized golf carts, teachers’ dogs, and the alma mater `
page 3
Stuff Faceoff
RCahall vs. Lounge • McCauley Braun, Allie Morey & Greg Terrono
TOPIC
CAHALL
LOUNGE
Proximity to Bathroom
One step away
Fifteen paces West
Proximity to Faculty
Closest = Nurse’s Office
In the fish bowls behind you (Heads up: not soundproof )
Proximity to Food
Straight above your head
Vending machines
Storage Space
Large blue cubbies/ Lockers in the adjoining locker room
Two times the wooden cubbies
Seating
Infamous Nook, windowsills, and wooden benches
Wooden benches and school chairs
Space to Do Homework
If you like putting things on your lap…
Multiple tables and close proximity to Ms. Brown’s office
Noise Level
Quiet… but ear-shattering at the end of the day
Relatively quiet except for break time
Distance from Classrooms
What a hike
Closer to both Glover and Main
Maneuverability
Good luck walking through there
More than decent
Rowdiness Level
A circus
Jersey Shore
f Ability to Finish Work Too many people passing through Plausible ces o Chan ahall ng C missi oving m after ounge? el STRANGEST COMBINATIONS IN THE DINING HALL to th nlikely. yU l Some people at ayer put the strangest foods together in the cafeteria. h g i H Here are some of those combinations. 1. Hot dog in an ice cream cone. Apparently there were no buns left?
Chan c missi es of ng th Loun e ge gradu postSee y ation? ou la ter.
Dav e Sk ole r
lov es
stuff. hot the
2. Salt in chocolate milk. Some would say strange, but one freshman thinks otherwise. 3. Hot sauce on pork chops. (We put that junk on everything.)
ore M ie
hoto yp
5. Meat ball subs with mustard. Confused for a hot dog? page 4
Al l
4. Macaroni and cheese covered in salt. Why not raise your cholesterol a few hundred points?
Your High School Teachers... When They Were in High School
• McCauley Braun
Brooks Donnelly Can you picture Brooks Donnelly in a prep-school of 78 people per grade, in the small, desolate town of Groton, MA? It’s possible, but somehow this picture just isn’t quite right. e animated, hyperactive teacher laughed and sarcastically remarked, “Do you know me at all, McCauley?” when asked if he enjoyed his high school years at Groton Academy. He described himself as a “skinny goofball” who just didn’t fit in with the average “Groton personality.” (He says this, sitting up straight, nose in air, jokingly.) Claiming to have been “a member, but not the president, of the outcast club,” he was able to be in any crowd, but unable to get close to anyone within any crowd. Young Mr. Donnelly kept very busy. His crazy schedule is how he claims to have gotten any work done. He testifies that stress was his catalyst. e well-rounded high school student floated from soccer practice, to woodshop (shocker), to lacrosse practice, to photography, to choir, on top of editing his yearbook year-round. en he would do homework if he hadn’t passed out yet. So, why did he go to Groton? Well, everyone in his family was involved at his old school, including his dog. Just kidding, not his dog. His father was the headmaster, his mother was the math teacher, and his brother went there too. So, his parents encouraged him to break the trend and go to Groton. His high school experience wasn’t entirely negative though; he stayed true to himself and figured out who he wanted to be.
Fari Khalili You think the SATs are tiresome? Try taking the college entrance exam that Fari Khalili had to take at her school, Mehr Iran, in Tehran. e test was all day, and was comparable to the SAT, the SAT II math, and SAT II chemistry, all in one. “People would pass out, it was horrible!” By the time the test day rolled around, she was prepared because of her “nightmare” of a schedule. She went to school six days a week from 8 AM–4 PM, and had a course load of nine classes. In addition to all of her academics, she played volleyball at the national level her entire high school career and then in college with only one day off. Ever. She hasn’t played volleyball since college. Although this overachiever hated English, she was still able to get into a good state college, which was possible only for the top 40% of students in the country. ere was only one instance when she got in trouble. During an experiment, she and her friends burned a hole in the floor; and thus, she was banned from the laboratory. Aside from this one circumstance, her parents had little reason to be strict; she didn’t really have time for a life outside of her academics and athletics. When she sees her daughters hanging out with their friends, it makes her a little sad because she feels she missed out on a crucial part of her childhood—time to have fun.
Francisco Vega-Torres Mr. Francisco Vega-Torres sits with his legs over the arm of the spinning office chair. He swings his feet back and forth as he excitedly shares stories about his adolescence. “I was never fat!” he begins. “I was always skinny and tiny.” He was probably so skinny because he didn’t want to lose his money; his mom made him and his six siblings pay a fee if they didn’t do their chores. He rarely lost his money to his mother though, and normally he got $20 a week as an allowance… lucky man. is A-student’s only B was received in PE. Why? Because although he got A’s on the written tests in gym, he hid when he had to actually participate in volleyball. His school uniform was a pink collared shirt and jeans (which he never got dirty in the annual mud fights that the juniors and seniors induced). “[e food in the cafeteria] was like the food in prison!” …not that he’s been to prison… we don’t think. Do you have something to share, Sr. Vega? But in all honesty, he was a good boy, and he rarely went out. He spent his time listening to music and reading. During the summer he was a missionary. He jammed to the music on MTV and when asked to elaborate on what artists he loved specifically, he opened YouTube and typed in “80s Music” to refresh his memory. When Blondie’s “e Tide Is High” began to play he shouted, “No, no, no, this is so embarrassing!” and clicked out immediately.
Voice
page 5
Comment The Book
• Abby Sullivan
In my eyes, Facebook is merely a center for young adults to “prove” to each other that they are the best of the best. Honestly, I think more people get hurt by Facebook than derive actual enjoyment. It is hard to see the core meaning of this social network when it gets lost in its other purposes.
5 reasons why I dislike Facebook (Sorry, Mark Zuckerberg) 1 Photos
2 Status Updates
3 Notifications
(or lack there of)
4 Event invitations 5 Inside jokes on
Obviously, photos are a huge part of the reason why people join Facebook. First off, let me just mention the notorious practice of “creeping.” Ok, so maybe it entertains you for hours while procrastinating. But seriously, “creeping” is exactly what it sounds like. I know you aren’t admitting to it, but come on. Sooner or later you are looking at pictures of people you don’t even know. Moving on, just thought I’d point this out; I don’t need to see a whole album of every event you’ve ever attended, ever. I don’t really care that you went to another party at the same household with the same people. I don’t need to know that you took a trip to McDonalds. I don’t need to see you hanging out the window of your car while driving. I don’t even want to know why that’s happening. We know you have a life. You don’t need to take 30 pictures at every event possible. Besides pictures, this one is way up there on my list. It may even be worse because these things are thrust upon me unwillingly when I sign on. “Party with my gurlz 2nite at 123 Smith Road! Won’t be home from 9 to 12 and I’m leaving the house doors unlocked!” Wait a second, that’s not even safe. You probably shouldn’t be putting that information in there… Nothing is more disappointing than signing on after a week without Facebook and having zero notifications. Oh wait, I have one! Donna Sullivan accepted your friend request. Sweet, my aunt finally accepted. Just so you know, they aren’t private unless you specifically make them private! (Also good to note for surprise parties…) Seriously, if you were that close with the person, you would just text them.
people’s walls
Sure, Facebook allows people to “stay connected” with one another, but there are many other ways we could go about this. There’s e-mail, phone, and even paper on which to write letters! Alright, that’s just crazy. But come on, we could live without it. And we would probably be better off. Well, after all this, you may wonder if I have a Facebook account. Why, yes I do. Would I ever consider deleting it? Not a chance.
Some other thoughts… Luke Ferrari thinks Facebook is a modern fad that should go out of style... cuz it’s a pain to check all the time. Allie Morey hates girly, stupid, fake statuses... you know exactly what I’m talking about. Julie King still needs to study for that huge AP US History test tomorrow, and she will. Just as soon as she finishes creeping through the pictures from last year's Homecoming Rave. Priorities! Emma Taylor likes the group, "There Is No Need to 'Like' Every Group or Thing That has Some Small Relevance to You." Ms. King can’t comment on Facebook at this time... she’s busy tending to her farm.
page 6
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Ava Moussavi photo
Carmelle Fedillaga in front of the APES house
So what does this say about Thayer Academy? Are we a green school? Well, the recycling program started in earnest about 4 years ago and has put us on the right track. In the last year, we recycled 14.73 tons of paper and plastic. That’s the equivalent of 236 adult trees not cut down or 68,740 gallons of water not used. This astonishing amount shows how involved students have become in recycling. All of our mailings are also on recycled paper. Now we have motion detector lights in almost every room and our very own vegetable oil-powered car, Grease Lightning. We have made integral changes at Thayer, but there is more to do. Everybody needs to start taking an active part in these programs, such as recycling our morning iced coffee cups everyday. But being green requires more than recycling; it means adjusting our everyday life. “We need to change our overconsumptive lifestyle,” said Mr. Schneider. He says that we need to think to ourselves, “Do we really need that?” Materialism is a main cause of many of this country’s environmental problems and simplifying our lives would make a major change. However, this project is not done yet. Future plans for the Environmental Science House include building an 8-inch shell around the house to super-insulate the already heavily insulated structure, installing solar panels and a small wind turbine, and replacing the windows. But there are many changes we can make to the operation of Thayer too. We still use too much paper and Styrofoam. We could switch to emailing all of our letters or have heating and cooling systems that turn on and off when actually appropriate. This house has started us off on going beyond recycling. We can do so much more and this house will help us get there. Thayer Academy is ahead of many other high schools Phys in terms of being green ics t eac and we have so he rF much more potential.
aChance in action dL an ern
There they go again, 16 students strolling past the biology rooms towards the Glover parking lot. Are they sneaking off campus to go to Cumbie’s for a midmorning snack—or maybe even to squeeze in a tennis match before lunch? Actually, they are trekking across perilous Washington Street to get to our offcampus classroom. That’s right, our hidden classroom next door to the bustling Red Line. Most of us know about the off-campus turf fields, but how about the Environmental Science House? The Environmental Science House is the newly built green house of Thayer Academy and the location of two AP Environmental Science (APES) classes. The previous house of beloved former teacher Fernand LaChance, it has been gutted and renovated into a state- of-the-art green building. Mr. LaChance worked at Thayer as a science teacher for over thirty years. After he passed away in 2008, his house, owned by Thayer, became an available space for this opportunity. The project started construction over this past summer under the direction of Skip Schneider and Don Donovan. Ultimately, the goal is a net zero energy house with no emissions, which means it creates more energy than it uses. Mr. Schneider plans on accomplishing this over the next few years with various APES classes. The house was built with many green materials. The floor alone is made out of strand woven bamboo, regular bamboo, and white oak from a sustainably harvested forest in Vermont. The handicapped ramp is made from four different types of recycled plastic and sustainably harvested wood. The sink and its table were built from materials saved from the demolition. The house is meant to be a learning environment. Classes will test the green materials to see which are most efficient and durable. This will be accomplished with the help of CO2, CO, circuit (how much electricity is used), temperature, and humidity monitors. For example, students can track how much CO2 they emit after a class or how long the different floors last.
• Ava Moussavi
page 7
Comment • Aesthetic Excellence • Sean Barbary
When I look at a person, one of the first things I see is what he or she is wearing. Have you read our mission statement? It specifically says that we, at ayer Academy, strive for, among other things, “aesthetic…excellence.” is means that we strive for excellence in the arts. But this could also be construed to mean we should strive to look good. In other words, it is safe to say that students at ayer Academy are required to be concerned about what they wear, whether they want to be or not. Why is our dress code the way it is? Should we change it?
We both agreed that we could describe ayer’s dress code as “awkwardly in-between.”
Milton Academy’s handbook specifically states, “e school has tried to avoid the complexities of a dress code, preferring to stress simple standards of neatness and taste in the face of changing styles.” In other words, students at one of the premier boarding schools in the country can wear jeans and t-shirts to class. On the other extreme, Belmont Hill School has a formal dress code, but there are certain democracies within it. Jackets, ties, and khaki pants are required. Everyone is free to wear whatever style or color of these items, as long as they are wearing them. e Belmont Hill dress code has few gray areas, and it is easy to follow. Both ISL schools, both with dress codes that are easier to follow than ours. Ms. Gately’s battle continues. She still has the job of running around the school chasing those who come to school in t-shirts, sweatpants and jeans. I think it is our duty to make an effort with this dress code, whether it is “awkwardly in-between” or not. Nothing against our friends at Milton Academy, but at ayer we should walk to class wearing pride in the form of clothing. at is why our dress code is the way it is.
I met with Dean of Students Kristan Gately. She is involved with all disciplinary actions, and dealing with dress code infractions is one of the biggest nuisances of the job. She said that a big part of the dress code situation is dealing with materials that students wear. For example, it is difficult to define denim from twill. She also admitted that the dress code has many gray areas. We both agreed that we could describe ayer’s dress code as “awkwardly in-between.” Ms. Gately has been at ayer for eleven years and considers the dress code to be relatively the same as where it was when she started. In her time she has tried to relax the dress code. ere was a two-year hiatus in which “nice” t-shirts were included in the dress code. Progress was made, but we are now back to where we started. e t-shirt privilege was abused; boys were wearing undershirts that could have come from the clearance rack at Wal-Mart. She broached the possibility of jeans to our administration, but that proposal was shot down. Put yourself in the shoes of our administrators, or even the admissions staff. If you were Upper School Director Michael Clarke, you would have a lot of say about the dress code. At the same time, it might be stressful to be in charge of the appearance of the entire Upper School. Being a head tour guide, I, myself, find it harder to present ayer with its students wearing jeans, sweats, tA student (whose identity has been protected to avoid shirts and short shorts. However, there are private prosecution for dress code violations) models Belmont Hill, schools of our caliber and price tag, that have Milton Academy, and Thayer attire. barely any dress code, and in the Independent School League, there is a broad spectrum. page 8
Mariah Horan photo
Our Dress Code
DRESS CODE
• Fair Enforcement? • Mariah Horan
spend his entire day in the gym and fitness center. It is, howe bell rings in Main building, and multitudes of students ever, an interesting and ironic sight to see Mr. Butkuss appreout of dress code hurry up and down the stairs, concerned hending a male student in a sweater without a collar, while he more about being late for class than about receiving a detenhimself is dressed in sweats and a tee. tion for their pants. Black jeans, white jeans, and grey jeans e main issue at hand is the scrutiny under which stuflash up the stairs, a frighteningly short skirt hurries dents have come because of their dress. Senior Emma Quigley downstairs, and a collarless cashmere sweater on a male says, “e dress code’s restrictions have been bent by authority rushes to French class. Lucky for these students, Dress Code in such a way that they pick at the most minute, insignificant Enforcer Extraordinaire Sue Clifford spends little time in details of a student’s attire.” English teacher Kate Hayman, Main Building. while she appreciates Emma’s own costuming flair, respectfully On a typical school day, how many ayer students do disagrees. “Teachers address the minute—as in “tiny”—not you see out of dress code? Probably a few at least, and likely minutiae. I don’t think some girls realize how short their skirts more girls than boys. You yourself have probably been out of are. ere should be a difference between how you dress for a dress code at some point, or are at this moment. Each school night out with friends and how you dress for school. If you year, as new fashion trends emerge and clothes become skinhave to hold your skirt down with your hands while climbing nier, the potential violations you and your clothing can comthe stairs of Main, then it’s not appropriate for Main—or anymit increase as well. e dress code has evolved primarily to where else on campus.” combat these emerging trends, including the infamous LulWhen someone’s undergarments are showing, there’s an uLemons and legging-pants (not to be confused with jeggings) issue. at actually is distracting, and not something I, nor for girls and collarless sweaters for guys. others, wish to be visually assaulted by. But when the “minuese newer restrictions on clothing items haven’t drastitiae” is in fact addressed, it appears a much more irrelevant cally transformed the dress code during my time at ayer; and trivial issue—really, does it matter so much that a pair of the main change is how the dress code is enforced. Currently, pants are made from one type of cotton textile as opposed to enforcement has become more aggressive, and students are not another (i.e. denim and twill)? reacting well to these changes. Indeed, there is little visual difference between someone Females in particular have felt the crack of the whip, being wearing denim and another wearing twill—a dress codeconfronted by faculty who, in some cases, are taking a more approved pant material. hands-on approach, literally But, little did you know touching a student’s clothes that twill is in fact a form in order to determine of denim. Additionally, as whether or not those suspifashion trends evolve, socicious pants are made from ety adopts new perceptions forbidden material. Clearly of what is or is not proper these students shouldn’t have attire. Once long skirts been out of dress code in the and formal dresses were first place, and the faculty is appropriate for females, merely doing the job passed nowadays skinny pants down to them from on high, and a low cut top are the but there must be a better norm. Once, collared way to discreetly question a shirts on men were acceptstudent—no contact able, nowadays v-necks, needed—to get to the botsleek sweaters, and waffle tom of the situation. shirts are in. Males have also felt the As Ms. Gately puts it, sting of dress code enforce“Society has gotten more ment; they too have become casual [over time]… the subject to faculty scrutiny. dress code takes longer to More specifically, criticism evolve than society in genfrom newly debuting Dress Math teacher Sue Clifford apprehends eral.” Well, there’s no time Code Enforcer Garrett a dress code violator, Michael Vazza. like the present to make a Butkuss, an athletic trainer change. whose daily attire consists of gym clothes, granted he does Mariah Horan photo page 9
Life TA Behind the Scenes
• Lily Bowen
Break time. You’ve been waiting for this moment all morning. You shove through the cookie line, grab a cup of milk and finally take a seat at the table by the window. After letting out a long sigh, you glance out the window and whom do you see? Steve, the TA security guard. He’s walking across the athletic fields in what can only be described as a monsoon, in a yellow, ankle-length trench coat. Now that’s dedication, you think to yourself. And the more you think about it, the more you realize how little you know about TA’s behind the scenes staff. In fact, despite knowing he can kill on the piano, you probably don’t even know Steve’s last name. What else don’t we know about the people who run TA? Other than to ask when the next Breakfast for Lunch will be, which he says will happen “never, ever again,” most of us rarely talk to “Chef Jack.” Why? Because he’s behind the scenes. Whether it’s slicing meat or whipping up his favorite school meal—Portobello Mushrooms (at home, Chef Jack loves to make Shrimp Scampi)—it’s safe to say he’s working hard. And although he may not be in his dream job (a fireman), he’s definitely a hero here at TA. When asked about working here, Chef Jack responded, “I love it. It’s a really great place to be.” And based on the way students and faculty scarf down his meals, the feeling is mutual.
Lunch Staff Jack DeLisle
You see them between your classes, riding around campus on golf carts or cutting through secret passages of Main building. Who are they, and what are they doing? They are the maintenance workers and in reality they do just about everything: from prepping for Homecoming to taking care of the Camp Thayer pool in the summer, and just about everything else. Fifteen year-TA veteran Rich Uloth has seen it all. He’s taken care of live chickens running rampant on the third floor of Main, and dead fish hanging from picture frames all around campus. Injuries? “Sprained ankles, thrown backs, those are just part of the territory,” he says. Where would we be without the maintenance workers? Probably dodging chickens on our way to class.
Maintenance Rich Uloth
Bridget Darling photos
He’s everywhere on campus: from the middle school crosswalk to the operations headquarters in the blink of an eye. Ever wonder what he’s doing or what his metal pointer thingy does? He’s hitting deggys. What are deggys? They’re sort of like buttons that let us know Steve’s location. Steve does two tours around campus everyday, hitting 25-50 deggys per tour. During his tours he checks all the rooms around campus, unlocks doors, and inspects the parking lot. (That’s right, he actually does check for your parking sticker.) Overtime? Aside from being TA’s resident pianist and undercover stand-up comedian, Steve has chased the goose off the teardrop and caught squirrels in the Hale Learning Center on Christmas Eve. With guards like Steve and that kind of dedication to security, TA must be the safest place on earth. Security Steve Capachione page 10
Library of Tomorrow • Katie MacVarish
Katie MacVarish art
Have you been to the campus’s newly updated “learning commons”? You should try it. The new chairs are comfortable, the tables are squeaky clean, and the whole area has a bright, cozy feel to it. Don’t know what a “learning commons” is? Well, you’d better get used to the phrase, because the library in which you formerly read books, studied, and did research by yourself is gone. Now the type of studying done in libraries has shifted, focusing more on group studies with assistance from librarians, and employing all of the new technology that is changing the way we receive information. In a world where you can find massive amounts of data, accurate and inaccurate alike, in seconds on the Internet, the Thayer librarians strive to help students become “information literate,” to know where they can find a good source and what it would look like. They also work on keeping Southworth library “at the forefront of how technology is used in education,” enthuses Karen Starr, Director of Thayer Libraries. Over the past twelve years, the Thayer library has collected 19 state-of-the-art computers and 18 wireless laptops, in addition to the magazines and books you would expect . As the way to access information has evolved, the number of books has dropped from 23,000 to about 18,000. But don’t expect them to disappear completely—there’s some information available only in printed books. Upper School librarian Janet Langer says, “The idea that everything is on the web is just not true.” Most web pages go back only 5 years, and databases, 20; books have been around for hundreds of years, containing unique information and eyewitness accounts, and they aren’t going anywhere. Digital books, such as the Kindle or Nook, are not designed for institutional use, and thus shifting the library to digital books would be more problematic than helpful, at least in the immediate future. Southworth Library is also adapting to assist students in the newer style of learning. Modern students get together to help each other with homework problems, to study for tests, and to work on group research projects; and the library wants to assist them in doing so. The renovation plans for summer 2011 reflect this focus on collaboration: the wide-open space of the library is going to be transformed and divided, resulting in three group study spaces and a separate writing room. Ms. Starr declares, “The current plan is more suited to the ways in which students study and learn today, and how they receive information.” The new Southworth will be a place where students can collaborate or work independently, use both print and electronic resources to help them with research, and just take a break from school in comfortable new chairs.
page 11
Life • Kedian Keohan With the recent increase in enrollment here at good ole’ Thayer Academy, you may find yourself staring at some new faces. And when you take a closer look, those faces may be looking back at you desperately. Whether it is the new freshman who brings her backpack up to break or the new teacher who doesn’t know exactly how much homework is too much homework, these new members of our community could use a little inside information on the inner workings of TA. In true Ned Bigby style, I gathered some tips from teachers, students, and even the headmaster— guaranteed to make the year a success.
Academics
The courses you choose to take are vital to your time here at school. If you’re a new student, you may come from a school that frankly just isn’t as academically challenging as Thayer. Whether you choose to put in the extra hours in the Hale Learning Center or on the lawn playing Frisbee is based on how well you can follow these tips:
c
the nes i m ter le. h de chedu s i r s a acV f your r. M o
Learn which teachers enforce the dress code and being on time to class.
c c c c
M
Take the NEML. If you’re struggling in a course, use support from advisors and teachers. If you find a teacher you enjoy, don’t be afraid to request him or her.
Make friends with Mrs. Neely—most juniors get her for Chemistry.
c c c
page 12
Don’t take Elder’s insults personally. Keep updated on the results of horse races to impress Mr. Haney. Treat your junior year teachers wisely. You will be begging them to say good things for your college recommendations come senior year.
M
our —Y y l e e r s. N
ne
est wb
d
frien
fate
ph Mur a . k . hy a urp M . Mr
c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c
Social The social part of life at the Academy can often be the most challenging to new students. Simple questions from what is Monday Morning Meeting to how can I join the 345,678 clubs they just talked about? Often, even just navigating the halls and classrooms or finding someone to sit with at break can be a test of true endurance...
In Cahall, don’t sit near the trash can. It smells and is a constant traffic zone. Get on Murph’s good side: he can be your best source for inside information— whether it be your crush’s schedule or the revised class schedule, two days in advance. Don’t go home at 3:30; try a new sport, club, or art. Best dinner within walking distance? Loco’s. Don’t trip the headmaster: the lounge will be closed for three weeks. When out of dress code, take the back way out of the cafeteria. Stop complaining about the walk to third floor Main, the less you think about it the easier it gets. Learn how to eat in five minutes flat. Don’t hook up in the CFA. You will be walked in on. .. or ant.
Wear a collar in Glover.
is it?
Vac
Try a new art elective; another great way to meet new people. Be nice to the lunch staff. Not only do they work very hard, they also help when you need that last PB&J or piece of flounder. Get the cell number for Security. It’s invaluable when you leave your backpack locked in the Lounge the night before a huge test. Don’t drop cups or plates in Cahall. (Always ends in a resounding “Ohhhhh!”) Hand out programs at the play so you can join in at the cast party. Use the bottom lock in the single Glover bathroom; the top lock doesn’t work and no one needs that humiliation.
Kedian Keohan photos page 13
Life
Legacies • Katie MacVarish and Lily Bowen She didn’t go to Thayer, but the name probably rings a bell. Phoebe was a teenage girl who had emigrated from Ireland and attended South Hadley High School in Western Massachusetts. She was tormented and bullied for months by her classmates, and finally was driven to suicide. It’s an awful story, but what does it have to do with Thayer? Plenty. Phoebe’s legacy raises a greater awareness of the terrible power of bullying, and it encourages us to focus on preventing it, and on the new law.
Phoebe Prince
In reaction to the death of Phoebe Prince and other teen suicides, Massachusetts legislators have greatly strengthened anti-bullying laws. Any incident of bullying that causes physical or emotional harm to someone, creates fear, violates rights, or disrupts the educational environment must be reported by school officials to the principal or headmaster, as well as to all parents of the children involved. If the case is severe enough, it must then be reported to the police. There is also a new focus on the prevention of cyber-bullying through text, Facebook, and other technological means. Thayer has taken the new laws to heart. Matthew Dunne, Chair of the Disciplinary Committee, says, “The new laws have made us all more aware and attentive to the problem.” Instead of just monitoring any suspected problems and waiting to see how the child handles the situation, teachers are required to report bullying to Principal Michael Clarke or Headmaster Ted Koskores, and they decide on the next steps. “It’s making the community a better place, making people more comfortable here,” said Mr. Dunne. Bullying is no longer seen as a natural part of growing up; it is recognized as the serious problem that it truly is. For Phoebe, for 11 year old Carl Walker-Hoover, we can only hope that their legacy will last and that this new awareness and focus on prevention is a permanent step toward ending bullying and teen suicide.
page 14
Matthew Healey
Although his voice no longer rings throughout the halls, the spirit of Matthew Callahan Healey still remains an undeniable presence here at TA. As we go forward with our lives and a new school year, the loss of Matt has inspired each member of the Thayer community to be the kind of person that he was.
Matt was a vital member of the Thayer community from sixth grade to his graduation in 2009. He was involved in every aspect of Thayer life: from his key presence on the lacrosse field, to his incredible lead performance as Beast in the fall 2008 musical, Beauty and the Beast. The Thayer community experienced an incredible loss when Matt fell sick with influenza, heightened by a pre-existing lung condition, and passed away. However, Matt’s legacy at TA did not end there. His family, still crucial members of the TA community, has established an award to be given in his honor at Last Chapel every year. The Matthew Callahan Healey ’09 Memorial Prize is “given in memory of Matthew Callahan Healey ’09 to a student in the senior class who has exhibited the qualities that made matt so special: an inclusive and unparalleled spirit, true exuberance for life, the ability to find happiness and humor in the simplest of things, and great love for his family and the Thayer community.” The very first recipient of the Matthew Healey Memorial Prize was Paul Monahan ’10 at the 2010 Last Chapel ceremony. Although future classes at TA will not personally know the wonderful character of Matt as the years go by, his legacy will live on in our community forever. Those who are blessed with a spirit similar to that of Matt’s will be honored annually through his legacy.
CollegeQuest
• Emma Quigley
College. To half of you, this word conjures images of American Pie, Animal House, Legally Blonde, raucous parties, and Frisbee on the green. As enchanting as these college fantasies may seem, the road to higher education (yes, college is a continuation of your studies) is not quite as simple as sending a video of yourself in a bikini to Admissions. For juniors, this year is all about the exciting start of your college search. To the remaining quarter of you, the only things associated with college at this point may be piles of paperwork, pressure, and big decisions. Almost all seniors would agree that this time of year they are cramming, and wish they had started the process sooner. Allie Bookstein thinks the college counselors should have provided, “checklists, really good checklists,” to us as freshmen. She also advises the current freshmen to “get their grades up!” Freshman year grades do matter. ey factor into your cumulative GPA— one of the first things that colleges look at. However, there are loopholes to the freshman slump. Mr. Haney suggests to freshmen, “Take easier courses like Algebra I so they can take Physical Science—an easy A. Or they could just study, but who wants to do that, right?” Hopefully, most go with the latter, or at least apply it to all of their classes whether easy or more challenging. Many students feel that freshman year is too early to really dig into the college search, but maybe they should be given an idea of what schools are out there. Betsy Lorenzo also agrees, saying, “It would have been nice to know earlier what we needed to aim for to be accepted at certain schools in terms of GPA, test scores, and what classes to take.” To illustrate this, of the seven sophomores I interviewed, four listed Quincy Community College as a safety school, while Harvard, MIT, BC, and BU appeared most frequently on their list of hopefuls. Not one student mentioned an out-of-state school as one they were considering. When interviewing a group of sophomore boys, my college questions sparked a bet over which decision was “the one where you had to go there, no matter what”—meaning the application with a binding contract—ED (Early Decision) or EA (Early Action). ey also estimated their likelihood of acceptance at MIT and Harvard, guessing the average GPA accepted there to be a 3.3 and average SAT scores to be in the 1400s. In reality, for Harvard, the GPA depicted on Naviance, ayer’s college counseling website, is a 4.16 and the SAT score is 2254. Lastly, I hate to break it to whoever put their money or silly bands on EA, but ED is the one you’re bound by.
The prescient Naviance scatter plot illustrates a student’s likelihood of acceptance into various schools as compared to previous Thayer applicants. It can invoke feelings of stress, relief, insecurity, mediocrity, or superiority, depending on where you fall. Don’t worry. The one reproduced below doesn’t involve a single thing related to college. It’s only in jest. But freshmen, get familiar with the format...
page 15
Emma Quigley art
What Are Your Chances?
Lit Cli
ck
to
One click to connect Is all that it took, Chatting and joking Caught them both like a hook. Fatigued by their lives, But they felt inside, Youthful and ready To test the untried. As time went Talk was not enough, They planned to elope, Though it would be tough. Trains and planes, Family got in the way, But nothing would stop them On the fateful day. At last they met, Carnations in hand, Two souls united In escape of their land. Starting a new life, Their spirits soared like doves, Sailing into the sunset, With their one true love. iri ot iS Irin t
page 16
ar
— Irini Sotiri
Final Leap
R
• Mariah Horan
ufus awoke with a start. Panting, he jerked himself upward in a cold sweat. He had seen it again, played in his mind for the umpteenth time since she had left. Or rather, since she ran away. He was baffled by the nightmare, haunted by the horrific, undefined terror it caused to pulse through his veins. His heavy breathing subsided and he slowly removed the sheets from his perspiring body. His bare feet padded along the cold oak floorboards of the creaky house. It was dark, but the moon illuminated the houses in an eerie, blue-tinged glow. A screeching gust of wind shook the house, sending a slight shiver through his body. Sleepily, he half-walked, half-dragged himself to the kitchen. As his toes reached the frigid marble tiles of the floor, they guided him to the cherry cabinets where he blindly felt for the heavy glass, then to the fridge for the carton of chilled orange juice. He poured himself a glass, and took a slow sip. This had become a ritual for him, a distraction he developed once she had left, and the nightmares ensued.
Jake Kenny photo
The moonlight streaming from the window above the sink illuminated his favorite picture, displayed in an old frame and resting upon the counter top. Rufus walked over to the picture and stared at it. He and Penelope were sitting together, on the front steps of the house, as they traditionally had every night of the summer for the past eight years. His happiness was substantiated by his broad, joyous smile. It seemed as though Penelope was smiling too. He held her close, in an almost fatherly way, in an embrace Penelope was accustomed to. A tear swelled behind his eyelid, and slid slowly from the inner corner of his eye towards the bridge of his nose, falling to the glass of the frame. He quickly cleaned the tear off with the sleeve of his waffle-textured thermal, and set the picture down. He looked through the window, into the expanse of barren fields. He closed his eyes and visualized the nightmare he had seen so many times before. Penelope ran through the familiar golden fields in the soft light of a summer day and came to a cliff. Although Rufus was churning his legs as fast as they could take him, he could not reach her. With a backward glance at Rufus, she launched herself from the cliff, and at that exact moment Rufus would awake, panic stricken every time. He and Penelope shared a bond; they had depended on each other’s affection. It puzzled him that anything would have caused her to leave so suddenly. His wife’s strident voice pierced the silence as she called to him from their bedroom. “Rufus, it is four in the morning. Stop worrying about that idiotic dog, and come back to bed. I’m growing sick of this. She’s gone; Penelope is gone and not coming back.”
page 17
Lit Books of Choice
• Abby Sullivan and Irini Sotiri
Teachers tell us what’s so special about their favorite books
Sue Clifford
Book of Choice Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman “It’s the first book that ever made me think about life.” Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman is a book about the improvement in technology and public media. It explains how every time there’s advancement in technology something else falls. According to Ms. Clifford, the book made her consider reading social commentary as opposed to fiction. She would recommend it mainly to students interested in history, or “anyone who’s looking for a book that makes them think.”
Jamie Formato
Book of Choice Physics and Antiphysics by Adolph Baker
Abby Sullivan photos
If you know Mr. Formato, you know he’s a pretty smart guy. So it’s no shocker that his favorite book is about something as profound as physics—oh, and antiphysics of course. Sounds pretty confusing, right? Mr. Formato claims that the book actually “presents complicated physics ideas in a simple fashion for the non-mathematically inclined.” He tells us that he has adopted ideas from it, including his ever-famous stick figures. He also enlightens us about his current copy, which was a gift from Mr. LaChance, a beloved physics teacher who taught at Thayer for over 30 years. “He gave it to me when the binding of my old one broke [from constant reading].” So it comes as no surprise that this book holds a special place in his heart.
Mr. Formato reading his all-time fave before the Pumpkin Drop
Kate Hayman
Book of Choice Anything by David Foster Wallace Ms. Hayman’s favorite essay by David Foster Wallace is “Consider the Lobster,” a piece on the morality of boiling lobsters alive for supper. Each year, when she uses it in a unit on the persuasive essay, Ms. Hayman makes it obvious why she loves it: “He’s got this sort of acrobatic style of writing and thinking; he’s a verbal trapeze artist. And he does a good job of showing his audience that it’s okay, and often, in fact, really good and important to challenge authority or the status quo – to think independently – but that we should do so from an informed position. He never took on anything he hadn’t thoroughly researched and thought about. He was a wise- (um) aleck, who was actually wise, and students always dig him.” page 18
Freedom
T
he waves crashed against the shore with a fury that only Poseidon himself could create. The sea mist spewed into the air as each sequential wave hit the jagged rocks that protected Quinton Owens from being consumed by the tumultuous and ever-growing dark abyss. The rock he was sitting on jabbed into his skin, drawing blood, but Quinton barely noticed. He had come to this spot, as he had so many times before, to ponder his life and hopefully come to some conclusion. Today he was left with very little hope as the freezing December air swirled around him, numbing his already raw skin. He was at the end of his rope; he was as relevant as a pebble and even a miniscule insect received more attention than he did. Quinton Owens was a useless thirty-year-old man, drained of all the self-esteem he once had had as a teenager. He had been the star quarterback as a senior in high school, until that fateful day his car ran off the road and into the very sea he now squinted at.
Att lody arha Me
t ar
• Alex Huntington The car accident had taken away everything he had achieved in his seemingly short life. He had been left with a withered, lame leg people were horrified by or embarrassed to look at. It was twisted at an angle, and though he had suffered through countless surgeries, he would never walk on his lifeless leg again. That year had been the worst of his life. All around him, his sense of normalcy had come crashing down in cascades of catastrophe. Quinton gazed out into the blackness and felt a kind of kinship with the sea. The waves churned and the foam bubbled like his overwrought gut, unyielding to medication or remedy. The deep blackness only reminded him of how empty he felt inside. He doubted he even had a soul anymore. He wasn’t a devil, but he certainly wasn’t worthy of the title of angel. He was in a sort of limbo, forever wandering, drifting through life, without as much as a word to anyone. His life was on autopilot and he was the tin man: no heart and nothing inside. Quinton glanced down and felt compelled to brush the swirling mirror beneath him. He dipped his fingers in the water, feeling the cool rush against his bare skin and imagined what it would be like to swim again. He could almost feel the pressure of the water thrusting back against his body. Quinton held this thought in his mind as he moved slowly over the slippery rocks and towards the unexpectedly inviting unknown. He plunged towards the water, hitting the surface with a tiny splash, and floating down into the darkness. The rough waters tossed him back and forth, cutting him every so often on a protruding rock, but that didn’t matter. He was a young football player again, heading to the state championships. He was a man with no limits and no braces to hold him back from the world. As he saw the last glimmer of light from the surface, Quinton knew he was a bird, and he had been set free.
page 19
Lit
Irini Sotiri photo
• Kedian Keohan
N
owadays as I roll into the CFA parking lot just in the nick of time, I reminisce about my past struggles to attend first period… Tires would screech to a halt at the red light on Washington Street as cars and pedestrians rushed by, vying to reach their destination before I could reach mine. My eyes would stay focused on the burning failure of the red stoplight, anxiously waiting for it to turn green. The light would turn, and I’d yell for my father to hit the gas. Dunkin Donuts coffee would spill from in between our seats as we cut the last corner into the Glover parking lot. The first sign that I was late was the absence of cars in the always-crowded Standing and Passing Lanes, and the lack of people racing to morning advisee. I’d grab my bags, and with a flurry of sentences, mangle something out about picking me up after trackacapellarehearsalcrosscountrysportsclubperiodplaymeetingswithteachers. I would jump out of the semi-moving vehicle and slam the door as Papa K yelled something like, “Make good choices!” I’d chuckle as I sprinted across campus, the taste of my French vanilla coffee still on my breath, providing the needed energy for that morning jaunt. The steps into Main building were extra slippery as I’d run smack into Headmaster Koskores, out for a morning perusal of the grounds. I’d mumble some form of greeting and then pause inside, debating whether to make the last minute rush to Murph’s for an 8:00 am sign-in or to attempt the three-floor mountain climb to advisee. I would picture another pink tardy slip, and feel daring as I ran to the 3rd floor hoping to make it on time. I’d breeze by the language rooms on the 2nd floor as the steep climb began. With one last burst of energy I would reach the top and hear the bell ring; I always feared the worst. I’d speed-walk head down into Mr. Donnelly’s room as a flow of announcements were being read about this sport, this club, this teacher, this ring lost in the locker room, this dress down day. Mr. Donnelly would look up and my stomach would drop, and with a smile he’d say, “All here.” I’d let out a sigh of relief: I was safe another day.
page 20
M i n d G a m e s • Greg Kraft
I
Ari Fleming art
t had been many years since she killed him, and he was not yet sure whether or not he wanted to return the favor. A heart attack spares the victim that which a broken heart kills: one’s spirit. He wished he had had the heart attack. It was one date; that was all. It lasted maybe an hour and a half, not even that long a movie. But the anxiety before he asked her to go out must have lasted a lifetime of eternities. As each day passed further from their freshman year of high school, her image became sharper, yet more blurred in his mind. He began to pine over her, and it overcame him like a sickness. The mental fixation, the worry—it felt like metal hooks were pulling on his heart. When she said yes, he felt the corners of his mouth rise, pulling the hooks off with them. He thought his ordeal was over, and it was, if only for a minute. Once again, his mind became a camcorder, replaying scenario after scenario, trying to secure the perfect future. It seemed that everything hung on a ninety-one minute showing of Harold and Maude. He envisioned perfection oozing out of her: from her hair, her eyes, her smooth, flawless skin. She was attractive, but he convinced himself that it was her personality that drew him in; that her looks were only a bonus. Their one date passed like the inaudible fleeting whisper of a passerby, never to be heard from again. None of his fantastic scenarios of how the date would be came to fruition. And then she left, and didn’t tell him where she went or, more importantly, why. She built a torture chamber out of his mind, one that he could not escape, one that would follow him always. By happenstance they met again on the street and decided they would catch up for old time’s sake. Emotion surged through his veins like liquefied lightening. Was he hopeful or hateful? She had put a vice-grip on his soul that never seemed to let go. He wanted to make her suffer. He wanted her to die, as he had. She rang the doorbell, and he answered it casually. They sat down at the table together and began to talk. But the tone of the conversation quickly changed. The floodgates opened—he told her how she had made him feel. He wanted to break her heart and wrack her with guilt. He took out his pistol and shot himself in the heart. One lone drop of blood landed on her quivering lip. His body was dead, but his spirit was free, for his heart had died along with it. She, on the other hand, remained forever trapped in the prison of a tortured mind.
page 21
Arts Faculty Hidden TAlents
• Melody Attarha and Raisa Hoffman
Have you ever been curious about the secret lives of your teachers? Seeing an English teacher in Glover is weird enough, so it’s not surprising that our teachers lives out of school are a complete mystery. We can’t really tell you exactly what goes on after school’s out, but we hope this eases some of your curiosity.
Kevin Cedrone HIDDEN TALENT Drawing with charcoal (specifically still lifes) YEARS OF ExPERIENCE One semester ACCOMPLISHMENTS B+ in studio fundamentals at Holy Cross PERSONAL STATEMENT “It’s all in the light source.”
Tom Chiari HIDDEN TALENT Ballroom dancing YEARS OF ExPERIENCE 3-4 Years ACCOMPLISHMENT Courting his wife PERSONAL STATEMENT “If you would like to woo a woman away from her boyfriend, learn how to ballroom dance.”
Susan Witt HIDDEN TALENT Cake decorating YEARS OF ExPERIENCE Since she was 11 years old ACCOMPLISHMENTS After years of working in her father’s Bakery, Mrs.Witt decorated her own seven-tier wedding cake. PERSONAL STATEMENT “It’s in my bones.” page 22
Dan Forrest HIDDEN TALENT Video game YEARS OF ExPERIENCE Since the game’s been around ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Top scorer in Dungeons & Dragons • Top scorer in Geometry Wars on Xbox PERSONAL STATEMENT “I can make a mean graph in Paint.”
Jim Pickel HIDDEN TALENT Acting YEARS OF ExPERIENCE 30 • Played the sheriff in e Best Little Whorehouse in Texas • Played John Adams in e Duke and Dutchess of Braintree (Written by our very own, Dan Levinson!) • Has recorded advertisements on TV PERSONAL STATEMENT “Well... I can’t draw, so...”
Darah Harper HIDDEN TALENT Cooking YEARS OF ExPERIENCE Her whole life ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Took cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Paris. • And even took cooking classes while she was in Spain. PERSONAL STATEMENT “e time I took classes in Paris was one of the most memorable times of my life.”
page 23
Arts And the Credits Roll...
• Ty Richardson
Ever seen The Hangover? Remember the tiger? Did you know that the man whose job it is to take care of him gets his name in the credits? How about in Tropic Thunder when Les Grossman tells a “key grip” to punch Steve Coogan’s character? Undoubtedly a funny moment, but does anyone actually know what the“key grip” does? Most would say no. Most would say that as soon as the last frame of a film fades out and the credits reel fades in, they stand up and head out. It’s a tragedy. Without the 200 names that follow, the film simply wouldn’t exist. Each job listed in the credits contributes to a brilliantly flowing system known as the film crew. DIRECTOR
Conveys the story in the most effective and creative way possible Big films can have up to five assistant directors Chooses actors and directs their performances
PRODUCER
In charge of the business aspect (i.e., scheduling, hiring people, budgeting etc.) Works for companies like Universal and Fox Searchlight One of the most important members of the crew
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Usually has very little responsibility Independent filmmakers try to find at least one Hollywood “Heavy Hitter” to attach to their film by making him or her an executive producer (raises awareness for the film)
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (DP)
Works on the “look” of the shot (i.e., the desired tone, mood, etc.) Deals mostly with the Key Grip and “Starbucks Run”
ARMOURER
In charge of all things that go “boom”
GANG BOSS
Head of the set building department
SWING GANG KEY GRIP
GAFFER BEST BOY
Team of set builders Head of the rigging and lighting departments
Fun Fact The first film to use extensive closing credits was Around the World in Eighty Days (1956).
Head of the electrical department Usually two on a film crew One is the assistant to the Gaffer; the other is the assistant to the Key Grip
Ty Richardson photo
CONTINUITY Makes certain that all elements of the film stay consistent through out (i.e., the color of the actor’s shirt, which hand a watch is on, etc.) Because this job is so detailoriented, it is one of the hardest on the crew WRANGLER Deals with anything on a film set that can’t be spoken with (i.e., animals)
page 24
Raisa Hoffman photos
What’s Playing at the Roxy?
• Raisa Hoffman
In the words of Greg Kraft in his musical debut as Nicely Nicely Johnson, “I’ll tell you what’s playing at the Roxy!” Only in this case, there is no actual “Roxy.” But, there is our CFA! Which is close enough. Twelve months have flown by faster than any of us have realized, bringing the musical month of November back to Thayer Academy. Crap games, engagements, Save-A-Soul Missions, show girls, and gamblers, all contribute to the wild and crazy plot of this year’s musical, Guys and Dolls. Students can’t help but hum the tune to classics such as “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” while passing from class to class. McCauley Braun and Harry Bacon combine to make a comedic tag-team as Elisa Sipols (as Aunt Arvida) and Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit. They love each other a “bushel and a peck,” Julia Budde (as Sarah Brown) giving the show a healthy dose of romantic tension. In the same vein, the forbidrehearsing “More I Cannot Wish You” den romance between Miss Sarah and Sky Masterson (played by Julia Budde and Dimitri Antoniou, respectively) who’ve “never been in love before” creates a similar tension. In addition to these romantic twists and turns, there are performances at the Hot Box Club, and Nathan’s pursuit of a place to run his secret crap games, which are only a few of the happenings in this intricate plot. Among the enthusiastic and devoted cast, is someone from our community whom we all know very well. The man who greets you every morning when you come in late, the man whose well-known laugh resonates along the walls of the CFA, the man who stops by every morning during second period to see if we’re all present... who else but the one-and-only: MURPH! John Murphy will be making a cameo in this year’s musical as Lieutenant Brannigan. Just as thoroughly as Murph checks attendance, Lieutenant Brannigan so sniffs out Nathan Detroit’s secret crap games. This Irish brogue’d lieutenant makes the perfect Thayer theater debut for Murph. His committed and enthusiastic performance is a must-see and will leave you smiling. The cast members have found this production to be fulfilling in a way that is different from past ones. The diversity in Guys and Dolls involving all aspects of theater is something new and exciting to many cast members. In the words of Hot Box Dancer Molly O’Brien, “Guys and Dolls has been one of the hardest shows I’ve been in because it incorporates so many people in so many different ways. It can be a little crazy but at the same time that’s what makes it so much fun! Seeing all the pieces come together is always really exciting!” One crucial aspect to this production, dancing, has been a new but rewarding challenge for Hot Box Singer, Sarah Reynolds. “This year I did a lot more dancing than usual. And it’s been pretty brutal because I am not a dancer, but it’s been fun!” For both Dimiti Antoniou (Sky Masterson) and PJ Leddy (Harry the Horse), the best part of Guys and Dolls has been working with this specific cast. In the words of Dimitri, “It’s been really fun to be one of the upper classmen and have a chance to get to know the new freshmen. Going from the youngest in the show to among the oldest has been really odd, but also a lot of The Girls, playing male gamblers, pose during “Crapshooter’s Ballet” fun.” And for PJ, “The best part is the people who are in it. I know the friendships and bonds we establish working together will last long after we graduate.” Want to see this close-knit, well-rounded, and talented cast shine? Guys and Dolls is the show to see! Grab your dice, fedoras, feather boas, and we’ll see you there! page 25
Arts TA Gallery Doodles
• Melody Attarha
There’s evidence of doodling done by all kinds of people, whether you’re in the White House (yes, even our presidents have been doodlers) or in history class. Whether you do it every once in a while, or you’ve set aside a part of your notebook for it (… Andrew McManus?), we have all escaped boredom through doodling at one point or another. So what? Is there any significance to these childish drawings crammed in corners of notebook pages? While hopefully, none of our doodles depict Superbad obsessions, they do provide a window into our innermost thoughts.
Franny Saunders • Junior Doodler
Andrew McManus • Senior Doodler
Now, we’ve seen intricate doodles everywhere, from notebooks to desks, but Franny Saunders has given us a new place to create art. Well, I’m not sure it’s exactly good for your skin, but it is portable.
Doodles tend to be small and unplanned, but even art teacher Karen Koskores would be proud of Andrew’s fullpage sketches. Although he has asked us to keep the specific location of his doodles private, we can tell you that fully half of his notebook for this subject is dedicated to art. This full page pencil drawing depicts a spacecraft going into outer space. Andrew’s doodles include airplanes, and bears in forests. He is in the process of completing a sketch of an island.
Franny Saunders art
Andrew McManus art
Franny Saunders’ doodles can be found regularly on the back of her hand and are usually completed by last period. They depict abstract designs and shapes.
page 26
Sports • Kevin Deng
Kevin Deng photos
New Faces in the Crowd
Quentin Hall Football Former school Plymouth South & mascot Jaguars
Emily Matthews Field Hockey
Jordan Cavaco Soccer
Julia Barron x-Country
Marshfield High School Rams
Brockton Boxers & MPS Crusaders U-17
Derby Academy
The welcoming com-
The turf fields and being
The amount of different opportunities available
e supportive team and the coaches who know what they are doing
Experienced 7 yr Pop
Team player and strong defense
Versatility and good ball distribution
Gives good effort, runs fast, and scores lots of points
Can cook and enjoys
Has amazing waterskiing ability
Excellent refereeing skills
Can figure skate and can do an axel
At least .500 winning
Win New England’s or at least be ISL champs
Make it to the Class B tournament and be ISL champs
Definitely have wins than losses
Favorite things munity and being part able to go to the library about Thayer of the team without a pass Strengths Warner veteran, quick feet for a lineman
Hidden talents singing
Team Prediction percentage
more
TA Sports by the #s 0
# of times boys XC Coach Pelletier gets angry at the team
2,738
# of times he gets angry at Cory Rayfield
1 9’ 5”
Combined height of XC runners Clougher, Murray, and Pratt
22 4
Average miles run per week by cross-country Average miles run per week for any other sport
7”
Height of grass for girls soccer games
1 ½”
Height of grass for boys soccer games
16
# of varsity boys soccer players
2
# of senior boys soccer players
8
# of touchdowns by Prendy this year so far
1
# of touchdowns his whole freshman year
235
Average weight of football’s starting offensive line
25
# of pounds gained per person due to indoor s’mores
49
# of times Melissa Piacentini has injured fellow teammates
861
# of times Emily Matthews says “Hey, Ladies!”
503
# of Congo Bars eaten by field hockey
35 1
$ per goal donated by girls soccer to the Long Island Homeless Shelter # of boom boxes owned by girls soccer
page 27
Sports Which fall sport has what it takes to win?
• Caitlin Chase
Girls FH Info provided by Allie Morey & Emma Quigley Warm up Song? • Be You by e Varsity Girls Team Lank • “Probably me…” — Allie Intensity? • Anna Kenyon gets really loud and in your face before every game. Dress Code Violations? • e majority of the team thinks it is ok to not wear pants. Edge? • “Our intensity and Melissa Piacentini.” — Allie • “We beat Brooks!” — Emma
Round 2 Girls Soccer vs. Field Hockey A longstanding rivalry between two of TA’s most successful girls’ athletic teams makes this matchup a ferocious one. Winner: While both have a lank named Allie, questionable warm-up songs, and various dress code violations, and although FH has an impressive record, soccer takes the cake, because well… come on… Justin Bieber.
Girls X-Country Ari F lem ing
Info provided by Raisa Hoffman, Melody Attarha & Maeve Sussek Special Skillz • Raisa can talk backwards. • Has covered every inch of campus Most Intense • “Evelina gets in the zone before every race” – Maeve • “Monet ties her hood really tight around her head and doesn’t talk to anyone...” – Raisa Dress Code Violations? • Short Shorts • “Kori Mullen wears outfits at practice that I would wear out to dinner.” – Raisa Edge? “If you ain’t runnin’ with it, run from it.” — Raisa
Girls Soccer Info provided by Jessie Clinton & Bryn Boucher Special Skillz • Lindsey’s Stanky Leg • One of us dated Justin Bieber… Team Lank • Ali Desmond Dress Code Violations? • eme Days • G’s Pink Jumpsuit • Caitlin’s neon blue socks (my bad) Edge? “Cuz we got da best boom box and we supa good lookin’.” — Jessie
page 28
Round 1 Girls Soccer vs. X-Country Girls Field Hockey gets a bye because they made it to the New England Finals last year. Winner: Girls soccer. Although XC is quite stylish, soccer has the supreme lankiness of Ali Desmond and her legendary “lanky run.” Plus, as assistant coach Ryan Leonard (AKA Bro) points out, “ey’re really strange.”
ar t
Boys Soccer (Info provided by Al Issa, T White, Colm Desmond, Tommy Logue)
Round 2 Boys Boys Soccer vs. Football is was close. Al’s various grandma sweaters are a little bit easier on the eyes than football’s tight pants. Seriously, nobody wants to see that, no matter how much “the ladies love them,” Shane. But as far as special skills go, I have witnessed sophomore Harrison’s supposed “mackin” skills, and have yet to be impressed. TJ’s beard, however, is a thing of beauty. When asked how he keeps that thing under control, teammate Luke Ferrari responded, “He trims.” Winner: Football
Special Skillz • Harrison mackin’ biddies • “We are the ugliest team in the school.” — Tommy Warm Up Songs? • Harrison singing Battlefield by Jordin Sparks • I’m On a Boat Dress Code Violations? • Al’s Sweaters Edge? • “Harrison’s teeth.” — Al
Boys Football Info provided by Luke Ferrari, Ify Chukwujama, Mike Vassolotti, Charlie Finnegan, Shane Donovan, Jamie Becker, Ryan Vayo Special Skillz • Luke and Jamie can outsweat anybody. • TJ Flatley’s beard Warm Up Songs? • Zombie by e Cranberries • Good Vibrations by e Beach Boys Intensity? • e overwhelming consensus is Coach Toussaint “Pretty sure he stiff-armed some Milton kid celebrating.” — Vayo • “After the RL game he jumped into Brendan Lawler’s arms.” — Luke Dress Code Violations? • e tight, neon orange pants— “e tight pants make my butt look good.” – Shane Edge? • “We like to Party.” – Ify • “We have a caveman (TJ).” – Mike
Final Round Football vs. Girls Soccer is is not just a question of football versus soccer, it is a question of boys in tight pants or girls in crazy colors. Sweaty and hairy, or strange and celebrity crazed? Tous or Schneids? Winner: Football. ey need as many victories as they can get.
Ari F lem ing
Boys X-Country Info provided by Chippy Kennedy & Brennan Murray
ar t
Round 1 Boys Football vs. Boys XC e pure youth of Boys Soccer gets them a bye. “We’re all like, 15.” – Colm Winner: Football. is was close, for the sole reason that the legendary Michael Clougher is a member of XC, but football’s fierce combination of hairiness, sweatiness, and straightup caveman-ness helped them pull away the W.
Special Skillz • “Sweet abs and Clougher” — Chippy Team Lank • Clougher… But pretty much the whole team. Intensity? • “Clougher foams from the mouth with intensity… it looks like rabies.” — Brennan Dress Code Violations? • Ridiculously small uniforms • “Sometimes my nipples show and I don’t like it.” — Brennan Edge? • “We get more cat calls from the girls teams than any other team…and Clougher.” — Chippy
page 29
Sports A Return to Glory? • Brennan Murray
s re
For the last half century, Thayer Academy has prided itself on having an excellent hockey program. A program that sends players to D-1 universities, a program that has even turned out a few Olympic athletes. However, a com- Tony Amonte s co bined record of 9-52-1 in regular season games over the last three years has led to a noticeable loss of pride. But there is hope. Olympian and world-class professional athlete Tony Amonte, who boosted Thayer to a New England Championship victory in his freshman year against an undefeated team, is back as TA’s varsity coach. Although the oldest team he has ever coached was a U-13 team, Mr. Amonte is not concerned, but rather, extremely optimistic about switching gears to coaching a high school team. “It’s going to be a bit of a jump for me, but these kids are older. Communication will be easier with these guys. I’m going to be on a more even ground.” Mr. Amonte says his ultimate goal for this year is to achieve a .500 season. Some might feel as if this goal is less than ambitious, but considering that our hockey team has averaged only a mere 3 wins per season over the last 3 years, breaking even would be a major accomplishment. Looking at the scores of games in recent years, he noticed that Thayer was on the losing end of a lot of close, one-goal matches. To him, being on the winning side of games like those is crucial to the team’s success this year. “At Thayer we pride ourselves on being a working people, a working team.
lympic G the O am at es
“We need to be a team with hard hats; get out on the ice and grind out some tough wins.” As he continued to express the crucial factors in turning TA hockey into a winning team once again, Mr. Amonte also made clear that having a home hockey rink is something that would significantly contribute to the hockey program’s success, not this coming year of course, but down the road. “Having a rink would be the last piece of the puzzle.” For now though, considering that he will be pretty much starting from scratch as far as getting to know the players and how they function as a unit, he really just wants to familiarize himself with the players. “We gotta get in Portrait of Tony Amonte there and get down to the nuts and bolts, see what by Bill Searle type of character our team has...things are going to take some time. It’s going to be an adjustment period for sure.” Coach Amonte’s experience speaks for itself: 16 years in the NHL, 2 Olympic appearances, a gold medal in the World Cup of Hockey, and numerous other feats. To say he has been in extreme pressure situations is an understatement. He has seen it all. And now we hope to witness him handle the hot seat once again, with the same success he always has.
Quotes from TA Hockey • 2010-2011
“Tony’s playing career speaks for itself and I am excited to see what he brings to the program both this season and in the future.” — Chris Tasiopolous “I feel like the program will definitely be heading in a new direction, but it’s the players themselves that ultimately determine how the season is going to end up, not the coach.” — Cam Butler “It’s going to be a tough season, but everybody here is willing to work hard.” — Sam Valentine “We’re going to be danglin’ benders and snippin’ tenders. And we’re really excited.” — Tyler Blaisdell and John Barry “We have nothing to lose this season.” — Pat Gill (Pat would also like to add that the team will be looking for fans this year, especially some ladies.)
page 30
Paul Nwokeji • Kevin Deng
Strong Side Freshest Air Jordan cleats in the league Can hold his ground against 300-lb linemen Strong enough to block opposing defensive tackles with one arm and play Xbox with the other 100% chance of getting into his first and only college choice Quick feet for a big guy Tears cure cancer. Too bad he doesn’t cry… ever Tackles opponents so hard that they end up in the next week Is the size of 5 people combined (Hailee Miller + Mark Doyle + Robin Spofford + Hannah Cooper + Ms. Lee = Paul Nwokeji) Has perfect combination of size, speed, and immunity from snitches to be the perfect peer advisor
Weak Side So big he has trouble fitting inside normal sized cars Drives a Hummer Ankles don’t work Limited to being only the second tallest person in school Can’t prevent sickness or disease Brain is constantly filled with useless school material instead of football plays Would rather be at Rosie’s than in the game Won’t get playing time in the next three years Gets more hugs at school than tackles on the field Such a nice guy that after crushing opposing players, he apologizes Asks Coach Tous to take him out so he can grab a mid-game snack Snitch
page 31
After-Hours Gossip with the Statues in Main Building
I’ve been wanting to ask you something... Semi ’10?
I don’t know where my head is at... #notagoodlook.
Du
de My , I n f e th low ed a an is h La wo air nk rs cu ’s. e t.
flow y ck m timate a b tie ess Ul na. t s u rg nda Ij u B ce. i a a n b l wih risbee t rea F s ou k r o It w
page 32