The Belfry
A Norfolk Academy Upper School Publication — 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 — September 2018 Issue
Honor Council Chair’s Address to the Tunstall Community Peyton Tysinger ‘19
Norfolk Academy has long been defined by the com-
munity of trust that guides our academic and social life. We share a common understanding that students will not lie, cheat or steal; that they will do their own work, and respect the property of others. We commit to be open, honest and fair; it is on this foundation of trust that students and faculty form strong relationships. Trust allows us to accept and believe in each other, fostering confidence in individuals and uniting us as a community. This exceptional trust, however, does not come naturally. It must be practiced, taught, and developed over time so that each student can claim a more personal understanding of honor. From Lower to Upper School, our honor system evolves in a very appropriate way. In the Lower School, students learn the basic tenants of the honor code,
allowing them to begin to establish their morals with a set of rules and guidelines. In the Middle School, students and teachers build trust and further their understanding of our honor system. As Upper Schoolers, most of us now have a firm grasp on what it means to live and act honorably. We have a solid community of trust in which it is so easy to grow and learn, both as individuals and in relationships with others. With such a strong foundation, I charge you all to think about how honor has shaped your own experience at Norfolk Academy. Our honor system allows us a wonderful freedom that we otherwise wouldn’t enjoy, and I encourage you to foster the element of personal honor in all your relationships, both here and beyond Norfolk Academy.
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Upper School Life The Senior Lounge: A Place of Friendship Maiya Foleck ‘19
The senior lounge is a Norfolk Academy
The Belfry Issue No. 5
Norfolk Academy 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23502 www.norfolkacademy.org
Co-Editors-in-Chief Solomon Duane ’19 Maiya Foleck ’19 Junior Editor J.R. Herman’ 20 Faculty Adviser Mrs. Charlotte Zito ’99 Contributors Peyton Tysinger ’19 Megan Robinson ‘19 Katherine Barbour ‘19
tradition that predates the 1967 move to Wesleyan Drive, and it provides a communal space for the senior class to enjoy. This year, the Class of 2019 truly showed their gratitude by filling the area with decorations, new blue sofas, and a lovely orange rug showcasing their NA spirit. Seniors were welcomed to their lockers with colorful friendship bracelets made by Emmie Pike and Straeten Avery, and to top it off, some senior girls showed off their children’s backpacks on the first day. Thanks to the leadership of Windsor, Emmie, Straeten, and Meg who kicked off the Year of Friendship with a great start. The seniors who are enjoying their couches should all know to thank Straeten Avery and her mother for the great find. Straeten’s mother, who volunteers at the Norfolk Ronald McDonald house, learned that there was some furniture in need of a new home. Thanks to Norfolk Academy’s relationship with the Ronald Mcdonald house, they were more than willing to donate the furniture for the senior lounge. After Straeten mentioned the donations to her friends, she recalled that “the tennis team helped carry some stuff in during practice one day. James Hood and Nathan Williams helped my parents load stuff into the car and trucks and brought it over, and I think it looks really good.” Straeten added, “Since there was such a strong class last year, we’ve been really trying to step into our roles as seniors and lead the school.” Windsor initiated the idea of decorating the senior lounge, saying, “We had the space available, and so I
thought, ‘we need to take advantage of that and make it awesome because this is our last year.’” Windsor and Sydney LeGuillow even went to The Dump to search for more unique decorations. Once there, according to Windsor, they “saw the orange carpet and thought we had to get it because the couches were blue and it was almost too perfect.” To make the senior lounge even more welcoming, Emmie and Straeten decided to create bracelets for everyone in the senior class. All of the seniors were surprised on the first day of school to see the small gifts in their lockers, as well as a beautifully decorated lounge. As Emmie recalls, “Straeten, Windsor, and I were here on the Sunday night before school started because we had to put the bracelets in the lockers, which was our main motive for coming. Then we put everything up to make it a little more homey I guess.” As the seniors made their way to the senior lounge on the first day, they couldn’t help but notice the cute children’s backpacks the senior girls were wearing. Meg Woodard got the idea of bringing in children’s backpacks for the first day of school from her cousin in Richmond, whose school traditionally does the same thing. Not only did the girls look fabulous flaunting their backpacks, but the unwanted school bags will be donated to the Tidewater Park Elementary School, thanks to Ellie Thornton’s suggestion. The senior class has already taken the new school year’s theme of friendship to heart, promoting kindness, spirit, and community. If the start is anything to go by, this will turn out to be a fantastic school year.
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Upper School Life Road Trip Tips J.R. Herman ‘20
This past summer, my family and I embarked on a two
week road trip to Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Drawing from this experience, I have compiled a list of road trip tips I hope will prove helpful to those of you who may take a road trip in the near future. Spend time researching things to do in the cities where you will be travelling, and try to plan a variety of activities, such as different types of museums (outdoor museums, indoor museums, living museums), nature activities, factory tours, shopping areas, river cruises, and specialty tours that everyone on the trip will enjoy. My advice is learn as much as possible, keep your eyes open for interesting activities, and do not be afraid to try something new. While in New York, we tried something different when we attended a two hour lantern tour of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. This extremely informative, fascinating tour off the beaten path was unlike anything we had ever done before. In case you were wondering, we looked for the Headless Horseman, but to no avail. Realize you will hit traffic. When travelling to another state, be sure to factor in an hour to two hours of traffic, perhaps even more if you are travelling through a high traffic city such as D.C., New York City, or Boston. Factor in time for rest stops. This will result in more accurate and realistic plans of what you will have time to accomplish. Sometimes you may have to forego a planned activity because of traffic delays. Sadly, we had to forego a much anticipated river cruise in Connecticut because we were unable to get there in time. Do not be ashamed of “looking like a tourist” and buying “cheesy” souvenirs. Ninety-five percent of the time I could be spotted with a bulky Nikon camera around my neck, and the other five percent of the time I was buying touristy souvenirs, including two t-shirts I found in Boston, one with a Boston terrier barking “Bahk!”, another with the words, “Hahvahd, Making You Smahtah Since 1636”, as well as a shirt from Old Sturbridge Village which depicts a horse drawn carriage
captioned “This is how I roll”. If you have ancestors that come from a certain part of the country, make an effort to visit that area and learn as much about your family history as possible. We stopped in Warrenton, VA, where some of my mother’s family once lived. It was fascinating to visit their old home and place of business. Another thing I recommend is if you happen to be near a college or university, try to stop by and explore the campus. For example, while in New Jersey on our way to a sculpture garden, we stopped by Princeton, and while driving through Connecticut we stopped at Yale. Integrating college visits into a road trip allows you to explore college campuses in a stress free environment without the pressure of a trip for the sole purpose of a college visit. Last but not least, remember that no trip is perfect, and not even the best laid plan is flawless. Things will go wrong, whether that means getting lost, hitting traffic, or experiencing adverse weather conditions. Most importantly though, have fun, and remember to take lots of pictures for the scrapbook!
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Upper School Life
Bulldog
News
Proposed Clubs J.R. Herman ‘20
This year, three clubs are applying for charters. After club sign-ups, the club founders
will go before the Tunstall Student Council, which will vote on whether each club should be chartered. If the TSC votes in favor of the chartering, the decision goes to Mr. Manning for final approval. Below you will find descriptions of the three proposed clubs, provided by the clubs’ founders. The Bulldog Environmental Education Society (BEES) strives to educate the Norfolk Academy community on current environmental issues and how we can play our part right here on campus. This year the BEES will be focusing on saving the bees! These insects are key pollinators in the environment, and without bees we would not have honey, fruits, coffee, or even chocolate. We plan on engaging the NA community through speakers, fundraisers, and cool projects on campus (e.g. building a flower bed with bee friendly flowers, planting milkweed for butterflies, and maybe even managing a hive of our own). So, join the BEES! It may just BEE the highlight of your NA experience! The mission of the Photography Club is to provide a supportive environment for students interested in photography to learn about different photographic techniques, while also sharing their creativity and passion for the art. The club will hold regular monthly meetings designed for all levels of photographic experience. Additionally, we will have discussions and organize events such as photo-walks, gallery visits, and guest lectures or workshops. Overall, we hope to enhance our members’ photographic skills, helping them to tell unique stories with photography and see life through a different lens. The purpose of Latin Club is to foster an appreciation for Roman culture and the Latin language, and to promote the study of Latin. It will be an enjoyable learning opportunity for those interested in the language, the culture, or both! During meetings we will explore Roman culture by playing Roman games, sampling Roman food, participating in Roman themed art activities, and holding trivia contests. We plan to offer tutorial sessions led by current Latin students to benefit younger students in the middle and lower schools, and we hope to even celebrate a festival.
The Belfry Publication
September 2018
First Day of School
Student Interviews What are you looking forward to most about being a senior? “This has been my home for eleven years, so getting to see everybody, getting to see the teachers that I love was really fun, and I’m very excited for the new year.” Jayda Kerlew ’19
“Mentoring my first grade buddy and being a positive role model” Seth Lucas ’19
“It’s cool to look down on all the grades below me and know I’ve gone through what they’re going through.” Patrick McElroy ’19
“Getting to know the grade better in our last year here.” Zach Suttle ’19
What advice do you have for younger students?
“Make sure you have a good time. You realize time is getting short.” Colin Looney ’19
“Work hard. Don’t worry too much.” Straeten Avery ’19
How does it feel to finally enter Upper School?
“The freedom is really exciting, especially with study hall where you don’t have to report to a classroom. Hannah Marks ’21
“I’m looking forward to transitions into a traditional Upper School schedule. Reed Mille ’21
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opinion A Catholic Stance on Church Scandal Solomon Duane ‘19
In
light of recent developments in the Catholic Church, the general American public has subjected the 2000 year old institution to critical scrutiny. After a series of cases in the 80’s regarding child abuse committed by clergy, the world was taken aback. The Church was rocked by scandal and the Vatican soon cracked down on this issue, or so we thought. Although there have been intermittent cases of clergy misconduct since the 80’s, a recent grand jury in Pennsylvania determined that around 1,000 victims had been affected by covered-up abuse within that diocese. This large-scale scandal has shocked many faithful, and has even been the last straw for some ex-Catholics. Before opening to a personal commentary on the issue, I feel it imperative to acknowledge my background and beliefs. I attend a Tridentine Latin Mass at a rather socially conservative parish and actively study Catholic Church Doctrine. I believe and fully support the Church and her teachings. When faced with such trial and adversity, it is imperative for practicing Catholics to remember that they do not follow the Church itself, but rather, her teaching instituted by Christ. The Pope, bishops, and priests are not worshiped, therefore the validity of Ca-
tholicism is not dependent on their santicity or lack thereof. Clergy are subject to the evils of sin, hence priests confessing their misdeeds to one another. However, priests committing these abominable acts are not representative of true, Catechism-following clergy who sincerely profess the faith. There has been a laziness in the Church which has led to the infiltration of its clergy with men not devoted to the faith. In the mid 1900’s, the priesthood seemed a lucrative option for many non-followers. It had become a well-paying and comfortable job, allowing certain men to express their desire for attention and unique social situations. In addition to this perfect storm, the issuing of the doctrinally ambiguous Vatican II as well as the creep of modernism into the Church made this behavior much easier to cover up. As some of these priests remained in their positions, they were able to disperse into higher ranks of the Church, leading to the corruption seen today. For those who wish to use this scandal to attack the Church and her teachings, look elsewhere. Countless Protestant denominations as well as nonChrist based religions have had their share of abuse cases as well. As stated above, holy life has a natural calling for non-believers who wish to
achieve their agenda. Despite this, keep in mind that the perpetrators are only a small percentage of the faithful. There are millions of well-intending, Catechism educated priests and bishops who wish nothing more than to rid the Church of this disease. Although such a task is daunting, such large-scale reforms have been previously achieved while remaining true to doctrine.
Trent Smith ‘19 The Church, like many organizations of such power and prominence in society, has undergone periods of tumult. Only 300 years after the death of Jesus, when faith should have been strongest, the early Church had to handle Ar-
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upper school news ians within the Church who denied the divinity of Christ. At the Council of Nicea, the Church came together to confirm that Arianism is a heresy and does not fall under the teachings of Catholicism. This council even provided an opportunity to write the Nicene Creed, a common profession of belief used by the Church today. Without this opportunity to come together and clarify the faith, the Church’s crystal clear teachings might not have stood the test of time. The modern-day Catholic Church must acknowledge its issues and act with similar conviction
and determination to rid itself of such atrocities. In a shameful handling of Church politics, Pope Francis has yet to make a statement regarding the Pennsylvania report. This silence plays into the worst stereotypes held by those who fear that the Church is more concerned with covering up the problem than rectifying it. With the world pressing in on a silent Church with hard evidence of serious misdoings, the Vatican has perhaps finally realized the level of evil that has infiltrated its ranks. For the survival of the Church and her teachings, Pope Francis and
the Vatican must convene and single-handedly crack down on this scandal. Seminaries need much stricter entry evaluations and cases of abuse must be dealt with immediately.
Fall Sports Preview Megan Robinson ‘19
Football The boys Varsity Football team is beyond enthusiastic for this season. Last year, the team graduated 22 seniors, many of whom were longtime members of the team. Despite losing crucial players, every year is different, and this year there is some incredible new talent. Drew Duffy has stepped in this year after Christian Randolph, last year’s quarterback, graduated.
Coach Monniger, head coach of the Varsity team, stated, “Duffy has some different skill sets than Randolph, but is truly gifted when throwing. In the team’s previous game over this past weekend, Duffy was able to read the defensive ends incredibly well...He is extremely confident so far.” Varsity Football is playing tougher teams this year, such as Trinity Episcopal, as well as Fork Union Military Academy. However, the hardest competition for the boys this year will be St. Christopher’s and Collegiate. Regarding this tough competition, Coach Monniger says, “We are just focused on ourselves. We are going to do the best that we can do, and be the best team we can be. We want to put a product on the field that is tough and competitive and that represents the school. All these players are growing everyday as young men, and I think we are a really good football team. We just have to play at a high level for these football games!’
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Upper School News challenges from opposing teams this year will come from Peninsula Catholic and Nansemond Suffolk Academy within the TCIS League, as Tennis It is no surprise to know that our Girls Varsity well as the Richmond schools, Trinity Episcotennis team rules the court. After winning 49 pal, Collegiate, and St. Catherine’s within Diviconsecutive matches in the past three years and sion 1 state schools. achieving three state championships, our girls are looking to be as competitive as ever this season! Team captains Lily Hackbirth and Ingrid Field Hockey Benkovitz have made sure the team is in top Our girls Varsity Field Hockey team is looking condition. As stated by their coaches, “These sharp this year, with rising seniors truly stepplayers want to prove to everyone that we are ping up to take on a new leadership role. Acstill pretty darn solid. Our goal for the year is cording to head coach Coach Werkheiser, “We always the same- be fitter than any team in the have 11 returning players, all who have been state and play our best tennis at the end of the on last year’s team and know the expectations season!” To start off the year, the team won of Academy’s field hockey program. They are their first match against Cape Henry Collegiate, ready to assume the leadership role. Some are nervous about it but most are ready for it. It a clean 9-0 sweep. is one of the things that NA does best- make leaders! It is believed that the more united we are as a team on and off the field, the more it will lead to success in the conference and state. Mutual respect and hard work will get us to conference and state tournaments.” Captains Holley Cromwell and Grace Cornbrooks will lead the girls through games against their toughest competition: locally, the girls will be competing against rivals Cox High School and Cape Henry Collegiate, and throughout the state will be Trinity Episcopal High School, Richmond Collegiate and St. Catherines. Several of our athletes have committed to competing in college, as well! As of now, Holley Cromwell will be comVolleyball Varsity Volleyball is stoked to see what they can peting at Dartmouth College, and Grace Cornachieve this season. After losing two valuable brooks will be competing at William and Mary. seniors in the Class of 2018, the team has had Coach Werkheiser states, “We are a young team, several skilled players step up as team leaders. but we are not rebuilding! I always think the The senior captains for this year include four- Norfolk Academy programs are reloading! We year returners: Mia Gilley, Parker Kreiser, and have some good young talent of 4 freshmen, and Molly Brown. All three have already provided 3 sophomores, so the future looks bright! Our the team with great leadership and have shown upperclassman are the nucleus of the squad, all a fierce determination to succeed. The team with leadership and enthusiasm!” Team memmotto for this year is “Outlast,” as their top bers would love any school-wide support at any goal for the season is to outlast their opponents. games against St. Catherine’s or Trinity EpiscoAccording to Coach Hopkins, “This year, we pal. need to be fit, play defensive-minded, and work out-of-system well to succeed.” The biggest continued from page 7
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sports Cheerleading Our cheerleading team always starts out the year right by having loads of energy to cheer on our favorite Academy teams! As a recap for the summer, the girls went to the Universal Cheer leaders Association for a camp to learn and improve their skills. Then for three days, they attended a camp at William and Mary. The cheer squad competed on the last day of camp and got second place overall, first place for best sideline chant, and two golds in evaluations. It’s clear that hard work pays off, as the girls were later invited to the National Championships in Florida. The team will have an exciting season, and captains Kennedy Watson and Scarlett Boughman will lead the group of ten. Cross-Country The Varsity Cross-Country boys and girls team have been training rigorously to run successfully this season. On the girls side, the team lost no runners in last year’s graduating class who were in the Top 10. However, the boys lost several talented athletes in last year’s graduating class. Despite this, several new runners have stepped up to become key players. In TCIS League, the most challenging competition for boys will be Peninsula Catholic, and for girls, Nansemond Suffolk Academy and Walsingham Academy. As stated by Coach Lampert, “The goal for this year for all runners is to improve. When we improve, we will win.” Our runners would love to have school-wide support at their home meets, which are located right here on campus. Sailing There are exciting things in the future for the sailing team this season. Team captains Cameron Lloyd, Mihir Damle, and Michael Hostutler have picked up right where last year’s seniors left off and have further strived to push everyone to keep up the intensity. The goal for all varsity sailors this year is to win the TCIS championship as well as the State Championship. Later, they hope to qualify for the Mid-Atlantic Championship. The primary competition and
main focus is set on Norfolk Collegiate, Christchurch School, and Poquoson High School. Not only are our sailing student-athletes focused on performing well in high school, but some are seeking to compete in college. According to their head coach, Coach Etheridge, “It’s a little early to see which of our sailors will continue to compete in college, but we’re hopeful to get a couple at big name schools.” Let’s hope our incredible sailing team is able to achieve their goals!
Soccer All eyes are on soccer this season! The boys varsity team, lead by Michael Wakeham and Cabot McTavish, should have an incredible season this year, despite losing extremely talented athletes from last year’s Class of 2018. The boy’s coaches, Coach Monaco and Coach Denson, have high hopes for the team this year, and one of the main goals for the team is to obtain another TCIS victory. According to Coach Denson, “Our training and trips to the Oceanfront and Mount Trashmore will play a key role into our success for this season. We have trained non-stop and it should be a great season.” The most challenging games of the season are against St. Christopher School and Cape Henry Collegiate, one of Academy’s top rivals. The boys would highly appreciate having as much support as possible from fans attending those games.
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Opinion Retweeting Activism in a Digital Age Katherine Barbour ‘19
I sink into the couch next to my snoozing dog,
prop my feet on the coffee table, and type out a snarky caption about the Second Amendment. Posted. I watch as the likes and comments roll in. 10,000 views… 15,000… 50,000. Within the day it has reached more than 300,000 people. 300,000 impressions made. All from the comfort of my own living room. Generation Z, also known as the Post-Millennials, has grown up during an age of political tumult. Poised at the center of the gun debate, kids born after 2000 represent a new wave of activists who offer a fresh view on the major issues of our day. What’s more, our expertise in social media means we wield a degree of influence that many adults cannot begin to grasp. It is this skill that will help Gen Z reset the state of our country’s civil discourse. The voices of the young have long been ignored: We are too inexperienced to understand the complex world of politics, the thinking goes. But social media and the Internet have upended politics as usual. While past generations of teenagers had no national platform, no effective way to organize, and limited access to information, Gen Z has all of this at its fingertips. Legislators are beginning to recognize the threat we pose to their jobs. They’re afraid. And they should be. Today, we can spread information quickly and effectively on social media, mobilizing peers to register to vote and making waves in our political system. We are no longer sidelined while old men decide our fate. As a seventeen-year-old, I know the power of social media firsthand. A year and a half ago, I created my own political activism page with Sarah Yue. Our account has evolved from two girls expressing their opinions on Instagram to a platform for worldwide political discourse. Our diverse community of races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities opens up our page to differing opinions and experiences. Together, we educate one another on life outside our immediate communities.
We now have a following of more than 7,000 people, the majority teenagers. With so many young people joining the political scene through us, I have hope that we can change the system that has ignored us for so long. And we are just the tip of the iceberg. Every time a follower interacts with our account they start a chain reaction that, in turn, involves their followers. Through this ripple effect, we are increasing the likelihood that Gen Z will vote. A 61-million-person experiment conducted by James Fowler and the University of California–San Diego during the 2010 Congressional elections found exactly this. When Facebook users saw their friends voting and expressing political interest online, they were driven to do the same. Beneficial peer pressure. There’s no question that Generation Z lives on the Internet. According to a 2018 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers use smartphones. This massive teen presence can help even out the “inter-generational imbalance” in political involvement, as reported by a 2017 SAGE Journal article. The article goes on to state that social media provides a “low-cost site for engagement” that allows teenagers of all socioeconomic backgrounds to participate in political discourse. Between 1980 and 2016, the US Census found that Americans under thirty were the least likely to vote of any age group. This disappointing statistic has been attributed to young people just not caring. But maybe this turnout is due to the fact that the media of the past spoke to adults, not teenagers. Social media and the Internet grants young people not only access to information we care about, but a platform to spark change before we can even vote. This is our chance to change the pattern of voter turnout. We may be under eighteen, but we are not children. We haven’t been for a long time. since our schools have been shot up. Not since our young black classmates have been murdered by police. Not since kids our age have been put in
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Opinion continued from page 9 Not since our schools have been shot up. Not since our young black classmates have been murdered by police. Not since kids our age have been put in cages on the border. Not since we have been dubbed “actors” for speaking the truth. Because of you all, we have been forced to grow up too soon. For decades, participation in elections has been led by older generations. Nonetheless, young people are now voicing their opinions like never before. This newfound passion for social and political change has become a driving force toward the 2020 election. Using social media to involve younger folks, teenagers can profoundly influence the world of politics. Young people are sick of being talked over, walked over, and tossed aside. Adults, discount us at your own risk. We’re voting.
Letter from the Editors I am honored to be Editor-in-Chief of The Belfry, working alongside writers with a range of cultures and beliefs. I look forward to another year of delivering quality content to Norfolk Academy, including academic and athletic news as well as showcasing the unique perspectives our student body holds regarding the world. Thank you for your support, and I am honored to serve you all. Solomon Duane ‘19 Joining The Belfry as a sophomore was not on my agenda. I loved writing, but publishing my thoughts and opinions was not a priority. Thankfully, my Co-Editor-in-Chief adjusted my plans while dragging me to the first Belfry meeting of the year. Since then, I have grown as a writer, and I feel capable of writing thoughtful articles. So just because joining The Belfry may not be your first option, I implore you step out of your comfort zone and see what happens. Hopefully you learn to enjoy your time in The Belfry as much as I have. Maiya Foleck ‘19 Hello! For those of you who do not know me, my name is J.R. Herman, and I am the junior editor of The Belfry. As an avid reader and writer, being part of The Belfry has been an incredible experience for me, and has allowed me to meet new people. My time on The Belfry staff has also given me the opportunity to share my writing with the Norfolk Academy community. I encourage you to try something new and consider writing a piece for The Belfry. J.R. Herman ‘19