The
Belfry
A Norfolk Academy Upper School Publication — 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 — Fall 2017 Issue No. 1
Upper School Life ‘What is Honor’: Adavya Dhawan’s Address to Tunstall page 2
‘Greetings’: A Welcome Back to Tunstall page 6
Sports The Creation of Eve Mila Colizza
Fall Season Review: NA Sports Update
Staying in Touch: The Additions to Our Campus
page 3
Solomon Duane ‘17
Advice
After months of waiting and patiently enduring the construction in the heart of our campus, we finally did it: the Massey Leadership Center is open. When first approaching the new center of campus, the most notable change physically is the matching architectural style with the Fine Arts Center and Batten Library. Before, the oddly colored May Building was beautiful on the inside, but did not outwardly conform with the rest of the campus due to recent renovations. Upon entering the front doors, one really begins to admire the building’s elegant design. There is not a inch of wasted space; everything is where it should be, and the area feels open yet purposeful. A slightly-contrasting, wood-walled staircase frames the front desk, and futuristic lights hang from the ceiling. To the right and left are offices with perfectly tinted window-walls, and upstairs are more offices, which centralizes the administrative branches of our school into one cohesive working space. In the back, directly behind the stairway, is the only official classroom in the building.
Dear Belfry: ‘How Can I Stop Procrastinating?’ page 7
The Belfry 2017-18
A Letter from the Editors page 8
continued on page 3
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The Belfry Publication
Fall 2017
Upper School Life What is ‘Honor’: Adavya Dhawan’s Address to the Upper School Adavya Dhawan ‘18
The Belfry Issue No. 1
Norfolk Academy 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, Virginia 23502 www.norfolkacademy.org
Co-Editors-in-Chief Emily Batts ’18 Mila Colizza ’18 Junior Editor Solomon Duane ‘19 Faculty Adviser Mrs. Charlotte Zito ’99 Contributors Hans Christoffersen ’18 Mila Colizza ’18 Kevin Duan’19 Solomon Duane’19 Daniel Prohaska ’18 Reagan Richardson ’18 Zach Minor ‘19 Cover Art Mila Colizza ‘18
For whom are you most grateful in life? There are so many different people to think aboutfamily, teachers, friends- which truly goes to show just how many individuals impact our lives, and how many lives we impact in return. When most people think of being honorable, we think of ourselves, that we shouldn’t lie, cheat, or steal because it can hurt our own social or academic reputation, our own integrity. But consider the effect that your actions can have on others, how breaking the honor code may influence the way your family, teachers, and friends look at you. As a school that greatly values honor, it is important that we both appreciate and obey the honor code, not only out of respect for ourselves, but also out of the respect for all those to whom we are most grateful. Besides, we have all experienced first-hand the benefits of a vibrant community of trust at Norfolk Academy. The ability to leave our bags lying around campus or in open lockers, knowing they will be there when we return, serves as both a convenience and a reminder of our respect for each other. What is more, that community of trust allows us to produce a new Honor Council every year that protects the honor code and reinforces our strength as a student-run system. Finally, through our continued appreciation for the honor system,
we have been able to extend that bond of trust towards our wonderful faculty, who in turn provide us more freedom within the classroom. However, there are a number of weaknesses in our system that we need to address to fully embrace honor in this community. The Honor Council strongly believes that the majority of our problems come from a lack of understanding. As students of the honor system, it is crucial that we fully comprehend what specific actions constitute an honor offense. Certainly no lying, cheating, or stealing are generally understood terms, but the minute details of acts such as plagiarism are often misinterpreted. The fine line between what differentiates paraphrasing from direct quotation is one example where plagiarism can become perplexing. In order to combat this issue, please listen carefully to the specific honor guidelines of your teacher, so that you don’t unwittingly commit an offense that should’ve been avoided. The Honor Council also recognizes that our own work is often discreet or misunderstood, and we plan to embark upon a greater transparency initiative that better educates the student body on the council’s functions. One of our goals this year involves allowing advisee groups to hear directly from a member of the honor council with the chance to ask specific
questions about our system. We are eager to hear more suggestions from you this year, and the Council wants to provide you several platforms to share your thoughtful criticism. We are also well aware of your complaints regarding the Honor Council’s punishments, which are often considered too harsh and inconsistent. With regards to the extent of our recommendations, I want to caution everyone from thinking that an honor violation is a small and easily excusable action. As upper school students, we should now fully understand both the importance of maintaining honorable behavior as well as the consequences of violating the system. However, we do also view inconsistency as a key issue and plan to solve this problem with the establishment of sanctioning guidelines. Essentially, these guidelines would provide general time ranges for different violations, so that similar honor offenses would receive similar punishments. However, there are several factors that the Council considers in our recommendations, and those factors can significantly alter the ranges placed in the sanctioning guidelines. Nevertheless, we view it as a step in the right direction, and hope to seek your input in developing this important document.
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Upper School Life continuedfrompage2 Finally, let us not fail to understand that the faculty is ultimately here for our support. There will be several stressful moments for all of us this year: college applications for seniors, credo and U.S. projects for juniors, and of course the Wuthering Heights paper for sophomores. But know that teachers are able to help, and don’t let these stressful moments get the best of your integrity. Also, make sure to meet all of your deadlines, and plan for these assignments ahead of time, because over-procrastination is the single greatest cause for an honor offense. However, if you’re truly struggling with too much work, and know that you are completely unprepared, it is always better to ask for help than to put yourself in a position where you may feel the temptation to cheat. Today, right after chapel, we will begin our annual tradition of signing the honor boards. As you place your signature, make sure to reflect upon what honor means to you, and how your actions impact the greater community. Seniors will be signing in the Massey living room, Juniors in Landmark, Sophomores in the Oliver Study Area, and Faculty in The Commons. We will conclude at 10:15, and any remaining students can sign during H bell. Honor ultimately defines our strength as a community, and it is crucial that we work to protect what is arguably the most important feature of Norfolk Academy. •
continuedfrompage1 Additionally, there are four community spaces with televisions, whiteboards, and surprisingly comfortable chairs that look like something Mr. Oberdorfer would dream about after one of his Star-Trek sessions. All these resources have already been put to use with club and Fellows meetings, as well as for recreation and socialization. The glass walls add a unique touch to the study areas, with only spaced out panels to separate each room. Behind the building lies a paved courtyard, with large rocks to sit on and work under the sun while the good weather lasts. Overall, the student body feels incredibly grateful for the ability to have such a spectacular space. With modern architecture and incredibly crafted work spaces, the building stands proudly at the center of campus, representing the mixture of ideas, cul-
tures, and personalities of our Norfolk Academy community. •
Fall Season Review: Norfolk Academy Sports Update Zach Minor ‘18
Football Last season resulted in head coach Steve Monninger taking more measures to rebuild the program as he took an 0-10 team to 7-4 and made his first playoff appearance. The Bulldogs look to repeat last season’s success and make it back to the playoffs. Leading them will be their seven captains: Cam Call, Matt Dalton, Jordan Blackwell, Christian Randolph, Campbell Pozin, George Stedfast, and Tyler Tabor. Coach Monninger believes they can repeat their success, but said, “the team goes as far as the offensive line takes them.” This senior lead team is trying to win the TCIS championship and make a stronger push for a playoff berth and Championship. Boys’ Cross Country Captains, Bascombe Traywick, Adavya Dhawan, Sammy Delorenzo, Josh Rubin, Hunt Stockwell, Stanton McDuffie, and Justin Zahn lead the team in this fall season. Bascombe Traywick aims to fill the shoes of Petey Decker ‘17 as the team’s #1. The departure of Decker is a huge blow to the team, as he has been their main runner for years, giving them consistency. As they have to shuffle the lineup with the loss of their number one runner, they may have trouble winning TCIS and VISAA. We feel confident that Coach Lampert will find ways to make it back to the top spot after key losses. With multiple seniors departing, many people will have to step up to achieve a successful season.
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Upper School Life continuedfrompage3 Girls’ Cross Country Julia Lambert ‘17, VISAA State Champion, left sizable running shoes that need to be filled by the team this season. Partly filling those shoes will be her sister Elle Lambert who brought home All State honors last season. All TCIS Maddie Brooks along with Emma Summers will also step up to contribute to the scores this year. Just like boys cross country the team will have to battle the loss of their #1, but this team is fully equipt to rebuild and look to finish higher than 2nd in the TCIS and 7th in the State. Coach Lampert will continue to train his young team and get them into position to compete and win TCIS and State. Volleyball Taylor Harvey brings back All TCIS and All State honors, as she leads last year’s 4th ranked team in the State. The team, coached by Patricia Hopkins, tries to continue where they left off last year, finishing runner-up in the TCIS and reaching the Semi-finals in the State tournament. Returning only three seniors, this is a very young team that will rely heavily on their coach and experienced juniors. The loss of Hannah Barcus (UVA ‘21) leaves a hole next to the net alongside Mackenzie Mills.Wanting to improve on their 19-10 record and 6-3 TCIS record, the team has high hopes in spite of their youth. Field Hockey Coming off a championship season, they look to continue their dominance by trying to improve on their 20-2 record last season. Liz Heckard and Greer Gill try to lead a solid team as their quest is to win 3 championships in 4 years. Coach Werkheiser looks to keep pushing her athletes and prepare them, as many of her players look to continue their athletic careers in college.They are likely to do well, as they have the returning player of the year in the TCIS, Greer Gill, and four first team all state players: Clarkson, Fulmer, H. Gill, and G. Gill. They have big games against Cox high school and Trinity Episcopal whom they have meet in all three of their state final games. They have to fight the loss of their starting goalie due to a year abroad. However, with many returners bringing experience and leadership, the team is expecting nothing short of perfection this season. Boys’ Soccer Nathan Wachtmeister, Chase Yager, and Finn Cochrane lead the Bulldogs into a chase for another TCIS championship. The team looks to build on their quarterfinal loss last year. Their top games are against Cape Henry, but they want to beat them in the regular season and not just in the TCIS tournament. Soccer depends on seniors and juniors bringing leadership and experience to the
teams. They look to right the ship after losing the TCIS player of the year Taylor Acra ‘17 and All TCIS player, Ryan Fulmer ‘17. The team wants to improve upon their 18-5-1 record and bring a state playoff game home to NA. Coach Greg Monaco looks to build on his second year as head coach, pushing the team past the first round of State Playoffs. Sailing Following the departure of their head coach, the team looks to advance from where Coach Knape left off. They want to reach Gold Fleet, which is their championship game they reached last year. They have a new coach, but most of the players are returning. The leadership of Hans Christoffersen, Lawson Montgomery, and Alek Sas brings experience and skill to the young team. They also have All-State Mihir Damle and Lawson Montgomery, and All-TCIS Jack KIlduff and Cameron Lloyd. Girls’ Tennis Tennis looks to continue their dominance, and when I say dominance, I mean not losing a match in two years. With five returning players in singles and doubles, they don not lose much. Also, returning player of the year, Caitie Sullivan, and coach of the year, Michael Duquette, are joined by Ingrid Benkovitz and Jane Carter Chandler who brought back first team All-State honors. Chemistry and camaraderie abounds among the members of this undefeatable team. •
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Upper School Life Norfolk Academy’s New Teachers Mila Colizza‘18
Norfolk Academy welcomes new faculty and staff to the 2017-2018 school year. In order to let students of Tunstall and Royster to get know teachers, we asked a few of them to tell us something interesting students may not know about them. So, next time you see them in the hallway, maybe you can ask them about some of these interesting times in their lives. Tenaya Vallery: “In college, I studied abroad in Bristol, En-
gland and had a blast learning about and seeing the art work by Banksy.” Kevin Denson: “I have been to a World Cup final, and I have been backstage with Elton John, Gwen Stefani, Ron Thomas, and Slipknot.” Megan Hallberg: “I have gone skydiving before. I also lived in Jakarta, Indonesia for three years (from age 13-16) .” •
August 24th: Senior class luncheon with Norfolk Academy Faculty August 28th: Norfolk Academy welcomes students back onto campus, as well as thenew first-graders, apart of the Class of 2029 August 30th: Tunstall Students battle it out during the Tunstall Olympaid, but ultimately, it is the yellow team that grabs the trophy September 1st: Norfolk Academy’s Varsity Football team dominated the field against Norfolk Christian, winning 44-25, in the 5th Annual Kickoff Classic September 6th: Twelve students from Colegio Europeo de Marid arrived in the United States to be welcomed by their NA host families for two-weeks September 14th: Jimmy Peecie ‘18, Tunstall Student Council President, spoke to Tunstall students, reminding them to focus on actively listening September 22nd: Norfolk Academy alumna, Alyssa Embree Schwarts ‘98, sepak toTunstall Students about her new novel, The Lost Causes
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Upper School Life Greetings: A Welcome Back to Tunstall Kevin Duan ‘19 Welcome back to school!!! Some of you may be glad to hear those words, but I know most of you are thinking “NOOOO!” For those of you who absolutely do not want to be here, just try to look at the bright side of the situation. This 2017-2018 school year at Norfolk Academy is not characterized like previous years such as the years of Family or Respect, but it is the year of Listening. It is important to listen to your parents, your teachers, your siblings, your classmates, and most importantly, yourself. People nowadays are so obsessed with expressing their own ideas and often forget to take a second, catch their breath, and listen to other people; doing so can change your perspective on life. There are many things to look forward to this school year: new clubs, more freedom, and new opportunities. This year, the student WiFi is back and even faster than last year. Now, the Massey Leadership Center is available for student use. The new Wynne-Darden Stadium is ready for the upcom-
ing seasons. There is a plethora of new faculty members (although the past ones will be missed). The list goes on. That said, the new school year can be intimidating. For you sophomores, welcome to the upper school.The first issue you will come to is the room numbering. Just so you know, it does not get easier. The next thing you’ll have trouble with is the block schedule. I can confidently say you will get used to it and come to like it. Go about your work in a smart manner and you will be fine (i.e. don’t wait last minute to do everything and remember to check your schedule for quizzes and tests). Finally, if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. We are all friends after surviving Middle School together, and we can help each other get through Upper School. For the juniors, we have made it past the first year and are coming up on the halfway point of our Upper School education. Don’t be stressed by the SAT/ACT’s and remember that grades do not define us.
You are all intelligent and capable of doing anything you want. Seniors, this is your last year, make it count. You have gone through eleven years of work on the way to where you are now. Before you know it, you’ll be leaving our school and entering the real world. Do not let the senioritis get to you. Just hang in there for one more year. And finally, to the faculty, thank you for all you have done for us these past years and being there to support us. Through close relationships you have changed us for the better. With this coming year, I ask you to once again be the influential people you are and know we all appreciate what you do. As we all walk into this new year, I ask you all to rexamine who you are and remember what this community means to you. Listen to each other, engage with the community, and make the most of this school year. • “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things” -Kurt Vonnegut
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Advice Dear Belfry,
Dear Belfry,
I have been struggling to make time to work on my college applications (S.O.S.) How do I make time for college apps? Signed,
I always have so many assignments to do, but I always put them off! :( What are some ways to end procrastination? Signed, Pointless Procrastinator
Stressed Senior
First semester of your senior year is tough, no kidding! However, you can definitely handle it. Each Sunday, make a list of your goals for your college applications for that week. Then, plan out the days you want to work on them. If you can find 30 minutes each night, then do that; but, if you have a lot going on that week, then plan out a few hours on the weekend to get things done. Each week your goal doesn’t have to be a monumental “dent” in your applications, but overtime you will notice how much you actualy have completed. Start small--maybe write two paragraphs for your CommonApp essay this week.
Dear Belfry, Help! How do I pass Dr. Naujoks’s Class? Signed, Panicking Poli-Sci Student
Although governemnt and political science may be difficult to grasp, everyone is capable of doing so! 1. PAY ATTENTION! The time when you learn the most is in the classroom. If you don’t pay attention in class, then you won’t be able to take good notes, therefore, you may get a bad grade on an upcoming quiz or test. Paying attention is more than half the battle to passing any class. 2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Doing you homework reinforces what you have learned in class, or prepares you for what you may learn in class the next day. 3. ASK FOR HELP! If you aren’t understanding the material, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for help.You might even get to know a teacher outside of the classroom!
Procrastination is something we all deal with at some point. Think of it like this--your assignments are not going to go away, so the sooner you get them done, then the more time you will have to not be so stressed out. It also helps a lot to work on projects, or upcoming assignments over the weekend; therefore, when you come home after an exhausting game or rehearsal, you will have already completed some of your work due that week. It is easy to put things off, but just remember that the sooner you get it done, the better off you are!
Dear Belfry, I am really having trouble with this new “class at 8:15” thing. How do I get to class on time? Signed, A little late Adapting to the new schedule may seem intimidating for those of us who are used to getting to school around 8:13 and running a short distance to get to chapel. However, now, overflow is a bit more than a two-minute sprint to classes in the Upper School. Make a goal to get to school around 8:00 if you enjoy your beauty-sleep. All you have to do is wake up about ten to fifteen minutes earlier--instead of sprinting you can be walking, you will be able to unpack your bag before classes begin, and you will get a chance to say hi to your friends before your first class begins.
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EDITORS A Letter from the Editors Emily Batts ‘18 and Mila Colizza ‘18 As we embark upon a new year for The Belfry, we hope to represent the changes, both literal and figurative, around the Norfolk Academy community. We are thrilled to be the editors this year, and foresee both challenges and opportunities in the near future. Our primary goal is to encourage student involvement and give a voice to multiple perspectives on significant issues. Hi, my name is Emily Batts. In my third year at Norfolk Academy, I have looked back upon my time here fondly. As someone who still reads a physcial copy of the newspaper each Sunday, I enjoy not only being a reader, but also a contributer to a publication. In fact, being a writer has urged me to look past my own opinions, invoking a sense of change not only in my writing, but also in myself. Through The Belfry, I hope that I challenge others to do the same, in their writing as well as their everyday actions.
Hi, my name is Mila Colizza. As a lover of books and writing of all kinds, I feel honored to be a part of this publication. To me, writing should reach beyond the constraints of a single topic to connect with the reader. Good writing can make the mundane exceptional and the exceptional accessible. Good writing, as defined by the reader, is the sincerest form of empathy. As you peruse The Belfry’s issues this year, I know that you will find such writing, and I hope that you will appreciate the dedication of the staff.
The past months in the United States have been marked by social and political turmoil. A willingness to listen, to appreciate diverse perspectives—in the Senate chamber and also in the homes of millions of Americans—will invoke positive progress. In this year of listening, we hope to foster a spirit of understanding and compassion in members of the Norfolk Academy community and the greater communities to which we belong. •
The Belfry staff wishes you a HAPPY FALL!