Volume IV Issue 2
ANDEE’S STORY
What some may thought of as a life-ending brain injury becomes an inspiration for the HIES community
REMEMBERING ALICE MALCOLM RECYCLING AT HIES MENTAL HEALTH AT HIES
Winter 2015
WINTER 2015
table of contents
LIFESTYLE 6 8 10 12
EDITORS’ PICKS FASHION AND MUSIC COO COO FOR COCOA GIVING BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
PROFILE 14 18
STUDENT-TEACHER COUNTERPARTS WRESTLING GENDER ROLES: ALEXIS SOLIS
FEATURE 20 22 26 32
WINTER SPORTS ALICE TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH: ANDEE POULOS RECYCLING AT HIES: NONE, OR A TON?
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FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN EDUCATION GAP THE QUAD SEX-ED AT HIES: TAUGHT OR NOT? THE F WORD DONALD DUCK FOR PRESIDENT
OPINION
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Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School | 805 Mt. Vernon Hwy NW | Atlanta, GA 30327
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EDITOR’S NOTE
is the season to be jolly. Winter time is stained with old men dressed as Santa in malls, abnormally large Christmas trees, and extravagant gingerbread houses. The holiday season, of course, stems from religion. For practicing Christians, for example, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, and not about the elves and reindeer. Remembering the true meaning behind the holiday season is indispensable, but recognizing the season’s newer revelations and traditions is important as well. During this season, we receive presents. A lot of presents. As materialistic as it might sound, you would be lying if you said you hated gifts. Gifts are a way for you to see who truly cares about you and to remind you of your daily blessings. While receiving presents is great and all, giving them is even better. Some may argue that the commercialization of the holidays takes away from the true meaning. But, in reality, it works to emphasize it. If the commercialization of the holidays stresses the importance of giving, then it also demonstrates the importance of service. One of the four pillars of HIES’s Mission Statement is “a sense of service to the world community.” While we should give back year round, the holiday season promotes a substantial amount of service. Because we are so blessed ourselves, it is our duty to help those in need. Whether you donate cans to a food bank, or raise
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money to find a cure for a disease, there are an infinite amount of ways to do charity work. In a multitude of articles in this issue, the C&G staff reveals various ways that you the reader can give back to the greater community. With the holiday season in mind, I challenge you to take the time to do meaningful charity work in an effort to give to those who truly need it. Speaking of need, I need to thank special people who make everything the journalism program does possible. Mrs. Elms, thank you for giving the staff various opportunities to take our talents above and beyond our expectations. You are a true gift to our program and the school. Thank you to Mr. Durst and Mr. Barton for allowing us to uncover the truth to every story. Thank you both for also hosting a press conference with our staff. Your support means the world to our program. Thank you to any and all other students and faculty members who made our journalistic dreams a reality. &
WHITNEY WEISS, Editor-in-Chief
THE STAFF
Editor-in-Chief WHITNEY WEISS
Section Editors LILY HARRINGTON CLAIRE SIMMEL Layout Editors SARAH KALLIS GRACE SIZEMORE CORINNA WADE Social Media Editor GRACEN BETTS Online Manager ANNA CARR HANKS Staff Writers CADE ANDERSON KATHERINE BEEN ELLIE EPPERSON JOHNNA GADOMSKI SYDNEY GREEN
FOLLOW US theCandG
Contributing Writers GREYSON BURNETT SHEA FLEMING EMMA ROLADER CATE O’KELLEY FRED SAGER COLE SMITH EMMA WHITE
Contributing Photographers ATHENIA ANDERSON REILLY MCCLAIN Advisor DANIELLE ELMS Affiliations Quill & Scroll, NSPA, GSPA and CSPA
theCandG theCandG thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com
EDITORIAL POLICY C&G is a student publication published for the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School community. All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire journalism staff or those of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. The C&G staff seeks to accurately report news, ideas and events relevant to our readership in a professional and unbiased manner. All content is controlled and edited by staff advisors and editors. The staff will only publish legally protected speech that abides by the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and the invasion of privacy. &
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Editors’ Picks GRACEN BETTS, ANNA CARR HANKS, GRACE SIZEMORE, section editors design, GRACE SIZEMORE
Movies ELF
Home Alone
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Lowdown: This hilarious Christmas classic will leave you bent over in laughter. ELF follows a human who was raised as an an elf as he travels to New York to find his real father. When all he knows is Christmas and Santa, being thrown into the busiest city in the world creates chaos for him and his family.
Lowdown: A mischievous 8-year old boy, Kevin McCallister, wishes his family never existed before a holiday trip, until he wakes up the next morning to an empty house. What starts out as an exciting adventure with no rules or parents turns into trouble when two thieves plan to rob Mcallister’s house. With bravery and witt, he must outsmart these criminals in order to protect his home.
Rated: PG for some mild rude humor and language.
Rated: PG for slapstick violence and mild action, and for language.
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@mscraftberrybush
@days_til_christmas
n enticing red, green, and gold color palette fills the posts of the @ mscraftberrybush Instagram page. You will find decor and gift ideas flowing from this account, and best of all, if you see something you like, some items featured are available for purchase. There’s no doubt you will be inspired to amp up your Christmas decorations after following this account.
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mpatiently waiting for the “most wonderful time of year” to come back into grasp? Even though @days_til_ christmas can’t actually make Christmas come quicker, it will gift all it’s followers a feeling of festive cheer. With daily posts as reminders of the days left until Christmas, everyone can get excited together as the holiday nears closer and closer.
Gifts for Parents Tervis Tumbler What: With the ability to keep any drink warm or cold, these colorful and fun water bottles are the perfect gift for any parent on the go. If you can’t find a bottle with a design you like, head over to Tervis.com and choose your own colors and prints, or even add a name or picture. Where: Tervis.com, Ace Hardware, Walmart, Sam’s Club
Picture Frame What: Christmas time is about celebrating family and spreading love, so what better way to show you care than to gift a picture frame. It can be personalized with paint and decorations, and of course a special picture. Where: Target, Michaels, Ikea, Hobby Lobby Price: $5-$50
Price: $10-$35
Gifts For Friends Key Fob
Swell Bottle
What: From schools to monograms, a key fob is the perfect gift for any teenager. Especially for a new driver, this can be a cute addition to their keychain. They are also practical since you can hold your keys by putting your fingers through the loop.
What: Keeping your icy drink cold for 24 hours and warm for 12, these water bottles are perfect for year round use. Not only are they thin and easy to transport, but they come in a variety of trendy patterns and sizes so you’ll be sure to find one that fits what you want.
Where: Onward Campus Shop, Etsy
Where: J.Crew, Nordstrom
Reserve,
Price: $28.50
Price: $25-$45 (depending on size)
youtubers
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very day in December, Youtube celebrity Zoe Sugg picks up her camera and vlogs her days, titling them “Vlogmas.” Consisting of DIYs, fun outings, and her daily life activities, these videos are a simple way to get into the holiday spirit. If you are interested to see what this year’s vlogmas has in store, you can subscribe at Morezoella.
Zoe Sugg
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ollow this spunky Youtuber throughout the month of December as she decorates her apartment, tries out new recipes, and gets into the Christmas spirit. Head over to her second channel, where she posts all of her daily vlogs. With her bubbly personality, you are sure to love these videos and feel jolly for the holidays. Tis’ the season to subscribe to Ingrid and watch her entertaining vlogs.
TheGridMonster Winter 2015 | C&G | 7
Music KATHERINE BEEN, staff writer design, GRACE SIZEMORE
Indie Pop
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icking off the new album with three cheery pop songs, frontman Christofer Drew combines elements from previous albums as well as different sounds to attract new listeners. Track three, “Red Balloon”, presents a light-hearted melody resembling a summer playlist while “Happy New Year” tells a tale of wanting to be somewhere else in life with a mellow acoustic guitar. “Peace Song” provides strong anti-war imagery and ukulele similar to their previous albums. Although this album barely resembles previous work, Black Cat works to attract new fans as well as please older fans.
Seasonal Spotify Playlist
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he newest album from Metric, Pagans in Vegas, starts off strong with “Lie Lie Lie” explaining the lies media feeds us. In track “Fortunes”, singer Emily Haines’ calming vocals accompany heavy synth, giving off a cheerful, carefree feel. An exciting song about eternal love, “The Shade” offers not only an electronic version, but also a beautiful acoustic version, showcasing Haines’ stunning voice. Finally, track “Blind Valentine” delivers more of the electronica Metric is known for. Although the tracks listed are a sample, this album is definitely worth a listen.
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Indie Rock Winter 2015 | C&G | 8
Holly Jolly Christmas Wonderful Christmastime The Shins Boots The Killers
Synthpop
ndie rock band Small Leaks Sink Ships provides unique sounds on their album The Living Room Sessions which consists of live recordings of older songs as well as songs never previously released. The most popular song on the album “You Say Today, I Say to Dance”, begins with cheerful piano followed by quite vocals in the background leading to track two, “God’s Tears”. Although lacking vocals, this song makes up for it with its enticing combination of piano and guitar. “Treedom” continues the mix of piano and barely audible vocals to wrap up the album.
Christmastime The Smashing Pumpkins White Christmas Bright Eyes Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) The Raveonettes All I Want For Christmas Is You My Chemical Romance 30 Days Never Shout Never Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Tyler Hilton
Fashion GRACEN BETTS, ANNA CARR HANKS, SARAH KALLIS, section editors design, GRACE SIZEMORE modeling by Brie Neal and Chaucer Cook photography by Cade Anderson
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his winter season, women will be in style wearing heavy jackets, sweaters, jeans, leggings, and tights. While men will wear the classic button up with a sweater, long jackets, and scarves. Many of the colors you’ll see are red, dark greens, black, blue, and grey. Floppy hats for girls and beanies for guys will be popular this season, also. Overall, you can be expecting lots of color, warm coats, and scarves.
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5 1. Jacket: Calvin Klein 2. Skirt: Papaya 3. Scarf: Handmade 4. Sweater: Ralph Lauren 5. Boots: L.L. Bean 6. Shirt: Onward Reserve 9
COO COO FOR
COCOA
WHITNEY WEISS, editor-in-chief
Let’s face it. Instant cocoa mix is mediocre. Homemade hot chocolate is a step in the right direction, so why not further your repertoire with these special recipes?
SALTED CARAMEL INGREDIENTS 1 cup milk 2 tbs cocoa powder 2 tbs caramel syrup 2 tbs sugar 1 pinch of salt
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Whisk together cocoa, sugar, a pinch of salt and about 2 tablespoons of milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Whisk in 1 tbs caramel syrup and the rest of the milk. Heat over medium heat. 2. Pour caramel syrup into mug so the mug is coated. Add hot chocolate and stir. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of the remaining caramel sauce, and a pinch of salt.
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WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT INGREDIENTS
1 cup milk ½ cup white chocolate chips ½ tsp peppermint extract Whipped cream Candy cane Marshmallows
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Stir the milk and chopped white chocolate together in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer and the chocolate is melted. (Do not let it come to a boil or let the chocolate burn on the bottom.) Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and peppermint extract. 2. Pour into mug and add toppings.
RED VELVET INGREDIENTS
1 cup milk ½ cup heavy whipping cream 3 tbs sugar 2 tbs cocoa powder 2 tbs whipped cream cheese at room temperature 1 tsp red food coloring
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine the heavy cream and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Once combined, add cream cheese and whisk. Continue to add cream cheese to taste. Continue to whisk, but do not over whip. 2. Heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips and stir. Once melted, add the red food coloring and stir. 3. Once thoroughly melted, pour hot chocolate into mugs and top with the whipped cream.
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GIVING BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SYDNEY GREEN, staff writer design, GRACE SIZEMORE 12
PENCILS OF PROMISE
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encils of Promise’s (PoP) goal is to give every child in the world the opportunity for an education. PoP builds schools in the poorest communities around the globe, boasting the construction of 320 schools that assist 33,883 children with an education since 2009. Contributions are used as scholarships for children, teacher support, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene). Join the education movement and make a difference.
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elay For Life is not only devoted to raising cancer awareness but also to providing funds for cancer patients and research. Relay For Life hosts various events, the most popular being the relay. Check their websites for events near you. The event consists of the relay walk and luminaria ceremony both done to honor those lost to cancer.
pencilsofpromise.org
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RELAY FOR LIFE
relayforlife.org ANDEE’S ARMY
ndee’s Army is an organization near and dear to HIES. Started by HIES junior Andee Poulos, Andee’s Army provides financial assistance to families of children who are receiving medical treatment and care for neurological injuries. Andee’s Army is now able to help support a number of families due to their partnership with Shepherd Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Every year, Andee’s Army hosts the Andee’s Army Run/Walk, and in the past year, the organization raised $30,000 through donations.
andeesarmy.org
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SOLE HOPE
ole Hope works exclusively with Uganda in order to relieve children affected with jiggers, a foot disease caused by bacteria. Sole Hope helps to fight this terrible disease by providing medical care, teaching preventative measures, and giving shoes to the affected communities. Each dollar donated gives one child a pair of shoes for a month. Another fun way to help is by hosting a shoe cutting party with friends or family, or simply sending bandages and large safety pins.
solehope.org
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
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orld Food Program (WFP) USA raises awareness and money for the United Nations World Food Programme, the largest humanitarian agency that helps prevent hunger worldwide. Ninety percent of the donations made go toward making a hunger free future. Visit Freerice.com during free time to play the vocabulary game; for every word defined correctly, ten grains of rice are donated to WFP.
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StudentTeacher Counterparts CADE ANDERSON, KATHERINE BEEN, ELLIE EPPERSON, staff writer
Winter 2015 | C&G | 14
Jackson Yeager
Chris Yarsawich
THE longer dark brown hair. The similar facial features. The indistinguishable sense of humor. Senior Jackson Yeager and Upper School History Teacher Chris Yarsawich are practically twins, both in looks and personality. Walking through the halls, it is hard to tell these avid gamers apart.
DO YOU NOTICE ANY SIMILARITIES WITH YOUR COUNTERPART? JY: “Yeah a lot of similarities. I’ve been told we have the same laugh, same weird personality. We both love board games. We go to Dragon Con, we play video games together. We both have the same interests.”
CY: “I mean I don’t wear glasses but yeah. I think so. I just think we are both very comfortable going [a long time] without a hair cut.”
HOW DID YOU MEET? JY: “He approached me about the adventure gaming club in 9th grade and I was a stupid little freshman so I’m like ah screw that, nerds. And then I went and joined the Robotics club, which is ironic. But I didn’t join in 9th grade but in 10th he was like ‘dude cmon’ so I gave it a shot and it was actually a lot of fun so we became friends after that.”
CY: “From the moment when I saw Jackson, I knew he was a gamer and hounded him for a year to join the [Adventure] Gaming Club. But I had only taught him as a junior in AP World History.”
WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS? JY: “I’m probably going to be a programmer when I grow up. If I grow up as my stepmom likes to say. I like reading, actually. Science fiction. I actually like history a lot. I have a lot of interests. Mr. Y being a history teacher has kind of instilled that quality in me.”
CY: “I love to go for walks. I love to read. I like to make things, like little projects around the house, and I like to garden. In high school, I did band. There was a gaming club. My friend and I started a poetry club. [I ran] cross country!”
WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN GAMING? AND WHO IS BETTER? JY: “I don’t know. I just kinda like ‘hey what is this? This is a gameboy’ I turned it on and ‘hey I’m having fun’. What drew me to board games? I don’t know. [Mr. Yarsawich said] ‘join this club’. ‘okay’. So I played a few board games and I don’t know, he kinda made me. It depends on the game. I’d say we are about tied. I’m definitely better at him in Civilization 5.”
CY: I mean who doesn’t like a game? I’ve always liked games. I played it at home, with my family, friends, in high school. Every Jedi has his Padawan, right? Experience helps a lot. I’ve played most of the games more so it’s not really a fair fight. But Jackson is very good.” 15
Wendy Albrecht
Isabelle Smith
LOOK into Room 302 during D block and you may have trouble finding the teacher. Junior Isabelle Smith and US French teacher Mrs. Wendy Albrecht are the exact descriptions of the other not only in looks but also in personality.
DO YOU NOTICE ANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR COUNTERPART? WA: “Brown hair, blue eyes, we’re super awesome.” IS: “We take French.” WA: “Yeah because it’s the best!” IS: “We like to read.” WA: ““But can you tell that we look alike?” IS: “I don’t really see it. Last year and freshman year, you would walk into class and people would say, ‘Look its you, its you!’”
WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS? WA: “We like to read. I watch a lot of movies.” IS: “Yeah I watch movies, too.” WA: “Disney, over and over again? Because that’s my life.”
WHAT COURSE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CURRICULUM? IS: “That’s good because Mr. McKenzie is trying to start the debate club.”
WA: “French 1. Debate would be fun, too, right? Like a debate class.” WA: “I liked debate class a lot in high school.”
IS: “Also, Linguistics anthropology in high school. Yeah that would be cool.” WA: “I would take an Archaeology class.”
WHAT CHRISTMAS MOVIE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? WA: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” IS: “I love that one! The little elf wants to be a dentist. Aw that’s so cute! I also like Elf.” 16
Sean Hackett
Tom Rounds
WHETHER it’s playing sports or discussing quantum physics, Hackett and Rounds are similar in more ways than one. With their witty sense of humor but kind and compassionate personality, both bring out-of-this-world knowledge to our community.
DO YOU NOTICE ANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR COUNTERPART? SH: “Yeah I guess so. Something that is very strange is that we seem to complete each other’s…”
TR: “equations.” TR: “I think we are both very inquisitive. I think we are both very analytical. We both wear bow ties.”
SH: “Bow-tie guys.”
HOW DID YOU MEET? SH: “I came into your office, asking about relativity.” TR: “Yes, and general quantum physics. And then we figured out that you should really be in AP Physics C.”
AFTER SCHOOL? TR: “Girls are always allowed.”
SH: “Sometimes Dr. Rounds and I will play 1 on 1 b-ball down in the gym…it’s 1 on 1 and no girls allowed.”
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL? TR: “I played golf and I ran track. I was a sprinter and high jumper. I was in key club and service club. Math club, science club, french club. I was a nerd. I started the first hopscotch tournament. I was very into sciences, but this is kind of weird: I was never into science fairs and robotics. I loved learning about science.”
SH: “Science National Honor Society. I do a lot of stuff with Jackson Yeager and am in several of his clubs. That would include Robotics and Geography Society. They meet Tuesdays during lunch which just happens to intersect with Programming Club which meets on Tuesdays during lunch and also Business Club which meets on Tuesdays during lunch. So that’s a big problem. I always have to choose...and decide what I’m gonna do that day.” Winter 2015 | C&G | 17
SOPHOMORE Alexis Solis before her first junior varsity wrestling meet. Although she did not win, Solis gave her full effort the entire meet, and continues to improve every day.
Sean Brock/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
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WRESTLING GENDER ROLES:
ALEXIS SOLIS WHITNEY WEISS, Editor-In-Chief
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hile most consider wrestling to be an exclusively male sport, sophomore Alexis Solis defies that assumption as the lone female member of the HIES wrestling program. Although this year marks her first time ever participating in the sport, she has eagerly dedicated herself to learning and improving. Beginning boxing in the third grade, Solis has always loved the rush of “the fight.” Laughing, she says, “I may seem aggressive when I say this, but I love bringing my opponents down.” This passion for one-onone competition still holds true today, and motivates her during her practices and meets. For Solis, wrestling was the perfect transition from boxing into an HIES activity that she would enjoy. Because a female wrestler is such a rare occurrence, Coach Stacey Davis was surprised when Solis approached him about the idea of her joining the team. While unsure if she was serious, he quickly said yes. Of course, in a Coach Davis-like manner, he warned, “just be ready to work.” And work she did. After her first day of practice, Senior Captain Taylor Addington was impressed at her skills and work ethic. “She did great for her first time on the mat,” said Addington. “Wrestling has pushed me out of my comfort zone and let me achieve things I didn’t think were possible,” said Solis. While the sport is physically demanding, she “thinks of it as a very mental sport because your body can do amazing things.” To Solis’s credit,
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even when she feels sore and wants to give up, she looks forward and reminds herself that “pain is only temporary.” However, the physicality of wrestling is not always the hardest part for Solis; it is the gender double standard. Her experience with boxing has primed her for being “the” female in a male-dominated sport. Recalling a boxing practice, she explains “I was practicing with a boy and he hit me really lightly. I told him to hit me like a real person would, and he told me he was afraid I would get hurt. That made me really angry, so I punched him even harder.” Just like in her boxing career, male opponents are often worried about wrestling Solis because she is a girl. Fortunately, this assumption does not stop her, but in fact motivates her to work harder. On her first day of practice, Solis recalls that Addington “was especially welcoming, and the coaches were as well.” While her other teammates were a little reluctant at first, by the end of the first week, “the boys were more comfortable with practicing with me and as each day goes on I feel more welcomed by them.” Even if the sport seems masculine, Solis encourages other females to join the team as well. “I know a lot of girls would like wrestling it but they have never experienced it so they wouldn’t know. It might be intimidating to join, but i feel like it would be better if they tried.” said Solis. &
“Wrestling has pushed me out of my comfort zone and let me achieve things I didn’t think were possible.”
- Alexis Solis
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WINTER SPORTS
COLE SMITH, contributing writer design, GRACE SIZEMORE
BOYS BASKETBALL
After the loss of four key seniors and a controversial Sweet 16 exit last year, the boys basketball team look to continue the same linear success of years past. Two experienced seniors, Brent Duncan and Harrison Cobb will take the helm and lead this team through long, hard fought battles. Brent Duncan, who has been receiving interest from numerous Division I schools, will bring his four years of Varsity experience into great use. Harrison Cobb will see a raise in playing time and also a more significant role as a captain. The other seniors, Bentley Kennedy and Garrett Matchan, will also play a crucial role towards the team’s success. The junior class has a lot of experience and potential, as five juniors will be playing significant minutes for the Golden Bears. Ibrahim Shabazz, Cole Smith and Jules Erving will continue their positions as essential pieces to the puzzle, while Hugh Chapman and Richard Surdykowski will have court time too. Robert McGovern and sophomore Matt Meadows will also see more playing time as the season unfolds.
Junior Jules Erving goes up for a layup against a strong Riverwood defense.
Athenia Anderson/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
WRESTLING
After creating a solid reputation for wrestling in the past, the Golden Bears’ wrestling team looks to maintain that reputation while seeing great improvement to this rather young team. Head coach and Olympic wrestling referee Stacey Davis leads the team. Daniel Forrester, Ronald Grimes, Anton Kalista, Eric McGinnis and Kacey Michelsen accompany Coach Davis for this exciting season. The team’s core, composed of Keegan Donahoo, Turner Gill, John Gibson, Ryan Sherk and senior Taylor Addington, look to lead the Golden Bears’ to gold. Although this season has started with great adversity, the wrestlers look to clear their minds and cause absolute destruction on the mat in order to get the W. The squad has put in a significant amount of work during the offseason, which will help gain respect moving forward. The Golden Bears’ wrestling team looks to roar, as they compete throughout the season and go for the gold.
Sophomore Alexis Solis, the only female on the wrestling team, works to pin down her opponent.
Fall 2015 | C&G | 20
Sean Brock/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
GIRLS BASKETBALL
After the devastating loss in the state championship last season, the Lady Bears look to redefine their image and take the crown this season. But this will not be an easy mission, as Khayla Pointer and Sydney Long will miss some time with early injuries, but are sure to return to make key contributions. Veteran players Erika Cassell (NC State Commit), Aaliyah Milord, and Shai Blanding look to lead their team into battle. The toughness and great play that the whole squad exemplifies will prove to be a vital aspect to the success of this tremendous team. Throughout this winter season, juniors Grace Asbury and Patterson Williams will take on different roles this year, as they will have more opportunities out on the floor. Kaila Hubbard and Kennedy Suttle face higher expectations as they have a year under their belt. Three more sophomores, Shay Sweat, Katie Brown, and Jade Dodd Mungin, will also join the team and look to add to what could very possibly be a State-Championship caliber team.
Junior Grace Asbury works to find an open teammate.
Athenia Anderson/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
SWIMMING & DIVING
The Aqua Bears varsity swim team kicked off their season early in November at a meet at GAC. Led by head coach Andy Morrison, along with assistant coaches Mary Hanks and Lisa Portwood, the talented group of swimmers and divers have high expectations for the season. Last year, the Aqua Bears won their division for the 3rd year in a row, and placed 8th overall in the state A-AAAAA finals. With only one meet under their belt, the Aqua Bears had a great start to the season, placing 2nd at the GAC meet. Junior Cade Anderson qualified for state in the 100 yard backstroke, 100 yard butterfly, and the 50 yard freestyle. Sophomore Meghan Taner qualified in the 50 yard freestyle as well. Sean Brock, Ross Johnson, Jasper Pilkington, Cade Anderson, and Ross Johnson all qualified for the state championship in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Junior Emilee Hagerman uses her gymnastics background to perfect her dives.
Scott Coggins/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
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A L I C E
JOHNNA GADOMSKI, staff writer design, CORINNA WADE
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rust the Journey. As 2016’s theme statement, this line is familiar to students and faculty alike. But as well-known as this quote may be, few know its history at HIES. The phrase actually originates from Alice Law Malcolm, fondly known by many as just “Alice”. While this year challenges students to “trust the journey,” it also honors the passing of one of the HIES community’s most beloved members. As an HIES teacher, (grand)parent of both past and current students, and headmaster, Alice yielded an unmatchable impact on HIES. She began her journey as an art teacher in 1959, the year Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School opened. Bringing with her a powerful set of leadership skills and contagious enthusiasm, Alice progressed from art teacher to dean to, ultimately, headmaster. In her 37 year tenure, Alice promoted progress and forward thinking. Most notably, Alice spearheaded the movement to establish an Upper School, doing everything from negotiating the purchase of the land to putting in her own input on the building’s architecture. Alice even requested the loan herself, a story that highlights her ferocity. “They were trying to get a loan from the bank to build the high school.” said grandson Owen Malcolm. “They basically showed these men from the bank what they wanted to do, and she just comes out and says ‘We need 2 million dollars’… no one else would have asked it like that except for her.” Laughing, Owen adds that “she did whatever needed to be done.” Considering Alice’s accomplishments throughout her career, it is hard to imagine that she had any time to do anything besides fulfill her job as Super-Headmaster. But, in fact, she still managed to strike a work-life balance, enjoying her personal fulfillments which included: gardening, needlepoint, cooking, painting, and, of course, spending time with her family. “I loved going to her house; it felt just like home. It was full of art too. She was an artist” said grandson Kent Malcolm. “She always gave us stuff that she made,” granddaughter Libby Malcolm added on, “She painted us rocks… I have probably have like 30 smock dresses or nightgowns that she made me” Not only was Alice a remarkable grandmother, but she was also a memorable friend, always pushing boundaries and surprising those around her. “Alice was a great friend to many people” said Associate Head
of School Dorothy Sullivan. “There were always surprises with her. Alice worked long and hard on building the main gym. She made decisions about every detail. When we opened it, there was a big celebration for the first basketball game. Skip Carey, the Braves’ announcer during the winning World Series season and a parent at HI, was announcing the game. As the evening began, Alice was asked to throw the first ball. She walked to the foul line, took aim, and swooshed it! Incredible. She was all of 5 feet and maybe 100 pounds wet. I guess it was her golden touch. Oh, and she didn’t stand around and bow, etc. She just walked off like, ‘What? Why is that a big deal? Of course I made it.’ And none of us ever acted as if anything unusual had happened!” Alice’s spirited enthusiasm and spontaneity charmed individuals of all ages. After her passing, all were welcome to gather for a wonderful celebration of her life. Her funeral brought together the HIES community, garnering the attendance of faculty, students, and alumni alike. “That’s what she would have wanted: the whole coming together of the community of the school. Especially the reception-- I loved hearing all of those stories from everyone. All of the work that people who didn’t even know her put into it was amazing. They just knew the impact that she made, and they put in all of that work, and that’s just really special.” said Libby. Even after her passing, Alice continues to unite HIES’s community. In Alice’s lifetime, she empowered Holy Innocents’ to grow from a small parish preschool to the largest Episcopal School in the nation. From the Malcolm Library, to the Upper School itself, to the three fascinating freshman Malcolm triplets, to this year’s theme of “Trust the Journey”, her influence can be seen everywhere. And as long as HIES continues to embody her dedication to progress and excellence, her legacy will continue to live on. “Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School was blessed by her presence and continues to be guided by her spirit.” said current Headmaster Paul Barton. “Trust the Journey is the theme for the 2015-2016 school year, but I think there was more meaning behind this than we may think.” Kent said. “Trusting the journey for her was letting God lead her down the path she was intended to go down: eventually creating the largest Episcopal School in the nation. If everyone ‘trusts the journey’ then I think we all have places to go ourselves and very bright futures too.” &
“Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School was blessed by [Alice’s] presence and continues to be guided by her spirit.”
24
-Paul Barton
Libby Malcolm
“ ”
“
She always gave us stuff that she made. She painted us rocks… I have probably have like 30 smock dresses or nightgowns that she made me.
Kent Malcolm Born at Emory Hospital in Atlanta
1929
Graduates UGA (BS in landscape architecture)
1983 Appointed as HIES Headmaster
Owen Malcolm
“ ”
She just comes out and says ‘We need 2 million dollars’… no one else would have asked it like that except for her. She did whatever needed to be done.
”
I loved going to her house; it felt just like home. It was full of art too. She was an artist.
Begins working as art teacher at newly opened HIES
1950
1989 The HIES Upper School opens
1959
Becomes a dean
1971
2013
Awarded HIES’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winter 2015 | C&G | 25
TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH: Winter 2015 | C&G | 26
ANDEE’S STORY 27
WHEN Andee Poulos returned to Holy Innocents’ this school year. she was immediatly greeted by friendly faces and a welcoming environment.
Reilly McClain/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
SARAH KALLIS, staff writer
J
anuary 4th, 2011 was a day like any other for Andee Poulos. The, fun-loving, athletic 8th grade HIES student went through her class rotation as usual. Life went on the same way it always had. She couldn’t have foreseen the headache that would change her life forever. Later that day, Poulos went to swim practice, where she felt a severe headache, so she called her mom to come pick her up. By the time she got home, Poulos was unresponsive. Her parents called the doctor and she was immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance. The doctors discovered a bleed in her brain. She was airlifted to Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory University where she underwent a life saving surgery. Her extremely rare condition, Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), caused by abnormal connections between arteries and veins, affects less than one percent of the population. This condition often goes undetected, and causes bleeds as a result. Although AVM is mostly found in the nervous system, it can occur anywhere in the body. Usually, the bleeds occur when the person is between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. “I was just floored by the whole thing. Word got out, what had happened, and everybody showed up at Scottish Rite.” said Liz Jordet, a Poulos family friend. “It was a helpless feeling as well, because what can you do other than be there to support her parents?” “Me and my friends all just kind of joined together, and carried updates about her. And prayed a lot,” said senior Sarah Kate Schoen. Poulos couldn’t walk or talk for about a year and a half after her brain injury - and doesn’t remember any of it. “For about a year and a half, it’s like I stepped over it. It’s like it didn’t happen.” said Poulos. About two years ago, Poulos regained her ability to speak and eventually the ability to walk. She enrolled at Riverwood High School before transferring to HIES this year. But before going back to school, Poulos had lots of support in her recovery. She says that the Shepherd Center, located near Buckhead, has been the most helpful in her recovery, both physically and emotionally. Her doctors are located there, and she attends physical therapy as part of her recovery, one of them being
28
the step program, a therapy involving cardio exercise. “You work out on a treadmill, and they increase the speed. You’re not allowed to hold on to anything, but there’s a harness. It’s like you’re really walking. You’re not scared that you’re going to fall. You feel very safe.” said Poulos. She especially enjoyed this program because of the secure feeling that occurred when she was able to walk without fear of falling. However, Poulos still faces challenges daily. “It takes me longer to do pretty much everything. Like, normal things that would take people like three minutes, it would take me like ten. Or a shower; it takes people like 30 minutes, and it takes me almost an hour. So, it’s not just school related things. Everything I do takes longer.” said Poulos. Although she can walk, Poulos uses her wheelchair to get around campus because it is difficult to carry books, and she can often exhaust herself physically. The daily emotional toll of her injury is also tasking. “It’s harder when people are like ‘Oh, she’s different, she has to use her wheelchair,’ It’s not really just because I’m different. It’s more of a safety thing. People don’t always understand.” said Poulos. Like any other person, she doesn’t want to be treated differently or feel singled out. “I would love for the student body to embrace her, not be afraid of her, not feel like they can’t get to know her,” said HIES Freshman Dean Cindy Stroman. She has accomplished a lot since her injury, but Poulos is most proud of her return to HIES after attending Riverwood High School for her freshman and sophomore years. “That was my big goal, not from the beginning, but since I started back in school. I was at Riverwood, and it didn’t really seem the same. It was school, and I had friends, but it just didn’t really seem the same as it was before,” said Poulos. So, Headmaster Paul Barton and Stroman tried to make her return to HIES a reality. “Mr. Barton and I went to go observe Andee in one of her classes at Riverwood, and were just amazed. She was the most active student in the classroom,” said Stroman. Just like the majority of students on campus, Poulos has plans
ONE of Andee Poulos’ proudest moments was when she received her acceptance letter to HIES, assuring her unstoppable capabilties.
Reilly McClain/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
of college and a job, but is unsure of her career path. She wants to attend University of Georgia, since both of her parents are Bulldog fans and she grew up attending games and other campus events. Poulos has a network of support around and people who want her to succeed, such as Liz Jordet, who works in the HIES campus shop and went to college with Poulos’ dad. “I want her to accomplish whatever it is that she sets out to do and whatever her passion is. I haven’t talked to her about it lately, but I want her to accomplish whatever her passion is,” said Jordet. Stroman is also firmly in her corner, “I hope she gets to be whatever she wants to be. She loves photography. I could see her doing something artistic, working with people. Her learning style now, and her ‘disabilities’ are not going to disable her. She’s got a lot of things left to explore,” Senior Sarah Kate Schoen hopes that Poulos will “keep being her sarcastic, sassy, little self.” Poulos’ friends and family started a nonprofit, Andee’s Army, in her honor. Originally helping children with non-traumatic brain injuries, the nonprofit soon expanded to support all types of brain and spinal injuries. Andee’s Army helps families with both financial and spiritual aid in order to shoulder some of the burden. The organization assures that children affected by these conditions have access to uninsured utilities needed for their recovery, such as medical procedures, therapies, doctors, home modifications, and assistive technology. “There’s really no support for non-traumatic brain injuries, so that’s why we started this organization. So, if you can, just continue to support and join the Andee’s Army Club,” said Poulos. Non-traumatic brain injuries, like Poulos’, are not caused by an external force, and include aneurysms, tumors, and strokes. Victims tend to get less attention, so Andee’s Army helps promote awareness of these brain injuries. Students can support Andee’s Army by volunteering, donating, or simply by joining the Andee’s Army Club on campus. Popular events include the Evening of Hope, where a silent
auction is held to benefit Andee’s Army in the fall, and the Fun Run, which is held near HIES around spring. Poulos has been able to meet some of the families that Andee’s Army helps. “Actually, one of the people they’ve helped went to elementary school with me. So, that was really cool that it was someone that I really did know that they were able to help.” said Poulos. Andee’s Army continues to fulfill its mission to provide financial aid to families of children and youths with brain and spinal cord injuries, and has helped over 100 families since its 2011 conception. It also frequently partners with the Shepherd Center, which helps patients recover from brain and spinal cord injuries. Although Poulos has faced challenges in the past few years, she has managed to come out of it stronger, and has been able to help others in similar situations. “She’s an amazing girl today. It’s like her qualities, her character, she’s always been herself, but it’s just more and more touching how she affects people,” said Stroman. Poulos has accomplished a lot, and continues to be an inspiration to the HIES community with her kindness, strength and generosity. “She’s not a delicate flower like you would expect for someone who’s gone through what she’s gone through. She’s really strong and totally resilient. It’s really amazing how far she’s come,” said Schoen. “She is the kindest, most wonderful young lady who has been through a major ordeal, but has come out so strong,” said Jordet. Poulos’ determination and spirit remains powerful, and motivates many people in Atlanta to help others while they continue to fight their own battles. “When she comes in here, if I’ve had a bad day, she is my inspiration every afternoon. It’s like this gift that rolls right into my office every afternoon. We are so lucky to have her. I can’t wait to see her meet her goal and graduate as a golden bear,” said Stroman. &
“It’s hard when people are like ‘Oh, she’s different, she has to use her wheelchair.’ It’s not because I am different. It’s more of a safety thing. People don’t always understand.”
-Andee Poulos
Winter 2015 | C&G | 29
Andee’s Army Winter 2015 | C&G | 30
Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide financial assistance to families of children and youth who are receiving medical treatment and care for brain and other neurological injuries and conditions including spinal cord injuries and Multiple Sclerosis.
Vision:
How to Help:
All children and youth affected by these neurological injuries will have access to uninsured medical expenses and related resources that are necessary to aid in their personal recovery and rehabilitation. Eligible expenses for consideration include therapies, doctors and related specialists, home health aids, durable equipment, assistive technology equipment and basic home modifications.
Join the Andee’s Army Club at HIES for more volunteer oppurtunities, or go to www.andeesarmy.com for more information
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Recycling at HIES:
None, or a Ton? CLAIRE SIMMEL, section editor graphics, CLAIRE SIMMEL & GRACE SIZEMORE The HIES mission statement clearly states that the school provides a “sense of service to the world community”. With that mission, it is HIES’ responsibility to put their best efforts forward, helping to ensure a safe and clean environment for future generations. But, is HIES living up to their full potential as a environmentally friendly community? There has been discussion that HIES has been lacking in their recycling program, which poses the question: Are we simply not doing it, or is there more to the story? “When I showed up, about a month ago [September], I found out that we don’t really have a place to put recycling on campus. I was so disappointed to learn that we did not have a nice program in place, that we did not have a container to put our recycling.” said HIES Director of Facilities, Bill Fairchild. Construction of the new and efficient STEM building at HIES required a lot of space which meant that the school had to compromise in some areas in order to accommodate an addition to the new and improved campus. In doing so, “somebody called Waste Management and said that we don’t need [the recycling container] right now. So, when they built the new building, they took it away and never considered where it might go again.” said Fairchild. For the first four months of the 2015-2016 school year, HIES did not recycle. Cardboard was occasionally taken off campus to a facility, but no other materials on campus were recycled. Fairchild, a new member of the Holy Innocents’ community,
32
started in August 2015 and was reluctant to state that by October 2015, HIES did not have a recycling program on campus. Upon his arrival, Fairchild and his facilities team have put plans in place that will help to address the problem of recycling on campus. However, this is a complicated matter that cannot be solved with one container. HIES must shift the minds and eventually the actions of all community stakeholders. For starters, the recycling container is seen as an eyesore rather than a point of pride. “We are recycling now, but now we are concerned with making [recycling] convenient and easy, and to educate about it in order to become a school that cares about it deeply, rather than just doing it to check a box. We want to become intentional about why we do it,” said Head of School Paul Barton. In the past, the HIES recycling program lacked convenience and community buy-in. So, what are some steps to change this? According to senior and president of the Green Team at HIES, Maddie Seibert and the team are “[planning on] getting the recycling bins back into use since everything just goes to a landfill right now.” The blue bins around campus are present to encourage students, faculty, and staff to recycle, but carelessness results in all items in the bin unfit for recycling. If one non-recyclable item is placed in the bin, all other items are contaminated and end up as waste in the dumpster, the most common perpetrator being food waste. Since HIES has not been adamant or thorough about recycling this year, the bins served no purpose, possibly instilling bad habits
57 Sports utility vehicles
HIES accumulated 117.84 tons of waste in 2014, adding up to the approximate weight of 57 SUVs.
1.2 million Water Bottles
HIES accumulated 16. 92 tons of recycled material in 2014, adding up to the approximate weight of 1,192,912 water bottles.
Recyclable Material at HIES
of carelessness without accountability. New technologies are incorporated into As of the week of November 8th, a new the STEM building in order for it to attain 8-yard recycling container has been placed this LEED status. Motion detection lighting Paper in a collection point on campus, located left preserves energy and only uses lighting when Plastic to the main upper school entrance. HIES uses a person enters the room. The HVAC systems the process of single-stream recycling, which run from 5am to 11pm, keeping the building Cardboard accepts cardboard, metal, and paper, recycled at a comfortable temperature while it is in use, Glass together. and preserving the energy when it is not in Metal “We want to be able to gage data points on use. how much we recycle as a school in order for Students are expressing their passions for students to see the impact that it has and the difference they can preserving the environment through clubs like the Green Team make, opposed to them just putting it in a landfill,” said Barton. whose major project this year is to build a solar powered cell phone Last year alone, Waste Management collected 171.84 tons charging station in the courtyard for student use. of waste from Holy Innocents’, and approximately 16.92 tons of “There’s a lot to be done to make HIES more green, but I think a recyclable material. The cost of those services, including equipment lot of students really care about the environment and want to make rental, hauling and disposal, and fuel surcharges, was a total of a change!” said Seibert. $21,413.52, a little under the cost of one upper school student’s Even the middle school is taking action within their Recycling yearly tuition. With the school’s overall annual budget of 34 million Club, expressing interest in collecting and disposing of recycling dollars, about 0.063% of that is spent on waste management and from their building. recycling. Although HIES lacked a recycling program at the Although the construction of the STEM building is to blame for beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, Fairchild and his team the lack of recycling on campus, the building itself is environmentally have worked hard to finally create an efficient program that is now conscious. The STEM building is LEED certified, which is an officially up-and-running. A well implemented, convenient, and acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. communicated program has arrived to push HIES towards a more This certification signifies that was design and maintenance has a sustainable and eco-friendly future. “green” mindset for sustainability.
Winter 2015 | C&G | 33
From the Outside Looking in
How America’s epidemic is hitting close to home. LILY HARRINGTON, staff writer design, GRACE SIZEMORE
T
he average day of an HIES student goes as follows: wake up around 7, get dressed, eat breakfast, drive to school, attend class, eat lunch, practice for sports, go home, do homework and go to sleep, with time in between to socialize with friends, debrief on the latest and just relax. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The average day for a HIES student suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other mood disorder goes about the same - just add on insomnia, hypersomnia, lack of interest and pleasure, a constant state of worry, psychomotor agitation - all while managing homework, friends, family, and sports. As one could imagine, it all begins to pile up. Deadweight drowns suffering students while they struggle for a sense of normality. This is what it is like for students Kamryn Harley and Shepherd Bridges. “I’ve kind of always had a darker aspect on things, I guess when I would experience hardship it would really show itself, and it would be difficult to get over things and move on from adversity and pain, and it was hard to make my way back from the dark place that I think everyone goes to when they go through something difficult” said Bridges. For a while Bridges lived in a world absent of light. He began to lose interest in school and his friendships, both of which affected
his grades and social life. Nothing mattered to him except the darkness in which he was living - it was a personal mania void of empathy or care. To some, mental illness is associated to an image of an angsty and rebellious teen, trying to find a place in an all too busy world. They listen to heavy metal, paint their nails black, and dress head to toe in a dark garb. While this may be the case for some individuals, many of those suffering from mental instability are not so easy to detect. Bridges and Harley are two students in our community who suffer from depression and anxiety, defying the stereotype of the “depressed teen”, as both of these students radiate vivacity and warmth. However, underneath their contagious personalities is an internal struggle most cannot begin to imagine. Harley’s earliest memory of anxiety occurred when she was around five years old, when she began to pull out her own hair. Since then, she has been burdened with up to three panic attacks today. “I was a counselor at a music camp over the summer, and when I would be teaching the children how to play an instrument and sing a song, I would start to feel a panic attack and freak out. I had to call in another counselor so I could go calm myself down” said Harley.
“Peer support is critical. It’s like having someone go on a hike with you and show you a less rocky path.”
Winter 2015 | C&G | 34
- Claire Staples
Unlike Bridges, Harley’s family has a history of mental illness, one of the members being her father, who suffers from severe anxiety as well. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 14 percent of children nationwide, ages 13 to 18, can identify with having or having had a mood disorder (a category of mental disorders in which the underlying problem primarily affects a person’s persistent emotional state depression being the most common). It’s estimated that about 2.6 million young adults, ages 13 to 17, have suffered from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. It is likely that at least one in five people walking down the halls at HIES has suffered from a mental illness. Mental illness is similar to other illnesses, as both are a chemical imbalance or mishap. Our moods, appetite, sleep patterns, kinetic abilities, and many other daily functions are of course regulated in the brain. For example, those suffering from depression may have lower transmission levels of serotonin, a chemical that manages mood, just as individuals suffering from anxiety could have an increased blood pressure, which causes an
increased heart rate. However, mental illness takes on a different form and has effects different from say that of cystic fibrosis or leukemia, but it is nonetheless a disease, and for the most part is purely anatomical. A healthy mind can be something you inherit, or something that is just intrinsic to some people. Similarly, mental disorders are genetic, and can too be inherited, just as Harley inherited anxiety from her father. For some, it might be a history of schizophrenia which has plagued their family. For others, a traumatic situation may have left them in a vulnerable state of mind. But for all, it is not a choice. No one choses to get cancer, and no one chooses to suffer from anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, social phobia, sociopathy, or schizophrenia. Mental illness is not a matter of needing to “cheer up” or “calm down”-- it’s a serious and potentially life altering disability. Astonishingly, 18 percent of students who completed the C&G winter survey declared that they have had experience with depression, and about 40 percent reported the same for anxiety. Nearly 60 percent reported they have known someone who has been troubled by mental impairments. “I think people feel self conscious about it. If someone is struggling with depression, for people that don’t understand depression, there can be assumption that someone just needs to toughen up or cheer up.” said Claire Staples, the HIES upper school counselor. However, one of the most important parts of healing is support from your family, friends, and peers. Whether an introvert or an extrovert, whether purposefully exclusive, or open to love, at ulty some point, the struggle of going through any fit of mental Diffic ling l , o s r instability is too heavy a weight to bear alone. t s n e co lessn s of “Peer support is critical. It is like having someone go on g n i l Rest , trouble e e f a hike with you but show you a less rocky path. You’re still e y orry tigu trating, worr a w f r having to do the hike, but someone is showing you an o en le ety easier way to do it” said Staples. conc ty, musc Anxi t causes li For his own personal healing, Bridges took away into tha nt itabi or sleep r a r c i fi i n n the wilderness for two months in search of serenity and g o i i s s or tens blems s clarity from his crowded life, far from the Atlanta e r t o s di pr ith social scene. There, he learned to generate his own res w e f r e happiness, apart from the attachments of material e int f li objects or people. daily “You just have to accept it, embrace, and get something out of it instead of fighting it” said ight Bridges. t we n a After his summer experience, he managed to get c fi t i o n n n Sig e his life back on track. He joined the football team, h y to oss w g or t l i l which changed his social life for the better. Today, i b ietin ain ed a trate, d h Bridges lives an overjoyed life replenished by light. s i n Dimi r concen ss, ght g “I am really glad I can help get the word out. i e w o ne My philosophy is I should be able to use what I’ve think decisive ay d n i seen to help others” said Bridges. y r r o e or ly ev Harley was also sick and tired of the constant state r a i a n e n of worry she was in, eventually taking matters into her own Insom omnia s r hands. She began seeing and continues to see a therapist, y e a p hy ery d and she is currently taking Prozac to help curtail her attacks. v e y l However, if there is one thing Harley could change, it would be near the social stigma that surrounds not only her condition, but that of any mental illness. She agrees that HIES is lacking in support or informational groups, which is something that we as a community can work to change. & 35
“I’ve kind of always had a darker aspect on things. I guess when I would experience hardship, it would really show itself, and it would be difficult to get over things and move on from adversity and pain.”
:
ia r e t i r stic c
iety x n a for
Diagno
or
maj r o f ria e t i r c r: tic e s d o n r g o dis Dia e v i s s depre
- Shepherd Bridges
THE EDUCATION GAP IS ONLY one ROAD AWAY 36
ELLIE EPPERSON, staff writer design, CORINNA WADE
Winter 2015 | C&G | 37
T
he phrase “education gap” may evoke images of children in third world countries going to school in barren concrete classrooms, but there are countless examples of the phenomenon right here in our own backyard. In the United States of America, there’s a staggering amount of people without access to a quality education, and the line between those with and without access closely coincides with the divide between economic classes - a divide that is difficult to cross. For those individuals that want to improve their socioeconomic standing, the phrase “work hard and you will be successful” does not always ring true. “You can say, ‘work hard, work hard,’ but when there are so many obstacles stacked up against you, it is so hard to escape.” said Chris Brodnan, the liaison between Horizons Atlanta and HIES. For example, earning a degree in order to earn a higher paying job is easier said than done for low-income students. Only 41 percent of students from lower socioeconomic classes are able to complete a four year college within five years, compared to the 66 percent of their counterparts from a higher socioeconomic family. The inability for a low-income student to complete college happens for a variety of reasons, most often due to the fact that they have to work in order to support themselves while attending school. Because the low-income students have to juggle both work and school, many students’ grades drop, resulting in loss of scholarship or financial aid. When students have to choose between supporting themselves or continuing their education, their degrees are put on hold in order for them to get by. Under current economic conditions, it now takes an average of 5 generations to improve move up the socioeconomic ladder. Gaps in learning begin early. The economic background of a student is so influential to their future success that a gap between children of different classes is evident by the age of 3. On average, a child from a higher socioeconomic class will hear 30 million more words, according to Talk With Me Baby. This may seem mundane and rudimentary, but a child’s exposure to vocabulary is directly
linked to their overall academic success. The obstacles continue to grow for children from lower socioeconomic classes as they attend school. In fact, third grade literacy levels can predict high school graduation rates. A child who cannot read at a third grade level by the time they are 8 years old is four times more likely to drop out of high school than a child who is reading on par, and that figure jumps to six times more likely if the child lives in poverty, according to Talk With Me Baby. “Traditionally, funding is directly linked with test scores, meaning if students have low scores the school does not receive bonus funds. The best teachers might not want to work at underfunded and underperforming schools. It can be hard to attract the right talent to teach at struggling schools because it is a tough environment” said Brodnan. Furthering the divide, summer activity also plays a key role in brain development, but camps and additional learning materials can be out of financial reach for lower-income families. Over the course of the summer, up to 2 months of knowledge learned through the school year can be forgotten if preventative measures, such as reading, are not taken. Children from higher socioeconomic classes are more likely to read over the summer months than their lower socioeconomic counterparts, partially due to access. Solely from participation in summer activity, which reinforces school knowledge, children from higher socioeconomic classes jump 2 to 3 years ahead in their education by the start of fourth grade. So how do we close the gap and stop the cycle? Many organizations exist in an attempt to close the education gap. School systems in underserved communities are often underfunded and understaffed, a problem that Teach for America attempts to fix. Even HIES is taking a stand to help eradicate this issue. The Horizons program provides summer education and tutoring to lowincome students, ones that are drastically falling behind. “It will take people from all different sectors working together. It will take people from the business world, people from the political world, and many more.” said Brodnan. &
“You can say, ‘work hard, work hard,’ but when there are so many obstacles stacked up against you, it is so hard to escape.” - Chris Brodnan
HEARDS FERRY NATIONAL READING AVERAGE ON CRCT Exceeded National Reading Average on CRCT Met National Reading Average on CRCT Did not Meet the National Reading Average on CRCT Winter 2015 | C&G | 38
70% 27.3% 2.7%
DEMOGRAPHICS
Heards Ferry
Lake Forest
LAKE FOREST NATIONAL READING AVERAGE ON CRCT Exceeded National Reading Average on CRCT
14.4%
Met National Reading Average on CRCT
69%
Did not Meet the National Reading Average on CRCT
16.6% 39
“ QUAD THE
SHEA FLEMMING Freshman
CATE O’KELLEY Sophomore
“
Society is a chain of negative and positive influences. When we affect something negatively it automatically triggers a positive affect to something else, and vise versa. What has happened to us in the past, whether it be negative, or positive, has brought us to this very moment reading this very paper. As life and society are cycles, each choice we make affects the people around us and ourselves. Therefore, I see things all happening for a reason because of the societies we revolve in.
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”
“
I am not a very religious person, but I do believe that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I never try to change the outcome of things, even when they don’t go my way. Whenever somebody asks me what I would change about my life, I can never come up with a good answer. If I took out any aspect of my past, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Experiences shape us and mold us into the people we are supposed to be and cheating yourself out of you seems silly to me.
”
“
Q: DOES EVERYTHING
HAPPEN FOR A REASON?
”
C&G ASKED. YOU ANSWERED. FRED SAGER Junior
EMMA WHITE Senior
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If things happened for a reason, then that would mean our life is planned out for us; fate in a sense. There would be no point in living if our life was already determined before we were born. We wouldn’t be able to help what happens to us, no matter what we do.If everything happens for a reason, then why do terrible atrocities happen all the time? Things happen by chance, not by fate. Things do not occur for particular reasons, if they did, then our lives would be pointless.
”
“
There are so many things in life that we have little to no control over such as death, illness, and natural disasters. In reality there is no answer as to why these things happen, but we are only human and we are strong and enduring. Through the reasoning everything happens for a reason we can come to peace with what has happened and try to visualize a bigger picture. It allows us to move on and know that we will continue only stronger and wiser than before.
”
Winter 2015 | C&G | 41
SEX ED AT HIES: TAUGHT OR NOT?
Winter 2015 | C&G | 42
YES EMMA ROLADER, contributing writer
W
e all dreaded that day. The day where they segregated us by gender and sat us down in the concrete box of the health room. The teachers taught us what we needed to know and then we awkwardly walked out, past the other gender, eyes on the floor, giggling below our breath. We spent the remaining hours of the day averting our eyes from peers of the opposite gender. It was comical and terrifying and everything in-between. In 6th grade, we learn about the anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems; this includes what happen to teenagers during puberty, the life cycle, and abstinence. At this age, they split the class into separate genders to make it a more comfortable environment for the students to ask questions, which they might not ask if there was the opposite sex in the room. Two years later, we brush the surface of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), which is appropriate for an 8th grader. Health teacher Laura Olsen comments, “STIs would be way over the maturity and comprehension of some of the 6th graders which is why we wait till 8th grade.” HIES is doing sex ed right. They’re not misinforming us about contraception. They’re not telling us sexual assault won’t happen. They’re not defining our sexuality for us. They’re not shaming us or
scaring us out of having sex. They’re teaching us the beginning stages of what our sex education should look like. They’re teaching us about our individual bodies and of human anatomy in general. As middleschoolers, there is no way we could ever handle more than what they begin to teach us at that age. We are starting to understand what our brains can handle to learn about the human body. Middle school is awkward because it is full of a bunch of awkward teenagers, who are all discovering what their body is. As Olsen puts it, “If you remember, middle school is when you are coming into your own and trying to understand yourself and what’s going on around you”. And HIES does just the perfect amount of teaching of sex ed considering the stage we all are at when it is given. There needs to be a time in highschool and in your own home where you sit down to talk more about sex education, yes. But, we are not being misinformed or not informed enough in our health classes at HIES. They are teaching us only what our adolescent brains can handle and comprehend. They are also fostering an environment in which it is safe to have uncomfortable questions and safe to voice questions, So, bravo for that. &
NO GREYSON BURNETT, contributing writer
F
ifth grade—that is when the horrors begin. In one suffocatingly uncomfortable class our minds are opened to the hideousness of puberty. Puberty does wonders for all of us, but at the age of 11, the thoughts of underarm hair and—dare I say it—physical changes are nightmares. I cringe even to this day when I hear the phrase ‘physical changes.’ The only reason for this is because of the unsavory memories surrounding its introduction. Health class first takes place when boys and girls split up and watch some ‘informational’ videos. First of all, these videos are scarring to innocent 11-year-old minds. But there’s no easy way to break the news, so I realize I can’t change that. My biggest complaints are that teachers do not simply talk to us about puberty and also that we separate by genders. Watching a video while teachers sit in the back gives the impression that puberty is awkward and non-discussable. In the same sense, separating boys and girls creates an environment of confidentiality and shame. A selfconscious fifth-grader begins to believe that puberty is something to be embarrassed about—a social taboo. These same exact feelings follow students as they transition from fifth to sixth grade, and from pubertyeducation to sex-education. Before I critique, let me first commend the system. Praise to the health teachers who, year after year, lecture awkward 6th graders on the basics of sex amidst uncomfortable and constant blushing and giggling. HIES doesn’t need new teachers; it needs a new curriculum.
My sex-ed course, and probably the same one taken today, lacks crucial knowledge. It hardly covers STD’s, HIV and AIDS, and all of that not-sopleasant content that is essential. This kind of general knowledge also screams ‘safe sex!’ Though following along the path, I am shocked by the lack of information on contraception. Sure scaring prepubescent teens with vivid descriptions of Gonorrhea and herpes can promote abstinence, but let’s be realistic; safe sex is a more of an umbrella term. Students can use their knowledge in whatever way they want, but the point is that they have already been equipped with this knowledge. Would you allow a grown person who completed their educational career in 6th grade to teach your child? My guess is no. So, why are unprepared, inexperienced people with this same level of education allowed to enter one of society’s most popular and dangerous scenes? Isn’t the purpose of sex-ed at HIES to keep kids safe? The only thing being taught in these classes is the social taboo of sex and the so-called ‘basics’. The course should turn into a less awkward, safe learning environment that spans more grade levels and teaches kids about the basics, plus STD’s, contraceptives, and the danger of rape. To promote an all-around smarter and safer generation of HIES students, our school needs to invest in a sex-ed class that’s up to speed with the sex scene of the 21st century. &
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EDITORIAL
THE F-WORD
B
eyoncé, Emma Watson, John Legend, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift all publicly talk about the F-Word. Yes, they are all feminists. Today, many people are afraid to say they are feminists because of the negative connotations they think the word carries. There is some confusion over the undertone of this polarizing word. However, feminism is not something to be scared of. Rather, feminism is simply the belief that men and women should have equal rights. So, why does a word that describes basic gender equality send people running? Some mistakenly believe that feminism equates to hating men. But, not all feminists are people intent on the downfall of men and the rise of women. As a proud feminist, I believe a balance in power between the genders is necessary. Feminism is about challenging derogatory actions towards women, not hating half of the world’s population. Meaning, Anyone who wants an equal opportunity as someone of the same or opposite gender can consider themselves a feminist. If you are intent on the downfall of men, you are a sexist - not a feminist. Many feminists do not believe that all men are sexist. But, they do dislike misogynistic actions, such as the issue of unequal wages. According to a recent survey by a Harvard Economist, male surgeons make about 29 percent more than female surgeons. and female economic specialists typically make 66 percent of what their male counterparts earn. However, this is the doing of a system founded on inequality, not the doing of any gender.
Actress Shailene Woodley has recently stated that she is against the feminist movement because she does not believe in allotting power to women and taking power from men. Woodley’s assumption of feminism, like many, is incorrect. How is gender equality taking power away from one gender? Feminism is exactly the balance between genders that she is talking about. Woodley’s stance is an example of how Public figures and the media influence and distort our views of feminism. Public figures, such as Emma Watson, have tried to clear up confusion about feminism. In 2014, Watson helped the United Nations launch the He for She campaign, a project that encourages men to become feminists, breaking down the stereotype that only women can proudly stand behind the label. In a recent C&G survey, 44 percent of HIES Upper School students said that they were feminists. One student responded that he or she was a “semifeminist” because they believed in equality, but would not participate in a rally. Contrary to popular belief, feminism is not about rallying or protesting; it is simply the refusal to accept discrimination because of gender. Many respondents expressed an interest in gender equality, but thought the word feminism seemed too radical and negative. Specifically, 82 percent of students said the connotation was negative or neutral, while only 18 percent associated the word with a positive connotation. So, maybe Beyoncé, Emma Watson, John Legend, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift have a lot to accomplish in order to show us the positive side of the f-word. &
SARAH KALLIS, staff writer
Winter 2015 | C&G | 45
Evan Thomas/ CONTRIBUTING ARTIST
Winter 2015 | C&G | 46
EDITORIAL
DONALD DUCK FOR PRESIDENT
W
hen Donald Trump hit the political runway and declared his candidacy, a mixture of widespread disbelief and awe loomed over the crowd, who watched intently with wide eyes. Trump is best known for his multi-billion dollar empire and internationally renown real estate ventures. His braggadocious personality was all apart of the package-a business tactic, if you will, and a key attribute to his success. His obnoxiousness is intimidating and powerful, hard to compete with, and something most candidates would not even want to try. In the past, many of Trump’s rather irrational and harebrained comments such as, “If Ivanka weren’t my daughter I would consider making her my wife”, have been written off just as quickly he writes checks. However, these very comments and his innate tendency to make them are one of the reasons he climbed the political polls ever so quickly. At any given moment, it can be almost ensured that there is some news channel, somewhere in the country, talking about the outrageous phenomenon that is Donald Trump. He has managed to attract the undivided attention of many anchors, journalists, and citizens, specifically at the most recent republican debates. Even amongst eleven other republican nominees, he still managed to procure the majority of the speaking time. The CNN debate moderator would often interrupt other candidates to let Trump share his simplistic response to a thought provoking question (an apparent pattern of his), or offer an elementary argument--one that usually ended with some sort of jab at someone’s physical feature. Watchers would laugh and giggle and butter their popcorn as they witnessed Trump steal the floor, two times in a row. His most compelling argument seemed to be “I have made ten billion dollars, therefore I can do whatever I want”. Ironically, it is this ten billion dollars that has let him get away with his imprudent act. He funds his own campaign, meaning unlike most candidates, who rely on the bounty of others to proclaim their fame, he doesn’t have to keep his mouth shut for anyone. Donald Trump says what Donald Trump wants to say, while Jeb
Bush says what the lobbyist tell him to. While Trump has met many successes in the business world, there is still doubt about whether he has the capability to be a strong, national leader. There is concern for some of his social positions, such as immigration, where he plans to implement a wall that physically separates the southern border of the United States from Mexico, allowing him to watch with content, sipping on a margarita, as people fail to make it across the border. Given the recent terrorist attacks that have taken place in Europe, Trump has vied to close down and closely inspect American mosques, in fear of radical muslim development on U.S soil. “His brand of nativism is exactly what GOP voters want right now”, says Jamelle Bouie, author for SLATE magazine. Trump is most appealing to the more conservative side of the American population. However, while precaution is necessary in situations as tense as these, his inability to be open and accepting to none other than the average W.A.S.P could pose as an obstacle in later foreign politics. Is this someone we, as a nation, can trust as a representative of this country? Somehow, Trump has managed to start a ripple effect with his campaign and has sent pop figures such as Lindsay Lohan and Kanye West running to the sign-up sheet. Has Trump’s reality star-esq personality and media following devalued the position as President? Will it become the next “cool thing to do”? In light of all this, some fear that the president will become a figurehead, just as the Queen of England has over the past years. Trump’s fanbase at large political events is comparable to that of Justin Bieber and Beyoncé. Security guards struggle to keep away the fanatic followers, pushing away hands that are all trying to get their dollar bills signed. Trump, as an entertainer, was a fresh face compared to his conservative counterparts such as Fiorina and Bush. However, as the caricature he and the media created for himself started to disappear, people grow concerned with his legitimacy as a candidate, and just what he will do with this country if he is successful in his campaign. &
LILY HARRINGTON, section editor
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