The Horace Mann Record, Issue 8

The Horace Mann Record RECORD.HORACEMANN.ORG

HORACE MANN’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1903

OCTOBER 26TH, 2018 || VOLUME 116, ISSUE 8

Head of Nursery Marcia Levy retires Julia Robbins Staff Writer At the end of the academic school year, current Head of the Nursery Division Marcia Levy will retire. Levy has worked in early childhood education for 46 years, leading the Nursery Division at school since 2010.

“In 2010, when former Board Chair Steve Friedman and I announced Ms. Levy’s arrival, we shared that the search focused on finding ‘an educator with a passion for nurturing young children and guiding their development,’” Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly wrote in a letter to the community. “We were confident that we had found that person in Ms. Levy,” he said.

In Kelly’s letter, he explained that a search for a new ND Head will be determined and shared with the community later in the fall.

“When I stepped into this position, Dr. Kelly told me that I could dream big, and I was able to do that here, for the first time in my career,” Levy said.

As Division Head, Levy helped to bring the emergent curriculum to the division’s classrooms, which places student interest and experiential learning at the forefront of teaching.

Through the emergent curriculum, students attend more field trips and interact with special visitors, Levy said. Recently, a kindergarten class was interested in stained glass, so a stained glass artist led a workshop for the students and brought the children to a museum to learn more about the art, Levy said.

“[Emergent learning] makes learning so much more relevant to the child,” Kindergarten Team Leader Anthony Bonsignore said.

The curriculum has encouraged teachers to build lesson plans on topics that their students are interested in, whether that is history, construction, or Shakespeare, Bonsignore said.

“Ms. Levy’s leadership with our Nursery Division Emergent

similar experiences to them and get advice and support about raising young children, Levy said.

Levy also introduced events focused on bringing the ND community together, such as Pajama Day, the Thanksgiving Feast, and the Art Show.

“While we value her tremendous contributions, I am certain that it is Ms. Levy’s heart, passion and compassion that we

Courtesy of Jasmin Ortiz

CARING IN ACTION Head of Nursery Marcia Levy plays with students.

Curriculum has transformed our Nursery Division and had a transformative effect in the lives of our littlest cubs,” Kelly wrote.

Levy also implemented a variety of new initiatives within the ND, including the nature center, parent education sessions, a new movement program, the Central Park curriculum, and an educational partnership with the New Victory Theater.

During the parent workshops, coined “Meetings with Marcia,” Levy leads conversations in which parents build a support network with one another, she said. Parents can talk to people going through

will all miss most on 90th Street and in the Bronx,” Kelly wrote.

Over lunch, Levy can be found brainstorming and having indepth conversations about child development with teachers, she said.

“I can bounce ideas off of her and no matter what, I know that I always leave that office feeling empowered, feeling comfortable, and also feeling more than anything that I go to a place that doesn’t really feel like work; it just feels like being in a place that’s fun to be at,” Bonsignore said.

Levy especially enjoys visiting students to read some of her

favorite stories or share her own experiences to build upon the emergent curriculum, Teacher in Charge Marines Arroyo said.

Chase Forbes (7) still fondly remembers when Levy invited him and a few of his friends into her office for ice cream and pizza, he said.

“Kindergarten lunches are a special treat for all kindergartners in the spring,” Levy said. “The lunches take place in my office with four children each day, and we have pizza, ice cream sundaes, and storytime,” she said.

Levy made a point to visit all ND classes frequently and learn every child’s name, Brooke Gomez (7) said. “I had a really good connection with her,” she said.

Levy’s leadership has been empowering and comforting, Bonsignore said.

“I value Marcia’s support and guidance as an educator, a parent, and as a friend,” Arroyo said.

“In nine years, Mrs. Levy has championed a lifetime’s worth of thoughtful programs in our Nursery Division. We will be forever grateful for her leadership and stewardship, especially with our youngest of lions, our cubs at the Nursery Division,” Kelly said.

“I just feel that I’m one of the lucky ones,” Levy said. “I have loved my job from the day I arrived here and there has not been a day that has gone by where I haven’t felt that.”

Levy will spend her retirement traveling and with her grandchildren, she said.

Plastic straws removed to promote sustainability Amelia Feiner Staff Writer

INSIDE

After weeks of correspondence with FLIK, the school has officially removed all plastic straws from the cafeteria, Senior Director of Dining Services Brenda Cohn said. This change was spearheaded by Cohn along with Mayanka Dhingra (11) and the rest of the FLIK Staff.

Dhingra first became involved in the fight against plastic straws through a group outside of school called Sustainability through Student Voices, she said.

“We try to organize events in different forms to create awareness and get people talking about issues of sustainability,” she said.

Dhingra is not the only student trying to improve the school’s sustainability efforts. Student Body Presidents Janvi Kukreja (12) and Nader Granmayeh (12) have been working hard to promote various sustainability initiatives throughout the year, Granmayeh said.

“We’ve talked about more ways that we can be sustainable in the cafeteria,” Kukreja said. “We are

trying to find a way to encourage students to use reusable plates and forks and knives instead of using to-go plates even though they’re staying in the cafeteria.”

Although many students believe that the reusable utensils in the cafeteria are not clean, the sanitation is held to an even higher standard than in most restaurants, Granmayeh said.

“It’s disheartening that students would defer to not using reusable utensils,” he said.

As well as promoting sustainability in the cafeteria, Kukreja and Granmayeh also seek to create visual guides for recycling to place near bins, Granmayeh said.

“One of the big problems is that people don’t know what can and can’t be recycled. We want to make it clear,” he said.

Right now, the maintenance staff goes through the trash looking for recyclables every day and Bartels does the same in the library, Kukreja said.

“We want to actually show that there are so many people around

Vote!

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Julian Zelizer and John Lawrence discuss the importance of voting.

Andrew Casino//Staff Photographer

ODE TO EARTH Cohn discusses cafeteria sustainability initiatives. school who have put in more effort to deal with [students’] actions,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that that happens.”

The SBPs are also continuing the Day without Lights initiative, Granmayeh said. A Day without Lights is a school-wide effort to save energy and encourage awareness about energy consumption. The large amount of natural light in the new building could make this initiative very successful, he said.

In addition, the Community Council (CC) is trying to add

The Senior Scoop

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Students discuss managing family relationships during the college process.

composting to the school’s campus, Granmayeh said.

“So we’ve been trying to focus a lot more on sustainability this year on the CC, and one of the major problems we face is the amount of food waste. Many other city schools like Trinity and Fieldston have a composting program, and we thought that we could work alongside FLIK to compost natural foods to reduce the HM community’s environmental footprint,” CC representative Isha Agarwal (11) said.

Julia Robbins/Staff Photographer

I LOVE IT A LATTE New cafe in Lutnick Hall.

New cafe opening soon Talia Winiarsky Staff Writer The much anticipated opening of the new cafe on the first floor of Lutnick Hall, one of the last installments of HM in Motion, is set to be in mid-November.

The cafe will open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every weekday. Unlike the cafeteria, the cafe will remain open during the break between B and C period for students who may not have a free period during lunch, Senior Director of Dining Services Brenda Cohn said. FLIK Independent School Dining is “honored to be partnering with Horace Mann to create the new café,” Cohn said.

Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly said that the school had recognized the need for “a more convenient vehicle for the provision of healthy snacks and even a light dinner, things that vending machines and take-out can’t readily provide to all students.” The school decided “the most logical solution was to fold a modified servery into our long term plans for a campus center,” Kelly said.

The cafe will offer a plethora of options for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, Cohen said. For breakfast, the cafe plans to serve pre-made sandwiches, including their special FLIK muffin breakfast sandwich, which staff will warm before serving. The cafe will also offer breakfast burritos, dry cereals, fresh fruit cups, gourmet yogurts, and bagels, Cohn said.

“I’d be very interested in using the cafe if there are options that I like, but I would still eat at the cafeteria for lunch if I have time to,” Kimberly Dutta (10) said.

Throughout the day, there will be pre-made salads, crudités, fruit and cheese plates, and baked goods, Cohn said. Students can also make suggestions for items.

As students use the cafe, FLIK will assess which items are highest in demand and make sure to cater to those demands. Students can pay for these items using their school-issued ID cards and cash.

Spencer Rosenberg (9) plans on going to the cafe for sandwiches before his science class so that he can quickly eat something when he doesn’t have a free period around lunch, he said.

“The cafe will be different than the cafeteria because it will offer different items and will have extended operating hours,” Cohn said. The cafe will be smaller than the cafeteria, but there will be high-top tables installed across from it so that students can enjoy their food, she said.

“Beyond reinforcing the new campus center as a community space, it will allow students to use their student ID to purchase food after hours and during other special events. This new and innovative space is also available for us to better support student and teacher activities in a space capable of holding large numbers,” Kelly said.

“The café will be helpful for when I’m hungry after sports practice and the cafeteria is not open,” Euwan Kim (11) said.

The cafe will serve Illy brand coffee, including cappuccinos, Cohen said. The cafe’s new staff has already been hired, and Illy coffee will provide training in coffeemaking to the staff in the next month. The staff was also required to receive training as food handlers, to recieve a certification from New York State, to complete FLIK allergy training, and to take a course administered by ServSafe, a food and safety training program.

The equipment and furniture for the cafe are already on campus and ready to be set up, but the school still has to get the cafe’s electrical system up and running and its plumbing installed, Cohn said.

“I’m looking forward to students enjoying this new place to gather and eat delicious and nutritious food,” she said.

Year’s First Concert

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Record Photo Directors document rehearsals and performances for the Advanced Ensemble Concert.

@hm.record @thehoracemannrecord Horace Mann School 231 W 246th St, Bronx, NY 10471

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THE RECORD OPINIONS OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Rock the Vote: why teenagers matter in elections John Lawrence

health care, an economic stimulus, and financial regulation.

In other words, just because politics is broken doesn’t mean it will always be that way. Young people have the potential to elect officials who will create the windows of opportunity to transform our policies.

There’s no debating that the state of our political institutions has deteriorated since 2008, but the underlying lesson is the same: engagement, reaching across partisan lines, and seeking workable solutions all depend on people putting aside disagreements and working together to find answers. And that is especially true for young people who have the most at stake, because this country is going to be their responsibility soon, and for decades to come. We currently face massive long-term issues, such as climate change and economic inequality, that will have huge ramifications for those Americans who are only now starting their adult lives. Allowing for political inaction today will most impact younger Americans who will be paying the price for our current problems when they have families and careers of their own.

It is important to remember that non-participation in politics empowers those who disagree with you. Those who

Julian Zelizer

We are on the cusp of a historic midterm election. This November, Americans will go to the polls to elect the 116th Congress, governors and state and local officials. The outcome will determine the balance of power for the next two years in Washington and, within the states, shape the battles over congressional redistricting after the 2020 census.

There is a great deal that we don’t know about in terms of what will happen on election day. The polls suggest that many of the campaigns have tightened significantly in recent weeks.

Since the confirmation hearings for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Republicans appeared to have gained some momentum, though Democratic voters are also eager to restrain President Trump. A great deal will depend on turnout on November 6—the simple question of which party can bring more people to the ballot box.

Unfortunately, if history serves as a predictor, young voters – those 18-30 – will vote in the lowest percentage of any demographic group.

Both of us have spent much of our career working in politics.

As Chief of Staff for former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, John Lawrence has seen first-hand the impact that politics has on the daily life of every American, and the impact that every act of political participation has on the composition of Congress. By teaching students at Princeton University and writing about politics for the general public, Julian Zelizer has been able to see the challenges of engaging younger Americans in our difficult political process and trying to inspire them to participate in campaigns.

There is good reason that many younger Americans don’t turnout to vote. They have plenty of reason to be discouraged, even skeptical about the American political system. For most of their lives, they have experienced hyper-partisanship, negative campaign advertising, smashmouth partisan battles, obscene amounts of special interest campaign spending, and legislative gridlock. Every day they hear that Washington is broken and Washington provides ample evidence that the pundits might be right. One could almost conclude there is an intentional effort to alienate young people from participating in the political system.

But young people make a serious mistake when they allow the disappointment to translate into political inaction. Even though the American political system is often frustrating, there are historic moments of breakthrough. It is important to remember that while our current politics seems hopelessly polarized and ineffective, just a decade ago a divided government (a Republican president and Democratic Congress) was able to put aside deep disagreements and distrust on the eve of a crucial election and rescue the country (and perhaps the world) from a near economic collapse. In the election that followed in November 2008, younger Americans did participate, excited by the fresh voice that then-Senator Barack Obama offered, and helped elect a president who would move through Congress

“Young people make a serious mistake when they allow disappointment to translate into political inaction. Even though the American political system is often frustrating, there are historic moments of breakthrough.” vote regularly, in presidential and mid-term elections, tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than the American population as a whole. And their views on many policy issues tend to be different from the majority. The kinds of issues young people have been clamoring to have addressed, such as gun control and subsidized college education, get pushed off the agenda. Older Americans vote, and therefore have disproportionate influence. There’s one way to make sure the views of younger Americans are also reflected in our policy decisions: vote.

Young voters may be less experienced in the nuances of politics and less satisfied with the horse-trading that is part of finding common ground with people of differing viewpoints.

But they bring valuable contributions to the political debate. In the past, it was young voters who forced the political system to confront issues ranging from the environment to civil rights to giving 18 year olds the right to vote. If it were not for the courageous young people who stood up to Presidents Johnson and Nixon, the devastating war in Vietnam might have dragged on for many more years. Today, young voters can weigh in on issues like college affordability, LGBTQ rights, and regulation of the Internet. And those who are too young to vote in 2018 can still participate by volunteering in campaigns: walk a precinct, make phone calls, help voters fill out absentee ballots or get to the polls.

It may sound like a cliché to note that in overseas wars and in daily struggles for civil and voting rights here at home, men and

women have sacrificed to protect our right to vote. But it is true.

Every day, we see democracies around the world weakening; strongmen reducing civil liberties and free speech; nationalism replacing international collaboration. We have even seen our own institutions weaken in recent years. Only the confidence and participation of Americans in our own institutions can protect us from the weakening of our own constitutional system. As Yoni Applebaum argued in The Atlantic, the more distance that exists between citizens and their government, the less invested they become in protecting and preserving the

institutions that form our democracy.

Some would have you believe that your vote is insignificant.

But in every election, many seats in Congress, state legislatures, even in presidential campaigns are won or lost by just a few votes per precinct. That is why some try to suppress the votes of eligible citizens, and others fight just as hard to ensure that everyone has the right to cast their ballot. As we see every day, elections have real consequences; the time to get engaged and make your views felt (not just heard) is on Election Day. Julian E. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and a CNN Political Analyst. He has written over 900 op-eds, including his popular weekly column for CNN.Com and The Atlantic. He is the author and editor of over 19 books including, The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society (2015), the winner of the D.B. Hardeman Prize for the Best Book on Congress. This January, Norton will publish his new book, co-authored with Kevin Kruse, Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974.

John A. Lawrence is a visiting professor at the University of California's Washington Center. He worked in the House of Representatives for 38 years, the last eight as chief of staff to Speaker and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Lawrence holds a Ph.D. in History from UCBerkeley. Lawrence is the author of The Class of ’74: Congress After Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship.

Zelizer and Lawrence will visit the school next week.

Corrections/Issue 7 The writers for “Ready set squash” and “Girls varsity field hockey roars through the season” were miscredited. Talia Winiarsky wrote the field hockey article, and Andrew Cassino wrote the squash article.

EDITORIAL At the eve of early application deadlines, seniors cram to finish college essays, study for exams, and complete homework assignments. As we struggle to balance our academic andresponsibilities with familial ones, we often lose sight of the matters that are truly important to us, for it is our friendships and sense of comradery that helps us through such stressful times in our academic careers.

As the seniors begin to enter a critical point of the year, the Editorial Board would like to acknowledge the importance of self-care and celebrate the Class of 2019. Often, students place their self-worth in college decisions and academic accomplishments, and our competitive spirit frequently inhibits our ability to empathize with others and generates rifts between friendships. However, we should not let our desire to succeed overshadow our appreciation and love for our community. Instead we should use our common struggle Volume 116 Editorial Board Managing Editor Betsey Bennett

Editor in Chief Lynne Sipprelle

Features Abby Kanter Megha Nelivigi

News Katie Goldenberg Surya Gowda

Lions’ Den Natasha Stange Brody McGuinn William Han

Photography Abigail Kraus Ahaan Palla Jake Shapiro

Faculty Adviser David Berenson

Issues Editor Sadie Schwartz

Opinions Rebecca Siegel Abigail Goldberg-Zelizer Art Directors Juli Moreira Jackson Robers

Middle Division Sandhya Shyam

A&E Peri Brooks Jeren Wei Design Editors Allison DeRose Caroline Kaplan Mark Fernandez

Online Editor Henry Wildermuth

through college applications as an opportunity to collectively sympathize and embrace the challenges ahead. The editorial board urges the class of 2019 emember to prioritize our emotional and mental wellbeing over trivial assessments or essays, as it is the lasting friendships that will serve as our support system through the college process.

Instead of stressing over deadlines, we urge the senior class and the Horace Mann community at large to reflect upon what truly important in life and remember that college is simply the next stop, not the final destination. Let the love for our community and peers trump the anxiety of college.

As we enter our final year of Horace Mann and rush to finish our final early applications to college, let the college process unite us rather than divide us.

Staff Writers Malhaar Agrawal, Laura Bae, Andrew Cassino, Mayanka Dhingra, Victor Dimitrov, Amelia Feiner, Mark Fernandez, Nelson Gaillard, Leonora Gogos, Jude Herwitz, Edwin Jin, Spencer Kahn, Samuel Keimweiss, Gabrielle Kepnes, Madison Li, Noah Phillips, Eliza Poster, Julia Robbins, Kiara Royer, Abigail Salzhauer, Ranya Sareen, Nishtha Sharma, Griffin Smith, Benjamin Wang, Robbie Werdiger, Simon Yang, Isabella Zhang, Bradley Bennett, Sogona Cisse, Jack Crovitz, Jackson Feigin, Adam Frommer, Andie Goldmacher, Marina Kazarian, John Mauro, Henry Owens, Emily Shi, Samuel Singer, Sasha Snyder, Vivien Sweet, Joshua Underberg, Talia Winiarsky Staff Photographers Eva Fortunato, Iliana Dezelic, Griffin Smith, Harrison Haft, Andrew Cassino, Julia Isko, Julia Robbins, Daniel Lee, Ava Merker Staff Artists Elizabeth Fortunato, Alexandra Crotty, Gabrielle Fischberg, Annabelle Chan

Editorial Policy ABOUT The Record is published weekly by the students of Horace Mann School to provide the community with information and entertainment, as well as various viewpoints in the forms of editorials and opinion columns. All editorial decisions regarding content, grammar and layout are made by the editorial board. The Record maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association.

EDITORIALS & OPINIONS Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the senior editorial board. Opinion columns are the sole opinion of the author and not of The Record or the editorial board.

NOTE As a student publication, the contents of The Record are the views and work of the students and do not necessarily represent those of the faculty or administration of the Horace Mann School. The Horace Mann School is not responsible for the accuracy and content of The Record, and is not liable for any claims based on the contents or views expressed therein.

LETTERS To be considered for publication in the next issue, letters to the editor should be submitted by mail (The Record, 231 West 246th Street, Bronx, NY 10471) or e-mail (record@horacemann.org) before 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. All submissions must be signed and should refer to a Record article. Letters may be edited for grammar, style, length and clarity.

CONTACT For all comments, queries, story suggestions, complaints or corrections, or for information about subscribing, please contact us by email at record@horacemann.org.

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HORACE MANN NEWS OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Dorr hosts first Women’s Climbing Weekend Mayanka Dhingra Staff Writer

Female climbers from the school community convened at the John Dorr Nature Laboratory this past weekend for a trip devoted solely to women’s climbing.

This was the first ever women’s climbing event hosted at Dorr, Upper Division science teacher Camilla Nivison said.

Organized by John Dorr Nature Lab teachers Abbey Moore and Kimberly Nault, the event was designed to connect and challenge climbers in an all-female space.

“By making this an all-female event, we really wanted to incentivize people to come who maybe wouldn’t have otherwise done so,” Nault said.

Students arrived at Dorr Friday evening and watched the Reel Rock documentaries, which feature female professional climbers.

One of the climbers featured in the documentaries is Margo Hayes, who was the first women to complete a 515 route, one of the hardest rock-climbing routes, Abigail

Morse (10) said.

Watching the documentary was inspiring because it showed that despite climbing being a male dominated sport, women can achieve great things, Erin Zhao (10) said.

On Saturday, students learned and reviewed belay and climbing techniques and climbed Dorr’s 50-foot tower, Nivison said.

Morse learned that climbing isn’t just about strength but about planning the next move and pushing through the climb, she said.

“There is a great sense of accomplishment once you reach your goal by getting to the top of the rock-wall,” Morse said.

“We also taught the technical skills of belaying, which can be really powerful in the sense that you are literally holding each other up and helping the other person climb, which really speaks symbolically to the goal of the weekend,” Moore said.

“Some women might feel more comfortable climbing in an environment where they are with other women, similar to how events for women in STEM have been created to help combat the gender imbalance,” Dubno said.

Irati Egorho Diez (11) felt that the activity was different because girls often feel the need to prove themselves in the presence of males, even when it may come at the expense of enjoying what they are doing, she said.

The event was unique from those previously held at Dorr because it provided women with a space to come together not only to go climbing but to discuss larger issues faced by females at school and beyond, Natalie Sweet (10) said.

“Sadly, in many settings, men have the tendency to dominate discussions, but with only female-identifying students present at this trip, these students now have the opportunity to express themselves where they might have felt restricted before,” Sweet said.

In addition, students from all high school grades participated, and as a result, attendees were able to learn about school life from the perspectives of females from different grades, Morse said.

“We hope that this year will be the first of many female leadership outdoor initiatives,” Nault said.

Jackson Roberts/Art Director

ICIE hosts LGBTQ+ Faculty Dinner for an evening of discussion Abigail Salzhauer Staff Writer

Courtesy of Melissa Kazan

SO LONG, FAREWELL Community members attend Lisman’s retirement party.

Library Annex Supervisor Mindy Lisman retires after 33 years Nishtha Sharma Staff Writer Faculty honored the retirement of Library Annex Supervisor Mindy Lisman, who worked at the school for 33 years, yesterday in the Cohen Faculty Dining Hall.

Lisman came to the school in 1985.

Outside of the library, she worked on several publications such as the Bulletin, an archived newsletter publication issued by the Horace Mann Parents Association (HMPA), and Horace Mann News, which featured compilations of all the newspaper articles on the school or its alumni, faculty, and students, she said.

Initially, Lisman worked in the annex, which was then a group study space located in the basement of Tillinghast Hall and is now on the second floor of Katz Library, she said. Lisman was also involved in the Donate-A-Book program with the HMPA and assisted with the annual Book Fair.

Proofreading various documents, including the Green Sheet, HM Calendar, and the Family Handbook, was a significant job for Lisman throughout her time at the school, she said.

“I frequently have suggested her to other people for proofreading because she notices all the different discrepancies and clashes,” Chair of the Library Department Caroline Bartels said.

Some other responsibilities Lisman held included submitting student work hours, organizing and processing donated books, and helping out with the switchboard, she said.

Because Lisman also distributed subway and bus passes, she has been able to remember all the students at the school, Bartels said.

“I remember all their names because I care about each student and the dedication I have for them. Even if they don’t know me, I know their name,” Lisman said. “I will definitely miss the students the most.”

“She has a really good memory and it amazes me how much she knows about people. It can be scary sometimes because she knows so much,” Head of Library Circulation Stiffany Aponte said.

When Adriana Hernandez (11) worked in the library, she often had morning conversations with Lisman, Hernandez said.

“It was really nice coming in and saying hi to her every day. She was always friendly and willing to talk,” she said.

“Whenever I came into the library in the morning before it opened, she’d always greet me and say good-morning and she was always very friendly to me and the other interns,” Maggie Brill ’18 said.

“I will miss Lisman’s presence and talking to her about her son,” Aponte said. “She’s a very reserved and quiet person, but we’ve been talking a lot about her grandkids, and we get to exchange stories about kids.”

“My favorite part about working at the school would be the library staff,” Lisman said. “They are top-notch and working under Bartels, who is highly talented and caring, as the with the rest of the staff, has been a pleasure.”

After her retirement, Lisman plans to spend more time with her two grandchildren, she said. Currently, she is using her vacation days to prepare for her move to Boca Raton, Florida. “[Lisman] really was such a quiet presence but she loves this place and the school, and everything she’s done has been because of that,” Bartels said.

Faculty and staff from across the divisions gathered at an off-campus restaurant for an evening of discussion and community at the LGBTQ+ Faculty Dinner.

The dinner served as an affinity space for faculty and staff who attend as well as an opportunity to connect and share experiences, Office for Identity, Culture and Institutional Equity (ICIE) Associate Sharina Gordon said.

The dinner took place over the course of three hours; the first hour was mostly social and the rest of the time was spent engaging in some sort of activity, survey, or discussion, Gordon said.

This year, the group participated in “an icebreaker activity to get folks grounded and reflective on how the school year has gone so far for them,” Gordon said.

Later, participants broke into smaller groups to discuss support systems for LGBTQ+ faculty and staff in order to increase their visibility and professional development opportunities, she said.

“These topics and more are important for LGBTQ+ people because historically and currently LGBTQ+ folks have been denied equitable access to resources and opportunities. Having an affinity space is crucial to building community and channeling our voices to create change,” Gordon said.

In addition, the ICIE staff checked in with faculty about issues discussed at prior events to see if any progress has been made, she said.

The ICIE holds events for both LGBTQ+

faculty and faculty of color twice a year, typically once in the fall and again in the spring, Gordon said. However, the office is looking for more opportunities to gather faculty and staff in a similar setting throughout the year.

“Especially for new faculty, the event is a great way for folks to connect across the divisions and get to know each other better,” Gordon said.

“Ultimately, we discuss how people are feeling as LGBTQ+ people in the world in a social political context,” co-Director of the ICIE John Gentile said. “I think it’s an important question to ask and reflect on so folks can be present, fully available, and open as educators and community members,” he said.

According to Gentile, the conversations and work completed at such events “make people better at their job and better at their ability to be present and be ready to do what they need to do to be the best educators they can be both in and outside the classroom,” he said.

The event gives a space for faculty to discuss any issues that have come up either in or out of school, Gordon said.

“These events give opportunities for adults to do some of their own self work to be better community members, and having the time to do that is really important and necessary for the collective experience of the Horace Mann community,” Gentile said.

“It makes us all better equipped to show up and be whole and maintain our humanity, which is important for us to re-up on every once in a while,” he said.

Juli Moreira/Art Director

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Family relations durin THE RECORD FEATURES OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Juli Moreira/Art Director

Simon Yang and Marina Kazarian Staff Writers As the deadline for early applications rapidly approaches, members of the school community reflect on how students handle stress and on family dynamics throughout the college process.

Student-Parent Relationships

Applying to college is a stressful process for many, and parents can potentially contribute to or alleviate students’ anxiety.

For Allen Park (12), the college process has not significantly altered his relationship with his parents, he said. Although the process has definitely given him more to handle, both Park and his parents still act the same way toward each other, he said.

“I feel just as if this were a normal school year, maybe with just a little more frenzy,” Park said.

Similarly, Elizabeth Fortunato’s (12) relationship with her family remains relatively unchanged due to the college process this year.

Her family has talked about college, but has never forced the topic, she said.

“It feels like parents are stepping in less than they have in the past. I know that people have said otherwise, but I feel that this class has been pretty calm,” Chair of the Library Department Caroline Bartels said.

Some students, such as Hannah Long (12) and Craig Murray (12), however, believe that the process has affected their family relationships, with many more conversations about college taking place in the household.

“I’m very lucky to be close with very supportive parents, and I’m glad to say that the process has not significantly changed my relationship with them,” Long said. “The only significant difference is that we have a lot more discussions.”

Since the beginning of the school year, Murray has had numerous conversations about college with his parents, he said.

“The conversations unfortunately lead to heated debates sometimes,” Murray said.

“Sometimes I stay late at school to organize my thoughts before going home to have such conversations.”

Philip Shen (12) also felt that his parents have added to the amount of pressure he has experienced during the process. “My parents

are the type of parents who were very hands-off in a lot of school stuff, but for college they’ve suddenly become very hands-on, so that’s been a change,” he said. “They’ve been helpful, but they’ve definitely created a lot of pressure.”

On the other hand, Jeren Wei (12) has always felt like he has had “very involved parents, specifically my mom,” which he believes stems from his parents’ “Confucian ideals,” but it has only increased through the college process.

Something that creates a lot of stress for Wei is that his mother drives him to and from school every day, and “with every opportunity we have to speak with each other, college comes up as a topic of conversation,” he said. “In the morning, she’ll ask about my supplements-- how many I’ve written, how many more I have left, and so on.

And at night, she asks how much progress I’ve made since that morning, or if I’m writing at that moment. She’s the one who’s really trying to push me to make deadlines.” my parents know me so well. I would consult While Wei says he appreciates the gesture, them for every decision I make,” Long said. “super involved parents make the process a lot Eva Fortunato (12), Elizabeth’s twin sister, more stressful than it should be,” he said. thinks her parents are easy to talk to because they Executive Director of College Counseling are very supportive of what she wants. “Even if I’m not making a decision that they think is correct, they’ll aid me in a way to think about it differently than I usually would. They are not necessarily trying to change my opinion about anything, but they are trying to encourage me to think about it in different ways,” she said.

Murray, although appreciative of how his parents are not micromanaging, finds it interruptive when his parents ask him random questions about the process, he said.

“They would sometimes ask college related questions out of nowhere, even when I am concentrated on my piano lessons or homework,” Canh Oxelson believes that the college process Murray said. can bring a family closer together. “Thinking Nicole Warszawski’s (12) parents have been and talking about hopes, dreams, and shared supportive of her and respect her decisions during values can be a wonderfully fulfilling experience this process, she said. “Since my mom grew up in for any family,” he said. “Having said that, while Brazil, she doesn’t really know much about the the student is actually in the process of applying, American college process, but she tries to help in there can also be stresses on family relationships.” any way she can by supporting me and making Parental participation in the college process me many, many coffees,” Warszawski said. also becomes more apparent in senior year, Long Amanda Salzhauer P ‘18, ‘20, ‘23 believes that said. Long shares all of the details of the process her role as a parent in the process is to help her with her parents and appreciates their feedback. children by supporting them and making sure “The discussions may sometimes get heated, they have everything under control. Salzhauer but in the end, they are nothing but helpful, as has already gone through the process with her oldest daughter, Rebecca Salzhauer ‘18, and has developed a sense of how she can help out her children during this stressful time, she said.

“I tried to help with planning college visits, brainstorming essay ideas, providing demographic information for applications, among other things.

I also tried to make sure that my daughter was staying on top of her applications and finishing things on schedule,” Salzhauer said.

Veronica Oh P ‘17, ‘21 was very fortunate in that she and her daughter, Sarafina Oh ‘17, had a very open relationship, she said. Oh believes her role was to be there for her daughter and help her with whatever she needed, whether it be feedback on her essays, or just emotional support, she said.

Long and her parents have very similar viewpoints and desires about college, she said.

“While there’s not much to disagree on, there is a disagreement when both sides try to persuade the other with a strong logical argument. Yet in the end, my parents would still respect my decision the most,” she said.

Murray also shares similar opinions with his parents regarding the process, but he and his parents have very different ways of navigating through it, he said. “My parents’ stance is that they’ve already been through the college process, and that they know what’s best, but that kind of mindset sometimes neglects my needs, and how comfortable I am with their decisions,” he said.

“

Super involved parents make the process a lot more stressful than it should be.”

- Jeren Wei

Tips on How to Have a Less Stressful College Application Process

• Breathe • Stay focused on your work and don’t compare yourself to others • Build a support system; have people you can reach out to • Give yourself breaks in order to put out your best work • Set deadlines for yourself • Realize that prestige isn’t everything; you might find a school that you really love if you’re open-minded that you otherwise might not have considered.

• Don’t partake in college gossip • Enjoy your last year of high school!

When Expectations Differ

Parul Sharma ’18 initially had differing opinions with her parents, she said. “My parents were initially apprehensive about my choice, but at the end of the day, they recognized it all worked out,” she said.

When the interests of the parents and students differ, college counselors try to help students

understand the perspective of their parents and vice versa, Oxelson said. Counselors try not to take sides, but do encourage students to take the lead on decision making and help parents understand why that is so important, he said. The College Counseling office requires two student meetings for this very reason, he said.

When Wei made his initial college list at the end of junior year, his mom was very unhappy with it, thinking he was “aiming too low,” even though he believes he is a person with very high expectations for himself, he said.

“I think she just believes that I have gone to HM for almost seven years and worked so hard, so putting it all to waste is really disappointing.

My mom has sacrificed so much for the sake of my education and my brothers’ education, and she feels that I should work hard not only for myself, but for whatever expectation there may be,” Wei said.

“I’m very strong-willed and my parents know that. We try to communicate in order to understand each other’s opinions, but ultimately it’s my decision and my process,” Warszawski said.

Andre Dang’s (12) parents have largely given him his independence. “At the first college counseling workshop,” he said, “they tell you to apply where you want to go, not where you can or should go. I think this gets through to the students more than parents-- parents care more about ranking than students-- but for my family, it hasn’t been a huge thing.”

Rishi Krishnan ‘17 believes that although his parents were definitely involved in the process, they mostly let him make his own decisions with his counselor.

“They were always there to help and guide me in any step of the process, but they were never involved in an overbearing way,” Krishnan said.

Elizabeth’s parents have never forced their opinions or expectations; they only look for what is best and realistic for her, she said. “My parents have inspired a lot of the passions that I have, but they have always wanted me to do something I am happy doing. They’ve never forced the choice of applying to the school.”

Some households would even establish rules concerning conversations revolving around colleges. Sharma and her parents tried to make a rule of talking about college only once a week, especially after she had finished her early application, she said.

“Sometimes, when I come home, I tell my parents that I’m not having a great day and don’t want to talk about college today, and they respect that,” Warszawski said.

Although Long’s household does not have a written rule, Long believes there is an unintentional and unspoken rule of talking about college at least once a day, every day, she said.

“As an only child, all the focus right now is on my college process. I think it’s only natural that it takes up the majority of our conversations,” she said.

Eva doesn’t mind talking about college with her family at home, she said. “It’s a very open topic in my house. I don’t think any restrictions need to Juli Moreira/Art Director

ng the college process

5

HORACE MANN FEATURES OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

2.9% 7.2%

12 5 39.1%

On a scale of 1-5, how much stress are you feeling at this point in the college process?

4

3

21.7%

29%

What HM students do to prevent conflict with their parents Annabelle Chan/Staff Artist

be put on speaking about my future,” she said.

Although Salzhauer does not have formal rules in her household, she does try to keep the stress to a minimum; when talking to extended family, saying something like “we’re not going to talk about applications” when relatives asked questions about the college process was helpful, she said.

Likewise, Oh did not have a formal set of rules in her household, but she recognized that at times conversations about the process could be overwhelming.

“When my daughter told us to back off or not to look at whatever she’s doing, I would respect what she had to say and give her some time by herself,” she said.

Sibling Dynamics

Having siblings go through the process can set the stage for how students handle their applications.

For Elizabeth Fortunato, her sister has been a great person to talk to because of how close the two siblings are. “I’m happy that I have a person so close to me that is going through this all at the exact same time as me because sometimes I need someone to rant with and get stuff off my chest, and I have Eva there,” she said. “It’s different from talking to a friend about it because it’s nice to have someone there who knows me on such a personal level. I think it makes it a little bit easier to deal with everything, knowing that I have someone who is always there to reach out to.”

Eva has not only turned to Elizabeth for support, but she has also found that her older brother, Thomas Fortunato ‘15, gives helpful advice. “My brother, who is already in college, has been really supportive and gracious. He has been giving help and an overview of how the process went for him. He’s very encouraging and he tells me that it’s going to be okay wherever I end up,”

Eva said.

Philip and his twin brother David Shen (12) are also very involved in each others’ processes, Philip said.

Since they are applying to most of the same schools, they have been helping each other out in editing essays and supplements, he said. However, there are times when they realize they are writing very similar answers to supplements, he said, so they must be intentional in avoiding writing the same thing.

Unlike the Fortunatos and Shens, Audrey Yu (12) does not have detailed discussions about her application with her twin sister Emily Yu (12). “We don’t really talk about the colleges we are applying to. We don’t go into detail about what we are writing on our applications; we haven’t read each other’s supplements or essays,” she said.

Although some other students do share their writing, Audrey and Emily do not because “we feel it’s private and we’re two different people,” Audrey said.

“I think now that I have gone through the process with one child, I know that I don’t want talk about the college process to dominate the conversation at home--which can easily happen. Every child is different though, so what was helpful for one child may not be for another,” Salzhauer said.

Bartels always tells kids that their college experience is completely different from their sibling’s experience. “You not only are a different person but you’re in a class with different people who may bring totally different things to the table,” she said.

Reflecting on the college process one year later, Lisa Shi ‘18 imparted words of wisdom to seniors. “Don’t forget that this is your last year of high school. Enjoy it!

It’s easy to get caught up in all of the drama, but it almost always works out in the end, and the last thing you want is to be graduating and to realize you’ve missed out on so much because of the college process,” Shi said. decreasing my stress level

11.6%

How are your parents affecting your stress level?

no effect on my stress level

34.8% adding to my stress level

53.6%

6

THE RECORD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Reinventing the wheel: students explore ceramics for upcoming installation

Victor Dimitrov Staff Writer

Reina McNutt (11), Taimur Moolji (11) Juli Moreira (12), and Jacob Bernheim (12) have been developing elaborate new ceramic techniques, giving them the opportunity to branch out and gain insight into what interests them as individual artists.

Their latest creations are currently featured in the “Works in Progress” gallery in Fisher Hall.

McNutt is constructing several bowls and focusing on creating intricate differences between them, exploring beyond more conventional pottery forms, she said.

“For this project, I want my end product to be a set of bowls that my family and I will actually eat from, not just artwork that sits around the house. I want to try to go for a matching set that looks factory made but also has a personal touch to it,” Griffin Smith/Staff Photographer

WORKS IN PROGRESS Fisher gallery’s current exhibit.

McNutt said.

Moolji has been focusing on wheelthrowing tall, spiraled structures to further his ability to create tall pots.

“Clay stands out to me because of its ability to be molded into threedimensional structures,” Moolji said. “I enjoy the hands-on aspect of creating art with clay.”

Moreira experimented with the illusion of depth in her work by adding ornamental side structures onto a pot she created. “I was inspired by how my sculptures on the surface of the piece ended up messing with the perception of the depth of the piece and I want to delve more deeply into that,” Moreira said. “My inspiration for the piece stemmed from my interest in exploring how clay can be used in non-utilitarian ways, and I wanted to play more with the idea of using sculpture as a way to make a piece more interesting,” Moreira said.

“This year, I’m not in a ceramics class, and I have made a plan with Mr. Renner that I do self-assigned projects. For this specifically, he had suggested doing something that looks different from everything I have done in the past,” McNutt said.

Griffin Smith/Staff Photographer

CLAY CREATIONS Sculptures by student artists.

“My presentation is not far from the final piece,” Moolji said. “I hope to finish glazing and firing the spirals soon and once I finish that they will stand together as a specific arrangement,” he said.

“An interesting aspect throughout my pieces is that, while their exterior gives the viewer an appearance of a filled inside, the interior is completely hollow and required careful deliberation to do so,” Moolji said.

The students did not have any

specific instructions, so they were able to expand their inspiration as they worked on their projects.

One purpose of the installation was to highlight the importance of going beyond what is perceived as conventional, Moolji said.

When an artist learns how the clay works with their particular style, they can make it into anything they want, allowing for a variety of options, which is a significant aspect of works featured in the gallery, McNutt said.

Advanced ensembles showcase their skills in evening performance Eliza Poster Staff Writer Yesterday at 7:30 p.m., long after the final departing school buses pulled away from campus and the last lingering students deserted the library, parents, teachers, and students listened to music resound from the magenta-lit Recital Hall stage as the Advanced Ensembles held their first concert.

The purpose of the concert, which featured performances by Steel Band G, Chamber Winds, String Sinfonietta, Treble Choir, Concert Glee Club, and Jazz Combos was to provide the more advanced music groups with an opportunity to perform prior to the Winter Concert, Music Program Coordinator Timothy Ho said.

“It’s sort of assumed that the ensembles that are performing will actually learn music as a group faster.

And so it’s a chance for us to feature them with a set of pieces that we’ve been working on since the beginning of the year,” he said.

As the first concert of the school year, the Advanced Ensemble

played the bubbly, melodious song “The World is a Ghetto,” laughing as they performed their slightly unsynchronized choreography, bouncing up and down during rests.

One of the challenges that many of the ensembles confronted in preparing for the concert was adjusting to the presence of new members, as well as the absence of former members, Ho said.

“With a new year comes a new group because all of the seniors last year graduated. We’re kind of finding out how we sound as a whole right now and trying as hard as we can to sound like one unified group,” Maya Freeman (12), a member of Treble Choir, said.

Treble Choir performed a vocal Jazz arrangement, as well as ‘Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie,’ a vocal and body percussive piece, requiring members to pound their chests, stomp their feet, and clap their hands.

In preparation for the concert, Ho focused on “making sure [members] can still sing all their parts accurately while they can still do the body percussion,” he said.

Jake Shapiro/Photo Editor

Jake Shapiro/Photo Editor

STRING PLAYERS Sinfonietta performs in advanced ensembles concert.

Performance prefaced what other performances will be like in the future, Music Teacher Nathan Hetherington, who conducts the String Sinfonietta, said.

In the concert, Steel Band G

Since the 16-member ensemble is small, there is more spotlight on individuals and more pressure to be “consistent,” Rosy Arora (10) said.

The Concert Glee Club, which is

comprised of 60 students, performed ‘Beati Quorum Via,’ a challenging English church piece composed

by Charles Stanford. They also performed a medieval-sounding song called ‘The Rose,’written by Ola Gjeilo only last year, Ho said.

For some Sopranos, these songs were challenging because they required them to hit high notes, while also restraining their volume so that their voices don’t overpower the Altos, Ella Anthony (11) said.

Devin Shah (11) was excited to perform with Concert Glee in the first performance because all of the members are very enthusiastic and active, he said.

String Sinfonietta, which is comprised of violinists, violists, and cellists, swept onto the stage dressed in all black, and then performed ‘Adagio and Fugue in C Minor,’ by Mozart.

One focus of rehearsal for the Mozart piece was “staying together, making sure we keep tempo and kind of keeping an inner pulse as we play,” cellist Alex Oh (10) said.

“The biggest thing at the beginning of the year is working on ensemble, because there are always new members coming in so it’s really about getting everybody used to each other,” Hetherington said.

String Sinfonietta achieved their goal, as the bows jerked over their strings in unison.

Laura Bae (11) was excited to play in the Recital Hall, which the Sinfonietta rarely gets to perform in.

“Usually, we perform in Gross [Theater] and the theater isn’t meant for ensembles like Sinfonietta, so it’s going to sound a lot better,” she said.

Two Jazz Combos, led by Music Teacher Michael Bomwell, also performed pieces where each musician improvised their solos, a skill they have worked on since the beginning of the year, guitarist Sofia Del Gatto (11) said.

One of the fundamental skills in jazz groups is communicating visually with one another, as well as listening to each other so they can respond to improvisation, Bomwell said.

The process which musicians in Jazz ensembles prepared their pieces

Jake Shapiro/Photo Editor

A EUPHONIOUS TRIO Kaiser, Heymann, and Patry-Martin perform together. began with Bomwell giving out the sheet music with the chords and melody so that “everybody learns the basic tune, and then from there we figure out how to make it our own,” Bomwell said.

Bassist Jacob Shaw (9) found it challenging to learn to improvise because he is new to the instrument, he said.

One ensemble played ‘Killer Joe,’

by Benny Golson, which is a “typical swing bebop piece with some funky influence in it,” Del Gato said. The other ensemble played ‘Minority,’

by Gigi Gryce, a more formal 1950s

bebop song, Bowell said.

Music is a vital part of Shaw’s life, so the concert gave him the opportunity to take a break from the stress of school and enjoy playing, he said.

Cindy Kaiser (12), Jasper Heymann (11) and Margalit PatryMartin (11), a trio comprised of the piccolo, clarinet, and piano, led by the school’s private flute teacher Jean Wilson, performed ‘Wildflowers: Dense Blazing Star’ by composer Eric Ewazen, who will visit the school in March.

Katya Artunyan/Contributing Artist

HORACE MANN SPECIAL PHOTO FEATURE OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Scenes from Rehearsal Preparing for the Advanced Ensemble Concert A Photo Essay by Editors Ahaan Palla and Jake Shapiro

7

Lions’ Den Record Sports

OCTOBER 26TH, 2018

Girls’ Varsity Volleyball looks to finish strong against Dalton Jack Crovitz Staff Writer

Today, the Girls Varsity Volleyball team hopes to defeat Dalton in their final game of the year in Prettyman Gymnasium.

The team lost a game against Trinity on Wednesday, bringing their record this season to 4-10.

The Lions’ main strength has been “working really well together,” an essential component of volleyball, co-Captain Kyra Kwok (12) said. “Volleyball, in my opinion, is the ultimate team sport,” Kwok said.

8

However, the Lions have struggled with a lack of experience. According to Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Lenny Foreman, one of the main problems this season has been many of the players not practicing between seasons, he said. “That is a culture I will have to change,” Foreman said.

Two specific areas that require improvement are serving and transitions between points. “We really need to work on serving and serve receiving,” co-Captain Zoe Swift (10) said. “We have to work on moving on to the next point,” Kwok 12) said.

Abigail Kraus/Photo Editor

SET IT UP Kyra Kwok (12) prepares to serve the ball.

Abigail Kraus/Photo Editor

SPIKE, SET, BUMP Sasha Matt (10) gets ready to send the ball over the net.

JV Football finishes challenging season Bradley Bennett Staff Writer

An undermanned Junior Varsity Football Team remained upbeat in the face of stiff competition this year, finishing the season with a record of one win and three losses.

The team defeated Hackley 6-0 in their season win, and lost to Poly Prep 20-0, and Rye Country Day School twice, 22-8 and 22-14.

With only 10 players on the squad, they must play eight on eight, instead of the standard 11. Most had to play both offense and defense, while the majority of other teams had enough people to allow players to rest during games.

“I was so happy with the improvement we made from the start of the year to the

end,” JV Football Coach Ron Beller said. “We wanted to beat players to spots and play fast, and these kids certainly got to that point.”

“On our team, you’re in the entire game, so everyone is gassed,” Jonas Jacobson (10) said. “That’s why at practice you really have to work on your stamina, because during the games there’s no break.”

“We were low on players but we still played our hearts out every game,” Isaac Baez (10) said. “We had a lot of energy every game.”

“The team relied on me to get everyone hyped up for the games,” James Thomas (9) said. “I was able to get everyone’s adrenaline pumping before each game.”

It was the first time some players have ever played high school level football, so it was “interesting to see

Halley Robbins/Contributing Photographer

BIG GAINS Runningback Isaac Baez (10) runs the ball upfield.

how they evolve into better players and gain experience and chemistry with the rest of the team, because chemistry is so important in football,” Jacobson said.

Nathan Zelizer (9) hopes to play football every year of high school. “This year was really helpful for me because I got to learn all the fundamentals,” Zelizer said.

“I’m hoping to play football every year of high school.”

“I was a leader for the younger guys and really helped them develop as football players and taught them how to be better players physically and in terms of characteristics,” Baez said.

“This year was special because we took on a new role of mentoring the younger kids on Junior Varsity and teaching them how to play.”

The sophomores were great role models because they had more experience, and the freshmen learned a lot from them, Zelizer said.

“At preseason camp the whole football team bonded together, and now we’re all really close on and off the field,” Baez said.

“This team will always hold a special place in my memory because of how much they care for each other, play for each other, and most of all play with heart,” Beller said.

“This is one of the toughest groups I have ever coached.”

Homecoming was an especially significant game for the team. Although they lost to Fieldston, “it’s one of those good losses that a coach can accept. That was a really good performance by us,” Foreman said.

Both Co-Captain Brittney Jones (12) and Dakota Stennett-Neris (12) have made significant contributions to the team this season. “Brittany is one of our strongest offensive players,” Swift said.

“In a lot of ways, Brittany is the backbone of our team,” Kwok said. Stennett-Neris “leads by example and works hard to improve,” Kwok

said.

The relationships fostered between the players are perhaps the most significant part of the team’s experience this season. “We are so much closer than we were last year as a team and as friends,” Swift said.

Most importantly, the players enjoyed both the game and their teammates. “As a senior, it’s really hard for me to say goodbye, but I’m so happy that my last season playing volleyball was with this team. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kwok said.

JV Boys Soccer strikes success Ranya Sareen Staff Writer With a current record of seven wins to four losses and one tie, the Boys Junior Varsity Soccer team looks to end their dominating season with another win this week.

Different games throughout the season stood out to different players. For Armaan Kakodkar (10), the win against Collegiate was an important one. “We had never scored three goals in a game before and our defense stayed strong throughout the whole game, not letting any exhaustion get to us,” he said.

The Fieldston game was “especially important” to Jake Federman (10), because he’s had bad experiences with the Fieldston team in the past. The Lions had lost their first game against the Eagles, but came back and won their next game 2-1.

The improvement in the team’s skills, communication, and hard work is evident in the many wins the team had during the season, Federman said.

Offense improved greatly as the season has progressed, Boys Junior Varsity Coach Chris Nelson said. Although it took a while for players in the midfield to build chemistry with the forwards, a strong sense of playing ethic and communication was established, he said.

Having a large group was a

Abigail Kraus/Photo Editor

DEFENSE Sully Smith (10) protects the ball. factor in the progress of the handling skills, Kakodkar said.

“We had fun in practices, team this season. The team is around two-thirds freshmen, however, we were definitely and sophomores guided the able to improve our skills freshmen throughout the and understand each other’s playing style,” Logan Draccos season, Federman said.

“Each and every player (9) said.

Even with the loss of Alex worked hard to make everyone feel comfortable and feel part Gerstenhaber (10) to knee of the team,” Henry Bloom (10) surgery in the very beginning of the season, “the team was said.

As there were many players, able to find their identity again “the skill level definitely varied and find ways to win,” said because there were players who Federman.

Bloom said that Federman played in middle school as well as some who had never been was vital to the team’s wins part of a soccer team before,” “because he blocked many attempted goals, which allowed Federman said.

During practices, the team for tight, successful wins.”

As for future seasons, looked to improve rusty skills that Coach Nelson noticed Bloom said, “as long as the team works cohesively and during games, Federman said.

From there, Nelson created focuses more on attacking and a list of drills to better those scoring, we will have positive outcomes.” skills, Kakodkar said.

The team looks forward to It was very important to the team as a whole to work competing against Dalton in in harmony to better their their final match of the season defensive, offensive, and on October 26.