Volume 119 Issue 17
The Record
Community celebrates Lunar New Year Ceci Coughlin Staff Writers Students in Chinese teacher Frances Fu’s Chinese classes spent time last week mading Lunar New Year decorations together. Other members of the school community and people around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday. The Lunar New year follows the Chinese lunar calendar, which China and many other East Asian countries follow. Based on Chinese mythology, each lunar year has a corresponding animal from the Chinese zodiac. The zodiac of a person’s birth year is said to encompass their personality and ambitions. This Lunar New Year marks the Year of the Tiger. School was closed on the day of the new year to allow time for celebration, since the holiday involves numerous festivities and traditions. On Monday, the daily break period held by Ms. Bartels and the Happiness Club was sponsored by the East Wind West Wind (EWWW) club. With the help of FLIK staff, EWWW handed out mandarin oranges and hóng bãos (red envelopes) filled with chocolate to honor the celebratory customs of the holiday. For Fu, the most important tradition
Other traditional festivities include preparing fish, getting a new dress, and using the color red, Fu said. Red symbolizes luck for the family in the coming year, she said. Eating fish on new year’s eve brings good luck, Emma Chan (11) said. The tradition of eating fish on Lunar New Year comes from a funny pun, Peter Yu (11) said. A Chinese saying wishes others a plentiful amount of goods and a bountiful harvest, Yu said. The last word in the saying sounds like “fish,” which is why people will eat fish on the New Year, he said. Yu’s last name also sounds like the word for fish in Chinese, he said. To celebrate this year, Yu went out for dinner with his family and friends, he said. Yu also wished his parents a happy new year and said a few traditional Chinese phrases about good omens, he said. Some traditions, like the use of red cutouts to represent the spring season, come from China’s historical reliance on agriculture, Fu said. The harvest depended on the weather, so the festivities pay respect to ancestors and nature, she said. Wu celebrates the New Year with festivities like making dumplings, going to parties, and spending time with family. “I went to a party on the
“The new year represents new beginnings and cleansing yourself of whatever happened in the previous year.” - Larry Tao (11) is getting together with her whole family for dinner. During the holiday season in China, transportation is very busy since everyone wants to visit their family, she said. “Usually in China, the holiday period is much longer, extending 14 days after the initial new year,” Ben Wu (11) said. “During that time there are a lot of celebrations and people don’t really work.” To Wu, the Lunar New Year sometimes feels like just a second new year after January 1, he said. However, the holiday is still important to Wu because of its impact on his family life, he said. “I’m not super traditional, but I still appreciate the holiday for what it is.” Traditionally, the days leading up to the New Year are spent cleaning the house, buying new clothes, getting a haircut, and other similar activities to prepare for the holiday, Larry Tao (11) said.
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eve and I went to visit my grandparents during the day,” he said. At these parties, everybody brings food, adults drink alcohol, and people play a lot of cards, Wu said. Dumplings and seafood like fish, shrimp, or crabs, are most common, he said. Fu’s favorite part of the holiday is the food, she said. When she was a kid, her mom taught her how to wrap dumplings, Fu said. “The best flavor is when your family makes it together,” she said. “It’s a good flavor for your mouth and your spirit.” In order to celebrate, Chan participates in traditions like firecrackers and going to dragon dances. “When I was younger we used to go watch dragon dances in Chinatown,” she said. “Usually there’s a dragon dance and a huge parade and everything gets decorated red, while traditionally there are firecrackers and lanterns and everybody goes all out.” Another tradition in Chan’s family
involves giving a red envelope filled with money to the kids, she said. “It’s often an older person giving a gift to a younger person,” Tao said. “We also try to decorate the house, but there are certain traditions you have to do like clean the house, cut your hair, and other small things that we don’t usually do,” Chan said. Like Chan, Wu’s family does not participate in every tradition, he said. “In the past, before COVID, we would have larger parties and my grandparents would sometimes come over,” Wu said. “Some years my mother would make a larger meal and we would do some house decorating or wear traditional or fancy clothing, but we didn’t really do that this year.” On New Year’s Eve, Chan tries to have dinner with her family, but because of school and other commitments they do not always get to do that, Chan said. Instead, Chan’s family might celebrate a couple days before or a couple days after the new year with her extended family, she said. Likewise, Tao usually does not eat a big meal with his relatives because most of his relatives live in China, he said. New Year’s eve dinner was still his favorite part of the holiday, Tao said. “It wasn’t just with my family this year, it was with other people.” Another tradition, especially in Western society, is new year resolutions, Fu said. “You write down resolutions using Chinese calligraphy and then post them on the main gate [of homes].” The resolutions, on red paper, leave good blessings for the family on their door, she said. Fu understands how the holiday has changed since the times of ancient China, yet continues to have appreciation for it. “We are not poor, we could get a new dress everyday, and we have food. But we are still appreciating everything and staying humble,” Fu said. One example of using the new year to remember to stay humble is valuing saving more and finding a good use for everything, Fu said. “I think it’s all about family,” Chan said. “I don’t get to see them that much anyways, so I think that’s the best part of it.” “The new year represents new beginnings and cleansing yourself of whatever happened in the previous year,” Tao said. “The main goal of the new year is to set you and your family up for prosperity,” he said. “A lot of what you do to prepare is to give blessings to your family for the next year to make sure good things happen.”
Courtesy of Yin Fei
NEW YEARS FESTIVITIES East Wind West Wind hands out celebratory snacks on Monday.
February 4th, 2022
Matthew Jacobson/Staff Artist
DINING TOGETHER Students eating without barriers.
School loosens COVID protocols Divya Ponda and Rani Ogden Staff Writers
This week, the school implemented several new COVID policies, including the removal of plastic barriers in the cafeteria, the removal of masks outside and in eating spaces, and the reinstatement of Dorr and division-specific events, Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly wrote in an email to parents on January 30 2022. “It’s been a long two years. I feel like our numbers are incredibly encouraging. We have virtually nobody nursery through 12 who are isolating for COVID,” Head of the Upper Division (UD) Dr. Jessica Levenstein said. Levenstein is excited to see what happens when a few restrictions are lifted in a fully vaccinated community, she said. The school removed the barriers after recent studies showed that barriers are relatively ineffective, Levenstein said. “We learned things
just having conversation is much easier without literal plastic barriers in your face. The cafeteria is now a much more lively space, and there’s much more apt for conversation and socializing.” Kailyn Ortiz (11), however, does not feel comfortable eating in the cafeteria with the new COVID protocols, as she is nervous about potentially transmitting the virus to friends who have high risk relatives, she said. “I avoid the cafeteria entirely,” she said. “I usually just get my food and then leave immediately because there’s just so many people around with no masks.” The new COVID protocols will also have a significant impact on the Lower Division, Levenstein said. “The Lower Division kids have been doing recess with their masks on since Fall of 2020. So, I think the really big impacts are going to be felt more there than here.” Furman is glad that the school is finally rolling back COVID
“I can’t predict the future, but judging by this trend, I would think it is possible that [the mask mandate could be ended] this year.” - Dr. Jessica Levenstein over the course of the pandemic, and one of the things we realized is that these barriers don’t really do much.” In fact, Middle Division (MD) and UD Nurse DeAnna Cooper wrote that keeping barriers in the cafeteria may even facilitate the spread of COVID-19. “Barriers actually inhibit air flow, so no dividers may be safer for the cafeteria,” Cooper wrote. Ben Wu (11) thought that the barriers would be one of the last restrictions to be removed, he said. “It did come as a bit of a surprise, especially because it was sent out in an email over the weekend and the next day the barriers were just totally gone except for the ones in the library,” Wu said. The removal of barriers has changed Levenstein’s experience eating in the cafeteria, she said. “It just seemed really depressing to eat there before with the plastic barriers and so I preferred not to,” she said. “It was great to talk freely with colleagues and not have to say ‘What? What?’ It feels like we are returning to some happier days, so it’s had a great personal impact.” The cafeteria has become a better place for socialization now that the plastic barriers have been removed, Peter Yu (11) said. “Lunch has been much more enjoyable,” he said. “I get to sit with all my friends and
restriction, he said. “I think at this point, really the last major restriction to get over will be masks,” Furman said. Yu believes that the school should move forwards in terms of ending the mask mandate entirely, he said. “As far as I’m concerned, at this point, COVID isn’t that dangerous for kids, especially when they are triple or double vaxxed. At this point, it just doesn’t really serve a purpose,” Yu said. Depending on the cases, Levenstein said that the mask mandate could be ended this year. “I can’t predict the future, but judging by this trend, I would think it is possible that that could happen this year,” Levenstein said. However, when Levenstein relayed this information to her English class, students expressed mixed feelings about the end of the mask mandate, she said. “I think most people are very excited about that idea, but I’m sure there’s also anxiety that comes with that,” she said. The school wants to take its time as other restrictions are removed and make sure that the data backs up all of the decisions, while making sure that everyone is psychologically ready for each step, Levenstein said. “Thank you to the student body for helping us get to this point.”
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THE RECORD OPINIONS FEBRUARY 4TH, 2022
The subway to school: the most dangerous part of my day
Ryan Finlay It was Saturday morning, January 15, and I was on the subway heading into Midtown to meet some friends. As the train passed 86th street, there was an announcement: “Due to a passenger being struck by a train, we will not stop at Times Square 42nd Street.” I’m sorry to say that I was not surprised in the least. Since I moved to NYC almost seven years ago, I’ve lost track of how many times those words have rung in my ears. I thought nothing of it and peered down at my phone to read the news. I stumbled upon a disturbing headline. A woman had been pushed onto the tracks and was killed by an arriving subway at the Times Square station. When my train pulled out of 57th, we slowed to a crawl, switched tracks near 49th, and glided through Times Square, directly next to the tracks where a fellow commuter met a grisly end. Most of my fellow passengers were unfazed by the tragedy, and barely looked up from their screens — but I
did. The train that struck her was still there, lights off, parked halfway into the station. The platform was crowded with officers, and a stretcher lay on the tile floor. Michelle Go was randomly selected by her killer, a homeless man suffering from mental illness. It seems that this latest episode of subway crime has become the last straw for many whom I have since spoken to. For myself, the experience of witnessing the aftermath has pushed me past some undefinable threshold, and I am absolutely seething. My overwhelming frustration comes not from the image of that empty subway train still floating in my head, but from my growing library of disturbing experiences riding the train. I still remember the first time I was screamed at from the train doors by a presumably deranged woman for no apparent reason; I still remember the first time I saw a man urinate on a pillar a few paces away; I still remember the time when my mother and I counted the seconds until we could rush out of the train car where a homeless man masturbated across from us beneath a filthy blanket. Everyone who rides the subway regularly has stories like mine, some far more graphic. I am fed up with constantly looking over my shoulder and considering my subway rides to and from HM the most dangerous and revolting part of my day. I’ve recently wondered if I should just stop taking the subway, but then I am filled with boiling rage at the thought. Why should I, the regular commuter, the righteous customer of the MTA, be scared away from the public transportation system that is built for workers and students like me? Then I think of all the people who have
had similar thoughts, and have already succumbed to entirely rational fears of being confronted with the disgraceful indecencies found in this city’s subway system, all because we haven’t the will to clean up this egregious mess. Since the murder of Michelle Go, there has been talk of finally compelling the MTA to test platform doors, but there seems to be no understanding of just how many years, or dare I say decades, worth of station renovations it will take to make such a pipedream a reality. We need real, feasible, and achievable solutions now, because no matter how many police officers we cram into each station, it will not change the fact that the subway system is currently the most massive homeless shelter in the city. This is unpalatable, and can not continue, but it’s also solvable. It is vital to acknowledge that the vast majority of homeless New Yorkers are not responsible for the current state of affairs. That said, I believe there are clear limits for what should and should not be tolerated in the public transportation system. No person should be allowed to bring a shopping cart past the turnstiles. Stations are not sanctuaries for addicts openly injecting themselves with illegal drugs. Clear aggressions, such as verbally harassing a fellow passenger, should be grounds for being escorted out of the station, as should commandeering half of a subway car to pile a mountain of trash bags. When a train reaches the last stop, sleeping passengers should be roused. A subway car is not a sleeping car; riders cannot rent out four seats to sleep on while the train travels back and forth across the city. As it stands today, public urination is illegal, smoking
in the subway system is illegal, and panhandling in the subway system is illegal. I refuse to accept the idea that this city does not have the stomach to enforce the law. It is not the responsibility of general civilians, just trying to get from point A to point B, to accommodate and keep out of the way of the homeless. Nor is it our moral imperative to be held as a captive audience, daily, as we are unwillingly pelted with stories of misfortune in the hopes that we will turn over our pocket change. Is it too much to ask that New Yorkers feel comfortable and safe on their commute? I refuse to be intimidated and forced out of the public infrastructure I have every right to pay for and use, and so should everyone else. There is safety in numbers, and the same principle applies here. Everyone feels more secure when they know they are not alone,
is nothing better than watching an American athlete stepping up onto the highest platform, receiving a gold medal, and having the U.S. national anthem play behind them. The Olympic Games may be an opportunity for countries to come together. However, the games fail at being a force for good if they ignore factors that contradict the intention of being a symbol of diplomacy and peace. The games have proven to be problematic as many look past China’s recent human rights abuses, as well as the increasing sentiments of nationalism that have caused countries to employ ruthless tactics to earn medals. This year, the Winter Olympics will be hosted in Beijing, China, a controversial choice considering that the country has been accused of committing human rights abuses for its persecution of the Uyghur population. Under China’s President Xi Jinping, China has continually abused Uyghurs, Tibetans, and those who express any independent religion or faith. China has attempted to eliminate negative responses by harrassing human rights activists, feminists, and journalists. To keep civil society in check, the government has expanded surveillance to curtail citizens’ rights to free speech and
press. Several governments, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee responded that though they were committed to improving their responsibility on human rights, these new commitments would not apply to the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. It is not only China’s hosting of the Olympics that should be a concern to the international public, but also a growing sense of nationalism and divisiveness that has grown in the games, undermining its aims at international cooperation. Traditionally, the Olympics are viewed as a means to encourage international relations and collaboration. These sentiments of unity are reflected by the symbols surrounding the games, such as the Olympic rings and the opening ceremony — that symbolize the joining of the five continents. Though the competition has branded itself as an effort towards creating international unity, it is important to acknowledge the nationalism and dangerous practices that have always existed within the games. Competitive sentiments have been higher than ever as winning a medal at the Olympics has become a sign of
a country’s development and power, prompting countries to go to great lengths to secure them. Performance enhancing drugs are one drastic step countries are taking to ensure peak performance. The Russian Olympic team was banned from the previous Summer Games, and was forced to compete under the name “Russian Olympic Committee.” These extreme measures corrupt the spirit of peace and cooperation, and instead make the event about a fight for prestige. Nationalism has taken prominence during the Olympic Games. This shift in focus minimizes the efforts of the athletes and places the focus on national victory. Although not inherently a negative result, it can be if people’s desire to win overrides the goal of international cooperation, or worse, an athlete’s health. Further, the pressure placed on athletes to perform to their highest ability is a challenging obstacle during the games and can lead to injuries. In the 2021 Summer Olympics, fans placed an immense pressure on Simone Biles to compete, though she felt extremely uncomfortable doing so. Rather than being able to showcase all of the training and practice she put into gymnastics, her mental health suffered. The pressure of the events accompanied with
and when their fellow New Yorkers, or HM students, are looking out for them. A great portion of the necessary changes must come from the MTA and local government, especially in terms of solving the root causes for why the subway is filled with the homeless in the first place. Regardless, as individuals, we owe it to ourselves and to our neighbors not to give up on each other and the subway system we are so lucky to have. When ridership falls, the resources for improvements start to dwindle. HM students should absolutely continue to commute by train. Just remember to ride in pairs or in a group whenever possible, especially after dark. I also urge everyone to take the saying “if you see something, say something” to heart. New Yorkers have a reputation for speaking up, and now is the time to act the part.
Sophia Liu/Staff Artist
Confronting the problematic aspects of the Olympics
Allison Markman Despite numerous countries’ announcements of a diplomatic boycott, the 2022 Winter Olympics will go off without a hitch — but we cannot allow our excitement for the games blind our better judgment of China’s suitability to host. Watched by billions of people, the Winter Games are an opportunity for people to support their country as they attempt to win esteemed gold medals. I love watching my favorite athletes compete, and I admittedly get far too invested in the medal count. My patriotism is never as strong as when I am watching Chloe Kim dominate the halfpipe in snowboarding. There
Volume 119 Editorial Board Head of Design AJ Walker
Editor in Chief Hanna Hornfeld
Managing Editor Liliana Greyf
Features Mia Calzolaio Emma Colacino
News Claire Goldberg Katya Tolunsky
Opinions Devin Allard-Neptune Yin Fei
A&E Purvi Jonnalagadda Arushi Talwar
Middle Division Jade Ciriello
Lions’ Den Lauren Ho
Art Directors Vivian Coraci Lauren Kim Riva Vig
Design Editors Avani Khorana Myra Malik Arin Rosen
Online Editor Lucas Glickman
Photography
Daniel Schlumberger Ailill Walsh Sean Lee Sam Siegel
Faculty Adviser David Berenson
Staff
Staff Writers Alex Lautin, Alexandra Yao, Allison Markman, Audrey Carbonell, Audrey Moussazadeh, Ayesha Sen, Cecilia Coughlin, Celine Kiriscioglu, Divya Ponda, Emily Salzhauer, Emily Sun, Hannah Katzke, Jillian Lee, Jiya Chatterjee, Max Chasin, Rachael Baez, Sean Lee, Vidhatrie Keetha, Zack Kurtz, Ariella Frommer, Athena Rem, Ben Rafal, Ella Shaham, Erica Jiang, Etta Singer, Heidi Li, Kate Beckler, Lucy Peck, Maeve Goldman, Naomi Yaeger, Neeva Patel, Nia Huff, Rani Ogden, Samantha Matays, Sophie Rukin Staff Photographers Aanya Gupta, Allyson Wright, Amelia Hirsch, Anna Miller, Aryan Palla, Ben Rafal, Catherine Mong, David Aaron, Dylan Greenberg, Harper Rosenberg, Jiwan Kim, Lynn Egan, Madlyn Yoon, Matthew Jacobson, Nicole Au, Oliver Konopko, Trisha Tran Staff Artists Aashna Hari, Addy Steinberg, Aimee Yang, Amira Dossani, Christian Conner, Dani Brooks, Dylan Leftt, Elena Zhu, Felix Brener, Isabelle Kim, Ishaan Iyengar, Karla Moreira, Kayden Hansong, Kristy Xie, Lauren B. Kim, Sam Gordon, Samantha Strasser, Samuel Stern, Serena Bai, Sophia Liu, Sophie Li
other athletic obstacles forced her to withdraw from the competition. In her note announcing her exit from the games, Biles discussed the guilt she felt for letting her country down, but echoed the importance of placing mental health before a medal. As the Olympic Games continue, I hope that Biles’ message resonates and the emphasis of the games is placed on international relations, not solely medal count. Nevertheless, The Olympics for many are an opportunity of a lifetime and an event that showcases the outstanding athletic ability from around the world. We cannot allow the few negative aspects of the games to dismiss the years of hard work athletes have put into being their best. Instead, we should examine the implications and effects the games have internationally. As we prepare to watch the upcoming Winter Olympics, we should not disregard China’s despicable human rights abuses nor the problematic practices that occur during the Olympic Games. We must find a balance between supporting our country and favorite athletes, while standing for human rights globally and protecting both the mental and physical health of the athletes.
Editorial Policy
About Founded in 1903, The Record is Horace Mann School’s award-winning weekly student newspaper. We publish approximately 30 times during the academic year, offering news, features, opinions, arts, Middle Division and sports coverage relevant to the school community. The Record serves as a public forum to provide the community with information, entertainment, and an outlet for various viewpoints. 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. Horace Mann School is not responsible for the accuracy and contents of The Record and is not liable for any claims based on the contents or views expressed therein. Editorials All editorial decisions regarding content, grammar, and layout are made by the senior editorial board. The unsigned editorial represents the opinion of the majority of the board. Opinions Opinion columns represent the viewpoint of the author and not of The Record or the school. We encourage students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents to submit opinions by emailing record@horacemann.org. Letters Letters to the editor often respond to editorials, articles, and opinions pieces, allowing The Record to uphold its commitment to open discourse within the school community. They too represent the opinion of the author and not of The Record or the school. To be considered for publication in the next issue, letters should be submitted by mail (The Record, 231 West 246th Street, Bronx, NY 10471) or email (record@horacemann. org) before 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. All submissions must be signed. Contact For all tips, comments, queries, story suggestions, complaints and corrections, please contact us by email at record@horacemann.org.
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THE RECORD FEATURES FEBRUARY 4TH, 2022
Behind the computer screen: the school’s technology department Alex Lautin and Audrey Moussazadeh Staff Writers In the 35 years since Director of Technology Adam Kenner started working at the school, the school has gone from operating without internet to having Wi-Fi that connects all divisions and buildings
including the John Dorr Nature Laboratory, Parets is “on email all day,” responding to people’s emails with screenshots of how to fix certain error messages, she said. Parets also spends time creating and managing accounts for students and teachers, as well as resetting passwords and working in Excel, she said. She also goes into the back end of applications, such as Google and Courtesy of Sam Siegal
WELCOME DESK Mr. Gutierrez greets incoming students and faculty with cables underneath the street. The Technology Department’s preparation and management of technology ensures that students have a seamless experience with technology at school, Kenner, who oversees the department and manages its budget, said. The department is responsible for all technology on campus — from the phone system to the computers in the library. When students are not on campus, department staff upgrade and maintain the technology. During the summer, the department replaces equipment and reimages computers. The department also works across divisions. “A lot of time is spent teaching new teachers about new tools and resources that they can implement and use throughout the school year,” Technology Integrator Cassandra Parets said. On typical weekdays, the department responds to service calls from teachers, Kenner said. These service calls include issues like fixing broken electronics in the classroom. “The first few weeks when school opens each year have calls
Zoom, to manage any issues there, she said. For example, if a teacher is having trouble with a Zoom meeting, Parets will adjust the meeting’s settings to help out. The department also helps the Katz Library staff with their technological needs and provides them with support as needed, Library Technology Coordinator Melissa Kazan said. Kazan usually takes her questions about the library’s hardware to the department. The library has around 20 desktops and 40 laptops, so when those devices run into issues, the Technology Department helps solve them, Kazan said. The department also helps the library with their Online Public Access Catalog, which is an online database that contains the names and locations of the library’s books, and grants new students access to the catalog each year, she said. “Recently, we noticed that the library’s desktops and laptops were locking out users after a period of non-use, meaning that new users would have to restart the machines to log in,” Kazan said. Courtesy of Sam Siegal
HARD AT WORK Technology Integrator Ms. Parets helps with error messages. from people using technology in unfamiliar spaces.” Throughout the day, Parets meets with teachers and students to address their questions. People come to the technology office to ask both specific questions or “to learn more” about technology, she said. Parets begins her mornings by sorting through calls and emails with questions regarding technology. She ensures the team did not miss anything from the previous night and that they are ready for the day. Because she works across divisions,
“We asked the Technology Department for help, and Mr. Gutierrez reconfigured our computers to disable the lockout feature.” As the Library Technology Coordinator, Kazan teaches students how to use electronic databases, print sources, and use NoodleTools, a digital citation platform. “I feel like I’m the first line of defense when there’s a problem with technology in the library,” she said. “When I can’t answer that question is when I call
[the Technology Department]. And sometimes I speak to them multiple times a week, and sometimes I don’t speak to them at all for several weeks.” The Technology Department also helps Upper Division Library Department Chair Caroline Bartels with the archives. The department is currently helping the library to digitize the archives and making them searchable online, Bartels said. Additionally, they help Bartels with formatting the new site for the school’s summer programs. In addition to helping the library, the Technology Department manages the technology for assemblies and meetings that take place in Gross Theater and the Recital Hall, Kenner said. When school was online last year, Bartels ran the assemblies with the help of the Technology Department. However, this year, the administration decided not to hold any online assemblies, Bartels said. In addition to helping with assemblies, the department also works on entering students into the schools’ databases. When new students are admitted, they have to be entered into the library database, the college office, the course scheduling software, the attendance software, and the nurses’ software, Kenner said. “Some of that is automatic. Some of that is manual. But the whole operation of the school depends on all that stuff being in the right place in time for somebody to use it.” Within the Technology Department, Parets focuses most on Google, she said. She looks out for duplicates when creating accounts and logins for students and teachers. For example, if someone has the same name as another person, Parets creates a distinct account name for the second person. Parets gets information from the main database, then uses that to generate FirstClass, the school’s email system, and Google account logins. The department uses contractors for some of their projects, though, in some cases they learn how to do the project themselves, Kenner said. Whether or not the department hires contractors depends on a project’s scope. For example, the Technology Department hired contractors to replace the phone system a few years ago. “That was a massive, monthslong project with dozens of people working in every building in the school to upgrade a phone system that at that time was 25 or so years old.” The school is also in the process of replacing the software that the finance and registrar’s offices uses, Kenner said. The new software is called Veracross, Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly wrote in an email to parents. The software may expand in the future for course scheduling, attendance, and medical records, Kenner said. Over the past few months, the department troubleshooted issues with the school’s Wi-Fi, which had been dropping out in specific classrooms, Kenner said. The department resolved the issue with configuration changes, Kenner said. The school uses a mesh system: a group of 240 access points — extenders that each device connects to — located around the school that are all centrally managed by a cloud service, Kenner said. The department also manages FirstClass. Raghav Poddar (10) does not mind using FirstClass because he is appreciative of the “unsend” function, but he hopes for a switch between servers because Gmail’s modernity makes for an easier user
“I feel like I’m the first line of defense when there’s a problem with technology in the library.When I can’t answer that question is when I call [the Technology Department].” - Melissa Kazan experience — especially because he would like to start receiving email notifications, he said. Steve Yang (11) thinks that FirstClass could be improved as it is currently slow, glitchy, and outdated, he said. Like Poddar, he appreciates the “view history” function — where you are able to see who has read and replied to the email — and the “unsend” function, however he would rather use Gmail because the interface is faster, familiar, and streamlined, he said. Loren Pretsfelder (11) dislikes that
The school wants to stop using FirstClass before it’s parent company, OpenText, stops supporting it, Kenner said. Kenner hopes that the school will have changed its email server by then. In terms of software that students use, the school made the transition from PowerSchool Learning to Google Classroom last year. Since PowerSchool was acquired by another company, the department felt as though the company who purchased PowerSchool wanted customers to change to another one of their products, Kenner said. “It seemed like PowerSchool was going to be discontinued or wouldn’t be supported [anymore].” The Technology Department also worked with the division heads and decided to integrate many of their services into Google because it makes the services easier for them to manage, Kenner said. As Technology Integrator, Parets helps teachers work to incorporate technology into their classrooms as best as possible, she said. For example, this year, the Middle Division followed the Upper Division in switching from PowerSchool to Google Classroom. In preparation for this shift, Parets offered extra workshops to teachers and students where she taught more about Google Courtesy of Sam Siegal
HANDS ON Mr. Reyes fixes computer hardware. the FirstClass server does not save edits made after the app is closed. “There’s nothing more frustrating than when I spent time drafting an important email to a teacher all for it to get deleted right when I click send,” Pretsfelder said. “I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to rewrite an email because it just disappeared.” Pretsfelder’s frustration with FirstClass malfunctions has led her to wish for the school to switch to another mail server, she said.
Classroom, she said. In terms of keeping students safe online, a few years ago, the department’s focus was on cybersecurity and maintaining a secure electronic “border” around the school, Kenner said. “Several years ago, there was a substantial increase in malware and network intrusion[s] worldwide, and all organizations were encouraged to substantially enhance their protective measures.”
Felix Brener, Dani Brooks, Karla Moreira/Staff Artists
Lions’ Den Record Sports
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FEBRUARY 4TH, 2022
Lions wrestle their way through Mayor’s Cup Maddie Offit and Hannah Bodner Contributing Writers The Varsity Wrestling team attended the city-wide Mayor’s Cup and placed 16th overall out of the 46 schools that competed. Held this past weekend, the Mayor’s Cup was the team’s first tournament of the year. Seven Lions qualified for the tournament: Elias Romero (12), James Thomas (12), Lucas Borini (11), Ivan Dolphan (11), Braden Queen (11), Jovanny Nazario (10), and Theo Katzenstein (9). The Mayor’s Cup tournament pulls the best wrestlers from public, private, and Catholic schools in the five boroughs. They take the top three from each weight class in New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the top three from New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), and the top twelve from the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL). “You are essentially getting the top 18 wrestlers in each weight class throughout the five boroughs, so there are no weak wrestlers,” Varsity Wrestling coach Gregg Quilty said. “The idea for the Mayor’s Cup is to bring every single school in the city together and have a true City champion.” The Lions were excited to compete against schools outside of the Ivy Preparatory League. “Usually the people we [compete against] are [other] private school teams from NYSAIS,” Thomas said. Considering this wrestling season will be their last, Romero and Thomas felt pressure after missing their junior season due to the
pandemic. “We are trying to make up [for last season] with the things we accomplished [this season],” Thomas said. “This being your final season at Horace Mann after six years, you really want to get all the memories in, all the hard work, but what’s important is making sure the team is ready for the future.” The future of wrestling for the Lions looks bright as Nazario, a standout competitor who received high praise from his teammates, placed fourth overall in his weight class in the tournament. It is “mind blowing,” Quilty said, considering that it is Nazario’s first year wrestling on the team. “It was very impressive for Jovanny — he has been a key aspect in our lineup this entire season, [and] even the [matches] he lost were super close,” Romero said. “Jovanny got two pins early in the tournament,” Quilty said. “First round he got a pin over Xavier and in the quarterfinal match he got a pin over RKA. He played a really tough match against the number one seed from Flushing High School, which was fantastic.” Romero was another standout competitor who placed sixth overall in his weight class after winning three matches and losing two, Quilty said. “Some of the kids that went [to the Mayor’s Cup] played their first tournament ever, so it was a whole new experience,” Quilty said. “Instead of wrestling one, two or three schools at a time, it was just massive, so many bodies.” The experience of competing against other high-level wrestlers was valuable, Romero said. The Lions have attended the Mayor’s Cup
ALL SMILES Lions pose for a picture before a day of wrestling. since 2004, Quilty said. “When the Mayor’s Cup first started, there were only about thirty teams in the city that had wrestlers.” Since then, the Mayor’s Cup has been expanding as more athletes and schools partake in the tournament; now there are about eighty schools that participate annually, he said. Throughout the tournament, the Lions’ main strategy was being aggressive and pushing the pace, Romero said. “We practiced the same way we usually do,” Borini said. The wrestling team had not competed in a tournament of this scale for nearly two years, so having confidence and being in the right headspace was key, Quilty said. “It was more mental preparation than anything,” Quilty said. Quilty provided uplifting advice to the Lions before the tournament on Sunday. “All you have to do is beat the one person that is on the mat with you and not be intimidated by all the people around you,” he said. Attending the Mayor’s Cup will help the
Lions in future tournaments, Quilty said. “It was a great experience to expose them to the tough competition of the Mayor’s Cup so they can understand what that type of pressure is like.” When the wrestlers go back next year, they will have a better idea of the competitive environment and it will not feel as new, he said. The team has two upcoming tournaments, the Ivy Preparatory League and NYSAIS tournaments. They are both smaller in scale compared to the Mayor’s Cup. “Now, when they go there, the tournaments are much smaller, and they are not going to be so scared,” Quilty said. The Lions had plenty of success during the Mayor’s Cup as there were phenomenal performances from the players all around, Romero said. No matter the score of each match, every single wrestler fought hard and never gave up, he said.
Girls Varsity Fencing falls to Rye in close match Nia Huff and Logan Singh Staff and Contributing Writers The Girls Varsity Fencing team lost against Rye Country Day School on Monday. Despite the loss, during the meet there were numerous close bouts, many of which the team could have won, Nitika Subramanian (11) said. The main factors Subramanian attributed to the team’s loss were nerves going into the competition. The most memorable part of the match was the final bout, which the Lions lost. During fencing, there is more pressure on the final bout, where everything comes together, Gwendolyn
Simon said. Another fun memory from the meet was riding the bus with her teammates, Nikki Pande (9) said. “Everyone on the bus was talking, playing video games together, and playing music,” she said. “It was a good team bonding experience. After the meet, someone brought cupcakes for everyone and I really enjoyed that.” During the meet, Madison Xu (11) stood out because of her previous experience in fencing, Simon said. The biggest challenge during the meet was the strength of the Rye girls fencing team, Simon Nicole Au/Staff Photographer
AT THE READY Shang (12) lunges towards her opponent.
said. “We really had to think of a good strategy to beat them and just try our best.” For Pande, the biggest challenge was when she was losing and didn’t know what exactly to do, she said. “My teammates were yelling conflicting advice, and I wasn’t sure who to listen to.” During fencing, one of the major factors affecting a player’s performance is their mental state, Pande said. “The whole team watches your bout, so if you’re not in the zone and you feel self-conscious of others watching, then it can be really hard for you to not choke,” she said. “For me it’s really important to pretend like no one is watching me and it’s just another practice bout.” One of the things the team is working on most is their technique and improving their footwork skills, Juliette Shang (12) said. It is also important for the team to learn how to bounce back from losses and not fixate over the score, she said. Being “in the zone” has different meanings for different people, Pande said. “Being in the zone for me is blocking out everything else around me and focusing on my opponents as if I and my opponent are the only people in the room,” she said. “Also, being in the zone for me is having a thought-out plan ahead of time in my mind so I’m not rambling about something during the point, and I already have a set of actions I’m planning to do, so I’m more confident when doing them.” The team works on three main strategies: full
attacks, in-and-outs, and parry ripostes, Pande said. In the full attack, fencers attack headfirst. In the in-and-out, fencers take a few steps in and take a step back when their opponent attempts to strike. Finally, the parryCourtesy of Carson Eisner riposte is when players hit their opponents’ épée aside and then strike, after their opponent attempted to attack. During the meets, everybody’s energy is high, Sylvie Seo (11) said. The players on the sidelines cheer every time the fencer scores a point. Players on the sidelines also yell out helpful tips, Nicole Au (9) said. Participation from the sidelines is one of Shang’s favorite parts of meets, as although the team has fenced against some difficult opponents, being together as a team and supporting one another has been a highlight, she said. Fencers also bond during practice by fencing against people they don’t normally practice with, Pande said. The team also plays games such as “the glove game.” In this game, all the fencers put a fencing glove in their pocket, and run around in an attempt to steal each other’s gloves while protecting one’s glove from being stolen, Pande said. As the team continues to progress, they are working on different skills, “I’d improve the lineup, just going back to the basics because the team was really good,” Simon said.
LIONS’ BOX: Results from This Week’s games 1/31 - Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Riverdale -- LOSS 41-57 1/31 - Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Riverdale -- WIN 49-38 1/31 - Boys Varsity Squash vs. Hackley -- LOSS 2-5 1/31 - Girls Varsity Squash vs. Hackley -- LOSS 0-7 2/2 - Boys Varsity Swim vs. Dalton -- WIN 86-70
2/2 - Girls Varsity Swim vs. Dalton --WIN 93-63 2/2 - Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Dalton -- LOSS 51-61 2/2 - Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Dalton -- LOSS 26-63 2/2 - Boys Varsity Squash vs. Fieldston -- WIN 6-1 2/2 - Girls Varsity Squash vs. Spence -- LOSS 0-7