FOUNDED 1895 • THE NATION’S OLDEST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
Volume CXLVII — No. II
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
record.pingry.org
PINGRY EXPANDS
The Future of Pingry at the Pottersville Campus
SARAH GU (IV) & MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V) Last August, Pingry announced its completed acquisition of the Pottersville Campus. This spacious, rural campus — about eighty-three acres and over 100,000 square feet of buildings — contains around twenty buildings and not only provides additional facilities, such as a theatre, an athletics center, housing, a ropes course, a quad, and classrooms, but also for more fun events and consummate learning opportunities. Many administrators expressed their eagerness towards the potential uses and possibilities for the campus. “It’s a really significant opportunity for the school to expand… its program in immersive and experiential learning,” said Board of Trustees member Mr. Jeffrey Edwards ‘78. “Immersive and experiential learning — a phrase frequently used by the people involved––meant an education in which students would be able to apply the knowledge they gained in a traditional classroom in a tactile manner.
“What students remember about their educational experience,” Chief Financial & Operating Officer Mr. Olaf Weckesser said, “tends to be––not necessarily when they’re sitting in a classroom–– but when they’re actually doing a task; when they’re applying the knowledge they actually learned in a very practical way.” Previously, this campus was t h e p ro p e rt y o f t he Pur n e ll School, an all-girls boarding high school. When the school announced its closure in March, the administration began to consider the purchase of the campus. The process was intense; Pingry was in competition with other schools to acquire the campus, and there was a short time to evaluate the advantages and practicalities of such a large purchase. (Nevertheless, the campus did not impact Pingry’s budget significantly — Mr. Weckesser cited that the money came from Pingry’s capital reserves, money saved for a special occasion, as opposed to the operating budgets.) The whole task also required lots of input
from different departments of the school; however, it was ultimately determined that the school was of great value. “The campus looked so inviting, and there were moments of shared excitement. We knew it was going to be a nice campus,” said Ms. Rebecca Sullivan, Director of Experiential Education and Pottersville Programs. While the long-term exact uses of the campus are not exactly clear, there are some short-term plans with a long term vision plan being built: Mr. Ian Shrank ‘71, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, noted that it is often difficult for faculty and staff to commute to the Basking Ridge and Short Hills locations. He mentioned that the existing faculty housing on the Pottersville campus can be used to address the problem, and, together with the dorms, of which there are 100, would provide possibilities for exchange student programs, expert-in-residence opportunities, and more. (It should be noted that Pingry will not be using the Pottersville campus to become a boarding school.) “[The Pottersville Campus] is a place to
interact with the world and have the world interact with us,” said Ms. Sullivan. She also mentioned that the campus’s space, outside of the core academic environment, could promote health and well-being for the community. Head-of-School Mr. Matt Levinson described the use of the campus for Rufus Gunther Day, “engaging the whole K-12 community for the first time, and furthering overall community growth.” Furthermore, Form III students in World History 9 were able to go to the Pottersville Campus to participate in the culmination of their Explorer-in-Residence week with Denis Belliveau, who retraced Marco Polo’s famed travels to China and back without air travel. The day included a trade simulation experience at the Pottersville Campus, with students split up into ten groups representing ten cities along Silk Road as they bargained with each other for goods. Additionally, Mr. Levinson expressed his excitement towards the new Upper School Spring Intensive programming, mentioning the “limitless potential
with experiential education on the Pottersville Campus to offer classes like cooking, or taking advantage of Hacklebarney State Park for an environmental study, which lies adjacent to the campus.” Pingry has always been pushing forward to evolve and improve opportunities for student growth over the years and to maximize community engagement. As a school, it has had many physical moves over the past 160 years, starting with the original schoolhouse in Elizabeth, to Parker Road, Hillside, Short Hills, and then finally the Basking Ridge campus. The Pottersville campus represents a new part of Pingry’s history, which will provide residential opportunities for the first time to students, as well as bringing further experiences to engage with the curriculum and gain a deeper understanding. With each transition has come a myriad of new experiences and resources for students, ultimately driving forward the mission of “Excellence and Honor” for the students, staff, and greater community.
Photo Credits: Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
2
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Convocation Kicks Off the Year
Carver Lecture SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III)
ALEX WONG (III)
because of our connotations with bright, childish posters that we have
On October 1, 2021, the Pingry
all seen in nursery rooms. However,
Upper School was invited to Dr.
quoting from the Dalai Lama, Dr.
Karen Reivich’s presentation
Reivich believes that optimism is
on “Cultivating Resilience and
instead best used when it is “wed” to
But this year, there was a twist. For
Optimism to Enhance Well-Being”
reality; It is the ability to maintain
the first time ever, Convocation
as part of the Gilbert H. Carver
a positive attitude while seeking
was held outside on Parsons Field.
‘79 Memorial Lecture. For many
a solution for any given problem.
Aside from the different setting
students, this lecture provided
Dr. Reivich defines optimism
however, Convocation proceeded
a much-needed opportunity to
through identifiable characteristics:
as normal, with speeches made
practice exercises in strengthening
noticing the positives, focusing on
optimism, as well as the
solutions, seeing opportunity,
instructions to develop a positive
taking purposeful action, accepting
mindset when faced with obstacles.
problems, and reaching out to others.
According to Reivich’s
Students were presented with an
presentation, resiliency can be
Optimism Self-Assessment, or a
defined as “the ability to navigate
template of strategies that could be
adversity and thrive in the face of
utilized in order to tackle problems.
challenges”. Reivich acknowledged
The lecture concluded with Dr.
As per tradition, on Friday, September 10, Pingry ushered in the new school year with Convocation.
by community members. The longest serving faculty member, Mr. Miller Bugliari ‘52, talked about how we should cherish the freedoms we have. Head of School Mr. Matt Levinson talked about the importance of having questions and striving for accuracy. The
that this is easier said than done,
Reivich encouraging students to
entire community also participated
but also stressed the importance
accept both the good and bad in
in the Honor Pledge Ceremony, as
of viewing this task through a
life: “I would like to challenge us
representatives from each grade
growth mindset, saying that “one
all to be there with empathy and
walked onstage to hand in signed
of the things that we know from Student Body President Giles Burnett (VI) at Convocation the science is that when we go
remember that word ‘and’. We
Konops (III) who recalled, “It through things that are really hard, we will grow and change in ways was different for it to be outside, that we are grateful for, and will but it was as great as any other see strength in ourselves that we convocation.” All in all, the tradition didn’t know we had”. So how do of Convocation was able to proceed we achieve personal resiliency? The despite COVID-19 restrictions, key for this is to foster optimism. one of numerous examples of the Admittedly, the word “optimism”
goodness that also is existing, even
pledges from all students affirming their commitment to Pingry’s
that it hit the right tone for the
Honor Code for the upcoming year.
school year, and captured our
Despite the unusual circumstances,
aspiration of being better together,
members of the community still
and I really think that it has always
found Convocation to be a fitting
highlighted the Honor Code, but
way to start the school year, and
along with that the importance
Assistant Head of School Dr. Delvin
of community.” Members of the
Dinkins remarked that “It was
student body also enjoyed this
terrific and heartwarming! I felt
year’s Convocation, such as Ian
resilience of the Pingry community. brought forth a large number of
must spot that one little oasis of when that hardship is present”. It is clear from this presentation that optimism is not just about ignoring negative feelings. It is about having hope for the future, even when the present feels miserable. The Carver Lecture was a beacon of positivity that our community
raised eyebrows. Many students
can use as we celebrate the start
were skeptical of using optimism
of the 2021-2022 school year.
Students’ Achievements Recognized at Fall Awards Assembly MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V)
with the highest GPA in each grade. Next, seniors excelling in math and
On Friday, September 24, the
science were recognized with awards
Upper School gathered together in
from the respective department. The
Hauser and advisory locations to
Rensselaer Mathematics and Science
acknowledge student achievements
Award and the Whitlock Prize for
and exceptional academic effort
Math were some of the awards given.
in the 2020-2021 school year.
As per tradition, Mr. Levinson and
As in previous years, the ceremony
Dr. Dinkins presented the college
started with recognizing the Form
book awards. Each award is given
VI students who were distinguished
to a senior class member who best
for their scores on last year’s PSAT/
meets the selection criteria provided
NMSQT exam by the National Merit
by the particular college. Brown,
Scholarship Program. This year, a
Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth,
total of 38 Pingry students were
Mount Holyoke, Penn, Princeton,
named National Merit Commended
Smith, Wellesley, Williams, and
Students. A total of eight seniors
Yale were represented this year.
were recognized as National Merit
Last, on behalf of the English
Semifinalists, allowing them the chance
Department, Dr. Dickerson announced
to advance in the selection process
the winners of the annual Justin
and become finalists in the spring.
Society writing contest. Students
These seniors were Connor Chen,
submitted their entries last spring,
Natalie DeVito, Emmet Houghton,
which the English Department then
Michelle Lee, Brian Li, Kristin Osika,
reviewed. Writers and poets from each
Andrew Wong, and Katharine Xie.
grade received awards for their creative
Following these distinctions, Interim
writing, poetry, memoir, and more.
Upper School Director, Dr. Reid
The annual Fall Awards ceremony
Cottingham, presented the Citizenship
is a celebration within the Pingry
Prize, given to one student in each grade
community of student achievement,
who best represents the Honor Code’s
excellence, and honor. It serves to
spirit. Afterward, the Faculty Prize
recognize the collective efforts of the
was awarded to students who showed
community. The Pingry community
dedication and commitment to their
looks forward to another year of
school work during the past academic
student a c hievement and hard
school year. Finally, the Scholarship
work, and congratulates all the
Prize was awarded to the student(s)
students honored at the ceremony.
Christine Guo (VI) and Kristin Osika (VI) receive the Science Award
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Junior Trip
Sophomore Trip SANIYA KAMAT (IV)
After the scores from the
3
MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V)
to a location by the river to board
Some advisory groups chose to
the rafts with their advisories. The
paddle in the lazy current, while
On September 8, just before the
rafting company gave each raft of
others decided to let the river take
school year started, the junior class
students a map detailing the five-
its course and chatted amongst
took a trip to the Delaware River to
mile journey, ensuring that each
themselves. Although the students
go rafting. Since previous junior
student had a paddle and life jacket.
enjoyed rafting and getting to see
classes had whitewater rafted on the
The trip was calm and peaceful.
their friends, most were ready to
scavenger hunt were tallied up and On September 8th, the
some bonus points were awarded,
sophomore class left for a day
it was found that the Lagarde and
trip to the Edith Macy Conference
Cooperman advisories had won.
Center located at Briarcliff
The sophomore students then
Manor, New York. After a nearly
No rapids were encountered, and
head home by the time the trip was
two-hour-long ride on the buses,
enjoyed a long and hearty lunch Lehigh River, the change in location with brownies and brookies was a slight surprise to students.
advisories amicably chatted about
over. Students and faculty boarded
the students grabbed a quick
for dessert, before moving on
The Class of 2023 reunited
the upcoming school year as they
the coach buses and returned
snack before splitting into their
to the free time section of the after summer break at 8:30 AM
paddled downstream. Rafters
to Pingry at around 3:30 PM.
advisory groups for an extended
retreat. During this time period, in the Bugliari Athletics Center. The students then split into their
were allowed to exit their rafts and
The trip was a fun way for students
swim in the water if they chose.
to get together before school began.
respective advisories to board
Students spent their time in the
Kyra Li (V) shared her thoughts on
the buses to the Delaware River.
water, splashing each other and
the trip: “The retreat made me feel
When the buses arrived, students
teaming up with their advisories
a bit excited about the upcoming
to splash other rafts. “The most
school year. Like the rafting trip,
scavenger hunt which took up
many students played cornhole,
the majority of time spent on the
talked while enjoying the nature
retreat. There was a great deal
surrounding them, and played or
of walking back and forth on the trails during the scavenger hunt,
watched one-on-one basketball gathered by the picnic tables games, some of which Mr. to eat their packaged lunches
fun part was probably splashing
junior year is going to be somewhat
but the sun was shining brightly
Saad Toor participated in. This a n d c a t c h u p w i t h f r i e n d s .
people from other advisories,”
of a bumpy ride, but I know that
and the weather was fair. During
was also a great opportunity
After lunch, everyone walked
remarked Victoria Ramos (V).
we can get through it together.”
the activity, each advisory looked
sophomores used to interact
for beads and rubber ducks, took
with and get to know some of
pictures at certain locations
the new students joining the
doing specific actions, and tried
school. Finally, it was time to
to defeat each other in games
head back home. Many students
such as a relay race tic-tac-toe
slept or listened to music on the
played with beanbags. Some
ride back, passing the time with
students found the experience
newfound tranquility. Overall, the
comparable to their Camp Mason
sophomore class trip will be one
sixth-grade retreat four years ago.
to remember for years to come.
Unmute Yourself: Learning to Value Diverse Perspectives SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III) In February of my seventh grade, I began hearing whispers during history class about a novel virus that broke out from Wuhan, China on New Year’s Eve–– COVID-19, they called it. I heard a variety of conspiracy theories, ranging from billionaires hinting at COVID-19 through old TED talks, to the virus being created in a laboratory as a bioweapon. March 13th started relatively normal: I woke up to the struggle of a laundry day, stuffed my bag with homework assignments, and sprinted the minute-long trek to my local public school. One minute I was laughing with my friends, and the next I was calling my parents, asking to be picked up early for our “two-week virtual schooling.” Over the last year and a half, I have been in awe of the resilience that the world has displayed. While social media warned of a death trap, my teachers created an online curriculum so that we could continue with what we have been learning. My peers, all separated by glitchy WiFi and computer screens, navigated a virtual world “hand-in-hand.” I had been incredibly lucky to participate in my school’s online system
and receive all the resources that I could get. However, I couldn’t help but think of all the students that have been affected. At its peak, more than 188 countries closed their schools to contain the spread of the virus, impacting more than 98% of the world’s learners. The statistics are staggering: around 1.6 billion students were kept out of educational institutions. The ones who were most affected by the closure were those who already had to face additional barriers. Youths from lowincome or single-parent families, immigrants, refugees, and people with special education needs were denied physical learning opportunities, social
and emotional support available at schools, and extra service opportunities like school meals. As a result, these groups were the most likely to lose the most in terms of educational outcomes. Learning losses threaten to extend past this generation and erase decades of global progress, including the support of young women’s educational access and retention. This disruption could be constituted as a global education crisis, with a projection of more 24 million children worldwide dropping out of school as a direct result. At Pingry, remote learning was a different story. The Pingry Anywhere model utilized the honor code, enforced community
expectations, and was ultimately able to stimulate a successful educational experience. All students were able to utilize Pingry’s resources and create an environment that truly was together. The spontaneity and originality of conversations that you would normally only find inperson was not lost; discussions were based upon using all students’ ideas, even when each voice was separated by individual computer screens. Students were still able to formulate independent opinions, and value was still placed on our diversity of backgrounds and opinions. Seeing the world begin to recover from the backlash of the pandemic, it is important for us
to once again appreciate this uniqueness of this community. While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all in countless ways, there was no loss in our learning, and the Pingry education experience was not compromised. As we celebrate the start of the 2021-2022 school year and embark on the Pingry Better Together model, we should find value in the classroom interactions we make on a day to day basis. Value the friendships that you make and the dialogue that you exchange. Let’s rewrite my story: it’s March, and I’m a disgruntled seventh grader sitting in my bedroom and staring at a silent zoom call. I bravely click the unmute button and share my thoughts, staring at the all-too-familiar faces of friends and teachers. Let’s start our own conversations.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
4
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Friday Night Lights GRACE FERNICOLA (IV)
The gray and damp weather did not stop hundreds of students, families, and faculty from coming together to show their support for the Big Blue Football Team during the annual Friday Night Lights event on September 17 against Newark Academy. Big Blue had a big win of 54-7,
holding Newark Academy scoreless until the fourth quarter. This was the team’s third consecutive win this season under new coach Joe Passaro, who joined Pingry last spring. During the game, Niles Luke (VI) scored two touchdowns, while Herb Toler (VI), Christian Fassnacht (V), Jacob Ventura (VI), Jason Weaver (V), Zach Ventura (VI), and Henry Pyne
(V) scored touchdowns each. Quarterback Matt Caruso (VI) threw three of the touchdowns scored. Josh Stevens (VI) was a big contributor on offense and defense and kicked six PATS for the team. Passaro, former center for Villanova’s football team, took over as head coach last spring. In response to winning the big game, he said, “I am excited about Pingry
Football and thrilled to have a great Senior class to lead the way.” Whoever wasn’t on the bleachers cheering on the team was most likely by the tents, where food and treats were provided by the PSPA. Pingry’s team was cheered on for the entirety of the game with great enthusiasm from the crowd. The energy was especially high since last year’s game was cancelled due
to COVID-19. Students held up giant faces of their peers and friends playing in the game, and chanted their names as well as, “Go Pingry!” All fans showed their spirit for both Pingry and the USA theme with their outfits, jerseys, signs, and facepaint. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the team and congratulations to Big Blue on the win!
The student section at Friday Night Lights
Hispanic Heritage Month JACK ANGELL (V)
of our only opportunities as the small Pingry Latin community to
Every year from September 15 to
get our word out there. Therefore,
October 15, the Pingry community
it is really important to us, and
comes together to celebrate
hopefully it will become important
National Hispanic Heritage Month.
for the rest of the Pingry community
Created in 1968, Hispanic Heritage
too,” Salvatore remarked. The
Month is dedicated to Americans
Hispanic community is one
with heritage from Spanish-
of vibrance, accomplishment,
speaking countries such as Spain
and diversity, making Hispanic
and Mexico, as well as Spanish-
Heritage Month extremely
speaking regions of the world, such
important to embrace and celebrate.
as South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. During this time, we honor the accomplishments, cultures, and history of this group. To better understand the significance of this month for those of Hispanic descent, I spoke with JP Salvatore (V) and Luigi Zavala (V), the two presidents of Pingry’s Latino Student Union. “It’s a time for me to remember where I come from and the culture of my people,” Zavala explained,
“Hot Juans,” featuring Carlos Gonzalez (VI) and Mauricio Choussy (VI) as guests, and Sebastian Salvatore (IV) as host.
adding that this period has also
who identify as Latin to push
“Latinos Anywhere.” During this
presented him with the opportunity
the initiative for more Latin
assembly, Latin works of art and
to “become more connected
representation forward.” Therefore,
literature were on display, as well
with and meet more Hispanic
coming from Hispanic descent or
as several hilariously informative
people, especially at Pingry.”
not, we must all use this time to
skits, such as “Hot Juans,” a spinoff
Connection is an important
embrace Latin cultures and make
of the interview series “Hot Ones,”
aspect of the Hispanic community
sure to acknowledge this small
featuring Hispanic students and
at Pingry, especially due to
but vital subcommunity at Pingry.
faculty as guests. The assembly
notorious underrepresentation.
To maximize Latin representation
shared Latin culture and facts
Salvatore pointed out that “There
at Pingry, the Latino Student Union
through entertaining mediums.
are far too few faculty and students
will be hosted an assembly, themed
“[The] point is, this month is one
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
5
Building Trust: The Honor Code and Its Effect on the Pingry Community SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III)
Honor Code is a social contract that
part of our community and build back
the Honor Code a fresh coat of paint.”
Honor Code is yours — protect it. If
pushes everyone to work towards the
stronger bonds within our community?
This “fresh coat of paint” will hopefully
you’re in the hallway and hear someone
For most, the words “honor” and
highest-quality collective experience.
According to Mrs. Davlin, “We are
angle the Honor Code towards a
say something wrong, say something or
“character” produce images of knights
The Honor Code is part of what
working to make the Honor Code a
living future, no longer restrained by
tell a trusted adult. These everyday
in shining armor, regal monarchy living
makes our shared culture, so we can
more visible, positive presence in our
its status as a mere document. Mrs.
moments strengthen the Honor Code.”
in castles, and other romanticized
all feel a sense of pride when we wear
community. We are looking to the
Davlin wants to help the student body
As we are healing as a community
emblems pulled straight out of the
a Pingry sweatshirt. It means that we
wisdom of the Honor Board members
internalize the Honor Code by “making
from the effects of COVID-19, let
medieval genre. For Pingry students,
are more than just an academically
and their initiatives to celebrate the
the Honor Code more of a visible,
us all do our part in supporting
however, these words are the pinnacle
rigorous college-prep institution;
Honor Code as a major factor in
positive presence in our everyday lives
the Honor Code. Whether it is just
of our educational experience. We
we are also dedicated to creating
the Pingry experience. We had a
at Pingry and not just a punitive factor.”
wearing your mask, befriending new
are expected to maintain a constant
honorable, global citizens. The Honor
challenging year with COVID-19 and
So what can Pingry students do for
students, or even following your
commitment to character, influencing
Code is precious and ethereal but
all that has transpired in the world,
the Honor Code to thrive? Mrs. Davlin
moral conscience, we can all bring the
our peers through leading by example,
also tangible and present in our
but now we are back in the building
suggests that taking responsibility for
Honor Code back, stronger than ever.
and taking responsibility for our
everyday interactions and decisions.
without plexiglass, working to give
your actions is a great way to start: “The
actions: in short, we are asked to
One anecdote recounted by Mrs.
conduct ourselves like responsible
Davlin was how former Headmaster
adults.
This may seem like a tall
Mr. John Hanly once explained,
order for teenagers navigating a high
“The Honor Code is about how you
pressure academic environment,
act when no one [is] looking and you
and it is. Last year, Pingry’s virtual
[have] no chance of being caught.”
learning created situations where
It is clear from our conversation
the boundaries between ethical
that the Honor Code is based on the
judgment and our need to succeed
idea that our community should work
were often blurred; the Honor Code
together to protect something sacred:
was sorely tested to its limits by these
trust. The strength of the friendships
situations. In an attempt to better
we make at Pingry is rooted in our
understand the Honor Code and
faith that we will all do the right thing.
how Pingry intends to keep teaching
This is what separates Pingry from
its lessons, I spoke with Mrs. Alisha
other independent schools in the
Davlin, Upper School English teacher
country. The belief we have in our
and the new Honor Board advisor.
peers and teachers is what defines our
We first discussed what the Honor
educational experience. But as seen
Code meant to us. She remarked,
by the challenges faced by Pingry
“I attended an independent school
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,
with an honor code, which I didn’t
that trust has been eroded. So what
realize at the time would shape the
steps are Pingry taking to ensure the
rest of my life.” For Mrs. Davlin, the
Honor Code can remain an integral
Word in the Halls What do you think about the Homecoming Dance being split into two?
Izzy Billups (VI) “Considering COVID-19, I think that it’s great because the seniors and juniors get to spend more time together. It is a bummer for the freshmen because they won’t get to hang out with the seniors. However, the dance will definitely bring them closer together and we get to hang out with people we will miss in a few years, so I think it’s a great idea.”
Ashton Sampedro (III) “It’s different obviously but it might just be because of COVID-19, and if so then that’s a valid reason to split it up, but if not, then it’s kind of unnecessary.”
Volume CXLVII, No. II
Editors-in-Chief Andrew Wong Brian Li Senior Assistant Editor Emma Drzala Emily Shen Layout Editor Kyra Li Assistant Editors Keira Chen Mirika Jambudi Sarah Kloss
Cartoon Editor Olivia Hung Copy Editors Saniya Kamat Lauren Kim Sarah Gu Kate Marine Milenka Men Evan Wen Rohan Prabhu Faculty Advisors Mrs. Meghan Finegan Dr. Megan Jones
Sochie Odunlami (V) “As of last night, I thought Homecoming was canceled. I remember saying, ‘They could literally just split it into two and then we could do Homecoming’ so I think this is a good solution and I’m excited!” Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications, Emily Shen (VI)
THE PINGRY RECORD
6
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Holocaust Survivor Maud Peper Dahme Speaks at Hanly Lecture SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III)
movies every day, despite not knowing a word initially. As she
“At Pingry, Honor, Character,
grew older, Dahme dedicated
and Service aren’t just
her life to sharing her story with
catchphrases- they’re our culture.”
schools and teaching young
The quote above emphasizes the
people of what happens when a
importance of viewing the Honor
nation is stripped of its civil rights.
Code as an attitude as opposed
One of the main aspects that
to a list of rules and regulations.
Dahme highlighted in her lecture
However, this is easier said
was the kindness found in strangers.
than done, and holding a whole
Righteous Rescuers were non-
community to these standards
Jewish families who hid Jewish
requires reinforcement. The John
children, despite great personal
Hanly Lecture on Ethics and
risks. Dahme recalls her experience
Morality was named in honor of
with two such families, both of
Mr. John Hanly, Pingry’s former
whom went to great lengths to
H e a d m a s t e r . T h i s y e a r , the
protect children. She believes that
speaker was Maud Peper Dahme,
their kindness when taking care
a Holocaust survivor who shared
of strangers is a testament to the
her story and spread a message
respect people must have for others.
about kindness and respect.
Dahme provided a very valuable
Dahme was born in Amersforth,
lesson for the Pingry community,
Holland on January 24, 1936. The Germans invaded Holland in 1940, and in the fall of 1941, all Jews were forced to leave public schools, a move which affected Dahme’s education. In July 1942, German
officials ordered Jewish families to
and was given the address to a safe
the war was finally over, Dahme
report to a train station, which in
house. Dahme (age 6) and her sister
was reunited with her parents and
actuality served as a hub to arrest
(Rita, age 4) were separated from
moved to the US in 1950, where the
Jews and send them to a camp
their parents and went into hiding
family began to rebuild their lives.
in Holland. Dahme’s family was
with families who offered to take
Dahme recalls learning English
warned of this by a family friend
them in. Three years later, when
with her sister by attending the
Club Spotlight: Model UN
On Wednesday, November 3rd, the South Asian Affinity Group held its first community-wide Diwali celebration during the faculty collaboration period. Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is a significant holiday celebrated by Hindus,
will help them in life and, most notably, win conferences! The
Pingry has an abundance
Model UN club will be attending
of clubs, but one of the most
the BosMUN conference hosted by
successful clubs is Model UN.
Boston University this February.
Model UN has one student leader,
As the year continues, the club
Elspeth Campbell (VI), and two
will continue prepping for the
advisors, Dr. James Murray
BosMUN conference, as well as
and Mrs. Hannah Decatur.
other future exercises. When
In the club, students attend
our team represents the Pingry
realistic simulation conferences
community at the BosMUN
and have the opportunity to
conference, please support
be delegates from different
them in any way possible!
countries and participate in solving real-world problems. During club meetings, members of the club go over various topics such as politics, laws, poverty, the environment, the economy, and gender equality, as well as learn how to negotiate and listen to different sides of issues. This year the club is excited to have over sixty members. All students will have the chance to participate in in-school meetings as well as learn new skills that
and change. Her message about celebrating kindness and respecting others aligns with the Honor Code and its usage in the classroom.
Pingry Celebrates Diwali
MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V)
JIYA DESAI (III)
especially after a year of separation
Sikhs, and Jains across South Asia,
primarily in India, Nepal, and Sri
students brought in regional foods
Lanka. Celebrated with various
and drinks such as samosas and
rituals across five days, Diwali
Kashmiri tea for the celebration.
holds vital religious importance
Zala Bhan (V) remarked that she
for Hindus and marks the
“thought the event was really
beginning of the Hindu New Year.
great, as it allowed students from
South Asian Affinity Group
the South Asian Affinity Group
leaders Anika Govil (VI) and
to showcase and celebrate their
Aanya Patel (VI) organized the
culture with the community.”
event alongside administrators
Many other members expressed
and affinity group members. With
that they were glad to “see South
students performing dances,
Asian representation at Pingry”
singing songs, and participating
and hope to continue celebrating
in the fashion show, the entire
South Asian culture with the
community learned more about
Pingry community through
South Asian culture. Additionally,
more events and assemblies.
The Post-COVID-19 Pingry Lunch JIYA DESAI (III) & EMILY DICKS (III)
The 2021-22 school year has brought some new and delicious lunches to the Pingry Cafeteria that students love. One particular lunch that students enjoyed was served on National Apple Day on October 21, 2021. The holiday was celebrated with a caramel apple bar that was enjoyed by all. Apple slices were served with the option to add toppings such as caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, rainbow sprinkles, shredded coconut, crushed oreos, and mini chocolate chips. Other meals that have been well-received have been the more classic “kid” foods–– mozzarella sticks and chicken tenders. Both have been huge hits. The dining this year is a somewhat refreshing return to
pre-COVID times. COVID-19 severely impacted lunch for all Pingry during the 2020-2021 school year. Measures such as masking up indoors, plexiglass dividers, and pre-packed lunches severely impacted the quality and experience of eating at Pingry. Thankfully however, for the current school year, things are slowly improving. There are fewer protocols, even though eating behind plexiglass is still mandatory at all times and walking around while eating a snack is prohibited. Our dining has greatly changed from last year and will continue to become more flexible as the pandemic slowly subsides. One hallmark of the COVID-19 era that will remain however will be the presence of students ordering delivery for lunch. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an
explosion in the popularity of online mobile food ordering and delivery, and it appears it is here to stay. Many students, even freshmen, now regularly order food through UberEats, and DoorDash for their eating needs throughout the day. A quick stroll through the freshman area today and you will see trash cans piled high with Starbucks cups, Panera bags, and Chipotle bowls, while the front desk is nearly always swarmed with delivery orders during lunch hours. Is this a sign of things to come for the future at Pingry, and are there concerns regarding overreliance and overspending on delivery? Yes. But perhaps this is a new convenience that Pingry students will enjoy, one that will hopefully liven up and make lunch exciting as we move out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
7
Freshmen Visit Pottersville Campus RO YADAV (III)
While the majority of the Peer
were unacceptable. Pottersville
Leadership experience functioned
isn’t just a random place we
Earlier this year, Pingry purchased
according to plan, the day was
visited—it’s an integral part of our
the 80-plus acre Pottersville
overshadowed by some disorderly
community. It’s an integral part of
campus with the intent to create
freshman behavior. Some students
Pingry.” The freshman class has
experiences that are unachievable
ended up littering, vandalizing the
since collectively apologized for
in a sedentary classroom
Pottersville buildings, pouring
their actions at Pottersville, and it
environment. The Form III retreat
fake blood on theater props, and
is hoped that this experience will
to Pottersville on Friday, October
throwing a small, decorative
prove to be a learning experience
22, where students engaged in
pumpkin through a window.
for the grade to become more
group activities and interacted with
When asked to comment on the
thoughtful and respectful members
their Peer Leaders, was intended to
freshmans’ conduct, Form III Dean
of the Pingry community.
be the first of many more of these
and College Counselor Ms. Santiago
experiential learning activities.
said, “[Form III student actions]
Peer Leadership is an essential program aimed at easing the Form III students’ transition from middle school to high school. While Basking Ridge in the past has sufficed in hosting Peer Leadership events, “the addition of the Pottersville campus takes it to a different level,” says Peer Leader Barlow Clark-Schoeb (VI). At Pottersville, Form III’s Peer Leadership experience began with students convening with their respective peer groups and choosing activities to partake in. The size and scope of the
Freshmen at Pottersville
Pottersville campus facilitated
was just more space. At Pottersville,
a broad variety of entertaining
peer groups were not confined to
and physical activities. Activities
particular classrooms or areas.”
involved: capture-the-flag, man-
In addition, the Pottersville
hunt, football, kickball, soccer, and
trip fostered an increased level of
even community work. Both Forms
interaction among Forms III and
III and VI students agree that the
VI students. “Everyone interacted
Pottersville trip provided students
with one another at Pottersville,
with greater freedom and flexibility
while at Pingry interactions
than Basking Ridge. “At Pottersville
are confined to respective peer
everyone could roam the campus
groups,” says Ittycheria. He argues
and everyone was granted more
that team-building activities
freedom,” Peer Leader Daniel
helped promote a “higher level of
Ittycheria (VI) elaborated, “There
camaraderie and togetherness.”
Photo Highlights
Peer Leaders at Pottersville
Marco Polo Experience at Pottersville ALEX WONG (III) On Friday, October 22, Form III students traveled to the Pottersville Campus for an experiential learning event, where they participated in a hands-on recreation of the Silk Road as part of Denis Belliveau’s “Explorer in Residence” program, after learning about the Far East and the Silk Road. Prior to the trip, students had a week dedicated to learning about the Silk Road and Belliveau’s 1993
Freshmen exploring Pottersville
recreation of Venetian explorer Marco Polo’s journey to China in the 14th century. Belliveau shared
Denis Belliveau presenting to the freshmen class
his experiences during his trip
stretching from Venice to Dadu
The Pottersville activity was intended
with the Form III students through
to Cochin. Each city in the trade
to have two rounds of students,
stories and artifacts he brought
simulation held a different value for
with seven to eight at each of the
back. Later in the week, students
the goods and competed to earn the
eleven cities, but despite a slight
experienced a smaller version of
most amount of points at the end
bus mixup resulting in a larger first
the trade simulation in the tents,
of the activity. Students were able
round than expected, it was still
with groups of four to five students
to trade real items, including olive
an engaging way to wrap up the
acting as cities along the Silk Road.
oil, oranges, wool, spices, porcelain,
first unit of World History for the
The full Silk Road trading simulation
and silk with each other, instead
freshmen. World History 9 teacher
at the Pottersville Campus included
of cards representing items like
and Dean of Student Life Mr. Robert
eleven cities along the trade route,
in the practice trade simulation.
Hoepfl remarked, “What I like about the trade simulation is twofold.
Peer Leaders exploring Pottersville
One is the economic concepts it teaches, and how kids learn about those without realizing them. Two, it just allows the kids to be kids, learning things and having fun!” In summary, the Form III students enjoyed being completely immersed in Marco Polo’s world, applying the knowledge they learned in the classroom and learning new things about trading and bargaining. The experience was a testament to the effectiveness of experiential learning, and the freshmen hope to have another
Students enjoy the ropes course at Pottersville
Freshmen in the trade simulation
fun activity at Pottersville soon.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
8
SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Drama Department Presents Argonautika MILENKA MEN (V) Argonautika kicked off the Pingry Drama Department’s fantastic return to Macrae Theater and live performances. Written by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman and directed by Mrs. Stephanie Romankow, the play retells the Greek epic poem which narrates the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts on their mission to retrieve the Golden Fleece from King Aeëtes of Colchis. Blessed by the goddesses Hera (Sarah Gagliardi, VI) and Athena (Natalie DeVito, VI), Jason (Finn McGurn, VI) gathers a crew of heroes. During their journey, they experience triumphs and losses, from overthrowing the brutal King Amycus to the death of Hylas (Penelope Winterbottom, V). Aided by the goddesses, Jason falls in love with Medea (Belinda Poh, VI) who uses her magic to help him defeat King Aeëtes. Running at two hours and fifteen minutes, Argonautika plays out the thrilling adventures of the Argonauts. Act I is characterized by a series of challenges that the Argonauts face before landing in Colchis. Since there are so many characters to keep track of, the energetic “roll call” scene introduces each member of the Argonauts in catchy rhymes before they set sail.
Cast of Argonautika Troubles plague their journey as the audience catches a glimpse into the conviction necessary as they are thrown from trial to trial. Ending with a thunderous rumble and spotlight on the Fleece, Act I concludes with the Argonauts’ arrival in Colchis, weary from their previous struggles, yet driven to complete their mission. In Opening Act II, the goddesses help Jason by employing the help of Aphrodite (Verna Mae Lange,
IV) and her son Eros (Eloise Williamson, V). Medea falls in love under the false influence of Eros’s arrow, betraying her own father to guide Jason. Although Jason secures the Fleece, the Argonauts face Colchian fleets. Through Medea’s cunning schemes, they escape, but at a cost. Betrayal runs deep as Medea kills her own brother; the Argonauts are doomed to their tragic fates, most of them dying while stranded in a desert,
having lost all hope of making it home. While Jason and Medea return and achieve success and glory, it means little. Almost all the Argonauts have died, and Jason abandons Medea to marry a princess and become king. The prizes of success and glory are achieved through immense sacrifice and loss. Concluding with both sorrow and faith, Hera and Athena advise everyone to look up at the constellations which
serve as a constant reminder of Jason and the Argonauts. As a product of extreme dedication, Argonautika represents all that we missed during COVID-19. Mrs. Romankow commented, “To me, Argonautika is all about community, and after so many months of isolation, I think it’s something we all need.” In tandem with the actors, the crew (overseen by Mr. Joseph Napolitano, Ms. Emma Barakat, and Mr. Van Antwerp) built a boat, coordinated over 500 light cues, created immersive puppets, and even controlled a fog machine to bring the show to life. When asked about her favorite part of the production, Shannen Gallagher (VI) expressed, “This may sound corny, but honestly, it’s the people. I had never done the play before so I didn’t know what to expect, but I was accepted and welcomed with open arms.” So the next time you feel isolated or alone, just look up at the sky and know that you’re not. Someone else out there is looking up at the exact same sky as you are, and the stars are there to light the way. Jason and the Argonauts will continue to sail through the sky forevermore, so remember their names and their story.
Homecoming Returns! OLIVIA BUVANOVA (III) In preparation for Homecoming, the community was able to come together for many activities. Starting with the pep rally on October 21st, the student body gathered on the bleachers, excited to participate in the activities that the student government put together. Starting with tug-of-war, sports teams took turns engaging in a friendly competition; shoutout to Girls Soccer and Football for beating the most teams! Afterward, a relay race took place in which the juniors took first place. The Big Blue Tailgate, which took place on October 23rd, held lots of fun events for all. Starting the day strong, the Boys’ Soccer Team beat Bridgewater-Raritan School, 6-1 in the Somerset County SemiFinal tournament. Meanwhile, parents gathered in the Hauser auditorium to meet with Upper School administrators, and then take self-guided tours of the Upper School. Meanwhile, tents were set up outside where Homecoming t-shirts, car stickers, pom-poms, and magnets were being distributed. The second half of the day featured the football and water polo games. Pingry Football
lost to Morristown-Beard 0-27, while the Water Polo Team beat Brooklyn Water Polo Club 12-6. As the games finished, juniors and seniors began to get ready for the Homecoming dance, which was themed Decades. Dancing the night away under the stars
was “a great experience, where I could just hang out with my friends, away from the stress of school” notes Rachel Zhang (V). A week later on October 30th, freshman and sophmores arrived at Pingry to enjoy the yearly homecoming dance.
Due to weather conditions, the dance was moved indoors to the Bristol Gym. The gym was decorated with leis, Hawaiian posters, fruit punch, and candy. Mr. Robert Hoepfl reflects on the past couple weeks in preparation for homecoming,
saying “I appreciate that the kids were able to enjoy a fun and relaxing night, especially when the circumstances of COVID-19 last year caused students to miss out on a lot of things. Kids got to be kids, and frankly, we need more of that!”
Students supporting the football team
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Sandy Shelton of @FullOutCreative, Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
9
The New Virtual Economy VARED SHUMLER (V) Over the summer, I participated in a virtual extracurricular course for the Wharton Global Youth Meetup. Although the course was originally planned to occur at the University of Pennsylvania, the unforeseen circumstances required a change of plans: the program followed in schools’ footsteps and switched to Zoom. However, even though it may have fulfilled the requirement of a teaching platform, it in no way replicated the experience of an in-person course. Within the class, there were several sections. These activities included lectures that housed more than 150 participants in one Zoom room, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, group activities that consisted of merely five members in a breakout room with a teacher’s assistant who attended the college. While I continued to engage in lessons and lectures that included speeches and appearances by several prominent University alumni and professors, I could not rid my mind of one lingering question – could this method of virtual engagement continue, and what would it mean for companies and the economy at large? There are a myriad of interactive remote platforms that support continued virtual interactions but
do not supplant the in-person experience. These platforms include (but are not limited to) Zoom, Google Meet, Blue Jeans, or even Apple’s FaceTime. Many companies and students will be greatly affected if remote learning does remain in place in the distant future. Additionally, companies from different industries that are directly correlated with the in-person model, such as transportation, hospitality, and food service that support the local economy, will be negatively impacted. More specifically, companies such as Starbucks, or even fast-food chains, will have to adapt to these situations in order to stay afloat. Transportation will continue to be greatly affected as airlines such as Delta have become inconsequential with the adoption of the virtual model. Not only will these companies continue to experience general drawbacks, but retail markets, specifically for clothes and office supplies, will as well. The deprioritization of business attire is susceptible to change. Should the virtual construct persist, these companies and businesses will perennially remain in a depressed state, posing the critical question of whether or not the government will be required to support the economic victims as a result of a virtual world. It is exactly at this point that the
impact of remote work spans from the economy to the governing forces of the United States. In addition to the general effects on the local economy, predominantly small businesses, the private sector will not only endure complications related to business viability. They will also have commercial real estate holdings and office spaces that will no longer have a given use. Could this be the signaling of a change of focus from a more
corporate centralized world to an environmentally conscious economy? Carbon emissions have declined within the past year, resulting in a significant reduction of daily commuters. Climate change becomes a greater and more detrimental threat each and every day. Is it a possibility that these vacant office parks can become green spaces that are dedicated to the betterment of the environment? And has this prolonged period of
virtual reality become a permanent environmental shift? Only time will tell, but the only thing certain is that the economy, small businesses, transportation, hospitality, and food services will in no way be the same. The former order or common method of operations within companies will have to be altered, as they will have been significantly impacted by the perpetual effects of virtual engagement.
The Key to Optimizing Productivity JACK ANGELL (V) As an experienced procrastinator, I’ve resorted to pushing back my work using various methods, my personal favorite being researching how to be productive. Honestly, one could say I’m relatively well-versed in the field. Procrastination is a term commonly thrown around in conversations at Pingry. Everyone struggles with their productivity and copes with it using a vast spectrum of tactics.
Personally, I’ve tried everything. I’ve banished my phone to the corner of the room, removing anything that could remotely distract me from finishing my homework or studying for a test. Ironically, I find myself writing this article on the day of its deadline. The puzzling factor of these scenarios is, more often than not, the work we need to complete isn’t even that difficult. A fifteen-minute reading might turn into a grueling, hourlong session of dread just because I can’t put
my head down and focus. I know many of my peers do the same. We complain about having an outlandish amount of homework without holding our faulty habits accountable. Unfortunately, the ugly truth is the bulk of our procrastination can be attributed to the faulty habits in our lifestyles we don’t want to admit, such as excessive media consumption. We manage to change our psychology, to trick our minds into believing that taking multiple hour-long breaks is necessary. To be frank, it’s not. Throughout years of developing these habits, we
build a reliance on constant mental stimulation. We can’t put our phones down because that’s what we train ourselves to do. When we look at our textbooks, we see little value for the brain. We’ve conditioned our brains to seek constant stimulation, and consequently, doing the mundane is a facet of life that we are straying away from. The method to optimize our productivity is not to eradicate all distractions.
There are infinitely many ways to get sidetracked when working; nobody is capable of weeding out every single one of them. Cutting off the head of one will result in more growing back in its place, so we should avoid this unattainable goal of having no distractions at all. The root of this puzzle, instead, is a fear of boredom. A tolerance of boredom is like a muscle, and most of our generation has neglected to train it properly, if at all. We fail to realize boredom is good; within boredom lies an opportunity for us to grow. Sometimes the distractions at hand aren’t even appealing, in the moment, they are just more enticing than the task looming over us. Therefore, the most efficient way to boost your productivity is to muster up the strength to prioritize work over the distraction of your choosing. Instead of getting rid of your distraction, learn to overcome it. Putting your phone down for extended periods of time will strengthen your tolerance and make your task more manageable next time. Like lifting weights, continue to get reps in, and your resolve will strengthen exponentially. After building a tolerance to boredom, it’s important to maintain a portion of whatever was distracting you before. As the cliche goes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and burnout is real. To keep yourself motivated, mix in breaks while working at a sufficient pace. After all, you need enough recovery time to become stronger.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
10
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
___ Type Beat CALEB PARK (V) On more than a few occasions, I have found myself awake at one in the morning, scrolling through YouTube on a musical journey. The deeper that one t r a v e ls int o t h e Y ou T u b e music rabbit hole, the more obscure the listening experience becomes. Two hours ago, YouTube was recommending a track off of the new Drake album. Now, the algorithm is suggesting bouncy Japanese city pop, obscure Playboi Carti snippets, and dreamlike lofi songs. These musical journeys through the internet have led me to various highs and lows, each track placing me into the world that they create. The internet has become a beautiful culmination of almost every single musical culture in the world, with the international release of music now easier than ever. Big labels and album deals are no longer necessary to be heard. In a way, the internet has developed its own culture as a result of the amalgamation
of the music that it is composed of. Attempting to describe music on the internet is nearly impossible, as there is such a wide variety of influences, genres, and aesthetics. There is, quite literally, every genre of music on the internet. In turn, the consolidation of all
this music on a single platform gives birth to a large number of new artists influenced by the easy accessibility of music. In all honesty, the large majority of music on the internet is bad. Everybody knows at least one person who thinks that they can be the next
SoundCloud rapper. Not all internet-influenced music is like this, however. Sometimes, the mix of aesthetics can result in something new and refreshing. In rare instances, a user creates so met h ing th a t is s im p l y beautiful. Artists like potsu and knxwledge create dreamy,
mellow beats influenced by the modern hip hop scene as well as lofi and jazz. Musicians Insaneintherain and AtinPiano create classical and jazz covers of memes, soundtracks, and popular music. Even big artists, like Tyler the Creator, J. Cole, and $not post tracks that they could never release to the public due to copyright restrictions or potential backlash. Artists have become increasingly influenced by the internet because of its lack of restrictions and amount of content on the platform. With this tool that the modern age has given us, music can evolve past individual cultures and genres, creating sonic experiences that reject classification. With the power of the internet, music has been pushed into a completely new era of culture.
Standardized Testing ELLA BUDENBENDER (V) Over the past summer, I spent a fair amount of my time preparing for the ACT and SAT, as I’m sure many of my peers did. From tutoring sessions to practice tests, I was constantly working during what should have been my time to relax. Even now, with school, sports, homework, and other extracurriculars in session, I still need to find time to do my ACT and SAT preparation. My goal was, and still is, to get perfect scores. Now, I know that seems like an impossible standard for someone to set for themselves. However, given how cutthroat the college process is, it seems like I have little room for error. This mindset is only emphasized by standardized testing, given the entire premise is to see how you compare against other students. Testing in general has become a very controversial topic as of late. Many argue that it does not measure real academic progress, instead only supporting the memorization of information that students will most likely forget. Some teachers are far too focused on getting their students to spit out facts rather than creating a space to allow for academic growth and exploration. Furthermore, some people are just not good test takers, which should not be an indication of their intelligence.
Test anxiety can even create physical symptoms, including an upset stomach, increased heartbeat, and sweaty palms. Standardized testing takes things to another extreme. The stakes (getting into college) are definitely higher, and the questions contain even more unusual information. The math sections frequently contain problems based upon concepts most students learn in 8th grade, making it unsettling that this is the information we must know to decide the fate of our futures. Additionally, the ACT and SAT lack consistency. For
example, if a student were to take the December 2015 ACT and get 67 questions correct on the English section, their score for that section would be a 32. However, if that student were to take the December 2014 ACT English section and get the same amount of questions right, their score would be a 30. The ACT and SAT also put an enormous amount of pressure on high schoolers. Students are already constantly comparing scores and trying to perform to the standard of their dream college(s). In Pingry’s environment, that competitive
element is only intensified. We go to a school where a large majority of the students are overachievers, and many like to brag about their academic feats. There have been multiple instances where just hearing people talking about taking the ACT or SAT makes me stressed. I have often asked myself, Am I too far behind? or, Should I be preparing more?. Although we at Pingry are fortunate to have access to standardized testing and the resources involving it that allow us to get into college, many are not. To prepare for the SAT and ACT, most students need
tutors, and tutors cost money. A study from 2019 shows that some wealthy parents spend up to $10,000 on SAT prep for their children, which then clearly gives those students an advantage. However, the test scores do not take this possibility into consideration. Instead, everyone is just lumped together under the same category of test-taker. Luckily, colleges are starting to recognize the unreasonableness of standardized testing. Some well known schools that no longer require either ACT or SAT scores include UCLA, Wake Forest, NYU (test flexible), and University of Chicago, while many others temporarily went test optional due to all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. Despite the fact that this list is growing more and more extensive, many top universities (ones that Pingry students will end up applying to) still require test scores — extremely high scores, to be specific. Although I do understand how difficult it would be for all schools to completely abolish the ACT and SAT, there needs to be another way to measure students’ academic ability. Maybe it can be a process that would involve revising the whole mechanism for admissions. No matter what this new idea is, it needs to be better than reducing students to a set of numbers.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
11
Lessons Learned from Lorde and Solar Power
JULIA ENG (IV) It’s no secret that I’m a massive fan of Lorde, a pop star from New Zealand who famously “disappeared” from the internet for four years. I have no distinct early memories of her songs, other than a seemingly insignificant Balladeers performance of “Royals” when I was in first or second grade.
JOAQUIN STEVENSON (III)
On Thursday, September 9, 153 students from the Class of 2025 descended on 131 Liberty Corner Road. For many of us, this was the first time we were seeing a high school in full function. You see, COVID-19 prevented us from visiting during the admissions process, so we had no idea what to expect when we first walked through the doors of Pingry. For most of us, the classrooms, hallways, and people were new— everything was new. In any case, COVID-19 is still very present; one of our first experiences as a Pingry student was taking the saliva test. Some of us learned the hard way that test samples were required twice a week. In addition to COVID-19, our class also had to deal with the devastating aftereffects of Hurricane Ida. There was so much flooding and damage that the Freshmen Trip had to be cancelled. Missing this experience meant losing the ability to meet our fellow classmates before classes actually began. The first day of school was a little nerveracking for sure! We met new people, while trying to figure out who was a freshman. On top of that, we were remembering names, faces, and classroom
“Royals” was the lead single off of Pure Heroine; the album, chock-full of house parties, drinking, and what the experts like to call “suburban boredom,” was released when I was only seven. Catchy choruses of “gold teeth, Grey Goose,” and “tripping in the bathroom” meant nothing to me, but resonated with audiences around the world, launching Lorde’s wild success
at the age of 17. Her unique sound persists in the 2017 record, Melodrama. Moody pianos are introduced and she offers us a more emotionally vulnerable and individual perspective, taking us swiftly from loving her “psychopathic crushes” to “crying in a taxi” in a matter of minutes. Despite these records’ releases well before I had a cell phone, her melodies have found their way to me, years later, through teen angst, a theme I consider impervious to changing times. I became a fan and made the best of her limited number of tracks. You could easily find me on a school night sobbing inconsolably to “Ribs” and its soothing, lullaby-like verses. These tracks, more relatable than any “teen” Netflix series, became my reference point for navigating puppy love and adolescent awkwardness. I nearly collapsed after hearing that she would be releasing a third record, titled Solar Power, in August 2021, but
was admittedly shocked by the record and its gentle, sunwashed sound after its release. What had happened to the Lorde that we knew? It seemed that she had traded in her baggy clothes and keyboard for a ukulele and a skimpy bikini bottom which she dons for her album cover (a sunny snapshot of the singer stepping over an upwardstilted fisheye lens, likely too risqué for the school paper). I began to miss the old Lorde: the one who cried at parties, wore cherry-black lipstick, and, most importantly, the one I saw in myself. What astonished me was its lack of Lorde’s unique, gloomy angst that she was renowned for, and I mourned the loss of it by abandoning the record after three listen-throughs. I was in my mother’s car a week ago and dreaded the ride ahead after hearing “The Path” and its haunting “Born in the year of OxyContin’’ over the speakers. It was only after the record had played through that I realized
its immensely powerful poetry. This wasn’t Lorde’s persona singing, this was authenticity…I had gotten so lost in the record’s deceptively luminous guitars and cicada chirps that I missed the anguishing but beautiful lyrics about past partners and the loneliness of teen stardom. I’m 15—I don’t know the “redolent” smell of tequila or how it feels to be stoned at the nail salon like Lorde does. What I do know is that people (and artists) will inevitably change over time, and whether we accept it or not is up to us. Solar Power teaches us to be open to the change around us and to listen carefully to what’s under the surface. Maybe this record isn’t as blinding as I had thought it was…it’s a truly poetic piece that I certainly overlooked. I highly recommend that you listen to Lorde’s progress in the craft of songwriting through her records, and I can only hope that Solar Power will carry us all through colder weather to warmer days.
We’re Here, Class of 2025
locations. Nonetheless, that did not dampen our excitement for this new chapter. High school sports were in full swing even before our official start date of September 9th. For many of us, participating in sports and clubs has been extremely useful to meet more people. It has been great to meet my classmates from many different backgrounds and experiences. Friday Night Lights was a fantastic event where we
got a chance to bond with many of our fellow classmates. We also got to see how much school spirit and pride was in the stands. It was awesome to see the success of our Pingry Football team and almost feel part of the game! One thing I certainly wasn’t used to and that most of us hadn’t experienced before is the amount of freedom and responsibility that we are given. Flex and CP breaks allow us time to do homework, talk to friends, and in
general take a break from the day. I personally need to get better at taking advantage of this time for homework but on the flipside I have met so many more people than I would have without it. Our class is buzzing with excitement as we look forward to the many things that lie ahead. We are still getting lost finding classrooms, but we are slowly figuring out where everything is. One thing we don’t have trouble finding is the bookstore. Every
time I am there, I run into my classmates. I think they keep the bookstore stocked for us freshmen! Since some of us are still getting used to terms like “the BAC,” “Hauser,” and “the Arts wing,”; we still have to ask others for directions occasionally. We have peer group activities, advisories, assemblies, classes, sports, musical productions, art exhibits… the future is bright for the Class of 2025! Now if we could only get rid of the masks.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images, Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
12
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Homework, Tests, Grades, and a Loss for the Desire to Learn SARINA LALIN (IV) You’ve likely heard the saying: “Getting a ‘B’ isn’t the worst thing in the world” or “A ‘B-average’ at Pingry is equivalent to an ‘A’ at any other school.” Maybe you’ve even been told the classic: “There are more letters in the alphabet than ‘A’” spiel. While these phrases are usually dismissed with no more than a laugh and a polite disagreement, they actually reflect an unfortunate truth about the academic environment here at Pingry. The majority of Pingry students hold themselves to an incredibly high academic standard; some students even go as far as thinking of any grade below an “A” as virtually unacceptable. To these students, the letter “B” in their interims and report cards is
considered to be “unworthy.” They place great importance upon their grades and often neglect important matters such as mental health and sleep. Should there be such an emphasis on grades at Pingry? How does this affect our students’ learning experience? Why are students so particular about receiving a certain letter grade? There is a long-standing belief that grades are crucial to motivating students to do their work and to actively processing the information being taught. Many people hold this sentiment and accept it as a fact, despite a lack of research or evidence to validate the statement. Of course, we must consider the argument that grades are built on a foundation of positive and negative reinforcement. This logic contends that reinforcement strengthens the
prospect of a particular behavior by adding a stimulus when the desired response is achieved and a consequence when it isn’t. In this case, “As” are considered the reward, while lower grades are equivalent to the unwanted consequence. In my opinion, this process only justifies a student’s desire to receive a certain letter grade and doesn’t touch upon their interest in the learning itself. One of the most well-researched findings in the field of psychology is that the more you reward people for doing something, the more likely they’ll lose interest in whatever task they had to do to get the reward. Students are so hyper-fixated on getting a high grade that they neglect to focus on actually learning about the topic of any given assignment. For
instance, numerous classmates have told me how they forgot the material on a test after they completed it and received the grade they wanted. Some of my peers have even admitted to me that they opted to take a less challenging course in order to attain a higher grade and thus a GPA boost. Both of these scenarios are prime examples of how the use of grades has diminished students’ drive to learn. Clearly, the short-term reward of grades has overpowered the long-term motivation to gain knowledge. The real question is: Why are students so adamant about getting high grades? The truth: Too many people here strive to succeed with nothing but college applications at the forefront of their minds.
Nowadays, there is immense pressure on students to get top grades to impress top ranked universities. Students are expected to get the best grades, all while excelling at sports and attaining leadership positions. This culture has greatly inflated the importance of grades, achievement, and college prep. In order to restore a desire to learn, it is time to hinder the significance of grades at Pingry. We must stop sacrificing our learning experience for the sake of a letter on a piece of paper. We are not at Pingry to attend Harvard or Princeton, but instead to enjoy our high school experience in a place that strives to foster intellectual growth. This is our youth. It’s the only one we get. So, it’s time we focus on what really matters: learning.
“Complicated” unhealthy student culture as
all costs” is slowly killing the Pingry
It’s time we re-examine ourselves.
life’s important lessons, where we
students are pushed to the brink.
community in every realm. What
Let’s ask ourselves what is the
discover the true expanse of the
Students often brag about how
we have today is an unsustainable
reason behind all that we do? Is it
world and make memories with
late they sleep, displaying their
system that will only lead to ruin
because we genuinely enjoy it, or
the friends we’ll spend our entire
battle scars of constant weariness
down the road for our community.
is it to seem attractive to colleges?
lives with. The last year and a half
as a point of pride. Student mental
Maybe it is time we get that
If we want a new way to look at
of community decay should be a
health, having long languished in
friend who can call us out.
things, I encourage you to look
wake up call for us that we need
the shadows, is now only finally
We need the chorus that says,
at Adam Elayan’s (IV) opinion
to change our course. Let’s stop
piece arguing against focusing so
agonizing every second on the
being addressed as an issue. But ANDREW WONG (VI)
in addition to us students, our
“Why’d you have to go and make
pointedly on the future. Take a
relationships that could happen
community is being affected too.
things so complicated?
step back, try to enjoy what we have
in the distant future, and instead
Community service has become
I see the way you’re acting like
now, and see what we can give back
focus on how we can improve
This is a weird one. What’s
tokenized as simply another
you’re somebody else
to the community. Pingry is not just
the ones right in front of us right
the song that could define our
checklist item, and has left us with
Gets me frustrated”
a stepping stone to greater points
now. We’ll be better people and
time here at Pingry? I would
a whole host of issues, as addressed
beyond; it is a place where we learn
a better community because of it.
think it’s “Complicated” by Avril
by Emily Shen’s (VI) and Keira
Lavigne. Strangely, this sappy,
Chen’s (IV) columns last issue.
overplayed on 2000s radio,
Outside the classroom, while
catchy, teenage-romance pop
some students may join activities
song from 2002 could be the most
and clubs out of an affinity for
accurate description of our lives
them, it’s become increasingly
at Pingry. Just read the lyrics.
evident that they’ve simply become fodder for resumes. There used
“You know you’re not fooling
to be a vibrant co-curricular
anyone,
environment at Pingry in my
When you become
freshman year: weekly Journal
Somebody else
Club presentations about the latest
‘Round everyone else
scientific discoveries that dozens
You’re watching your back
of students and faculty crammed
Like you can’t relax
into the old faculty lounge to see,
You try to be cool
engaging after-school Politics
You look like a fool to me”.
Club debates on geopolitics and domestic issues, a vibrant and
The original subtext of the song
productive publication scene.
may have been a girl who was
Yet the combined pressures of
mad at her boyfriend for being
COVID-19, the administration’s
untrue to himself and trying to look
decrease in support to the co-
cool whenever he was around his
curricular environment, and the
friends, but this message applies
growth of the resume-fodder
even beyond romance. Isn’t our
mindset among the student
time here at Pingry governed
body have reduced it to a shell
by the desire to do well in the
of itself only three years later.
college process? We attempt to
The pressures and rigors of
stuff as many APs, Honors, and
our college prep environment
advanced classes into our schedule
have turned everything we do at
because of a desire to look good on
Pingry into simply a means to
a transcript, rather than genuinely
an end. Perhaps there may be
enjoying the subject matter. Now,
genuinely good intentions behind
we’re facing the consequences
our choices beyond just getting into
of this desire to “look cool”.
college, but the overarching trend
Today, we are plagued by an
is clear: the mindset of “college at
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
13
In Defense of Being Undecided ADAM ELAYAN (IV)
headed, just trying to succeed in all our
our lives in such detail a sign of drive,
on her doorstep does not make me
that goal. Why really make an effort
classes so when the time comes, we
or is it just to put ourselves in a box?
think she is not focused or not driven
in biology, or history, or language if
The clock was running out on
can have our pick of what we want to
I’m not saying some people don’t
enough. In fact, it gives me confidence
the life that I will have involves none
another long day of school. I sat
do. But no! Evidently I should already
actually have it figured out. However,
that I can continue to let my future
of those? This mindset, I have found,
in the sophomore area, as always,
have my major picked out and know
the vast majority of us underclassmen,
plans marinate in ambiguity for a
is the root cause for the commonly
and was talking with a couple of
the ins and outs of whatever industry
seemingly so sure in our claims, may
while as I continue to find out what
heard question, “Why are we even
friends. The topic shifted from
I plan to enter. The realization of my
just be feigning assuredness as an
my interests are and then cultivate
learning this, we’re never going to use
our usual drivel when one friend
peers’ apparent confidence in their
attempt to find some certainty during
them into a singular focus that could
it in our real lives?” because people
commented that another was reading
five-year plans made me feel I had to
such uncertain times in our lives.
one day become my profession.
get convinced that whatever they
a book on law as a means to fulfill
figure mine out as soon as possible.
Even my seventeen-year-old sister,
For all my opposition to meticulous
are learning is unimportant when
his ambition of becoming a lawyer.
But then I remembered how quickly
with adulthood almost upon her,
future-planning thus far, I really
they feel like they have their whole
He then offered his future plans,
plans change. When I was five, I
has flip-flopped on where she wants
do admire those who are already
lives figured out. I have to admit to
thus spurring others to join in with
wanted to be a Power Ranger. At six,
to go to college multiple times in
making a concentrated effort to fulfill
being guilty of asking this as well,
theirs. It was a confusing conversation
I had hopes of being a paleontologist.
the past week. Just this Sunday, it
the lives they see for themselves.
because sometimes it really feels like
for me to listen to, and one that I
At nine, I thought I would grow up to
seemed as if her final decision was
Coming to school each year with an
there is no reason I will ever have
have noticed is occurring more and
be an MLB player. Just this summer,
to go to school in Scotland, but not
objective in mind is a great motivator
to know what a one-to-one function
more often in the sophomore area.
I had myself convinced that I would be
twenty-four hours later, she revoked
to succeed, but it may only be a
is, no matter what my career is.
I had thought that most of us
a graphic designer for MLB: The Show
her previous statement and informed
great motivator to succeed in some
So in short, no, I do not know what
sophomores were just ambling around
in the near future. At such a young
the whole family of her intentions to
things. If I am sure I want to become
I want to be when I grow up. In the
in a purgatory-like state of confusion
age, what even is the value of these
remain in the US. Seeing her still be
a mathematician, I will come to see
meantime though, you can catch
when it came to where our lives were
declarations of intent? Is planning
unsure of her future while it waits
school only as a means to achieve
me sweating it out in all my classes.
The Simmons Mentality CALEB PARK (V) In a raucous Wells Fargo Stadium, Ben Simmons posts up against Danilo Gallinari. It is game seven of the Hawks-Sixers series in the second round of the playoffs. The Hawks have 88, while the Sixers trail behind by two points with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. If Simmons gets this basket, he can tie up the game. Simmons, the 6’10” guard, easily backs down Gallinari and quickly spins past him. Now, with the basket right in front of him, Simmons has a wide open shot. What would this crucial shot be? A simple layup, or something more flashy like a dunk? The entire crowd seems to hold its breath as it waits in anticipation for an easy basket. Ben Simmons passes the ball. During the post-game interview,
Sixers star Joel Embiid would describe this moment as the ‘turning point’ of the close game. Simmons’ pass resulted in a foul and two missed free throws for the Sixers, giving the ball back to the Hawks and eventually leading to a seven point loss. Although Simmons’ pass might not have been the deciding factor in the game, it severely damaged the confidence of the Sixers squad. With the Sixers failing to fully ‘trust the process,’ the Hawks were able to beat the Sixers in their hometown of Philadelphia. So what exactly went through Ben’s mind at that moment? The most likely explanation is fear. Although he is an all-star caliber player, Simmons’ career has been riddled with doubt. As a point guard with little to no shooting ability, the media bashed him for almost every off game that he had. Eventually, this pressure and
ridicule must have gotten to him. In that crucial moment, Simmons’ fear of failure overcame logic and forced him to pass the ball away. His lack of confidence and mental strength caused him to break down, negating the elite-level of skill that he plays at. This is the power of fear. Lack of confidence can take away any sort of preparation one might have had and reduce them to nothing. Even if the stakes are not as high as Game Seven in a playoff series, mentality can have a critical effect on performance in sports, work or any other high-pressure situation. Everybody has experienced selfdoubt at some point in their lives. When this doubt creeps itself into critical moments, it can distract and demoralize. Truly defeating self-doubt requires a level of mental strength that is held by very few.
However, confidence and mental strength can definitely be improved. Building healthy confidence requires a commitment to preparation and practice as well as a group of supporters. Preparation can build confidence through repetition and the recognition of faults, while friends and mentors can provide mental support and advice. Without a solid foundation, one can become insecure or even delusionally overconfident. Whether it be tennis, basketball, or a calculus test, preparation and a group of supporters are crucial to avoiding mental instability. However, moments of fear can occur regardless of the amount of mental or physical preparation done beforehand. Despite fear’s possible effect on high-pressure situations, it is important to push through mental weakness. Even if it
results in failure, enduring through fear can ultimately lead to mental strength and maturity for the future. Overall, fear can be a dangerous enemy in any situation. However, fighting fear is part of growing, and successfully overcoming it can result in a more mature and confident self. For the case of Ben Simmons, the world is still watching to see what he will do next. Will he grow and learn from his mistakes or continue to play as he has before, tolerating his fear rather than facing it head on? Based on recent news, it seems like he will choose the latter. Ben Simmons has refused to return to the Sixers and is unwilling to show up to training camp. However, it is important to learn from Ben Simmons’ mistakes and fight one’s fears. When fear is defeated, almost anything is within reach.
The Unexpected Late
BRIAN LI (VI)
but generally I arrived on time. But
passed and despite my best efforts to
detention 30 minutes earlier, in my
into first period on time and went
the following years proved to be
finish my test as quickly as I could,
opinion, is a wholly unnecessary
through the rest of the day without
more difficult. I received my first
I ended up being late to next block.
change and counterintuitive to the
a problem. While moving detention
Friday detention from 7:30 to 8:25
My second late was a similar
aforementioned goal of improving
30 minutes earlier isn’t the end of
AM during sophomore year. Of
situation; I saw one of my teachers
student wellness. Of course, there
the world, the effectiveness of this
course, I willingly served the penalty;
during second flex to go over the
could be a reason I’m not aware of, such
change is questionable. Was it truly an
there was no argument against it.
latest unit we had learned in class,
as nobody available at another time to
adjustment that needed to be made?
As a junior, I experienced the same
but unfortunately, our time together
monitor detention. But if that isn’t the
Nevertheless, it is imperative to value
situation again with no second
ran out right when we were reaching
case, what is the purpose of losing an
prioritization and time management,
thought; it was my fault after all.
the crux of our conversation. Despite
extra 30 minutes of sleep? Harsher
especially as you enter senior year. The
This school year has been different.
sprinting as fast as I could to fourth
punishment to ensure students won’t
extra weight of college applications can
I’ve had late notices five times and
block, I still arrived two minutes
break the rules again? Is that the
make it hard to balance commitments
Throughout my life, being on time has
barely two months of school have
late, hopelessly out of breath.
intention of detention though: just to
in your schedule. Being late to class is
been a challenge for me. Elementary
passed. Three of those five were
The following day, an email appeared
punish students? By moving detention
not only detrimental to your learning,
and middle school were always a
standard late-to-first period ones,
in my inbox, notifying me that I
30 minutes earlier, students get less
but also disruptive to teachers and
struggle; I vividly remember panicking
but two have been when I was
would have to go to Friday detention.
sleep than they normally would,
students in the next class. It’s crucial
every time I was halfway to school,
late to classes after taking a test
While I knew it was inevitable, I was
potentially causing oversleeping on
to always keep track of the time
glancing at the clock only to realize
during other periods or meeting a
perplexed by the timing: 7:00 to
school days and even more morning
during meetings and tests, no matter
class began in four minutes. I shoveled
teacher immediately before class.
8:00 AM. Why was detention now
lates. Furthermore, the 30-minute
how far away that next class seems.
as much breakfast as possible into
The rule is that a detention is
at 7, when it used to start at 7:30?
gap between detention and first period
my mouth during the car ride, but
given after being late four times per
And why was there a 30-minute gap
reduces efficiency due to transition
my efforts were in vain as a result of
semester, and every additional late
from the end of detention to first
times. How much work can a student
having woken up just minutes earlier
is another detention. Hence, on a day
period, if school begins at 8:30?
realistically get in the 15 truly usable
and being a slow eater. In retrospect,
when I had an in-class assessment
Pingry must be aware of and
minutes between detention and class?
I walked into class late much too often.
and another class straight after that,
understand the importance of sleep
This change in detention time may,
I’d like to say I have been a bit
I had a dilemma. Should I spend
for students. Stress, burnout, and
ironically, exacerbate the issue and
more punctual in high school,
a few additional minutes finishing
lack of sleep are some of the most
as a result, if there is no valid reason,
though the reason might just be the
my work or try to be on time for my
talked-about topics among students,
I believe it is beneficial for the student
dreaded consequence of being late
next class? I think most students
and the administration has attempted
community that it is reevaluated.
too many times: detention. Sure, I
in my position would choose the
to remedy these issues, including
Last Friday, I arrived at Pingry the
had the occasional late notice every
first option, and that’s what I did.
changing the start time of school from
earliest I ever have and entered Room
several weeks or so as a freshman,
Before I knew it, four minutes had
8:10 to 8:30 two years ago. Pushing
437 at precisely 7 AM. I then walked
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
THE PINGRY RECORD
14
COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
On Social Media Activism and Ignorance SARINA LALIN (IV)
When I downloaded TikTok during quarantine, I learned so much more than the popular dances for what the app is known for. It was the summer of 2020, and the Black Lives Matter movement was at the forefront of the world’s attention. Millions of people took to the streets to protest racial injustices against the Black community, quickly becoming one of the largest social movements in U.S. history. My For You Page filled with live footage from protests as well as videos of racial discrimination. These videos taught me so much about the Black Lives Matter movement and educated me about an important matter that I didn’t fully understand. As the summer progressed, resources and petitions continued to flood my social media pages, all pointing me to places where I could engage in conversations regarding racial inequality. Today, social media activism, defined as the broad category of activism that utilizes media and communication means, has revolutionized activism for teens. Social media has evolved into a platform where youth-driven movements can take off, growing
exponentially and reaching people of all ages and backgrounds. The success of movements such as Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate exemplifies how social media can initiate change. While social media activism has clearly brought attention to crucial issues within the country, it also brings light to an unfortunate truth: Americans are oblivious to the problems faced by the rest of
the world. As this rise in social media activism occurs, it has become increasingly apparent that western media has a singular focus on the U.S.. As a result, global events don’t receive the same attention as something like the Capitol riot in Washington, D.C. and, in some cases, they are entirely ignored. One example of this is the Indian farmers’ protests, which have been going
on since 2020. As I am writing this, it is November of 2021, and I am yet to see a single social media post regarding their struggle. So often, the popular line, “Why is nobody talking about this?” gets thrown around when a large-scale issue, such as the protests, suddenly surfaces. In recent months, “this” has meant the Uyghur genocide in China, the coup in Myanmar, and the Israeli
air raids in Syria. Even though these issues get some exposure in social media, they fail to spread like wildfire. As a result, these people don’t get the donations and attention they deserve. Additionally, when these global issues finally do step into the light, there is often false information that misleads the public. Take the Syrian Civil War, for example: Tons of bots disseminated outdated photos and updates to divert the attention from true activists. As a community, we need to make sure we engage in conversations and educate ourselves on these global issues. It is important that we bring light to them so that people who may be struggling can receive the help they need. At a time when social media is so present in our lives, we must take advantage of it, sharing as many resources as possible to give these matters their much deserved attention. Coronavirus has reminded us that we are all connected in this world. Even though we may have different values and traditions than another country, in the end, we are all reduced to the same vulnerability. We need to work together to focus on our future, meaning that America has to start caring about the rest of the world.
On The Pottersville Experience and Finding Beauty in a Blank Google Calendar SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III)
I get an embarrassing amount of satisfaction from organizing my color-coded Google Calendar, crammed with a rainbow of appointments. Scheduled meetings draw oversaturated colors over the white spaces reserved for breaks, translating into an ever growing to-do list. For many Pingry students, this is a reality; we are all overbooked with a sea of clubs and athletics filling up our spare time. High school makes it very easy to be wrapped up in personal problems, and constantly performing under the fluorescent lights of an overheated room does very little to alleviate stress. Over the past few years, Pingry has been looking for ways to give students exposure to outdoor sustainability. In the Basking Ridge campus, this meant an opportunity for students to leave the classroom for the hiking trails and find tranquillity in nature, all while practicing stewardship within the community. This summer, Pingry made the ultimate commitment to an outdoor education with its acquisition of the Pottersville Campus, located in Bedminster Township, NJ. According to the intended acquisition press release, “The Pottersville Campus is a place where students can safely
take risks, be intellectually brave, handle setbacks, stick with tasks, and create differentiated and individualized pathways.” The document also cited how this purchase is in line with the 2018 strategic plan of “including a cost-effective and time-efficient realization of components of our long-term campus buildings and grounds plan, and allows us to accomplish the student-centered aspirations this plan sets forth.” Upon hearing of Pingry’s purchase of a whole new campus, I admit to being very skeptical. I did not understand how we could use a whole new building
located twenty minutes away from the Upper School Campus. However, when I was able to tour for the Form III and Peer Leadership retreat, a lot of what I saw ended up changing my mind. The Pottersville Campus is a breathtaking 82 acres encompassing an abundance of spots for students to learn outside of the standardized education experience; from the pond to the ropes course, there is certainly an emphasis on hands-on learning. While the amount of freedom seemed startling at first glance, the ability to wander around a campus with a personal sense of
independence was an incredibly therapeutic experience. I had the refreshing experience of being able to explore as I liked without being bound to a set schedule. Long hiking trails were the perfect space for conversations to flourish and voices to be heard. Scientists call this ecotherapy—it is the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing. Studies have shown that even a simple walk outside can reduce anxiety, keep high spirits, and improve memory. While the Pingry Basking Ridge Campus encompasses a beautiful trail and outdoor area for students to enjoy, Pottersville
allows students’ classrooms to take root in nature. They come with the possibility to not only move our learning outside, but also to build a curriculum structured around outdoor education. In fact, a few spring intensives centered around the science of nature are already being planned at Pottersville. These courses could signify potential learning-by-doing opportunities that will be offered in the future. The Pingry website announces that the new campus comes with the intentional decision to shift the school’s culture from collegepreparatory to life-ready. After touring Pottersville, I can attest that this campus has the potential to change our school’s competitive environment by reminding students of the beauty found with simple things in life, such as immersing in nature. With Pingry’s decision to invest in these ideas comes the expectation that students will be able to use this space to create individualized pathways. It gives us an environment to take risks, reimagine classroom spaces, and find who we really are. I believe that Pottersville can help our community rediscover the importance of education outside of a transcript, and collectively take the first steps to find beauty in the blank spaces of our Google Calendar.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images, Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
COLUMNS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Why Nutrition Matters AANYA SHAH (IV) Nutrition is a vital part of well-being because it supports brain function and fuels the body. When the body doesn’t receive the proper nutrients, it fails to function at full capacity, resulting in fatigue, stress, and a weakened immune system. This leads to increased susceptibility to sickness, resulting in an inability to keep up with daily activities. As a teenager, the brain and body are still developing, making it even more important to ingest the proper nutrients. Eating properly contributes to building and repairing body tissue; it also eliminates stress and provides more energy to function throughout the day. Girls’ Lacrosse Coach, Soccer Coach, and Wellness teacher Mrs. Jessica Hoepfl says, “When you’re tired throughout the day, reflect back on what you ate and that can tell a lot about why you feel a certain way.” She explains the effect nutrition has on our body and emphasizes the importance of finding balance. Although the body needs nutrients to function, that doesn’t mean dieting and eating
only salads are the sole solutions. It means finding the appropriate balance of carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats based on one’s level of activity. There are two types of meals: performance and health. Performance meals are eaten two to three hours prior to a sports game or match, whereas healthy meals are regular balanced ones. A performance meal should be low in fat, high in carbs, and high in lean proteins. An example of this could be a whole grain sandwich with lean protein (chicken, beans, egg whites, etc.), low fat cheese and some vegetables. This meal would be eaten prior to a workout, and then something high protein like a protein bar or some greek yogurt would be eaten directly after the workout. In comparison, healthy meals provide a balance between carbs, fat, and protein. Ideally, a balanced meal should be half vegetables or fruits, one fourth carbohydrates, one fourth protein, and a little bit of healthy fats. An example of this could be chicken grilled in olive oil (for healthy fats) served with brown rice (for healthy carbs)
and some vegetables on the side. Carbohydrates are crucial because they are the body’s main source of energy. They help fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. Healthy fats are also vital as they provide a source of fatty acids that our body cannot make itself. Fat helps the body absorb a variety of vitamins such as vitamins A, E, and D. Additionally, protein is essential in our diet because it helps the body repair cells and create new ones. It is especially important to muscle tissue growth and the development of children and teenagers. It’s harder to break unhealthy habits than it is to continue healthy ones, which is why it is important to build healthy eating habits as a teenager. Ultimately, good nutrition includes lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats with omega-3s. The best way to find balance is through the 80/20 rule: 80% healthy foods and 20% treats. Everyone’s body is different and a balanced diet means a different regiment based on the person. It’s important to find what works best for you and stick to it.
Apple’s New Feature is Only Creating Problems EVAN XIE (IV) On September 20, Apple released its highly anticipated iOS 15 software update. From FaceTime integration outside the Apple ecosystem to live text scanning, there was no shortage of well-received features in this update. However, one feature faced relentless disapproval and criticism for its implications towards user privacy, sparking immense controversy. The feature in question is a child sexual abuse material (CSAM) scanner that compares all iCloud photos to a CSAM database maintained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). By obtaining cryptographic hashes of all iCloud photos, this scanner acquires a “digital fingerprint” of each image that can be compared to the “digital fingerprints” of NCMEC images. After a certain threshold of matches between these fingerprints occurs, Apple alerts authorities about the user. At a quick glance, this scanner helps prevent the spread of CSAM, fighting a problem in need of serious attention. Upon closer inspection, however, flaws and selfish intentions are revealed. First and foremost, the CSAM scanner can be completely disabled and prevented from detecting CSAM with a few simple clicks in the Settings app. Thus, anyone in possession of this material can easily remove themselves from Apple’s radar, making this scanner highly ineffective at preventing CSAM spread. It appears that Apple has simply implemented
this new feature to remove all association with CSAM and prevent future negative headlines. In exchange for this protection from bad press, Apple is sacrificing user privacy, something it prides itself on. This is uncharacteristic of the company. In the past, Apple has gone as far as declining a direct court order in order to preserve user privacy. By contradicting this fundamental element of their philosophy that users have come to expect, Apple is drawing much criticism. On Twitter, this criticism is vocal, with one user stating that “Apple’s proposal to make their phones inform on and betray their owners marks the dawn of a dark future.” For the time being, Apple is only comparing scanned images to the NCMEC database, but this catalog of searched images will likely expand in the future. Now that Apple has created a tool to compare user’s images against a database, countries and organizations can demand Apple to scan for other images. One example of this would be the People’s Republic of China, which
has implemented the infamous Great Firewall — a censorship system that greatly restricts internet usage — to tightly control the Chinese public’s media intake. With the ability to scan the public’s photos for a wide variety of banned content, China would be able to enforce this Orwellian censorship to an even stricter degree. Moreover, China has the leverage necessary to make such demands out of Apple, evidenced in 2018 when Apple yielded to a Chinese demand for direct access to Chinese iCloud accounts. Thus, Apple users in China and other heavily censored countries — such as Belarus and Cuba — could experience a drastic decrease in privacy in the coming years. Due to the public criticism towards this feature since its announcement, Apple has temporarily removed it from iOS 15 to “take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements.” Hopefully, these new changes will have the best of both worlds, preventing CSAM spread and maintaining user privacy.
15
Inside the Infrastructure Bill: The Trillion Dollar Fight JEREMY BETZ (III)
but Biden’s success here is at least a bridge across the scarred aisle.
Last week, Senate passed a trillion
The bill itself, of course, is
dollar infrastructure spending bill,
significant in its own right. While
marking both an uncommonly
major concessions were made
bipartisan win and the largest
from the original $2.3 trillion bill,
federal infusion of infrastructure
it introduces $550 billion in new
spending in over a decade. This bill
federal spending. The measure
had a long fight before it was passed,
provides $65 billion to expand high
and the success of it is no small
speed internet across the country;
achievement for President Biden.
$110 billion to build roads, bridges,
The remarkable bipartisanship
highways, and other projects; $25
of the bill came from the support
billion to support airports; and the
of 19 Republicans, including Senate
most significant portion to boost
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell,
Amtrak, the passenger rail service.
although the 50 Democrat Senators
However, the bill is expected to
and Vice President Harris would
add $256 billion to the national
have been enough for a successful
debt over the next ten years,
vote. Another sign of victory for
contrary to the claims of its authors
Biden is the support of Senator Joe
that it would be fully paid for.
Manchin (D-WV), who has earned
This covers about 50% of the
himself the nickname the “50th
new spending, which includes
Democrat,” being more closely
measures that allegedly raise more
tied to the will of his constituents
revenue in order to pay for it, but
than some Democrats would
they have yet to be confirmed.
prefer. Manchin’s conservatism
The bipartisan success of
has been a major obstacle for
the bill, and the sweeping
the slim Democrat majority,
improvements it is purported to
and his support here is a win.
provide, are all wonderful. But
The bill’s success may not be a sign
as Speaker Nancy Pelosi said,
of healing for the partisan landscape
“It’s not the end of the story.”
Congressional politics has become,
HITS AND MISSES HITS
MISSES
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
NO AC HOCO DANCE
COUCHES BACK IN THE SERNIOR AREA
“RELAXED DRESS DAY”
SQUID GAME
MASK DETENTIONS
NO MORE PLEXIGLASS IN CLASSROOMS
ONLY PINGRY MASKS DRESS CODE
NORMAL LUNCHES SAGE DINING PEP RALLY
MORNING MEETING CHAOS LUNCHROOM PLEXIGLASS NEW SCHEDULE EARLY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS CHIPOTLE IS ALWAYS CLOSED
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THE PINGRY RECORD
16
COLUMNS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Unearthing the Cause of Extreme Weather CAYDEN BARRISON (V) Extreme weather events have become more prevalent around the world than ever before. The number of major natural disasters has almost doubled in the past twenty years. These disasters have resulted in 3 trillion dollars of economic loss and damage. Most recently, the tropical storm remnant of Hurricane Ida caused mass flooding here in New Jersey and widespread infrastructural damage most notably in Louisiana and Mississippi. This year alone, we have seen record-breaking snowfall in Madrid, Category-5 Cyclone Ana in Fiji, unprecedented temperatures in Moscow, and the largest wildfire in Oregon state history. Why is this happening? Many hypotheses have been stated, but the overwhelming consensus has been climate change.
Climate change is the alteration in the average condition of a particular climatic region over time. This mainly includes hotter temperatures throughout all months of the year, better known as global warming. Changes in precipitation, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, masses of ice, and even varying flower blooming times are direct results of climate change throughout the world. To explain extreme weather, one must first understand why climate change is happening at all. Human activities have resulted in higher concentrations of
greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, allow Earth’s atmosphere to absorb more heat energy from the sun and also keep more heat on Earth’s surface rather than dispersing into space. The causes of the increase of these greenhouse gases are the growing rate of fossil fuel usage, car and plane transportation, and even cattle farming. Earth’s global temperature has risen by over 1.8° F since the start of the 20th century
and does not appear to be stopping. Global warming heats ocean water which, in turn, gives more “fuel” to potential hurricanes and increases the likelihood of them forming. The heat energy in the water is also giving hurricanes more strength to transform into Category 4 and 5 storms which have more than doubled in the past fifty years. These higher temperatures increase evaporation, and as clouds pick up more moisture, heavier and more frequent rainfalls occur. More
moisture is evaporated from the ground and vegetation, creating optimal conditions for fires to spread from tree to tree with incredible speed. There is also evidence that thunderstorms are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Thunderstorms occur when an unequally charged atmosphere couples with an abundance of warm air under much colder air. The hotter air and plentiful water vapor from climate change make it easier for thunderstorms to form. Any type of
A Met Gala Review KYRA LI (V) AND ANJOLA OLAWOYE (V) The Met Gala Overview After over two years of waiting due to COVID-19, the 2021 Met Gala finally took place on Monday, September 13. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of New York, marking the opening of the Costume’s Institute’s annual fashion exhibit. The theme for this year’s Met Gala was “American Independence” to celebrate the exhibit’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” Every year celebrities, influential figures, and fashion designers are included in the exclusive guest list created by the editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, showing up in their most extravagant and unique outfits. This year’s Met Gala was also held right in the middle of fashion month. Because events like New York Fashion Week, MTV’s Video Music Awards, along with the Met Gala were happening for the first time since CO delays, the stakes for amazing fashion on the red carpet were especially high, putting the entire fashion industry under extreme pressure and stress.
While most of the looks on the carpet were beyond stunning, many people overlook the time and effort of the designers, stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and hair stylists that work behind the scenes. For many smaller designers, it is an honor for their pieces or art just to be worn on the red carpet by others; it is a dream for artists, almost saying that they have made it. Met Gala Looks Even though a few of the most prominent Met Gala goers did not attend this year, many celebrities made their first Met Gala debut. Some of which included pro tennis player Naomi Oaska, inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, Billie Ellish, and Timothée Chalamet who co-chaired the event. There were many standout looks at the gala. Lil Nas X made a memorable first Met Gala appearance showcasing three head-to-toe outfits in Versace. He first wore a gold ornate cape to transition into a C-3PO suit and finally exposed a crystal-beaded bodysuit, shedding light to his gay experiences. Kim Kardashian was covered completely in a black Balenciaga outfit. Cara
Delevingne and AOC shed light on societal and economic issues that they are passionate about with simple words completing their looks. Rihanna and ASAP Rocky made one of their first official couple appearances. ASAP sported an antique quilted cape, while Rihanna wore a stunning Balenciaga gown. Blackpink’s Rose became one of the first female K-pop stars to attend the Met Gala in a YSL black dress, with a white accent bow. Rapper Saweetie paid homage to her multiethnic background. Emma Chamberlain was seen sporting a gorgeous silver and gold dress with an asymmetrical skirt by Louis Vuitton. And Billie Eilish went with a classic old Hollywood vibe, closely resembling Marilyn Monroe with her platinum blonde bob. As the Met Gala has gained more and more popularity since 2015, it has entertained many, but it also makes millions more people aware of ideas and conversations that were typically reserved only for the elite. As time goes on, the Met Gala has and will continue to be a marker of history, bringing to light different cultures and identities through fashion.
weather you can think of, climate change is pushing it further to its extremes. Extreme weather will only continue to become more drastic. Scientists estimate that by 2050, America will experience summers and winters that are on average 4° F hotter. Heat waves could last up to a month in certain places. Periods of intense rain and then extreme drought could render farming more difficult. Flooding and hurricanes will become more common. Sea levels could rise by one to three feet all over the world, causing places like London, the Bahamas, New Orleans, Mumbai, and the Jersey Shore to go below sea level. Humans will never be able to stop climate change, but it is not too late to contribute to slowing and even reversing some of the effects. One person cannot slow climate change by themselves, but promoting sustainable agendas can help to influence the many. Using renewable energy, driving electric cars, and supporting environmentallyconscious businesses and politicians are excellent options. Investing in methods of pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, such as planting trees or carbon capture techniques, will counter the rapidly increasing effects of climate change. Stopping climate change and extreme weather will not be an easy fix, but if one thing is true about humans, it is that we always find a way.
From URL to IRL: Tallapragada Talks Tech SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III) Whether it’s our fascination with commercial space exploration or an obsession with scrolling on social media, the reason why we believe so strongly in technology may be our naive hope that it is the answer to the future. So here’s my scoop on some of the latest tech news and how it affects our lives as Pingry students.
As you have probably heard, Apple’s four new iPhone 13 models recently hit the stores. Apple focused on battery life and cameras while also improving display and adding other smaller upgrades. Furthermore, the new phones’ expanded support for 5G has helped them appeal to a broader global audience. It is better than the previous iPhone 12, but not by much, so what exactly makes it appealing? Ask Kelly Goldsmith, an associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University. In an article on CNBC Make It, Goldsmith says, “There are two behavioral economic concepts at play here: social proof (convincing people that other people want the product) and scarcity (the fear that there may not be enough).” With more than 800 million active users worldwide, TikTok is an app that has established a prominent online community. Like many social media platforms, it has been under intense scrutiny over its mental health
impact on users, especially teenagers. Tiktok recently released new features that will direct users to support, such as a Crisis Text Line if they search up the term “suicide”. TikTok’s announcements of these features follows a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Instagram has repeatedly been harmful to teen mental health. On the night of September 15, a group of 4 “ordinary people” were blasted into space! The mission, called Inspiration4, was the idea of billionaire Jared Isaacman, who paid the company SpaceX to arrange the flight. The Inspiration4 mission orbited 360 miles above the earth, over five times higher than missions launched earlier this year by Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Mr. Isaacman sees this trip as an opportunity to open space up for ordinary tourists, expecting the travel cost to drop over the next decade. The trip was also used to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, treating childhood cancer and pediatric diseases. In the fast-paced environment that Pingry offers, we seldom realize how much influence technology has on our life. This combination of dependence and innocence can be detrimental. Technology is a growing field with the possibility of changing the world, and as global citizens, it is our responsibility to be informed and make it our superpower.
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THE PINGRY RECORD
Spooky Season Reading MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V) With spooky season rolling in, it’s certainly the appropriate time to pick out a horror novel for your reading collection. Some may even opt for a murder mystery! Including a mix of both old classics and new releases for this edition, here are my must-read novels for you to get into the Halloween spirit. Most of you have probably watched the movie Coraline, but not many people have realized that it is an adaptation of the book Coraline. Overall, the plots of the book and movie center around an eleven-yearold girl named Coraline, who finds a secret door in her new home, leading her to an alternate world mirroring her own life. However, as she spends more time there, she realizes that things may not be exactly what they seem. While the film adaptation is phenomenal, the original book is just as good, if not better, than the movie. The novel and film differ widely, with the movie having a different ending than the novel. The book also leaves out characters like Wybie and his grandmother.
starts with eight people arriving on a small island, having received a special invitation. Once they get to the island, they realize that their hosts have not yet arrived, and each guest is accused of being a murderer. One by one, the guests start to die off. They realize that the nature of each death also corresponds with the respective lines of the rhyme the book is based on. The book is filled with many twists and turns, especially as you try to follow along with the guests
COLUMNS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
17
Bryce Harper: National League MVP ADAM ELAYAN (IV) Bryce Harper should win Most Valuable Player in the National League. There hasn’t been a player since Ryan Howard in his 2006 MVP campaign (in which he blasted 56 home runs, 30 in 75-second half-games) that has been able to dominate like Harper has in the second half of 2021. After two strong seasons with the Phillies, Harper is leading the MLB in doubles, extra base hits, slugging percentages, and OPS (on base-plus slugging percentages) since the All-Star Game, all while being in the top five or ten in nearly every other offensive category. This historic surge has pushed him from a non-All-Star player after the first half of the season to a serious MVP contender by carrying his team to playoff contention. Harper now leads all of baseball with a 1.049 OPS and .621 slugging and barely lags behind former teammates Trea Turner and Juan Soto in batting average, while also narrowly trailing Soto in on-base percentage.
Some are surprised by Harper’s outbreak––not because he has never done anything like it before, but because it has been so long since he has. Since his divisive 2018 season — a season that, though productive, was considered disappointing by the fans and the media — Harper has slowly been trying to rebuild his image as a superstar. In 2019 and 2020, his All-Star production flew a little
bit under the radar because he was no longer viewed as an elite player after 4 years of failing to measure up to his ridiculous 2015 MVP season. But now, after having once again established himself as one of the premier players in the game, Harper’s elite play is getting national recognition, and not even Fernando Tatis or Juan Soto is able to get in the way of his long anticipated second NL MVP award.
Favorite Flavors this Fall
However, book-Coraline is more astute and skeptical than her movie counterpart. Additionally, the OtherMother is given a much scarier presence, with many details open to interpretation. Reading the novel format of Coraline is definitely a solid investment of your time, and will be sure to send shivers down your spine! Another must-read to get you into the spooky season feels is And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. This is one of my favorite books written by this author, though any of her other classics, such as Murder on the Orient Express or The A.B.C. Murders, are also great to read. And Then There Were None
and figure out who the murderer is. This is a pretty light read that you can finish in a few hours, and one that you definitely don’t want to miss out on! The final book that you should add to your collection is Ferryman, by Claire McFall. While it does have a somewhat cliché romantic element, the plot is exciting, and McFall has a unique way of transitioning between the perspectives of Dylan and Tristan, the two main characters. The plot centers around Dylan, who unknowingly died in a train accident, and meets Tristan, a boy who seems to be waiting for her. It has a lot of supernatural and mythical elements to it, which makes it pretty interesting. It feels like a retelling of the ancient Greek myth about Charon, the ferryman of Hades who transported souls to the underworld. While I didn’t really connect with the main characters, I think the book is worth reading for its comprehensive
MILENKA MEN (V) Ah, it’s that time of year again — spooky season! I’ve definitely been on a “The Addams Family” binge just to kick the spirit off. I’m a big Halloween fiend, and I always have a bag of candy corns next to me while I watch. While we celebrate the macabre, dark, and haunted aspects of October, let’s remind ourselves of some fall favorites. First (and everyone knows it), apples. Apple picking is one of the most classic fall activities. The sheer satisfaction of grabbing the most perfect, red, glistening apple is like no other feeling. Nothing beats a cup of steaming apple cider while orange, red, and yellow leaves are blown out of trees by crisp gusts of wind. It’s almost too picturesque. The tangy and sweet
flavor goes along perfectly with a bumpy hayride. Freshly made with a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, apple cider definitely warms you up enough for autumnal sweater weather. Apples are seriously underrated—don’t forget apple pie or caramel apples either. Next is pumpkins! I’m sure that doesn’t surprise anyone. My favorite part of autumn is pumpkin picking and even choosing the wackiest ones for creative jack-o’lanterns. Of course the most iconic pumpkin beverage is Starbucks’ seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte. Although it’s frequently regarded as “too basic,” there’s no doubt it’s popular for a reason. When Starbucks breaks out PSLs, you know autumn is on its way. When you carve your pumpkin this year for Halloween, I urge you to keep
your pumpkin seeds and roast them! Just pop them in the oven with some salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic powder for a nutritious and delicious snack. More pumpkin ideas? Pumpkin bread! Pumpkin muffins! Pumpkin pie! Although it’s more of a Thanksgiving favorite, there’s no harm in using October to perfect your recipe. If you’re looking for a nice replacement from these two classics and, as some people say, “basic” flavors, try some chai tea. It’s typically brewed with milk and spiced up with cinnamon and cardamom. Cinnamon and cardamom are both comforting flavors that feel like a warm hug. Fall is definitely my favorite season of the year, and I couldn’t think of a better way to embrace it than through its classic flavors.
world-building and character development as the story progresses. I hope you get the chance to pick up any of these books to get into the spooky season feels! It’s the perfect time to read about supernatural elements, murder mysteries, and spooky vibes in general. And as always, happy reading!
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THE PINGRY RECORD
18
COLUMNS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
2021 Gubernatorial Elections: Youngkin Stuns while Murphy Remains ALEX WONG (III)
Barack Obama and President Biden to campaign for him, Youngkin eventually
On November 2, 2021, the
came out of the election on top, winning
Commonwealth of Virginia and
by a margin of almost 90,000 votes.
New Jersey held their gubernatorial
The Garden State has one million more
elections. Both elections were widely
registered Democrats than registered
seen as a referendum of President
Republicans, and incumbent Democrat
Joe Biden’s job, as the Democrat
Governor Phil Murphy was expected to
Biden won both states by comfortable
win by a comfortable margin against his
margins over his Republican opponent,
Republican opponent, Jack Ciaterelli.
former President Donald Trump.
Although Murphy’s handling of the
When former Governor Terry McAuliffe
COVID-19 pandemic in the state had
won the Democratic Primary for the
received praise from many across the
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial ticket,
country, the election turned out to be
many assumed that he would be elected
an unexpected nail-biter for Governor
in November, as he faced the relatively
Murphy, who in the end managed to
unknown Glenn Youngkin. Youngkin,
win the election by a mere 30,000 votes.
a political outsider, was previously a
Even so, the election was the first time
businessman working for the Carlyle
since 1977 that a Democrat had won re-
Group equity firm and is a millionaire valued at around $440 million dollars. McAuliffe was Governor of Virginia from 2014-2018, and had a long and established political career, even running Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. Although McAuliffe appeared to be leading for the majority of the
election to the New Jersey governorship. In summary, the elections were seen
Glenn Youngkin declares victory in the Virginia gubernatorial election campaign, Youngkin was able to turn
complaints about the school curriculum
favor of Glenn Youngkin, as McAuliffe
education into a major issue of the
(specifically the inclusion of Critical
made a series of blunders regarding
campaign, as the Loudoun County School
Race Theory) and to an allegation of
the issue. Despite a last-ditch effort by
Board gained national attention for
sexual assault in the district. The issue
McAuliffe to rally support by bringing in
its response to parents voicing their
of education made the polls turn in
political heavyweights former President
Hating the Astros is Fun, But It’s Getting Old
as a projection to the 2022 midterm elections. It served as an encouragement to Republicans and a wake-up call to Democrats, and once again was a show of the power of American voters.
Facebook Gets a Makeover: The Metaverse Concept
SRIYA TALLAPRAGADA (III)
based company that sells software for gamers, argued that they wouldn’t sell
ADAM ELAYAN (IV)
Often considered the “grandfather”
their company’s name to Facebook
kind of pervasive contempt towards a
this, as he has been shown to have heard of social media, Facebook has come a
for less than $20 million. Another
team. The great Barry Bonds, who had
the fewest trash can bangs of anyone
long way since it was founded 17 years
example was when Meta tweeted to
No baseball team has ever had as many
long drawn the ire of baseball fans for
on the 2017 Astros by far. If anything, it
ago by Mark Zuckerberg and friends
Texas grocery giant H-E-B hinting
fans on their side as the Atlanta Braves
his hostility towards fans and media and
was the writers who stole that MVP from
in a Harvard dorm room. Recently,
that the food industry has a possible
did in this year’s World Series as they
was also suspected of using performance-
Judge. Another thing that fans who are still
inclusion in the metaverse, only to
faced off against the disgraced Houston
enhancing drugs, could not attract the
angry over 2017 need to realize is that the
Facebook made headlines over its
Astros. The last few weeks or so have been
amount of negativity the Astros have, even
Astros have won 103, 107, and 96 games
decision to rename itself as “Meta.”
receive backlash from social media.
a time of healing for baseball fans of rival
after losing the 2002 World Series. We
and made the ALCS or World Series in
The term is used to acknowledge the
This decision to shift toward a
teams across the country, as they have
have truly never seen any franchise in any
each of the three full seasons since they
idea of a “metaverse,” or the futuristic
metaverse could hint at a possible
been able to put aside their differences for
sport as hated as the 2021 Houston Astros.
cheated, with there being zero evidence
vision that the internet could be a
future in which virtual reality becomes
a few games and say, “F*ck the Astros.”
Hating the Astros is fun. It’s cathartic
of cheating in any of those seasons. They
virtual, 3-D space for innovation
a part of life. Instead of pulling
Yankees fans and Red Sox fans, Cubs fans
and freeing, but I am starting to see that,
up apps or websites, users could
and Cardinals fans, and even Dodgers fans
in some ways, it is misplaced. People
have shown time and time again that they and collaboration. Facebook later are a legit team with a shot at becoming announced the shutdown of its
environments. Zuckerberg believes
of more than one billion people.
the “feeling of presence”. Complete
wear goggles and interact in virtual
and Giants fans have quickly forgotten
think that cheating is the only reason the
their burning hatred for each other and
Astros had such great success in 2017, but
a dynasty, and as the members of the facial recognition system, which 2017 team continue to filter out, we’re all w o u l d d e l e t e t h e f a c e p r i n t s
now look to focus all their hatred on the
one glance at their splits from that season
going to have to stop booing, cursing, and
“Houston Asterisks.” This was not just
will tell a different story. The 2017 Astros
giving middle fingers, and just move on.
The decision to rebrand was met
with 3D avatars and reality effects, the
speculation either, because, during the
were better on the road than at home, even
The Astros are an elite team, with or
with a lot of skepticism from the
virtual reality experience that “Meta”
ALCS between the Red Sox and the Astros,
though the cheating took place exclusively
without cheating, and though they should
during home games. The MLB found
not soon be forgiven for their actions, the
public. It follows a slew of scrutiny and
is pushing for could completely
I was told by a Yankees fan that he would be rooting for the Red Sox for the first time
no evidence of cheating during the 2017
time has shown us that the problem with
news stories over leaked documents
transform the world as we know it.
in his life for that upcoming series, as he
playoffs by the Astros. Whoever tried to
their cheating has less to do with the results
could not forgive the Astros for what they
argue that there was suspicious whistling
it produced as it does with moral failings
did to the Yankees in 2017. Never before
going on in the stands during the World
that were at the root of its cause. While
has a team been so universally despised as
Series has never watched a postseason
I understand the feelings of resentment
these 2021 Astros are. People tend to root
game before. Furthermore, Jose Altuve
for fans of teams that were beaten by the
against powerhouses like the Yankees or
did not “steal” the 2017 MVP from Aaron
Astros during their run of dominance, the
concept instead of focusing on
the Red Sox. Those people will say, “they
Judge because he did not cheat. Many
claims that specific teams or players have
fixing its current problems,” and
always win,” and “can’t somebody else have
of his teammates, who themselves have
been “robbed” of their rightful glory by the
stated his belief that the CEO should
a chance?” However, the Astros’ cheating
admitted to benefiting from the sign-
Astros at any point are not based on fact. It
step down from his role for the
scandal has forced all baseball fans to take
stealing, have come to Altuve’s defense
might just be time to stop being blinded by
good of the company. Other issues
a side for this World Series. For everybody
and said he rejected the system and
our anger and open our eyes to the truth:
arose over the seemingly sudden
but a few hundred thousand Houstonians,
would get mad at his teammates if they
commenting “bang-bang” under every post
that side is anti-Astro. Not even cheating
ever tried to bang the trash can while he
by the Astros Instagram is no longer funny.
decision to rename the company.
by a single player has ever inspired this
was at the plate. Video evidence confirms
that virtual reality can be defined as
detailing the company’s struggles with user safety and misinformation. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen criticized Mark Zuckerberg’s “decision to invest in its metaverse
For instance, Meta PCs, an Arizona-
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THE PINGRY RECORD
COLUMNS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
19
The Blue Catharsis of Lana Del Rey and Joni Mitchell JULIA ENG (IV)
“I had a vision of making my life into a work of art,” said Lana in
Lana Del Rey released her eighth
a 2012 interview. This sentiment
studio album, Blue Banisters, on
remains unchanged; in “Beautiful,”
October 22. Featuring stripped
she sings, “Let me show you how
back instrumentals and the artist’s
sadness can turn into happiness
usual melancholic voice, the album
/ I can turn blue into something.”
explains “her story.” Blue Banisters
Lana’s music is often criticized
follows Lana and her trio of close
for the romanticisation of darker
girlfriends as they help her heal
topics—in Blue Banisters, she
the wounds from a man who
defends her sorrow to critics,
“Said he’d come back every May
resulting in one of her saddest
/ Just to help [her] if [she’d]
albums yet, and in reopening
paint / [Her] banisters blue.”
old wounds, attempts to mend
In earlier albums, blue represented
them faster. She pleads to be
nothing more to Lana than one of
allowed to have a Blue Period like
the three American colors she could
Mitchell, in which she’s free to
easily list to match her aesthetic.
sing about her heavy emotions and
Blue Banisters contrasts this; Lana
the dangerous ecstasy of love. We
shows us maturity that isn’t present
Blue as a straightforward, gutting
moments in Mitchell’s life and
through art, a notion shared by
see from both artists that “blue”
in her earlier work. Blue becomes
record. It discusses Mitchell’s
is widely considered her chef-
both her and Mitchell. In an effort to
is what one does with a certain
more than the color of the sky as
entangled relationships with James
d’œuvre. This is Joni Mitchell’s
heal, she released the songs “Nectar
sadness so great that, if left with an
she gets high in Miami—blue is
Taylor and Graham Nash and the
Blue Period; similar to Picasso, her
of the Gods,” “Living Legend,”
individual alone, is unmanageable.
transformed into a state of mind.
regret of putting her daughter up
best work is the result of her ability
and “Cherry Blossom,” which she
It is the displacement of emotion
Blue Banisters immediately
for adoption. “Blue is the purest
to channel her grief into her craft.
wrote with an ex-boyfriend. These
amongst those that will listen and
brings me back to Joni Mitchell’s
emotional record I will ever make
This is where we come back to
releases, years after the songs
a means of relief. The cathartic
1971 album, Blue. Instead of the
in my life,” the artist said in an
Lana; the narrative she paints with
were written, are an attempt to
act of making something blue
Canadian folk singer’s usual odes
interview. Blue captures the lowest
her new album is one of healing
release herself from heartbreak.
is how the greatest artwork is
to hippie culture, Mitchell presents
created from one’s worst moments.
30: Adele’s New Album ELLA BUNDENBENDER (V)
by releasing a third album called
Mulan (2020): Wasted Potential KEIRA CHEN (IV)
she discovered herself; a foil to
other than as a cheap plot device
illustrate the so-called “dark path”
that was promptly forgotten—I
a rock, you’ve probably already
of succumbing to her power (which,
had given up on this movie.
heard about what a complete
by the way, Mulan’s “Chosen One”
The writers had come so close,
dumpster fire Mulan (2020)
ability completely undermines the
and yet they were farther away
was. There have been several
original theme of anyone being
than ever. In the end, the witch
Awards, 9 Brit Awards, and many
controversies surrounding the
able to become a hero). I thought
only turned out to be a shallow
others. In addition, Adele has
movie for various reasons, most
the witch would be a commentary
attempt at feminist empowerment
hosted Saturday Night Live twice
of which I only learned about after
of some sort on how oppression
that, like the rest of the movie,
and gone on three concert tours.
finishing the movie as Mulan-
affects women, contrasting her to
fell almost comically short.
oriented videos invaded my
Mulan’s experiences and shedding
Don’t get me wrong. Mulan (2020)
YouTube recommendations. Still,
light on the different ways women
still has a few good selling points;
even as I sat on the floor watching
react to their circumstances. Not
to me, at least, the cinematography
title of World’s Best-selling Artist of 2015. Over the course of her career, the London native has won 15 Grammys, 18 Billboard Music
new album nearly broke the internet. It had been almost six years since she had released any music, and fans were eager to hear new content. Soon, signs with the number 30, the expected title for the album, popped up all around the world, leaving fans further speculating that new music was coming. On October 13th, Adele officially announced that her fourth studio album, 30, is set to release on November 19th. As we prepare for Adele’s newest release, let us look back at her highly successful career and what is to come in the future. Adele entered the spotlight in 2006 and released her first album titled 19 in 2008. Her next album, 21, and my personal favorite, dropped in 2011 and included hits like “Someone Like You,” “Rolling in the Deep,” and many others. This second studio album also earned Adele a record-tying six Grammy Awards. Four years later, Adele expanded on her accomplishments
and it made no sense for her to die
Unless you’ve been living under
25, which helped her achieve the
In late September, reports of Adele’s
could mirror Mulan’s journey as
Similar to her previous work, Adele’s new era is already off to a hot start. Her first single, “Easy
Mulan with my parents, I thought,
to mention her supposed magic—
was for the most part very nice
on Me,” released October 15th and
“Wow, this is incredibly bad.”
she was possibly the only other
(aside from some jarringly
broke the record for most global
Why? Because clearly, the
character who could understand
inaccurate historical settings), and
Spotify streams in a week at 84.95
writers of the script had no
Mulan and her “chi.” I was excited,
the fight choreography was cool
id ea w ha t they w ere d o ing.
because hey, even though Mulan
when Mulan wasn’t kicking spears
million. The song, along with most of the album, is inspired by Adele’s divorce from Simon Konecki, who is
I’m not going to compare the movie
isn’t accurate at all at this point,
for seemingly no good reason.
to the original Ballad of Mulan, nor
maybe this character will be an
But at the end of the day, Mulan
am I going to critique it too heavily
exciting twist to the original tale.
(2020) failed to achieve the vision
also the father of their son Angelo.
in comparison to the 1998 version
Oh, how wrong I was. What did the
it had built up for itself. No matter
When promoting the album on
(even though that version had a
witch do in the end? She essentially
how good the cinematography,
her Instagram, Adele compares
better idea of what it was doing)
told Mulan to “not hide her true
no matter how epic the fight
it to a “wise friend who always
because as unfortunately as the
self” even though that hiding was
scenes are, you can’t have a good
execution was handled, Mulan is
necessary for her very existence as
movie when the writing and the
its own movie—despite its claim
a soldier, which prompted Mulan
characters just don’t hold up.
to follow the original Ballad. But
to leave behind all her armor and
gives the best advice,” touching on how this album helped her move forward from a turbulent time in
if I talked about everything I
let her hair fly everywhere. In the
her life. Furthermore, the 33-year-
didn’t like about the writing in
middle of a battle, where both
old—she began working on the
this movie, we’d be here forever.
those things could get her killed.
album three years ago—credits this
No, what I want to talk about is
I could not believe how stupid this
one character in particular: the witch.
entire scene was. The entire movie
The witch is entirely a new
had been weird with its writing
aspect that Mulan (2020) created,
up to this point, but I had been
album as a retelling of her story of heartbreak and self-discovery. Hopefully, the anticipation of this
featured in neither the 1998 version
hanging on in the hopes of the
album lives up to the expectations,
nor the original Ballad. Honestly,
witch somehow, somehow turning
but since it is Adele, I do not doubt
I was intrigued by the witch’s
it around. Unfortunately, the movie
that it will. As I am sure many others
character (or potential, rather.
continued to plunge deeper and
can relate, I will most definitely be
Saying she had character in the
deeper into failure. By the end,
movie would be giving more credit
when the witch simply dies—
to the film than it deserves) at
anticlimactic, not to mention how
first. Here was a character who
her death was utterly preventable,
listening to 30 on November 19.
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Google Images
20
THE PINGRY RECORD
NEW FACULTY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Ms. Leah Charles MELINDA XU (III)
This year, Ms. Leah Charles is welcomed to the Pingry community as a Middle and Upper School counselor in the departments of Health Services, Counseling, and Physical Education. She has a strong passion towards teaching, and has always wanted to teach in a school setting. Ms. Charles completed her internship as a school counselor in Clinton Township, working on socialemotional learning and individual and group learning. She received an undergraduate
and master’s degree from Centenary University, and graduated in May of 2021. Ms. Charles decided to join Pingry, the first school she is going to be teaching at, because of all the opportunities. She believes Pingry differs from public schools because students are given freedom, and the school “allows you to develop and grow in the community.” This year, Ms. Charles would like to dive deeper into certain clubs, work on community service projects, and possibly get into some sports. She wants to “build and develop relationships
with teachers and students.” Growing up, Ms. Charles greatly enjoyed school. She was “the type of student who stayed inside during recess and helped teachers.” As a child, Ms. Charles believed that teachers were such great role models and support systems for students. She wanted to be a role model and support other students herself. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Charles enjoys hanging out with her family. She also has a goldendoodle named Bear! Welcome and good luck Ms. Charles!
Dr. Chester Chu EVAN WEN (V)
This year, Pingry welcomes Dr. Chester Chu, who will be a Form III and IV Chemistry teacher. Dr. Chu comes from a rich academic background, receiving his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in chemistry, physics, and applied mathematics, and then completing his Ph.D. in physics at MIT. During his time at MIT, he taught sections of introductory physics and helped develop the online curriculum systems. He also spent time teaching at a public high school and a Catholic school before coming to Pingry. In addition to teaching chemistry,
Dr. Chu manages an IRT group interested in researching physics, and he mentioned he was willing to get more involved with sports, affinity groups, and clubs. So far, Dr. Chu has been impressed with how supportive the Pingry community is, especially the focus on community wellbeing. He cited the motivation and proactivity of Pingry students as a distinctive trait of the community. As a teacher, he wants to create a class environment by teaching a course that is fun for students. His pedagogy involves making jokes and funny analogies in an effort to make science more relevant and easier to understand for students.
Le a rni n g , h e s t re s s e s , i s n ’t necessarily about the knowledge acquired, but more so the lifelong takeaways and experiences. In his free time, Dr. Chu enjoys learning about different cultures and history. He emphasized, despite primarily being focused on sciences, that he still enjoys learning about history. Additionally, he is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to cook. Finally, Dr. Chu preached that students should think outside the box and not be concerned about making mistakes. Similar to the development of chemistry from alchemy, he said, students should take risks in order to succeed.
Mr. Harlen Shangold VINAV SHAH (III)
Ms. Chao Wang
This fall, Mr. Harlen Shangold ‘11, returns to Pingry as a counseling intern and substitute teacher for both the Middle and Upper School. In addition to teaching and counseling, Mr. Shangold also is the Middle School Boys’ A Team Soccer Coach and assistant coach for the Upper School Varsity Basketball team. For Mr. Shangold, coaching Varsity Basketball was a large part of the reason he returned to Pingry. Mr. Shangold played for the basketball team as one of the first players to be coached by Mr. Jason
Murdock, who is still at Pingry today. As both a mentor and a coach to Mr. Shangold, Mr. Murdock was an inspiration to his life. Before coming to Pingry, Mr. Shangold matriculated at Colgate University, with the intent of studying education. He continued on to Harvard University, where he enrolled in the School Counseling Program. Shortly after his graduation, Mr. Shangold moved to Miami, a place he wanted to live in since eighth grade. There, he started tutoring students, eventually founding his own company: Ivy Island Educators. Mr. Shangold had known that
he wanted to teach since he was 16, when he attended a two week pilot program in South Africa as part of the Global Literacy Project. As part of the program, the students were expected to help unpack books they had got from the United States, and assist the teachers. However, when they had arrived, the teachers from South Africa had gone on strike, and the group of 8-9 Pingry students were tasked with teaching the South African students English. With that responsibility, Mr. Shangold rose to the occasion, and discovered that teaching was his calling.
VINAV SHAH (III)
to become a teacher started
more comfortable.” In addition,
in China, where her professor
Ms. Wang enjoys being able to
This fall, Ms. Chao Wang
recommended her to a teaching
teach high school students. When
joined the Pingry Upper
position. At first, she was unsure
asked why, she said “they are in a
School
Language
whether or not to take the job,
stage where they want to explore
Department to teach Chinese.
but her professor convinced her,
more… When you teach the topics
Ms. Wang matriculated at North
saying that she had a personality
they are interested in, you can see
Carolina State University in Raleigh,
which would help her connect
it immediately. When I see the
where she studied education and
with students. There, she taught
students’ shining eyes, it makes
curriculum development. After
English at a Chinese high school.
me feel like everything is worth it.”
graduating from NCSU, Ms. Wang
This choice eventually led
Outside of the classroom, Ms.
moved to Manhattan, where she
her to Pingry, a school that Ms.
Chao enjoys hiking, snowboarding,
served as a Senior Instructor
Wang thinks is a perfect fit for
and surfing, noting that the
and Curriculum Designer for
her. She especially likes Pingry’s
COVID-19 pandemic has changed
the Chinese Language Academy.
diversity, saying, “In a diverse
her a lot. She looks forward to the
However, Ms. Wang’s decision
environment like Pingry, I feel
year, and is excited to be at Pingry.
World
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
NEW FACULTY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
21
Ms. Bryanna Gallagher ALEX WONG (III)
Degree in Environmental and
love working with teenagers!” In
Biological Sciences from Troy
her free time, Ms. Gallagher plays
This year, the Pingry
University with a concentration
softball, runs her own candle
Upper School Mathematics
on environmental policy.
business, and has a one-year-old
Department welcomes Ms.
She is currently working on a
that “takes up almost all [of her]
Bryanna Gallagher, who will be
Master’s Degree in Education
time.” So far, she loves Pingry,
teaching Intermediate Algebra
in Learning in Technology from
and her “biggest goal is to help
along with Intermediate Algebra
Western Governors University.
such unique students reach and
and Geometry. Ms. Gallagher
Before coming to Pingry, Ms.
go beyond their math goals.”
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in
Gallagher worked for six years
Her advice to the community:
Mathematics and a minored
at the Purnell School as a math
“Do good and don’t look back!”
in Chemistry from Central
teacher. When asked what
We are excited to have Ms.
Connecticut State University.
inspired her to work as a teacher,
Gallagher as a new member
She also earned a Master’s
Ms. Gallagher responded, “I just
of th e Pi n gr y com m un i ty!
Dr. Daniel Fried EVAN WEN (V) Pingry is excited to welcome Dr. Daniel Fried, a new Biology and Chemistry teacher for Forms III and IV. Dr. Fried comes from a family of teachers; his brother and his parents were all teachers. Dr. Fried enjoys explaining things to people and allows them to understand various aspects of the world. After dropping out of a music education major at Temple University, he received a biochemistry degree at SUNY Binghamton and a Ph.D. at Yale University. Dr. Fried went to Israel to complete his postdoctoral
at the Weizmann Institute. Prior to Pingry, he taught organic and medicinal chemistry at Kean University and St. Peters. At Pingry, Dr. Fried supervises an IRT team that is analyzing fluorescent fish proteins. He really enjoys working with the students who are heavily invested in their education. The constant classroom dialogue is a change of pace from the college classroom. Dr. Fried aspires to cultivate a love for chemistry and biology in all his students. In his free time, he runs Biochemistry Literacy for Kids, an online curriculum dedicated to teaching young
children science in a hands-on manner. During the pandemic, his site exploded and he has students from all over the world. When he is not teaching, he enjoys hiking, playing instruments, and spending time with his four year old. Dr. Fried emphasized the uniqueness of the Pingry community when compared to his previous schools. He mentioned that Pingry is a well run institution where students and teachers are really supported, creating a pleasant environment for everyone.
Ms. Maria Penna RO YADAV (III)
teach her students the Spanish
the way to understand a culture
language, but to also immerse
and language best.” While Ms.
This year, Ms. Maria Penna
them into Latin American and
Penna is just beginning her
is joining the Pingry community
Spanish Culture. She hopes to
journey at Pingry, she has big
to teach Spanish 2 and Spanish
take her students to a Spanish
plans for her time here. She
6. Ms. Penna grew up in Buenos
restaurant or museum to give
wants her students to be aware
Aires, Argentina, and attended
them the opportunity to apply
of the struggles people face in
the University of Buenos Aires,
their knowledge of the Spanish
Latin American countries and to
where she received a BS and
language and culture in a real-
assist those in need. Ms. Penna
MS degree. After college, she
world context. As Ms. Penna put
also wants her students to gain
worked for eight years in an
it, “You cannot simply understand
deep connections to Spanish
accounting firm in Argentina,
a language solely from a textbook
culture — not just the Spanish
until her move to the United
or book. I want my students to
language. Overall, Ms. Penna is
States in 2003, which marked
be exposed to real life situations
excited to turn the page to a new
the start of her teaching career.
and experience the Spanish
chapter of her teaching career!
Ms. Penna’s goals are to not only
culture in person. Experience is
Ms. Nadine Gano ALEX WONG (III) Ms. Nadine Gano joins the Pingry community this year as the Pingry substitute coordinator and AP coordinator. Ms. Gano graduated from Cal State Long Beach where she earned a bachelor’s and minor degree in marketing. After starting her master’s, however, she came to the East Coast due to
a job transfer. Before coming to Pingry, Ms. Gano worked as the substitute coordinator and AP coordinator at Princeton Day School. Ms. Gano worked at Pingry last year as a classroom facilitator for Ms. Nancy Ring, who was teaching remotely. When asked about her goals for the year, Ms. Gano answered, “My first goal is to make sure that APs run as smoothly as possible.
There is a larger student body so more people are taking the exams, and there are different players and logistics.” Ms. Gano is thrilled to be with the Pingry community this year and thoroughly welcomes students to stop by and say hello. She is looking forward to “working [her] hardest and doing [her] best” this year, and encourages everyone to do the same! Welcome, Ms. Gano!
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
22
NEW FACULTY NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Mr. Michael Taylor ROHAN YADAV (III) Mr. Michael Taylor, a talented artist and teacher, will begin his first year at Pingry this fall. Growing up, Mr. Taylor had a passion for creating art, and he began his teaching career at age 17. Shortly after, Mr. Taylor attended the University of Houston and received a Bachelor’s in photography. He then attended the Tyler School of Art and received a Master’s in sculpture. After graduating, Mr. Taylor took the first steps in his art career doing graphic design, marketing, and operating an art studio. However, Mr. Taylor’s career made a big
jump when his art was displayed internationally in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Taylor is also an integral leader in his community and is working to create a makerspace in Brooklyn. Although Mr. Taylor has only dipped his toes into the vast sea that is the Pingry community, he is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the school and its culture. Mr. Taylor not only teaches art, but he also strives to instill vital lessons in his pupils. “I want my students to have confidence and a skill set to be able to work independently and creatively problem solve in the real world,” he says. He wants
students to accept all forms of art or expression and not criticize certain art pieces when they haven’t taken the time to relate to the artist or the work itself. In addition, Mr. Taylor believes that art should invoke feelings and not be centered around materialism. “For me, the value of art is based on impact, not on collectability. Money isn’t the only currency for art. Feelings like joy, optimism, and hope are currencies worth exchanging for art.” Mr. Taylor is an inspiring individual and a great addition to the Pingry staff; he is excited to be making this next step in his career, and we welcome him with enthusiasm!
Mr. David Gonzalez OLIVIA BUVANOVA (III) This past fall, Mr. David Gonzalez joined the Upper School Computer Science Department. In addition to teaching the Survey of Computer Science and AP Computer Science, Mr. Gonzalez advises the Outing Club since he enjoys spending time in nature. Mr. Gonzalez received his undergraduate degree in information technology at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). He then attended the Stevens Institute of Technology and received a master’s degree in information
management. After college, Mr. Gonzalez worked in Johnson & Johnson’s technology department for ten years. On top of that, Mr. Gonzalez also worked as a technology consultant for Ernst & Young, which allowed him to travel the globe for more than six years! When asked about what inspired him to become a full-time teacher, Mr. Gonzalez remarked, “just the thought that I could inspire students to take a career path in computer science and to be able to teach them about one of the most important subjects in our world today.” His previous job as a college
professor at TCNJ also influenced him to stay in the education field. In his free time, Mr. Gonzalez loves to “spend time outdoors, away from technology.” Mr. Gonzalez loves camping, hiking, and fishing. He is also an avid reader, reading at least two books every week. Looking forward to the school year ahead, Mr. Gonzalez noted, “Pingry is a fantastic school. Not only is it a welcoming community, but the faculty and students are also so respectful and kind.” Mr. Gonzalez is very excited for this new chapter in his life and can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
Mr. Alex Steinberg JINGJING LUO (III) This fall, Pingry welcomed Mr. Alex Steinberg to the Middle School and Technology Department, where he will be the Educational Technology and Innovation Coordinator. He is also a teacher for a seventh grade Friday Course on 3D Design. Mr. Steinberg provides one-on-one assistance to teachers using apps such as Schoology or Zoom. He is the Tier 1 support in the Technology Department. “I try to solve a problem in five minutes,” he said, “If the problem
is unresolved, it moves on to others in the Technology Department.” During his free time, Mr. Steinberg enjoys cooking, gardening, playing music in a band, as well as spending time with his two children. Mr. Steinberg went to college at the University of Pittsburgh and majored in political science and history. He went on to receive a Master’s degree from the University of Scranton, focusing on design and curriculum. Mr. Steinberg realized he wanted to become a teacher because of his mom and his influential high
school teachers. Furthermore, he was particularly interested in history and international relations because of the disastrous 9/11 events that had just occurred. After finishing his education, Mr. Steinberg went to The Churchill School in New York City. He taught four years of Social Studies and worked for nine years in the Educational Technology Department there. Mr. Steinberg is very excited to be here at Pingry, and his goal for this year is to get to know the faculty better as well as see the Honor Code in effect.
Dr. Jennifer Poussant JULIA ENG (IV) The Upper School Science Department welcomes Dr. Jennifer Pousont to the Pingry Community. She will be teaching Biology II Honors in the fall semester and Biology I in the spring, as well as a Molecular Biology Research Class. Alongside these classes, Dr. Pousont also serves as an advisor to Pingry’s Independent Research Team and MAPS (Modeling A Protein Story) Team, and is a co-
advisor to students. She graduated from Keene State College of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Chemistry and earned her Ph.D. in Structural Biology from Dartmouth College. When asked about what inspired her to become a teacher, Dr. Pousont informed me that she had fallen in love with teaching during her time in graduate school, where teaching a class was a degree requirement. Prior to her arrival at Pingry, Dr. Pousont worked at the NIH and taught
chemistry classes at other schools. She shared that she is enjoying Pingry so far, especially its campus. One of her goals is to know her schedule and “be at the right place at the right time” for her classes. Dr. Pousont would also like to start a new IRT project involving on-campus sustainability. When asked about what she is looking forward to in the upcoming school year, she replied, “I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone in person!”
Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
SPORTS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
23
Fall Sports Season Update By GRACE FERNICOLA (IV), SARINA LALIN (IV), ELLA BUDENBENDER (V), OLIVIA BUVANOVA (III), JIYA DESAI (III), VARED SHMULER (V), SAMUEL BENTON (VI), & JEREMY BETZ (III) Boys’ Soccer Halfway through the season, the Pingry Boys Varsity Soccer team is 11–0 and still holding on to its No. 1 ranking in New Jersey. Top scorers so far this season include Lucas Ribero (VI), Daniel Ittycheria (VI), and Anthony Bugliari (IV). In the first game of the season against Bridgewater-Raritan on September 9, Lukas Strelecky (VI) scored the team’s first goal with an assist by Daniel Yanez (VI). That was the only goal for Pingry, but Pingry held Bridgewater-Raritan scoreless to win 1–0. In the second game of the season, the team achieved their first victory in four years over rival school Gill St. Bernards. Bugliari scored the winning goal assisted by Lukas Strelecky in double overtime for a final score of 2–1. In the following game against Hunterdon Central, Pingry also rallied to tie it up late in the game. Bugliari once again scored the winning goal in another double overtime; this time with a shot from the far right corner, assisted by Ittycheria. Pingry only allowed two goals in the four games that followed, beating Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy 7–0, Hillsborough 3–0, Ridge 5–0, and Archbishop Moeller 5–2. Best of luck to the boys for the second half of the season! Girls’ Soccer Coming off of an extremely successful season last year, Pingry Girls’ Soccer has hit the ground running. After losing seven seniors who graduated this past June, the team has certainly had to make some adjustments. In spite of the loss of these talented players, the girls are pushing forward, ready to continue their success from past seasons. Captains Michelle Lee (VI), Caitlin Schwarz (VI), and Olivia Telemaque (VI) have tremendous faith that their achievements will only increase as the season progresses. When asked about the team’s attitude this year, Michelle Lee (VI) said, “Our mindset this season is to play all together to
win.” The girls are determined to be successful in their attempt at states and hopefully, their efforts will prove to be fruitful. Currently, Pingry has a record of 4-6-1 and looks to improve in upcoming games. They are battling their way through the Skyland Conference and just landed as the 4th-seed in the Somerset County Tournament. Every year, Pingry Girls’ Soccer has only three goals: win counties, win conference, and become state champs. This year is no exception. If the girls continue to work hard and play hard, they can bring home the state title for the fourth year in a row. Field Hockey
Molly Parker (VI): Girls’ Cross Country
Despite the field hockey team’s rocky start with four losses, they were able to snag their first win this season in a 2-1 OT win against Watchung Hills. Captains Kaitlyn Devito (VI), Katie Miller (VI), and Anna Riley (VI) are happy with the team’s efforts and see immense potential. When speaking about the team’s dynamic, Riley says, “we have a lot of talent on our team, especially new talent with all the new freshmen.” In fact, the freshmen have scored a large majority of the goals this season so far. Building off of Riley’s comments, Miller describes the camaraderie that makes Pingry field hockey so special. She states that “what separates Pingry field hockey from other teams is the close bond between all of the players… we play as a family.” All three captains hope the fighting spirit will allow the team to reach success. Head Coach Julia Martinez is also aiming for more tangible results. When speaking about her goals for the season, Martinez mentions “develop[ing] a strong reputation for our school” and “having versatility throughout the entire team.” Big Blue field hockey hopes to get back on track this season with upcoming games against North Hunterdon, Bridgewater, and Hillsborough.
to a flawless start. The season may have started quite recently, but the team has already defeated Watchung Hills, North Hunterdon, Hillsborough, and Ridge High Schools. With the successful Somerset County Tournament under their belts, the team hopes to continue its success in the Skyland Conference and Prep A Tournament. There are 57 players on the girls’ tennis roster this season - the largest roster to date, with nine players on the varsity team, 20 players on the JV team, and 28 players on the intramural team. The intramural team was created this year to accommodate all the dedicated players and offer everyone a great learning experience. Head Coach Marion Weber is excited for the opportunities this season has to offer and is proud of the outcomes of recent matches. This year’s team captains, Sarah Kloss (VI), Sabrina Schneider (VI), and Olivia Galluci (VI), added, “I think we have a great group of girls this year, and we all are motivated to put our best foot forward. I think we have an excellent chance to win the entire state tournament, and we are really excited to see how the rest of the season plays out!”
Girls’ Tennis
Girls’ Cross Country
The Girls’ Tennis Team has been, quite frankly, dominant since the start of the season. In last week’s Somerset County Tournament, the varsity team was declared number one in the NJ.com preseason rankings. Some players have even been ranked in the top five of New Jersey. With a perfect record of 11-0, the team is off
Despite COVID-19 hindering the Girls’ Cross Country season last year, the team is back to being victorious this fall and hopes to stay that way. Girls’ Cross Country had pre-season for the last three weeks of summer, hosted by new coach Sarah Christensen. Coach Chris is
Daniel Yanez (VI): Boys’ Soccer
thrilled about the upcoming season and says it is “very important to get prepped and ready for States, Somerset County Race, Skylands Conference Race, and many more.” Most of this preparation means a lot of hard work; one of the most dreaded workouts are the 4x1000s and the five to seven-mile-long distance runs. After each workout, the team stretches together, along with a couple of strides. This year, the season started on September 9. The team’s first race was against Bernards at the beautiful Natirar Park course. There were steep hills and rough patches on the path, but all the girls pushed through. After this race, the girls and boys team hosted their annual home race against Immaculata High School, Gill St. Bernard’s School, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Bernards High School, and Somerville High School. The team ran very well and was pleased that the maintenance team was able to put up a new bridge just in time for the event. Team captains Allie Jones (V), Alexis Mathews (V), and Molly Parker (VI) all have many thoughts about the season. “We have a really strong group of girls running in our races so this season is going to be awesome,” Matthews said. “It’s nice because everyone has someone to run with at their pace, which is great to have heading into our peak racing season.” So far, their season is off to a great start; not only are they undefeated but the team all works great together and each girl works to be the best runner possible. Boys’ Cross Country The Pingry Boys Cross Country team, led by captains Sean O’Keefe (VI) and James Thomas (V) and coaches Mr. Matthew Horesta and Mr. Timothy Lear ‘92, is off to an amazing start and looks forward to another great season. With returning members and a record number of 13 new freshmen, Captain O’Keefe notes that “this year we have a team that differs from years past, yet can compete just as well.” The team is able to “pack with each other on race day better than in previous years, which has resulted in big wins and great overall team performances.” Furthermore, Coach Horesta mentions that the freshmen “bring a lot of competitiveness to the team” and that “it is clear from their win from the Magee Memorial meet that they are great members of the team judged by their competitors of both CBA and St. Peter’s Prep.” Captain Thomas also adds that the
freshmen “continue to improve each practice” and “this is the best and most impressive group of freshmen the team has ever had.” Football For the first time in forever, Pingry Football is 4-0 to start their season. Led by captains Matthew Caruso (VI), Niles Luke (VI), Jacob Ventura (VI), Zach Ventura (VI), and Peter O’Mara (V), the team has started the season dominating their opponents. This year, Pingry has a new set of brilliant minds on the sideline led by head coach Joe Passaro. When asked about this year’s team, the former Villanova center said, “This is going to be the team that puts Pingry football on the map.” Passaro is determined to have Pingry Football crowned Metropolitan Independent Football League (MIFL) champions. With Friday Night Lights being in September this year, the Pingry community got an early glimpse at this year’s new and improved team, beating Newark Academy 54-7. Quarterback Matthew Caruso tossed three touchdowns during the game. Caruso said that the team played “exceptionally well” and is “looking forward to winning more games on the way to a championship this year.” Good luck to the football team for the rest of the season! Water Polo “It’s good just to be back in the pool,” Assistant Coach Jeffrery Jenkins commented on the return of water polo to Pingry. The varsity team, under captains Peter Yousef (VI) and Anton Volchenkov (VI), has had two victories out of their three games played so far, and the only loss involved a hard-fought final quarter. Of the four other teams in the state, the Varsity team has beaten half of them. Coach Jenkins is optimistic about our odds, saying, “I honestly think it’s us or Lawrenceville for the state championship this year.” With new Head Coach Granger Abuhoff particularly interested in defeating Lawrenceville having previously worked there, the drive to win is especially strong this season. COVID-19 temporarily put water polo on hold, and although one team still cannot play, some feel that they are out of those woods and there will be a strong return to the sport this fall. With leaders like this, the season is sure to be a truly amazing one for Pingry.
Photo Credits: Pingry Communications
THE PINGRY RECORD
24
SPORTS NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Winter Sports Season Preview By SAM BENTON (VI), KEIRA CHEN (IV), JIYA DESAI (III), SARAH GU (IV), MIRIKA JAMBUDI (V) SANIYA KAMAT (IV), SARINA LALIN (IV), BRIAN LI (VI), EVAN WEN (V), & RO YADAV (III)
Boys’ Swimming
Girls’ Ice Hockey
he would like to see more younger wrestlers this year. He elaborated that the
school, Camille Collins says that “it is
promising season ahead of them and
super important to have four strong skiers
the entire team is very excited. “We
wrestlers all have potential, and he hopes
Girls’ Ice Hockey is off to a strong start
rather than one really strong individual,”
are looking forward to reinventing
that everyone is at their best heading
this year. Led by captains Cece Korn (V),
making this year’s large lineup of talented
Girls’ Basketball this year,” she says.
into the postseason. He stressed the
Aubrey Hanan (V), Charlotte Bush (V),
skiers very encouraging. Overall, the ski
amount of wins is not as important as the
and Kirsten Kamakar (V), with coaches
team is hoping to have a fun season with
progression of the team. The first match of
Nafara and LaFontaine, the team is
successful performances both individually
the season is on December 18 at the Beast
working on breakout drills and passing
and as a team. Go Big Blue!
of the East tournament, and the first home
and is looking forward to attending more
match is on January 5 against Belvedere.
meets. Last year, many tournaments were
Let’s all support Pingry Wrestling!
cancelled because of the pandemic. “We
Starting Monday, November 8, Girls’ Squash
the Boys’ Swimming Team enters their season determined to compete. Led by
Boys’ Fencing The Boys’ Fencing team is looking forward to a strong start this season. Captains
Boys’ Squash
Connor Chen (VI) and Ryan Arrazcaeta (VI) are optimistic for more tournaments,
had a late start to the season, we didn’t
After last year’s shortened season
since last season’s competitions were often
get to play nearly as much as we hoped,
because of COVID-19, the Boys’ Squash
cancelled because of COVID-19. “Last
and we didn’t have playoffs,” said team
team, led by captains Brian Li (VI), Arjun
year’s captains did a really good job of
member Mae Lange (IV).
Sen (VI), and Nick Zarbin (VI), is finally
making the best out of it,” said Chen. “It
Coach Deirdre O’Mara and captains
The Girls’ Squash Team is ready to
Kevin Gao (VI), Tyler Headley (VI), and
start their 2021-2022 winter season, with
As the season progresses, the team
returning to normalcy for the 2021-
was extremely rewarding because everyone
Peter Youssef (VI), the team is looking
preliminary rosters for the Varsity and
is planning on finishing strong. “[This
2022 season. Last year, interstate travel
wanted to get better every single time.”
forward to competing in a host of events
JV teams made by Coach Francis Odeh,
year,] our goal is to be over 500, or win
restrictions prevented the team from
As for pre-season, the team will be
and meets. One such meet includes the
Coach Olivia Tandon, and Coach Ramsay
more than 50% of our games, as well as
playing schools from other states, which
working on strength, conditioning, and
Prep Championship held at Lawrenceville,
Vehslage. These rosters are starting points
encouraging leadership with everyone on
resulted in the cancellation of the National
endurance, and the newer fencers will be
where Coach O’Mara, “wants to win in
and will be adjusted as needed based on
the team, not just our captains,” Lange
Squash Championships. Additionally,
introduced to basic footwork and fencing
both [the] boys and girls [divisions].”
future match results. Coach Vehslage is
said. They are also looking forward to
there were occupancy restrictions on
techniques. After those who do not own
This season, the team is smaller than
excited to return to a more normal season
meeting new teammates and further
courts, mandatory mask wearing at
fencing gear will be provided equipment
before, with 17 swimmers in total, allowing
with lots of matches. “Since it’s effectively
building camaraderie among everyone.
all times, and shortened practices
and suited up, the team will then be
athletes more opportunities to swim
been two years since we’ve had any real
“This year is going to be a great year. I can
within predetermined “training pods”.
ready to practice with electrical reels.
competitively. Though the team may be
competition,” he says, “it’s tough to say
feel it!” Captain Kamakar said.
smaller, the commitment to the team
how we’ll stack up against rivals such
reamins the same, with athletes in the pool
as Lawrenceville.” Regardless, Coach
six days a week plus events on weekends.
Vehslage is looking forward to playing
Practices are intense, with each lasting a
a full season capped off with a trip to
minimum of approximately two hours.
Philadelphia for Nationals in February.
Though the situation is constantly
Throughout the season, the captains
changing, the only safety restriction
are excited to meet new fencers, see
still in place will be mandatory mask-
everyone improve as a group, and feel the
wearing. Nationals will most likely
camaraderie among the teammates.“Being
Girls’ Fencing kicks off its preseason on
resume this year in Philadelphia, with
an individual sport amplifies the team spirit
November 8, coached by Mr. Davidson
the addition of a JV bracket, and a normal
because everyone gets a spotlight,” said Arrazcaeta. “Everyone is so supportive.”
Girls’ Fencing
Last year, COVID-19 restrictions
Starting the season, the team is thinking
Barr, Ms. Aye Thuzar, and Mr. Ed Lisovicz.
number of matches will be played against
hindered practices and meets alike;
about the hard workouts and training
The co-captains this year are Cordelia
other schools, instead of just three.
however, state competitions have been
coming its way. The girls are ready to
Ludden (VI) and Zala Bhan (V). Currently,
The team itself has been blessed
reinstated this season, and in-water
work together as a unit and do their best
they plan to use pre-season to teach
with depth this year, with players along
Led by captains Matt Caruso (VI),
COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
to remain undefeated. Three important
the new freshmen basic skills such as
the “bottom half of varsity and top
Jake Scrudato (VI), and Grant Myers
While COVID-19 regulations have slightly
components of training are footwork,
footwork, while more experienced fencers
half of JV, specifically along ladder
(VI), the Boys’ Ice Hockey team is
relaxed, according to Coach O’Mara, it’s
shots, and racquet handling. The team
improve their technique. The first meet’s
positions 6 though 11,” said Head Coach
looking forward to a successful and
imperative that “swimmers stay socially
is also returning to lifting and working
date has not been solidified yet, but it
Ramsay Vehslage. Incoming freshmen are
productive season under Coach Scott
distanced and safe on the pool deck.”
out at the gym. One of the most dreaded
will likely be within two weeks after
expected to reinforce the team and help
Garrow, Coach John Magadini, Assistant
While the current situation isn’t
workouts for the entirety of the team is
Thanksgiving Break.
fill the gaps left by last season’s seniors.
Coach Phillip, and Coach Camden.
ideal, the team aspires to be resilient,
court sprints. Court sprints are timed
Both Ludden and Bhan are optimistic for
Short-term goals include getting back
Despite having many seniors graduate and
work hard, and have a strong season.
suicides done after workouts when
the upcoming season: “Our regular season
into a routine on court, practicing as a
according to Caruso, a “mostly freshmen
everyone is already tired. Despite the
tournaments look like they will be going
team, qualifying for Division I at Nationals,
team lacking a bit in experience” as a
difficulty of the sprints, the team is always
forward as usual which is pretty exciting
and winning five-game matches. We
result, Boys’ Ice Hockey is determined
able to power through.
considering they didn’t happen due to
wish Boys’ Squash the best of luck!
to make the most of a season that nearly
Girls’ Swimming The Pingry Girls’ Swimming team
Girls’ Varsity will have its first match
COVID last year,” Ludden says. “I think
is looking forward to an exciting season
away at Hackley School, and students
we have a good chance of placing well.”
after the shortening of last year’s season
and faculty are encouraged to come out
Bhan adds that “The morale is high since
due to the pandemic. Led by Coach
and support. Last year, the squash season
we finally get to fence as a team and we’re
Deirdre O’Mara and co-captains Abby
was greatly shortened due to COVID-19,
determined to succeed.”
Di Giorgio (VI), Julia Saksena (VI), and
so the girls are particularly thrilled to play
Maureen Schwarz (VI), the team is eager
Boys’ Ice Hockey
completes a return to normalcy after a Boys’ Basketball
2020-2021 season filled with COVID-19 restrictions, including players no longer
After their hopes were crushed last year
being required to wear masks during
due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s
practices or games. Having won two
When asked about their favorite part
Boys’ Basketball Team is eager to win their
championships in a row during the
an upcoming competitive season. Isabel
of fencing season, the captains answered
third straight conference while also making
past two years, the team’s overarching
to get back into the water. In previous
Zarbin (IV), a player for the Girls’ Varsity
that they love seeing new fencers improve
a run at a county championship. The team
goal for the season is to retain the title.
years, the team has had lots of success
Team, says, “We had an undefeated season
while more experienced fencers use
is led by captains Liam Royster (VI), Sam
In order to start the season strongly and
at events including the Somerset County
last year, so we are planning to push really
opportunities to help coach others. Beyond
Proudfoot (VI), and Oliver Duryee (VI).
reach their objectives, Caruso stated “we’ll
Championships, Skyland Conference,
hard to do well this year.” With captains
that, they are also excited to have fun and
Pingry will have a tougher schedule this
generally do the same things we did before
and the Prep “A” Championships at
Ainsley Ellison (VI) and Katherine Xie
play the game Paranoia on bus rides to
year with key matchups against basketball
to win championships,” but also approach
Lawrenceville. While canceled these
(VI), the whole team is pumped for the
and from meets.
juggernauts Watchung Hills, Bound
each practice and game with a more
events were canceled by COVID-19 last
season.
Brook, Somerville, and Immaculata.
positive attitude and renewed perspective.
Best of luck to Girls’ Fencing!
year, the team is excited to return to meets stronger than ever. The co-captains’ goals
When asked about the upcoming season, Girls’ Winter Track
Skiing
for the team this year are to “have fun and
Royster mentioned, “The chemistry we
Boys’ Winter Track
have will guide us to where we want to go,”
swim fast!” With that enthusiasm and
Girls’ Winter Track is very excited for
The Ski Team is very excited for the
and the team is “better than ever before...
After the absence of a formal season
several freshmen members bringing in
their upcoming season. Last winter’s
upcoming season! Trained by Coach Jim
more than capable of going undefeated.”
last year, Boys’ Winter Track is ready
lots of talent, the team is ready to work
surge of COVID-19 cases resulted in
Backman and Coach John Webber, the
The boys officially tip-off their season on
to hit the (indoor) ground running.
towards a successful and fun season.
the cancellation of both the Group
team hopes to have more of a “normal”
December 21 at Delaware Regional Valley
Captain Sean O’Keefe (VI) said “due to
Championships and the Meet of
season with the decrease in COVID-19
in what should be a thrilling contest.
COVID-19, the indoor track wasn’t very
Champions. The season was postponed
cases.
Wrestling
‘indoor’, but we hope to be back indoors Girls’ Basketball
until February, and ultimately, there was
Hoping to lead the team to some
Wrestling looks to return to a normal
only one meet. Despite these setbacks
positive outcomes, the season’s captains
this winter and improve on the progress
season following a year marred by the
from last year, the team is optimistic about
are Annabelle Collins (V), Camille Collins
This year, the Girls’ Basketball Team
Similarly to other winter sports, a
COVID-19 pandemic. This year, Jacob
having a successful season ahead of them.
(V), Olivia Hauck (VI), Tobey Jay (VI), and
anticipates a successful season under the
return to normalcy almost seems to
Sam Wexler (VI).
we made during the 2019-2020 season.”
Ventura (VI), Jack Martin (VI), and
Led by captains Allie de Asla (VI)
leadership of captains Sammi Barr (VI),
be on the horizon, but despite that,
Zach Ventura (VI) lead the team as
and Molly Parker (VI), the team has
This year, the Boys’ Ski Team is
Caitlin Schwarz (VI), Allison Williams
uncertainty is still present regarding
captains. Coach Carson and Coach
high expectations. According to Coach
packed with members who are expected
(VI), and Bella Goodwin (V). In spite of last
Boys’ Winter Track interscholastic events.
Zachary Wakefield are returning for
Christopher Shilts, the girls are looking for
to have strong performances, including
year’s limiting circumstances surrounding
O’Keefe stated that “because COVID-19
their third season alongside Coach
constant improvement as they try to beat
Dylan Jay (IV), Matthew Lombardo (IV),
athletics because of COVID-19, the
still exists and Winter Track and Field
Lagarde and Coach Garcia. Last season,
the cold during the harsh winter season.
and Camden Collins (III). The Girls’ Ski
team is prepared to work hard for
events are forever fluctuating, we have
matches were held outside and positive
Their main goal, however, is to maintain
Team also has an extremely talented
continued improvement and success.
no specific events we are looking forward
COVID-19 tests caused teams to cancel
a positive attitude while trying to regain
varsity roster, and is being joined by
Head Coach Robert Hoepfl says that
to.” Instead, the team hopes to “[set] some
matches. Still, Jacob Ventura placed at the
some resemblance of a normal season.
Helen Pols (III), who is a current racer in
basketball season is “the best time of
new PR’s, [break] some school records, and [win] as a team whenever we can.”
Districts Meet and several wrestlers were
The team is made up of extremely
the New Jersey Ski Racing Association.
the year!” He looks forward to creating
undefeated heading into the postseason.
hardworking girls — both underclassmen
This means that the Girls’ Team will have
an environment in which players feel
With Head Coach Chris Shilts, along
When asked about the goals for this
and upperclassmen alike—and they will
a total of three current racers. In addition,
valued, have fun with the competitive
with captains O’Keefe and Oliver
season, Coach Wakefield responded,
build on past successes. With the season
there are a number of freshman girls
nature of the game, and of course, enjoy
Mendelsohn (VI), the Boys’ Winter
“Just try to have a normal season. I
just around the corner, Girls’ Winter Track
joining the team with advanced skiing
as many wins as possible. The team has
Track team is looking forward to running
hope all the wrestlers get good mat
is ready to exceed their goals, foster a
abilities, as well as some who have had
been working hard during preseason to
indoors again, welcoming new members,
time and see individual improvement.”
positive environment, and have fun.
past experience racing.
ensure strong performances in upcoming
and competing against other schools.
Coach Wakefield also mentioned the
This season’s Girls’ Team is definitely
games, the first of which will be on
good balance of upperclassmen and
hoping for a chance to win the state title.
December 7 against Kent Place School.
underclassmen; however, he mentioned
With the way the races are scored in high
Schwarz is optimistic about the