the
PHARCYDE @thepharcyde_tbs
THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
4875 Grandiflora Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
19 May 2021
@thepharcyde_tbs
Volume 42
Issue 8
Second to None Congratulations to the
Class of 2021
There are at least eighty-three reasons that the Upper School campus has been feeling differently for the last few weeks. Among them: Cotronakis, Eversmann, Gu, Moquin, Natalie, Schwartz, and Shirzad. Indeed, since the members of the Class of 2021 took to the lake on Apr. 30, things have been quiet. Over the past four years, the Class has come to define life on Grandiflora Rd. They have provoked conversations in classrooms, led teams to victory on our fields, out-shouted opponents from our bleachers, and helped lead the charge back after COVID-19 closed things down for a while last Spring. In an age marked by masks and other face coverings, this year’s Senior class has never stopped wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
As the many features in this issue of The Pharcyde shows, the Class of 2021 continues the School’s tradition of academic and athletic excellence. The center spread features the annual map of our Seniors’ next homes. For as many as fourteen years, some of the Class have known just one school. For them, especially, this fall will bring about a mix of emotions. The issue also includes a look back on some super-seniors, faculty members who are leaving us as well this year. These honorary members of the Class of 2021 will be missed, but they will also be remembered and honored by all whom they have touched. Of course, saying goodbye requires some careful reflection. To facilitate this, The Pharcyde has provided lookbacks on the year in sports,
some touching pieces by three Senior editors, and a staff writer’s attempt at clairvoyance (or, Clara-voyance).The past is the future’s way of explaining the present. This last print issue of The Pharcyde for the current school year aims to help to facilitate that process. While Commencement exercises on May 21st will mark the turning of the page for the Seniors, it does not signal the end of their influence on the story that is The Benjamin School. The Class of 2021 has changed each of us, in ways large and small. Their impact will resonate for decades to come. Eighty-three catalysts for change. Eighty-three reasons to hope. Eightythree faces we will not soon forget. Congratulations, Class of 2021.
Cum Laude Society Inducts 17 Yearbook Honors True Members of the Class of 2021 Benjamin Treasure Jane Boyland Staff Writer
Evan Liberman Photography Editor On Apr. 15, 17 members of the Class of 2021 were inducted into the Benjamin School’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society, marking another tradition that the School has made work despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The induction ceremony began with remarks from Head of Upper School Mr. Fletcher Carr. He spoke about what the Cum Laude Society stands for–namely academic excellence–and that the School has a duty to honor its inductees for “contributing to the academic culture of the Benjamin School.” In his remarks, Mr. Carr referenced English teacher and The Pharcyde’s advisor Dr. John Peruggia, stating that “with respect to the Cum Laude ceremony, while it is wonderful to recognize the accomplishments of this year’s inductees, I hope you all know, success, even in a classroom, doesn’t happen in a
vacuum.” Before the formal ceremony could proceed, Mr. Carr inducted Head of School Mr. Dave Faus as an honorary member of the Cum Laude Society and acknowledged two seniors, Jill Salach and Michael Reznik, who excelled academically but did not qualify for Cum Laude because they came to Benjamin after their sophomore year. English teacher Mr. Perry Feyk, who is retiring at the end of this school year, also spoke. Inductees, who needed to be in the top 20% of their class to qualify for the honor, were called up individually. They were then given a ribbon to wear at commencement and took a picture with Mr. Faus. Senior and inductee Brandon Davis had a positive impression of the ceremony. “I’m happy that the induction ran smoothly this year; I think I’m not alone in thinking this. Hopefully, next year’s inductees will have an in-per-
son audience to congratulate them,” Davis told The Pharcyde. Inductee Nadia Poncy appreciated that the School took the time to host an assembly that she could participate in instead of just showing her and the other inductees’ faces in a slideshow format. However, she wishes there was an in-person audience to cheer her and the other inductees on, but understands why that wasn’t a possibility due to COVID-19. English teacher Mrs. Suzanne McCambridge felt that Mr. Feyk’s address was “beautifully spoken.” She loved the event despite the fact that it had a different feel to it and the School couldn’t experience the normal celebratory atmosphere that accompanies the induction ceremony. It is evident that despite a year filled with challenges, the administration, with the Cum Laude induction, has once again successfully reinstilled some sense of normalcy in the Benjamin School community.
The Yearbook staff has dedicated this year’s yearbook to English teacher Mr. Perry Feyk. Junior and Editor Lauren Straub discusses the Yearbook Staff’s decision for this dedication and describes what makes Mr. Feyk so deserving of the recognition. “We chose to dedicate the yearbook to Mr. Feyk because he has been at the school for so long and has made such an impact on people in many different ways for the past 30 years,” she said. “He is not only an English
teacher, but also a friend and supporter of students. He is always there to talk about anything and everything, ranging from sports and music to interesting stories from his life.” He is a well-deserving recipient of this recognition after his many years at Benjamin. He has dedicated his heart and soul to this school with his influential speeches, guitar playing, and passion for literature. Mr. Feyk is a well-respected man who will be greatly missed and never forgotten. For more about Mr. Feyk’s countless years of contribution to The Benjamin School, see Page 7.
2021 Cum Laude Inductees Brandon Davis
Alexandra Kahn
Grace Myers
Caitlin DeGraff
Kate Lower
Holden Neer
Steven Gu
Alex Michelon
Aidan Neidoff
Nadia Poncy
Julie Moquin
Emma Shirzad
Madeline Hart
Hannah Perez
Nichaela Williams
Siddharth Jasti
Skyler Zur
The staff of Treasures, the yearbook of the Upper School, chose to theme the 2020-2021 edition “The Little Things.” In a year marked by COVID-19, we all have had ample opportunities to re-evaluate what matters most to us, finding joy and beauty in life’s simple pleasures.
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The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
On April 24th, Mrs. Ford and the Prom Committee did a wonderful job capturing A Night in New Orleans at this year’s prom as there were beautiful decorations, gambling opportunities, and, of course, a very fun trolley ride. The night was a great way for students to enjoy at least one tradition in this dysfunctional year before the school year ends. One senior that was very much appreciative of the event was senior Alex Michelon who was upset at not being able to have junior prom last year. He said, “I thought it was amazing that even under such difficult circumstances the prom committee was able to put together such a great event. I loved the trolley and the casino even though I lost all my chips playing BlackJack.” The prom took place this year outside of Benjamin Hall, where there was a cute setup that made it feel like you were at a New Orleans Cafe. The event had to be at school unlike at an outside venue like in previous years because of COVID-19,
but the location actually worked out very well. Inside of Benjamin Hall, there were Casino tables where students were able to play all night long if they desired. The gambling tables were definitely the biggest hit both due to the air conditioning that it was in and the amount of fun students had while playing it. Prom Committee Chair Caelan Brindise alongside her fellow committee members worked very hard to put together the event this year and were very happy with the outcome. “I feel like the night went really well and everyone was pleasantly surprised with how good the prom turned out. Everyone seemed to enjoy the casino too,” she exclaimed. The one downside of prom having to be partly outside due to Covid restrictions was that it was hot out, but, fortunately, it cooled down as the night went on, and you could always go into Benjamin Hall to cool down if you needed to. Brindise also commented, “The one thing I would have changed was to maybe try to encourage a little more dancing, there was a good amount but I felt like there could have been more.”
Though attendance was a bit of a worry prior to the event as some students were debating on going because of COVID-19, there turned out to be a great turnout of students some of which included students from outside of school. Head of School Mr. Fletcher Carr noted, “A big thank you to those of you who made it to Prom on Saturday night. While the evening may have featured a Prom few of us saw coming over the year, the amazing thing is that we were able to pull it off beautifully, enjoy it, and include friends and dates from many other schools in the area.” Mrs. Ford and the Prom Committee were definitely under a lot of stress these past few months planning a prom that was still being questioned on whether or not it could even happen. Fortunately, the school was able to have prom and the girls on Prom Committee definitely made the most of what they could given the limitations that this year presented. We all owe huge thank yous to both Mrs. Ford and the girls on Prom Committee for putting on such an amazing event.
Benjamin Alumni Greg Norman Jr ‘04, son of Australian entrepreneur Greg Norman, has come to the upper school to receive the Distinguished Alumni award for his success. Greg Norman Jr started a water sports complex in West Palm called Shark Wake Park where people can have fun on water cables or enjoy the aqua park. Norman Jr talked about how his education at Benjamin led to the success of his career. In his speech, he began by saying “I don’t feel like I am in the same category as those military heros, doctors, athletes, it’s incredible”. Head of the School Mr. Faus gave a speech to introduce Greg Norman Jr. As the alumni award is not new to Mr. Faus from his previous school, he felt warm hearted about the new inductee. He said, “I thought Mr. Norman was really authentic and spoke from the heart. The two things that I took away from it was one: follow your passions and don’t be deterred if you’re going down a unique path and two: he contributed his time 14 years at Benjamin to give him some skills that enabled him to be a good decision maker and to be successful” . Faus believes that an outstanding alumni is someone who takes the opportunities they were given and goes out to do good things with those skills whether it be St. Pauls or Benjamin or anywhere. Mr. Faus also had the opportunity after the assembly to have lunch with the Norman family and the alumni council at North Palm Beach Country Club. Mr. Norman said, “failure is a
gigantic part of the process, you will fail a lot”. One thing he based his success he said off of is to “surround yourself with people who are going to build you up and not drag you down”. When asked when he was younger by faculty Toby Harbeck what he wanted to do, he replied that he wanted to be a wakeboarder. Norman said, “I didn’t know what that meant at the time, I was just following my passions, I didn’t know it was going to lead me down a path of building shark wake park”. Concluding his reception of the award, he said, “it’s a pretty good feeling, not to be recognized by your peers in any way shape or form but to be validated that you are on a right path”.
Alumnus of the year, Greg Norman, Jr. ‘04 addresses a Zoom audience of students, faculty, alumni, family, and friends live from the stage of Benjamin Hall. (Photo courtesy of BTV)
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Seniors gather in the quad to sign their college-decorated shirts, an annual tradition at the Upper School. Other Upper School Students and faculty alike can also be seen signing. (Photos By Evan Liberman)
Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Jacobsen overlooks the seniors as they make their way across the lake. Senior parents and onlookers waited anxiously behind the gates while the other students lined up against the picnic tables to watch the seniors make their excursion. (Photos By Evan Liberman)
Alumnus of the Year Lakeside Lunch-and-Jump Marks School Honors Greg Norman, Jr. Seniors’ Last Day of Classes Clara Schor Staff Writer
19 May 2021
Seniors’ Last Hurrah! Seniors End Final Week with a Splash
Prom ‘21: A Night in New Orleans Nadia Poncy Social Media Director
The Pharcyde
Over the past ten years, the student editors, writers, and photographers who create The Pharcyde have gone on to attend some of our nation’s finest colleges and universities. This year, three fine young women journalists continue that tradition.
The Drumline led the Class down the hallway of Bldg. 5 for one last time before Seniors rushed out into the courtyard and toward the lake for a truly memorable splashdown. (Photo By Evan Liberman)
Evan Liberman Photography Editor
Despite an unorthodox year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the School plans continued with the annual senior lake jump this year. However, seniors expressed mixed feelings about participating in the tradition. The School has held the lake jump since the 2006-2007 school year. The first one was a senior prank, according to art teacher and class of 2005 alumna Mrs. Sarah Rojo. Since then, the event has become a Benjamin tradition. Despite the storied tradition of the lake jump, there was no consensus among this year’s seniors regarding their participation, primarily because of concerns over the lake’s cleanliness. For instance, senior Grace Myers participated in the jump. “I [jumped] in the lake because it is a super fun tradition at the School. While the lake [was] probably pretty disgusting, I think it [was] an overall exciting experience,” Myers said. Similarly, senior and student council president Andrew Weisz jumped in the lake, but took some precautions to protect himself from what he believes is unsafe water. “I [looked forward] to jumping in the lake, but I [wore] some floaties and… some goggles to keep myself dry. I also [considered] bringing a raft along so I [could] stay above the water. I understand some people were worried about how clean it [was], but I think if you [took] the necessary precautions, you should be fine,” Weisz said. On the other hand, one senior, who asked for anonymity sarcastical-
Congratulations
Molly, Skyler, and Nadia The majority of the Class of 2021 braved the fishy waters of the lake to mark their last day of classes. As is tradition, many chose to bring along colorful inflatables for their float across the pond. (Photo by Evan Liberman) ly told The Pharcyde: “To be honest, I don’t want to contract anything.” Despite the various opinions present in the class of 2021, the administration worked hard to plan a safe and enjoyable event. English teacher and Senior Class Coordinator Dr. John Peruggia, in conjunction with Mr. Carr and Dean of Students Mr. Jacobsen, created a modified schedule for the seniors’ last day. “Normally, the lake jump has been at the end of the day, and, originally, students were good about listening to the rules and waiting until the end of the day, but recent history has been a little lax… This year, Mr. Carr, Mr. Jacobsen, and I met to discuss ways to make this a little easier for everyone: we came up with the idea of hav-
ing a half day for the seniors and an extended lunch,” Peruggia said. “Mr. Carr brought up the idea that senior teachers wanted to see their classes for the last time, so we didn’t want to take away class time. To do this, we had to split A period [between morning and afternoon],” he added. Instead of having a normal assembly period and then the lake jump later in the day, the School held one special gathering after a special lunch catered by the School. This assembly was held in the Butterfly Garden and saw the seniors being honored one final time. It is safe to say that the hard work put in by the administration made this year’s lake jump just as successful as those of years’ past.
Seniors Hailie Miller and Gwen Savidge pose with their decorated shirts and festive hats. Hailie Miller will be attenting Clemson University, and Gwen Savidge will be attening the University of Richmond. (Photo By Evan Liberman)
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The Seniors enjoy their last day of school and their final moments in the lake. This year’s class seemed to take great pleasure in paddling across the fish-filled pond. (Photo By Evan Liberman)
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19 May 2021
Student Voices
The Pharcyde
Dartmouth-Bound Fried Shares Final Chapter of Her Benjamin Story By Molly Fried Co-Editor-in-Chief
In my expert opinion, one of the absolute best rom coms from the last few years is Set It Up (Netflix- go watch it). More than its great plot, Set it up also offers some very sound advice for people like me, those who have anxiety when it comes to doing anything, especially saying goodbye: “You like because and you love despite.” I have put more energy into the newspaper than anything else I’ve done in high school and I still am not great at laying out the center-spread. I can’t write a great op-ed in 20 minutes. I am a perfectionist and have had nervous breakdowns while trying to line-up columns and make a headline three letters shorter. I have felt like an imposter compared to previous editors. Yet, despite the hardships, I love The Pharcyde. I love being part of a team that, at the end of the day, supports each other. We put our blood, toil, tears, and sweat into this newspaper. On my first day in this class in 2018, I thought it was Glee at Benjamin. Jack Goetschius Ramsey and Robert Rubin, the co-editors at the time, started arguing about something and Mr. Didsbury (henceforth to be known as Dids) put his head in his hands and said “Oh my.” That was my introduction to this class that would be so different from any room I’d ever sit in. I had to write a few articles each
month, but other than that, I just enjoyed laughing with people that I never would have been friends with. During Saturday Layout Days, my only jobs were to write headlines and captions and to make the lunch run. I existed only to antagonize Jack. Dids’ sayings “Rome is burning!” “Use your feet!” and even “the fact of the matter is…” came to define my high school experience. Things began to change last spring; Dids was retiring and we were trapped in a global pandemic. I was named Co-Editor with Skyler Zur, even though she had experience and talent, and my “thing” was policing the grammar of the newspaper. You like because and you love despite. Before Corona, I liked the newspaper because it was a fun project. My love for it endured despite the ephemeral quality of making the news. People come and go; the staff turns over. Masks come on and off, but the faces stay the same(or not). These four years have been a wild ride, but I know that I wouldn’t have put in the work if I didn’t love The Pharcyde as much as I do. Skyler, you are truly the star. If The Pharcyde were a football team, you’d be the quarterback and I’d be the watergirl. Both wholly necessary, but not quite existing on the same level. There is no denying that under your cold, never-smiling exterior, there is a journalist who seemingly has 10+ years of InDesign experience. When I became your friend in Kindergarten, I never would have thought it would lead to panicked FaceTimes at one in the morning over
Your Vote Counted In an email to the School community on May 7, Student Council advisor Mr. Anthony Hoy announced that the results of this year’s elections had been finalized. Unlike the recent national elections, the ballot counting process seemed to go rather smoothly, with no groups threatening to storm the bell tower or hold protest marches around the lake. The editors and staff of The Pharcyde are excited to welcome the incoming school and class officers. As Mr. Hoy noted, “these dedicated students will be helping to lead the way in the upcoming school year.” President Sydney Steinger
Senior Reps Caelan Brindise Marco Chojnacki Ella Pierman Emeline Smith
Sophomore Reps Taylor Grande Grace Havlicek JP Walsh Hayley Womble
Secretary Maggie Smith Treasurer Hudson Byrne
the
EDITORIAL BOARD
Founded in 1980 as The Spectator
Molly Fried, Co-Editor-in-Chief Skyler Zur, Co-Editor-in-Chief
19 May 2021
Sophia Liporace, Executive Editor
Volume 42, Issue 8
The Benjamin School 4875 Grandiflora Road Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418
Tvisha Goel, News Editor Evan Liberman, Photography Editor Charlie Spungin, Sports Editor
Contact Information Phone: 561-472-5998, ext. 2119 Fax: 561-691-8823
Nadia Poncy, Social Media/Breaking News Director
Advisor Dr. John Peruggia john.peruggia@thebenjaminschool.org Advisor Emeritus Mr. Kendall Didsbury Media Consultants Mr. and Mrs. Tim Burke
“Yet, despite the hardships, I love The Pharcyde. I love being part of a team that, at the end of the day, supports each other. We put our blood, toil, tears, and sweat into this newspaper.” -Molly Fried Dids, it’s hard to put into words how thankful I am for you. You taught me how to write and how to ask questions, and you always encouraged me to pursue far-out article ideas, whether it was having a Dunkin vs Starbucks blind sample or testing the lakewater for alien life. Your dedication and love for The Pharcyde mo-
STAFF WRITERS Jane Boyland Catherine Civitella Matthew Marasco Clara Schor
MISSION STATEMENT
tivates me everyday and I just can’t thank you enough for developing the newspaper into my home. If you ever need anything, I am a call away and more than happy to bring a mini tuna sub on rosemary bread with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and provolone with me. Doc. You were my teacher for one month at the end of Sophomore Honors English when Mrs. Anderson was on maternity leave. The next year, on the beginning of a three hour flight to DC for Juniors Statesmen of America, I found out you were friends with Colin Jost and you didn’t jump off the plane when I kept asking questions. You coached me to many a Speech and Debate victory and this year, supported me through the learning process of making a newspaper despite it being your first year
too. Captain, oh, my captain, I’m glad you’re a part of the Pharcyde Family and I know you’re going to take the newspaper in a great direction. My Pharcydians. Seriously, thank you all for just being yourselves. I’m glad we have this common bond that will always hold and I can’t believe it’s over. You have all gotten me through so much and there is no group of people more strange in the best possible way. I will miss you all beyond what you could even imagine. Please know that I will always be here for any of you, and despite your quirks, annoyances, and grievances, I love you all. Readers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I like you because you read the newspaper and give my words your time. And I love you despite how little time it was.
A three-year member of The Pharcyde, Fried advanced from staff writer to copy editor to Co-Editor-in-Chief. The former ice skater extraordinaire will return to colder climates this fall as she begins her studies of political science at Dartmouth College. (Photo courtesy of Molly Fried)
A Presidential Welcome
Hi everyone, I’m Sydney Steinger, and I’m honored to be your Student Council President for the upcoming school year. First, I would like to applaud Andrew Weisz on his presidency this year and his outstanding efforts and commitment as Student Council President under the difficult circumstances of this year. I am honored and humbled to assume his position. Secondly, I would like to say that I am grateful and deeply privileged to have been given this position and I am incredibly excited about the opportunities to come. As president, I promise to be your voice at school and ensure that your wants and needs are met. I promise to
push for the change you hope to see, whether that’s reviving our community and spirit as we begin a COVIDfree year, or specific additions like events, food, games, attire, etc. I will be transparent with the students when working to accomplish our mutual goals and aspirations. I am hopeful that the upcoming school year will be COVID-free, and I can reintroduce our normal traditions such as in-person assemblies, spirit weeks, and an abundance of fans at sports games. During COVID, our school’s sense of community and spirit was diminished, which is something I hope to revive and strengthen in the upcoming school year. Throughout my 13 years at the Benjamin school and through my involvement in student council, I have been dedicated to instilling Benjamin’s values of character and citizenship, eagerness to learn, self-responsibility, self-motivation, and a deep concern for others and society. As president, I hope to not only represent these values myself but encourage them among students. I am excited to lead the school alongside the student body officers and am confident in our abilities.
I hope to lead with excellence and integrity and support our class throughout the school year. I look forward to being someone you can come to with any concerns, goals, or ideas in order to create a better environment for our students. I am once again honored to have been elected as your student council president and promise to create the best year possible for our community. I am extremely excited and spirited for the year to come and cannot wait to lead the student body in our best year yet. Finally, to the members of the Class of 2021, congratulations. You have all made a crazy year somehow seem normal. We will miss your enthusiasm at games, your perseverence through exam weeks, the many ways you made classes fun, and your ability to always shift the blame to the underclassmen. We’re all excited to see what you accomplish in the future.
GENERAL
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QUOTATION POLICY
Junior Reps Skylar Jones Riley MacDermott Owen Nutter Ella Thomas
Vice President Matt Postman
PHARCYDE
missing graphics. Sure, we’ve had our moments, but just know that I am fully aware that The Pharcyde would be nothing this year without your natural skill and low tolerance for Pharce. You’re one of my best friends until the end of the earth; even though I hate your ability to read my emotions, there is no one I’d rather have by my side in this endeavor. I hope you absolutely love Northwestern despite the glaring issue that it’s in the state of Illinois. All of my knowledge about Northwestern’s journalism program comes from Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada, so I would like to boil down our 13 year friendship into one request: if you ever decide to work for a fashion magazine to get ahead, please send me free stuff.
The Pharcyde, the Upper School newspaper of The Benjamin School, is published seven times a year. 1,200 copies of The Pharcyde are distributed to 398 students and 57 faculty members and are available in the Upper School office. The Pharcyde encourages submission of Letters to the Editor. Send your feedback, criticism, or outside opinions in 150 words or fewer to skyler.zur21@thebenjaminschool.org or molly.fried21@thebenjaminschool.org. The Pharcyde reserves the right to edit all letters for length, grammar, and clarity.
The Pharcyde is a student newspaper produced to foster an open dialogue about topics that relate to The Benjamin School. The issues that appear throughout our pages may be light-hearted or serious, but regardless we aim to reflect the diversity of opinion within our school that we value so deeply.
The price of a quarter-page advertisement is $30/issue. The price of a business card advertisement is $15/issue. If you or anyone you know would like to place an advertisement in The Pharcyde, please contact Sophia Liporace, sophia. liporace22@thebenjaminschool.org.
OPINION
The opinion articles in this paper are the opinion of the writer or the majority opinion of The Pharcyde Editorial Board. They are not the opinion of The Benjamin School or our advertisers.
All my best,
Anyone interviewed by The Pharcyde will have the chance to correct and edit their quotations before the paper goes to press. If they would like to change their interview before the quote confirmations get sent out, they can contact the student who interviewed them and ask to redo the interview.
MEMBERSHIP
The Pharcyde is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.
Student Voices
The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Page 5
One Last Word Before She Heads Up North: Wildcat-tobe Zur Explains What You Are Missing Out On By Skyler Zur Co-Editor-in-Chief
I know, despite my best efforts, that you aren’t going to join The Pharcyde. It’s easier to be enticed by an elective that sounds more exciting than “Expository Writing.” So for those of you who are filling a requirement rather than embracing an experience, here is what I think you’re going to be missing when it comes time for you to say goodbye to Benjamin. I remember walking into room 149 as a freshman. It was full of seniors who were laughing, talking, and hugging each other. I didn’t know a single person. I sat quietly in the corner as our first story conference started, everyone yelling out ideas about articles they wanted to write. I was confused and overwhelmed, but I looked over at Mr. Didsbury, and he just gave me a nod. #1: you will miss out on wordless welcomes. At the beginning of every year, our class would make a list of our birthdays. If we had class in the morning on someone’s birthday, Mr. Didsbury would bring in Jupiter Donuts, and if it was in the afternoon, he would bring an ice cream cake. We would sing happy birthday and eat as we wrote our articles. My birthday is always around the first week of school, and as a freshman in the class, I was the first person celebrating a birthday. Even though I had only known the other people in the class for about a week, they all were
so happy to celebrate with me, and I was so happy to be part of a class where grade level truly doesn’t have an effect on the friends you make. #2: you will miss out on family bonding. That first year, we had a Secret Santa exchange despite the fact that more than half of our class was Jewish. Some of the seniors brought out these huge gingerbread houses and blue, yellow, and white frosting; we were making Hanukkah Huts. By the end of the class, everyone was covered in frosting and candy; it was one of the highlights of my year. I formed connections with people I never would have gotten to know without the class, and created memories I still remember today. #3: you will miss out on the true spirit of the holidays. When I explain the concept of a layout day to anyone outside the class, they often turn up their noses in disgust at the thought of spending a perfectly good Saturday at school. When I tell them that we also spend Monday and Tuesday before a printer’s deadline at school, sometimes until 12 a.m., they ask me why anyone would ever want to be a part of that. #4: you will miss the productivity that results from unrelenting chaos. During one such sophomore Saturday, we were behind, and everyone was scrambling. Six hours in, everyone decided to take a break, and suddenly, Jack and Robert, our two editors, were having chair races and playing bumper chairs. Then, Robert pulled out his drone and started flying it around everyone’s heads. Despite all the stress everyone was under to
get the paper done, for five minutes, everyone was just having fun together. When Mr. Didsbury came out and saw this, he just smiled and went back to his office. #5: you will miss out on your peers’ taking flight. I often chose to write the controversial opinion pieces. The first time I was told my piece wouldn’t be published, I became angry. I had done so much research and talked to so many people to gather information, all for nothing. I had written a factual, interesting, and necessary article that could have inspired change, and yet, I couldn’t publish it. But when a door closes, there is usually a way to push it back open. I spoke with Mr. Carr and other members of the administration to make the article a publishable piece. After weeks of revision and reshaping, my article led the opinion section of the paper. #6: you will miss out on working with people to meet their expectations while still exceeding your own. This year, our class decided to make Pharcyde sweatshirts. We all submitted our designs and picked our favorite, and although there are not that many people in the class, seeing one of my peers wearing it always made me smile. #7: you will miss out on wearing the uniform you helped design. The list can go on and on. But in the end, it’s not about the stuff others will miss, it’s about the moments you didn’t. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Dids. You made me into an incredible writer and
taught me how to search for answers that weren’t always easy to find. Your encouragement and support always made me want to be better, and I wouldn’t be the writer and person I am today without you. You always helped me write the crazy, controversial pieces I wanted to publish, and while I know you wore “a plethora of hats,” thank you for always wearing your newspaper advisor one to help me get my piece published. Doc, thank you for everything you have done this year. You redefined the role of an advisor, and I can’t wait to see how the paper continues to improve in the future. Thank you for humoring me on layout days, letting me call you at all hours when I needed help on my work, pushing me to write the articles I felt were important, encouraging me to lead the class, and making me smile with original nicknames that are Zure to make me laugh. Thank you to my Co-Editor, Molly. It is safe to say that you are the creative one. I don’t think I would have been able to write an article in ten minutes with anyone else. You always come up with the perfect headline, article topic, or layout design, and I’m so proud of us. This year has been quite a rollercoaster, but I am so glad I had you by my side for it. You are going to be amazing at Dartmouth even though it is in New Hampshire I can’t wait to see all you accomplish. Sophia, my Executive Managing Editor, thank you for always making me smile. Your class distractions might not be appreciated by Doc, but
they definitely made class far more fun. Lola will forever be our Pharcyde Support Dog, and I am going to miss you so much next year. To the rest of the Pharcydians, thank you for always supporting me, for going to school on weekends with me, for writing extra articles, for laughing and panicking with me on deadline day, for making emergency Publix stops for chipwiches, and for always being there. If you ever need anything next year, you all have my number. All of those little moments may not seem important to you, but they have changed my life. So in the end, I guess I leave you with one question: When’s the last time you allowed a class to change your life? I hear there are still some seats available in Expository Writing for the fall.
Save The Media It’s Not a Wave, It’s a Nod By Tvisha Goel News Editor
For several years, the media has been under fire and scrutiny for a multitude of reasons, including partisan reporting and the rise of social media platforms as news sources. While many believe that news networks such as CNN and MSNBC are left-leaning, others believe that networks such as Fox News and Newsmax are right-leaning. Hence, it has become very obvious to the naked eye that those who follow Republican ideologies are more likely to listen to the latter news networks and those who follow Democratic ideologies are more likely to listen to the former news networks. According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center in April of 2020, “about nine-in-ten of those whose main source is Fox News (93%) identify as Republican, very close to the 95% of those who name MSNBC and identify as Democrats. Similarly, about nine-in-ten of those who name The New York Times (91%) and NPR (87%) as their main political news source identify as Democrats, with CNN at about eightin-ten (79%).” As people of the country, we have an obligation to listen to all perspectives of politics, even though it may be hard or angering. We must not fall into the trap of blindly following simply because others hold similar beliefs. The media is supposed to hold government officials accountable, and the people of the US are supposed to hold the media accountable. So, instead of maintaining this belief that the media has become partisan and not doing anything about it, we must take action on our part by expanding the breadth of knowledge we hold on all accounts of the spectrum of politics. Misinformation has had more
of a platform since the rise of social media as a medium through which many people receive their information regarding politics or other news. However, social media is an easy way to get informed, it is simply necessary to do more fact-checking to make sure that what you are reading is actually true. In both the 2016 and 2020 elections, Facebook had a lot of misinformation spreading through its platform, which could have been combated if users made the effort to confirm or deny what they were reading on Facebook. For these reasons, a student newspaper holds more importance than some may think. The Pharcyde, for example, ensures that they do report national/global news without bias and fact-check their articles before finalizing them. Additionally, we set an example of how social media and the Internet should be used as a means of spreading information: this year we have created a Twitter account and The Pharcyte reflecting the paper itself in order to properly inform others. Despite dwindling numbers of members, The Pharcyde holds an important role in educating peers about properly receiving information before possible bad habits become cemented in our daily lives. So, please, save The Pharcyde and help us in making the difference we know we can make.
The Pharcyde continues to produce print editions, even as the media pivots towards digital with its website: thepharcyte.com. (Photo by Clara Schor)
Social Media Director Posts Final Message Before Jetting Off to U.C.L.A. By Nadia Poncy Social Media Director
Though my tenure on The Pharcyde was not as long as my two fellow peers, Molly Fried and Skyler Zur, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time being on the Upper School paper. I loved all the constant chaos that ran throughout the classroom as we all tried to finish our next edition by deadline, and I especially loved the people I was able to work alongside with. Mr. Didsbury was a great person to work under even just for a semester. He was one of the first people to truly sit down with me and tell me the best ways to improve my writing. It was encouraging to hear that I had potential because I had always thought my talent in school was only in math and science, never writing.
Mr. Didsbury, or Mr. Dids as we liked to call him, allowed me to see that I had just as much potential with writing as I had in other subjects. I also want to especially thank Doc for everything he did for me and the advice he gave me over the past year. He pushed me past my limit and even drove me a little crazy at times, but it was all for the best because I wrote some of my favorite pieces with his guidance this past year. I initially took Expository Writing during my second semester junior year because it was the only
class that would fit in my schedule, but it turned out to be one of the best classes I took during my high school career. I learned so much about the power of the media and the way the school works. I recommend the class to anyone that is interested in writing and communications. My time on the newspaper has taught me so much and has even inspired me to continue to pursue writing as I venture into college next year. I wish the best of luck to my fellow Pharcyde folks and hope the paper continues to thrive!
Six Pharcydians Named to National Scholastic Press Honor Roll for 2020-2021 School Year Six veteran members of The Pharcyde were honored recently as the National Scholastic Press Association, the nation’s largest association for high school, junior high and middle school journalists, inducted approximately 1,400 high-school scholars and student journalists into its 2021 Journalism Honor Roll. “These outstanding students excel in both the classroom and in their school newsrooms,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. “The future of journalism is bright if these students are any indication.”
In addition to serving for at least two years on a student media staff, in broadcast, newspaper, magazine, online or yearbook, inducted students have earned a 3.5 or higher gradepoint average on a 4.0 scale. “The group represents the majority of the paper’s small staff and includes students across three grades, testifying to a tradition of success that was forged by former Pharcyde advisor Ken Didsbury for many years,” shared the paper’s current advisor, John Peruggia.
Our Honor Roll inductees are: *Molly Fried, Senior *Tvisha Goel, Junior *Evan Liberman, Junior *Sophia Liporace, Junior *Charlie Spungin, Sophomore *Skyler Zur, Senior Many congratulations on your achievements!
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The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Benjamin Spanish Teacher to Depart After 16 Years By Sophia Liporace Executive Managing Editor After 16 successful years at the School, Sra. Ivette Casiano, an energetic Spanish teacher loved by students and faculty alike, has decided she will be heading into retirement this May. Sra. Casiano has taught Spanish 2, Spanish 4, Spanish 4 Honors, and even a senior selection English class. She loves having the opportunity to teach students about the history of Spain and teach them one of the most iconic pieces of literature ever written, The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. She has also worked with fellow Spanish teachers Sra. Gonzalez-Lopez and Sra. Arpa to put together the team for the Florida State Spanish Conference. “I love doing Spanish Conferencia. It is probably one of my favorite memories from my time at Benjamin. The students worked so hard for their trophies and learned so much from using the language outside of the
classroom, especially in the plays we performed,” said Sra. Casiano. She will also miss the close relationships she has made throughout her career at Benjamin with students like junior Joey Palomba and fellow faculty members Mr. Feyk, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Ruggie, and Ms. Mckenney. “I have been friends with Mr. Ruggie throughput my teaching career. I will miss my daily lunches with him and Ms. Mckenney. I will miss my good conversations with Mr. Feyk. We love to talk about NASCAR. Ms. Cohen started at Benjamin the year after I did, and we have shared many good talks about life experiences,” added Sra. Casiano. “Sra. Casiano is one of my longest and dearest friends. We have worked at three different schools and have known each other for 30 years. I wish her the best in her retirement and that she lives long and prospers,” said math department chair Mr. Michael Ruggie. Students like Joey Palomba love
Sra. Casiano’s eagerness to teach and zest for life. “I love how Señora comes to class on Zoom everyday super enthusiastic and eager to teach something new. I always look forward to Spanish class with Señora Casiano each day, and I truly don’t know what I would do without her class,” said Palomba. Sra. Casiano has learned so much from her time at Benjamin and says that she will continue to live by the 12 Benjamin core values that have been preached throughout her tenure at the School. Sra. Casiano has many goals for how she will spend her free time in retirement from learning new languages to possibly starting a small business. “I will be reading so much more for pleasure, and I will be crocheting amigurumis and hopefully selling them. I think I will maybe start substituting for Benjamin teachers. Learning Mandarin and practicing yoga are things I have been trying to find time
to do for a long time, so I am excited to focus on that. I also hope to travel again,” said Sra. Casiano. Sra. Casiano is a joyful member of the Benjamin family whom stu-
dents and faculty will miss when she departs at the end of the school year. The Pharcyde wishes her happiness and the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Mrs. Casiano has been an integral part of the World Languages department for many years. Whether teaching Spanish, leading the Conferencia team, or serving as a mentor for newer faculty members, she’s always served our community with a smile, with compassion, and with heart. (Photos courtesy of Mrs. Casiano)
Mrs. Rojo Leaving Benjamin The Doctors Are Leaving the Building to Become Full-Time Artist Myers and Koures to Depart at End of School Year
Mrs. Rojo, formerly known as Ms. Davis, will be leaving the School to focus on art full time. (Photograph courtesy of the Benjamin Archive)
Mrs. Rojo has many paintings, like above work “Whitney.” Though she enjoys teaching art class, she’s excited to pursue art full-time. (Photo courtesty of Mrs. Rojo)
By Jane Boyland Staff Writer Beloved art teacher Mrs. Sarah Rojo is leaving Benjamin after eight years of teaching. She described how she has made such an impact on the lives of her students and peers and will miss them greatly. “I will miss my daily interactions with the students. They inspire me daily to remain passionate about the subjects I teach,” she said. “Watching them learn and grow has been tremendously rewarding. I know that I have made a huge impact on my students and the school based on the feedback I have received over the years. My former students have reached out to me consistently each year to offer their thanks and appreciation for how my passion inspired their career decisions.” Mrs. Rojo has decided to retire from teaching and fulfill her desire to become a full-time artist working in her studio. “I plan to pursue my goals and aspirations by committing all of my time, energy, and resources to my artistic skill, passion, and expertise.” Mrs. Rojo has had an incredible impact on her students throughout her years at Benjamin. Although only attending Benjamin for two years, Senior Samantha Sawyer has been in many of Mrs. Rojo’s various art classes and detailed her profound experience. “Mrs. Rojo is an incredibly helpful teacher and an inspiring mentor. From my first day in her classroom, she encouraged me to operate outside of the box and use materials and different subject matter I had never used before. Because of that, I was able to discover what and how I wanted
to paint and create,” Sawyer said. “Mrs. Rojo is a role model for me and someone I look up to both as an artist and as a person. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to have Mrs. Rojo as a teacher and mentor, and I will forever hear her voice in my head when I paint!” Chair of Fine Arts Department Ms. Melissa Ford describes the relationship her and Mrs. Rojo have developed while working together over the past eight years, and the impact that she made on her. “Words truly cannot express how much I am going to miss Mrs. Rojo! Each of our lives have so dramatically changed over the course of our years together; she has been incredible support for me and I certainly hope I have been one for her,” Ms. Ford said. “Throughout the school year, we spend more time with our colleagues than families some weeks, so it feels like part of my family is moving away. Her enthusiasm as an artist and educator is inspirational not just to students but me as well. She has a unique ability to challenge students to produce exceptional work, while instilling the belief in students that they are more capable than they know.” Ms. Ford will greatly miss Mrs. Rojo and expressed her fondest parting words for her. “For the past eight years, Mrs. Rojo, Mrs. Osborne, and I have shared this little office and laughed, cried, listened, supported, and worked together in such an easy way. When you truly love working with your peers, it makes everything so much better. She is one of the best teachers I have ever seen and I wish her the very best of all life has to offer!”
By Molly Fried Co-Editor-in-Chief As the school year closes, the Benjamin School will be losing two educators in Dr. Hope Myers and Dr. Vasilios Koures. Dr. Myers has been at the School for three years, teaching AP Economics and AP World History as well as other finance courses. She is moving to Atlanta, Georgia to teach Econ at The Lovett School where she hopes to help the environment. “My passion has always been to bring together econ and the environment,” Dr. Myers explained. “The Lovett School already has active gardens, and I hope to add to their already impressive environmental push by finding ways to add the business component. Moving from USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9 to Zone 7 means I finally get to work directly with The American Chestnut Foundation and help bring back the American Chestnut Tree to the eastern US.” Though she is leaving, Dr. Myers is grateful for the Benjamin School and has made fond memories all whilst learning new things. “Benjamin has allowed me to stretch professionally. I learned how to write grant proposals and permission forms. I also got to learn how lacrosse sort of works. Still trying to figure that on out. Someone actually
trusted me to drive a bus?!” In addition to the School, Dr. Myers will miss Florida and all it has to offer. “How can I leave out Florida Agriculture!” Dr. Myers said. “I got to learn so much about Florida’s focus on sustainable industry in agriculture and with the Floridan Aquifer. Still have a long way to go, but we are well on the way!” Freshman AP World Student student Savannah Maynard will miss Dr. Myers and her ability to combine humor and learning. “Dr. Myers was an amazing teacher,” Maynard said. “She always made class fun and had something hilarious to say, which actually really helped me remember the material.” Senior Madeline Hart is also said that Dr. Myers is leaving, saying, “I got so excited about that class every day. I was the only Sophomore in that period of Econ and she made me feel included.” Dr. Myers wishes everyone the best of luck in the future. “I have very much enjoyed my time at Benjamin, and I wish the entire community a very happy and prosperous future. May your marginal revenue always equal your marginal cost.” Physics teacher Dr. Koures is also
leaving to pursue other interests. “I will definitely miss Dr. Koures when I go to college, and am sad that he will not be returning to Benjamin next year,” senior Alex Michelon said. “Dr. Koures was such an amazing person to engage both about topics relating to physics (where he was able to stretch my mind to places I didn’t know it’d go), but also about life in general. I’m grateful to have had Dr. Koures in class and am excited to stay in touch with him in the future!” Senior Julie Moquin is also sad to see Dr. Koures leave, as she had him multiple times in the two years he has been at the School. “This year I took three classes with Dr. Koures: AP Statistics, AP Physics 2, and Astronomy. Dr koures has had so many successes and experiences that it was always fun to hear and talk about them when they related to our curriculum in some way. He was actually classmates with a researcher that speaks in my favorite episode of Through the Wormhole!” Continuing on Dr. Koures’ departure, Moquin said, “I had a great two years with him and I’m sad to see him leave, but I know he will do many more great things and continue to impact people’s lives.” Best of luck to Dr. Myers and Dr. Koures in all their future endeavors!
The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Students will miss Dr. Koures in the classroom and wish him the best. (Photograph by Molly Fried)
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Mr. Perry Feyk Reflects on 30 years of Dedication as he Prepares to Retire, Benjamin Community Shows its Love Skyler Zur Co-Editor-in-Chief Mr. Perry Feyk has decided to retire after 30 years of incredible dedication, and as he completes his final month of teaching, reflects on his experiences of working at Benjamin. 30 years ago, The Benjamin School was a different place. It only had about 300 students total in grades 7-12, and Mr. Feyk had never taught at a college-prep school. “The first time I walked into the gym at the lower school for the morning assembly, there were about 300 students all dressed identically. I never thought I would stay at one school for so long, but I grew to like it and love it,” Mr. Feyk reflects. His first senior class served as an inspiration to him. He said, “My first senior class that year told me ‘You know Mr. Feyk, since 9th grade every English teacher we’ve had has quit or left after teaching us.’ So I told them, ‘Well, at the end of this year, you’ll leave and I’ll stay.’” Over the years, Mr. Feyk has witnessed and been involved in a number of big moments at Benjamin, such as the first Variety Show and the creation of The Backdoor Cafe, but his proudest moment involving students happened about 10 or 12 years ago. “When there was a big push for getting more accepting of differences particularly LGBTQ+ community, the entire student body came one day dressed in rainbow, and it really restored my faith in the world,” he said. Mr. Feyk is perhaps best known for his band, The Perry Feyk Project (PFP), and after its formation about 23 years ago, has performed in numerous shows, assemblies, and events at Benjamin. Nichaela Williams, drummer of PFP, said, “Without PFP, my entire high school experience would have been vastly different. Almost my entire friend group took part in PFP at some point, and playing good music brings everyone together. It goes be-
yond picking up a sheet of music and turning dots on a page into sound... it’s using the experience of sharing the language of music to bring the audience together, the players together, and to find the meaning of what you’re all going through in the piece itself. As some who have been in PFP would understand, playing music every week was like watching The Rising Sun, the dawn of a new chance to share the love of music.”
Sometimes as people we are afraid to let people know how we really think and feel, and it’s as true for a teacher as it is for a teenager: the more authentic we are with each other as humans the better everything works. - Mr. Feyk Along with his band, Mr. Feyk also played an integral role in organizing Backdoor Cafe, a performance venue that encourages student and teacher performances in a smaller setting than the variety show or the spring concerts. “Mrs. Feyk, Mr. Huber, and I decided we needed a small safe venue to let people get into the arts and perform. So we decided that we would fold up the wall in the lower/middle school art classroom, pull the desks out, and put up a little stage,” he explained. “We have had poetry, arts, drama, really everything.” As much as Mr. Feyk hopes he has inspired students to have an interest in learning, he has also been impacted and inspired himself to look at the world in a more positive light. “No matter how depressed I get about social events or political events, I get to come into a classroom and looking at all the students, I realize that down the road, we are gonna be alright,” he said. “I have a lot of
friends in their late 50s, 60s, and 70s who have a pretty dim view of the world like ‘Oh, it’s not as good as it used to be,’ and I always tell them ‘you have to spend time with teenagers and you’ll find out that things are gonna be okay.’” As he gets ready to depart, Mr. Feyk thinks about what he will miss most about Benjamin. “Knowing that I am going into a classroom, even on those days when the seniors or the sophomores are driving me crazy, I still look forward to coming in and teaching class,” he comments. “So I will miss that, and quite honestly, I will miss my colleagues, both at Benjamin in general, and specifically, the English department. I can’t say enough about them.” The English department feels the same way about Mr. Feyk. Mrs. Wendler remarked, “I will never work with another person like Mr. Feyk ever again. He is a true professional, an incredible and caring man who truly loves what he does, and he brings energy toward that job every day. To him it is not a job, it’s a calling. He is an exemplar, and he is a very committed and devoted person in everything he does for The Benjamin School.” “Mr. Feyk has been a pleasure to work with. I am really going to miss his positive energy and love of literature, and more importantly, his ability to appreciate my sarcastic side. I am a better teacher today because of my years of working with him,” Mrs. Anderson expressed. Although he will miss teaching, Mr. Feyk is excited to explore some other aspects of life, both personally, such as travelling more, and professionally, by working with his wife, Mrs. Lynne Feyk, in the private college counseling business. Mrs. Feyk has been involved in the School as well as she used to be an English teacher, and she has seen what an incredible impact it has had on Mr. Feyk, but she is also excited for the future. “When we went out bike rid-
ing when Mr. Feyk got home it did get me thinking about what we are looking forward to doing,” she said, “I think we both love what we call ‘adventuring,’ whether that is going out on our mountain bikes and having time to get lost in the woods, or exploring new places, or even visiting places we love and staying long enough to really get to know people. Now we will have time to really enjoy that together.” Just because Mr. Feyk will no longer be teaching at Benjamin, both he and his wife are still planning to be involved with the School. Mrs. Feyk adds “I know that Mr. Feyk will be eager to be back to the BackDoor Cafe once it is live. We both enjoy the arts and will continue to support the programs. We have a lot of friends at TBS and we are so happy to have had such a great experience there.” Mr. Feyk has been teaching students for 30 years at Benjamin, but they have also been teaching him. “From teaching, I’ve learned that there are a lot of different ways to look at things,” he explained. “One important thing is to not get totally locked into a way of seeing things to the exclusion of others. Working with
I feel so lucky to have learned from Mr. Feyk! He is one of my all-time favorite teachers. He nurtured my development as a writer and lover of literature. Mr. Feyk is continually trying to better understand people through the lens of literature and his vast life experience. I have always admired his ability to extrapolate some universality of the human condition out of any artistic expression. Being able to gain human understanding so readily is a skill I have tried to carry through my life and bring to my teaching. Anyone fortunate enough to have had him as a teacher or a colleague knows that they can count themselves among the lucky ones. - Ms. Alexandra Murray
Every time you are in his class or just around him, he knows how to make a conversation interesting. His contagious excitement about literature makes AP English Literature and Composition much more enjoyable. His service to teaching and expanding the minds of his students, simply from a classroom, is incredibly commendable. Thank you Mr. Feyk for the wisdom and the songs. - Senior Caitlin DeGraff
From The Benjamin Community Mr. Feyk is an English master teacher, a poet, a musician, an artist, a humanitarian and so much more. When Mr. Feyk leaves at the end of the year, he will leave behind a great legacy, and there will be a void that no one, except Perry Feyk himself, can fill. He has touched so many lives at TBS in more ways imaginable. I am forever grateful for his contributions to the Performing Arts, first in bringing students and teachers together by creating the beloved PFP band, second for beginning our Backdoor Café tradition and finally for participating in our yearly Variety Show. He will be missed!!! - Mrs. Sara Salivar
I have known Mr. Feyk since the early 1990s. He has been part of our faculty for so long, that I can’t imagine school without him. I wish him a restful retirement and hope that he will continue to inspire those around him. - Dr. Amy Taylor
Dr. Hope Myers is moving to Atlanta, where she hopes to merge her interests in economics and the environment. Above, Dr. Myers joins students in planting “Nancy” in honor of Mrs. Benjamin. (Photograph courtesy of Dr. Myers)
When I was a student, we had a class where there was a kid in it who was picking on me, and he just did it all the time. One time, I turned around and stood up to him, and Mr. Feyk gave me a high five and was like ‘yeah! There you go.’ That has stuck with me for 25 odd years. Sometimes, you really do need to stand up for yourself. A number of years ago he used my room for a study hall, and I was in there. A student came in to talk about One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and as he was discussing, I literally felt like I was back in his class again and nothing had changed. He spoke so elegantly and with so many visual images, and I was just sitting there in awe. It was brilliant. He is such a fantastic man and it won’t be the same without him. - Mrs. Amanda Pierman
We’d tell you what year this is from, but then you’d realize that he doesn’t age. Mr. Feyk is truly a timeless treasure. (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Feyk)
my colleagues and students, I have learned that the most important thing is that you always learn from others, and a la Yoda, you want bigger ears than a mouth. The more you listen the more you learn.” As his final piece of guidance, Mr. Feyk advises, “Whether you are a student or a teacher, you’ve got to not be afraid to be yourself. Sometimes as people we are afraid to let people know how we really think and feel, and it’s as true for a teacher as it is for a teenager the more authentic we are with each other as humans the better everything works.” He concludes, “As I look back on 30 years, I’m going to quote Ursula Le Guin, “I am glad I have lived to see this.”
Mr. Feyk with some other GOATs. In his free time, he mentors future members of the PFP Barnyard Gang. (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Feyk)
When I first landed here in Florida at the Benjamin School in 2000, Mr. Feyk found me immediately, enlisted me in his faculty/student band (PFP, Perry Feyk Project), and really made me feel that I was at home at the Benjamin School. We have been great friends ever since! One of many wonderful musical endeavors together was our rehearsals and performances of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album, side two. And then, of course, lots of Bruce Springsteen! Rock On Mr. Feyk! - Mr. Bruce Huber
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The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
The Pharcyde
The Phuture Homes of the Class of 2021
Where’d They Apply? Gap Year
1. Florida State University
University of St. Thomas
Northwestern University (2) University of Chicago
19 May 2021
Page 9
Dartmouth College
Indiana University Bloomington (2) Purdue University Cornell Univesity (2) Rochester Institute of Technology (2)
2. University of Florida
Boston University Tufts University Babson College
University of Michigan Carnegie Mellon Univesity
Trinity College
3. University of Colorado, Boulder
Yale University Hofstra University Barnard College New York University Columbia University Seton Hall University
4. University of Miami
Pennsylvania State University Kenyon College American University George Washington University University of Maryland, College Park
5. Clemson University
University of Richmond University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego
North Carolina State University University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Colorado Boulder (3) University of Denver (2)
Clemson University
Piedmont College Savannah College of Art and Design Mississippi State University University of Mississippi Jacksonville University University of Florida (5) Florida State University (2) Tallahassee Community College
University of Arizona
Flagler College
Auburn University (2) University of Alabama (3)
Battle of the Mascots
vs.
Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! Dorothy’s travels to Oz may have had her fearing some fairy forest dwellers, but when it comes to which of the many school mascots is most fierce, the competition is truly out of this world. Who’d win in these three regional brawls? The Northeast’s Yale Bulldog or the Southeast’s Flagler Lion? The Pacific’s UCLA Bear or the Midwest’s Northwestern Wildcat? The Rocky Mountain’s Colorado Buffalo or the Southwest’s Rice Owl?
vs.
vs.
Florida Atlantic University (3) Keiser University - West Palm Beach PalmBeach BeachAtlantic State College Palm University Palm Beach State University
Louisiana State University Loyola University New Orleans Tulane University Rice University
IMG Academy: Post Graduate University of Tampa
University of Miami (7)
2% 4%
Ave Maria University
A majority of the Class of 2021 plans on continuing to study at schools in the Southeast next year.
56%
6% 11% 21%
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The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
College Prep Senior Recap Nadia Poncy Social Media Director With members of the Class of 2021 notifying colleges of their final decisions earlier this month, the college counselors look forward to closing this unusual chapter of admissions history. The 2020-2021 college application process was indeed unique due to the effects of COVID-19. College Counselors Mrs. Bekka Goldberg and Ms. Anna Wright both believe that this year was very different from previous years and was filled with the unexpected. The biggest change is a majority of institutions going test optional due to the inability of some students to submit scores without being able to do testing. Mrs. Goldberg commented, “Having most schools except for Florida state institutions being test optional was a huge positive in the eyes of our office. Now, the way that drove application numbers through the roof, that was nothing that anyone could have expected. I think it was a combination of factors, the test optional piece and the uncertainty of the pandemic, both of those drove application numbers up which certainly made competition at the top 2% of schools in the US.” Making test scores optional resulted in an increase in applications this year, which caused some colleges to delay acceptance release dates. Both Mrs. Goldberg and Mrs. Wright agree that schools will not go back to requiring test scores at least for the next two to three years. With that, there will definitely still be a heavier application pool as students will be applying to more schools, and there will still be some tension as COVID uncertainty still looms. Mrs. Wright said, “I think we’re gonna still see that anxiety from this year’s class in the upcoming class. Students know how hard it was this year, so they’re going to apply to more schools. Testing is going to continue to not be the barrier that it was before. I think our challenge is going
Summer Reading: Upperclassmen Stress its Importance Jane Boyland Staff Writer
Seniors pose in their college t-shirts. After some difficulty given this year’s application progress, the seniors are proud to show off their next homes. (Photo by Sophia Liporace)
to be driving kids to have balanced lists so that they have options at the end, and it’s not that we don’t have faith that they won’t get into good schools, it’s because we want to make sure they have their bases covered.” While both Mrs. Goldberg and Mrs. Wright have their own predictions as to what will be happening with the application process in the next few years, they both commented on the fact that nothing is certain. Mrs. Goldberg expressed, “I think that we often say in admissions one year does not a trend make, so you kind of have to take things year to year and see what happens from that. It can’t just be that applications were up 50% at this university, that means next year, it’ll be up another 50%, it just doesn’t work that way.” It will definitely take a few more years to see the true effect of COVID-19 on the application process as a whole for future years and what was specific to just this year. There was definitely a lot of angst this year with the uncertainty of the college application process and the constant changes as more information rolled out. Mrs. Wright recalled a time in October in which the college counselors would be constantly checking their emails to see which
schools were deciding to go test optional and which were standing their ground on keeping testing. Even though it was a stressful time for students, both Mrs. Goldberg and Mrs. Wright agreed that this year was still successful in getting students into school. “I think students this year are happy for the most part. Everyone has options and in our office we measure success by options kids have and it might not have been the original schools they had thought they were going to get into, but they are strong. At the end of the day, having a choice is a good resolution,” said Mrs. Goldberg. For the class of 2022, there is still a lot of uncertainty over how their college application process will also be affected, but the college counselors are prepared for the unknown and excited for what is to come. Despite this uncertainty, Mrs. Wright was very sure about one thing in particular: “Our office is going to continue to focus on having happy, healthy human beings, and that is really what is most important to us in this process and that you guys come out of it feeling confident in yourselves,” she explained.
As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, the English Department is excited to share the new and improved summer reading list. Although some pieces of literature have remained constant from year to year, there are several new additions to the list. “This year’s summer reading books are awesome. We have a mix of old favorites, new discoveries, and student recommendations. Personally, I have revamped the summer reading for the AP Literature course,” said English teacher Dr. Peruggia. “AP Lit. students will now read a novel, a play, and watch a film all centered around four themes. When they return in the fall, these selections will help introduce us to the format of the test,” he added. Dr. Peruggia elaborates on the importance of summer reading and its ultimate purpose. “The summer reading program allows students to develop a speed and fluency of understanding that will enable them to succeed in their English classes during the year. Taking time off from reading just slows down one’s growth progression. Most schools have summer reading, especially high-caliber schools–even colleges have entered the summer reading craze.” The list of books is located in BucLinks under the “Summer Reading” tab. To find specific reading requirements, check the corresponding class
you are enrolled in for next year. All classes require students to read three books over the summer break. Depending on the class, there is one or two required books and one or two books to be chosen by the student except for students entering 12th grade. Upcoming seniors scheduled for senior selections are only required to read one book. Senior Gwen Savidge reflects on her years of summer in the past and gives insight on why reading the books is important. “Reading over the summer may not sound appealing, but it helps keeps your brain working while off from school. You will also most likely be tested or be required to write an essay on these books, so it is important to read them in that aspect,” Savidge said. “You may even be surprised that you like some of the books. One of my favorite books was a summer reading requirement,” she added. Junior Matthew Roundtree has learned that reading the books is worth one’s time and offers some pieces of advice regarding how to manage the work involved. “There have been a few years where I didn’t read the summer reading books, so I resorted to Sparknotes,” Roundtree said. “This decision was definitely a mistake because of the essays I had to write. I couldn’t remember a lot of details because Sparknotes is really vague. It also helps to spread the reading out over the course of the summer rather than rushing to get it done right before school starts.”
Sophomores can both read and watch their summer reading book, Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, which is being adapted into a limited series that is set to debut on Amazon.
The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Spring Dance Concert a Success
Review: The Social Dilemma
Sophia Liporace Executive Managing Editor After a long season of navigating COVID-19 obstacles whether it was social distanced football games, a pre-recorded variety show, or a limited audience during the spring dance concert, the Dazzlers and dance ensemble ended a year of hard work with showcasing their dances to their closest members of the Benjamin community. The performing arts department, headed by Sra. Sara Salivar, worked with head of the upper school Mr. Fletcher Carr to organize an event during which the girls could perform their final dances of the year for family, friends, and even some faculty members to enjoy. “I always enjoy watching the Dazzlers and dance ensemble perform at football games, assemblies, and the Variety Show but it was so sad to not be able to enjoy any of that this past year. The Spring Dance Concert, while it had a small audience, was a great event for me to able able to celebrate the girls’ successes
(Left to Right) Junior Eliza Merkel, Sophomore Lucy Pulitzer, and Junior Caroline Yancey dance to Chopin. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
over their past season. There’s always something so magical about a live performance--the passion, energy, and creativity is palpable” said Associate Director of College Counseling Mrs. Bekka Goldberg. The concert ran for approximately an hour and a half and was filled with solos, duets, and group dances in the styles of jazz, hip hop, contemporary, ballet, and tap. Head coach of the Dazzlers Corey Heins took on the jazz, contemporary, and tap teaching while assistant coach Carlos de Barros taught ballet. Additionally, biology teacher Ms. Emilie Johnsen choreographed and performed in a hip hop piece. Sophomore Chloe Krul has been on the Dazzlers for two years, but was excited to be able to perform in her first Spring Dance Concert due to last year’s concert being cancelled due to COVID-19. “I was really upset about not being able to finish out my first year as a Dazzler, so being able to have a real Spring Dance Concert my second year was really fulfilling. I also played on the lacrosse team this year but enjoyed being able to stay dedicated to the Dazzlers and perform at the end of the year with my team,” said Krul. The annual Spring Dance Concert usually features middle school dancers from the middle school dance team, the Sparklers, as well as the dance ensemble from the elective day classes. This year, the live performance was only comprised of upper school students, but a recorded version will be sent out including both
Sophomore Kate Grande strikes a pose during the Spring Dance Concert. The School allowed a limited number of in-person spectators for the show. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
ensembles. Senior and captain of the Dazzlers, Alex Kahn, was grateful for the opportunity to perform on the Benjamin Hall stage one last time. “I have really missed out on the classic Dazzler traditions during my senior year, so it was really important to me to have a Spring Dance Concert. It is always my favorite performance of the year, and I was beyond appreciative to Mr. Carr and Mrs. Salivar to be able to share the stage with my sisters one last time.,” said Kahn. Now that the successful 20202021 season has come to a close, the girls will now start preparing for next season’s football games. Additionally, the girls are also planning to host auditions for next year’s team.
Clara’s Crystal Ball
Staff Writer Predicts Life Next School Year
Zoom Out? Classroom Technology After COVID-19 Nadia Poncy Social Media Director
After investing thousands of dollars into TVs, high definition cameras, and microphones for each classroom in March of 2020 for the need of school to be virtual, the need for this COVID-19 technology here at school is diminishing as the number of virus cases decreases. In comparison to earlier this school year where every student had to be virtual, more students have been attending class in person and fewer students have been remote learning. Some students, however, remain virtual which brings about the question of when virtual school will no longer be available to students. Head of the Upper School Mr. Fletcher Carr along with other members of administration are anticipating changes in COVID-19 technology usage and virtual schooling in the coming year; they are discussing and finalizing next year’s COVID-19 protocols. Mr. Carr explained, “The technology piece will still be there and accessible, but I think it will be more stringent as to who will be able to use it. Next year, when more vaccines are available and a larger percentage of our faculty, families, and students have been vaccinated, the cases made by families wanting to do remote learning will need to be much more specific and documented.” In regards to this year, there was less distinctiveness as with when students were allowed to be online learn-
COVID-19 has greatly affected how faculty teachers with students on an online platform or in person. Students who participate on zoom are shown in the back of the class on the new monitor televisions. (Photo by Clara Schor)
ing versus being in person. Because of the grey area, a lot of students were able to flip back and forth from being in person to online whether it be for sports, sickness, or being out of town. Although being able to be in class was beneficial in terms of attendance levels as students traveling or students that were sick were able to still come to class, it was difficult to track when students were home or at school. “Attendance has been crazy this year and very hard for teachers to plan curriculums for classes that simultaneously online and in person. A small group of students has definitely been able to work that system. Next
year, students will need to have better supported and documented reasons to pursue remote learning,” Mr. Carr said.
“We, as independent school leaders, firmly believe in the strength and value of in-person learning.” -Mr. Fletcher Carr Learning over the past few months that the power of online learning has allowed the Administration to learn what protocols need to be put in place for next year. As such, beginning in Fall 2021, the Remote Learning Program will be offered
only to families who present a documented medical reason that necessitates virtual instruction. Though remote learning will be limited to select few, the COVID-19 technology has also allowed the Administration to realize the future benefits of having this zoom technology in the future. “The student-parent-teacher conferences will most likely be virtual moving forward, simply because it’s easier for students and parents to participate from remote locations in the middle of a weekday. We will also have the ability for students under quarantine or who will be out of school for longer than a couple of days, maybe for medical or personal reasons, to access class as they have done this year,” said Mr. Carr. There will definitely continue to be a grey area in the coming years as to when students are able to learn virtually or not as it varies case by case, but having the technology for students to be able to zoom into class is still a great opportunity to have access when needed. Mr. Carr believes that eventually it will be necessary to have students back on campus full time in the future once it is completely safe for all students to be back on school. “We’ve definitely found that both the academic and emotional health of students who were remote or bouncing back and forth has not been as strong as for those students who have been at school in person for the better part of the year. We are a much bet-
ter school for all when people are on campus in a community, whether in the classroom, on the playing fields, or on the stage,” he expressed. Head of School Mr. David Faus agreed with Mr. Carr that remote learning does not compare to the in person experience. “In conjunction with these findings, we, as independent school leaders, firmly believe in the strength and value of in-person learning. The full Benjamin experience is not possible without the face-to-face relationships and bonds students form with their peers, teachers, mentors, and coaches in class and on campus. While I am tremendously proud of the virtual program we have offered, and how nimble this community has been in the midst of a changed educational landscape, there is truly no replacement for experiential learning in the classroom,” he said.
As COVID-19 numbers continue to decrease, and as more people are reaching full-vaccination, the School has started to loosen its pandemic-era restrictions. The Pharcyde’s resident psychic, Clara Schor shares with us her visions for the upcoming school year. Students will not be mandated to wear masks starting fall semester. Students who still wish to be cautious and wear masks, may do so.
For transportation to sports, students who drive will be again allowed to drive those who do not drive.
For assemblies, all students will be able to come together and watch. Spirit Day assemblies will still be in place with all activities.
Following Mr. Fuas’s email, there will be a far fewer number of students and teachers on the Zoom platform.
The concession stand will reopen for snacks during breaks during the day.
Water fountains and spouts will be turned back on for drinking purposes and not just to refill water bottles.
COVID-19 technology includes new cameras as well as microphones and monitors. (Photo by Clara Schor)
The School will ease COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in an increase in group projects done in class.
Teachers will again move from behind the safety of their desks and shields to wander around the room.
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Netflix Documentary Offers Big Warning
Catherine Civitella Staff Writer The Social Dilemma is a capturing documentary found on Netflix featuring top executives, designers and past employees of Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other social media staples. The interview list stems from Jaron Lanier the founder of Virtual Reality Computer Scientist, to Tristen Harris a former design ethicist at Google, to Justin Rosenstein who invented the Facebook “like” button. Most people believe that what shows up on their social media is dictated by them and who they choose to follow and connect with. The Social Dilemma explains how this is just simply not true. The facts are that social media platforms are using algorithms to make people see certain ideas and objects. These algorithms are used to manipulate how people think and how people view the world. It is a much bigger problem than what we can imagine because such few people truly understand the algorithms being
It is not the social media platform that is up for grabs, it is us. All of us. -Catherine Civitella used. Sandy Parakilas stated that, “they don’t necessarily fully understand what’s going to happen with a particular piece of content, so as humans we’ve almost lost control over these systems.” This documentary explains that these multi billion dollar companies are not selling goods to the viewer, but rather making money off of the views, time, and information that they are receiving with each click of a button. The companies make money off of the amount of time that they can get a viewer to spend looking at and being entertained by a certain idea and selling that time to the highest bidder. As Justin Rosentstein puts it, “We’re the product. Our attention is the product being sold to advertisers.” It is not the social media platform that is up for grabs, it is us. All of us. The people who created the like button and the comment section did not have bad intentions at heart. Most of these people wanted to connect the
world with one another. This mission was accomplished but with unknown side effects. They wanted people to feel good about themselves and help connect people to spread more positivity than ever before. The reason this is not happening is due to the competition that has risen. People now compete to have the most amount of followers, likes, and comments… even going as far as having the best following to follower ratio. The film warns about higher suicide rates among teens and how threatening social media can be to a young developing mind. The following generations are being affected by these platforms the most. It is becoming harder and harder for each generation that thrives on social media to handle real life situations and relationships. Tristan Harris who designed Google and stated on The Social Dilemma, “We’re training and conditioning a whole new generation of people that when we are uncomfortable or lonely or uncertain or afraid, we have a digital pacifier for ourselves. That is kind of atrophying our own ability to deal with that.” What Harris is essentially saying is that relationships that need to be formed from human to human to live healthy lifestyles are not going to be formed if social media is the outlet children are going to when they are sad, depressed, or mad. As teenagers with developing minds, high school students should be aware of what they are seeing and try to notice the changes in what is being presented to them on social media based on their altering views overtime. We should all be careful of what we post on the internet and what we put on our snapchat stories because we truly do not know where or when it will be used. The more time individuals spend on social media the more the algorithms are learning and adapting to each person. This documentary is a warning to all. It warns that if large companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat continue to use the algorithms and sell information, each intimate thought an individual has will not be their own but will be produced by an algorithm that most people do not understand. The Social Dilemma wants the viewer to know if this continues, the effects are unknown but the results of this continuing will be catastrophic.
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19 May 2021
The Pharcyde
The Buc Stops Here the year in sports
The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Page 13
The Pharcyde’s NBA Honors Teams to Watch as NBA Heads into Post-Season By Charlie Spungin Sports Editor
By Charlie Spungin Sports Editor
Best Foreign-Born Player: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Jokic is from Serbia and averages 26.4 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, and 8.5 assists per game. Best Single-Game Performance: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers On a February 19th victory against the Chicago Bulls, Embiid had 50 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. Best Palm Beach County Player: John Collins, Atlanta Hawks Collins attended Cardinal Newman High School. This season, he averages 17.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. Most Likely to Star in Space-Jam 3: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans Williamson was one of the most hyped prospects coming out of Duke in the 2019 NBA draft. As a 20 year old, he’s averaging 27.0 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. Most Likely to Become a Coach: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns For years, Paul has had one of the higher basketball IQs in the league. Though he still is playing at a high level, he is 35 and will likely retire within the next five years. Best Player ≤6’0”: Chris Paul (6’0”), Phoenix Suns Paul is averaging 16.2 points per game and 8.9 assists per game this season despite his smaller stature. Best Player ≥7’0”: Joel Embiid (7’0”), Philadelphia 76ers Embiid has broken out as an MVP candidate this season, as he has averaged 29.2 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, and 2.9 assists per game. Most Exciting Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors With his unbelievable shot-making ability, Curry drains some ridiculous shots that essentially no other player could make. Best Shooter: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Curry is shooting 42.6% from three this season, and though it may
With the NBA regular season concluded, 20 teams are competing to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. The dubbed COVID-19 season has been a season like no other with players out due to the health & safety protocols. Teams are hoping that their shots to win it all are ruined due to this. The league has more parity than previous seasons, as there are more than simply two or three teams that realistically have a chance to win it all. Here are the contenders, in no particular order. Utah Jazz: The Jazz opened the season on a tear; at one point they were 24-5. They have the Defensive Player of the Year favorite and AllStar, Rudy Gobert, as well as AllStars Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley. Joe Ingles, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Royce O’Neale are all great role players. Furthermore, they are one of the best three point shooting teams in the league, so when they catch on fire, they are hard to stop. Phoenix Suns: The Suns have broken out this season after not making the playoffs since the 2010 season. Devin Booker has proven to be a legit franchise player, and the acquisition of perennial All-Star Chris Paul has unlocked the team. Young pieces Mikal Bridges, DeAndre Ayton, and Cameron Johnson have all had career seasons, while Jae Crowder has been a good pickup from the previous offseason. Philadelphia 76ers: After a disappointing season last year, the 76ers have broken out this season. Joel Embiid has established himself as an MVP candidate, and had he not gotten injured earlier this season, he
John Collins, power forward for the Atlanta Hawks, has been a backbone of the team his whole career, which started in Palm Beach County. (Photo courtesy of Sportstalkatl)
not lead the league, the volume of his threes and their degree of difficulty propel him to this spot. Best Scorer: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors Curry is averaging a league-leading 31.6 points per game on incredible efficiency. Best Finisher: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Antetokounmpo is shooting 82.7% within three feet of the rim, which is among the top of the league. His strength and physicality are the main catalyst for this. Best Passer: Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards Westbrook leads the league in assists per game with 11.4, as he is one of the main reasons that the Wizards have been on a hot-streak lately. Best Defender: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz Gobert’s interior defense is incredible, as he is toward the top of the league in blocks per game with 2.8. Most Surprising Player: Julius Randle, New York Knicks Randle broke out this season, as he has lead the Knicks to the playoffs since 2013. He has averages of 24.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game. Best Florida Player: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat Players from the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors (who have played their home games in Tampa this season) are available for this award. Butler is clearly the best, as he has averaged 21.6 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 7.2 assists per game this season.
Steph Curry was named the Best Shotoer of thr 2020-21 season shooting 42.6% from the three point line this season. Curry has been lethal his whole career and has been leading the Warriors to many playoff appearances. (Photo courtesy of CBS Sports)
All photos on this page were taken by Erika Sousa.
Jimmy Butler was named the Best Florida player of the 2020-21 season. Butler is definitely the front runner for this award avergeing 21.6 points per game with an average 7.2 assists. Butler was a key factor in the Miami Heats run to the NBA Finals last year even though they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers led by LeBron James. Butler has played before for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls, but has finally found his home in Miami. (Photo courtesy of CNN)
could be the favorite. Ben Simmons is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Tobias Harris has had arguably a career year. Seth Curry, Danny Green, George Hill, and Dwight Howard were all good additions in the past year. Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle both have progressed from last season. Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets were in the Western Conference Finals last year, and after a rough start to the season, the team has found their footing. Nikola Jokic is the favorite to win MVP while having an outstanding offensive season. Jamal Murray’s torn ACL does hurt their odds, as he was having the best season of his career. Michael Porter Jr. has also had the best season of his career, as he broke out during the postseason last year. Aaron Gordon was a great addition at the trade deadline. Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are coming off multiple postseason disappointments. Two time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has had another great season and is looking to prove that he can perform up to expectations in the playoffs. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday round out the Bucks’ big three, while Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez, Bobby
Portis, and PJ Tucker round out the key players. Brooklyn Nets: On paper, the Nets are the best team in the league and among the best teams ever. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are an outstanding big three, but they have played merely seven games together this season due to various injuries. Joe Harris, Jeff Green, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin are among the other notable names on the roster. If the Nets can figure it out in the postseason and their stars can mesh, it’s difficult to imagine this team losing. Los Angeles Lakers: Despite what their record may say, the Lakers have to be contenders. The reigning champions have seen injuries to their two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but with those two, they cannot be ruled out of contention. Their roster is arguably better than the one from last season, and with quality role players in Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Andre Drummond, and Montrezl Harrell, it would not be surprising to see the Lakers be the NBA champions at the end of this season.
The Philadelphia 76ers led by Center Joel Embidd are currently first in the East Division. Embidd is also a frontrunner for the MVP award. (Photo by Getty Images)
2021 NFL Draft Winners and Losers By Matthew Marasco Staff Writer From April 29 to May first, the NFL Draft took place in Cleveland, Ohio. This was a very important draft because it is the first NFL event with full capacity since COVID has put limits on who can come to sporting events. This draft also had the commissioner announcing the picks, but unlike last year he was able to do it on stage and hug the players, a tradition that has been going on since the draft was created. “I am happy to finally see the NFL having a normal event, the draft was great this year and it was very exciting to see all the fans going crazy after their teams picked,” said freshman Andrew Lappin. This year’s draft had many teams that had great drafts while some other’s drafts could be lackluster. One team, the Denver Broncos had a great draft including their first-round pick cornerback Patrick Sutrain out of Alabama. As the best cornerback in the draft, Sutrain fills a big hole at cornerback two for the broncos. In the third round, the Broncos drafted linebacker Baron Browning who is a linebacker from the Ohio State University. This
pick comes with immense value due to him having an impressive last year with his speed and versatility. Overall, the Broncos filled many holes on their team throughout the draft and are slated to have an impressive season next year. Another team that had a great draft this year was the Chicago Bears who traded up to pick 11 to take their quarterback of the future, Justin Fields. Fields led Ohio State to multiple playoff appearances and an undefeated 2020-21 regular season. Fields is very quick off the ball with great awareness. His only con is that some people would say his accuracy is not as good as the other quarterbacks taken in front of him including the number one pick Trevor Lawrence. “My three favorite drafts of this year were the Jaguars because of Trevor [Lawrence], the Bears for Justin Fields, and the Broncos for John Elway [ The Broncos General Manager] finally accomplishing a good draft,” said Junior Oliver Diferrari. While many teams had great drafts, some teams did not including the Green Bay Packers who are close to losing their MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is upset at the
Packer’s front office who have historically not drafted players to help Rodgers until the late rounds. This year, after losing a close game in the NFC championship, one might think that they would draft another wide receiver in the first round to help Rodgers yet they drafted a cornerback at pick 29. Although this pick fills an obvious hole in the Packer’s secondary, their draft did not accomplish their major need, which is helping Aaron Rodgers. As the Packers have been ignoring Rodgers needs, he has been more active on calling them out. “The Packers have been being very dumb almost every year in the draft, they have never helped their MVP caliber quarterback and are now on the verge of losing him,” said freshman George Straub. For most teams this year, the draft accomplished filling many holes to help them have a much better year in 2021-22, and for some, better luck next year. The 2021 draft is one to remember for the many events that added some normality into football fan’s lives. Likely, we will see Kaiir Elam, a Benjamin alumnus, get drafted next year, possibly even in the first round.-
The NFL Draft took place in Cleveland and featured players hugging the fully vaccinated commisioner and fans having a chance to come on stage to sit in the chair from which Rodger Goodell announced last year’s picks. This draft also featured multiple trades that added chaos to all the fans at the draft. (Photo courtest of The Tennessean)
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The Pharcyde
19 May 2021
Spring Game Shifts Attention Back to Football Matthew Marasco Staff Writer
The annual spring football game for the varsity football team takes place this year on May 20th against Boynton Beach. The game will be the first game without the seniors and will feature the Juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and some eighth graders. The spring football game is always one of the most important games of the year because not many schools participate in spring football. “The games were usually very hyped because it always is the last sporting event of the school year before summer. A lot of people showed
up to the last one, even Bachelor Star, Tyler Cameron made an appearance. I really looked forward to the game because not a lot of other states have a spring football game, and we were so lucky to be one of the states who do,” said Senior Andrew Weisz. One of the most important things about this game is the coaches and players getting adjusted to not playing with the seniors. The seniors are usually the backbone of the team, leading the underclassman to victory. “Replacing the seniors will always be a challenge but the team will learn to work even harder and grow together. It is always weird without them by your side,” said sophomore Micah Mays. Although the players play a huge role in the adjustment before the game, the true burden lies on the coaching staff. With good coaching, the team will be able to play the game like any other game. I feel that the coaching staff has a big impact on the team and the players. Most of the coaches made it to a higher level than high school football and they share what they learned on the higher level which helps us individually,” said Mays. “You can’t ask for better coaching here at Benjamin. We have the best
coaching staff in Florida,” said Junior Gabe Griffith. The team has been constantly improving with practice almost every day after school. Many players think with all this practice and their immense strategy, they will be able to defeat Boynton. “Our strategy is to practice every week until the spring game comes. There is only one game for spring so the team has to make the most of it. Every day we try to get better and focus on the next day ahead, day by day until we reach the game,” said Mays. This game comes with even more
hype since last year’s game was canceled due to everyone being in online school due to COVID-19. Some seniors including Yale commit Andrew Weisz would not mind the opportunity to play in this year’s game. “Since last year’s spring game was canceled, and two of our regular-season games, I would not be opposed to the idea of letting the seniors play in the game,” said Senior Andrew Weisz. “Hopefully, everyone will be able to enjoy the game whether they are watching it online or in person. Everybody on the team wants you to cheer them on to win the last game of this school year.”
Nick Lutz, Univ of Tampa Baseball
19 May 2021
Page 15
Shine Bright On the Diamond: Baseball Wrap-Up Jane Boyland Staff Writer
The baseball team’s successful season came to an unfortunate end on Apr. 27, after a 9-3 loss in the District semifinals against Cardinal Newman High School. There were high hopes among the players for a better run at the title, but the team still endured a winning record, with 14 wins and 12 losses.
Junior Jake Haggard, a team member since his freshmen year, talked about what the regular season looked like for the Bucs. “We started off shakey at the begging of the year. We lost some games that we shouldn’t have, but then in the back half of our season we won against some big schools like Park Vista, Wellington, Dwyer, and Kings Academy,” Haggard said. “Going
Record: 14-12 Avg. BA: .301 At-Bats: 617 Runs: 146 RBIs: 113 Hits: 186
into the playoff season we were swinging the bats well and playing our game.” Haggard further described the district semifinal game and his thoughts on what went right and what went wrong. “During our district game, we came out with a lot of energy, scoring three runs in the first inning. When Newman was up to hit, they scored two runs in that same inning, so the rest of the game was really close up until the fourth inning,” he said. “Newman was able to get some hits off Freddy and take the momentum from us, and then they were able to capitalize the game and win.” Although the team’s season came to an abrupt end, it still meant a lot to the seniors whose junior season got cut short last year. Senior Cade Odom, who has dedicated most of his life to the game, talks about his experience on the team and what baseball means to him. “This was honestly one of my
favorite teams to play for all of high school,” Odom said. “The guys all had a great connection with one another and it’s sad that we couldn’t make a deeper playoff run.” Senior Cole Jernstedt was eager to share his experience this season, splitting his time between both the baseball and tennis teams. “I’m so glad I was able to play for both teams because I would have hated to miss out on my senior season,” he said. “The atmosphere of the team is so supportive and we all want to get better for the sake of the team. It was a great way to end my high school baseball career.” Gian Abbonizio, Vance Hendryx, Billy Moscatello, Tommy Rooney, and Cam Williams all graduated last year, leaving the team with big shoes to fill. Despite the loss of key players in last year’s graduating class and a district semifinal loss, the team’s depth came together and managed a winning record.
Junior Jake Haggard prepares to deliver a pitch that will brush the hitter away from the plate. (Photo courtesy of Erika Sousa)
New Tennis Coach Leads Teams to States Sophia Liporace & Clara Schor Executive-Managing Editor & Staff Writer
Game’s Not Over Yet: Seven Seniors Commit to Playing — and Winning — at the Next Level Molly Eversmann, NC State Volleyball
The Pharcyde
Trevor Natalie, Jacksonville Univ Lacrosse
As the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams advance to regionals after a successful district championship, the players and coach reflect on their overwhelmingly successful season despite facing numerous obstacles. Coach Robbie Clause has been teaching for well over 40 years and took over for Coach Hugo Armando after his departure at the end of last year. “I was excited to begin coaching the teams. I have coached at every level and while this experience has been somewhat humbling, I also feel as though I have helped the players a lot and it has been very rewarding,” he added. Junior Matthew Smith has been playing varsity tennis since he was a freshman and has since advanced to being one of the top players on the team. Smith was very confident in himself as well as his team before dis-
tricts. “I was never really nervous about districts because we have a much better record than any of the other teams competing,” he said. Junior and captain of the girls’ team Jane Boyland thinks that Coach Robbie has been key in helping her have a successful season. “The team advanced to regionals and I competed at States both individually and with my doubles partner , Skyler Zur. It was hard to get the ball rolling and pull the team together because of the pandemic, but I think Coach Robbie was really helpful in motivating everyone and also helping the team improve as a whole,” she said. Coach Robbie has put in a lot of work to help the team grow and thinks it has really paid off in the long run. “Progression wise, the boys maintained a high level all year. The growth came from inside out. The girls were young so trust and development took longer. Both teams blossomed at districts. They dug deep and really grew,” he said.
When asked about his long term goals, he said, “I have a three day week. Yesterday, tomorrow, and today. Yesterday is done! Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. Today is the only moment”. To him, long term is a wish and a prayer. Co-captain and senior Skyler Zur was ecstatic about the successes of this season. “I was really disappointed to have my junior season cancelled so the fact that I got to win districts and advance to States during my senior year with such a great team meant a lot to me,” she said.
Above, the Boy’s Tennis Team celebrates its dominance by posing for a group picture with Coach Robbie after winning Regional Finals. Right, Jane Boyland and Skyler Zur frame their District Championship trophy. Despite coming up short in their bids for state titles, both teams are aces in our hearts!
Track Team A Runaway Success
Bucs Sprint, Jump, and Throw Their Way to Success at State Meet
Andrew Weisz, Yale Football
Charlie Spungin Sports Editor
Andrew Weisz, Yale Football
Andrew Pagano, Piedmont Lacrosse
Joey Schmidt, Keiser Univ Football
The states meet for track & field took place on May 7, with multiple student-athletes representing the School. Before heading to states, both teams performed well at regionals. There, the boys finished second, and the girls finished fourth.
At states, the boys finished 11th with 23 points. The girls, with four points, finished 38th. Whereas the girls had two qualifiers for states, junior Ali Brown and sophomore Sophia Buller, the boys had ten qualifiers. The following boys qualified: junior Calvin Bowens, freshman Chauncey Bowens, sophomore Cole Grande, junior Gabriel Griffith, freshman Jackson Hamilton, sophomore
Emma Shirzad, Carnegie Mellon Soccer
Freshman Robert Letsche flies over the bar while competing on the pole vault. Letsche, a multi-sport athlete, trains heavily for the event, including working with specialist coaches throughout the state. When not throwing himself into the air, Letsche can be found snacking at the vending machine. (Photo by Erika Sousa)
Trakwon Harris, freshman Joshua Luiz, sophomore Micah Mays, sophomore Darrell Sweeting, and senior Faiz Umar. Given the performance in states from both teams, top 15 finishers were inevitable at states. Though these performances did not garner any points, they are certainly notable. Grande finished 12th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.12 seconds. Mays finished 15th in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.50 seconds, and ninth in 300 meter hurdles with a time of 42.25 seconds. Harris finished 13th in the long jump with 6.98 meters. Jackson finished 15th in the discus with 33.52 meters. As for the girls, Buller finished 14th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.83 seconds and 11th in the 200 meter dash with 26.41 seconds. The 23 points for the boys came from Mays, Umar, and Sweeting. Mays finished 2nd in the 400 meter dash with a time of 49.88 seconds, which granted eight points. Additionally, his 13.02 meter mark in the triple jump earned five points. Umar’s seventh place finish in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.87 gained two points. Lastly, Sweeting’s second
place finish in the long jump with 6.98 meters added eight points. For the girls, their four points came from Buller in the 400 meter dash, where she finished with a time of 58.14 seconds. Head Coach Barrett Saunders was “pleased by the team’s effort at states”, but he did feel that the team could have been better. “We definitely left some points out there and didn’t have a perfect day by any means. However, that was expected because none of the kids had ever been to state, so it was a good learning experience for them and one we will build off of.” The youth of the team and the top performers brings upside for years to come. Mays and Buller were the top performers at states, and both are sophomores. “With young teams, you have to do a lot of coaching, so I feel like this year we did that and laid the foundation for the team to come in next year and improve from the very beginning of the season because they have learned the basics,” Coach Saunders said. “Next year’s teams should be good, and the sky is the limit for both the boys and girls.”
Track and field athletes do more than just run around in circles-- they sometimes take flight. Our long-jumpers, for example are known for being leaps and bounds above their competition. (Photo by Erika Sousa)
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