the
PHARCYDE
THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
@thepharcyde_tbs
4875 Grandiflora Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
17 August 2021
@thepharcyde_tbs
Volume 43
Issue 01
In With the Old: School Reinstates, Revamps Policies Evan Liberman Managing Editor
Although a significant portion of the U.S. population is vaccinated against COVID-19, the virus shows no signs of stopping–at least in Florida. Regardless, the administration has restored certain pre-COVID-19 policies, in addition to implementing new ones. Significantly, the School has once again revisited its policy when it comes to facial coverings. In a May 24 email to the Benjamin community, Head of School Mr. Faus announced that facial coverings would become optional for all on campus starting June 7. Mr. Faus added that “our community [Benjamin] fully embraces any person who chooses to wear a face covering.” In addition, Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Jacobsen told The Pharcyde that the School is committed to re-evaluating COVID-19 protocols as the situation with several variants–most notably the highly contagious delta string– evolves. On July 30, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that affirmed “parents’ freedom to choose whether their children wear masks” and blocked certain public school districts’ mask mandates. In accordance with this rule, Palm Beach County public schools have implemented a mask mandate with an opt-out op-
tion- parents can opt-out of their child wearing a mask to school. The Benjamin School, like other independent schools, has thus been challenged to revisit policies from the Spring. In an email message to our community, The School announced that “All students (grades PK3-12), faculty, staff, visitors, and guests are required to wear face coverings while indoors. When outdoors, face coverings are not required.” Addressing those who prefer to not wear masks, the School’s policy is clear: “For families who want a different option we will be offering a temporary Remote Learning Program.” For these remote students in the Upper School, teachers will provide Zoom links to allow for class attendance, while major class assessments are required to be taken in person, on campus. Notably, “students who take a project-based course, such as those in the Arts and Innovation Department, may not be able to remain in the course if they choose the remote option.” Finally, those who choose to be remote are not allowed to participate in “interscholastic athletics, after-school theatre productions or clubs that require an in-person presence.” According to the Aug. 11 email, “Each decision made in this policy has one goal in mind: to safely open our campuses and allow them to re-
main open in order to offer the most outstanding in-person education possible.” For those returning to campus, the School will be removing the one way directional signs and the entrance or exit only doors, returning campus movement to what it was preCOVID-19. Further, normal bathroom capacity has been reinstated. According to Mr. Jacobsen, students will have less leeway when it comes to the dress code and being tardy. Communicating the motivations behind the reinforced dress code, Mr. Jacobsen said: “It was simply less of a priority [last year] given the circumstances, but we have to get back to it to establish expectations we have for our students and present ourselves in the best manner possible to guests at school.” Ordering from delivery services such as UberEats–which became a popular way for students to get lunch last year–will no longer be allowed. Mr. Jacobsen explained that “allowing constant food drop-offs is not needed nor are they reasonable to manage for our front office staff trying to fulfill their normal duties.” A final area of school life that’s being altered is the activity period that took place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has been renamed “community block” and, unlike last year when all students could leave
Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Jacobsen spent some time this summer brainstorming ways to continue to keep our campus safe, our community strong, and our policies clear. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
school when the period began, this year, students without a valid excuse or senior sign out privileges will have to remain on campus. It is also being moved to a different time of day than it was last school year. This too is a sign that life on Grandiflora Road is returning to normal because this block follows the structure that was in place prior to the pandemic. Senior Tyler Taplett, who was at Benjamin when the pre-COVID-19 activity block was still in place opines, “It will be very beneficial [for
students] in specific scenarios. For example, it allows students to finish homework, meet with teachers, and organize club meetings. On the other hand, the revamped activity period could be useless to some students who use this time for nothing but sitting around.” Regardless of how useful students feel the reinstated procedures are, Mr. Jacobsen says that the ultimate goal “is to return to normal but also keep the policies we implemented last year that worked well.”
The Pharcyde’s guide to personal statements - p. 9
Tokyo 2020 2021: Olympic Games Recap - p. 10
What’s Inside
‘21-’22 Grade Level Chairs Introduced - p. 2
New editors share their goals for the year - p. 4
US welcomes new teachers to campus - p. 8-9
17 August 2021
The Pharcyde
Charlie Spungin Copy Editor
The peer advisor program is a new program being introduced to the School this year, led by Science Department Chair Dr. James Haley. The group, called Peer Advisors, or PAs for short, is made up of strictly rising juniors and will assist faculty advisors to both mentor freshman and lead advisory meetings. It is a twoyear commitment for the students, who will assist the same advisory for those back-to-back years. They are expected to attend the advisory that they assist “at least twice per month”, according to Dr. Haley. Applications for the program were solicited during early April, with current juniors vying to determine the 20-student team. The process included an application form and an interview that allowed positive qualities, like participation in sports and strong academic effort, that would make them a positive role model for members of the Upper School. The idea was Dr. Haley’s, inspired by a system that had been used at San Francisco University High
School, a school that he previously taught at. He enjoyed working with older students to run his advisory for a variety of reasons. “Although our faculty advisors are excellent, no one knows better the challenges facing freshmen than our own students who went through a similar transition two years ago. As such, they are uniquely situated to provide insights and help the freshmen navigate their first year in the upper school,” Dr. Haley said. “In addition, the program gives our junior PAs an opportunity to develop leadership and group management skills that they can leverage in college and the workplace.” Junior Luke Egizio was one of the first to answer Dr. Haley’s calling. “I wanted to apply so I could help incoming freshmen feel welcome to their new environment,” Egizio said. However, there are other appealing reasons that Egizio found to apply. Not only did he believe that he could meet new members of the Upper School community, but as a member of the boys’ varsity soccer team, Egizio figured that he could
also possibly meet some of his new teammates before the start of the winter season. “The thing I am most excited for is just meeting the new students, especially if some of them are going to play on the same sports team as me,” he said. If everything goes according to plan and the program is found to be a success, there is expected to be a new group of rising juniors added every year, so sophomores may find themselves applying to become PAs later this school year. Dr. Haley’s aspiration is that the PAs can help the freshman towards a more seamless transition into high school. Beyond that, it can also result in friendships made between the PAs and the new students, as well as serve as additional help for the faculty advisors. “My hope is that [the PAs] will get to know their advisees well, help them adjust to Benjamin’s workload and culture, and serve as cheerleaders for the advisory group,” Dr. Haley said.
The new program, Peer Advisors, have their first meeting of the school year in order to start their training to fulfill their respective jobs. Dr. James Haley and Dr. Renee Yates are the faculty advisors of the group. (Photo by Tvisha Goel)
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The four grade-level chairs-- Dr. Peruggia, Ms. Donnelly, Mrs. Clarke, and Mrs. Pierman-- returned to campus earlier than normal this year to start their work at engaging student involvement, increasing school pride, and defining each Class’ unique identity. (Photo by Sophia Liporace)
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who, in the past, was co-chair of the freshman class with Mrs. Salivar and head of Student Council, is hard at work. “I will be bringing back Freshmen’s got talent (fingers crossed with the pandemic) and hopefully a lot of other service-oriented fun projects too,” she shared. She also told The Pharcyde that her overarching goal is “helping to ease the freshmen onto this campus and alleviate any worries, confusions, or getting lost during the first few days.” Moreover, one Upper School faculty member, Assistant Athletic Director Coach Clarke, will be returning to her roots as a grade-level chair. Before coming to the Upper School, she taught at the Lower School for ten years, so managing many students simultaneously isn’t new. Coach Clarke applied to become a grade-level chair in order to “connect with students outside of sports” and because she wants to make a difference in the lives of TBS students. She also noted that her skills as a teacher and coach of the volleyball team will aid her as she helps the sophomore class build a cohesive bond with one another and confidence in themselves. Interestingly, the job of grade-level chair existed in the past, but only in an informal capacity. Chairs would plan events for each grade behind the scenes. However, the growing Benjamin student body and an idea of what the role should do made this year the best time to make the position official in the eyes of the administration. In addition, “formalizing the position elevates the status of the role and those highly qualified teachers and faculty who are filling it,” said Mrs. Guzman. Commenting on the creation of the new position, The Pharcyde’s very own Dr. Peruggia said: “I’ve been sheepherding the seniors for the past several years, so I am interested to see how my role will evolve while working alongside a truly diverse group of faculty peers.”
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Evan Liberman Managing Editor Although new teachers and staff arrive on Grandiflora Road every fall to fill open positions, it is not that common that brand new jobs are created for existing faculty. However, the administration has done just this for the 2021-22 school year by appointing four grade-level chairs, one for each grade at the Upper School. This year’s chairs are Mrs. Amanda Pierman for the freshman class, Coach Alexandria Clarke for the sophomore class, Ms. Colleen Donnelly for the junior class, and Dr. John Peruggia for the senior class. The position of grade-level chair will be important to making sure that the School runs smoothly, according to Academic Dean and Social Studies teacher Mrs. Caroline Guzman: “The role of the grade-level chair is really important in providing that extra level of support for advisors, students, and parents,” she said. Mrs. Guzman also added that they will be responsible for “lending academic support, building community, and generally guiding each grade through the challenges unique to them.” However, the grade-level chairs will be doing more than just supporting the Benjamin community in times of need. In fact, each chair will also be in charge of planning and curating grade-specific events like the annual senior Grad Bash and Prom. For instance, Ms. Donnelly is “delighted to be organizing prom with the forthcoming Prom Committee.” In recent years, the herculean effort of organizing Prom fell on the shoulders of Art and Innovation Department Chair Ms. Melissa Ford. Despite the changeover, Ms. Donnelly noted that Ms. Ford’s planning expertise when it comes to Prom “has been invaluable.” Ms. Donnelly added that she “feels fortunate and grateful for Ms. Ford’s continued support.” Two grades below, Mrs. Pierman,
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Pierman, Donnelly, Clarke, Peruggia Named Upper School Grade Chairs
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New Program Arrives at Benjamin, Aimed to Help Incoming Freshman
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Due to printing deadlines, responses to last week’s sessions from the Class of 2022 will be included in an updated, digital version of this story on www.thePharcyte.com.
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preparation as schools start alumni and admission counselor interviews around this time. About ½ to ¾ of the senior class were expected to attend this bootcamp.* The college counseling team believes that the bootcamps and other events organized by members of college counseling will ultimately help lead to students’ success in the application process. Associate Director of College Counseling Mrs. Bekka Goldberg said, “Our August Boot Camp will give students the information they need to set them up for a successful college process. We’ll have time for questions and time to meet with your counselor in a small group. Participating will help give you all of the tools you need to be organized for all facets of the college process. The next steps depend on where each student is in the process. We focus on an individualized approach, yet all students should be at least working on an essay, working on their Common Apps, and refining their list of schools.” It’s important to understand that as seniors head into what will be the busiest first semester of their high school career, keeping a calm and collected mind is half the battle, and the college counseling team is there to help.
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As the Class of 2022 begins the college application process, college counselors at the Upper School have been able to hold two boot camps (one in-person and the other online) that allowed students to get ahead in the application process. On June 1, the members of the college counseling office--Mrs. Anna Wright, Mrs. Bekka Goldberg, Mr. Juan Alvarez, and Mrs. Adria Carr-held a 3-hour pre-summer program to begin college applications. During this session, students created CommonApp accounts and completed sections containing basic information such as personal and parent information. While some found the spring’s boot camp helpful, others held contrary thoughts on the event. Senior Kiley Malmberg said, “The boot camp was extremely helpful as it gave me the information I needed on how to even begin the process of applying to college. It provided extra comfort starting the process at the beginning of the summer knowing I would have more time to complete the application now that I know how to. I also learned about different nuances about applying to certain schools that I would not have known about had I not gone.” While Mamlberg viewed the program as a push in the right direction, an anonymous attendee stated, “The session in total honesty wasn’t that helpful. For the 2 or 3 hours that it took, not much important information was given that hadn’t already
been told to us. I think they could’ve squeezed it down to less than an hour to get to the important points that they hadn’t already told us.” Additionally, the college counseling team brought in a trio from the Class of 2021 to speak with the rising seniors. Alex Kahn, Kate Lower and Danai Makoni answered students’ questions about the application process and definitely seemed to clear up some anxiety about it as well. While the anonymous attendee believed the session itself was not helpful, the individual praised the seniors who came in to speak, saying, “I think they were relatively helpful as they were able to answer a few questions that most students had.” Similarly, senior Cat Schenk found the alumni proved to be a good stress reliever. “I felt the boot camp was helpful for me. It made me feel more prepared going into the summer and helped me see what I had to get done on my own. I’m glad that alumni came in and talked to us about the college process. It’s comforting when someone who’s gone through something is able to share their experiences. They helped me understand how to prepare myself for next year, giving me a bit of insight into what it’s like. I know I can reach out to them too for more advice.” The Upper School’s college counselors held another similar session on August 12 and 13 to evaluate students’ progress regarding the Common application, the SSAR, and other aspects of applications to help further their development in the holistic process*. Additionally, college counselors led a session on interview
TESTING CALENDAR
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Tvisha Goel Co-Editor-in-Chief
New Faces, New Places: A “Life-Saving” Map to The Upper School Campus
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Seniors Head Into Application Season, Counselors Offer Virtual Boot Camps
17 August 2021
The Pharcyde
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Learning Center Cafe
Building #1 Rosatti Family Administration and Library Center
Lunch System Continues With a Taste of Something New Joey Tomassetti Staff Writer
Lunch is the most important class of the day for some students. With COVID-19-era protocols waning, this year’s “class” is going to look a bit different from the one that was served for the last three semesters. “Lunch was a challenge last year for many reasons, but I think we constantly evolved the process to make it better for everyone. It certainly wasn’t perfect, like everything else last year, but students were fed good food on a regular basis and no one went hungry,” said Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Jacobsen. That “good food” comes from local vendors. With student tastes shifting away from Tropical Smoothie as last year progressed, the School has decided to pursue a new vendor for this year’s rotation: Publix Subs. As the school year gets underway, the weekly lunch offerings are: Monday: Jersey Mike’s Tuesday: CR Chicks Wednesday: Sal’s Pizza Thursday: Chick-Fil-A Friday: Publix Subs The preorder process will continue this year, but students will notice changes in where lunches are served. “As we begin the year, lunch will again be distributed from the concession stand. We hope to soon be able
to shift distribution to the gym concession stand, allowing us to open the concession stand in building 2 will open again for snacks and drinks. Also, delivery orders from UberEats and things like that will no longer be allowed as it was a special concession last year,” said Mr. Jacobsen. Senior privilege will allow seniors to go off campus once again for lunch. Prior to last year, seniors were able to travel to different places to get their lunches, as long as they were back for the next period. Lunch will most certainly be an easier process this year, as things seemingly return to normal. It also helps that the majority of students have become familiar with the process from last year. “Students and their families have gotten used to pre-ordering food, the vendors will be largely the same, and we no longer have to worry about contact-tracing, spacing etc. while students eat lunch. It will largely go back to normal, which I have never seen, and I’m happy we have gotten to this point,” said Mr. Jacobsen. Lastly, Mr. Jacobsen applauded the TBS students for handling the lunch situation as well as they did last year:“I will always be grateful to our students for their patience and willingness of the faculty to adjust as we saw a need or an opportunity to change the process for the better.”
Pond = AED (automated external defibrillator)
= Epi Pen
PHbalanced We pride ourselves on our objective coverage of what’s happening on and off campus, both in print and online. If you’re interested in joining our staff, your options are limitless: • register for Expository Writing, a semester class that meets during B period.
• email one of our two friendly coeditors-in-chief (Seniors Tvisha Goel & Sophia Liporace) about becoming a contributor
• contact our advisor, Dr. Peruggia, in room 501.
We accept news, opinions, artwork, and creative pieces from any members of the Upper School community.
Visit our website for fresh content, updated often:
www.thepharcyte.com
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17 August 2021
Student Voices
The Pharcyde
New Editors Outline Philosophy that Drives The Pharcyde Tvisha Goel and Sophia Liporace Co-Editors-in-Chief
Hello, Benjamin! Welcome back to campus and welcome to the year’s first issue of The Pharcyde. We hope you continue to find that our paper is still serving as the source for informantion about the events, people, and perspectives that give the Benjamin School its title as the best School in the region. As we amplify the voices of the Benjamin Upper School community, we hope to inspire its constant growth-- in size and influence. In doing so, the staff and we learn about journalism and seek to educate our peers. In each issue of The Pharcyde, we recognize hardworking and passionate students and organizations and aim to positively influence
school decisions and the broader community. As the new Co-Editors-in-Chief of The Pharcyde, we will strive to revive journalism and The Pharcyde’s impact on the community. As newer generations’ potential effects on our world increase, we believe that it is important for our fellow students to be aware of global, national, and local happenings. By accurately distributing information, we want to further allow for students to become more open-minded in order to better benefit their future communities. We hope to increase outside-of-the-staff participation; whether it be a movie review article or an ad for a new club, we love all kinds of involvement and hope to grow the paper within the community.
Gerald Bissell Honor Council President Nulli Secundus - Our Benjamin School motto, meaning second to none, is what we strive to be as students every day. On the journey of fulfilling our school’s precept, we exhibit integrity and respect for ourselves by following the Honor Code. The Benjamin School Honor Code: “I will maintain my self-respect. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate anyone who does.” For first-year students, you will become just as familiar with the code as returning students since the statement (and similar adaptations) is required
at the top of each assignment. What does the Honor Code mean to students? We pride ourselves on producing independent work. We have many tools available for research and test preparation. Between online resources, collaboration with our peers and faculty instruction, the content is at our fingertips to form individual opinions and arguments. Plagiarising an author’s written work or cheating on an exam should not be necessary for you to be your best at The Benjamin School. What do we do on the Honor Council? The Council consists of about ten students who meet when a potential academic infraction occurs. The case is referred to the Council by a faculty member; Council members never seek out or recommend violations for review. The Council remains impartial in its decisions. My outlook as President for the 2021-22 academic year will be to emphasize the importance of contacting your teachers should you require clarification on an assignment. Too often do we see students in front of
the Council for violating the Code unintentionally by not properly citing work or for using prohibited resources. At Benjamin, there are many means for support; teachers, academic clubs, tutors, and National Honor Society members would all be more than willing to assist you with assignments. Shortly after the school year commences, a member of the Honor Council will visit each freshman advisory to offer a brief discussion of the Council and answer any questions. Please take a moment prior to the start of school to review the Honor Code section of the handbook and become familiar with the rules. Not only are the rules applicable at Benjamin, but they will be beneficial throughout your academic career and later in life. I hope everyone gets off to a great start this year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or Mrs. McCambridge, faculty advisor to the Honor Council. Good luck and Go Bucs!
the
PHARCYDE
Therefore I shall remain eternally grateful to you for making probably the best decision ever to be made in my lifetime. Yes, even better than choosing to apply to schools in any location but the Southern United States. However grateful I am for your decision, I am nonetheless mournful that you were unable to convince more to join you in getting vaccinated. Since you chose to get jabbed 4 months ago, more than 700,000 people have contracted the disease, and more than 8,500 have died. I wish more people had followed the simple message to get vaccinated. That’s the right thing to do, for themselves and for others. While there are religious and medical exceptions to this1, getting vaccinated is the best thing to combat the virus that has plagued this country, this world, for far too long. Unfortunately, the country remains divided on this issue of public health. What is even more unfortunate though is that it truly seems like only America has created a politicized barrier around taking the vaccine. Some regions in the US have high vaccination rates, and their positivity rates regarding COVID-19 range from 3% to 6% and other regions in the US with low vaccination rates have positivity rates 12% to 20%. The extreme polarization in the US regarding vaccines has not been seen among America’s peers. While many know that the vaccines are safe and have gotten fully immunized, too many others hold beliefs that result in their hesitancy to get the vaccine. What they fail to recognize is that the risks that COVID-19 and its different variants pose outweigh the “what ifs” of a vaccine that has been developed by scientists.
Student Council President Welcomes Students Back
Sydney Steinger Student Council President Hi everyone! I am honored and deeply privileged to have been elected to serve as this year’s Student Council President. I want to welcome you all back for another year, and hopefully the best one yet. After facing many challenges due to COVID-19 this previous year, I’m hopeful for this school year and can’t wait to get back to normal! I am thrilled to welcome the freshmen class as they embark on their new high school journey
Concerns about the vaccines include the idea that vaccines were developed too fast and were under emergency authorizations, leading to the concept of unknown side effects.
and will be available along with all of the student council members to guide you along the way as you become familiar with our community. I would like to welcome back the sophomore, junior, and senior classes, and I wish you the best of luck as you dive into the school year. To the seniors: we made it! I wish you all the best of luck in your college process, and I’m excited to see where you all go and what you accomplish. I am eager to bring back our school’s spirit with fun activities, spirit weeks, athletics, student organizations, and clubs. It’s our goal as student government to help your experience at Benjamin be comfortable and worthwhile. We are here as a resource to represent you and voice your concerns and opinions. I advise all of you to take advantage of all of the opportunities our school has to offer, such as athletics, course electives, clubs, and meaningful relationships. I am excited to welcome you all back for another school year and cannot wait to see what’s to come. Have a great school year, and Go Bucs!
At The Benjamin School, we strive to uphold the 12 character traits set forth by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin. These traits are integral in becoming the best person one can be. Since then, our community has evolved and built upon these characteristics in the form of different organizations and clubs that pride themselves in embracing these ideals. One such organization is the National Honor Society (NHS). What characterizes a role model at the Benjamin School? Well, it has come to mean maintaining a cumu-
While this may sound intimidating to new students, we always have such a great time during these projects, usually ending in some sort of pizza party, that the requirements are never too hard to fulfill. NHS also hosts our annual poinsettia drive to raise money for the school, so during December you can be sure to have a beautiful centerpiece for your Christmas/Hanukkah dinner table! This year, as president of NHS, I really want to make sure that our members are passionate and excited about our community service projects. Even though we know that most students would rather hang out with
friends on the weekend than go to community service events, hopefully fun projects that students are interested in will motivate them to develop a passion for helping others in their community. Hopefully we can return to a bit of normalcy this year and everyone has a smooth and easy transition into the school year. We really encourage you to apply for the NHS in the winter. You can email me or Ms. Sara Misselhorn if you have any questions. Go Bucs!
EDITORIAL BOARD
GENERAL
ADVERTISEMENTS
QUOTATION POLICY
Founded in 1980 as The Spectator 17 August 2021
Evan Liberman, Managing Editor
Volume 43, Issue 1
The Benjamin School 4875 Grandiflora Road Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 Contact Information Phone: 561-472-5998, ext. 2119 Fax: 561-691-8823 Advisor Dr. John Peruggia john.peruggia@thebenjaminschool.org Advisor Emeritus Mr. Kendall Didsbury Media Consultants Mr. and Mrs. Tim Burke
Charlie Spungin, Copy Editor Matt Marasco, Sports Editor Clara Schor, Social Media/Breaking News Director
STAFF WRITERS Gerald Bissell Catherine Civitella Leah Klein Joey Tomassetti
MISSION STATEMENT
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 462 students and 60 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 tvisha.goel21@thebenjaminschool.org or sophia.liporace21@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.
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As you would know, I am inherently extroverted, so being inside the house for a year and a half with only screen-to-screen contact was quite...miserable. I managed to get through it without having more than five mental breakdowns though. And then, when I got poked for the first time, my my, was it worth it! I did not think that seeing another human being would be so relieving, but it felt like someone removed a plastic bag over my head.
lative GPA above 3.8, having strong and meaningful extracurricular activities, and participating in extensive community service projects. This is what it takes to be a member of the Benjamin School’s Chapter NHS. What are the responsibilities of an NHS member? Each semester NHS participates and coordinates about 15 community service projects. These projects can be anything from beach cleanups, to making blankets for orphanages, to planting mangroves. Each member of NHS must complete 2 of these group projects each semester, 12 personal hours, and 1 hour of peer tutoring each semester.
Tvisha Goel, Co-Editor-in-Chief Sophia Liporace, Co-Editor-in-Chief
I just wanted to thank you for making the bold decision to get vaccinated. For the past year and a half, COVID-19 is all I’ve been hearing about. I have been so cautious for that duration of time, but now, after having gotten jabbed twice, I am finally able to get out into the free world.
No one wants to put something completely foreign into their bodies. However, COVID-19 vaccines have no placement in this category. The FDA has explained emergency use authorization, stating that it is “a mechanism to facilitate the availability and use of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during public health emergencies, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.” This does not mean that the vaccines are any less safe and effective, just that certain processes are expedited. Vaccines that go through the natural length of time in terms of these processes take up to 10-15 years to be approved by the FDA. If the country had waited for the full duration of time for these vaccines to be approved even more Americans would have died. COVID-19 vaccines were rigorously tested before being approved for the public. They have been officially approved by career scientists and physicians with expertise in vaccine development complexity and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of vaccines meant to combat infectious diseases. Why won’t so many people trust scientists to know science? Whom do they trust? Furthermore, clinical trials were conducted before approval, optimizing the safeness and effectiveness of the vaccines under emergency use. The FDA explains that “Initially, in phase 1, the vaccine is given to a small number of generally healthy people to assess its safety at increasing doses and to gain early information about how well the vaccine works to induce an immune response in people. Phase 2 studies include more people, where various dosages are tested on hundreds of people with typically varying health statuses and from different demographic groups, in randomized-controlled studies. These studies provide additional safety information on common short-term side effects and risks, and may provide initial information regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine. In phase 3, the vaccine is generally administered to thousands of people in randomized, controlled studies involving broad demographic groups, and generates critical information on effectiveness and additional important safety data.” I wish that the same people who fight for the right to have a gun for protection would argue for a vaccine that can offer defense against an illness that can be just as deadly. I wish that all those who still scream loudest about masks would take steps so that masks would not be needed anymore. I wish that the people who complain so much about the bias of Hollywood stopped living as if I am Legend were true. I wish that we could get back to wishing for things that are truly miraculous to happen instead of hoping that acting for the common good would become common again.
New NHS President Speaks About His Goals For School Year Jake Zur NHS President
17 August 2021
Dear prevaccinated self,
The Pharcyde has gifted its staff with the skills and the platform to reach students and faculty in the Benjamin community in order to help the School improve. Last year, in order to mimic the world’s transition from print journalism to online platforms, The Pharcyde decided to create its own website, www.ThePharcyte. com, as well as Twitter and Instagram accounts, which are both @ thepharcyde_tbs, to expand its influence. This year, we intend to continue broadening our use of these platforms, as well as discover new ways to boost interest in the paper itself. We continue to hope that many of you join the staff or impact the school community in any way that you can. Go Bucs, and have a great year! See you in October with our next issue!
Honor Council President Reflects on the Importance of Honor
Student Voices
The Pharcyde
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.
So, thank you for choosing hope over fear, for listening to scientists instead of fabulists, for masking up instead of showing off, and for giving me the confidence to try to change the minds of others. I can only pray that my courage and determination to do what is right may rub off on those who feel held back from doing the same. With love, Your Still-Living Self
Welcome Freshmen: Senior Offers Advice to Fulfill the Year By Sophia Liporace Co-Editor-in-Chief
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.
Welcome to the big leagues. We often hear about how terrified new students are on the first day of school. Although entering high school may seem like a daunting task, we have been in the same shoes, and to be completely honest, freshman year is really not that bad once you learn the ins and outs of campus life. Of course, how could I write an article giving advice to freshmen without discussing the top three most obvious suggestions. First, go see your teachers whenever you can. They would all be happy to help with any qualms you may have during lunch, study halls or after school. I’m pretty sure I was in Mrs. Guzman’s classroom the day before every AP World History quiz. Next, don’t crowd the
hallways. Nothing can end a social life faster than tripping an athlete on game day because you’re stretching out before Mrs. McCambridge’s marathon-length essay exam. Finally, be kind. You’ll find that the years go by much easier if you can do your best to avoid being unnecessarily mean to your peers. As says senior Jane Boyland, “Getting along with as many of your classmates as possible will just make everything easier whether it’s group assignments or Chillin’ and Grillin’ volleyball games.” Next, all of you might be revved up for high school and anxious to succeed, but you shouldn’t necessarily sign up for 30 different clubs and activities at the club fair. Although you may be seriously trying to fulfill your Rory Gilmore-inspired dreams of going to Yale, the most competitive colleges would rather see you find a few passions and get as involved as possible in those activities. Try to gain
leadership in one or two clubs instead of minimal involvement in 15. Finding out your passions can be as easy as joining one club that allows you to figure out what you like or have no interest in. Senior Danielle Lancaster found her interests after joining Yale Model United Nations (YMUN) her freshman year. “I joined YMUN because it seemed like a cool club where I got to meet new people and eventually go on a trip to New Haven. I soon learned that I had a passion for social studies and writing and researching international relations. Because of this, I take more history electives and participate in similar activities,” she said. Another aspect of school life to consider is getting as organized as possible. By organized, I don’t mean shoving all of your school papers into your backpack or locker. Find a system that works for you, whether that means having individual notebooks
and binders for each class (which I highly recommend) or dividing one big binder among the seven periods. Whatever you do, you’ll be glad you kept everything neat when it comes time to study for exams. Most importantly, do us all a favor and avoid getting a rolling backpack at all costs. Once you’re all settled in, it’s time for one of the best events of the year- Homecoming week. Usually, the freshmen are too intimidated to dress up for theme days or participate in events, but this inevitably results in the week being less fun for everyone. Get your friends together and plan a way for all of you to dress similarly so that you can enjoy the week free of embarrassment. Homecoming can be a great time for class bonding and just an overall reliever of stress during the first semester. Despite being at the bottom of the hierarchy, being a freshman can sometimes have its perks. Remember that there’s no need to worry when
you hear upperclassmen discussing the Nov. 1 deadline for applying to colleges or how they scored on their standardized tests. Also, you have plenty of time to figure out what subjects you’re passionate about and how to craft your future schedule to adhere to those interests, so don’t try to grow up faster than you need to. Take advantage of this easy-going year to perfect your study habits, try different extracurricular activities, and find some solid friends (just don’t forget about your GPA in the process). Freshman year will seem overwhelming at times, but there is no reason to fear it. Stay organized, study hard, make great friends, and find a passion. Everything will come together by the time you start your Common App and upperclassmen, administration, and teachers are only here to help you and guide you towards success.
Science Department to New Physics Weitz Adds Jersey Flair to Teacher: Bienvenue! Math Department Sophia Liporace Co-Editor in Chief The family that is the science department welcomes its newest member this week: physics teacher Mr. Fabrice Allais. Hailing from France and coming to Palm Beach Gardens after living in Stamford, Conn., Mr. Allais will be teaching both AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2. He initially started teaching to put himself through higher education, as he earned his masters in Plasma Physics with a specialty in hot plasmas relevant to nuclear fusion from the University of Paris-Saclay Orsay. “After my initial teaching in France, I taught all around the world including Congo, Lebanon, Turkey, Canada, Japan, and the United States. I came to the U.S. to start a private company training students for the SAT, AP exams and academic competitions in both physics and math. That being said, I enjoy teaching physics and math the most,” said Mr. Allais.
Florida will be a big change in culture and climate for Mr. Allais, but he is excited for the move, and he even thinks it some aspects will remind him of where he grew up in the south of France. “I am very excited to teach at the Benjamin School. It is a perfect environment to teach, the team and students are both wonderful and on top of that it is located in Florida. I am from Aix-en-Provence in Southern France, a place where sun or sea are always present in your life. I have missed them in the Northeast,” he added. Despite being far away from his home, Mr. Allais tries to return to France as often as he can. “With the pandemic, the last time I went back to France was 2 years ago. The family is the center of our life where everything starts and ends, so even though we video conference with each other on a daily basis, these two years have been difficult for all of us,” he said.
A nuclear physicist by training, Mr. Fabrice Allais joins the science department this fall. Mr. Allais will be teaching all of the School’s physics offerings. (Photo by Sophia Liporace)
Mr. Allais said he will definitely be enjoying everything that Florida has to offer outside of Benjamin as well. He is looking forward to getting his scuba diving license and being able to fish and snorkel more frequently. Chair of the Science Department Dr. James Haley thinks that Mr. Allais will be a great asset to students and is excited to have him as a member of the faculty. “Mr. Allais has extensive experience preparing students to take the AP Physics exams through his former tutoring company, and I am confident that he will leverage that experience to the benefit of our students. I think students will find his interactive teaching style to be quite engaging,” Dr. Haley said. When discussing the goals he wishes to accomplish throughout his time at the School, Mr. Allais said, “My first goal is to serve my students and help them get a good result on the AP exam. I will consider myself blessed if after having taken my class, some of my students decide to pursue their studies in Physics. As any teacher, I hope I will be able to give my students the necessary impulse for them to start walking alone on their path, whatever it is.” Mr. Allais will feel comfortable with the family of the Benjamin faculty as his own family is full of teachers. “My sister lives in India where she teaches French in an orphanage and I have a half sister working in an elementary school,” he said. Mr. Allais is excited to start the next chapter of his career at the School, and we wish him the best of luck on his upcoming journey.
Mrs. Franzen “Graduates” to Upper School Social Studies Department Leah Klein Staff Writer
Previous eighth grade students at The Benjamin School will be seeing a familiar face if they are taking AP History this year! Mrs. Franzen, former Chair of the History department in the Middle School, has moved up to the Upper School to teach classes there. Franzen originally started teaching at Benjamin in 2014. She was excited to move from the public school environment in which she initially taught to an independent school environment. Franzen attended independent schools for her own education, and she loved what they had to offer students. After teaching World History in eighth grade for seven years, Franzen pursued the opportunity to move to teaching at the Upper School instead. This year she will be teaching AP World History, AP Psychology, and government. “I am in the process of finishing my masters degree in World War II history, and I wanted the opportunity to teach more about that subject matter. I am especially excited about applying the courses I’ve taken on human behavior to AP psychology,” said Franzen. “All three classes are social sciences, so they include human behavior, responsible citizenship, and choices made by individuals throughout history,” said Franzen. With moving campuses comes change. Mrs. Franzen will experience multiple changes from moving from the Middle School to the Upper School. “One thing I will need to get used to is moving classrooms - I think I’m
teaching out of three different rooms. In addition, every division at our school has subtle differences - for example, Upper School students are allowed to have cell phones, so I could use them in instruction,” Franzen said. Franzen has set various goals for the upcoming year. “My first should be to slow down and look around! I really liked what Mr. Carr said at the 8th grade promotion ceremony - he asked us to jump right in because we are needed, so I know I will jump in! I want to make sure I set the right tone in my classes - that I create an environment where students feel heard and understood. I want students to feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them, and I want to help all students grow their intellectual curiosity. All Benjamin students are brilliant and talented, and I feel so grateful to be a part of their educational journey,” Franzen said. Even though this new job is an exciting opportunity for Franzen, she will still miss several things about teaching eighth grade. “I loved teaching the entire grade (grade 8) because it gave me the opportunity to build relationships with all the students. I will also miss taking the 8th grade to Washington, DC,” said Franzen. Mrs. Franzen is excited for new beginnings and exciting opportunities at the Benjamin Upper School. She looks forward to meeting her new students, or seeing her previous ones!
After 8 years in the Middle School, Mrs. Franzen moves to the Grandiflora campus this fall. She will be teaching a variety of classes in the social studies department. (Photo by Sophia Liporace)
Most recently a teacher at the American Heritage School, Mrs. Robin Weitz brings decades of classroom experience to the Upper School math department. (Photo by Sophia Lipor)
Joey Tomassetti Staff Writer As another year at the Upper School comes and goes, more new faces arrive for the School to welcome. Among these new additions to the Benjamin community is math teacher Mrs. Robin Weitz. “I can’t wait to teach at Benjamin! I’m most looking forward to meeting all the students, and getting involved with the Benjamin community,” said Mrs. Weitz. Originally from New Jersey, Mrs. Weitz was a college instructor at Georgian Court University, teaching computer science and mathematics for 22 years. Four years ago, she moved from New Jersey to Palm Beach county, in search of teaching in a private school environment. She has taught many different math courses during her time teaching college students, after graduating from Georgian Court University with both a BA in mathematics and computer science, and an MA in mathematics. She plans on teaching Pre-Calculus, Algebra II, and College Algebra in her first year at Benjamin. “I have taught all levels of Mathematics at the college level, from Remedial Algebra to Topology. I started my teaching career at Georgian Court University as a TA, and then as an adjunct. I have also taught computer programming classes and game programming classes at the college level. I am a high school teacher as well, teaching computer programming and mathematics at a private school after I moved to Florida,” says Mrs. Weitz. Chair of the Math Department Mr. Michael Ruggie thinks that Mrs. Weitz’s experience will allow her to ease right into the job without any problems
“Mrs. Weitz will bring experience to her classes. She has collegiate experience and has taught her Benjamin School classes before. There is going to be very little for her to prep for her courses. She has the ability to teach all levels of the curriculum and I look forward to having her join our math team!” said Mr. Ruggie. Along with her overflowing resumé, Mrs. Weitz comes to Benjamin with some goals for herself and her students. “I am hoping to instill a love of mathematics in my students, and to show them the beauty of math and how it affects our entire world. I hope to become a mentor to my students, being there to help them with not only math, but to teach them what I can and learn with them what I don’t already know,” said Mrs. Weitz. Mrs. Weitz also wants to help her students with their future careers and living their lives to the fullest. “I want all of my students to become whatever they strive to become, to be the person they truly want to be and to have the knowledge to conquer problems in their lives as they go forward,” said Mrs. Weitz. Teaching seems to be a popular career in Mrs. Weitz’s family as she is married and has two children, both of whom are teachers. Her son is a college professor in Pennsylvania, and her daughter teaches at a school in Florida. In her free time, Mrs. Weitz enjoys painting and drawing. It is safe to say that Mrs. Weitz is looking forward to starting her adventure at Benjamin, and she comes with a lot of experience and knowledge of teaching overall.
New Teacher Brings Global Perspective English Teacher Mr. Kane to Economics Classes Ready for Next Chapter Tvisha Goel Co-Editor in Chief One of two new members of the social studies department, Mr. Graham Wik looks forward to welcoming students into his economics classes. Mr. Wik, a former resident of Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, heads to Palm Beach Gardens from Cheonan, South Korea, where he had spent several years at the Global Leader Program at Bugil Academy. Mr. Wik described the Academy as being “a small program for South Korean students that wish to study at an American or other English-speaking university.” Having begun his teaching career at Massachusetts’ Cushing Academy, Mr. Wik has spent the last 20 years as a teacher of economics and history. “After a decade or so in business and following the dot.com crash and 9/11, I re-evaluated my values and gave independent school teaching a go. After my first weekend on campus, I was hooked and have not looked back since. Although I was a math/science-focused student in high school and studied engineering in
college, I felt that teaching economics and history was more relevant to my experiences when I made the switch to education,” explained Mr. Wik. Paralleling Mr. Wik’s switch from business to education is his switch from Bugil Academy to Benjamin. He explained that he is excited to join the Benjamin team for a multitude of reasons. “I was impressed by the students I met during my mock class and have greatly enjoyed each and every teacher and administrator that I met during the interview process. They were warm and welcoming while also demonstrating a professional approach driven by sincere care for Benjamin students. Additionally, it will be good to return to the U.S. after so many years away. My father lives not too far away, and my mother looks forward to visiting often. My three year old son is a strong draw.” While Mr Wik decided to choose Benjamin for these reasons, Benjamin chose to hire Mr. Wik because he “has a fantastic record of student success in the classroom and on the AP
exam. He has a warm, student-centered approach to learning, and we are excited to bring a teacher of his caliber and experience to Benjamin,” Social Studies Department Chair Ms. Sara Misselhorn commented. Outside of his job, Mr. Wik loves sports. While he is obviously more in support of Boston teams, he explained that he appreciates competition. Additionally, travelling has played a big role in his life in the past 15 years and looks forward to an increase in this hobby in the summers since summer breaks in South Korea were very short. He also mentioned that he used to golf and is excited to pick it up again. While teachers mainly focus on their expertise in concentrated subjects, it’s important to know that many are multi-dimensional. For example, a fun fact about Mr. Wik is that he loves musicals, “despite no drama training personally and no ability to carry a tune”. Despite this lack of a singing ability, the School welcomes a wonderful, theater-loving addition to the community; break a leg, Mr. Wik!
Polyglot Diaz David Joins Languages Department Evan Liberman Managing Editor
Como se dice hors d’oeuvre in English? The newest addition to the world language department, Mr. Juan Carlos Diaz David, can definitely help you out. Mr. Diaz David is no stranger to the Sunshine State; most recently, he taught French at Alliance Française– an international organization that promotes French culture and teaches the language all around the world–in Miami. At the same time, he worked for tutoring company Varsity Tutors, where he helped students of all ages learn French and Spanish. However, Mr. Diaz David has had an extensive teaching career all around the world. He began teaching in 2006 in his native country of Cuba. He then spent some years in Montreal, Canada, where he taught French to adult immigrants at the Ministry of Immigration and Integration of Quebec. Interestingly, in 2017, he was looking to immigrate to the United States and applied to teach at Benjamin, but ultimately decided to remain in Canada for just a bit longer. Four years later, Mr. Diaz David has realized that it is the place for him. “I immediately knew that I really wanted to teach in this school because of the high-level college-preparation and the variety of programs offered to students, as well as the community spirit advocated. Furthermore, my
Spotlight on the New Faculty
family and I were looking to live in an exceptional city with plenty of sun all year round and a beautiful environment. TBS is making this dream come true,” he wrote. In fact, Mr. Diaz David plans to capitalize on what the local area has to offer. “I love to get in touch with nature,” he said. “I enjoy going camping and hiking with my friends and family. I also like to bike and to discover new places and bike trails,” he added. Additionally, Mr. Diaz David is excited to offer all of his skills to Benjamin students. “I look forward to transmitting my passion for language teaching and learning, and I certainly hope that my students will learn as much as possible, both in the academic setting and beyond. Besides, I am confident that I will make my best effort to serve TBS, and particularly the world language department, in every possible way,” he said. World Language Department Chair Señora Marisol Tejera-Mede is looking forward to Mr. Diaz David’s arrival. “The world language department welcomes Mr. Diaz David. We are very excited for him to join our department and The Benjamin School. I feel he will be a great addition and [I am] looking forward to working with him,” she shared. So, como se dice hors d’oeuvre in English? According to Mr. Diaz David: “mouth-watering.”
A native of Cuba, Mr. Juan Diaz David is fluent in three languages: English, Spanish, and French. Joining the World Languages department, he replaces long-time Spanish teacher Sra. Casiano, who retired at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. (Photo by Mr. Diaz David)
Matt Marasco Staff Writer
The English department begins a new chapter this fall as Mr. Ronald Kane steps in to fill the void left by retiring icon Mr. Perry Feyk. Luckily, Mr. Kane is somewhat of an icon himself, arriving on campus prepared for the challenge and with a mission to inspire students. “I try to create a classroom where students are both challenged and supported. I also believe in a collaborative classroom where all students feel valued, appreciated, and comfortable expressing their viewpoints,” said Mr. Kane. Mr. Kane will be teaching sophomore, junior and senior English, and although he is excited to work with the talented students who attend Benjamin, he also offers many resources to help students through his classes. “I will always be available to students outside of class time to work on reading, writing, and for general extra help. Reading and analyzing great literature is a powerful way for students to learn about themselves and today’s global world,” he said. Mr. Kane will not only focus on in-classroom learning, as he comes with more than 30 years of experience as a faculty member and coach at Lawrenceville Academy, a boarding school in New Jersey.
“Education is about relationships, and I will pay close attention to the co-curricular pursuits of the students who I teach. In addition, I look forward to working with and learning from my new colleagues who impressed me on my interview day,” said Kane. After reading through “scores of applications” from all over the world for this position, Mrs. Sharon Wendler, the chair of the English department believes Mr. Kane is a perfect fit. “Mr. Kane comes to us with years of experience, wisdom, and energy to teach English to our students. He is conscientious and kind and will make a great fit with our students, faculty, and the larger community. He is fully aligned with The School’s values and will be able to make great contributions to TBS,” said Mrs. Wendler. Mr. Kane has been more than excited to come work with the Benjamin community as he sees an opportunity to leave an impact on yet another school. Mr. Kane has a message for the Benjamin community, “I am grateful and honored to join the Benjamin community. My wife, Maureen, and I look forward to meeting students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and all who are part of the Buccaneer fam-
Born in Coral Springs, Mr. Ronald Kane returns to Florida as he joins the English department this fall. Mr. Kane replaces the retired G.O.A.T., Mr. Perry Feyk. (Photo by Tvisha Goel)
Two New Faculty Members Transform Landscape of Fine Arts Department Clara Schor and Sophia Liporace Social Media Director and CoEditor-In-Chief
The Fine Arts department starts the year with a new set of faces, as two new teachers join chair Ms. Melissa Ford in the studios: Ms. Sierra Clark and Ms. Caroline Duran. With 6 years of experience, Ms. Clark, moving from North Carolina, will be at great new addition to the faculty. Though Benjamin is different from her last school in terms of location and demographics, she is excited to get to work. “I chose Benjamin because I respected the commitment to academic achievement and moral values,” Ms. Clark said. With a new school comes new goals and Ms. Clark is looking forward to helping the department improve as a whole. “[My goals are] being an asset to the excellent art program by adding diverse perspectives in curriculum content,” she added. Ms. Duran, who will be making the drive to campus each day from Port St. Lucie, will be teaching all of the department’s ceramics classes, intermediate studio art, and a new design thinking course. Not new to art or to teaching, Ms.
Duran has taught at magnet school Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce for six years, focusing mainly on ceramics, 3D and 2D studio art and middle school studio art. Ms. Ford is eager to welcome two new assets to her department. “I am so excited to welcome both Ms. Clark and Ms. Duran to the Arts and Innovation department. I look forward to seeing the fresh perspectives they will provide our students, as they both demonstrate immense enthusiasm about the arts and passion for teaching,” she said. Ms. Duran has always loved being creative and a problem solver as she was naturally pulled towards the arts. Because both of her parents have helped serve their community, as firefighter and teacher, she learned that it is important to do the same. “To me, education is the most powerful tool that we have to inspire others and change the world in small ways,” she offers. Duran began practicing art her freshman year of high school, and her ceramics teacher soon became her teaching mentor. Ms. Duran attended the University of Florida, earning her Bachelors in Fine Arts with a specialization in ceramics. She also had the
opportunity to work with noted artists Linda Arbuckle and Nan Smith, who are both in the ceramic field, at the University of Florida. Ms. Duran was attracted to Benjamin’s core values in her professional, as well as personal, life and hopes to help develop a strong ceramics program while promoting student interest in the arts: “Benjamin feels like the perfect fit for me all around, and I feel blessed to be given the opportunity to join the school.” We welcome Ms. Clark and Ms. Duran to campus and look forward to seeing how they’ll impact our community’s canvas.
The Arts & Innovation department will look very different this year, as both Mrs. Davis-Rojo and Mrs. Osborne bid goodbye to Benjamin last spring. Above, department chair Ms. Ford helps new teachers Ms. Clark and Ms. Duncan navigate some of the technology behind Buclinks. (Photo by Tvisha Goel)
17 August 2021
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17 August 2021
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Summer Camps Are Back: High School Students Volunteer Clara Schor Social Media Director
per School students is the familiarity many of them have with the LS and MS campus as well as understanding the culture and expectation of a Ben-
Charlie Spungin Copy Editor Last year, while summer classes met virtually, traditional camps were canceled due to COVID-19. This year, thanks to a dip in cases, camps returned. Nevertheless, the impact of the of the pandemic was still felt. The campers were not required to wear masks as Florida is not issuing mask mandates, but they were permitted to wear one if that’s how they felt most comfortable. Because of the pandemic, summer camps have been different in that there is no catered lunch, and there are less activities in which outside of school visitors are hired compared to previous years. Social distancing guidelines were complied with as well. Though most of the children attending the summer camp also attend Benjamin, there are some children who do not attend the school as well. Many Benjamin students are counselors at these camps. According to Director of Summer Programs, Mr. Chris Nordland, “One of the advantages of hiring our Up-
Senior Emeline Smith shared some time exploring the shoreline with some Marine Biology campers this summer. (Photo courtesy of The BenjaminSchool)
jamin program and the Benjamin experience. Additionally, it is one of the few opportunities to promote “Single School Culture” and allow the crossover between campuses. We are very fortunate to have students willing to participate and the impact they have on the younger students is truly remarkable and everlasting. Senior Ella Hayes decided to be a camp counselor at Fun and Games
Camp because she enjoys helping the younger kids. Additionally, some of her friends were counselors, making the experience more enjoyable for her. “It definitely would’ve been different if I hadn’t had my friends join me in doing so,” she said. “I think without them, camp wouldn’t have been as much fun for me, as we got to hang around more.” Counselors at Fun and Games Camp were expected to show up before the kids and set up the games in the gym like dodgeball. The kids were separated into teams and groups for the games and would play until the winner. Senior Danielle Lancaster participated in being a camp counselor for the Adventure Camp. During the day, the children did arts and crafts and regularly had outside guests come and do science experiments or teach the children different things. The Adventure Camp is available for children ages five to eight, but the group that Lancaster worked with was mainly five and six year olds. She has done the camp regularly over recent summers. “I chose to be a summer camp counselor because I’ve been doing
it for years and it’s a job that I don’t mind doing for a few weeks over the summer,” she said. Senior Hannah Beam was a counselor at the Art Camp. Those who were at the camp, available for those between 3rd and 6th grade, learned how to coil pots with clay, painted wind chimes, learned how to take pictures with both regular and pinhole cameras, and learned the basics of how to edit photos with Photoshop.
Beam loved being a counselor. Her favorite part was watching the excitement on the faces of the campers as they watched their photos develop in the dark room. Summer camps were back this summer, and though they may have felt somewhat different due to minor COVID-19 protocols, the experience was mostly the same for the counselors. The hope is simple: next year will be perfectly normal.
For many seniors, the college application process can be a grueling ordeal. Researching and visiting colleges lead to testing and superscoring that then lead to applying and writing that hopefully end in rejoicing and enrolling. As counselors and admissions officers explain, though, one of the most important elements along the path to one’s dream school is the personal statement. To help you finish what Dr. Peruggia calls the triathlon of the application olympiad, The Pharcyde offers you the following guide to personal statement gold.
1 The Starting Line Mr. Archer and Mr. Crisafi enlisted the help of several counselors this summer as they guided campers in grades 5-9 through the exciting world of short-film production. Campers spent some of their time creating short parodies of film that is often done tongue-in-cheek with “cheesy special effects and humor.” (Photo courtesy of The Benjamin School)
TBS Drama’s 2021-2022 Season
Before you start, take some time to stretch your creative muscles, survey the field, and get pumped about your epic greatness. Have conversations about ideas with your family and friends, look through old posts on Insta, do some creative writing exercises, and ask to see some samples of successful essays from former applicants.
3 The Transition Once your essay’s taken you pretty far from where you started, it’s time to shift gears and begin the editing process.
40 Years Sra. Salivar 30 Years Sra. Tejera-Mede
20 Years Mr. Anderson Nurse Donaldson
Mr. Adle Mrs. Arbuzow
15 Years Ms. McGrath Mrs. Pierman
10 Years Mr. Archer Mrs. Clarke
Mr. Jaramillo Ms. Misselhorn Dr. Peruggia
You’re Timeless To Us
Summer’s Reading, A Novel Idea Matthew Marasco Staff Writer While some may see summer as merely a chance for relaxation, vacations, and hanging out with friends, students are still required to keep their minds engaged by completing the English Department’s summer reading assignments. This summer, the rising freshmen were required to read Haroun and the Sea of Stories and selections from How to Read Literature Like a Professor while also choosing two additional books. Freshman Chester Coles opted to read Me Earl and the Dying Girl and The Secret Life of Bees. “I enjoyed all the books, and I think that Benjamin’s summer reading program is fantastic. It gives students a variety of options so they can choose the books most tailored to them while still getting them immersed into the literary world,” Coles said. Rising sophomores were required to read The Underground Railroad in addition to their two self-selected novels. Those who are entering the Honors American Literature path, on the other hand, were required to read The Awakening as one of those two selections. Asked about the tenth grade texts,
sophomore Andrew Lappin responded that he believes the books to be “bland,” but that there was enough action to keep his attention. He also hopes for more “happy” and “exciting” books in the future since he believes all the stories are about death and hardship. Upperclassmen entering Western Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, or AP Literature and Composition, had some more flexibility in the summer reading assignment. Ingrid Corpus, a junior enrolled in AP Language and Composition read Born a Crime, 1984, and Into the Wild. “Overall, I enjoyed reading these books, specifically Into the Wild because I was familiar with a few of its thematic concepts from my sophomore year English class. However, I would have wanted the second required book to be a fictional work, preferably a classic, instead of a nonfiction piece since I think there might have been a wider variety of literary devices to analyze,” reflected Corpus. All grade levels were required to read at least three books that will be referred to throughout the year in their English classes along with the beginning of the year summer reading test or essay.
English teachers have to do the summer reading assignments as well. We spied Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. McCambridge speed reading in their offices. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
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2 The Swim Time to dive in! Just as you would with writing for classes, you need to start. At first, things may seem choppy, but keep writing-- things may get calmer as your statement travels further along. If you find yourself sinking, return to the starting area and register for a new race. There is nothing wrong with trying out several different ideas for essays before committing to the one that you know will become your winning course. 4 The Bike If you’ve ever watched a good cycling race, you’d likely notice that the winning athletes ride with a support team. As you refine and edit your personal statement, make sure you’re traveling with people who help make you and your product better: a counselor to revise the content, English teacher to help with grammar and mechanics, a parent and friend to ensure authenticity of voice and character.
3 4 5 5 The Transition When you feel like your statement is in a good spot, it is time for you to make a final, individualized dash to the finish line.
6 6 The Run Take your essay out for a run. Ask people to read it and offer you their feedback. Do people who know you feel like the work accurately reveals your character? Are strangers understanding your nuances and messages? Are you getting to your destination efficiently?
7 7 The Finish Line Finally, the moment arrives. Cross the line, take a breather, and wait for the medal ceremony. Your hard work has paid off!
The Pharcyde’s Gridiron Showdown As part of a new initiative, The Pharcyde is pleased to announce two competitions: the first ever Benjamin School inter-advisory fantasy football contest and a weekly pick-thewinner contest. Fantasy Football As part of the fantay football contest, four leagues, on for each grade, have been created. Each advisory group will create a team in the league, with members working together each week to fashion the highest-scoring starting lineup. Throughout the season, The Pharcyde will be hosting various special awards and mini-contests for different achievements. These will be
announced on our website, www.thepharcyte.com. As with traditional fantasy football leagues, each grade’s league will include a post-season. As advisory groups lose their playoff matchups, we hope students will root on other groups; as groups win, we look forward to their building up a fanbase. The Pharcyde will acknowledge each of the four league champions this winter. A School Champion will be crowned based on the total number of points earned in each of the four championship matchups. Pick-the-Winner Whether you are a football enthusiasts or a casual fan, our second
contest offers the opportunity to win some awesome prizes and to boost your profile around campus. Each week, we will send out an email survey to the Upper School asking you to select the winners of that week’s NFL games. We will also select a “Game of the Week,” spotlighting a matchup that requires you to guess not just the winner but the final score. At the end of each set of games, we will post the results of the guesses and update a leaderboard of accurate predictors. Scores from the Game of the Week will be used as tie-breakers, if needed. In addition to weekly awards, The Pharcyde will be offering prizes for season-long accomplishments.
If multiple members of advisories enter the contest, we may award both individual and group achievements. In launching the Gridiron Showdown, The Pharcyde hopes to inspire increased school spirit, a sense of healthy competition, and a natural camarederie among advisory groups. Co-Editor-in-Chief Tvisha Goel expreses her excitement for this year’s inagural contests: “Lucky for you all, as the editor, I cannot win. Neither can Doc. But we both are looking forward to the chips and dip that the Liporaces provide at our weekly Monday Night football parties.”
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17 August 2021
Sports
The Pharcyde
Setting Records, Winning Golds: Standout Moments of the 32nd Olympics Charlie Spungin Copy Editor On Aug. 8, the 2020 Summer Olympics wrapped up following 17 days of non-stop sporting events. Though taking place in 2021, the quadrennial event has still been dubbed the 2020 Summer Olympics despite the postponement due to COVID-19. There were 339 total events through 33 total sports. Four sports made their debut at the Olympics: skateboarding, surfing, karate, and sport climbing. Baseball and softball made their return to the Olympics, last played in 2008. Beyond these five sports, 15 events made their debuts, including 3x3 basketball and several new mixed events like the 4x100 medley relay. Russia was not permitted to compete at these Olympics due to a decision made by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Their athletes competed under the acronym ROC, which stands for Russian Olympic Committee. Swimming The United States dominated swimming, earning a total of 11 gold medals and 30 total medals total in the events. American Caeleb Dressel stood out not only in swimming but in the entirety of the Olympics, as he left Tokyo with five gold medals. He set Olympic records in the 50 m freestyle and 100 m freestyle, world records for the 100 m butterfly and 4 x 100 m medley relay (a team event). His last gold medal came from the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay (team event). He became the fourth male to win five swimming gold medals in a single Olympics. The top female American swimmer was Katie Ledecky, who garnered four total medals (two gold, two silver). Her gold medals came from the 800 m freestyle and the 1500 m freestyle. Her silvers were in the 400 m freestyle and the 4 x 200 freestyle relay (team event). However, the most dominant swimmer at this year’s Olympics was Australian Emma McKeon, who won seven medals (four gold, three bronze), the most medals ever won by a female swimmer in a single Olympics. She won gold and set Olympic records in the 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, and 4 x 100 medley relay (team event). Her final gold medal came from setting a world record in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay (team event). Her bronze medals were in the 100 m butterfly, 4 x 200 freestyle relay (team event), and 4 x 100 mixed
medley relay (team event). There were other world records set in the swimming events. A group of four Chinese women set the world record for the women’s 4 x 200 m freestyle relay. South African Tatjana Schoenmaker set a new world record in the women’s 200 m breaststroke. Lastly, four swimmers from Great Britain established a new record in the mixed 4 x 100 m medley relay. Gymnastics The United States didn’t dominate gymnastics as much as swimming, winning six medals compared to the 11 of China and ten of the ROC. Regardless, the standout individual during the gymnastics events this year was American Suni Lee, who won three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze). The US earned silver in one women’s team all-around. She won bronze in uneven bars. The gold medal came in the biggest event of them all: the individual all-around. She finished fifth in vault, first in uneven bars, second in balance beam, and fifth in floor en route to gold. Simone Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all-time, removed her name from some of the events due to mental health issues. Some unfairly criticized her for “quitting on her country”, but it started a dialogue of the importance of mental health for athletes, something that had been highlighted months earlier by Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka. Athletics Athletics has the most events of any sport in the entirety of the Olympics. The USA won the most gold medals with seven and the most total with 26. In the men’s events, there wasn’t any specific athlete who dominated the competition. An Olympic record was set in the 1500 m by Norweigan Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Additionally, another Norweigan, Karsten Warholm, set a record, this one a world record in the 400 m hurdles. A great moment took place in the men’s high jump. After tying, Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim both received a gold medal. The women’s events were definitely more interesting than the men’s this year. In the women’s 100 m, not only was an Olympic record set by Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, but Jamaica swept the event, winning both silver and bronze. That was one of the two sweeps throughout the
entirety of the Olympics. Thompson-Herah won her second gold medal in the 200 m. The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won gold in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m. Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon set the Olympic record in the 1,500 m. The women’s 400 m hurdles might have been the best event in the entirety of the Olympics. Two Americans won gold and silver in an excellent race that resulted in a world record. Sydney McLaughlin won gold, and Dalilah Muahmmed won silver. These two would team up in the 4 x 400 m relay, where the team would win gold by a whopping four seconds. The United States’ Allyson Felix became the most American decorated track & field athlete in Olympic history. She won bronze in the 400 m and gold in the 4 x 400 m relay (team event). These two medals catapulted her to 11 over her career. Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas set a world record in women’s long jump.
Swimmer Caleb Dressel, a UF alum, racked up a total of 7 medals during his time in Tokyo. He joined icon Michael Phelps among a group of swimmers who won 5 or more medals in one Olympic games. (right)
Others While those are three of the major Olympic sports, there are over two dozen others. South Korea dominated archery, winning gold in four of the five events. The Chinese dominated badminton, winning a medal in each of the five events, and table tennis, where they won gold in four of the five events. France won gold in both men’s and women’s handball. The USA dominated basketball, winning gold in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s 3x3 basketball. American women Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi became the first two basketball players to win five gold medals at the Olympics. Americans Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda won the gold medal in men’s and women’s golf. Additionally, the USA won gold in women’s indoor volleyball and women’s beach volleyball (Alix Klineman and April Ross). Ross has now won a gold medal, a silver medal, and a bronze medal in beach volleyball at the Olympics. Switzerland had a podium sweep in women’s cross country mountain biking. The 2024 Olympics are merely three years away due to the postponement of this year’s competition. They will take place in Paris, France. Breakdancing is set to be added, but baseball/softball and karate are going to be removed.
“On the track, both men and women gold medaled in the 4x400 relay in a BIG way. Allyson Felix, pictured second from right, won her 11th medal, making her the most decorated track star.” - Ms. Misselhorn (above) Minnesota’s Sunisa Lee stepped up for the women’s gymnastics team and won a gold medal after Simone Biles stepped down. Lee will compete for Auburn University as a member of the Class of 2025. (left)
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Editor Cheers Bucks at NBA Finals
Charlie Spungin Copy Editor “Do you want to go to the Finals?” My older brother, Jarrett, asked me over the phone on Saturday, July 10th. Going to an NBA Finals is a once in a lifetime type experience, and as a die-hard NBA fan, this was an opportunity that I would not pass on. Four days later, I was surreally in Wisconsin for Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. The Suns were led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Paul is one of the greatest point guards to step on the
hardwood, while Devin Booker is one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Along with those two, Deandre Ayton played like a star throughout the playoffs. Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder, the team’s wings, provided great support by spacing the court and playing stellar defense. Off the bench, Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne were staples of the rotation, as both played the best basketball of their life throughout their playoff run. Opposing the Western Conference champs were the Milwaukee Bucks, led by the 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo put all of the doubters that said he couldn’t perform in the playoffs to sleep, posting back-to-back 40 point games going into Game 4 (he would have a 50 point game in Game 6 to close the series). Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday were great second and third stars, respectively, as Middleton brought the offense and Holiday brought the defense. Add this
to the support of Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton, PJ Tucker, and Bobby Portis, and the Bucks had built a formidable team. What made the matchup so intriguing to me was that both franchises were looking to make history. The Suns had made the Finals twice before (1976, 1993) but lost both times. The Bucks had made the Finals twice as well (1971, 1974), as they won the ‘71 title. History would be made on either side. Furthermore, the contrasting styles of the teams’ offense made the matchup even more great. The Suns were built around spectacular guard play from Paul and Booker, while the Bucks were constructed behind the aggressive-minded, “get to the basket” Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is one of my favorite players, so I was pulling for the hometown Bucks to win, but I also wouldn’t have hated to see Paul capture his first NBA ring.
All Sophia Starters Return, Volleyball Eyes State Final Four Liporace Co-Editor-In-Chief
“Molly Seidel became the third U.S woman to medal in an Olympic marathon and this race was only her third marathon. She was right up there with two Kenyans until the 24th mile even with 92 degree weather!.” - Ms. Misselhorn (above)
My brother and I arrived at the game two hours before the game so that we could get in the arena. We didn’t want to get there too late because outside the arena during the game were thousands of Bucks fans watching. The energy in the arena was contagious, and it was so unbelievably loud. It’s hard to tell how loud it is on TV; I could barely hear myself screaming at some points. Whether we were chanting “MVP” for Antetokounmpo, “Bucks in 6” once the Bucks secured the game, or booing the Suns players when they were complaining to the refs, the energy was simply out of this world. Booker had 42 points, as he was the only reason that the Suns were in the game. He played great in the pick & roll, eating apart the Bucks ‘drop coverage’ scheme. It seemed like every mid-range jumper he shot went in. On the other side of it was another 40 point game, as Middleton
scored 40. The Bucks’ closer was key in their comeback win, hitting contested shot after contested shot to get the Bucks the win. While all of that was awesome, it wasn’t the highlight of my night. I witnessed one of the greatest blocks in NBA history (and also got it on camera). With the game winding down, Booker threw an alley-oop to Ayton. It seemed like it was obviously going to end in a dunk. Except it didn’t. Antetokounmpo had one of the greatest recoveries ever, as the block kept the lead for the Bucks. It was a down-to-the-wire. The Bucks outscored the Suns 33-21 in the 4th quarter. As everyone now knows, the Bucks won the game 109103, tying the series 2-2. They would later win the series. I wasn’t just at a game; I was at a historic game.
Sports
The Pharcyde
The volleyball team is back to work and, according to the members of the team and the coach, are ready to redeem themselves following a tough loss in the district finals last year. Head coach of the varsity team and Assistant Athletic Director Mrs. Alexandria Clarke has high hopes for the season and thinks the team will be off to a strong start. “We will return all of our starters from last year’s team for the 2021 season, and I’m looking forward to seeing the leadership on the court from our juniors this year. This year, one of our biggest goals will be returning to the state final four,” she said. Among those starters is third-year varsity player junior Keira Hodum, one of the team’s captains. Stepping into her new role, Hodum thinks team unity will bring them closer to success. “I think team bonding and getting to know each other is super important in helping the team improve. Since we have lots of new teammates this year, making sure they feel welcome and part of the team is something I think is the responsibility of the upperclassmen,” she said. This comraderie will hopefully translate into the team’s goals of winning more post-season matches. Upperclassmen on the team, including Hodum, say that getting to compete for regional and district titles will be a rewarding experience that they didn’t get to pursue last year. The volleyball team has many new assets this season including the brand new sand volleyball courts that have just been added to the upper school campus. Coach Clarke says she looks forward to using the new courts for cross training during preseason and thinks
they will be immensely beneficial for conditioning and jump training. Despite their high hopes for the coming months, the team will still face challenges with the unexpected changes that the next wave of COVID-19 could have on their season. “While we prepare for what we believe will be a normal season, we know that there is the possibility of hiccups along the way related to COVID-19, and we will need to be prepared to work our way through any obstacles that we may encounter,” Coach Clarke added. Sophomore Maggie Smith whose first season on the team was played during the height of the pandemic thinks that her biggest challenge will be trying to stay as positive as possible even when obstacles from COVID-19 arise. Navigating the season under new COVID-19 circumstances will definitely be difficult, but the varsity volleyball team, with the help of Coach Clarke, is trying their best to be better than ever.
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Cross Country Gets Off to a Running Start Matthew Marasco Staff Writer
If it’s August, then the girls have taken over the gym. With nets raised, balls pumped, and knee pads secure, the volleyball team resumed practices in anticipation of a great regular season and a long run into the playoffs. (Photos by Sophia Liporace)
After a disappointing end of the season impacted by multiple players getting quarantined, both the girls and boys cross country teams are returning to the track with high hopes. Led by Matt Postman and Ryan Hendi, the boys cross country team had their first practice on Aug. 9, but the runners have already been putting in “mileage over the summer to break away from the other schools,” according to boys’ Head Coach Mr. Nicholas Cramer. For both teams, this year will feature plenty more meets after the drought of races this past year. These meets will hopefully also be against multiple other schools rather than just one like last year. “I am very happy that there will be more teams running this year since it gives me more competition to make me work harder,” said girls’ team captain, senior Ali Brown. Both teams have a practice schedule that consists of meeting after every school day at 3:30. These practices consist of stretching, getting warmed up, then practicing events for meets. “I believe with good practice comes good performances, and that’s why I push myself to put my best foot forward during practice,” said senior Ryan Hendi. With COVID-19 numbers being up, the cross country team is hoping to not be affected but knows it will be a prominent player in how their season comes out. “COVID-19 will absolutely impact our season, but the real question is to what degree. Ideally, we will only have to follow everyday guide-
lines. I would hate to have a repeat of last year where key players got sidelined during the postseason by COVID-19,” said Mr. Cramer. Although any player can sign up for cross country, the coaches look for few individuals to run in the most important events. “This is a tough sport both physically and mentally. Not many people want to run six miles in a 100 degree heat index. Successful cross country runners must be great teammates and carry each other through tough practices,” said girls’ Head Coach Mr. Bob Hohnadel. Both teams have one goal: to win states. After 32 years of coaching, Coach Hohnandel has made plenty of impressive runs to the state finals, although he has never been able to win them. According to Coach Hohnadel, “this is our year to win, with this amazing team and coming up just short last year I believe we can do it.” Both teams are more than excited to get back out on the track and showcase their skills, and for some like team captain Ali Brown, this will be their last chance to win states in high school. Hopefully, both teams will not have any major hiccups and be able to show their true potential.
Cross country runners lap the track during August practices. (Photo by Matt Marasco)
Football Team Has High Hopes Following Disappointing 2020 Season Charlie Spungin Copy Editor The varsity football team looks to bounce back from their 2-4 COVID19-shortened season last year. Their quest should be helped by their captains this year: seniors Gabe Griffith, Mason Thomason, Danny Gonzalez, Sean Rooney, and junior Micah Mays. Throughout the summer, the team has been getting into shape and now stands ready for the season to begin. Since early June, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there have been weight lifting sessions, conditioning drills, and 7-on-7 games. Steady conditioning has been key for the team, according to junior Brady Quinn, noting that the team shouldn’t be as fatigued when the fourth quarter hits. “The conditioning sessions have helped everyone, as the team will be stronger and not be as tired when in a close game in the fourth quarter,” he said. Players have found the summer workouts helpful not only on the field, but also off of it. “I feel like our workouts bring the team together, build chemistry throughout everyday, get to know each other more, and learn our strengths and weaknesses,” Mays said. “Overall, I feel the workouts have increased our mindset to focus on what’s ahead and not to break down when times get tough.” There were no off-season workouts last season because of the pandemic, and having them this season has been a clear positive for the team. “We had an off-season this year. Last season we had no off-season, which really hurt us,” Quinn said.
The Bucs return to play without a number of its key members. Two of the program’s graduated seniors will be playing collegiate football this fall. Andrew Weisz is headed to Yale University, and Joey Schmidt will be playing for Keiser University. Despite the losses, expectations are as high as ever for the Bucs. Mays feels that the young players on the team have “grown since last year and have reached a more mature mindset.” “Compete in every game, show how Benjamin has changed since last year and how the team has grown, go undefeated, win a state [championship], and stay healthy,” Mays said about his goals for the team in the upcoming season. Staying healthy is key, as injuries can derail a season. In Mays’ freshman season, he was injured and played only three games. The shortened season last year resulted in his playing only six; so, he’s looking forward to finally getting to play a full season. Two years ago, the Bucs went 8-4 and reached the second round of states, so getting back to that level, and even beyond it, is a clear objective for the team this season. With the youth of the team improving and a full, real off-season, the upside is clearly there for the team to be great this season, reach states and go even further than they did two years prior. The pre-season kicks off Aug. 19 in a matchup against Dade Christian. The regular season begins eight days later on Aug. 27 against John Carroll. Whereas there were merely four regular season games scheduled last year, there are 10 scheduled this season.
Juniors Logan Steiner and Brady Quinn look pumped for an explosive season. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
Junior Micah Mays raises the ball to the heavens. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
Freshman Ford Cash makes a leaping catch on the sidelines. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
Freshman Amaree Williams scopes out the field during a late-August practice. (Photo by Charlie Spungin)
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