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Brewster Students Place at National History Day Competition

by Katherine Twombly ’26

At this year's National History Day contest in New Hampshire, held on April 10 at Plymouth State University, two Brewster students were selected to participate in the national contest in June at the University of Maryland. The first student was Ava Lincender ’28, who placed second in the individual performance category and earned the outstanding Revolutionary War History Award for her performance of “Abigail Adams: What she kept to herself”. She wrote and performed a letter about what she felt Abigail Adams would have thought about the rights of women in the United States being neglected by the Constitution. This letter fits well with the year’s theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform, as it discusses women being somewhat ignored by the revolution, and the eventual reform that took place in order to gain greater equality over time.

The second student was Michael Jozokos ’27, who earned first place in the senior division of the papers category for his paper titled “Hear with our eyes: the revolutionary reform of closed captioning in American media”. This paper was about the greater accessibility of media by including closed captioning, which would benefit the deaf and hardof-hearing communities, as they would have the same access to media. This topic is strongly connected to the idea of reform in the sense that there was action taken in order to make changes to promote equity in media consumption. Both of these students have also shared their writing with the community, and it is included on the following pages. We would first like to include the letter that Lincender wrote in the voice of Abigail Adams, and then we will follow with Jozokos's work. Please see pages 10-11 for more.

Academy Celebrates End of Year Events

by Katherine Twombly ’26

As we near the end of the school year, there are many important events coming up, so here is a brief overview of each day.

May 7: Starting at 7 pm in the Rogers Flex Room is the town hall for

Senior prefect elections, which will help decide who next year’s senior prefects will be by allowing each of them to share more about themselves and their goals for Brewster. Room selection for next year also takes place on this day in Mrs. Edmonds' office using the

numbers previously selected.The AP exams on this date are Statistics and World History.

May 8: This is the final day of Water Bandits, and the winners will be announced once determined. For seniors, this is the last day to purchase prom tickets, including if you plan to take any Junior or outside guests. The AP exams on this date are U.S. History and Macroeconomics.

May 11: This is the date of our final community dinner of the year, which will take place from 5-7 p.m. outside on Brown Field during the Boys Varsity Lacrosse Game! The AP exams on this date are Calculus AB and BC and Seminar.

May 12: Starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until 3 p.m., this is the first day to select Prom tables in Mrs. Edmonds' office, and there will be a table in Esta where you can order flowers for prom during lunch. Prefect Elections will be held at All-School at 9:40 a.m. At 7 p.m. in Rogers is the spring commitment day for any athletes committed to play on a competitive sports team in college. The AP exam on this day is Psychology.

May 13: The AP exam on this day is English Language and Composition.

May 14: The annual Lifer Dinner for seniors will be held in Rogers at 6 p.m. This is also the last day to select prom tables, and after that, assignments will be randomized.

May 15: The senior trip will take place during the school day, with more details to come! From 5-7 p.m. is the Block Party, which will be the whole school combined this year, and from 7-8 p.m. will be split into upper and lower school areas.

May 16: This is the Saturday of community weekend, and there will be a pickleball tournament on the tennis courts all day to participate in or go watch!

May 17: On Sunday, there will be an optional senior hike in the early morning, so be sure to check your email for the location and timing. From 1-4 p.m. is Springfest for the whole school with bouncy houses, food trucks, and many other activities!

May 18: This is the first day of assessment week, and the C and D block assessments are scheduled for this date. This is also the first day that Seniors can pick up their yearbooks from the mailroom! After assessments

Everyone’s A Critic: Morrissey’s Front Porch Review

by Gabi Reynolds ’27

Most students at Brewster likely have never heard of Morrissey’s Front Porch, located at 286 S Main St., even though it is a 4.3-star restaurant on Google review summary, and as far a walk away as Nolan’s Brick Oven Bistro. The restaurant’s unpopular reputation in the Brewster community is likely due to its location in the opposite direction from town. However, I assure you that a walk to this restaurant would be worth it, if not necessary, in every student’s time at Brewster.

No matter the season, Morrissey’s Front Porch creates a cozy atmosphere to dine in for the Wolfeboro community, separate from the downtown glamour. Especially during the summer months, this pub-style restaurant offers a range of seating options, from counter seating to booth selections, and from dining tables inside to picnic tables outside. Although Morrissey’s does not have the widest selection of cuisine, the most expensive dishes, or lakeside seating, its many great aspects distinguish the restaurant as a diamond in the rough of local dining spots. When ranked among other seafood spots downtown, it is recognized as second only to the Wolfetrap Grill and Rawbar. Since I have frequented this restaurant with my family over the years, it has always been our go-to spot. When I was growing up, I used to order the kids’ hot dog meal with French fries and chocolate milk. The food arrived fast, considering a child’s warped perceptions of waiting a long time. The bun was toasted to a per-

fect crunch, the hot dog wasn’t too salty, and the chocolate milk was refreshing on a hot August night out on the porch.

As I have grown up, the quality of the food has not diminished. After trying more mature dishes, I have settled on a simple pick for my favorite order. My sister and I always order the restaurant’s adored macaroni and cheese, with bacon bits and crumbs, along with chicken tenders. The warm and belly-filling, yet seasoned and delicate macaroni has always been a pleasure to spend dinnertime with, while the almost citrus hint in the chicken cuts through the various levels of lactose in the pasta. To complement our orders, my family orders the pretzel sticks with a delectable cheese sauce to dip them in. These footlong rods come perfectly cooked and sprinkled with salt on top, and are even more enjoyable when adorned with the cheese sauce, separate from that of the macaroni.

Although dessert was never a secure option for my sister and me with nut allergies, the platters that rolled out of the kitchen always seemed delicious. Despite the fact that both of my parents have notable food restrictions (gluten and dairy/red meats/eggs), the servers have always found substitute options to edit my parents’ dishes while maintaining restaurant-level quality. While also taking note of our special requests, service was always timely and welcoming, comparable to that of a homey diner.

More than anything, the restaurant provides a space to embrace incoming

Gunstock Mountain: A Review

by Casey Shea ’26

As a school, we are very lucky to have a ski resort close by. Standing 2,240 feet in the air, Gunstock Mountain is a beautiful sight to see from campus. The views of Lake Winnipesaukee from the Panorama summit are also incredible, but you do have to be patient for the 7-10 minute ride up the chairlift, assuming people know how to get on and off, and the workers don’t have to stop the lift every minute.

One unique thing about Gunstock is that it’s not too overwhelming a mountain, and there is a strong family-friendly energy. However, this comes with drawbacks.

“There are a lot of people normally, and most of them aren't proficient skiers or riders,” said Izzy Bailey ’27, who has observed the mountain during her three years on the Snowboarding team, “at times, they can become unsafe by being all over the trail, or blasting through the park.”

I have also experienced times on crowded days when it is hard to ski because everybody in front of me is slow or inexperienced, especially on the trails of the Ramrod chairlift. However, there is a NASTAR race course on Ramrod, and if you’re lucky and it's open to the public,

customers that I have not found any

where else downtown. Restaurants such as Marker 21 and Back Bay Boathouse offer a wide variety of foods, but their tables feel disconnected in such large venues. On the other hand, more inti-

mate spots like the Pickering House and Nolan’s Bistro can break the bank. Therefore, Morrissey’s Front Porch offers a middle-ground experience that can fit a casual late afternoon meal or an intimate dinner with family and friends.

you’ll have an open trail for a run. Those who are extremely advanced skiers or riders may not find the challenging environment they are looking for at Gunstock. The Black Diamonds offered here are much easier than those of some of the other larger New Hampshire mountains, such as Wildcat and Cannon. In my opinion, as a skier, the most adrenaline rush you can get from Gunstock is on the (somewhat) daunting Tiger Steeps trail, which appears to be almost vertical from the chair lift.

In terms of cost, ski mountains are always expensive. At Gunstock, it’s most expensive to get tickets on weekends, as they tend to be more popular. For those aged 6-17, skiing on a weekend is $79, and those aged 18-29 have to pay $89. Tickets for weekdays are around $15 cheaper.

It is definitely expensive to ski, but Gunstock offers the opportunity to buy season passes, which typically pay for themselves after around 7 weekday trips. Though normally priced at around $600 for skiers and riders 6-17 and $679 for those 18-29, Gunstock offers spring sales, and prices season passes over $100 cheaper. These are worth buying if you plan to ski a lot. You won’t have to park near the ticket office and walk up either

the stairs or the annoying hill to start out your day. However, if you don’t ski a lot, or you missed the April 30 deal deadline, the worthiness of the season pass starts to decline.

The food at Gunstock is also expensive. The lodge has a variety of typical options you’d expect for a mountain: burgers, pizza, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, hot dogs, and hot chocolate that tastes similar to Dunkin’s. The food is decent, hot, and satisfactory after skiing out in the cold, but it is way too expensive. Two orders of chicken tenders with

From

by Sufjan Waleryszak ’27

Over the last half a decade, the public has seen an expansion in the tech sector like never before. New data centers are popping up almost overnight, as Nvidia, Anthropic, and OpenAI, among others, continue to have their market share soar. And yet there seems to be growing discontent in the general public in response to the rise in generative AI. A recent poll from Quinnipiac University has over 80% of Americans either “somewhat concerned” or “very concerned”, and over half of Americans believe AI will negatively affect their lives.

Some anti-AI sentiment has even turned violent. On April 10, 2026, Daniel Moreno-Gama, a Texas resident who had traveled to California, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail (a homemade incendiary weapon) into the residence of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Only two days later, two individuals fired a shot from a handgun at the same residence.

Let’s step back and talk about what AI is first before we talk about why people are souring on the technology. Modern AIs, also known as LLMs (large language models), are computational models designed to perform language generation, using statistical patterns learned from large text data. LLMs can generate, summarize, translate, and parse text in many contexts, and are a foundational technology behind modern chatbots. LLMs typically require large data centers, used not only for running these programs, but also for training them. There are only 10 small-scale AI data cen-

When Will the AI Bubble Pop?

ters in New Hampshire as of 2026. These data centers consume a large amount of resources and pollute the surrounding environment. One of the resources AI data centers consume the most of is water, according to Mike Weinstein, director of sustainability at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “Data centers use lots of water to absorb the heat generated by computation,” Weinstein said in an online article available on the SHNU website. “What this often means is that a large volume of freshwater from the surrounding environment is diverted to the data center and away from other uses, like drinking water.” This oftentimes creates frustration among residents of areas that host data centers, as the construction and use of these data centers create barriers to their access to clean water.

Many AI companies are also dealing with legal issues over copyright law. AI programs are trained on most of the modern internet, a large amount of which is either taken from irepuble anonymous posters on forums such as Reddit, or from artists and/or authors without their consent. For example, Grammarly, which is required by most English classes at Brewster, got in hot water this past March for rolling out an “AI Expert” feature that uses the AI personas based on various authors, journalists, and scientists, including Stephen King and the late Carl Sagan, to give you writing advice. But Grammarly did not ask any of these experts for permission to use their likeness.

At the same time, these AI compa-

nies have a massive financial problem. JP

Morgan Chase analysts predict that over $5 trillion will be spent on AI infrastructure between now and 2030, with $670 billion of that being just this year. That is more than the Apollo space program, the U.S. interstate highway system, railroads, and every other major capital expenditure in U.S. history except the Louisiana Purchase, according to the Wall Street Journal. Yet the two largest AI companies, OpenAI and Anthropic, only have annual revenues of $25 billion and $19 billion, respectively.

Where are these AI companies getting all this money to pay for these projects, you may ask? Investors, of course. Over $581.7 billion was invested in AI in the fiscal year 2025, according to a Stanford University report. But investors only invest if there is going to be a return on investment, and in a socio-economic climate like right now, there will not be very much return on investment. At some point, the cost will catch up to investors, like how it caught up to them in 2008.

The Iranian Conflict, and What We Can Learn from Whistleblowers

by Wyatt Randall ’27

In uncertain times like these, it can be hard to find out the truth about conflict, like how conflicts start, how they end, and how the United States interacts with them. Fortunately, a prominent figure in the foreign affairs space that has recently been gaining traction is John Kiriakou, whom you might have seen on Instagram or TikTok for his viral interview.

But beyond his recent fame, Kiriakou worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 20 years, serving as chief of counter-terrorism in Iran. He became a major whistleblower in 2007 when he spoke out against the practice of torture, and especially waterboarding by the CIA. He was charged with crimes of espionage and revealing identities of undercover operatives, and was sentenced to 30 months in jail.

What makes Kiriakou special is his integrity, his principles and morals, and what he will and won't stand for, which is what led to him blowing the whistle on the torture program in the first place. But his real, hands-on experience with Iran specifically can lead to greater insight into the current conflict.

For years, the United States has had a large part to play in the Iranian government. Ever since the beginning of the Cold War and proxy wars, wars backed by the US and the Soviet Union in other countries, Iran has been an area of focus.

In the infamous 1953 Iranian Coup d’etat, the CIA worked with the British intelligence organization MI6 to overthrow the then Shah of Iran, Mohhamed Mosaddegh. This regime change was the fuel for a burning fire of civil unrest and discontent that has lasted to this day.

In our current day, the conflict with Iran has been a result of our long-term cooperation with the state of Israel. Simply put, Israel’s most recent armed conflict was with Iran in June of last year, where Israel attacked military research sites and killed dozens of civilians. Iran responded with missile strikes and drone attacks, but the US intercepted them and launched a retaliatory attack on suspected Iranian nuclear sites. On June 24, 2025, a ceasefire was agreed to by all parties.

“The Israelis were masterful in how they went after Iranian leadership,” said Kiriakou on the Diary of a CEO Podcast. "What they did was they focused on

recruited Afghan refugees. Iran was home to 2 million refugees. The Israelis said that you will get $200 if you can tell us where all the generals and nuclear scientists live. The Israelis killed the top 12 generals across the Iranian military and their top nuclear scientists.”

On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched another missile strike on the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Kehmeni, killing him. Iran responded by bombing large parts of Israel, and Tel Aviv, the capital. But the biggest consequence of this strike was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical point for oil and gas trade in the world market.

“The truth is, the facts are changing daily,” said John Kiriakou. “The Iranians have said they would charge a fee, the fee has been as high as 2 million Yuan [Chinese currency], which is going to be a direct challenge to US economic control of the oil passing through. A few days ago, Donald Trump said that the Strait

will be taken by the US, and this morning [April 14th], the Strait is again closed… The US is now ensuring the strait remains closed via navy blockade outside the Iranian blockade… I believe that, in the end, there will be no fee, no American blockade, and the Iranians will go back to their side of the waters.”

Gunstock Mountain: A Review

a drink cost around $40, even with the season pass discount. Gunstock also serves warm, sweet, gooey sugar waffles as well as drinks outside near the Panorama lift. It’s very convenient, and you don’t even have to take your skis off to order.

“The waffle cabin at Gunstock needs to be open every day of the week, not just on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays,” said three-year member of the Snowboarding Team Callie Pilkington ’26. I couldn’t agree more.

Being a small, family-friendly mountain has advantages. Gunstock has a magic carpet, a bunny hill, as well as a ski school, which, speaking from experience, is both fun and effective. It’s pretty hard to get lost at Gunstock, and the frequent skier does not have to reference a map. Even if you’ve never been, it wouldn’t probably take much more than 10 minutes to get from one side of the mountain to the other. This makes Gunstock an ideal place for kids and teenagers to gain some independence and ski on their own, as well as a good place for Brewster’s Rec Ski members to have fun.

Gunstock is especially important to

Brewster’s Snowboarding and Alpine Ski Teams. They make the 30-40 minute drive over to Gunstock daily in the winter and make use of what the mountain has to offer during countless practices, and the mountain is used for races as well.

Izzy Bailey ’27 spends a lot of time at the terrain park, Blundersmoke, and appreciates that the “large park [has] a variety of features, providing plenty of space to learn and grow.”

Blundersmoke is a wide trail with boxes and rails, with 3-4 big jumps. It is filled with dedicated and talented snowboarders and skiers, although the chairlift up Pistol is often entertaining (as long as everyone who wipes out is okay).

Augustina McGillion, ‘26, a member of Alpine Ski, enjoys going to Gunstock for practice.

“Sometimes it gets difficult when a bunch of teams are practicing back to back, and the course gets super choppy, which is dangerous,” she said. “They do switch up the course, but that causes all the rivets to be in the middle of the trail.”

Gunstock is a popular mountain, and that does mean that Brewster has to share the slopes with other schools. Although this may be frustrating, sometimes a por-

cupine or two has been known to pop out of the woods underneath Tiger Triple, the lift the Alpine Ski Team uses.

Augustina ‘26 loves whenever the porcupines appear. “They are so cute!” she says.

Overall, skiing here is fun, predict-

able, and hassle-free. It’s not the most advanced mountain, but it’s perfect if you're a beginner or want to know exactly what you're doing. It’s a good place for young skiers to enjoy independence, and it serves our competitive ski and snowboard teams (and rec ski) well.

The Iranian Conflict, and What We Can Learn from Whistleblowers

We talked with Brewster’s economics expert and teacher, Mr. PJ Tessier, to gain some perspective on what this might mean from an economic standpoint. He said, “There's a lot to understand from a business standpoint. If we think about the Strait and what it means for business, its closure means a higher cost to American consumers. Higher costs, because there are high measures we need to take from other countries instead of the Strait of Hormuz. With a lower supply and higher demand than previous. You may not think this translates to your Lululemon, but oil is directly related to the fabrication of nylons and textiles, and also the transportation costs of all goods.…everything that has to be transported from point A to point B, there is a higher cost to move it. Companies won't eat that constant differ-

ence; they will pass it onto the consumer.”

We asked Mr. Tessier what would happen after this conflict? He said, “We will be able to use it [the Strait of Hormuz] again: if closed, then we will have to find another way. The more the conflict goes on, the more we will have to spend on oil and the war effort, and contribute to inflationary pressures on the dollar. More spending equals more inflation. If it's too rampant, the US dollar will weaken against other countries' currencies.”

What makes the Strait of Hormuz so impactful on the United States’ economy is the effect it has on petroleum dollars. Mr. Tessier said, “The petrol dollar refers to the international use of USD when purchasing oil from other economies. It's been the basis for a long time, and it causes real demand for US dollars, which gives us the ability to sell US debt. People

want dollars, and they buy treasury bonds to stabilize the dollars they previously purchased. China and Russia are increasing their use of the ruble and yuan for the new petrodollar, taking away from the power of the USD. This makes it more difficult to sell treasuries from the US. We have benefited from instability in the Yuan and Ruble, especially, but if other countries accept them, then we may lose our place as the king's currency.”

We asked Mr. Tessier to explain what treasury debt is and why it is important to this conflict. He said, “When the government spends money, there are two places it comes from: we can spend it from taxes, or we can create new dollars through the issuance of debt, where countries can give us money in hopes of a return of a predetermined amount of time. It gives us the ability for higher growth, but we

Academy Celebrates End of Year Events

are completed, everyone must be in their assigned areas of the Ac in formal dress by 3:45 for Moving Up Day.

May 19: The assessments on Tuesday are for E and F block, and underclassmen can pick up their yearbooks in the mailroom. At 4 p.m., after exams, sports awards honoring spring teams will be held in the Smith Center. During study hall is Major Dorm Cleanup, so there are no nights out, and right before at 7:30 p.m. will be a

school-wide goodwill pick up in each dorm to donate anything you may no longer need.

May 20: This is the final day of assessments for A and B block, and once completed, all underclassmen who are not student leaders and have not been invited to attend Prom may depart campus. Leadership camp will be held and will depart from Esta at 12:30 and return around 5:30 p.m.

May 21: Leadership camp continues from 9 a.m to noon in the Rogers, and

once completed, any student leaders not attending Prom or graduation may leave campus. The promenade at the Grayson Student Center will begin at 5 p.m and last until 6:30, when students begin departing for Prom at Bald Peak, which will conclude at 10:30 p.m.

May 22: Any remaining students who will not be attending graduation must depart campus by noon, at which time there will be a Junior Class barbecue. All Seniors must attend graduation rehearsal starting at 12:45

have to repay that debt over the long term. The hopes of the US is that we can keep inflation at a reasonable number and over the long term, devalue our current debt, through moderate inflation, so that we can pay back less than what we borrowed, which is why we have debts in the tens of trillions, that’s not necessarily a good or bad thing, debt is seen as a positive, but were reaching levels we’ve never seen before, which can spook investors.”

In the end, both Kiriakou and Brewster’s Mr. Tessier agree that the strait is an essential piece of territory for world trade, and that the blockades will do nothing but increase the price of oil, and therefore the price of all goods and their transportation. However, John Kiriakou agrees that the Strait will open and the US and Iranian governments will back down from this conflict.

pm and will pick up caps and gowns in the lobby of the Ac once rehearsal is completed. The Ivy Address and Head of School Reception starts at 4:30 on Lamb Green. All are welcome. There will be a final Senior event in the Rogers from 8-10 p.m.

May 23: All graduates must be in the Smith Center at 8 a.m to line up for graduation, and all faculty members and attending Juniors will need to be in the Ac to line up by 8:30. Graduation starts at 9!

Brewster Prep Basketball Thrives Yet Again

by David Mason ’26

Twenty-two wins, 2417 points scored over thirty-two games: the 2025-2026 season was more than just a season; it was a statement. The Brewster Academy Prep Basketball team had another incredible season, participating in the New England Independent Prep League (NEIPL), playing against some of the best teams in the nation, coached by Naadir Tharpe, and holding a 14man roster and having a thrilling 22-10 record while only losing one game at home and winning 13.

The strong season is no surprise as Brewster Prep has delivered seven national championships and 10 NEPSAC AAA regular-season championships throughout its history, consistently a powerhouse, creating NCAA Division 1 talent. This year was special, being introduced to a new league of play and a heavy schedule, but the Bobcats took it in stride while putting up incredible numbers, averaging 75 points a game.

They took it to a new level off the bat at their first game against Reason Prep Academy out of Massachusetts at home. On 11/5/25, Brewster defeated, dominated, beat, and any other verb to mean decisively won and made a statement, putting up 121 points to 55 from Reason Prep. Bates commit Alex Gordon ‘26 led the team, scoring a powerful 24 points, 18 from Joe Colagrossi ‘28 off the bench, a notable 17 points from Benton Welker ‘26, along with 11 from Cyrus Hutchinson ‘26. A strong all-around game, even going on a 30-point run, in their first game of the season, and also noting the large amount of geography covered, schools all over New England and New York.

“My favorite memory was probably beating Newman the 2nd time we played

them,” said defensive powerhouse and Trinity University commit Eren Ozcelik ‘26, “because, I mean, it was super hype. It was nice to get back at them.”

On February 15th, Brewster Prep played Newman School out of Back Bay, Massachusetts, and fell short by 31 points with the final score at 77-108. Only soon after, on February

20th, their Senior Game, Brewster faced Newman again. Except this time around, Newman couldn’t hold a lead, and Prep led a strong game, emphasized by a multitude of steals by Gordon ‘26 and impressive three-point shooting, going 41 % from beyond the arc, compared to an amateur 34 % from Newman. After a strong game, they

Scenes from Brewster Spring Sports

almost never gave up the lead, in front of a packed house and a legacy game for senior Alex Gordon, dropping a ridiculous 30 points on Newman’s head. Brewster finished on top with 91-82. From dominant wins over Reason Prep to chirps from St. Luke’s, this season was unforgettable, with the amount of talent curated and developed over a long season. Recognized by the NEIPL conference, the two standouts were awarded All First Team honors, Parth Miglani ‘26 and Alex Gordon ’26 along with All Second Team Cyrus Hutchinson ‘26. The love of the game played a core role this year with injuries and sidelined players making games difficult, but nothing too difficult for this year’s Prep team.

When asked what role the love of the game had on him, Eren Ozcelik said, “just to just enjoy, if you’re not having fun, then don’t do it, maybe lay back, do something else, find a hobby, but just gain your passion back because if you have a passion for something, you’re gonna do better than, off of straight discipline.

“And I’m not saying discipline is bad, but discipline sometimes can’t get you fired up enough to do what you want,” he continued.

This year was great for Brewster Prep, with dominant wins, a rigorous schedule, and a fantastic team. With a senior strong class, Hamilton College commit Cyrus Hutchinson ‘26, Trinity University (Texas) commit Eren Ozcelik ‘26, Bates College commit Alex Gordon ‘26, Benton Welker ‘26, Parth Miglani ‘26, and Sean Taylor ‘26 will all be greatly missed. With another great season in the books, the 2026-2027 season can be anticipated to be a new era of Brewster Basketball.

by Mila Bahr ’27

Advice 101: The Nail Files, Installment #1

I have been doing nails for about two and a half years now, and every set is really just a trial and error of what techniques work best for other people and me. Here is just a short little review on what works best for me, as well as ten tips for aspiring nail techs!

Ten Beginner Tips-

These are just a few tips I wish I knew when I was first starting out.

1. When applying a nail tip, you do not need mounds of glue. A little goes a long way.

2. If you’re using an electric file, really try and make sure you understand what bits are for what situations, for example, you don't want to use a coarse/medium sanding bit on your natural nail, only use it for removing things like builder gel and acrylic because it can damage your natural nail very quickly.

3. Also, when using an e-file, don't stay in one spot because that's how you create friction burns and girl, they hurt.

4. For application, I find my nails stay on longest when I start with a dehydrator, then primer, then apply tip (flashcure and then stick under light for 60 seconds), then basecoat, color, and topcoat.

5. Try to make sure when you shape, you don't damage your nail's side walls. It can ruin your nail's structural integrity.

6. If you're using nail tips, I find it helpful to blend the tip into your natural nail (not a damaging amount), and then seal the cuticle with 100% alcohol.

7. To maintain healthy nails, focus on proper prep and application before jumping right to mastering designs and all that fun stuff.

8. Invest in quality products; it will pay off in the long run. This includes safety products like gloves and masks. You don't want to breathe it in or get that nail dust all over you. Not good at all.

9. Though it may not be fun and you may feel incomplete, take a few days off, and let your nails breathe!!! Nail health is real, and it's way better to be cautious and stop the problem before it starts, rather than having to take a longer break from nails than necessary because your nails

are so damaged. Yes, I will call you out.

10. Do your research! It may not seem like it, but nails are a lot more than just cute accessories. Contact dermatitis is real, and even allergic reactions are real. Make sure you know what you're putting on your nails and what could be potentially harmful to you or your friends.

Moving on from beginner to a little bit more advanced, here's my review on two popular gel polish brands as well as my personal experience with the two. Of course, you’re entitled to your own opinion, but that means I am too, and now I’m sharing it with you!

Review of Gel Polish Brands (for more experienced techs)-

DND Gel polish is better than Beetles Gel polish in many aspects, especially for more experienced techs for a few reasons.

The shape of the brush on DND Polish is overall more oval, and the bristles are a little smoother, lighter, and softer, so it's more suitable to navigate the shape of people’s cuticles.he bristles on a Beetles brush are tougher and more rugged while the overall shape is square so it’s harder to get a clean, full coverage, well shaped look around your nail bed. DND is also a little higher in quality, especially because the polish itself is more pigmented, and when you order, it comes with both a gel polish and a lacquer for a reasonable price. If you buy Beetles, you will receive a flimsy plastic bottle with inaccurate color swatch, whereas from DND, you get a reasonably sized glass bottle, an accurate color swatch, and an actual and notable name for the color of polish.

DND is a brand for people with a little more experience, because it is a more runny and sheer formula. The tech will need to know how to navigate proper amounts of polish and distance from the cuticle so that they won't actually flood the cuticle. Beetles polish also comes in deals where you can get more polishes, but at smaller sizes, and with DND, you can get deals with more polishes, but at the same average size. Beetles' formula is a little thicker, and in my personal experience, once the polish

started to dry out or expire, which was made worse or quicker? by the thickness of the polish,, the polish became tacky and unusably thick in a short amount of time. , If not dried for an absurd amount of time under the UV light, Beetle’s polish will wrinkle and peel. The only real way to prevent that is either curing your nail for about 2 minutes, 1 minute over necessary, or applying very thin layers, eventually making your nail thicken with every

coat. DND is thin enough so that it won't thicken your nail with a lot of coats, and it doesn't have a formula that needs a year to cure without it peeling.

If you’re a tech who is confident in your abilities and are comfortable in your current bracket, consider taking the jump from beginner polish to DND Gel.

Past, Present, and Future Juicy Celebrity Scandals

cont. from pg. 7

person ever. He's been arrested before, but about a week ago, he was arrested again for involvement in battery. His girlfriend, Violet Lentz, also just turned herself in to the Florida police for actually having been an assailant in the fight that had taken place in an Orlando Airbnb with another influencer. Lentz was booked with a misdemeanor but released on $1,000 bail. This dude is just plainly crazy, and he found his perfect match. 10. Brooklyn Beckham exiled-

In January, Brooklyn Beckham publicly accused his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, of trying to sabotage his marriage with Nicola Peltz. He claims that his parents prioritize “Brand Beckham’ over their relationship with him. He has made multiple statements about how they tried to hijack his first dance and his bride's dress. The Beckham parents haven't made a public statement yet, but their son certainly has, and apparently, he has no desire to reconcile.

Honorable Mention: Al Pacino

becoming a retro dadAl Pacino became a dad to a newborn at the ripe old age of 85. He welcomed his fourth child, a son named Roman Pacino, with then-girlfriend Noor Alfallah, a 32-year-old film producer. Just this lady alone could be a hit story. She has had multiple relationships with celebrities 50 years her senior, including Mick Jagger and Clint Eastwood. This story is pretty old now, but I say it's as timeless as Al Pacino (apparently).

Past, Present, and Future Juicy Celebrity Scandals

by Mila Bahr ’27

This year, we have been blessed with many wonderfully stupid things that celebrities do, so publicly. In this story, we will be going over those things for pure entertainment! I’ll also be giving my personal two cents on some of the movies that have been released from the start of the school year, all the way to ones that will be released during the summer. (See those recommendations on page 9.) So please, read these highlights and lowlights of the pop culture world and enjoy these digs.

People-

We’ll start off by recapping ten of the most notable, some slightly dense, celebrity moments in the 2025-2026 school year, plus one honorable mention. (in no specific order)

1. Timothée Chalamet dissing on ballet-

This past February, Timothée was invited by CNN and Variety to do a town hall at the University of Texas with Matthew McConaughey, and by the end, he was canceled. He said, “I don't want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore.” This exact quote has been clipped and shared throughout many different social media platforms. Fans, or now I guess ex-fans, have been drawing attention in the comments to the fact that Chalamet's very own mother is a former ballet dancer, having spent many years with the New York City Ballet and even Broadway. Not to mention the fact that he's dabbled in the arts himself, so I'm just a little confused on the switchup. Also, during the Sinners’ I Lied To You performance at the Oscars, Misty Copeland came out of literal retirement to perform front and center as a ballerina. Some people might dare to say that the spotlight on her was a jab at Chalamet's ignorant comment. I think it's safe to say that he has officially lost the accent above one of his e’s, and he's now just a tasteless old Timothee.

2. Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively being capital D Drama queensI feel like everyone is tired of hearing about this melodrama, so I’m going to try not to beat the dead horse and just keep it short and sweet. Basically, in December, Lively filed a complaint and then a federal lawsuit against Baldoni for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Then, in January of 2025, Baldoni countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion. Baldoni also ended up trying to sue some news outlets, like The New York Times, for defamation. Then judge Liman dismissed both of Baldoni's suits and most of Lively’s suit because he's just as done with the drama as all of us are. This whole series of events gave me whiplash, and I

wasn't even involved. Moving on…

3. Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad-

There's not much to say about this other than that, for a hot minute, this was all anyone would talk about, and it was on everyone's feed. It did spark some controversy over whether she was making this ad with a purely male-targeted audience or not. It was also very similar to the Calvin Klein ad made in 1980 with Brooke Shields, which, upon further review, is honestly pretty disturbing and off-putting.

4. Selena Gomez’s kidney donor not being at her wedding-

Back in 2017, Selena Gomez underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, and the donor was actually a fellow actress named Francia Raisa. Fans were very curious to know why the actress wasn't at Selena's recent wedding with Benny Blanco. Raisa came out and said that she

then publicly announcing that she's in a relationship with Chris Hughes. They met on Celebrity Big Brother UK and grew closer and closer throughout the time on the show. Jojo really just confused people on the internet because it seemed like she had a girlfriend throughout her whole time on the show, so a big cheating scandal also got thrown in there.

6. David Harbour and Lily Allen's messy split-

It was revealed that David Harbour cheated on Lily Allen with a costume designer in late 2025, yet the affair allegedly started in 2021. I'll let that sink in a little. The couple married in 2020, and barely a year later, he had an affair. Ouch. Though all this scandal has moved forward on the timeline a little, Lily Allen is still pulling moves by recently wearing a dress with the print of receipts to her West End Girl album tour. Yes, and the receipt was for all the stuff her husband bought for another woman. Double ouch.

7. Ariana and Cynthia being tactile twins-

binary relationship”, which Cynthia described as meaning they aren't actually a couple, but they’re curious about what they could be. They’re just always touching and guarding each other. There’s a clip showing when a helicopter flew over where Ariana and Cynthia had an interview, and Cynthia started malfunctioning, and Ariana was trying to shoo away the helicopter. Kind of hilarious, kind of frightening, but it's one of the many moments that sum up their relationship.

was happy to have had the opportunity to save Selena’s life, but they just aren't close anymore. Some people sensed some resentment in the way she said that statement, but they could also just be crazy; that's always an option. This one to me is just another case of like “wake up guys, remember we don't actually know these people!” There could be a million reasons why Raisa didn't attend the wedding, and I doubt any trolls on the internet actually know why.

5. Jojo Siwa -

As if this woman hasn't been throwing us for a loop since 2015, she turns around and just adds more. Since 2021 and into 2025, Jojo has had various different girlfriends, and in April of 2025, she had a very public, very messy breakup with TikToker Kath Ebbs. Jojo ended up dumping Ebbs at a CNN afterparty and

These two are one of a kind. It was no secret that they grew close during the making and press tours of Wicked, but they grew unusually close, like attached at the hips kind of close. They were reportedly in a “non-demi-curious semi-

8. Tiger Woods being a hot messWoods was just recently in a car wreck in Florida, and he's now facing charges for not only the crash, but also refusing to submit a urine sample. The whole situation was caught on an officer's body cam, especially the part where two pills were pulled from Woods' pants pocket. He was then arrested for DUI at the scene, and the two pills were identified as hydrocodone, a highly addictive prescription opioid. Though his breathalyzer scored 0.000, the arresting officers ruled that his “normal faculties” were impaired. He was also seen pacing around the vehicle on a phone call, which was apparently with the president. The White House has not responded to CNN’s request for information, but Trump has recently called Woods a good friend and expressed how Woods is living in immense pain due to injury.

9. Clavicular just being Clavicular-

For those of you who don't know, Clavicular, real name Braden Peters, is a streamer and influencer who is all about his image. He became more known in 2025 because of extreme practices such as bone smashing on his cheekbones to fulfill a theory that states basically that if you break the bone, it will grow back stronger and more chiseled. As well as taking anabolic steroids and lipodissolve products, and allegedly using crystal meth to stay lean. Interesting methods, if you ask any

Spanish Global Voices Students Write Essays on World Crises

The following two essays were written by students of Ms. Margarita Proulx, for the Spanish Global Voices class.

Students researched a world crisis during a Global Challenges unit, and wrote these essays as part of a project titled "Walk in someone else's shoes."

La crisis de educación en Guatemala

by Casey Shea ’26

Aquí en Brewster tenemos una buena educación. Es posible olvidarlo, pero para muchos niños la educación no es una realidad. La educación de las niñas en Guatemala no es buena. Es el peor país para las niñas y para la educación en América Central, según el artículo “¡Es perjudicial! La Falta de Educación de las Niñas produce impactos negativos” (Rojas, 2018). Conoce a Lucía. Ella es una niña de Sololá, Guatemala; es indígena maya y es una de las “23.000 niñas que no están en la escuela en Guatemala, en el departamento de Sololá” (Asturias). Ella querría terminar el sexto grado. Pero el año pasado, cuando tenía nueve años, ella fue al quinto grado y fue su último año de escuela. Es muy triste. ¿Por qué no está Lucía en la escuela este año? ¿Por qué Guatemala tiene uno de los peores índices (wr) de niñas que permanecen en la escuela? (Rojas 2018). Hay muchas razones para explicar la crisis en Guatemala. Niñas indígenas que viven en áreas rurales y no tienen mucho dinero no pueden ir a la escuela. La escuela cuesta dinero: entre los uni-

formes, los libros y, a veces, el transporte a la escuela (Bourke, 2025). No hay suficiente infraestructura y financiamiento (wr) para las escuelas, lo cual constituye (grammarly) otra razón (Bourke, 2025). La pandemia (wr) de COVID-19 también ha interrumpido (wr) las escuelas porque la gente quiere reducir (wr) la difusión (wr) de la enfermedad (wr) (Mundo Exchange). También, cuando en la comunidad no hay muchas niñas y mujeres con educación, como en Solalá, es difícil para las niñas jóvenes tener el valor (wr) para ir a la escuela y desafiar (wr) las expectativas sociales. De alguna manera, es un ciclo (wr) difícil de romper, especialmente para familias con poco dinero. Y poco dinero es el problema preciso (wr) para la familia de Lucía.

El dinero es necesario para la comida, el techo y el agua potable, y enviar a Lucía a la escuela requiere más dinero de lo que la familia tiene.

Como en muchas familias de Guatemala, el padre de Lucía es la cabeza del hogar. El año pasado, él sentó a Lucía para una conversación muy seria. Ella sabía que venía.

Agua limpia y impacto de IA

by Marharyta Morozova ’26

Hola! Me llamo Celeste y soy de Chile. Tengo dieciséis años. Hoy quiero explicar un problema de contaminación ambiental que afecta más a mi vida. Hace años, cuando yo era pequeña, mi familia tenía una vida normal. Pero hoy tenemos problemas con el suministro de agua potable y con los centros de datos de IA en mi ciudad. Este problema tiene solución, pero necesitamos la ayuda de más personas. Estoy aquí para crear conciencia y atención sobre el problema de la falta de agua limpia.

Vivo en Quilicura, un comune en Chile, cerca de Santiago, la capital de Chile. En Chile hay 33 centros de datos y 34 más en desarrollo (Utman). El gobierno

de Chile quiere fomentar la innovación, pero los miembros del gobierno no piensan en las vidas de las familias. Muchas familias no tienen agua en su casa o el agua no es limpia. Necesitamos detener la construcción de los centros de datos: esta es la única solución al problema.

¿Cuál es la conexión entre la IA y el agua limpia? La IA necesita agua limpia en los centros de datos. Los centros de datos consumen mucha agua para bajar la temperatura. Los computadores no pueden funcionar sin refrigeración por agua. Muchas regiones cercanas a los centros de datos no tienen acceso a presión de agua o a agua limpia como resultado. Es un problema no solo en Chile; también en América del Sur y en Estados Unidos.

Hughes, Kayla. “Education during the Pandemic in Guatemala | Mundo Exchange.” Mundo Exchange | Enriching Lives, One Person at a Time, 18 Aug. 2021, mundoexchange.org/ education-during-the-pandemic-in-guatemala/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

“Lucía, el dinero es escaso. La escuela para ti no es posible. Cuando seas mayor, puedes estar en el hogar. Entonces no necesitas educación. Sí, la educación es buena, pero el dinero para nosotras es más importante.”

Había mucho en la mente de Lucía, pero ella no tiene otra opción más que decir: “Sí, papá”.

Ella ha visto este camino en su pueblo antes. No siempre es lo mismo,

pero puede ocurrir algo. Niñas como ella pueden ser víctimas de matrimonio forzado (Rojas, 2018). Niñas como ella pueden ser víctimas de violencia sexual (refliefweb, 2025). Niñas como ella trabajan para apoyar a sus familias desde muy temprana edad (Chiyal, 2015). El futuro de Lucía no parece brillante. Esto es un problema y requiere mucha cooperación, dinero, riesgos y tiempo para solucionarlo (grammarly). Pero hay organizaciones que están haciendo algo al respecto. Una de estas organizaciones es Girl Rising, un programa global que ayuda a niñas en varios países. Ellos tiene el objetivo de enseñar a los padres en Guatemala sobre la importancia de la educación. Otra organización es Maia Impact School. Esta escuela se creó hace casi diez años y está en Sololá. Maia es para niñas indígenas y para enseñar habilidades académicas, también habilidades (wr) por vida. Además, esta escuela prepara a algunas de sus niñas para trabajos profesionales o universitarios. La matrícula (wr) de cada año es de casi 400 niñas. No es perfecta, pero es un buen empezo para romper el ciclo cruel.

Por ejemplo, The New York Times escribe sobre la vida de Beverly Morris. Su vida es muy similar a la mía. Su familia no tiene acceso a agua potable desde que Meta construyó el centro, y ya no pueden vivir en condiciones buenas (Tan y Chambers). Mi historia y la de Beverly son muy comunes. Nosotros no podemos irnos por muchas razones, entre ellas la falta de dinero. Más importante aún, es que los centros destruyan la naturaleza. La Tierra está en muy mala condición. Tiene problemas por el cambio climático, falta de agua limpia, demasiada basura y plástico. Las empresas como Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc. no se preocuparán por el mundo. Quieren más dinero, lo cual no ayuda a la naturaleza. La solución

a este problema es el activismo. El gobierno puede controlar las empresas con el poder de la ley.

En 2020, Google quería construir un nuevo centro de datos por 200 millones de dólares. Este centro iba a necesitar 7,6 millones de litros de agua potable al día, pero la justicia chilena ha prohibido la construcción debido a la sequía provocada por los centros de datos (Enrique). Necesitamos más acción. Todas las personas necesitan abogar en contra de los centros de datos. Conversaciones, donaciones, protestas son cosas que ayudarán a la naturaleza y a muchas personas. Ustedes pueden crear una diferencia positiva. Hazlo.

Movies Through The Months: Our Recommendations

by Mila Bahr ’27

September 2025- The Conjuring: Last Rites

This final installment to the horror movie franchise explored Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by none other than Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, in their final case, famously known as the Smurl Family haunting. This last movie gets the Warrens' daughter, Judy, involved a lot more than she ever was before, as well as portrays Ed and Lorraine's contemplation with retirement. Spoiler alert, they weren't even close to receiving the peaceful bliss of retired life in this movie. I personally really enjoyed this movie, and that's saying a lot because I'm like a horror movie fanatic. I think it closed the franchise off really well.

October 2025- Regretting You

Regretting You is a book by Colleen Hoover, and in 2025, the movie adaptation starring McKenna Grace and Mason Thames was released. It follows Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, as they navigate sudden tragedy. After a fatal car accident kills Morgan’s husband and sister, they find out some very problematic family drama. I’m not completely sure how I feel about it.

November 2025- Now You See Me: Now You Don't

I love love love the Now You See Me movies, so this will be biased. In this movie, they bring back the original Four Horsemen: Atlas, played by Jesse Eisenberg, Merritt McKinney, played by Woody Harrelson, Jack Wilder, played by Dave Franco, and Henley Reeves, played by Isla Fisher. The original Horsemen mentor a new trio of magicians to steal a priceless diamond from a corrupt family. I can't say much without spoiling, but I will say you need to watch it. That's it, just watch.

December 2025- The Housemaid

The Housemaid is a psychological thriller novel by Freida McFadden, later turned into a movie starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. It's about a woman named Millie who takes a live-in job for the wealthy, mysterious Winchester family, who has a lot of sinister secrets. This movie turns into a high-paced game of survival. I definitely recommend.

January 2026- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

This is the direct sequel to 28 Years Later (2025) and the fourth installment in the 28 Days Later film series. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi LewisParry. I also definitely recommend this movie, but I'd also recommend seeing the previous movies first. Same with the Conjuring movies, it paid a lot to know the backstory that the previous movies can give you.

February 2026- Wuthering Heights

This is a classic novel by Emily Brontë exploring themes of intense love, revenge, and destruction. This film has also been made into a movie before, in 1920 and about 30 times after that as well. It follows the volatile relationship between Heathcliff, a mysterious orphan, and Catherine Earnshaw, who rejects him for social standing, prompting his decades-long quest for vengeance against the Earnshaw and Linton families before his death. This movie will throw you for a loop, but who doesn't love a good heartache?

March 2026- Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

I saw this movie recently in theaters, and I was not disappointed. I have been a fan of the first movie since it came out in 2019, so I was more than ready to see the second one, which I had waited so long for. It follows Grace and her sister,

Faith, through one last game of hide and seek, but now not hiding from just the Le Domas family, but from four ghoulish devil-worshipping families who are hunting them. I absolutely loved this movie, and I loved the cast. It had some of my favorites like Samara Weaving, of course, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, and Shawn Hatosy.

April 2026- You, Me, and Tuscany I’m gonna say it now, this movie looks pretty bad. The cast is fine, but the plot is not amazing. Maybe pretty bad is harsh, but I'm only willing to upgrade to mediocre. The whole plot just seems a little middle school fairytale-esque and when I think of a great romance movie this isn't really coming to the top of the list. It follows a girl named Anna who meets a guy named Matteo, and she ends up staying in his villa in Italy until Matteo's mother shows up and Anna blurts out that she's Matteo's fiance, a lie, of course. She then goes along with his whole family planning the wedding until she falls in love

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with Matteo's cousin. You can probably guess that it gets complicated, as these situations usually do, and that's about it.

May 2026- The Devil Wears Prada 2 From this point on, I obviously won't be able to give a review of the movies, as they are yet to come out, but I will do my best to gauge them based on the information that I do have. This sequel, to my understanding, follows how Miranda Priestly struggles to maintain her high status image while print media is declining. It has a lot of the same cast members from the original movie, which can always be a plus. Overall, I'd say I'm pretty excited about this new movie.

June 2026- Scary Movie 6

The film is expected to parody recent iconic slasher and horror films, including references to Scream, Ma, The Substance, and The Conjuring. There's not much to recap about these movies because they're always just so leftfield but so accurate. Only a true genius can predict these masterpieces of movies. I just know it'll be good, so I recommend.

July 2026- Spider-Man: Brand New Day

I don't even want to talk about this movie. I saw the trailer, and I'm already in shambles. I am ready, but at the same time, I fear this might be the end of me. Just the whole idea that MJ and Ned don't even know who Peter is anymore. And the fact that MJ is with a new guy, it's a total double, low blow, and I’m not completely sure I can handle it come July.

August 2026- Insidious: The Bleeding World

It is the sixth installment in the horror franchise, focusing on a new family terrorized by three stalkers. I’m going to be honest, that's really all the information that I understood. I really enjoyed the previous movies; they aren't my favorite, but I think this one will be decently good.

Lincender Places at NHD Competition, Read Her Letter Here

At this year's National History Day contest in New Hampshire, held on April 10, two Brewster students were selected to participate in the national contest in June at the University of Maryland. Ava Lincender ’28 placed second in the individual performance category and earned the outstanding Revolutionary War History Award for her performance of “Abigail Adams: What she kept to herself”. She wrote and performed the following letter about what she felt Abigail Adams would have thought about the rights of women in the United States being neglected by the Constitution. Read it here:

"My Dearest Friend,

In the quiet hours of the evening, when the duties of the day have at last released me, my thoughts return, as they so often do, to you. Yet tonight, I find them accompanied not only by affection, but by a restlessness I have too long kept in silence.

You have ever encouraged my opinions, and I have taken comfort in believing that my sentiments might carry some small weight with you. Yet I cannot but reflect upon your late response, wherein my earnest plea to “remember the ladies” was received with levity, as though it were but a passing fancy, unworthy of serious regard.

I ask you, Sir, is liberty the possession cont. from pg. 1

of men alone?

While you and your colleagues labor to secure independence from a distant tyranny, there exists within your very households a power no less absolute. Have you considered that those who are denied a voice in the making of laws are, in truth, subjected to them without consent? And is this not the very condition against which you now so fervently contend?

I do not write to accuse, but to entreat.

You know well the circumstances in which many women are placed—bound by laws which grant them neither property nor protection, and often little regard. We are taught to submit, to obey, and to remain silent, even when reason and justice would compel us otherwise. Yet I cannot persuade myself that such submission was ever intended by Providence, nor that it accords with the principles you so nobly defend.

I fear, however, that my words may be judged as impertinent, or dismissed as the product of an overactive imagination. It is this fear, perhaps, that has stayed my pen before now. For what is the use of speaking, if one is not to be heard?

And yet—I must speak. Not only for myself, but for those whose voices are seldom given leave to rise. If the new laws you shape are to be founded upon justice, let them not

exclude those who, though unseen, bear no small share of the burdens of this struggle. While the men are away in service of their country, it is the women who sustain the homes, who raise the children, who preserve what remains of peace and order.

We are not without reason. We are not without virtue. And we are not without a rightful claim to consideration.

I would not have you mistake my meaning. I seek not to overturn the

natural order, nor to claim dominion where it does not belong. But I cannot reconcile myself to a system in which one half of mankind holds unchecked authority over the other, and calls it just.

You once told me that you valued my judgment. I wonder now whether that regard extends only so far as it does not challenge your own.

Still, I remain, as ever, your affectionate, A. Adams"

Jozokos Places First at NHD Competition, Read His Essay

Michael Jozokos ’27 earned first place at the New Hampshire National History Day competition, in the senior division of the papers category for his paper titled “Hear with our eyes: the revolutionary reform of closed captioning in American media”. This paper was about the greater accessibility of media by including closed captioning, which would benefit the deaf and hardof-hearing communities, as they would have the same access to media.

Jozokos's original paper was fifteen (15) pages long, so we are only including an excerpt here, taken from the conclusion and final parts of the paper. Read it here:

"Conclusion: The history of closed captioning represents the National History Day theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform. It began with a demand for equality, faced resistance, and achieved systemic change through enforceable law. In doing so, it redefined access to information as a fundamental right of democratic participation. By transforming silence into inclusion, Deaf Americans permanently altered

the relationship between technology, civil rights, and American media, ensuring that in a digital nation, access to information is no longer a privilege, but a right for all.

How I Chose My Topic: My interest in closed captioning began with a personal challenge. As a child with dyslexia, I struggled with reading. To help me improve, my mother “tricked” me into reading by telling me the television sound was broken, forcing me to rely on captions to follow shows. This sparked my curiosity about how captions supported literacy. Later, my grandfather, who is hard of hearing, shared that he also struggled to learn to read because he could not hear the sounds of words. This personal connection led me to research the educational benefits of captions and ultimately, the deeper civil rights struggle behind this technology. I learned about advocates like Senator Tom Harkin, whose support for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was inspired by his Deaf brother, and realized that captioning was a hard-won victory for equality.

How I Conducted My Research: I focused on primary sources to understand media access and its historical context. I watched televised Congressional hearings, analyzed transcripts, and studied the history of the National Captioning Institute and Line 21 decoding technology. I read through the heart-wrenching blog of the Deaf community after 9/11 looking for their loved ones. I also examined accounts of national tragedies, such as the Challenger explosion and Hurricane Katrina, through NBC footage, Dr. Barbara White’s first-hand observations as a mental health provider for Deaf evacuees, and family oral histories. Secondary sources, including A New Civil Right by Harry Lang and sociological studies on disability models, helped me frame the ideological shift from the medical to the social model of disability. By combining technological history, legislation, and personal narratives, I built a comprehensive picture of the struggle for accessibility.

How I Selected My Presentation Category: Writing has always been a challenge for me. Inspired by Stephen

King’s disciplined writing routine of producing 1,000 words a day, I chose the historical paper category to practice and refine my writing skills despite my dyslexia. This project allowed me to develop my voice while telling a story that connects personal experience with broader historical movements.

How My Project Relates to the NHD Theme: My project fits the NHD theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform. The Revolution was ideological: Deaf Americans demanded captioning as a civil right rather than a charitable accommodation. This sparked fierce Reaction from broadcasters and manufacturers, who prioritized profit over accessibility. Reform came through legislation such as the ADA and the Television Decoder Circuitry Act, and later through digital enforcement like the NAD v. Netflix lawsuit. These changes created a “universal design” that benefits millions beyond the Deaf community. Captions not only ensure equal access but also reinforce literacy skills, demonstrating how civil rights advocacy can transform technology into a tool for education and inclusion."

by Michael Jozokos ’27

Michael Jozokos recently testified before the NH House Education Committee to ensure all students have access to the developmental benefits of recess. His advocacy for New Hampshire SB 578 stems from his personal journey with dyslexia and ADHD. He shared his remarks with us:

For most of my elementary school years, I believed a lie. I assumed that when the bell rang, recess was a right. I learned the truth through a window.

While my classmates laughed on the playground, I sat frozen at a desk. My teacher stood over me, arms crossed. The unfinished work in front of me felt like an insurmountable mountain. I did not have the words then to explain that I was not being lazy. I was being punished for the way my brain is wired.

Having dyslexia and ADHD means that a morning of intense desk work can feel exhausting. By mid-morning, it’s easy to hit a wall. Neuroscience shows that when students are pushed past their limits, their brains enter survival mode, making it harder to focus, remember, and learn.

Taking away recess does not make a student work harder. It makes it harder for them to succeed.

When I found out that New

The View from the Window: Why I Went to the State House

Hampshire has no law protecting recess, I realized my experience was not just a personal grievance. It was part of a larger problem. Senate Bill 578 would stop schools from taking away recess as a punishment, and I wanted to help make that change happen.

On March 30th, I went to the State House in Concord to testify. I did not go as part of a school trip. I went to ensure the committee heard from a student who has lived through recess restriction.

Sitting alone at a table with a microphone, I told the legislators that the playground is democracy in miniature. It is the first public square where we learn how to lead, how to compromise, and how to belong. When students are kept inside, they miss out on those experiences.

The most impactful part of the day happened after I finished speaking. A representative approached me and told me that my story had changed his mind. That moment stayed with me.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, we are reminded that democracy is a work in progress. The Founders gave us the map, but it is our job to update it.

My testimony was a way to make sure that map finally reflects how

neurodivergent brains actually work.

I went to Concord because legislators hear from experts and administrators every day, but they rarely hear from us.

To my peers: Your voice is the missing piece in the rooms where

made. Standing at that microphone, I realized I was no longer behind or invisible. I was exactly where I needed to be. I was not just sitting at a desk. I was helping to rewrite the rules for every student sitting behind a window today.

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WORD ON THE STREET

by Mila Bahr '27

1) What's the best ice cream flavor?

2) What's your summer theme song?

3) What's your toxic summer trait?

4) What teacher is going all out at prom?

5) Who's your dream commencement speaker?

1) Mint

Sophia Rock ’26

1) Gold Metal Ribbon

2) Springsteen by Eric Church

3) Spending too much money on food

Hall Talk

…Besides offloading our many stolen items we’re currently carrying. - TL He’s not like, taking drugs. He just has ADHD. - MR

Light screaming ahead. - MR

Oh you’re autistic you’re not waiting for the men. - HR

I told you to learn your lines, not to do lines. - LB

Banging your head into a wall with a helmet on is safety protocol. - MR

The following match really should not be described as it’s a one-sided beatdown by a twink with a grudge against spiders. - MR

I was about to say meow but that’s not the sound shrek makes. – MR You haven’t eaten silica gel yet. - MR I been on the files. - CD

Nothing can kill me, for I am immortal. - JH

The Northropinator. - JH

Darwinism at play. - JM

Someone is killing that cop we killed. - TL

2) Suns Gonna Rise a Mile by Citizen Cope

3) Not wearing any sunscreen

4) Mr. Burr

5) Jeremy Wade

4) Mrs. Found 5) Louis Hamilton Arthur Silva ’28

1) Cookies 'n Cream

2) Make Me Wanna by Thomas Rhett

3) Never wearing sunscreen

4) Mr. Snowdon

5) The Rock and Kevin Hart Owen Tucker ’27

Dottie Penny ’29

1) Mint Chocolate Chip

2) Mr. Brightside

3) Not wearing sunscreen

4) Mrs. Found 5) Alix Earle

1) Chocolate Peanut Butter 2) Knockin' on Heavens Door 3) Not having my license 4) Mrs. Found 5) Paige Bueckers

Evolution doesn't exist to this man.JM

I believe in good typesetting, I’m like an evangelist. - JH Does this girl exist to spite me? - FH

Go take a nap. - JH

I’m a foot expert, call me the fexpert. - JH

It’s a joe with cheese. - JG JATZOS! You're blind! - TH Listen here thill. - JH

If I ever get married twice, I’m going in the dress. - JH

On your mom. On your hood. - JM Tessier is the wolf of Wolfeboro. - JM You can't say 4 letters at once. FLHFA!! See? - JB

Fish dance your way into the lake.FH

I don't have the flu. I am not weak. This is a supervirus. - JH

I’m not sick, let me cough on you. - JH You can't double sick me. - JH That ignites the burning hot embers of rage. - KM

Remove the German from the equation. - TL

Your kid kind of looks like Winston Churchill. - AB

You're a shill for Big Milk. - FH Brewster is omnipresent. - FH

Ts gen pmo. - JH

I’m off to see the wizard. - JH

I did throw a tissue box, a notebook, and a water bottle at Finn this year.PH

Chudded out. - TL

I have to beat my grade book into submission. – EJ

What is fetty wap's rapper name? - EH

I have two division one offers, what do you have? - EH

I’d rather have furry stay an adjective rather than a noun - JB

Here comes summer! Enjoy! - BB