8th Grade Girls Digital Publishing Magazine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note From Our Teacher

SCHooling the Competition: Underrepresented Sports Step Into The Spotlight

CONTRIBUTORS

Ava Raby, Chandler Joyner, and Taylor Griggs

Cecily Gellhorn and Karina Egen

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:

Alexis DeBose, Quinn Moskovitz, Sylvia Madden, Sophia Sultanik

TEACHER A Note From Our

Inmid-November,Iwasluckyenoughtoattend with11SCHupperschoolers,three faculty chaperones, and 5,000 high school students and advisors from across the U.S. the annual Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association(JEA/NSPA)conferenceinNashville,TN.

From the moment we set foot at Philadelphia InternationalAirport, I was reminded of the companionate relationship between journalism and entrepreneurship. Moments after settling in at our gate, upper school journalism teacher Jennifer Gellhorn encouraged two students to grab a phone and roam the terminal. Their task? Pose a simplequestion “Whydoesjournalismmatter?” totheirfellowtravelers.

I joined these SCH Campus Lantern reporters and was reminded of what makes this 8th grade class, and journalism more broadly, so much fun to teach: through journalism, teens learn that it’s cool to be curious, that listening honestly and objectively to a range of perspectives is a skill to be honed, and that risk and rejection are part of most worthwhile endeavors. They learn that stories are everywhere, and they grapple with the challenge of creatively (and, more importantly, honestly) telling storiesthatresonate.

We hope you enjoy perusing these pages; for more upper and middle school dispatches,pleasebesuretocheckoutTheCampusLanternandTheTorch!

Julie Knutson

Julie Knutson

SCH Inside

KEEPING SCH ON ITS FEET

HaveyoueversteppedfootintoahugeeventatSCHandwonderedhowitall cametogether?Or,who’stheretoturnonthelightsatthebeginningofthe day?Itallstartswiththepeoplebehindthescenes.Themaintenanceand facilitiesteamdoesalotforSCH.Theyserveascrossingguards,setupfor events,andfixthingsthatneedtobefixed.Buthereistheinnerscoopon whatthemaintenancecrewreallydoes,andthestoriesbehindsomeofthese familiarfacesaroundour60-plusacrecampus.

Mr.West

Mr. West grew up in the Caribbean, and has two kids who attend SCH

Mr.Loughrey

Mr. Loughrey played soccer during his time in Northern Ireland

BenjaminWestisarecognizablefigureatSCH.AsHeadofSCH’sMaintenance & Facilities team he is, in his words, “involved in everything that goes on, between security, the maintenance team, the housekeeping team, [and] any event setups.” Essentially, Mr. West and his team handle everything that happens with the buildings that aren't involved with classes. Mr.West continues to explain the concerns that they deal with on a daily basis, from “...thinking about the electrical and any major maintenance problems that pop up,” to “planning for the future, trying to figure out, you know, we know if a roof is goingtofail.Whendoweschedulegettingtherooffixedbeforewinter?”

Another person who supports Mr. West is Kieran Loughrey, a native of Northern Ireland who came to the US 14 years ago Kieran explains how he starts his day, saying that we, “Come in in the morning, we come down here to Cherokee. We disarm the alarm at the loading dock, and then we come in and check our emails to see what we have to do for today.” Other key members of the staff include Mr.Alcide, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Shetler, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Brierley, Mr. Curbelo, Mr. DeTorro, Mr. Reid, Mr. Sharp, and Mr. Tallon. It is important to know the names of those who help our community be the best it can be. Mr. West and Mr. Loughrey know the campus better than anyone, so we asked them each about their favorite places. Mr.West shared that he was up on the roof and Mr. Loughrey was at the McGuire Stadium. Next time you see them around our school,makesuretosay“Hello!”andthankthemforallthattheydo!

Do you ever feel as if your sport is overlooked?

Maybe your team doesn't play enough games, or have the right equipment, while others have a new field and uniforms. As squash players and rowers, we put this questiontoourcommunity.

Our focus is on squash and rowing, because these are the sports we play almost every single day. We want to ensure that every sport gets covered, not only some.We want our viewers to see this and realize how amazing and how difficultthesesportsaretodo,andtorecognizethemmore.

Answer:“It'sobviouslydifficulttohave...tonsofspectators,becauseit'snotlike footballorsoccer [where]you'reoutsideonthefield [and]peoplearewalkingby allthetime...youhavetowanttogoseeasquashmatch...Ithinkthesetupherewith thecourtsisreallygood...AndIthink...it'sgotalotbetter...[in]thepastyear...”

“Thecoachingstaffthat...we'vebroughtin...fromthe[Cricket]club,is...some[of the]bestcoaches...yeah,probablythebest...squashcoachingstaff...inthewhole country.So...that'sanadvantage.Butinthesamesense,sometimes...more[ofa] focus...[isspent]onthebasketballandfootballteams...”

Ithinkagreaterunderstandingfromeveryoneattheschool...Becausepeople... come[toSCH]inhighschoolandmanynotevenknowwhatsquashis,whichisn't theirfault,butit's...[worth]exposingpeopletothesportandpromotingitalittle more[sothatmorestudentsmightbeabletoparticipate].

VictoriaNelson

Question:Whatisyour jobatSCH?Howdidyou getthejob?

VICTORIANELSON Strength

Coachforthe AthletesintheHighSchool

“IamtheStrengthCoachforthe athletesatthehighschool!Igot thispositionthroughnetworking alongwithpropereducation, background,andexperience.”

“WhileIaminchargeofanyteam thatcomesthroughtheweight roomdoors,Idoseesomemore thanothers.Thisisdependenton thecoach'sscheduling.Idowish moreteamscameinconsistentlyinregardstopre-season,theteams Iseemostconsistentlyare football,boysandgirlslacrosse, crew,andboysbasketball.I believeifthesportcoachesseta moreconsistentliftschedulethe resultswouldpositivelyimpact notonlytheteamphysicallybut mentallyaswell!”

Question:Aretherecertain sportsthatcomeinfor weightliftingmoreoften? Aretheresportsthatare moreprioritizedover others?

RandomWeightRoom

DavidWilson

Onthetopicof underrepresented sports,Igotthe chancetointerview

DaveWilson,thehead ofathleticshereat SCH.

Whilesomestudentsfeeltheirsportsgetlessattention,Wilsonstressedthattheathleticofficeworks hardtomaintainfairnessacrosstheboard “Welookateverything,”hesaid Uniformrotations,travel arrangements,coachingbudgets,facilityaccess,andsocialmediacoverageareallmonitoredfor equity Whenasport’srostershrinks,theathleticdepartmenttakesacloserlook Sometimestheissue istoughnessofthesport,hesaid,andsometimesit’scoaching “Wewanteverysporttobethebestit canbe,”Wilsonemphasized.

Wilsonacknowledgedthatschedulingchallengesmakeitdifficultforsomestudentstosupporteach other’steams,asmanygamesoccursimultaneously Still,hebelievesthatstudentshavearolein boostingturnout,whetherthroughpromotions,involvementintheStudentAthleteAdvisoryCouncil, orsimplyencouragingteammates.Ultimately,hisgoalis,“Wewantyoutoleaveherefeelinggreat aboutyourexperience”

Comfort Over Classwork

Issues In the Middle School Dresscode and Temperature Fluctuations

By Skylar Bayonne and Ella Caione

Many classrooms in Middle School have fluctuating temperatures. Some are freezing, while some are boiling. Jack Brady, a class of 2030 SCH middle school student, shares “Ms Knutson’s room is the hottest” Finley Corey, a class of 2032 SCH middle school student, shares “My science class is always freezing.” From these students, we can learn that many classrooms in the middle school havedifferenttemperatures.

Although the science and CEL classes are not far from each other, the change in temperature is large and very noticeable. Other students also shared that placeslikemathandchoirclassroomsareverycold,showingmorediscomfort and changing temperatures in the school Although the school can get very cold, outer layers like sweatpants and sweatshirts are still not allowed. Many students don't agree with this rule and have strong opinions. Classie Moses, a class of 2030 SCH middle school student shares, “I think we should be allowed to wear sweatpants, especially on Fridays.” Many would also agree with this rule because Fridays are already more of a casual day, and hoodies are allowed to be worn, so adding sweatpants to the friday attire would not affectanyonebesidesaddinganicecomfinesstotheuniform.

Though the SCH dress code has some freedom, many students believe that there could be more freedom and more options. If there were more options, SCH students could feel more comfortable, happy, and authentic, while doing their best academic work in classes, improving the everyday experience at SCH.

Since there are limitations on what shoes can be worn in middle school, many students also feel that slippers andotherbannedshoeslikecrocscould help them feel more comfortable in class and have more freedom for their style. Micha Feit, class of 2033, shares, “If you are mature and know that you won'tfall,it'snotabigdeal.”

Overcoming New School Fears

Joining a new school can be scary, maybe even terrifying. But you can adjust to the new people and surroundings.

For Nia McCune, the experience of starting a new school in fifth grade was difficult, because it required a new level of effort from her. Her mental health was impacted from the feeling of being and feeling behind, yet she was still determined to get better and push through. “What I am grateful for is that the school had the resources in order to support me and improve my skills towards success,” statesNia.

Nia joined Agnes Irwin in the fifth grade. She mentions how the faster pace caused her to struggle in retaininginformation.

Thankfully, Nia had support from her mother, Nicole. Nicole helped Nia move and transition from a Catholic school to Agnes Irwin, a privateschool.

Nicole McCune had helped two of her children in the process. She understood how much Nia was struggling and how down she was as a result of the change of schools. So she made sure to check in and help her with grades and belonging by meeting with teachers and not beingafraidtoaskquestions.

INSIDE THE MIND OF THE ATHLETE

Being an athlete can be tough. But you’re not the only one. Embrace your weaknesses, expand, and grow

Have you ever wondered what happened inside an athlete's mind? While we celebrate their incredible talent and achievements, we often forget that behind the medals and records is a person facing the same struggles we all do.

GREATEXPECTATIONS

Pro athletes are stars; they have money, fame, and everyone knows their names. But behind being known and recognized, there's a person under intense pressure who may want to disappear because all eyes are on them. It's just an everyday thing they have to live with. Even if you're not famous, everyone can agree they want to live up to the expectation of becoming their best by working their way from the bottom to the top. This is when the pressure comes in: Athletes want to live up to expectations that can't be met in aday.

Sometimes, they feel like they are in a cycle of failure and lose their spark. London Jackson, an SCH Varsity volleyball player, expresses that when these moments strike you need to remember, “you are more than your sport.” London highlights that you're not defined by how you play or the position you play, but by the impact you make to yourself as a person, and your team. Another thing is to “try new things,” and to not feel forced to pursue anything because of what another person said to explore. Do what you may like for your own mentalhealthandwellbeing.

UNDERPRESSURE

Hasyourperspectiveof yoursportchangeddueto thecoachyouarewithor thepeopleyouplaywith?A lotofpeoplequittheir sportsbecauseofthe environmentandthe pressuretheyareunder.The pressurecanbealot. Imagineplayingonabad teamandeverythingrelies onyou:it'sthesameasyour parentsrelyingonyouto winorget30pointsagame. Evenifyou'renotanathlete, we’veallexperiencedan expectationthatwashardto meet.Weputthepressure onourselvestodoitwithno problembecauseaspeople that'sourfirstreactionto relyonourselves.

NOEXCUSES

PiaSwamy,aSCHVarsitybasketball player,andastudentexclaims,“anexcuse comeswhenresultsleave.”Thisis significantbecauseeverybodyhasaday wheretheydon'tliveuptothe expectation.Forinstanceyouhaveto make10shotsinagamebutyoumake five,soyoumakeexcuseslikeIdidn'tget theballthatmuchandmanymore.Thisis whentheresultsofmakingeven5or10 shotsgoesoutthewindow,becauseyou alwayshaveanexcuseinsteadofseeing whatyoudidwrongorcorrectingwhat youdidwrongtoachievetheexpectation andexpandyourmindset. Ultimately,thebestathletescangetina slump,amindsetthat'shardtogetoutof unlessyouhavesomeonelikeacoachto supportyou.Havefaithinyourself. Feelingsofunderperforminghappento everyone,sodon'tbeafraidtoaskfor helporsupport.

SCH Athletes Overcome Stress and Pressure

Did you know that 60-70% of students quit their sport due to stress and pressure? Athletes' mental health is very important because it can cause things like depression and anxiety. You may be wondering what other factors can cause athletes to have poor mentalhealth:let'sunpackthosefactors.

INJURIESANDTHEROADTORECOVERY

Taylor Griggs, a softball player, SCH student, and Little League Champion, explained that when she sustained her knee injury, “I felt stuck and like I couldn’t do anything.” In this quote, Taylor explains how she felt during her knee injury. We believe that injuries like this are one of the main causes of things like depression because they prevent you from playing the sport that youlove.ForTaylor,softballhasbeenapartofherlifesinceshewasthree,so ithas,overtheyears,becomeasenseofescapeforher.Thankfully,shehadan amazing support system from her friends and family that helped her through herrecoveryprocess.

Athletes Minds Matter Too

After having a bad practice, tournament, or meet do you ever feel worthless or horrible at your sport? My question is: How many athletes suffer from poor metal health?

Richiesaidafterhelostagamehewould tellhimselfbadthingsandgetintohis head,sayingthatotherathleteswerebetter thanhimandhedidn'tdeservetobeonthe team.Healsostatedthatmanycoaches alsoputhimdown,tellinghimheshould justgiveup.

In2023,aNCAAStudent-AthleteWellBeingStudyindicatedthathalfofstudentathletesfeltthatmentalhealthwasapriority fortheirathleticsdepartment.Two-thirdsof thesecollegestudent-athletesindicated knowingwheretogooncampusformental healthconcerns.Fewerthanhalf(47%)felt theywouldbecomfortablepersonally seekingsupportfromamentalhealth provideroncampus.Morethanhalf(53%) reportedthatcoachestakementalhealth concernsoftheirstudent-athletesseriously.

HereatSpringsideChestnutHillAcademy, studentRichiePaulstatedthathehasalso sufferedfrompoormentalhealthduetoa sportanditmadehimfeellikequitting.

ChandlerJoyner,alsoastudentat SpringsideChestnutHillAcademy,wasa formergymnast.Shestatesthatshelostthe loveforthesportduetohavingpoormental health,likethinkingshewasnotasgoodas theothergymnasts.Shealsoexperienced metalblocks,whichmadeherthinkshe couldonlyreachacertainlevelofpotential. Sheaddedthatsomeofhercoachesputher downanditmadeherdoubtherself.She saidthatcoachestoldhertogetbetteror justgiveup;thismadeherfeelasifshewas ahorriblegymnast.

"Forathletescompetingatalllevels frommiddleschooltocollege mental healthconcernsarereal.AsNCAAChief MedicalOfficerBrianHainlineexplains, "It'simperativeonallofustokeeptalking abouttheissuestodestigmatizewhatit meanstoaddressyourmentalhealthandlift upthosevoiceswhoarebraveenoughtodo so."

NEW CONNECTIONS

What's going on in high school and why do not we hear about it?

There are so many things to do in high school . . . But what are they, and will they even be fun? Recently, I talked to multiple people in SCH’s upper school including Gray David and Penny Wainwright about unheard of high schoolactivities,atandbeyondtheInn.Theymentionedthingslikepingpong tablesinthejuniorcommonsandkaraokeduringlunch.

When asked about this topic, 10 grader Gray David said that the most popular activities in the high school were all the different clubs. I also asked Grayiftherewereanyspecificclubsthathewassurprisedbywhenheentered highschool.Hesaid“Iwouldsaythatsurpriseisthewrongword.Iwouldsay I was a little bit overwhelmed because there was such a large mass of clubs and activities to get involved in, and all of those factors were influenced by social and environmental pressure, what groups join, which clubs and who is interestedinwhat,andwhotheytalktoaboutit.” th

Gray David ‘28

“In May it is mental health awareness month, and they do fun activities like day of play”

With Gray, we also talked about new activities coming or returning to the High School, and he mentioned the haunted house. The number of people that went there was roughly around 600, but other events sometimes had more When asked why the high school events were not talked about as much inmiddle school Grayexplained,“Ithinkthat we don't have a specific section of the Lantern to discuss lesser known clubs and activities. I think news is our biggest section of the Lantern is arts and culture…” He added, “We focus on events. So if those clubs and activities happen to be hosting events that we catchwindof,thenwewillcoverit.”

Eachyear,PennyWainwright,an 11th grader, looks forward to mental health awareness month. Penny explains, “In May it is mental health awareness month and they do fun activities like day of play, painting sessions, andbringingintherapydogs!”

For middle school kids excited for all that high school has to offer, you can look forward to clubs like mathletes all the way to the new clubs that come every year from many of the sophomorescapstoneprojects. 24

Penny Wainwright ‘27

SCH Outside

IS IT TIME TO ADDRESS BIRD FLU?

Sylvia Madden

What is Bird Flu?

How can Bird Flu Affect Humans?

How are Recent Budget Cuts Affecting Bird Flu Research?

Greener Greens

Cecily Gellhorn & Karina Egen

Recentstudiesshowthatsomeunnatural chemicalssprayedongolfcoursescouldbe linkedtoParkinson'sdisease(PD).A researcharticlefromJAMAstatesthat livingwithinamileofagolfcoursewas associatedwitha126%riskincreaseofPD.

Golferand8thgradeSCHstudentCharlotte Eagles,statesthat“[Thistopicis] meaningfultomebecauseIcareaboutthe environment,andI'msurethepesticides thatthey'resprayingaren'tverygoodfor wildlifethatrunsacrossthegolfcourse everyday.”

Althoughthisarticlecentersontherisksfor thepeoplearoundgolfcourses,Charlotte openedoureyestothedangersthese pesticidesholdnotjustforhumans,butalso forwildlife

Ms.Garbacz,the8thgradedeanandhead ofthesciencedepartmentatSCH,explains whythesechemicalsmayhavehazardous effects.Sheshares,“Anytimeyoukill somethingoffinanecosystem,you're disturbingthatecosystem.Everythinghasa job.Themosquitohasajob,right?

Thepeststhatwedon'twantonourgrasses,theyactuallyhaveajob.”She continues,“Theyarethepreyforsomethingelse,thateverythinghasits functionanditsjob.Whenwetakeoneofthosethingsout,wedisturbthe ecosystem,andithasadominoeffectonotherthingsinsidetheecosystem.”

TheheadofthemaintenancedepartmentatSCH,BenjaminWest,explained thatourcampusdoesthingsdifferentlyandensurethat,“Everything…is naturallyderived.Forexample,youknow,whenwelooktotreatpestsand bugs...we'reusingstuffthat'sderivedfromlemongrassandthyme,Thai basil,thingslikethat.”Mr.Westcontinuestonotethatthisensuresthatwhat we’reputtingintotheenvironmentaroundushasaminimalfootprintandis “notcarcinogenic”inordertomakesurethat“everyonewholivesinthe surroundingareasstayhealthy.”

GolfcoursepesticidesaremadewithPFAs,acollectionofmanmade chemicalsoftencalled“foreverchemicals,”sincetheyareverypersistent throughoutthehumanbody,aswellastheenvironment.SCHandgolfcourses liketheVineyardGolfClubinEdgartown,Massachusetts,provideamodelof environmentalsafety.WithknowledgeoftheriskofPFAs,perhapsmoregolf courseswillgrowtowardsgreenerlandscapingpractices.

Beloved City Park gets a Makeover

Picture this: You go to the same park every single day of your childhood and hope for a park renovation. This was the case for many children that live near Franklin Square Park, and today their dream is coming true. Franklin Square Park is getting a major makeover, with new restaurants, playgrounds, restrooms,andmuchmore.

Franklin Square Park is a very historical, memorable, site in Philadelphia. It’s long drawn the attention of many tourists, but now the park is undergoing a transformation. This transformation will give the park a more modern touch andmakeitamorefun,exciting,andhappierplacetobe.

MabelLee,aSpringsideChestnutHillAcademyMiddleSchoolSpanish teacher,toldus,“IgrewupinPhilly,soIusedtogotochildren'svillageasa kindergartener,andIrememberourteacherstakingustotheparkwayback when,whenitwasjustapark[and]justhadgrass.Ithad…someslides,and maybeafewswings,butitwasjustessentially...apatchofgrassandapark forchildrentoplay.”

Ontheeveofitstransformation,theparkismorethanabigpatchofgrass,but actuallyaplacewherepeoplecanconnectandmakememoriesbecauseofall thedifferentthingstheparkhastooffer.MaddieWainwright,astudentat SpringsideChestnutHillAcademyandaloyalmemberofthePhiladelphia community,says,“Ihaveheardabouttheplayground.I'veseenit,andIthink it'sagreatplaceforkidstogo There'saminigolfplacerightthereaswell,so it'sagreatplacetobe…”.

AsMaddie’squoteshows,thatthis parkisagreatplaceforcommunity. So,FranklinSquareParkisan amazingplaceforfamiliesandfor manytourists,familyfriendly groupstohavelunch,playorjust takeawalkaround,orenjoya special,seasonaleventlikethe ChineseLanternFestivalorthe

WHERE TO EAT NOW

OUR TOP PICKS FOR FALL 2025

The food is awesome with Caribbean and Jamaican flavors, from their savory fried chicken, to their sweet potato waffles The staff is really friendly, welcoming, and patient They attentively listen and make you feel at home. The vibe of this place is welcoming with soothingmusictoenjoywhileyoueatyourdeliciousfood!

If you’re looking for an Italian restaurant that has delicious pizzas, pastas, chicken parmesans and more, Marra’s in South Philadelphia is for you! When you walk into the restaurant, the atmosphere takes you back into the 1950s.All that can be heard is the sound of veal being pounded for the veal cutlets All that can be smelt is the fresh pizzas being baked. Each server will take their time and make sure your experience is great. The authentic Italian food that will arrive onto your table will make you want to order seconds and dessert Stop by Marra’s for the Italiantreatyouhavebeencraving!

The food is amazing, with the fresh fish, rice, ramen broth, vegetables, and even the dumpling wraps. The service is top-tier and...andtheblue,dimlightassoonasyouwalkinsetsthevibe. Whenyougetseatedatyourtable,youaregreetedwithchopsticks, asoysaucedish,andanapkin.

Credits - Instagram

DanDan-Sylvia

When you walk into DanDan, you are instantly welcomed in by a warm and kind staff The interior is dim and homey with colorful patterns and unique colors One of my favorite parts is an open room in the center with glass doors and a dome top that feels like you're in a green house. There are so many options when it comes time to order spanning from traditional Taiwanese dishes to specials that are specific to DanDan My personalfavoritedishesaretheDuckBowsandScallionFriedRice The service at DanDan is fast and simple and the staff is warm and friendly to everyone DanDan offers a unique experience with cozy colors and fun patterns, food that everyone can enjoy, and a staff that makes you feelrightathome.

EMei 峨嵋 -Sophia

Whenyoufirst walkinandyoutake a lookaround,the vibe ofthe room consists of a mix of leather booths and wooden chairs matching with wooden tables The restaurant has four different seating options: the bar, seating in the front, seating in the back, and private rooms for groups and parties. The food that EMei 峨 嵋 serves is a Sichuan Chinese Cuisine and had a range of dishes from Mapo Tufu, to a Cold Cucumber Salad, to Chongqing Spicy Chicken. The service at the restaurant is efficient with kind staff. EMei 峨嵋 does not only do dine in, but you can get it delivered or pick it up in person In the restaurant, they have a cute robot with googly eyes that brings packaged deliveries from the back of the restaurant to the front desk. The restaurant is well spaced out so it does not feel too crowded, which helps make conversations carry less around the restaurant Overall, EMei 峨 嵋 is a lively deliciousplacetohaveameal.

Enza-Grace

Credits - Instagram

Credits - Instagram

Enza is the place to be nowadays, whether it's going there just to get drinks, or family reunions, it's a great place overall Let’s start with the food. The food there is AMAZING. They have options for all different kinds of diets, from vegan, to vegetarian. I’ve tried almost every single dish there and I have never been disappointed Each dish is made with love and care, and the food melts in your mouth. The service there is also amazing. Most of the time they are ready for you, whether you walk in or reserve a table But beware on Fridays and Saturdays, they are packed! Overall the bartenders, waiters, waitresses, and managers are so nice and amazing! When you walk into Enza, you can just feel Italian romance.The lights are dimmed,candlesarelit,andit'stimetoeat!