Vol. 1, #1 - Oct. / Nov. 2015 The grey towers The NEW revamped Maryvale newspaper!

Page 3: Teenage Mr. Shin Page 4: The Syrian Crisis Page 7: Lonnie Garret on America’s Got Talent! Page 13: 5 Ways To Stay Organized October 2015 The grey towers

First Days at Maryvale

By: Anna Wojehowski ‘19

When pulling into the long either, as they went through Maryvale is "how welcoming driveway of Maryvale, you are the same thing at one point or all the teachers are, and how overwhelmed by the amount another. Eventually finding friendly everyone is.” For of cars already coming in. classes is a breeze even that future ninth graders, many After months of anticipation, Spanish classroom (floor two upperclassmen believe the best the new chapter of your life is by the staircase)! advice is to not be scared, to about to begin. As you open ask for help, and to use your the door of the car to step into Being new at a school is nerve- time wisely for homework. your new life, you are greeted wracking for anyone. When After all, the last thing anyone with inviting cheers, music asking ninth graders what wants to do is come home after and singing. Loud noises of intimidated them the most a long day of school and have everyone welcoming each about high school, the most to write three papers or other with excitement echo common answer was the projects all due the very next through the whole campus. workload and getting to know day! Any worries about the first the different buildings. Many day of school are washed students are going through the It’s unavoidable: the first few away by the warm same trials and difficulties. days of school are going to be welcome...until it's time to get After a few weeks, the nuances stressful, but Maryvale is a to your first class. Where on of high school sink in; after place where we will make earth is that Spanish classroom the initial fear, it is easy to endless memories during our in the Castle again? settle in and become high school years; it is a place comfortable with Maryvale. where we will tell our future New students at Maryvale do kids stories on top of stories not need to worry about What really helps overcome about how great our getting to classes. All the the overall anxiousness and experiences were. This is going teachers are patient; they fear of high school are the to be home for the next four -- understand what you are other students and faculty. and for some, the next six -- going through. There's no Ninth grader Sophia years! Embrace the energy, the need to be nervous to ask the Tsamouras states that the most sisterhood, and remember to upperclassmen where to go comfortable part of breathe! �

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Editor’s Letter Greetings Maryvale community! My name is Ally Wade and I am this year's Grey Towers Editor-in-Chief. I am honored to take on this position, and I’m so excited to be working with these amazing writers and photographers, bringing you the best newspaper yet. This year, we have tons of captivating articles in store for you that don't necessarily just focus on Maryvale. Maybe you're looking for a new band to listen to, or perhaps you want to stick your nose in an article about something happening on the other side of the world. Either way, Grey Towers and its changes will be worth checking every two months!

In this edition, we wanted to focus on our beloved Maryvale and get the inside scoop as to what is happening in our very own classrooms. You will also find articles where we asked you, the student body, how the start of the school year is going. I hope you enjoy this years very first edition of the Grey Towers and stay around to see the awesome changes going on around here. �

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Teacher Feature

By: Paige Wilkinson ’19 & Jennifer Wojeck ‘19 Who comes to mind when thinking of a while encouraging diversity and great leader? Being a leader requires great openness. confidence, control, and the ability to be open-minded while working with many Mr. Shin started working in education, people. Maryvale’s Upper School Head, but found himself leaving that profession Mr. Victor Shin, obtained these qualities to work with a non-profit organization. at a young age and found a certain calling After receiving many emails from his to become a huge part of the Maryvale previous students, he realized that his community. greatest calling in life was as an educator. When Mr. Shin returned to teaching, he Mr. Shin is the youngest of three boys. As became a part of the Maryvale family. a child, Mr. Shin attended private school and occasionally found himself in When asked about his first few years physical confrontations with other working in a female-dominated school students; as such, he began taking karate Mr, Shin's responded, "How do I feel? I as a mechanism of self-defense. His first feel like I need…to listen to the students language was Korean, and being and the facility and everyone. Kids are bilingual has helped him connect to his kids; it doesn't matter if you're male or family in addition to having helped him female, everyone has needs and wants him dig deeper into his roots. His ability and sometimes kids just want to be to think in both languages allows him to heard." Many students wonder, however, reach across language barriers while how Mr. Shin manages Page 3 October 2015 The grey towers

to handle over 300 teenage The girl I was running against, Though negative, the girls with minimal frustration I literally said I was better than experience benefitted him: he and annoyance. “I sometimes her and I didn't mean to say discovered, over the years, think I annoy you,” he that.” Entering into the debate how to communicate better laughed. unprepared led to some with others -- and with unfortunate consequences that students. When asked for his Despite his calm demeanor, he could not forsee. “I ended advice on being a teenager, Mr. even Mr. Shin has suffered his up hurting her feelings. Later I Shin explained: “Be you, don't moments of embarrassment apologized and even got try to be something that you're and defeat. "When I was reprimanded by the not or that you don't want to running for sophomore class administration. I didn't mean be. God made you the way president,” he reflected, “I had to say what I had, but in the you were supposed to be, so be to give a speech but I didn't heat of the moment, I did." As happy with that, because you write it down so I kind of a result, Mr. Shin discovered never know what tomorrow did it impromptu; I wasn't that speaking and will bring.” � prepared, but I should have communicating effectively been. was a powerful skill. Syrian Refugee Crisis Reaches Its Peak By: Sydney Logan ‘17 countries. Recent events have brought a new light to what the United Nations is calling a "humanitarian crisis," springing from protests against a corrupt government turned violent.

In recent months, many Syrian refugees Syrian refugees escape via boats, heading towards Turkey. have been seeking asylum (the right to Many boats capsize due to overcrowding. legally live and work in a different Source: Syracuse.com Visar Kryeziu country) in European countries, such as Since its start in 2011, the civil war in Serbia, Germany, and Sweden. A number Syria has forced approximately four of refugees have been reaching European million refugees to flee to neighboring shores by boat. These boats, which are Page 4 October 2015 The grey towers

meant to hold a small number of people, Syria and other countries of conflict. IRC are being packed with refugees and are works with the US government to find sailed across the Mediterranean Sea, from placement for refugees in the US. In the Turkey to Greece. Many boats capsize past year, the IRC branch in Baltimore has and result in mass drownings. Pictures of resettled 20 Syrian families in the city, and drowned immigrants washing up on has worked with 15,000 people since beaches caused media outcry around the being established in 1999. IRC's main job world, a catalyst for world leaders to is to find these refugees jobs as a way to assist these refugees. receive an income. While assisting families in adjusting to their new lives, What are world leaders doing about it? IRC has called upon the US to accept The UN has requested that European 65,000 migrants by the end of 2016. countries increase the number of Syrian Whether this goal will be met is mystery. refugees they are taking in. This has But as more refugees are fleeing Syria and caused many disagreements among the flooding into neighboring countries, European Union, as country leaders world leaders may have to accept that debate on how many migrants each they play a role in the lives of these country should take in. President Obama displaced Syrians, who have spent the has also made the call to increase the last four years looking for a safe haven amount of refugees accepted into the from their war-torn home country. � United States. His plan has met with opposition. A Republican presidential candidate recently said that allowing Syrian refugees into the country is “nothing short of crazy” under the belief that the incoming refugees are all Islamic terrorists.

This refugee crisis has since reached Baltimore. The local chapter of the IRC, or the International Rescue Committee, has Source: Hadi Mizban / AP recently been assisting refugees from

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What Difference Does 25¢

By: Chloe Baker ‘19 Make? Where might a woman see herself in ten, many chances to better their skills or maybe fifteen years? What has she positions within the workplace. accomplished in that time? What if According to The Huffington Post, as of during those ten to fifteen years that 2013, the percentage of people in higher, woman did not earn as much money as more impactful job positions in the music she deserved, and her male associates industry is 67.8% male to 32.2% female. earned a full wage. Perhaps she worked This is only one industry. What, then, is just as hard — maybe even harder — than the trend in others? they had, but by virtue of her gender, still earned less. Women in the workplace AAUW, an organization that started the often watch as male workers make more, campaign "The Simple Truth About the have access to stronger benefits, and Gender Pay Gap,” found that the gender receive more opportunities for gap is even wider for women of color, promotions. In various professions, this and that as of 2014, women all together is what almost all women go through on are paid 79% of what men are paid in the a daily basis. They are not treated as U.S. Louisiana bears the largest gap; equals to their male counterparts. women earn 65% of what men do, while Washington D.C. has the smallest: Recent studies have proposed a new women make 90% of the usual male approach: by giving men and women the wage. same pay and opportunities, the entire world's gross domestic product (GDP) By following proposals of economic would improve by 26% or $28 trillion in equality and applying them on a global 2025. Now, women only earn 75¢ for scale, the planet's economy would be every $1 that men make today. This dramatically bolstered if the gender gap inequality between men and women was closed. With this in mind, it should within jobs is referred to as the gender be a top priority to work on progressing gap. Women have been statistically the idea that men and women need to be known to earn less than men, and are of equal standards. � not given as

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Maryvale’s Got Talent By: Marena Gloth ‘16 "There is nothing scarier than the possibility Garret was empowered by the of getting a wedgie on national television,” encouragement of her friends, as well as laughs Maryvale's own Lonnie Garret when their playful humor: “Anna Tiburzi [’16] is asked about her time on America's Got still a bit bitter that I didn't fall off the stage Talent. On September 9th, Garret performed and become an Internet meme!” Before the in front of a national audience on the performance, Garret took a bus to New York popular show. on Sunday, and once there had to practice ten hours each day until the airing. During Though this is first time her acrobatics have one of these occasions, Lonnie was been broadcasted and watched on a highly practicing a new move when Jesy, a member recognizable program, Lonnie Garrett is no of U.K.-based girl band Little Mix, who was stranger to the world of gymnastics. She performing with Acro Army, stepped on her began gymnastics at the age of three, and hand. Despite this, the performance went has risen up in the ranks and now performs extremely well, though Lonnie was difficult both nationally and internationally with a to spot with the cameras favoring Little Mix. trio of gymnasts. When asked about her opinion on this matter, she was understandably Despite not being an original member of disappointed because her team had to learn Acro Army, who made it all the way to the a lot of new moves for the performance. semi-finals in last year edition of America's Got Talent, Lonnie was given the opportunity to join this year for the special performance before the 2015 finals. The opportunity was given because many members of the original team were deemed too old to perform, so Lonnie's nationally- ranked team was asked to fill in the gaps for the live performance. When Lonnie heard the news she was “incredibly excited, though a bit terrified” at the prospect of fumbling on live television in front of millions of viewers.

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In the end, her team was still able to perform in front of a large audience, and Garret was satisfied with the audience's appreciation of her talents. Lastly when asked her opinion on Little Mix, she claimed that all the members were likable except for Jesy, the oldest of the band, who was highly uncooperative with the gymnasts. In reflection, Lonnie enjoyed the experience and was thankful for Maryvale’s support, especially Mr. Lund’s, who's watching it was a huge Little Mix and Maryvale’s Lonnie Garrett! honor to her. � THE ATHLETES: Reffing the Game By: Cara Baldwin ‘16 & Sarah Lansinger ‘16 An overtime game on thick grass with Elaine Stevers, who has been playing questionable reffing was not the way the since second grade, said that the biggest Maryvale field hockey team wanted to weakness with the referees is spend a recent Friday night. Although the inconsistency. "It's one thing if they're team mustered a win thanks to a last making bad calls on both teams, but if minute stroke with three minutes left in they're biased, then it can really effect the sudden death overtime, the game felt like a game’s outcome." Most fans and players lifetime, due in part to inconsistent calls usually jump to conclusion that it must be and unreliable referees. This led the Grey the ref's fault for the outcome of the Towers team to investigate: What is the deal game, which leads to the next question: with bad reffing? We asked a few players what is the appropriate way to respond to from the field hockey team: Tess Kepler, a bad officiating? Stevens simply says starting midfielder (whose sister is a USA "report them to the league,” which can be field hockey referee); Elaina Stevers, a effective in the long run, while Tess, who starting midfielder; and Junior defender plays year round, and has had her fair Amanda Jenkins what they thought. share of subpar refs, says to kill them Page 8 October 2015 The grey towers

with kindness and ask for reasoning, which can be a quick way to alleviate the problem and tension rising between the players and officiators. But what if nothing improves? Should coaches have to pay the refs for a terrible game? Both Stevers and Kepler agree that refs should be paid "whether we want to or not.”

So how can reffing improve? From T-ball in Tess Kepler ‘19 the backyard to the NFL Superbowl, officials must take responsibility for the accuracy of each whistle. Tess advises that referees should have to attend more training sessions and be assessed regularly.

It is a safe call to say that the Maryvale athletes are exceptionally competitive, but are able to conduct themselves with poise on the field. Reffing is always a tricky

subject, especially since both the players Elaina Stevers ‘19 and the coaches are all subjected to the two- striped shirts on the field. At the end of the day, no one can change what type of ref they have, or how the ref changes the game. Rather, the way the players react to the bad calls shows true sportsmanship, and that is why the field hockey team came out on top against both IND and the referees. �

Amanda Jenkins ‘17

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Route One Apparel Founder at Maryvale By: Colleen Neely ‘18 “What do you plan to do after graduation?” even the login and password of the website. This is a question that usually makes many If Von Paris refused to agree to these terms, colleg or even high school students nervous. the student was going to steal her idea and Entrepreneur Allie Von Paris was no launch the company as his own. In order to different; during her junior year of college at gain control of the situation, Ms. Von Paris University of Maryland, she did not know "picked his brain" to figure out how she what she would do for a living. might be able to launch the company on her own. Avoiding his ultimatum, she met with Allie Von Paris, who spoke to Maryvale’s her friends and together, they launched Leadership class on October 19th, is now the Route One literally overnight. founder of the popular company Route One Apparel. Route One is a state-pride Five years later, she is now in her own office company with over 800 products including space with eight staff. Her typical workday everything from bumper stickers to includes managing the social media accounts keychains to bikinis. Regarding the as well as designing new products. Route busness’s beginning, Von Paris states, "it One launches new products every month kind of fell in my lap.” She designed a t- and even accepts ideas from customers for shirt for a bar at which she had previously new products. If a customer’s idea is worked, and though the bar eventually adopted, the customer receives the product closed, the success of that design gave her for free — and almost 50 percent of their enough confidence to start selling other product-line has been inspired by such products, even with no prior experience. suggestions.

Route One began in her dorm room with As a young entrepreneur, Von Paris Von Paris taking orders from around encourages everyone to follow their instincts. campus. In November of 2010, she was "If there's any kind of risk in your life that taking orders when an acquaintance you're not sure about, you won't know until approached her and offered to launch a you take that leap.” � website for her, with the stipulation that she would not have access to the finances or Route One Apparel can be reached on the web at http://www.routeoneapparel.com. Page 10 The grey towers October 2015

Band Don't Stand a Chance: A Music Review By: Ally Wade ‘16 and Mary Kate Gagliardi ‘16 This is not about One Direction, but let us more upbeat tracks that leave the listener take a moment of silence for their loss. wanting more, and this sets a fine Instead, our focus is another band: Vampire precedent for his future albums. Weekend. This alternative band has elements that are not associated with a The album inspires reminiscnece: we group of preppy boys in . Vampire jump back to September 19, 2013 and Weekend started with four college boys: we're standing in a giant crowd waiting , , Rostaam for to emerge onstage. Batmanglij, and at Columbia We all fell silent for the instrumental part University in 2006. Imagine a mix of Peter of “Trophies” by Drake; then, the four Gabriel and Passion Pit — that may be one boys take the stage and begin with of the closest ways to describe Vampire “,” their current hit. We will Weekend. miss the band as a whole, even when Baio was not as impactful within the group. As On September 19th, Chris Baio, the former it goes for many bassists.. Overall it bassist of Vampire Weekend, decided to seems Baio will have mixed reviews from take a new path with his music career and his Vampire Weekend fans, but these two released his first solo album, The Names. girls think he can make it big. Adding a taste of his former band, his music makes the listener feel like they are relaxing Our favorite songs on The Names: in Cape Cod on a sailboat, but also has an Ally: “Brainwash yyrr face” 80s vibe. Bayou’s past relevance in Vampire Mary Kate: “The Names” � Weekend makes him shine on his own. The Names is an EP, which is basically a sample of what the full album will be like. His EP includes nine songs, which starts out with “Brainwash Yyrr Face”, an instrumental upbeat tune that one could shop in their favorite store to. He closes off the album with a slower song,, “Scarlet.” We prefer Page 11 New EP ; Source: teamvampireweekend.tumblr.com The grey towers October 2015

Op-Ed: “Happiness Is Not A Warm Scalpel” By: Katie Kapfer ‘16 What if I told you that you live humanity. What was once a for her beauty. However, I have in a society inching its way need becomes a want: people also seen and heard the towards inevitable horror? I am begin purchasing body equivalent of her notorious not talking about the barrage of alterations for the pure sake of surgeries. For context, this dreadful decorations in fashion. At one point in the young woman has just recently preparation for Halloween at film, one of the characters is turned eighteen; her surgeries the end of this month, but revealed to have an addiction to were performed while she was rather factors in real life that, surgery because of her a minor. What message is this when dissected, can be viewed obsession with beauty conveying to the younger as downright appalling. This modifications. Although generations? Do people need trouble may be more prominent humanity is not (currently) surgery to look beautiful? Is this than you originally thought: demolished due to an organ the next trend for successful plastic surgery. epidemic, does the fancy for self-esteem? Should minors going under the knife sound have this focus? Most A few months ago, I was familiar? importantly, should anyone browsing some old horror have this mindset? movies and came across an odd, Ironically enough, Paris Hilton cult film directed by the same portrays the character who is The true morbidity lies within man who directed Saw II, III, addicted to surgery. Despite the the fact that the ideal beauty of and IV, Darren Lynn Bousman. fact that the rumors of her and our generation stems from This film, Repo! The Genetic plastic surgery have yet to be surgery. Society has created a Opera, unfolds unlike any other confirmed, the fact alone that goal that cannot be reached horror movie I have seen such a scandal is talked about naturally, prompting those before; it is filled with songs, says a lot about the focus of growing within it to concoct various animations, and a beauty in our society; such goals unattainable except with powerful underlying message. extreme modifications have the use of a scalpel. Repo! may In this movie, the world has become the norm. Another strike many as a ridiculous film been devastated by an organ prime example of this focus on — and even Mr. Bousman epidemic. A company arises, artificial fashion is Kylie Jenner. himself has said that it is. But GeneCo, to provide organs and Personally, I cannot count how what is even more ridiculous is ultimately save what is left of many times I have heard or that the film successfully mirrors seen praise towards Ms. Jenner Page 12 The grey towers October 2015

aspects of our society. In fact, the for our society to embrace natural beauty American Society for Aesthetic Plastic — to not focus on how to change Surgery released its eighteenth annual yourself. As always, there are exceptions data report this past March stating that to this stance such as one getting implants Americans spent over $12 billion on more after a discectomy, or certain than ten million cosmetic surgeries in reconstruction after a tragic accident. Yet, 2014 alone. Regardless of the fact that we must make sure this need does not there are not Repo Men repossessing become a want. We must prevent the organs due to an overdue payment, the impending horror from consuming our terror lies in the fact that the ideal beauty society. � of our generation is created by artificial means.

It is crucial, both for the survival of mental sanity and survival of humanity, 5 Ways to Stay Organized By: Ally Wade ‘16 Wondering where that paper went that you 2* Single Hole-Puncher: Not every received just two days ago? We all have teacher has hole-punchers in their those days. Speaking from past experience, room ,so an alternative option would be I know exactly how your feel. That last to carry around a single hole-puncher in thing you want is to be going from the top your pencil case! This will allow you to of Rodriguez to the castle and your folder put the papers in your binder right away, gives out in you. Here are five tips and in its specific section. tricks to keep that from happening and make life a little less cluttered. 3* Colored Markers/ Highlighters: Schedules can look very confusing when 1* Plastic Folders: It is not a hard decision they are is blank. Make it easier to whether to choose paper or plastic. Plastic understand what class you're going to folders are much more durable and less next by color coordinating each class with likely to fall apart in the middle of year, a specific color. This can also work for leaving everything sprawled on the floor. when your are writing down your You can easily make this your homework homework: write each subject's folder, placed inside so that it is ready to be homework in the same color everyday to turned in on time. This gives it no time to get lost with all of your other papers! Page 13 October 2015 The grey towers

and vibrant.

4* Planner: Don't crowd yourself with remembering assignments! Once you figure out that you have a test or project due a certain day, mark it off on your planner so you can remind yourself to start working and not wait last minute! This can help push procrastination away and welcome good habits of getting things done ahead of time. You will be so happy with yourself when you get tags Contributions done sooner than later! Have you ever dreamed of 5* Spiral Notebooks: Taking notes on being featured in the school separate sheets of looseleaf can be such a newspaper? We know you hassle, especially if they get mixed up have! E-mail any suggestions and you don't know where page one is. or your own material to our With spiral notebooks, everything is in one place and all of your notes are in Contribution Manager, order! This also allows you to tear out a Marena Gloth, at piece with smooth edges and with it [email protected] already hole-punched, it makes life so much easier!

Staying organized makes school ten times more bearable because you don't have to worry about where your papers are when they are due. Using one or two of the tips I showed you, you'll definitely be getting a head start on making life a tiny bit easier so that nothing gets lost. Stay organized, Maryvale. �

Page 14 The grey towers October 2015 STAFF

Mr. Denton Paige Wilkinson Sarah Lansinger Moderator Public Relations Officer

Ally Wade Mary Katelyn Gagliardi Jennifer Wojeck Chief Editor Chief Photographer

Katie Kapfer Cara Baldwin Anna Wojehowski Layout Manager Promotions Officer

Madison Smith Colleen Neely Chloe Baker Layout Manager

Marena Gloth Sydney Logan Contributions Manager Page 15