THE Oct 9, 2019 PtheOSTSCRIPT park school of baltimore | 2425 old court road, baltimore, md 21208 Volume 77 Issue No.1 MOORES STUDENTS STRIKE FOR BRANCH RESTORATION CLIMATE ACTION UNDERWAY by LILAH LICHTMAN ’21 Since the first day of school, the sounds of both destruction and con- struction have echoed through the campus. The growl of bulldozers, cranes, and chainsaws rings out over the green fields. These sounds are all from the work of restoring Moores Branch, the stream that runs through the woods from the western to the eastern boundary of the school property line. Massive earth movers and logging trucks began transforming the stream and woods in June, and the majority of the work is now scheduled to fin- ish on November 1, roughly one year after a major grant was awarded for the project. The health of Moores Branch, a tributary of the larger Jones Falls river, has been in decline for many years. By 2016, the diverse range of aquatic life had almost completely disappeared, according to Ecotone, the company hired to assess and re- store the stream. The lack of a viable route for wa- ter runoff through the neighborhoods to the west caused banks to erode. Tree roots and sewage pipes were exposed by erosion, and even the foundational stability of the relatively new Athletic Center was threatened. The deterioration in the stream is caused in part by housing and re- tail developments upstream. “When there is a storm, the stream becomes a major [runoff water] thoroughfare,” Director of Finance and Operations Joan Webber said. When Park moved to its current location in the late 1950s, Moores Branch was a gentle tree-lined stream in the center of a largely-undeveloped valley. With the addition of school buildings, houding and retail devel- opments upstream, and increasingly frequent rainfall, Moores Branch has become a stormwater pathway. Though the current restoration work only started a few months ago, setting the $1 million project in motion required a complex process spanning several years. In early 2017, after extensive vetting of several eco- logical restoration firms by the Board of Trustees Facilities Committee, Ecotone Inc. was chosen to restore the stream. photos courtesy Communications Their role included project design, For more coverage of the Septmber 20 Climate Action grant application, and construction. School Strike, on campus, in Baltimore, and in Washington D.C. see pg. 6 See STREAM, pg. 4 INSIDE THE POSTSCRIPT NEWS FEATURES ARTS & CULTURE SPORTS Aaron Hirschhorn ’21 interviews Callie Krosin ’21 writes about this Arenal Haut ’20 sits down with Jacob Peres ’21 chronicles Girls’ four new faculty members joining summer’s FACA lineup. Anwar Thomas, choreographer of Tennis’s battle in the B conference. the Upper School. the upcoming Guys and Dolls. PAGE 3 PAGE 7 PAGE 9 PAGE 11 Editorial // The Postscript OCTOBER 9, 2019 2 What are you willing to fight for? Three students gave an assembly. of our collective consciousness. Con- Elizabeth Kolbert told us about the tinue to educate yourself about what’s sixth extinction. going on at the global, national, and Park became part of a global com- local levels. munity of climate action. Did you know that Indonesia is On September 20, over half the moving their capital because Jakarta student body and a good number of (a city of nearly 10 million) is sink- faculty attended climate marches in ing into the ocean? Or that people are Baltimore and Washington, D.C. being hospitalized in some of Bal- Is this the only time this year that timore’s poorest neighborhoods be- we’ll see such widespread commit- cause of urban heat islands caused by ment to a cause? a lack of trees? It was empowering to walk with a Think about your own carbon foot- group of Park students, united by a print; it may seem to be just a drop in fear that others will suffer more than the pond, but that doesn’t mean life- we ever will and a hope that we can style changes have no value. Imagine keep the worst from happening. a Park where every car in the carpool While this experience was a chance line had at least two students. to break out of our bubble, it was more What are your ideas and how can cartoon by Addy Clabour '20 about seeing our own community you implement them? come together around an important The climate strikes are evidence of Leaders responsible for club survival issue. our community’s willingness to rally by ADDIE FLEMING ’21 after their leaders graduate. “Initiatives are sup- We saw how the faculty supported around a problem that needs to be ported when students want to start something, the movement yet allowed students to solved. As you walk into the activities fair, held each and want it to continue,” Wright said. Oftentimes too, leaders need to involve a lead. Surrounded by so many of our This doesn’t have to stop at climate year before school starts, you can see dozens of posters, each advertising a different club. stronger faculty presence. For students consid- peers and buoyed by our teachers, it change. We now know that we have They range from Cooking Club to the Sock ering joining new clubs it can feel more legiti- was easier to feel hopeful about creat- the capacity to care collectively about Monkey Project; from Brownie to Beekeeping; mate to them if a club has a large student pres- ing a better future. injustices in our world and then act, from Robotics to Roots. Each club has its own ence, and an involved faculty member. “With But don’t just wait for another together, on a large scale. What cause purpose, and each caters to a specific idea; some strong, vocal adult and student leadership those last for many years, and some die off after just clubs are easily sustainable. They then become march or assembly. There are individ- do you want to fight for? How will a few. This coming and going of clubs is com- more prominent, and more people want to join ual actions that each of us should do to you channel your energy to make a monplace at Park, but why? It all comes down them,” Wright said. keep the climate crisis in the forefront difference? to a club’s leadership, and its goals. Clubs that pair these two things very well are The main reason why clubs don’t continue clubs like Mock Trial, Black Male and Female from year to year is that they target one issue too Forums, Asian Pacific Islander affinity group, The Postscript specifically. “The club that is driven by a very and Debate. specific student interest often lasts as long as A faculty presence can help to legitimize The Park School of Baltimore that student is at Park,” Upper School Principal clubs in some cases, and generally helps clubs 2425 Old Court Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 Patti Porcarelli said. last longer. Students never stay more than four Tel. 410-339-7070 For many clubs this is okay. They serve their years in the Upper School, but faculty may stay Parkpostscript.com purpose for one group of students and that’s longer, and their continued support sustains October 9, 2019 enough, but a problem arises when clubs that many clubs. However, to garner that support Volume 77|Issue No. 1 are rooted in advocacy, or have a greater goal, students need to ask for help; faculty can’t be peter out. expected to interpret the needs of students. Editors-in-Chief An example of this are the various climate This doesn’t mean that students should Talia Kolodkin, Bella Palumbi, Anton Shtarkman initiatives that have been started over the years. transfer over leadership of their club to faculty, These initiatives have come and gone as their or that students should wait for adults to take Features the lead. Student leaders are incredibly driven, News Photography leaders have left, never really staying consis- Lucy Demsky tent. and should continue to be that way. “In my ex- Jacob Hirschhorn Sonee Goles Aaron Hirschhorn For an issue as large and important as cli- perience at Park, student interest has usually Lilah Lichtman Seth Hudes mate change, it is not sufficient to have a club come first. Then, the club leaders have looked Liza Sheehy Arts and Culture Cartoons at Park that just comes and goes. This serves as for adult supporters,” Student Body President Arenal Haut Addy claybour a prime example of what club leadership should Mesra Ebadi ’20 said. Commentary Jesse Feller-Kopman Sam Cochran and should not be. Club sustainability is primarily contingent Ethan Adler Darya Zarfeshan Leading a club requires energy, and it re- on leaders’ ability to advertise and self advo- Addie Flemming Faculty Advisers quires you to be forward-thinking. The Climate cate. For many, this can be intimidating, espe- Sports Jon M. Acheson Change Collective is now the new environmen- cially at Park. Calle Krosin Leela Chantrelle tal initiative and it is a prime example of what With our culture of critique, putting yourself Jacob Peres energetic club leadership should look like. out there and saying what you really care about Leaders Talia Kolodkin ’20 and Isabel Kwass- is daunting. “After every assembly we are ask- School Population: Students—829; Employees—210 Mason ’20 started the year off planning for the ing kids what they think, and we are conditioned Distributed to Mailboxes of Upper School Students and Employees, Climate Strike on September 20. to not only praise, but critique,” Wright said. and Lower and Middle School Students by Faculty Request “Clubs need energy and excitement, and The leaders who can still manage to get up Mailed to Current Parents by Letter Perfect cannot be dissuaded for lack of participation on the stage at assemblies, are generally the Copies Printed—1400 Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Assn from year to year. Each year you almost have ones who see heightened involvement in their to start anew with a club and see if this new activities. POLICIES group of kids is interested,” Dean of Students “The club experience accommodates a lot of WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, UNSOLICITED OP-ED PIECES, AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS. PLEASE SEND Traci Wright said. different ways of gathering together, establish- WORK TO [email protected]. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR LANGUAGE AND This is the piece that the past climate change ing a purpose, figuring out goals, and doing LENGTH. SUBMISSIONS ARE PUBLISHED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE EDITORS. groups missed, and it’s the piece that many oth- them,” Porcarelli said. “I think we need all kinds er club leaders miss as well. Each year leaders of clubs because we have all kinds of interests.” The Postscript is a wholly extracurricular publication of the Upper School committed to need to advertise their club again, and they need Not every club needs to last forever, but publishing truthful, objective, and high-quality content that informs the broader community. Our to come up with a brand new set of underclass- students who are passionate about an initiative purpose is to hold the school and the administration accountable, and if we make an error, we men to bring into their club. should bear in mind that club leaders need to ask you to hold us accountable, too. We encourage all members of the community to contribute Involving younger students is one of the be vocal and forward-thinking for their activ- to the paper by writing letters to the editor. only ways to ensure that clubs continue even ity to last. News // The Postscript OCTOBER 9, 2019 3 Fresh faculty bring new skills, ideas to Upper School

by AARON HIRSCHHORN ’21 Park’s Upper School welcomes four new teachers to its faculty this year: Melissa Osquist, in the science department; Nathalie Behrens, teaching Spanish in the modern language department; Ayalet Stewart, joining the history department; and Sidney

Bridges, in the English department. all photographs by Sonee Goles ’20

elissa Osquist’s journey to Park was a long one. After growing up in Michigan and idney Bridges has worked in schools for many years, but has had many different roles. His Mmajoring in chemistry at the University of Michigan, Osquist moved to Chicago to Sfirst teaching job was as an English teacher at Friends Academy in Long Island, New York. begin teaching in public schools. After six years in Chicago, Osquist came to Baltimore and started Bridges has taught a wide range of subjects over the years. However, his specialty is a course on working at the Severn School in Severna Park. Growing up, Osquist didn’t know anyone who the Harlem Renaissance, which he developed over the year he spent at Columbia University as attended a private school. Because of this, when she started at Severn, she didn’t really understand a part of the Klingenstein Fellowship program for independent school leaders. “[Bridges] brings the culture of the school. “I felt like I was going into it blind when I moved here,” she said, “but his notable tenure as a teacher to Park,” Porcarelli said. “I was excited about the range of courses I thought I would give it a try.” he could offer here, from Shakespeare to the Harlem Renaissance toThe Novel to poetry.” Over her five years at Severn, Osquist got to know the other private schools in the area. “Park Along with having been an English teacher and English department head at both previous high had a reputation of allowing faculty to have voice, of really being inclusive and supportive of schools he has worked at, Bridges also served as Associate Director of Alumni Affairs, Associate faculty, and of treating faculty professionally,” Osquist said. “That’s really important to me, being Director of College Counseling, Dean of the Junior and Senior Class, and Upper School Principal. in an environment of high trust.” She applies these values to all aspects of her life. In high school, his favorite subject was biology, and in college he majored in psychology. “What was impressive about [Osquist],” Upper School Principal Patti Porcarelli said, “is that He has coached tennis and basketball. “It was fascinating to see a school through the lens of she jumped right in to developing the new Core 10 curriculum.” so many different people,” Bridges said. This year, he is teaching two sections of English 9 and Osquist was a part of the Faculty and Curriculum Advancement (FACA) team that developed two sections of his elective, The Novel. “I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” Bridges said. “I love the the curriculum for the new class over the summer. She is “very excited” to be a part of creating students here.” and teaching the class this year, she said. Along with Core 10, Osquist is also teaching Acceler- "One of my many favorite places is Blackwell's bookstore in Oxford, England....[two of my] ated Biology. favorite poems are Lucille Clifton's 'The Lesson of Falling Leaves' and Thomas Hardy's poem "One of my favorite quotes is by M.K. Gandhi: 'live simply so others may simply live.'" 'The Convergence of the Twain.'"

yalet Stewart is the newest addition to the history department. Originally from Jamaica, athalie Behrens’s arrival to Park came sooner than expected. After working as a substi- AStewart is a global citizen. In fact, that’s what drew her to Park. After hearing about the Ntute teacher at various schools in the Baltimore area for five years, Behrens heard about part-time position at Park, Stewart checked out the website to learn more. “There was a line [on the opening at Park. “I liked the fact that [Park] is a progressive school,” Behrens said. About a the website] that struck me,” Stewart said. “It said that Park is producing ‘citizens of the world.’ I week after applying, she was contacted by the school and asked if she would fill in as a Middle think that we all need to be not just citizens of the nation we are born in, but citizens of the world, School Spanish teacher. Behrens accepted, and finished out the year in the Middle School before or else things will never change.” joining the Upper School this year. Stewart is currently a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University. There, she studies French “My family is very diverse,” Behrens said. Her mother is from Switzerland, and her father is History, specializing in post-colonial France. from Costa Rica. Behrens herself grew up mostly in Venezuela, but spent time in both Switzerland “Stewart’s research experience made us interested in her work,” Porcarelli said. “When I and Costa Rica growing up. She also lived and taught in both Germany and Saudi Arabia, before interviewed her, she talked about the importance of research and writing, two significant compo- moving to the United States in 2003. “We are really fortunate,” Porcarelli said, “that [Behrens] nents of our history curriculum.” This year, Stewart is working part-time, teaching two sections brings her focus on culture and travel to the classroom.” of History 10. This year, Behrens is teaching two sections of Spanish 2 Accelerated and two sections of Span- "My favorite book is Wide Sargasso Sea, and my favorite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany's. ish 3. “I am excited about both,” Behrens said. “[The students] are very motivated.” I love all things Audrey Hepburn and prefer dressing as if I'm from the 1960s." "I love to watch the World Cup. I usually go for Brazil or Germany. My favorite word in German I can't tell you because it is a bad word, [but it] just sounds great!" The Postscript NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2019 4 Beloved English teacher Kenny Greif passes away - because he had us read it out loud, fanatic. “The first time I met Kenny with lots of questions by him probing and I keep him in my heart and mind by JACOB HIRSCHHORN ’21 and he read it out loud to us as well was when I was writing an article my knowledge.” as I continue to teach.” --- with such passion and diction,” for the Postscript about Baltimore Middle School French and Span- Someone who has a unique per- On August 20, Kenneth L. Greif, one of Greif’s former students, Janet ish teacher Pelle Wertheimer was also spective on Greif is Director of Ad- an English teacher at Park for 34 Behrend Livingston ’74, said. “He a former student. “One night he came mission Ruthie Sachs Kalvar ’85, years, passed away at the age of 83. brought it alive for us, and we felt as to the house and I watched as he and who is also Greif’s step-daughter. She He was a beloved presence in the if we were reliving the story.” a friend of my father’s went head to notes that, for her, his job as a teacher Upper School, from when he started Greif taught courses such as Ro- head in an insanely long competition was not confined to within school. teaching in 1963 to when he retired mantic Poetry, 19th Century English, about baseball trivia,” Wertheimer “Kenny was always teaching, but in in 1997. American Fiction, Modern English ’80 said. “He knew so much about so many more ways and places than According to an obituary in The Novel, Russian Literature, and many so many things.” in a traditional classroom.” Baltimore Sun, Greif was born in courses on Shakespeare. “I chose his Another defining trait was Greif’s “He taught me not just about lit- Baltimore. He earned a bachelor’s class every opportunity I had,” Direc- ability to connect with and remember erature and poetry, but also about the degree from Brown University in tor of Development Roger Seiden- his students. “He was dedicated to importance of generosity of spirit, ac- 1957 and a law degree from the Uni- man ’85 said. the pursuit and love of learning, and cess to education, personal philan- versity of Virginia School of Law in “Mr. Greif cared about the char- his generosity—with his teaching, thropy, kindness, humility, and seeing 1961. However, he had a passion for acters in the literature, their interac- his caring, the many scholarships he the good in people,” Kalvar said. teaching and left his law practice in tions, their moral standing, literally, sponsored, and his love of and em- Kalvar also spoke to why Greif 1963. While also teaching at Park, he their character—the same way he pathy for each one of us and to the was so revered at Park. “I think he received a master’s degree in teach- cared about his students and our world as it should be,” Blaustein said. was beloved by so many because as ing from Johns Hopkins University well-being: with complete dedica- “Years after I graduated from a true progressive educator, he made in 1968. tion,” another former student, Susan Park, I attended a memorial service sure students were at the center of In an email to all alumni who were Blaustein ’70, said. for Mr. Brooks Lakin [in 2007]. After their own learning and he supported students when Greif taught, Head of “It is that caring that we all felt, the service, I approached Mr. Greif each and every one of them, always School Dan Paradis wrote that Grief both about those fictional creations and introduced myself,” Livings- listening and caring deeply about served as the English department in our readings and about us, and the photo courtesy Park Archives ton said. “Immediately, he said ‘Of their struggles, their victories, their chair, advised the literary journal, knowledge that his caring was con- Kenny Greif, stands on a chair course I remember you Janet. And passions, and their talents—staying Parkpourri, and served on the Aca- stant, whole-hearted, and lasting, that while teaching. Greif taught at Park I enjoy following you and reading connected long after they and he left demic Program Review Committee. made him such a trusted and beloved for 34 years. about all you are doing in our com- Park School,” Kalvar said. One quality that made Greif so teacher,” Blaustein said. sports. Everyone recommended that munity.’” Greif left a lasting impression on a valued at Park was his ability to en- Along with being dedicated to I talk to Mr. Greif,” Seidenman said. “He was a lifelong friend and generation of Park students, and will gage his students during class. “He his work as a teacher, Greif was a “I walked in, introduced myself, and inspiration,” Wertheimer said. “He be dearly missed by the entire Park taught us Shakespeare like none other serious Orioles fan and a baseball we talked for about 45 minutes, filled loved Park School and his students, community. Science launches Core 10 course in biology and chemistry

by BELLA PALUMBI ’20 to use stoichiometry to find how many moles However, in Core 10, if a student chooses “We seriously hope that we reach a broader of a product would be produced in a particular the ‘B’ level work 60% or more of the time, audience of who is earning accelerated credit. Over the summer, the science department chemical reaction. they will earn accelerated credit on their official That is a stated goal,” Rogers said. “There are completed a four-week Faculty and Curricu- “How much stuff do [students] have to know transcript, whereas it was not possible to earn going to be roughly as many kids earning ac- lar Advancement (FACA) program to create that they’re not interested in? It’s about bal- accelerated science credit in Core 9. The depart- celerated credit as in the past, just by choice,” the curriculum for Core 10, a required science ance,” Rogers said. “I think people are ready ment arrived at the 60% threshold by reflecting she continued. course for sophomores focusing on chemistry for unit conversions at different times in their on their experience with Core 9. “We didn’t Science teacher Carla Guarraia pointed out and biology. This is the second major step of lives.” [randomly] make that number up,” Rogers said. an added benefit for the Core 10 work. “Some- the science curriculum redesign that began in Additionally, Core 10 will continue to in- In years past, students have had to choose thing that came out of the whole Core program 2016 with the development of Core 9. corporate the technology components that were their track when entering ninth grade, before is that we communicate as a department so Almost every teacher in the department was introduced the previous year. “We’re hoping classes even began. Data collected by the de- much more, and students will hopefully have involved in the FACA, including new hire Me- that kids will utilize some of their computer partment in the 2016-17 school year indicated more consistency with the skills they’re taking lissa Osquist. “It was the reason I applied for science and engineering skills from Core 9 to that students were more or less stuck on the path into junior and senior year,” Guarraia said. this job. That was a main motivator for me,” help inform the projects that they do [in Core they chose in freshman year, even though it was Like Core 9 before it, Core 10 will evolve Osquist said. 10],” Rogers said. technically possible to move. “It cuts off access, as the semester progresses. It will be several Many participants in the FACA had been The department felt it was important to con- and it sends a certain message as well,” said more years before the department knows how through this process before, having designed tinue to weave computer science into the re- Osquist about the now-retired tracking system. effective the new curriculum has been overall. Core 9 the previous summer, but Core 10 did quired curriculum. “The reality is that nobody’s bring some challenges of its own. While Core 9 doing science anymore that doesn’t require CS focused on physics and sprinkled in engineering or engineering,” Osquist said. Osquist comes Elizabeth Kolbert talks climate and computer science (CS) concepts, Core 10 to Park from Severn School where she taught had to seamlessly condense two full courses CS and chemistry. into one, and not all the material made the cut. Though less material overall will be cov- For example, Core 10 will not include pro- ered in the Core curriculum, the department tein synthesis, DNA replication, or cell divi- has made these changes with the assumption sion, while Biology did. “I don’t believe that that all students will continue to study science this course is exactly 50% of the previous in the form of electives. Another part of the bio [course] and 50% of the previous chem work done in the FACA was the outlining of [course],” said science teacher and FACA par- several example pathways that students could ticipant Elliott Huntsman. “I do think it’s more take, depending on their particular interests. 60 and 60. There are ways in which you can For instance, after completing Core 9 and teach chemical concepts and biological con- Core 10, a student with an affinity for physics cepts at the same time,” he said. might opt into classes like Physics 2: Astron- Choosing what to keep and what to cut was omy; Chemistry 2: Matter; or Engineering 2: a difficult process. “It is not easy to integrate Structural Engineering, throughout their junior these topics, because I think kids traditionally and senior years. have learned a lot of content for content’s sake,” “We envision a rotating, every-other-year Upper School Science Chair Julie Rogers said. elective offering system, kind of akin to the “We’re not doing the mole. For me, as a English department,” Rogers said. chemistry major, that was huge. And [stoi- There is another important difference be- chiometry] is something I use all the time,” tween Core 9 and Core 10. In both courses, for each assignment (including projects, papers, Osquist said. The mole is a standard unit of photo courtesy Communications measurement in chemistry. Stoichiometry is the and quizzes), students are presented with an The 2019 Weinberg Resident Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert visited on Sep- calculation of ratios of substances undergoing ‘A’ option, which is the regular work, as well as reactions or changes. Something chemistry stu- with a ‘B’ option, which functions as a deeper tember 5, and spoke about her book, “The Sixth Extinction,” as well as the dents might have done in years past would be dive into that particular topic. impact humanity has on species diversity and the worldwide climate crisis. The Postscript NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2019 5 Students travel to Costa Rica NEWS IN BRIEF by LIZA SHEEHY ’21 African artifacts moved, cleaned, “It is very special to have a close relationship This past June, a total of 18 students from with people in another country,” participant Ju- stored Park and Baltimore City College students trav- lia Baran ’22 said. “It is something I will always Over the summer, Arts teachers Janna Rice and Susan eled together to Costa Rica to participate in a remember.” Asdourian took down the school’s African art collection sustainability program. The other main aspect of the program was from its dusty perch in the stagecraft shop. They cleaned, The schools were connected through City the sustainability-based service work. Students catalogued, and stored the pieces in a safe place. The College Spanish teacher and Park parent Alejan- spent their days making trail signs for the moun- African artifacts committee will continue to meet and dra Lorenzo-Chang, who was the main facilita- tain paths surrounding the community. discuss the future of the collection. “It’s really a question tor and organizer of the trip. They also planted fruit trees at the local of: should an institution take on art? And how do they Lorenzo-Chang brought the idea of a joint school and in local gardens. conserve it for the long term?” Rice said. program to the Upper School Modern Language “It is easy to be detached from nature, es- department, and although the school did not pecially when we live hectic lives in urban en- Michael Cardin ’85 Writing Cen- officially sign onto the trip and could not offer vironments,” Lorenzo-Chang said. ter opens any funding, 11 Park students participated in “[This program] was an opportunity for the program, accompanied by Upper School students to participate and engage with the en- The grand opening of the Michael Cardin ’85 Writing French teacher Jenny Sorel. vironment.” Center was October 2. The space is staffed by students “It was a great experience, and reminded This type of immersion program was a who took the English class Writing Practicum last year me of what it’s like for students to learn a lan- unique opportunity for Park students, and the with Upper School English teacher Angela Balcita. The guage,” Sorel said. response was very positive. writing center is open to anyone looking to talk about photo courtesy Arts department The schools joined together to participate “It was great in that it was different than or revise their writing. in a program run by Walking Tree Travel. In our normal [language immersion trips] because partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, there was a sustainability component,” trip par- Walking Tree Travel designs and runs trips for ticipant Samantha Saunders ’21 said. high school groups. This trip also differed from other modern Lorenzo-Chang chose the Walking Tree language trips at Park because it was open to program because the company is passionate both Spanish and French speaking students. about service. “Their focus is not to offer tours,” “At first it was hard to communicate with Lorenzo-Chang said. “Their purpose is [for stu- my host parents, but by the end of the week,I dents] to be immersed in the culture.” felt much more comfortable understanding and An important aspect of the immersion ex- speaking in Spanish.” Aaron Hirschhorn ’21 perience was the homestays that students par- said. ticipated in. In addition to building strong communities The time spent with host families was highly through the homestays, the connections made valued, and “[the students] had the unique expe- between Park and City College students were rience of living, though briefly, as native Costa a valuable aspect of the trip. Ricans,” Sorel said. “Traveling with City College students em- Students stayed with local families for four phasized the community-building aspect even photo by Mora Perl ’20 nights, and were able to make strong connec- more,” Saunders said. “[The partnership on] Students from Park and City College went to Costa Rica over the summer. tions to their host families in that short amount this trip is definitely something Park should They lived in homestays and worked on environmentral sustainability. of time. continue doing.” Developments in nearby neighborhoods caused stream degradation with the Science faculty, including The stream is not only important it really gives us the idea that we are Middle School science teacher Rob to the Jones Falls watershed and to part of a larger community. When Piper, to reshape the grant. Park’s campus, but it’s long been an they consider what they do and how In July 2018, Tim Pickering, lead- integral part of academics, especially we treat our Park campus, it leads to er of the Board’s Facilities Commit- the Lower School science program. how they think about their place in tee responsible for the application to All kindergarten classes have the rest of the world,” Jacoby said. Maryland DNR, was informed that historically focused on the stream “The students and faculty have the grant was approved. to give the kindergartners a “sense been involved in this project from “It’s great that the [stream] work of place,” as Lower School science the beginning,” Webber said. “They is paid for completely outside the teacher Laura Jacoby described it. are the stakeholders. They are the rea- [school’s] operating budget,” said Walking and exploring along the son we are doing this. I’m looking Head of School Dan Paradis at a re- stream helps young students “instill a forward to seeing them walking the cent meeting. deep understanding of their environ- stream again.” The process of restoring the ment,” Jacoby said. When the restoration is complete, stream is still ongoing. Dozens of In past years, kindergartners have the area will be transformed. downed trees are being incorporated set up stream field sites for yearly “The stream aged, the banks erod- into the widened path, allowing the monitoring and taken part in stream ed, a company is rebuilding it, and photo by Bella Palumbi ’20 stream to turn, with spill-outs for walking. Jacoby hopes that when ev- the stream is restored,” Upper School STREAM RESTORATION UNDERWAY from pg. 1 excess water and sediment during erything is finished the kindergarten- Principal Patti Porcarelli said. storms. ers can continue their field studies “And the result is something aes- Ecotone was Park’s first choice rejected. The cutting down of the largest and stream walk again. thetically pleasing and environmen- because of their experience using The school resubmitted the grant 17 trees had to be authorized by the “I think, in studying the stream, tally sound.” existing building materials like fallen application for the design cost only, Baltimore County Department of trees and their willingness to work in with an understanding that, if award- Environmental Protection and Sus- partnership with the school adminis- ed, a second grant application could tainability. tration and faculty. be submitted to the Maryland Depart- Dozens of smaller trees and bush- In 2017, an exposed sewage pipe ment of Natural Resources (DNR) es were also removed. In October and was found sticking out from the Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays November, 5,000 new plants and stream’s bank. This required a short- Trust Fund for the construction phase. trees will be planted along the six and term solution, and Ecotone made the In December 2017, Park was a half acres of cleared embankment. emergency repairs. awarded a $105,800 design grant by After construction is finished, the After being selected to work on CBT. stream will be monitored by Eco- the long-term restoration, Ecotone Ecotone quickly went to work tone for three years, including water began surveying the stream and on the additional plans, and Park quality and pH tests, to make sure the working with the school on a plan. and Ecotone submitted a grant ap- ground is healthy and the improve- In spring 2017, with Ecotone’s as- plication for $975,206 to the DNR’s ments are permanent. sistance, the school submitted a grant Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays The Upper School science depart- application to the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund. ment is also planning to have students Trust (CBT) for the full cost of de- As reported in the November 7, return to the stream to collect addi- sign and restoration. The request was 2018 Postscript, Ecotone worked tional data. photo by Sonee Goles ’20 The Postscript news october 9, 2019 6 School strike for the climate Students in streets protest adult inaction

n September 20, Park students attended climate marches in Washington D.C. and Baltimore.O This initiative was led by the Climate Change Collective. The club leaders promoted the strike at an assembly by showing a video of Greta Thunberg, a Swedish activist who has been striking from school on Fridays for over a year. She began a global movement and the Park school leaders brought it to our commu- nity. After the assembly, the student leaders attended a faculty meeting to invite teacher participation and ensure widespread student involvement. Upper School Principal Patti Por- carelli heard the call and changed the schedule to accomodate student passion. As a result over two-thirds of the Upper School student popula- tion attended the strikes, while the rest of the students stayed on campus to learn more about climate change. The students who went on strike in Baltimore fearlessly got up and spoke to Baltimoreans while the students in DC marched to the Capitol and heard indigenous activists, student speak- ers, and Congressional representatives. Features // The Postscript October 9, 2019 7 Meet the FACAs: See what the teachers were up to this summer by CALLIE KROSIN ’21 In the F. Parvin Sharpless Faculty and Curricular Ad- vancement Program (FACA), teachers (and sometimes ad- ministrators) participate in wide-ranging variety of proj- ects with a goal to improve the curriculum and community around us. Thirteen FACAs took place this summer. Several were continuations of initiatives from previous years, and a few were entirely new. Three FACAs described below provide a sense of the kind of work teachers are often engaged in over the sum- mer.

Discovering Google Earth to Experience the Francophone World For the past few years, Middle School Technology Coor- dinator Samira Phillips and former Lower School Technology Coordinator Matt Doyle led a FACA on technology. Due to Doyle’s new role as Lower School Assistant Principal, which photo courtesy Sofia Park started on July 1, and other commitments from Phillips, there was nobody to run the tech FACA. However, Upper School Interdisciplinary Studies French teacher Sofia Park had a desire to improve her use of technology in the classroom. photo courtesy Angela Balcita The concept and practice of interdisciplinary studies is often Determined to follow through with her project, Park went discussed by K-12 teachers. In the past two years, the FACA to Associate Head of School Priscilla Morales to inquire about This is What It Looks Like: program has supported summer work in the Upper School to applying for a FACA on her own. With the approval of Morales, Communities of Color explore the idea of an interdisciplinary studies program. Many Park went on to complete an application, and was accepted. conversations among teachers have revolved around trying to “The thing about FACA is [that] you work with a community, As a continuation of many previous conversations about fac- define what the term ‘interdisciplinary studies’ means, and what so you bounce ideas off of each other, and I didn’t get to have ulty and employees of color at Park, a group of faculty of color the goals of such conversations should be. that,” Park said. Running a FACA by oneself is difficult, as there got together to participate in a FACA this summer. The goal was “We acknowledged that team-taught classes have been hap- is usually a real emphasis on working collaboratively as a group. to provide the administration a perspective of what it is like to be pening forever, but we are looking at something bigger,” FACA In 2013, when Park was teaching in Los Angeles, CA, she an employee of color at a predominately white school like Park. Chair and Upper School Spanish teacher Ileana Imhoff said. used Google Earth to give her immigrant students the ability Building and examining community was also an important Examples of team-taught classes from years past include Irish to create a tour that showed their families’ paths to the United part of this project, as discussions were an integral part of the History and Literature, Women in Poetry and Song, and Chinese States. Recently, after seeing a commercial about virtual reality, daily routine. In the preliminary stages of the FACA, the discus- History and Literature. Park developed the idea to use Google Earth as a mechanism for sions mainly revolved around personal experiences. “We spent Considering something bigger was the main point of con- creating tours of Francophone countries and important French many days just talking, and then started to listen for the main versation in the FACA. Looking at a complex issue from many landmarks and cities. themes and big ideas that connect all of our experiences,” Upper different angles was one of the main ideas and discussion points. Incorporating this technology into the classroom creates the School English teacher Leela Chantrelle said. Education around climate change, for example, lends itself to authentic language-learning experience that the modern language The themes and big ideas extracted from days of discussions an interdisciplinary approach. “We can look at the science of department aims for, and is a more equitable way for students to were used to design questions for interviews. Between 20 and 30 climate change, the environmental stewardship of it, the literature learn about Francophone countries. “It’s a way to travel without people were interviewed, according to Chantrelle. The people about it, [and] migration or species that have been affected by actually traveling,” Park said. interviewed were all faculty of color from Park who were willing it,” Imhoff said. In the early stages of the project, Ms. Park encountered chal- to have their voices play a role in, the recommendations that the As one of two chairs of the two-week FACA, Imhoff concen- lenges, especially with using the technology across different group ultimately gave to the administration. trated on building a hypothetical new interdisciplinary program. devices. The Google Earth app is only available on one virtual The first recommendation the group made was for there to In the program, she had the idea that students and faculty would reality device, the Oculus Rift, because of a deal the company be time set aside to develop community. “One of the things that not belong to one subject. Instead, they would concentrate on has with Google. The Oculus Rift headset costs well over $1,000, we established was that people feel at home when they have a one problem or social issue and design a fieldwork component which exceeded Park’s budget. community,” Upper School English teacher Angela Balcita said. to complement studies in the classroom. Instead of buying an expensive wearable computer, Park “So, we asked [the administration] to give us time together to While the thought of doing fieldwork is intriguing, it presents found the Google Cardboard, which is essentially a headset gather, especially at the beginning of the year, so new faculty countless obstacles. For instance, do all students go out and do made out of cardboard, with a space to insert a smartphone. With of color can see that these are their people.” fieldwork at the same time? What happens when a group is out five pairs of goggles, Park has designed new lessons. For safety The FACA put together concrete guidelines in their written of regular classes for two weeks? Students studying the issue of reasons, the person wearing the goggles must have a partner report for the administration. Another recommendation was the immigration could go to the border to experience the situation to make sure they do not run into anything. “I found ways to creation of a People of Color Advisory Board. “This gives us right in front of them, but that would cost a lot of money. create a tour, like a museum tour, with an app called Google the chance to have someone representing us in those meetings,” The theory behind interdisciplinary studies directly correlates Expedition,” Park said. Balcita said. Additionally, an Employees of Color Council was to our school’s progressive ideals. “It’s really all part of our mis- There is also an app called Google Poly which allows Park put together. The purpose of this initiative is to organize events sion statement and philosophy of global citizenship and diverse to make her own virtual reality tours. Although this seemed like for faculty of color. There will be monthly events for faculty of perspectives. I think it would definitely advance our progressive the perfect solution, there was even more technology needed in color, including meetings and potlucks. approach, for sure,” Imhoff said. order to create a tour, namely a 360-degree camera. “At the end Other guidelines pertain to hiring and retention, a central With representatives from five different departments, the of the day, I would still have to go there, take pictures and come idea covered in the May 2018 issue of the Postscript. In addition group’s discussions ranged from capitalism and climate change home, so that is complicated,” Park said. to providing the administration with the guidelines, the group to cosmology, philosophy, and technology. Participants were Towards the culmination of the project, Park used already- presented at a faculty meeting in September with the hope of also given time to work individually on personal projects. Some available 3D pictures to put together her own tour of the French- sparking larger and ongoing conversations. examined similar programs in nearby schools. Others, like Im- speaking Carribean islands. For her freshman class, Park created In the past, there have been FACAs dedicated to various hoff, constructed their own programs. Still others looked into a tour where she tells her life story by going to several places topics of race; however, what is different this year is that this how interdisciplinary studies might fit into our current schedule. of importance. “It is basically like replacing a Power Point,” FACA was restricted to employees of color. One idea was to have freshmen and sophomores go through the she said. “I think a big idea was that we felt like the employees of program during their class meeting time or M block. With the tours Ms. Park has created using 3D pictures from color at Park are canaries in the [coal] mine,” Chantrelle said. With this in mind, it is hard to think about large, systematic the internet, she is able to model what her students will eventually “A lot of the issues that we feel we’re faced with are things that changes without considering the work of the scheduling com- do: create their own 3D tour of their life. “It is still very basic. other people get hurt by too, but that we might feel it earlier, or mittee. Upper School Principal Patti Porcarelli, among other It is super disappointing; I know when I was applying for the in different ways.” members of the FACA, overlaps with both groups. FACA and saw [that] I got it, I was like: ‘I’m going to change Looking ahead to next summer, should the FACA run again, Although a powerful idea, at the moment there is no bridge the world, it is going to be great,’” Park said. the goal would be to both continue the tough conversations re- between the current team-taught classes and an elaborate inter- Even though her expectations have not yet fully materialized, garding being an employee of color at Park, as well as to focus disciplinary program. “It is hard, because there is nothing right Park’s FACA has launched her on the road to applying sophis- on the students of color’s experience here, too. “While there are now in place to carry on something like this. We would have ticated technology to create inspiring activities for language similarities [between students and faculty of color at Park], it’s to find that very modest approach,” Imhoff said. “Which is not instruction. a different beast,” Balcita said. exactly the main idea that I have been dreaming about,” she said. The Postscript FEATURES OCTOBER 9, 2019 8 New clubs offer fresh experiences Ebadi ’20, Ariel Hong ’20, Talia Kolodkin ’20, said. “It would not by LUCY DEMSKY ’21 Becky Scott ’20, and Ise Sesenaya ’20. be connected to a Student life in the first weeks of school is Roots was formed by these leaders to be a class, so students always exciting, especially with the start of all place where people can come together to share would have to the clubs and activities. Many clubs are picking their personal cultural heritage. show their interest up where they left off last year, but, as always, “Everyone has their own roots that they in the continent.” there are interesting new clubs starting this fall. should be proud of and celebrate,” Leyben- In the club Aaron Sterling ’20 and Ben Norin ’20 have grub said. “Our club is a place where people students will be created the Sock Monkey Project, which meets can do that.” learning about, and on Thursdays at X. They will make sock mon- The club started meeting periodically after immersing them- keys for kids in hospitals, especially kids who WOKE Day last year, when requests were made selves in African don’t get many visitors. for a gathering place for those who are immi- culture. The goal of “We hope to make the sock monkeys with grants or first-generation Americans. the club is to widen Lower Schoolers,” Sterling said. “Every kid “In the future, we want to create an Inter- students’ apprecia- likes stuffed animals, especially ones made by national Festival, which would be a day or a tion for contempo- Lower Schoolers and High Schoolers.” weekend where we would celebrate our roots,” rary Africa as well photo by Sonee Goles ’20 Sterling and Norin encourage people to hang Leybengrub said. “Every month we have a vol- as African history. Male Discussion Group (above) invites all on Thursdays at X. They out with them and make sock monkeys together unteer day that is focused around refugee aid.” “Since we would will talk about masculinity and how society views men. in art teacher Christine Tillman’s room in the Another culture-based club that’s new this be visiting South Arts Center. year is the African Culture Club, run by English Africa, our studies would primarily center society has placed on them. “Having a place to “The thing about our club is that you can teacher Leela Chantrelle and history teacher around that country. We’d be talking about art, talk through difficult subjects could not only come in and grab the materials to make the sock Peter Warren. culture and politics going on in South Africa.” help [the club], but help us understand other monkeys and then leave,” Sterling said. “Last year, I started talking about the pos- Warren said. people’s problems as well,” Meyers said. Another new club is Roots. It’s run by Nori sibility of putting together a trip to South Africa The trip to South Africa is being planned for The club meets on Thursdays at X block and Leybengrub ’21, Sophie Fuchs ’21, Mesra with the African Leadership Academy,” Warren Spring Break. There is an application process, is open to anyone who wants to join. “While and students have to show a level of dedica- it might be harder to contribute if you are not tion to learning about the culture and history male, if girls, or anyone else, want to learn of South Africa in order to be eligible to apply. about what we are talking about, then that’s The final new club for this year is not based totally fine and we invite that,” Inglesby said. on culture, but rather around gender norms. The Finally, the club leaders want to stress that Male Discussion Group, led by Griffin Angel this is in no way a pushback against feminism. ’21, Ben Inglesby ’20, and Jack Meyers ’20, “Gender equality for both genders is important, is a place where people who identify as male and the issues shouldn’t be compared, since can gather and discuss stereotypes and societal they are different.” Inglesby said. norms surrounding men. These four clubs are only a sampling of the “As a society, we haven’t been looking at the wide variety of clubs and activities that Park problems with male stereotypes.” Inglesby said. has to offer. Try something new, and don’t be photo by Ben Norin ’20 The club is a place where male-identifying afraid to join a new club. Sock Monkey Club makes toys for children in hospitals, and meets on Thursdays at X. students can talk through stereotypes that our MD Truth Commission Launched Freshman Class Breakdown by BELLA PALUMBI ’20 put together by Schwarz. “[It was] one of the better,” Tori Garbarino ’23 said. The Maryland Lynching Truth and Recon- best things I’ve been involved in as a teacher,” by LUCY DEMSKY ’21 ciliation Commission was launched on Septem- Jacoby said. Coming in new to Park, the switch can be The beginning of the school year is always ber 12 at the University of Baltimore School of Two group members in particular, Cate difficult, but Park does everything it can to exciting: catching up with friends, getting ready Law. It was created by House Bill 307, passed Turner ’17 and Rebecca Margolis ’17, did an make the transition easier. for classes, and starting extra curricular activi- in April 2019. The first of its kind in the na- independent study in which they continued the Orientation and the activities fair never fail ties. tion, the Commission will investigate the more research, putting together a pamphlet, “Remem- to make students feel like they are involved and However, through all of the excitement, it is than 40 killings of African Americans in pub- bering the Forgotten: A Brief History of Lynch- a part of the community. our job to warmly welcome the 73 new fresh- lic lynchings perpetrated in Maryland between ing in Maryland,” that was later published by “Nothing’s been hard so far. I joined a lot of men who joined our Upper School. The 52 re- 1854 and 1933. the Maryland Historical Society. They were also clubs, and everyone has been really nice,” John turning students are joined by 21 new students Main themes of the night included what interviewed about their work on WYPR. Apostolo ’23, and new to Park, said. who come from all over. truth and reconciliation really mean, the power The work done by that group of Park stu- Upper School English teacher Maria Spiegel Most of them live in the Baltimore area, of the Commission to subpoena information, dents contributed to the push for the creation and Admissions Associate Patrick Gerald ’09 but three new students are coming from other and lessons that could be learned from similar of the Commission. Sherrilyn Ifill, the head of are their class advisors. The ninth graders have countries. commissions throughout the world, such as in the National Association for the Advancement been busy planning for their class retreat on For freshmen coming from Park’s Middle South Africa after Apartheid. of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense October 10 and 11.They will play laser tag and School, the Upper School is just as new as it The launch was attended by Dean of Stu- Fund, was the keynote speaker at the launch. spend time on campus. is for students coming from outside of Park. dents Traci Wright and two students who went She spoke of her experience as a lawyer The freshman class is a strong group of “I’m used to having 45-minute and hour- on the 2010 Civil Rights Trip. “I thought it was and the research she conducted while writ- athletes, musicians, and actors, and the Upper long classes, but now I just have three 90-min- incredibly informative [to learn] about specific ing her influential book, On the Courthouse School is looking forward to seeing what they ute classes. It’s really different, but I like it a lot cases of lynching and racial terror, the work Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in will accomplish in the future. of the commission, and recommendations to the 21st Century. The title references the fact make it as effective as possible… And to be- that lynchings and other forms of racial vio- gin thinking about what reconciliation means,” lence are sometimes talked about as though they Wright said.Park has several connections to happened in the shadows, when in reality they the establishment of the Commission, mostly were often in very public places, sometimes through the Civil Rights Trip and the Maryland literally on the courthouse lawn. Lynching Memorial Project, an organization Many of the students involved in the launch that advocates for discussion of the crimes and of the Commission were moved to action by memorialization of the victims. Back in 2016, their experiences on the Civil Rights Trip, the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project had which includes a stop at the Equal Justice Initia- just begun, and research needed to be conducted tive’s Memorial for Peace and Justice in Mont- about the racial terror lynchings that had taken gomery, Alabama. This year, there is so much place in Maryland. Organization director Will interest that there will be two trips instead of Schwarz was inspired by Bryan Stevenson and one. Perhaps this will lead to future collabora- the Equal Justice Initiative, which was doing tion between Park and the Maryland Lynching similar work in other states. Memorial Project and other organizations like Schwarz spoke with Upper School history it.“We can’t allow the past to be forgotten, so teacher Daniel Jacoby, who invited students in it’s incumbent on younger people to recognize assembly to undertake the research. The result- the importance of confronting this dark chapter Spanish 1 is not being offered this year due to lack of enrollment. The ing group was featured in the December 2016 in our history and to remember and speak the issue of The Postscript, and was also in a film truth,” Schwarz said. only available introductory language class is Chinese 1. Arts & Culture // The Postscript OCTOBER 9, 2019 9

Posters By: Great Year of Productions Ahead KATELYN MANN ’20

Performance Dates: Performance Dates: February 6-8 May 14-16 Winter Production Fresh-Soph Production

Performance Dates: Performance Dates: November 20-23 April 16-18 Fall Musical Spring Production Anwar Thomas: Dancing with a Star feel that there’s no escape. I needed some time who are not used to the speed of teaching the by ARENAL HAUT ’20 away to respark that passion,” Thomas said. choreography and picking it up,” Gilbert said. Anwar Thomas, the choreographer for There was also his family to consider. “I’m “Some of the cast hs never seen some of the Park’s musicals over the last three years, never married, and I have a son who’s three, turning moves before, and have to learn it within an thought he’d be a dancer. Most dancers start four,” Thomas said. So he changed his tune, and hour-long rehearsal. [Thomas] has a lot of pa- classes at the age of three or four, but by age took on the role of resident choreographer at tience with us. I really admire that he is always 14, Thomas had never danced. “My sister was Arundel High School. After an intense six years able to always slow it down and work with a dancer, and I thought it was cool. But it was there, churning out two or three shows a year, the people who are having trouble.” the late 90s, and it wasn’t the cool thing to do,” Thomas felt he needed a more relaxed career. Gilbert continued, “He always pushes he said. In 2017, Park School offered a choreogra- us. A lot of the time, he doesn’t dumb Finally, the summer before his freshman pher job to Timoth Copney, a friend of Thom- down stuff for us, which can be really year of high school, Thomas participated in a as’s. Copney was originally planning to accept great to have the challenge, especial- musical theater program where many students the position, but he realized he was too busy to ly for people who have not really from Prince George’s County put on a musical take on another gig. danced before. It’s really great together. “My first experience through dance Copney passed on news of the job opening that he believes that we can all was in musical theater,” he said. to his choreographer friends. “Copney is always get to that level.” He loved it, but didn’t plan on continuing in pushing me to do more,” Thomas said, “and it Lance Greenberg ’21 is in high school. As a wrestler and football player, shows how tight-knit the theater community is, his second production with he was already busy; and with plans to play especially in Baltimore and throughout Mary- Thomas, and has never taken football professionally, dance wasn’t his prior- land. They always say ‘never burn any bridges,’ dance lessons, yet his senti- ity. and it’s true.” ments echo Gilbert’s. “I feel Freshman year at Bowie High School, Thomas was excited about the position, so like [Thomas] knows how to work with Thomas sang a solo during the opening of a he applied. Theater Director Peter King and Mu- people of all different levels. He doesn’t choral compilation of classic musical songs, and sical Director and Upper School music teacher expect people to be perfect. He knows that he fell in love with the genre. Musicals always Adele Dinerstein invited him for an interview. they’re not going to be. He just expects needed guys for shows, so Thomas made the The rest is history. So far, Thomas has choreo- good effort,” Greenberg said. time to participate in his school’s theater pro- graphed West Side Story (2017), Hairspray Overall, choreography is a lot of gram. “For some reason, the seniors and juniors (2018), and he is in the progress of working on work. Thomas first listens to various were the dancers, and I really wanted to be like Guys and Dolls. versions of the song. “I never want the them,” he said. Dinerstein has enjoyed her time working dancers to feel like the music is a tidal wave, photo courtesy Anwar Thomas Thomas began dance classes during high with Thomas. “[Thomas] really knows music, taking them over,” Thomas said, “I want the with their dancing, it really helps to see. It helps school. so we speak a common language, and he is ex- music to complement the song.” to have someone who sees you and thinks, ‘You This late start in dance allows Thomas to tremely knowledgeable about musical theater. He listens seven to 10 times, trying to vi- can be greater than this. You just need to push empathize with many in the cast. Ben Norin His choreography respects the original, but he sualize each phrase and imagine how it will through.’” ’20 has no formal dance training and is working adds a tremendous amount of creativity with his be viewed from the audience. Next, Thomas Thomas believes that the journey to creating with Thomas for the second time. “[Thomas] updates. He has amazing energy, and he does considers numbers and formations. Then it’s a riveting play is meaningful. was telling us about when he started dancing, a great job working with students at all dance time to try out with the dancers. “The process can be frustrating, but it’s and he didn’t start taking classes until he was levels,” Dinerstein said. But the process isn’t over yet; things don’t worth it. The end product is so rewarding. I 17. It’s cool for the people that he’s teaching In addition to working at Park, Thomas always look the same on the dancers as Thomas appreciate the process of seeing a number grow because when he was their age, he didn’t know teaches about three hours a week at The Dance may have imagined it, and he’s not willing to and develop. My goal is to create a story, and how to dance,” Norin said. Academy of Severna Park. Choreographing for settle. “If I don’t like it, I’ll change it,” he said. I implore the audience to be open to receive it. A few years later, to Thomas’s surprise, he novice dancers is very different than working Thomas’s enthusiasm shines through when Guys and Dolls in particular is a classic. It’s found himself working full-time in theater. He with dancers with over ten years of training. he talks about the show, but it’s even clearer timeless, and it develops really well,” he said. spent over 16 years as a full-time actor. More The Guys and Dolls cast has loved work- during rehearsals. After working with the actors through hours than 12 of those years were at Toby’s Dinner ing with Thomas. Katie Gilbert ’20 has been “He gets very excited when choreographing. of rehearsal, Thomas has high hopes for the Theater, where Thomas acted as well as cho- dancing for 14 years, nine of which have been If you do it well, he’ll scream and clap, and it’s production. reographed. competitive, and she is currently working on all very fun. You really strive to get that reac- “I think the audience is going to be especial- The cast put on eight or nine shows a week. her third production with Thomas. tion out of him, which I think is a really great ly impressed this year. With Peter’s directing “I’m grateful I was able to do what I love full- “I know a lot of the cast does not have a lot motivator,” Gilbert said. and Adele’s musicality, the shows are always time for so many years, but choreographing and of formal dance training, and I know that it can Norin agreed. “He has a level of enthusiasm fantastic, but this year is going to be one for acting full-time becomes daunting. You start to be challenging sometimes to work with people that, as someone who is not always confident the books,” Thomas said. The Postscript ARTS&CULTURE OCTOBER 9, 2019 10 The empowering songs of ‘Hot Girl Summer’ “She is pushing the com- by DARYA ZARFESHAN ’21 A particularly hot song this sum- mer was Megan Thee Stallion’s hit fortability of those whose norm Inspiring, upbeat, fun, and filled single, “Hot Girl Summer.” Megan is people with super-thin bod- with energy! The songs of summer Thee Stallion became popular this ies. She’s pushing the expecta- 2019 have been all of these and more. summer among audiences of all tions of women in rap, and she From “Old Town Road” by Lil ages. “The song appealed specifi- writes all of her music.” Nas X dropping in December 2018, cally to women, empowering them, The New York Times re- and blowing up the charts all through their beauty and power, this summer,” ported in July, 2019 that the the year, to “Señorita” by Camila Bella Johnson ’20 said. 24 year-old rapper hosted a Cabello and Shawn Mendes stirring “I genuinely love Megan Thee “kinder beauty pageant” with up lots of drama about the pair, this Stallion. She is the best thing to hap- a prize of $2,500 scholarship summer has given us a little taste of pen to mainstream rap music in a money because, as the young everything. while,” Johnson said. rapper said, “tuition ain’t no joke.” The phrase “hot girl sum- mer” was adopted by people of all ages and gender. Teen- age girls especially expressed hot girl summer mentality. But what exactly does that mean to those teens? “Hot girl summer is the summer of girls being them- selves, feeling confident, hav- ing fun, and living life however they want to,” Sarah Renbaum ’21 said. Another popular artist this photo courtesy refinery29.com summer was Lizzo. A few of Megan Thee Stallion raps partly “to show girls how happy I am [and] her most popular songs in- to be a good example to somebody in the future.” clude “Truth Hurts”, “Juice,” and or an audio file of choice. These songs of 2019 have dem- “Boys,” which rose to fame on the Whenever a song is used as audio onstrated a general theme of confi- social media platform TikTok. Tik- on top of a challenge (like flipping dence and believing in yourself. “The Tok has proven to be a major source bottles to a standing position), it tends music [this] summer was all about of attention for music in 2019. Many to blow up on the charts and stream- good vibes and having fun,” said Ben songs have gotten their fame from ing platforms. “Tiktok has undoubt- Inglesby ’20. photo courtesy lizzomusic.com this app. Tiktok allows users to create edly had a major role in our popular Let’s see what the summer of Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo. small clips and videos with their song music today,” Johnson said. 2020 has to offer! Guys and Dolls: a classic American musical coming soon by JESSE FELLER- In the past two years, Park has put on West Side Story (2017) and KOPFMAN ’21 Hairspray (2018), both with large Starting on Broadway in 1950, the cast sizes -- in the forties. This year, Tony Award-winning musical Guys for Guys and Dolls, the cast size will and Dolls has been almost continu- be 27. ously performed somewhere in the Upper School Drama Chair and United States or abroad. Guys and Director Peter King credited the spike Dolls has stood the test of time, car- in cast sizes in the previous two years rying a legacy that echoes around the to a natural ebb and flow of interest world. Next month, the theater de- in popular musical theater. “We can’t partment will be putting on the clas- just do currently popular shows ev- sic production for the school and the ery year. When choosing a show, we greater community. take into account what we think is Guys and Dolls is a romantic com- important for kids to know and the edy following the lives of two unlike- Park community to know. Guys and ly pairings: a high-rolling gambler Dolls is a classic, and it has influ- and a puritanical missionary; and a enced almost all musicals following showgirl dreaming of a better life and it,” King said. a crap game manager who is willing Over the last decade or so, until to sacrifice morals for personal gain. West Side Story in 2017, cast sizes for photo by Sonee Goles ’20 According to Upper School the fall musical ranged from the mid Music Chair and Musical Director 20s to low 30s. The original cast size Choreographer Anwar Thomas directs a line-up of Guys and Dolls performers for one of their Adele Dinerstein, selecting the mu- for this year’s show was 35 actors many ensemble scenes. Performances will be the week before Thanksgiving break. sical each year is not an easy process. plus two stage managers, according Lance Greenberg ’21 was part of like the smaller cast because it gives to make sure we had roles for male “When picking the musicals, we try to King. However, by mid Septem- both Hairspray and Guys and Dolls, more responsibility to each person,” actors,” King said. “Many people to keep in mind the people who we ber, some students switched out of the but does not think the smaller cast Greenberg said. “With a big produc- wanted us to do Chicago but it only hope will be in the cast, and we try class, dropping the size down to 27. size has a huge affect on the shows. tion, in the back of your mind, you has two male roles and there is no to pick a show that “It doesn’t im- can rely on other people, but in Guys male chorus,” he said. will highlight their pact rehearsal and Dolls there might only be one or “This year, you will see some Guys and Dolls was written by Frank Loesser in 1949 but it was abilities,” Diner- much. You get to two people sharing a harmony. That guys with bigger parts, and I am stein said. actually an adapation of several stories by Damon Runyon, an know more peo- forces people to practice more; the hoping that will attract more guys to “We try to bal- author reknown for his gritty observations of life in New York City ple with a bigger more you practice, the better the show come and see the show, and to try out ance what we have in the era of Prohibition (1920s and 30s). ensemble, but will be,” Greenberg said. in the future,” King said. done and what we Finding dark humor among the demi-monde of the city, Runyon that isn’t a huge Dinerstein agrees with Greenberg. The theater department is set- will possibly do in created memorable characters with monikers such as ‘Good Time difference,” “I always think that more is merrier, ting the bar high by putting on this the future. It is not Charlie’ ‘Annie Apple’ ‘Dave the Dude’ ‘Big Julie’ ‘Harry the Greenberg said. especially with shows that have cho- American classic, but the cast is, as easy to try and find Horse’ and ‘The Seldom Seen Kid.’ Loesser freely acknowledged He also ruses. That being said, there is not always, willing and prepared to live a show that the au- his substantial debt to Runyon in the creation of the musical. highlighted much of a difference. In fact, a small- up to expectations. dience will believe In its first run in 1950 there were 38 performers in 57 different roles. one advantage er show lets more people display their Guys and Dolls will be running the [high school] of the smaller strengths,” Dinerstein said. in the Meyerhoff Theater from No- actors doing.” group. “I do “One of our goals this year was vember 20-23. 11 SPORTS // The Postscript OCTOBER 9, 2019 Girls’ Varsity tennis competes for top place in B conference not concerned by the lack of numbers. On September 19 the team lost 4-1 include Oldfields, John Carroll, Beth 10 and Friends the next day, Friday by Jacob Peres ’21 “Rosters for all of our teams are in their match against Notre Dame Tflioh, and Friends October 11. a bit smaller this year. Roster size is Prep, but then rebounded the follow- The team’s record is 2 wins and 2 The last time Girls’ Tennis won a The Girls’ Varsity Tennis team is cyclical; they are often determined by ing week in a 4-1 defeat of Mount losses through the first four matches. B conference championship was fall playing in the Interscholastic Athletic class size, so with a smaller freshman de Sales. The season accelerates this week 2002 season. Association of Maryland (IAAM) B and senior class it is not surprising to Other teams in the new conference as the team plays Beth Tfiloh October Conference, leaving Squash as the see our numbers down a bit,” Lowe only Park team remaining in the A said. conference. Captain Samantha Saunders ’21 The decision to drop conferences has her own theory behind the de- was due to a variety of factors, such creasing level of involvement. “We as league competition, roster size, and had much stronger numbers when skill level. [former head coach and Director of After finishing the 2018 season in Civic Engagement] Rommel Loria A conference without a victory, the was here. Because he worked here Bruins would have needed an excel- full-time, he would always advocate lent turnout, especially from the ris- for the team and encourage new play- ing senior class, to consider staying ers to join,” Saunders said. in the A conference. Even with a limited number of Unfortunately, the team this year players, the team is optimistic about consists of only 11 players, one of the season which ends in November. whom is a senior. “We’re off to a great start so far. Because of the low participation We won our first match against St. rate, there is not a complete Junior Timothy’s, and we’re looking to build Varsity squad, leaving some of the upon that as the year progresses,” Varsity players to play more matches. captain Jamie Askew ’21 said. Director of Athletics - Girls’ Pro- In fact the team won 5-0 against grams and Director of Physical Edu- St. Timothy’s having scrimmaged the photo courtesy of Sarah Renbaum ’21 all-girl’s school the week before. cation Robin Lowe ’84, however, is Rebecca Himelfarb ’21 makes a forehand shot from back court in a recent match. Wide variety of injuries slow athletes, teams and education by Callie Krosin ’21 link between head injuries and soccer, especial- out of shape, and it is going to take me a few The MIAA recently reissued their 2012 ly with heading the ball. This is evident in the games to get used to playing in game situations memorandum sent to all schools regarding head Multiple injuries have swept through the case of Meyers. “I went up for a header and an again,” Tregobov said. injuries and headgear in soccer competition. ranks of fall varsity teams not even two weeks opposing player hit his head on mine,” he said. According to the memo research shows that the into regular conference play. Most of the ath- As the only freshman on Boys’ Varsity most severe head injuries in soccer come from letes injured were affected by concussions or Soccer, Matthew Tregobov had just become head-to-head, head-to-ground, and head-to-goal head injuries of some form. acquainted with the speed and rigor of High post collisions. Playing soccer with headgear The Boys’ Varsity Soccer team suffered from School Varsity soccer. In an out of conference for all players is allowed by the league for any the loss of five starters due to injury; three ex- match versus The Key School, Tregobov was player on the field. Despite MIAA headgear perienced head injuries, and two experienced thrown down to the turf, and had to be rushed “It is rough having to rules allowing for it in theory, in practice almost leg injuries. Although detrimental to the prac- off of the field by Athletic Trainer Dan Lopez. “ no players in the league use head gear. watch the team play [from “ tice schedule and disruptive of the plans made Though he is recovering, Tregobov is disap- Another head injury took the only senior preseason, the Bruins were able to secure two pointed with not playing. “When all I could do the sidelines]” on Girls’ Varsity Tennis out for two and a half conference wins, including a 2-0 shutout against is sit on the bench, it is rough having to watch - Matthew Tregobov ’23 weeks. At practice one day, Nora Smith ’20 the St. Mary’s Saints, and a 5-2 win against the the team play,” Tregobov said. tripped on the court and hit her head, leading her Gerstell Falcons. Practicing for more than ten hours a week to the Emergency Room in need of staples. In Senior Captain Jack Meyers was one of the conditions an athlete for games that may last the aftermath of the fall, Smith was diagnosed three who were affected by a head injury. There over an hour; getting off of that practice regime with a concussion. Smith believes what hap- has been a recent increase in awareness of the can take you out of shape. “It definitely got me pened to her defies the impression that tennis is not a dangerous sport. “I think it shows a real dedication on the part of our athletes, that they are willing to go as hard [for Park], as they do,” Smith said. Though head injuries like that of Meyers, Smith, and Tregobov are harmful to the athletes and their teams, they can also impact learning. “I couldn’t do my homework that night because I was in the hospital, so I went to my teach- ers before class the next day, and they were all extremely nice and understanding about it,” Meyers said. Karyn Fisher, the Upper School Learning Resource Teacher and Upper School faculty members have had to educate themselves about the ways concussions can limit the cognitive capacity of students for days after the injury. According to Athletic Trainer Dan Lopez, Park largely avoids the “very worst” sports injuries. “Because there is no football and no wrestling program here, we really don’t have the bigger injuries associated with those sports,” Lopez said. “Most common among Park athletes [are] ankle sprains and muscle strain injuries,” Lopez said. But because concussions can also slow down learning as well as athletic movement, depending on their severity, they may be the most harmful of all. image courtesy of pennmedicine.org Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Sports Permit #1262 Baltimore, MD The Postscript October 9, 2019 Girls’ Cross Country sprints towards a championship by TALIA KOLODKIN ’20 Parrish André ’21 said. practice, the team runs three, four, or five miles, Girls’ Cross Country is off to another strong They are currently undefeated, having beat- depending on how the runners are feeling. They season in the Interscholastic Athletic Associa- en eight out of the 12 teams in the C conference. work specifically on speed about once per week. THREE tion of Maryland (IAAM) C Conference. As last Races are scored such that the goal is to col- Girls’ Cross Country welcomes two fresh- year’s champions, they are once again dominat- lect the lowest number of points. The runner man onto their team this year: Ridgely Smith ing on the course. who finishes first earns one point for their team; and Kindness Nwaukwa. POINTER The team lost four of the previous year’s the runner in second place gets two points, and “Especially this year, the team is all good seniors, but that has not slowed down their so on. Only the first five girls to finish from each friends. It’s pretty tight knit,” Caroline Miller success. “Losing last year’s seniors will be an school count towards the scores, but the entire ’21 said. by CALLIE KROSIN ’21, adjustment, but we have a strong group of up- team runs in each race. As their strong season continues, hopefully JACOB PERES ’21, and perclassmen who should help fill those roles,” Competition runs are five kilometers. In more fans can make it out to cheer them on. QUINN SEIDENMAN ’21

Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, Baltimore Ravens quarter- back Lamar Jackson was nothing short of spectacular. He distributed the ball, juked defenders out of their shoes, and most importantly, proved that he can be a multi-dimensional offensive threat. With seven passing touchdowns to zero interceptions, it’s clear that he put in the work over the offseason. Last year during his rookie campaign, Jackson was widely criticized for not being able to stand in the pocket and deliver a quality pass downfield; many of the ana- lysts legitimately considered him to be a running back. Hearing this criticism, Jackson pol- ished his craft over the offseason. The most notable improvement in Jack- photo courtesy Rachael Battin son’s play this season has been his pinpoint Country in Upper School. “Myself and Noah accuracy on deep throws. Cyr will do our best to battle it out towards the It’s truly a thing of beauty to see rookie front, but our wins and losses will primarily wide receiver Marquise Brown, one of the come from the newer runners.” While the team fastest receivers in the entire NFL, catch- has not ran official conference meets yet, they ing a spiral in stride. Fall Quick-Hits have participated in scrimmages such as the It would have been easy for Jackson to Hereford Bull Run on September 21. relax in the offseason. After all, he led his GIRLS’ FIELD HOCKEY rience. In contrast, Sonee Goles ’20 is new to “It’s a lot of pressure for such a young group team to a division title as a college rookie. soccer and has stepped into the goalie position, of guys, but each of them has had at least one Instead, the Heisman Trophy-winning by QUINN SEIDENMAN ’21 a testament to the versatility of the Bruins. good showing in our first three races of the sea- Jackson organized practices with his re- With a strong senior presence, the team is son. All that matters now is whether or not all ceivers and worked with a private throw- For the first time in four fall seasons, Varsity hoping to make a playoff run. The competition of them as a unit can put together strong races,” ing coach. Field Hockey will not feature a SportsCenter will be tough, however, as Concordia Prep and Quinting said. For Park athletes, the offseason is of- “Top 10” highlight reel machine in their mid- Annapolis Area Christian School have been ten filled with another sport, SAT prep, field. Other than losing Sydney Lowe ’19, the asserting themselves through the first third of or schoolwork. In this sense, high school Bruins also graduated seven other seniors, or the season. atheletes have to answer to much greater 50% of their 2018 team. “We are very competitive in our conference BOYS’ SOCCER demands than professional athletes whose Following the roster overhaul, the Bruins and will hopefully make it far, if not all the way, sole focus all year long is the playing field. move down and end their one-year stint in the in the playoffs,” Carrie Davis ’20 said. by CALLIE KROSIN ’21 Although free time may be limited, B Conference. Led by senior captains Molly Jackson’s newly established tight spiral Bloom and Hailey Smith, the team has cham- The Bruins fell to the Quakers in a devastat- is a testament to how important offseason pionship aspirations. ing, emotional, 2-1 OT loss at Friends School on workouts truly are, and there is a lesson “We are working hard to build up team BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY September 6. A little more than a month after, here. chemistry, both on and off the field,” Gefen the Boys’ Varsity Soccer is looking ahead to a The offseason is where the great play- Nusinov ’21 said. by CALLIE KROSIN ’21 rematch against one of the toughest teams in the ers really separate themselves. There are Facing different competition, the Bruins league at the October 12 Rivalry Day matchup a limited amount of in-season practices, have high expectations for this season. The Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team re- against the Quakers. and a majority of them are spent on team- turns this fall with the loss of six seniors, but Currently in the bottom half of the MIAA oriented concepts. remains with two of their top runners Noah Cyr’ “B” Conference, the Boys’ Varsity Soccer team Additionally, it is difficult for athletes GIRLS’ SOCCER 22, and junior captain Nick Quinting. is ranked sixth out of nine teams. With 13 of to make significant mechanical changes With an influx of new runners, the 19 goals coming from Senior Garrett Potts, during the season. by QUINN SEIDENMAN ’21 team is looking forward to a more competitive the Bruins have had three games ending in a The Ravens would certainly not be season this year in the MIAA “B” Conference. 1-2 loss, and one 5-2 win against the Gerstell close to playoff contention if their quar- Girls’ Varsity Soccer is bouncing back after Facing tough teams such as John Carroll and Academy Falcons. In this September 16 away terback was adjusting his footwork on the a difficult season in the IAAM B-Conference Severn, the Bruins have been hard at work since matchup Potts netted all five goals. fly. Even for elite athletes, it takes time to last year. The Bruins have found success after late August, bearing the extreme heat of the “We have been working very hard to com- adjust to a new approach. dropping down to the IAAM C1-Conference, summer. “With the loss of six seniors last year, pete against many tough teams, starting with Many of the schools we compete posting a 3-2 record and a +6 goal differential four of them being on varsity, it’s hard to fill that good energy and motivation from preseason,” against field teams of one-sport athletes, through their first five conference games. gap. This doesn’t particularly mean we’re out of Potts said. who tend to be more technically sound. The team has an unusual class breakdown. A luck, depending on how many varsity runners Middle School English Teacher Geoff Mey- Many of our opponents have simply had large portion of the team consists of freshmen other teams have graduated,” Quinting said. ers joined coaches Roger Seidenman ’85 and more off-season practice. and seniors, with few juniors and sophomores. Alongside the junior leadership of Brahema Molubah to assist in coaching this Park athletes should look to Jackson’s “We have done a good job of trying to bridge Quinting, and return of the coaches John Kes- season. “The coaches have a strong emphasis work ethic and put in the extra effort in that gap,” Bernie Berner ’20 said. singer and Daniel Jacoby, the team’s wins and on fundamentals, and have been paying close the offseason to be successful on the field. The strength of the team is its defensive line, losses will come down to the performance of attention to the idea of making smart decisions which is anchored by players with tons of expe- some of the younger runners new to Cross on the field, especially in game play,” Potts said.