The Postscript May 29, 2012 The Park School of Baltimore | P.O. Box 8200 Brooklandville, MD 21022 Volume 72 Issue No.8 Paradis taps Foundation Coll to replace awards Bergman $2 million by Hannah Sibel ‘13 and Tara Wendell ‘13 aid grant Stating that his “work is done,” by Melanie Weiskopf ‘15 Upper School Principal Daniel Bergman announced at an assem- Next year, a new student will bly that Friday, May 25 would be be able to attend Park thanks to a his last day as principal. English $2 million grant from the Malone teacher Kevin Coll was slated to Family Foundation. take over July 1. According to its website, “The Given Bergman’s early depar- Malone Family Foundation was ture, the job will remain vacant founded in 1997 by Dr. John C. since Coll is still teaching three Malone, well known communi- classes. He will, however, partici- photo courtesy Reid Sasser cations and media executive and pate in meetings and other planning For the second consecutive year, the Mock Trial team beat Owings Mills High School in investor, and his family, with one activities for the next two weeks. the county fi nals to advance to the state competition at the Maryland Court of Appeals. principal objective: to improve ac- Head of School Dan Paradis sent cess to quality education — particu- a message May 23 to families di- larly at the secondary school level recting them to contact Dean of Stu- Trial team wins championship — for gifted students who lack the dents Traci Wright “to discuss any fi nancial resources to best develop immediate needs.” Miriam Lupien, for unprecedented second year their talents.” Administrative Assistant in the Up- The Foundation selected the per School Principal’s offi ce, will by Julia Gross ‘14 dedicated and had a “cheerful sense of risk tak- school after a lengthy application also be able to channel questions ing,” whether it was making major changes to process that included an onsite visit. to the appropriate people to handle The verdict is in. On April 20, after beating the opening statement the night before the trial The school must invest the grant, questions or concerns. out nearly 135 other teams from around the state or taking a different view on a witness. taking out fi ve percent each year. Bergman fi rst announced his of Maryland, the school’s Mock Trial team won “One of our biggest struggles early on in the The grant is designated to provide resignation April 10. The next day, the state championship for the second year in a year was to actually convince our defense team fi nancial assistance for students Paradis announced that Coll would row, a fi rst in the 29-year history of Maryland that the coach was innocent, since the law isn’t in grades seven through 12. Park take over the role. Mock Trial competition. based on hindsight, but rather intentions in the will have one Malone Scholar in the “After a period of careful refl ec- After a 10-match winning streak, the team moment, and then come up with a strong legal 2012-2013 school year. tion,” wrote Bergman in an email made it to the fi nals by beating James M. Ben- theory to support it,” said Block. “It made perfect sense for us sent to Upper School students and nett High School, Allegany High School and, Every year, after two preliminary matches, to pursue the grant, because we teachers, “It has become clear to fi nally, the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. Park competes against roughly 25 other teams don’t want affordability to be the me that the skills I acquired during Finals took place over two days in Annapolis at within Baltimore County. The county tourna- determining factor of attendance,” my many years of school leadership the Court of Appeals. ment is single-elimination, and it lasts fi ve said Head of School Dan Paradis. in New York do not align with the This year’s case centered on a high school rounds. This year’s county tournament, for the “We want to make our education as Principal continued on page 7 coach who allegedly over-worked her players to Bruins, began with a February 28 win against accessible as possible to as many the point that many passed-out from heat stroke Dulaney High School. talented students as we can reach.” and one was hospitalized for brain damage. And, once all intra-county competition has Mennette San-Lee, Director of The team comprises 16 members, although ended, the winners of each county advance to Financial Assistance and Enroll- only eight are on the ‘active team’ that partici- the state tournament, a three round single-elim- ment Management, is “thrilled pates in trials. College Counselor and history ination bracket. about what the additional funding teacher Tina Forbush coaches Mock Trial, with Mock Trial continued on page 6 will mean for the Financial Assis- assistance from math teacher Tony Asdourian. tance program,” especially in terms According to Eli Block ’12, co-captain of of outreach at the Middle School the club with Daniel Stern ’12, this year’s team level. “We will now be in a po- worked even harder than last year’s. “We saw sition to enroll bright, motivated this as early as tryouts, where the general quality students at grades that have not across the board was much higher than in recent historically been entry levels for English teacher Kevin Coll will years,” Block said. us,” she said. step into his new role July 1. Forbush added that the team was extremely photo courtesy Reid Sasser Malone continued on page 6 INSIDE THE POSTSCRIPT NEWS EDITORIAL COMMENTARY ARTS SPORTS Centennial Graduation Competition HS Memes Come and Go Playwrights Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Celebrating Park’s fi rst The philosophy discourages it, Bailowitz argues that faculty and Win Big 100 years begins with but competition among students administration overreacted to the most Students in How- After unanticipat- “centennial touches” persists. PAGE 2 recent outlet for anonymous high school ard Berkowitz’s ed success in the regular season, during commencement OP-ED nastiness. PAGE 8 playwriting class the team went on ceremo- Gender Neutral Bathrooms FEATURES entered contests nies for and now look to advance to the A group of students petitioned the 2011-12 Year in Review the Class forward to profes- “B”-Conference Middle and Upper School facul- From athletic events, additions to the Park of 2012. sional productions Championship ties for a gender-neutral, or “Any- family, and great theater performances, of their works. match, but lost to PAGE 6 body’s” Bathroom. it’s been a year to remember. PAGE 19 PAGE 3 PAGE 14 PAGE 11 rival Friends. Editorial The Postscript, May 29, 2012 2 Competition happens

Competition exists at Park. Even with- bate who’s taking the hardest course load. out class rankings and honors programs, Does a B in Playwriting mean more students still feel a need to be the best. than an A in Poe Mystery? Does a C+ in And without institutionalized competi- Anatomy means more than a B+ in Ento- tion, students still battle it out here, and mology? Students constantly argue about often at a higher level. Since no one is these imaginary, invented distinctions. ever named valedictorian, everyone wants Without set and indisputable distinctions, to prove that they are. students feel the need to prove that the At schools like McDonogh, Gilman, classes they are taking are indeed harder. Roland Park, and most other public and We often measure the diffi culty of private schools, students are ranked based classes by their workload. How often have on weighted Grade Point Averages—a you sat in the Commons, coffee mug in GPA which takes into account the diffi - hand, and complained about how late you culty level of classes and allows A’s in were up the night before? The person who designated hard classes to carry more stayed up the latest clearly did the most weight than A’s in classes termed easier. work and the best job. Competition seeps There are certain assumptions made into even the simplest conversations. by students of these more conservative And in junior and senior years, the schools about what it means to be a Park competition intensifi es, with the start of student. A few of the most common are the college process. We compare college cartoon by Tymani Ratchford ‘13 that we don’t “actually” have classes. That picks. One student’s reach school is an- we don’t have any homework. And that, other’s safety school, and as students com- Letter to the editors since we don’t have exams, the last few pare choices, they compete over whose weeks of school are just a time to hang colleges are higher-level schools. While out. We know these assumptions to be this probably happens at all schools, with- Wanted: Substantive policy debates false. out any institutionalized competition, To the editors: inside the GOP. Some were critical of his It is true that we don’t rank students students feel the need to prove that they reference even to the “safety net” – they or publicize GPAs, much less weighted are at a higher level through their college The coverage of Park School in the want to get rid of it entirely. “Romney,” GPAs. With weighted GPAs classes are choices. pages of Postscript this year has been according to Rick Santorum, the most au- given designations, such as AP, Honors, Park’s philosophy discourages compe- great. Reviews of local sports teams, thoritarian of all the GOP candidates, “is and Standard. These designations defi ne tition—”school work need not be alienat- plays, and the latest movies have been the worst Republican in the country to put the diffi culty level of the classes and are ing or painful, nor need success be mea- terrifi c. up against [Barack] Obama.” indisputable. Park lacks any such distinc- sured by comparison to others”—yet Park Apart from a couple pieces though, I Why? Because Romney is too cen- tions. As a result students constantly de- does little to discourage it. haven’t read much national political cov- trist, he’s a “Republican in name only,” erage this year. I suspect, now that the according to Santorum. Santorum and his fi eld of Presidential choices has narrowed Christian Fundamentalist ideologues be- to two, this may change. I can see why lieve Romney won’t rouse the GOP base The Postscript many have been turned off. The televised with discussions of reducing capital gains

The Park School of Baltimore Republican debates this spring had the taxes. Romney doesn’t believe in truly P.O. 8200 Brooklandville, MD 21022 atmosphere of religious revival meetings fi ghting the apocalyptic forces that are Tel. 410-339-7070 in which all the speakers line up to rail now running the country. parkpostscript.com against the same Satan: in this case “big Recently Obama handed Romney the May 29, 2012 government”, “Obamacare”, and taxes. issue of gay marriage. Romney pounced: Volume 72|Issue No. 8 Little light is actually shed in these re- “I’m against gay marriage,” as if state Editors-in-Chief vivals on the real world, on real policies, laws can be made by a President. Perhaps Ellie Kahn, Leah Shapiro, Daniel Stern on decision-making about how to actu- the thinking by the Democrats is to ener- gize the new Republican base enough that Sophie Neiman, Hannah Sibel, Tara Wendell ally tax and actually spend government money, i.e. national priorities. In contrast, it will alarm the majority of Americans News Sports Arts besides the usual fl uff, the Hillary versus (at least the 65.5 million who voted for Julia Gross Reid Danels David Agronin Obama debates January through June, Obama last time) to the actual issues of Quinn Salditch Eric Sussman Mai Asmerom 2008 revealed substantive policy differ- governance such as what the effect the Sophie Bailowitz, Asst. Zach Wetzler, Asst. Evan Semenza ences. proposed Republican budget would do: Melanie Weiskopf, Asst. The absence of substantive policy de- end Medicare, eliminate food stamps for Commentary Photography bate this time is part of a trend within the the poor, eliminate housing subsidies, and Features Andrew Bahl Liza Schoenberg Republican party toward conservative ide- gut social security. Sarah Cohen Samantha Max ological adherence. This trend also is due The budget would also lower taxes on Baylor Knobloch Daniel Moskowitz, Asst. Cartoons to the new primary system which gives corporations and the richest Americans. Hannah Blau, Asst. Tymani Ratchford power to ideological activists. It wasn’t The President said of this budget, “[it is] Online always this way. In the bad old days the thinly veiled social Darwinism,” and “an Jeremy Cohen Faculty Adviser nominating process involved local party attempt to impose a radical vision on our Ryan Lessing Susan Weintraub elites cutting pragmatic and programmatic country.” Romney said the budget plan Policies deals and generating a centrist candidate. was “marvelous.” We welcome letters to the editor, unsolicited op-ed pieces, and other contribu- In the Republican Party there is almost So, here’s hoping with the end of the tions. Please send work to [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit primaries, substantive debate can begin all submissions for language and length. Submissions are published at the discre- no liberalism left and very little centrism tion of the Editors. either. The party is focused on attitudes of and visceral anti-ism is exposed as a set Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus anti-ism. Mitt Romney recently said that of radical attitudes devoid of reasonable, High School Newspaper Service. “I’m not concerned about the very poor real-world thinking. Both parties and the – we have a safety net there.” Such a state- American people would benefi t. Keep The Postscript Visit us at ment betrays indifference to questions of your eyes peeled and your ears open! www.parkpostscript.com. income inequality, and social injustices. DIGITAL or download our iOS app. The Tea Party has further winnowed --Jon Acheson, Upper School History the ranks of moderates and centrist speech The Postscript Op-Ed May 29, 2012 3 Creating a gender neutral bathroom for MS & US students A journey of initiative and cooperation among students and teachers in two divisions produces comfort for all by Kelsey Parks Smith ‘13 needed their support and signatures. To our surprise, everyone in the meeting was Park students are encouraged to be behind the idea and admired our initiative. proactive, reach for their goals, and stop The consensus was that this was a major at nothing. Jack Califano, Abi Colbert- problem that needed to be fi xed, but the Sangree, Sofi e Rudin, Leah Silverberg, faculty bathroom in the commons may not and I did just that. be the best place to put it. The idea for implementing gender-neu- The next idea was the single stall bath- tral bathrooms came out of the immersion room in the Middle School hallway past week activity, Student Diversity Leader- the French hallway. This bathroom is re- ship Conference (SDLC) week. During moved from the majority of hallway traf- the week, participants talked about mak- fi c for privacy, it has a single stall, so there ing sure we had a product. wouldn’t be a problem of multiple people We wanted to ensure that SDLC week being in one bathroom at once. Middle wasn’t just a place to talk about diversity, School students can use it as well. but that we could take what we had talked This meant that we had to pro pose the about and learned and put it to use. We idea to the Middle School faculty, too. discussed what issues we thought were well; so we went to a Middle School fac- important in the community and came to photo by T. Wendell ‘13 ulty meeting, where the idea met with a consensus that the lack of gender-neutral support. bathrooms was a major concern and some- Lower School faculty labeled the third grade bathroom an “Anybody’s Bath- Finally we brought everything back to thing we should fi x. room” last year. The change came about after students were told they were Dan Paradis. He recently confi rmed that Our concern was that Park is so ada- using the “wrong” bathroom by teachers who guessed, incorrectly, the gen- we may use the bathroom in the Middle der of the student. mant about Safe Spaces and making sure School hallway and it will be retrofi tted that students and teachers feel welcome, is people whose biological sex and gender As with any controversial issue, we this summer. but there was one major component that identity do not align traditionally.” faced opposition. But we took critiques, It took a lot of cooperation and initia- was missing. In a letter to the Upper Afterwards, the fi ve of us, as well as noted what people were saying, and tried tive to fi nally say that we will be having School Faculty Rudin wrote: Dean of Students Traci Wright and science to fi nd options that would suit every- a gender-neutral bathroom at Park, and it “For most people, choosing which teacher Julie Rogers, met a few times to body’s needs. shows that Park really does respect and bathroom to walk into is not diffi cult; fi gure out a plan of action. The original One criticism was that the teachers listen to the ideas of the students. Fur- they have the privilege of not even giv- idea was that the faculty bathroom in the didn’t know much about the issue and thermore, Park will benefi t by becoming a ing it a thought. However, there is a group commons would become the “Anybody then felt like they had to make a quick de- more tolerant, safe, and comfortable space of people for whom this daily decision Bathroom.” cision as the petition was brought around. for a wider number of students. can be diffi cult and emotionally taxing We met with Dan Paradis to ask for his As a result, we spoke to teachers one on We can now say with pride that all because it is a constant reminder that they support and bring the plan to his atten- one. We also made plans to speak at the three divisions of the school have an do not fi t into typical societal gender and tion. Previously, we also written a petition Upper School faculty meeting. “Anybody’s Bathroom. ” I am proud to sex defi nitions, which many of us assume and went around to various teachers, both At the faculty meeting, we described say that I was a part of this effort and I to be absolute, as we never need ques- those who would be directly affected, and the idea behind our petition, why we felt know the other people who were a part of tion them. The group we are referring to those who wouldn’t be. it needed to happen now, and why we this are as well. Sacrifi cing sleep for homework compromises health that week, I had gotten only four hours in the maker for a double shot of caffeine. perfect solution to the problem. It is unre- of sleep (the rule of thumb is that teen- I then gulped it down, and waited for al- alistic for us to expect teachers to give us agers need about nine). Everyone in the most half an hour for the shaking feeling the amount of homework we got in fourth class gave me the whip, saying that there from the caffeine overdose to kick in. grade, so we can get to bed at nine. It was no need to stay up that late to get But, truthfully, caffeine cannot replace is also impractical for teachers to expect work done; I should have managed my sleep. By the same token, sacrifi cing sleep us to do homework without talking to time better. to do homework has consequences that are friends—for at least part of the time— At the time, I thought that if I didn’t arguably as bad as getting more sleep, but while we do the work. fi nish my English paper, and my Spanish not fi nishing the homework. However, if there is compromise on story, and my history speech, I would get a If you stay up late or get no sleep one both sides, perhaps we can get those few lower grade on all of them, and that’s true. night, you may have gotten your home- more hours of sleep that make the dif- But can students produce quality work work done, but the next day you are far ference between doubling the amount of at two in the morning? And how will al- from par in classes. coffee per cup and barely having caffeine most-sleepless nights affect them the next What is going to happen when it comes at all. day? time to write the next paper if you were Perhaps the best place to start is with Jesse Berns-Zieve ’15 thinks they too tired to pay attention in class? The us; if we manage our time just a little bet- by Daniel Moskowitz ‘15 greatly affect students’ performance in times we stay up late at night are a “vi- ter, we could avoid having to write the school. “Not only does this [amount of cious cycle” according to Maddy Kaplan English paper, Spanish story, and history All-nighters. As some students prog- sleep at night] play into how I function ’13. speech at two a.m. on the morning that ress through high school, these become a in school the next day,” he said. So what is the answer to this problem? they are due. way of life. This is especially true as the “But it plays into how well I do my We could easily blame the faculty, say- On the same note, there is no need for school year ends. Even as a freshman, I homework. I don’t do homework as well ing it’s their fault we were up so late. But, a week to contain a quiz, a test, and three have found myself living off of minimal at midnight just because I’m so tired. And in reality, it’s both the students’ and the papers. Perhaps teachers could collabo- sleep, almost sleep-walking through the having 17-18 hour days does not help the teachers’ faults. I would be lying if I told rate when they plan homework schedules. halls. next day.” my Spanish class that Facebook was not As a result, students wouldn’t end up with In Spanish class not long ago, I sat talk- The day after my four hours of sleep, partially to blame for my only having four weeks where we stay up late every night ing about whether or not we live healthy things looked a little different. I could hours of sleep one night. and ones were we have no work. lives. barely wake up, and once I did, I found Sacrifi cing sleep to do homework is And what about the lingering issue of I said, not always. One night, earlier myself doubling the amount of coffee I put nothing new, and in reality, there is no Facebook? Maybe I should log out now. The Postscript News May 29, 2012 4 organizes the schedule, and runs registra- registration will be more effi cient this year Registration tion, a job he has had for most of the last because of the new system that assigns 20 years. He took an eight-year break each student an individual number. The News in when tech coordinator Kim Baylis was change in lottery numbers resulted from delayed by in charge of the process. a student council proposal. Registration Brief Carter said that the delay this year has began Tuesday, May 22 and is projected one month been caused by numerous complications: to conclude Thursday. “There are a couple things,” he said. “One Tillman gives birth to daughter Late hirings factor into is that it took us longer to produce the Program of Studies. But the biggest hold Upper School Art teacher Chris- later class sign-ups up was that a lot of the departments hadn’t tine Tillman’s baby girl, Pollyanna, fi nished hiring until recently.” was born on her due date March 12, Carter explained the challenges pre- 2012, at 4:43 pm. “That’s what I get sented by hiring: “What happens is that for joking with classes that having a it’s impossible to list the title of an elective baby would be a nine to fi ve endeavor for a particular department when we’re on the due date,” sai d Tillman. right in the middle of hiring, and we don’t Pollyanna got her name from the know what the elective will be.” protagonist the children’s book Pol- The English department was also look- lyanna. In the book, she is known for ing for a replacement for Kevin Coll, who photo by L.Schoenberg ‘14 being an optimistic young girl. will be taking over as Upper School Head. Tillman added jokingly, “A baby Scheduling coordinator Bob Carter has “The news that Daniel Bergman will be is much different from working with worked around departmental hiring searches to create a block schedule. leaving and Kevin Coll will be the new teenagers all day.” principal was a more recent develop-

by Anna Berghuis ‘15 ment,” Carter said. April has come and gone, and so has “Originally Kevin was scheduled to PAWS runs annual the date on which Upper School usually teach several electives,” he said, “and it photo by T.Wendell ‘13 Bark at Park event holds registration for the Fall courses. was my feeling that if I presented you with After a month’s delay, sign-ups are back a schedule that said ‘New Person, new Despite an early dismissal May 22, G On May 12, the Park Animal Wel- block registration for rising seniors on track. elective,’ then that person wouldn’t get a fare Society, PAWS, held its annual began as scheduled. Eager to leave, Each year, Upper School scheduler and lot of sign up for their classes.” Bark at Park fundraiser to help sup- most students wrote down their science teacher Bob Carter creates and On the other hand, Carter expects that port local animal shelters. “We have choices and left them with Carter. shelters that bring their dogs and set up booths,” said leader Lexi Andrea Middle School Modern Language Day cancelled ‘12. “At the end we donate to them and other local shelters.” by Sophie Bailowitz ‘13 ing country,” said Craven. “To me, that is Andrea added that she and co- meaningful and authentic. Not organizing leader Noah Sakin ’12 have made Modern Language Day has been can- Modern Language Day has allowed us some changes to the event. “Usually celled, and with it, the tradition of excite- to reach out to the community and see we don’t sell dog toys, and there were ment, anticipation, and anxiety for eighth some of the other opportunities that are more shelters here than usual,” said grade students at the conclusion of their out there.” Andrea. Middle School years has come to an end. Eighth graders found out about the According to Sakin the club raised For those who aren’t familiar with it, change just a few weeks ago. “I’m re- $2,000, which was donated to differ- Modern Language Day was an annual oc- ally happy about it being cancelled,” ent animal shelters. “The event was currence in which eighth grade students said Clare Chalkey ’16. “Now we won’t extremely successful because of the performed several rotations of an interac- have to prepare for it. Also, I didn’t learn support from the Park community,” tive skit in Spanish or French to an au- much from it at all in the past because said Sakin. dience of parents, teachers, and younger they would use much more advanced vo- Middle School students. Skits could be photo courtesy R. Danels ‘13 cabulary than we knew and then have to based on anything from travel agencies “Welcome to the Jungle” was the explain it in English, so the whole purpose National Day of Silence held or restaurants to reality shows. For the theme for a Modern Language Day was lost. In place of it, now we have a fi eld early due to senior festivities past dozen years, eighth graders have tak- skit from 2009. trip so that we get to interact with French en two to three weeks of their language a language is diversity,” said Craven. or Spanish speakers all day.” “The National Day of Silence,” classes to prepare for the day, but this year, “Language takes you even deeper into the Upper School veterans of Modern states the Gay, Lesbian & Straight the Middle School Language Department minds of the cultures, and Modern Lan- Language Day have a different take, af- Education Network’s (GLSEN) offi cial has made an executive decision to cancel. guage Day didn’t refl ect that at all. The ter having gone through it themselves. “In website, “is a day of action in which “While there were good aspects of Park School philosophy really conveys a the beginning I was scared for Modern students across the country vow to take Modern Language Day and it was very different message, so we thought that the Language Day because it was so intimi- a form of silence to call attention to the popular and welcome, it was the right day shifted away from our main goals, and dating,” said Jordyn Seidman ’15. “I re- silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying time to revisit and reevaluate using it as we wanted to think of other ways to have member going to the groups when I was and harassment in schools.” an assessment tool,” said Fathim Craven, students really meet those goals.” in sixth and seventh grade. It seemed so This year, it was held April 13, a Middle School French teacher and depart- Members of the department also felt diffi cult and I felt like I could never be at week earlier than the nation-wide date, ment chair. that the day put too much pressure on stu- that level, but then as I got to the process, due to senior festivities on their last A number of issues prompted the de- dents. “Some groups were successful and I realized I could actually do it. Being able day of school. cision. “One reason that it got cancelled worked together well, but anxiety some- to speak another language fl uently is such Over the course of the day, students is because the audience did not meet the times created problems and some groups an accomplishment, and Modern Lan- wear a bracelet or a sticker to support speaking level of the eighth graders,” Cra- got stuck,” said Craven. “We wanted to guage Day is one step towards that goal.” the prevention of LGBT bullying and ven said. separate the celebration and assessment Whatever the language department harassment. “Because Modern Language Day was aspects of the day.” chooses as an activity to celebrate the end “We thought we had enough brace- interactive, it was hard for eighth graders “It wasn’t always a very accurate as- of the eighth graders’ Middle School lan- lets going into the day but we ran out, to interact linguistically in a meaningful sessment tool in terms of mastery of the guage classes, students and faculty alike so that is a sign that a lot of people way. They didn’t always get the chance language,” Wertheimer said. have high expectations. “The kids trust decided to participate,” said Upper to take the language to the level that they Without Modern Language Day, fac- that we are competent teachers and that School Spanish teacher and GSA club were able to,” said Pelle Wertheimer, ulty have been brainstorming other ways we tried to implement what would help adviser Nancy Fink. “I think that as a Middle School Spanish teacher. to acknowledge the eighth graders’ last them be the most effective in learning a community, people are respectful of This wasn’t the only problem. “The year in Middle School. “Ideally I want to language,” said Craven. “We are all very the day.” other piece is that the goal of learning take a trip to a French- or Spanish-speak- excited about the future of the department. The Postscript News May 29, 2012 5

Stephanie Larson, Science Iman Sheybani, History Anna Worlein, Math Angela Balcita, English Four departments conclude hiring for Upper School by Sarah Cohen ‘14 and we ultimately decided that Stephanie taught a sample history class, impressing English gave us a lot of excitement about science.” both teachers and students with her work With the end of the year fast approach- Currently teaching at the Baltimore ethic, and educational philosophy. “She Soon after the math department re- ing, the Upper School community will Polytechnic Institute, Larson holds a seems to really get progressive education,” leased its decision, the English depart- soon bid farewell to three departing teach- Ph.D. in molecular biology from Johns Kessinger said. “And she’s coming in with ment followed suit. Unlike the other de- ers, and welcome one into his new role as Hopkins University, specializing in cel- a completely open mind, which is great.” partments, English teachers had only one principal. lular biology and genetics. Next year she Students on the committee feel happy fi rm expectation in mind: “Because Mr. Nowhere is this looming change felt will likely teach Chemistry, Biology with with the decision. “Iman seems like she Coll won’t be teaching next year, we had more strongly than in the history, science, Chemistry, and several elective courses. will be a nice addition to our faculty,” Idris our eye out for writers,” said chair Patti math, and English departments, for whom With Larson’s help, Huntsman hopes to Mitchell ’14 said, “and I know many peo- Porcarelli. “That was defi nitely our top this crossroads presents a diffi cult task: expand the science department to include ple will take an immediate liking to her.” priority.” fi nding replacement teachers. Students a broader range of electives, and more op- Ultimately, it was this goal that steered and faculty alike recognize that, given portunities for on-campus research. Math the department to Angela Balcita. An Park’s unique mode of operation, it can But curricular matters aside, the sci- accomplished writer, Balcita currently be challenging to fi nd teachers who will ence department also felt that Larson’s vi- The next department to reach a fi nal teaches part-time at the University of mesh easily with the school. brant personality would enrich the Upper decision was math, where the hiring pro- Baltimore, and specializes in both fi ction “It’s especially hard to fi nd people who School community. “We’ve been really cess ran a bit differently. Because their and creative non-fi ction writing. Just last seem to understand Park’s philosophy,” happy with the work that Lindsey Hen- prime candidate, Anna Workein, currently year, she released her memoir, Moonface, said Tess Gann ’13, who served on the dricks has done,” Huntsman said, “so we teaches at a school in Bhutan, the math which has been met with widespread ac- student search committees for both Eng- were glad to fi nd another young, strong teachers had to conduct Workein’s entire claim. “She’s just a beautiful writer,” Por- lish and math. “It’s just so unlike any other female teacher, who is also outspoken.” hiring process via Skype. carelli said. school.” Nevertheless, they made sure to follow Excited by these achievements, the de- Nevertheless, all departments have History through with all of the standard proce- partment invited Balcita to visit. During emerged successful. “We have found in dures— Workein had a video-chat faculty her day on campus, she interviewed with Anna, Iman, Stephanie, and Angela four History chair John Kessinger had a interview, talked with students over video- various teachers, ate lunch with students, strong and capable new teachers,” said similar attitude his department. “We’re chat, and even held a small sample class and taught a sample class. Both students Betsy Leighton, Associate Head of School obviously thinking about Catherine from her home in Bhutan. and faculty were impressed with the class, who also coordinates hiring. “They will [Ambler] leaving,” he said. “And having Although Workein teaches at a more and perhaps even more-so, with Balcita’s bring independent voices, diverse per- young female faculty members who are traditional school, her demonstration class endless supply of elective course ideas. spectives, and a variety of talents to our going to be able to connect to students is showed a clear affi nity for progressive ed- Next year, she will teach two sections Upper School.” important.” ucation. According to Cukier, Workein’s of English nine, a tenth grade course With this in mind, the department se- class was very discussion-oriented, with called Writing About the Senses, a class Science lected Iman Sheybani, who plans to teach an emphasis on puzzles and experimen- called The Art of the Essay, and one called Long before meeting any candidates, World Religions, Islamic Civilizations, tation. “She seemed to be a very fl exible Memoir, which she will team teach with the science department had specifi c crite- and several sections of tenth grade World teacher,” Cukier said. “She just kind of let Porcarelli. But these classes only consti- ria in mind for its new hire. “We wanted History next year. A graduate of George the students go.” tute a few of the many courses that Balcita someone who would push us, both in Washington University, Sheybani received Students and teachers alike were also hopes to teach during her time at Park. terms of pedagogy, and also the science her M.A. in Middle Eastern studies, and is impressed with Workein’s ability to con- Overall, current teachers and students that we do,” said Elliot Huntsman, depart- fl uent in French, Arabic, and Farsi. nect with students. “I was looking for seem unanimously excited to welcome ment chair. To this end, Huntsman and Although she hadn’t initially planned some kind of spark or ‘X factor’ that I their new colleagues. “I think I’m tak- his colleagues embarked on an exhaustive to go into teaching, after completing her thought would add to the school commu- ing two or three of the new teachers next hiring process. undergraduate work, Sheybani worked as nity,” Gann said, “and I’m very excited year,” said Brianna Rifkin ‘15. “I’ve After several weeks of applications, a teaching intern in D.C. Public Schools— for Anna to be part of the Park school heard great things about all of them.” interviews, and sample classes, the de- an experience that motivated her to pur- faculty.” Read Cullen ’14 is also looking for- partment named Stephanie Larson as the sue a long-term career in education. “She Next year, Workein plans to teach two ward to the new additions. “With all in- new teacher for the coming year. doesn’t really have a lot of formal teach- sections of 10-3, one section of 9-2, and coming teachers, I feel like the future of “I would say the applicant pool was ing experience,” said Kessinger, “but she an advanced elective that will likely in- Park is a little unpredictable right now,” very strong,” Huntsman said. “It came has tremendous potential.” clude elements of game theory and dis- she said, “but I actually think that’s kind down to a discussion in the department, During her visit to Park, Sheybani crete math. of exciting.” The Postscript News May 29, 2012 6 Mock Trial team wins State Championship for second straight year

Mock Trial continued from pg. 1

According to Forbush, since the team won the State Champi- onship last year, if they had made it to the fi nals and had been only as good as the other team, they believed that they might have lost. “We expected that we would have to do more to win this year,” Forbush said. “No team has ever won back to back in Maryland before. We felt there may be an unstated desire on the parts of the organizers to spread the wealth and that seems fair because you are working with high school students.” Members of the mock trial team celebrated after hearing the “We knew that if we went jurisdiction that the prosecution had prevailed. into the fi nal round and we were equally as good as the other team Mock Trial State Championship Appearances that we would probably lose. We 2003-2004: Park beats Richard Montgomery High School had to be better, signifi cantly, than the other team at the fi nals 2005-2006: Park loses to Severna Park High School in order to win states.” 2007-2008: Park loses to Severna Park High School As the team progressed, the 2010-2011: Park beats Richard Montgomery High School matches got harder and harder. 2011-2012: Park beats Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy “The first few rounds were photos courtesy Carolyn Summers against teams that we have one of the kids who fell during anticipated that we would have an enormous effect on how far signifi cant differences between played before and, to some ex- sprints,” said Levitt. “The whole a very successful team,” said we went,” said Hettleman. “Ev- next year’s team and this year’s tent, knew what to expect from year I worked on preparing my- Asdourian. “I think this year the eryone put a ton of time into the as we are losing our two cap- them,” said Rachel Hettleman self to have quick and smart team stood out not only from season, on weeknights and week- tains,” said Hettleman. “The se- ’13. “As we got further into the responses to any questions. We the leadership of Eli and Daniel, ends, and was truly committed niors on the active team this year, tournament, we really had to start worked on making me a very but frankly that the entire team to making the team the best it Daniel Stern, Maddi Wyda, and solely focusing on ourselves and appealing witness who people worked even harder than they did could be.” Eli Block have been incredible how to bring the best match we would feel bad for. It was by far the previous year.” According to Forbush, it’s too leaders and are three amazing tal- could.” best team I’ve ever been a part Hettleman added that every- hard to predict what will happen ents that will surely be missed According to Lexi Levitt ’15, of.” one came together and it was a in the 2012-2013 school year, but next year.” her preparation for the trial was In the end, the team pulled out group effort that got the team with a strong group of returning “We will do our best to fi ll the unique and the team made sure another win. Many, such as As- to the fi nals. “The members of team members, Mock Trial could gaps left by the seniors and work that she was ready. “I was a wit- dourian, predicted that the team Mock Trial who weren’t actu- have another good year next year. to have another great season next ness named Tyler Gordon. I was would have a strong year: “We ally going in the matches had “There will certainly be some year.” Centennial impacts graduation Malone Grant boosts fi nancial assistance potential for next year by Ellie Kahn ‘12 Centennial touches. mas, they will, this year, receive Head of School Dan Paradis both the current diploma, and a Malone continued from page 1 “They had very specifi c cri- Graduation will be the same also stressed the importance of copy of the original diploma. teria and a lot of things they this spring, but different. maintaining the traditions that The Centennial planners Paradis fi rst heard about the wanted to see from Park, so that The Centennial Commit- accompany graduation. have also arranged the screen- grant from an administrator in they could come to understand tee will take advantage of the “What we want to do is make ing of a video of one of Park’s Birmingham, Alabama, whose our school and our program,” celebration by incorporating sure that graduation is really oldest alums, who will be shar- school received it. said Paradis. aspects of Park’s history into about the graduates,” Paradis ing words of advice with the “He told me about the founda- “This whole process was a the ceremony. said. seniors. tion and the work they do, and group effort,” said Seidenman. “It’s not offi cial,” said board “We’ve thought of small “Graduation will incorporate then I shared that with our De- “Trustees, administrators, facul- member and Celebration Co- things to do to make it special, some information on gradu- velopment Offi ce here,” Paradis ty, and students did a lot of work Chair Margot Lessans ’80. “We to make it part of the centennial, ations in the past, so there is said. “We began to work with the to make this happen for our com- just want to bookend the end of without overshadowing gradua- a sort-of commemorative as- foundation a few years ago in the munity.” this year and acknowledge that tion,” he said. pect,” Paradis said. hope that we would ultimately be Seidenman added, “It’s a both classes [2012 and 2013] Lichtenstein agreed. “We’re Although graduation will one of the schools they support.” great opportunity for Park to have a stake in the Centennial.” mindful about not taking away mark the beginning of the fes- To apply, Park had to send the make the kind of education we The classic commencement from the seniors and their fami- tivities, the offi cial start of Cen- foundation a proposal. “I felt con- all take such pride in available to ceremony, which customarily lies,” she said. tennial celebrations that will fi dent with our proposal,” said students who without the benefi t features speeches by seniors Lessans shared that the “small span over the course of next Director of Development Roger of the Malone grant would not be and the administration, diplo- things” Paradis referred to will school year will take place Sep- Seidenman ‘85. “They look for able to attend school here.” ma distribution—in a random include upgraded decorations, tember 28 at Brown and White schools who have high achieving “I’d have to be most excited order—and time for the gradu- words celebrating Park’s his- Day. students and a program that in- that more students get to come ates and their families to refl ect tory printed in the program, and The committee hopes to spires learning, and I’d put ours to Park,” said Paradis. “It’s also on experiences here, will not photographs of the 98 previous then get the whole community up against anybody’s.” quite rewarding that an outside change. graduating classes. involved. Administrators also had to foundation was able to look at “It will just enhance it all,” Additionally, when members For now, “It’s about you,” help the foundation learn about Park and see what we see - a re- said Centennial Coordinator of the Class of 2012 walk across Paradis said about this year’s our school through visits, and ally special school that’s worthy Becky Lichtenstein ’86 of the the stage to accept their diplo- senior class. many other means. of support.” The Postscript News May 29, 2012 7 Daniel Ellsberg speaks to senior English class Daniel Ellsberg, famous for dom of the press, and Watergate. and justice who bravely took a leaking top secret documents, He was the subject of a recent risk to expose the truth and who The Pentagon Papers, to the New documentary, The Most Danger- continues to stand up for justice. York Times and other newspapers ous Man in America. Ellsberg’s Students need to see that people in 1971, spoke with students in name still pops up frequently in like Dan are ‘normal’ people, just an English class over Skype news stories in tandem with Wa- like the students are,” she said. March 14. tergate and Wikileaks, a whistle- John Roemer, recently retired A military analyst during the blowing website that is respon- from the history dept. and also an Vietnam War, Ellsberg copied sible for leaking documents and activist against the war in Viet- and released 7,000 pages of a se- videos pertaining to the wars in nam, witnessed the session with cret history of U.S. involvement Iraq and Afghanistan. Ellsberg. in Vietnam in an attempt to end Contact with Ellsberg, now “He was very attentive to their the confl ict, which he saw as an a writer, lecturer, and long-time questions and treated them as unjust war. activist against nuclear arms, though they were serious intel- During the Skype session, came about when senior Claire lects--which they were,” Roemer Ellsberg conversed with 11 se- Flowers mentioned the class to said. “His answers were both niors for 45 minutes, answer- her mother, Dr. Margaret Flow- clear and thoughtful; he didn’t ing questions that covered his ers. Dr. Flowers, who knows talk down to his audience, but he decision to leak the Pentagon Ellsberg through activism work also didn’t pitch a lot of high-fa- photo courtesy Kevin Zeese Papers 41 years ago, his views of her own, offered to set up a lutin’ verbiage at them,” he said. Daniel Ellsberg who leaked the Pentagon Papers 41 years on Wikileaks, and his current conversation between the class “Talking with him was bizarre ago, is still actively involved in anti-war protests. He recently activities. and Ellsberg. to say the least,” said Isabella chatted via Skype with students in an English class. The course, called “The “I think it is important for stu- Lee, a member of The Times. Times,” looks at Ellsberg in dents to speak with people like “You tell people that you effec- she said. Bradley Manning, now in prison some detail since he fi gured Dan Ellsberg because he is a role tively met this person and they Ellsberg has returned to the in Ft. Meade, MD, after having prominently in connection to the model,” Dr. Flowers said. “Dan don’t understand who he is or news through his interest in and been accused of leaking informa- New York Times, issues of free- is a person dedicated to truth the signifi cance of what he did,” support of U.S. Army Private tion and videos to Wikileaks. A snow day in May Lack of a snow day from this since no one could leave with- year’s mild winter caused grum- out permission. The parking lot bles from teachers and students was jammed. alike who felt cheated out of a Before leaving, rising seniors holiday, that is, until the morning were allowed to begin registra- of May 22. tion, already delayed by a month. Just before 9:30, Head of Closing school early for wa- School Dan Paradis and Secu- ter loss is almost unprecedented, rity Chief Bob Peck announced but according to Peck, “We re- that low water pressure caused ally had to dismiss all children by a water main break in Mt. because of the inability to fl ush Washington would mean that all toilets, and the need to close the students had to leave at 10:30. kitchen.” Upper School met for an im- Despite the rush to get every- promptu assembly at 10; Prin- one off campus, “everything, in- cipal Daniel Bergman gave cluding traffi c, went well,” Peck instructions and answered ques- said. “By 12:30 all but two stu- tions. Students used cell phones dents had left.” to alert parents, and then kids As far as implementing an un- photo by T. Wendell ‘13 scrambled to sign out on sheets heard of early dismissal, “Things of paper tacked to windows in are different now,” Peck said. Upper School students made an unusual site in a busy carpool pickup mid-morning May 22 for an unexpected snow day. A broken water main in Mt. Washington reduced water pressure the Upper School hallway. “We never used to have snow forcing the school to send everyone home early. Calls and emails fl ooded in days either.” Kevin Coll looks forward to role as Upper School Principal same time did [his] best to think will be exciting to have a fuller sary with what people are inter- Principal continued from page 1 through the transition for the picture of that.” He also looks ested in.” aspirations of this community.” Upper School.” forward to “speaking to people Coll hopes to bring “passion Bergman spent considerable Paradis fi rst approached Coll from outside [the school] and and positive expectations to time refl ecting over Spring Break, the week before the announce- helping to articulate the school’s Park,” while asking the question and, when school resumed, ap- ment was made. Coll had ap- distinctive philosophy, to see the “What can we make happen to- proached Dan Paradis with his de- plied for the position when Mike philosophy in action. gether?” Though excited about cision to resign. Though Bergman McGill announced his departure Park has a special place in the change, Coll will “miss ev- has not made any concrete plans last year. “For the last four or Coll’s life. “The attitude of the erything about the classroom.” for next year, he does plan to stay fi ve years,” said Coll, “I have place, positive expectations, “I’m grateful to Mr. Bergman in Baltimore with his wife and son. felt ready for the next thing and trusting relationships, and a for the work he’s done,” said “He [Bergman] had refl ected when Mr. McGill announced he sense that we’re all working to- Paradis, “and grateful to Kevin on his year,” said Paradis, “and was leaving I thought, ‘I wonder gether, that it’s really collabora- for agreeing to step in. While I’m decided that his skill set and if this would be the right thing tive,” are what makes this place sorry that Mr. Bergman’s tenure considerable experience wasn’t for me.’” truly special, said Coll. “I want has been short, I also have a lot of photo by L. Schoenberg ‘14 what Park needed.” When the “The things teachers and stu- to help people do what they want optimism and confi dence that the Coll looks forward to collabo- decision came, Paradis “sup- dents are doing around here are to do,” he said. “I want to be the Upper School is in great shape rating with students when mak- ported Mr. Bergman and at the incredibly exciting to me, and it facilitator in doing what’s neces- and will continue to thrive.” ing administrative decisions. Commentary The Postscript, May 29, 2012 8 Teachers over-react to High School Memes by Sophie Bailowitz ‘15 fi lled with posts making fun of the fact Blocking the Memes on the school Students feel superior when they can that the school was attempting to control computers and organizing assemblies to push authority aside and say something Most likely, anyone Upper School the student use of the site. talk about them was well-intentioned, but they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to say, student at Park can recall the chaos that A large number of students were still the more that people are told to stop their and having faculty telling them not to ensued a few weeks ago as students fi rst able to access the Memes site from their behavior, the more they will likely want gave them more motivation to keep post- discovered High School Memes. HS phones and continued posting during to continue it. ing . Memes is a website designed for students school hours. Instead of the situation I think that the constant discussion Once conversation about the Memes to post “memes,” particular pictures that calming down, which the faculty had about the Memes only fueled the curios- subsided, the number of posts vastly de- are spread around the internet on which clearly hoped for, students were even ity and need to look at them to see what creased. Offensive Memes about mem- users can post blocky, white captions. more annoyed that the teachers were try- kind of posts there were. Since Memes bers of the community were defi nitely a While the site has pages from schools ing to take control of the site. This made are anonymous, no one was obligated to big problem, but when left alone by the across the country, Gilman, Bryn Mawr, the students even more determined to post stop posting; there were no consequences faculty, they died down fairly quickly in- and Park shot to the top 10 as word about than before. for their actions, so they were safe to talk stead of continuing to build the way they the site spread. Approximately a week later, students badly about anything or anyone. had after initial attempts at stopping them. Following the sudden popularity of organized an assembly to discuss the HS Memes, it seemed as if there was Memes. The conversation started with a non-stop discussion amongst the entire prompt: “Where does the line stand be- Upper School community. What started tween funny and mean?” Many different out as lighthearted and fun soon became opinions were shared. offensive to both teachers and students, However, later in the day, instead of targeting individuals and small groups of people stopping to think of what had been people. said before posting, many new Memes While the website states that students had been added, including ones about posting should not use the full names of specifi c comments that were made in the other students, there’s no rule concern- assembly. ing teachers. Also, even without using the While it is not acceptable to take ad- full name of a particular student, it is usu- vantage of anonymously posting about ally pretty easy to understand, just from others and saying things that you wouldn’t context, when a Meme is about someone say in person, the response to this website photo courtesy www.hsmemes.com specifi c. was exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong; I Soon after faculty discovered HS don’t support mean-spirited Memes, but What’s in a Meme? The website High School Memes defi nes a meme as “an I believe that the approach taken to stop inside joke on the internet.” Participants fi nd photos and then provide a Memes, it was blocked on the school phrase that pertains to their particular school. Memes became a topic of them was blown out of proportion. network. Within minutes, our page was conversation when posts proliferated, targeting teachers and students. Trayvon Martin shooting hits close to home by Andrew Bahl ‘14 way as Zimmerman had. He But authority isn’t really part of in both Baltimore and Sanford. to light. claimed he felt threatened and the job. Watchmen are generally The heavy-handedness dis- Had the petition not been cir- If I’ve learned anything from proceeded to beat the teen with given little formal training and played in these incidents is culated, the wrongs committed watching the recent weeks of a walkie-talkie. should not be armed, since their troubling, as are their responses. in both Baltimore and Sanford frenzy following the Trayvon The similarities between the main purpose is to report crime, The Baltimore incident barely may never have been brought Martin shooting, it’s that it is two cases are striking. In both not act as law enforcers. received any attention until af- to the public’s attention, and the dangerous to jump to conclu- cases, the accused say that they It seems that it would be pru- ter the shooting of Martin. Even societal problems they illuminate sions. An incredibly complex were acting in self-defense. dent to reform these programs in more unfortunate, the Trayvon might not have been addressed. mystery has emerged surround- Zimmerman’s main claim of in- some way, as they certainly are Martin case may never have hit We can’t allow these is- ing the events of February 26, nocence is Florida’s “stand your an asset but do seem to foster the mainstream news if an online sues to waste away on the back 2012. ground” law, which allows for potential for the administration petition hadn’t been circulated, pages of our newspapers; they Now, many of you probably a citizen to fi ght if faced with a of vigilante justice by an over- which demanded justice and must be brought to light and ad- are wondering why you should potentially lethal situation. Let’s zealous watchmen, as illustrated succeed in bringing the incident dressed. care. The killing of Trayvon say that, in both cases, the victim Martin happened hundreds of did instigate. Wouldn’t you say miles away and was just an iso- that they had right to? lated incident, right? It’s not like If the Florida law allowed this has happened before. And Zimmerman to shoot Martin it’s not like we have race prob- because he felt threatened, then lems here in Baltimore; those is- shouldn’t the law also have ap- sues are solely reserved for those plied to Martin? He should have redneck bigots down south. been allowed to fi ght back against But what if it did happen not a suspicious man, with a gun, far from us, just a few miles who had been following him. If away, in a Baltimore neighbor- you are one of the surprisingly hood? By a 20-year-old who many people who are brushing looks like he could have even off the slaying by saying Martin been a Park alum. accosted Zimmerman, then you On May 4, Eliyahu are over-rationalizing. Werdesheim, a member of a There should not have been a neighborhood watch group in an threatening presence in the fi rst Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, place. Both men were part of a was convicted for a 2010 beating neighborhood watch group. Be- Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/MCT of a black teenager. Werdesheim ing part of these groups can ap- The makeshift memorial for slain teenager Trayvon Martin continues to grow daily, Tuesday, deemed that the teenager looked peal to a certain kind of person; March 20, 2012, outside of the Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Florida, where suspicious, much in the same someone who revels in authority. Trayvon was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, neighborhood watch captain. The Postscript Commentary May 29, 2012 9

photo courtesy jlopnik.com Even if a Prius (left) is not as fuel effi cient as a $96,895 Fisker Karma, people who drive them on campus may still take advantage of new green parking spots, courtesy of the Class of 2012. The spaces, located in each parking area, are reserved for hybrid, electric, diesel, or carpools. The Prius isn’t actually environmentally friendly by Graeme Frost ‘13 you’ll fi nd that the Prius actually plastics that aren’t very environ- little extra power. and BMW get fairly poor mile- isn’t the most fuel effi cient car, mentally friendly. A different approach to mix- age (16/24 city/highway and At Park we like to be con- isn’t that cheap and isn’t truly Secondly, the Prius, in real- ing electricity and gas in cars has 14/22 respectively), the Fisker scious of the environment; we very eco-friendly ity, is not all that economical. been taken both by the Chevro- gets 98/118 miles per gallon*. recycle, we compost, we put so- First, I would like to debunk While the 2012 third generation let Volt and the Fisker Karma, *This is a rating from a Eu- lar panels on our roof, and some the myth that the Prius is an eco Prius does get 51 miles per gal- which is to use primarily an elec- ropean agency, the EPA rates it students and faculty drive fuel- friendly car. The Prius uses a lon, which is noteworthy, the tric motor to drive the car. only 52mpg, because they drive effi cient cars, the most popular of Nickel-metal Hydride battery to 2012 Volkswagen bluemotion If the battery is running low, cars aggressively to simulate the which is the Toyota Prius. store electricity to power electric diesel gets 70 miles per gallon, then a small gasoline engine runs average American driver, instead On any given morning, I’ll motors that assist the gasoline- and while the Prius starts at 24 as a generator to recharge the of driving for optimal effi ciency. see anywhere from two to fi ve powered engine. According to thousand, the Volkswagen starts batteries, which is much more Lastly the materials in the Priuses in the lower lot, and one the World Mine Cost Data Ex- signifi cantly lower at 18 thou- effi cient (the Volt is rated at 93 Prius are largely petroleum based or two in the upper, but why do change and the International sand-nine hundred. mpg). plastics and leather (if it’s been students and faculty choose the Nickel Study Group, 390,000 Also, the way in which the While the Prius is a very stan- added as an option), but in the Prius? tones of carbon dioxide were Prius uses its electrical power is dard, everyday car, the Fisker Fisker Karma, all plastics are At fi rst glance I can see why: released into the atmosphere as ineffi cient. The hybrid system in (base price of $96,895) provides corn-based, and there are no ani- it gets good gas mileage, it’s not a result of Nickel production in the Prius uses an electric motor an exciting eco-friendly alterna- mal sourced products in the car. very expensive and it’s hailed 2010. to assist a gasoline engine. This tive to super-sedans such as the So if you wanted a car truly as an eco-friendly car for using Also don’t forget that there is ineffi cient because it’s using a Porsche Panamera S ($91,350) or kind to the environment or fuel less gas than its non-hybrid coun- are materials in the Prius such standard gasoline engine with a the BMW M5 (est. base price of effi cient, why would you want terparts. But if you look closer, as leather and petroleum based small electric motor to give it a $90,000). And while the Porsche a Prius? MS /US library should be more conducive to learning and after school, students are al- life. It can be extremely diffi cult in having ‘Silent Library’ was to that this room needs to be silent; lowed to be in almost any part of to concentrate on homework get to a point where it would be the private rooms are perfect for the campus they like. The cafete- when the people at the table next just a quiet library that wouldn’t groups of students to work togeth- ria, the annex, and the commons to you are laughing at YouTube be distracting to people.” er on projects or homework. Still, are just a few of the many spaces videos, chattering, or blaring Gottlieb does not intend for it should be an environment that students can choose from. So, music. No one wants to be the the library to be a completely si- is conducive to learning: where why do so many students fl ock annoying person that constantly lent space, though. “For me, it’s students can relax, work and to the library, of all places? asks everyone to quiet down. But about fi nding a balance because study, and where quiet is expected The library has many distin- I do not want my entire exis- and respected. guishing facets that attract stu- tence to just be ‘shh shh shh.” I dents, such as its private rooms, ‘No one wants to be completely agree. I don’t think dozens of computers, and com- the annoying person fortable chairs in the magazine by Samantha Max ‘14 corner. However, there are count- that constantly asks less other areas in the school that Picture this: a peaceful, quiet serve as more suitable “hangout everyone to quiet room with hundreds of books, spots.” dozens of tables and chairs for The library, on the other hand, down.’ doing homework, and fl oor-to- is the only place in the school is it too much to ask for the li- ceiling windows overlooking the that has the unique purpose of brary to be quiet? pond. being a place “for some sort of The librarians have attempted This scene may vaguely re- engaged learning or working,” to address the issue of noise-level semble the Upper School library. said Lisa Gottlieb, Middle and in several ways throughout the However, this room, which is de- Upper School librarian. year. During a few free blocks, signed specifi cally to be a tran- High school students are they have enforced “Silent Li- quil workplace, has turned into extremely busy, and we often brary” or “Whispering Library” a raucous spot for students to fi nd ourselves balancing essays, during which all students are photo by T.Wendell ‘13 congregate. projects, and hours of homework obligated to be quiet. However, One of Park’s best attributes along with sports, extra-curricu- During free blocks there may be upwards of 70 students in Gottlieb explained that “the goal every corner of the library. is its seemingly endless freedom. lar activities, and just day-to-day During free blocks and before 10 The Postscript Dramati Student playwrights score major recognition

by Peter Califano ‘13 standing and empathy. top 7-10% of over 180,000 works of Agronin was one of 12 students artwork and writing submitted from This year, several talented stu- in the country to win the Blank The- around the nation. dents won awards for plays written atre’s Young Playwrights Competi- More recently, in late May, Stern in Howard Berkowitz’s Playwriting tion. Agronin won for his 10-minute was notifi ed that Villanelle had been class. Berkowitz had required stu- play Dammit, which features a boy selected as one of eight winners of dents to enter one of their plays in who continues to leave a variety of Young Playwrights Inc.’s National either local or national young play- heart-felt and hilarious messages on Playwriting Competition. Each year, writing competitions, and Sunny his girlfriend’s voice mail. Young Playwrights Inc., an organiza- Minihane ’12, David Agronin ’13, The Blank Theatre’s competition tion founded and chaired by Broad- and Daniel Stern ’12 each cashed in. is for playwrights 19 years old and way composer Stephen Sondheim, “It was a powerful group of younger. Winners of the competition chooses fewer than 10 plays of a pool kids,” Berkowitz said. “I think we are fl own to Hollywood to work with of over 1,500 to workshop and stage. all learned a great deal about what it professional writers to continue to Next January, Stern, as a winner takes to write a stage-worthy play.” develop their play, which is then of this year’s competition, will attend There have also been a few im- given to a professional director and the organization’s Young Playwrights pressive winners in past years. Al- professional actors to be performed Conference, where his play will be lison Burris ‘07 was one of two high on stage. Austin Wisberg of Gossip refi ned and, after a week of work, school students to win the Young Girl will mentor Agronin and help performed Off-Broadway by profes- Playwrights Festival at Center Stage, him to develop Dammit. Winsberg sional actors and actresses. After the and Anna Hulse ’10 came in second also wrote The Ugly Truth, a roman- performance, Young Playwrights Inc. in Princeton University’s extremely tic comedy with Katherine Heigl and earns temporary publication and dis- competitive national contest for high Gerard Butler. Additionally, he cre- tribution rights of the piece. school juniors. ated a show called Jake in Progress. A number of other students in the This year, Minihane was one of Matt Graver will then direct the play. class—including Ellie Kahn ’12 and four high school students out of sev- “I’m really curious to see what’s go- David Godon ’13—were selected as eral hundred in Maryland to be recog- ing to happen,” Agronin said. fi nalists or semi-fi nalists for compe- nized by Center Stage. As a winner, Stern won two different competi- titions that they entered; still other she took part in developing her play tions for one of his plays, Villanelle, competitions have not yet announced for stage performance, which was in which a sibling rivalry and fam- their results. showcased at a recent assembly. Her ily’s tension comes to a head at a “It’s unbelievable that these kids 10-minute piece A Painter’s Model, Thanksgiving encounter. In Janu- are winning; the people who are run- is about an encounter between a high- ary, Villanelle won a Gold Key from ning this contest are at the top of the school student and her art teacher, Scholastic’s Alliance for Young Art- game,” said Berkowitz. where images and events buried in ists and Writers: this represented the Berkowitz next plans to teach the their pasts create both misunder- play’s selection as a member of the course in 2013.

Jordan Williams ‘12 and Morgan Palmer ‘12 played respectively, of the leading Younger family in A Raisi Fresh/Soph play goes off like a Dream ‘After reading the book, I thoug by Mellissa Miler ‘14 Sheridan Merrick and Zoe A Raisin in the Sun gave me a be Feldman, played male ac- Last weekend, the Fresh/Soph tors who put together the standing of what happened. Th play, William Shakespeare’s A Mid- world’s worst version of really good job, and I really like summer Night’s Dream, directed by Romeo and Juliet. Drama Chair Peter King, came to life The three played off of -Ja before the eyes of a hungry audience. each other and captivated The basic story centers on four the audience with their Upper young lovers who fall in and out of performances. Peter King vies to director P love with the help of a mischievous LS music teacher drama as fairy named Puck (Hannah Blau Bruce Bryant designed the photo by T. Wendell ‘13 stage Clybourne Park “It’s imp ’15). This young fairy is the servant breathtaking set and cre- world a b of Oberon (Philip Merrick ‘15), King ence on her side from the very begin- ated a beautiful and sur- in 2012-2013 theater Over t of the Fairies. His wife Titania (Me- ning. This talented freshman is some- real forest where our heroes learned ing plays gan Philippi ’14) falls in love with one to keep eye on as she excels in that “the course of true love never did season by Wend Bottom (Radko Bachvaroff ’15) future productions. Megan Philippi’s run smooth.” in the Su with the help of a love potion. Titania was excellent as well, as she Together, Ryan and Adam Less- by Sophie Neiman ‘13 King has Bottom was part of a group of ac- comanded the stage with power and ing, members of the Classes of 2013 thought p tors who were working on a show for grace. and 2015, respectively, designed and Pulitzer-winning play by The p the Duke Theseus (Thomas Schnei- Bachvaroff’s Bottom was the ran the tech for the show with the help productio der ‘14). Bottom was then turned egotistic comic relief who helped of Alexandra Benjamin ’14 (Stage Bruce Norris, a follow-up to controve into an Ass by none other than Puck, the audience settle into the world of Manager), and used their impressive A Raisin in the Next s Hannah Blau’s Puck was a fun, Shakespeare. skills to help create the world that the Hansberry’s Clybourn mischief-loving and very watchable Other standouts include Ian Simon ensemble brought to life. Sun , will be performed at on Broad fairy. ‘15 and Jesse Berns-Zieve ‘15 who This was one of the best Fresh/ said Port Her performance was impressive. played two young Athenian constant- Soph plays in recent memory, and Park, pending acquisition a touchin With her ballerina-style movements, ly tormented by Puck’s love spells. it has signifi cantly raised the bar for of performance rights. productio she stole the show and had the audi- A trio of freshmen girls, Ellie Cody, future productions. ic Arts May 29, 2012 11 A Raisin in the Sun shines with strong acting Despite initial controversy, Park’s spring production well-recieved for emotional pull

by Mai Asmerom ‘13 on the breadth and depth of its acting performance. focal point of the entire production. Getting the spring production of talent, which called the audience to a What was unexpected, and there- With a limp and rasping voice, Raisin in the Sun off the ground was standing ovation on its fi nal, Satur- fore even more thought-provoking Boston conjured up in the middle of a challenge. day night performance, the only time and delightful, was how bitter his the stage a woman who has struggled Students wrote articles and met I’ve ever seen that happen. Walter Lee Younger was, how re- for most of her life to hang on to her with Head of the Theater Depart- Ruth Younger, played by Mor- sentful and angry he felt towards dignity and humanity. ment Peter King, in a rumble of gan Palmer ’12, was a powerhouse, “the system” that had imprisoned It is a testament to Boston’s tre- dissatisfaction. a presence even in scenes where she him and his family inside the seeth- mendous acting talents that in a play The problem? As anyone who barely spoke. ing South Side ghetto of the fi f- fi lled with larger-than-life perfor- paid attention in Park’s eighth grade Fierce, maternal, and loving, ties. mances, hers emerges as the most English class knows, Raisin focuses Palmer portrayed—to a tee—a wom- Williams’ dialogue-heavy scenes memorable. solely on the lives of a black work- an who can easily be called the heart fi lled with biting social commentary With a voice of grandmotherly ing class family in Woodlawn, a of the family. on the disparity between blacks and wispyness and gospel-like steel, she ghetto on Chicago’s South Side. Though her voice rarely strayed whites at this crucial point in Amer- embodied her character. In other words, there is only one above sharp, clear speech, and her ica—just before the Civil Rights In a scene that brought some au- role for a white actor in the entire, movements around stage were re- Movement and race riots of the six- dience members to tears, it was her three-act play. strained—she mostly sat, or stood ties—were among the most stirring shaky voice and stunned face that Yet, out of all the discontent in place–she shaped the soul of the moments of the entire play. commanded the stage. and calls of unfairness, Raisin has play with a spellbinding combina- In an admirable choice, Williams In her movements, in her voice, emerged as the best play I’ve ever tion of silences and looks that froze chose not to sugarcoat the struggle, and in the power behind each word, seen performed in the Macks-Fidler the audience and her fellow charac- often painful and demeaning, of a Boston undoubtedly made the play Black Box. ters alike. black man in a segregated, racist what it was—a raw and inspiring Working within tight restrictions, Experienced performer Jordan America. performance of Lorraine Hansber- a set that never changed, a small cast Williams ’12, who played the titular Yet it was Portia Boston ’13, play- ry’s Raisin in the Sun, a production of just nine characters, and minimal character, Walter Lee Younger, was ing Lena Younger or ‘Mama,’ who that was certainly worth the effort it deviation in lighting, Raisin soared expected to deliver an impressive inhabited the emotional and soulful took to put on.

The 2012-2013 Park Theater Season Fall Musical: Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein

Winter Production: photo by Shannon Bishop Centennial Festival of Plays the father and mother, by Teachers and Alumni of Park School in in the Sun. ght that seeing Spring Production: Clybourne Park etter under- by Bruce Norris he actors did a Freshman/Sophomore Play: d it.’ The Admirable Crichton photo by Shannon Bishop ck Sheehy ‘17 by J.M. Barrie Portia Boston ‘13 and Lizzi Woodson ‘13 played key roles in Raisin. r School drama teacher and Clybourne Park, written by Bruce dominantly black. away the way that Clybourne Park that serves some other population Peter King has always seen Norris, is a sequel to Hansberry’s Of course, this leads to explosive captures what I see as modern racial in school,” he said. a vehicle for social change. Raisin. “[It] updates A Raisin in the discussions on race. “It’s really fun- discourse.” The only major issue at this point portant to use it to make the Sun and raises the question: do we ny but really painful to listen to and Not only is it a poignant play. It is the fact that the theater depart- better place,” said King. really talk better about race?” said watch,” said King. also marks part of a bigger shift in ment might not be able to put on the past few years, by choos- English teacher Kevin Coll, who In fact, according to Ben Brantley the Drama Department. “I recently Clybourne Park. s like The Heidi Chronicles worked closely with King on Raisin. of the New York Times, “Mr. Norris went to the White Privilege confer- With the play currently on Broad- dy Wasserstein and A Raisin At the center of Hansberry’s play specializes in comedies of discom- ence. It was a pretty transformative way, the school is facing challenges un by Lorraine Hansberry, are the Youngers’ plans to move out fort.” experience, because I realized that getting the rights. Even after the tour s certainly touched on some of their small, slum apartment and According to King, the play can we live in a world with lots of dif- ends, there’s often a three-month provoking material. into the predominately white neigh- teach everyone involved an impor- ferent cultures,” said King. “Why waiting period. Furthermore, Cen- pick for this year’s spring borhood of Clybourne Park. tant lesson. “It [Clybourne Park] should one culture dominate all the ter Stage is doing Clybourne Park on, however, is particularly The fi rst act of Clybourne Park really gets inside white people’s other cultures? It’s really pretty silly next May, making it even more dif- ersial. turns the tables and tells the story of heads and the kind of institutional- if you think about it, and really lim- fi cult for King to obtain the neces- spring, King hopes to stage the couple that fi rst owned the house ized biases they have,” said King. “It iting.” sary rights. ne Park, which is currently that the Youngers end up buying. also gets inside the heads of black As a result, King hopes to bring As a result, cast members of A dway. “It’s a terrifi c play,” Act two jumps forward a few de- people and their biases. Nobody gets more diversity to the Drama Depart- Raisin in the Sun are searching for tia Boston ’13, who played cades. Now, a white family wants off scot-free.” ment. plays that feature characters of color ng Mamma, in this year’s to move into the same house, in a “I saw it in Chicago,” said Chris- “I’m hoping that every several or can be cast in a non-traditional on of A Raisin in the Sun. neighborhood that’s become pre- topher Mergen ’14, “and I was blown years we fi nd a way to do a play manner. The Postscript Arts May 29, 2012 12 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab picks Greller

Every year, the Theater Lab at the Sundance Institute, to take my own goals seriously-- and to pursue them rig- a non-profi t organization that works to promote the work orously-- and the rest of the world will tend to follow suit. of up-and-coming artists in theater and fi lm, selects eight plays from over 900 submissions to be critiqued, revised, Q: Any notable similarities between the culture, and produced during a two-week summer workshop. This community and/or academics at Tisch and Park? year, the Lab chose Hands, a play by Ken Greller ’10, to be workshopped at the Institute in Sundance, Utah. A: Not really. Tisch is an arts conservatory and, in Evan Semenza ’14 talked with Greller about the work- my experience with it, is pretty concerned with teach- shop, the infl uences of Hands, and his life as an art major ing you to be employable. I’ve learned a lot about how at New York University. the writer’s room on a TV show works, how to make work that is “commercially viable”, etc-- questions that Q: Have you drawn on anything in particular from your average writing class at Park wouldn’t be super your time at Park, be it an academic or artistic lesson, concerned with. or a memory, in your playwriting? NYU is also, of course, a very big school in a very big city. But what I have had is a few very, very special A: Park is defi nitely the reason I write plays. I started professors (both in Tisch and in totally non-Art related photo courtesy Ken Greller ’10 at Park in ninth grade, and I carried around a notebook classes) who know how to best respond to an individual Ken Greller ‘10, a New York University art major, all the time, wrote really angsty poetry and was uncon- students unique strengths and talents (and lack thereof.) is making an appearence at the Sundance Theatre vinced that I had The Great American Novel somewhere I’m sure you can fi nd those kinds of teachers any- Lab this summer. in me. But then I ended up in Peter King’s Acting class where, but Park defi nitely sent me into college with better and something clicked. tools to seek them out and recognize them. tic age,” meaning if you’ve been writing plays for six There was also the great serendipity that year of The- years, you’re a six year old-- with all of the creativeness resa Rebeck being the Writer-in-Residence. She was the Q: Your play Hands was one of almost 900 submis- and stubbornness that come with being that age. And of fi rst real professional playwright I had come in contact sions to the Theatre Lab. Were you surprised when course a six year old is wildly different from a fi ve year with, and from there I realized there were other real living you learned you had been selected as one of the eight old, from a four year old, etc. breathing people writing new, exciting plays, who I could and what is the plot of Hands? The most important thing I’ve learned--and I’m still begin to model myself after. learning-- is how to talk about my own plays. It can just Of course, being really close with the English Depart- A: Yes! I’m actually taking a semester abroad in Berlin be so embarrassing, to try to explain to someone else this ment at Park—taking not only Howard’s awesome play- right now, which means 1) I’m six hours ahead of East crazy story about these made up people that only exist in writing class, but Kevin Coll’s Writing Practicum and all Coast time, and 2) I don’t have a working cell phone. your head, but it’s important to get over that hump and of the very many journeys into literature and everywhere So I got an e-mail at 4:00 in the morning one night take what you’re making seriously, since that’s the only else that I took with Kirk Wulf—as well as serving as from Philip Himberg (Producing Artistic Director of the way other people might do the same. an editor for Postscript helped me to take myself more Sundance Theatre Institute) asking me if I had heard his seriously as a writer. phone messages and if I was «still interested» in coming Q: Sundance says their goal is to allow artists to to the Lab. I was, of course, shocked, and the distance work “free from commercial and political pressures.” Q: What’s the one thing you learned at Park that from New York has only made the whole thing more Will that freedom and more relaxed atmosphere be a has stuck with you best to this day? surreal. nice change of pace, or is that the environment you’re Hands follows the friendship between Alex and Ray used to? A: At Park, I was pretty much allowed from day 1 to over the course of 22 years (between age 13 and age speak for myself and ask for what I wanted. As lofty as 35) as they continue returning to their hometown diner A: Well, as (far as New York is concerned) an “un- the goal of being a “professional writer” (especially for somewhere in suburban Baltimore. produced” playwright, I’m generally pretty free from the theatre) might be, my ‘family’ at Park always treated commercial and political pressures. I’m really lucky my goals incredibly seriously. Q: Aside from being set in Baltimore, how has that these opportunities are coming my way at a time in Oh, and senior year Peter King let me and Georgi Mc- Hands been infl uenced by your life in Baltimore? my life when I’m only writing for myself-- I don’t have Cauley, co-direct a crazy production of Spike Heels (by, any commissions right now, I don’t have an agent, etc. of course, Theresa Rebeck). It was raunchy and rude and A: Having been interested in the arts, Baltimore was That being said, there’s defi nitely something par- offensive and GREAT. a really interesting place to grow up. There’s such an ticularly healthy about Anyway, I think all of this is to say that Park taught me exciting culture, especially in the music world. Unlike, getting a bunch of New somewhere like New York--it’s relatively inexpensive, so York artists out of their you can fairly easily support yourself in making totally tiny apartments and crazy, not at all over-produced or “glitzy” and oftentimes into some fresh moun- just fl at out “low-budget” or “DIY” work. tain air. While growing up in Baltimore certainly instilled a lot of ideas about race and class in me (the latter of which Q: Are you looking appear sort of prominently in Hands), the best thing it forward to the oppor- did for me was teach me to approach art making with a tunity to work with certain lack of pretense. other up-and-coming Hands is a 90 minute play written for two actors that playwrights at Sun- takes place in one location. Certainly, a bunch of crazy dance and get to see stuff happens throughout, but I still see it as a kind of how people in similar practical play. You could perform it anywhere... like in situations as yourself an abandoned warehouse, or something approach writing and life as a writer? Q: How do you think you’ve grown as a writer Greller wrote the screenplay since you started formally writing plays? A:Absolutely. for the fi lm Indian Summer, There’s no other way to which Blake Pruitt ’11 di- A: I’ve been writing plays for about six years now (my learn than by observing rected last year. fi rst short play was produced by the now defunct Run people you admire and watching their work grow. [I’ll of the Mill Theatre Company at the Baltimore Theatre be] hearing seven other new plays! photo courtesy K. Greller ’10 Project when I was 16) and every year I’m so amazed I’m a total junkie; I can read three or four plays by by how different I am than the year before. friends in a day and I never get sick of it. I hope being Ken Greller appeared at the Great Plains Theatre It makes sense, though-- the amazing writing teacher in the company of others will make me work that much Conference in Omaha Nebraska in 2011. Gary Garrison talks about this thing called an “artis- harder. The Postscript Arts May 29, 2012 13 Last Friday Senior Shows Night by David Agronin ‘13 Artwork impresses with originality, technical skill Since 2010, superhero movies made several billion dollars, with Avengers by Olivia Chalkley ‘13 “I really enjoyed the cartoon puppets skill. Plakotoris clearly displayed both. breaking the record for revenue earned because they gave me a new perspec- Still more eclectic are Isabella Lee by any fi lm on its opening weekend Since April 10, students have been tive on the teachers,” said Peri Schuster ‘12’s clay skulls. Lee, a versatile artist, (beating out Harry Potter and the greeted in the lobby each morning by two ‘13. Both series are eye-catching and ex- dedicated much of her time in Senior Deathly Hallows Part 2). Additionally, very different pieces of art, both made by tremely well-executed, and bode well for Studio to crafting these intricate animal more than 18 superhero movies have students in Senior Studio this year. A large Posner’s next four years as an illustration skulls and covering them in gorgeous been made or started production since print piece by Ham Sonnenfeld ‘12 fea- major at MICA. glazes and gold leaf. Most striking were the beginning of the decade, including tures the ID cards of 899 Park students Another striking example of technical the tiny skulls of owls, beautifully sculpt- remakes, (even recent ones, like The and teachers. mastery is Mark Plakotoris’s bold photog- ed and elegantly decorated. Lee had also Amazing Spiderman), fi lm versions Suspended above it is a colorful sphere raphy that included a series of photos of invented names for her creations, named of classic comics, sequels of previous of Fuze bottles, constructed by Maddi falling items of clothing that shaped the after mythical creatures such as Aoumbla, fi lms, and independent ventures. Wyda ‘12. To the right, in the Arts Cen- human form. a Primordial Ice Cow. Last Saturday I went to see Avengers, ter and to the left, in the library hallway, Also included are beautifully-lit action These artists are just four examples of and I realized something: it was terrible. there is a diverse range of work produced shots of Plakotoris and classmate Alex the brilliant work displayed this year. There was almost nothing interesting by artists in the senior class. Marion ‘12 doing parkour-like, acrobat- This year’s Senior Shows took up far about any of the characters, and plot I was struck by the sheer variety in the ics. Capturing movement like this requires more gallery space than in previous years. devices were quickly abandoned—only artwork displayed. It’s remarkable that both an excellent eye and great technical “This is the fi rst time we have been to be replaced by more dire (or desper- such a small group can work in close quar- able to use the entire gallery space and ate), stupider ones. And yet, the thing ters for three semesters, in Junior Portfo- therefore, all 22 seniors [in Senior Stu- that struck me most about Avengers was lio, then Senior Studio, and still produce dio] were able to have their shows at the that I still liked it. A lot. But why? What such diverse work, each piece unique to same time, and were able to keep them up makes the archetypal superhero movie its creator’s style and vision. for more than a week,” said Head of the so enjoyable, when all our movie-crap- “I was surprised by the fact that ev- Art Department Carolyn Sutton. “It’s a detecting senses tell us otherwise? eryone’s pieces really seemed to describe fabulous opportunity for the entire com- One appealing trait is the copious their personality,” said Johanna Busch ’13. munity to see the quality of the work and badassery that the (usually) masked “Even though I’d never seen any other art the tremendous range of media and ideas.” vigilantes dish out. Who doesn’t want by these people, when I looked at some- Jack Califano ‘12 added that this new to see one good guy take on 50 bad guys one’s piece I could tell who’d made it. format lent a new sense of continuity and and win without a scratch? And it’s a The shows featured a vast array of me- seriousness to the work. “While I certainly good thing they aren’t scratched, too. dia, even within individual artists’ show- would have enjoyed the individual focus Superheroes (not just because they are cases. Jack Califano ‘12, whose work was that may have come from a succession of played by actors) are attractive. Not perhaps the most conceptual in the show, shows in the library gallery, I think this only do they appear with rippling pec- included edited photography as well as a format resulted in a really amazing turn- torals (Superman, Batman, etc.) or clad sculptural piece made with a pair of his out for our opening—it seemed as if at in tight, revealing leather or spandex father’s shoes and plaster. least 100 or more people showed up to (Wonderwoman, Catwoman, Black In addition to media, the range of styles see our work on opening day, which was a Widow), but also they are fi t, young, of these artists are capable of is also ap- lot of fun and really unexpected,” he said. brave, and powerful. parent. Katie Posner ‘12, for example, Overall, the Senior Shows were a great They are popular, they do what is explored both the hyper-realistic and the photo by T. Wendell ‘13 success. Carolyn Sutton was especially right, and they always win. We like su- lighter side of things. Her fi gure drawings, pleased. “It is easily the largest Senior perheroes not because they are inspira- Maddi Wyda ‘12 created art out of displayed in the Richman Gallery were Show we’ve ever had, and certainly one tional or realistic, but because we want beautifully done with graceful lines and materials considered trash, such as thumbtacks, bottle caps and oil pas- of the very strongest,” she said. “These to be them. We want to fl y, be super accurate shading. In the library hallway, tel shavings. Ham Sonnefeld ‘12 cre- seniors deserve to be very proud of strong and super brave, save the day Posner switches to a cartoony style with ated a collage of school lunch cards themselves. We in the art department and be loved by all, even if Manhattan her colorful puppet show of Park teachers. displayed at the front of the school. certainly are.” ends up destroyed. The bad guys are important too; that is to say, they’re bad. Villains in super- hero movies aren’t just misunderstood, Alumni Goldsoundz helps kick off centennial they are supervillians. They want to take over the world, kill innocent people, by Evan Semenza ‘14 celebration and remembrance of the life bands with Park connections, like Yea- of Phyllis Goldstein, who taught theater sayer or Animal Collective. or carry out some personal vendetta For the fi rst time, the Alumni As- from 1976 to 2003; she died in 2011. The This year’s Alumni Cabaret/Goldsoun- against our beloved hero. sociation will host an Alumni Cabaret/ musical celebration of the centennial will dz may be the start of an annual end-of- The villain is almost always bad Goldsoundz on June 1. Meant to kick off also feature a “Goldsoundz preview” con- year tradition, not just a two-time event enough that we can feel satisfaction Park’s centennial festivities, the event will cert on next year’s Brown and White Day, to help commemorate Park’s 100th year when they are fi nally imprisoned, comprise performances by alumni rang- preceding the homecoming dance, featur- of existence. Regardless of the eventual sucked into vortex or blown up in a fac- ing from the classes of 1989 to 2011. Ac- ing extended sets by various groups of outcome, the two upcoming shows will tory explosion. Superhero movies let us cording to Upper School Music Director students. be a good opportunity to bring together see a true distinction between good and Adele Dinerstein, the bulk or the perform- According to Dinerstein, the Alumni students of past and present to admire the bad, turning messy confl ict into a clean ers graduated in the last six years. Association and centennial committee are school’s vast crop of talented musicians brawl between good and bad. This special Goldsoundz will be co- working to make next year’s alumni Caba- and share in our rich artistic culture. The genre owes its success to its hosted by the Alumni Association and ret/Goldsoundz a larger- audience’s want for a cleaner, simpler the Upper School music department, and scale event. If their ef- world, and a stronger better self. The according to Dinerstein, is meant to be a forts are successful, the godlike greatness of the superhero out- ‘trial run’ for a similar show at the end of 2013 Goldsoundz could weighs the other shortcomings of the the 2012-2013 school year that will con- potentially feature per- movie, leaving us swooning, cheering clude the Centennial celebration. formances by more and wishing, that maybe, we could be The performance is also being held in nationally-recognized a superhero too. Features The Postscript, May 29, 2012 14 The year in review: a look back at 2011-2012 important American plays of the 20th century.”—Portia Friday, February 3: Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team by Baylor Knobloch ‘14 Boston ’13. honors its seniors on Program Night. Team plays last It’s hard to believe that the 2011-2012 school year is home game against St. John’s Catholic Prep, loses coming to a close. Now, with the seniors gone, anticipa- 50-68. tion of summer is in the air. But before we rush into our “Program night is one of the most amazing experi- centennial, think back on this past year. It has held more ences I have had in my athletic career at Park. It is the than you may remember. Check it out: culmination of four years of blood, sweat, and tears where you are recognized by the entire community for Friday, October 21: Juniors host fi re department the work you have put in. themed Brown and White Day. This year was a rough outing. The ceremony was “It was just a really fun experience. For two years, great, but the game itself was a different story. We were you kind of get to look forward to it, and it’s defi nitely outmatched, playing the eventual champions, we simply really exciting. Our theme was, in my opinion, pretty could not play the type of game we wanted to. It was a good, and there were tons of different ways to get dressed bad loss.”—Jake Abrams ’12. up. Decorating, or well, trashing the school, is by far the best.”—Zoe Sellman ’13.

photo courtesy Shannon Biship Friday, April 20: Seniors wreak havoc with “Senior photo courtesy M. Tucker ’13 Day,” their last day on campus. “The last day of school, with its loud music, confetti, Thursday, November 17: Oliver! premieres. photo by Mark Plakatoris ’11 and water balloons exploding on the fl oor of the boys’ “It was an awesome experience. I thought that ev- bathroom, offered fi nality to most of the senior class. I Tuesday, February 14: Boys’ JV Basketball wins C eryone came together as the cast so well and worked really can’t think of a way I’d rather have ended my time conference championship against St. John’s Catholic together. People really put so much effort and time into at Park.”—Justin Long ’12. Prep. Final score 58-40. the show. Being new and coming from doing shows at “Winning the championship this year was great. Going my old school, you can really see a difference in the work into the season we knew that, with the talent level the ethic. All of the students really pitch in for every part of team had, anything less than a championship would be the production.”—Alexandra Benjamin ’14. unacceptable. When the game was over that day it felt

incredible for us all to know that all our hard work had paid off.”—Jack Curley ’14. Monday, March 12: Art Teacher Christine Tillman gives birth to daughter Pollyanna Jean Tillman.

photo courtesy Amy Livingston ’12 Friday, April 20: Mock Trial Team wins state championship for second year in a row, against the photo courtesy Shannon Biship Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. “There’s a weird restrained sort of feeling to winning Tuesday, February 2: Josh Wolf named permanent in mock trial. The moment we won, a huge cheer went head of middle school. up, in our minds. Outwardly, all we could do was grin: we were still in court. It certainly was, on the other hand, photo courtesy Christine Tillman a noisy bus ride back from Annapolis; about twice as loud as last year.”—Eli Block ’12. Tuesday, April 10: Upper School head Daniel Berg- man announces his resignation for the coming year. “I was saddened by Daniel’s decision to leave. It often takes students, faculty and administrators a while to get acclimated to Park and I’m sorry that Daniel won’t have that opportunity.”—Traci Wright, Dean of Students. Wednesday, April 11: Kevin Coll named new Up- per School head. Thursday, April 19: A Raisin in the Sun has its open- ing night. “Being in Raisin meant that I got to be a part of some- thing that made history at Park School and more broadly, photo by Mark Plakatoris ’11 more universally that I got to take part in one of the most photo courtesy Reid Sasser The Postscript Features May 29, 2012 15 Senior Projects 2012 by Quinn Salditch ‘13

As senioritis hit its peak, the seniors were given an opportunity to go outside the walls of Park to explore something new. For the last six weeks of school, students study in the depths of science labs, volunteer with children, and learn the ins-and-outs of the restaurant business. But every year, a few brave souls venture out into the uncharted territory of a new project. Each of these students chose paths diff erent from their predecessors and all for the same reason: “I wanted to do something that I wouldn’t get another shot at,” said Alex Marion. Their projects conforms to the school’s philosophy that encourages students to use their own initiative to do something that interests them. Alex Marion takes the cake The Ace of Cakes is an iconic fi gure in the world Even though decorating cakes seems like an easy feat, of cake decorating. Duff Goldman started Charm City Marion attests that it is a lot harder than it looks. Cakes in 2000 in downtown Baltimore and even had a “The really hard part about decorating cakes is that television show on Food Network for a few years. everything that we use is perishable so we need to work These days Duff and his crew are off of the small fast,” he said. “Each cake is made over the course of a screen but they are defi nitely not out of the limelight. week more or less so we have to work very fast while They create amazing cakes and pastries daily, and Alex being careful to meet the standards that are set for us Marion ’12 is getting in on the action. as artists.” Although Marion has no experience in baking or cake One of the most interesting cakes Marion has worked decorating, he was happily surprised when the company on thus far was a life-sized recreation of a sculpture made hired him. by a contemporary artist in New York City. For legal “My days consist of washing dishes, designing and reasons Marion can’t disclose the artist’s name, but this decorating cakes, and baking,” said Marion, “I work cake fed 1,800 people at a private party in New York. with the entire staff of Charm city cakes, collaborating Marion also enjoys having hard deadlines and being on projects. The people there are extremely nice and a in a real work environment because he believes that it photo courtesy A. Marion ’12 lot of fun to be around.” will prepare him for the future. Rachel Donabedian mucks about Days End Farm Horse Rescue is a non-profi t organiza- volunteers had to jump on the horse while the veterinar- tion which takes in neglected or abused horses. The group ian gave the animal more anesthetic. rehabilitates horses, and other animals, and then adopts Blood isn’t the only gross substance that Donabedian them out to others. Nearly 94 percent of the horses that deals with daily: “I’ve gotten used to being covered in have come to the farm have been adopted out. horse poop really quickly which I wasn’t expecting to Rachel Donabedian ’12 is volunteering on the farm. be such an easy transition,” she said while adding sar- “I give out horse feed, bring horses in from stalls to castically, “Also, it turns out, I’m allergic to hay, which fi elds and vice versa, groom lots of horses, spend hours is convenient considering I spend a ton of time carrying mucking stalls, fi elds, paddocks and anything really,” it around.” said Donabedian. Within the farm there only about fi ve staff members “The farm is several hundred acres and basically the during the day and are over 1,500 active volunteers who whole thing needs to be mucked regularly. I also haul come and go continuously. This means that Donabedian hay around, help take care of the few sheep, goats, and is constantly working with new people. donkeys there, and do anything else they need me to do.” Overall, the experience has been rewarding. “I know Just a few days ago Donabedian watched her fi rst it’s super cheesy, but I love just seeing how far the horses castration. During a routine surgery the horse is put to can come. Most of the horses I’m spending time with sleep for about 30 minutes; however,this time, in a some- have been nursed back to full health and are the gentlest, what gruesome scene, the horse started waking up and sweetest things I’ve ever been with. It just shows that rolling around. While blood was going everywhere, six like if they can do it, anything can.” photo courtesy R. Donabedian ‘12 Justin Long maps the past

As the location of Park School has changed over the that a major factor in deciding where to move the school years, so has the area where students live. Inspired by for the third time was where demographics of neighbor- the class taught by Daniel Jacoby called Mapping Hu- hoods in Baltimore were shifting,” said Long, man Cultures, Justin Long ’12 had decided to map where “The school was moved to its current location because members of each graduating class at Park have lived at the administration hypothesized that the demographic the time of their graduation, and how that has changed and families that made up Park would likely be living from 1947 to the present. close to Park or close to major highways that passed by After a failed attempt at working at the language ac- Park.” quisition lab at Hopkins, Long decided that he was very Long hypothesizes that the maps will show that for a interested in demographics and cartography of a region, very long time, there were very small pockets of families and, after talking to Jacoby, he decided to map the loca- living close to each campus, and around 1970 people tion of Park students through the years. started living all over. “I’m fi nding all of the addresses by going through Another aspect of Long’s project is learning how to every directory on record,” said Long, “both in the ar- use ArcGIS, a complicated computer program that he chives and at the front desk.” Although the process has will use to create the maps. Long has experienced an been tedious thus far, Long is excited to learn more once unexpected byproduct of this project: “I’m memorizing he starts making maps. tons of zip codes,” he jokes.Long also plans to somehow “Michelle Feller-Kopman, the archivist, did tell me use his maps during Park’s Centennial next year. The Postscript Features May 29, 2012 16 Dog days: canines spotted in classrooms, on fi elds, in library Parents and teachers express appreciation for their furry friends on campus One sign outside both libraries dog, a Sheltie named Cappie, Upper School parent Marya bother for the non-dog people to states: “No Food. No Drinks. No to school. “He always brings Flanagan enjoys taking advan- have us there.” Bottled Water. Dogs Welcome.” a smile to the kids’ faces,” she tage of the school’s property, but Teachers also need to worry “The librarians are all major said. “My dog brightens my day points out the importance of be- about allergies. Just this year, animal lovers,” said Lisa Got- and many others’ on a regular ing respectful. “I really appreci- Feiler stopped bringing her dog lieb, Middle and Upper School basis.” ate being able to walk my dog at to school because of an allergy librarian. Lucy, a mutt, belonging to Park,” she said. one of her students had. Like the librarians, many oth- Head of School Dan Paradis, “I hope anyone who has a Even if there are a few risks in er faculty members are fans of sometimes spends time in the dog takes care of their end of the taking your dog to work, Feiler dogs. Some, like MS Language front offi ce. In the past, Paradis bargain by picking up dog poop is of the fi rm belief that, “Every Arts teacher Nadine Feiler, even has brought her in to visit. “I and generally making sure it’s no school should have a dog.” bring their pets to class. would love to bring in my dog Dogs have always held a spe- more often,” he said, but he ad- Lucy Paradis cial place in Feiler’s heart. She mits it can be a hassle. photo courtesy Luke G-P fi rst happened upon her Standard Often, if a dog does not have a by Hannah Blau ’15 Poodle, Zolie, in a newspaper ad- responsible owner, bringing it to vertisement. “It was love at fi rst school can be problematic. Head “Dogs make the world a bet- sight,” said Feiler. Zolie started of Security and responsible dog ter place,” said Director of Girls’ visiting the school after 9/11. “I owner, Bob Peck, asserts that it’s Athletics Robin Cardin Lowe. needed the comfort,” said Feiler. important to be able to gauge the Park has always been an Furthermore, “[He was] calming behavior of your pet. “I know extremely welcoming to dogs. to the kids.” what my dog can and can’t do,” Teachers often bring their pets to Cardin Lowe, also takes her he said. class and community dog owners make use of our campus, which spans approximately 100 acres. Many parents walk their dogs around the track each morning. “It’s very convenient to drop the kids off at school and then be able to come up to the track,” Middle School parent Karen Se- gall said. “There is a community of dog walkers who are so help- ful and warm.” She added, “It is the best part of my day.” “Being a dog lover, I like to think that having dogs on cam- pus enhances the atmosphere,” Mordi Wolf Upper School parent Dana Him- Cappie Cardin Lowe photo by S. Neiman ’13 melrich said. photo by L. Schoenberg ’14 Of course, dogs are also al- Lucy Paradis (above left) and Cappie Cardin Lowe make fre- Mordi Wolf visited campus for Bark at Park, Saturday, May 12. lowed (and welcome) indoors. quent appearances at school. See article in News in Brief, p. 4. Exchange student Rima Hashimoto ’11 returns early to Japan by Baylor Knobloch ‘14 about how her English was going, and she she came home and we thought every- experiences,” said Cullen. “But we did a kept a composition notebook where she thing was in the clear,” said Cullen. “But lot when she was here.” Rima Hashimoto, a Japanese exchange would practice.” the program and the doctors said that she Now, Rima is settled back in Japan student who spent this school year as a In addition to working on expanding should go home. Not necessarily AFS, and her health is improving. “She’s doing senior, was forced to return home a month her vocabulary and becoming more com- but more the insurance program that they well,” said Cullen. “She’s no longer in the earlier than planned due to health con- fortable with English, Rima also spent were on.” hospital in Japan.” Hashimoto and Cullen cerns. time outside of school playing girls’ JV Saltzman was also affected by the sud- keep in touch. “I want to go visit her,” said Hashimoto came to the U.S. for her basketball. “She was on my team,” said den decision. “They only told her a few Cullen. “I’m defi nitely going to.” senior year of high school through the ex- Rebecca Shapiro ’14. “She was the cutest days before she had to go back. It was re- change program American Field Services, and she loved being on the team.” ally sad because it was such short notice. or AFS International. Read Cullen ’14 and Outside of school, Hashimoto spent She came out of the hospital and what was her family hosted Hashimoto during her much of her time with the Cullens. “I got facing her was that she had to go back to time here. many experiences of American cultures Japan. She was really looking forward to “The Cullens treated me with warm like Christmas and Thanksgiving with prom and graduation. I think she didn’t hospitality and love as a family,” said them,” said Hashimoto. The family took have all of the experiences she expected Hashimoto. “Particularly, at last, I feel as trips with Hashimoto to show her the sur- to have in America. The saddest part is if Read and I were real sisters. I really rounding cities and monuments. “We went leaving with regrets.” thank them for everything.” to New York, yet more often to D.C.,” Cullen and her family also had more Hashimoto soon made friends with a said Cullen. planned for Hashimoto, which they did group of junior girls at school, and grew Although there was a lot more Hashi- not get the chance to unveil. “Because particularly close with Jordyn Saltzman moto wanted to experience during her Rima had to go home early, she didn’t ’13. “Rima was really intent on learning time here, she was hospitalized in late get to go to the zoo, she didn’t get to go English fl uently,” said Saltzman about April due to recurring fevers, and had to to the aquarium, and we wanted to go to Hashimoto’s progress here. “She was be sent home. Philadelphia. She missed out on some photo courtesy R. Cullen ‘14 constantly updating her Facebook status “She had been in the hospital, and then Baltimore stuff, and some more American R. Hashimoto stayed with the Cullens. The Postscript Features May 29, 2012 17 Spencer Horsman ‘04 to compete on AGT as escape artist

Acclaimed performer Spencer Horsman ‘04 will appear on this season’s edition of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. The following is excerpted from a signifi cantly longer profi le of Horsman written by Daniel Stern ‘12 in the fall of 2011.

by Daniel Stern ‘12 ginning. By 15, Horsman had performed on 18 national television programs. He AT AGE THREE, SPENCER Horsman had performed alongside David Copper- was watching professional magicians give fi eld and Lance Burton. He had appeared lectures in the upstairs theater of Ken-Zo’s in People Magazine and The New York Yogi Magic Mart, his family’s mom-and- Times. pop magic-supplies shop. He would, one “It was because I was kind of a child day, be more internationally acclaimed prodigy,” he told me. “Plus, I was com- than any of the visiting magicians. But bining two art forms—ventriloquism and that was still a few years away. magic—which had never been combined. Ken and Bernadette Horsman, former So that was really the kickoff….Eight Ringling Bros. circus clowns, opened years old, on a national TV show, with their Federal Hill shop in 1987, days after millions of viewers—it’s great.” their only son, Spencer, turned one. The store sold magic tricks, special effects, “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN LEADING jokes, and novelties, but its real relic was two completely full lives,” Horsman told its upstairs auditorium, where guest-lec- me. “I really liked school—enjoyed it, you turing performers would share secrets and know—but I also had my entire career on techniques. Through each talk, Spencer the side. I’ve been paying taxes since I would sit quietly with his parents, intently was eight, so it was always, ‘OK, school’s sponging all that he was hearing. ending; I gotta get home and do my home- It wasn’t a family requirement that work, and go do my other work, and prac- Spencer follow in his parents’ footsteps, tice, and go do a show, or whatever.” but he was certainly raised in a world of Adolescence struck Horsman hard. An entertainment. “I was always around mag- increased school workload, an increased photo courtesy illusionsmagicbar.com ic,” he said, “and I always had a natural slate of professional responsibilities, and Since 2007, Horsman has been the featured performer at Illusions Magic Bar knack for it. “ an increasingly complicated family life and Lounge, a space which he co-owns with his father, Ken. It started with basic, self-working all meant that Horsman had less time to tricks from the shop: at age four, Hors- devote to each facet of his overbooked Baltimore; Bernadette moved to Florida. drink minimum, but also because of the man was toying with gimmicked coins, schedule. Spencer, caught in the middle, decided to magnitude of the trick. messing with rigged decks, teaching vari- By high school, with lucrative job of- stay with his father; he hasn’t spoken to Horsman calls up a volunteer, at ran- ous products to potential customers. In his fers from around the country, Horsman his mother in over fi ve years. dom, from the audience, and asks her to downtime, when he wasn’t working the could no longer fully separate his profes- Horsman took a year off, right after dress him in the straitjacket. She raises shop, Horsman was steeping in the rich sional from academic life. “Spencer’s pro- high school graduation and the divorce, her eyebrows, but eventually grudging- history of vaudeville and its disciples— fessional life defi nitely came fi rst,” Adele to regroup and relax. For two months, in ly obliges—tightening the buckles, and watching Buster Keaton, and Dick Van Dinerstein, Horsman’s academic adviser, 2005, he performed in Tokyo—with an crossing his arms, putting him in an un- Dyke, and Milton Berle, and Abbott and said. “He would take time off, regularly, appealing contract offer pulling him out of comfortable pretzel-like position. “Sorry,” Costello, and the Marx Brothers. to perform in Vegas, on cruise ships, in his temporary retirement. When he fi nally she says, patting him on the back. He Ken, a veteran of the entertainment in- town, at the magic store.” came back to perform stateside, Horsman looks unaffected. dustry, quickly recognized his son’s skill, “Spencer was peculiar and he was ab- was nineteen-and-a-half. That’s when he The volunteer helps Horsman hook his and set out to advertise him to the masses. sent a lot,” Jon Acheson, Horsman’s tenth and his father decided to convert their old feet onto a metal bar, which then slowly “My father was my manager,” Spencer grade history teacher, noted. “Once it was magic shop into a bar and performance rises towards the ceiling. Horsman is now said, “and I remember he signed me up made clear to me what he was doing on the lounge; and, after months of redesigning, stuck in an awkwardly twisted position, for a ventriloquism competition early on. side, I did treat him differently. Because, remodeling, and rethinking, the venue arms bound and crossed, in a “torturous” I had been doing ventriloquism for three you know, he didn’t do very well…aca- opened on March 10, 2007, the eve of the canvas straitjacket, hanging upside-down, months. They said that you needed to have demically…but once I understood that he magician’s twenty-fi rst birthday. suspended seven feet off the ground. been doing it for at least six months to be was aiming towards other things, I didn’t Horsman takes a deep breath, then in the competition, so we just lied, and I really care. And then, I think, we got along HORSMAN CLOSES EVERY PER- turns and twists and jerks and bends, and got on. And I placed second in the com- pretty well.” FORMANCE with the same routine: the fl exes and grapples and pulls and exerts. petition, beating all these kids who’d been Despite it all, Horsman decided, ul- Harry Houdini-style upside-down strait- He twitches, twitches, twitches, twitch- doing it for years and years.” timately, that pursuing a college educa- jacket escape. es, uncrosses his arms. First arm free, he But Spencer wasn’t satisfi ed by the tion would be better saved for later in “Houdini fi rst attempted to escape from scratches his back to draw an easy laugh. small-time ventriloquism competition, life. “School will always be there,” he a straitjacket in 1912,” Horsman tells his But he’s trying to do it quickly; he’s aware so his father decided to take a shot in the refl ected, “but I wanted to keep pursuing crowd, after an evening of punchy card of the audience’s expectations. dark: “Dad took the footage and the award the show-business stuff, because, a lot magic and one-liners. “He did it behind a In his head, he can hear the clock tick. from that competition, and he sent a fax of times, if an entertainment opportunity curtain, because he didn’t want people to It ticks, ticks, ticks. It ticks—a jostle— to Letterman’s broadcast team at CBS,” comes knockin’, and you turn it down, it see the effect. Here, there is no effect. I’ll ticks—an unwinding—ticks—an un- Spencer said. “We pitched it as something don’t come ‘round again. This decision be escaping from a canvas straitjacket— doing—ticks—an unraveling. It ticks new and unique. Then Letterman’s crew came amid one of the most trying times mind you, these straitjackets were recently again—next bind broken—ticks—more called back and asked us to overnight the of Horsman’s life: Ken and Bernadette declared cruel and unusual punishment movement—ticks—a grunt—ticks—an- footage, and so we did. They got the foot- Horsman, the couple that once fell in love by the United States Government—and other twist, turn, spin, split, heave, crack, age on a Wednesday, and invited me to be over cotton candy and cracker jacks and I’ll be escaping while suspended upside break, loop, pull, and—Ta-Da! on the following Monday’s show.” elephant poop and crammed red clown down.” He has escaped. A featured performance on The Late cars, went through a bitter divorce, in late The spectators are nearly falling off Gasps, sighs, ovations. And a triple Show with David Letterman was just a be- 2004. Ken kept ownership of the shop in their seats—mostly because of the three- bow. Sports The Postscript, May 29, 2012 18 First-person season recaps: Softball begins rebuilding program by Hannah Block ‘15 when it comes to fi nding players learned the essentials of the full to fi eld a team.” game, like the general strategy Park’s Varsity Softball sea- “There seems to be a lot of for running around the bases, son was nearly cancelled due to interest [in softball] and it would and I had improved my skills a lack of interest, but survived to be good practice for the Upper enough to catch most fl y balls play a full season this year. School Varsity team,” said Jor- and hit a few ground doubles. The team’s struggles didn’t din Sirody ‘16, who plans to play It even turned out that my glove faze the players though, who next year and thinks about four was too small for a 15-year-old, were glad to even have a season. more current eighth grade stu- but I had no clue because I hadn’t The story begins in February, dents will be joining her. played softball before. when the athletic department in- I, too, was disappointed to Had I been able to play in Mid- tended to cancel the season, but learn that there was no softball dle School, I would’ve learned the returning players spoke out team. I had wanted to play for all of this earlier and been able to about their disagreement of the a few years, but I stuck with la- work on more intermediate skills decision. crosse because it was what was like diffi cult fl y balls and fi ne- “We fought to keep the team offered and therefore more con- tuning my base running. alive more than I’ve fought for venient. Back to lacrosse I went Regardless of the level of in- anything else in my entire life,” for three years, anticipating soft- terest, though, the team agrees said Amy Livingston ’12, co- ball in the Upper School—and that the bonds gained from the captain of the team and softball then I learned that there might season are far more important player since about the age of four. not be a season. than the record. There were a lot “We knew that we would not win The Middle School might of inside jokes and new friend- any games, and that we would change, though. Stacey Berner, ships formed. “This season was have to teach a lot of players the parent of player Naomi Berner all about rebuilding,” said Liv- basic skills that we learned when ‘13, has started a clinic for poten- ingston. we were six years old, but none tial players. “It is mainly a bunch And while we did have a of that mattered. We wanted to of drills and skill training more worse winning percentage than play softball.” than it is actually scrimmaging, the Orioles do when they have Eventually, the returning se- but it is a lot of fun and helps get a rebuilding season (which is to niors gathered enough players to us ready for varsity,” said Sirody. say, we lost all of them except put the season back on, but the Th clinic is incredibly impor- one C-level scrimmage), we lack of interest begins in middle tant because, in addition to gath- came out of the season ready to school, where there is no soft- ering interest, it teaches skills play our best next year. ball team. “I was crushed when and fundamentals to those who “I have never felt so proud I found out that there wasn’t a need them. of a group of girls,” Livingston Middle School softball team,” As a fi rst-time player, I joined said. said Livingston. the team only knowing how to “With our different levels of “If Park had a Middle School throw, catch, sort-of hit, and to experience, both as a member softball team, the Varsity Soft- tag each base as you run around of a team and an athlete, we all photos courtesy Amy Livingston ’12 ball program would be stronger them. came together as a family in the After nearly having its season cancelled due to a lack of avail- and would have less of a struggle By the end of the season, I had end. It was truly a success.” able players, the team put its best effort into every game. Abrams ‘12: Baseball team exceeded expectations, primed for success in future years by Jake Abrams ’12 both by large margins, and the Kyle Chang, Kyle Tildon, Nick season began to look more and Rickman, and Alex Kalvar not Starting four freshman and more like a lost cause. But we far behind. Even outside of this, fi ve seniors is not the typical battled back, winning our next players like Micah Saltzberg and way a varsity team operates. But two over quality opponents. This Matt Stefanak also show great this year, our baseball team was sparked an energy in the team promise in their ability to con- dealt a strange set of cards. With that would not be lost for the re- tribute to the team. a team of fi ve seniors, one junior, mainder of the season. By the time the season ended, two sophomores, 10 freshman, The next few weeks of the we were 6-8, but we had accom- we were not exactly on the fast season were up and down, win a plished more than most would track for success. couple, lose a couple, continually have deemed possible. It is my In the preseason, it became hovering around the .500 hump true belief that we accomplished clear we were not the most tal- but not seeming to be able to get our objectives of this season, ented team, especially given the over it. But still we pushed for- even without another champion- fact we had arguably the young- ward. ship ring as a reminder. est roster in the league. But this By the time the last two weeks The success of this year will did not deter us. We set out in of the season rolled around we not be judged on what our re- the beginning of the season to were effectively out of playoff cord was when the season ended, work hard, get better, and to lay contention, but that was not our the success of this year will be the foundation for the program goal anymore. judged when this core group of for years to come, and I feel that Our team has, I believe, at freshman is able to reach their we accomplished each of these least fi ve freshmen who will potential. If they are able to do goals. be elite Varsity players by the this by the end of their high photo by M.Plakotoris ’12 Our fi rst two games of the sea- time they are juniors. Jake Pa- school careers, than this season Finishing with a record of 6-8, Boys’ Varsity Baseball narrowly son were disappointing. We lost lumbo leads the group, with accomplished the exact goal that missed the playoffs after a solid regular season. The Postscript Sports May 29, 2012 19 Are we too progressive for school spirit? by Idris Mitchell ‘14 post-season games. Still, overall we fall that was necessary. As a student body, this wonderfully diverse community. Ev- short in keeping this zeal most other times supporting our fellow classmates by giv- eryday at Park I can’t help but think how School Spirit. These two words may throughout the year. ing this respect to their passions is essen- tremendously proud I am to be a Bruin invoke images of cheerleaders, cheesy It is necessary that we do not become tial for building the welcoming and how I relish in seeing our school ex- chants, pep rallies, and things of that na- accustomed to this lack environment cel. ture. School spirit is much more than that. of spirit, because we strive Accordingly, that’s why I feel school In its simplest form, school spirit is pride, another benefit to have. spirit is the only thing natural to accom- and in particular a pride in one’s school. school spirit fos- Above pany the passion and pride many already Although we at Park in general have ters is unity. Spirit all else, have for this school. school pride in regards to our pedagogy, promotes unity be- showing I challenge every Upper School stu- this pride is often lost in other aspects of cause it requires us school spirit dent, teacher and parent to enjoy and take the progressive education. Many of us are to come together as a by support- part in our rich athletic program. I encour- proud of how we teach and how we com- community to support ing our fel- age everyone to drop by and watch a game municate, yet I’ve heard those few voices a common goal. low Bruins when you get the chance even if it’s only among us speak on how they yearn for a Luckily at our can simply for a few minutes. I can assure you that more traditional sense of school pride in school, talent is be fun. those few minutes mean a lot not only to addition to the pride we already have for prevalent, and the This is fun those on the fi eld, but should also mean our pedagogical ways. thought of being in- that can something to this community as a whole. Traditionally, school spirit embodies terested in various transcend As we approach our 100th year, and an outgoing, unwavering, and sometimes subjects is encour- social the centennial celebrations amass, take competitive support (that may or may not aged. Just as one a moment to step back, and really think include body paint) of a school, and its would support what that means. For 100 years, the Park members’ endeavors. Balancing these the various School of Baltimore has served as a ideas while staying true to our philoso- school life-changing institution of learning and phy can have its challenges, but overall it pro- growth. shouldn’t be too diffi cult. Rather, it should duc- This growth can be seen in the class- be something we as a community strive rooms, and the theaters, but also on the for in order to enrich the school experi- fi elds. That fact alone is something we ence. should take pride in, and as a result, “We have no school spirit,” said show our pride by constantly sup- Mark Rothleitner ’12. “It’s actually non- porting the undertakings of those in existent,” added Michael Ginsburg ’12. tions or school events like Goldsoundz, lines like cliques, while building cama- our community. While I would disagree with these two one should also support athletics by at- raderie that would not necessarily occur However, try to show an appreciation statements, I understand the sentiments tending sports games. Giving your time during school hours. Personally, I can for the dedication and effort of the mem- behind them. to support others is a sign of respect be- even attest to how seeing my classmates, bers within our community by displaying We as a community possess the abil- cause by coming to a game, that person teachers, and even the parents of my school spirit. Ultimately, by doing this, we ity to support each other to great extents. acknowledges the long practice hours friends truly motivates me to play on a each can give our respect to this beautiful This is shown time and time again, but required to hone the skills and nuances higher level. place we share. School spirit is not foreign rarely in the realm of school athletics. The of that sport. Moreover, it reminds me of why I’m to us, it is just a rarity in athletics. There- rare exceptions for this statement consist Similarly, the principle is same as at- playing, and who I’m playing for. That fore it should been seen as something we of the amazing support shown on ‘pro- tending a play acknowledges the many small presence can remind of a pride that as a whole must rejuvenate, in order to gram night,’ or the support seen during hours of rehearsal to fi ne-tune the piece I, and many others take in representing end this era of lackluster support.

by Yen Baker ‘13 We started to forget the little hope for the team reach- Baker ‘13: notion of a rebuilding year ing the playoffs, but my con- After losing in the Semi- after the fi rst few games. fidence had grown since. Girls’ Lax ‘inevitably’ falls to Friends Final game last spring, I was Although we were off pace Although I thought we had hesitant about this year’s sea- for the championship near a good chance of making the son. We had lost our goalie, the beginning of the season, championship, we treated Aiden Piper, two all-confer- we were still confi dent in a each game as if it was our last. ence players along with other successful year. After beating Mercy in key seniors who together Midway through the sea- overtime at their home fi eld composed most of our offen- son we began to prepare for and qualifying for the cham- sive. I wasn’t sure how the the playoffs by changing pionship game at Stevenson upcoming season would go. our mentality. Instead of fo- University, I was content with Even coming into this year cusing on conditioning, we our success thus far. I was uncertain about the up- changed our tactics to con- We inevitably lost to coming freshmen. Having centrate more on team dis- Friends in the fi nals (which never played any lacrosse cipline and offense. We had was especially hard since they with them (or any other sport to pretend that we, as a team, are our rivals), but ultimately, for that matter,) I had no had been to the champion- I thought the season was a chemistry with any of them, ship before, and train like success. and was clueless about their we’d been together team for Losing only one senior, playing styles. years. and having eight returning I talked to our coach Robin Going into the playoffs juniors, I have high hopes for Lowe before the season, and we wanted to avoid playing next season. we both agreed that all the Friends for as long as pos- Being a senior, and having new freshman additions to the sible by becoming either the one last opportunity to win team would add more talent to second or third seed. another high school champi- photo by L. Schoenberg ’14 the squad, but we were unsure After earning the third onship, I believe that we can about how the lack of experi- seed we were set for a play- build upon this year’s success Baker ’13 has played for Girls’ Varsity since her freshman year and ence would affect a freshmen off run. and bring a championship holds high hopes of winning another championship . heavy team. Before the season I had back to Park. Nonprofi t Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit #1262 Sports Baltimore, MD The Postscript, May 29, 2012 Page 20 Faces in the Crowd Sports to the Max

by Eric Sussman ’13 Lexi Kuntz

Thrown into the role of starting goalie for by Jake Max ’12 the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team as a Freshman, Intramural sports, fantasy football, Lexi Kuntz ’15 played a vital role in the team’s suc- Goldsoundz, golf, Yankees fans, sit- cess. Being the only goalie during her Middle School years, ting the bench, and Quidditch have Kuntz started for the ‘A’ team all three years and became used one thing in common—they’ve been to stepping up whenever she was called upon. Making six saves all been the featured topic in Sports to the Max. in the Quarterfi nal match against Seton Keough and 13 saves in It all started about two years ago, the overtime Semi-Final win against Mercy, Kuntz helped to carry when I was fi rst named the editor of her team to the Championship game where they played Friends at the sports section. Back then it was Stevenson University. Although the Girls’ Varsity unfortunately Sports to the Max (and Stern), but I won’t spend too much time reminisc- lost the game, Kuntz made 10 saves and showed a tremendous ing about those dark days. effort. “She was amazing, Lexi rose to each challenge set For my last column, I’m not going before her and was one of the most enjoyable surprises to bore you with another sentimental this year,” said Varsity coach Robin Cardin Lowe. With sob story…oh wait, I totally am. But this one will be a little bit different. quick hands, ball tracking skills, and the ability to As I say goodbye to Postscript, I’d communicate with the defense, Kuntz has all like to leave all of my faithful readers of the requirements necessary to become with a few parting words. one of the top goalies in the First, to the handful of kids like me who brave the toil of high school conference. athletics despite their obvious physi- calc disadvantages, I salute you. There will always be a spot in my hearth for all of the 5’6” basketball playersp out there who can’t run or jump.ju Moreover, to all athletes, there will undoubtedly be times when sports will frustrate you more than anything Students keep Greek tradition alive in your life. My advice, stick with it to the end. by Reid Danels ’13 There isn’t a better feeling than fi nishing a season knowing that In the spring, you are likely fi nd Niko you’ve been through a lot—good Argeroplos ’13 on the tennis courts and and bad—but more importantly, that Jeff Jordan ’15 on the lacrosse fi eld. What you’ve given it your best shot. you probably don’t know is that in ad- Finally, to everyone, make the dition to playing team sports, they also most of your time at this place. As the practice Greek dance twice a week. saying goes, “You don’t know what “Greek dancing is a form of group you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” dancing that usually includes holding What I’ve come to realize is that hands in a circle, while everyone does the this couldn’t be more true. No matter same moves,” said Jordan. In addition, what you think about school today, “Typically line dances are led by a leader it won’t be until you look back that who does tricks and leads the troupe,” said you really appreciate the amazing op- Argeroplos. portunities that you can fi nd at Park. Argeroplos and Jordan have practice So to all of the freshmen, sopho- twice a week with their group, dancing mores, and especially the juniors, with family and friends from the Greek I’ll leave you with this. Join Jewish orthodox community in Annapolis. Their Culture Club, go to Goldsoundz, play team is very competitive. They compete Ultimate Frisbee. in the Folk Dance Festival, a tournament courtesy of N. Argeroplos Don’t just go through the motions, which draws together the top Greek danc- N. Argeroplos and J. Jordan prepapre twice a week for Greek dancing festival wasting away at X-Block and sitting ing groups along the east coast. said Argeroplos. Moreover, “Greek danc- because it is a way of keeping a cultural at home on Friday nights. In the Folk Dance Festival, their team ing takes a lot of strength and especially heritage alive and really is an amazing At the very least, I implore you, has come in fi rst place three times, come stamina” said Jordan. experience.” have some fun and spend as much in second once and come in third twice. But Greek dance is about more than “My grandparents have Greek danced time as you can with your friends. In These victories are the result of intense competition for Argeroplos and Jordan. and their parents have also and so on,” just a few years, your time will come dedication and practice. Greek dancing “Greek Dance is a way to lose yourself in said Jordan, “I’m just so glad I have that to an end, just like mine is. Don’t requires “a lot of group participation and the music and travel back to your home- opportunity to follow in my ancestors’ waste it. practice in order to execute correctly,” land” said Argeropolos. “It is special footsteps.”