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Friday, September 27, 2019 Vol. 46 No. 1 www.thekonews.org Convocation inspires intellectual curiosity by Cici Chagnon ’21 dent Spencer Schaller and senior new things while also pursuing over your work, don’t burn your- toys, and used it to encourage class Vice President Wes Pierce. their own interests. “Take time self out because it’s really easy to students to have the same attitude On Sept. 3 the Convoca- Senior Head Prefect Juanita to enjoy yourself and culti- do that in your transition,” she said. towards new things. “I think one tion ceremony officially launched Asapokhai opened the assembly. vate parts of your life that actu- Head of School Tom Dillow of the greatest dangers or threats the new school year as KO Her speech, which compared high ally make you happy,” she said. also gave a speech stressing the to our future is if we become prepares to celebrate both its school to learning how to drive, Reflecting on her own importance of one of KO’s core apathetic, if we no longer are 110th anniversary as well as 50 provided insights for both the freshman year, Jacqui said that she values: intellectual curiosity. Mr. curious about the world around years as a co-educational school. freshman class and the school as a hopes the freshmen also keep their Dillow showed the school a video us,” he said. “But there is a The Dux Prize for highest whole. “I wanted to emphasize the health in mind during the chaos of of a baby’s heightened interest in concern out there, I think, about GPA from each form was awarded importance of being in the driver’s high school. “Prioritize your health unfamiliar objects as opposed to the extent to which the average to seventh-graders Ysabel Albert, seat,” she said. “That is being in American understands the rest of Sasha Dausey, Liliana Goldman, control of your experience in high the world, as well to understand and Azul Montiel, eighth-grader school. I think it’s really easy for us the world around us, so I think James Livingstone, freshman at this age to be led by our parents it’s really important,” he said. Maggie Dwyer, sophomore and our advisors and just check off Mr. Dillow explained that Emma Levinbook, junior Emma boxes, but if you choose not to do he especially wants to encourage Henry, and senior Esha Kataria. that and be more present, you’ll intellectual curiosity because it is Class flags were also given yield a lot more benefits from high often overlooked compared to our to students from the Upper Prep school than you would otherwise.” other core values. “Yet I think it’s and the senior class with the most Juanita said that she wants at the heart of why we exist as a community service hours. This the freshman class to be as involved school and what we hope for our year’s recipients were Upper Prep as possible. “I encourage everyone students,” he said. As with every students Wade Crowther and Abbie to embrace our community,” she year, Mr. Dillow also wanted to Wildstein and seniors Amelia said. “Connect with others, don’t remind students to be consid- Levine and Emily Lemkuil. let yourself live in isolation.” erate of each other and promote In another Convocation Senior Speaker Jacqui a sense of belonging. “Be kind tradition, the class shield was Oulette shared similar sentiments, Mr. Dillow speaks about the importance of intellectual curiosity in students at and be good to each other,” he presented to the senior class Presi- advising students to experience the Convocation assembly. Photo by Aiden Borruso ’20. said, welcoming students back. Bolokada brings joy to KO community by Sloan Duvall ’21 because it’s very important for Creative arts teacher Wayne The assembly began at Jones on stage. “It was really cool everybody to build good relation- Pierce has had the responsibility 9:00 a.m. with a slideshow of to try a new form of dance from On Friday, Sept. 20, Bolo- ships and make people smile and of choosing the Goodman Banks pictures from Bolokada’s village a different country,” said Sadie. kada Conde, master djembe happy,” said Bolokada. “That’s artist for the past five years. in Guinea. Students were intro- An especially exciting part drummer, shared his passion what I am happy to share.” “The process to get Bolokada duced to Ashley Jones, a friend of the assembly was when all of the with the entire KO commu- to KO started a year ago when of Bolokada’s and a teacher of teachers were invited on stage to nity through music, song, and the woman who acts as his host traditional West African dance. play with Bolokada. Some faculty dance at the annual all-school sent around information about Dancers left with Ms. Jones while and staff sat down at the drums Goodman Banks assembly. bringing him to schools,” said Dr. Bolokada treated the audience to and grabbed a pair of drumsticks, Bolokada was born in Pierce. Bolokada stands out from a fast paced and lively drum solo. while others joined Ms. Jones to Kissidougou, Guinea and was previous Goodman Banks artists Bolokada invited students dance at center stage. By the end recognized as a djembe prodigy because of his unique portfolio on stage to play the 35 djembe of their performance, the entire at a young age. “I started playing as a musician, storyteller, and drums and taught them a song that student body was on their feet. long, long time ago,” said Bolo- cultural ambassador. “Someone included not only the drum beat History teacher Peter Jones was kada. “My mom told me I was who comes from another conti- but also lyrical music. Juniors Issy one of the teachers to join in on two years old.” After becoming nent really shows us a different Rome and Ethan Raisner described the fun. “There is a lot of posi- lead soloist of Les Percussions de way of life,” said Dr. Pierce. this as an exhilarating and exciting tive energy and people having Guinée, his country awarded him In the week leading up to experience. The audience joined fun,” said Mr. Jones. “If his goal the prestigious title of Minister of Friday’s assembly, Bolokada in clapping along to the beat. was to spread joy, he achieved it.” Culture. Since 2004, Bolokada worked with the seventh-grade Ms. Jones and the dancers The assembly concluded has traveled the world, sharing and eighth-grade choir, the sixth- returned to join the drummers with an opportunity to ask Bolo- his love of drumming and music, graders, the Upper School concert adorned in traditional West kada questions; students inquired visiting more than 70 countries. choir, and the Upper School jazz African head wraps and skirts. about his childhood, his traditional Bolokada especially enjoys band. With the all school assembly They performed a dance led by Ms. African apparel, and his incredible visiting schools and working to conclude the week, Bolo- Jones and featuring African dance djembe skill. Overall, students with young students when he Bolokada displays djembe skills. kada worked with every single moves. Junior Sadie Margolis was agreed it was a particularly spir- travels. “I like giving my culture Photo courtesy of Mrs. Semmelrock. student at Kingswood Oxford. one of the students that joined Ms. ited and energy-filled assembly. What’s Inside this Issue: OPINIONS ARTS FEATURES IN-DEPTH SPORTS The genius Upper School Amelia Levine NEASC Field Hockey of Quentin Choir travels to recieves Rosoff approves KO for starts off season Tarantino Germany Fellowship reaccredidation undefeated pg. 5 pg. 9 pg. 13 pg. 14 pg. 20 Friday Friday 2 September 27, 2019 News Editorials September 27, 2019 3 KO educates about equity by Esha Kataria ’20 minster, and Loomis Chaffee. a talk about how schools can respond end up hurting,” she said. “This presenta- Head of School Thomas Dillow to bias and hate incidents and further tion gives schools a blueprint to follow when On Tuesday, Aug. 27, KO orga- said that SPHERE has evolved in creating create safe and brave spaces at schools. feeling unsure and is a wonderful model nized this year’s SPHERE event, hosting programming that focuses on diver- They talked about the impor- for cultivating diversity and inclusion.” over 200 educators and cultivating sity, cultural equity, and inclusivity. tance of schools developing proto- Ms. Edwards said that she learned a discussion around how schools can “It has grown since and cols and being able to not only respond school is not defined by an incident, but rather better address hate and bias incidents. become more robust, with addi- to issues, but also prevent them. how it chooses to respond to an incident. Founded in the 1970s, SPHERE tion of deeper commitment,” he said. By clearly stating three steps “It’s about building an environment is a consortium of independent Every year, one of the schools schools can take in dealing with hate/ schools in the Greater Hartford area hosts an opening and mid-year event. bias incidents, the ADL representatives presented a clear picture of how to foster “It reinforced the and create a more inclusive culture. First, the school must be clear and importance of not specific about denouncing the incident. Next, they must listen to the simply being reactive, targeted students and try to under- stand their experience and perspective. but becoming proac- Finally, the school should not try to cover the incident up or excuse hateful behavior. tive as a school in Director of Equity, Inclusion, and being anti-racist and Cultural Competency Joan Edwards said she was impressed by how the discus- anti-hate, and it got us sion was involving and interactive.