Park's Vocal Stars Shine at Winter Concert Park Constructs New

POSTSCRIPT The Park School Brooklandville, MD December 19, 2003 Volume LXIV Issue No. 4 Park’s vocal stars shine at Winter Concert by Ben Hyman ’06 Park’s holiday choral season tive leaders in the group. Lena-Kate and Daniel Gorham ’04 singing back- debuted as the Park School Winter Con- Ahern, Lisa Boscov-Ellen, Kate Sachs, up to Benjamin Rowland. Rowland ______cert took place in the Meyerhoff Kate Ewald, they are exceptional mu- sang emotionally, once getting on his Theater on Wednesday, December 10th. sicians. They know how to read music, knees with his hands clasped. He drew News At the concert, the Lower how to rehearse, and can pluck notes on laughs from the audience when he strut- School Chorus and the Sound Waves, piano. And Ben Starr can do almost ted in the middle of the song. Drugs/Alcohol Meeting a more dedicated group of Lower anything I ask him to do.” Another Upper School group, School students, performed many sea- Samira Phillips, Middle School the Eightnotes, sang “Lean On Me” and Winter Solstice sonal favorites. The Lower School Technology Coordinator, led the Mid- “Boy from New York City”, among oth- Chorus performed four songs, among dle School String Ensemble. The group ers. Dinerstein leads the Eightnotes, an News Briefs page 2 them “Hanukah, Hanukah”, “Festival of is composed of two students, Vicki My- all-female group. They also sang on the ______Lights”, and “Jingle Bell Swing”. “Jin- ers and Paul Dennis. They performed WBAL morning radio show on Monday, gle Bell Swing” included percussion by “Vivace, from Canonic Sonata No. 3 in December 8th. The girls were given two Editorials eight Lower Schoolers on new African A minor.” The Middle School Chorus five-minute performance slots. During Drums. The Sound Waves performed also performed at the concert, a group this time, they sang the holiday classics Assemblies “Hanerot Halalu”, “No Well, No led by Middle School music teacher “Carol of the Bells” and “Hanerot Hala- Well!”, and “Cool Yule”. lu” and introduced Senior Projects Bruce Bryant, music teach- themselves to the listeners. er and choral director for The station gave them com- Letter to the editors both groups, made an effort plementary bagels and juice page 4 while they were waiting to ______to extract the most out of his go on the air to make the vis- groups. During “Hanerot it comfortable. After they Halalu”, Bryant used solfege Op-Ed sang, the ladies received a symbols to keep his group tour of the radio and televi- Cameras on key. Bryant was pleased sion studio, where they were with the result of the con- allowed to watch the shoot- Senior Projects cert: “It was amazing. There ing of the WBAL morning was one of the parts in one show. Samantha Mehlman Sex, Drugs, & Disney of the songs that didn’t go page 5 ’05 remarked, “This was def- ______quite right. But overall, the photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 initely the most exciting Bruce Bryant directs the US madrigal group. audience’s reaction to the Eightnotes experience I have students was great. The joy was there, Paul Hulleberg. The chorus meets once had so far.” The concert ended with an Commentary and that’s what it’s all about.” a week for thirty minutes, an amount of informal rendition of “Here We Come Bryant also leads the Upper time Hulleberg is appalled with: “How A-Wassailing” that was sung by all of Reapplication School Madrigal group, a group of Up- little time Middle School chorus is giv- the groups that performed as well as by Gossip per School students who sing en is a joke and a travesty.” The Middle the audience. challenging songs that were written be- School Chorus performed two songs: The Parksingers, the Upper Community Board fore 1550 AD. They sang three songs “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You” School chorus, and the Vocal Chords pages 3, 6-7 at the concert: “Sing We Now Merri- and “I Will Arise and Go Now”, a mu- also performed during the Upper School ______ly”, a ten-part round, “Weep O Mine sical version of the Ogden Nash poem. assembly, as did Abel Fillion and the Eyes”, and “All Ye Who Music Love”. Hulleberg also leads the Upper Metrosexuals, a jazz ensemble. The Arts Of the group of twenty-four singers, School Vocal Chords, a small group of Metrosexuals performed “Equinox” by Bryant points out a few singers who Upper School male singers. The Vocal John Coltrane. The Parksingers per- Life Drawing shine, “I have many strong singers, and Chords sang “In The Still of the Night” formed “Sing with Joy”, “Kyrie ______page 8 music readers. They are self-motivat- at the concert, and also sang it in an Up- Eleison”, and the “Overture from the ed. One week, I didn’t have a chance per School assembly earlier that day. Barber of Seville”. Overall, Dinerstein College Essays to meet with them, so they assembled The Vocal Chords pulled off the song was pleased with the assembly: “I page 9 the group on their own and went flawlessly, with Vitaly Briskin ’04, Dan thought the Parksingers did a really good ______through music. There are some defini- Boscov-Ellen ’04, Noah Carver ’05, job.” Reviews Park constructs new kindergarten extension The O.C. by Eric Gottlieb ’06 For many of Park’s four and five ter, the kindergarten is receiving a 500- rooms for teachers, an extended day bath- Beg For Mercy year olds, the construction of a kindergar- square-foot addition with elements that room, space for parent conferences and Gothika ten extension on the other side of their were not previously available. tutoring sessions, and a home for the cur- page 10 classroom window is a dream rently displaced Lucille ______come true. For their teachers, it’s Liberles Library, which is espe- the final product that provides the cially for kindergartners. Sports excitement. The decision to build When Park originally this wing came in the last few Basketball Updates built the building that contains the years. Although, according to Lower, Middle and Upper Schools, Jim Howard, Director of Aca- All Metro Team they planned to include the pre- demic Support Services, the pages 11-12 school in that building. However, construction began “way late,” ______due to a change in the size of the in October, it will be complet- Lower School, the preschool was ed soon after the beginning of pushed into a separate building 2004. As part of the construc- across the road, where it has resid- tion, a new, more impermeable

ed since. photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 “membrane roof,” said Howard, Since that building was Construction progresses on kindergarten building. is being installed over the en- built in 1959, the preschool has never had Second year kindergarten teach- tire preschool. “We are all extremely a conference room or a real lobby. As er, JoAnne Yamaka called it excited,” said second year kindergarten part of Phase III-b on Park’s construction “much-needed teacher space.” The ad- teacher, Posey Valis. wish list, along with the Wyman Arts cen- dition will provide a lobby, conference Happy Holidays and Enjoy the Break! December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTNEWS Page 2 Parents meet to discuss Solstice tradition broadens focus by Everett Rosenfeld ’09 drug and alcohol issues Each winter, the fifth towards dance and mime. Al- Conn, Jamie Waxter and Bran- grade celebrates the winter sol- though there were some word don Keiser. by Laura Gordon ’05 stice with a grand performance. plays, the focus remained on The fifth graders that Fifteen parents of ninth- cohol without closing off con- The solstice is the shortest day movement and music. “Some weren’t performing sat in the grade students met with Upper versation?” and the longest night of the year. skits can’t be done without a background as a staged audi- School Guidance Counselor In addition, Dr. David It was a time of great celebration combination of music and ence. The staged audience Krista Dhruv on Thursday, De- Jackson, Head of School, start- amongst people in the middle words.” Fifth grade student interacted a lot with the perform- cember 4th, to share ideas on the ed a program where fifth and ages. They believed that by hon- Brandon Keiser said, “There are ers. There were exaggerated topic of drugs and alcohol. This seventh grade parents meet to oring the sun with celebrations, other skits that just have hand intakes of breath, clapping, meeting, which occurs four discuss and get ready for ap- it would return after the longest motions; no words.” cheering, and laughing. The real times a year, coinciding with the proaching issues. Middle night. After the solstice, audience took part as well. quarterly Drug and Alcohol School Life Skills classes are the days grow longer There were musicians in the course, covers student values taught about drug and alcohol- again. Bonfires, music, audience; there were times about drugs and alcohol and how related issues, but according to and feasts were held in when the performers ran to help parents navigate new ter- Dhruv, “they don’t have real ac- honor of the sun. The fifth into the crowd, whooping ritory. cess to these situations until grade did a reenactment of and screaming. The parents discussed Upper School,” and “students this celebration. Music was an al- several key ideas about drug and see things more readily now. This year the fifth most constant part of the alcohol use at the meeting. They Their social life is growing, and grade started learning performance. There was agreed to call one another to they have to make more deci- about the solstice at the music in between every communicate about potential sions for themselves.” There is beginning of the year, op- transition of skits. Also a parties or events where there also a tenth grade meeting every posed to the month that significant number of skits might not be parental supervi- year where class advisors and fifth graders have had in included music. There were photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 sion, and also agreed to get parents discuss the current is- the past. The fifth grade 5th grade students perform solstice ritual. drums, tambourines, and re- together more often as a group sues. students learned more corders. There was a harp, a to talk about issues related to Dhruv hopes that her about the solstice in other cul- The fifth grade tradition flute and a few violins. their children. Dhruv conclud- class will leave being able to tures instead of mainly focusing was highlighted by the sword Everyone wore black ed that the main questions asked make good decisions based on on Europe. They learned about dance. It is a very intricate dance cloths, sometimes underneath by parents were, “What should factual information. “I want the solstice in Africa, Taiwan, Japan, that the fifth grade students have their costumes. There were we be doing about our children’s students to recognize their own and the Americas during the practice a lot. “It is based on an aprons, Chinese dresses, and relationship to harmful substanc- relationships with substances, middle ages. old Scottish dance done with real hats. There were many masks es?” and “How should we talk and be able to manage the rela- The individual perfor- swords as an ancient tradition,” that were worn, from the sun to to our kids about drugs and al- tionships.” mances were more oriented said fifth grade students Alex various kinds of birds. News Briefs Drumming it up in LS music class NBA player tries out for position by Emma Gross ’11 by Ben Hyman ’06 Walking down the new (too-bon-oze), which sit on the drum one hears a high pitch and Former professional basketball player and Maryland grad- Lower School hallway recently, floor and are played while seat- when the center is struck a low uate Keith Booth interviewed this week for a Middle School gym it is impossible to miss hearing ed. There are also djembes pitch is heard. When all of the teacher position and coached a seventh grade basketball class the beat and rhythm of drums. A (jem-bays), which are drums that instruments and sounds are Wednesday. large collection of percussion in- rest on the player’s lap. There played together you get an en- Booth was a standout at the University of Maryland in the struments is the latest addition to is one very tall drum, which is semble. Bryant uses the drums mid 1990s after being recruited from Dunbar High School in Balti- the Lower School Music Depart- the lead drum called the ngoma with his fourth and fifth grade more. He was drafted 28th overall in the first round of the NBA ment. They belong to music (en-gwam-u). There are also classes and occasionally with the Draft by the Chicago Bulls in 1997. He played minimally for two teacher Bruce Bryant. bongos and hand drums. The kindergarteners. In January he years for the Bulls, playing in 45 games and averaging 2.9 points Bryant learned about shakers are called shakares. is planning on starting a drum per game. these drums through a workshop Cowbells and bells called gamo- circle with the entire Park Booth would replace former Park teacher Courtney Hobbs, he attended over the summer, gui, which are from Ghana, are School faculty and staff. who returned to her native Australia. She started working at Park where the participants studied also part of the collection. “I think that these in September. Robin Cardin-Lowe ’84 and Robin Willard met with world drumming. Bryant’s inter- The drums are meant to drums could be a great opportu- Booth on Monday and again on Wednesday. Booth is competing est in drums had originally been look like African drums, but are nity, and lots of people could against Zachary Steeg, but Lowe thinks Booth is more likely to get sparked three years before when made in the United States. A learn music together,” says Dr. the job. If Booth gets the job, he will teach six and seventh grade he went to The Maryland Music company from Iowa, Remo from Jackson. “The reason I like physical education. He will also coach Middle School sports teams. Educators’ Conference with Car- West Music, manufactured them. drumming is that it builds com- Partners celebrate holiday season olyn Sutton, Director of Arts. The drums have African patterns munity spirit, and when you hear He participated in an hour-long on their bases and the tops are that drum, it motivates you and by Sarah Dunn ’06 drum circle and thought, “Wow, made of “nuskyn”, a very dura- what you do motivates some- The Partners at Park program celebrated a festive holiday wouldn’t my kids love this!” ble kind of plastic, which sounds body else. There’s a real party today. This party is one of the favorites of the partners each This was the beginning of Bruce similar to the leather tops of the communication with drumming year, because everyone can enjoy the excitement of the long win- Bryant’s interest in purchasing a original African drums. back and forth between students ter break ahead. At 11:00 a.m., Upper School partners picked up drum collection to use in his Bryant explained, and players of drums. That’s their Lower School partners after assembly and made their way classes at Park. “There are high, medium and what makes it such an exciting, down to the gym for snacks and other activities. This was the last Bryant shared this idea low sounding drums.” When the musical activity.” Partners event before the winter break, and so all winter holidays with Dr. David Jackson, Head of player strikes the edge of the were celebrated. School, and Carolyn Hadassah films Park students Sutton, who then found enough money to pur- by Nicole Cameron ’05 chase the group of th On December 17 representatives from Hadassah, the instruments. “I think Women’s Zionist Organization of America, taped a segment for their that it’s really fun to national video for girls entitled “Hadassah Check It Out Video”. have the drums because The mission of Hadassah’s “CHECK IT OUT” program is to teach they can be used in so teenagers to know their bodies so that they will be able to be strong many ways, whether advocates for their own good health. Hadassah travels to high they’re an accompani- schools and informs girls about breast cancer and self-examination, ment to a song or just as and teaches boys about testicular cancer. Park is one of the three an activity,” said Sut- national sites selected to participate in the video. The video con- ton. sists of two groups of Upper School girls discussing “body image” The instru- along with health issues. The video will contribute in the future ed-

ments consist of drums, photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 ucation of high school students to maintain a healthy lifestyle. bells and shakers. The (From Left) Henry Villacorta, Justin Long, Noah Sakim, Anna Fried, During free blocks, the two groups will meet to contribute their hon- drums are mainly tubanos Josie Verchomin, and Dan Sangiamo, students in Jan Kenny’s fourth est responses on health issues in taped discussion sessions. grade class, practice call and response drumming. Page 3 POSTSCRIPTCOMMENTARY December 19, 2003 PRO ----- Eighth Grade Reapplication ----- CON Should Park’s eighth graders be required to apply for admission to the Upper School? by Anders Hulleberg ’07 by Ben Weinstein ’06 After completion of adults, so why should we expect in a mature manner on their own, Reapplication is the tions from faculty, the applicants their eighth grade year, students it of middle school students? To Park needs to help them do so. process of every eighth grade who aren’t from Park are at a at Park’s Middle School should expect sixth, seventh, and eighth Park needs to provide its Middle student applying for entrance to disadvantage. Extra-curricular be put through a reapplication graders to act like anything oth- School students with a tangible ninth grade. The proposed bene- activities are key at Park, as stat- process, the results of which er than sixth, seventh, and eighth reason that will motivate them to fit is that the administration ed in the Philosophy, “ It [our] would help determine whether or graders is frighteningly illogical. act in the mature manner that could reevaluate students who objective...that students become not the given student would be It’s fighting reality. However, Park wishes them to. have been enrolled at Park since deeply involved in intellectual admitted into Park’s Upper Park does just this. What is the A reapplication process Lower School and Kindergarten. endeavors and significant extra- School. solution to this problem? Well, is the perfect tangible reason, The evaluation would determine curricular activities.” Also, it is Eighth grade reapplica- simply put, Park needs to start and, unlike grades, it would be whether these students still up- too difficult to determine what tion is currently part of a much having realistic expectations for congruent with the rules set by hold the academic standards of impact a student has on the Park more existent, influential, and its Middle School students. Park’s philosophy. A reapplica- Park. Community. relevant problem than ever be- More importantly still, after tion process wouldn’t cause The idea of eighth grade The ISEE (Independent fore. What is the problem, you those expectations are made, work to become “alienating or reapplication is contrary to School Entrance Examination) is ask? One word, my friend: Re- Park needs to act upon them ac- painful,” nor would it be an “ar- Park’s philosophy. By forcing all a mandatory test for all Upper ality. You only have to read the cordingly. bitrary authority” or eighth graders to compete School applicants. If the admin- first sentence of Park’s philoso- Now, the question be- “prescriptive code,” as it would against their classmates and pro- istration tests every student, it phy to see that we have declared comes, what exactly are realistic involve, at the most, an essay; spective students, we degrade undermines Park’s belief that, as war on reality: “The Park School expectations of Middle School something that eighth graders our community. Our philosophy stated in the philosophy, “suc- embodies both in its tradition students? As I said before, there write frequently throughout the states, “It is the objective of the cess need not be measured by and in its daily practice two as- is only one realistic expectation: year. The process I suggest school that students develop sen- comparison to others.” sumptions: first, that human that they will act in a manner that would not be the only thing that sitivity to the needs of others, Reapplication cannot beings are capable and desirous is congruent with their current would determine whether a giv- within the school and in the larg- act as external motivation. It is of rational self-discipline and of level for maturity. From my ex- en eighth grader got accepted in er community, and that they find Park’s intention that “The con- acting towards others with re- periences, I’ve found that most to Upper School. The variables personal satisfaction in helping viction that the child contains spect, kindness, concern, and Middle School students posses a that currently help decide accep- others.” If students are forced to inner strength, talents, and pow- moral conviction; and second, level of maturity and autonomy tance into Upper School –quality reapply, they are fighting their ers which can be liberated and that the activity of learning is an that is, at best, minimal. Do peo- of work, contribution to the com- peers for the opportunity to en- nurtured allows a variety of ed- expression of positive energies, ple with low levels of maturity munity, etc– would remain as ter the Upper School. The ucational techniques.” Learning fulfills natural impulse, and en- act –independently– with “mor- influential as they are today. If much-anticipated change from will be impeded by concern for riches life.” al conviction, respect, kindness, a valuable member of the com- Middle School to Upper School reapplying. Reapplication is an Do all eighth-graders or concern?” No. Why not? munity, for example, did not pass is daunting, without the added inappropriate motivation for act with good educational deci- Because they are incapable of the process, it would not neces- possibility of losing classmates. learning. Park should follow the sions? Of course not. Are they doing so. No one can act in a sarily mean that he would not be If suddenly your friends have not Philosophy and nurture internal capable of acting in such a man- mature way if they are not ma- accepted into Upper School. been readmitted to Park, this puts motivation and love for learning. ner? Hopefully. But, are they, ture. More than just an ac- further strain on the social If Park is concerned as 11, 12 and 13 year old boys Now, it may seem like ceptance test, the reapplication change into Upper School. with a student’s ability to partic- and girls, capable of acting in any hope for a productive and process would serve as a tangi- In addition, reapplica- ipate, the problem should be such a manner, independently? worthwhile Middle School expe- ble motivation for students in tion is impractical. If the students addressed individually. It is more With a few exceptions, I would rience has been lost at Park. need of exactly that –motivation. are tested in the same manner as effective to prune limbs from a say the answer to this question Thankfully, this isn’t true. There The purpose of the reapplication applicants are, we devalue any tree, than to chop the whole tree is a resounding “No.” The are things Park can do to en- process wouldn’t be to decrease community or extracurricular down. Reapplication puts every amount of autonomy it takes to, hance the quality of the Middle the number of competent and activities that they participate in. spot in the Upper School in con- by default, act towards others School experience it offers. content students in the Upper If the administration includes tention. Park should simply ask with “respect, kindness, and con- Simply put, since Middle School School, rather, it would be to in- activities for applicants, and, in specific students not to return cern” is absent in even some students aren’t capable of acting crease that amount. extreme scenarios, recommenda- rather than mass reapplication. The Library: Always a Bridesmaid by Susan Weintraub, US Librarian The Library needs to be mediately to the back to catch space school loves. A temporary US Commons sent both admin- using the temporary classroom renovated so that it doesn’t look that great view of the pond? science office built in the back istrative offices into the library. in the MS/US Library, and that like yesterday’s news. With the Families still want to see “The of the LS library effectively Ah, yes, a grand space, an aca- room is now reserved as a MS opening of the spectacular Arts Library”—it’s one of those stan- blocked light and discombobu- demic space dedicated to books, Library reading room.. Most Center, regrouping and expan- dard ways that prospective lated the 900s for about six learning, intellectual enlighten- amazingly, the very-long-prom- sion of Lower School parents and students rate a years. Is there anything worse ment—the life of many schools, ised gift of the large room classrooms based on vegetable school. than that? A poorly built Mid- the heart of the curriculum, ex- between the two libraries, has housings, and the clean-cut Ath- Prospective families are dle School classroom sprang up pendable. been transferred to the library letic Center, the Library remains secondary. Current Park School at the back of the MS/US Li- This year, life looks bet- and is no longer a writing lab or the largest school facility that is inhabitants, especially of ter for librarians as they prowl history office or arts office. It’s now closest to the geographical the pre-teen and teen va- through stacks of books, leav- a library office, and it has helped and academic heart of the riety, might prefer ing fingerprints in the dust us remove some of the clutter school. It is still an intellectual reading, studying, and ar- which flourishes even as formerly relegated to the main gem, but tarnished in appear- guing in an environment nightly cleaning crews dedi- library and the AV Room. (By ance. It deserves better aesthetically pleasing cate themselves heart and soul the way, it is not a class discus- adjectives than dusty, dowdy, rather than seated at or on to keeping whiteboards clean sion room, or movie-viewing frumpy, broken-down, deterio- broken, peeling tables and bright. Our long-hoped area for any classes.) rating, and junky: good and carrels amongst for renovation is something True renovation hasn’t descriptions of some of the eld- shelving more drab than we will go on hoping for a lit- happened yet; money doesn’t erly librarians who inhabit it, but those in the warehouse of photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 tle while longer, but the grow on trees, fall from the pag- Students try to study in the library. not worthy of a monument to the nearest hardware me- library’s role as space provid- es of books, or spring reading, curiosity, and robust gastore. brary. Another small space in er for the various and sundry has fully-formed from the pixels conversation— values which the Before this year, some the LS Library was made into an changed for now because other which make up a Botticellian sea Park School holds dear. attention was paid to library arts, and now tutoring, room. long-promised spaces have actu- of computer technology. But Admission officers spaces—the kind of attention as Not to mention that the entire US ally been built. True to its word, restoration of library spaces must be kinder than we are in welcome as that given a young history department was tempo- the school has restored most of which already belonged to the this critical assessment, but re- driver as he speeds past an un- rarily located for a year in the what it borrowed. The Lower library will allow us to make oth- ally, is there anything nice to say marked police car at 80 mph: US Library, necessitating shift- School Science room was built, er welcome changes in this except that the windows are the perfect quarry. The library, ing some 10,000 books and their and thus the light-blocking-900s- potentially glorious facility. large? Why do our gallant and too, with its vast spaces, is the shelves. Years before that, the interfering wall has come down. Having that space in the library resourceful tour guides head im- kind of quarry a pressed-for- building of the current MS and The Middle School has stopped will be a good thing, won’t it? December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTEDITORIALS Page 4 Take Back Park! In an assembly several weeks ago, Howard Berkowitz made a plea to students to take charge of assembly time and use it for issues that are relevant to the student body. He hark- ened back to when he was a teacher new to Park, when students led and controlled assemblies. Now, he said, assem- bly time is so rigidly set out that students have difficulty reserving a slot for an assembly. Teachers dominate assem- bly time, and talk about issues that sometimes do not interest students. Howard asked students to recapture their assemblies. Since assemblies are one of the only times when all students in the Upper School are together, it is important that we use this time to discuss issues affecting the student body. The lack of student involvement in assemblies is rep- resentative of a general, gradual degradation of the progressive ideals that Park claims to uphold. As the number of students at Park has grown, the atmosphere at the school has become impersonal. Class sizes are approaching 85 students. In the Upper School this year, there are about 20 more students than there were last year. As a result, many students don’t even know the names of numerous of their fellow students, some- times people in their own grade. Teachers have never even talked to many of the students in the Upper School. Students should be able to develop strong relationships with other stu- dents and teachers. As the school expands, however, this is Left Behind by Senior Projects becoming less and less possible. Well I’m into college - infinite number of choices for not leaving for senior project Since many students don’t know each other anymore, go figure. Ahead on my appli- work experience, but in the to… well…learn. I want to en- the community that Park is based upon is disappearing. Stu- cation path is the upcoming past, I’ve seen some Park stu- joy my last months at Park, at dents no longer feel strong ties between themselves and other senior project proposal. Here is dents misuse this freedom by Park. students. As the community at Park fades away, some students an excerpt we received from counting the hours to summer What will I be doing feel alienated from the rest of the school. They don’t see any Mr. Trout about the program: at Starbucks. This isn’t to say here? I’ll be doing independent “The senior project is a culmi- the program is a waste. David projects and study assuming I particular reason to invest themselves in what goes on at nation of students’ intellectual, Weiss’03 did impressive work get the clear from my teachers. school. In short, Park is becoming a place to study, nothing academic, and community ac- where he created a computer I look forward to working one more. tivities, is an opportunity for program that showed how skin on one, on my own, and with It is important that we bring back the community co- seniors to plan and execute an reacts when cut. The most suc- the rest of the students to study hesiveness that we have begun to lose. Students must individual program of study cessful projects are often when my interests. participate in activities in school, involve themselves in the and to experience some of the a student does something he or Teachers have respond- student government, and, as Howard Berkowitz said, in as- expectations and rigors of work she loves to do rather than be ed with excitement and semblies. and/or college. Each participat- a paper pusher in a possible fu- support. They understand that Rather than just sit in the audience as teachers discuss ing senior may undertake a ture career. I take the idea of senior problems that we don’t necessarily care about, we should use six-week work project in the My other reasoning for projects seriously and that I assembly time for things that are important to us. We must community at the end of the senior projects is a bit more want to use this time in a pro- realize that in order to get the most out of our time at Park we second term.” cynical (thanks Dr. Lou). I fear ductive way. I can’t think of a have to actively participate in our school. By doing this, we I love the idea of a se- that Park may believe that since better way to learn than when will help to regain the sense of community that defines Park nior project because it allows we will be into college, we’ll all the external distractions like School. us an opportunity to learn out- have little motivation to study grades and college are lifted -ASH side the bounds of Park’s in school. Once the teachers from me. I think it’s a tribute environment. I’m glad Park of- lose the grip of grades, the stu- to the school’s pursuit of fers this because, let’s dents will not be motivated to knowledge and philosophy that Postscript remember, senior projects learn and we get shipped off I’ll be able to do this. Brooklandville, MD 21022 aren’t required for school. It ac- campus. No one actually be- There are many great December 19, 2003 tually seems strange to have lieves the administration has project. I’ve heard people talk CSPA Gold Medalist 2001-2002 , All- Columbian Awards in Coverage, a fourth of our Upper School such little faith in our intrinsic about some exciting senior Writing and Editorials, and Graphic Presentation leave for six weeks in the will to learn. project ideas and it is a great Editors-in-Chief spring. So, how do you want to choice for some. But, I’m cer- Alex Harding, Aiyana Newton, Jeffrey Weinstein This begs the question spend your last weeks as a Park tainly not being left behind News Editors Commentary Editors why do we have senior School student? Consider this: staying here. You don’t have to Laura Gordon, Allison Gross Vera Eidelman, Vitaliy Elbert projects? I’m convinced that Stay here. Park offers brilliant follow me, but know that you Ass’t Ed: Ben Hyman Ass’t Ed: Eric Gottlieb Park wants us to broaden our teachers and a range of disci- have the option. Op-Ed Editors Sports Editors experience by working in an plines, and I haven’t taken full -JWW Dan Boscov-Ellen, Ben Rowland Liz Webber, Sara Welinsky area of interest. There are an advantage of it yet. I plan on Ass’t Ed: Brad Rifkin, Ezra Rosenberg Reviews Editors Letter to the editors: Peter Schamp, Caitlin Stevens Arts Editor Ass’t Ed: Yohance Allete, Charlie Hankin Carly Ries Photography Editors A Refreshing View of Park Columnists David Al-Ibrahim, Sarah Raifman, Jon Weese, Ben Warren Oliver Reid, Jill Papel Dear Postscript, Postscript in my mailbox. Park is a great school Circulation/Business Copy Editor I have just finished While the writing is and its students should feel Jack Meyerhoff Liz Webber reading the November 23 usually quite good, it’s the fortunate to be educated there. Internet Editor Faculty Advisors Postscript and I am writing anti-establishment, anti-adminis- The November 23 issue of Nick Hudkins Susan Weintraub, Rachelle Work to congratulate you on pro- tration and overall negative Postscript conveys an appre- Contributors ducing such a well written tone that I’ve found off-put- ciation and enthusiasm for all Lisa Boscov-Ellen, Nicole Cameron, Sarah Dunn, Abel Fillion, Tine Forbush, Ben paper. As a Park School par- ting. To some degree, this is the goings-on within the Gamse, Roseann Glick, Emma Gross, Josie Hendler, Anders Hulleberg, Wes Jamison, ent, I consider it my duty to probably to be expected of a school community that almost Milan Jordan, Caleb Karpay, Zack Leacock, Rebecca Martin, Brad Mendelson, Willie read everything the school student newspaper, but I’ve sounds like school pride. I, for Miller, Everett Rosenfeld, Peter Warren, Ben Weinstein sends to us. I must admit, often found it to be excessive one, find that refreshing. We welcome letters to the editors: [email protected] however, that in the past I in Postscript. www.parkschool.net/upperschool/postscript have cringed when I spotted -Roseann Glick Page 5 POSTSCRIPTOP-ED December 19, 2003 Boscov’s Brainwaves: Watch Out The World According to Me: by Daniel Boscov-Ellen ’04 Senior Projects by Jonathan Weese ’04 this if they are hid- den. It may be true artistically-minded student to that having camer- work closely with Doonesbury as installed in the writer Garry Trudeau. The stu- school helps to pre- dent would be in charge of vent crime or to finding ways to cram even more catch criminals in pro-Dean slogans into the com- the act, but, at least ics pages of newspapers for me, this must be nationwide. balanced against my But maybe you’re of a misgivings about giv- more conservative stripe. Do you It may only be December, The last week or so here ing up my last shred like math? The new regulations but that doesn’t mean it’s too those bleeding-heart liberals are in the Upper School has been of privacy. early for seniors to start thinking forcing through Congress threat- exceptionally full of rumors, Putting cameras about senior projects. In just en our corporations’ very way of and though I myself found on every street corner in over a month, we seniors will life. However, the rules don’t say most of the gossiping distaste- America would surely help to poses a problem for me. The have to get our proposals togeth- anything about contracting the ful, there was one thing which fight crime, but most people do cameras are supposedly here er in order to take advantage of book-cooking out to a high was particularly shocking to not feel that it is worth the loss for our protection (from terror- our glorious six-week “break.” school student! Learn to disre- me. I heard that certain acts it would mean for our freedom ists or armed robbers or those Here are some senior project gard your conscience and that people were gossiping and privacy. In England, a per- evil people who park in the ad- ideas you might not have heard experiment with new rationaliza- about had been caught on one son is on camera an average of missions spaces), but there is a about: tion techniques as you inflate of Park’s security cameras. I three hundred times a day. Is not-so-subtle underlying mes- For those of you not in- profits, prop up executive sala- was then stuck with the image that really what we want? I am sage behind putting the school terested in going off campus, ries, and generally give the shaft of some creepy old man re- extremely uncomfortable with under constant video surveil- you might consider giving the to Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Inves- winding surveillance tapes the thought that some stranger lance, and that message is this: administration a hand. Rumor tor of Tulsa. over and over again, and it may be watching me go about we don’t trust you farther than has it the higher-ups are looking If you really want a made me sick. I can imagine my everyday business without we can throw you. In a school for someone to take on the role project that requires a minimum few things more damaging for my knowledge. that speaks of positive expec- of Free Block Consultant. Your of effort, the National Institutes a student than being videotaped I’m made uneasy tations, this is beyond duties would entail staying at of Health is looking for someone doing something so private. enough by the fact that Park’s hypocritical. It’s downright Park from 8:30 until 3:00, sim- to fill the prestigious role of Test But whether or not any version of Big Brother is ironic, and insulting. ulating a day full of free blocks. Subject. Naturally, this would be The administration hopes to students have been caught on watching me, but it’ s even The problem is that a non-paying position, but you learn things about how to keep tape is not really important. worse and particularly Or- we’re being treated more like get all the glory of being part of people occupied during long the cure for many life-threaten- The possibility alone made me wellian because I don’t even inmates and criminals than ear- stretches of free time. Applicant ing diseases. Applicant is realize that I don’t know where know where the cameras are. If nest students capable of must have a strong interest in ly- advised to have high thresholds the cameras in our school are, they were in plain sight, at least exercising our own moral judg- ing on couches. See Mike for heat, cold, pain and oxygen either. And it made me wonder I could direct rude gestures at ments, and we’re being told it’s McGill. deprivation. exactly why that is. The cam- their operator. I wouldn’t feel for our own good. Well I for If you feel the need to get Don’t forget: don’t leave eras are ostensibly there to quite so violated. one say, “Thanks, but no away, perhaps you’d like politi- your project for the last minute. deter crime and bad behavior, But hidden or not, hav- thanks, Big Brother.” cal work: the Howard Dean These dream jobs are bound to but I don’t see how they can do ing cameras in the school still campaign (slogan: “Hey, Al go soon. Talk to John Trout to- Gore likes us”) is looking for an day! The Rowland Reality: Sex, Drugs, and… Disney? by Ben Rowland ’04 published, protests and boycotts ual employees but not unmarried US, you’ll see lots of breasts. they were my age. Parents are so against the retailer immediately partners of heterosexual employ- There are always the famous worried about sex, drugs, and followed, and the press was all ees, allowed homosexual page 3 centerfolds in British rock & roll, and it’s all just a big over the story. I find it unbeliev- celebrations in its theme parks, newspapers. Breasts just aren’t a joke. The Park School recently ably fascinating that a store can produced highly objectionable big deal in Europe. sent home a letter on how it’s sell an 18-year-old a semi-auto- films, allowed a convicted child If it were up to me, those working with the other indepen- matic assault riffle without a molester to direct a Disney mov- catalogs wouldn’t have been tak- dent schools to help prevent problem, but when a store is try- ie, published a book aimed at en off the shelves in the first underage drinking. I have a bet- ing to sell its clothing catalog homosexuals, and promoted nu- place. If it were up to me, rather ter solution. Why don’t we allow (god forbid), the whole country merous other anti-family policies than capitulate, I would defend underage drinking, so that when goes nuts. I’m sorry, but some- the catalog. These right-wing kids actually do start drinking in thing just isn’t right in Christian activists most like- college, they know their limits? American culture. ly are the same people that The older generation fought for Abercrombie & Fitch re- The American are interested in banning their independence, and now all called the remaining copies of its Decency Association, the teaching of evolution they want to do is take it away infamous seasonal magazine lead by President Bill in schools. If they believe from us. I’m not saying that un- Quarterly from all stores. This Johnson, was one of the that God created the derage drinking isn’t wrong. I catalog has been under attack leading organizations world, then they obvious- just think the older generation during the past few years by var- that contributed to the ly believe that God created has gotten their priorities and ious consumer groups for collapse of the most re- both the man and the their morals mixed up. Their tac- containing –what they believe cent issue of Quarterly. woman. If they follow the tics have become DISALLOW! are– overtly sexual images and In addition to Aber- Old Testament correctly, FORBID! PROHIBIT! And they content. However, the most re- crombie & Fitch, the they also believe that both think that’s going to make these cent holiday issue did a little Christian-affiliated the man and the woman things less desirable. more than display naked men’s group is boycotting Victo- were created in the image I see billboards on the behinds; it included pictures ria’s Secret and one other of God. Now, if I can recall, road that talk about how it’s best with naked men and women to- company: Disney. Why are they and activities.” Abercrombie Adam and Eve were naked when not to have sex and about how gether and showed some of the boycotting Disney? According to pulled their catalog off shelves they were created. So isn’t go- smoking marijuana will wreck female models’ (Caution: The their official website, “The because of the homophobic ing against nudity, in a way, your life. For most people, drugs next word may not be suitable world’s largest family entertain- views of these boors? Come on. going against God? Now who’s and sex become more desirable, for children under the age of 18. ment company has extended In Europe, nudity in fash- the anti-Christ? not less, because of them. We Parental discretion is advised.) company insurance benefits to ion is everywhere. If you pick up I don’t understand what want what we can’t have. It’s as breasts. When the catalog was the live-in partners of homosex- a Vogue or Maxim outside the these adults were doing when simple as that. December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTCOMMENTARY Page 6 The Park School for Catholic Girls Gossip Folks by Ben Warren ’05 by Milan Jordan ’04 mistakenly come across Jim can. You heard it here first. In Everybody’s teenage years, which apparently date as far Howard’s secret strip mall blue 1978, attempting to pull him- back as the pre-teen stage, seem full of an overabundance of tor- prints. self out of the poor financial ment and idiotic acts. But at Park School, no teen needs to soak in Keep an eye on Stu- situation he inherited from his self-ridicule; no, here, you’re never alone in your misery. It ap- dent Faculty Forum in the next parents, Oliver Reid moved to pears that for every personal secret you tell a few close friends weeks; when this one gets out the States, and practiced a Brit- (via mouth, or the Internet...) there will always be that one close it’s sure to be debated heavily: ish accent in order to scam rich friend that will betray you, and then the whole student body will inevitably appear, ready to spread your pain, with the help of a Mr. McGill is constructing a elderly intellectuals out of their few skillfully twisted Outkast lyrics (informing you ‘what’s cooler proposal for some type of com- fortunes. Winding up jailed for than being cool’...) that will be thrown in your face. munity board, where students six years, Mr. Reid discovered At the Park School, gossip seems to spread faster than, found guilty of wrong doings his passion for mathematics, well... mono. But proudly, unlike their habits with mono, Park stu- in the Park community have and earned good time by teach- dents do not just resort to spreading rumors verbally; we resort to I’d like to remind the their punishments debated by a ing it to the inmates. Hey much faster and more high-tech methods on information that is not, students of this High School team of students. Hey Mr. Bezoar, where’s your earths- and never was, any of our business. Away messages and profiles that I write regularly for Post- McGill! Isn’t that your job, you haking gossip? Or is that kind are now an efficiently obnoxious, and significantly quicker, way script. You might have picked crazy progressive little scamp? of stuff to mainstream for you? of spreading the love. Gratifyingly, Park students’ English skills up on this while reading this Hey alumni, noticed a HA! and ability to make witty comparisons are put into use with clever very article. Granted, my arti- few extra donation request parodies of MasterCard slo- cles have been described as letters lately? Believe me, gans that travel quickly “Not funny,” “Poorly written,” Park could use the money. around the school. and “Incoherent.” And there- Word on the street is Park is Even classroom fore I understand that my fan gathering funds to build a conversations help gossip base is, perhaps, limited. Nev- top-of-the-line arts center. spread. Classes are quite of- ertheless, I do still write for That’s right, following the ten started with a brief Postscript. It is essential that I success of the new Athletic exchange of updated “facts” be exposed to all the breaking Center, Park has decided to when the gossip is important Upper School news as soon as construct a new addition enough for our speculation. possible. I understand that the complete with a music room This exchange prob- ably lasts for a few minutes, gossip circulation might be a and an art studio. It’s a good just long enough to spark the little rusty with its priorities. plan, but Asher is still going knowledge in a few unin- However, in the past few to play guitar in the hallway. formed people’s minds, weeks, Park has had enough Having trouble stay- before the teacher suddenly raunchy, clichéd, tongue-in- ing awake in class? You wont upholds his/her duty to stop cheek gossip to fill a John like this one: In order to slow

photo by Sarah Raifman ’05 the conversation. Hughes movie. The problem is down the pace of the day, And then, most clas- that I found out about all of faculty has been discussing a The amount of sleuth- sically, there’s walking down the hall. One can never quite feel the these juicy little gems well af- schedule change, in which stu- ing I had to do to uncover this caliber of blatant disregard for other’s emotions as strongly as when ter the rest of the school. dents only have three information to present to you, walking down the hall. In the event of two major stories settling in Well, fellow students, ninety-minute classes a day. perhaps weeks before it would at the same time, you can hear everyone’s pick on which to slan- you think you got some good Better double those meds, lit- have come out on its own is un- der and skew alternating down the hallway. gossip this month? You think tle Johnny. acceptable. I hope we all have I hope that, in the event that you do something moronic, it Ben wasn’t exactly important You liked that one, did learned that when working is with someone in your grade, seeing as trans-grade gossip is so enough to hear about it? Open ya? Well, nothing beats teach- with the printed word, avoiding much more potent here at Park, and seems to transcend all inter- your eyes and your minds la- er gossip, so here’s one last gossip is a futile task. Howev- mediate grades... and I hope for all of you that you will never feel dies and gentleman, because one, on the house. Out of all of er, it is up to you, the people, the embarrassment and mockery of your peers who magically trans- I’ve got the hot-off-the-press the foreign math teachers, no to let me in on the good stuff form into cold, heartless, and hateful people at the first sign of gossip for next month. Maybe one can argue that Oliver Reid as soon as you hear it, because someone else’s pain, or a good story –whichever comes first. this will remind you who’s on is by far the most British. Or is when it comes to gossip, I’m So, good luck, but rest assured you can always feel safe. top of the food chain of infor- he? Inside sources indicate that the man, baby. A Park student will never kick you when you’re down… that’s just not our style. mation the next time you Oliver Reid is actually Jamai- The Travesty of Driver’s Ed by Eric Gottlieb ’06 As high school students, we are sleep. We come to school for the sixth quizzed on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Judy our problem is not unique. At one school, the next generation of Americans. We’ve morning of the week, where the class, Garland’s involvement with drugs and al- each three-hour session includes an hour heard time and time again about how we which is supposed start at 9:00, gradual- cohol. break for ice cream. There have also been are the future of this country, and we are ly gets going around 9:15, 9:20, or even Secondly, Driver’s Ed is worth- several instances of abominable behavior also the current drivers. 9:30. less. In every class, we are given on the part of Driver’s Ed instructors. Trying to make us safer drivers, But even worse, Maryland re- questions from the learner’s permit test, To the joy of many Park stu- our state has embedded a new level of quires each driver to have at least 30 one that can be passed with a simple15 dents, another session of Driver’s Ed, a pain into the licensing system. The Grad- hours of Driver’s Ed. Missed classes must minute scan of the MVA driver’s book- fall’s worth of wasted Saturday mornings, uated Licensing System, in which new be made up at the driving school’s night let. Then we watch hours of movies, will soon come to a close. But we must drivers must have a learner’s permit and sessions. When I tried to make up one most of which tell us that drunk driving make sure that our state knows about the a provisional license for a combined 22 of the two classes I missed, I was told to is bad, something which is obvious to pain of this course, which is in no way months before they can get their full li- come on a certain Wednesday night. those of us who have enough common countered by an acquisition of a satisfac- cense, is an intelligent idea. But its one I went to the address I had been sense to drive in the first place. tory Driver’s Education because, in the flaw is the requirement that all new driv- given, which was a church, but seeing no Sometimes, after about 10 min- end, it is our parents who will teach us to ers under age 18 take 30 hours of Driver’s hint of a driving school, I called the utes of a movie, the instructor realizes that drive safely. Maryland needs to raise Education. Thankfully, Park has softened school from my cell phone. I was then di- we’ve seen it before and then gives us a Driver’s Education standards, or, better the pain by providing a convenient and rected to the church entrance in the rear 30 or 40 minute break. For the next hour yet, eliminate the requirement. relatively comfortable location for Driv- parking lot, where I also found absolute- (or two), we answer more questions and Driver’s Ed Test: er’s Ed. But it’s about time that we ly no sign of a driving school. Ten take a test. But interestingly, they never pressure our state to face the fact that minutes and three phone calls later, the seem to teach us the material before we What do you do when you see: Driver’s Ed is useless. person with whom I was speaking real- answer the questions. It all comes from 1. Go Firstly, the pain of Driver’s Ed ized that, in fact, there was no class that common sense, which is not taught in 2. Stop is almost unbearable. The class requires night. I was told to come back in a month. Driver’s Ed. 3. Where’s Armando!?! us to wake up early on Saturday morn- I did come back a month later, where, the Talking with friends in other ings, invading our sacred sanctuary of night before a French test, we were Driver’s Ed programs, I have found that Page 7 OSTSCRIPTCOMMENTARY December 19, 2003 P Community Board ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ PRO: The community board is CON: The community board is inconsistent consistent with the philosophy with the philosophy by Tina Forbush, US Faculty by Peter Warren, US Faculty to wrestle together with diffi- The Community Board There is no ques- cult questions. This will lead is a system that potentially vio- tion in my mind about the to shared understandings and lates the liberal and progressive wisdom and good inten- purpose. ideas that produced it. tions of my colleagues on An institution like The primary argument the faculty, but I would nev- Park School will be fully suc- for the Community Board, as I er wish to appear before a cessful only if all of its understand it, is that, by involv- group of them considering members take responsibility ing students in important something I’d done to get for themselves and each oth- decisions and discussions re- myself in trouble. They are er. Through the Community garding behavior in the wise, but they are my col- Board process, the students community, they can be more leagues, and it is important involved will gain an aware- fully integrated in and under- that we are free to agree, ness of what is needed to standing of issues of community. and disagree, often passion- preserve this sort of a school. This is indeed an idea complete- ately, about a range of The students will recognize ly consistent with the school’s issues, as equals. that, in order to make this progressive philosophy. The Mike McGill and kind of a community work, means – students sitting in re- David Jackson are wise and everyone needs to take on his view of the transgressions of wonderful people but it or her own share of responsi- their peers – is in support of the would be nonsensical to bility. This is a fundamentally end – a greater involvement and pretend that we occupy the progressive notion: as John understanding of community. same rung on the ladder. They not construct for ourselves? The proposed Commu- Dewey wrote, “the primary The end is progressive and lib- can be friends, confidantes, and It is important to sepa- nity Board can only benefit the source of social control resides eral. The means are not. fantasy baseball comrades. But rate the issues. This is not about students of Park School. In es- in the very nature of the work Academic and intellec- they have different jobs, a differ- the ability of students to be fair sence, it differs from our current done as a social enterprise in tual freedom are at the core of ent set of responsibilities, and and wise. Will a student make a system in only one regard: which all individuals have an op- this debate. A certain amount of this different set of responsibili- wise and reasoned judgment choice. Nothing is being taken portunity to contribute and to nurturing is part of the process ties places them in unique about the behavior of other stu- away by the Board; rather, an which all feel responsibility.” of education, helping students to positions. If I get into trouble, I dents? Of course, and they do opportunity is being added. In- get to a place where they want the matter to be discussed all the time. That is not the is- stead of relegating students can advocate for them- between them and me. An im- sue. The issue is, how will life to a single disciplinary sys- selves, speak for portant part of Mike McGill’s with a community board change tem – the Principal — the themselves, think for job is to protect and preserve the the community of students? By Board gives the students themselves. We recognize intellectual freedom that is inte- impinging on this academic and the option of choosing be- that people need room, a gral to the collegiality of the intellectual freedom, the means, tween two. safe place, to make mis- faculty. One way he does this is a small group of students elect- Our own national takes and to develop and by exercising his authority. Fac- ed to sit in judgment of other justice system recognizes refine their ability to make ulty members sit on a wide range students, inherently violates the the wisdom of having such decisions that will be good of boards and committees, but integrity of the intended end – a a choice: every criminal for them. not in any one of them does any strengthening of community defendant must decide By “safe place,” I faculty member discuss person- spirit. whether to have his or her case Will the Board issue mean one in which students feel al details of their colleagues’ Will students learn any- heard by a jury or by a judge. different punishments for differ- at home among equals, who, al- lives. thing through the process of This decision is considered a ent students, even for students in though they make up a Another way of putting being involved in a community fundamental right. Similarly, apparently similar situations? community of people diverse in it is that my working relationship board? Of course. Our students students at Park should be giv- Certainly, as it ought. A disci- many ways, are alike in their sta- with my colleagues is far too im- learn from every situation en a choice about who will plinary process should always tus as students. I mean a place portant to academic freedom to they’re in, or at least the ones determine their fates. look at the totality of the circum- that nurtures intellectual free- be mucked up by some of us re- who are willing to do. But I be- Our society has long stances. Two students who are dom. The moment you have viewing the transgressions of lieve that the harm done to the recognized the advantages of charged with violating the same students in positions of judgment others of us. Why on earth community of students out- having a community of one’s rule may have radically different over other students, you violate would we construct a relation- weighs the benefit. peers to determine punishments. histories, motives, and intent. that place of safety. ship among students that we do This concept is at the heart of The Board should issue punish- our notion of justice. Having ments on an individual basis, multiple decision makers allows just as the Principal does under From the Oval Office: for more opinions and, therefore, our current system. There is a fairer verdict. A Community nothing unfair about punish- Board passes Senate; faces student body vote Board of six or eight people has ments that may, on their surface, the potential of reaching more appear inconsistent. This is the fourth time I would be cruel to force someone punishment. However, I can balanced conclusions than a sin- Much has been made of have written on behalf of the to judge another student, or to imagine that if a student was ac- gle individual may be able to. the question of whether the stu- community board. have their personal indiscretions cused of doing something Furthermore, the Board dents on the Board can be This time, I speak with shared with the whole commu- extremely embarrassing, they has the potential of making the trusted to be fair and to keep the backing of the Senate. On nity. However, there are times may not want anyone to hear rd process of discipline at Park confidences. The Park School Wednesday, December 3 , the when talking to other students abut it. In this case, they would more transparent. Many more Philosophy assumes that “human Senate voted 21-6 in favor of the would be more helpful. Last be free to decide not to go to the students will have the chance to beings are capable and desirous Community Board proposal. The year, for example, two students Community Board. The question see how and why certain punish- of rational self-discipline and of Senate, representatives of the were suspended for setting off a here is, above all, choice. That ments are – or are not – meted acting towards others with re- students, have supported this firecracker at school. They were is what the Community Board out. It is valuable to have pro- spect, kindness, concern, and measure for a number of rea- suspended for four days. I don’t stands for above all. cesses that are clear and visible moral conviction.” If we hold sons. Philosophically, the think suspension sent the right Some have tried to to the entire community. true to these words, we must be Community Board is complete- message at all, and neither did shoot down this Board. Howev- The Community Board willing to trust the students on ly in keeping with our school. It many other students. However, er, I ask them to consider the has the potential of building and the Board. Indeed, the Philoso- provides a forum to establish this was the decision of Mike Board as an experiment. Since enhancing the Park School com- phy charges us to “trust in these general community standards, McGill, and no one thought to it’s optional, it’s just an alterna- munity. Students will become good prospects.” If we are to and puts students in a position of challenge it. If there had been a tive in a system that lacks one. increasingly responsible for tak- using rational self-discipline. Community Board, and the in- It is unfair of us to deny others

follow the Philosophy that ○○○○○○ ing care of each other. The guides us, we must trust the I can’t stress enough volved students had gone before of an alternative. that everything about the com- it, perhaps they would have re- students and faculty members on Community Board. - Caleb Karpay ’04 the Board will see what it means munity board is optional. It ceived a more sensible December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTARTS Page 8 Life Drawing

The human figure is explored in this intense two and a half hour drawing class twice weekly. The curves and bends of the figure are appreciated in the lines and smudges students transfer from eye to paper. Students progress as they begin to accentuate and exaggerate the forms of the live models’ bodies according to what catches their eyes or what could intensify a drawing. Using a variety of drawing media, including pencil, charcoal, pen and wash, pastel, watercolor and tempera, students explore gesture, proportion, mass, foreshortening, portraiture, and composition.

Carly Ries ’05

Lisa Boscov-Ellen ’06

Charlie Hankin ’06 Josie Hendler ’04 Page 9 POSTSCRIPTREVIEWS December 19, 2003 TV Review: Movie Review: Wednesday Nights in The O.C. Gothika: A Screamer by Rebecca Martin ’06 by Yohance Allette ’05 The O.C., a teen orient- ghetto life in Chino as can be. It turns out he has feelings for Gothika: the latest in Grey’s doomed husband, and ed show that premiered this The O.C. doesn’t pre- her too! This led to a humorous the horror sub-genre of the year Penelope Cruz (Woman on Top, summer on Fox, is trash. But it’s tend to explore in any depth the Thanksgiving episode in which that features ghosts, dead people, Blow) is a fellow inmate. Rob- such lighthearted trash that I’m anxieties this change would Seth ends up torn between Sum- the mentally challenged, and ert Downey Jr. plays a forced to love it. The show fol- cause in both Ryan and the Co- mer in the pool house and Anna murder. A lot ends up happening psychologist who goes from be- lows the life of Ryan Atwood hen family. Instead, it has a in his bedroom, running from in the movie, which may be its ing Miranda’s co-worker to her (Benjamin McKenzie), a teen light, soap opera-ish air. It fea- one to the other in confusion downfall. doctor. Director Mathieu Kass- from the slums of Chino, CA, tures none of the over-the-top (he’s never had one girl, let In this case, the main ovitz and screenwriter Sebastian who was nearly sent to juvie for twists that are the hallmark of alone two at once!). It was hilar- character is Miranda Grey (Halle Gutierrez both know how to stealing a car. (Of course, he’s many soap operas, but it does ious, even if it sounds silly. I Berry), a beautiful criminal psy- make an audience jump and basically a good kid, just mis- dish out plenty of romance and Love Lucy meets teen Dallas. chologist who works with her scream, but they also ascribe to The O.C. takes on husband in the psychiatric ward the mistaken notion that horror every imaginable teen at Woodward Penitentiary for requires no real verisimilitude trouble, from the cruelty of Women, a place that, with its tur- beyond special effects. cliques to problems of rets, tiles, flickering lights, and Altogether, Gothika is a drinking, drugs, and bro- art-deco windows practically good movie to see. It is one of ken homes. But in the end, qualifies as the film’s title char- the few scary movies that I have the heroes always come acter. After a weird encounter seen that actually has a plot, out okay. The show’s sec- with a drenched, badly beaten which is sometimes very hard to ondary plots also feature teenage girl on a lonely road, find. Also, having the movie set guided). After his irresponsible several hot affairs. Ryan has fall- adults and their problems, but Miranda wakes up three days lat- in a mental institution can have mother disappears, the lawyer en instantly in love with the girl the target audience is we, the er to find herself an inmate of its laughs, although they may be working on Ryan’s case, Sandy next door, Marissa (Mischa Bar- teenagers. And that’s the show: Woodward, accused of chopping politically incorrect. However, Cohen (played by Peter Gallagh- ton), who returns his feelings, great, even though it relies on her loving husband into fire- the movie’s downfall is that it er), takes Ryan in, to the delight but is plagued with depression, clichés. The O.C. is not some- wood. follows the horror movie paint- of his dorky son, Seth (Adam drinking problems, and a shal- thing to watch when you want be With little memory of by-number too closely. Brody), and the annoyance of his low mother. Seth, the archetype moved, to connect with charac- the past three days beyond terri- If you are a fan of hor- wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan). of the high school comic book ters, or to sink your teeth into a fying flashbacks of blood and ror movies, you will have most After a lot of bonding and a bit geek and the best part of the complex situation. But on mayhem, she must struggle to likely figured out what’s going of turmoil, the Cohen’s decide to show, is desperately in love with Wednesday nights at nine, its piece together what really hap- to happen halfway through. This become Ryan’s legal guardians. the popular girl, Summer (Rach- cheesy, sugary fun is just the pened while contending not only isn’t to say it is a bad movie. It’s This means that Ryan must ad- el Bilson), and oblivious to the thing for an overworked, with skeptical former colleagues just that I didn’t see anything in- just to a new life in Orange fact that his best friend, Anna stressed teen mind that wants to but also the phantom of the same novative with the movie at all. County (hence The O.C) among (Samaire Armstrong), has feel- escape from the annoyances of teenage girl, who is still wet and Yet, I have to recom- rich socialites, as far from his ings for him. But guess what? life for an hour. seems pretty angry about what- mend Gothika for the sheer fact Music Review: ever happened to her that it’s one of the best horror Charles S. Dutton plays movies to come out this year. Beg for Mercy dies trying by Zack Leacock ’05 The 665 Review by Charlie Hankin ’06 After one of the most of his best and the G-Unit mem- ing Lloyd Banks’ and Young After three years of up- there are a few genuine gems in successful debuts in music his- bers don’t spit their best verses. Buc’s solo songs. Listening to dates, Jeff S. Power has finally there. tory, 50 Cent is back with his “Poppin Them Thangs” sounds this formula for 18 tracks quick- finished SixSixFive, a collection I personally started crew, G-Unit, with their first of- like a generic gangsta song, with ly becomes boring. Also, the fact of thoughts and cartoons posted reading SixSixFive at entry num- ficial group effort, Beg for nothing to really set it apart from that the production was a few on the Internet. For those of you ber 102 of 665: “A Double Shot Mercy. After much hype from the majority of the songs on the steps below 50’s Get Rich or Die who are not familiar with of Bad Poetry,” in which he unofficial bootleg albums and CD. Trying doesn’t help. www.sixsixfive.com, here’s an wrote “This is my poem/It’s not mixtapes, G-Unit The times overview: very good/It doesn’t even rhyme/ soldiers 50 Cent, when they do switch Jeff Power is a 25-year- and I f***ed up the meter a lot.” Lloyd Banks, up their subject mat- old technical support worker for He also included a haiku, “This Young Buc, and ter, however, are the an Internet Service Provider. A is a haiku/I’m not working hard the incarcerated few highlights of the couple times of a week, he on it/one two three four five.” Tony Yayo can ex- album. “Wanna Get would put a new poem or joke From that entry on, I just kept pect millions of to Know You” is or picture on his website. There reading every day. I read fans to drop $15 to very different from was no plan, no structure, no sto- through the chat pranks and the hear them spit their usual pimped ryline to be followed; the plugs for his favorite local bands their grimy gangs- out approach to website was merely a project to (he works out of Boston) and all ta raps over gritty women and the fact consume time. the true-life stories, and even beats. It’s too bad that 50 isn’t singing Nothing to write home though I had to sometimes wait most of those fans on this chorus makes will be a little dis- this song a step appointed. above the rest. An- It’s not other standout song that Beg For Mer- is “My Buddy”, cy is really a bad which is a more cre- CD, but it lacks ative approach to the same fire as rapping about guns the aforemen- where they treat their about, it would seem. Except the for weeks at a stretch for that one tioned G-unit gun as a best friend subject matter on which JSP fo- beautiful update, I was always bootlegs. Maybe it’s because The problem with and the various activities they cuses is pretty unusual. Entire glad I stuck with it. And perhaps they got softer due to 50’s suc- “Poppin Them Thangs” is one do. weeks on the site would be de- that’s what makes SixSixFive so cess or maybe it’s because Tony that plagues the whole album. If there were more mo- voted to making fun of fat great: It’s a testament to deter- Yayo is locked up and is only on Just about every song sticks to ments like “Wanna Get to Know Goths. He would re-publish mination, a monument to two songs, but I found myself the same formula. G-Unit mem- You” and “My Buddy” on Beg frightening personal ads he follow-through. skipping many of the songs. “G- bers spit predictable verses about for Mercy, it would have been a found on the web. He made up I liked SixSixFive’s run, Unit (Intro)” and “Poppin’ Them their material possessions and much better album. Unfortunate- his own series of public service and you might too. Check out Thangs”, the first two tracks, are how gangsta they are while 50 ly, there aren’t, and Beg for announcements, and while not items 543, 466, 408, 296, 165, hard for me to listen to. On the Cent sings on just about every Mercy has me begging for some- all of his entries are genius, or and 64. Senses of humor differ, intro, DJ Hi-Tek’s beat isn’t one chorus on the whole disc, includ- thing else. hilarious, or thought-provoking, so scroll at your own discretion. December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTCollege Essays Page 10 “Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below. The Perfect Run 1. Evaluation a significant experience, achievement, risk you have Gliding down the icy mountain, with knees bent and taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. poles extended, I leave a wake of perfect S-Curves behind me. 2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international As I crouch lower in my stance and pick up speed, the howling concern and its importance to you. wind rips away at the exposed parts of my face. I follow the 3. Indicate a person who has had significant influence on you, and fall line into a field of moguls and shorten my giant slalom to describe that influence. smaller, more concentrated turns. Forcing my skis quickly 4. Describe a character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative through the patch, turning at every mound, gliding through every work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had in influence on you, gully, I feel the muscles in my legs screaming and exit the field and explain that influence. back onto the smooth slope. As I continue down the hill, I 5. Topic of your choice. approach an inviting forest of evergreens with no tracks; I cross the slope and stop just inside the trees. I scope out my intended path, point my skis downhill, and plow through the fresh snow, Tutoring making my own trail. As I pick my way through the trees, “Can you look over an essay?” a friend asked me during freshman year. I stood in a busy hall avoiding boulder, branch, and brook, I spot a snow-covered with my arms swaying at my side racing through excuses. She shifted her body to and fro while staring boulder ten yards down the hill and head for it. I lean down down at the floor as I selfishly contemplated a way out: “I’m going to an activity meeting. Sorry.” I the mountain, gathering speed, bend my knees, and glide up the didn’t realize how hard it was for her to confess a need for help to a close friend. slanted boulder. As my skis leave the ground, and my heart It was only later that I discovered the impact I could have on another as a tutor during Writing skips a beat, I do a quick three-sixty turn before landing back Practicum, defined as “we learn—through reading, discussion, role-playing, and lots of practice—the on the packed surface of the frosty mountain slope below. I techniques of effective peer tutoring.” My first experience was working with second grade students. continue to the bottom and stop just before the chairlift. With They were writing about a family picture. We sat on a soft communal rug while the teacher announced a smile, I look up at the slope and think: Wow, the perfect run. the partnerships. My tutee, Andrew, and I moved outside to a quiet place. Silently nervous, we walked The first time I went down a mountain, I was seven to the wooden bench at the end of the hall. To break the stillness, I introduced myself and asked what and terrified of taking the first leap. Today, ten winters later, he liked to do in his spare time. He seemed preoccupied by something outside the window as I attempted being afraid is the least of my concerns. Today it is about finesse, to engage him in conversation. I jumped into the assignment: “May I see your picture?” control, timing; it is about doing all of these things, doing them He fumbled through his binder until he found the photo and hurriedly handed it to me as if well, doing them instinctively. Skiing is not just a family pastime; being quizzed on his retrieval skills. After taking thirty long seconds to thoroughly look over the lake it is not just a sport. For me, skiing is a way of life. scene, I asked, “What’s happening at the dock?” and “What did it feel like in the water?” As he sensed I compete and study with finesse, and I would rather my interest, he stopped staring out the window and slid closer to me. He eagerly swiped the photo swoosh a basketball, slide into home base, or silently wait for from my grasp and began explaining his family reunion at Lake Michigan. I sat in awe as Andrew the perfect moment in class to speak than throw myself into a unleashed vivid detail: “the wind felt like ice as I climbed into the boat,” and “my orange life jacket was heap of rebounders, hurl myself at a catcher to knock the ball like a floating doughnut around me because it was way too big.” By the end of our session, we made a away, or overzealously argue my ideas in a discussion. When I list of descriptions for his upcoming essay. help Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, I am not a forceful Recently, a classmate handed me her college essay asking, “Can you read this?” Agreeing advocate; it seems more productive, and less intimidating, to enthusiastically, we sat at an open table with two chairs next to each other. She waited for me to read the essay but instead I placed it face down: “What is this essay about?” Disappointed I wasn’t reading her essay, she discouragingly rolled her eyes. After a few seconds, I felt an incredible pressure to fill the silence but waited until she replied, “It’s about how community service is important and also how the world is inherently good.” “That sounds great because you enjoy community service work, but can you tell me more about how speak for something in a controlled manner, to make it sound the world is inherently good?” I asked. She slouched back in her worthwhile, and not to scare someone into compliance. As a chair, rested her chin in her palms, and began to debate the idea writing tutor, I tend to be more passive than collaborative: it aloud as I jotted notes: “There are many good people that help seems more important to listen, concentrate on timing, and then the less fortunate.” Leaning forward as she talked, her confidence add carefully articulated feedback to provoke the writer’s own grew. She quickened her pace and raised the tone of her voice thoughts. as she became increasingly delighted with her argument. After I live my life the same way I ski down the mountain: I finishing her explanation, I handed her the essay along with the concentrate on what is ahead of me and always move towards notes of what she had told me. While reading through them my goal. I try to approach everything in my life like it is the she said, “Wow, I can’t believe how much I talked about,” and perfect run. smiled as she walked away. Liz Webber Jeffrey Weinstein Welcome to the Real World Our elbows occasionally bumped as we stood to support themselves. Now I was working alongside metallic clamor in the kitchen, he explained that he was at the crowded counter, folding napkins in the hot, people who were literally working for a living. getting assigned fewer shifts at the restaurant, which narrow corridor adjacent to the kitchen in McCafferty’s At the time, I suspected there was something was making it difficult to pay the bills. I interpreted Restaurant. Andrew, a college sophomore, told me that wrong with adults who performed the same duties I Darryl’s financial problems as being a result of my he took the job at McCafferty’s because he ran out of did, because I felt they should have had better jobs if working at McCafferty’s. Instead of trying to defend money to pay for room and board. Dave, the busboy they worked hard. I soon found out, however, that myself, I looked down at the floor to avoid eye contact who was training both of us that night, said that he Darryl worked in his spare time as a shoe salesman; with Darryl. I realized how much more the people I dropped out of school and took his job at McCafferty’s Dave was a cook on his days off; Liz worked as a was working with needed money than I did, and I was when his girlfriend gave birth to twins. bartender in the evenings; and Andrew had taken on consumed by guilt. As I carried all the linens, I walked Until then, I had always viewed it from afar, jobs as a valet and a pizza delivery boy. When Andrew right into the door, sending napkins flying like penalty like a tourist who only gets close enough to take a asked me why I was working at McCafferty’s, I flags into the dining room. Tammy and Darryl picture without actually having to step off his tour bus. stammered, unable to come up with a suitable response. immediately came out of the kitchen and helped me In Brazil I saw boys my age who wandered the crowded I do not remember exactly what I said, but pick everything up. Later that night, city streets, shining shoes and begging in order to gather I remember that my answer was no more as I mopped the kitchen floor, enough money for a meager meal. In Bolivia I saw than a pathetic attempt to defend myself. Darryl said that his inspiration to children whose futures were probably just as arid as The truth was that I wanted a little money work hard that night had been the dust around their hovels. I even saw it when I to pay for gas, or to buy some CDs, or watching me do all of my jobs so looked into the forlorn faces of people sleeping on the maybe to occasionally go out for sushi with energetically. Sarah was performing sidewalks of Baltimore. But then, I walked through my friends, but compared to these people, in Hair, and she asked if I would those doors saying “personnel only” for the first time. my reasons for working meant nothing. come see her that coming weekend. Certainly the workers at McCafferty’s were not I felt increasingly uncomfortable As Laura was leaving, she told me desperate, but they were part of a different world from as I collected a stack of clean napkins and that I had done a good job that the one I had known. The parents of my friends were tablecloths and listened to Darryl complain night. I grinned, and said “Thanks.” doctors or lawyers, and none of them struggled just about his high electric bill. Over the Alex Harding Page 11 POSTSCRIPTSPORTS December 19, 2003 Girls’ JV faces tough season Boys’ JV shoots for perfection by Sara Welinsky ’05 by Brad Rifkin ’05 As the JV Boys’ basket- Going into the season, looking to improve their game,” leaders that one would not ex- is an “exceptional outside shoot- ball team stood outside the this year’s Girls’ Junior Varsity says Adria Johnson. pect from such an inexperienced er.” Yet, the force to be locker room, one could see a Basketball team has a lot of po- Head Coach Brian Yan- team. It was only last year that reckoned with is Center Alex team with determination and ex- tential. The team’s pre-season iger has coached the Girls’ Park this core group of players went Brooks ‘06. As coach Dave Tra- citement. After greeting the efforts have proved very effec- Junior Varsity team for the last cy puts it, Alex “has wonderful Varsity team, which had just dis- tive toward the preparing for the 5 years. Julie Hoffman states: soft hands and a sweet kiss off solved a 17-point deficit to rival competitive season ahead. The “he is really dedicated and pas- the backboard. If he can de- Beth T’filoh to come out on top, girls have endured tough practic- sionate about the game.” As an velop sounder foot work and the JV team was hungry for es each day. Then they move to experienced coach he is always toughen up he will be out- more opportunity. In a hard- warm-up drills, which consists integrating old drills and tactics standing.” fought game, in which standouts of lay up lines and weaves. They into new ones. A key component to such as guards Zach White ’06 work on old drills and new ones, The JV team has just this team, however, isn’t the and Jake Wiggins ’06, along too. The girls incorporate a lot come out of three competitive head coach or any single play- with center Alex Brooks ’06 of scrimmaging into practices to games against Chapelgate, Pal- er; it is assistant coach Josh stepped up and confidently hit become comfortable in game sit- otti, and Maryvale, some of the Ackerman. Coach Ackerman, clutch shot after shot and ripped uations. The team ends practice most aggressive teams in the who is in his second season as down big rebounds, the Bruins with tough conditioning, which conference. Confronted with the the assistant, coached over the prevailed by eight points to top will prepare them for their chal- challenge of being in the B-Con- summer and developed new conference rival Beth T’filoh. lenging games throughout the ference, they must face other schemes he is incorporating In a conference that fig- season. teams such as St. Paul’s, Friends, into the JV regime. Coach Tra- ures to be competitive, this win There is a lot of talent Loch Raven, and Severn. Tahira cy calls Ackerman “the

will act as a yard stick for the JV photo by Oliver Reid and history on the team with two Taylor ’05 states confidently: players’ coach, “noting that squad; at the same time, it will Jon Gill ’06 scores a lay up. returning juniors and six return- “We have a tough season ahead, Ackerman always does what- provide a confidence boost as ing sophomores. “These players but I feel our team is up for the all the way and won the Fresh- ever he can to help. the team gets ready to hit the bring leadership roles and competition.” The girls remain Soph championship. Captain’s Looking forward to the meat of the conference schedule knowledge from previous sea- confident in themselves and the Brad Mendelson ’06 and Kyle middle of the season, Coach in January. With only one con- sons to the court,” says Julie season, and now that they have Tarver ’06 provide the leader- Tracey hopes his team doesn’t ference game left before break, Hoffman ’06. Emily Azrael ’06 played games and experienced ship needed to guide this team to take anything for granted and it will be essential for the team comments that “we have a much their weaknesses, “we will learn the “promised land.” The team, maintains its focus. “We will not to lose their focus. Captain more skilled team than last year, how to improve and face our which consists of all sopho- leave behind what happened Kyle Tarver ’06 knows that this especially the freshmen.” challenging season ahead,” says mores, has played together for with the JV team last year and team is “strong;” however, the The Junior Varsity has Julie Hoffman. multiple years. The players have take each game one at a time. one fly in the ointment is the added five talented freshmen, all With the new and ele- wonderful chemistry together, This must be done in order for team’s lack of focus at the begin- of whom are significant contrib- vated sense of confidence, skill, and it will only get better the JV Team to repeat as Cham- ning of games. This notion is utors to the team. Although the and determination, the JV team throughout the year. Newcom- pions in the MIAA C maintained by fellow captain team has begun strong, “each will soon be able to confront any er Jon Gill ’06 has also provided Conference.The team has beat- Brad Mendelson ’06, who points member, individually, and the team and continue on to victory. a spark to the team, and has en Greater Grace, CHEN, Key, out that in the beginning of the team as a whole, are always earned himself a starter’s role and AACS to go along with their games the team, “needs to focus with his athleticism and big man victory over Beth T’filoh, mak- on settling down and running the capabilities. Coach Tracy is ex- ing them 5-0.With this great start offense.” cited about the mismatch he can to the season, lets hope that they FS Basketball may surprise A team without a single create at the guard position, not- can maintain their energry and returning player from last year, ing that by putting Eric Baylin keep their momentum going all by Wes Jamison ’05 the youthful Junior Varsity squad ’06 in he can “penetrate and kick the way to the “promised land.” After three weeks of Conference opponent, Gilman in has both the emotional and court it out.” Also, guard Zach White practice, the Fresh-Soph basket- which they lost by only nine, and ball team has had few practices another competitive loss to A- Girls’ V Basketball strives to hold it together with a full squad. These absenc- Conference Gibbons by only by Liz Webber ’04 es, along with the fact that Park four points. They will face many The Girls’ Varsity Bas- a river, and then picture a swarm just had to step it up in the sec- Fresh-Soph basketball gained a more difficult match-ups in the ketball team has been struggling of piranha heading to it. Picture ond.” The coaches seem to lot of respect last season because esteemed B conference against in the IAAM B Conference for the devastation, the violence, the agree that the level of play was of their championship win, could St. Paul’s, McDonogh, John Car- the last few seasons, but with aggressiveness. Imagine that in excellent the first half, with less be seen as problematic. This sea- roll, Archbishop Curley, and new coaches, new players, and thirty seconds or fewer, all that turnovers and more aggressive son Park is the top dog, the team Boys’ Latin. a new attitude, this could be the is left are bones and blood. defense. to beat, every team in the con- A superstitious man, season that they turn it all That’s how we want to play bas- The team had a similar ference will be gunning for the Seidenman refuses to make pre- around. With a talented group ketball.” misfortune against its next two Bruins. dictions for the upcoming of starters, deep bench, and num- Despite this new atti- opponents; Palotti, Maryvale, The Fresh-Soph squad season, but he did say that his ber of returning varsity players, tude, the Lady Bruins have and Severn beat them after consists of nine freshmen and team “has been improving with they have everything they need struggled to win games early on tough fights and close fourth three sophomores, only captain every outing and will be able to to be successful this season. quarters. The Lady Bruins Ben Weinstein ’06 returns from give a solid effort to defend the When I asked Head just couldn’t keep it togeth- last year’s glorious season. crown.” Led by captains Ben Coach Kevin Coll what his er the entire game. Despite When asked about having to Weinstein and Anders Hulle- team was concentrating on this, the team seems ready deal the turn-over of so many berg, the team derailed Beth this year, he said, “We need for its next challenge and players from last season, Coach T’filoh 48-16. “The team must to play good defense, pres- determined to, “protect Seidenman ’85 responded by learn better court-sense, and sure the ball, and rebound. [their] house,” as veteran quoting the immortal words of come together as a team,” says But more than any of that, starter Caryn Washington James Brown, “Ain’t no drag, Seidenman, but he is quick to we need to witness the al- ’04 asserted, in their up- Papa’s got a brand new bag.” add that this team has a great chemical transformation coming home games. The team gained some deal of upside potential and that happens when a new Washington also added, confidence in a game against A could really surprise some folks. team becomes a team.” “We’re determined to con- photo by Oliver Reid This is the type of attitude Nicole Love ’04 dodges Sarah Gold. trol our fouls and protect the Bruins make All-Metro that the entire team shares, and in the season, and this can be at- ball against our upcoming oppo- perhaps over the past month or tributed to not having enough nents.” Once veteran player Senior field-hockey goalie Jenny Cooper and sweeper so you’ve heard one of the Var- “endurance.” In their first con- Jenny Cooper ’04 returns from Katie Frankel made the All-Baltimore City/County first team. In sity members say, “We want to ference game against the injured list, the team should their special fall sports edition, The Sun announced that in unprec- play like piranha!” This newly Chapelgate, Park dominated the get comfortable with the level of edented consensus decision, Cooper was named as first team adopted mascot is the focal point first half, leading 14-11, but then play, and the Lady Bruins will All-Metro goalie. Frankel was voted onto the second team All- for the Lady Bruins more aggres- lost it in the end 37-57: return- become an force to be reckoned Metro. With Frankel as sweeper and Cooper in goal, they created sive mentality. Coach Coll ing Junior Sarah Dewey with in the IAAM B-Confer- a formidable defensive unit which stopped some of the best offen- explained exactly what that commented, “We really played ence. sive players in the IAAM A-Conference. means: “Picture a cow bathing in like piranha the first half. We December 19,P 2003 OSTSCRIPTSPORTS Page 12 Boys’ Varsity Basketball dominates C-division in early play by Brad Mendelson ’06 Boy’s Varsity looks to pace of play on the Varsity lev- coach Wolf’s room discussing players, and the lower-down ter, taking a 27-2 lead with three be on the road to another cham- el. However, I’m confident after the team and specific qualities teams returned their experienced quarters still left to play. All thir- pionship season. The team did our first few games we can that need to be perfected. players,” says Coach Wolf, add- teen Bruins scored in the rout, win their first game of the sea- reach that level of play.” ing, ”Nine out of ten pushing the squad’s conference son against Greater Grace with Despite the inex- teams can win on any record to 2-0. In the team’s most a commanding 59-43 victory, perience of this year’s night.” It does appear recent game the Bruins beat An- but were knocked off by Chris- team they do show signs that the team has got an napolis Area Christian School tian Home Education Network of being a talented team. early jump on the confer- 72-65. Paul Weitz led the Bruin (CHEN) 62-47. Although the As Coach Josh Wolf puts ence with a huge win barrage with 26 points and Brad loss was tough to swallow, it it, “We’re a work in against rival Beth T’filoh Rifkin ripped down 15 boards was apparent from the players’ progress. That’s for sure.” 50-30. Park erased a fif- against the visiting Eagles. reactions that the loss might end With the return of shoot- teen point first half deficit AACS tied the score and took up doing the team some good. ing guard Brad Rifkin ’05, to beat the visiting War- the lead with five minutes left to The players on this year’s Var- who sat out the first two riors 50-35 in the first play but Park remained resilient, sity squad had a consecutive games with an ankle inju- rematch between these battling back to take the lead for winning streak of 25 games, ry, the team appears to two teams since last sea- good. The team has gotten its which includes a 24-0 record en have five solid starters: son’s C Conference groove back, and despite an ear- route to a JV championship last Brad Rifkin, Paul Weitz, Championship. Brad ly loss, is showing the year. Several players feel that Phil Porter, Andre Brass- Rifkin totaled 12 points conference what the Park the loss to CHEN served as a er and David Berman. and Paul Weitz chipped in School Bruins are made of. wakeup call; this year the com- This team has the very im- ten. The real story, how- The team’s hard work petition is harder, and, therefore, portant ability to go to the ever, was Park’s defense. should continue to pay off with the team’s performance needs to bench and still maintain a The Warriors buckled un- big conference games rapidly be raised. high level of play on the der the swarming approaching. The team will take A problem early on in court. Another encourag- full-court pressure of Bru- on an always-talented Chapel- the season appears to be lack of ing sign for the Varsity ins Clark, Porter, Brasser, gate team, who was seeded photo by Oliver Reid leadership on the team, for there team is its incredible work Paul Weitz ’05 racks up another basket. Berman, Gorham, Slatkin number two last year, and a are no returning Varsity players. ethic. Every afternoon the and Weitz. “Bring on Key school that Park beat in the first But with the elections of Phil boys put in at least an hour and Another challenge for School,” said senior Ben Rosen. round of the playoffs just a year Porter ’05 and Dan Gorham ’04 a half, usually two hours, of hard this year’s team will be playing “It’s gonna be a dog fight.” ago. With all teams capable of as co-captains, the team seems practice. Yet it seems every in the MIAA C-conference, After their dominant winning, it is an understatement to have solved this problem. evening, at least one member of which is notorious for being as win over Beth T’filoh, the Bru- to say that the conference is When Gorham was asked about the team stays after to work on competitive as in any conference ins won two more conference wide open, and with a team that how he felt the team was doing, their jump shot from assistant in the state. “This year in the games, crushing Key School 64- has as much potential as Park’s he responded that, “It seems that coach Will Wharton. Further- conference all the best teams 32. The Bruins delivered a Varsity squad, the season should this team is not quite used to the more, players can be found in graduated there experienced knockout punch in the first quar- have good things in store. Girls’ Varsity Soccer sharpens skills for indoor game by Ben Gamse ’05 The Girls’ Varsity in- different sport on turf.” The game that through practice, the mination to lay down for any the entire game, and ended with door soccer team goes into the game is a lot faster. The ball team believes they will be able team, and their best soccer has a shutout of 2-0 with goals by season knowing they have a moves more quickly, so preci- to excel in. yet to be played.” At their next Nicole Oidick and Allison Zer- tough road ahead. A strong re- sion in passing, ball handling, The team has tied one game against Bryn Mawr, the husen. The team has changed turning core of senior game, lost two games, and won girls came out strong, taking the their game; it has paid off and players leads the team in- one game. Their first game was lead with four goals from Junior the girls will continue to show cluding captains, Nicole against Roland Park. The Bru- Allison Zerhusen, and eventual- success throughout the rest of Oidick, Julie Scherr, Katie ins let up five goals in a very ly ending with a well-earned tie. the indoor season. Frankel, and Drew Fidler. short period of time to open the The following day they played Coming off a C Con- The team is made up of game, but they battled back to Notre Dame and refused to give ference championship in the fall many talented players, but within two. The next game was up the win they deserved. The outdoor season, there was hope having lost their first two against St. Johns. The team girls started the game with focus that the indoor girls soccer team games, they have a lot of played hard, but it was obvious and determination, played hard would find immediate success. work to do and many they needed to make some changes to make. The girls changes. The team knows what Boys’ V Basketball know they have a long way they are capable of; it’s just a 12/29 6:30 PM @ Joppatowne High School to go to meet their full po- question of “changing the 12/30 11:00 AM @ Tournament tential. team’s mentality toward training, 01/02 11:00 AM vs. Greater Grace Christian Academy The Girls Indoor team unity, and game strategy,” 01/03 11:00 AM Tournament team is in the A Conference said Julie Scherr. 01/06 6:30 PM @ Arlington Baptist School and the competition level Practices were quickly 01/07 5:45 PM @ Friends School

of opposing teams has been photo by Jill Papel ’05 shifted to become more focused, 01/09 5:30 PM @ Sts. Peter and Paul High School heightened. “We have Saba McCoy ’06 practices indoors. and include many more condi- 01/12 5:15 PM @ Our Lady of Mt. Carmel many goals for the tough and tactical runs are more impor- tioning and skill drills. The team 01/16 7:30 PM vs. Glenelg Country School season ahead, and we plan on tant. In indoor soccer the walls became more unified and making many adjustments to our are in bounds and are one of the learned to work as a team instead Girls’ V Basketball game,” says Sara Welinsky ’05. greatest assets to the game, so of as individuals. As coach 01/26 5:30 PM vs. Friends School Also, as captain Nicole Oidick the team must learn how to use Geoff Hoffman said, “the ladies 01/28 5:15 PM @ Severn School pointed out, “it is a completely them to their advantage. It is a have too much pride and deter- 02/02 5:15 PM @ Maryvale Preparatory School 02/04 5:30 PM @ Towson Catholic 02/06 4:00 PM @ St. Paul’s School for Girls Non-Profit Organization The Park School 02/09 5:30 PM vs. Catholic High School of Baltimore U.S. Postage 02/11 5:15 PM @ Friends School Girls’ V Indoor Soccer 01/06 4:45 PM @ Roland Park Country School 01/12 3:45 PM @ Bryn Mawr School 01/13 3:45 PM @ Notre Dame Preparatory School 01/15 4:45 PM @ Key School 01/22 4:45 PM @ St. John’s 01/23 4:45 PM @ Institute of Notre Dame Holiday Basketball Tournament benefit for Habitat for Humanity - January 2-3, 2004