Symposium Author Egan Opens Window Into Her Creative

THURSDAY,Thursday, December Oct. 20 18, 2014 Vol. 3841 No. 24 Symposium author Egan opens window into her creative process by Jen Shook ’15 Squad”: Each chapter would center and Lina Volin ’15 on a different person, would stand Pulitzer Prize-winning alone from the rest of the chap- author Jennifer Egan visited KO as ters as its own independent story, the annual Baird English Sympo- and would feel like a “different sium author on Friday, Dec. 6, world” from the rest of the book with students and teachers alike with a different tone and mood. praising Ms. Egan’s presentation. “I wanted each chapter Ms. Egan addressed the to feel like it belonged to a student body in both Middle different book from the others School and Upper School assem- and yet to have them come blies, sharing insights on the together,” Ms. Egan said. She writing process involved in the likened the format to a concept creation of “A Visit From the album in the spirit of The Who’s Goon Squad,” “The Keep,” and “Quadrophenia” and “Tommy.” a myriad of short stories from She also spoke about her her “Emerald City” collection. inspiration for “The Keep,” which “Books come together originated with her visit to a through such a haphazard series of medieval castle in Belgium once events,” she told the Upper School belonging to the Frankish knight, assembly. “It’s something that can Godrey of Bouillon. This excur- be invisible in the final book.” sion, coupled with a journalism She used the example of story she was researching for “A Visit From the Goon Squad,” the New York Times about clos- Jennifer Egan addresses the Upper School during KO’s annual Baird English Symposium. Photo by Claire Halloran’15. saying the book initially arose out eted gay teens who were living of her procrastinating the writing thief posing as a fraud protection writing what would later become with form and style, Ms. Egan “out” lives via online chat rooms, of a different novel. After an specialist, Ms. Egan was inspired to chapter one of “Goon Squad.” decided on three rules that would over-the-phone encounter with a explore the viewpoint of the thief, In the midst of experimenting govern the structure of “Goon Continued on page 8 Trivia Night raises $1,800 for research by Joe Ravalese ’15 Bubble, Milk Duds and Jolly ance. Austin and Andrew’s mother so seize those opportunities now.” The Lemkuil brothers said Ranchers. Each team’s table was was diagnosed with a brain tumor The trivia portion of the the evening was a huge success On Friday, Nov. 21, the adorned with candy with a large while they were in the third grade. evening was hosted by the KO “There were probably close to KO cafeteria filled with students glass jar in the center filled with Austin introduced Jack faculty duos of Kata and David 130 people from six different participating in the school’s the team specific type of candy. Casey, who recounted his battle Baker and Jen and Jim Weeks. schools,” said Austin. “At second annual Trivia Night About midway through after being diagnosed with a brain Topics included sports, the end of the night we raised fundraiser for the Connect- the evening each team member tumor. “After being diagnosed history, music, celebrities, TV over $1,800 for the Connect- icut Brain Tumor Alliance. guessed the amount of candy in the my whole world took a turn and it shows and movies. At the end icut Brain Tumor Alliance.” Initiated and organized jar and the member with the closest really put my life into perspective,” of the night, the top three teams The Lemkuils have high by juniors Austin and Andrew guess took home the filled jar. he said. “After finding out I decided took home cash prizes up to $60. hopes for next year and are Lemkuil, the event drew a large Local establishments to take the trip of a lifetime with Senior Kennelly Aller- already planning to host KO’s turnout of students, not just from Naples Pizza and California Pizza my best friend to Ireland and it was ton’s team, the Skittles, finished third annual Trivia Night. KO, but also from a number of high Kitchen provided dinner to the one of the best events of my life.” in first place. “It was a really “We are hoping to get more schools in the Greater Hartford area, contestants, while A.C. Peters- “Do what makes you happy,” good time, the whole event was corporate sponsors, to raise more including Westminster, Conard, en’s provided ice cream sundaes. Mr. Casey told the participants. really fun and more importantly money, and to get more teams to Northwest Catholic and Hall. After dinner, Austin and his “Do the things in your life that you raised money for a good cause,” sign up,” said Andrew. “We plan Tables were arranged by father both gave short speeches have always dreamed of and, even Kennelly said. “There was also a on marketing more and spreading teams themed around different about the personal significance of though you are young, you never nice mix of categories with both the word and ultimately our goal candies, including Reese’s, Dubble the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alli- know what turns your life will take, easy and difficult questions.” for next year is 200 people.” What’s Inside this Issue: SPORTS OPINIONS ARTS FEATURES IN-DEPTH 52nd annual Missing you Candlelight A conversation A tale of two KIT begins already: saying concert echoes with Jennifer schools: Middle tomorrow goodbye to Hoj in Alumni Hall Egan and Upper Page 16 Page 6 Page 9 Page 11 Page 15 THURSDAY THURSDAY 2 December 18, 2014 News Editorials December 18, 2014 3 KO unveils details of renovation by Noah Stanton ’17 refurbishing the library into a Research Innovation Center, is not The KO “Master Plan” has quite as far along. But the focus of officially moved forward from this project will be to incorporate brainstorming to designing the both large, open meeting spaces plan’s three main phases: the as well as smaller, more quiet athletic facility, the Research conference rooms, much like the Innovation Center, and the new- ones currently in Chase-Tallwood. and-improved Roberts façade. “As long as I’ve been here, Head of School Dennis student space on campus has been Bisgaard said that KO has been a topic of discussion in a variety of working closely with James Rogers different ways,” Ms. McKee said. Architects to plan out a more “The library space and the conver- visual representation of the future sations that are happening there athletic center. “Now we are going are very exciting to think about.” from conceptual into the actual Mr. Bisgaard agreed. design phase,” he said. “It will be “Students seem to like to have a facility that everybody can use.” This image represents the future athletic center KO is planning to build. Photo courtesy of Kingswood Oxford School. smaller, private group rooms,” he An artist’s rendering was can be used for individual and early as 2016. “Within the next In addition to possibly said, which is why so many of them released on Monday, Dec. 8, team-based strength training. five years, we can probably printing a large-scale Wyvern will be included in the new building. portraying what the interior “It’ll be a multi-sport surface,” get all of this done,” he said. insignia on the large brick wall, So far, Ms. Demers has of the complex will generally she said. “It’s going to be an But the second phase of new connected glass doors will hosted two student focus groups look like, though this repre- amazing resource for all students.” the “Master Plan,” updating the be installed and covered by an about changes to the library, as sentation is subject to change. Assistant Head of School Roberts façade, is expected to awning. Directly inside, there will well as two faculty focus groups As of right now, the athletic for Student Life Carolyn Mckee begin in the much more imme- be a student lobby space to the and one meeting between students center will hold an updated lobby agreed. “With change comes diate future. “We could probably right and updated college advising and the architect on Tuesday, area, which opens up into the a lot of emotions,” she said, start the Roberts piece as early as offices to the left, so that, as Mr. Nov. 25. “We talked about what main compound that will feature “but I’m excited about that this summer,” Mr. Bisgaard said. Bisgaard said, they can be more people envisioned from that three basketball courts with drop- space as being multi-use.” The plan for the Roberts accessible to the student body. space,” she said. “Voice is just down hoops, several tennis courts, There are also plans inde- focuses on updating the school “We’re going to make it so important in this process.” indoor batting cages, and at least pendent of the master plan for entrance on Trout Brook, which into a much nicer entrance, a real Because this is such a one track lane around the entire installing six squash courts was originally intended as a back point of arrival,” he said. “You large-scale project, Mr. Bisgaard area for agility and speed practice. on-campus, most likely some- entry but, since the addition of the will probably see far more trees, said that acquiring the funds to Assistant Head of School where near the athletic complex. Middle School, is now where most so it looks and feels different complete it will call for some for Academic Life Natalie Demers Because the hockey rink of the students and faculty park.

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