EDITORIAL ARTS COMMUNITY FEATURES SPORTS What can be done about Rosencratz and Guildenstern Everyone’s a Winner at Bunion Thanksgiving Favorites October Athletes of the Varsity Banquet are Still Dead Derby and PowderPuff Month Page 2 Page 5 Page 6-7 Page 9 Page 11 WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY THE GLOBAL SCHOOL ® TLAS Volume III, Issue 2 A November 30, 2010 Wilbraham, MA 01095 Paul Sullivan Clutches Our Attention By JEREMY GILFOR ‘11 van presented “Responsibility and Senior Editor Why People Choke”. The author stressed that people must recog- The first thing you notice nize, accept, and then take respon- about Paul Sullivan is his big red sibility for both their triumphs and bow tie; it is disarming. You expect their mistakes, or else the results this financiero to babble on and could be catastrophic. on about Clutch, but instead, this He also noted that we, as soft-spoken man is telling you in a students, are not sports stars or rather conversational manner about multimillion dollar stockbrokers why some people succeed and oth- (yet) like many of the people in his ers fail. book. That being said, he believes Conversational is a rather that “all of [us] can become better adept way to describe Mr. Sullivan. under pressure” in whatever en- On his book, Clutch: Why Some deavors crop up in the future. People Excel Under Pressure and Sullivan says one key to Left to Right: Mr. LaBreque, Paul Sullivan, Ms. Donohue Others Don’t, Mr. Sullivan men- becoming better under pressure is tioned, “hopefully [Clutch] makes “the ability to do what you could successful are: focus, discipline, preparation. He believes “we often a point, but I don’t want people to normally do under extreme pres- adaptability, being present, and confuse people who are clutch be bored.” sure.” In his speech during School fear/desire. Subsequently, the three with people who are lucky…I And bored they are not— Meeting on November 11th, he factors that cause people to fail don’t believe the home run or the Sullivan maintains his colloquial presented his book and outlined are: lack of responsibility, over- shot at the buzzer is clutch. I don’t tone throughout the case study what he feels are the five traits that confidence, and over thinking. And believe the Hail Mary [pass] is built upon a wide range of people make people clutch and three that while Sullivan touched on each and clutch either. It has a component who succeed and fail under tre- make people choke. every one of these traits, he did not of luck—it’s not repeatable.” The mendous pressure. According to Clutch, the give away his book. author believes that a small number Sullivan defines clutch as: five aspects that make people In school meeting, Sulli- Continued on page 3 Mr. Rodger’s New Neighborhood By AUSTIN LITTLE ‘12 Capital donations are Global News Editor different from the annual fund. Capital gifts are used to fund long Entering Rich Hall, one term projects. Capital can be used passes a door directly across from for construction projects, like the Mr. LaBrecque’s office. Here a greenhouse or the gym. It can new member of the administra- also be used to contribute to the tion has begun to set the wheels in school’s endowment. motion to bring the fund raising One of Mr. Rodgers’ goals efforts of Wilbraham and Monson is to see contributions to the annual Academy into a new era. fund increase over his time at the Mr. Richard Rodgers has Academy. He plans to reach out to joined WMA as the new head of more alumni of the school, as well the Alumni Development office as to persuade parents of current from the University of Massachu- students to contribute more toward setts-Amherst. the annual fund. After 11 years at UMass, Mr. Rodgers also thinks Mr. Rodgers saw an ad for a new that the students at the academy head of alumni development at should start thinking about how WMA. Mr. Rodgers applied for A friendly new face, Mr. Rogers they will give back to the school job and interviewed with Mr. once they graduate. He hopes to LaBrecque for the position. also thinks that the Academy’s two types of money that can be get the senior class gift planning Mr. Rodgers says it is focus on understanding business, raised for the school: the annual started earlier in the year. He says Mr. LaBrecque who drew him economics, finance, and entrepre- fund and capital giving. that he would like to see each to the school. He describes Mr. neurship is a key selling point of The annual fund is the cur- year’s senior class begin think- Labrecque as “a strong leader” and the school. Because these are the rent money that helps the school ing about what they will give the says he “has a great vision for the main drivers of the modern econ- run from year to year. It can be school in the winter trimester, school.” omy, Mr. Rodgers believes it is used to provide scholarships, hire instead of the spring trimester like What specifically does Mr. important to begin addressing these new faculty, get team uniforms, the classes usually do. Rodgers like about WMA? For one subjects at the high-school level. or go toward building the school’s thing, he believes in the Academy’s Mr. Rodgers has great plans endowment. Continued on page 3 slogan, “The Global School.” He for fundraising at WMA. There are 2 Editorials ATLAS Staff Varsity Banquet: O Captain! My Captain! Mr. Cook and Mr. Kelly, changes By TERESA KENNEDY ‘12 Varsity Banquet is not the spectacle Editors-in-Chief to the banquet do not seem likely. Staff Writer that it is at WMA. Rather, schools Jeannette Viens ‘11 However, we must continue to hold varsity awards ceremonies Jeremy Gilfor ‘11 raise awareness for improvements either partially or completely as Jessica Duncan ‘11 in order to make the Varsity Ban- individual teams. WMA’s large quet attendance seem like less of a celebration is a great privilege for News Editor chore and more of a true celebra- winning teams and award-winning Jacqueline Smith ‘11 tion. In the meantime, glean what players whose successes are pub- pleasures you may from this WMA licly showcased. Department Editors tradition, and make sure to con- However, for losing teams Matthew Pajak ’11 gratulate fall varsity athletes on and players who did not win Austin Little ‘12 jobs well done! Sara Tardiff ‘12 awards, the Varsity Banquet can be a source of humiliation and indif- Production Editor/Photographer ference. The event consumes three Eric Diogun ‘11 hours that might be used towards studying for end-of-trimester tests. Faculty Advisor For winners at the banquet, Timothy Harrington Branden Piquette ‘11 and Chris Glabicky as they flood out of the dining hall ‘11 Boy’s Cross-Country Captains shortly after 9 o’clock, they are on Staff Writers cloud nine. For non-winners, hours Timothy Manghan ‘11 of speeches and perhaps the public Jason Duke ‘11 There are many rituals that showcase of their team’s failure do Evan Filkins ‘11 occur at the end of each trimester not generally yield such positive Timothy O’Reilly ‘11 at WMA: last-minute tests and responses. Nicholas Sarno ‘11 quizzes; boarders completing More people would actually Vivian Wang ‘11 forms enabling them to leave for enjoy the Varsity Banquet if it were Clare Bi ‘11 break; and playoffs for qualify- held at a more reasonable time. Teresa Kennedy ‘12 ing teams. Another timeless end- Why hold a three-hour banquet Chloe Snyder ‘11 Field Hockey Captain Max Rankin ‘12 of-trimester ritual at WMA, also on a school night during a testing Eva Landers ‘12 attended by playoff teams: the week, immediately before grades Alexandra Comey ‘12 Varsity Banquet. close? This puts extra stress on Nicholas Jalbert ‘12 In speaking with long-time both teachers and students. Arnelle Williams ‘13 WMA teachers, Mr. Cook and If WMA attempts to foster Emma Bourgeois ‘13 Mr. Kelly, I have learned that the student-athletes, wouldn’t this take Letters... Sarah Goolishian ‘13 Varsity Banquet has not incurred away from homework time? Ad- Nora Harrington ‘13 many changes during their tenures mittedly, many students have extra Mia Konstantakos ‘13 at the Academy. The one difference time when the banquet is held, While visiting WMA after between the banquets of today and since most sports have finished. attending Ms. Ramdas’ speech, I Faculty Writers those of yesteryear was the tempo- Despite this fact, there is certainly happily grabbed Volume III, Issue Christopher Ayers rary addition of a keynote speaker a more optimum time to hold the 1 of Atlas, a publication which I Melissa Donohue in the early 1980’s. Varsity Banquet. served as Business Manager years Acclaimed Celtics an- Ideally, this would be ago. As another way to increase nouncer Johnny Most was both during the first week of the new my awareness of Academy life, I Mr. Cook and Mr. Kelly’s favorite trimester, though not on a Monday enjoyed reading every article in speaker. The tradition of having a night. In hosting the banquet after your high-quality paper. I com- keynote speaker at the Varsity Ban- a trimester’s end, we would also ment now about one, “Goodbye Make your quet eventually dissolved, how- be able to celebrate teams that had Spa ...” ever, because it added extra time to been through the playoffs. Teach- In the 1950’s, the Spa (with the banquet. Mr. Cook also recalls ers, coaches, and students would be food, post office, three pool and voice heard! that captains’ speeches used to be under much less stress while finish- two ping pong tables) was in the shorter than in recent banquets.