The Rivers Edge - October 2008 - The Rivers School

Th e Ri v e r s Ed g e
Volume XXXVI, Number 2
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News..........................2
Opinions/Editorial.....4
Features.....................6
Arts............................8
Sports.......................10
News
Students participate in
summer science intership.
Page 3
The Rivers School, Weston, Massachusetts October 31, 2008
Jake Solomon completes over 1,000 hours of service
b y Ma d d y Le v i t t ‘09
Ed g e Sta f f
As we all know, Community
Service is a graduation requirement
at Rivers. All of us, no matter
what is in our hearts, make
sure to perform the thirty hours
of service at our own personal
peril. But what stands out is when
someone engages in a community
service activity that far exceeds
the thirty-hour requirement, and
does so for reasons other than
removing a potential obstacle to
graduation. Sometimes a student
develops a passion for his or her
community service because he
or she is motivated by the desire
to make a difference and give
back to the community. Obviously,
such an attitude is what is
truly important about community
service, and the development of
such a mindset is most likely
why the requirement was set in
the first place. Community service
reflects the “Humanity” side
of Rivers’ “Excellence with Humanity”
motto. What good is it to
have skills and knowledge if you
More colleges lean towards
SAT optional
b y Wi l l Sa h a k i a n ’09
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
One day, one chance. This
is how many students feel when
they sit down to take the SAT.
This test is a student’s chance to
help prove to a college or university
that he or she is the right
match for the school.
This perception, however, is
starting to change. At some colleges
and universities, students
are no longer required to submit
poor scores that may not reflect
their potential as a student.
In the past few years, more
colleges in the United States have
become SAT optional, which
could throw a twist into the college
process. There are no new
credentials, but the existing ones
are indeed going to carry more
weight.
Since 1984, the year the first
school dropped the SAT, there
have been 730 colleges that have
now gone SAT optional. This
choice takes some pressure off
poor test taking applicants, and
Jake Solomon ‘09 hard at work as the lightening director of TCAN
community theater.
allows them to just submit the
scores they feel best represent
their abilities.
Colleges such as Middlebury,
Bates, and Bowdoin have led the
way with this decision, and now
larger universities such as Wake
Forest have changed their opinions
on this matter, all going SAT
optional.
Ken Himmelmam, the dean of
Bennington College in Vermont,
told USA Today, “Whether they
get 1300 or 1250 doesn’t really
tell you anything about them as a
person or a student,”
At Wake Forest, the interview
has become critical to the decision
making process. Prior to the
university becoming SAT optional,
Wake interviewed between 10
and 20 percent of the prospective
students. Martha Allman, Director
of Admissions at Wake, said
that the school is now trying to get
close to interviewing, “as close to
100 percent as possible.”
Bates College in Lewiston
Maine has seen numerous changes
in its applicants since they
made submitting the SAT option-
Continued on page 2
do not apply them with compassion
and a sense of duty
In this regard, many of you
may have seen senior, Jake Solomon,
roaming the halls of Rivers.
He is known for his long hair and
his quiet manner. Well, it turns
out that this unassuming guy has
accomplished an incredible feat,
having completed over one thousand
hours of community service
during his Rivers career. Clearly
Thirty-two students in the class of
‘12 have a sibling at Rivers
b y Ja n e y Ad e s’12
Ed g e Sta f f
Whenever students walk
down the hallways of the Rivers
School, they are likely to see a familiar
face. For some, this face is
one that they have seen day in and
day out all their lives.
Kaleigh and McKenzie Hunt
have never before been in school
together, but this year is different.
Not only do they pass by each
other in the hallways exchanging
“Hello’s,” but every afternoon,
from 3:45 to 5:45, they play side
by side on the soccer field.
“Kenzie and I have never
played on the same soccer team
together. It’s not only the occasional
‘hi’ in the hallway, but
rather constant shifting, communication
and working together to
beat an opponent,” said Kaleigh,
senior co-captain of the girl’s varsity
soccer team.
Like the Hunts, any other Rivers
students attend school with
their siblings. This year, 125 out
of 433 Rivers students in grades
six through twelve have a sibling
on the Rivers campus, according
to the Rivers School 2008-2009
directory. This does not include
students who have a sibling that
graduated from Rivers over the
past several years. In 2003-2004
Features
Conservatory improvements
bolster
music community.
Page 7
something has driven him other
than the thirty-hour requiremen
Jake’s one thousand hours
were all served at The Center for
Arts in Natick (TCAN). TCAN is
a performing arts center that hosts
concerts every Friday and Saturday
night, and where other drama
performances, literary events, and
art exhibitions are held for people
of all ages. Classes in music, theatre,
dance, and visual arts, including
acting and improvisation
workshops, dance and creative
movement classes are also offered
regularly for students of all ages.
Nationally known performers
such as George Winston, Livingston
Taylor, and Jimmy Webb have
appeared at the center. But TCAN
is also committed to promoting
the careers of lesser known,
emerging artists and performers.
there were 47 families with siblings
ar Rivers, and in 2005-2006,
there were a total of 54 different
families who had more than
one child currently attending the
score. Each year, the number of
siblings that go to Rivers has visibly
increased. Today, there are
61 families with multiple children
who attend The Rivers School.
Most student believe that,
overall, it is beneficial to be in
school with their brother or sister
because there is always someone
to count on.
“We have been able to build
Arts
Mathers-Suter holds art
show at the Kingston
Gallery.
Page 8
Its community theatre has put on
top productions such as To Kill a
Mockingbird, Forever Plaid, and
Miracle on 34th Street.
Since TCAN is officially a
“community theater,” it consists
of a very small number of paid
employees (about four), so it
must rely largely on volunteers in
order to keep the shows running.
Jake has been the in-house lighting
director there for four years
now. He became involved at the
end of his eighth-grade year,
when he took an interest in and
selected the theater job as an end
of the year project. “I’ve gone almost
every Friday and Saturday
night during the school year since
then,” says Jake. This translates
into him typically spending about
five hours each day he is there
Continued on page 2
Senior Janey Ades ‘09 with siblings Andy ‘12 and Lindsey ‘14
up a relationship. We are able to
trust each other more,” said senior
Becca Duffy, referring to her
relationship with her brother Will,
a freshman at Rivers.
In order to develop a strong
sibling relationship, more quality
time together is necessary. According
to a study at Penn State
University published in 1996,
children spend 33% of their free
time with their siblings. For sisters
Kaleigh and McKenzie Hunt,
this includes playing together on
the soccer field. Other siblings
rock out to music in the car on
Continued on page 3
Sports
Effects of sports specialization
hurts Rivers
football.
Page 11

Page 2
News Briefs
--Taken from Rivers’ Website
Investment Analyst Speaks About The
Economics Of Alternative Energy
Michael Schlenker’s Alternative Energy Sources class
was treated to an illuminating talk by investment analyst
Zack Lesko about the economics of clean-tech companies
and the financial viability of alternative energy technologies,
such as solar power, wind power, and biofuel.
As part of the Capital Markets team at America’s
Growth Capital, Lesko focuses on the clean tech/alternative
energy, health care, and life sciences sectors. He
delivered the first of what Schlenker hopes will be many
classroom talks and presentations by professionals in the
fields of sustainability and green energy.
The Alternative Energy Sources course is a first-trimester
elective intended to have students examine the current
energy situation as well as possible alternatives. “My
goal,” Schlenker said, “is to provide an introduction to the
topic and create motivation in students for further study.”
Middle School Students Share Rivers
with Grandparents
Monday, October 20 marked Rivers’ annual Grandparents’
Day at the Middle School, in which students
were able to bring their grandparents to campus to attend
classes and get a better sense of their educational experiences
at Rivers.
Susan McGee, Head of the Middle School, said that the
event is a tradition at Rivers that lets grandparents step
into their grandchildren’s shoes for a day. “It’s a unique
opportunity to meet teachers and learn more about kids’
experiences,” McGee said. “So that now, when grandparents
ask their grandchildren, ‘how’s school’ … there’s a
familiarity.”
In Bookstores Today—Juggling Twins by
Meghan Regan-Loomis
This past month, Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks,
and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years, by
Meghan Regan-Loomis hit bookstores. Regan-Loomis,
the Chair of the English Department at The Rivers
School, is a mother of three children.
The intent of her book is to help parents and soon-to-be
parents of twins prepare for and manage the first year of
having twins, as those months can be most overwhelming,
exhausting, and frustrating. Regan-Loomis takes her
experiences with caring for her own twins, along with the
invaluable information gained by networking with other
twin moms and the overall inspiration she receives daily
from her students, and brings them together in a guide
that offers specific advice to help parents create the time
and calm to enjoy the blissful elements of having twins.
The Rivers Edge
Continued from page 1
as he takes responsibility for the
show’s lighting. This is obviously
a huge chunk of time in the life
of a busy high school student who
needs to balance the demands of
schoolwork, sports, and other extra
curricular activities.
So why, you may ask, has Jake
continuously given up nearly
ten hours of his weekend for his
Optional SATs prompt debate
Continued from page 1
al. Statistics show that there was
an increase in minority applicants
and only a .05 difference in grade
point average between those that
submit SAT scores and those that
do not.
“Bates is one of my first choices,”
said Bo Cramer, a Rivers senior.
“If I had to submit my SAT
scores, I don’t know if I would
get in. They simply do not reflect
my GPA like I would want them
to.”
Franklin and Marshall is another
top ranked liberal arts college
that has gone SAT optional.
This change helped certain students,
who may have thought that
they would have been hurt by
their SAT scores.
“We focus more on the student’s
transcript whether a student
submits his score or not,” said an
assistant dean of admissions.
“I chose not to submit my
scores because my transcript and
extra curricular activities put me
in a better light,” said Trevor
Donnelly a freshman at Franklin
and Marshall. Donnelly was a
two sport varsity athlete and in
the honors society at St. Marks
in Southborough, Massachusetts.
He was also a soccer and golf recruit
for the college.
Stonehill is also a college that
decided to go SAT optional.
“I submitted my SAT scores,
to show that I was a good test taker
and to support my grade point
average,” said Jill Federshneider,
a senior at Stonehill College and
previously of Newton South High
School. At Newton South, Federshneider
was an all league swimmer,
and stood out in the classroom
as well.
The head of admissions at
Stonehill expressed an interest in
digging deep into the transcript
and the recommendations to figure
out what a student is like and
and people are looking to cut
costs. Anyone who loves the arts
knows that they should not be
considered expendable luxuries.
It is also important to develop an
appreciation of the arts in young
people, and TCAN allows them
both the actual training as well as
the inspiration. Jake acknowledges
that alongside his commitment
to the cause that TCAN serves, he
himself derives personal benefit.
He raves about his positive experiences
there, and says, “I keep
doing it because it’s definitely
something I have an interest in
as far as a possible career choice.
It’s somewhere where I know I
can show up every weekend and
it’s guaranteed that I’ll be able to
work a show.” Obviously, alongside
its more giving component,
community service can provide
life experience that may help to
shape one’s own future paths.
We know that Jake is but one
example of a Rivers student whose
foray into community service,
even if it began as an obligation,
has blossomed into something
much more meaningful and has
become an ongoing part of his or
her life. Some of us would have
gotten involved anyway; others
if he or she is qualified.
Andrew Navoni, a senior at
Rivers, is thinking of applying to
Merrimack College and knows he
is applying to Curry College this
fall. Both of these schools are
SAT optional. Navoni finished
his junior year at Rivers strong
academically and is continuing to
meet with success during his senior
year. He is also looking to
possibly play lacrosse at Curry.
“A portion of the pressure is
lifted, knowing that everything
does not rely on this one test,”
said Navoni. “I have worked hard
to improve my grades and boost
my GPA for the college process,
and I am glad to know some colleges
feel as if these along with
other things can be judged without
the SAT.”
“He is a good friend and teammate,”
an anonymous teammate
said, “Nav is one of those people
you can look to as example on the
field, and takes advice as well on
the field as he gives it.”
These characteristics are some
of the added qualities that can
jump out at an interviewer during
an interview, that may have more
of an impact when not submitting
SAT scores.
A huge part of the SAT process
is the test preparation before
a student actually take the test.
This preparation is key to getting
a good score on the test. The
tutors teach the knowledge one
needs to get through the test, as
well as the necessary test takingstrategies.
Such lessons can cost
up to $200 for a two-hour group
lesson, and up to $200 for a one
and a half hour personal lesson.
“Money plays a huge part
in one’s success on the SAT; it
seems like it plays a big part of
everything nowadays,” said Domenic
Delfavero, a Rivers senior.
The fact of the matter is that
October 31, 2008
Solomon gives back at local theatre
“I’ve gone almost every
Friday and Saturday night
during the school year since
eighth grade.”
entire high school career to take
on this volunteer job As Jake
describes his work at the Center,
it is clear that his commitment
is driven by his passion for and
interest in what he is doing. As
a critical member of the TCAN
staff, Jake is part of a group that
allows people access to the arts in
a convenient, affordable manner.
Such centers become especially
important in times such as these
when the economy is in trouble
of us needed the requirement, but
most of us have discovered new
passions along the way. For those
of you who have already completed
or are continuing to provide
community service, Jake’s
story suggests that we could all
benefit from knowing more about
“I keep doing it because it’s
something I have an interest
in as far as a possible career
choice. It’s somewhere where
I know I can show up every
weekend, and it’s guaranteed
that I’ll be able to work a
show.”
what one another is doing. For
those of you who have yet to fulfill
your requirement, Jake’s story
emphasizes that if you take the
time to find a community service
activity that is meaningful to you,
it may become gratifying in many
ways.
many families cannot afford to
send their kids to test prep. This
can play a part in the difference in
scores that people get. By making
the SAT optional to submit,
a student can feel confident that
if he does not submit his test, he
still has an equal chance of being
accepted and will be judged on
other credentials.
Chyten is a leading test prep
company in Massachusetts, with
“The SAT is an accurate
way of testing a student’s
knowledge of vocabulary, math
and reading skills.”
-Chyten tutor
three locations in the state. The
company also has tutors that
work with kids on college essays,
which is the other key component
of the application.
The same tutor went on to say,
“Although the test is a good measure
of academics, it does not test
four major, if not more important,
characteristics character, people
skills, effort and determination.”
He finished his statement by
saying, “ No matter how qualified
the student is, or how good
the student’s school was, without
some form of these four characteristics,
one will almost never
fully live up to their potential.”
The topic of the SAT option is
still being debated at many colleges
and universities in the US,
and it is safe to say that more in
the future will indeed go SAT optional.
The only way to find out is
to review the listings in the summer
and fall of 2009.

October 31, 2008
The Rivers Edge
Rivers community enhanced by sibling students
Continued from page 1
Page 3
the way to school, help each other
with homework, give one another
advice and so much more. Being
in school together adds to this; it
gives them the opportunity to be
a larger part of each other’s lives
and not only see each other in the
home environment.
In this year’s freshmen class
at Rivers, there are 32 students
with siblings at Rivers. Out of
these students, 19 of them have
a brother or sister who is also in
the Rivers Upper School. Knowing
someone in the Upper School,
especially a sibling, helps make
incoming freshmen more comfortable
in their new environment.
Teachers know your name,
older siblings’ friends know who
you are and can help you, and you
know the dynamics of the school.
“Having a brother or sister on
campus can be beneficial for the
younger sibling, especially during
freshman year,” said Dana Ryan,
a student at Lehigh University and
writer for the student publication,
‘The Brown and White’.
Going to the same private
school with one of your siblings
is different than it would be to
attend the same public school together.
The freshmen classes at
many public schools are the size
of Rivers as a whole. Siblings
Maddy Levitt ‘09 and Jonathan ‘12 are one of the many senior-freshman
sibling pairs. Photo by The Levitt Family.
might never even see each other attend the same school as their
during the day at a public school, sibling. Being together in school
but this is not the case at Rivers. with an older sibling can force
Each student at Rivers sees his or some younger students to live in
her brother or sister at least once their siblings’ shadows. There is
during the academic day. constant pressure to get the same
Some people believe that it grades and be involved in the
is not always a smart choice to same activities as your brother or
sister. This can be true especially
at a small school like Rivers.
Math teacher Dan McCartney
believes that although there are
advantages to being in school
with a brother or sister, there are
disadvantages as well. “In public
school you are expected to go to
that school, but in private school
you have a choice. Younger siblings
feel like they don’t have a
choice as much; they want to be
like their older sibling. Younger
kids get referred to as ‘someone’s
little brother,’ but they want their
own identity.”
Catie Walsh, a senior at Rivers,
is one out of ten children in her
family. For the past four years she
has had the opportunity to form
her own identity here on the Rivers
campus. Walsh says not being
in school with any of her siblings
has given her a chance to be an
individual.
Although some students are
able to build up their own identities
without the influence of
their siblings at school, the lives
of parents are made easier when
their kids are in school together.
“Keeping siblings at the same
school focuses parent energies on
one school, one set of practices,
one PTA, one school culture,”
said Daunna Minnich, who wrote
an article in the ACIE Newsletter
in Palo Alto, CA about sibling
preference. “Parents with children
in separate schools sometimes
must choose which event to
attend or which school to contribute
in various ways.”
Nina Delfavero, mother of
senior Domenic and sophomore
Marissa, thinks it is nice having
her children in school together and
that it has helped to make them
closer. An added benefit of this is
the fact that parents do not have
to spend their afternoons driving
from one school to another picking
up their children, because everyone
is moving roughly on the
same schedule.
“Siblings at Rivers are a true
testament to the trust between
home and school--families believe
in the essential partnership
and, as a result, seem to have all
of their children enjoy the invaluable
benefits that Rivers offers,”
said Assistant Head of School and
Dean of Students, Jim Long.
For the Hunt sisters, they are
the first ones each other sees in
the morning and the last one they
each see at night. It makes their
bond between them grow and
their four year age gap fade away,
thanks to their time together at
Rivers.
Students explore interests at summer science internships
pitching the product to potential
customers. Creedon also worked
with the marketing and research
and development departments,
which gave her a wide view of
the business aspects of scientific
corporations. Although Creedon’s
application note would have been
an extremely impressive culmination
to her internship, she took her
research a step further. Creedon
submitted a poster that detailed
her research to the Federation of
Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopic
Societies (FACSS).
Much to her surprise, not only
was her poster accepted into the
conference but Creedon was also
asked to speak at the FACSS’s
conference in Reno, Nevada.
To understand the significance
of this accomplishment, one must
conjure up a mental picture of the
FACSS. The conference was a
gathering of experts in the field of
mass spectrometry: middle aged
scientist types, who have vocabularies
that exceed the comprehension
of normal IQ’s, and a seventeen
year old high school senior,
who not only spoke at the conb
y Je n n Po l l a n ‘09
Ed g e Sta f f
While many of her classmates
were lounging on lawn chairs
and perfecting their tans, Senior
Emily Creedon was examining
the insides of mice. Creedon and
several other Rivers students
spent the summer immersed in
scientific research through the
Rivers Scrience Department’s Internship
Program. While Creedon
worked in a research laboratory
alongside fellow senior Stefen
Laukien for Bruker Daltonics,
her classmate Kate Burns worked
in the simulation lab and Cardiac
and Medicial/Surgical Intensive
Care Units at Children’s Hospital.
In addition, seniors Matt
Robinson and Matt Segal and junior
Alex Post threw themselves
into their own science internships.
Think that sounds like a
pretty dull summer Think again.
While some may scoff at the idea
of “wasting” summer days toiling
around in laboratories, all
of these students participated in
cutting edge research alongside
the top scientists in their chosen
field. When asked to sum up her
experience, Creedon gushes, “It
was incredible.”
Creedon became well acquainted
with the field of mass
spectrometry during her summer
stint. She worked for Bruker
Daltonics a company that manufactures
mass spectrometers,
devices that measure the mass
of substances. Creedon and her
colleagues learned about the
machines through experimentation
in order to aid the company
in marketing and selling their
product. The specific experiment
Creedon conducted dealt with the
effects of anti-brain tumor drugs
Emily Creedon ‘09 hard at work at her summer internship with a company that manufactures mass spectrometers.
Photo by Emily Creedon.
in mouse tissue. When asked
about what it was like to work
with these tiny creatures, Creedon
responded with a smile, “They
were so cute. I even have pictures
of all of them.” Although to some
the practice of examining internal
organs may seem repulsive,
Creedon remarks that the situation
was, “more cool than gross”
and shakes her head when asked
whether she named the mice. “If
by naming them you mean E30
and M19,” she responds with a
smile. So maybe Creedon won’t
be adopting any of these mice as
pets, but she certainly got to know
their insides pretty intimately.
Using the mass spectrometer,
Creedon examined tiny slices of
mouse tissue that were about ten
cells thick. Based on her observations,
Creedon could discern not
only information about the antitumor
drugs in question but also
the capabilities in marketing.
The goal of Creedon’s research
was ultimately to help Bruker
Daltonics educate its customers
about the different applications of
the product. To that end, Creedon
wrote an application note, which
is an internal publication that is
intended to help the company
facilitate this education. Picture
a user’s manual, throw in some
complicated scientific jargon, and
you have crafted a pretty good
picture of an application note.
Crafting the application note was
particularly enjoyable for Creedon
because of her interest in the business
aspect of science. “Although
I loved working in the lab, there
is no way I would want to it for
a living. What really interests me
is the business aspect of scientific
corporations. For someone who is
interested in science, who doesn’t
want to spend life enclosed in a
lab, working in a scientific corporation
is a really interesting way
to combine business and science
into a comprehensive profession,”
says Creedon.
Drawing on her interest in
business, Creedon threw herself
not only into research but also
into the sales of the product.
She accompanied one of her colleagues
on a sales visit to UMass
Amherst and assisted him in
ference, but also expertly fielded
questions about Bruker-Daltonic’s
products and her research.
As the only high school student
at the conference, Creedon held
her own among the experts and
gave an excellent twenty minute
presentation.
In preparation for her scientific
debut, Creedon went to a presentation
boot camp of sorts. “I spent
six hours at Bruker-Daltonics going
over the product in extreme
depth so that I could answer any
question no matter how complex
it was. We also went over a variety
of presentation skills and
went over my presentation again
and again until I was sure I was
ready to face the conference.”
After her boot camp experience,
Creedon set out on her adventure.
“I flew out to Nevada by myself
and spent the night there. I was
really calm and then the minute
before my presentation, I got this
rush of nerves” Creedon says
with a smile. Always the modest
achiever, Creedon blushes when
praised for her numerous accomplishments
and conveys how
grateful she was for such an opportunity.
Although Creedon might not
spend too much more time hanging
out with rats in a lab, through
her internship she developed a
passion for science that she will
carry with her to whatever career
she ultimately chooses. Maybe
one day Creedon will be the highpowered
CEO of a scientific corporation,
or perhaps a researcher
who finds the cure for cancer.
Wherever she lands in twenty
years, one thing is for sure, her
work with her good friends E30
and M19 will never be far from
her heart.

Page 4 The Rivers Edge October 31, 2008
Editorial
All school assembies, good
for just a laugh
Not the goldfish! Tell me he’s not going to eat the goldfish!
Cowering in my seat, I tried to hide from what I knew was the
inevitable. I had seen the Regurgitator swallow everything that
sat on the table next to the fish tank for the past half hour now,
ingested Butane, sugar, cigarette smoke, a billiard ball, and Rubix
cube, all the while prodding the poor fish. But as I watched little
Moby Dick swim back and forth I could not smother the sense of
impending doom that seemed to loom over the poor fellow.
While I had learned all about the anatomy of the digestive
system in ninth grade biology class and considered myself to be
a science nerd, I’m pretty sure that the Regurgitator was far from
educational. However, with a few exceptions of hesitant, somewhat
queasy students such as myself, the student body seemed to
love every minute of the assembly. The crowd would boisterously
applaud with each successful regurgitation, laughing as he teased
two underclassmen girls, crying out for more challenging feats.
Now, flash forward exactly one week to another, very different,
assembly. This week, the school had invited an internationally
renowned inspirational speaker to discuss our all-school summer
reading, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Clearly
this was meant to be an educational assembly. However, I could
not help but notice the stark contrast between reactions to the two
assemblies. After reading the powerful book this summer, I was
intrigued to hear about the conflict from the perspective of Sarian
Bouma, born and raised in Sierra Leone. However, after the meeting,
I felt unsatisfied, a reaction echoed by the rest of the student
body. Nothing against the speaker, but she did not seem to be
able to command the attention of the audience quite as well as the
Regurgitater had.
These two assemblies are only two examples of the sporadic
special all-school meetings granted to the student body a few times
a year. Clearly, they are quite different. But, during a time when
students are panicking over interim grades and seniors are scrambling
to finish their college applications, sometimes all that is
needed is some light-hearted humor from a man who swallows live
goldfish for a living. Truly entertaining assemblies do not always
need to be educational. The most powerful are those that students
reminisce about for days following, and those that bring a smile to
their faces. As inspirational as Sarian Bouma truly was, in thirty
years students will most likely still recall the Regurgitator’s coarse
humor and his strange talent, signs of an assembly that has made a
far stronger impact.
Th e Ri v e r s Ed g e
OPINIONS
AN OPEN FORUM FOR THE RIVERS COMMUNITY
Breakfast: the meal of champions
b y Al e x Dr e w’10
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
Breakfast, it’s the meal of
champions, national merit scholars,
Michael Phelps, and that lady
who gives people bowls of Honey
Bunches of Oats during the cereal
commercial. It truly is the most
important meal of the day, and the
most delicious. I have yet to meet
a breakfast entrée I do not like.
There are eggs, sausage, bacon,
pancakes, waffles, cereal, granola,
oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches,
yogurt, smoothies, etc. It is all
so good that sometimes one even
has breakfast for dinner or lunch.
Breakfast is also the best because
of its staple drink, coffee.
Sadly, most of us have little
time for this delectable meal. We
choose ten minutes of sleep over
breakfast. However, that is truly
unnecessary. Breakfast will give
you more energy and make you
feel better rested than ten minutes
of sleep ever will. And in that 10
minutes, you can make and enjoy
more than just a bowl of cereal.
How about an omelet or maple
oatmeal Maybe even a smoothie.
My ideal breakfast choice is
eggs. They fill me up until lunch
and are healthy and easy to make.
For the world’s easiest omelet,
crack two eggs in a bowl and
whisk with a fork. If you want
to add pesto or sundried tomatoes
to your eggs, whisk them in
now. I recommend this because
it’s delicious, and the good fats in
the pesto will fill you up. A good
rule of thumb, if you would put it
on pasta, it’s good in an omelet.
Spray some nonstick spray onto a
small skillet and preheat the skillet
for a second on medium low
heat. Pour the eggs in the skillet
and fold the omelet over when
the eggs are cooked through. You
know they’re done if, when you
tilt the skillet, no uncooked egg
moves around. Do not stand there
watching them cook; that eats up
valuable time. I usually use the
cooking time to go find socks for
my gym bag, to brew coffee or to
find a jacket. Once you have mastered
this (it should only take one
try to master, maybe two if you’re
having a bad day), start getting
creative. Add fresh basil, chopped
peppers, or cheese before folding
it over and try whisking in different
pestos and spices. If you’re in
a rush, you can throw the omelet
into a tortilla or between a bagel
and wrap it in tinfoil. The perfect
meal for attempting to drive and
study at the same time. If the
omelet is a little too ambitious,
try oatmeal. For quick cook oats,
it’s one cup water for every ½
cup oats. Use that ratio, and microwave
for two minutes. To the
cooked oats, I usually like to stir
in a tablespoon or so of maple
syrup. Or sometimes a few drops
of vanilla extract with a dash of
cinnamon. I even have stirred in
some peanut butter, grapenuts,
and gobs of brown sugar. Oatmeal
is extremely healthy and will keep
you full until second lunch.
If you’re in too much of a rush
to eat breakfast, make a smoothie.
For the most part, you can get really
creative with what you dump
in the blender. I usually do a few
scoops of yogurt as a base and add
some frozen fruit. Any mixture of
strawberries, whole bananas, berries,
mangos or peaches is guaranteed
to turn out good. Sometimes
I even add a splash of juice,
spoonful of peanut butter, or a few
drops of vanilla extract, depending
on what is in the fridge. And I
always toss in a handful of grapenuts
or granola before hitting the
blend button. Pour this in a plastic
cup and you are ready for school.
The most glorious part about
breakfast is the large amounts of
caffeine you may down. I enjoy a
cup of coffee with breakfast and
then tea during the drive. I prefer
the French press method for
making coffee. It requires a few
more steps than the machine, but
it produces a better result. I usually
brew loose leaf tea, because
it’s the finest quality, and use a
strainer to make it.
So if you’re already getting up
ten minutes earlier, and somehow
can’t manage to find the time
to make any of these delicious
breakfast items, you’re left with
just enough time to make a pit
stop along the way. My personal
favorites are Lincoln Street Coffee
and Peet’s Coffee and Tea,
both located in Newton. Their
pastries are the best and the coffee
is the highest quality. But very
few people are fortunate enough
to drive past those wonderful
establishments on their way to
school. The best breakfast sandwich
in the area is hands down at
Finagle a Bagel. I love the winner
breakfast: panini and a sausage,
egg & cheese on a whole wheat
everything bagel. Their coffee is
good too. Dunkin Donuts makes
a solid breakfast sandwich too,
but it does not stack up compared
to Finagle. Dunkin’s makes the
best iced coffee and hot chocolate
by far. Their hot coffee is not
the best, and I find some of their
blended drinks strange, but I am
still there a few times a week for
my medium iced coffee with skim
milk. Yum. Starbucks is the king
of all possible morning stops.
They are the fastest, their coffee
is great, and they make a mean
latte. The food is not always the
best, but a pumpkin spice latte
is better than most foods I have
tried. All in all, if you are going
to stop for food in the morning,
it had better be good. Remember,
breakfast is the meal of champions,
and don’t you want to be
a champion Find more great
breakfast ideas at www.imfreakinhungry.blogspot.com.
The Rivers Edge
Co-Editors-in-Chief............................ ........Cara Bigony ’09
Kate Burns ’09
Assistant Editor ........................................Maddy Levitt ‘09
News Editor....................................................Jenn Pollan’09
Features Editor..........................................Katie Voorhes ’09
Opinions Editor..........................................Maddy Levitt ‘09
Arts Editors..............................................Brittany Dixon ‘09
Sports Editor.......................................Adam Lowenstein ’10
Faculty Advisor...............................................Mary Mertsch
Contributing Writers: Hannah Armstrong ‘10, Ethan Bauer ‘11,
Melissa Benjamin ‘11, Laura Blackett ‘09, Ian Brownstein ‘09,
Brittany Dixon ‘09, Ryan Drake ‘10, Alex Drew ‘10, Michele
Edelman ‘10 , Ben Foley ‘09, Jonathan Levitt ‘12, Stephanie Lie
‘11, Andrew Navoni ‘09, Ben Silberstein ‘10, Dave Tackeff, Dan
Singer ‘10, Rebecca Solomons ‘10, Matt Tanner ‘12; Photographers:
Maddy Levitt, The Levitt Family, Adam Lowenstein, Tim
Morse.
THE RIVERS EDGE is p u b l i s h e d b y t h e s t u d e n t s o f Th e Ri v e r s
Sc h o o l a n d m ay b e s u b s c r i b e d to f o r t w e n t y d o l l a r s a y e a r. THE
EDGE is a f o r u m f o r t h e i d e a s a n d c o n c e r n s o f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y, a n d
l e t t e r s a n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s f r o m t h e e n t i r e Ri v e r s c o m m u n i t y-s t u d e n t s,
fa c u lt y, staff, pa r e n t s a n d a l u m n i- a r e w e l c o m e d a n d e n c o u r a g e d. Uns
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r e q u e s t. We r e s e rv e t h e r i g h t to e d i t a l l l e t t e r s b o t h f o r s i z e a n d
c o n t e n t. Pl e a s e s e n d to Th e Ed i t o r, THE RIVERS EDGE, 333 Wi n t e r
St r e e t, We s t o n, MA 02493.

October 31, 2008 The Rivers Edge Page 5
Letters to the Editors
Do the bus schedules
keep students in mind
Dear The Rivers Edge,
I am contacting the school paper in regard to my feelings about
the Boston and Northeastern bus schedules. Bottom line: the school bus
schedule in the afternoon needs to change, specifically on Wednesdays
and Fridays. For those who are not familiar with the schedule, there is
only one Boston and Northeastern bus that departs at six o’clock p.m.
sharp on those particular days. Ironically, these are the days that Rivers
students get out the earliest. The truth is, if there were an earlier bus on
Wednesdays and Fridays for students not doing an activity after school,
bus students would have more time to get home earlier and accomplish
what needs to be done outside of school.
When asked the question, “Why is there only one late bus on early
release days,” a faculty member responded by explaining that the reason
is that, on those game days, students who take the bus should spend
those long four to five hours watching the Rivers games taking place
on campus. What confuses me is that if the students who take any of
the two buses have to stay to “watch games,” why are other Rivers
licensed drivers allowed to leave when they please if they have no priorities
after school on campus Why don’t they have to stay from one
forty p.m. or two thirty p.m. at least until six o’clock Don’t get me
wrong; I believe that showing school spirit and supporting our school’s
teams are important throughout this high school experience. Although,
it isn’t guaranteed that these sports games are always going to be home
on game days. In general, it is quite unfair that students whose only option
is to take the bus don’t get the choice to leave when we please.
The school’s decision to have just one late bus for each bus route
on early dismissal days affects students’ schedules outside of Rivers,
limiting their time for activities outside of school. For instance,
a sophomore who takes the Boston bus has traditional dance rehearsals
throughout the week, including Wednesdays. However, not always
guaranteed a ride from the Rivers School to Back Bay Station by a generous
driver, she would have to attend a later rehearsal that goes from
eight o’clock to ten o’clock. Therefore, she would risk taking the train
at night and getting home at eleven o’clock. On another note, there is a
junior who has free time after school and would love to get a part-time
job. However, because his only option is to take the bus on Wednesday
and Friday, he cannot get hired due to the fact that he gets home so late.
I personally would enjoy visiting The Badger & Rosen Squashbusters
Facility daily because t hat is the place where I am most productive and
can complete my school assignments thoroughly. However, taking the
six o’clock bus would get me to that building around six fifty p.m. It’s
hard enough getting home at seven thirty p.m. on these late days and
getting up at five o’clock in the morning, every morning, and leaving
home at six twenty to take a stuffed MBTA bus and train, rushing to
catch the bus in the morning.
On days when students are dismissed earlier, almost everyone
claims that we who have to wait for the bus should use that time to get
homework done at school. Once that time is taken up, what else is there
to accomplish The scenery is beautiful but would you enjoy staring at
a tree for more than two hours I think not.
Another issue is the cost of buses, which is another claimed reason
for one late Boston and Northeastern bus on game days. Honestly, the
school doesn’t need an entire bus for the kids who would like to leave
early. Instead, something as simple as a van would be efficient and
would take the driver less time to get to the destination than it would if
he were driving a large bus.
An earlier ride provided by the school on Wednesdays and Fridays
would make the lives of those who take one of the two buses much
easier and less stressful, and that would make future school years run
much smoother.
- Rochelle Galvao ‘10
Clubs need more time
Rivers should designate more time to clubs. Sophomore year I
traipsed through the club fair enthused by the prospect of participating
in a great array of activities. Within a week, I realized that it is impossible
to be involved in all the clubs that I’m interested in. In fact, even
with only two clubs I often face conflicting meeting times. Now that
Rivers has cut club block to a mere once a week, students are forced
to limit their participation in clubs, or run the risk of being overscheduled.
Other high schools allow much more time for club meetings
which strengthens their sense of community.
Rivers loves sports. Most groups of friends originate and revolve
around sports teams. Why Athletic teams bring together students with
a common passion. Clubs could do the same thing. From my experience
with Model UN, clubs can be a great way to meet new people
that have the same interests as you. Often times, these are people in
other grades with whom you may never have had the chance to interact
otherwise. Creating these connections is what builds stronger
communities.
With the addition of more club time, Rivers students could pursue
more of their interests. All together, we could construct a stronger
community.
-Leslie Sachs ‘10
Your trash is now my treasure
b y La u r a Bl a c k e t t ‘09
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
The night before trash day is
my favorite night of the week.
Every Tuesday after I return
from school my mom asks with
wide eyes and a look of childish
excitement if I’m ready for
another “midnight requisition.”
This, I learned at a very young
age, is code for our patrolling
the neighborhood claiming our
neighbors’ wrongfully discarded
“trash.” We love the rusty and
barely functional, the decrepit
wooden furniture, and the outdated
and faded things that most
people overlook.
At ten o’clock (which, for my
mother, might as well be midnight)
I hear a tap on my door.
“Laura,” she whispers, “it’s
22:00, time to roll out.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll be out in a
sec.”
“Roger that.”
I emerge and see my mother’s
petite frame dressed entirely in
black. She scolds me.
“You know you’re supposed
to call me Jack Bauer!”
I try to explain to her that
Jack Bauer fights terrorists, he
doesn’t root through people’s
garbage looking for home décor,
but she’s already on her way to
the garage.
Our minivan crawls at hearse
speed through our neighborhood
as we examine the piles of garbage
at the end of each driveway.
On most nights we only spot
trash and the occasional moldy
reclining chair, but if we’re
lucky, we find broken wooden
furniture, dusty boxes, and rusty
metal things. We find objects
with potential that most people
overlook – beautiful pieces with
character that are just waiting for
sandpaper and stain.
Once we return home with
the various discards from our
neighbors’ lives we clean them,
repair them, and find them a
place in our own house.
Now, before you conjure a
false image of our home as a
cluttered pit filled with garbage,
let me assure you that everything
that enters our house will have a
purpose. Sneaking around with
my parents after curfew is only
half the fun. The other half is the
process of restoring old beauty
and finding an entirely new function
for these neglected items.
The planters in our garden are
repurposed pig troughs; we use
a wooden toolbox for kitchen
storage, and an old ammunition
case to hold CDs. The bookshelf
in our living room is a recycled
shoe rack from a shoe factory…
from a time when shoes actually
were made in the US.
Enormous effort is invested
in finding and renovating these
items, but then we have to hide
them. We can’t invite our neighbors
into our home for fear that
they will spot our re-upholstered
ottoman. Which used to be their
ottoman. Whenever we have
dinner parties, we must urge
Mrs. Forte away from the back
room where we have hidden her
old wooden desk as if it were our
hostage, and we can no longer
make eye contact with the couple
that lives across the street after
they returned home from a late
night out and caught us maneuvering
their dresser into the trunk
of our van.
A more important result of
our midnight requisitions is my
love of junk – a love that is more
than my inner bargain hunter
trying to save money or my inner
environmentalist trying to reduce
waste. To me there’s something
special about filling my room
with things that have more history
than anything you could find
at Ikea, and I enjoy approaching
what other people consider trash
with creativity and innovation.
I slam on the brakes and
enter a state of giddy excitement
whenever I pass a junk
shop or even see a “free stuff”
sign on the side of the road, and
on Tuesday nights my mother
and I peer out the window with
anticipation, trying to spot
anything worth saving. We patrol
town, collecting the forgotten
fragments of our neighborhood,
and if we’re lucky enough to
find that perfect thing, we take it
home and store it in the garage,
knowing that in a week we might
not be able to have the Fortes
over, but we’ll be surrounded by
the character and beauty that we
restored. Then, after sunrise on
Wednesday, the Dumpster divers
in us go home, and we return to
our cover as a well-behaved New
England family.

Page 6
The Rivers Edge
Features
October 31, 2008
Election 2008: The candidates’ positions on key topics
Barack Obama
b y Be n Si l b e r s t e i n ’10
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
Barack Obama—the man, the
legend. Yes, the Democratic contender
for the Presidency of this
fine country, the United States. In
possibly one of the most important
elections of our time, Obama
stands for positive change. And
yes, every other politician in the
history of civilization has said
the same thing, but in this case,
Obama directly opposes our current
Bush Administration. Because
of this, change seems a
likely possibility. Here’s where
Barack Obama stands on the following
issues:
The Economy
Maybe you noticed, but the
United States’ economy is in an
unfortunate place. The current
Bush Administration took over
the Presidency with nearly a $6
trillion surplus, and has now left
us trillions in debt. There is panic
in the stock market, and there is
talk about another Depression.
Obama proposes that he will
tax oil companies (a “Windfall
Tax”), which will initially put
a $1,000 energy rebate in the
hands of many American families.
The goal here is to help families
pay rising bills. Obama’s
second major plan is to stimulate
the economy with a $50 billion
package, half directed towards
job security, the other half directed
towards education and health.
Finally, Obama intends to put a
tax in place that benefits 95% of
American families. Any family
or business with an income of
less than $250,000 will receive
a tax cut. Obama’s intends to revitalize
the economy while emphasizing
the well-being of the
middle class of America.
The War in Iraq
Depending on opinion, the
War in Iraq has either been a
catastrophic failure or a success.
Barack Obama agrees with the
first sentiment, that this War has
been a disaster. That we were
“careless getting in.” On a pure
statistical basis, this has been one
of the longest wars in our history:
longer than both World Wars and
the Civil War. 4,000 Americans
have died, and 60,000 have been
wounded. It seems we entered the
“But in this election, and in
these upcoming years, understanding
the world around us
has never been more important.”
grants, making them “wait years
for applications.” Either way,
there is an immigration crisis.
While Obama intends to make
the borders more secure, he still
wishes to keep immigrant families
together. He has put an emphasis
on working on economic development
with Mexico, to get rid of
the incentive to immigrate to the
United States. He also intends to
give current well-standing illegal
immigrants the opportunity to become
citizens. In other words, he
means to cut off immigration at
the source. At the same time, he
intends to help those who have
already immigrated.
Global Warming
To put it bluntly, the other issues
seem to pale in comparison
to this one—because if we destroy
the world, none of these
other issues will matter. Barack
Obama understands this, and he
plans to create millions of new
jobs by investing $150 billion
(over 10 years) to create an oil
independent society. He intends
to put over 1 million plug-in, hybrid
cars on the road by 2015, all
of which would be produced in
America, and all of which would
get 150 miles/gallon. He also intends
to use renewable sources
for electricity: 10% of our electricity,
he says, will come from
renewable sources by 2012, and
25% by 2025.
Healthcare
Healthcare is Barack Obama’s
strongest issue, especially compared
to John McCain’s plan.
Obama promises cuts in health-
war with one idea, and are now
attempting to justify another. Either
way, Barack Obama fully endorses
a withdrawal from Iraq. It
will be very difficult to do so, but
regardless, Obama plans to have
the vast majority of our troops
out of Iraq by 2010. Obama also
intends to pressure the Iraqi government
into taking control of
its country and reaching some
kind of political stability. Barack
Obama has voted against the war
since it was initially proposed,
warning that it would be “an occupation
of undetermined length,
with undetermined costs and undetermined
consequences.”
Illegal Immigration
While it may not be as important
in the current scheme
of things, there is obvious resentment
for illegal immigrants
in this country. 500,000 illegal
immigrants come to the United
States each year, and there has
been a 40% increase in illegal
immigrants since the year 2000.
In addition, the Immigration Bureaucracy
has failed legal immicare
payments for those who
have and are pleased with their
existing plans. In Obama’s plan,
the cost of healthcare could drop
by as much as $2,500 per year.
However, Obama says that if you
do not have healthcare, that it
will be readily available. Obama
plans on covering this healthcare
with the increased taxation on the
5% of this population that makes
$250,000. Like his tax plans,
Obama is putting emphasis on
lessening the load on the middle
class economically.
I know many choose not to involve
themselves in politics. For
some, it is boring. For some, it has
no relevancy. For others, arguing
over politics is a waste of time
and energy. But in this election,
and in these upcoming years, understanding
the world around us
has never been more important.
Whether you support McCain or
Obama, you should know this: it is
imperative to know what’s going
on. Our country, in the past eight
years, has regressed significantly.
This country has fallen into tough
times. Both parties argue change,
but only one of them means it.
Both parties say they will fight
for you and your family, but only
one of them will battle. Both parties
say they will fix this country,
but only one of them will. And
hopefully, if you’re voting, you’ll
make the right decision.
John McCain
b y Dav e Ta c k e f f ’10
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
The candidate for the Republican
side is John McCain, a seventy-two
year old senator from
Arizona. McCain was educated
at Annapolis and shortly after, he
enlisted in the Navy as an aircraft
carrier pilot. In 1967, the young
pilot was on a mission in Vietnam
when his plane was shot down
and McCain was taken into custody
at Hanoi. During his tenure
as a POW, McCain was tortured
and interrogated for a total of five
and a half years. His character
showed in captivity when he was
offered freedom and he adamantly
stated that he would not leave unless
his fellow soldiers were liberated
as well. After his release on
March 14, 1973, McCain returned
to America and underwent two
years of physical therapy for his
extensive injuries.
His service to the Navy led to
his entry onto the political scene
in 1977 when he was appointed
the Navy’s representative to the
Senate; he maintained this position
until 1982 when he became
an Arizona congressman. During
the Reagan Administration, his
votes in the House of Representatives
were closely aligned with
the President. McCain strongly
opposed the Soviet Union and
Reagan’s tax breaks and a free
market economy. His policies
were not changed when McCain
was appointed as an Arizona senator
in 1987. McCain’s votes in
the Senate have generally gone
against the grain of both parties,
but he is classified as a Republican.
He has served as a member
of the Armed Services Committee
and several other military panels.
On September 27, 1999, the
Arizona senator announced his
first campaign to become President
of the United States. His
campaign was built on giving
government back to the people
and McCain’s so-called “Straight
Talk”. He won the New Hampshire
primaries, but slander and
attack ads from George Bush’s
campaign derailed his campaign
and McCain lost to Bush; however,
his loss to the current President
did not sour his relationship
with him. In 2004, McCain
showed loyalty to the Republican
President by endorsing him in the
election while also supporting fellow
Vietnam veteran, John Kerry.
McCain supported Bush’s War
on Terrorism and defended Kerry
from Bush’s attack ads questioning
Kerry’s Vietnam Service.
During his latest Senatorial
term, McCain introduced a bill
prohibiting the torture of prisoners
at Guantanamo Bay, which
passed in the senate with a vote
of ninety to nine and vehemently
supported Bush’s troop surge in
Iraq.
On April 25, 2007, McCain
announced his intention to run for
President once again. He fared
poorly in the first primary, losing
to Mike Huckabee, and many
thought that McCain lacked the
funds to continue his campaign,
but he won the next primary in
New Hampshire and had a relatively
smooth rise to the Republican
nomination. After becoming
the Republican candidate,
McCain based his campaign on
principles similar to those of his
2000 campaign. At the head of
his policies, once again, is the
idea of Straight Talk to the American
people. He believes that it
is important for a government to
serve its people and to be truthful
in that respect.
The army veteran is largely
viewed as the tougher candidate
in this election due to his support
of military action in the War on
Terror, his service in Vietnam,
and constant support of military
funding. McCain reinforces the
idea that America must meet terrorist
foes on the battlefield and
bring the fight to them if we are
to protect ourselves and deprive
the extremists of the supporters
they desire. The Arizona Senator
has stated that Nuclear Proliferation
must be avoided at all
costs. A multitude of people feel
as though McCain is the better
candidate because he is the stronger
candidate with regards to our
defense.
On the reeling economy, Mc-
Cain supports a free market and
will give corporations tax breaks.
These corporate tax breaks
would create jobs because they
would stop large businesses such
as General Motors from closing
due to bankruptcy, thereby saving
thousands of American jobs.
McCain is advocating in the Senate
and on the campaign trail
for the cutting of “Pork-Barrel”
spending in the economy. Mc-
Cain supporters believe that
helping struggling corporations
will create jobs and will save the
economy from a recession
“He respects his opponent
and that Barack Obama is a
family man who is worthy of
leading our great nation.”
McCain plans to cut taxes for
those in scientific research in order
to boost American technology
and insure that we remain competitive
in the world. The Republican
nominee also believes that
technological advances in missile
defense and other military aspects
will protect our country even better
than before.
From Captain in the
United States Navy, to Senator,
to Republican Nominee for
President of the United States,
his resume is impressive. His
campaign promises truth from
the government and safety for the
American people. McCain echoes
Integretas et Sedulitas with grace.
The Senator has been honest with
the American people and has battled
adversity. McCain’s attacks
against Barack Obama’s character
have slowed because McCain
has realized that he is committing
the crime which George W. Bush
committed against him in 2000.
Recently, a woman at one of his
rallies called the Democratic nominee
an Arab and McCain unwaveringly
replied that he respects his
opponent and that Barack Obama
is a family man who is worthy
of leading our great nation. It is
becoming a fascinating race for
the Presidency, and on November
4th, we will learn whether people
will side with Obama’s train of
change or McCain’s straight talk
safety.

October 31, 2008
The Rivers Edge
Page 7
Conservatory revamped: stepping things up an octave
b y Ia n Br o w n s t e i n ’09
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
Casey Berman, 17, the lead
saxophone in the Rivers Big
Band, Select Combo I, Conservatory
Program, who had
surgery on his leg this summer,
excitedly crutches over to the
new Bradley Hall after a long
academic day to learn about
music composition from a New
England Conservatory (NEC)
professor.
“I love learning and seeing
music in a different way every
time I talk to him [the professor]
because he teaches me new approaches
and angles that I never
would have thought of,” said
Berman. “It has altered the way I
play drastically.”
After a long day of classes,
another 19 Rivers students join
Berman spending their time
after school in the classrooms of
Bradley Hall.
The Conservatory Program
has increased its student body
from 8 to 20 students in the 6
years since its founding, and the
new Bradley Hall has centralized
this expanding program, according
to students and faculty.
The Rivers School Conservatory
(the former Music School at
Rivers) was founded in 1975 after
The New England Conservatory
of Music closed its suburban
branches. The school has been
committed to excellence in music
education and performance
since it first became part of the
Rivers School, according to its
website. The school has gained
national fame with its annual
Seminar on Contemporary Music
for the Young and has grown
to accommodate more than 750
students.
The Conservatory Program
was founded in 2003 bridging
students between the Rivers
School and the Rivers School
Conservatory. This program allows
Rivers School students to
pursue interests in music beyond
their band, chorus, or orchestra
sessions during the school day
and is “a bold alternative in
college preparatory studies for
students with a serious interest in
and aptitude for music,” according
to its website. This alternative
has graduated students like
Leo McDonnell, 2006 MVP of
the Massachusetts State IAJE
(International Association for
Jazz Educators) competition and
Features
after a long day of academic
classes.
Last year the program moved
into the new state-of-the-art
Bradley Hall equipped with
practice rooms, kitchen, library,
recording studio, and a recital
hall.
“All of us being in two buildings
[Bradley Hall and next door
Blackwell House] right next to
each other we have a unity of
faculty and students” said David
Tierney, director of the Rivers
School Conservatory. “The collaboration
is allowing us to grow
even further.”
Faculty and students alike
share the opinion that Bradley
Hall has unified the Conservatory
Program and the Rivers School
Conservatory and at the same
time causes growth of the programs
offered by the institution.
“I feel that the Conservatory
Program is taking a step forward
in becoming a serious musical
institution by moving into Bradley
Hall,” said Ross Hoyt, 16,
a 11th grade first year member
of the program and the Rivers
Select I Combo who aspires
“to be a professional composer
someday.”
Back when Hoyt, also a third
year member of the Rivers Big
Band, was applying to private
schools, Rivers stood out for
him, “because I knew that I
would want to take music seriously
and Rivers was the only
ISL school with a strong jazz
program.” He is excited that the
new facilities allow him to play
at any time of day in the numerous
practice rooms in Bradley
Hall.
The new practice rooms, as
well as the Bradley Hall library
and foyer, have given conservatory
students places to play and
do homework between classes
without having to leave the
building.
Jeremiah Campanelli, 14,
a 9th grade first year member
of the conservatory and Select
Combo I, came to Rivers
because of the program. He
heard about the program through
the lessons he took at the Rivers
School Conservatory and
thinks the new facilities and the
program will help further his
musical education.
Most conservatory students
hear about the program through
similar experiences as Campanelli’s.
“The Conservatory
Program is advertised mainly
by word of mouth,” said Dan
Shaud, the Conservatory Program
Coordinator and teacher. “[T]here
is a ‘buzz’ about the program
because the students are excited
about what they’re doing and others
want to be a part of it,” Shaud
said. “There is a desire among
many students and parents to find
a school that has the opportunity
for intensive musical training as
well as a great academic program.”
This desire has brought a
150% increase in the student
body of the program, from 8 to
Are high school students too old to trick-or-treat
b y Be n Fo l e y ’09
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
As the leaves change to brilliant
tones of yellow and orange
and people begin to bundle up
in numerous layers of protection
from the bitter wind, an indescribable
feeling creeps in and begins
to fill the air. The long awaited
Halloween season has arrived!
Pumpkins sit on doorsteps carved
into shapes varying from witches
and monsters to smiley faces and
jack-o-lanterns.
Occasionally one might find
masses of fake cobwebs entangled
in his neighbor’s trees. With
this annual eve of staged terror in
the near future, young children
begin to plan and craft the costumes
that will adorn them come
the 31st. Yet some kids find themselves
in a pickle of sorts as they
steamroll towards adolescence.
Young teens enduring their middle
school years are forced to ask
themselves the age old emotionally
tolling question: “Am I too
old to trick-or-treat”
I would like to consider myself
a pretty typical, All-American
“The Conservatory Program
is taking a step forward
in becoming a serious musical
institution.” --Ross Hoyt
current student at the Oberlin
Conservatory in Ohio, and Alex
Barstow, a current student of
the rigorous Tufts-New England
Conservatory joint program.
Before Bradley Hall’s opening
last year, the conservatory
program was spread from 321,
the house adjacent to the Rivers
School’s entrance, to the basement
of Berwind in the old Big
Band room. Students would
walk back and forth for classes
like color (ear training), solfege
(singing with syllables), music
theory, and performance classes
teenager who has had a pretty
standard childhood and upbringing.
With this in mind, I feel that
my past endeavors on various
Halloween nights represent the
events experienced by any given
veteran trick-or-treater on the
verge of retirement. Up until middle
school I would look forward to
Halloween all year long, planning
and coordinating my costumes
with friends and even determining
which pillowcase in my house
was the largest, in anticipation of
the copious amount of sweets that
would soon be mine.
However, things changed
when I entered middle school. I
was too cool for school, and thus,
was way too mature and grown
up to go trick-or-treating. Instead,
the three Halloween nights of my
middle school career involved
my friends and I roaming around
the bustling neighborhoods of
Sherborn armed with masks, silly
string, and eggs, taking on all adversarial
elementary school kids
who were stupid enough to leave
their father’s side. These nights
were short lived and filled with
mischief, always ending with the
confiscation of our weapons and a
stern talking to, courtesy of a perturbed
adult.
According to Jennifer B.
Siverts of the University of California’s
Daily Nexus this type
of mischief is not uncommon
amongst teens. On October 31st
2002 there was a reported 103
teen arrests and 143 criminal citations
given to teens in the town of
Isla Vista.
“Age is just a number. Maturity
is a mindset. If you can
enjoy yourself trick-or-treating
then there is no reason why you
shouldn’t go.” - Olivia Rochman.
Other cities, such as Milwaukee,
Wisconsin have resorted to
daytime trick-or-treating, with
hopes of deterring the mischief experienced
at night. This approach
undeniably takes away from the
mysterious and daring fun to be
reveled in by those young enough
to be scared and invigorated by
“Bradley Hall has consolidated
the Conservatory
and given the program a focal
point.” - Tom Chalmers
the unknown that may be sitting
on a dark porch as they approach
and beg for their tasty morsels.
Information and statistics such
as these prove that middle school
should be the age limit of trickor-treating.
If so many teens were
not roaming the streets looking
for trouble on Halloween then
the night would be much more
enjoyable for the kids still young
enough to be enthralled by the
sheer joy of having heaps of candy
dumped into their pillowcases.
Also, entire cities could return to
good old fashion nighttime trickor-treating.
Rivers junior Tommy Harrison
agrees: “When kids get too old
for trick-or-treating they usually
just end up walking around finding
trouble to get into. I used to
hate being terrorized by those
older kids when I was just trying
to get as much candy as possible.
I never did anything to them,”
Harrison recalls.
Yet some people such as Rivers
senior Olivia Rochman insist
that one is never too old to go
trick-or-treating, claiming that
children mature at different rates.
“Age is just a number. Maturity is
20 students, and more than 2/3
of that growth occurred before
Bradley Hall’s construction.
While the program is becoming
popular through its reputation
and its oral advertisement,
Bradley Hall has had an impact
on current students and their
decision to choose Rivers.
“I came to Rivers because the
Conservatory and Bradley Hall
made an impact on my decision
to come,” said Campanelli.
“Bradley Hall has consolidated
the Conservatory and given
the program a focal point,” said
Tom Chalmers, 16, a 3rd year
member of the program, Select
Combo I, and the lead Trombone
in the Rivers Big Band. The
facilities have given the space
and equipment necessary to bring
the program into one building,
commented Chalmers. He no
longer has to shuttle to-and-from
the modules, Berwind, 321, and
the Blackwell House, which is
next to Bradley Hall, like he did
last year.
“When I came as a freshman
the conservatory program
seemed a more makeshift
program. The new facilities revamped
the program,” said Alex
Adach, 16, first year member of
the Conservatory and 2nd year
member of Select Combo I. This
is a common opinion of students
in the classical and jazz departments
of the program.
While some students decide to
join the program so they “don’t
have to do sports,” as one student
said, the program is growing in
focus and is defining itself as a
third option of Rivers students
in their choice of after school
activities. But all students agree,
“Conservatory is for people who
want to take music seriously.”
a mindset. If you can enjoy yourself
trick-or-treating then there is
no reason why you shouldn’t go,”
Rochman preaches.
Although this theory might
hold true for some teens, it is the
trouble seeking kids who make
this age limit justifiable. Even
if a few teenagers genuinely do
want to go trick-or-treating for
the utter thrill of having an old
lady toss Sour Patch Kids into a
weathered burlap sack, the other
young adults roaming the streets
will surely put an end to the good
times.
Many people concur with this
concept. After a poll of 50 Rivers
students ranging from freshman
to seniors, 39 of them agreed that
7th grade should be the cut off
and a rule of thumb for borderline
trick-or-treating retirees.
With obnoxious older teens
roaming around on Halloween,
the night can be transformed from
a time of joyous children consuming
sugary treats, to a night filled
with mayhem and terrorization.
However, this mischief is easily
avoidable. Please let the younger
trick-or-treaters be this coming
Halloween.

Page 8
The Rivers Edge
Arts
October 31, 2008
Mathers-Suter returns to Rivers with new vision
b y Br i t ta n y Di x o n ‘09
Co n t r i b u t i n g w r i t e r
The artist-run Kingston Gallery
in Boston’s South End hosts
a multitude of artist’s creations,
including the work of Rivers art
teacher, Ms. Catelin Mathers-Suter
(Rivers ‘97). She is one of 18
female artists who are displaying
their work during different parts
of the year. Currently, the work
of Rose Olsen is up in the gallery.
Ms. Mathers-Suter’s last show
was this past September, and her
next will be in July.
Mathers-Suters’ work displayed
in the September show
explores the relationship between
structures created by humans and
humans themselves. Much of her
work begins with simple photos
of human creation such as airports,
parking lots, highways,
“The viewer is going to
have a role in whatever you
create.”
-Mathers-Suter (‘97)
and malls. She then works with
a contemporary medium, Photoshop,
to boost the photos’ contrast.
Next, she bases her drawing
on the skeleton of the photo
to create her piece using repeated
lines from a thin pen. Mathers-
Suter chooses to use non-precious
materials such as pen and ink to
further convey her message of human
impact.
The Kingston is one of her
most recent artistic ventures;
however, there have been many
Fashion in Solomons Shoes, the key to every outfit
b y Re b e c c a So l o m o n s‘10
Ed g e Sta f f
An example of the art displayed at the Kingston Gallery entitled
Lotscape Playa.
to come before. “I first became
interestd in art around the age
of three, when someone sat me
down and started me at drawing.”
As she grew up, art was the only
thing in which she was interested.
During her senior year at Rivers,
she attended the art school, La
Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes,
in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Mathers-Suther’s preferred
mediums have evolved throughout
the years. From ages 12 to 18,
she studied with Robert Cormier
in Boston, who only allowed her
to work with charcoal (and no
color). And when her guidance
counselor, Mr. Rizoli, suggested
to her that she apply to Skidmore
College, Mathers-Suter had a different
vision of what her future
would hold. She applied to four
art schools, and ended up choosing
Rhode Island School of Design
(RISD) where she obtained
her obtain her BFA.
When she got to RISD, she
began painting in oil. After this,
she made a dramatic change and
began working with packing tape.
As I sat down to write my first
ever fashion column, all I could
think about was Lindsay Bloom,
and how I was going to fill those
big shoes. Luckily for me, I have
pretty large feet; size eight and
a half to be exact. This got me
thinking. I guess I could write
my first article on shoes, a very
important accessory. Scratch
that, calling shoes an “accessory”
would be an understatement. To
me, shoes are what make or break
the outfit. You can put together an
unbelievably chic outfit and then
just ruin it with a pair of crocs.
Now I can see why some
people might say they love crocs,
because they are “so comfortable”
or “that little strap on the
back is great for ankle support.”
This might be true, but when
I get ready in the morning and
have the perfect outfit planned
out (a pair of skinny jeans a
slightly looser top to complement
the straight leg look of the
skinny jeans, the perfect sweater
and a fun scarf), I don’t immediately
say to myself, “Man, I
wish I had a great pair of crocs
to put this outfit together.” That’s
just not the way my mind works.
The perfect pair of shoes for
that outfit might be a great pair of
tall boots, or a really cute pair of
ballet flats that maybe have a tiny
hint of brown in them to match
your brown top. Just enough to
“Fashion is a way of
expressing yourself. Shoes
are what take you there.”
make the outfit pop! This winter/
fall leather boots are must-haves.
For the spring, a great pair of ballet
flats (maybe a brighter color
if you’re feeling dangerous), and
for the summer, gladiator sandals,
and a great pair of wedges
are the best way to complete your
“When you put packing tape on
transparent surfaces, it looks like
stained glass,” she noted. These
days, she works with oil and pencil,
and her works deal mostly
with the relationship between
man and nature.
After college, she received
two grants, one from RISD and
one from the Ludwig Foundation
of Cuba. These grants permitted
her to live and make art for six
months in Cuba.
In 2007, Mathers-Suter traveled
to London to attend the Slade
School of Fine Arts in order to get
her master’s degree. At the Slade
School, she was honored with
the Slade Project Award--a cash
award that gave her the financial
support she needed to complete
her art installation in painting and
new media.
Mathers-Suter believes that
art is completely individual, “if
you’re lucky enough to have the
opportunity to create what you
want.” Unfortunately, she pointed
out that many people have to
worry about the commercial side
of it. Even if an artist has the economic
freedom to create whatever
she wants, Mathers-Suther added,
“The viewer is going to have a
role in whatever you create.”
She hopes one day to see her
art become more lucrative. She
would love to be in a gallery that
Mathers-Suter in front of her masterpeice entitled Lotscape.
summertime look. They look
great with a dress skirt or shorts.
Besides my nightly ritual of
reading Instyle, Vogue, or Teen
Vogue, I love watching the MTV
series, The Hills. Although this is
not the most educational show on
TV, I watch it so I can see what
each character’s new outfit is for
the week. Lauren Conrad is not
only the star of the hit tv series, but
also a prominent icon for fashion
gurus like myself. Lauren sports
a daytime/work outfit, which usually
consists of a fun, but serious,
usually dark colored dress with
the perfect pair of pumps to complete
her look. Having previously
worked at Teen Vogue, and now
working at People’s Revolution,
she has to look the part. She also
shows her nighttime outfit which
is either a brightly colored dress
or a pair of skinny jeans and a silk
and/or perfectly patterned top.
Whether she is running to the gym
in her Nike shocks, or strutting the
streets of LA, Lauren is always
properly dressed for the occasion,
all the way down to her shoes.
For some, shoes are the hardest
part of the outfit, but for me,
I can slide my eight and a halves
into a wide variety of shoes depending
on my mood or the particular
look I am trying to achieve.
“I love watching the MTV
series, The Hills.
Lauren
Conrad is not only the star
of the hit tv series, but also
a prominent icon for fashion
gurus like myself.”
Don’t ever feel nervous or insecure
about trying new styles of
shoes. If they catch your attention,
then that usually means that
they will work. Fashion is a way
of expressing yourself. Shoes are
what take you there. You can’t
leave your house to go anywhere
without a pair of shoes. Let your
next pair be interesting and take
you to places you’ve never been
promotes individual artists’ work,
instead of being in a gallery where
artists have to sell themselves.
Still, the community she has
found at the Kingston Gallery has
helped enrich her and improve her
work. She enjoys engaging in dialogue
with other artists, and she is
especially appreciative of the fact
that they are not afraid to critique
her work. One of the reasons, in
fact, that she was delighted to join
the Rivers faculty this fall is that
she feels that high school students
are not afraid to look at art with
a critical eye. She looks forward
to seeing her own art differently
through her students’ eyes while
simultaenously helping her students
to create their own art.
Her accomplishments are
all very impressive. Be sure to
take a peek at the Kingston Gallery,
which is open from 12 to 5
p.m., Tuesday through Saturday-
-especially next July when Ms.
Mathers-Suter’s work will be on
display.
before. Have a new and unforgettable
experience in those
shoes and you’ll always remember
that those were the shoes that
guided you to that special place
and time. Next time you walk
out the door, remember that shoes
not only complete the outfit, but
if chosen with care, they can reflect
the wearer’s personality,
and be the very sole of her style.

October 31, 2008 The Rivers Edge Page 9
Arts
The Express opens eyes to racism in college football
b y Jo n at h a n Le v i t t ‘12
c o n t r i b u t i n g w r i t e r
a n d Ma d d y Le v i t t ‘09
Ed g e Sta f f
Imagine that you have just
been voted most valuable player
of the big game, but you are not
permitted to attend the award ceremony
because the country club
where it is being held does not allow
blacks. Such a set of circumstances
was real life for Ernie
Davis, the first African American
to win the Heisman Trophy, the
most prestigious award for college
football. This scenario is one
of the most powerful moments
in the new film based on Davis’
life, The Express. Although I am
typically not a huge fan of sports
movies because they are all so
similar and predictable, when the
opening credits of this film began
to role, I could tell that it was
going to be about much more
than merely sports. I relaxed,
and decided to approach it with
more of an open mind than usual.
As a young child growing up
in the 1950’s, first in Pennsylvania
and then in Elmira, New
York, Ernie Davis suffered racial
taunting, and was further teased
because he had a stutter. Despite
these social and personal challenges,
Davis had what it takes
to succeed on the field and in
life, both in terms of his incredible
gift for running and his supportive
family, headed up by a
loving grandfather. From early
on, Ernie admires Jackie Robinson,
the first black major league
baseball player, and football
idol, Jim Brown (played by Darrin
DeWitt Henson). Both men
have instilled enormous pride
and hope in Ernie, who realizes
that they are great athletes who
have advanced the cause of black
people in America without having
said a word. At one point in the
movie, Ernie Davis tells a reporter,
“When I’m on the field, my
focus is on playing the best I can,
but I never forget that I’m black.”
Ernie is recruited by Syracuse
University where his coach, Ben
Schwartzwalder (played by Dennis
Quaid), advises Ernie to focus
only on the game, not the racism
at the university or at the other
schools they play. In West Virginia,
for example, Ernie is pelted
with bottles from the crowd when
he is about to score a touch down.
Meanwhile, Schwartzwalder
(Quaid) convincingly conveys
his struggle between supporting
Ernie as an individual and focusing
on winning the championship.
Eventually, as the coach teaches
Ernie to be a better football player,
Ernie teaches the coach that you
have to stand up against racism
even when you are doing something
as seemingly carefree as
playing football. Ernie, who had a
very special relationship with his
grandfather, forms a similar bond
with the coach. Schwartzwalder
himself went on to be elected
into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In many ways the movie powerfully
depicts the realities of racism
and reminds us of how much
worse racism was in our country
not so long ago. However, in some
ways, the film seems to chicken
out. For example, Ernie is obviously
perturbed when the coach
tells him to avoid inter-racial dating,
but he appears to go with the
flow, and just happens to meet
a gorgeous black co-ed visiting
from Cornell. Problem too conveniently
solved. Newcomer actor
Rob Foster plays Ernie Davis to
great effect, but sometimes the Ernie
Davis character almost seems
too good to be true. One wonders
if the book on which the movie is
based (Ernie Davis: The Elmira
Express by Robert Gallagher)
presents Davis as more complex a
person than the movie makes him
out to be. I had never heard of Er-
nie Davis before the film, but he is
a great role model for all athletes
because his story reveals that,
even if you are not confronting
racism specifically, sports are not
just about the game. After winning
the Heisman award, Ernie is
recruited by his dream team, the
Dennis Quaid and Rob Foster’s relationship warms hearts.
Cleveland Browns, but just as all
the pieces of his life begin to fall
into place, his story ends sadly.
The movie can also be challenged
with regard to how little
racism Ernie and two other black
players seemed to confront within
their own Syracuse team. The
Express seems to focus more on
the way Ernie was mistreated by
other teams and townspeople,
particularly in the southern environment.
This contrasts with
the movie Remember the Titans,
another movie about football that
incorporates race, but has as its
premise the difficulty that the
black and white players on the
team themselves had getting along
and consolidating themselves into
a team. However, The Express
does a solid job demonstrating
that when people are under stress
(for example, about an important
upcoming game), racism can
come out, even among people who
are generally getting along well.
At just over two hours, the
movie is a bit too long for comfort,
and you may sometimes feel
as though you are on an emotional
rollercoaster. However, the fact
that it is a true story makes it feel
legitimate. Probably the worst
thing to be said about The Express
is that, as a movie, it never really
rises to new heights. Its inspiring
tone is just what you would
expect; heartwarming messages
such as the gratification of overcoming
obstacles, the importance
of family and sticking up for what
you believe are all typical of
sports movies. Even so, it is hard
to ignore this movie’s lessons.
As with Jackie Robinson, the
movie demonstrates what a huge
impact athletics can have on society,
particularly when it comes
to race. President Kennedy himself
acknowledged what a huge
influence Ernie Davis has had.
Just maybe, in this age of actionpacked,
special effects thrillers
without much of a plot, a sports
movie with something to say is
not such a bad change of pace.
“The Music Kids” have unique music experience at Rivers
b y Me l i s s a Be n j a m i n ‘11
a n d Et h a n Ba u e r ‘11
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r s
“The Music Kids,” as some
like to refer to them as, have
a very different Rivers experience
than most of the jocks and
visual-artists have. After school,
three to four times a week, 21
students trudge over to The Rivers
Conservatory for extra classes
until 5:00. But there is no need to
feel sorry for them, because these
students are doing this for the joy
of it. In fact, to even be accepted
into the program, each musician
has to pass a difficult audition.
Singers have to prepare at least
three songs or pieces in front of
a panel of judges, and then sight
read a piece given to him at the
audition. Instrumentalists have
to choose two contrasting pieces,
play scales, and sight read for the
judges. As a result, only the most
dedicated and trained musicians
get the pleasure of a 10 class day.
The classes in The Conservatory
Program are fun and interactive,
yet extremely challenging. There
is a wide range of classes offered,
taking into consideration that every
musician is at a different level
of training when he or she enters
the program. Although all the students
must take Music Theory (a
class on how music is composed
and the elements that music is
made up of) while they are in
the program, there is also a wide
variety of classes ranging from
composition classes to Masterclass
workshops with talented instrumentalists
outside of Rivers.
“I really like how
Tierney keeps it seasonal
with his ties, I
never forget the time
of year.”
-Elliot Berman ‘11
For the classical students, there
are half-year classes like Color,
where the students learn to improve
their pitch, and Musicianship,
where the students get involved
with Doctor Goldberg and
his extreme improvisation games.
For jazz instrumentalists, there
are online ear training programs
and Jazz performance classes as
an alternative. Students of all instruments
take classes together,
and as seniors, or younger if the
musician is advanced enough, an
AP Theory exam is taken, which
can be used for college so that the
students can further pursue their
musical interests. Interpretive
Analysis is another class that all
classical conservatory students
take. Students play for each other
and the faculty, Mr. Shaud and
Dr. Goldberg, and the students offer
appreciations and critiques to
the performer. This class enables
students to develop their ears
by listening closely to their colleagues’
performances and learning
from the mistakes they make.
The classes are not like the
classes in the regular school day.
They are small and interactive
with a maximum of five students
per class. The inclusive, comfortable
atmosphere makes it easy to
learn and appreciate all sorts of
music. “I really like my theory
class because I get to learn about
different styles [of music] and
also, Mr.Shaud is the best!” says
Anna Teng, an enthusiastic violinist
in the program. The highly
influential and dedicated faculty
increases the eager young musicians’
knowledge on music immensely.
They inspire the students
to practice and work hard to get to
a higher level on their instruments.
This is what makes The Conservatory
Program a great place to
learn and have a blast. Also, as
Elliot Berman points out, there
are benefits from having such a
fashion savvy head of the conservatory:
“I really like how Tierney
keeps it seasonal with his ties, I
never forget the time of year.”
Throughout the year the conservatory
gives a few concerts
and master classes to the public.
Many of them take place in the
beautiful Rivera Concert Hall in
Bradley Hall. This performance
hall has spectacular acoustics
and an amazing Steinway piano.
However, the first concert takes
place in Wayland at the Church
of the Holy Spirit on Sunday
November 9th and will showcase
both jazz and classical musicians.
The works of Schubert,
Beethoven and Kodaly, among
others will be featured. The concert
is free and everyone is invited
to attend. The Conservatory Program
also reaches out and shares
their music with the community
by giving concerts to nursing
homes and other places. All of
the students treasure sharing their
gifts with the community and
love the opportunity to perform.
The Conservatory Program
also has a few public master classes
during the year. Gillian Rogell,
who is on faculty at New England
Conservatory, for viola and
chamber music, will be conducting
the first Conservatory master
class of the year on Wednesday,
October 29th. She will listen to
different student ensembles and
critique them, thus providing
students with a different perspective
on their music. These master
classes are not only a great way
to hear extremely talented professions,
but also give an outside
view on the student musicians.
Whether it is learning how
to invert chords or playing solo
repertoire in front of a class, the
action and good times in The
Conservatory Program never die
down. For many of the students,
the Conservatory is a comfortable
place to hang out, and make
friends. “I really look forward to
conservatory every single day. It
is a place where we can all relax
after a hard day of school and
still learn lots of interesting and
helpful things about music, while
laughing and hanging out with
our friends.” The Conservatory
Program invites everyone to come
over and share in the musical fun
and check out one of the concerts
or master classes this year.

Page 10 The Rivers Edge October 31, 2008
Sports
Football sets goal to end a successful season strong
b y Kat e Vo o r h e s ‘09
Ed g e staff
The Rivers Varsity Football
team entered the 2008 season
with little hope, but with a long
list of goals. Two years ago, their
record was 2-6, and last year an
even 4-4. This year the team’s
main goal is to finish above .500.
Ending the first game of the
season with a 21-14 loss at St.
Mark’s, Rivers quickly rebounded
during their next two opponents.
They won 20-7 on the road
at St. Paul’s for their first win of
the season. The next weekend,
Rivers crushed Thayer Academy
at home, 31-10. This game was
important for the team because it
was the first time in fifteen years
that Rivers has beaten Thayer.
The football team’s fourth
game of the season at Homecoming
was against undefeated Lawrence
Academy. Rivers definitely
showed red-and-white spirit as
alumni, teachers, and students
gathered to watch the game on
Waterman Field. Although Rivers
suffered a devastating loss
of 51-3, the team’s attitude remained
optimistic. Senior cocaptain
Steve Manning said their
loss was a learning experience.
“Playing Lawrence,” he said,
“showed us what the best team
in the league was like. Losing
to them made us realize that
we have a lot of work to do, but
I know we can do it. We don’t
want to have another game like
that again.” When asked about
the Homecoming game results,
A.J. Walsh ‘11 and Steve Manning ‘09 in action against Thayer Academy. Photo by T. Morse.
Coach Darren Sullivan said, “We
are looking to redeem ourselves.”
Though they lost the next week
to Groton 14-9, they did redeem
themselves as the game was a major
improvement from the previous
weekend. The rest of the season
includes games against many
challenging Independent School
League opponents, a schedule that
serves as a tough test for Rivers.
Several players have distinguished
themselves throughout
this year’s football season.
Coach Sullivan has specifically
mentioned that junior linebacker
Ben Patrick has performed exceptionally
well, making incredible
defensive plays and preventing
opponents from scoring.
Also worth commending are two
seniors on the offensive side,
Steve Manning and Drew Pappas,
who have executed successful
offensive plays and scored
many of the team’s touchdowns.
Coach Sullivan’s goal is to
have a winning record for the season.
If they are successful, it will
be the first time in thirty years
that the Rivers Varsity Football
team had a record with more wins
than losses. It looks like the team
has a shot at accomplishing their
goal. The coaching staff, comprised
of Head Coach Darren
Sullivan and assistant coaches
Sem Aykanian, Kerry Murtagh,
Dana Schneider, and Bruce “BT”
Taylor, Rivers graduate of 1973,
leads intense daily practices, encouraging
their athletes to work
hard. Coach Sullivan, beginning
his third year as the head coach
“Losing to them made us realize
that we have a lot of work
to do, but I know we can do it.
We don’t want to have another
game like that again.”
--Steve Manning
after ten years as an assistant,
enjoys coaching very much, saying,
“[He] and the other coaches
have fun working with kids.”
The coaches and the three senior
captains, Steve Manning,
Lenny Bautista, and Matt Robinson
are looking forward to the
rest of the season and leading the
team to victory. The Rivers Varsity
Football will continue to give supreme
effort and perform well for
the last few games, and hopefully,
accomplish their goal of having
a winning season. Go Redwings!
Strong talent up front, in backfield bolsters Boys’ Soccer
b y Da n Si n g e r ‘10
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
After opening the season at
7 wins-2 losses-1 tie, the Rivers
Varsity Boys’ Soccer team is looking
forward to participating in the
New England Class B tournament
and possibly grabbing the top spot
in the Independent School League
(ISL) to secure a tournament
home game. To accomplish this,
Rivers will have to go through a
tough Belmont Hill team that sits
precariously atop the ISL standings,
leading by just two points.
With big games against Belmont
Hill and St. George’s in
late October, Head Coach Bob
Pipe is optimistic about the
team’s chances but knows the
team will have to play at the
same level it has been playing all
year: “We have to come to play
everyday, if we play Rivers soccer,
play our best game, then we
have a great chance of winning.”
Coach Pipe has been very
pleased with how the team has
played so far this year, getting a
big win over ISL rival Nobles.
The team has been led throughout
the year by seniors Charlie
Rugg, Cecil Jeffrey, Eric Ander-
Captain Harold Salinas ‘09 dribbles towards the opponents goal.
Photo by T. Morse.
son, and Harold Salinas who have
had “been big for us this year,”
according to Pipe. Coach Pipe’s
praise rings especially true coming
off a convincing win over
a struggling Governor’s Academy
team. Harold Salinas put
in 3 goals and assisted on one of
Charlie Rugg’s two goals. The
team also received solid contributions
from their seniors during
a 4-0 Homecoming victory over
Lawrence Academy, with Charlie
Rugg scoring two goals and
recording an assist. In addition,
senior Jamie Lapides put in a goal
during the sixtieth minute. Rugg
leads the ISL in scoring with fourteen
goals and five assists for the
season. With a total of 33 points,
Rugg is ahead of the second best
player by an astounding fourteen
points. Eric Anderson has also
turned in a terrific season thus far
with a very solid sixteen points,
and Harold Salinas has ten points.
The only stumbling point
for Rivers was a 4-1 loss on the
road at St. Paul’s. Coach Pipe
was quick to credit the opposition:
“St. Paul’s played a fantastic
game that day. We had chances
to score but just couldn’t finish.”
On a rainy September afternoon,
St. Paul’s jumped out to a twogoal
lead and was winning 2-1
at the half. The lone goal came
from Eric Anderson on an assist
from Charlie Rugg, but it
was not enough as the team suffered
their first and only defeat
of the season. The team was
also challenged in a hard fought
game against B.B.&N., which
ended in a tie. Although Rivers
jumped out to an early lead with
two goals from Rugg, they could
not hold on as B.B.& N. tied the
game in the eightieth minute.
Great play has not come only
from the senior players. Coach
Pipe noted the play of freshman
John Lin on defense, “John
has done a great job adjusting
and learning our system.” Lin’s
work has no doubt contributed to
another solid season for sophomore
goalie Peter Quayle who
has worked three shutouts so
far, most notably against a fifth
place Nobles team. With signifi-
“We have to come
to play everyday, if we
play Rivers soccer, play
our best game, then we
have a great chance of
winning.”--Coach Pipe
cant contributions coming from
all players on both sides of the
ball, Coach Pipe has good reason
to believe that the team will do
even better than their semifinals
appearance last season: “We’re
as talented as any team that we
play, and we just have to be consistent.”
The team will be tested
as they face their toughest opponents
yet over the final stretch of
the season leading up to the New
England Class B tournament.

October 31, 2008 The Rivers Edge
Page 11
Sports
The effect of sports specialization hurts athletic teams
b y An d r e w Nav o n i ‘09
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
On Friday nights the Natick
Red and Blue have around 50
athletes on the sidelines of
their football field. When they
look across the field, they often
outnumber their opponents.
On any given Saturday however
the Rivers Red Wings come out
on their home field with 25 athletes
at the most. They often look
across the field at numbers that
are much bigger than their own.
Football is a game of numbers,
and in many schools, it is being
affected by the specialized athletes.
Rivers, a school that was
home to many three-sport athletes
a few years ago, is now becoming
engaged in specialization.
The age of specialization
in sports is benefiting many
high school athletes, but at the
same time hurting certain programs
in the school. Athletes
are committing themselves to a
single sport instead of becoming
a well-rounded athlete by
playing multiple sports. It appears
that these days, three sport
athletes are a thing of the past.
Many critics in sports specialization
feel that athletes today are
looking more at where they are going
than where they actually are.
The majority of the athletes
trying to play college sports know
that they have to specialize year
round to achieve their goals. Some
of athletes are not getting the exposure
they need at their high
school games. A lot of the college
coaches are unable to scout
players during their seasons because
the coaches have their own
teams playing at that time to worry
about. This makes the summer
tournaments a hot bed for coaches
to recruit high school athletes.
Field Hockey stays strong with a winning record
De b r a Ed e l m a n ‘10
Ed g e Sta f f
The Rivers Varsity Field
Hockey team has showed a combination
of skill and determination
as they move toward the
completion of their solid 2008
season. They stand at a record
of 8 wins and 5 losses. Impressive
wins thus far include an
opening day 5-0 shutout over the
Newton Country Day School followed
by an astounding 8-1 victory
at Southfield only days later.
The team has proven to be able
to seamlessly merge the skills of
both their novice and veteran players.
Junior Alexis Antonelli says,
“We have a great combination of
new talent and more experienced
players. Every player has greatly
developed their skills, making
this season one of our best.”
Perhaps the game where the
team displayed the greatest feat of
perseverance was on the road at
“If you’re not playing year
round, you’re getting left behind
and the scholarships will
go else where,” said Darren
Sullivan coach of the Rivers
football and baseball teams.
The scholarship money is
the calling card for a lot of athletes
that specialize. With this
year round specialization, some
programs’ numbers are down.
“Rivers is too small to specialize
in every sport; you need two sport
athletes,” said Bob Pipe Coach
“I look to recruit two
sport athletes, if they’re
not playing two sports
then they better be doing
something else for the
Rivers community.”
-Bob Pipe
of the Rivers boys’ soccer team.
In 2001 Pipe’s varsity soccer
team won the ISL and the class
A title. That same year, the varsity
basketball team was also very
good and got to the semifinals of
the class C playoff. This happened
because there were four players
who played on both of those teams
that were well-rounded athletes.
In the modern era of sports the
two-sport athlete could help benefit
a school more than the single
sport athlete. “I look to recruit
two sport athletes, if they’re not
playing two sports then they better
be doing something else for
the Rivers community,” said Pipe.
There are typically 40 spots
T. Morse.
St. Mark’s where the girls found
themselves trailing 2-0 after the
first half. However, after convening
as a team at halftime, Rivers
was able to level out the playing
field with both Alexis Antonelli
and sophomore Nicole Ferrara
scoring goals. Although they did
ultimately lose to St. Mark’s on
that late September afternoon,
the Rivers Varsity Field Hockey
team showed great determination
in ninth grade open for students
that need to fill the extracurricular
activities such as music,
drama and athletics. There are
only so many spots for recruited
athletes which means the twosport
athletes are twice as good as
the specialized one sport athlete.
An example of one of these
two-sport athletes is Steve Manning
who is a Captain and an
All-ISL in both football and lacrosse.
“There is a little pressure,
but I don’t really think
about it,” said Manning, who
is one of the few who plays lacrosse
year round but commits
himself to football in the fall.
With the specialization able
to happen all year round for
some sport, the club teams often
become more important than
the school teams. “There is no
AAU football; it is the only game
you represent your school in.
You have to play at your school,
there’s no alternative” said Sullivan.
This makes football different
than all the others and is the reason
why the numbers are down.
While football is hurting from
the specialization this year, the
soccer, lacrosse and hockey programs
are benefiting from it. “
It’s a double edged sword,” said
senior Mark Cornacchio, who
specializes in lacrosse. “ The
lacrosse team benefits but the
football team loses numbers.”
The Rivers football team may
also be hurting for numbers because
football has the highest injury
rate of any sport. There are
at least two to three players that
get banged up in the course of
a week ,and this is not counting
the numerous bumps and bruises
sustained through the week.
“It’s a collision game. It’s
tough and physically demanding,
not everyone is meant to
play it,” said Sullivan, who also
in making a strong comeback.
In addition to Alexis Antonelli
and Nicole Ferrara, skilled contributors
include senior captains
Laura Blackett and Becca Nichols,
as well as senior Jacqueline
Gannon. The team happily welcomed
freshman Elizabeth Hitti
to the team this year. She was
recently named to the USA Field
Hockey 2009 Future Elite team, a
highly competitive field hockey
understands why some athletes
don’t risk injury to their number
one sport by playing football.
Out of the 19 players on the
boys’ varsity soccer team, 12
of them play soccer on an outside
team. Of the 11 starters on
the soccer team, 8 specialize in
soccer, and the first four off the
bench also are soccer specialists.
It is clear that on a team
that has the potential to be one
of the best the school ever had,
you need to be a year round soccer
player to see significant time.
The age of specialization
in sports is benefiting
many high school athletes,
but at the same time
hurting certain programs
in the school.
Sometimes, however, specialization
can have the opposite effect
for the school. The soccer
team was hurt by specialization
when Sheanon Williams, an All
league freshman, went to a residential
soccer school in Florida.
“It didn’t help us, but he had to go
if he wanted to play in the World
Cup. I supported it, I needed to,”
said Pipe. Williams could have
been a multi-sport athlete when
he was recruited to come to Rivers,
but instead decided to specialize
in soccer at the highest
level. Williams is now at UNC
and is starting as a freshman.
This is one case where the
soccer team lost a player due to
specialization, but football has
lost many more. “Instead of kids
quitting they need to get kids
Captain Laura Blackett ‘09 shows her unbeatable defensive skills during Rivers Homecoming. Photo by
program that annually only invites
150 players nationwide.
The Varsity Field Hockey team’s
tough defensive line comprises of
sophomore Abby Gilmartin, senior
Meggie Woodruff, and sophomore
goalie Carlie Tarbell. “We
improve as a team every year,”
says senior co-captain Laura
Blackett, “and we’re already well
on our way to beating last year’s
record [5 wins-10 losses-1 tie].”
to play,” says Pipe. Many kids
drop out because it is easier to
quit than get athletes to join with
them. It is hard to convince others
to play football when it is
so tough and time consuming.
“Practices are hard. There’s
one game a week, you practice
a lot more than you play,
I know as a player I didn’t
like practice,” said Sullivan.
According to players on
the football team, the practices
are difficult, but when you get
to Saturday, the games outweigh
the week of practice.
What the naked eye doesn’t
see about football is the unity
and team bonding of the sport.
“The players on the team
need to sell it to their friends,
the camaraderie of the sport, the
team dinners,” said Sullivan.
According to many players on
the team, they believe that football
teaches them life lessons
that are not incorporated in the
classroom or on any other field.
Out of six kids surveyed on
specialization, all felt that football
was taking a hit due to specialization.
“We need to recruit
more kids with football as their
number one sport,” said Sullivan.
There are other schools in the
ISL that are having the same problems
with their football teams. At
St. Mark’s there are around 25
kids playing football. According
to the St Mark’s website, a
student has to play three sports
a year, but there are still ways
to get around playing football.
There were sixty cross-country
runners out for the fall. Among
these athletes are the hockey
and basketball specialists mixed
in with the actual long distance
runners. According to Pipe
the specialized athletes have
found a loophole in the system.
Their hardest fought victory
came at home on Davis Field
against Thayer Academy. The
rival teams found themselves tied
1-1 at the end of the second half,
sending the game into sudden
death overtime. With four minutes
remaining in the extra session,
Nicole Ferrara scored to put
Rivers over the top. Just days later
at B.B.&N., the team again forced
overtime. However, this result
was not as successful since Rivers
suffered an unfortunate 5-4 loss in
another highly competitive game.
Despite losing to Lawrence
Academy by one goal and Nobles
by two, the Varsity Field Hockey
proved to rise above their setbacks
by beating Dana Hall 2-0 and
Bancroft 5-1. With competitive
Independent School League opponents
at the end of the schedule,
the team looks forward to the challenges
ahead. Co-captain Becca
Nichols notes, “Now is the time
for us to really apply the skills we
have been developing throughout
the season. We have the potential
for a strong season finish.”

Page 12 The Rivers Edge October 31, 2008
Sports
Cross Country races to the finish, training for ISLs
b y Ma d d y Le v i t t ‘09
a n d Mat t Ta n n e r ‘12
c o n t r i b u t i n g w r i t e r
Varsity Girls’ Soccer rises to the challenge of Class B
b y Mi c h e l l e Ed e l m a n ‘10
Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r
Faced with a relatively young
team, Varsity Girls’ Soccer has
had both struggles and victories
throughout the 2008 season with
a record of 6 wins and 3 losses.
Victories against worthy Independent
School League (ISL) opponents
include Thayer by a 7-2
score, St. Mark’s 5-0, St. Paul’s
4-0, and B.B.&N. 2-1. Other
non-ISL wins consisted of Dana
Hall at 4-0 and Newton Country
Day School. The girls also
were able to come away with a
Girls’ Cross Country
Running is not easy, but from
the looks of the Girls’ Varsity
Cross Country team’s season, the
eleven girls come out to practice
each day ready and determined
tackle this feat. Captains Louise
Blake and Jenn Pollan are very
proud of what the team has accomplished
thus far. Jenn comments,
“It is really amazing to see
how hard everyone is working.
Although we have had a lot of
injuries, the team as a whole has
remained strong all throughout.”
Although everyone has made
improvements, the two new
freshmen who have never run
before really stand out. A team
member comments, “they have
both improved immeasurably.”
Average practices really take
a toll on the body, and can range
from relaxing three mile jogs to
more intensive PPMs (pace per
miles). Once a week the girls do
what are called intervals, alternating
sprinting and jogging for
what can add up to eight miles.
But the girls have been working
incredibly hard at each feat to
conquer both team and personal
goals, and this has without a doubt
contributed to their great success.
Something particularly special
about this team is its unity. Since
sickness and injuries emerge often
throughout these fall months,
Jenn Pollan. Photo by T. Morse
the team needs to be supportive
of one another, and needs to be
able to compete in difficult races
no matter what the circumstances
are. Senior Alexa Kopelman reflects,
“There is a huge camaraderie
among the members of our
team. Everyone is so supportive,
and that support is contagious.
We cheer one another on even
when we are just practicing.”
Another team members comments,
“The girls’ and boys’
teams spend a lot of time togeth-
victory against Lawrence Academy
at Homecoming with the
help of freshman Nikki Johnson,
who scored two goals in the 6-3
Varsity Girls’ Soccer
has had both struggles
and victories throughout
the 2008 season.
win. Despite losing two of the
their key players, seniors Adrienne
Anderson and Meghan Tedoldi,
to injuries, the team has been
able to overcome this challenge.
er, both at races and team dinners.
It’s a great way to mix boys
and girls in all grades, and it’s
so much fun because everyone
gets along really well.” In addition,
although the team is made
up of people that run at all different
paces, Coach Karash inspires
the team’s unity by insisting that
all members run at a common
pace every so often, something
that the team truly enjoys doing.
At the end of September, the
team’s drive and commitment
was really put to the test in a duel
meet against St. Mark’s. It was
a frigid, rainy Friday afternoon,
and many of the runners were
injured or sick. The remaining
members persevered, earning a
solid victory over St. Mark’s, and
taking second, third, and forth
place in the meet. It was a memorable
victory for everyone involved,
having been the first time
they have ever beat St. Marks.
Homecoming was another highlight
of the season, as everyone
came out to support the runners
as they beat Lawrence Academy.
Even though the season is
nearing its close, the girls continue
to work hard at practice in
Head Coach Susanna Donahue
remarked, “The players have responded
to injuries with a positive
attitude. At some points in
the game we have five freshmen
on the field.”
The team had less success
against challenging teams including
Nobles, losing 3-1, and being
shutout by Governor’s Academy
2-0. However, in the midst of
the tough defeats, seniors Kaleigh
Hunt and Megan Delaney
have stepped up to become great
leaders of the team. Junior Sarah
Sweeney remains the team’s leading
scorer. She has been crucial
in the team’s victories by scoring
preparation for the ISL Championship
on October 31st and the
New England Championship on
November 8th, both of which
they are certain will be successful
races that truly reflect their
overall progress this season.
Boys’ Cross Country
There is little doubt in anyone’s
mind that the Boys’ Cross
Country team will walk away
with a season that each member
can be proud of. The season commenced
with a successful meet
against Tabor Academy, as Rivers
placed third out of five schools.
During Homecoming, the boys
Camden Griffith. Photo by T. Morse
raced against Lawrence, St. Sebastian’s,
and Thayer. There
was a great turn out of Rivers’
faculty, students, and parents
alike. The team as a whole did
Erika Flavin ‘10. Photo by T. Morse
three goals in each of the wins
over St. Paul’s, St. Mark’s, and
Thayer. During the home game
JV Boys’ Soccer triumphs over many ISL teams
very well, with senior captain
David Shapiro placing first for
Rivers, and second in the entire
race. Overall the team came in
at a close second, beating Lawrence
and tying with Thayer.
It has truly been a season of
comebacks for the boys. Senior
and captain Camden Griffith
suffered an ankle injury early
on in the season, but bounced
right back and placed in the top
five during Homecoming. At
another race, David returned
from injury and still managed
to snag earn place, and on his
return Camden earned seventh.
Camden comments, “There
are a lot of new runners, which
is always fantastic because of
our phenomenal improvement
as a team. We are really looking
forward to New England’s.”
With thirteen total boys, seven of
whom are new freshmen, it is vital
that each member contributes
something to the team, and the
boys have not at all hesitated to
do so. The boys are also showing
great spirit as a team with Davidpainting
his face with red wings
for Homecoming, something
Rivers can never get enough of.
on Davis Field against Thayer,
Rivers had a diversity of players
score their seven goals including
juniors Shannon McSweeney and
Leah Stansky as well as freshmen
Brooke Stoller and Megan Kerbs.
Sophomore Allison Brustowicz
and freshman Taylor Cross have
also had great seasons alternating
at goalie. “The team has yet
to find their rhythm,” continues
Coach Donahue, “but I’m optimistic.
We have a lot of young
talent and have worked very
hard.” As the team moves into
the final weeks of the season, the
girls remain optimistic as they encounter
tougher opponents.
2-1. With less than two minutes
remaining, Milton scored their
second goal of the game, which
sealed the tie. Rivers’ low spirits
carried from Milton to their next
game against Belmont Hill at
home, which Rivers lost 3-0. Rivers
gave up all three goals in the
first half and was unable to get the
biscuit in the basket all day. On
the positive side, Rivers stepped
it up and did not give up a goal in
the second half. Although the JV
Boys’ Soccer team was dissatisfied
with the loss against Belmont
Hill, this was only the second loss
of the season. The 2008 edition
of JV Soccer looks encouraging
and the team may finally finish
well above the .500 mark.
The three junior co-captains,
midfielder Brandon Meiseles,
midfielder Erik Simon, and goalie
David Stanton, have led the team
both on and off the field. Time
and time again junior forward
Neema Shams has set up freshb
y Ad a m Lo w e n s t e i n ‘10
Ed g e Sta f f
After a few years of hanging
around the land of .500 records,
the JV Boys’ Soccer team has finally
found themselves in a position
to play to their full potential
by beginning the 2008 season
with 6 wins-2 losses-3 ties. First
year Head Coach Francis Karasch
has provided a spark for all
the players. He states, “The team
has been very impressive thus
far, but there is still room to improve.”
Coach Karasch’s patient
coaching style gives the entire
team the opportunity to make a
spirited step forward with their
natural soccer skills.
After a bumpy beginning to
the season, JV Boys’ Soccer has
only lost once since. JV Boys
Soccer, by the score of 4-1, won
the first game of the 2008 season
in a rout over a weak Dexter
team on Dexter’s home turf. Although
the boys received a confidence
booster with a victory over
Dexter, their next opponent, St.
Mark’s, turned out to be a very
skilled team. At their home in
Southborough, Massachusetts,
St. Mark’s dominated the game
and shut out Rivers 2-0, handing
Rivers its only loss to date. After
two road games, the JV Boys
Soccer team returned home for
six straight.
In the next game, Rivers tied
Roxbury Latin 1-1, but controlled
the play for the majority of it. After
scoring early, Rivers went into
halftime with a 1-0 lead and continued
to keep the lead.
Though with only a few minutes
remaining, Roxbury Latin
was able to knock the ball in a goal
and tie the game for good. After
this annoying tie, JV Boys’ Soccer
strung together five wins in a
row, beating Thayer 3-2, squeezing
by Noble & Greenough 1-0
on a last-minute game-winning
goal by junior forward Neema
Shams, beating B.B.&N. 3-2, and
shutting out both Lawrence Academy
and Governor’s Academy
1-0 and 3-0, respectively. After
this five-game winning streak,
Rivers tied both Groton 1-1 and
Milton 2-2. Rivers escaped the
game at Groton with a tie. Rivers
did not have many chances in this
game, but did convert one of the
few shots on goal. Groton controlled
the ball on the Rivers half
of the field for the majority of the
game, but the defense was able to
stand firm and only allow the ball
into the goal once. After this encouraging
tie with a very skilled
Groton team, Rivers was disappointed
against Milton, a team
they consider quite average. Rivers
fell into the same problem that
plagued them during the Roxbury
Latin game. After scoring goals
at the beginning of each half,
Rivers gave up leads of 1-0 and
man forwards Jonathan Levitt
and T.J. Moor for scoring opportunities,
and those two freshmen
lead the team in goals. The
strong defense’s backbones have
been stopper Evan Gallagher and
sweeper Ben DuBois, both of
whom are sophomores. Behind
the defense stands the last stance
in goalie David Stanton. David,
who averages just over one goal
given up per game, has been one
of the team’s largest and most consistent
strengths. With all these
contributing players, JV Boys’
Soccer has performed well.
The standards of play and conduct
of the JV Boys’ Soccer team
have severely been enhanced
because of the abundance of talent
and perseverance exhibited.
Coach Karasch notes, “We have
a very challenging schedule coming
down the stretch. If we continue
to outplay the other teams
in heart and hustle, then we will
have a chance in every game.”

October 31, 2008
The Rivers Edge
Page 13
Sports
Fall Sports Updates: JV Girls’ Field Hockey keeps winning
JV Girls’ Soccer
The JV Girls’ Soccer team has
gotten off to a positive start. With
a record of 4 wins-2 losses-1 tie,
the team has definitely proved to
be strong once again. They defeated
the Newton Country Day
School 3-1, shutout St. Marks
8-0, and won a close 1-0 game
over Thayer. After beginning
the season with three consecutive
wins, they suffered their first
two losses to Noble & Greenough
and Lawrence Academy by the
scores 3-1 and 3-2 respectively.
A recent game against B.B.&N.
also proved to be tough as neither
team managed to get the ball
in the net. After these two losses
and a tie, Rivers managed to get
back to their winning ways by
beating Groton 1-0.
Junior forward Zoë Cohen,
the captain of JV Girls’ Soccer
team, and sophomore defenders
Caroline Brustowicz and Ellen
Bailey lead the team. Newcomer
Georgia McIntyre has made an
immediate impact upon the defense.
Freshmen midfielders Emily
Snider and Martha Cosgrove
both have contributed greatly to
the strong start. “The girls are
great and we all have a lot of fun
on and off the field,” said captain
Zoë Cohen. This includes freshman
goalie Jenna Jasinski, who
has been virtually unstoppable in
goal thus far.
The JV Girls’ Soccer team lost
its first game in three years, and
it occurred on the road at Noble
& Greenough. Head coach Alexander
Caplan was encouraged by
the loss, “It will give the team the
spark to play even better in the
games to come. The Nobles team
was a very fast, well-coached
team, and they exposed some of
our weaknesses that we will be
working to improve upon in the
coming weeks.”
The game held on Maintenance
Field against Thayer, the highlight
of the young season, ended with
a victory. Sophomore Rachael
Calmas scored three minutes into
the game. Rivers was able to hold
Kaleigh Hunt ‘09, Megan Delaney ‘09, McKenzie Hunt ‘12, and Alison Brustowicz work together to save
a tough shot. Photo by T. Morse.
off the Thayer attack for the rest of
the game. Although the JV Girls’
Soccer team was without three
of their top players for the game,
including captain Zoë Cohen, the
entire team stepped up and gave a
tremendous effort to beat a very
talented opponent.
In a recent match at home versus
Governor’s Academy, they
put in a strong effort in route to
yet another victory. Even though
Governor’s kept the ball in Rivers’
end for almost the entire
game, Governor’s could not convert;
Rivers was able to. With less
than two minutes remaining, Caroline
Brustowicz scored the only
goal of the game. Jenna Jasinski
earned the shutout with a terrific
performance. The JV Girls’ Soccer
team’s late game heroics led
them to the win.
The team has gone into every
game with a positive attitude,
plenty of enthusiasm, and exceptional
dedication. With some
grudge matches still to come, the
team is looking forward to practicing
hard and winning more
games. They are especially focused
on improving the pace of
play as they finish off the season.
-Hannah Armstrong ‘10
JV boys’ soccer huddle at half-time during a pivitol game. Photo by Adam Lowenstein
JV Field Hockey
The JV Field Hockey team has
gotten off to a great start with impressive
wins over tough teams,
proving that they have what it
takes to have an extraordinary
season. Their record so far, 6
wins-1 loss-2 ties, shows that
their hard work is paying off. The
team has had commendable onegoal
victories over teams such
as Governor’s Academy and St.
Mark’s. They have scored a notable
twenty-three goals, versus
only eight goals scored by the opposing
teams, which is the result
of a full team effort.
The co-captains include junior
Melanie Wilson and sophomore
Caroline Barns. Though the leading
point scorers include Kelsey
Young with five goals and Janelle
Ferrara with two goals and three
assists, Head Coach Troy Peters
comments, “This season has seen
a team that has won games not
on the backs of superstar players,
but rather a team effort that
has no real weak link, no matter
who is on the field.” The team’s
depth of talent is exceptional with
other standouts including sophomores
Margaret Taylor and Si-
mone Aptekman and junior Jess
Franchi. Junior Michelle Edelman
comments, “The team works
really well together. It’s very balanced.”
The team proved their
strength as a team with a game
against Groton. Head Coach
Troy summarized the game as
“one of the most evenly matched
games I’ve seen in any sport.”
Strong defense and goaltending
helped them preserve the tie. JV
Field Hockey showed their fighting
spirit with a comeback goal
with only five minutes remaining
to reach a final score of 2-2.
Practices are tough with a
lot of conditioning and work on
corners, shooting, and defense.
Though the practices are exhausting,
they are proven to be successful
given the team’s record.
Coach Troy also remarks, “The
team has stepped up to every
challenge put in front of them,”
proving themselves to be a hard
team to beat this year.
-Ryan Drake ‘10
Thirds Girls’ Soccer
The Thirds Girls’ Soccer team
has steadily improved throughout
the season and holds a record
of 2 wins-4 losses-1 tie. They
struggled somewhat in their first
two games, but the team executed
an impressive win in their third
game of the season on the road
at Brooks. This victory was
very sweet because Rivers shutout
Brooks 2-0 on Brooks’ home
turf during the school’s Parents’
Weekend. Rivers moved the ball
around extremely well, which enabled
freshman midfielder Kristine
Corey and freshman forward
Drew Silverman to score Rivers’
two goals. The team’s defense,
backed by freshman sweeper
Phoebe Melnick, was solid. They
kept the ball in Brooks’ half of
the field for the majority of the
game.
The team had an incredible
win against Lawrence Academy
just two weeks later. During
Rivers’ Homecoming Weekend,
the Thirds Girls’ Soccer team
went to Lawrence determined to
win. Lawrence scored early in
the game, but this deficit did not
faze them. Throughout the rest of
the game, Rivers played hard and
freshman goalie Katie Oppenheim
did not let any more balls past her.
During the last five minutes, they
dug deep and gave it all they had.
Leading scorer Drew Silverman
managed to score two goals to
push Rivers to a 2-1 victory. This
win was a very nice way to propel
Rivers into Homecoming Weekend.
The Thirds Girls’ Soccer team
has had their share of losses, but
this has not let that influence their
positive approach to each and
every game. They have learned
from their mistakes and improved
tremendously. At the beginning
of the season, the girls were not
working together as a team to
their best ability, but now they are
communicating on the field and
moving the ball well. They have
also learned how to possess the
ball and work it around. Coach
Matthew Karasch notes, “We’re
having fun while working on our
skills.” The girls are having a lot
of fun playing the game with one
another and they will continue to
improve as the season progresses.
-Stephanie Lie ‘11
Thirds Boys’ Soccer
Struggling to gain their first
victory of the season, Thirds
Boys’ Soccer stands at 0 wins-4
losses-1 tie. The team’s record is
attributed to the fact that there are
only eleven permanent players on
the team. The defense has been a
strong suit for the team. Sophomore
defenders Osa Okoh, Nat
Mullen, and Matt Bigony all have
protected the promised land and
have held many opponents to few
goals. The team’s leading goal
scorers include freshman Kevin
Bloom and sophomore Miles
Gardner. These two forwards
have showed aggressive play on
offense, moving the ball very
well while under control.
In early October, Thirds’ Boys
Soccer faced a tough Belmont
Hill team. Rivers jumped out to a
two-goal lead, but was unable to
keep it. This game showed promise
for the Rivers’ Thirds because
they were able to get onto the
board early. Captain Osa Okoh
noted, “We worked together as
a team and had a fun time doing
it.” Osa referred to the teamwork
employed by the Thirds Boys’
Soccer team. They all came together
as a team for the first time
but came up just short.
Head Coach David Burzillo
was encouraged by the team’s effort
because they put up a tough
fight against a tough Belmont Hill
opponent. He noted that Thirds
Boys’ Soccer has a “good group
of people coming back from last
year” and the “new players are
meshing with the old.” Although
Thirds Boys’ Soccer has somewhat
struggled, Coach Burzillo
hopes they can get into the win
column soon: “I hope some of last
year’s wins come to this year.”
-Adam Lowenstein ‘10

Page 14 The Rivers Edge October 31, 2008
The Quad
Cheers and Jeers
Cheers to the regurgitator! His
tricks were no doubt incredible,
and Emily Burlingham will never
look at her ring the same way.
The audience participation was
great. If only
we could have
gotten a few
more teachers on
stage! Although
some of his performances had
the audience cringing, it was a
perfect way to break up a long
day of classes.
Jeers to the days
getting shorter.
Long gone are the
September days
when the sun shines
until seven, and summer doesn’t
seem like too long ago. The days
are shortening, and the forbearers
of a dark New England winter
are emerging. Time to grab the
gloves and hats out of the basement,
start remembering what
it’s like to scrape frost off the
windshield, and turn on those
seat warmers!
Jeers to the
the new advisory
schedule. The Rivers
student body is
extremely involved
in co-curriculars, but many
students are now having to cut
back on their clubs because of
the meager twenty minutes each
Monday offered for meetings.
Also, ironically, with the addition
of a second advisory block
and many individual meetings,
students seem to spend less time
with their advisors, and more
time hanging out in the quad
wondering if they have advisory.
Cheers to
homecoming!
The athletes all
performed at the
top of their game, some of which
can definitely be attributed to
the liveliness of the fans. It was
great to see alumni supporting
our teams, especially those that
graduated just last year. Both
girls and boys soccer attracted a
large crowd, as did the football
game!
Cheers to the fluff in the
cafeteria. Every year the Rivers
Co-Presidents make promises
in their campaign speeches,
but they rarely
follow through.
However, James
and Becca are
off to a great
start this year and kept their word
about a key campaign promisethe
fluff. It has become a staple
in the cafeteria. We constantly
see it dipped in hot chocolate,
wedged between peanut butter
and bread, or in the case of some
freshman boys, eaten straight out
of a cup. students votes!
Cheers to the
four day weeks!
October is a
beautiful time at
Rivers, seeing
that we have more days off than
any other month. It seems as
though we have every Monday,
or Thursday to rest and if not,
there is a late opening for interim
comments, or an assembly schedule,
shortening classes. Students
appreciate the time to sleep in,
hang out, and for the seniors,
spend some tim eon the college
applications we have grown to
love.
ACROSS
2. The word "Halloween" comes from the phrase "all _____ eve."
5. Pumpkins can also be white, blue, or _____.
7. Halloween dates back ___ thousand years.
10. _____ is one of the world's oldest holidays.
11. Rivers should have a haunted _______.
14. 36.1 ________ kids trick or treat each year in the U.S.
15. "________ the friendly ghost."
17. ______ or treat!
18. U.S. consumers spend 1.5 _________ dollars on Halloween costumes each year.
19. Halloween is Mr. McCartney's ______ favorite holiday.
20. A ______ costume wears fangs.
DOWN
1. Jack O'lanterns originated in __________.
3. Bobbing for _____ is an ancient Roman tradition, and a fun halloween game!
4. The central symbol for Halloween.
6. "_______ Ice," a popular rapper, was born on Halloween.
8. In Austria, people hand out ______ instead of candy on Halloween.
9. Don't let a ______ cat cross your path!
Quote of the Month
“Great minds discuss
ideas; average minds discuss
events; small minds
discuss people.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt