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ARTS
Gallery end-ofyear
exhibition
Page 6
OPINIONS
pep rallies?
Page 8
SPOKESFUN
New Jersey
Page 12
The Spokesman
MAY 2023
The PDS Mock Trial Team Has
Taken On Little Rock, Arkansas!
PDS Mock Trial heads to Little Rock, Arkansas for the
National Mock Trial Competition
ADDISON FIGEL, X
PRINT STAFF WRITER
On March 20, the PDS
Mock Trial team, of which
this writer is a member, made
school history by defeating
West Morris Mendham High
School in the state finals of this
year’s Vincent J. Apruzzese
High School Mock Trial
Competition. This qualified
the team to compete in the
National High School Mock
Trial Competition. Following
the state championship,
the team received a brand
new case, the scenario that
teams play out in Mock Trial
competitions. In addition to the
new case, there was a whole
New Year, New Student Council
Updates on recent structure change of the Student Council
PARTH KHERA, X
PRINT SPORTS ASSOCATE
For the upcoming school
year, the faculty and students
of Student Council decided
to decrease the number of
available positions and assign
more responsibility to each
individual.
Ater spring break, Director
of Student Life Michelle
Simonds approached
the Student Council and
proposed the idea of a
structure change. Sophomore
continued on page 2
new set of rules for the national
competition that is different
from New Jersey’s rules, so the
team needed to get accustomed
to them while they continued
to prepare.
The new case was a first
degree murder dispute case,
and the defendant’s name was
Scout Cumberland (played by
junior Adya Jha). The details of
the case were as follows: two
members of the Little Rock
school board (named Scout and
Riley), who were not on great
terms, got into an altercation
during a meeting. During said
altercation, Scout ended up
shooting and, consequently,
killing Riley but claimed
self defense as Riley was in
continued on page 3
(Artwork/Madeline Cook ‘25)
Class President Rohan Shah
stated that “Previously, the
Student Council body had
so many members that it was
hard to find common ground.
Additionally, the wide range
of positions tended to blur
the lines of responsibility.”
Adjustments have been made
to the number of members
in Student Council. These
changes will carry onto the
next year, as even more
alterations to administration
will happen, such as the
PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL
Panthers Celebrate Blue and White Day
White team takes the home the win on Blue and
White Day
SIMRAN MALIK, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
May 8 was a perfect
spring day to have Princeton
Day School’s annual Blue and
White Day. Panthers entered
through the front doors dressed
in the colors of their respective
teams. From the Pre-K students
to the numerous seniors who
remained at school after senior
send off, a sea of blue and
white made its way from the
school building to the Pagoda
Students and faculty competing in a game of tug-of-war
continued on page 3
(Photo/PDS Flickr)
exciting tradition between
the blue and white teams has
been one that everyone looked
forward to all year.
Darius Young emceed the
morning activities with an
race,” in which every grade
is represented by two runners
from each team, received loud
cheers from the entire school.
As usual, the youngest runners
year, the great race was won
(Artwork/Hannah Park ‘24)
MAY 2023 VOL. 59, ISSUE 4
28th Annual
Program Has
Students
Imagining The
Possibilities
The PDS community
brings three authors
literature to all three
divisions
MAX LEVY, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
Between April 3 to April
14, three authors were invited
to PDS for the program,
Imagine the Possibilities:
Georgia Heard, Oge Mora,
and Ruth Behar.
Imagine the Possibilities is
a yearly program that brings
authors, illustrators, and
other artists who work in the
field of literature to Princeton
Day School. The program
originally began in 1996 and
is sponsored through the John
D. Wallace Jr. ‘78 Memorial
Guest Artist Series Fund.
Since its inception, over 80
artists have come to PDS to
engage in school-wide talks
and classes.
Heard is a writer of many
books and works of poetry,
including Boom! Bellow!
Bleat!: Animal Poems for
Two or More Voices (2019).
Mora is best known for Thank
You, Omu! (2018), a 2019
Caldecott Honor Book. Behar
has written many awardwinning
books and is best
known for her story titled
Letters From Cuba (2020),
which won the Pura Belpré
Award.
Freshman Danny Rozenblat
has been attending PDS since
kindergarten and has seen ten
years worth of Imagine the
Possibilities. He explained,
“I enjoy hearing the authors
and how they write, because
coming up with innovative
ideas is something people
continued on page 3
2
NEWS
TED MYERS, XI
PRINT STAFF WRITER
The Princeton Day School Prom
was an enjoyable and classy experience
undoubtedly fun and well planned, a
sentiment shared by many including
junior Josiah Borges, who commented
friends.” Borges continued to say that
of the windows was crazy!”
For others, prom wasn’t all great.
One gripe was with the food. Junior
Harrison Leaver believed that it was
didn’t seem to be anything coherent
going on.” But Leaver and many others
still found a way to look past the food
and still have fun, keeping the dance
still loved dressing up and boogieing.”
Empty Bowls 2023
Junior Lea-Jade Richards, a member
of the prom planning committee, also
really enjoyed the night. She believes
planning committee had a lot of fun
committee worked well together, and
it really showed in the final product of
the night.” Many PDS students seemed
to love prom, and careful planning
combined with dancing and fun created
a great night that went smoothly.
Seniors Ziya Brittingham, Sahar Haris, and Madison Tucker with Upper School
History Department Chair Stefanie Santangelo (Photo/Steph.B.Photography)
Juniors Josiah Borges and Lea-Jade
Richards (Photo/Steph.B.Photography)
NANDINI KOLLI, X
PRINT STAFF WRITER
On Thursday, April 27, the
fifth year of Empty Bowls was held.
Teachers, students, and parents of
all three divisions came to help fight
food insecurity. Student volunteers
stood for four hours while attending
guests browsed the work of ceramics
students, finding a bowl to purchase
for the fundraiser. For the first year
since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the event required no masks
nor social distancing.
Empty Bowls originated in
Michigan by high school art teacher
John Harton in the 1990s. Harton
thought of this idea to get his students
to creatively support a food drive.
He gathered his ceramics students
together to create bowls and reached
out to local restaurants to provide
soup. Harton understood that there
was a need in his community to
address hunger, and the proceeds
that Harton collected from the bowls
and soup helped his community in
Michigan. Harton’s idea quickly
spread.
Ceramics Teacher and Greenhouse
Manager Eric Rempe introduced
Empty Bowls when he first came to
PDS in 2018. He had run Empty Bowls
at his former school for seven years.
This year, he celebrates five years of
Empty Bowls at PDS. Mr. Rempe has
created connections with many local
restaurants and markets that have provided
soup year after year, including
Terra Momo, Olives, D’Angelo Italian
Market, Rocky Hill Inn, Brick
Farm Market, and Flik Dining.
Mr. Rempe hopes for everyone to
come together for the one goal of the
Empty Bowls program: to provide
meals for individuals who do not
know where their next meal is coming
from. Many PDS students have the
pleasure of not wondering the next
time they are going to eat, making
it even more important to stress the
cause. “Empty Bowls is an opportunity
to teach what food insecurity and
hunger really is to kids who may not
understand the extent of the cause,”
Mr. Rempe explained.
The Advanced Ceramics class had
the opportunity to talk to Charlie
Orth, the volunteer coordinator at the
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).
One thing that Mr. Rempe heard that
stuck with him was, “If you don’t
know what hunger is, skip a meal,
and then skip another one, and skip
another one. That’s what real hunger
is.” TASK is one of the three charities
that receives proceeds from Empty
Bowls, alongside Feeding America
and the Chubbies Project.
(Artwork/Hannah Park ‘24)
(Image/Pixabay)
welcoming of the new PDS Head of
School Kelley Nicholson-Flynn as
well as Head of Upper School Katie
O’Shaughnessey.
Junior Aadi Shankar was elected as
President, sophomore Luke Haan as
Vice President, and freshman Charlie
Kaplowitz as the Secretary Treasurer.
Shankar is looking forward to the new
school year; he hopes to implement
some fresh ideas and new initiatives.
“Luke and I have already started to
devise a plan for what we hope to
work on next year,” he stated. “One
of the things I frequently brought up
in my campaign was to bring more
events to the PDS community and
foster a more productive Student
Council that can start to make real
change for the school community,”
he shared. Shankar’s other plans
include conducting council meetings
twice per cycle and creating the PDS
StuCo Instagram page, which will
share updates about everything that
happens during Council meetings.
He further noted, “We also hope to
have more students come and share
their opinions about what they want
improved in our school community.”
Kaplowitz added, “the officers and
I will work together to propose
and implement ideas that serve the
student body’s best interest.” Haan
says the Student Council is “working
on streamlining the council this year,
so [they] can increase productivity
and make the council a team effort.”
Already, many of these plans have
been implemented. Along with the
proposals made by Shankar, Haan,
and Kaplowitz, Student Council is
discussing how they will work to adapt
to changes in the Administration.
NEWS 3
HARRISON BAGGA, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
From April 21 to 24, the PDS
Model UN team traveled to the Cornell
Model United Nations Conference
(CMUNC) and had yet another
successful conference experience.
With over half of our delegates
earning awards and everyone enjoying
their friends’ company, CMUNC was
a great time for all delegates.
Entering this conference, many had
goals of awarding, but at the end of
the day, “every single person there
not only showed tenacity, but also a
fierce collaborative spirit,” according
to senior Akash Bhowmick, who is
Secretary General of the Model UN
team. The PDS MUN delegation acted
as a cohesive team, supporting each
other along the way. With excellent
mentors, we were able to perform at
our highest capacity.
Juniors Aadi Shankar and Adya Jha,
the newly elected Secretary Generals,
have visions and actions that will
create even more opportunities for
the MUN team. Freshman Charlie
Kaplowitz believes that “our team
did well as a whole, but in the future
we could make MUN more inclusive
with an A and B team, as in years
past.” As one of the new Secretary
Generals, Shankar stated, “next year
I want to try and make the team
bigger so that we can have a larger
talent pool for conferences.” In the
creation of rosters, many people
were cut, so expanding the team will
nurture a more inclusive environment
while maintaining the integral skills.
Whether it be starting a speech with
an entertaining hook or cutting
straight into the main point, everyone
has something to offer.
“Without having [senior Alex
McInnes] as a leader for next year,
the team is definitely going to lose
not just a mentor, but a binding
force that keeps us all together,”
Bhowmick shared. Although the
wonderful seniors will be missed, our
new Secretariat is ready to take us
on a journey to greater heights. The
current members of the Secretariat—
seniors Akash Bhowmick, Alex
McInnes, David Cohen, Albert Zhou,
and Arjun Kumar—are graduating,
but with our incoming leaders, PDS
MUN can continue to be propelled to
even greater success.
Students travel to their final conference of the year. Pictured, from left to right, are
Arjun Bhardwaj ‘26, Harrison Bagga ‘26, Adya Jha ‘24, Riya Mani ‘26, and Emmy
Demorre ‘24. (Photo/PDS Instagram)
possession of a knife. Senior Akash
Bhowmick said, “I honestly like this
case a lot better than the ones we’ve
done in the past, since a murder trial
allows for a lot of courtroom drama.
There’s a lot more overall material
to go off of than our state’s cases
usually offer, so teams will have
varied and interesting theories as to
what happened, alongside having
more fleshed out ‘characters’ for their
witnesses.”
Bhowmick was excited about the
tournament: “I feel pretty amazing
[about going to nationals], especially
because it’s my first time representing
New Jersey at any sort of national
competition. But even more than
that, I feel incredibly happy for our
four attorney coaches [Kathy Flicker,
Mike Rosenberg, Lisa Warren ‘71,
and Scott Rosenberg ‘04] who . . .
are finally seeing their constant hard
work and dedication pay off.”
Prior to Nationals, senior and
fellow student attorney Arjun Kumar
spoke of his excitement as well:
“The state tournament forced us to
constantly improve and match the
level of our next opponents as we
advanced. It was extremely exciting
for all of us!”
The competition began on
Wednesday, May 17 and concluded
on Sunday, May 21. Due to the
competition’s COVID-19 guidelines,
a last-minute decision to attend
virtually. As a result, the team missed
out on several of the bonding activities
they were looking forward to, such as
the pin exchange.
The team participated in two
28th Annual Program Has Students Imagining the Possibilities
scrimmages on Thursday and
competed on Friday and Saturday
from the Lambertville Station Inn.
PDS chose this location because of
its great facilities and the ability for
students to walk into Lambertville
and New Hope for meals and breaks.
During breaks, the team would often
walk into one of the towns to get food
and drinks from places such as the
New Hope Ferry Market, Starbucks,
Dunkin, ice cream from Moo Hope,
and more. Even though the team
competed virtually they still did well,
going 2–2 and placing 20th.
struggle with. So, when authors go
through their process of how they
[do this], it is really interesting.”
Rozenblat explained that he enjoys
listening to the guest artists of
Imagine the Possibilities and learning
from them.
Similarly, Freshman Armaan
Singhal has learned from guest
authors. He shared, “[Imagine the
Possibilities] introduced me to a lot of
books I probably would not have read
otherwise.” Singhal’s input highlights
another key aspect of the program:
immersiveness.
Artists and authors come to the
school, allowing students to be fully
immersed in all forms of writing and
art. Upper School history teacher
Sam Hunt suggested that even if “[the
program] inspires even a handful of
kids to read more and write, that is
awesome.” Imagine the Possibilities
brings multiple artists from all walks
of life and from all realms of writing
to educate each and everyone PDS
student about the important role
literature and art play in the world.
Panthers Celebrate Blue and White Day
captured several wins in the grade tug
of war, capture the cones, potato sack
races, and water wars.
the day to help everyone cool down.
Freshman Beth He remarked that her
great community bonding experience.
Freshman Sara Nadwana exclaimed,
School.” Freshman Kara Vandal
was an exciting way to de-stress after
sentiment was shared by not only the
ninth grade, but by many students of all
grades.
Student Life, Michelle Simonds, says
that she was pleased operationally with
Blue and White Day. She hopes to be
able to include musical entertainment,
student performances and a lunch
service for all students in the future.
Paul Stellato and Chris Devlin (Photo/
PDS Flickr)
Darius Young kicking off Blue and White Day (Photo/PDS Flickr)
4
FEATURES
Keeping Up With the Advanced Computing Projects
VIVANN KHANNA, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
I n their Advanced Computing
projects, Senior Caden Bialow and
Junior Shivani Manikandan made two
projects that they felt would change
the world. Using Python Flask and
web development tools, each project
aimed to solve a problem that they
themselves had: gripes with college
information and their allergies
respectively.
Bialow, who wanted to positively
impact the PDS community by
providing useful and easily accessible
information, shared, “one thing I
noticed is that all of our college
information was heavily localized to
a small infographic that was located
next to reception, and there wasn’t
much else. There was a small list
online, but it was hard to find and
not fully up to date.” He observed
this problem and decided to try and
remedy it, contacting the College
Counseling office and accessing a
decade’s worth of data about college
admissions at PDS. He then started
coding a visualization of this data in
Flask, a web framework written in
Python, to make this visualization
appear on the web. He also used
JavaScript, HTML, and CSS for
styling purposes. It took four months
to create, but it may not be available
for the community to view simply
because of the security implications
of hosting such information on a
public website.
Manikandan designed her project
to attempt to remedy a problem she
has personally experienced. When
Manikandan accidentally consumed
a contaminated drink outside of
school in August 2020, she had to
visit the emergency room as she
was allergic to dairy. A week later,
she went to the ER again because of
another cross-contamination incident
involving cheese in her fast food. She
commented, “I realized that change
must be made. And so, when the
opportunity presented itself, I knew
Yearbook and Cymbals: Behind the Scenes
CLARA SHIN, X
PRINT ARTS EDITOR
T he publication of PDS’s
yearbook Link and the arts and
literature magazine Cymbals are
highlights of PDS students’ year.
The production of Link started in
September, with formatting beginning
in early October. The members of the
Yearbook Club work over the course
of the school year to produce the book
by June. They choose which sections
they would like to format. Once the
different sections are completed, the
co-heads edit and perfect the pages.
Cymbals showcases the works
of writing, photography, fine arts,
architecture, ceramics, wood,
and more. The submission form
opened early in the school year and
closed in April. Upon receiving the
submissions, members of Cymbals
discuss every piece and select the
ones that best represent hard work
and talent, as well as its theme for
the school year. After the magazine is
formatted in April, the final copy is
produced and distributed in late May.
The production of Link and
Cymbals is no easy feat. Link
co-head senior Jenna Galla stated
that one issue they encountered was
“[they] had a lot of difficulty getting
everyone to participate when it came
to submitting materials.” However,
she also stated that while “it took
months of (friendly) harassment to
get the participation [they] needed,
the end result made it worth it.”
Cymbals Editor-In-Chief, senior
Ava Daniel, also noted that “one
of the issues [they] encountered
throughout the year was the lack of
submissions.” Junior Hannah Park,
who serves as an editor, stated that
this was because “not a lot of people
know about Cymbals.” Although they
faced a lack of submissions initially,
they received more photography and
art submissions closer to the deadline.
One of the most important aspects
of the two clubs is the communities.
Link co-head junior Angela Cerna
stated that she enjoyed working on
the yearbook with other people the
most, and that “it was great getting
to meet freshmen who are new this
year, and seniors that I haven’t talked
to much before.” She also expressed
that “the most rewarding part has
been seeing the book come together
and seeing everybody work together
on it.” Completing the yearbook
requires time and hard work, and it
would not have been possible without
Senior Projects: What are they up to now?
this was exactly the kind of project I
wanted to pursue.”
Manikandan partnered with Flik
on her project, which is an app that
provides a day-to-day schedule with
teamwork. Galla also stated that
“the most rewarding part of having
a significant role in the group is
watching the newer members become
more comfortable throughout the
year,” and that “it is comforting to
know they will be the next people to
continue the club.”
This sentiment is also echoed in
Cymbals. Daniels said that “[she] got
to meet new freshmen and become
(Image/Negative Space)
meals and a customizable profile,
telling you what you can and can’t eat
based on your settings. Manikandan
says that the project will be available
for the public in the near future.
Editors and Editor-in-Chief of Cymbals
(Photo/Amy Lin ‘26)
friends with different sophomores
and juniors.” Similarly, Park stated,
“it’s really fun to be around people
who appreciate art and writing and
want to work on making Cymbals the
best it can be.”
Although both Link and Cymbals
encountered challenges along the
way, the two clubs were able to
produce books that everyone will be
able to read at the end of the year.
ARCHIE DOUGLAS, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
A s the Seniors’ time at
school comes to a close, they still
have a lot of work to do with their
senior projects. Senior projects give
departing students the freedom to
create or research something of
their choice before they leave. The
students are given until the end of
May to complete their project.
Senior Oliver Silverio is creating
a podcast about the New York City
subway system. His podcast will
contain information about how to ride
the subway as well as some unique
destinations along the lines. Silverio
says: “I think senior projects are a
great idea as it gives us students a
unique outlet to explore our personal
interests that we don’t usually get to
in school.”
Senior Joshua Chu is creating
“how to” videos about tennis. He
is teaching beginners or those
interested in tennis the fundamentals.
Each video will go over one basic
skill with in-depth explanations as to
how to fully complete the stroke. Chu
says, “I chose to make tutorial videos
about tennis because it is what I love
to do. As I continue to learn, I also
want to help others progress as I do.”
Other projects range from
cooking, cookbooks, and
documentaries to podcasts, tutorial
videos, and infographics. Seniors
love the freedom they are given to
explore whatever they are interested
in.
Upper School Physics teacher
Brian Mayer oversees the senior
projects. “Senior projects give seniors
the autonomy to do something they
are excited about,” he said. It gives
them responsibility that they have
not had before, as they “keep track
of their own time and meet the goals
that they set for each week,” which is
a very different process for students.
Through senior projects, many
students have found areas of passion
that they would like to pursue in
college. “You get out what you put
in,” Mr. Mayer stated.
ARTS 5
Mining History and Storytelling: Dance Concert 2023
CYNTHIA SHEN, X
PRINT NEWS EDITOR
On Tuesday, April 14,
Princeton Day School Dances held its
annual dance concert in the McAneny
Theater. The audience was introduced
to the dancers’ stories through
cultural, lyrical, and contemporary
interpretations. In keeping with the
concert’s theme of mining history and
storytelling, dancers choreographed
their experiences and emotions into
dances under the guidance of artistic
director, Ann Robideaux. From a
tribute to the Williams sisters to a
humorous commentary on ballet, the
dancers explored different aspects of
history as it is reflected in dance.
The process of creating the concert
dates back to last summer. “I thought
of choreography ideas for my dancers
to explore. My main goal was to give
inspiration for the dancers to discover
where things would unfold,” Ms.
Robideaux articulated. As a result,
the dancers took the starting point
and developed dance pieces with
their own poise.
Among the dances created, Grand
Slam was a dance inspired by tennis
champions, the Williams sisters. By
watching videos of the Williams
sisters, as well as advertisements
and news stories, the dancers pieced
together a style of dance. “Venus
and Serena are a huge example of
what every girl should strive to
be—the best. Watching the elegance
in their movements throughout
tennis matches heavily inspired and
influenced the making of the piece,”
freshman Kendra Daley explained.
Along with inspirations from
famous figures throughout history,
other pieces focused on the sensations
that each dance will bring to the
audience. The dance Lover, Where
do you live? features an array of
asymmetrical group poses, paired with
live vocals and music. “Unique to this
dance concert is having live music
and live tap dance. I really enjoyed
the live interplay,” Ms. Robideaux
mentioned. The live vocals, present in
parts of the concert, were a change to
the experiences of the audience. The
audience was able to sense themselves
and their feelings in the dance,
being provided a multi-dimensional
experience throughout the concert.
Junior Amanda Chen exclaimed,
“it was really interesting that I was
able to be the accompaniment for
some of the dances, because I have
never collaborated with live dancers
before!”
This was the second year that
PDS dance teams have performed
live since the COVID-19 pandemic.
PDS’s dance community hopes to
bring more meaningful dance pieces
with their endless parameters of
imagination.
Senior Lizzy Ma (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Upper School Dance Team (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Summer’s “It” Show
BENAJMIN MASIA, XI
PRINT COPY EDITOR
When I look back to last
summer, my mind immediately turns
to three things: studying for the ACT,
getting COVID-19 in London, and
watching The Summer I Turned Pretty
while in quarantine. It should come
as no surprise that when this school
year is finally over, the one show
that will be occupying all of our time
and attention will quite obviously be
Season 2 of The Summer I Turned
Pretty. There were many loose ends
to Season 1, and I am not ashamed to
admit that I have no idea what will
Sophomores Cynthia Shen and Elle Haan (Photo/PDS Flickr)
happen because I have adamantly
avoided reading the book series. This
has left me (and most people like me)
wondering the following questions:
Will Belly end up with Conrad? Will
she end up with Jeremiah? Will she end
up with both? Which Fisher boy will
win? Will Susannah survive? What is
happening with Taylor? Is she going
to start dating Belly’s older brother?
I simply will not be able to wait
and pace myself when these questions
start to be answered. I definitely
will watch all of the episodes in one
sitting; and while word on the street is
that season 2 will be releasing in mid-
Freshmen Kendra Daley and Ariyah Lamin, Senior Laurel Masciantonio, and Sophomores
July, I can assure that many people,
including myself, will be filled
with building levels of anticipation
until the day finally comes.
I will not deny that there are plenty
of other shows out there that are worth
a summer binge, but I will say with
certainty that The Summer I Turned
Pretty will once again be THE show
of the summer. There is no comparing
the plot of any other show to the
magic that surrounds Belly’s summer
in Cousin’s Beach, which is why The
Summer I Turned Pretty will be the
best use of leisure time this summer
for any burned-out student.
Cynthia Shen and Elle Haan (Photo/PDS Flickr)
(Image/Sunswept Entertainment)
6
ARTS
End of Year Exhibition of Passionate PDS Artists
GLORIA WANG, XI
PRINT FEATURES EDITOR
On May 4, the Anne Reid ‘72
gallery opened with an end of year
exhibition featuring the artwork from
students in photography, ceramics,
painting and drawing, architecture,
and woodworking classes. Senior
Elizabeth Sun commented that, “As
a student from Advanced Fine Arts,
I really cherish the opportunity of
having my work featured in the
gallery. I worked really hard on some
of the projects and the exhibition
made me feel very accomplished.”
In her class, the Advanced Fine
Art students created collages based
on dreams, nightmares, and fantasies,
and painted them with color matching
in acrylic. They also had a series of
written exercises discussing color,
emotion and form. Sun stated that
she “really enjoyed working on
things that [she is] passionate about
in Advanced Fine Arts.”
“The first piece is a table inspired by furniture with hand-cut joints, where
the legs of the table go through the top part of the table. Also, if you look
at the piece closely in person, there are some hidden hand-cut joints. The
second piece is an Akari Light sculpture, I wanted to make something with
a more abnormal shape, so I chose to make it longer and skinnier, whereas
traditionally, most of them are shorter and rounder.” —Lindsay Newman
(Photo/Lindsay Newman ‘25)
“My artworks shown in the gallery were inspired by my dreams and nightmares
as well as what the inside of my head feels like. The five different pieces all
flow together and build upon each other.” —Riley Welles
(Photo/Gwen Shockey)
Senior Haley Schragger and Junior Anvika Vasireddy with Upper School Architecture
Teacher David Burkett (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Sophomore Carter Bergstein and Upper School Fine Arts Teacher Gwen Shockey
(Photo/PDS Flickr)
Upper School students admiring the works of their peers
(Photo/PDS Flickr)
LAASYA KANUMURI, XI
PRINT SPORTS ASSOCIATE
A s the NBA enters the 2023
postseason, rising superstars,
mind-blowing performances,
and astonishing game-winners
will grace the spotlight.
Preceding the playoffs’ tipoff,
the teams with the seventhhighest
through the 10th-highest
winning percentages in each
conference participate in Play-In
Tournaments to determine
who will fill the seventh and
eighth playoff seeds. This year,
the Atlanta Hawks, Miami
Heat, and the Minnesota
Timberwolves have conquered
their successors, in order to
advance.” Ironically, the Los
Angeles Lakers and the Miami
Heat, two of the teams that
had to compete in the Play-In
Tournament to even qualify for
the playoffs, have made it to the
conference semifinals. In the
Western Conference Semifinals,
The Lakers eliminated the
Golden State Warriors, the 2022
NBA Championship Winners;
totaling this series’ record at
4-2. Avid NBA-follower junior
Mia Hartman is extremely
excited about this, stating: “The
Lakers have been bringing the
fire they have needed all season.
It’s crazy to see Golden State
out on the court, you know they
have always been the dominant
‘team to beat’, but not this year. I
enjoy watching the NBA, it’s fun
to see the competition from the
athletes, especially the rookies.”
Junior Sara Appleby’s
observations aligned with
Hartman’s as she shared, “the
Warriors’ performance has really
changed from last year, because
they won the championship
in 2022, but this season went
44-38 and barely beat the Kings
in the first round of playoffs.”
The future of this series was
very uncertain, but one thing’s
SPORTS 7
for sure, watching two of the
league’s most renowned players,
Lebron James and Stephen
Curry, fight for their position
in the Western Conference
Semifinals was a major headline
during this postseason.
The Miami Heat have
illustrated their perseverance in
the quest for the championship
ring. Their star player, Jimmy
Butler, might not have a title just
yet, but he is definitely a threat
to the league’s best players, one
that hasn’t been easy to avoid.
He has, time and time again,
demonstrated his persistence as
Looking Back On the Rise and Fall of PDS Football
CYRIL PANDYA, XI
PRINT SPORTS EDITOR
L ike many schools in
Mercer County, PDS is known for
academic excellence and staterecognized
achievements in the
classroom and on the field. What
sets us apart from many local
high schools is that we currently
do not have a football team,
although our middle school does.
However, there were days in the
past when our high school football
team was a local powerhouse.
Between 1973 and 1980,
the Panthers won four State
Championships, including a threepeat
in ‘73, ‘74, and ‘75. After a
PDS Middle School football team in their 2022 fall season (Photo/PDS Flickr)
(Image/NBA)
few dull decades, the team revived
in the early 2000s to have multiple
winning seasons, including a 7-1
record in 2005, the Panthers’ best
season since 1981. PDS Football
was back, or so we thought.
The football program played
its final game on November 6,
2009, which ended as a brutal and
controversial loss against Tower
Hill in Delaware. Buildings &
Grounds Manager, Cross Country
Assistant Coach, JV Hockey
Coach, Head Assistant Baseball
Coach, and Former Special Teams
Coach Chris Devlin reminisces on
the vibe surrounding the program
in its final year, “we could see
the writing on the wall,” he said,
“we knew this was going to be
our final season. Our final game.
We didn’t blatantly tell them, but
the players could sense it too.
They wanted to win the last game
more than anything.” The Panthers
ended up finishing 3-6 that year.
So how did a team riding high
five years prior suddenly fall
apart? Devlin says, “There just
wasn’t enough interest the final
few years. As a result, we had to
travel to schools in Delaware and
Pennsylvania constantly because
an underdog, which particularly
activates during the postseason.
Butler’s leadership on the court
led the Heat in defeating the
No. 1 seed in the first round
of the playoffs, concluding the
series at 4-1, against the Bucks,
who have the best record in
the league. They continued
their success during The
Eastern Conference Semifinals;
securing their position in the
East Finals, after winning 4-2
against the New York Knicks.
“The playoffs this year are
very interesting because you
have victorious teams that
didn’t even expect to make it
to the playoffs; it’s going to be
very interesting watching the
journey to find out which teams
we’ll see in the championship,”
Assistant Tennis Coach Jon
Brown stated. With the immense
talent, and passion channeling
through each player in the
NBA, it truly is unpredictable
where the postseason will take
us. Head Tennis Coach Micheal
Augsberger leaves us all with a
prediction: “You heard it here
first: the Denver Nuggets will
be the 2023 NBA Champions.”
However, the past has proven
that certainly anything is
possible in the NBA playoffs.
we weren’t big enough to match up
against local private schools.” In a
sport that is so contact-heavy like
football, having depth is essential
for wins and, most importantly,
player safety. “11 guys on offense,
11 guys on defense, and three
more on special teams. We had 28
players our final year, so most kids
had to play all four quarters which
sometimes resulted in injury,”
recalls Devlin. In addition, interest
in the team among the student
body declined compared to a few
years prior. However, Devlin says,
“Popularity wasn’t really a factor.
At the end of the day, it’s football;
there will always be people at games
whether the team is good or bad.”
Overall, a lack of players,
injuries, and brutal travel schedules
resulted in the downfall of PDS
Football. But no matter how well
the team played or the gray cloud
that hovered over them those
final few years, Coach Devlin
still says, “Coaching football
was amazing. When we walked
off the field for the last time, I
remember just looking around,
reminiscing on this program’s
great moments. I know there were
some tears shed that night.”
8
Internship or Job: Which is Better?
RUTH MEHRETEAB, X
PRINT NEWS ASSOCIATE
Summer break: It can be a
time to relax, catch up with friends,
or enjoy some much needed rest.
But with the end of the school
year fast approaching, many PDS
students are planning on spending
their break at internships or jobs.
The question arises: which is
better? While internships and jobs
are similar in nature, there are also
key distinctions between the two.
Internships and jobs require
similar skill sets, such as time
management, project development,
and communication. Additionally,
both internships and jobs typically
have employee training and an
overview of expectations at the
beginning of the position. Over the
course of the internship or job, one
can be expected to be assessed by a
boss or the company manager.
Despite these similarities, a
PDS Pep Rallies: Yay or Nay?
ARJUN BHARDWAJ, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of enthusiastic
PDS students fill the bleachers of
the Upper Gym three times a year.
Athletes bubble in anticipation for
their upcoming games, pushing any
worry aside. Our lovable mascot,
Paws, bobs their head through
the bleachers, inviting all to “get
hype.”
Pep rallies offer students a
chance to come together and
rally behind their school spirit. It
enables students to feel a sense of
belonging within their community
and offers a reprieve from the math
key difference between jobs and
internships is that jobs for high
school students are usually in
the hospitality or service sector.
For example, summer jobs for
PDS students can include being
a cashier, as well as a server or
barista at a local food or drink
joint. Alternatively, internships
are usually in a more corporate or
career-oriented setting, such as in
financial services, consulting, or
technological industries.
Sophomore Amy Lauer said,
“if you want to build a strong
work ethic, I recommend you get
a small job.” Lauer further noted,
“Internships are better to work
for a company right after college
and are more ‘serious.’” While
summer jobs offer money and can
help develop interpersonal skills,
internships are more important for
securing long-term employment.
Junior Natalie Willner has a
similar view. “I think internships
test they have tomorrow or the
history project due next week.
This spring’s pep rally was
filled with musical chairs, balloonpopping
relays, promposals, and
captivating dance performances
that entertained the Upper School
community.
Freshman Charlie West believes
that these pep rallies are effective,
claiming that “they allow students
an opportunity during their busy
weeks to feel free and bond with
their friends and upperclassmen.”
Zoo leader and senior Sophie Jaffe
agrees with West’s claims and
adds, “I think they increase school
spirit because it allows the entire
Upper School to get together in
OPINIONS
are more beneficial in the long-run
for future jobs and experience,”
she explained. For example, some
students can get a return offer
for a specific summer internship,
meaning they would be asked
to return to the company for
another internship or full-time job
placement the following summer.
Lauer has personal experience
with a babysitting job. “Babysitting
5 to 10 year olds for eight hours
a day is very time consuming and
one space.” Jaffe elaborates on the
additional pride she feels when the
pep rally comes together, sharing
that “it is so much fun to see smiles
in the stands and people cheering
on their friends.”
Sophomore Parth Khera is not a
big fan of pep rallies. He explains
that while pep rallies may increase
school spirit, “they are lacking
and not always fun to go to.”
Khera continues, “I would be more
excited if there were more events
and more hype.” Khera suggests
incorporating dances, fun games,
and better team introductions to
make the pep rallies more exciting.
Sophomore Michelle Xu,
reflecting on pep rallies of
(Image/Pixabay)
requires patience,” she shared.
The type of job and its difficulties
are important to note. While both
internships and jobs are essential
ways to hone certain skills, the
corporate nature of an internship
and the challenges a job may
present are factors to consider.
I believe that internships are
more beneficial for high school
students, as interns learn skills that
can be applied to many fields, such
as tech, journalism, and law.
past years, commented, “[its
effectiveness] depends on how
much energy everyone else has.
Sometimes, pep rallies have high
energy and they are super fun to
be a part of. Other times, not so
much. Usually, however, they are
an amazing experience and I am
happy to have attended them.”
The goal of PDS pep rallies is
to create an atmosphere where
students feel proud to wear the
colors blue and white. The zoo
leaders for the 2022–23 school
year have done an amazing job of
cultivating community and building
relationships through their fun
events and positive personalities.
Paws cheering on spring sports teams as athletes run across the Upper Gym (Photo/Umang Sharma ‘26)
Sophomores to Receive College Counselors
SOPHIA SIMMS, X
PRINT STAFF WRITER
Every year in November,
juniors receive a college counselor
who will guide them in the college
process. This year, the process
changed, and the Sophomore class
received their college counselor
assignment the week of May 8.
This came about for a few reasons.
Associate Director of College
Counseling Allison Anderson
says that the main reason for this
change is a rise in questions from
students and families. Assigning
counselors at this stage is “in
order to respond to the perception
that there were families out there
who didn’t feel as supported as we
wanted them to be.” This change
allows college counselors to have
better communication with parents
about their students’ preparedness
The Blemish They Can’t Conceal
for college; however, Ms. Anderson
emphasized, “We don’t want
students to feel pressure to turn their
attention too much to college when
they are still a sophomore.”
As a sophomore myself, I
believe that this new change will be
extremely beneficial to my grade and
future sophomore classes to come.
This new change will give us and
our families a point person to reach
out to with questions. To make the
best use of this time, Ms. Anderson
encourages us to start the “getting
to know you” process, stating that
“this change will let sophomores
have another caring, trusted adult
on campus who is starting to learn
about their values and their journey
through high school.” This aspect is
vital to the PDS College Counseling
program as we will need all the help
we can get and a supportive team
behind us will allow for that.
Sophomore Sarah Adler agrees.
OPINIONS 9
She states, “At the end of sophomore
year, you are picking classes to take
in junior year, which is a crucial time
for the college application process.”
Ms. Anderson noted that our advisors
know a lot about this and should be
the ones mainly involved in course
selection. The college counselors are
always there to answer questions and
tell us how things would look from a
college standpoint.
Overall, I think sophomores
receiving college counselors in the
second semester is beneficial, as it
allows students to enter the mindset
of the college proccess earlier.
PDS College Counselors (Photo/PDS Instagram)
AMELIA SENTVELD, XI
CHLOE JOHNSON, XI
TESSA CAPUTO, XI
THIS IS A PROJECT COMPLETED FOR
THE BREAKING NEWS CLASS
The term “animal testing”
is often thrown around in regards
to animal rights activism, but the
specifics of animal testing tend to
be glossed over. The ethicality of
testing products on animals should
be self explanatory, right? Well,
not exactly. Animal testing includes
using various types of animals
to test whether or not specific
chemicals or medicines are safe
for humans. In scientific research,
animals are only used when there
are no effective alternatives for what
is being studied due to how complex
biology can be. In the commercial
cosmetics industry, however, these
tests are almost always cruel and
unnecessary, including procedures
such as lethal dose tests, which
involve forcing rats to swallow large
doses of a chemical to determine
the lethal dose, and Draize tests,
which involve putting the chemical
on the eyes and skin of rabbits and
then checking for redness, swelling,
bleeding, and many other painful
side effects.
But why is it worse in cosmetics?
In scientific research, ethics
committees oversee the process of
research requiring animal testing,
and other methods are constantly
being developed. PhD student
Dorenda Schoorl told us how her
work at Institut Pasteur in Paris had
to be approved by Pasteur’s ethical
committee and how she had to take
a course to work with animals and
learn the proper handling of mice.
In the case of her research, and the
research of many others, system
biology is essential, and other
methods are not currently advanced
enough to replicate this outside of
living animals. In cosmetics, though,
the alternatives do exist. The issue is
that there aren’t regulations to make
companies use them.
The Food and Drug Administration
is the organization that regulates the
safety and efficacy of our medicines,
and that ensures the safety of
our food and cosmetics, but their
approach focuses on humans, not
animals. While they “consistently
advise” cosmetics companies to find
replacements for animal testing, they
only advocate for and against what is
already written in laws. All of their
language surrounding the topic is
passive, further demonstrating their
unwillingness to fully denounce the
practice as regulators in many other
countries have.
On the medical side, the FDA
recently stopped requiring animal
testing on new medications to prove
efficacy, which allows for the many
alternatives already available to
be used to test toxicity. However,
there isn’t a need for innovation in
cosmetics when there are hundreds
of chemicals that have already
been deemed safe for humans.
Additionally, there has been a
movement to switch from harsh
chemical products with ingredients
most people can’t pronounce to
more natural substitutes. This means
that companies should not be trying
to find more chemicals to force onto
people for the sake of their looks or
hygiene. Especially not when this
“innovation” is at the expense of
the lives of hundreds of thousands
of animals each year. Unnecessarily
testing helpless animals with
harmful chemicals is not the way
to make advances in the cosmetics
field, especially when testing on
animals fails to flag chemicals toxic
to humans extremely often.
Unfortunately, this problem is
not one that can be easily fixed,
especially without the support
of those directly affecting the
regulations and legislation around
cosmetic safety. There are ways to
help, though. For example, a good
way to know if a brand is crueltyfree
is to look for the Leaping Bunny
logo on its products, or to find the
brand on the Leaping Bunny website.
An example of a cruelty-free brand is
Lush, which specifically states they
only test on human volunteers and
have been advocating against animal
testing for decades. Another way is
to buy cosmetics from small local
businesses, soap being the easiest to
find this way. Contacting lawmakers
is a good and accessible way to
help get to the root of the issue and
promote the safety of animals to the
people in power. Lastly, the most
important step towards cruelty-free
cosmetics is to make others aware
of the realities of animal testing in
cosmetics, which is why we wrote
this article.
To learn more about the fight for
cruelty-free cosmetics, check out the
posters put up around the school,
or visit the Humane Society of the
United States’ website.
(Photo/Pixabay)
10
OPINIONS
The Myth of College Rankings: Unraveling Their True Worth
AMBER PANCHOLI, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
In the competitive world
of higher education, college
rankings have become a prominent
and often controversial subject.
Students and parents eagerly pore
over lists, hoping to identify the
“best” colleges and universities.
However, it’s time to question the
relevance and true value of these
rankings. Are they indicative of a
students’ success and educational
experience, or just an arbitrary
number associated with prestige
and nothing else?
College rankings typically rely
on a combination of factors, such
as academic reputation, faculty
resources, student selectivity, and
financial resources. However,
these metrics often fail to capture
the diverse and complex nature of
educational institutions. This onesize-fits-all
approach disregards the
unique strengths and qualities that
different institutions offer. Most
rankings are often biased towards
Ivy League schools and other wellknown
institutions, making them
seem more desirable to students,
while lesser-known schools are left
out of the conversation. Moreover,
some rankings may place too
much emphasis on factors such as
selectivity and financial resources,
while ignoring other important
factors such as student satisfaction
and diversity. As David Kirp, a
professor of the Graduate School
at the University of California,
Berkeley points out in a 2022 article
in The Nation, “[college rankings]
would give a shout-out to colleges
where the teaching is first-rate, the
students are engaged in learning,
and the alumni describe themselves
as living a fulfilling life.”
College rankings can be harmful
to both students and institutions.
In particular, students may feel
pressure to attend a highly ranked
college even if it may not be
the best fit for them. Colleges,
meanwhile, might be incentivized
to prioritize rankings over other
important factors such as student
success and satisfaction, leading to
a culture of competitiveness rather
than collaboration.
College rankings often emphasize
research output and faculty
qualifications and undervalue the
quality of undergraduate teaching
and student support systems. In
her 2022 article on Prepscholar,
Samantha Lindsay, a Dartmouth
College graduate, explains “Even
though focusing on outcome does
make sense to a certain degree,
it also fails to fully evaluate the
quality of the student experience.”
It is crucial to consider the
holistic development and academic
growth that a college provides
beyond what can be measured by
numerical metrics.
While college rankings might
provide a quick glimpse into
the perceived prestige of an
institution, they fail to capture the
nuanced elements that truly matter
for an individual’s education and
personal growth. As admissions
officers and college advisors
emphasize, students should look
beyond the rankings and focus on
factors like academic fit, student
support, and career opportunities.
It is crucial to approach college
selection as a personal journey,
seeking an institution that aligns
with one’s unique aspirations and
goals. By doing so, students can
discover a college experience
that is meaningful, fulfilling, and
tailored to their individual needs.
In the end, it’s important to
remember that the true value of
a college education lies in the
knowledge gained, the experiences
lived, and the personal growth
achieved, rather than a mere
number on a ranking list.
(Image/Roger W)
Security at Princeton Day School
ADEOLA EGBELEYE, IX
PRINT STAFF WRITER
One key issue preoccupies
schools all around the nation:
school safety. In the United States
this year, there have been 24
school shootings. Homeschooling
and online education programs
are becoming more popular among
parents who believe that this is
“the answer to protect children
from violence.” Princeton Day
School has put a lot of effort into
keeping trespassers from entering
the building. PDS has implemented
a wide range of security measures,
including security guards, cameras
and training sessions. So the
question arises: is the school doing
enough in terms of school security?
Michael Cifelli, who is part of
the school’s security team, said,
“security is an ongoing process.
Training and constant evaluation of
the building and personnel helps us
keep ahead of the game in terms of
security.” Mr. Cifelli believes that
this school has accomplished much
in terms of school security and that
everything is being done to ensure
the safety of students and faculty
alike. However, there is always
room for improvement, as he notes
that it’s an ongoing process. Mr.
Cifelli said, “If someone sees
someone coming and doesn’t
recognize them, the biggest thing
a student can do is help secure
the building.” He elaborated that
the DoorDashing culture at this
school is quite problematic. With
unidentified people entering the
building whenever and wherever,
security becomes a problem.
Students can help contribute to the
acknowledgment of security by
being wary of who they open the
doors for.
Freshman Grayson McLaughlin
feels good about school security.
He said, “I think our school is pretty
secure. Having an ID card ensures
that only authorized individuals
can get into most entrances.”
Funnily enough, McLaughlin
changed his mind about a potential
lack of security in the event of
students losing their IDs after
realizing, mid-interview, that he
had misplaced his own ID card.
It is safe to state that the school
is doing its best when it comes to
security. They have kept us safe and
still watch out for the community’s
security.
Mr. Cifelli (Photo/Jamie Creasi ‘24)
Last Words: Advice from the Class of 2023
AMY LIN, IX
OPINIONS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
September feels like it was just
yesterday, but the Class of 2023 has
already left to work on their senior
projects. The feeling of emptiness
in the halls is a bittersweet reminder
of the friendly, fun-loving class.
Though the Seniors had many of
their high school years disrupted
by COVID-19, they still managed
to preserve their remarkable sense
of humor while achieving social,
extracurricular, and academic
excellence. During their time at
PDS, the Seniors learned invaluable
lessons that they hope to share with
underclassmen.
“Enjoy the small moments,”
remarked senior Blake Carmody.
“I woke up yesterday and realized
the Spokesman
OPINIONS 11
(Image/Pixabay)
it was my last week of high
school.” People tend to focus so
much on end results—receiving
the award, obtaining the A, getting
into college—that they ignore
moments of happiness during
the process. Relish the moment
of understanding a new concept.
Reflect on a good book. Value
conversations with friends. Savor
the sea of blue and white while
watching a sports game. Senior
Jenna Galla recalled, “Some of my
fondest memories happened in the
stands of a PDS game.”
Most advice for Freshmen
centered around social life. Senior
Ava Fong believes that struggling
to fit in is normal. “You’ll find
your niche naturally as you grow
older,” Fong explained. Fong also
mentioned that trying to act cool
will only backfire because friends
should accept who you truly are.
To Sophomores, both Fong
and Carmody recommended that
academics should be taken more
seriously. Additionally, it was
commonly recommended that
rising Juniors should take an
elective taught by English teacher
Jessica Manners.
The Class of 2024 will soon
begin the college application
process. “Start early!” Galla
emphasized. Carmody, who wrote
his application essays during the
summer and will be attending the
University of Rhode Island in the
upcoming school year, advised, “If
[the college] has the option, apply
early action or early decision.”
After years of hard work, the
Seniors will have the freedom
to pursue their dreams, whether
it be in college or elsewhere. “I
see myself traveling the world,”
Galla said. “I want to explore and
create a future filled with exciting
adventures.” Carmody hopes to
work in marine biology, while
Fong is excited to surprise herself.
“I have no idea where I’ll be in the
future, but I like it that way,” she
stated.
Although it is sad to imagine PDS
without these Seniors next school
year, completing high school is a
huge milestone that is worthy of
celebration.
Thank you and goodbye, Class
of 2023.
Summer Crossword
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
PRINT COPY EDITORS
Jamie Creasi, XI
Adya Jha, XI
Sam Elkin, XI
Arun Patel, XI
Ben Masia, XI
PRINT NEWS EDITOR
ONLINE NEWS EDITOR
NEWS ASSOCIATE
Cynthia Shen, X
Michael Arnwine, XI
Ruth Mehreteab, X
PRINT FEATURES EDITOR
ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR
FEATURES ASSOCIATE
Gloria Wang, XI
Michelle Xu, X
Parth Khera, X
PRINT SPORTS EDITOR
ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTS ASSOCIATE
Cyril Pandya, XI
Hart Nowakoski, X
Laasya Kanumuri, XI
PRINT ARTS EDITOR
ONLINE ARTS EDITOR
ARTS ASSOCIATE
Clara Shin, X
Ethan Wang, X
Ronin Bae, XI
PRINT OPINIONS EDITOR
ONLINE OPINIONS EDITOR
OPINIONS ASSOCIATE
Anagha Konakanchi, XI
Justin Elkin, XI
Amy Lin, IX
MANAGING ARTISTS
Hannah Park, XI
Ashlyn Du, XI
FACULTY ADVISORS
Amy Matlack
Michael Kideckel
12
NJ Roomba Massacre
ANA KONAKANCHI, XI
PRINT HUMOR COLUMNIST AND OPINIONS EDITOR
SPOKESFUN
Spring Highlights
I ’m sitting in my room at my aunt’s place
after a long and grueling week of APs, trying to
finish this article, when I suddenly hear this strange
whirring noise. At this point, I’m all alone in the
house because my aunt and my cousin stepped out
for his tennis lesson. I chalk the sound up to the
A/C or washing machine and get back to work.
Spring Athletics Senior Days (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Sometime later, I hear the whirring get louder
and nearer, and suddenly there are sounds of
violence being committed against a nearby
doorframe. A lump begins to form in my throat as
the bad ending to every horror movie plays out in
my mind. I clutch my phone—open to my mom’s
contact—in my hand, ready to say my prayers and
bid the world my final farewells. Soon, the source
of the dreaded noise pushes open the door and
looks at me with its singular, great, green, flashing
eye like a predator that finally cornered its prey.
Tauntingly, it roves around the room smashing
loudly into walls and attempting to climb the legs
of my bed. I realize quickly that it can’t. The
ghastly creature leaves, seemingly bored. I think
I’m safe, but then realize that this was all part of
its dastardly plan. It hovers over to the lamp and
starts running over the wires, chewing them up.
They’ll fray if the metal beast goes at them for
long enough. And if they fray, they’ll start a fire.
And if a fire starts, I’ll be forced to get off the
bed where the abomination will get to me. Just as
I start to think that I’m done for, my aunt swings
open the door and steps into my room, and the
Roomba innocently turns to look at her.
Alumni Weekend (Photo/PDS Flickr)
US Figure Skating Showcase (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Varsity Baseball (Photo/PDS Flickr)
STEAM Night (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Jacobson Recitals (Photo/PDS Flickr)
MS Musical - Matilda Jr. (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Sudoku!
100 Day Senior Lunch (Photo/PDS Flickr)
Advice Column
JAMIE REILLY, XI
ADVICE COLUMNIST
(Image/Vector Portal)
H ow to have a good summer:
Folks, summer is sacred, a time that must be
savored. Every day is a privilege, do not waste
your time! First, make sure that you are spending
a minimum of five hours outside. Whether it be
playing or eating grass you must have a tan that
junior Sam Elkin would approve of. Next, ask
junior Hutch Henderson for dating advice. He is
handsome, charismatic, and has quite the summer
bod. So if you are looking for summer love … he
is your man! It’s gonna be hot, so make sure that
you are drinking plenty of water. If you hate the
taste of water then try something more flavorful,
such as goat milk or apple cider vinegar. Finally, be
sure to keep in touch with your friends at school.
They will forget you, with time.