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Hosted by Niall McDonald '18 and Charlie Hansen '18
Produced and edited by Alexandre LaBossiere '18 By Lily Christou '19
Cathedral Varsity Basketball played an outstanding game against Sandy Spring during Winterfest on January 26th. Eager students, parents, faculty, and staff formed a crowd in the bleachers, cheering on the Eagles throughout their victorious game. The Eagles started by dominating the game within minutes. The score by the end of the first half was 21-6 with Cathedral in the lead, and at the final buzzer of the game, NCS won: 41-12. The NCS players came into the game with a great deal of energy, and all of the players played an outstanding game, both offensively and defensively. They were aggressive, striving to be the first to every ball, making foul shots, moving the ball swifty up and down the court, and swishing baskets. Miranda Giambi ‘20 and Chloe Conaghan ‘19 both did an outstanding job of pressing Sandy Spring full court, but especially at the top of the key and at the three-point line. For example, Giambi intercepted the ball from Sandy Springs and passed it down the court to Lilly Keller ‘19, who finished the third quarter on a positive note with a beautiful layup. Conaghan also aggressively intercepted the ball, sprinting down the court in a breakaway and going in for a layup, making for a great start to the last quarter. Post-player Katie Skoff ‘18 dominated, making numerous shots from the block, grabbing many rebounds, and making several foul shots. Overall, CVB did an amazing job during their Winterfest game, and they look forward to competing in more games throughout the season. By Charlie Hansen '18
The crowd was roaring and the music was blasting at the middle rink in Rockville on Friday night as the Ice Dogs played a physical and chippy match against Landon. The Bulldogs, who have been plagued with injuries in recent weeks, had a slow start to the game. The top-ranked Bears pounced on several mistakes upon puck drop and capitalized. Two minutes after the start of the game, the Dogs were down 2-0. But no one hung their heads in defeat; the Dogs picked up the tempo of their game and started playing their signature fast and physical style. Before the start of the game, Coach Ryan requested the team play a full 45 minutes and to leave everything on the ice. An aggressive play from Matthew Gunty ‘19 helped set up a stuff-in goal from Ethan Ouyang ‘21 to bring life to the Bulldog bench during the first period. Max Delorme ‘20 made his IAC debut in relief during the first period and stopped shots from the hammering Bear’s forwards. The relentless forecheck from the Bears and the errors made by the Dogs cost them another goal. However, the Bulldogs jumped on a Landon mistake and Evan Orloff ‘21 scored with a slap shot from the blue line. The story was the same in the third period, with both the Bulldogs and the Bears playing hard and capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes. Even though the Dogs had a better showing compared to other games, they could not put the critical pieces together in necessary for a win. The final score was 5-2, with the Bears scoring an empty net goal as the Bulldogs tried to make one last push to even the game. The Bulldogs will hopefully have a rematch against the Bears, the likely regular season IAC champs, in the IAC playoffs. Now seeded third in the IAC playoffs, the Bulldogs have to beat St. Stephens next Tuesday, which would leave the team with an even IAC record (2-2). The team appreciated the support and will need more in the coming weeks as they continue to improve and play as a more cohesive unit in the IAC and MAPHL playoffs. Note: If you're looking for Luxmi's Article, Click Here
By NM '20 Though the required classes at STA certainly provide a depth of knowledge that spans all across the academic spectrum, elective classes allow one to expand upon this knowledge, as one pursues topics and material either not covered or only touched upon in their required classes. While nearly all electives, being specialty classes that teachers are extremely knowledgeable in and excited about, are engaging and insightful for students, some are oriented more towards students interested in their specific fields, and hence aren’t classes all students would enjoy. Exchanged has compiled a list of five electives for which those restrictions don’t apply — five electives that would interest almost any student, regardless of their academic focus, and would provide the skills and knowledge most useful in one’s life. While geared toward newer students, who’ve not chosen their electives yet and have relatively little experience at STA, this list can apply to anyone on the Close. Hence, in no particular order, Exchanged presents five electives to take before you leave STA, and why you should take them (see the Course Handbook for more general class descriptions): (Note that the list includes only non-English electives, as choosing English electives is a requirement in the higher Forms) 1. Macroeconomics Economics is, arguably, among the most central of sciences in today’s global and dynamic world, and there is no better place to gain an understanding of the economy as a whole than at STA. Covering topics like unemployment, GDP, the Federal Reserve, and economic policy, Macroeconomics allows one to actually understand what news like “5-Year Treasury Bond Rate hits Multi-Year Low” means. A basic understanding of the economic system is also essential to grasping hot-button political issues, so if Government Club interests you, Macro is the class to take. Plus, the teacher is Mr. Eagles, who is legendary in his own right. Plus, most students who complete Macro do well on the AP Macroeconomics exam. 2. Intro to Programming Language Intro to Programming Language, or IPL, is a class that provides a “gentle introduction to computer science” and is geared both toward students who “want to learn programming for general knowledge” and toward those who wish to advance up the programming chain at STA (see Course Handbook.) With today’s technology-focused job market and explosive growth in the computer science field, IPL is a class that not only teaches one the basic principles of programming, but also serves as the prerequisite to many of the higher-level computer science electives on the Close. So, if programming is something that might interest you, or something you’ve never tried, IPL is the class for you. 3. Biotechnology Among the newest classes offered at St. Albans, Biotechnology is another field that is becoming ever more crucial as improved gene-editing technology parallels an increased focus on the issues and ethics of genetic modification. Employing new and cutting-edge technology — the course instructor, Dr. O’Brien, hopes to employ CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology in coming semesters — Biotechnology is a class that keeps pace with the frontiers of its field, a pace St. Albans is determined to keep (look no further than the sizable grant awarded last year for the continued development of the Biotechnology program at STA). 4. Chorale The perfect introduction to singing for the new musician or the ideal segway to STA’s other musical groups for the more advanced performer, Chorale is a co-ed, 100+ member ensemble that meets three times in a seven-day rotation during the dedicated, 55-minute Ensembles period. Requiring only that one come focused and ready to sing (no musical background necessary!), many students from every Form take Chorale each year, meaning you’ll never be without other students from your grade. Requiring little other than concentration and respect, along with regular attendance at performances and rehearsals, Chorale’s pass-fail grading system and its weekly schedule (recall that Chorale has its own dedicated period, rather than occupying one of the rotation schedule blocks) make it relatively low-key in terms of time required compared to other classes, and a great way to fulfill your arts credit for those not interested in the visual or theatrical arts. 5. The Romantic Age Though all history electives are great to take, several features award ASTRA (the class’s full name is The Arts, Sciences, and Technologies of the Romantic Age) a place on The Exchanged’s list (not to mention its riveting course description.) Firstly, it has a unique and specific focus; the class exclusively covers the 60-year period from 1771 to 1831, a period pivotal in shaping the world as we know it today. Secondly, the class goes beyond the typical hallmarks of this age, delving into the artistic achievements, the scientific discoveries, and the technological breakthroughs of the day. Lastly, the enduring praise of students who’ve taken the class; many laud it as one of their favorite classes at STA, and all hail Mr. Campbell, an STA alum himself, as a fantastic teacher of the material. Even if history is not your thing, ASTRA is a class worth your while. This list is by no means intended to sway you from a class you’d want to take; if the 1960s interest you more than the Romantic Age, go with Global 1960s, and if science really isn’t your thing, Biotechnology might not be the best class for you. However, to students unsure of their focus or willing to branch out, let this list be a great entry into the rich elective options on the Close. Although all these classes are held at STA (save Chorale, which sometimes is held at NCS), don’t feel limited to take classes at St. Albans, as one would be remiss to avoid the wealth of topics offered at NCS. Whether you are a senior or freshman, it's never too late to take an elective, nor too early. Satire by Luxmi Mathivannan '18
*The purpose of this article is to neither suggest nor recommend that anyone should or do break the NCS dress code.* Like any other NCS student, you probably wonder to yourself on a daily basis, “How can I get away with breaking the dress code?” So, here is a beginner’s guide to doing just that.
Humor by Sara Roberts '18
Every NCS girl with A lunch knows the feeling of arriving at the cafeteria after sitting through four classes on a completely empty stomach, only to find an all-too-familiar meal waiting for them: chicken and rice. Though many of us eat it begrudgingly, eating the chicken and rice isn’t as terrible as we all make it to be! Here are some tips on how to make the most of the lunch that so many of us dread: 1) Plan A: Add spice to your chicken and rice! One reason that many people have for disliking chicken and rice is that it’s too bland. How can you fix this, might you ask? Hot sauce! If you are someone that likes to spice things up, the wide assortment of hot sauces available in the cafeteria go perfectly with the chicken, creating a meal that anyone can enjoy. I know opting for Open City is always an option for chicken-and-rice days, but as our credit card balances fall, we recognize that overpriced grilled cheeses aren't always an option. So, if you’re tired of the same-old, same-old, try adding some spice, and you will realize that chicken and rice isn’t half bad. 2) Plan B: Hit up the NCS bookstore! AKA the best way of skipping chicken-and-rice days and spending your parents’ money instead of your own. At the bookstore, they not only have a wide array of snacks that are both filling and easy to take with you anywhere, but they also have great substitutes for meals. For example, the bookstore has Annie’s Mac and Cheese cups, and some even enjoy the vegetable-soup cups (if you’re desperate). I, personally, enjoy opting for the mac and cheese, because it’s easy to make and tastes great. 3) Plan C: Use what you have: make a grilled cheese, or get to the bagels before they run out! Are you really a true NCS student if you haven’t made a grilled cheese in the most classy way: by using the microwave? This was really the only thing I ate as a freshman, to be honest. Some like to make their grilled cheeses with more than one of the types of cheeses they provide, and I think this is a great idea. Additionally, as many of us know, NCS has upgraded their bagels and they are a huge hit. Make sure to get to them before anyone else so you can enjoy a nice bagel and cream cheese as your lunch. 4) Plan D: Open City Open City may be the best option, even though overpriced paninis aren’t always the move. It’s always good to treat yourself every once in a while, and Open City has much to offer, so go for it. They have a great selection of sandwiches that are nice and filling, and of course there’s always the waffles as another option. We’re so lucky to have this cafe in the middle of the Close, so take advantage of it! After all, it’s there for a reason. Humor by Kubair Chuchra '18
1) Driving to get Food that You don’t Need. Chipotle. Chick-Fil-A. Buredo. Cava. All of these restaurants make great places to waste your free period. By the time you drive there, order your food, eat it, and drive back, your hour of unstructured free-time will be over. 2) Complaining about your Homework We’ve all been here. Instead of preparing for our three tests and two essays due by the end of the week, we sit around and complain about them. As academic Lil Uzi Vert once said, “[that’s just] the way life goes”. 3) Bishop’s Garden and Chill If you happen to have the same free period as that special someone, an hour spent in our Cathedral’s beautiful gardens may be perfect for you. Other canoodling locations include: the Olmsted Woods, the NCS Parking Garage, and the Bunker. 4) Sky Lounge/Library Shenanigans Sometimes, the best way to let out the stress of the school week is by engaging in some tomfoolery. To do this, I recommend playing hide-and-seek in the library (we’re sorry, Mr. Kantz) or participating in a good ol’ fashion sky lounge wrangling. Note: This option is ideal for free periods that fall at the end of the day on a Friday. 5) Napping Besides doing homework, catching up on sleep is the best way to utilize your free period. Unfortunately, ideal napping locations are seldom found on our campus. Here are my recommendations: the amphitheater, the Sky Lounge, the exclusive NCS senior room, and the library. 6) Netflix/Amazon Prime/Hulu/HBO Go Game of Thrones, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Stranger Things, The Crown, and Westworld are all fantastic, hour-long dramas which will take up your entire free period with just one episode. If you’re in a lighter mood, streaming old episodes of Friends, Seinfeld, and Family Guy can also get the job done. 7) Endlessly Scrolling through your Phone Repetitively looking at every tweet, Snapchat story, and Instagram post on your social media feeds can be a quick way to waste an hour. Note: If you share a free period with Mr. Hansen, be wary of using your phone in restricted areas. Humor by Max Niles '18
One of the best parts of the St. Albans experience is the family-style lunch. Where else can you gather underclassmen, upperclassmen, and faculty to discuss a wide range of topics at one time? Though family-style lunch is great, the worst (or arguably best) part of lunch is the table question. For most tables in the upper school, there is a trivia question to determine who will scrape and who will take up everything else. For you scared freshmen out there, here is Exchanged’s guide on how not to wait:
By following these tips, you’ll no longer be the laughingstock of your table and the butt of a joke passed down through several STA classes. By Elizabeth Lombardo '19
We’ve all been there — you’re running late to your STA/NCS class, books tucked under your arm. You start to run; when was the last time teachers actually abided by the 5-minute grace period? Then, just as you reach the glass elevator, you’re ambushed by a gust of wind — thus begins the most unpleasant two minutes of your day. These are the steps you must take if you want to conquer the overwhelming force that is the Wind Tunnel:
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