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by Street Roberts '20
On a hot October afternoon, the St. Albans soccer team trekked out to Bullis to take on the lesser Bulldogs. A difficult week of last minute tests and essays before the long weekend had worn St. Albans down, yet the ‘Dogs were riding the momentum of two straight IAC victories. It looked to be another easy win. However, less than two minutes into the game, Bullis struck first off a speedy kick and run. But no matter, the Bulldogs settled in and controlled the pace of the game. But disaster struck just as quickly as it had left. Another miscommunication among the Bulldogs defenders led to another Bullis goal within the first ten minutes of the game. Stunned, the Bulldogs attempted to regain their composure. A frantic pursuit ensued, but the ‘Dogs could not seem to shift the momentum at all after the nightmarish beginning, that is until they drew a penalty at the top of their opponents box. If it had been an inch closer, it would have been a penalty. This was the moment they were waiting for. Senior Ez Belay and Junior Zach Velli stood over the ball, deceiving the goalkeeper as to who was going to take the kick. A faint by Ez caught the keeper off guard, and Zach slotted the ball into the top right corner with poise. The bench exploded and Zach’s empathic celebration lifted the team up. A comeback was afoot. Renewed with vigor, the Bulldogs dominated the rest of the game, tying the game in the second half, and then scoring two more, as Bullis wilted under the pressure. The ‘Dogs held onto the 4-2 lead for the rest of the game, despite a penalty given to Bullis in the last ten minutes of the game, which was knocked away by goalkeeper Caleb Ehrenhaft. As the final seconds ticked down, the ‘Dogs celebrated an unlikely comeback and their third straight win in the IAC. As they gathered after the game, Coach Schultz looked at each and every one of the Bulldogs and said, with a twinkle in his eye, “This is a night to remember.” It truly was. Stay tuned for more results this week. Until then, Roll Beef.
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Government Club
STA News Exchanged ASAP (Alliance for Sexual Assault Prevention) Euro Challenge Certamen Bioethics Club Go (Weiqi) Team Chess Team Robotics Club Chemistry Club Math Team History Club Investment Club Community Service Club Comparative Literature Club Jackets Off Close Encounters It’s Academic! Quizbowl / History Bowl Model UN Cars Club Cyberpatriot Diplomacy Club Science Bowl Chinese Cultural Club Freestyle Club Gender Sexuality Agreement Focus High School Democrats of NCS
Presidents: Madeline Hopper ‘21, Julia Poggi ‘21 This club will work to advance the ideals of the Democratic Party in the District by mobilizing and empowering democratic D.C. high-school students. Best Buddies Presidents: Sam Douki ‘20, Gigi Cestari ‘21 This club will raise awareness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders (IDD) such as autism and down syndrome by hosting bake sales and donation challenges to raise money for the Best Buddies organization and support people with IDD through the employment process, inclusion and acceptance in society, and pair members with and without IDD together. The club will target the use of offensive terms in our own environment and reach out to the nation-wide organization by bringing students together to participate in events such as the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in October. Gender and Sexuality Alliance Presidents: Jax Weymouth ‘19, Madeleine Fitzgerald ‘21 Uniform Club Presidents: Mary Morgan Lilley ‘21, Lucey Pommer ‘21 This is not a club to pressure the school administration into implementing an all-school uniform, it is simply a way for those who would prefer a uniform to be able to get them. This club will also be all-inclusive, with options for every size and style, and will also provide a way to bond upper and lower classmen students. Black Student Union Presidents: Lillian Keller ‘19, Anaya Rodgers ‘20 Senior Service Club President: Sophia Charles ‘20 The elderly represent a group whose worth in our society is often forgotten. Their very presence is inherently one of experience — and for this reason, often one of wisdom as well. Ideally, we will meet monthly to organize a (monthly) service trip to a location that has identified a need for support to their senior populations. These populations may include nursing homes, retirement communities, in-home residents, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Asian-American Student Association President: Emily Kim ‘20 Model UN Presidents: Christina Nordby ‘19, Leila Wass ‘19 Debate Club Presidents: Emily Hester ‘19, Alyssa Gabidoulline ‘20 VEX Robotics Presidents: Abigail Kong ‘19, Nina Miller ‘19, McKenna Dunbar ‘19 The VEX Robotics Club’s main goal is to provide an opportunity for girls to gain exposure and an enjoyment for engineering. In addition, by attending weekly meeting and multiple competitions, the club desires for its members to develop a collaborative working mindset. Half in Earnest Presidents: Brigitte Meyer ‘19, Maggie Wang ‘19, Sophia Charles ‘20 Laser Tag/Ice-Skating Club Presidents: Audrey Abizaid ‘19, Fiona Heaps ‘19 This club is dedicated to having fun and organizing team-bonding activities with all grade levels. Latin Club President: Alexandra Allen ‘22 This club serves to deepen understanding of Latin and promote the study of Roman culture, history, and the Latin language. Members will compete in Latin competitions such as the annual NJCL Academic Contests, Certamen, Creative Arts Contests, Graphic Arts Contests, Olympika Contests, as well as take part in exams such as the National Roman Civilization Exam and the National Latin Vocabulary Exam. Insight Magazine Presidents: Zoé Contreras-Villalta ‘19, Noor Saleem ‘20 This publication will provide a space for students to share their personal stories involving topics of equity and diversity. This club will have a dedicated team to edit these stories and organize them into a magazine for an NCS Insight edition, as well as to encourage and collect contributions for the DMV Insight edition. The Woods Presidents: Sarah Asher ‘21, Campbell Musslewhite ‘21, Julia Buzacott ‘21 All of us have had experiences in nature that have brought us closer to ourselves, whether 18 days in the woods, hiking around Mont Blanc, or fishing in our favorite locations. We understand that we can all get busy during the year but we hope through this club to encourage everyone to get outdoors and reflect. In this club each member will have a journal in which they can reflect about their experiences with nature with photos, writing, and drawings. NCS Certamen Presidents: Campbell Musslewhite ‘21, Madeleine Drefke ‘21, Alexandra Allen ‘22 Certamen is a Latin competition that hosts local events, and even possibly one at St. Albans this year. This club will meet occasionally to prepare for these competitions. We are hoping to attend at least two competitions that we can work towards this year. Even if we don't win, we are excited to get the experience and learn more about Latin! Jewish Student Union President: Dorothy Shapiro ‘19 Vice-Presidents: Willa Spalter ‘21, Lucy Netchvolodoff ‘21 Girls Who Code Presidents: Giuliana Weiss ‘19, Lauren Carl ‘19, Audrey May ‘20 Food Club Presidents: Claire Zegger ‘21, Sophia Hanway ‘19 This club will talk about food allergies, intolerances, dietary restrictions, discussing how to manage these on a day-to-day basis and avoid reactions, in order to increase overall awareness for food intolerances. Ethics Bowl Presidents: Katherine Leahy ‘19, Amelia Griffin ‘20 &Books Presidents: Katherine Leahy ‘19, Shannon Ayres ‘19 Operation Smile Club President: Bridget Clare ‘19 Pianissimo President: Lydia Danas Pianissimo is a low-commitment club for students who are interested in classical or instrumental music. It’s Academic President: Maggie Wang Chess Club Presidents: Maggie Wang ‘19, Gillian Moore ‘20 She’s The First Presidents: Ellie Bailey ‘19, Sandra Mauro ‘19 Math Empowers Girls Presidents: Annalise Weber ‘19, Isabella Houle ‘19 This club hopes to go on service trips to Excel Academy and tutor/play fun math games with the students. We want to help girls enjoy math and feel confident in their skills. Science Olympiad Presidents: Nicole Owens ‘19, Brigitte Meyer ‘19 Climate United Presidents: Bea Markham ‘20, Yara Sigvaldason ‘20 This club hopes to raise awareness for environmental issues (specifically in the DMV), organize service trips to help with environment-related projects, and participate in other environmental activities. Math Team President: Nicole Owens ‘19 Film Club President: Ava Dettling ‘20 Film Club strives to showcase the many intricate, but important, details and work that go into making a movie. Cathedral Rocketry Club President: Jessica Alewine ‘20 Wii Club Presidents: Olivia Harley ‘19, Taliyah Emory-Muhammad ‘19 Our Minds Matter Presidents: Bea Frum ‘20, Bella Haiz ‘20 This club hopes to create a safe space to reduce the stigma around depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, as well as stimulate informational discussions with various faculty members. High School International Forum President: Ilina Gobburu ‘19 This club will plan and host a forum at NCS that gives students in the DMV area the opportunity to discuss international policies with students outside of the country. Government Club Presidents: Katie Klingler ‘19, Nina Miller ‘19, Jonah Chang ‘19, Robert Gerber ‘19 UNICEF Club President: Meghfira Mohammed ‘20 Vice-President: Kiki Shahida ‘21 The UNICEF Club will be centered on fundraising for and increasing awareness on issues afflicting children worldwide from the Close. by Harry Grigorian '19
Public Service Announcement: It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Co-President of our beloved Armenian Cultural Club. In just one year, we learned about the history of Armenia, the culture of the homeland, and the cuisine of Yerevan. But it is with a heavy heart that I announce the club will not return for the 2018-2019 school year. I miss the days of dining on donuts; I miss the days of Armenian tourism videos; I miss the days of intellectual debate with Mr. Harrison. Together, we laughed at the Armenian stand-up comedy and watched with heavy hearts a documentary on the Armenian Genocide. There were some who called it a “joke club.” There were some who simply entered, grabbed their doughy treat, and made a premature exodus. I never raised a brouhaha, but I always demanded that everyone tell me one thing they learned about Armenia before leaving. This was sincere. It’s Armenian Cultural Club, not Donut Club (but I guess we have that now too). Sam and I simply wanted to chat about Armenia with the boys over some donuts. I’ll admit some meetings were more productive than others, but it was a blast either way. In all seriousness, it was a fun year. And, seriously, if you start a “____ Cultural Club,” it might get labeled as a joke club, and it’s fine if you want to mess around a little like we did with some donuts. But we always made sure people knew about and appreciated Armenia more than when they walked in the door. Time and time again, Asian Americans are left out of conversations regarding diversity. It’s not as if discrimination towards Asian Americans does not exist. It does, but they tend to be overshadowed by the stereotype that all Asian Americans are well-educated and successful, which somehow leads to the conclusion that Asian Americans are not discriminated against.
One bias that I have felt most personally is the notion that Asian Americans are not really American. For example, when my family and I were waiting in the American citizen line at the customs checkpoint, a security guard informed us that this line was for American citizens only. More frequently this belief appears in conversations that start with “where are you really from?” and continue to say “no, where is your family from?” Another stereotype is that all Asian Americans look alike. On multiple occasions I have overheard or have been asked, “Wait, are you Chinese, Korean, or Japanese?” Though it is true that Asians’ appearances vary less than those of Americans (such as different hair color or eye color), it’s often used as an excuse to say, “I can’t tell; they all look the same.” Other remarks such as, “Do you eat pigs’ feet?” or “Are there squat toilets in China?” are often made with a tone of surprise or disgust at Asian culture. Even worse, these biases of Asian Americans are conventionalized in humorous speeches and memes. This makes it all the more difficult for our society to view biases against Asian Americans with seriousness, rather than just treating it as a joke. These stereotypes are often followed by conversations that focus on the cultural aspect of Asian diversity in America. However, in order to include cultural awareness, this tricky topic needs to be approached in ways that doesn’t encourage cultural appropriation and fetishization. In starting the Asian-American Student Association, I hope to make these types of conversations more frequent and further discussed in an open manner. The club will allow us to acknowledge our bias and acquire a nuanced understanding of the perspective of Asian Americans. It will also emphasize awareness of Asian Americans as not only of East-Asian descent but also of other regions of the Asia continent. by Alex Misiazek '21
For the past four years, I have been conducting independent research into the emerging field of synthetic biology. As part of this work I have been fascinated by the possibilities that this field of science promises. The ability to modify and control the very stuff of life is no longer science fiction. This ability is more powerful than any person could begin to imagine. Manipulating organisms at the genetic level opens the door to a host of possibilities, such as designer babies, extinct species resurrection, and species modification, to name a few. As I have learned more I have also begun to wonder what some of the implications are for human society. More dangerous possibilities have arisen as result of the emergent field of biotechnology, such as advanced biological weapons and genetic doping in athletics. How will society grapple with the issues created by these advances? At face value, issues in the field of biotechnology typically cause people to have a gut reaction either for or against the particular issue. In reality, however, each issue warrants deeper discussion as each facet of the real world implications of the technology are examined. For example, the idea of researching biological weapons seems inherently sinister and researching them should be illegal. However, if thought of from a different perspective, the same research needed to create a biological weapon would need to be conducted to create an antidote. Therefore, should all research into biological weapons be illegal? In order to explore these new and relevant topics, I have founded a club with Dr. O’Brien where we will discuss and debate, listen to expert speakers, and voice our opinions on bioethics. Bioethics Club has already had a couple of meetings with a great turnout. I intend to hold meetings every F-day flex with occasional guest speakers throughout the year. Members will be eligible to vote on the next meeting’s topic via email polls. Also, there will be donuts. Get out to that. Contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in joining. by Yash Somaiya '20
In high schools across the country, competitive debate is a very popular activity. After debating in middle school, Ben Sherman ‘20 and I felt a void in St. Albans clubs assortment — the lack of a debate team. So, this year, the two of us started a brand-new STA debate team with Mr. Mills as our faculty advisor. As opposed to the Debate Club that STA has had in years past, our goal is to join a debate league in the area and compete against other schools. As of now, we’re attempting to join the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensics League (WACFL), which is considered one of the more competitive leagues in the country and features public and private schools from Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. For now, the club is learning the ins and outs of Public Forum debate and is debating against one another in order to prepare for our first tournament on December 1st. For anyone interested in joining (although there may be some catching up to do) please contact either Ben or myself, Yash Somaiya. Additionally, if you just want to see what debating looks like, feel free to come out to our first mock debate at 8:00 AM on October 17 in an MH-300 level classroom. by Isabella Houlle ‘19 and Jack Tongour ‘19
ASAP (Alliance for Sexual Assault Prevention) is a co-ed club of St. Albans School and National Cathedral School that seeks to provide a safe environment for discussion, awareness, and support for victims of sexual assault and the issues that divide our Close community. Our goal is not to make accusations but to foster understanding through open conversation with the hope of changing school culture. This club is open for those who want to be heard, but also open for those who simply want to listen. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join. We plan on meeting 1-2 times a month after school, with meetings consisting of student discussions, film viewings, and perhaps even speakers. We will also provide food! While this is a time when sexual assault is in the national spotlight, this club started as an idea last spring when it came to our attention that the issue of sexual assault is most certainly relevant in our community. As the student body it is our responsibility to address this problem, and we hope that ASAP can be a respectful space to do so. Interested? Please contact Jack Tongour or Isabella Houle at [email protected] and [email protected]. by Priya Phillips '20
Extracurriculars are a necessity in becoming the most well-rounded and college-friendly version of yourself that you can be. Everyone from your distant family relative to your homeroom advisor will tell you that high school provides the best opportunities in life to pursue things that spark your interest and give you an outlet for your creativity. But how creative can you really get when you’re, for example, hitting some yellow ball over a net? How much can you stand out when you’re painting the same exact fruit bowl that the seven other people in your Intro to Drawing class are depicting? The moral of the story is that hundreds of thousands of students across the nation are participating in the same sports, performing arts, and studio arts, all in an attempt to stand out and prove their value to college admissions officers. And, spoiler alert, they’re not succeeding. If you really wanna stand out, and I mean really force college admissions officers to acknowledge just how special you are, you have to start a club. Now, starting a club may sound like a daunting task, but, particularly on the Close, teachers have complete (if not too much) faith in a student’s ability to organize, lead, and sustain a club. I mean, why else would the administrations constantly be calling us the leaders of tomorrow if they didn’t want us leading groups of unsuspecting underclassmen in random clubs today? Sure, being in Model UN or debate (clubs that are actually academically rigorous and time-consuming) may seem like a worthwhile place to spend your copious amounts of free time — but this is all a ruse. Do you know how many students are currently in debate clubs across the country? The answer: a lot. There is such a high number of teenagers currently participating in debate in the United States that Netflix dedicated a whole rom-com to two teens trying to utilize their membership in their school’s debate club to get into Ivy League Schools, which, spoiler alert, did not result in their desired outcomes. All in all, Netflix was attempting to warn us through this B-rated teen flick to not fall prey to the appeal of well-established and known clubs. Joining one of the aforementioned clubs may seem like the best way to spruce up your college application, but I’m telling you to choose a different path. After all, fortune favors the bold. We, the students of St. Albans and National Cathedral School, need to breathe new life into the extracurriculars that are offered on the Close. A community as dynamic, forward- thinking, and vibrant as the Close deserves to have clubs that reflect its character. The days of Science Olympiad and Math Team are behind us. As we gaze into the future we see clubs, so controversial yet necessary, such as the Donut Club and the Wii Club breaking the glass ceiling and allowing students on the Close to turn any hobby — literally anything — into a popular and perhaps even well-respected club. by NM '20
Solvers of last week’s puzzle (in order): 1. Brandon Torng 2. Maggie Wang 3. Mr. Rick DuPuy Answer to and commentary on Puzzle #4: Classification: Hard. Note: Edits to the original [unclear] prompt courtesy of Brandon Torng ‘20. Though there are multiple ways to solve the problem, personally I believe the best way is to draw a branching diagram (i.e. Dublin is the origin, with the four possible routes branching off from Dublin to Shannon, Cork, Knock, and Kerry, and then each of the time-possible routes from each of these cities branching off, etc.). Ultimately, using such a branching diagram, it can be found (specifics available by request) that there are two possible routes by which Aer O’Port could begin and end in Dublin while visiting all of the Irish airports. These routes share only one leg; IA 18, from Cork to Dublin at 1750. Hence, Aer O’Plane can make O’Port’s journey impossible by canceling IA 18. Puzzle #5 NM (email redacted) This week’s puzzle: Logic. Obadiah wants Ezekiel and John to guess his birthday, and gives these possible dates: May 15, May 16, May 19, June 17, June 18, July 14, July 16, August 14, August 15, August 17. Ezekiel knows the correct month, and John knows the correct day. Ezekiel says, "I don't know Obadiah's birthday, and I know John doesn't know." In response, John says, "I didn't know at first, but I now know Obadiah’s birthday." Then, Ezekiel says, "Now I also know!" When is Obadiah's birthday? |
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