The Rivers Edge - October 2019

Celebrating 50 Years of Student Voice

THE RIVERS EDGE Vol. L, Number 1

The Rivers School, Weston, MA

October 28, 2019

Revers Center project moves into final stages as Jan. opening nears

BY MEREDITH SHAH ’21 ASSISTANT EDITOR

The football team jogs past the new Red Wing statue at halftime during Homecoming. Photo by A. Stephens

New athletics logo features bold lettering and new Red Wing bird

BY TOMMY KANTAROS ’20 CO-EDITOR

The Oklahoma Sooner Schooner. The Miami turnover chain.

Clemson University’s Howard’s Rock. These are traditions for some of the biggest college football teams that unite the players, which would make some question what Rivers teams do before games to unite. Nothing, until now at least.

When the school decided to enter a 10-month project to remake the Davis Fields, the focus of the school was to create something special for all of the community.

“We didn’t set out to build a new athletic field, we set out to

build a new community space,” said Head of School Ned Parsons.

The two new turf fields now have a pavilion with a patio for spectators to lounge and get refreshments, which certainly worked well on the beautiful fall day that was Homecoming last Saturday. Most importantly, or at least to the football, lacrosse, and field hockey teams, the school created a bronze statue of the Red Wing bird mascot that players will touch on their way out to the field. The bird, as Parsons said, “ties the project all together as it will give athletes the opportunity to make it a part of their ritual before games.”

Parsons also mentions that the

statue is “a physical manifestation of pride.”

What led to the bird being installed on its platform started long before the project to remake the fields began. For nearly 15 years, Rivers’ athletics logo has been a red “R” with a wing coming off the side. But the old logo had some issues. “The problem our logo had was being able to effectively align it on clothing,” said Athletic Director and varsity girls basketball coach Bob Pipe.

Last spring Pipe hosted a focus group with the captains of all teams to get input on the idea of a new logo. Being one focus group out of many, the captains did not have the control to choose the Continued on page 10

tive, respectful, and appropriate learning environment”. The dress code applies to both students and teachers, as they are expected to comply with these thought out rules.

According to Upper School Dean of Students Will Mills, the idea of changing the dress code originated from two senior girls from the Class of 2019 who felt that adding blue jeans to the everyday life of students would provide for more comfort yet add more formality to the student appearance. After discussing with the student council and

the grade deans, their request was passed on to the senior administration group.

“We want people’s dress to reflect what they do here and to be reflective of who we are as a school,” Mills said.

The full impact of how the dress code change of adding blue jeans but taking away leggings affected the school was not known until school began in September and students began expressing their feelings about this change.

After a few weeks into Continued on page 8

FEATURES

ARTS

The long anticipated opening of the new building on campus is finally here. Over the past year and half, the speed of construction on the $21,000,000 and 34,000-square-foot building has impressed members of the Rivers community. Now, the finishing touches are being added and students, faculty, and staff alike eagerly await its opening in early January.

Many have wondered how the new name for the new building will fit into campus like the existing buildings; Haynes, MacDowell, and Lewis. And though some may have grown accustomed to the working title of the building, it’s old name is a thing of the past. To honor Daniel R. Revers as the single largest donor in Rivers’ history and the lead donor in the capital campaign that made the new building possible, the Center for Science and Visual Arts will now be known as The Revers Center for Science and Visual Arts, or

colloquially, “The Rev”.

The building’s new name was officially announced on Sep. 26th in an announcement on the Rivers website. Daniel Revers is parent to Nick Revers ‘15, who enrolled at Rivers as a sophomore. Revers is highly complimentary of the school and what it did for his son. “[Rivers] has a really dedicated faculty who are not only great teachers but are great at connecting with students,” Revers said.

He spoke about the new building, saying it is even better than he’d dreamed it would be. According to the announcement about the naming of the building, “Dan really stepped up and showed this community what we can do when we put our minds to it,” said Head of School Ned Parsons.

“His belief in Rivers and his willingness to declare that belief in such a public, visible fashion are truly an inspiration.”

“The Rev” boasts “stateof-the-art” facilities, including physics, chemistry, and biology labs and classrooms, along with Continued on page 6

Dress code change riles females

BY CAROLINE DENEEN ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Any change in dress code typically results in some form of controversy, and this year’s change has been no exception.

Over the summer, students were notified that the Rivers dress code would no longer allow girls to wear leggings or yoga pants of any kind. The negative reactions began almost immediately.

The Dress Code Policy found in the Student Handbook states that “Rivers seeks to uphold standards for a produc-

I N S I D E

NEWS

Former BlackRock exec Chris Whittier ’07 kicks off new Delta Alumni Talks.

Page 3

Summer in Spain program has another successful year as 12 Upper School students travel to Cadiz.

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Fall drama production: Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic Page 8

Eric Liu -A Call to Action

The Hall Family Speaker Series launched last Oct. 3, with a visit from Eric Liu, an author, activist, and speaker who addressed the school community on the topic of civic engagement, power, and the meaning of citizenship. See story on page 10.

SPORTS

Undefeated field hockey team eying shot at league title, return to NEPSAC finals game.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Homecoming featured an abundance of spirit, community, fun, and exciting games.

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The Rivers Edge

Page 2

October 28, 2019

News Briefs

Students polled on Trump impeachment

Impeachment is defined as charging a holder of public office with misconduct. Last month, the House opened an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump for alleged abuse of power. In a phone call with the President of Ukraine, Trump asked the leader to investigate Vice President Joe Biden, the leading democratic candidate for the upcoming 2020 presidential election, and his son, Hunter Biden. Impeachable offenses include treason and bribery, or anything of a “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Although an inquiry has begun, Trump will only be impeached if the majority of the House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, votes in favor his impeachment. Impeachment would then move to a trial in the US Senate, which is controlled by Republicans (53-47). The Senate would need to have two-thirds or more votes to convict the president in order for him to be removed from office.

Rivers students voted on a poll asking “Should President Trump be impeached?” with the opportunity to explain their answers. Of the 248 students who responded, 55% of students felt Trump should not be impeached, while 45% of students said that he should. The poll results are almost opposite of national polls which have 50% of Americans in favor of impeachment verus 41% opposed.

Some students who argued in favor of his impeachment had strong feelings. “[Trump] is racist, sexist, xenophobic, and, honestly, immature and unprofessional,” one respondent wrote. “The way he acts is in no way presidential and he is an embarrassment to this country.” Wrote another student: “Trump, nor any person of great wealth, power, and influence, is above the law. There have been countless examples of his flagrant disregard towards both our federal and state laws, as well as the principles of justice as outlined by our Constitution.”

But other students argued against his impeachment, saying, “Then Pence, who is worse than Trump, would be president.” Many who opposed impeachment stated that there simply isn’t enough evidence to impeach the President at this time.

By Hannah Lapides’22, Sophie Dubard ’22, Amanda Gary’22

Faculty and staff news The return to school in September is always meaningful for students, faculty, and staff alike, but for a number of the teachers here, it’s been a particularly eventful.

Math teacher Keith Zalaski and his wife welcomed their daughter, Maeve Bentley Zalaski ,who was born on Tuesday, Sept. 24. At birth, Maeve was 19 inches tall and weighed in at seven pounds and eight ounces. Mr. Zalaski, who is currently on paternity leave and has gotten to spend quality time with Maeve, made note of her two inch growth over the past two weeks. “She’s on track to play on the Connecticut Suns in the WNBA Finals in about 23 years,” Mr. Zalaski, who also coaches boys’ varsity basketball, quipped. He added, Maeve is as an “amazing addition to the family and has brought us much closer together.”

The fall was special for another member of the Rivers math department. Middle school math teacher Tori Wilbur and her now husband Brett Lucas were married last Saturday, Oct. 19. Their wedding was at Loon Mountain Resort, located at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH, which is a place that is very special to them both.

In addition to going there every weekend, the couple first met at Loon over three years ago when Ms.Wilbur’s brother was supposed to meet her to go skiing together, but he ended up canceling last minute. The two also bonded over their volunteer efforts at New England Disabled Sports at Loon, which “teaches both children and adults with disabilities how to ski.” It is Ms.Wilbur’s fourth year volunteering in this program, and Brett’s ninth. “It’s kind of like this whole family,” Wilbur said. Ms.Wilbur wasn’t expecting it, when Brett proposed to her on the top of the mountain one day.

Prior to the start of school, beloved Chef Michael Clancy’s second son, Liam Jacob Clancy, was born on August 1. Liam was 19 inches tall and weighed in at six pounds and three ounces. Chef Clancy described it as a “hectic, exciting, and fast delivery” and was very grateful and happy that Liam was healthy. Liam drew his name from the Gaelic form of William as well as being named after Clancy’s maternal grandfather. Clancy’s first son Connor, 3, and Liam are Chef Clancy’s “two Irish hooligans.” He described Liam as “a great little boy” and is “so blessed to have two boys that are healthy and just a lot of fun.” Similar to when Chef Clancy was a kid and had an older brother who was protective of him as well as looking after him, Connor is doing the same for his new brother. “He’s a great big brother and is definitely embracing the role,” Clancy said.

“He helps us out a lot.”

by Sebastian Connelly ’22

For her summer science internship, Callie Lefebvre’20 worked with Dr. David Chung and learned about both the intricacies of pediatrics and the research process. Dr. Chung works at Pediatric Associates of Brockton and is the founder and CEO of Dover Lifesciences.

Summer science internships offer students invaluable experiences

BY SOFIA BUCKLE ’20 STAFF WRITER

After receiving the highest number of applications in the program’s history, a total of 14 Rivers juniors participated in the science internship program last summer.

Overseen by science teacher Michael Schlenker, the program requires students to apply in the winter in hopes of being matched with an organization or company to intern for the summer. As in past summers, the students accomplished a variety of fascinating work and interesting research at numerous companies and labs in the Boston area. The internships were primarily in fields of computer science, medicine, or engineering.

Current seniors Joel Manesseh and Apsi Balamurugan worked at the Medical Imaging lab at MGH/ Harvard Medical School. Together, they completed research about pneumothorax, a collapsed lung, and worked with the computer coding language, Python, to generate Artificial Intelligence in order to design a neural network that would help improve the accuracy of imaging this disease.

“We learned not only how to fail, but also how to persevere through our mistakes,” Joel Manesseh said of his experience. “Although it was frustrating, failing was a crucial part of the process.”

Such life lessons are just as valuable as the real work experience as evidenced by the other students’ experiences.

Jack Morgan and Jack Desmond interned at the Amazon Robotics headquarters in North Reading. Their main project was to revamp an internal website called QAGEARS for the Quality Assurance team. In order to complete this task, Jack and Jack learned a new programming language which allowed them to make the site more easily navigable. In addition to learning more about website development, they were able to experience a real work environment

and schedule. They participated in numerous company outings to Red Sox games and to Kimball Farms for professional development. Although they were oftentimes stumped on one aspect of the website for days, they overall had a fantastic experience.

Jonah Berg interned at a surgical planning lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. However, he studied bronchoscopies, which is a common medical procedure used to visualize the inside of the lungs and airways through using microscopic cameras inserted through the mouth or nose.

Berg’s goal over the summer was to try and improve this procedure because the current process is occasionally hindered by metal or other electromagnetic impulses, thus impeding the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Essentially, he attempted to code the computers to drive themselves along neural networks to obtain more efficiently the locations of the web cameras within the lungs. He and his team helped develop and test this complex code. Although Berg had an amazing experience, he also found himself absolutely perplexed at what his next steps were to be in the process. He jokingly proclaimed, “I felt alone and cold in the depth of the hospital with nothing but code and a Panera bread bacon turkey bravo sandwich to keep me company.”

In comparison, Callie Lefebvre shadowed and carried out research for Dr. Chung at Pediatrics Associates and Dover Lifesciences. On days where she was not helping out at Dr. Chung’s practice, Callie researched and networked with different companies in order to obtain funding and aid for their research project.

“My science internship was hugely beneficial to my skills in working with people and in figuring out if pediatrics is a career path that I want to pursue,” Lefebvre said. “Having the opportunity to shadow Dr. Chung was invaluable as he taught me

the intricacies of his work. I also helped him start a research project this summer that has taught me how grueling and aggravating the research process can sometimes be.”

Meanwhile, Kate Eselius shadowed Dr. Stein, an orthopedic hand surgeon at Boston Medical center. Here, she learned about the complex anatomy of the hand and how the different nerves affect range of motion. Eselius excitingly scrubbed in to these surgeries and saw first hand the complexity of these procedures.

She observed surgeries reparing carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, and ray amputations.

“I really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to shadow a surgeon,” she said.

The remaining seven students participated as well in a variety of incredible internships. Lindsey Perko (and I) worked at Bluebird Bio in Cambridge. While I aided the inventory manager pulling samples for the fellow scientists on the floor, Lindsey cloned and sequenced vectors.

Likewise, Will Churchill interned at Jackpine Technologies where he converted the internal issues with the technology into an easily digestible code for the employees to quickly comprehend the problems.

Aliesha Campbell partook in the high school Harvard MEDscience program, during which she participated in various simulations as well as helped to create a case for the interns at the medical school to solve. In addition, Abi Walsh shadowed Dr. Snyder at Newton Wellesley Orthopedic Associates where she helped patients, scan medical records, and draw up cortisone shots. Finally, Olivia Xu shadowed Dr. Riester’s private practice at of Beth Israel.

According to the 14 students, the internships were well worth it.

“Overall,” Lefebvre said, “my experience was extremely positive as I was able to get work experience in a field that I am interested in pursuing in the future.”

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Page 3

News

Students join nationwide climate strike to push for change

BY MEREDITH SHAH ’21 ASSISTANT EDITOR

On Friday, September 20th, nearly eight million people around the world did not attend school or work to strike for the Earth’s climate. There were 6,135 actions in 185 countries, from Australia to Canada, Germany to Indonesia, and Mexico to Vietnam.

The inspiration for these strikes came from 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, whose pointed United Nations summit speech gained traction on social media and news outlets all over the world. Thunberg traveled from England to the United States for the U.N. climate summit by sail—a sixty-foot zero-emission racing yacht called Malizia II— to minimize her environmental impact on the journey. Since her arrival in the U.S., Thunberg has traveled from city to city by train, and she has participated and spoken in strikes and actions every week along the way.

The strike in Boston was organized by Massachusetts Climate Strike, a small group of high school students (many of whom work for a youth activist organization called Sunrise Movement) dedicated to making climate change a top priority in the U.S. According to WBUR, the local demands of the strike were for Gov. Charlie Baker to declare a

climate emergency, the state legislature to pass policies that prioritize workers and communities on the front-lines of poverty and pollution, and for the state to stop using fossil fuels and building fossil fuel infrastructure. It also asked all politicians to commit to the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge.

The No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge essentially stops politicians from taking money from oil, gas, and coal industry executives. Additionally, only a handful of cities and local governments across the U.S. have declared climate emergencies, and the United Kingdom was the first national government to officially declare a climate emergency on May 1, 2019. Following the U.K.’s announcement, Ireland, Canada, and France declared climate emergencies as well.

The Boston contingency of the worldwide climate strike was held in City Hall Plaza, and when a group of Rivers students arrived, there were 10 or 15 small tables and booths set up for organizations like the Sunrise Movement.

Before long, thousands of “strikers” had accumulated behind me.

The Rivers students stood in the very front, leaning on the gate at the base of the stage, surrounded by the ocean of people holding up signs and shouting chants grew bigger and louder.

“It was amazing to see so many people my age out in the streets with the same goal of im-

proving the world,” said Rivers senior Sydney Greer. “Hopefully next time there will be more Rivers students who participate too.”

Statistics released after the strike indicate that more than 10,000 people were in attendance; there was a police presence for the strike, but no arrests were made. The demographic of strikers was largely high-school age environmental activists and enthusiasts, but the students met several older people and even younger children who came to the strike with their parents.

The leaders of the strike were all students from the greater Boston area. They led the crowd in chants and songs throughout the program and they had about ten speakers talk to the crowd. The speaker lineup included several high school students from the Sunrise Movement, the previous head of the Environmental Protection Agency, a minister for ecological justice, and a representative from the North American Indian Center of Boston. The speakers were all incredibly moving, motivating, and engaging, the students said, and they spoke of their own personal experiences with climate change and why they are climate activists.

After the speakers, the students walked to the State Houseshouting chants along the way.

They continued chanting all the way up Beacon Street to the steps of the State House and even in-

Freshmen Jacklyn Lee, Ainsley McAnena, Abby Matsuyasu, and Tatiana Sanchez, along with other Rivers students, marched in Boston during the Climate Strike day on Sept. 20. Photo by Amy Enright. side, where leaders draped banners over the ornate balcony railings reading “WE DESERVE A FUTURE” and “ERA OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL”.

Many of the chants heard and posters seen at the climate strike regarded the Green New Deal or GND. The GND is, according to the New York Times, a “congressional resolution” to climate change and economic inequality in the U.S. and it was introduced

by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey. The GND is a non-binding resolution, which means that even if it is approved by Congress, nothing in it will become law. It has some pretty lofty goals in it, but the intent is clear: the U.S. needs to make concrete efforts to

minimize its carbon footprint and it needs to do it now.

The global climate strikes certainly caught the world’s attention, with countless news outlets reporting on and broadcasting the event. The social impact was and continues to be enormous, with students following in Greta Thunberg’s footsteps and continuing to strike every Friday in cities and towns all around the world.

“I participated in the climate strike because I believe it is my responsibility to take action to help make the world a better place,” said Greer. “It’s not enough to sit around and wait or someone else to fix the world’s problems, but rather we have an obligation as the future generation to make our voices heard.”

there, however. At first, Whittier, who is gay, was nervous to enter a new workplace that might not be proLGBTQ, especially when he found the job through a gay bestfriend. But Whittier made his mark by better connecting BlackRock’s LGBTQ+ affinity group to “allies” and the greater workplace. Now, he wants to further his community-building through being a “real estate developer with a conscience,” where he fosters connections through affordable and ecological housing.

According to Whittier, gone are the days that successful companies strictly value their shareholders and profits; many companies For the inaugural Alumni Delta Talks, Chris Whittier ’07, a former analyst at will now forgo profit BlackRock, spoke to students about the push for social change in the workin striving for social place. Photo by Marc Stroum ’98. change or halt a lucrative venture when it ration. Whittier’s job specifigrateful for the skills he gained. does not match their values. He cally was to analyze, buy, and After five years, however, he predicts this trend will be even sell other companies on behalf figured it was time to conmore prevalent when the current of BlackRock. He described his tinue his education as a lifelong generation of high schoolers work as “grueling, but rewardlearner and pursued a master’s enters the workplace. ing,” and although he had little degree in real estate at MIT. Whittier was able to offer work-life balance, he said he is Whittier’s work didn’t stop

some advice to the students in the CCCE. He directed them to “find what you enjoy, otherwise people who enjoy the job you currently have more will take it because they will be better.” In addition, he said that because everyone who is successful in business will have the baseline intelligence and skills that Rivers students have, one needs to be a “good people person.”

Ultimately, he said, that is what will separate you.

What part of his Rivers education prepared him best?

“Mr. Pierson’s attention to detail on physics labs was what best prepared me for my job,” Whittier said.

Delta is poised for success after an informative first meeting, and is much more than just a free Linden’s lunch.

“I love this program because it shows us that, whatever professional path Rivers students choose, they can combine that experience with a positive influence in public life,” noted CCCE director Dr. Amy Enright.

“Chris is a great example of this natural combination. While working in the financial sector, he lived out his values of inclusion and empathy and he continued to develop his civic skills of dialogue and listening.”

Former BlackRock exec Whittier ’07 kicks off Delta Talks

BY RYAN JOHNSEN ’20 ASSISTANT EDITOR

The BlackRock investment management company manages $6.84 trillion in assets, making them the world’s largest asset manager, and Rivers alumnus Chris Whittier ‘07 was right in the middle of it all. While Whittier achieved great success, he parlayed his experience into becoming a leader and agent for social change.

A new program at Rivers called Alumni Delta Talks, a joint effort between the Center for Community and Civic Engagement and the Alumni and Engagement Office, seeks to celebrate positive change (hence the “Delta,” which means “change” in mathematics) that alumni have spurred around the world. Whittier was the first alumnus to return to campus for this program and spoke to students in the CCCE on September 26th.

Whittier graduated from Rivers in 2007 and went on to Wake Forest and then transferred to Johns Hopkins.

He pursued consulting in New York City where he became an analyst at BlackRock, a global investment management corpo-

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The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

EDITORIAL

Please stop asking where I plan to go to college

This is a public service announcement to all members of the Rivers Community: please stop asking me where I’m going to college.

As seniors embark on their last year at Rivers, it appears that it is already over. College visits, interviews, and applications fill up all of our time. But, aside from that, seniors are squeezing in as many AP classes, clubs, and hours of community service, sports, and music into their already jammed schedule as they can.

And then, the question comes: “Where are you applying?” No, it's not just from the college counseling office. It’s from teachers, friends, family, and just about anyone else that is trying to start a conversation.

So, let me tell you the issue with asking this question. As leaders of the school and the oldest students on campus, we seniors have enjoyed our time at Rivers. And even if not everyone enjoys every second of their time here, all members of the Class of 2020 will miss things that Rivers provides. While thinking about where we will be applying, we think about leaving our friends, teachers, and coaches. We think about leaving our family. And, we also think about the things we know we will miss most from Rivers, and we try to find that in our dream school.

For sake of argument, let’s just say that a senior found his or her dream school. Let me tell you something: there is still a good chance that they don’t get accepted, or the financial aid package doesn’t cover all that their family needs. Due to this, they go to another school.

Even if a senior does get into the school that they really want to go to, maybe their friend or sibling hasn’t.

Asking these questions can bring up uncomfortable thoughts, and if asked, should be said with caution.

I’m not saying this to be a downer. All that I am saying is that senior fall is difficult. Like, extremely difficult. Asking a senior about next year isn’t going to cause them to all of a sudden start thinking about applying to a college. It will only make matters worse.

Finally, if you really want to know, many individuals will put their college in their Instagram or Facebook bio. Also, you can ask their friends about them. But whatever you do, don’t stop a member of the Class of 2020 during their busy day and ask them where they are going to college. The answer is going to be that we aren’t sure yet, even if we know exactly where we are applying.

This Day in History NATIONAL EVENTS 28 October, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis Ends 28 October, 1826 - The Statue of Liberty Dedicated 28 October, 1929 - Wall Street Crash Black Monday 28 October, 1965 - U.S.A. Gateway Arch Completed BIRTHDAYS 28 October, 1914 - Jonas Salk 28 October, 1955 - Bill Gates October 28th is National Chocolate Day!

Opinions & Editorials

Changing times for LGBTQ rights

BY LUCY TONTHAT ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LGBTQ workplace rights are under question in the Supreme Court. Mayor Pete Butigieg, the first openly gay presidential candidate argues for criminal reform and eliminating the death penalty on a national stage. A former Rivers student and current teacher shares her personal journey with identity in front of the whole community. Mattel, the brand behind Barbie, unveils the first ever gender neutral doll for children.

Clearly, 2019 is an exciting and changing but at the same time challenging period for the LGBTQ community and their allies, both within the Rivers School community and outside of our campus. The Gay-Straight Alliance feels that it’s important for us all to look closely at both the accomplishments and steps that have moved the cause for LGBTQ rights further and the setbacks and hardships the community has encoungter this past year.

To start with the more difficult, the Trump Administration passed the transgender military ban which went into effect on April 12th, 2019. The ban states that any current member of both the military and the transgender community is subject to discharge of duty unless they are “willing to renounce or supress their identity.” This

repressive ban of an identity component completely unrelated to the individual’s ability to serve effectively harkens back to the Clinton era’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (or DADT) policy which banned open discrimination of LGBTQ personnel while also barring openly identifiying LGBTQ from joining, reenforcing the idea that gender and sexuality can be acceptable in a quiet, more tamped down way.

But, despite government-issued prohibition of openly trans military personnel, individuals have petitioned for their rights in the workplace, namely two Supreme Court cases, where two individuals were terminated from their workplace for being openly gay and trans. The SCOTUS will likely deliberate on these cases for several more months, but simply the fact that the fight for LGBTQ workplace equality has made it to the prestigious forum of the SCOTUS is an accomplishment and a step forward for our country as a whole.

Within our own community, there’s been a noticeable change in the atmosphere, in many ways mirroring the change in the national atmosphere. Last year saw three seniors come out to the community, sharing the complexities of grappling with a different sexual orientation and the fear of not being accepted at Rivers.

These massive leaps of courage

changed the community’s interaction with the GSA, with more people participating in GSA meetings and social events and sharing words of support than ever before. The same month that former senior Hunter Taylor-Black looked into the crowd of Rivers students standing and clapping for her bravery in sharing her experience with the Day of Silence, Mayor Pete Butigeig of South Bend, Indiana, announced his candidacy for presidency, making history as the first and only openly gay presidential nominee. And while former senior Abby Warwick sketched the first pencil designs of what would later become an incredible PRIDE mural in the GSA room in Lower Haynes Hall, designers at Mattel would be making the first sketches of the first ever gender neutral children’s doll. The doll line, which was released only a few weeks ago, comes with a variety of races, hair and clothing that is neither strictly feminine or masculine, promoting a sense of acceptance and normality of difference in physical appearance and identity to a new generation. And while neither Rivers’ culture nor the national culture is nearly as accepting and understanding as is necessary for true diversity, equity, and inclusion, the progress that has been made here is both

Continued on next page

The Rivers Edge

Co-Editors

Tommy Kantaros’20 Julia Larkin ’20 Assistant Editors Ryan Johnsen ’20 Meredith Shah’21 Will Conway ’21 Staff Writers Sophie Buckle ’20 Annabelle Hasselbeck ’20 Sam Lyons ’22 Brooke Nelson ’20 Faculty Advisor Alex Stephens Contributing Writers: Sam Amato ’21, Dave Burzillo, Brooke Brennan ’20, Sebastian Connelly ’22, Matt Cormier ’20, Caroline Deneen ’22, Abe Dekin ’20, Tommy Dekin ’21, Kendall Diamond ’21, Jay Dieterle ’20, Sophie Dubard ’22, Amanda Gary ’22, Alex Hiatt ’21, Natalie Kloman ’23, Hannah Lapides ’22, Calvin Lemley ’22, Dana Lowitt ’23, Ellis Mandell’21, Ellie McCarron ’20, Max Meyerhardt ’22, Michael Pasko ’22, George Reinhardt ’20, Donald Sivolella ’20, Drew Stephans ’22, Lucy Tonthat ’22, Summer Pierson ’22.

Photography: Adam Richins, Alex Stephens THE RIVERS EDGE is published by the students of The Rivers School. THE EDGE is an open forum for the news, events, ideas, issues and concerns of the student body. Letters and contributions from the entire Rivers community - students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni - are welcomed and encouraged. Unsigned letters will not be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Please send letters to The Editors, THE RIVERS EDGE, The Rivers School, 333 Winter Street, Weston, MA 02493.

October 28, 2019

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The Rivers Edge

Opinions

The importance of never compromising who you really are

BY GEORGE REINHARDT ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“When my parents sent me on a really expensive service trip to Puerto Rico over the summer - with the main goal of padding my incredibly slim college resume - I did not know that the experience would change my life.”

(Sigh) This is my seventh year here at Rivers, and every week for three of those years, I sat in the seats you are all sat in now, looking up at this very podium and listening to what felt like the exact same speech week after week after week.

“This is how my carpool has changed my life.”

“This is how being on a sports team has taught me to work hard.”

“This is what my Vineyard Vines khakis say about me as a person.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with speaking about any of these common and cliched topics, but my issue with them is just that: they are cliched.

Rivers is a school of profoundly unique and special individuals, and the senior speech program

is an opportunity to express this individuality. Unfortunately, in the past, the senior classes have not always shown just how unique they are, and this strikes me as indicative of a larger issue throughout high school as a whole.

I think we are all a little bit afraid, myself included. High school is a time of great change, a time of tremendous stress and a time of crushing and sometimes even debilitating social pressures. While struggling to maintain good grades, show strong athletic performance, and excel in our extracurriculars, we are all also trying to remain in good social standing. This all at an age when we barely understand who each of us are as people yet.

This perfect storm of pressures placed on us leads us to compromise, in our pursuits and in our speeches. Throughout high school I’ve made some healthy compromises, like when I quit Chinese - a class I really loved - because of my inability to write or read the language, or when I realized I was hopeless at guitar and that it was time to quit, or when I realized that I would need to pick sustain-

ing my GPA over sustaining the Minecraft server that my friends and I had built.

Compromise of this variety is a natural and healthy part of growing up and high school. It is a valuable skill to know where

an after school program created to help teach children how to utilize their skills and make a better life for themselves.

I was 13 years old when I took my first service trip to South Africa and never having seen true poverty before, I found the experience eye opening.

As a young teen, I came from a world of “stuff.” Among my friends and peers, it was always

However, after having gone so many times, I no longer see it as the lousy end, not even remotely.

South Africans are some of the happiest people I have ever met. Walk into Soweto and you’ll feel like you’ve never seen so many smiles in your lifetime. None of the “stuff” that I so often got caught up in mattered to them in the slightest.

And it made me wonder, what’s the point in desiring stuff at all?

There wasn’t one.

Nothing will ever make you smile more than those you surround yourself with. Take a KYP welcome for example: the entire community gathers in their courtyard and surrounds you as they clap, dance, and sing songs of homecoming.

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to recreate this feeling of welcomeness and acceptance at home, and it’s something I often wish I could experience a thousand times over.

Walk through the KYP courtyard at any point in the day and you will not only see groups of people gathered and sharing stories with one another, but you will be asked to join. Walk through the kitchen and you’ll be offered a meal and a place to sit down. Walk through the classrooms and you’ll be invited in to learn, or in my case, to teach. Walk through the dance rooms and you’ll be taught the steps, so you too, can enjoy the music. You will always be included.

High school is a time of great change, a time of tremendous stress and a time of crushing and sometimes even debilitating social pressures.

While struggling to maintain good grades, show strong athletic performance, and excel in our extracurriculars, we are all also trying to remain in good social standing. to place your effort and where to maybe move away from something. However, all - yes, all - of us are guilty of compromise in an area where none can be afforded, and that is our selves.

Accomplished Psychologist Brené Brown - who got a Netflix show earlier this year - wrote a

great article about this topic. She argues that teens spend exhaustive amounts of time and energy on trying to fit in when they should be working to belong.

Brown identifies fitting in as “twisting yourself into a human pretzel” in order to get people to hang out with you. Belonging, she says, means finding a group of people, however small, that you feel comfortable being yourself around. In attempting to fit in, as opposed to working to belong, we have all compromised varying amounts of our identities. That is unacceptable.

It may take time and it may be difficult, but I believe that putting in the effort to find those around you who you truly feel you can belong with will pay off in the long run. I was socially lost for the better part of my sixth grade year here at Rivers. I was regarded as the boy who had a peculiar (British) accent, who didn’t play contact sports, who wore strange clothes.

It wasn’t until late in the year, by some unusual episodes, that I finally found the two people in my grade that I felt that I could belong with: Max Stein and Sam Adams. These two are still some of my best friends six whole

years later. Putting in the time to find those I could really get along with I think is responsible for a lot of the success I’ve had at Rivers.

So, to the seniors; I challenge you all to use your opportunity to give a speech to the community this year as a chance to really say something. Use this stage to show vulnerability, to truly make a statement. Get up here and make us think, make us laugh, make us cry. Most importantly when you write your speech, remember that putting yourself out there, being different, and showing the real you on this stage is a leap in the direction of truly belonging.

To the rest of you, particularly the freshmen, do not compromise when it comes to who you are. Ruthlessly pursue thriving and belonging as opposed to surviving and fitting in. I absolutely promise you that you will thank yourself for doing so one day.

I will now leave you with the ultimate in irony. A closing quotation, in a speech about cliched speeches. “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” – Oscar Wilde.

The thing is, it’s natural for people to get comfortable in what and who they know, but sometimes greatness can come from doing what makes us uncomfortable, from opening up our circles, letting outsiders in, and being open to newness. No matter who you are, KYP will welcome you with open arms.

The fact the program has been such a raging success has everything to do with their ability to resist the temptation to create boundaries and instead consider the possibilities that come from including others in their journey.

For a long time, I couldn’t quite pinpoint why I enjoyed being a part of their community so much. Yes, I like feeling valued. Yes, I like feeling like I’m contributing to the greater good. And yes, I like how they somehow make me feel at home

when in reality I couldn’t be farther away.

However, there is something else I admire much more - their ability to live joyfully in the present. I think all of us are guilty of allowing ourselves to get caught up in everyday stresses that ultimately take away from the memories we could be making with those around us.

Staring out the windshield at the rocky dirt road before me now, I no longer see the trash, the port-a-potties, the barbed wire fences, or the shacks.

Instead, I see smiling faces and open arms. I see people who I want to be like.

In the end, it’s the people around you who matter, and it’s those people you’ll remember when the places we’ve been melt away from memory and become a thing of the past.

Continued from page 4 incredible and analogous to the progress being made on a national scale.

Finally, it’s necessary to celebrate another of our own community members for taking another leap of bravery in sharing her experience being lesbian at Rivers as both an alumna and a member of the faculty. We applaud Melissa Dolan, a Middle School Humanities teacher, for her eloquent words on Coming Out Day (October 11th), an initiative that shows us both that

she feels some semblance of support and love in our community, but also that she sees room for change and improvement as far as inclusion and acceptance goes. I want to reiterate that message: the culture at Rivers around acceptance and inclusion has changed, even since the time that I first got here in seventh grade, but there is still so much more to be done to make Rivers the most accepting and inclusive place it can be.

But we are moving forward, inch by inch, speech by speech.

Service trips to South Africa teach what matters most

BY JULIA LARKIN ’21 CO-EDITOR

I stare out the windshield at the rocky dirt road before me. Trash is everywhere, like a filthy blanket covering the ground. Rows of broken down port-a-potties litter the roadside and barbed wire fences surround thousands of shacks made from corrugated metal and other scavenged materials. The shacks extend in all directions and are the only objects visible; the poverty is endless. The smell of something rotten seeps in through the cracked windows of the beat-up van I am traveling in and I cannot help but scrunch my nose as the smell fills the vehicle.

Suddenly, the van turns left into a gap between the shacks.

Now there are swarms of people – staring, pointing, and laughing - in dirty, torn clothes. Unsure of what lay ahead, I push open the creaky door and step into the courtyard of the Kliptown Youth Program, a community that has since transformed my outlook on the world around me.

Kliptown is the oldest township located in Soweto, South Africa, and it is a community which lacks the most basic necessities such as food, electricity, running water, and plumbing.

Families live in tiny self-built metal shacks, and without the proper tools to succeed, many children turn to drugs and crime in this region of incredible poverty. The Kliptown Youth Program, or KYP for short, is

South Africans are some of the happiest people I have ever met.

Walk into Soweto and you’ll feel like you’ve never seen so many smiles in your lifetime.

None of the “stuff” that I so often got caught up in mattered to them in the slightest. about the newest technology, the latest clothing trends, school drama, or other fairly unimportant subjects. In other words, I, along with everyone else I knew, was materialistic and trapped in some sort of bubble.

It was easy for someone like me to walk into a place like Soweto and feel bad for the people who I believed were dealt the lousy end of the deal.

LGBTQ rights changing

Page 6

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

News

Excitement builds as Revers Center nears completion

Continued from page 1 an advanced research lab, a digital fabrication lab, several spacious art studios, and six interdisciplinary (I.D.S.) classrooms equipped with video teleconferencing technology similar to that in the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (C.C.C.E.).

Common spaces will provide ample places for students to hang out, work, and study. According to an architect on the project, “the large open areas and small gathering spaces were provided to give the students and faculty a variety of teaching, learning, studying, and collaborating opportunities.”

In the entrance of the building, there are plans for a sizeable “living” wall on the lefthand side and a main staircase leading upstairs on the righthand side. Both of these features are especially interesting because they first and foremost showcase the purpose of the building.

Dario DiMare, president of Dario Designs Inc. and one of the architects working on the project, said the stairs were “designed to reflect the primary function of the building – visual arts, science, and physics.”

DiMare added that “the stair is a 3-dimensional, artistic sculpture.

It creatively utilizes methods and materials of construction to capitalize on and exemplify the structural characteristics of steel, glass, and wood in both tension and compression.”

The interesting aspect of the stairs is that it is suspended on a single two inch piece of steel and the bottom of it never touches the

ground. Despite this, the “floating” stairs in The Rev could hold the weight of approximately one thousand students at the same time.

On the other side of the entryway, there are plans for a vertical “living” wall. DiMare noted that the living wall is “designed to be a natural artistic feature which complements the stair on the opposite wall.”

According to the Director of Finance and Operations Jon Wasserman, the wall will be comprised of “three very large panels of plants that will actually be growing in place.” The panels will each be nearly three feet wide and 14-feet tall.

“The plants are fed and watered through a system of wicks and piping behind as well as [placed under] special lighting to help [them] thrive in that space,” Wasserman said. “Not only will the wall provide a fresh aesthetic for the space, but it will also allow us to talk about how plants grow—a relevant conversation in a science building for sure.”

Another feature of the building is its quantity of natural light. The intent behind the design of the building was to tie the building to both the rest of campus and Rivers’ surrounding environment and ample natural light seemed to the architects like the perfect way to accomplish that goal. The far end of the main hall of “The Rev” even houses a full glass wall that spans three stories. It “celebrates nature and hopefully leads students to both studying and appreciating our natural environment,” said

The light-filled second floor atrium of the Revers Center is nearing completion. Photo by Wasserman ’88.

DiMare. “Natural light has been proven to be very beneficial to people in almost every situation.

We therefore incorporated natural light wherever possible.”

Primarily because of the quantity of natural light and therefore lower electricity bills, the environmental impact of the building is equally impressive. A second environmentally friendly aspect of the building is the use of Marmoleum flooring. Marmoleum is a sustainable type of linoleum flooring that is all-natural and biodegradable.

“The overall design of the facility was meant to be progressive and modern,” DiMare said.

“It is intended to celebrate both art and science, while simulta-

A science classroom in the Revers Center. Photo by J. Wasserman ’88.

neously paying homage to the original design of The Rivers School campus. Sloped roofs; abundant triangular glass; transparency across the building, and views of nature were all pre-

served features. The new facility is intended to be conducive to learning, high-tech, environmentally friendly, artistic, scientific, and fun.”

“We recognized that Jews are one of many minorities at Rivers, and that many of the other minorities already have safe space groups or clubs except for Jews,” he said.

“We created the JCC to create a safe community where Jews and non-Jews alike can feel comfortable with one another while learning about Jewish culture and traditions.”

In earlier JCC meetings, the club dined on honey and apples, and talked about the importance of Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish new year. The JCC will continue to meet throughout the year, and are welcoming to all.

A good example of the evolution of a club at Rivers is the club BRIDGE, which up until this year was known as the Rivers Cultural Awareness Club, or RICA. Current student leaders of BRIDGE decided on the name change to help better align the club name with its mission. BRIDGE provides a shared space where a diverse community of student voices discuss topics relevant to identity, inclusivity, equity, and social and environmental justice.

While the name has changed, the goal has not. “By changing our name to BRIDGE it allows

everyone to understand what we are trying to do without having to know what the acronym stands for,” said junior student leader Adebiyi Oyaronbi. “Our goal is to be the bridge between Rivers and the real world.”

BRIDGE’s mission is aligned with Rivers’ ongoing diversity and inclusiveness initiatives and supports those goals by providing “A shared space where diverse topics relevant to identity, inclusivity, equity, and social and environmental justice.”

Added Adebiyi: “The club, which is open to all students no matter one’s background or opinions-serves, as a place of reflection where we work to increase cross-cultural connections, stimulate school-wide conversations, and promote action to make Rivers a better school for every student.”

BRIDGE, Fishing Club, and the JCC are just a few shining examples of the more than 50 clubs available to Rivers students to discover, explore, and lead. New clubs will continue to form while old ones evolve, and is one reason why Rivers is such a wonderful place.

New student-led clubs add to the vast array of offerings

BY WILL CONWAY ’21 ASSISTANT EDITOR

The trinity of student life at Rivers are the academics, athletics, and the arts. Like most schools, the educational, artisitc, and athletic life at Rivers is well known and well documented.

Top-notch college lists, musical performances, and athletic championships are all regular occurrences, and the achievements of our scholars, musicians, artists, and athletes are regularly recognized and celebrated, as well they should. The extensive club offerings and accomplishments can, however, be overlooked.

Not any more.

With over 50 clubs and organizations for students, Rivers has a club - or clubs - for every interest. Students wanting to share the love of the school with prospective students can join the Red Key organization, and for those interested in getting a head start on their financial portfolios there is the Entrepreneurship Club, Venture Capital Club, and the Investment Club. School Council is a place for students interested in having a voice in school affairs, while upper school students look-

ing to help younger students have many choices from the Middle School Peer Tutors, Student Advisors, and Teaching Assistants.

The selection of clubs at Rivers is certainly diverse, yet they all share a similar trait, they are all student run. Faculty and staff may advise the students, but the clubs themselves are led and directed by the students themselves.

Many of the clubs evolve over time, and every year new clubs are formed, and existing clubs change.

One of the hottest new clubs on the Rivers market this year is fishing club, which is run by seniors Pat Lawn and Aidan Davock. The club fishes on the beautiful Nonesuch Pond or off the new footbridge over Bogle Brook during school hours, and is a great way to have some stress-free fun on campus. “Fishing is one of my favorite things to do,” said Lawn.

“And with a great fishing pond like Nonesuch right on campus, Aidan and I thought it would be cool to create a club that allowed you to fish during school.”

In order to prevent overcrowding, the club only has about 12 members, all of whom are experienced fishers. If you don’t fish

but are interested to see what the club is like, you are encouraged to head down to Nonesuch when you see the group fishing, as they would be more than happy to talk about fishing and teach you a few things.

Along with the addition of

“Fishing is one of my favorite things to do, and with a great fishing pond like Nonesuch right on campus, Aidan and I thought it would be cool to create a club that allowed you to fish during school.”

- Pat Lawn ’20, Fishing Club Co-Founder

Fishing Club, there is another new club here at Rivers. The Jewish Cultural Club, also known as the JCC, is a new addition to the club pool this year. Founder and JCC leader Max Meyerhardt, who also writes for The Edge, was eager to get the club up and running.

October 28, 2019

The Rivers Edge

Page 7

Features

Winning A Shot for Life has special meaning for Dieterle

BY JAY DIETERLE ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“How are you feeling?” my mom asked me an hour and 42 minutes into a two hour shooting contest. I responded in between my heavy breath, “I’m all right.

I’m tired.”

What was once such a simple question for us had changed so much in just under a year. That’s because in the fall of 2018, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The question “How are you feeling?” was asked of her numerous times in one day, and before every answer you would take a deep breath, fearful of the response you might receive.

Luckily, the doctors caught her cancer early and were able to treat it, but that didn’t stop me from worrying.

The Saturday morning my mom sat on my bed and delivered the news, my mind began to wander to all sorts of places.

I had a million questions all at once but could not speak a word.

Instead, my eyes watered and my mom and I hugged, and we cried together.

The 7th annual A Shot For Life Challenge took place on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

The foundation raises money for cancer research through a shooting contest with 32 male and female basketball shooters from throughout the entire state.

Every shooter who is selected by the founder of this organization, Mike Slonia, agrees to raise at

least $1,000 for cancer research before the event.

In 2018, as a rising junior, I participated in the event for the first time. I raised the $1000, shot in the back corner of the 16-court complex, and that was that. I did not appreciate or understand what this organization was really all about and how the meaning of it was way bigger than just basketball. The competition was a different story this year as a rising senior. The fund-raising portion had taken a new meaning as my mom was now directly affected by cancer. I went above and beyond and surpassed the $1,000 bar, ultimately raising closer to $2,000.

The day of the event, I took my position at the center court, determined to win this time. I did not want to win simply for the trophy or even the title as “best shooter in Massachusetts.” I just wanted to win for my mom. As I took shot after shot, the two hours began to feel like an eternity. My mom watched from the sidelines as my sister and my dad rebounded for me for the entire two hours. As the time on the clock started to dwindle down closer to that final buzzer that meant I could rest my arms after a grueling two hours, I turned to look at the one person I knew who could relate to the fatigue I was experiencing: my mom. She smiled at me and gave me three simple words that were the final surge in my shooting. “You got this.”

Basketball captain Jay Dieterle’20 and his family after winning A Shot for Life this summer.

As I turned back to the hoop, I thought to myself, we got this.

As the sweat intensified, I remembered what my mom went through and the fight that she had to endure. The two surgeries, the seemingly endless mornings spent driving to treatment at 6 a.m. and then off to a full day at work, or the fatigue she went through on a daily basis. Even through all of it, she refused to give up. And I wasn’t going to either. If my mom could go through all of that and beat cancer, then shooting for two hours was just a small microcosm of her experience.

As the final buzzer sounded, I threw up one last shot, my 1,682nd shot of the afternoon.

It hit the front of the rim - clank - hit the back of the rim - clank balanced on the front of the rim, and finally dropped in.

I stumbled back to half court and let out a deep breath before I caught my balance to go hug my family. As all the competitors gathered at the center court waiting for the announcement and trophy presentation, I reflected on what my family had gone through and the new appreciation I had for this organization. This was no longer just a basketball contest to me. It truly was something way bigger than basketball.

As the founder of A Shot for Life, Mike Slonina, picked up the microphone, my heartbeat picked up. “And the winner of

on their grammar and vocabulary in order to increase their conversational skills quickly, and it has proven effective. “The teachers in Cádiz are great,” said Mrs. Ryan. “ They are young, energetic, funny, and are experts in their fields.

They know that Rivers students have strong reading skills, so they want students to leave Spain with finer listening comprehension and a greater ability to produce language.”

After morning classes, the students head back home for a midday meal which is the big meal of the day. Once stomachs are filled and minds are recharged, the students head out for their less conventional afternoon classes.

During these afternoon periods, students go out into the community to do something cultural.

Whether that is going out and interviewing strangers to satisfy a scavenger hunt, or going to a community market and then cooking a local dish, the main goal of the afternoon classes is to become a part of the community.

Spanish culture and its importance is emphasized throughout the trip to Cádiz. Students get to visit other towns like Gibraltar and the ancient Roman ruins that played a significant role in the evolution of Spain’s culture. One example is a visit to Gibraltar,

where students get to explore its importance historically. Gibraltar is the only entrance to the Mediterranian Sea and played a large role in WWII for the Allied Forces.

“We are actually living history,” Mrs. Ryan said about the visits.

“We are living learning instead of just reading things in books.”

Another place that students get to visit are ancient Roman ruins. There is a very rich Roman heritage in Spain as the country was very important to the Roman Empire. As interesting as it is learning about the history of the Spanish people, nothing can beat an astounding view. Mrs. Ryan described what one can see at the Roman Ruins that last year’s group visited: “Imagine this: you’re looking at this gorgeous, turquoise water beach, on the right there are huge sand dunes, and over behind you are Roman ruins. And then, when you look out across the water, you’re looking at Africa.” What can beat exploring ancient ruins and a beautiful view?

The three-week trip is also a great way to fulfil the Interdisciplinary Study requirement. Junior Adebiyi Oyaronbi combined art and the everyday lives of people during his time in Cádiz. He drew people “just living their lives.” An example of Adebiyi’s work was a drawing of a father and a daughter

Rivers students on the Cadiz trip last summer visit the local market.

the 2019 A Shot for Life Challenge is Jay Dieterle.”

As my name was announced my mind immediately went to my mom. After all she had been through and experienced, I was overcome with emotion that I would be able to give her this trophy. After the pictures and presentations, I made my way through the mass of people and found my mom standing near the back.

Almost nine months removed from the morning she sat on my bed and delivered the heartbreaking news to me, we stood together and hugged again-- except this time with smiles on our faces.

Summer in Spain program enjoys another trip to Cadíz

BY ALEX HIATT ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you love unforgettable experiences, immersing yourself in a new culture, and earning an Interdisciplinary credit, then the summer session in Spain is the trip for you.

For the first two weeks of summer vacation (June 6 - 20, 2020), students have the opportunity to spend time in beautiful Cádiz in a complete, authentic Spanish immersion program (see eligibility information in a later section).

Students can hone their language skills while experiencing everyday life in Spain, while also living with Spanish families and going to local schools.

This program was designed by trip director and Spanish teacher Melinda Ryan and has been running for over 15 years. Mrs. Ryan says that the trip is “the perfect culmination of everything that students work hard to master in class.” She also said that, while the Rivers Spanish curriculum is the closest to an authentic, Spanish experience that students can get, it can’t be a fully authentic unless you actually go to Spain.

A typical day for a student enrolled in the Cadiz trip starts with morning language classes.

In these classes, students work

on a boardwalk and he challenged himself by imitating an artist whose work is mainly impressionistic.

To be eligible for this trip, a student must be currently enrolled in Spanish III or IV and meet certain requirements to be selected.

The student must: demonstrate a high level of academic commitment, consistent effort, diligence, enthusiasm, and leadership in the classroom, maturity and reliability, an ability to function in Spanish, and submit a written personal essay. Students who are selected for this trip are also expected to maintain a B+ average for the en-

tire academic year before the trip.

The summer session in Cádiz, Spain, is an unforgettable experience. Students make strong bonds with their peers, host families, and teachers. They learn a considerable amount of Spanish history and how it impacted modern culture, and they have astonishing experiences that they would not have had otherwise. Mrs. Ryan said that, interestingly enough, almost every student who went on this trip has come back and either majored or minored in Spanish, or visited Spain in college.

“This trip isn’t an end,” Mrs. Ryan said. “It’s a beginning.”

Page 8

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Features

Alums Griff and Cliff Nash find success as filmmakers

BY JULIA LARKIN ’21 CO-EDITOR

After graduating from Rivers in 2004, Griffin and Cliff Nash have gone on to make names for themselves in the filmmaking industry. Working with celebrities and pro athletes such as Julian Edelman and professional sports teams such as the Celtics, their careers took off after the creation of their very own film company called, Nash Pictures. The most exciting part? It all started on the Rivers campus.

Beginning during their junior year (2002-2003), the Nash twins crafted the Varsity Sports Highlight Video. The brothers edited down game tape of every varsity team in each of the three seasons, a monstrous task, and produced the highlight videos for the annual varsity sports banquet. From there, they produced the senior class video for their graduating class in 2004. They were also responsible for other smaller projects that helped to promote school events such as homecoming and the Rivers Holiday Basketball Tournament.

“At a young age, Rivers staff exposed us to video technology and allowed us to express our creativity through film,” Cliff says. “The community supported our films and gave us confidence to pursue film and TV in college.”

After Rivers, Cliff and Griffin attended Boston University where they both studied in the School of Communications and majored in film production.

After college, the brothers worked on multiple Animal Planet TV shows together. However, it was not long until they decided to part ways and follow separate career paths. Cliff moved on to pursue a career in TV coordinating where he produced content for This Old House (PBS) and Ask This Old House (PBS). Most exciting was his work on Ask This Old House as his work was

recognized and got him nominated for a Daytime Emmy. Griffin, on the other hand, pursued a career as a freelance camera operator on feature film sets, commercials, and professional sports. After continuing their learning and development in other fields, the brothers decided to join forces again in 2015 when they decided to start their current company.

Nash Pictures LLC is a full-service commercial video production company specializing in delivering high-quality video content for brands all over the globe. In a lot of their early jobs, it was just the two brothers working together. They both sold the video concept to the client; Griffin shot it, while Cliff directed and edited it. While a lot of work, they learned a lot during this time and produced some awesome videos to show for it.

Both brothers feel that being tri-varsity athletes at Rivers helped them prepare for the labor intensive shoot days when the business was first starting out.

“Like any business,” says Griffin, “the first year is the most difficult. Not only are you pointing a camera and making films for clients, but you are also learning how to run a business at the same time. We knew that if we delivered the quality storytelling and beautiful video content that we were capable of, our clients would see the value in our work and want to work with us again.”

When asked about what skills made them most valuable to their customers, experience and preparation were the two they found imperative to their success. “Experience,” says Cliff, “is the most valuable skill in any industry. You cannot teach it and can only learn through first hand exposure.”

In terms of preparation, Griff stands by the montra, “prepare, prepare, prepare.” A lot of work goes into their projects before

Award-winning flimmakers Griff and Cliff Nash ’04 at work behind the camera of 100%:Julian Edelman, which appeared on Showtime last June and garnered several awards. they even show up and hit the record button. “Sometimes we are managing a 20-plus person crew with multiple shoot locations so there can be, and often are, a lot of moving parts. The larger the project, the more variables we face,” says Cliff. As can be imagined, it is a lot easier to make educated pivots instead of making decisions on the fly if something doesn’t go according to plan in the field. That being said, they try to think of every possible scenario before they even set foot on a film site. In doing so, it is much easier to avoid problems which would slow them down. As they put it, Robert Downey Jr. once said “Spontaneity does not exist without preparation.”

Since the establishment of Nash Pictures LLC in 2015, Cliff and Griff have grown into highly successful entity within the filmmaking world. Some of their better known works include producing hours of content for the Boston Celtics and shooting and directing the second unit for Amy Schumer’s 2017 comedy I

Feel Pretty.

Their biggest project yet, however, was co-producing, shooting and editing 100%: Julian Edelman (Showtime Network).

In the summer of 2017, the Nash brothers were approached

by Julian Edelman’s business partner and fellow BU alum, who was looking for a partner to produce a film on Edelman’s return to the Patriots after his ACL injury. The film starts with Edelman’s injury and ends with his incredibly unlikely Super Bowl victory and MVP honor. The Nash brothers were extremely effective in communicating how difficult a journey it truly was for Edelman by completely exposing the long, lonely, and suffering road that Edelman was on.

Other elements they brought forward were Edelman’s incredibly close family relationships with his sister, mother, and father, and how much they all supported him ever since he began playing football in his teens.

They were also able to explore

the deep relationship Edelman has with his father, who was his first coach and still remains a major influence today. The editing was a great example of storytelling from Edelman’s point of view and the Nash brothers were able to make the viewer feel as if they were having an intimate, one-on-one conversation with the football star while he explained all that he went through during the ordeal.

“Even after an hour and fifteen minute feature length documentary,” says Griff, “the film still does not give enough credit to how hard of a worker Julian is.” If you haven’t watched the documentary, the Edge recommends you do so immediately.

As for their future plans, the Nash brothers “are visual storytellers at heart and love the challenge of telling a story through video.”

They will continue to produce commercials, documentaries, and feature films as long as there is a good story to tell.

who do not like to wear them or those who feel uncomfortable.”

Mattoon is frustrated because the new rule meant a complete change to her appearance.

“My entire wardrobe consisted of leggings, so over the summer I was forced to buy about $400 worth of jeans just for one week of outfits,” Mattoon said.

Many girls shared their displeasure as they believe that girls sacrifice a lot of their own physical and mental comfort just on style and judgment of their bodies.

Some girls, such as sophomore Katie Buckhout, agrees with the change as she believes that “we look more presentable.” While believing in the positive of the dress code change, Buckout also explained

a negative: “I am less comfortable which distracts from my work.”

Simultaneously, there are students that welcome this change due to the practicality of wearing jeans.

“Being able to wear jeans allows me to not have to worry about what I am going to wear that day to school because I can wear any shirt to go with it” said junior Kendall Diamond.

Diamond, along with many other students, prefers the ability to wear jeans due to the comfort that accompanies this change. Not only does it allow students to not feel they have to dwell on their outfit choices, but it also prepares students to look more professional for their future careers than it would if they wore leggings.

Along with some girls, boys also find comfort in having the ability to wear jeans.

“I used to wear jeans almost every day in my old school, so I like having the ability to wear clothes I am used to wearing and not to have to dress differently for others,” said new sophomore Nick Antic.

Some boys have said that this dress code change has allowed them to benefit from the flexibility in what to wear each day.

It is clear that there is controversy about the dress code change, with reactions both positive and negative, but the question still remains what version appeals to a majority of students.

Middle School reverses dress code, many opinions mixed

Continued from page 1

school, middle schoolers raised their concerns to the Middle School Dean of Students John Bower. Bower said that he was “met with tremendous frustration and disapproval” from his students. As a result, he invited all students who wanted to discuss this change and their frustrations to schedule a meeting with him. Mr. Bower stated that a few students he met with had “compelling enough arguments” as they wanted to bring back the “physical and emotional comfort” that leggings had brought to them in years prior.

After these meetings, Mr. Bower went ahead and talked with some Middle School faculty members both at Rivers and outside of school, as well

as some parents. According to Mr. Bower, “It quickly became clear to me that the absence of leggings for Middle School students was doing more harm than good.”

As a result, the Middle School’s dress code was changed back to the previous dress code rules, and leggings have returned.

But opinions among Upper Schools are fairly divided.

After talking with some Upper School students both male and female, it is clear that some people are for and some are against this dress code change.

“Jeans put much more emphasis on body type for girls because in society it is more acceptable to wear skinny jeans,” said sophomore Avery Mattoon.

“That puts pressure on those

October 28, 2019

The Rivers Edge

Features

Page 9

School’s move to Weston in 1960 required vision and luck

BY DAVID BURZILLO FACULTY

As part of the Edge’s 50th anniversary, resident Rivers archivist, historian, and history teacher Dave Burzillo begins his series on the school’s rich past.

S

urrounded by Nonesuch Pond, scenic wetlands and acres of playing fields, the Rivers campus at 333 Winter Street in Weston is the school’s fourth campus, and October 5, 2020 will mark the 60-year anniversary of its opening. While the Weston campus has served as the school’s home longer than any other previous campus, it is similar to the previous three campuses in that it was originally built as a private residence. The story of how the school settled on its sylvan 60-acre campus in Weston is the result of determined school leaders and a little bit of luck.

Robert W. Rivers’ Open-Air School opened in September 1915 in Brookline. The mansion at 81 Marion Street had been the home of one of Brookline’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, William Henry Hill.

Mr. Rivers and his wife lived in the home, and the mansion also housed the school’s administrative offices, while food for students and staff was prepared in the kitchen and served in the large dining room. Bungalows - one-room buildings with walls that consisted mostly of windows - were created for the classrooms on the mansion’s grounds, and students played and exercised in St. Mark’s Park across the street from the home. After two years of steady growth, Mr. Rivers then moved the school to Dean Road in the Fisher Hill neighborhood of Brookline. The Dean Road property had a private home and other buildings that could serve the school’s administrative and food service needs. The bungalows at Marion Street were moved and additional ones built to create more classroom space for the growing school. After 15 years as an open-air school, Clarence Allen, the school’s second headmaster, decided to move the school again. He did not like what he considered the shabby look of the Dean Road property, which he felt made an unfavorable impression on families and negatively impacted the school’s ability to attract students.

The school’s move to the Adie Estate on Heath Street was an upgrade in “class.” The property had an expansive home that would house the Upper School and a carriage house that would house the Lower School. The grounds were large enough to provide space for football and baseball fields and a hockey rink, and plenty of room - at least temporarily - to accommodate the school’s academic and extracurricular needs.

When George Blackwell

An aerial photo of the Rivers campus circa 1960 shows the three original buildings: the Carlin Administration and Library buidling, Prince, and Haffenreffer Gymnasium (later expanded to fit a full basketball court). The farm land’s original barn, which burned down in the early 1970s, sits in the distance. became the school’s third owned by Elisha Jones at the a number of occasions before headmaster in 1953, the school time of the American Revolution. being purchased for the school was still at the Adie Estate and It consisted of about 23 acres in 1956. opened that year with an enrolland was purchased at a cost of It would be four years from ment of 167 students. Within a $42,500. Today it makes up the the time of the purchase of the few years of his arrival, Headbulk of the school’s campus and Winter Street property until master George Blackwell and the contains the majority of fields school opened in Weston on Board of Trustees were seriously and buildings. The smaller of October 5, 1960. The Weston investigating the idea of moving the two properties consists of the property was an old farm that the school again to accommodate land across the brook, the locaconsisted of a large farmhouse more growth. By this time Rivtion of the maintenance building, (now home to the Rivers School ers was drawing its students from junior parking lot, and baseball Conservatory), a barn, and a a wider circle of cities and towns, field. This seven-acre property blacksmith’s shop. The farmand the Board began to consider was purchased for $15,000. house was a logical choice for moving the school to a suburb The Weston property has an the headmaster’s residence, and further west of Boston. Weston important and unique part in the Mr. Blackwell, his wife, and was one of the areas under conhistory of Weston. At the time three daughters moved into the sideration when luck intervened of the Revolutionary War, the house in October 1957. Over the in the story. The school clearly land was owned by Elisha Jones next three years as planning for needed more space, and the town (1710-1776), one of Weston’s the new campus took place and of Brookline had raised the posmost prominent and successful building was commenced, the sibility of taking the Adie Estate citizens. Jones lived in a large Board held its meetings at the by eminent domain to increase its house in Weston center, and campus, and a series of fatherrecreational land, putting further owned over 274 acres of land son workdays was held to clear pressure on the school to find a in various parts of the town and brush, rake leaves, and trim trees new home. In 1956, Trustee Peanother 9000 acres in western to help get the campus ready. ter Coues learned from his wife, Massachusetts. His real estate The school also invested in the an area realtor, that a large parcel holdings were just one part of preparation of fields long before of land on a pond in Weston had his many business and commerthe construction of any buildings just become available and that cial interests. Jones was also a commenced. Some of the first it might make an ideal location loyalist—someone who supdonations for the new campus for the school. Coues shared the ported the British king during the were made to help create a footinformation with the Board, but Revolution—and he was vocal ball field, which was completed raising the money to buy the in that support. As a result, he in November 1958 at a cost of property and then transformwas harassed regularly by his $21,000. ing the property into a school neighbors, and he eventually The school’s first two campuswas seen as a major obstacle. left Weston for the safety of a es had relied on relatively simple Luck intervened once again, this loyalist enclave in Boston. Jones and inexpensive bungalows for time at Mass General Hospital. had 11 children, some of whom, its classrooms, and at the Adie Dr. Hathorn Brown, who was like their father, supported King Estate the many rooms in the president of the school’s Board George, but others of whom mansion and carriage house of Trustees from 1955-1957, was supported the colonists. Jones’s provided the spaces needed for scrubbing in for surgery and talk- loyalist sons were banished from study halls and classrooms. The ing with a colleague, Dr. Philip Massachusetts by order of the situation was different at Weston.

Walker. He told Walker about General Court by its Act of BanThe barn (which burned down in the dilemma the school’s Board ishment (1778). The following the early 1970s and was later refound itself in. Walker offered year the General Court passed placed by Bradley Hall in 2006) to write him a check that day to an Act of Confiscation (1779), and blacksmith shop could not purchase the Weston property. which allowed for the seizure easily be converted for classroom Through Walker’s generosity, the of all of Jones’s Weston properuse, so buildings would have to school acquired the majority of ties. These properties, including be created to provide classroom the property that now makes up his “field at Nonesuch,” were buildings and a gym. This would the Rivers campus. sold in a series of seven auctions give school leaders their first The Weston campus was between 1782-1785. Jones was opportunity to design a campus actually created by combining not the only Weston loyalist, but they really wanted rather than two properties, the purchase of he was the only Weston loyalist trying to “fit” the school into althe larger of the two having been whose property was confiscated ready existing spaces. The school facilitated by Dr. Walker. The and sold by the state. After 1785, was fortunate to engage two larger property had been a farm the properties changed hands on young and visionary architects

to design the new campus. Luck played a role here as well, and this time it was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Blackwells spent the summer of 1956 traveling in Europe. On their return trip, they met Rem Huygens, a young architect who was traveling to New York to begin work for the Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer. The recently purchased Weston property was discussed as well as the plans for the new campus. When Huygens reached New York, he discussed the project with Allan Chapman, who was also a young architect at the firm, and Chapman proposed to Huygens that they submit plans for the project.

The Board ultimately engaged them to design the new campus.

Still, many challenges had to be overcome to get the Weston campus built. Ground breaking took place on November 14, 1959. The Board believed the project would cost about $525,000. Some of that money came from the sale of the Adie Estate to the town of Brookline, but most had to be raised or borrowed. The school had only just created its first endowment fund, and an annual giving program did not exist, so school leaders needed to fund raise and borrow to cover the costs. Because the Board was not able to raise all of the necessary monies for the project, the gym was started late and was not designed to be full size in order to save money—it had only three bays, not the five it has today. The gym could not be completed in time for the opening of school and would not ultimately open until January 1961. As students were supposed to be served lunch each day in the gym, students and faculty were forced to bring bag lunches to school during the school’s first four months. With the gym incomplete, athletes were also forced to shower after practices and games in the barn using garden hoses.

When the school finally opened, it looked very different from today: there were just two academic and administrative buildings (today’s Prince Building and Haynes Hall), a partiallycompleted gym, and multiple playing fields. Over the years at Weston the school continued to grow, adding new buildings while renovating old ones and expanding field space.

Today, the Rivers campus looks vastly different than it did in 1960, and even quite different then it did in 2000. With the addition of the MacDowell Athletic Center in 2004, Bradley Hall in 2006, and the Campus Center in 2011, the last 20 years have seen many changes and expansions.

The new Revers Center for Science and Visual Arts is a reminder of the freedom that the move to the Weston campus granted Rivers to meet the needs of the school’s growth and traditions of excellence.

Page 10

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Features

Dias-Costa ’13 thrilled to be back as teacher and coach

BY DREW STEPHANS ’22 AND CALVIN LEMLEY ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

When new math teacher Matthew Dias-Costa first came back to Rivers this fall, he couldn’t exactly recall his first memory of his own student experience.

He did point out, however, that he “[had] a collective feeling of being back in a community that values the student experience so highly and an unparalleled commitment to student growth in all facets of their lives.”

Dias-Costa, Class of 2013, decided to return to Rivers to further his career as an educator and allow him to become a mentor, teacher, and coach, and one that will surely be beloved here once again. Dias-Costa, or DC as he was called back in his Rivers days, is a different kind of role model in the Rivers community, as he has been a student here at Rivers not too long ago.

Just a few weeks into the school year and it’s apparent that he is always willing to lend a hand, especially when meeting with students for extra help or offering coaching advice on the soccer field.

“He makes the class both challenging and enjoyable which is tough to do,” said sophomore Alex Vlacich, an Advanced Alge-

bra II student. “There is a good balance between the two.”

It is clear that Dias-Costa shows passion in all facets of his life. His students and players appreciate him for showing interest in them not only on the field and in the classroom, but more importantly, he cares about the students’ growth as “people part of a greater community.”

According to his old teachers, DC himself was an excellent student when he attended Rivers, and he was an even better person.

Bob Pipe, the Athletic Director and DC’s old soccer coach, said DC was “an incredible studentathlete, leader, but he was an even better kid.”

Not only was DC a talented student, but he also earned many athletic accolades both in high school and college. Mr. DiasCosta was a four-year varsity soccer player and was the captain of the team his senior year, when the Rivers varsity soccer team won both the ISL and New England Class B championships.

DC was selected in 2012-2013 for All New-England, All-State, and All-League honors. After he graduated, DC attended Bowdoin College, and there he continued to showcase his academic and athletic prowess. At Bowdoin, DC was awarded Rookie of the Year in 2013 and was the Captain

Matt Dias-Costa, Rivers Class of 2013, returned to his alma mater this year to teach math and coach soccer. Right, the 2013 Admissions viewbook featured Dias-Costa. Photo by C. Lemley. and MVP of his team in 2016.

Additionally, DC helped Bowdoin win back-to-back NESCAC championships in 2014 and 2015.

While DC had a very strong high school career, both academically and athletically, he has some very helpful and descriptive advice to help students at Rivers in academics and athletics: “Build relationships, use all your resources, and don’t be

afraid to try something new,” Dias-Costa said. “For many students, Rivers will be the time in their lives when they are most supported and readily have access to tremendous mentors.”

The mentors are important, DC said, because Rivers is not an easy school.

“It can feel like a harsh reality,” he said, “but students who take advantage of all the opportunities that Rivers has to offer

will find that the skills and habits of mind developed here will set you up for success in many endeavors in your life to come.”

The young teacher’s advice resonates with Rivers students.

An incredible person, coach, teacher, and role model, DiasCosta, according to his students and players, has already made his presence felt.

New logo takes flight Speaker Liu inspires call to action Continued from page 1 school’s new logo, but the meeting effectively provided the students’ voice in which logo they thought was best.

After spending some time debating it, the school chose the logo of what a real red-winged black bird looks like. Within the logo, there are two different emblems that will be on the gear athletes wear and on gear sold online and in the store. The only difference between the two: whether the bird is spreading its wings out or not. When the logo is used with the “Red Wings” underneath, the bird spreading its wings is used. For most other occasions, the smaller bird’s fierce head is used.

Another important difference to the new look is that the font used for “Red Wings” and “Rivers Athletics” is much more sporty than it used to be. Parsons describes the switch as “unique, contemporary, and athletic.” He also mentioned that the logo with the new font “is like what we are seeing in college athletic programs.”

It seems many students and alumni agree as well.

“The logo looks really nice on all of our team gear and definitely makes us look a lot more serious and professional,” said soccer team captain Aidan Davock ’20.

Rivers alum and current BCHL ice hockey player Cade Webber ’19 agreed with Davock. “The logo looks a lot more

athletic and sporty than it used to, and the current players that I have talked to also agree,” Webber said.

Three-sport varsity athlete Anna Miller ‘22 echoed the sentiment. “I really like the way it looks on all of our gear and am really excited in the design that the administration chose,” Miller said.

Lastly, this past all-school a final step was taken in the completion of our new logo. Rivers wanted the mascot to have a name, like the Red Sox’s “Wally the Green Monster” or Auburn University’s “Aubie the Tiger.”

At a recent all-school meeting, four choices were given for names: Rickie and Rudy, among others. The final choice? The community decided on Rickie the Red Wing.

So, if you see Rickie around at any of the games, don’t hesitate to take a picture with him or even just give him a high five.

With a new logo emblazoned on uniforms, gear and hoodies, and a new statue gracing the fields, Rivers athletics have been on a tear.

Just ask the football team which overcame a 0-12 deficit to defeat St. Mark’s at Homecoming 20-12, or just about every other fall varsity team celebrating highly successful seasons. Great teamwork, coaching, and individual effort are all factors, but maybe, just maybe the new tradition of rubbing Rickie’s shiny bronze

BY MAX MEYERHARDT ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Where does power come from?

Eric Liu asked this rhetorical question not to receive an answer, but rather to provoke thought from the audience. The true answer, as he said, is that no one establishes power nor rules that others must abide by.

In his talk to the Rivers students on Friday, Oct. 4, Mr. Liu said that young people have the ability to create our own power.

The example he used to explain this concept is when 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg addressed hundreds of world leaders at the United Nations in New York to discuss her proposal to solve climate change. No one handed her power nor gave her the microphone to address world leaders.

Instead, she created a platform for herself and claimed power that previously did not exist.

Mr. Liu, who was the first guest part of the Hall Family Speaker Series at Rivers, emphasized that one can use power to advocate for better citizenship to enhance our community and society as a whole.

Liu certainly has the experience and background to comment on these issues. He was the Deputy Assistant to President Bill Clinton in the mid-1990s which included the task of writ-

Frequent TED Talk speaker Eric Liu has inspired many with his call to action to get civically involved. ing many speeches for President Clinton. He explained that the most gratifying sense of “civics” he felt occurred after listening to the president read his speech to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Liu said that by bringing himself to an important event in U.S. and world history long before his time, he cemented his name in history, which was deeply meaningful.

In an effort to revive and elevate citizenship, Mr. Liu started Citizen University. He hopes to provide Americans with a better sense of civic virtue in order to elevate our societal values and commitment to a better community. According to his website, he aspires to start “a great civic revival across our nation.” He has

written several books including Becoming America in which he encourages Americans to “learn to read and write power, to understand its dynamics and flow.” In addition, he has also given several TED Talks on a variety of topics including reviving one’s belief in democracy and how to understand power.

Mr. Liu’s words and message certainly resonated with many Rivers students and encouraged them to have a voice and impact in their communities. We, as students, can achieve greatness, he argued, and in the process, students of all ages can become great citizens who change society for the better.

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Page 11

Arts

Faculty art exhibit showcases amazing talent in dept.

BY MEREDITH SHAH ’21 ASSISTANT EDITOR

Art installations in the Bell Gallery are always impressive and thought-provoking and the current one is no different. The gallery, which most recently displayed student artwork made during the previous academic year, is now home to stunning works made by the Rivers Art Department’s faculty. The types of pieces currently displayed range from paintings and prints all the way to three-dimensional sculptures and ceramic bowls.

Students walking through the gallery to class on a daily basis are able to quickly glance at and appreciate the beautiful pieces, but they may not have the time to fully appreciate the vast quantity of artwork in the gallery. For example, the colorful portrait of a face by Chris Love is definitely worth looking at. Additionally, the prints by Jeremy Harrison are really interesting because they demonstrate use of color, which is really difficult to do when printing from any medium. His inkjet print titled “Orbit” depicts the ripple in water when something is dropped it and the leaves are depicted in vibrant orange that contrasts with the darker shadows in the background. Monotype collages from

The faculty art show currently on display features some stunning work, including an woodcut print by Lily Gillett (left) and a sculputre by Upper School teacher Rindy Garner. Numerous pieces by Upper School Ceramics teacher Tim Clark (below) are also amazing.

Nicole Winters offer contrast to the colorful paintings and prints from other teachers and show simple and abstract shapes.

The largest and most noticeable pieces on display are surely sculpture teacher Rindy Garner’s wood sculptures combine beautifully crafted wood boxes elevated by legs with what look like metal balls of twine. In another large piece, wires nests rest on a large black plank. “When I made these sculptures,” Garner writes in her artist statement, “I started by play-

ing with the materials and I allowed the process to guide them.”

Equally impressive are the many pieces created by ceramics teacher Tim Clark. From several intricate bowls (see pic) to large shallow plates to flat platters with handles, Clark’s work is masterfully crafted and glazed to perfection.

There is also a wide variety of work by Middle School teacher Lily Gillett. Her woodcut prints (see pic), drawings and photographs reflect a diverse tal-

ent. Similarly, Upper School art teacher Jeremy Harrison has some of the larger paintings capturing “Paradies” in one bright orange landscape to a serene snowscape, as well as some mixed silver print photographs.

Meanwhile, department chair and photography teacher showcases several Holga contact silver prints and his signature landscape black and white photographs.

It’s an impressive array of work, reflecting the rich talent of Rivers’ teachers.

Senior Olivia Xu relishes time in Conservatory program

BY DANA LOWITT ’23 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

S

tanding in the back of the two rows in the chorus room, Olivia Xu, a senior, joins chorus for the first time. As she starts her final year at Rivers, she reflects upon her time in the Conservatory program and at school.

Olivia Xu first came to Rivers as a freshman. She had played piano on and off since the age of five, but had found the Rivers Conservatory program to be appealing.

“Rivers is unique in the sense that it has a program dedicated solely to musicians,” she says.

Xu had heard about the school’s unique Conservatory program and had decided to audition on a whim. “I was not good,” she laughs. However, over the next four years, she would find herself singing for the chorus as well as in performing in several other bands and ensembles at Rivers. As a freshman, Xu joined the classical program of the Conservatory and became a part of the piano ensemble and orchestra.

The Conservatory, Xu describes, has three branches: jazz, vocal, and classical. Each branch has many groups and classes to try. “There is conducting, music production, and history of music,” one friend passing by remarks, but those are only a few of the many classes the Conservatory program has to offer.

Senior Olivia Xu began the Conservatory Program with piano but recently added voice. Her advice to younger students is to “not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.” Photo by Julia Larkin’20 In addition, the Conservatory has many after-school programs including chamber ensembles which Xu is currently a member of.

When asked about her experience at the Conservatory and Rivers, she remarks on the fact that it takes a certain balance to get everything done.

Her academic classes do take priority over her Conservatory homework, but she makes sure that they are both done to the fullest extent. Although students can take a season off from the program, Xu does it all year

Xu has some other advice to freshmen in the Conservatory this year: “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The instrument you start with does not define who you are.”

long. As a senior, however, she does Conservatory three times a week, but remembers going every day as a freshman. She recalls fondly the joy she found in the conservatory during her freshman and sophomore years and is glad she decided to participate all four years.

Speaking about her experience during the Conservatory program, Xu recounts the music program’s trip to Venice and Vienna during her sophomore year. She performed at concerts in both cities, but “we also got to explore the city.” She smiles as

she talks about the trip with all of her friends and favorite teachers and says that it was definitely a highlight of her years in the Conservatory.

Xu seems to have a lot of passion for the Conservatory program, and she remarks that it has been such an incredible and worthwhile experience.

Although she did enjoy her past few years at the Conservatory, she would have made a few changes to her overall experience, including trying something newer earlier.

In an effort to do just that, Xu also joined the chorus as a senior, something not often done. She felt inspired to try something new towards the end of her experience at Rivers in an effort to improve herself, stretch her abilities, and maximize her time at Rivers. She talks about her excitement in start something different and how she “wanted to try something new” for her senior year. She encourages others to do the same. As she mentions this, a friend nearby remarks, “I wish I had started singing earlier.”

In addition, Xu has some other advice to freshmen in the Conservatory this year: “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. The instrument you start with does not define who you are.” A fitting closing statement for a pianist turned singer, who will definitely continue to play as a life-long passion for years to come.

Page 12

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Arts

Fall production of “Puffs” promises laughter and magic

BY SAM LYONS ’22 AND MICHAEL PASKO ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

The fall play is currently in full swing. This year’s production of Puffs is a laugh-out-loud comedy based off JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Puffs centers around a boy named Wayne Hopkins, played by Finn McCusker ‘22. When Wayne discovers his wizarding capabilities, he goes off to school in England (to a school very much like Hogwarts) seeking to learn magic. While at school, Wayne makes two new best friends and has incredible adventures. Wayne is placed into a group called “Puffs”, whose common qualities of well intentioned, hard working, but undervalued have undeniable ties to Rowling’s Hufflepuffs. The play takes place over the course of seven years, and during this time, Wayne tries his best to fit into the magical community while ending up in the middle of wizarding hyjinx.

Besides being a comedy, Puffs also delves into the high school oriented themes of personal identity and social place. A complex show, you will also see the talented cast playing as many as five characters per person. An all around good time, according to Adrienne Correia ‘22, “Whether or not you’re a Harry Potter fan,

Puffs will make you laugh.”

At the core of the production is long time English and drama teacher, Juliet Bailey, who is entering her 18th year of directing the fall play. Bailey is excited to direct what she calls a “frenzied, fun, chaotic, high-farcical comedy.” She credits her 18-person cast for making the hectic pace so enjoyable. “Everyone is in high spirits and is optimistic and supportive,” Bailey said. “All are such hard workers - I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Assisting her from a technical standpoint is stage manager Lauren Barrich, assistant director (and French teacher) Julia Auster, technical director (and history teacher) Ben Leeming, and Walt Reagan-Loomis ’22 manning the lights. The show, having over 100 props, 75 sound cues, and 110 light cues, is lucky to have such a capable crew.

Ms. Bailey can’t wait for opening night, commenting on the genuinely fun aspect of the play, “There hasn’t been a practice since auditions where I haven’t laughed!”

The production is inching nearer to the finished product by the day, and it seems as though all of the pieces are coming together.

“The play is coming along at full speed,” said Lucy Tonthat ‘22. “The beginnings of a set and

The talented cast rehearse a scene from the upcoming fall production of “Puffs”. Photo by Julia Auster. costumes and props are all coming together rapidly. It’s incredible to watch it all come together and watch each character become fully fleshed and enlivened.”

Everyone in the production is working very hard to make the final product of Puffs as exceptional as it can possibly be. According to Eli Wasserman ‘21, all cast members and managers “are working hard to get everything to flow and stick together and the final product will be hilarious.”

The camaraderie amongst

the cast has also been a topic of note. This year’s cast members are a tightly-knit group who work exceedingly well together.

When asked to describe the cast, Adebiyi Oyaronbi said, “I think we have a great group of people this year who are passionate about acting and it shows. They are able to bring out their character’s potential, making the play even better.”

For the cast and crew, there is little that compares to the experience.

“The fall play is really an experience like no other,” said McCusker. “You make friends from other grades you would never make otherwise, and it’s overall just a very fun experience. I encourage you all to come see our work.”

And on Nov. 8-10 in the Black Box you can. And be prepared, according to Bailey: “There will be magic.”

Movie review: the violent Joker explores mental illness

BY NATALIE KLOMAN ’23 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Nobody thinks what it’s like to be the other guy.” -Joaquin Phoenix, Joker 2019. But that’s exactly what Joker is all about.

The new, record-breaking horror movie, Joker, takes us inside the mind of the other guy in the story, the villain. Joker hooks us into the sad, twisted, and horrifying life of Arthur Fleck, otherwise known as Joker. This movie, despite having only been in theaters for a short amount of time, has sparked major controversy on the topic of violence.

But Joker is also unlike any other Marvel or DC movie you’ve seen as it really focuses on the whole subject of mental illness, making the already frightening movie more disturbing.

Joker was released in theaters on October 4. Opening weekend, the movie made $96 million in the box office, making it the highest-grossing movie ever to debut in October.

After two weeks in theaters, it also became the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Joker contains a very impressive cast and crew starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and academy-award winner Robert De Niro. Joker takes place in Gotham City in 1981. The city is stricken by a trash strike and riddled with crime and poverty.

Fleck is a mentally ill man living with his sick mother, Penny, in the slums of Gotham. He works as a party clown yet aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Arthur has a medical condition causing him to have frequent, uncontrollable bursts of laughter that doesn’t always match the situation at hand; because of it, he is often harassed and ridiculed. A coworker of Arthur’s gives him a gun to defend himself after being attacked. But when the weapon slips out of his costume at a children’s hospital, Arthur gets terminated from his job. His life soon spirals out of control.

Already this movie has caused major controversy. Joker is an extremely harsh and brutal movie to watch, partially for the fact that it’s about a killer clown and gun violence plays a big role in Arthur’s character.

Critics believe that this movie will encourage violence around the world, specifically in terms of mass shootings. Also, people are concerned about the movie because of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado in 2012. During the screening of The Dark Knight Rises, another DC movie, a mass shooting occurred and 12 people were killed and another 70 injured. Given the ever present threat, people are worried about the aspect of gun violence that can be found throughout the movie and are concerned that

Actor Joaquin Phoenix delivers a powerful yet disturbing performance as the Joker in the controversial movie. some will think that that kind the filmmaker’s intention to of behavior is acceptable in real spark violence. I also believe that life. the purpose of the film is to show On the other side of the arguwhat goes on in a villain’s mind ment, however, lies the cast and and society’s take on mental crew. They claim that the story illness. and movie are entirely fictional Arthur Fleck is extremely and aren’t meant to reflect any mentally ill, not just because of aspects of real life. They also his medical condition and his life say that the movie is not at all situation, but also how he thinks responsible for the problems that that problems should be solved are occurring in society today by killing people. Unlike other or events that could happen in movies about superheroes and the future. Phoenix has argued villains that only focus on the that people should be able to emotional, physical, and fighting distinguish right from wrong in components of the character or these sorts of situations. Joker characters, Joker is mainly about is indeed an extremely violent how mentally ill Arthur is and and gruesome film that can be how that influences everything compared with some aspects of he does. I think that the filmour society today, but it wasn’t makers made the hard decision

to incorporate the mental aspect into this movie to show that society doesn’t care enough about the small percentage of people that have mental illnesses. I also believe they decided to constantly reference Arthur’s mental state to show what happens when we leave things unchecked. If we let important things, such as the topic of mental illness, slide, the problem can grow and grow until it’s out of our control. Because of this, it’s hard to relate to Arthur which makes him the villain. It’s hard to feel sympathy for him or understand what it’s like in his shoes. Joker is telling us that society doesn’t do enough when it comes to mental illness and the movie is a reflection of how we respond to it and how we treat those with it.

With a strong performance

by Phoenix, Joker is certainly an interesting film, but the violence is excessive. But how ill Arthur was disturbed me even more.

Joker teaches people a valuable lesson, that we don’t know what it’s like to be the other guy. We never put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, which explains a lot about how we treat others in society today. Joker is an extremely well-done (yet violent) movie that truly educates viewers on mental illnesses and point of view, in addition to sparking a debate on taking the subject of violence too far.

October 28, 2019

Page 13

Sports

Undefeated field hockey vying for title, NEPSAC crown

BY KENDALL DIAMOND ’21 AND SAM AMATO ’21 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Talented, deep, and highly motivated, the varsity girls’ field hockey team is undefeated and sitting alone atop of the ISL standings.

The Red Wings are a blistering 9-0-1 with five games remaining (as of this writing).

But the path has not been easy and there have been many tight games, including a game versus Tabor academy a few weeks ago.

Junior Mallory Hasselbeck, who will attend Boston College for the fall of 2021, scored the OT goal that preserved the team’s the undefeated streak.

‘We have a target on our backs because of success in years past, so we have to expect to see every other school at their best. It makes us work that much harder every day,” said captain Lilly Branka, who will go on to continue her field hockey and lacrosse career at Middlebury College next fall.

While there are plenty of veterans on the squad, it’s the chemistry and infusing of some new talent that’s making the difference. “This season is so dif-

ferent because some of our best players are the youngest, but that is what makes it so fun,” said star player Annabelle Hasselbeck ’20, who like her sister has committed to Boston College.

Defense, as they say, wins championships, and the field hockey team is blessed with a great backfield, anchored by stud sophomore Ellie Todd ’22 in net and two eighth graders, Lauren Glaser and Ava Murphy on D. Despite their youth, the 8th graders have been key contributors to this year’s team. How good are they at defense? The Red Wings notched eight straight shutout victories before allowing a goal in last Saturday’s OT win (2-1) over Milton.

Even with a young squad, the maturity and dedication shines.

Lily Branka spoke highly of the team’s effort and winning mentality by saying, “We are incredibly close and everyone - from the eighth graders to our managers - give 100% effort for their teammates,” Captain Julia Hitti, who has committed to play field hockey next year at Brown, spoke similarly of the team. “Everyone on the team gets along really well

The talented and undefeated varsity field hockey team has had a lot to celebrate this fall. and wants each other to succeed.

How well the team gets along off the field shows on the field too, with passing the ball to each other and working really well together,” Hitti siad.

The energy and the passion brought forth by the team on a daily basis is noticed by anyone who spends time around them and is truly fun to watch.

Some of the girls on the team are committed to a college for

another sport, but that doesn’t keep them from leaving it all out there for this team. The intensity has impressed the team’s student managers as well. “We never really knew much about field hockey but the energy that the girls bring to the field makes it more interesting to watch than we could have imagined,” said Callie Bloom ‘20.

The squad is a winning team with a winning mindset. They

have all the ingredients for success and show no signs of slowing down as they vie for an ISL title and another trip to the NEPSAC tournament. The varsity field hockey team has not only represented Rivers athletics, but this team has represented Rivers as a whole. Their energy and passion is contagious and really models what it means to be a team, and a highly successful one at that.

the 2-yard line, giving Rivers the first down. The next play, Cheney rushed in for the first touchdown of the game. For the remaining 4 minutes, Rivers was able to hold Brooks to no points, securing their first win of the season.

Football is often a game of attrition and so far this year, injuries have plagued the team across the board. After Noble’s separated shoulder, Dekin also suffered a separated shoulder against Tabor.

In the recent win, sophomore linebacker and running back Brendan Porrier broke his foot in the first quarter. But younger players have stepped up and have continued to bolster the team.

After the first win of the season, the Red Wings were fired up to give the Homecoming crowd another win, this time against St. Mark’s. In the first quarter, St. Marks went up 6-0, missing their extra point. Spending much of the game on defense, the Red Wings’s defense hunkered down for the game, letting up only one more touchdown and stopping the twopoint conversion. Trailing 12-0 at halftime, Rivers headed into the locker room determined to show their school who they really are.

As the rowdy boys stormed the field in the second half, it was easy to tell that the players were ready to work. With an interception from Brian Gonsalves, the momentum of the game changed almost immediately. Following the interception, Cheney linked up with junior Gregg Dennison and then with Noble. Once the offense reached the 5-yard line, Gonsalves, who lined up as a

quarterback, threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Noble. With an exceptional performance from running back and kicker Ben Genser, the special teams assisted in the win by contributing great field position. After Gonsalves threw for a 15-yard pass to Kalyl Lindsey, he scrambled from the pocket and took the ball 38 yards to the house. Finally, with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Genser aided the offense with two massive runs. On the 18-yard line, Gonsalves threw a perfect ball to an outstretched Lindsey securing the third Rivers touchdown to bring the score to 20-12 Rivers.

On the ensuing kickoff, senior Tommy Kantaros delivered a big hit on the returner to secure outstanding field position and help the defense on their large task at hand. St. Mark’s struggled to move the ball passed the 20-yard line. Then, senior captain and defensive lineman Lucas Lisman chased down a receiver to hit the ball out of his hands, to have it recovered by Rivers. After running out the clock, a frenzied Fanzone of students rushed the field, and Rivers beat St. Mark’s by the final of 20-12. This win was characterized by Coach Bordeau as “a showing of the determination and hard-working mentality that we have developed, and proof that this team never lets up.”

Now at 2-3, the Rivers football team is poised to keep the momentum going as they match up with Groton, Roxbury Latin, and Middlesex and chase a possible winning season.

After a slow start, football team putting up strong wins

BY TOMMY DEKIN ’21 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Optimistic” is a word that greatly describes the football program at Rivers. Although the team ended last year with a 3-5 record, the many close and exciting games gave optimism for the team’s success this year.

With our veteran head coach Tom Bordeau, second-year offensive coordinators and offensive masterminds Darren Flutie and Troy Flutie, the team has high hopes for how the year will turn out. Add to that deep and esteemed group Coach Randdy Lindsey, who coaches linebackers and running backs. Previously a coach at Framingham High School, Coach Lindsey heard about Rivers’ recent improvement and success and decided that he wanted to help guide the team to even greater improvement. In addition to those three coaches, Rivers alum and current defensive line and special teams coach Jeff Kotzen has returned in hopes of another successful year.

Yet another change this year for the entire team - and many of the athletic teams are - are the two new turf fields. The new Davis and Baker Fields are instrumental additions to the field hockey, soccer, and football programs.

Although many of the key players graduated from the year prior, much of the roster remains untouched. One exception is a new junior Avery Cheney.

Cheney, a quarterback who previously attended Xaverian, has come to Rivers for his junior year.

Junior Ben Genser cuts up field late in the 4th quarter against St. Mark’s. Genser powered for some big yards down the stretch to help secure the comeback win. Photo by Adam Richins.

His goal? Making a positive impact on the field. His current success has come from the help of sophomore receiver Kalyl Lindsey and senior WR Abe Dekin, who have a total of 6 touchdown receptions across five games.

The year started with a tough loss to Hamden Hall, a private school outside of New Haven, CT. The out-of-league game was a tough 18-16 loss for the Red Wings. In the first quarter, senior Trevor Noble came down with a separated shoulder after a 50 yard reception, which perhaps hurt the team even more than the loss itself.

Following that tough loss, the team suffered another two losses, coming from St. George’s (28-14) and Tabor (31-12). “The Loss to tabor was a wake-up call for the team and we learned a lot from it,” said Cheney.

After this initial adversity, Rivers hosted the Brooks School on the new turf and hoped for a big win. After letting up the ball on Rivers’ own 12-yard line, the Red Wings’s defense was able to hold Brooks to a field goal.

Many would think that Brooks’s initial interception and field goal were a preview of the game; however, that would prove to be wrong. Those three points would be Brooks’s only points all game.

Much of the game went by and until big receptions from Dekin and junior Brian Gonsalves. As quarters passed with the score remaining 3-0 Brooks, the Rivers faithful Fanzone was ready for a big drive. With about five minutes left in the 4th, a touchdown drive was created with help from Gonsalves and the entire receiving corp. Gonsalves caught Cheney’s pass on fourth down at

Page 14

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Sports

Talented boys’ soccer team plots return to NEPSAC finals

BY BROOKE NELSON ’20 AND ANNABELLE HASSELBECK’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Despite losing nine starters from last year’s team - which made it all the way to the NEPSAC championship game - boys’ varsity soccer is 6-1-3 heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

The loss of a number of key seniors from last year’s squad including All-ISL goalie Michael Webber (now playing at Bowdoin) - has not seemed to affect the team dynamic at all, as they have a better record at the moment than they did last year at this time.

The team was undefeated in the first month of play, racking up wins of KUA (3-2), Tabor (3-0), St. Sebastian’s (4-1), and Governor’s (4-1). After two successive ties against Belmont Hill (2-2) and Groton (1-1), the Red wings lost their first game (BB&N triumphed 2-0), but bounced back with wins over Brooks (2-0) and Thayer (5-2).

The key to the Red Wings’ success, according to coach Steve Schechter ’89, is the squad’s close bond.

“We are a very young team with a few fantastic older leaders,” Schechter said. “With seven 9th and 10th graders starting regularly, we’ve relied heavily on

the experience and leadership of our captains Jack Morgan, Aidan Davock, and Jonah Berg. Those three are the spine of our team.

Fortunately, this group is really tight. They love each other so much. I see it everyday on and off the field. They get so excited just to see each other and be together.

That’s also a big reason why we are having so much success as a program. These boys will sacrifice everything for their brothers, and that yields results against older, bigger and sometimes deeper teams.”

Arguably one of the best players in the league, Davock is leading the ISL in goals and is committed to play soccer at Colgate University next year. “We are each others brothers and have a bond that you wouldn’t have with your average team,” said Davock.

“We all push each other to improve and to put in a lot of effort in practice and it pays off in the games.”

That drive and effort was more than evident during Rivers’ tilt against Milton, arguably the number one team in the ISL right now. Before a huge Rivers Fanzone crowd, the boys’ battled Milton to a 1-1 tie with strong defense ruling the day and a big goal by sophomore Zack Gruber ’22 keeping the pressure on.

“I’m particularly proud of the fact that this team plays good

Sophomore Calvin Lemley heads up field during the Homecoming game against Milton, which ended in 1-1 tie. Photo by J. Hurley. football,” Schechter said. “I want Other standouts on the team us to play the best brand of foot- include sophomore Drew Stephaball in New England.” ns who is leading the ISL with 8 A major reason for the Red assists along with a couple goals.

Wings’ success this season is new The spirited Stephans can also be sophomore goalie Nick Antic. counted on to boost the morale of “He’s been doing great this sea- his team whenever they need it. son,” said senior Sam Lunder. “If Likewise, last year’s Rookie you had to compare him to Web- of the Year Patrick Dublin ’22 is ber, he’s up there to compete.” a force to be reckoned with but is On defense, sophomore Calvin just one of the many young playLemely and senior captain Jack ers having an impact.

Morgan hold down the back field, “Our young guys are clearly keeping the ball in the offensive the best around,” said Schechter. zone as much as possible. And the “There is so much technical qualstates bear it out, as great defense ity in Jacob Sardinha and Drew and goal-tending has helped the Stephans, and I think Drew is boys’ team out score their oppo- among the most creative players nents 25-12. in the league. Antic is a special

of a huge Homecoming crowd in Benson Gymnasium.

Hardly ones to rest on their laurels, the team has another goal besides just being better than last year. “They just want to win, compared to last year, this program has

never made the playoffs,” added Coach Jay McKey, “to have fun doing so.”

Both agreed that their motivation was to be better than last year, and so far they have been exceeding their own expectations.

talent in net. He had huge shoes to fill with Webber graduating, and he has come in and been brilliant.

Cal Lemley has been hard as nails and close to perfect in the back, and Pat Dublin has created plenty of quality chances for us.”

Last Wednesday, boys’ soccer had a huge game against Middlesex, who beat Rivers last year in the finals. However, last year’s loss does not define RBVS, and the team is eager to meet the challenge and return to the NEPSAC finals the finish the job this year.

The squad is confident that with their talent, hard work, and chemistry, they can outplay Middlesex and continue to have a successful second half of their season.

For Coach Schechter and assistant coach Matt Dias-Costa ’13, seeing the team achieve has special meaning.

“For me and DC, it’s so much fun to be back where we came from,” Schechter said. “Both of us played for Rivers, and it means the world to us to be back here.

We aren’t just hired outside guns.

This is personal and meaningful to us as coaches, and that’s also positively impacting the program.

I’m certainly not saying we are the best coaches. I’m simply saying that we are part of the chemistry and extra hard work, and that also plays a part.

Volleyball having stronger season Girls’ XC improving, boys eye strong finish

BY BROOKE BRENNAN ’23 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After suffering continuous defeat last year in the ISL ( 0-9), the varsity volleyball team has come back like never before. In its fourth year of existence, volleyball this year has become more intense and a steady stream of wins. But it begs the question: what changed?

“The change is their attitude,” said new varsity head coach Jarryl McKey. “From last year to this year it seems like they’re more engaged and they want to play. And they’re not just playing for themselves, but for each other.”

That final point is something senior captains Mallory Folliard, Audrey Connely, and Evelyn Thomajan can all agree. The seniors stress “team chemistry,” “the energy with the new coach,” and the “bunch of new players.”

Fellow senior Sam Sousa has been a major contributor, along with junior Mia Folliard and Elisa Harvey, and sophomores Shay Pipe and Mia Simon, among others. Both captains and the head coach agree that the teamwork and camaraderie has propelled them to a new record of wins for the program, 6-2 in the ISL (6-4 overall).

Although the team started off the season with three straight losses to Worcester, Tabor, and Thayer, the Red Wings went on to win their next 5 ISL matches, including a thriller last Friday in front

Middle School A soccer

BY DONALD SIVOLELLA ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Middle School boys’ soccer A team looks to catch fire after starting 1-3 on the year, dropping some competitive games. After a dominating 3-0 win against Meadowbrook to start the year, the team has lost some close games to Nobles (2-0), Shady Hill (1-0), and Fenn (6-1).

With only four eighth graders on the team, Coach Stewart Pierson has a young roster. “We lack slightly in experience, but play hard and competitive leading to some close games,” eighth grader Keagan Harder stated.

Harder, Charlie Schlenker ’25, Alex Jack ’24, each have played key roles in the midfield this year leading to strong creativity on the field, and a tough matchup for any opponent. “Keagan has such a nice touch on the ball,” said Dylan Herlihy ’25 “His movement and change of direction amazes everyone from fans to us.”

Another area of strength this year has been the defense. Led

by Evan Bardinelli ‘24 at goalie, opponents have had a tough time finding the back of the net. According to Herlihy, Bardinelli “has done a great job in net this year. Some great things about him are his ability to read plays and stop great shots. What makes him a great player is his soccer IQ.” Team chemistry has also been running high all season. “This year as a team we have been successful when playing together and unselfishly,” said Harder. “One thing we struggle with is our speed and size.”

Herlihy agreed. “This has definitely been a disadvantage but we make up for it with our chemistry.

We communicate well and can always rely on a player to get back for us if we are too slow,” he said.

With a strong team bond, good midfield play, solid defense, and hall-of-fame level coaching from Mr. Pierson, the Middle School boys soccer team is primed for a mid-season run.

“We have had some great matchups,” said Herlihy, “but still have a lot more to show.”

BY ELLIS MANDEL ’21 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The girls’ cross country team got off to a tough start possessing a record of 0-8. With the unfortunate amount of injuries the team has endured, their lack of quality results is justified. Of the six team members on the roster, half are injured. Despite the fact that the team has encountered many misfortunes this season, junior Meredith Shah is optimistic about the team’s potential.

“The team is a really talented and close-knit group of girls, and despite all our injuries we are doing great,” Shah explained.

The team’s previous matchup was against an unbeaten Noble and Greenough team, which currently leads the ISL. The race saw the return of junior Margo Lewis, who was out due to injury. Her 2019 season debut, unfortunately, ended in a loss, but the race showed a better representation of the team’s great enthusiasm.

The loss in profound senior talent from last year is partially the reason for the team’s slow start. Graduates Stephanie Dailey (All-ISL) and Bethany Pasko were excellent runners. Senior and captain Addy Vettel, who was All-New England last year,

is currently filling this void and continues to demonstrate leadership, while being a lead runner in a large majority of meets this season.

As for their male counterparts, the boys’ cross country team is having a very strong fall.

Their 3-2-0 record speaks for itself, as they currently rank sixth in the ISL. With loads of new talent and improving veterans on the team, it is no wonder why this team is continually progressing. The top runners in the group include Cam Stathos ‘21 (2019 All-ISL), Mark Ryan ’20 (2019 All-ISL, All-New England), Calvin Smith ’21, George Reinhardt ’20, and Max Meyerhardt ’21.

Last year’s team was heavily dominated by upperclassmen, as there was not a single freshman who joined the team. This year, however, the team was lucky enough to welcome six freshmen runners to the squad, including occasional frontrunner Sam Lyons.

The captains, George Reinhardt and Mark Ryan, are excited about what the future of the team holds. “We are hoping we can win the New England championship like we did back in 2017,” Reinhardt said, “We have a very strong varsity team this year.”

The Rivers Edge

October 28, 2019

Page 15

Sports

Girls’ soccer team looks to capitalize on stellar season

BY JAY DIETERLE ’20 AND ELLIE MCCARRON ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

The girls varsity soccer team began their season with high hopes. With the loss of just one starter from last year’s semifinalist team, there was reason to believe this season they would capture another ISL and Class B title that has eluded them since 2015. After dropping three out of their first four contests, however, that hope was hard to come by. A 4-0 loss to Andover, followed by a 2-0 loss to Pingree, was not the start head coach Susanna Donanhue was hoping for. Although their record stood at 1-3, Sdon was not worried.

“We started out with four tough games,” SDon said. “It was tough to get confidence.”

The team was looking for some sort of inspiration to turn the early season struggles around. They found it with the “BSK” (bench squad killers).

This group of reserves, led by senior Abi Walsh, knew they needed to provide their team with a spark.

“The bench is electric,” Walsh explained.

Their constant cheering and support gives the players on the field extra motivation. And that bench energy proved to be exactly what the team needed.

The Red Wings rattled off

three straight shutout victories, notching wins over Governors (6-0), Pomfret (3-0), and Groton (4-0), before facing off with ISL powerhouse BB&N. On a cold, windy afternoon, a second half goal by Cara Schmidlein put the team up 1-0, which would eventually serve as the game winner.

Head coach Donahue knew what this game meant for their season.

“That game was not an easy win,” she said.

SDon’s squad was not done, however, and they tallied another shutout win over Brooks (4-0) before tying Tabor 1-1 on Oct. 16. They took the field at Homecoming with a 7-2-1 record needing another win to stay in the mix for an ISL title. Before a great crowd and a sun-splashed field, the girls took down Milton 2-1 with the game winner tallied by senior Lizzie Jack.

As this season has progressed it’s clear that the team has put their 1-3 start behind them, and focused on the final push through the final games of the regular season.

Senior captain Sofia Buckle, who is headed out to California to play soccer for Claremont Mckenna next year, credits the increase in team chemistry for the drastic turnaround. “[The] team has gotten closer through the season,” she said. “We are one big family. I’m really going

Sophomore Summer Pierson is happy after scoring what would prove to be the game-winning goal against Milton at Homecoming last Saturday. Photo by John Hurley. to miss everyone next year.” easy feat, and the girls underevident than in the team’s comAs the team begins to prep for maraderie. With a shared goal in stand that. But, with eight seniors what hopes to be a long playdetermined to make their last mind, the team has really come off run, it is hard for the eight together. They seem to be hitting run their best one, and a team seniors to not reflect on their their stride around the right time, that has seen the ups and downs time playing for the girls varsity a season can bring, confidence just before playoffs approach. soccer team. Buckle is “very is prevalent on Davis Field. One Captain Lizzie Jack knows this excited for [their] last run” and team is special and poised for the thing is for sure, this year’s girls’ believes that it will be “[their] playoffs through their “positivity, varsity soccer team is ready to best one yet.” defy odds and bring a banner hard work, and determination.”

The excitement is no more Capturing a Class B title is no home.

UCF’s own football locker room which Davock says is “easily the nicest locker room I’ve ever seen and puts any others I’ve used to shame.”

Players selected to play in the Allstate All-American Cup team were not chosen based off of their performance in a tryout, but solely off of their performance in their high school seasons. That being said, with 18 goals and 10 assists his sophomore year and 13 goals and 6 assists his junior year, it is no surprise Davock made the cut. He has made a name for himself, both in the ISL and club soccer, through his hardwork and ability to score when it’s needed most. “Being that this was the inaugural game,” says Davock, “it was never something that was on my mind or under my radar until I was picked.”

Last winter, 125 male high schoolers were put in the running to be all-Americans. It was not until late spring that Davock found out he had been picked as one of the 40 chosen to play in the actual game. Those selected were then split into two groups of 20 and each comprised the two teams who played against each other during the Cup. There were also 40 girls chosen to play in their own game as well.

“Since none of us knew each other, it was extremely important to everyone to build team

something such as this for granted since he sees it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity that many kids would kill to be in.”

Speaking of NEFC, Davock also travelled to Chicago with his club team for Nationals in midJuly. They dominated up until the quarterfinals when they unfortunately lost 1-0.

Despite his daunting and challenging schedule which requires that he be at his best at all times, Davock is determined to stay on an upward climb. When asked how he remains focused and positive Aidan says he tries “to always look ahead to the next game. I never focus on the past, for example, if I played poorly in a previous game. If I make a bad pass or shot, I just try and improve the next one. I am always trying my best to look forward.

I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember and the joy I get from scoring a goal never gets old. It is an unmatchable feeling and one I’ve failed to replicate doing anything else.”

While Davock is focused on helping his Red Wings vie for ISL and NEPSAC titles this fall, Davock has already committed to Colgate University. If all goes well with his college career, there is the possibility of a professional career. “Playing professionally is always something I’ve dreamt about,” he says, “but I guess we’ll have to wait and see in a couple of years.”

Standout Davock ’20 shines in Allstate All-American Cup

BY JULIA LARKIN ’21 CO-EDITOR

“The crowd filled the University of Central Florida’s stands in their entirety,” Aidan Davock ’20 recalls. “It was the most fans I’ve ever played in front of, with homecoming being a close second at about 150 fans short.

It’s crazy to think even more fans were watching on TV, but I tried to think of it as a normal game and did not focus on the large amount of people or the cameras.”

As stated on their website, the Allstate All-American Cup showcase “shines a light on high school soccer by showcasing the nation’s rising stars and game changers from across the country,” and Rivers’ own star forward, Aidan Davock, was fortunate enough to be chosen to play in the first ever tournament of its kind.

Broadcasted by ESPNU, the All American Cup took place over the summer on July 31st at the University of Central Florida’s Soccer Complex (UCF) and drew more than 300 fans.

“It was my first time playing on live television,” says Davock.

“It was pretty surreal, especially when friends from home started sending me pictures of my face on their TVs. The entire day felt very professional and I was excited to be a part of it.”

Players even got ready in

Soccer star Aidan Davock ’20 holds up his jersey with team coach Brian McBride at the Allstate All-American Cup last summer. chemistry quickly so we could play our strongest,” says Davock.

“It was a competitive environment as each player had aspirations to play college soccer, or was already committed, so in that way it was easy for everyone to push one another to be at their best and strive to be better than our opponents.”

While Davock has gotten the chance to play against talented players in the ISL, and through-

out his time on his NEFC club team, his All American experience was the first time he had ever played on a team where every single player was of such high caliber. “As a player,” says Davock, “I learned so much from getting to play with such talented teammates and opponents and I hope to see them again on the other side of the field in my college soccer career.” As a person, Davock learned to never take

Page 16

The Rivers Edge

Around Campus

October 28, 2019

Orientations kick year off right

BY ABE DEKIN ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

You can count on three constants to mark the end of summer and the beginning of the school year: colder weather, falling leaves, and Rivers’ orientation trips. Students flock back to campus to get back together with their grade and bond ahead of the upcoming year. Each grade has their own unique orientation.

The newest Rivers upper school grade embarked on the annual Windsor Mountain trip, to come together as a grade comprised of half rising middle schoolers and half students new to Rivers. Many of us look back on Windsor Mountain and remember the excitement we felt when climbing the high ropes course or jumping off of the rope swing, but many of us forget the nervousness we felt meeting our grade for the first time. The Windsor staff as always helps the freshmen learn the new faces with various name games. Freshmen play activities like Bob the Weasel, Knee Tag, and High Five Name Toss from the moment they arrive at Windsor to help with unfamiliar names. During the orientation, new freshmen get to meet their student advisor—a senior selected to help them during their first year in the Rivers upper school. A perfect introduction to high school—Windsor Mountain was yet again another success.

The sophomore class stayed a little closer to home during their orientation—they left Rivers for the Boston Food Bank. The

The Rivers Fanzone was out in full force during Homecoming!

Talia Davis watches as Shamila Santana crosses an element on the Loon Mt. ropes course during junior orientation. Photo by A Stephens sophomores volunteered at the the three strike rule, maximizing food bank, separating into differ- the rules they could stretch until ent groups: food prep, inspection, they left: flips, headfirst, wresboxing, and more. Following tling. The Camp Southwoods their hard work, the grade was staff was very flexible and parewarded by going to Dave and tient with our rowdy grade. Day Busters to end the day. Bowling, two: rafting. None of the seniors pool, and pizza is a great way to could have expected the length end a day’s hard work. of the voyage. The six-hour trip Juniors had the opportunity tested the mental and physical to go on a new orientation trip to strength of many, but besides a Loon Mountain. The class came slight lunch mix up (which was together through various team corrected) the adventure lived up bonding activities at Loon, such to its expectations. When it came as zip lining, mountain biking, time to get on the bus, the seniors and scaling a rock wall, and were exhausted and ready to go became closer as a grade. home—the end to another excitThe best for last—the senior ing orientation. class made the drive up to

The Rivers’ orientations upstate New York for the annual signify the end of summer, and a senior class whitewater rafting transition to the upcoming school trip. As always, the trip proved to year. The students come together be exciting for both teachers and to catch up on their summers and students. The first day the camp become closer as a grade. After opened up its waterfront for tubanother successful year of oriening, swimming, volleyball, and tation trips, each grade is ready the crazy inflatable structures. to tackle the school year head on.

Students made efficient use of

Red Wings soar over Homecoming weekend

Homecoming, as in past years at Rivers, brings an awesome vibe to campus, complete with plenty of food and soaring Rivers spirit.

Although this year there was a clear and obvious villain to hamper the fun. Not Milton Academy, rather the mosquito-born virus known as EEE. This caused the unfortunate rescheduling of the football and field hockey games to afternoon instead of under the lights, along with the cancelation of the bonfire and Upper School dance. Though these changes barely hampered the lively and spirited weekend that was Homecoming 2019.

Starting on Friday, varsity field hockey celebrated a huge win over Milton (3-2) in overtime, with a hat-trick by fellow Edge Nation member Brooke Nelson ’20. With this huge victory, the weekend was set up quite well for some exhilarating games. Volleyball subsequently had the brooms out, sweeping the Mustangs 3-0. The Rivers Fanzone, particularly at volleyball, was electric.

On Saturday afternoon, girls’ varsity soccer played on newly commissioned Baker Field, earning a decisive 2-1 win. Also, during the 2-4 time slot, several Junior Varsity games were played around campus, including JV Boys’ and Girls’ soccer and JV volleyball. After the fields dedication, football kicked off against St. Mark’s, which would shape up to be a thrilling game. Boys’ soccer took on topranked Milton soon after. Although soccer fell behind a goal, there was no challenge any Rivers team couldn’t overcome on this day.

Rivers rebounded with a goal, making the game 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, football surmounted a furious comeback. Despite being down 0-12 at halftime, the Red Wings came roaring back to win the game 20-12, much to the delight of Rivers fans who stormed the field.

Whether some view this as another gameday on campus, this one for sure showcased the spirit that is apart of The Rivers School.

The school’s new Red Wing Blackbird would be proud we properly protected the nest too.

- Charley Foley ’22

So many reasons why there’s only one top dog in my life

BY MATT CORMIER ’20 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I spend most of my time in my bed. I sleep in my bed. I do my homework in my bed. I kind of read in my bed. In my bed alongside me lay five figures: four pillows and my cute dog.

My dog is very smart and easy to cuddle with. It is always there for me. It never barks and rarely ever moves. In fact, my dog doesn’t breathe. My unnamed dog is a stuffed animal that is about half a pound. When I was growing up, the dog to me was like a binky to a baby. I would carry it around the house, would bring it wherever I went, and would always sleep with it. The light blue dog would start at its original color for the start of the month. As the weeks passed, the shades of my precious dog got darker and darker until the end of the month came around when it was basically black. Then and only then would my mother wash it for me.

Attached to the dog came a very fuzzy circular tag. The tag was lit. Every night, I would rub my thumb on it while I would

chill in my bed doing whatever it may be. It was really soothing and relaxing. It gave me a vibe similar to one that you get when meditating or doing yoga.

Unfortunately, due to overuse and countless trips through the wash, the tag is not with us anymore. The thin string that kept it attached to the dog this whole time didn’t have the strength to hold on.

My grandmother did, in fact, sew the tag back on a couple of times and give it a quick revival, but it just wasn’t the same. Even though it was very upsetting, I knew that the tag would be in a better place and that I had to let it go.

Despite the loss of the tag, the dog itself has been through a lot as well. Having been through the wash well over 100 times, it definitely has gotten some severe headaches, bad enough that it probably can’t play sports. Almost as bad as the

headaches, the poor thing has had to read every single book that I have ever been assigned for English. Not that reading is bad, mind you, but I’m fairly certain it would much rather watch a Netflix. Also, if I have a bad game, I might give this dog

a quick one-two Mayweather to take out the anger before dinner time. No matter what I do - yell at it, hurt it, or throw it - it still keeps a straight face. It’s most definitely the toughest Cormier in the house.

My dog is clearly the wisest in the family, too, as it has taught me a lot of lessons.

First off, it’s taught me to stay clean. No one likes hanging out with dirty people. I don’t like hanging out with my dog when it’s all dirty - and it probably doesn’t like hanging out with me when I’m all dirty. So, for the sake of my dog, I always try to stay very clean. The dog’s favorite combo of scents on me consist of Versace cologne, Dove Soap and Poo, and Degree Cool Rush deodorant. It is a killer combo. I stay clean for everyone around me throughout the day, but really it’s for the dog when I get home.

Secondly, my dog has taught me to toughen up and to only worry about the things you can control. If this little blue dog can hear things it doesn’t want to hear and take a beating here and there, then so can I. Being a sensitive person, I tend to overreact sometimes to things

that are said to me. The dog can’t control what it hears or if I decide to come home and kick its head in because I’m angry, just like I can’t control some things that upset me as much as they do. By just toughening up a bit like my dog, I can lessen my worries about the things I can’t control making me a happier person most of the time.

Lastly, my dog has taught me to keep my mouth shut at specific times throughout the day. Since my dog is always silent and doesn’t have the privilege of speaking, it’s technically quiet when it needs to be. For example, if my dog could speak, it probably wouldn’t make a sound during one of Mr. Long’s moments of silence or when the teacher says “Stop talking, everyone,” and looks directly at me. My rule of thumb is: if my very polite, perfect dog could talk, would it?

Everyone knows I love all of my family and friends, but someone will have to pull some big moves if they want to be the top dog in my life anytime soon.