The Prism VOLUME 43 NO. 1 OCT 2011 ESTABLISHED 1968 PACKER’S UPPER SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

News & Features....................2-3 Opinion..................................4-5 Arts & Entertainment.............6-7 Meet the New Staff...................8 Sports...................................9-12

In This Issue

Got Juice?Juice Machine and Hydration Stations Replace Water BottlesBY JEWEL CASTLE

SPORTS

Are you a fantasy football fan? Follow The Prism’s league online!

FOOD

The Prism reviews Montague Street’s newest sandwich joint, Hanco’s.

Read a review of some of the summer’s best movies, includ-ing the fall thriller Contagion.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BY ZANNAH LEEDSThirsty? You might

want to check out the fancy new water fountains and Chez Packer’s juice machine.

The new beverage op-tions replace plastic water bottles, no longer for sale in Chez Packer.

The fountains, or “Hy-dration Stations,” are taller water fountains that allow users to fill their own re-usable water bottles. The fountains are also equipped with a counter that records how many plastic water bottles were conserved at each station. There are six stations in the school, in-cluding one outside of the second floor gym and one in the Commons.

“Plastic takes a lot of energy and water to make and it lasts over 100 years before decomposing, so it’s important that we reduce our usage,” said Christo-pher Williams, f a c u l t y advisor of Earth Club, whose members helped fa-cilitate the elimination of

plastic water bottles. Mr. Williams hopes that the change will encourage stu-dents to think more deeply about waste.

“I think it’s great for the environment, but we should have stuck with the compostable water bottles we had last year,” said Nick Morton (‘12).

The juice machine is located next to the coffee makers in Chez Packer, and has a variety of flavors including apple juice, or-ange juice, and cranberry juice.

Students have mixed reactions to the elimina-tion of the plastic water bottles and their replace-ments. Some say it will make a difference in the environment while others complain about dehydra-tion. Some students have even attributed sickness to the lack of water in the cafeteria.

The Hydration Stations take too long to fill up, I end up waiting over a minute,” said Jake Shapiro (‘13).

One issue some stu-dents have with the foun-tains is that there are too few.

“Most of the kids here are way too lazy to actu-ally carry around water bottles, it’s not convenient enough, and now they’re just forced to drink sug-ary drinks,” said Daniel Gatenio (‘12).

Student Council members are encourag-ing everyone who doesn’t already have a reusable water bottle to buy a metal water bottle.

Earth Club has plans to reduce other plastic waste within Chez Packer.

At the start of every school year, one can always hear stressed seniors chatting about the college admissions process. However, one senior, Shannon Rhodes (‘12), has been breathing a little easier since August, when she decided to verbally commit to Villanova University, a division-I school.

After visiting, and playing at several schools during her junior year, Shannon was looking into many different possibilities. Shannon, who has played a minimum of three sports every year of high school, was initially not even sure which sport she wanted to play in college.

“Even though Shannon changes

which sport she really loves or is interested in above the others, she has always had a love for sports. She’s also really improved a lot at soccer, even though she was good before, she just started getting better,” said Shannon’s mother, Liz McBride.

Shannon has been playing club soccer since age 10. She joined the Brooklyn Knights team at the start of her freshman year. Shannon currently plays for club team Match Fit Chelsea Wildcats.

Shannon had a total of 16 goals and 19 assists last season on the varsity girls soccer team.

Last year, Shannon attended a soccer camp at Villanova, several one-day clinics at different schools, and some college tournaments.

Villanova Head Coach John Byford is impressed with Shannon’s style of play and her competitive nature. Villanova’s strong athletic and academic programs appealed to Shannon, who plans to study computer engineering.

Shannon, who was nomi-nated by the New York Post for New York City’s best goal scorer won the poll with a whopping 44.32% of the votes.

Rhodes to the Big East: Recruited to Villanova

Richard Brownstone, dean of the Class of 2013, and Lutz Holzinger, Upper School science teacher, have joined the faculty band No Class, one after a brief hiatus, and another on a temporary basis.

“I love the feel-ing when several

musicians are playing togeth-er,” said Mr. Brownstone.

No Class was formed several years ago when Mr. Brownstone and Eric Kelley, Upper School history teacher, started playing during chapels. The musicians were sometimes accompanied by Erland Zygmuntowicz, chair of the history and social science department.

NALGENE HEAVEN: The new Hydration Station in the Commons shows Maddy Cohen (‘12) how much plastic she is saving as she fills up her water bottle.

Same Band, New Teachers

BY TAYLOR HICKSON

BIG EAST BOUND: Shannon Rhodes (‘12) hopes to be a key player on Villanova’s soccer team.

The Packer Collegiate Institute170 Joralmeon Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

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JOSH BREWER

SARA KAPLAN

7%

60%

33%

Do you agree with the administration’s decision to remove water bottles from the cafeteria?

I don’t know

No, it makes me dehydrated

Yes, it saves plastic

Go to facebook.com/PackerPrism

to place your vote!

The results below are from online poll conducted

by The Prism

NEWS & FEATURES

Several locations were under construction over the summer. Read about the upgrades on page two.

(continued on page 7)

Sprucing Up the Admissions OfficeBY BILLY DUDINE

NEWS & FEATURES 2

A d m i n i s t r a t o r s lanched an optional orientation program this summer designed to help freshmen adjust to the demands of high school.

“Last year during the admissions process we realized that in order to admit a variety of students, we had to make sure that everyone was equally prepared,” said Dean of the Class of 2015 Katie Gibson, who organized the orientation, called the “transition program.”

Ms. Gibson also said that because different schools have varying levels of difficulty, new freshmen are often unprepared for Packer’s rigorous courses and

technology program.Lachlan MacIntyre

(’15) said that he enjoyed getting the opportunity to take home his computer a week before school started so he could learn how to use it.

“It was so worth it,” said Lachlan.

The program lasted for three days the week before school started, and each day lasted five hours, which, according to Lachlan, was a little long.

On the first day, students received their laptops and were given a tutorial on the computers.

“This way, students got to take their laptops home with them and play around with them for a

week before they had to use them in school,” said Ms. Gibson.

Students also attended mock English and history classes and learned how to take notes and improve their study skills.

One of the classes was led by Richard

BY SABINA GILIOLI

The Admissions Office underwent a huge overhaul this summer, as new faculty members were hired and physical renovations were made.

After last year’s departure of previous Head of Middle and Upper School Admissions Jason Caldwell, Sheila Bogan, who was Head of Admissions at the Dublin School in New Hampshire, was hired to replace him. Anna Curtis was hired as the Associate Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions last spring.

These staff changes coincided with the renovation of the Admissions Office.

“The Admissions Office is something we’ve been looking at for several years in needing of upgrading,” said Head of School Bruce Dennis, who attributed the need for more staff members to the larger volume of applications and admissions.

“You can’t have your door open to people and not treat them in the way they want to be treated or they’re going to reject your school,” said Dr.

Admissions Department area, were relocated in the building. Mr. Knauer’s office is in what was the Ruth Blackburne Hart (Lower School) Library classroom. Ms. Brody has been temporarily relocated to a second floor Lower School office.

Dr. Dennis said that the project was part of a larger school-wide plan to upgrade facilities around the building. This summer the third floor biology room was renovated. In addition, classrooms in the lower school were rearranged and there was exterior work done on the building.

Check out the Q&A with our brand new faculty for special interviews with Ms. Bogan and Ms. Curtis.

Dennis. The physical

changes create a space that is more attractive and spacious, and will make for a good first impression, said Dr. Dennis.

Dr. Dennis said that the old office arrangement simply could not fit the 700-800 families that spent time in the Admissions Office over the course of last year. An office was also needed for Ms. Curtis.

As a result, Lower School Psychologist Karen Brody and Assistant Head of School Bill Knauer, whose offices were in the

“You can’t have your

door open to people and

not treat them in the way

they want to be treated or they’re going to reject your

school.”

Brownstone, dean of the Class of 2013, who taught a mock lesson on short stories and poetry that lasted around 90 minutes. Mr. Brownstone said that although the feedback from the program was generally positive, it did “need tweaking.”

Mr. Brownstone and Ms. Gibson both said that they look forward to future freshmen taking advantage of the program.

Class of 2015 Gets Early StartFreshmen Attend to Early OrientationBY TYLER GOLDBERG

“Last year during the admissions process we

realized...that everyone [had to be] equally

prepared.”

ADMIT IT, IT’S BEAUTIFUL: Comfy couches and warm colors decorate the newly-renovated Admissions Office.

SARA KAPLAN

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NEWS & FEATURES 3

Picture this: school has been in session for three days. Your schedule is a mess. Classes are overlapping and you have no time to eat. You run into the Upper School office to find an add/drop form waiting for you. What to drop? What to keep? What’s a busy student to do?

This year a number of students in that very scenario decided to drop chorus, causing this year’s Upper School singing group to drop from 59 to 39 students.

The reduced number of students taking chorus is not because students dislike the class, but because they have full schedules.

“It’s just that I really have no time and there are always other opportunities to sing without necessarily being in chorus,” said Gemma Schreier (’13), who plans to participate in Women’s Ensemble and Select Choir.

Missing People Without Missing a BeatBY SABINA GILIOLI

“It’s just that I really have no time and there are al-

ways other op-portunities to sing without being in cho-

rus.”

TYLER GOLDBERGONE DECIBEL LOWER: Chorus and Select Choir sing together during their joint rehearsal.

Pelican Briefs

Twenty-first century technology is colliding with 19th century architecture in the new biology labs, which were modernized this summer as part of a three-year plan to renovate the science wing.

The renovation began last year with the fourth-floor chemistry lab and will conclude next summer with the second floor physics rooms.

The plan incorporates cutting-edge technology in a room originally built in 1887. Highlights include a refrigerator, moving desks, a permanent Smartboard, and a dishwasher.

Science teachers are thrilled with the improvements.

“It changes the way I teach,” said Upper School Biology Teacher Lauren Turner.

The desks make it easy to change the layout of the classroom, allowing for a more “interactive style of teaching,” said Chris Williams, head of the science department.

Evolution in the Biology LabsBY ALEX MCCARTER

The dishwasher, which allows for a safer washing of glassware. Before, the teachers would have to walk through the school to wash the glassware, putting the glasses in danger of falling and breaking.

The renovation is

not fully complete and still “needs the finishing touches,” said Ms. Turner.

Choral Director Esther Harris remains positive.

“The number [of students] is not what

matters, if the students internally enjoy singing and singing with others, that is what makes the perfect learning environment and makes a good group,” said Ms. Harris.

The chorus con-cert will be held Dec. 13 at 6:00 pm. The repertoire includes, rhythmic beats, contamerary, traditional religious and multilingual songs.

“It changes the way I

teach,” said Upper School biology teach-

er Lauren Turner.

News from around the Packer community

... ... briefly

SARA KAPLANREVIVING THE LABS: Biology labs were renovated in part of an attempt to modernize science facilities.

Hey guys! Y’all remember me? My name is Magellan, and I’m a pelican! Last year, my adventures exploring the school were covered by Prism reporters.

The bird is back. With a vengeance.

This summer was filled with good memories. After spending some quality time relaxing on Ms. Montemerlo’s desk, I took a trip around the school to see the physical changes to the building.

I flew past the new Admissions Office (you can read all about it on page 2). The biology labs also got renovated.

But let’s get down to business. I know you’re reading this to find out about the school’s secret places. Last year I was granted unprecedented access into hidden locations. Places like the room above the ladder in F-507, the top of the Atrium, and inside the roof of the Chapel. Memories…

I’ve got plans to spread my wings again this year. Maybe I’ll swoop into the Observatory Tower, under the facilities office, or into the bell tower atop the Middle School. Last year was filled with some awesome sights, but we might just beat them this year. But before I start my journey this year, we need to get a few things out of the way.

Here are some rules for Magellan fans:

Rule #1: Thou shall not go to the places that I go. As mentioned last year, my special access to these secret places was granted by members of the facilities staff. So unless you have feathers and a beak, DON’T GO TO THESE PLACES.

Rule #2: Thou shall e-mail The Prism with ideas for places to explore. I’ll be sure to investigate them!

Until next time!Magellan T. Pelican

BY TYLER GOLDBERG AND BILLY DUDINE

Magellan Returns

SARA KAPLANRETURNING TO THE NEST: Magellan returns to fly another day in the halls of Packer.

The PrismOctober 2011Editor-in-Chief

Josh Brewer(jobrewer@packer.edu)

Managing EditorBilly Dudine

(widudine@packer.edu)

News & Features Editors

Taylor Hickson(tahickson@packer.edu)

Joe Seibert(joseibert@packer.edu)

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Sabina Gilioli(sagilioli@packer.edu)

Sports EditorGabi Weintraub

(gaweintraub@packer.edu)

Photo EditorSara Kaplan

(sakaplan@packer.edu)

Copy EditorTyler Goldberg

(tygoldberg@packer.edu)

Web EditorNick Strong

(nistrong@packer.edu)

Business ManagerJonah Burstein

(joburstein@packer.edu)

Faculty AdvisorAmy Montemerlo

(amontemerlo@packer.edu)

Visit Our Website!Go to packerprism.com to see breaking news, game day sports coverage, updated

scores and video.

Every school year features change, whether it is a new teacher, a new classroom, or a new class. This year, another science classroom was beau-tifully renovated and the Admissions Office got a much needed makeover. Many new faculty members joined the Upper School and there are tons of freshmen getting lost in the halls.

One of the biggest changes oc-curred in our cafete-ria: water bottles and orange juice cartons have been removed from Chez Packer, and been replaced by a variety of iced tea flavors, a larger supply of IZZE car-bonated juice drinks, and juices from a fountain machine.

The Prism believes that the removal of wa-ter bottles, in the long run, will be a positive change. The $30,000 of water bottle revenue that the school is losing shows the huge number of bottles we bought and thus the large environ-mental impact that we made. It also shows the serious-ness with which Packer must have mulled over the decision to not sell them.

Chez Packer has provided tastier alterna-tives to water.

The elimination of the bottles hasn’t caused students to

be dehydrated and for the most part, the options that Chez Packer has provided are tastier alternatives to water. The aluminum cans from the Iced Teas and IZZE are much easier to recycle and thus better for the environment. The same goes for the paper cups that are used for the fountain juices. Despite the fact that the water pressure from the “Hydration Stations” is poor, with all our hectic schedules it doesn’t hurt to slow down for a minute, even if it is to fill your reusable bottle.

Way to be environmentally conscious, Packer!

If you have a piece of writing that you would like to see printed in The Prism, please e-mail it to editorials@packerprism.com.

If you would like to write for The Prism, please contact Josh Brewer (jobrewer@packer.edu) or Billy Dudine (widudine@packer.edu) and you will be provided with a reporting assignment.

If you would like to take photographs for The Prism, please contact saka-plan@packer.edu.

The Prism would also invite anyone to submit letters to the editor and editorials concerning top-ics about which you are knowledgeable and pas-sionate.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that ev-erything submitted will be printed, but we do encour-age anyone interested to try!

The Water Bottles, Good or Bad?

Freelance Policy 2011-2012

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If you want your news the minute it happens, sign up for e-mail alerts. To do so, visit our website at www.packerprism.com and set up an account by using the invitation code prism. Then, click on the tab at the right-hand side of the screen that says “Subscribe” and add your email addess.

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To get the news that matters to you faster, go to “The Packer Prism” Facebook page and click the “Like” button.

The Facebook page provides links to the most important new stories on our website as they go up, bringing you the news in real time. If you “Like” it, Facebook’s magic will shuttle those links right to your newsfeed. The page also provides an opportunity for you to comment on what we report.

4EDITORIAL

twitter.com/packerprism

The Prism asked Student Council President Lucas Slevin some questions about the elimination of the water bottles from Chez Packer.

What part did the Student Council play in eliminating the plastic water bottles/getting the hydration stations and juice machine?

The Student Council actually did not play a large role in eliminating the water bottles. To my understanding, though I may be incorrect, the initiative was started by a Green Committee/Earth Club collaboration two years ago. Two years ago the Student Council sent a few members to this green meeting, though they were invited to the meet-ing more as observers, and the current Student Council did not play a large role in the process that was already occuring.

What do you think about Packer elimintating water bottles?

I think that eliminating the water bottles was not only a great decision for Packer but also an important statement about Packer’s commitment to the enviornment. The financial sacrifices that were made in order to go through with this decision indicates clearly the seriousness of which Packer considered it.

Do you think students will be resistant to the idea of no more water bottles/have you gotten any complaints?

I’ve heard a few minor complaints (or mostly just whining) about the inconvenience of the elimination of the bottles. However, from the students I’ve talked to about the is-sue, it seems as though they can understand the envioronmental benefits, and are willing to sacrifice a small part of their daily routine for a hopefully largely benefecial effect on the community.

Have you used the Hydration Stations yet? If so what do you think of them? Do you know how many there are in the school?

I have used the Hydration Stations and though I wasn’t amazed by the water pres-sure, the temperature was delightfuly chilled and the taste was overall very pleasant. I know of two Hydration Stations in the school, but there may be more that I am unaware of.

Does Student Council have any more plans to make the school more environ-mentally friendly?

Though we are not currently working on an envioronmental change, the Council is always open to suggestions and recommendations from the student body and we would love to hear any advice about how we can take steps to make Packer a greener commu-nity.

5OP-ED

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

The Prism Gives a Thumbs Up To:• The New Iced Teas in Chez Packer • The fall sports teams’ success• Lucas Slevin’s (‘12) funny speeches • Jonathan Mohan (‘15) for liking all The Prism’s statuses• The existence of an NFL season

The Prism Gives a Thumbs Down To:

• The Red Sox for their complete collapse• New Facebook layout• NBA lockout• “Big Will” Will Durrah not returning• Underclassmen trying to sneak onto the elevator

Prez SaysHow to Clean Up the Student Center

BY JONAH BURSTEIN At the beginning of every year students listen to teachers repeat course expec-tations. Do not cheat, do not be disrespectful, use your computer appropriately, so on and so forth. This year I am giving an expectation for the administration: provide more eating space for Upper School students. There are three possible methods I can think of for accomplishing this goal. The first solution is to allow students to eat in the carpeted areas of the Student Center. This would increase the amount of available eating space. There are wooden tables there and it is a waste not allowing students to sit and eat there. It is under-standable that eating in carpeted areas sometimes creates a mess; accidents happen. However, I am confident that all Upper School students are responsible enough to be neat. It would also help to add more tables in the carpeted area to reduce the potential for a mess. By allowing students to eat in carpeted areas, Chez Packer will be some-what less crowded. Having fewer people will allow for faster movement in and out. The second solution is to remove the carpeting from the entire Student Center. I have never seen a carpeted restaurant or other eating establishment where the res-taurant forbids people from eating in the carpeted area. The Student Center is where Upper School students should eat and socialize, and if food is not allowed near carpets and more space is desperately, needed the carpet should be removed. The third solution is to have all Lower School students collect their lunch dur-ing a time other than E band. Lower School students do not get their food in the same manner as Upper School students do; nor do they eat their food in the same way. They have a separate area in Chez Packer to collect their food, and then they take the food back to their classrooms; Upper School students do not have this luxury. Distributing food to Lower School students occupies four tables in Chez Packer, and blocks one of two stairways while they stand in line. The weekday for a Lower School student is far less complex than that of an Upper School student. An Upper School student should not be given more obstacles during their day when the Lower School students can receive their food in there respective classrooms. These requests are by no means unreasonable, and they will improve the prac-ticality of Chez Packer. In addition, two of my suggestions do not cost any money, and the one is not an extravagant expense. I believe whole-heartedly that these changes will benefit everybody at Packer. To prove my sincerity I will talk with and work with any and all necessary faculty involved in making these changes. All I need is the open minded and positive support from the faculty and administration to make this work. Please email me, joburstein@packer.edu with any response so we can get the ball roll-ing.

affordablehousinginstitute.com

SARA KAPLAN

tvfanatic.com

What are the first words that come to mind when you hear the word “epidemic”? Swine flu? Bird flu? Smallpox?

Or do you think of Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh? Contagion, released Sept. 9, tells the story of a mysterious and deadly disease the likes of which have never been seen before.

Contagion be-gins with Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) trav-eling home from Hong Kong to her family in Minnesota. While she’s talking on the phone during a layover in Chi-cago, one observes the beginning of some sort of cold: a bright red nose and a bad cough. Oh, no. Here we go.

The real action begins when Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon), Beth’s husband, picks up his stepson, Clark, from school because he’s not feeling well. That night, Beth collapses, has a seizure, and begins foaming at the mouth. Mitch rushes her to the hospital, where she dies from an unknown disease. Minutes later, Mitch receives a call from the babysitter. He rushes home to find his son lying unresponsive in bed. (At this point, I could feel myself getting sick).

After performing an autopsy on Beth, the

medical exam-iner notices something strange and contacts Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) at the Cen-ter for Disease Control (CDC), where the inves-tigation begins.

At the same time, Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law), a blogger about illnesses, shows a video of a man dying on a bus to an editor at The San Francisco Chronicle. Krumwiede thinks the CDC is trying to hush up the outbreak and he wants to write an article

about it. I could go on for

much longer about the plot of the movie, but

as each new character is introduced, it just becomes more and more complicated.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 6

BY JOE SEIBERT

The movie had about 12 protagonists, many of whom did not even come into con-tact with one another throughout the film. Characters were spon-taneously introduced, and left you sitting there wondering whether or not they would come back. None of the story arcs (there are a whop-ping 14!) was resolved in the end. Either you never saw a charac-ter again (which was frequent throughout the entire movie) or the per

son in question died with no explanation.

In terms of produ cion value, Contagion left a lot to be desired. The movie frequently had titles that read “Day 13” (or whatever day it was since the first day of the outbreak), which looked like they were put together in two seonds, nothing more than a simple copy and paste from Microsoft Word. It made the movie seem like it was pro-duced by an amateur

filmmaker during a late night cram session.

Contagion is most definitely not a movie that you should waste money on, but if you are dying to see it in the-aters, Contagion is play-ing at all major theaters. Tickets cost $13.50.

An Un-infectious MovieContagion Underwhelms at the Theater

It made the movie seem like it was produced by an amateur film-maker during a late-night cram session.

This fall, Matthew Urbania, Upper School Spanish teacher, was out on paternity leave, so Mr. Holzinger to joined as a replacement bass player. Meanwhile, Mr. Brown-stone received a warm welcome back after being on an extended leave from the group.

“It was mostly about the social aspect in the beginning. Later it became the joy of playing with friends and creating mu-sic,” Mr. Brownstone said.

Mr. Brownstone has been playing piano and

guitar for over 20 years, and used to play in his own band in the New York club circuit. He grew up listening to classic rock, and brings elements of that genre to the music he plays in the band.

“I like creating, I like moving audiences, and I love the feeling when several musicians are play-ing together and things just click. It’s a great feeling, it really is,” said Mr. Brown-stone.

Some students said that the sound and feel of

the band has changed due to the new recruits.

“At the Convocation Chapel, the music sounded so complex and it was re-ally amazing to listen to,” said Ashby Martin (’12).

The current mem-bers in the band No Class include Mr. Holzinger, Mr. Brownstone, Rashad Randolph, Upper School-Spanish teacher, Eric Kelley, Upper School his-tory teacher, and Gwyneth Connell, dean of the Class of 2012.

Same Band New Teachers (cont.)

CONTAGION: Alan Krumwiede, (Jude Law) a journalist in San Francisco hands out fliers, questioning the claims made by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

www.washingtonpost.com/rf /image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost /2011/09/06/

http://www.sudokutoday.com/medium-sudoku-puzzle-i116-answers.html

Sudoku Challenge

MOVIE REVIEW

The summer of 2011 brought superheroes, alien monsters, giant robots, and magic wands, to box offices across the nation. It was the one of the best summers for moviegoers in the past two years. Which summer movie was the best?

This was my first summer in New York, so I saw just about every movie I could. My top three movies were: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part II, directed by David Yates; Rise of the Planet of the Apes,

Summer Movie HitsBY DANIEL KELLY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7

directed by Rupert Wyatt; and Super 8, directed by J.J. Abrams. Each movie I review I’ll rate out of five tickets.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II: As the seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is coming to an end and the battle against Voldemort drags on, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others fight for their lives in this dazzling and captivating conclusion to the Harry Potter series. Harry and his friends must retain their friendship while they fight against Voldemort and his army, whose members seek to destroy everything that

wizards stand for. All the while, Harry must destroy every part of Voldemort’s soul.

The final movie in the Harry Potter series is the best one because of

its breathtaking visuals, solid acting, and concrete story line. I was able to follow the film without reading a single word of the book. Not knowing what to expect made it even better. The climax of this film is reflected in the epic concluding battle of the army of Death Eaters (evil wizards) and those who stand against them to protect Hogwarts. As spells flew left and right and debris from the gothic-style building fell around them, the three best friends fought valiantly and in the end

were victorious, presenting one of the best conclusions in a film that I have ever seen.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the thrilling prequel to the legendary Planet of the Apes saga

that restored the life of an amazing, and almost forgotten story. Andy Serkis stole the show with

his amazing acrobatics and chimp-like motions. They were so realistic that at certain points I thought I was watching an actual primate on the big screen. Though it is played up to be an action movie, as seen in most trailers, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is more of a

drama film, with lots of dialogue, relationships, and struggles.

Super 8: Ohio can be boring. Small towns can

The final movie in the Harry Potter series is the best one because of its breathtaking visuals, solid acting, and concrete story

line.

start to seem too familiar and at some point in your life, you know everyone around you. What better to do than to film your own movie! That’s what

Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning)

in Cobble Hill to be dark, cramped, and impersonal, but I’ve always found it to be a refreshing change in this world of garish boutique shops. Hanco’s new store on Montague Street in Brooklyn

New York City is known as the physical embodiment of civilization and culture. From the taxis to the subways, people are spellbound by the historic sites, and, most importantly, the sandwiches. Places like Katz’s and Junior’s are

associated with the perfect sandwich. But a small sandwich shop in our very own neighborhood redefines the traditional New York City sandwich with a Vietnamese twist.

Enter Hanco’s.Hanco’s is a mini-

chain of Vietnamese sandwich shops known for its delicious sandwiches and fabulous bubble tea. Some may find the Hanco’s on Bergen Street

Heights is cleaner, newer, and friendlier. I’ll let you decide which atmosphere you prefer.

Hanco’s can make a good sandwich. I sampled the “classic” sandwich, a Vietnamese “Banh Mi”

with varying levels of heat. I tried the mild version, which featured pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, pâté, mayonnaise, and ground pork all enclosed in a baguette. You have to take a bite of each side of the sandwich before you start chewing so that you can mix the flavors together. Let me tell you, the extra effort is well worth it. The savory pork pairs well with the vegetables, especially with the sweetness of the pickled carrots. I’m personally not a huge fan of cilantro, but the flavor contrasts well with the rest of the ingredients. Overall, the sandwich took my taste buds on a journey across a magical rainbow bridge on the back of a unicorn made out of French bread. Five outta five. ‘Nuf said.

The bubble tea, for which Hanco’s is probably

best known, is a great addition to the meal. I got the “Taro” flavor, a green tea with milk and nicely sweetened, with a carpet of tapioca “bubbles” at the bottom. The tea itself is sweet, smooth, and cool until you get to those chewy bubbles. Some people seem to hate them. Personally, I love them. But if you’re not a fan, then you’ll still probably love the tea. My one piece of advice is to drink it fast, because it loses flavor when the ice melts and it will get watered down unless you act quick. For that, I give the bubble tea a four out of five (although it is definitely the best in the area).

As for the total meal, I must say, it’s a five out of five, especially because of the price. You can get a lunch special for only $8.

The Best Place for Bubble Tea and a Banh MiBY HARRISON NEUHAUS

MONTAGUE STREET GOES EAST: Hanco’s, a new Vietnamese resturant is quickly becoming a favorite student eatery.

SUPER 8:Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning) and Cary (Ryan Lee) watch as their town is torn apart by an alien.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS:PART II: Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) fight for their lives in the final battle at Hogwarts.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: Caesar (Andy Serkis) steals canisters of the new anti- Alzheimer’s virus from Will Rodman’s (James Franco) house.

Nick Strong

Overall,the sandwich took my taste buds on a journey across a magical rainbow bridge on the back of a unicorn made out of French bread

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thought at the beginning of their summer vacation in 1979. The zombie thriller they were shooting took place near a train station. After Joe and his friends begin filming, a train rushes by, casting an excellent ominous background effect for their movie. That is until it crashes, careens off the tracks and eventually blows up. The film then launches into a thrilling, mind bending, and suspenseful story about a group of friends who after life and death experiences, extra terrestrial beings, and U.S. Military lockdown, become even closer.

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FOOD REVIEW

SUMMER MOVIE REVIEW

Find out Who’s New

Position:Associate Director of Admissions, Middle and Upper School

Years experience:“Before Packer I worked in Admissions at a small boarding school in MD for 3 years.”

Favorite food:“Mexican”

Favorite animal:“Ostrich”

Shake Shack, Five Guys, or neither:“FIVE GUYS!!!”

Fun fact:“Aside from the awesome sounds I can make (bike horn etc) I can do the entire MJ “Thriller” dance.

Position:Head of the Upper School

Years experience:“Thirty years, though I can barely believe that.”

Favorite food: “Vegtables and soups”

Favorite animal:“dogs and dolphins”

Shake Shack, Five Guys, or neither:“I have never been to either....”

Fun fact:“I do believe that I can understand exactly what my beagle, Bob, is thinking and frequently voice his thoughts for all to hear.”

Position:Athletic Trainer

Years experience:“I’ve been an athletic trainer for seven years”

Favorite food:“Grilled Shell Steak, with butter,garlic,and salt, sauteed spinach and mushrooms.”

Favorite animal:“Lion”

Shake Shack, Five Guys, or neither:“Neither”

Fun fact:“I have an ability to butcher cliches.”

Teri Schrader

Tom QuigleySheila Bogan

Position:Director of Admissions, Middle and Upper Schools

Years experience: Spent the last 8 years working in Admsisions at the Dublin School.

Favorite food:“Indian”

Favorite animal:“Dog”

Shake Shack, Five Guys, or neither: “Sadly, I have not been to either!”

Fun fact:“At my last school we had international students and I traveled the world to recruit them. [I] saw 16 countries in 6 years.”

anna curTiS in Packer...

NEWS & FEATURES 8

What’s your favorite subject?“I do like math. 2+2 always equaled 4 when I went to school, it still equals four and I’m pretty sure it will still equal four, 20 years from now.”

What do you do in your free time?“I have an ability to butcher cliches. ”

What’s your favorite subject?“n/a”

What do you do in your free time?“Hang out with friends and travel.”

What’s your favorite subject?“I teach theatre, acting, and drama as litera-ture...”

What’s your favorite subject?“I was a drama major in college so I guess you could say that was my

What do you do in your free time?“I really enjoy spending time with friends.”

What do you do in your free time?“Spending time with my excellent family, cooking for friends and having dance parties, and seeing plays and movies.

HERBERT STEELE TAYLOR HICKSON

TAYLOR HICKSON HERBERT STEELE

Check out packerprism.com for the rest of the Q & A on the new faculty members!!

SPORTS 9

Tre-Mendez

BY JOSH BREWER

“I’ve played soccer with her since I was nine. She’s always been the best. She’s always worked really hard and pushed herself,” said Anna Schwab (’12).

Junior Star Looks to Lead Varsity Girls Soccer to Successful Year

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The ball is deep in the defensive zone. Players scramble to clear it. Finally, it is sent to midfield where Keegan Mendez (’13) controls it on a single bounce and thunders down the field for a goal.

It’s a play all too common for the varsity girls soccer star. Keegan, in her third year of varsity soccer, plays a pivotal role in Coach Rich Domanico’s offense.

“Keegan has been an excellent player throughout the season and last year as well. She plays a very good offense [and strikes] the ball at the right moment,” said Kai Arrindell (’12).

Using her speed and quick footwork, Keegan is often able to get past several defenders and get a clear shot on goal. As a dangerous threat to score, she is often double or triple teamed when dribbling the ball in the offensive zone.

Even with the constant pressure from opposing defenders, Keegan has contributed 19 goals and 15 assists in only 11 games. Simply put, Keegan provides an average of 3+ goals per game, either by goal or an assist.

As a sophomore, Keegan led the team with 18 goals and added 14 assists, the second highest point total on the team. In addition, she was named an AAIS All-star.

After starting off 0-3 in 2010, Keegan has helped lead the team to an

early 8-2-1 record. “As a player, I love

to score. Any player would tell you that. And if you get the ball, you go towards the goal because you want to score and

I think we started off really well this season,” said Keegan, who set a personal target of scoring 20 goals this season.

Keegan alone has scored a third of the team’s goals this season. However, she gives the players around her much of the credit.

“Sarah [Miller] (’13), Shannon [Rhodes] (’12), and I work well as a trio and with Shannon playing in the center and Sarah and I up top, I think it’s a very good combination to score goals,” she said. “[Shannon] sees the field really well so she can play really great through balls and we have good passing combinations.”

The trio of Sarah, Shannon, and Keegan, which Coach Domanico called “the best trio in the league,” has provided a whopping 50 goals and 30 assists for a team that has scored 56 goals on the season.

After falling to Brearley in the finals last year, Keegan is confident that the team can return to the championship game, even with the young defense around her.

Keegan specifically gives credit to centerback Chloe Wallack (’15).

Last year, the defense included three seniors and two sophomores, none of whom have returned to the team this year.

“We lost a lot of our defense last year and I think we’ve always had some defensive problems and we’ve broken down in the defense, but I think this year we gained really good defenders,” Keegan said.

Other than Chloe, those defenders include Maddy McKnight (’15) and Lily Fishleder (’13),

none of whom played on the team last year. Even with an inexperienced defense, the team has still outscored opponents 25-7 and has three shutouts in only six games.

In addition to playing for the varsity girls soccer team, Keegan also plays for the co-ed varsity squash, the Manhattan Soccer Club Pride Team, and she is also in the process of ODP tryouts, which is the Olympic Development Program.

“It gets really busy during the season,” said Keegan.

Keegan, who started playing soccer at age seven in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) league, said that she is interested in playing soccer in college, although academics are

her main priority.The team will take

on Brearley Oct. 5 in a rematch of the 2010 championship game, which saw Brearley hoist the trophy after a 3-0

victory. Each of the past three seasons, the team’s overall record has improved and they will look to do so again this year after finishing 11-8-1 in 2010.

“She’s small and she’s really fiery. I’ve played soccer with her since I was nine. She’s always been the best. She’s always worked really hard and pushed herself,” said Anna Schwab (’12).

XC Rebounds After Losing Top RunnerBY ZACK GREEN

The varsity boys and girls cross county teams expect a strong season this fall, even though the boys team is missing top runner Eddie Owens (’11), who now runs for a Division-I program at Princeton University.

The boys team placed third at NYSAIS last year, and this year they are looking for a top three finish. The girls were ninth last year, and are looking for a top five finish this year, said Head

Even without Eddie, the boys team is faster than ever.

Coach Jeremy Busch.Even without Eddie,

the boys team is faster than ever because their cumulative time average is the lowest it has been in recent years.

Leading the varsity boys team are runners Campbell Weaver (’12) and Jake Gordon (’12), both of whom have been on the team for the duration of their high school careers.

“I feel good about the upcoming season,

although nobody can replace Eddie, this team has a lot more depth than last year’s,” said Campbell.

On the other hand, the varsity girls are hoping for an injury-free season.

Specifically, Savannah Petrick (’13) and Julia Skrak (’12) will need to stay healthy as they are a pivotal part of the team’s success. Coach Busch credits newly-appointed Athletic Trainer Tom Quigley for the increased fitness of his runners.

“It was a great decision by [Athletic Director]Darrin Fallick to hire an in-house trainer, as Tom Quigley has already made a difference in keeping the athletes

injury free,” said Coach Busch.

The teams will also turn to underclassmen including Nick Strong (‘14), Elizabeth Owens (’14), Jessica Aquino (’14), and Josh Kotran (’14).

The boys team will compete in the Manhattan College Invitational Oct. 9 before the IVY Meet Oct. 12 at Van Cortlandt Park, where the girls will also have an AAIS meet.

Girls Soccer Results

Vs. Berkeley CarrollW 7-0

Vs. Trevor DayW 5-0

Vs. Calhoun SchoolW 5-0

Vs. Nightingale Bamford

W 4-2

Vs. St Ann’sL 2-3

Vs. HewittW 7-0

Vs. UNISW 8-0

Vs. ChapinW 5-0

Vs. DaltonL 4-7

Vs. MarymountW 7-2

Vs. Friends Seminary10/4

Keegan Mendez (‘13) out runs St. Ann’s players to take possession of the ball.

JONAH BURSTEIN

Cross Country Results

BOYS VARSITY:

ACIS MeetFirst Place

Dwight InvitationalFirst Place

Manhattan College Invite

10/9

SPORTS 10

Most. Valuable. Pelican.

Mikey Savino (‘12)

SARA KAPLAN

Scoring three goals in a game? Rarely happens. Scoring three goals in a game, in four separate games? Now that’s just impossible.

Captain Mikey Savino (’12) achieved this remarkable feat, carrying the varsity boys soccer team during the first month and providing a

serious lift in their 10-1-1 start to the season.

Mikey had an incredible nine goal week when he scored hat tricks Sept. 13 vs. Browning, Sept. 14 vs. Dwight and Sept. 16 vs. UNIS. Packer won all three of these games.

Mikey then proved that that week was no

fluke as he scored three more goals Sept. 22 in a 4-0 win over arch-rival St. Ann’s.

Mikey has taken off and is this month’s Most Valuable Pelican.

Setting up for the FutureWinning Coach Looks to Lead Improving Team BY BILLY DUDINE

The varsity girls volleyball team has started the season with a 7-5 record. They are 2-4 in the AAIS league and 3-0 in the ACIS league. Despite the mediocre record, the team has taken a huge step forward from last year.

“We are playing so much better than we ever have in the past four years,” said Captain Eve Burkhart (’12). “There is much more team spirit and energy.”

The team has benefited from new Head Coach Donavon Buckle and new Assistant Coach Jenn Johnson. Coach Buckle won a league championship last year with the varsity boys team.

“Donavon is absolutely hilarious,” said Veri Di Suvero (’12). “He makes us all laugh, and he helps keep us pumped up during games. Jenn is so

invested in all of us and is always trying to help us improve, along with being really funny and a good coach and friend.”

Along with Eve and Veri, the strongest players thus far have been Ali Caban (’13), and Ashby Martin (’12). In addition, Colleen Dolan (’14), who played on the junior varsity team last year, has been a strong contributor.

Isabelle McCarthy (’13) said that they have also benefited from the two-week preseason program which helped them bond as a team and has given them a leg up in the early games this season. In addition, preseason was very important because of the limited number of practices during the regular season.

The highlight of the season came Sept. 27, when the team had a great comeback win

over Hewitt. After losing the first two sets, team members stayed resilient and stormed back to win the next three

“I can’t wait to see what happens for the rest of the season,” said Eve.

Their upcoming games include Marymount and rival St. Ann’s.

“We’ve been playing really great, a lot better than last year. We’ve had some disappointing losses, but our level of play has definitely improved,” said Isabelle.

“We are playing so much better than

we ever have in the past four years,” said Captain Eve Burkhart (‘12).

Boys Soccer Results

Vs. CalhounW 10-0

Vs. CollegiateT 0-0

Vs. Poly PrepL 0-2

Vs. Browning W 8-0Vs. Dwight

W 6-3Vs. UNIS

W 3-0Vs. SIA

W 3-1Vs. St. Ann’s

W 4-0

Vs. Trevor DayW 9-2

Vs. Brooklyn FriendsW 11-0

Vs. Friends SeminaryW 3-1

Vs. Friends SeminaryW 7-1

Vs. St Ann’s10/5

VolleyballResults

Vs. Poly PrepL 0-3

Vs. School of the Holy Child

W 3-0

Vs. SpenceL 0-3

Vs. CalhounW 3-0

Vs. SIAW 2-0

Vs. Berkeley CarrollW 2-0

Vs. Brearly L 0-3

Vs. Nightingale Bamford

L 1-3

Vs. HewittW 3-2

Vs. Convent of the Sacred Heart

W 3-2

Vs. UNISW 2-1

Vs. ChapinL 0-3

Vs. Marymount10/5

Vs. St. Ann’s10/11

Vs. Brooklyn Friends10/18

Vs. Friends Seminary10/19

NBA Commisioner David Stern will do whatever it takes to get his money. Even if it means cancelling a year of basketball.

11SPORTSProfessional Sports Column: Summer EditionBY GABI WEINTRAUB

Our Own Sports Editor Recaps this Summer in the World of Pro. Sports

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This summer, two of the four major American sports saw their leagues involved in a work-stoppage. One got better and better and eventually came to an end while the other continues to get worse.

The National Basketball Association is now locked out and shows no sign of starting anytime soon. For fans confused by the concept of the lockout and all of the puzzling language used to describe the situation, it’s really quite simple. The NBA makes billions of dollars in revenue each season, profiting from things like mega television deals and jersey sales. This money is distributed, in some fashion, between the owners and the players.

This is where a conflict looms large enough to potentially cancel the 2011-2012 NBA season. The owners and players cannot agree on a fair ratio for how this immense revenue should be distributed. However, one thing all fans can agree on (me included) is that we want an NBA season and we want it now.

On the other hand, as the NBA lockout began, the National Football League lockout came to an end after 136 long days that seemed very scary to NFL fans across the nation. The NFL Players’ Association, led by Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, and the owners, headed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, agreed to a ten-year deal in which players will receive 48% of the revenue. The deal

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touched up on many other issues as well, including the elimination of two-a-day practices.

With this deal, the NFL season was able to start on time, kicking off Thursday, Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. The New Orleans Saints took on the Green Bay Packers in a matchup between the past two Super Bowl winners that saw the Packers win by a final of 42-34.

Green Bay has been picked by many to repeat this year, and I don’t see why not. They were able to keep their offseason moves to a minimum, maintaining most of their championship roster from a year ago. This will make it hard for other National Football Conference (NFC) teams to keep up with the former-champs led by Super Bowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers. If he is able to put up similar numbers as he did in the playoffs last year, don’t be surprised if he racks up yet another award for his trophy case, the regular

season MVP award. The Philadelphia

Eagles, described by many as a “dream team,” made some key offseason signings highlighted by cornerback (CB) Nnamdi Asomugha and running back (RB) Ronnie Brown, just to name a few. With their already star-studded roster, and a schedule that includes four games against the lowly NFC West, the Eagles were my preseason favorite to reach the Super Bowl. However, quarterback Michael Vick has lived up to his injury-prone reputation. Through week three, Vick has already suffered a concussion and a “broken” hand. Any time spent by Vick on the sidelines should seriously worry Eagles’ fans as the last time I checked, [backup] Mike Kafka is not a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback.

The American Football Conference (AFC), on the other hand, is much more top-heavy and has plenty of teams that could make it all

the way to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl in February.

The New England Patriots have last season’s MVP in QB Tom Brady, who looked even better than his supermodel wife in week one, throwing for over 500 yards in a 38-24 record-setting win over the Miami Dolphins. If Brady can put up these numbers (or even a fraction of) for the entire season, the Patriots will be poised to win their first championship since 2005.

One team that could

get in their way would be the division rival New York Jets, who knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs just a year ago. The Jets have one of the most complete teams in football highlighted by their hard-hitting defense. The starting defense, which includes CB Darrelle Revis and linebackers (LBs) Bart Scott and Calvin Pace will welcome first round pick, defensive end (DE)

Muhammad Wilkerson, who I’m projecting to win defensive rookie of the year. With a strong supporting cast, this could be the year that Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan and co. finally breaks through to the Super Bowl after coming up just short the past two seasons.

However, the team they share a stadium with, the New York Giants, have been on the decline ever since their epic Super Bowl run in 2008. This year shows no signs of improvement,

as the Giants lost wide receiver (WR) Steve Smith to free agency, have been plagued by a surplus of injuries, and have a QB in Eli Manning who has simply looked too mediocre to compete in the loaded division that is the NFC East. I see them finishing at 8-8 and missing the playoffs with an unimpressive 1-5 record within the division.

Nevertheless, while Eli Manning struggles

on the field, another Manning struggles to even get on the field. The Indianapolis Colts are expected to miss their leader and best player, QB Peyton Manning, for the majority of the season due to a neck injury. After starting off 0-4, the question begs to be asked: Are the Colts among the NFL’s worst without Peyton Manning? My answer is yes.

That said, let’s look forward to a great NFL season and at least a start to an NBA season. Last

season, the NBA peaked in popularity and taking this one off would do nothing but diminish the NBA’s stellar reputation.

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What’s the fun in following the football season without some good ol’ competition? Each season, dedicated fans risk hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars on a silly thing called fantasy football. It’s very simple. A bunch of friends join a league and draft real NFL players from any of the 32 teams. The better the players perform, the

more points the team will accumulate.

This year, The Prism is hosting our very own fantasy football league. It’s free, of course. Other than pride, there is no risk involved, just a friendly competition between eight proud members of the Packer community.

Five teams will be managed by students with the other three managed by faculty.

The Prism represents three of the teams: Queens We Out (Josh Brewer,

Editor-in-Chief), Team Dudine (Billy Dudine, Managing Editor), and Brooklyn Jets (Gabi Weintraub, Sports Editor). The Student Council represents one team: Team Slevin (Lucas Slevin, President of the Student Council). Finally, the Student Faculty Judiciary Committee represents one team: Team Douglas (Jesse Douglas, former SFJC representative).

The faculty teams include Team Tombline (Russell Tombline, P.E.

teacher), Randolph’s Raiders (Rashad Randolph, Spanish Teacher), and Brooklyn Gladiators (Roman Usatin, Upper School Technology Integrator).

Stay tuned throughout the upcoming season as we will update standings and recap some of the most and least productive players of recent weeks.

For full coverage of the draft, visit www.packerprism.com.

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In a League of Our Own

Michael Vick is one of the most talented players in the league. If only he was healthy enough to show it off.

BY PRISM STAFF

KATIN SHALIT

KATIN SHALIT

Full coverage on page 9.

On Sept. 14, I became the first student to reach the summit of the new rock climbing wall in the second floor gym. This amazing feat resurrected a climbing career that had been absent for the previous four years due to my fear of heights.

I showed up to the gym with a Prism photographer and a filming crew consisting of Josh Brewer (‘12) and Taylor Hickson (’12). I was then greeted by my belaying team of Chair of the P.E. Department, Pippa Mayell and P.E. Teacher Russell Tombline.

Along with the rest of the P.E. staff, Ms. Mayell and Mr. Tombline underwent intense training this summer, led by a non-profit organization called Project Adventure (PA). Ms. Mayell said that there were many other workshops led by PA including a two-day course to familiarize staff with all equipment.

I looked up at the 25-foot wall, which

was much higher than anything I was comfortable with. I was all set to climb the west side of the wall (I was later told this was the easier side). Luckily, I was wearing the proper attire for climbing, including comfortable long pants, sneakers and a t-shirt.

After Ms. Mayell gave me my final instructions, it was time to put on my gear. My lack of experience was soon revealed as I struggled for a few minutes to correctly fasten my harness and helmet.

“Belay!” I exclaimed. “Belay on,”

replied Ms. Mayell. “Climbing!” I replied. I was off.

My first few steps were very shaky, and I was extremely nervous as I had no real strategy for getting to the top. The cameras didn’t help. Any slip-up would be caught on film. Naturally, I tried to finish the route as quickly as possible.

“You kind of scrambled up there fast, and got a little squeezed over to the left at the top of the route,” said Ms. Mayell, recounting my adventure to the summit.

While I felt like a climber, I feared falling and facing the

embarrassment of dangling precariously in the air in front of my fellow reporters. Towards the end of my climb I squeezed each plastic rock as tightly as possible. This technique kept me from falling off, but my hands ached for the next hour.

When I reached the summit of the rock wall, I chose not to celebrate, despite the fact that I was the first student in Packer’s history to conquer the wall. I was just relieved to have made it.

“We have been talking about this for a long time, so we were really excited to finally see it all happening!” exclaimed Ms. Mayell.

Students will be able to climb the wall in P.E classes. Also Laura Balcerak (’13) is starting an Upper School Climbing Club.

Climbing

TermsAbseil=process of descending a fixed rope

Belay=rope setup to protect a falling climber

Clipping In=Process of attatching to belay lines

Deck=the ground

Edging=to use the edge of the shoe on a foothold

Harness=nylon device worn around waste and thighs

Nub=small hold that only few fingers can grip

Punter=an under-prepared climber that causes traffic jams

Sit Start=a type of climbing when starting in a sitting position on the floor

Summit=the high point of a mountain or climbing wall

BY WILLIAM DOUGLASSTAYLOR HICKSON

Check Out Video of the Epic Climb

at PackerPrism.

com

Rock On!

William Douglass (‘13) Conquers “Mount Packer”

A first-hand glimpse from the first student to climb Packer’s

brand new rock wall.