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Here’s to our seniors, the ones who refused to give up the ba-ba-ba in the cheering song, spoke out against the graffiti, and who perpetrated an exhilarating water balloon ambush. The seniors were unique in diversity and acceptance. They provided a guiding hand for new students from the beginning through the end of their years at Deerfield. Whether it was in a kind smile or a wave across the quad, their warm presence was always felt. We’ll remember their leadership in the dorms, on the fields, and at sit-down tables. The seniors’ hard work and positive attitudes inspired those around them to do their best and carry on the Deerfield traditions with humility and light-heartedness. They were the face of the student body. A senior’s responsibility in any academic community is to lead the students, acting as role models to those in grades below. We are thankful to have learned, played, and grown with their unfaltering support. The class of 2011 was one full of friendly faces that made Deerfield proud. They were certainly worthy.

Slow but steady increase in cancer victims, the number of mortalities rising annually until 2010’s peak of over 1,500,000 deaths. As the numbers mount, researchers push harder to find the much sought-after cure—the elusive remedy that seems to make its way into every conversation about what America’s future generation must accomplish. As the nation’s youth gear up for the challenge, many kids are starting the awareness-raising process early—young children joining parents and friends in the popular Relay for Life fundraiser. On Friday, May 20, Deerfield Academy hosted its own Mini-Relay for Life from 4 to 9 p.m. out on the track. Prior to the event, Claire Hutchins ’12 planned ways to aid the affair. “It’s such a great cause,” said Hutchins, who, alongside co-captain Andrew Slade ’12, formed the team “Chutch and Slade Fight Cancer.” Their group of about 16 students hoped to raise $1,000 by the advent of the relay. Their fundraising method included helping curb the 10 p.m. hunger pangs by selling baked goods at curfew to halls across campus. Only a few nights of vending took place, but the group got off to a great start, raising $240 in a single week. “It’s cool to see people so happy to give money to charity,” noted Hutchins. “We’ve had lots of kids telling us to ‘keep the change.’” But Hutchins’ role extended beyond that of fundraiser and race participator. Having experienced the tragedy of losing her mother to breast cancer when she was seven years old, Hutchins was asked to speak at the race about her experiences. “I’m not bitter about it,” she assured. “It’s just something that has been a part of my life for a while now, and it means I take special pride in this cause.” Slade too spoke at the event, describing his father’s continuing battle with cancer. From someone who was previously uninvolved in the cause, Slade noted the turn-around in his participation. “Last year I wasn’t even involved in the Relay for Life, but this year I’m on a committee, starting a team, and really feel like I’m contributing.” For those who took little part in this year’s Relay, or wish to continue helping with the cause, there’s still hope for next year. To learn more about how to get involved in the larger campaign against cancer, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org and be sure to stay tuned for announcements about future opportunities on campus. American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. Web. 15 May 2011. .

Every year faculty members leave to further their academic studies, pursue other interests, or retire. This year Deerfield bids farewell to some great teachers and staff, among them science teachers Mark Acton and Steve Anderson, Associate Director of Admissions Benjamin Hamilton, math teacher Joel Jacob, fine arts teacher and theater director John Reese, and science teacher Lauren Veit. Deerfield marks not only some of the greatest years in a student’s life, but it also has a profound impact on the adults who live and work here. Mr. Reese, who came here when Deerfield was still an all-boys’ school, was inspired by the number of boys who opened up to theater. He reflected, “I had the expectation that boys would be reserved, but it was just the opposite. I learned that your expectation could be completely misguided. I was taken back by the willingness of students to take risks in their work.” Mr. Jacob came here to teach and, along the way, became ensconced in the community. He commented, “The friendships I developed make me a better teacher. I’ll miss hanging out in the math department, whether it’s doing a crossword puzzle with Mr. Keller and Mr. Dancer or discussing my classes with Mrs. Latham and Mr. Barnes.” Deerfield has also helped some teachers find their direction in life. Mr. Hamilton explained he “gained a little humility living here amongst so many talented people. Deerfield helped me find my professional path. I started off on Wall Street, but once I landed here I realized my professional calling was the school world.” Other than his admissions expertise, Mr. Hamilton admitted that “Deerfield has taught me how to bake a mean cookie. My first batch was like eating salt cakes. Now the boys rave about them.” Students say that there is more to Deerfield than what happens in the classroom. Mr. Anderson, or Steve, as he is affectionately known, agreed: “Deerfield has taught me the importance of every aspect of the community. It’s not just the teachers and the students, but a really happy and vibrant place like Deerfield has so many staff and townspeople. There’s just connectivity here.” Ms. Veit lived in the Pocumtuck Valley for only a year, but said that “this place has taught me a lot about what a genuine community really is. In all the communities I’ve ever been a part of, this has been the best in terms of people helping each other and people watching out for each other.” Looking ahead, everyone hopes to bring some part of Deerfield with him or her in the future. Head of School Margarita Curtis remarked, “What I hope they take away from Deerfield are the relationships they have developed here with fellow faculty members and students whose lives they have affected in a pretty special way. I thank them for what they have done here.” Reflecting on his past few years, Dr. Acton commented, “I’ve really enjoyed getting to see all sides of my students, whether it’s in the dorm, out in the athletic fields or during sit down meal. I’ve seen the hidden parts of students that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I’ll miss the easy and close relationships with students because we spend so much time together.”

A panel of shelter directors and currently or recently homeless citizens came to a group of about 60 members of the Deerfield community. “Students should know what it’s like to live as a homeless person, how you’re viewed by others, the stigmas attached,” said history teacher and Community Service director Bernie Baker. “I hoped that the event would raise all these issues to a level of consciousness.” The presentation, which took place on April 27th, consisted of two shelter directors and Americorp Vista workers, Porscha Olayiwola and Charlotte Sida, as well as three homeless and recently homeless presenters. Sida and Olayiwola opened the presentation by explaining the top five causes of homelessness. Then the presenters shared their experiences. Students’ perspectives shifted thanks to the presentation. “One of the biggest surprises for me was the repeated assertion that anyone can become homeless–and the story of someone who, like most of us at Deerfield, went through college and had a career and who still became homeless. That was a real eye-opener,” commented Jacqui Colt ’11. Henry Lewis ’12 was also moved to deeper thought. “It is important that people understand that there is not always something inherently wrong with homeless people,” he said. The event emerged from the Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau, a program run by the National Coalition for the Homeless, which works to raise awareness about the lives of the homeless through personal stories and discussions that occur at panels such as the one brought to Deerfield. The Bureau contacted Dr. Baker about Deerfield’s willingness to host a Faces of Homelessness presentation. Dr. Baker told the Bureau they were welcome to come, hoping the event would attract student attention and interest. Dr. Baker expected that in response, students would be motivated to take action on this issue and engage in service opportunities “that deal with homelessness in Franklin County.” “I will be pursuing further opportunities for students to engage in these issues,” he continued. “Their combined efforts can contribute to greater engagement of Deerfield students with those who find themselves without a home.”

Spring Parents’ Weekend was filled with traditional events, such as classes, athletic games, and a variety of artistic performances. Not everything remained the same, however, and perhaps the most noticeable change to the weekend’s events was the Investiture Ceremony that replaced the All-School Sing. With students and alumni holding lit candles as they sang and speeches being made by numerous individuals, the Investiture Ceremony brought formality to the event, making it resemble the formal event that took place during Mr. Boyden’s time. Yet during the Boyden era, students gathered on a regular basis to sing all of the school songs, making the songs a regular part of Deerfield life, instead of just an annual event. Today, students are not nearly as connected to the songs as are the alumni who return each year to participate in the event. While we may want to revive the event, adding solemnity and candles is not necessarily the answer. Perhaps we should start with the songs themselves. Alternate the songs sung at school meeting so that when spring Parents’ Weekend rolls around, there is no need to host rehearsals to learn and instill meaning into the songs. Then, the songs will truly be a part of Deerfield’s traditional culture.

Walking around campus, we tread on the picture-perfect grass and clean walkways, and passes right by the freshly-planted trees and flowers in full bloom. For all of this, there is a special group of people to thank, a crew that works night and day making what some take for granted look so completely flawless. This amazing squad is known as the Grounds Crew. James Antone, Daniel Brooks, Raymond Burniske, Denise Dwelley, Jeffrey Gonyer, Charlie Marsh, Joe Portyala, J.J. Tanguay, Jodi Tanguay, Jimmy Thompson, Katie Salinetti, Chris Stacy, Denny Stowe, and Head of Grounds Crew Brett Gewanter make up the hardworking team of fourteen. The busiest season for the grounds crew is spring. Not only do they have to clean up all the damage from winter and prepare the athletic fields for another season of play, but also the late spring brings commencement, as well as the multitude of alumni weekends and benefits. Some of the spring tasks the grounds crew completes include cleaning and mulching the flowerbeds, sweeping the roadsides, and cleaning up plow damage. Luckily enough, the campus already contains many established perennials, so most of the planting is with annuals during the last few weeks before graduation. Each member works on a different part of the grounds to make Deerfield the beautiful campus it is. Grounds person J.J. Tanguay commented that her favorite part of taking care of the grounds is “the variety of the work,” and her sister Jodi, who also works on the grounds crew, exclaimed that she “loves everything about her job” and that “being outside is rewarding no matter what.” Grounds crew is known for its many trademarks, including the geranium boxes under the commencement tents and the flower barrels around campus. Deerfield grass is another highly-maintained trademark. The grass needs to be mowed at least once a week if not more often and is over-seeded at the beginning of the spring season to give it its bright green color and thickness. The grassy athletic fields require more work, with one to two members of the crew working on the fields every day and repainting the lines every two weeks. When asked about the grounds crew, Kay Calloway ’14 exclaimed, “They are so helpful and it’s really amazing how much they help the school. It’s like the flowers bloom over night here!” So next time you spot a member of the grounds crew working on campus or walking down Albany Road, thank them heartily for all the hard work they do to keep the school running and the campus looking spectacular.

On Monday, May 2, students gathered around television sets in common rooms and residents’ apartments to witness history. Osama bin Laden, long-time head of al-Qaeda, was killed by US military forces. Students on college campuses everywhere paraded in the streets, waving American flags and celebrating the death of the man who was behind the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Students at Deerfield have remained low key in their reactions. Except for a few feeble rounds of “USA, USA, USA” in the dining hall, the event was largely overlooked. While it is important to remain respectful in our reaction to current events, it is imperative that we, as Deerfield students, take notice of the changes in the world around us.

The culmination of advanced placement classes in the form of hours of frantic test taking and bubble filling is a “stressful and exhausting” time, according to senior Deidre Yiu. “The week dragged on forever!” concurred junior Carly Reilly. “Just when I was finished with one test, it seemed like there was another one lurking on the horizon.” The exams, however, take place almost a month before school lets out, leaving AP teachers the luxury of weeks to teach what they want, free of the pressures of strenuous and fast-paced advanced placement curriculums. “Teachers try to give us a break after the tests,” explained junior Henry Lee. “My AP Chemistry class, for example, is really intense. After the AP everyone is so relieved…it’s nice to take things slow for once. I know a lot of classes watch movies at the end of the year and do other things that they might not have had time to do before the exam.” “Most AP classes do big end-of-the-year projects,” added Yu. “In AP Calculus AB, we’re doing a project called ‘Ten Things I Love About Calculus.’” Playing off the admission video ‘Ten Things I Love About Deerfield,’ “we’re still learning in class, even though we aren’t preparing for the AP.” Math and science courses, however, are unusual in their strict adherence to the AP curriculum. History teacher Julia Rivellino-Lyons, on the other hand, vocalized the sentiment of many history and English teachers. “We’re not specifically an AP class, and we value the autonomy that gives us throughout the year,” she said. Now that her students have the pressure of the AP exam behind them, they are currently working on a more creative extended study. Mrs. Rivelino-Lyons’ two-week “Artifacts of the American Century’ project is one of the inventive ways “hat AP teachers take advantage of the time remain-ing in the school year.

When someone asks you to write a reflection on the past four years at Deerfield, you can only laugh. What could I possibly write that’s meaningful, that’s a testimony to the four years I’ve spent here? Where do I start— with another truth yet cliché about my eye-opening classes or life-long friendships? No, instead, this is for those who want the truth, that unintelligible truth beneath the intelligible lie . This is for those who have felt misplaced, humiliated, miserable, and simply unhappy —what we are not supposed to feel at our new “home.” I wish I could say I loved Deerfield. But as the previous Op/Ed editor who sought and demanded truth, it’s my turn to present my truth. Let’s start from the beginning. It’s hard to remember small details from freshman year, except the funniest ones such as the time when Rose handle-barred me into the rose bushes in front of the MSB, or when Mrs. Heise called Ted’s voice “sultry,” and we burst into laughter after he looked up the definition in Webster’s. Funny moments intertwine and uplift my memories of freshman year, but frankly it was a time when I felt awkward, estranged, and miserable. My parents taught me to love myself, that I was special. I believed in this, but I wasn’t from Greenwich, CT. I wasn’t white, I was a day student, and I couldn’t dare to stray from J. Crew or Ralph Lauren. I believed in myself, but I needed to conform. I pretended I loved the Greer nightlife (because clearly everyone else did), and I pretended I loved spending all hours in Ashley instead of cooking dinner with my family. All because I needed to fit in, because I needed to belong. What was wrong with me? Everyone around me was praising us for being the smartest kids, and everyone around me seemed to unite under their love for Deerfield and the motto, “Be worthy of your heritage.” It seemed as if everyone was happy; why couldn’t I be the same? Why did I need to pretend happiness? But it wasn’t just me. I saw my friends, too, frantically order Jack Rogers online, complain about the Greer, and fear walking alone, lest they look like loners. My wake-up call came from the strangest source. My sister, then a senior, told me an “absurd” comment that her music teacher, Mr. Pandolfi, had made. She said he was worried that I, at his lunch table, rarely ate. I laughed with my sister (because everyone in my family knows how much I adore food), but I realized then that the twisting feeling in my stomach during study hall was hunger—hunger for food, hunger for acceptance, but most of all, hunger for happiness. The stress of not being, but trying my hardest to be, the white, preppy, beautiful Deerfield Girl was stopping me from being happy. But sophomore, then junior year came. Little by little, I was happy, not because I fit in, but because I relished the 45 minutes when The Awakening ’s relevancy to today’s double standard hit me, or because I genuinely laughed and sang songs from Glee during Scroll layout. It was the little moments, interspersed throughout the day—whether class discussions or a smile from a stranger—that excited me and inspired me. It was time to let go of that desire to fit in, for perfection, and to enjoy the brief yet blissful moments. So this is for all those who’ve felt scared, out of place, unappreciated, awkward, or any other tumultuous emotion you can feel here at Deerfield. Let’s face the truth: it’s hard to feel as if you always belong here. But what I’ve learned, what I can pass down, is that it’s about each moment, these few, fleeting seconds and minutes when you’re really happy: making friends with that shy boy at the library, gossiping on the way to sixth period with a girl on your crew team, or sharing fro-yo with the boy from Euro class. The way to enjoy Deerfield is to let go of that arduous task of trying to fit in, of trying to always wear pearls and Lilly, or trying to sport the “flow” or high socks. The way to live is to enjoy little bits of laughter each day, and cherish it. According to all of the alumni I have talked to, I will miss Deerfield by the time college rolls around. Well, I’ll be honest: I don’t miss Deerfield yet. But I have a feeling they’re going to be right. Audrey Cho was the 2010-2011 Opinion/Editorial editor of The Deerfield Scroll.

This spring’s play She Stoops to Conquer unfolds in a country manor in late eighteenth-century England, a setting that demands luxury to the point of frivolity. The cast satisfies that demand with exquisite execution of language and action, but the lavish costumes selected by Emily Dunn, the talented designer who creates costumes for productions at Smith College, capture the spotlight. “The women are really in charge in this play,” Director of Theater John Reese explained. Anyone seeing the costumes knows this statement makes quite a bit of sense. The popular fashions of the eighteenth century emphasize the power of the feminine physique. Ms. Dunn made sure that the ladies of the play follow such trends, dressing in lots of layers despite the springtime heat. The layering begins with a lacy corset, strung tightly in the back to create a flattering small waist. Next comes the bustle: tie-on padding around the hips to help support the train of the gown and add that fashionable period curviness. After these undergarments have created the sought-after silhouette, each character slips into a petticoat, and then an outer jewel-toned lacy gown. The male costumes are almost as lacy, and just as fabulous. On the bottom, the men will sport classic eighteenth-century britches: cropped pants made of rich velvets and corduroys embellished with pleats and shiny buttons. On top, they layer flouncy shirts with intricate lacy collars and sleeves under vests and coats made of opulent jacquard fabrics. These incredible ensembles will then be topped off with the dramatic style of make-up used by actors in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. All of the characters will decorate their faces with playing card symbols pertinent to their circumstances. For example, the young lovers will sport hearts. The older characters will also create milky complexions with white powder and define wrinkles with black charcoal. Then, of course, come the wigs. The men and women will all wear different variations of stacked curls and dramatic cuts appropriate to their individual social statuses. Twenty-seven years ago, Mr. Reese began his Deerfield career with a production of She Stoops to Conquer, ushering in an era of splendor, elegance, and success for Deerfield’s theater department. If the costumes prove anything, She Stoops to Conquer seems like a fitting way to bid farewell to Mr. Reese.

Deerfield’s School Year Abroad program will send a total of nine students overseas for the 2011-2012 school year. According to Associate Academic Dean and SYA coordinator Lydia Hemphill, it was “an unprecedented year for applications.” Victoria Buckman ’13, Abby Cacho ’13, and Flora Donovan ’12 will spend the year in France; Ashley Cortez ’13, Chris Hamlin ’12, Elizabeth Perez ’13, Lazel Pineda ’13, and Sabrina Zaldana ’13 are going to live in Spain; Katya Yudin ’12 will experience her senior year in China. A total-immersion experience, SYA sends students to foreign countries and enrolls them in a local high school while they live with a host family for the duration of the school year. Ms. Hemphill believes that students are interested in participating in the SYA program because they “have more independence than at Deerfield and achieve various degrees of fluency by the time they come home.” She also feels that creating SYA alumni allows for “a more international student body at Deerfield.” The language department supports the SYA program for the same reasons. The opportunity for practical application of a language enhances both oral skills and general comprehension. Cacho explained, “I wanted to go to SYA because it would give me a global perspective. By going to France, I’m allowing myself to experience life from another point of view. “Taking a year away from everything is a big risk and a scary one,” she continued, “but it allows me to learn a lot about myself as a person and grow significantly.”

As the class of 2011 graduates, it is easy to see how they are all happily looking forward to college. Yet this fall many of these same seniors were filled with anxiety and stress because of the college admissions process. Looking back, what do they wish they had known about the college admissions process? “I wish that, as a freshman, I knew that those grades count as much as they do,” said Kendall Carpenter ’11, who will go to Bowdoin College in the fall. “They count just as much as your grades sophomore, junior and senior year, since we don’t use weighted GPAs at DA.” Future Princeton student Hallie Dewey ’11 said, “Start early. Try to get a lot done before your senior year so you can focus on choosing which schools you like best. It is a ton of work, so try to spread it out.” Latoya Stewart ’11 agreed, and had some simple advice for everyone. “Don’t bother applying to schools you don’t like, and get things done during the summer: I wish I had done more during the summer, like my essays. I wish I knew where I was going to apply before senior year started.” Charlotte Blais ’11, who will attend Bates College, exclaimed, “No one prepared me for this, but senior fall is even harder than junior year! You are needed often for meetings and unexpected responsibilities, so stay organized and do not over-commit yourself.” The seniors had specific advice for juniors in terms of stress management. Dewey said, “You don’t need to freak out about it! Underclassmen think that everything is about getting into college, but it’s not! No matter what, you will end up somewhere great!” Sidney Cech ’12, as a junior just entering the college process, added, “Be sure to take advantage of your free time freshman and sophomore year. You don’t realize how valuable it is until it’s gone! Thinking about it now, my grades could have been better, and I wish I’d gone out for The Scroll, or debate or another club. I wish I had used the time to try new things instead of just going back to my room to work.” As a senior looking back, Dewey said, “Don’t forget to make the most of your time at DA, because it goes so fast!” Additional reporting by Delaney Berman ’12 and Emily Ng ’14.