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As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, Deerfield Academy prepares for a weighty farewell to English Teacher Mark Scandling. In his 38 years at Deerfield, he has taught various English courses, served as an advisor for numerous students, and became an irreplaceable presence in the community. Mr. Scandling’s interest in English began with the inspiration of becoming an impactful investigative journalist. “[English has] always been something in the back of my mind... I came of age in the Watergate era... everybody was thinking, ‘I could be the next Woodward or Bernstein,’” Mr. Scandling explained. In pursuit, he went on to Davidson College to major in journalism and continued to study journalism in graduate school at the University of North Carolina. To pay off his Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship, he served in the army for four years. In his time in journalism, Mr. Scandling was a general assignment reporter. Although he enjoyed the job as “[he] could pursue whatever stories [he] wanted,” he was more interested in writing about the arts. After a few years, Mr. Scandling made the decision to step out of the field. “I decided that making other people’s personal tragedies public wasn’t something I wanted to do for my life,” he said. Mr. Scandling then took a teaching job at a day school in North Carolina. Mr. Scandling first encountered Deerfield Academy while being a dorm assistant at graduate school. He had the opportunity to meet a student who attended the Academy who, years later, took up teaching at Deerfield. The alumni was planning on moving to teach in Malaysia and sent Mr. Scandling a note asking if he had ever considered teaching at a boarding school. “I hadn’t been planning it, and I didn’t really know anything about boarding school, but my buddy had spoken so highly of his experience as a student and a teacher. I thought, why not take a look?” Mr. Scandling remembered. When Mr. Scandling came for his interview, the prospect of co-education was in the air. This intrigued him as he had been a member of Davidson’s first co-education class. “I could go through coeducation a second time,” he said. At Deerfield, Mr. Scandling coached the wrestling team and both the boys’ and girls’ water polo teams. Having wrestled through high school and college, he already had previous experience in the wrestling room. However, Mr. Scandling had never seen a water polo game before. “I didn’t know anything about the sport; we just needed people to help out,” he said. Mr. Scandling stated that learning to coach new sports at Deerfield as an adult was one of his “great satisfactions” in life. In the fall of 2024, the Academy added The Mark Scandling Award to the list of athletic awards during a school meeting where he received a standing ovation. The newly named award will be “Given annually to the team’s most valued player who ‘played with a strong heart and a sharp mind.’” Mr. Scandling led his teams to success not only in competition but also in terms of team spirit and community. As a coach, Mr. Scandling believes in empowering athletes. “If they can’t do it now, they’ll be able to do it later if they keep working on it,” he said. He attributes hard work to what allows this “transformation to occur,” which builds both stronger athletes and stronger people. He also believes in patience, saying, “You can’t rush it, and if you take your time and patiently wait, the best results will come.” Mr. Scandling’s philosophy of empowering athletes as individuals also applies to his teaching style in the classroom. Like many Deerfield English teachers, Mr. Scandling believes that the direction of classroom discussions should be student-led. From the independence granted to the students, silences are bound to happen in discussions. Trusting in those silences allows the students to grow. “If you just wait a little bit longer,” he said, “a student is likely to make a point you could’ve made yourself, and it’s so much better because the student brings it up rather than the teacher.” Throughout his nearly 40 years of teaching, Mr. Scandling has exhibited a deep passion for education. Comparing teaching to journalism, he said, “I would rather be involved in helping shape someone’s life than to stand from a distance and report about it.” Mr. Scandling also called teaching an “investment,” where one will never really know if all the time and energy spent working with students made a difference. “But many years later, you find out, well, I guess I did make a difference,” he said. In his retirement, Mr. Scandling plans to see more of the world and stay involved in young people’s lives, whether that be as a volunteer at a local school or an instructor at writing centers. “I still think I can offer something to young people,” he said. To Mr. Scandling, we thank you for your 38 years of dedication to Deerfield. You have certainly made a difference in our community, and we wish you all the best in your retirement.

Aviel Alexander’s ’25 theatrical journey began in fifth grade with Peter and the Starcatcher, a production that sparked his initial passion for performing. Even through the disruption of theater programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexander remained committed to attending drama classes through seventh and eighth grade. Upon arriving at Deerfield, Alexander wholeheartedly embraced theater as a core part of his co-curricular activity, dedicating 11 terms to his passion for performing on stage. Alexander’s early years in theater were marked by uncertainties and self doubts. He expressed his initial worries, saying, “During freshman year, I definitely thought that theater was a lot more daunting because there were all these senior actors who I thought were so good..., and I had no idea how I’d be able to make it to that level.” However, he said that taking acting classes throughout his years at Deerfield helped him understand the nuances in stage performing, which also contributed to building his confidence. Alexander started in the Acting 1 class his freshman year, which helped him solidify his performance skills and further develop his passion. He added, “The difference I feel this year is that I’m definitely a lot more comfortable with acting and comfortable with going into roles that are not like myself.” During Alexander’s junior year, he received the role of Dracula—a character dramatically different from his own personality. Prior to receiving this major position, Alexander had never played a “main villain role,” so being in this character’s shoes proved to himself that he could embody complex and challenging roles. He said, “I had to learn how to deal with the amount of lines and amount of energy I had to put on stage, so that I could be this larger than life character, which I was not used to.” This challenge gave Alexander faith in himself to step out of his comfort zone and grow as an actor. Reagan Warren ’27 described her first impression of Alexander: “When I arrived my freshman year, I got to watch Aviel as Dracula and I was blown away by his stage presence. He carried himself so well and was fully immersed in the character, which I admired greatly.” Director of Arts Catriona Hynds further expressed, “Aviel has grown in confidence and matured so much that he is able to take risks in the rehearsal room. Only by taking risks can an actor discover new ways of doing things.” Alexander engaged in many of Deerfield’s productions, such as Twelfth Night, Little Women, Eurydice, and Stuart Little, which he performed in at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024. Mrs. Hynds said, “Aviel’s biggest strength is his versatility. He’s able to play high drama, he’s able to do comedies, and so there’s a range as well.” During the 2025 winter production of Eurydice, Lily Pierce ’25 and Alexander played a father and daughter duo. Describing her most memorable experience working with Alexander, Pierce recalled, “There were a couple of awkward scenes at first, like the father and daughter having to walk down the aisle, but we just kind of found the levity and the humor and good vibes, rather than making it awkward. Aviel is just a really funny person. He’ll always say or do something kind of unexpected that will really work in a scene.” Parallel to Alexander’s theatrical growth, his musical journey as a singer also flourished. He joined the Deerfield Chorus, took voice lessons, and became the leader of the co-ed a cappella group, the Reme-D’s. He said, “That confidence coming from acting has helped me believe that I am a good singer because I’ve had problems in the past with not being as confident in my singing ability.” Through engaging in the 2024 winter musical Alice by Heart and taking Deerfield’s Musical Theater Studio course, Alexander reflected on his improvement as a performer and shared his biggest takeaway: “Downplaying how good you are at something can be a detriment, which I’ve had to grapple with, but I think I’m overcoming it more and more.” Alexander’s willingness to experiment, take risks, and find humour in unexpected moments contributed to his major growth as a performer. Skylar Ricketts ’27 described Alexander as “a positive role model and leader who knows the group very well.” Looking forward, Alexander plans on majoring in theater and English, and he is keen on “pursuing playwriting or dramaturgy” in college. Ricketts added, “Deerfield’s theater program won’t be the same without him,” and Warren re-emphasized that Alexander’s contribution to theater will forever leave its legacy on the program.

On Friday, May 9, members of the Deerfield community gathered in the Hess lobby to watch and perform in the third and final Koch Friday Concert (KFC) of the ’24-25 school year. The program ended up featuring 49 acts with various styles of music. However, there were originally 67 sign-ups. Incoming KFC Co-Student Organizer William Wichern ’27 explained the process of dealing with the unusually large number of acts: “We had to email a couple of kids to say ‘you have multiple acts, can you cut some?’ because otherwise, this KFC would be running for six hours,” he said. Incoming KFC Co-Student Organizer Reagan Warren ’27 added, “It was difficult to get those cuts down, but we wanted to keep it [KFC] within three or four hours because of curfew and just accommodating underclassmen.” The Student Organizers noted eagerness of the student body as a possible reason for the abundance of sign ups. Outgoing KFC Co-Student Organizer Lily Pierce ’25 wrote in an email interview, “I think people are more motivated to perform at the end of the year. I feel there’s kind of a ‘now or never’ mentality, especially for the Seniors.” Warren expressed a similar opinion: “This year, I think people started to realize how important it [KFC] was and how present it was on campus, and started to feel like, ‘oh, maybe I should do that with a couple of my friends’ or ‘we should go out with a bang our sophomore year.’” Other performers used KFC as an opportunity to show appreciation for the graduating class of 2025. KFC performer Justin Wang ’27 described how he and Nicholas Xu ’27 approached their joint performance. “Here’s a great opportunity to both show our love for our seniors and our sadness that they will be leaving, and another opportunity for us to show our singing abilities,” he said. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to put on KFC. Warren noted, “I quickly realized it’s actually much more complicated than it seems.” Student organizers send out a google form to gauge student interest around a month before the intended KFC performance date. “We gather... for our initial planning session, which involves contacting Mark the Sound Guy, facilities to schedule stage set-up, communications for bulletin posts, and the dining hall for snacks,” wrote KFC faculty organizer Cheri Calcaterra in an email interview. “We then meet regularly until the KFC date to organize the lineup and work out technical details,” Pierce explained. The technical details include communicating with tech and lighting staff and sorting out backing tracks. While the May 9 Spring KFC was originally going to happen outdoors on the Hess quad, rain forced the organizers to move the performance indoors. Ms. Calcaterra expressed her gratitude for the work of the student organizers, writing, “They... do all the last-minute requests for time changes, they keep the show moving efficiently, and they are so happy to work on one of the best DA traditions I have known!” Warren spoke about the organizers’ relationships with KFC. “We really love KFC. We really put our heart and souls into KFC, and just seeing how received it is among the student body, I think fuels us to want to keep putting it on and keep putting our work into it,” she said. Performers, organizers, and audience members noted unique aspects of the KFC experience. “I’d actually say there was more nerve wracking than performing at say, school meeting... just because you prepared for it yourself,” Xu said. However, he also added, “what I really do love is that it’s so supportive of everyone. People cheer, no matter what you sing, no matter how you do.” Audience member Thomas Schwarting ’27 noticed, “I think what’s very clear is it’s a student-led concert; the audience is much more upbeat. It feels much warmer, and has a more Deerfield-like feel.” Ms. Calcaterra highlighted how accessible KFC is to all students, writing, “I love that so many kids that I am used to seeing on courts and athletic fields shredding a guitar or singing their hearts out or tickling the ivories!” Schwarting, a rower, said, “Seeing all the talent up there makes me want to give it my own shot with an instrument.” Neither Ms. Calcaterra nor any of the student organizers have plans to change KFC in any major way. Wichern said, “I think KFC is like a tradition, almost. And I think... putting our own, unique spin on it [KFC] is something important, but I think also keeping its originality, as in, it’s a concert for everyone in the student body to show.” Ms. Calcaterra added, “I simply hope it continues to carry [the] heart and soul that it currently does. It is the most wholesome Deerfield event in existence, in my opinion.”

“The Play That Goes Wrong is going right at Deerfield Academy,” said Theater Co-Director Vincent Rougeau regarding the Academy’s upcoming slapstick comedy centered around a play within a play. The characters are part of a community theatre company presenting The Murder at Haversham Manor, a murder mystery about the homicide of Mr. Charles Haversham. However, as Director of Arts Catriona Hynds notes, the production quickly descends into chaos, with “people being knocked out, things going on fire, set pieces falling off, people forgetting their lines... It’s a catastrophe!” The production’s cast consists of five seniors, one junior, and two sophomores. Each member of the cast must take on the challenge of not only portraying one character, but two—the actor, and the acted. Lottie Levine ’25, who plays Annie Twilloil—the stage manager who is forced to act in the play during one of the play’s many mishaps—described this as “definitely add[ing] a little bit of confusion. I, myself, find it hard to keep track of whose name is whose, but it’s also an exciting undertaking as an actor, to have to juggle all of these different ideas in your head at once.” In contrast to the more dramatic plays in the fall and winter, Mrs. Hynds wanted to put on something lighter for the spring, while also highlighting theatre’s many graduating seniors. “That’s why I chose comedy—because I wanted to lift everyone’s moods, and it is the spring, and I chose one that wasn’t too long, so that we could do it justice in the very short time that we have this spring time,” Mrs. Hynds said. Mrs. Hynds and Mr. Rougeau both direct the show while Lily Pierce ’25 is an assistant director. Unlike the fall and winter plays, The Crucible and Eurydice, which had more complex set designs, the spring show requires close work with the tech branch of theater because of its many visual designs. These three directors were therefore approached with a problem: how would they go about directing a show that is intentionally chaotic? Mrs. Hynds replied that, “The challenge is to make it safe, because there’s some crazy stuff that happens technically in this show, and to make it look chaotic means it has to be rehearsed again and again... so that it looks spontaneous, but it actually isn’t... You have to be really intentional [with this sort of comedy], and I will say that’s what’s challenging.” While such effects made directing this show very difficult, it will definitely make it an entertaining show for the audience. Speaking specifically about Mrs. Hynds, Sophie Petronzio ’25 said, “She’s very active as a director. She’s constantly listening and walking, and she strikes a very big balance between the two.” Reagan Warren ’27 described the dynamic in the cast as “phenomenal.” She continued, “We have so many seniors in this cast, which is so bittersweet, but also beautiful, because they have dedicated so much of their time and their expertise to Deerfield theater.” She describes the seniors as a “guiding light” and is sorry to see them go.

Mr. Barnes, If you asked me what my favorite subject was before my sophomore year, I wouldn’t say Math in a million years. But after the first few weeks of your class, I could tell there was something special about the environment you cultivated, and I couldn’t help but feel myself looking forward to the next time I would be able to step through your classroom door. I remember walking into your extra help my sophomore year, stressed out about a new topic. Not even five minutes later we were lost in a conversation about rock music. An hour later, I left with a better understanding of the material and was fortunate enough to share a conversation with you about something we were both passionate about. This interaction with you is largely representative of how you led your classroom. You’d introduce these topics that would have lost me, then break all the tension in the room with a funny story, a joke, music—anything to lighten the mood. Your ability to captivate the class, make us laugh, and then proceed with making sure we all understand the material is remarkable. I’ve had the fortune of having so many great and overly-qualified teachers during my time at Deerfield, but you are a standout. Putting math aside, you are a genuine person, a great listener, and an extremely interesting man. It’s always a pleasure to have my day stopped by you in the hallways to chat. Whether it’s your favorite truck, Betty—I am deeply sorry about her getting totaled—music, movies, baseball, or whatever spontaneous thoughts that I’ve had the pleasure of hearing, every conversation that I have with you is filled with joy and humor, and every moment shared with you is an absolute pleasure. When you leave, Deerfield will lose an amazing teacher who has inspired countless students like me to pursue Math. But more importantly, we will lose a wonderful person whose contagious smile and riveting stories can brighten any day. Mr. Barnes, your impact on this campus and on students’ lives can not be overstated or done justice by this letter. But—thank you. I wish you luck with whatever you are onto next, and I am sorry about your truck.

V isual and Performing Arts Teacher Angel Abreu will say goodbye to Deerfield after five years of teaching. Mr. Abreu has taught courses in the Visual and Performing Arts and the Philosophy and Religion departments, supervised co-curricular assignment Drawing and Painting, and served as the advisor for Albany Road , Deerfield’s literature and arts magazine. Mr. Abreu graduated from Deerfield in 1992 and assumed a teaching position in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.“I got a call from Dean of Faculty at the time, John Taylor, six weeks before school, and he was wondering if there’s any way that I [could] show up six weeks later,” he said.  Graphics Editor Ryan Bai ’26, a student who studied philosophy under Mr. Abreu and a member of Albany Road , described him as, “a charismatic philosopher, artistic, supportive beyond just a teacher…[Mr. Abreu’s classes are] the epitome of Deerfield philosophy, the most original philosophy you can ever get at a high school level.”  Mr. Abreu offers students his “five year challenge” of returning to teach at Deerfield for five years. This challenge came from a personal interaction with one of his teachers back in his days as a Deerfield student. “My teacher of mine when I was here as a student, Sue Carlson… wrote just a wonderful letter [in a book she gave him] … ‘Angel, it would be amazing if you could come back and teach here,’” he recalled.  Looking forward, Mr. Abreu will be moving back to Maine where he will devote more time to work on art projects. He plans on returning to teaching in the ’26-27 school year. “It’s been the experience of a lifetime,” Mr. Abreu reminisces.

The Boys Varsity Tennis Team started their season by traveling to Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut, for the annual Kingswood Invitational Tennis Tournament. They competed against seven other schools: Groton School, Choate Rosemary Hall, The Lawrenceville School, The Hotchkiss School, Westminster School, Hall High School, and Kingswood Oxford School. Led by Coach Mollie Domian and senior Captain Ethan Li ’25, the six players won the first Champions title for the team event since 2011, specifically, the “A” singles bracket, the “B” singles bracket, and both the “A” and “B” doubles brackets. Players also finaled in the “C” and “D” singles brackets. Reflecting on the tournament, Captain Ethan Li emphasizes how everyone contributed a part to the successes the team achieved, saying, “I think everyone’s valuable. It’s a small team, you know.” He had represented the “B” bracket and returned victorious against his opponents from Groton, Choate, and Lawrenceville. However, Li particularly attributed that Gunter Weldon ’27 is one of the team’s top players. Competing in the “A” bracket, Weldon received successes in both his singles and doubles matches. He defeated his opponent from Groton in his semi-final matchup, who had recently beaten Weldon a week prior, 6-2, 5-7, 10-5. Weldon went on to win the finals, clinching the first “A” bracket title for Deerfield in 30 years. Representing the “C” and “D” singles brackets, respectively, Anthony Sparacio ’25 and Tai Feng ’25 both advanced to the finals, matching up with two Choate players. Sparacio started the match by winning the first set 2-6 and falling short on the second set 6-2. Though losing the third set tiebreaker 10-8, Sparacio was able to save the opponent’s match point by a forehand winner before ending the match. In the “A” bracket doubles match, Weldon paired up with Li as partners, where they placed first. Li and Weldon were the first premium doubles to win since Ogden Phipps ’96 and Nick Acquavella ’96’s victory in 1996, almost 30 years ago. Upon hearing about the victory, Acquavella and Phipps responded to their win with enthusiasm, saying, “It is so great to see this team starting the season so well. Hopefully, they can keep it going. All of us from Mr. Morsman’s mid-1990s teams are watching!” This is the first time both singles and doubles titles in the “A” brackets were scored by Deerfield players. Though matched with a tough finals game against Choate, Feng and Walker Naughton ’25 won the “B” bracket doubles title. The two players won the first set 6-4, yet faced challenges in their second set, losing five match points. Despite the temporary blow, Feng and Naughton won the third set superbreaker 10-7. The boys have remained victorious in multiple games since the Kingswood Oxford Tournament, beating both Loomis Chaffee, five to two, and Taft, seven to zero. Regarding the Phillips Academy Andover tournament, the whole team expressed their excitement. “They will be our biggest competition so far in the season,” Li explained. In the 2024 season, the team had seven wins and two losses, finishing the season in the number two spot. Currently ranked number two this year, Li holds onto hope that the team has time to make their way up to first. “You have to accept failure to get better,” Li said. After bonding over dinner with Coach Domian in celebration of their successes at the tournament, the team is excited to spend the rest of the season together.

Harrison noted that mental preparation always plays a large role in his performance. “I go to sleep early... A lot of music is involved, so I try to distract myself before the race,” he said. “[Right] before my race, I do the opposite. I don’t talk to anyone. I try to lock in and stay as calm as I can.” Dr. Keegan commented on Harrison’s leadership this year as a captain. “He just really cares about the success of the whole team and wants to be a part of that,” she said. “He plays a big part by running some of the most difficult events and trying to hold other people accountable.” Additionally, Harrison spoke about the challenges he faced last year. “Towards the end of the season, I was battling an injury... it was the week of championships, so a lot of coaches expected me to run. I was super stressed,” he said. “I had to power through it, and the race ended up not bad, so it worked out.” Reflecting on what he has taken away from his time on the team, Harrison said, “A lesson I learned was perseverance. Track is definitely one of the sports that if you put work into it, you get so much out of it.” Beyond personal performance, Harrison emphasized the importance of creating meaningful relationships on the team. “I’ve definitely bonded with a couple underclassmen–in particular, Jay Julmice ’27. He has a lot of potential and a great work ethic,” he said. Harrison expressed his advice towards his team. “Take track seriously and don’t listen to what other people say,” he said. “Just stay in your lane, do what you do, run your own race.” After his time at Deerfield, Harrison plans to continue his track and field journey at Bowdoin College.

On April 5th, the Girls Varsity Water Polo team emerged victorious in their home game against Greenwich Academy with a 14-13 win. This marked the team’s second-ever victory against Greenwich, their first being an 18-17 win last year. This year, the team is led by Head Coach and Director of Academic Support Jaclyn DeLuca, Assistant Coaches Thomas Gaughan and Mark Scandling, and senior captains Abby Tang ’25 and Jazmine Bigornia ’25. With only eleven players, “the season has been a mix of challenges and rewards, which I think is true of every water polo season,” Ms. DeLuca said. “On the reward end, we have excellent team leaders in Jazmine and Abby, who bring a lot of spirit and game knowledge, and support for our younger and newer players. On the challenge end, we are a small team this year; we knew that from the beginning.” Last year, the Girls Water Polo team ended their season with a winning record of 10-5. “Deerfield has always been quite competitive in the NEPSAC [New England Preparatory School Athletic Council] league, but this year is definitely a ‘rebuilding’ year,” said Tang. The team graduated six seniors last year—over a third of the team—and almost all of them were part of the starting lineup. “It was to be expected that we would face some struggles this year as we worked on filling in those gaps,” Bigornia said. The girls also dealt with a series of injured players, including Bigornia and Hanks. “We only have eight people who can play right now,” Hanks said. However, the injured players found new ways to support their teammates. “Learning to find ways to support the team while not being there physically was something I was not ready for at first,” said Bigornia. Although she is still recovering from her concussion, she has found that “checking in on the girls when I can and getting to have more personal conversations with them outside of the pool has definitely helped with our bonds.” Despite losing some of their starters, the rest of the team took on new responsibilities. Tang and Gage Calhoun ’27 “have switched on and off in goal,” said Tang, “which was and still is quite new to us but it’s something we both don’t mind doing and also something we would do to show up for the team,” Tang said. “As a team, I’ve really noticed that no matter what, we show up for each other.” However, Ms. DeLuca noted that “for some of our newer and younger players, they’ve had to learn a lot very quickly because they’ve been stepping in for some of our players who are unable to play. Melody Zhao ’26 and Jewel Suh ’28, for example, are learning on the fly and they’re playing a tremendous number of minutes, and that’s every one of our games.” The players described how the team’s challenges tightened their bonds. “No matter how we’re doing stats-wise, we’re all there for each other and support one another throughout everything,” Bigornia said. “It’s fun to be on a team sport,” Hanks added. “We’re also very chill in the sense that even if you mess up, it’s not your fault.” The managers, too, are part of the family, Tang emphasized. “[T]hey always train with us during practice and push us to be better,” she said. The Girls Water Polo team has their next home game against the Hopkins School on April 25. Ms. DeLuca noted that the team is appreciative of all Deerfield spectators who show up to games. “I’m extremely grateful for the support, even if it’s only one person,” Bigornia said.

Around 17 seniors of the class of 2025 will be working on 13 Directed or Alternate Studies the coming spring term. The project topics range from the heroin crisis in Greenfield to Jordanian culture and history. According to Dean of Studies Lydia Hemphill, Academic Affairs has offered Directed and Alternate Studies for at least three decades in an effort to allow seniors to pursue independent projects. Every year, Academic Affairs holds an information session in December, while the student proposals are due in February. Ms. Hemphill and a small committee in the Academic Affairs office then read through each student proposal and decide whether it passes, needs revising or lacks merit. “We usually have a number of science-based or STEM-based projects [and] usually a few in the arts,” Ms. Hemphill said, although the usually dozen or so accepted proposals cover a “variety in terms of subject matter.”  Ms. Hemphill described a Directed Study as “course you wish were in the course catalog but isn’t.” At the end of the term, the project is then graded numerically by a Deerfield teacher. On the other hand, an Alternate Study “is either a larger project or sort of an amorphous project” that may span multiple periods and “doesn’t fit into traditional academic categories.” Alternate Studies are graded as pass/fail and overseen by an Academy faculty member, though not necessarily a teacher.  Students who pursue Alternate Studies also present their work to peers and faculty in the last two weeks of the school year. Ms. Hemphill added that although most students undertake projects during a class period. In cases of conflict or if students need extra time, Academic Affairs has either “allowed them to do an alternate study as part of co-curricular time, which is actually a lot more time that one would get for the equivalent of the course, incidentally.”  Alternate Studies may also occur off-campus, either for certain class periods or for the entire spring term. “It’s a little bit harder these days,” Ms. Hemphill remarked, “between HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996] laws and liability,” complicating projects like shadowing doctors in hospitals, interning with lawyers, or teaching at the Early Learning Center or Bement that past students have done. Even then, off-campus Alternate Studies must be paid for by the families of the student. Senior Abdullah Ali ’25 described his directed study as “a case study, essentially, of Jordan, of its history, of its culture, of everything.” As a Jordanian, he felt that “most courses [at Deerfield] are taught from the perspectives of the West,” adding, “I think that a Middle Eastern perspective…would be very useful.”  To that end, Ali has split his course into three parts: independent study while connecting with Jordanian academics, checking in with his directed study advisor Mr. Flaska, and collecting feedback from peers.  “I feel a lot of responsibility because I’m presenting a very complex part of the world,” Ali described. He continued, “[It] is something that you need to draw from your own initiative…to create something of your own.”  Preyas Sinha ’24, who undertook a directed study in 2024 centered on Hinduism, focused more on the personal aspect of the experience. He stated, “I think the directed study is a really great way for me to get to learn what I wanted to learn at my own pace and getting to have these really meaningful and productive conversations with my friend.”  He added, “I think it was a very meaningful way to cap off my learning [and] my academic experience at Deerfield.” Academic Affairs only offers Directed and Alternate Studies in the spring of senior year so it does not interrupt with students’ academic progression. “We have talked about the possibility of allowing Directed Studies during other points of a senior’s year,” Ms. Hemphill said. “It's just a little more complicated at other points of the year, but it’s not impossible.”  Academic Affairs has also considered supporting independent projects outside of a student’s senior year. Ms. Hemphill said, “We’ve been thinking about some opportunities for students in between their junior and senior year to work on some projects over the summer that they can then fold into…a Directed Study or an Alternate Study or what might be known as a Capstone project at other schools.”  Alternate or Directed Studies acts as an opportunity for students to pursue independent projects in the spring term of their senior year. “I really respect the students who have applied and are excited about their projects,” Ms. Hemphill remarked. “It takes a lot of initiative and organization, and it’s a fabulous opportunity to follow a passion, to do something slightly different for part of the spring.”

On April 17, Deerfield Academy’s Music Department held the Pop-up concert recital in the Wachsman Concert Hall. This event marked the fifth Pop-up concert of the 2024–2025 school year. The goal of the Pop-up concerts is to provide all students who are currently taking music lessons a chance to showcase their work. “We just don’t have a platform for the students to showcase their work in private lessons,” said Piano Studio Director and Pop-up concert co-organizer Yu-Mei Wei. Deerfield’s Music Program Coordinator and co-organizer of the Pop-up concert Sarah Swersy also mentions how the Pop-up concert is a great chance for students to perform for the first time, saying, “What is special is when a student who has ever performed a solo piece before does so... they feel a huge sense of accomplishment.” Students can also use these concerts as a way to practice performing on stage, given the generally smaller audiences and lower stakes environment. “Some students go all out—they dress up and they want to do their best. So it’s as formal or informal as you want it,” said Ms. Wei. She also added that, “I always say that a piece is not yours until you perform it, you don’t know where your holes are until you perform it, and the more you perform, the better you’ll be.” One of the biggest differences between the Pop-up concerts and other more traditional concerts is that it takes place in different locations across campus. One unconventional location was the Caswell library. Ms. Swersy recounted, “In the early part of the year we have them in the Caswell Library. That way people who are coming to interview at the school can see it and be part of our music program.” Ms. Wei added, “They [students coming for interviews] are usually very nervous. Some music lightens up the room a little bit.” Other Pop-up concert locations include the Von Auersperg Gallery and the Wachsman Concert Hall. “It really lowers the pressure, and I think it’s a great way to bring the community together,” Ms. Wei said. The next and last Pop-up concert of the year will be on May 1 and will take place in the Hess Lobby, which will be another new location for the Pop-up concert series. “If somebody is walking through the Hess Lobby, and it’s 10:05, hopefully they could sit down and listen,” Ms. Swersy explained. Ms. Wei also reveals a new addition to the next Pop-up Concert: “We have a very special instrument being transported. We’re going to have a harpsichord and that [space] would [have the best acoustics] for it.”

Every night, as campus begins to quiet down, Deerfield Academy’s Nouri-Shed, the structure specifically commissioned in 2023 for food delivery, remains a hotspot for delivery drivers and hungry students. Most evenings, at least one of the Nouri-Shed’s shelves is filled with orders from restaurants such as McDonalds, Thai Blue Ginger, or Dunkin’ Donuts. Delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash generate extra business for local stores and restaurants. From group-Dashing to proctor feeds, food delivery is something many boarding students only do while living away from home. Photography Editor of the Scroll  Albert Yuk ’26 described the difference between the surplus of restaurants surrounding his home and the isolation of rural Massachusetts. “Sometimes at Deerfield it just feels like the quality of the food [at the Dining Hall] is not there,” Yuk said. Sophie Petronzio ’25 mentioned that she would like more options for students who don’t want to eat in the Dining Hall. “I wish there was more availability for students at Deerfield to get off campus for a meal every once in a while,” she said. “If there was a shuttle on Wednesdays into Greenfield, I think people would order a lot less.” Additionally, students use delivery for convenience. “My food delivery habits came from the winter time when it was really cold and sit-downs weren’t required,” said Aeris Chang ’26. “For me, it was just the long distance from Poc[umtuck] to the Dining Hall that made me want to order and bring the food to my room so I could continue working.” However, delivery services allow local businesses to gain traction from customers who would not normally come in person. Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Wild Roots Eatery Luke Eriksen said, “In the winter months, when the weather is really bad, we can see up to 50% go to delivery, and on average 25%–30% of our business in Greenfield comes from DoorDash orders.” Despite the convenience of delivery, students find issues in financial aspects of the service. Jennifer Luiru ’25 said, “As a proctor I have to order straight out of my own debit card which is why I am not able to tip as much. The problem is that I am getting reimbursed [by the Academy] in cash, and in my day-to-day life I don’t really use cash.” Tipping culture is a huge part of the delivery industry, as tips make up a large portion of delivery drivers’ income. Eriksen explained some of the problems with the current delivery system, saying, “Our team members don’t get any tips from Doordash, only the driver gets tips, and it’s really frustrating for our staff, as tips are such an important facet of the service industry.” Delivery services also take a large percentage of revenue (a Washington Post article found that Doordash takes an average commission of 18%) from businesses, forcing local businesses specifically to increase prices. “We have to be really mindful of prices, so you’ll find that our items are really expensive on Doordash than they are when ordering online or in-store for pickup,” Eriksen said. The ability of chain restaurants such as McDonalds or Dunkin to keep their delivery prices low is one of the reasons they are popular choices for DoorDash orders. Chang believes there is another reason behind this phenomenon, saying, “I think people tend to order from mainstream restaurants and chains because there is more credibility.” Chang also challenged Deerfield students to stop ordering from mainstream chains. She said, “I don’t think it would be as bad as people think it would be. Number one, it would support local businesses, and number two, the local food around here is genuinely really good.” Yuk, a large proponent of group-Dashing, a process in which friends put in large group orders to avoid high delivery fees, explained how he perceives the effects delivery services have on the Deerfield community. He said, “I think it strengthens small bubbles among friends, but not being at the Dining Hall takes away from the broader Deerfield community that the school strives for.” Eriksen explained the effect of delivery services on the Pioneer Valley community, saying, “I think communities evolve and shape into different forms as civilization moves forward. Certainly, the hanging out at the coffee shop has maybe dissipated, but I have to say those people still tend to come in the doors.” He added, “I don’t really think that it has broken the community at all. I think, rather, it has shifted the community.”