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For many in the Deerfield community, vegan brownies are a beloved dessert. But few know how this dessert, which was the first vegan dessert to be served to the entire Deerfield community, made its way onto the menu. The story of vegan brownies at the Academy is something faculty members remember fondly, sharing varying memories of how the brownies came into existence. One origin story claims that the vegan brownie came from a former student. The student sought to bring awareness to the ethical and environmental impact of food. Throughout her Deerfield career, she attempted many times to start conversations about these types of food related issues. She also reached out to the Dining Hall on multiple occasions inquiring about the possibility of a vegan meal or dessert. Despite her passion and ambition for the subject, she encountered difficulty getting the community’s attention. In the spring term of her senior year, she decided to apply for an internship at the dining hall to share vegan food with the Deerfield community. English Teacher Joel Thomas-Adams said that he remembered her decision to choose brownies as a vegan dessert since they were simple and easy to make. After perfecting her recipe, the dining hall made her brownies for the entire school without letting anyone know the brownies were vegan. After the dining hall served her brownies multiple times and they had developed a positive reputation, she revealed to the student body that they were vegan. Her goal was to both remove the stigma around vegan food and show that vegan food can also be delicious. After working with the bakers and finalizing the vegan brownie recipe, the kitchen served the dessert at a walk-through lunch. Mr. McCarthy shared an insight from the kitchen staff ’s perspective, saying, “Some of the anticipation was, when the word vegan is in something,…it has sort of a negative connotation…but that didn’t happen in this case. People just ate them like crazy.” Mr. McCarthy noted that some decrease in the bias around vegan food and some increase in the awareness surrounding the ethics and environmental impact of food did occur, even if that wasn’t the brownies’ original purpose. From the time the student (who the Scroll reached out to, but who did not respond to interview requests) embarked on her mission to create vegan brownies to now, the perspective towards veganism altered gradually where people tend to be more open about vegan desserts. Yet, the intention behind this vegan dessert brings to light the ethics behind food consumption in the light of climate change. English Teacher Joel Thomas-Adams believes that much of the purpose of vegan brownies has been forgotten. He believes that in recent years, Deerfield Academy hasn’t made any significant effort to educate its student body on those food related topics, despite how Deerfield students, three times a day, walk across the fields when going to the Dining Hall. “Why aren’t we talking about climate change in our biology classes and our science classes every single day? Why aren’t we reading more about climate change?” he asked. When thinking about the legacy of vegan brownies, students should contemplate “what we use in the dining hall and how we use it, and what we eat and how we eat it, where it comes from, asking that question,” Mr. Thomas-Adams said. The environmental justification for veganism may have been a significant factor that led the creation of the vegan brownies, but which has gradually disappeared into the school’s history. “It is both the beauty of a place like this, but also one of its shortcomings, which is when somebody comes up with an idea…it can thrive,” Mr. Thomas-Adams said. The “beauty” was how the dining hall provided an environment for the student to promote her ideas. The “shortfalling” was how after the student who started the movement graduated, other students began to stray from the initial cause, slipping away the institutional consciousness.

Deerfield’s annual triathlon was held on Sunday, October 13, where students and faculty competed together in five separate events: girls solo race, girls team race, boys solo race, boys team race, or mixed team race. The triathlon encouraged community involvement outside of the racers, welcoming volunteers to be stationed around the course. Also, Meat Club was posted outside by the horse’s head, where the race course begins and ends. The triathlon is a newer edition to Deerfield’s student-run races, including the Race to the Rock, brought back only three years ago by the Dean of Ethical and Spiritual Life Jan Flaska and Ocean Feng ’24. In past years there have been two separate triathlon courses, but Declan Kelley ’25 and Zachary Li ’25, this year’s head organizers for the triathlon, remodelled it so there was a single course and staggered starts between the competitors. The entire triathlon course this year consisted of eight laps of swimming (200 meters), one lap of biking on the Big Loop (3.2 miles), and one lap of running on the Small Loop (1.9 miles). While Feng ’24 graduated last year, his contributions to the triathlon live on. According to Declan Kelley, “Ocean prepared me and Zach [Li] really well for being able to prepare [for the Triathlon].” Kelly emphasized the importance of communication between faculty and Mr. Flaska’s assistance in organizing the course, setting logistics up, and retrieving the t-shirts. Like from previous years, racers choose whether to compete on a team or individually. While most people competed in teams, those who competed in the individual category completed the entire course on their own or with a friend. Fiona Van Nice ’25 and Elizabeth Kelly ’25 were this year’s Deerfield Triathlon solo champions. Van Nice, commenting on her experience, said that she woke on race morning “and it was freezing cold and raining, and I called Elizabeth and was like ‘Are we really going to do this?’” They decided that, despite the conditions, they would still compete. While neither of them specifically trained for the triathlon, they both regularly condition, running and biking. Elizabeth Kelly is on Deerfield’s varsity swimming team and cross country team and Van Nice trains for rowing yearlong. Their participation in their athletic pursuits allowed them to remain strong competitors, seeing that they won, and were overall happy with their experience. In recalling the experience, Elizabeth Kelly noted that her favorite part about the triathlon was coming out from swimming the eight laps because it highlighted Deerfield’s community and the support of peers. She said, “everyone was cheering a lot. There were a lot of people in the front by the bikes and we had a good adrenaline rush going into the biking after the run seeing everyone around.” Declan Kelley commented on the value of organizing the triathlon and Deerfield’s nature races overall: “it’s just seeing people happy and seeing a big group of people connected over one thing on the day of is really special.” He then states that his goal, alongside Li, is to bring people outside, because it unites the Deerfield community and fosters a supportive environment. Director of Food Services Michael McCarthy remembers a different history of the vegan brownies. The second possible story is that there was a student around 15 years ago from the University of Massachusetts who requested to do an internship in the Deerfield Dining Hall. “For their degree, they have to work in a hospital, in a school setting, there’s a requirement that they spend four months learning outside of the classroom,” Mr. McCarthy said. Her goal was to create a delicious vegan dessert so that students who were vegan or vegetarian could enjoy dessert as much as their peers.

Throughout her Deerfield career, Ellie Schiller ’25 has made her mark on Deerfield’s athletics program as a tri-varsity athlete—Girls Varsity Soccer captain, Girls Varsity Lacrosse captain, and Girls Varsity Basketball player. Off the field, she has brought her commitment and school spirit to other teams her senior year as Captain Deerfield. Schiller began playing soccer in kindergarten as the goalie for her year-round club soccer team. Following her brother’s footsteps, she started playing lacrosse the summer after fifth grade. As she dedicated almost all of her time to soccer, Schiller did not try basketball until her freshman year at Deerfield. While Schiller expressed some difficulty adjusting to playing soccer only in the fall, she also appreciated the change of pace. Schiller noted that she enjoyed learning to play basketball under Student Life Office Senior Associate and Junior Varsity Basketball Coach Kevin Kelly on the Girl’s Junior Varsity Basketball Team and being able to focus more on lacrosse under Varsity Lacrosse Coaches Angela Serpone and Allison DiNardo. She said that these two coaches “opened [her] eyes to the high level of lacrosse that [she] could actually reach.” Schiller credited much of her growth as a person and athlete to her coaches, who she said gave her confidence by believing in her abilities. She highlighted her close relationship with Girls Varsity Soccer Assistant Coach Carly Barbato, saying, “Coach Barbato has been my coach since freshman year, and she’s just really passionate. She’s just taught me to be confident, and since she played goalie as well, it’s cool to have someone like her to look up to.” Schiller also expressed her gratitude for the constant support she received from her teammates throughout her time at Deerfield. Reminiscing about previous seniors on the lacrosse team who “took [her] under their wings” her freshman year, she said, “It was really reassuring to know that I had seniors who cared about me and wanted me to learn and grow.” Describing her love for Deerfield’s teams, Schiller said, “I think being a part of a team is such a special thing.” She noted that her favorite part of being a tri-varsity athlete is the variety of experiences it gives her, saying, “I’m so grateful that I get to be a part of three different sports teams on this campus because they’re all so different, and each one offers a different thing for me. I get so excited for each season because I get so excited to play with different on all my teams.” Schiller takes leadership inspiration from former Deerfield students, especially those who were upperclassmen during her underclassmen years. She hopes to display the same care for all her teams. In describing her personal leadership style, Schiller said, “For me, spreading positivity, and then also supporting everyone – like making sure everyone feels appreciated and cheering for everyone – has been a big thing for me. And then, of course, I hope people see my work ethic.” Head Girls Varsity Soccer Coach Jeanette Boudway noted Schiller’s impact on the team, saying, “Ellie is one of the most caring players I have had the pleasure to coach. She is constantly thinking about what others might need, and she’s always looking for ways to make people smile.” Boudway reflected on Schiller’s leadership on the team, saying “She tries to encourage and inspire others all the time. She will share critiques to try to help people improve, but she does it in such a kind, caring, and positive way.” Schiller strives to bring that same cheerful and supportive energy to every team on campus, last year as a cheerleader and this year as Captain Deerfield. She is the third girl in the history of Deerfield to hold the position of Captain Deerfield, succeeding Bailey Cheetham ’19 and Hanna Deringer ’20. She expressed her love for the role and Deerfield’s community, saying, “I just love that when everyone’s all together at games and rooting for the same goal, and I think the cheerleaders are a big part of creating that atmosphere.” Reflecting on the challenges of being a female athlete and Captain Deerfield, Schiller said, “I hope people, especially girls, feel inspired by me to believe in themselves to reach large roles on campus and accomplish great things–things like being Captain Deerfield, or starting a new sport freshman year and playing on varsity, or captaining a team that they didn’t ever think they would be able to captain.” Schiller shared her excitement for beginning winter term on a strong note with the Girls Varsity Basketball team and finishing her Deerfield career as a Girls Varsity Lacrosse Captain in the spring. Boudway reflected on the legacy Schiller will leave, saying, “I think it’s about her commitment to the sport, really her commitment to the team, because I think every single player on the team knows that she would do anything for them and that they could go and talk to her. They really trust her. So to me, that’s bigger than any kind of accomplishment.” Schiller will continue her athletic journey beyond Deerfield at by playing on the Babson College lacrosse team; she said she particularly liked the school because of its “close-knit community.” She said, “I’m sad I don’t get to keep playing soccer because I’ve been playing it for so long, but I’m really excited to start something new. Lacrosse doesn’t still feel new, but it’s newer to me than soccer, so I’m excited to create more memories with that by playing in college.”

On the Saturday evening of October 12, 60 teams and more than 100 students gathered on Albany Road for a pickleball tournament under the starry night sky, on courts illuminated by flood lights. The event was the vision of Finn Knight ’25, who said he “wanted to do something crazy” during his last fall term, and Tai Feng ’26. Knight admitted that this tournament “was a totally random idea which [he] did not expect to happen at all,” he said. But with the support of Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy, campus security, and local police, his vision took off. Although Knight manages DA Tourneys, a club that organizes tournaments, he emphasized that this tournament was organized by Deerfield Racket Club, which he and Feng are leaders of. Knight, who organized last year’s spring paddle tournament and winter ping-pong competition, saw the pickleball tournament as a fitting addition to the Racket Club’s legacy saying that he “always wanted to do a tournament in the fall.” He chose pickleball because he said it’s “super easy to set up and accessible for everyone,” from casual players to serious competitors, such as the winners Tommy McMahon ’25 and Drew Keiver ’25. Knight and Feng received extensive help from people who envisioned students creating long-lasting memories on Albany Road. Mr. McDougall, campus security, and the Deerfield police handled the road closure, facilities painted the court lines with a robotic painter, and Mr. Sheehy provided brand new pickleball nets and paddles. Deerfield’s Meat Club provided grilled food for spectators. Although Knight’s and Feng’s initially pitched the idea as a joke to Mr. Sheehy, the concept actually came to fruition. “If you have an idea, just do it,” Knight advised.

Mr. Bergeron highlighted the importance of adaptability and collaboration by emphasizing that no seating position is inherently more valuable than others. Traditionally, musicians sit in order of skill level, with the first chair or principal of a section being typically being reserved for the most skilled musicians. The Concertmaster is the first chair of the first violin section; violins are traditionally divided into two sections, first and second violins. He said that an example of this would be Lynn Sung ’26, who was Concertmaster in the Fall Family Weekend Concert, but in the Winter Concert will play second violin, a lower position. Daphne Huang ’25, one of the Assistant Concertmasters (the, will take a seat toward the back of the second violin section. Sung explained that the Deerfield Orchestra seating is determined by faculty evaluation, with the “top four musicians typically getting the role to be Concertmaster or concert assistant,” she said. However, this year, the seating arrangement for the first and second violinists has been switched, which led to a variety of reactions. Sung believes that seniority definitely matters because when she was a freshman, students who were in the higher grade levels sat in the first two chairs. However, as a Concertmaster, she believes that performance skills and ability matter more, especially if there’s a significant difference between seniority and skill, which is also dependent on the faculty’s assessment of each musician’s ability. Huang highlighted the importance of other skills over seniority as the first determining factor for the seating arrangement. She said, “Seniority should be the last factor to consider when the musicians are equally skilled… The best musician who can lead the orchestra and perform a good solo deserves to be seated as principal.” Principal Cellist Liv Boe ’25 believes that the orchestra’s seating arrangement essentially comes down to a mix of skill and seniority. Boe shared her experiences with seating arrangements in previous years. “When I was a sophomore, I was the Principal Cello, while Ben Wolfson [’24] was the Assistant Principal. But then when he was a senior, we were Co-Principles,” she said. Additionally, when she was a freshman, there were some seniors who she believes weren’t necessarily as skilled as other cellists who were in the back row. Boe said, “Seniority this year is a lot less prevalent.” As for the new seating rotations, Boe said, “I think it’s definitely valuable to have the people in the back, like, have exposure to playing with people that are in the front.” Sung agreed that switching seats may benefit an individual’s ability and performance skills. She added, “I feel that the Concertmaster, or the assistant Concertmaster are gonna experience more, and it’s also beneficial for people from the back as they can gain an opportunity in working with different musicians.” She also emphasized the responsibility that follows a musician on where they’re seated at because it could potentially affect the concert’s overall quality (due to the alteration of leadership roles). For the woodwinds and brass section, the seating and music parts have changed from a fixed seating to a rotating basis, allowing each musician to gain the opportunity to play different parts and lead their section. Clarinetist Andrew Li ’27 said, “Since we have to play different parts, for musicians to switch between parts, that requires some versatility.” Similarly, trombone player Howard Jin ’27 pointed out, “A challenge from rotating seats could be having to adjust to the range of parts.” In response to the new woodwind seating positions, Clarinetist Lukenine Surphakarn ’25 said, “I believe that there are a lot of personal feelings involved, but I also think giving everyone the opportunity to have the principal role without necessarily having to work for it can be a little detrimental.” Since the Deerfield’s orchestra currently doesn’t require auditions for students to participate, the new changes to the ensemble allowed musicians to think about whether auditions should be an effective way of deciding upon seating arrangements. Suphakarn specified, “I think that they [auditions] could definitely be helpful.” On the contrary, Huang believes that auditions should not be required at Deerfield, saying, “Deerfield is a place that fosters learning for everyone and it is ideal that everybody deserves to have access to seating.”

From October 15 to October 16, the Academy invited award-winning American Playwright and Musician Suzan-Lori Parks to campus for a school meeting presentation, book signing, question and answer session, and several workshops. Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her play Topdog/Underdog and studied creative writing under James Baldwin at Hampshire College. In preparation for that school meeting, upperclassmen English classes read Topdog/Underdog and underclassmen read Father Comes Home From The War, another one of Parks’ works. English Teacher Mark Scandling advocated for her visit to campus and for her works to be read in classes. He said, “Both plays would speak to students as they would be inspired by someone charismatic and confident in themselves.” Aviel Alexander ’25, who moderated the question and answers session for Parks, recalled, in his acting class, Director of Theater Catriona Hynds “made sure to give us context and information about what kind of person Suzan-Lori Parks was going to be,” he said. He continued, “I wasn’t as surprised as other people, however, I wasn’t completely expecting the level in which she was going to present herself.” English Department Chair Anna Steim emphasized the positive feedback after Parks’ visit. She said, “Since the visit, I have heard from a great many community members – students and adults alike – who found Parks’ events are moving and inspiring.” Scandling remembered feeling motivated after attending the Q&A. “I liked the way she explained the process of writing and doing it in small increments and allowing yourself to express yourself,” he said. “When she talks about calming down and listening to the spirits, it’s more or less the process about finding more of yourself within and tuning out the noise on the outside.” Ms. Steim said, “The goal of the visit was not for community members to take away one thing in particular, but rather learn being in proximity with an experienced professional in the craft of writing and take away what speaks to them personally.” As a student passionate about writing and theater, Alexander felt Suzan’s work really spoke to him. He said, “Her 365 Days/365 Plays is a real inspiration for me and I’m currently reading a very similar style of book in my English class called The Book of Delights by Ross Gay where the author writes almost every day. I already have a very free style of writing, and I feel her influence only fueled that idea.”

Before his leading role in The Crucible, Declan Kelley ’25 had participated in only one other Deerfield production, playing a minor role in the 2022 Winter Theater production, Fools. His positive experience with Deerfield’s theater program during the 2022 production, as well as his appreciation of last year’s plays, led to his decision to return to acting this fall. “I kinda thought I don’t wanna be in the audience another time, like these [productions] look so much fun and I just want to do this again so that’s why I decided to come back to it,” Kelley said. Kelley acted as John Proctor in Deerfield’s Fall Theater production of The Crucible, performed from October 29 through November 2, 2024. His willingness to improve and treatment of others inspires and sets an example for younger members of the program. He is an “older brother to the younger kids,” said Ella Dorsch ’25, who played Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife in the play. “Seeing him treat his directors and castmates with such respect and admiration is great for the younger kids to see.” Dorsch remarked, “He’s always asking questions to absorb as much knowledge as possible, which is very inspiring.” Although Kelley has previously shown interest in theater, his most recent role as John Proctor, a farmer grappling with a moral dilemma during the 1690 Salem witch trials, has marked a significant breakthrough. Plum Schiff ’27 expressed how Kelley’s compassionate nature contributes to his portrayal of Proctor. She said, “His character has done things that people would deem as unforgivable but he finds a way for you to empathize with his character and feel horrible for him.” In discussing his role, Kelley noted how he felt a responsibility to accurately portray John Proctor’s emotional and moral dissonance: “He has a very strong moral compass, and throughout the play, he struggles with the consequences of his past mistakes,” he said. “His emotions come out because he’s trapped in this situation where he has to make a big decision.” This vast emotional range makes any portrayal of the character demanding. Kelley said, “That’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced: figuring out how to convert [my emotions].” During the play’s critical final act, Kelley has to embody John Proctor’s unwavering pride in his name and family. Dorsch described the scene as “a moment when he cries and breaks down and it’s really moving and inspirational to see someone be that vulnerable on stage.” She illuminated how his bravery contributes to both enhancing his performance as well as encouraging and setting an example for other members of the theater community. Although Kelley’s role deviates from his real life personality, he overcomes the challenge in order to deepen his portrayal. Schiff recalled how “his character and my character have a lot of physical violence in the show,” she said, “and he couldn’t for a little bit, it took awhile for him to bring himself to be able to do the physical violence.” She believes that this hesistance reflects on his personal character, saying, “I think that’s one thing that emphasizes how nice he is. He never wanted to do anything violent but only did so for his character”. Despite the authentic portrayal of his flawed character, Kelley has earned admiration from his peers and directors for his ability to separate himself from his character outside of the play. Assistant Director and English Teacher Vincent Rougeau said, “It’s really a massive separation between Declan and the character who he has created which is great. He’s really willing to give a lot of himself to his part as well tapping into a lot of emotions.” Director of Theater Catriona Hynds emphasized Kelley’s growth as an actor since his role in 2022 and attributes it to his personal development. “Along with his maturation,” she said, “he’s developed confidence.” Mrs. Hynds applauded his intrepidity in rehearsal, saying, “He’s been very responsive to direction, willing to try things, be brave, and make bold choices.” Kelley said, “To fully put yourself into a role, you have to let go of anything holding you back. The community here is really special; everyones always rooting for each other.” Reflecting on the supportive community in the Deerfield Theater program, Kelley said, “Everyone’s ready for you to push further.”

Since 2019, John Austin has been the head of school. Students regularly see him riding his bike around campus, watching sports practice and games, sitting in his office in the Main School Building, and attending sit-down lunches; however, what does he really do? For Dr. Austin, every day is different, but he still has routines that anchor his days. For starters, Dr. Austin is a morning person. “I tend to go to bed early. I am early to bed, and early to rise,” he said. So, each morning, he wakes up early and arrives at his office around 5:00 to prepare for the day. At this time he answers emails, prepares for meetings, creates the assignments for his Art of Political Argument” course, and reviews his daily schedule. Then, he enjoys taking a long walk through campus while the sun rises and gets back to his office before 7:00. During the school day, Dr. Austin teaches a senior elective called the Art of Political Argument. Dr. Austin explained what his course discusses, saying, “It introduces students to the classic ideas of conservative, liberal and radical thought, and extends the reach of student’s reading while deepening their understanding of the rhetoric of public argument.” The rest of his day is filled with meetings with leaders of other schools, phone calls, and occasional travel to multi-school conferences. Dr. Austin said, “I try not to travel as much when I am teaching because I do not like to miss classes.” While in his office, Dr. Austin spends his time working on multiple projects. One of his current projects is the renovation of the Dining Hall. Dr. Austin said that his role in that particular project is to “make sure that the project will be completed well and on time.” After school, Dr. Austin rides his bike to different co-curriculars and regularly attends games and meets on the weekends. Students are likely to see him on the lower fields during co-curricular hours watching the myriad of sports practices that happen there. The end of his day is grounded by sit-down dinner, where he enjoys discussing the day with the students at his table. Dr. Austin sits at tables 26 and 27, close to the podium. His students enjoy their conversations with him, saying that he is very friendly. Sophie Brennan ’27 said “Dr. Austin is really nice. I am a first waiter, and he always helps me set the table.” Another recent project that Dr. Austin was working on was publishing “A Framework for Schools.” This framework is a resource to “help schools thrive in a world of pluralistic contention,” emphasizing the importance of clear structures and guidelines for discussions in educational settings, and focuses on the role of discipline and authority in a successful learning environment. To work on this framework, he often held meetings where he met with other heads of schools, professional organizations, and regional teaching organizations. In his framework, Dr. Austin argues that having a balance between social experiences and academic rigor is vital in a school community. One of his most recent initiatives was the financial aid and accessibility initiative. This initiative aims for Deerfield to have a more diverse community, full of different perspectives; it also will allow everyone the opportunity to attend Deerfield. Dr. Austin said, “Deepening the school’s mission is… what these campaigns are about.”

For the past six years, Laura Manners has been employed on campus as a custodian. Initially assigned to the Wachsman Athletics Complex, she now works in the Kendall Classroom Building. The job opened up after the previous custodian of the Kendall retired, and Ms. Manners enthusiastically took it. “It was a nice move,” she said. “The Kendall is a lot nicer it has character.” Ms. Manners works the second shift, which starts at 2:00. She explained that, in the classrooms, she “clean[s] the boards, the trash, and all the little paper crumbs all overthe floor.” Additionally, she “help[s] the teachers stock up with tissues and towels.” Regarding her work schedule, she said, “It’s not too bad but it can be very busy.” Ms. Manners came to Deerfield because she needed to be closer to home. She said, “For seven years, my husband and I took care of his mom because she was in declining health.” She continued, “I used to work up in Springfield, but that was quite a long drive. I needed something closer, and when Deerfield had an opening, I applied. I’d always heard about Deerfield.” For almost every holiday from Halloween to Valentine’s Day, Ms. Manners decorates the building with her self-made creations. “I love Halloween because I can showcase my creative outlet,” she said. For Ms. Manners, decorations aren’t just about the aesthetics: “I love brightening up the building, giving it a little spirit,” she said. “It’s nice to hear students come in and see how the different decorations make them smile.” Ms. Manners decorates the Kendall for two other holidays. “When winter starts to approach, I do a little Christmas-y thing,” she said. “And on Valentine’s Day, the hallways up the stairwell are just lined with hearts. I put those up because I want students to write notes to each other,” she said. “It’s something I love to do, and I think it brings a touch of home to the Kendall.” As much as Ms. Manners loves her job, she wishes that there was more acknowledgment of her work and the custodial team. “I wish it was more encouraged,” she said. “We’re seen but not heard, it would be nice if people realized our role is so much more than cleaning.” For Ms. Manners, the decorations are more than adding some festive touches, it’s about building a sense of community. She believes it is a small gesture that invites connection. Ms. Manners wishes that there could be more moments where custodians went out of their way to make the community more positive. She also wishes that those moments were noticed by the broader community. In addition, much of the decorations that are displayed come out of her own pocket. She puts together the paper hearts for Valentine’s Day, which takes her many weeks to cut out. “The walls from the hallway up the stairwells are covered with handmade hearts. That takes a lot of time,” she said. “This year has been kind of rough, but next year is going to be awesome,” she said, with an optimistic smile. And for those already looking ahead to next Halloween’s decorations, she has a little hint: “Next year’s theme? Let’s just say…Wingardium Leviosa!”

In recent years, the Deerfield convenience store has become an unassuming yet integral part of the Academy student experience. The store has undergone several significant shifts in function. Originally opened as an auto service station in 1991, the store provided gas for the local community; however, ten years after its opening, the store to shut down for several years due to a robbery. When the store reopened, the new owner rebranded it as a convenience store, recognizing that maintaining a car service station was no longer sustainable due to high maintenance costs and the need for technicians. This transformation allowed the store to thrive with new additions almost every month. In response to the steady influx of Deerfield students, the store has seen a gradual expansion to its stock. While the store initially offered a few basic types of chips and drinks, it now offers a larger variety of products, reflecting student favorites. “Candy–all sorts of candy–is definitely the most popular among the students,” Store Manager Berin said, highlighting how the store’s selections have been reshaped by student preferences (the manager only shared his first name with the author of the article). The store frequently tests new products they find fit with the trends of purchases of the students, and the students are often the first to sample them. “Sometimes we give out free stuff to promote our new items,” he said. Recently, the store made another addition to its offerings: an ice cream sundae station. Berin credits his brother-in-law for the idea. “Everyone loves ice cream,” he said. Another recent addition, the sandwich station by the counter, has also been well-received. The store’s proximity to Deerfield Academy and other local schools means that students have a substantial impact on the store’s business. “On this side of the town, there’s not a lot of residents, because it’s all private schools,” Berin explained, “the school buildings, most of the houses are owned by the school.” The surrounding community is small and has limited traffic, making the Deerfield students both important customers and valued friends. Berin recounted how students typically come by after classes at around six in the evening or during weekends. He spoke warmly of the students, noting that “all of them are nice behaving, creates a welcoming community. I talk to them all the time, just like family. Some of the parents know us well too, over these years,” he said. Students, too, appreciate this friendly rapport; the manager’s familiar face and friendly mile makes this place a comforting extension to the campus. The manager explained that maintaining the business has been difficult. However, he credits Deerfield’s students for helping keep the store open as they remain a constant source of income. Looking ahead, Biren has already developed plans for future enhancements that are already underway, with the addition of electric vehicle charging stations as a potential next step.

All information is courtesy of the article “Still Among the Living” by former English Teacher Sarah L. Williams in the Spring 1993 issue of Deerfield (the alumni magazine). In the 19th century, the large yellow house on the south end of Main Street once housed the Allen family and maybe still does. Julia A. Allen, born in 1837, lived a life marked by a series of disappointments and tragedies. At the age of 19, her first husband, Howland Cowing, died in a New York City hotel room. Her second husband, George A. Allen, known to be “very mysterious,” did not fare much better. Perhaps he was too mysterious, so mysterious that he disappeared with no explanation. After her father’s death in 1871, she returned home to the yellow house on Main Street with no one else. In the following years, Allen spent her days isolated and burdened with her aging mother’s illnesses. Eventually, when their fortune dwindled, the Allen family was forced to sell their home. Julia Allen spent all her unfulfilling final years constrained to the house, and in her death, she remains there still. She haunts creaking floors and peeled walls as a spirit. In the summer of 1973, college students boarded in the house, then owned by Donald Friary. After one student’s inexplicable encounter of feeling “touched” by someone while alone, the group decided to hold a seance. With playful seriousness and lighthearted curiosity, they attempted to summon the ghost. Gathered around the dining room table, the group noticed an eerie, hovering spot of light beginning to form into a moving shadow. They followed it from the dining room, down the front hall, and to the door. Friary recounted in the article, “Finally, the person whose back was immediately to the door realized that everyone was looking beyond him. He turned around and screamed.” The student’s scream launched the whole room into pandemonium and the ghost disappeared. Later, when some students mustered the courage to reenter the room, the ghost materialized on a panel adjacent to the fireplace. In the midst of the confusion, the dining room table was suddenly turned over completely, though no one admitted to moving it. While the apparition’s motivations remains a mystery, Friary acknowledged that after two decades of haunting, Julia was “as much a part of their existence as any living resident.” However, Friary does not belive Julia is solely benign: “Ghosts cannot hurt you, I always tell people, but Julia is the most unfriendly ghost. She is always looking the other way, but she is there.” Although she may be the most active, Julia Allen is only one of many spirits that haunt Main Street. Arthur Hoyt’s ghost, eternally attached to his grand masterpiece, still wanders Chapin house. Mysterious voices and crashes are heard during silent nights in the John Williams dormitory. Cora Carslile, the owner of the Deerfield Inn in the 1900s, still roams its halls. Through the walls of the Pocumtuck Dormitory echoe the cries of Sarah Smith’s children, hidden away during the 1704 massacre. Deerfield’s ghosts, or the stories of its ghosts, are more than spirits. They serve as enduring remnants and reminders of the town’s history–literal echoes of the past.

How long have you been at Deerfield? I have been at Deerfield for two years now. Why did you choose to come to Deerfield? Well, Deerfield—sort of— chose me. I ended up getting a call from a good buddy of mine who said that I need to come and check Deerfield out. So I came down, got to check the campus out and got connected with Mr. Wehmiller and ended up falling in love with the place and ended up getting offered to come here. And to answer your question, I chose to come to Deerfield just because of the community here, and it seems like there’s a really safe community here, and I really just love the opportunities that Deerfield gives their students here. Favorite thing about Deerfield students? The spirit that the student body has. They represent and bleed green every single day: the cheers, the excitement, and the dedication that they put towards their academics and athletics. What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is the first Black Panther movie, and the reason why it’s my favorite is because I love the actor. I love King T’Challa, and, just, the action in the movie is awesome. It’s a movie that has always inspired me to be as best as I can in any environment. Where do you see yourself in five years? I don’t know where I would toally see myself in five years. What I know, and the information that I’ve gotten from talking to most faculty here, is that five years here can go by really quickly, so I could say that I could see myself here in five years just because of how things are, how things flow here. But if I had to think about my own personal career outside of Deerfield, I see myself picking up my speaking career—motivational public speaking—and hopefully traveling around the country and hosting events where I’m talking with college students or high school students about personal development, mindset development, and doing things in that in that area. Would you rather have a one minute conversation with your past self or your future self? I would rather have a one minute conversation with my past self, and the reason why I say it with my past self is because I feel like a lot of the lessons—the things that I’m learning for my future—are from the experiences that I’ve had in my past. I feel that our experiences are wrapped with a lot of knowledge and information, and the only way to get that information is to be able to sit with it and kind of digest it, unpack it. What’s something you want people on campus to know about you that you think they don’t know? I would want people to know that every single day I’m still trying to be one percent better than I was the day before. I know a lot of people can tend to think that, or at least compliment me in a way saying, you know, “it just kind of seems like you have it all figured out.” Know that I don’t. And every single day I just come into this community and into this space and just try to be one percent better than I was yesterday and just trying be the best person that I could be in my role here in Deerfield and then just as a man in general.