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It is 9 p.m. on a spring Friday. I walk into the Greer, parched, with my friends after a long day filled with classes, co-curricular, and trips to the river. As I approach the counter, I see a new sign saying that frozen lemonade is now available — perfect timing. So I buy one and spend the rest of my night knowing what I can purchase if I need a quick, cool refreshment. I’m not the only one who has delightedly welcomed these new additions. Frozen lemonade has quickly become one of the most popular Greer orders. Songa Rwamucyo ’23 proclaimed, “It’s gas.” Kevin Kim ’23 celebrated the timing of the lemonade’s release, saying, “It’s great! I normally like to [drink] it after dinner when it’s warm out.” Frozen lemonade is not the only temporary item that caused mania around campus. In the winter, the Greer temporarily added a chicken and waffles dish, which was also a welcome addition. The winter also brought the Reuben sandwich, highly recommended as a cheap but filling snack.  Popular Greer staff member Bobbi Sullivan explained the selection process for limited-time items. “Mr. Woodward chooses these items for the menu. [Then,] he meets with the food committee, who help him to make the final decision on new menu items.” She also agreed that these new items have flown off the shelves due to the demand.  Although menu items come and go, the delicious limited dishes and drinks will always stay in our hearts. Who knows, maybe they will return, or an even better offering will grace the Academy’s premier eatery.

This morning during school meeting, six candidates for Student Body President made their campaign speeches. At 6pm, current Student Body President Jerry Huang ’23 released ballots. More details on election procedures can be found in the all-school email sent by Huang. The Scroll has asked each candidate to provide their top policies, personal facts or qualifications, and campaign Instagram accounts.  Adaugo Nwaokoro Policies: No homework during finals week Community service opportunities for students beyond the cocurricular Upgrade washers and dryers Personal facts: From New Jersey Loves photography I have forgotten how to ride a bike before, but it only took me one hour to relearn it again Instagram: @adaugoforpresident Dylan Camp Policies: Defund campus security Widen the Deerfield River  Additional Porta Potties on the Lower Fields Personal facts: 2022 JV Football MVP Spring Term 2022 Honor Roll Could beat any other presidential candidates in a fight (especially Jake) Instagram: @campoforpresident2024 Hallsey Souder Policies: More initiatives for mental health, such as not having to make up work on a day where you had to take a mental health day or the ability to nullify one grade per class per year Free toiletries in the dorms Look into what ways we can work with the school to compromise on parietals reform Personal facts: I have been on Student Council for the past 2 years I am a part of Eco-Reps, Feminism Club, Gender and Consent Committee, and a cheerleader Instagram: @souderforpresident  Jake Rohan Policies: More printers around campus More fan buses and off campus trips Fitness center open during study hours Personal facts: I got the name Larry from Peter Shea and Geoffrey Jamiel (Class of 2022) who started calling me “Larry Bird” because I wore number 33 on the baseball team I love wearing crocs and have 5 pairs of them If you ever have a question or want to tell me something you can probably find me in the greer, as I sit in there pretty much all night Instagram: @jake.forpres  Preyas Sinha Policies: Student handbook committee to complete an in-depth review of handbook Let an arts co-curricular serve as an equivalent of a second sport for an athletic concentration Bigger bowls for cereal in the dining hall Personal facts: Three-year student council member, where I helped pass a proposal reducing APs for lost keys Co-founder of the South Asian Student Alliance Former captain of Quad Squad and current captain of JV Tennis Instagram: @preyforpres Sophie Braddock Policies: More recognition for female athletics Earlier library hours on weekends more school support from the school for students’ mental health Personal facts: Along with Nancy Ferguson, I run the One Love Club at Deerfield JV all star hockey player I have a lot of scuba diving certifications and am very interested in oceanography Instagram: @braddockforpresident2024

On Monday, January 23rd, Deerfield students awoke to a DA Alert notifying them of off-campus water pipe damage. Many soon discovered that water pressure across campus had been drastically reduced, with some faucets spitting dry air.  According to History Teacher Mary Ellen Friends, a burst pipe near Greenfield where the school sources its water caused the low water pressure. Due to the previous night’s heavy snowstorm, snow accumulated on an active electrical wire. At one point, the wire snapped, causing it to fall to the ground, melting the snow and asphalt. As a result, the wire charge damaged the water pipe below, and the damage was significant enough for it to burst. This forced the utilities company to divert water flow to Deerfield through an auxiliary pipe that could not transport the intended volume of water.  Many boarding students complained about difficulties with toilets not flushing and issues with their morning routine. Angel Paez ’25 expressed, “I usually brush my teeth in the morning. However there was no water to really use on my toothbrush. So, I had to dry brush which had a huge effect.” However, the water shortage spared day students as Julian Abreu ’25, a resident of Ashley House in Historic Deerfield, still had running water throughout the entire day. Abreu added that he “didn’t really notice it,” meaning that the broken pipes had only affected the Deerfield campus itself, with faculty and civilian houses along Old Main Street mostly unaffected.  Additionally, as many students source water for drinking from the tap, the low water pressure caused many inconveniences. Abreu recounted his struggles throughout the day, “I was in my math class and was really thirsty, and I went to get a drink of water. [However], I couldn’t get any water, so my mouth was dry for the next hour.” However, the issue did not only affect the school day. Flex time swimming on the 23rd was canceled, much to the dismay of many of the swim team members. Moreover, Paez, a member of the Deerfield varsity wrestling team, remarked, “I usually drink a lot of water in the morning; that’s how I stay hydrated. However, I couldn’t do that, so I was dehydrated the whole day [up through] wrestling practice, so I couldn’t get a full practice in”. The pipe has caused many inconveniences for all members of the Deerfield community, and raises concerns as cold weather and snowfall continue.

Student producers at Deerfield have utilize the process of creating original music as an outlet of expression. Though their journeys may differ, the featured musicians have found their own path to a love of music production. Bennett Eun – @bennetmakinghits on Instagram With prior musical training in the piano and trumpet, Eun said he “clicked” with music production after watching a “series [on YouTube] of producers deconstructing their most famous songs that they produced.”  Known as @bennettmakinghits on Instagram, Eun is part of the producer collective “Dreams Worth Chasing,” a multi-platinum and Grammy nominated group. Eun himself is a Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) gold producer, and has a Billboard #1 song. He has produced songs such as “Rocky Road” with Kodak black and Moneybagg Yo, “Intro” with Yungeen Ace, “Bipolar” with Ar’mon & Trey, and “In Town” with Lil Durk and EST Gee. His Instagram account @bennettmakinghits allows him to directly message “camps” — groups that professional artists work with including their managers, producers, sound engineers, lawyers, and label heads. Eun said that his collective “Dreams Worth Chasing” has “guys that I had been working with for a while” from all over the world including United States and Italy.  With a busy schedule at Deerfield, Eun works on his music during his spare time and by squeezing “in some sessions, whether that [be on] a Friday night, before a Saturday game day, on the road to squash matches, or even sometimes community time,” he said. He shared that his artistic process starts with a melody, then the addition of drums. After that, he said he goes “back and arranges the beat roughly to include an intro, chorus, verse, chorus, verse two, and ending.”  Eun said he “genuinely enjoy[s] all sorts of genres such as pop, country, indie, electronic dance music (EDM), jazz, and everything in between.” He said, “I think part of being a great producer is being able to listen to all different types of music.” Currently, Eun is working with artists including Lil Durk, Lil Tjay, Meek Mill, Offset, [and] NBA Youngboy. Reflecting on his music career, he said, “There honestly wasn’t a single moment where I felt like I had made it, and I still don’t feel like I have yet either.” When looking to the future, he hopes to “help develop smaller artists and work with others to build them up to a more global scale.” Thomas Harrick – TMHarrick on Spotify Thomas Harrick ’23 has secretly experimented with producing music since seventh grade. His interest starting after he worked on the tech team for his middle school productions. “Nobody knew that I did any sort of music,” Harrick said. Nobody, including his brother. Harrick actually released his debut track, “Flawless,” after losing a bet he made with his brother. “I told him that if he pitched over 75 miles an hour before the end of the summer, I would release the song. It took him twelve days [to pitch that fast].”  “Flawless” proved to be a home run; the track reached fifteen-hundred listeners in the first week, landing him a contract with United Masters. “[After ‘Flawless’] I wasn’t going to release anymore, but for some reason people like it in Australia? It’s my second biggest demographic [after Deerfield].” Regardless of whether his Aussie fans encouraged the continuation of his releases, Harrick now intends to drop a new track every other Friday. New releases will include his personal favorites, “Starbound” and “Guess What.” “Each track is unique,” he said. “‘Starbound’ is the first track produced entirely by myself and it features a whole band, and I’m excited about ‘Guess What’ because it’s my own sound.”  When asked about his goals for the future, Harrick said, “I’ve hit my goal: if one person listens to this, that I didn’t forcefully play this for, I’ve done my job. Now it’s just for fun, but I want to get better at it.” To Harrick, music production was never about making hits, but rather about the process of “creating something that wasn’t there before” and taking a chance. As a message for aspiring producers, Harrick said, “[If] I can do it, you can… you have to look at what you really lose if you try.”  Cairon Harrison – kidd cai on Spotify “The first song I released was in the summer of 2018, and I thought this is dope, everybody is going to mess with it… but it was bad. I didn’t know how to mix anything then, so when I released it I got clowned for it,” said Cairon Harrison ’25, recounting the early stages of his producing journey. Harrison has come far since his first release; his most popular song, “outer space,” recently reached one-thousand listener streams across all platforms.   Harrison is currently working on releasing his first album as an artist. This upcoming project has been a year-long effort, containing some of his most “ambitious” and experimental tracks. For instance, the outro of the album is a strictly singing song that diverges from his usual rap style.  Harrison attributes the reason for producing freestyle music to his early exposure to Hip Hop and Caribbean Soca music that largely influenced his ability to “find the rhythm in a beat.” However, he mostly credits his cousin, Tomo, a successful producer in Boston, for his distinct sound. When Harrison was twelve, Tomo had invited him and his other cousin to record at his studio, where they made their first ever song, “Ontario.” After this track (still available on Soundcloud under Dizel x Yung Cai-Ontario), Harrison returned to his cousin’s studio to start his solo career. Tomo’s professional setup made the aspiring rapper nervous, but it was this process that built the confidence essential to Harrison’s work now. Addressing any aspiring artists, he said, “Anyone trying to make music, do it. You never know.”  Donald Hutchinson – di-z on Spotify It was Donald Hutchinson ’23’s late introduction to “God’s Plan” by Drake and then Hip Hop in seventh grade that inspired the young artist to explore music production on GarageBand. He has since released two of his projects: “Black Sun Demos” and “highway94” in the span of two months. “I didn’t have the intention of making a project,” he said. “Many of the tracks [on ‘Black Sun Demos’] are demos of what the songs could be, so it’s pretty incomplete.” While Hutchinson’s first release was experimental, he has a more intentional vision for his current project, “Shoeboxes.” “Shoeboxes” is a musical memoir dedicated to his life experiences of moving. “It’s based on a line from a poem I wrote: ‘are you going to leave me in your shoebox when you’re done’ because that’s where you put your discarded items and memories.” While the range of his creative works consists of more careful projects like “Shoeboxes,” he still tries to explore his lyrical freedom, and he even has a song about a Subway sandwich.  “I like to be funny with my lyrics,” Hutchinson said. “The song [about Subway] is about a woman who messed up my order but I forgave her because I love[d] her so much.” Additionally, Hutchinson tries to expand his creativity to his production style. “I bought my bass off my friend for a hundred bucks in eighth grade, and I learned a lot of simple bass lines.” Despite never being formally taught to play any instruments, Hutchinson taught himself guitar and bass, which he incorporates in many of his tracks for a more “organic” sound. He considers himself an independent artist, but was never alone in the production process, saying, “I attribute a lot of my music to my father. He’s put me onto a lot of music. He’s the person who introduced me to rap. Everything that I love, half of the music I listen to, is all from my dad.” Now, Hutchinson plans to continue his solo career, joining his brother Jason Hutchinson ’21 in a Black art collective based in Atlanta called “da palace.”  Levi Tipton – aviles on Spotify In 2018, Levi Tipton ’24 began making music in his room, eventually evolving from tinkering with free applications to transforming his room into a secluded space where he can make music wherever he wants. He explained that with the stricter rules regarding accessing recording studios, he decided to make a recording setup in his room.  In seventh grade, Tipton’s music teacher introduced him to GarageBand, starting his interest in music. In the beginning, he was always “making music for fun” before he “started taking things more seriously.” He shared that he continued to be “exposed to people who wanted [him] to record music, and [he] kept working at it.” Additionally, he explained that to a layperson, the term “producer” might come across as slightly “corny,” but that he tries to overcome this initial impression by playing some of his music. He now produces music with fellow student Xavier Aviles ’24. Like other musicians, he acknowledges that “music is very subjective,” and that it is up to the listener to decide what they like. He developed his style by listening to other artists, then trying to “emulate something that sounds unique.” When asked about his aspirations in making music, he said that he ultimately just enjoys “messing around with his music” in his room and finding his own artistic style.

*This article is republished from Deerfield fashion magazine Beyond The Valley (beyonddavalley.com) Reporting on the horrors behind the seams of the fast fashion industry are not new; we’re all familiar with stories of child labor and poor working conditions in sweatshops, and the environmental pollution it causes on a global scale. Despite knowing that fashion destroys individual lives and the globe, we still dance to “Timber” by Ke$ha in clothes from Amazon (of course, we ordered multiple outfits last-minute just to make sure at least one came in time) and chuck them in the landfill bin the next morning without a second thought. However, the consumerist nature of dance attire leaves a huge social and ecological footprint that we must work to reduce. When it’s time to disco, students search for silver skirts and neon tops, and for plaid flannels and cowboy boots before Throwdown. With its seemingly endless options at cheap prices and fast shipping, Amazon is the most popular platform. However, the site’s affordability and convenience come at a steep price that is paid by unprotected young workers in deep poverty. An October 2019 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that Amazon’s supply chains involve dozens of Bangladeshi factories that most leading retailers such as H&M and Nike banned after the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which killed 1,138 people and injured over 2,500. Despite the dangers to underprivileged workers, Amazon continues to source clothing from blacklisted factories where conditions have not improved in the decade since the collapse. According to Earth.org, laborers in Bangladesh spend 14 to 16 hour workdays stitching shirts in “poor, unhygienic and unsafe” conditions (such as being exposed to harmful substances without enough ventilation) with little legal protection from the government. Protesters are often punished with dismissal from their jobs. Cheap clothing on Amazon is made by cheap labor, which comes at the expense of real people. The environmental cost is also significant. Fast fashion is responsible for 10% of yearly global carbon emissions, more than international flights and shipping combined. In a March 25th article, the UN reports that the industry also uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water per year. Additionally, fast fashion clothing is made using plastic microfibres such as polyester, nylon and spandex, which take up to 500 years to fully decompose. This means the remains of the sequined top you wore to  disco this fall could still  be circling the oceans in 2523. When the clothes’ poisonous dyes and chemicals enter the food chain, they can cause digestive problems, skin irritation and multitudes of other health problems. The poor quality of fast fashion clothes only increases the ecological damage; the thin fabrics, weak seams, and subpar construction make it easier for consumers like us to throw them away without much regret, perpetuating the cycle of fast consumption.  So the next time you are preparing for a dance, whether that be throwdown or junior prom, stop before clicking on Amazon, Princess Polly, or Zara. Ask your proctors or other upperclassmen if they have items from years past that you could borrow, or if anyone else has any extra pieces. If you can’t source from within Deerfield, try online thrifting at stores like Depop, Poshmark, thredUP, and Vestiaire Collective. Turn to fast fashion only if all these options fail, but I would bet a pink cowboy hat that you can find something cute and cheap second-hand. The best part is that you do not have to fund the exploitation of a teen or fuel climate change to look hot on the dance floor.

In October 2022, Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy received a copyright infringement notice from PicRights Ltd., alleging that the Scroll used images that are copyrighted by Reuters, a news organization, in two articles published in 2014 and 2017.  A company dedicated to copyright enforcement, PicRights monetizes copyright infringements by scouring the internet for images (including those uploaded years before) that were used without the owner’s permission.  According to Mr. Sheehy, in the 2017 article “Macron Wins French Election” and the 2014 article “Deerfield Debates LGBT Rights in Russia,” the Scroll misappropriated images of Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin from Reuters , and later published the articles (containing the copyrighted images) on the Scroll’s website. After receiving the notice and handing it off to Deerfield’s General Counsel, who then confirmed the legitimacy of the company, Deerfield negotiated with PicRights to lower the initial request of $2,000 to around $500. In late November, the Academy, on behalf of the Scroll , paid the fine. Since the incident, the Academy has received similar notices for other student organizations, including one for The Focal Point , Deerfield’s student-run Science Magazine. Reflecting on what happened, Mr. Sheehy said, “I don’t view this as a bad thing. I think this is a wonderful learning moment of how we think about copyright, how we think about attribution to something, and how we think about images that are part of the public domain versus copyrighted and which can be used and can’t be used in that way, particularly when it comes to a digital platform.” He added, “I think it’s a wonderful learning moment to understand from a journalistic point of view, what can we use? What can’t we use? When should we seek permission to use something?” Director of the Library Marshall Carroll suggested that, to avoid such incidents, student publications should place “greater reliance on students creating original media. There are talented Deerfield students who should take pictures or create original graphic representations. It would be much more meaningful for the media to connect these events to our community.” One major concern, however, lies in the next generation of students, who may not have witnessed the same learning experiences. Thus, according to Mr. Carroll, it has become even more imperative to build processes and procedures that not only identify best practices but also explain why.  “Too often in organizations with turnover, like schools where students graduate and faculty take on different responsibilities, institutional memory gets lost,” he said.  According to Mr. Carroll, “The biggest takeaway is that copyright and information literacy are important and have real-life consequences,” he said. For Dean of Faculty Ivory Hills, this incident underscores the necessity for better coordination to avoid oversights. He offered the following advice: “Start earlier, work as teams, do drafts, don’t wait until the last minute, and slow down,” he said.  Upon being notified of past copyright infringements in October 2022, the Scroll XCVII Editorial Board worked to avoid further violations. After consulting faculty resources such as Mr. Carroll, they created a copyright policy for future editorial boards. The policy requires graphic artists to incorporate their own creative interpretation to any works including logos. Additionally, when acquiring photos from any source, consent must be clearly given by the original photographer, even if the person in the photo has given such consent. When asked how the current Scroll Board reacted to the copyright violations, Newsroom Managing Editor Clara Chae ’23 said, “even though the infringements didn’t occur under our leadership, we still feel responsible for establishing better guidelines for future boards.” She continued, “I also think only good can come of fully utilizing our student graphic artists and photographers.” Editor-in-Chief Sunshine Chen ’23 added, “The copyright incident made us realize the broad scope of the Scroll ’s reach due to its online presence and has thus encouraged us to be even more vigilant in our journalistic principles.”

Upon entering the Athletics Complex on January 27, 2023, students were greeted by a full-sized cardboard cutout of a familiar face: a teenage version of Math Teacher Sean Keller ’86 poised to play. The cutout was just one facet of Deerfield’s Hockey Centennial, celebrating 100 years since the school’s inaugural hockey season in 1922. Though the celebration was postponed from 2022 to 2023 due to COVID-19 precautions, hundreds of alumni returned to Deerfield from Friday, January 27 to Thursday, January 28 for a weekend of reunion and celebration. Anthony Abene P’22, who inspired the centennial celebration, said, “When my son Max [Abene ’22] was accepted to Deerfield back in 2019, we had seen on the Deerfield website that Deerfield’s first hockey season was in 1922. I told him, ‘Your senior year on the hockey team will be the 100-year anniversary, so maybe the school will do something cool,’ so that was the initial idea.” Dr. Abene and his son compiled comprehensive lists of every Deerfield varsity hockey player and the scores of every Deerfield hockey game played from yearbooks, news articles, the Deerfield Archives, and the Deerfield Magazine. For example, he talked to an alumnus who graduated in the 1960s to supplement his yearbook information. Eventually, their list grew to about 950 players.  As Dr. Abene reached out to alumni to gauge their interest in the centennial event, his networking inspired an informal alumni committee and he began officially coordinating with the Advancement Office through Director of Alumni Relations Jenny Hammond. John Knight ’83, one of nine centennial committee members and previously a hockey team manager at Deerfield, said, “The committee was focused on exhibiting the excellence of Deerfield’s hockey program and to give current students a glimpse of their future.” The weekend began with a family skate, as well as two Friday home games on the Class of 1993 Indoor Rink. The girls varsity game against Northfield Mount Hermon ended in a 1-2 loss, and the boys varsity game against Pomfret School resulted in a 5-3 win. Alumni gathered to play two early morning games on the indoor and outdoor rinks on Saturday. Each participant received a special alumni 100-year jersey and a participation medal for the games.  Jim Lindsay ’70 P’96, Head Boys Varsity Hockey Coach from 1989 to 2003, said, “We had six players from that 1970 team who came back for the weekend.” He continued, “There were also a large contingent of players back from when I was a hockey coach so it was great to see so many familiar faces.” Commenting on the newly added outdoor rink, Mr. Lindsay joked, “The rink is the hockey equivalent to the field of dreams… I’m not sure if I would have gotten any work done if I had that when I was a student here.”  In honor of the centennial, Deerfield Academy, with the help of Director of Alumni Relations Jenny Hammond, invited six distinguished alumni from the hockey world: Mr. Lindsay, Olympian Medalists Jamison “Jamie” Hagerman Phinney ’99 and Molly Schaus ’06, former National Hockey League (NHL) players Marty Reasoner ’96 and Ben Lovejoy ’03, and the first female referee for the American Hockey League (AHL) Katie Guay ’01. The guests reflected on their hockey careers during an alumni panel that occured on Saturday, January 28. Alongside alumni-centered events, Deerfield and the centennial committee worked extensively to prepare displays for the weekend. The Advancement Office and the Communications Office created space for an archival exhibit in the Rink Room of the athletic center. One installation was a blowup of the original rink from 1950 overlaid on the wall. Replica jerseys from Deerfield graduate former NHL players and Olympians were framed and mounted in the room as permanent installations.  The main attraction of the exhibit were the belongings of alumnus Richard Miner ’34. Mrs. Hammond explained, “We received on loan an original 1934 Deerfield hockey sweater and skates from the daughters of Dr. Miner, so we had those on display in the room.”  Recalling the exhibit, boys varsity hockey captain Owen Clifford ’23 said, “It was really moving seeing all of the old jerseys and pictures of players in the old rink. It was one of those moments where I just kind of stopped and took it all in.” Another highlight was a projection of videos dating from the 1950s on the wall next to the staircase leading to the indoor rink. One of the archival videos showed Deerfield students in class dress lugging iron piping, which contained a solution cold enough to keep the ice frozen, into the first indoor hockey rink in 1957. Upon viewing the video, David Knight ’58 said, “I remember carrying those pipes!” He was also the first varsity goalie to play on the indoor rink at Deerfield.  The centennial celebration ended with two more home games: a 0-4 loss against Andover for Girls Varsity Hockey and a 2-1 win against Hotchkiss for Boys Varsity Hockey.  Recounting the weekend, John Knight ’83 explained the significance of the centennial, especially compared to typical alumni reunions. “For the centennial, hockey alumni represented many classes, and alumni were able to see former teammates who were not in their class and catch up, [which] led to the sharing of many wonderful stories but also underscored the quality of the Deerfield family in general.”  Dr. Abene extended a similar sentiment, stating, “The real thing about the weekend was ‘Be Worthy of Your Heritage.’ We’re hoping that other sports can use this as a template for their celebrations.” He concluded, “Hockey in America started in New England, so it’s not just Deerfield history, it’s hockey history.”

How long have you been at Deerfield? 17 years. What made you choose Deerfield? I went to school locally and took carpentry. I started working carpentry through Deerfield and then came onto security after that. If you won the lottery, what would you do? I would stay working, buy brand new everything, and give some money to my family and friends. What’s your favorite dining hall food? Probably a good omelet on Sundays. What’s your favorite movie? Right now let’s go with all of “The Expendables.” Favorite hobby? Probably working out. What’s your bench? My max bench at one point was 465 lbs. What’s your favorite spot on campus? Probably the river… It’s peaceful down there. What’s your favorite part of your job? Getting to know all different kinds of people, whether from here, across the country, or across the world. Students, faculty, staff, everyone. What advice would you give to someone? Just take one day at a time.

By now, I can confidently say that the term “scheme” has infiltrated the minds of all Deerfield community members, faculty and staff included. What might be more up to the imagination of the adults is how exactly the pairings this word refers to come to be. A typical Deerfield relationship, unlike others at peer schools and day schools, takes a course of action that is quite distinct. But how does such a thing manifest itself on campus?  To begin: Snapchat — a social media app that has transformed the means of communication for teenagers everywhere. A platform for texting with selfies, more or less, has become the key tool to getting to know someone else. A simple quick add and selfie exchange back and forth has proved itself sufficient in making the first move. Secondly, a walk. You see, at a day school, adolescents have the opportunity to drive to places like restaurants, movie theaters, arcades, bowling alleys, and other social spots together, but not at Deerfield Academy. Typically a walk around the Small Loop is an appropriate way to approach someone who you may not have too many “mutuals” with. This strategy happens to be a technique born during the the COVID-19 Pandemic, during the 2020-2021 school year, yet it has evidently stuck around (for its high success rate, of course). Next up: Studying. Studying together is the perfect way to spend quality time alone while still getting to learn more about each other. It’s not too formal; if for whatever reason the conversation dies down and things begin to tense up, you have your computer and homework to attend to! It is practical and a way to get the ball rolling with your special someone. You are finally sitting together, alone, but without the fear of running out of things to talk about. The best part is, if you’re really not feeling it, then maybe your math homework is suddenly too overwhelming and you need to get back to your room. Or maybe you forgot your calculator and can’t work anymore. Or maybe… you’ll get lucky, and it’s nearing time to check-in — whichever happens first. Weekends change things. On weeknights it’s understood that you have a busy life and heavy workload ahead of you. On Friday and Saturday, those excuses are no longer viable. If you are lucky, you and your soon to be significant other can casually hang out in the Greer with plenty of your friends, however, this is not always the case. Without anyone around you to break the ice, going to sit at the Greer alone together could be daunting. By bringing a friend or two, if need be, your friend can suddenly receive the most overwhelming news that leads to you both needing to get back to your dorm immediately. On the bright side, if things go well, your friend can suddenly receive the most overwhelming news that leads to just them going back to the dorm immediately. It’s a win-win.  The final stage: Parietals. At this point, you’ve both recognized that there’s a spark. It’s time to solidify your interest in one another by hanging out alone, fully alone. Whether your plan is to watch a movie or a new show, play a card game, or just to see where the conversation takes you, it can be nerve wracking. Don’t fear! It’s butterflies. This is just the beginning of your incredible journey together. You’ll embark on expeditions to the Greer, the library, the Koch cafe, each other’s dorm rooms, sporting events, and other wild new places! So really, don’t put too much pressure on any of it. Besides, if none of this sounds enticing, simply don’t bother adding them back on Snapchat.

Holidays like Valentine’s Day are special. The thought of receiving chocolates, flowers, and cards is thrilling. Oftentimes, we seek validation from those around us, and such gestures have the overarching ability to make us feel loved and cared for. Yet when our expectations are excessive, we will likely end up disappointed. While holidays like Valentine’s Day are about love and affection, they can also be lonely. Spending the day without a date seems to be the biggest concern on this day, yet in reality, there are many other ways to feel lonely with or without a romantic partner. Being overwhelmed by the chaos of boarding school, missing those at a distance to you, or grieving a loved one who has passed are just some of the examples of how relationships aren’t the only cause of isolation on this day. So how do we avoid the negativity and spend our day focused on the positives? The purpose of Valentine’s Day is to celebrate love and affection — it doesn’t specify what kinds. To effectively participate, we should celebrate the loving relationships we do have, rather than dwell on the ones we don’t. The relationship we have with ourselves is most pivotal when it comes to achieving a state of contentment, independence, and gratitude. Taking care of yourself is the most effective way to transition from the negative headspace you might be in, to the positive state of mind you wish to be in. Spend the day focused on yourself, on your happiness. Indulge in all of the things that satisfy your needs and wants. Read a popular book, watch a new movie, or listen to your favorite music. Take part in what calms you so that you can learn how to love yourself. Coloring, meditating, and journaling are three effective ways I personally focus on when I am in need of a mental reset. To color: print an outline, grab some colorful pens, and put on some music. I personally find this practice to be extremely therapeutic and relaxing. Meditating is a great way to calm yourself down when your thoughts are moving faster than it feels your brain can manage. You can open up YouTube, Spotify, or the Podcast app on your phone and listen to hundreds of different meditations guided by tons of highly qualified, licensed professionals. Lastly, to journal, simply grab a pen and paper and write all of the things that are causing negative thoughts. It is a useful way to get out the thoughts and feelings that are too hard to say out loud. All of these practices are quick and easy, and yet they have proven to be extremely beneficial. After resetting your mind, focusing on yourself, and making sure that you are okay, it is crucial to focus on the other relationships in your life. This includes the relationships you have with your family, close friends, acquaintances, classmates, teammates, teachers, advisors, and coaches, as well as partners. Call a friend from home and see how they are doing, or call a family member and tell them you miss them. Take a walk around campus with your advisor. Visit the studio or go to the Lower Fields with your friends. Invite someone you are not very close with to come to dinner with you. The key to feeling okay on this day is to spend it filled with gratitude. Focus and appreciate the relationships you do have, rather than dwell on the ones you don’t. And remember, you are never alone.

Due to the cold weather, student morale sometimes drops during the winter. After a long winter week, many students are happy to journey to the Main School Building for a cup of hot cocoa and some delicious cookies.   Dr. Austin explained, “The purpose [of this tradition] has been to provide an opportunity during winter term for students to mingle and chat while enjoying [treats] in front of the MSB fireplace.” The warm and crackling fireplace provides a cozy atmosphere for students to quickly drop in for a snack or sit and talk with friends. Former Head of School Margarita Curtis started the tradition during her time as Head of School. Unfortunately, Cookies and Cocoa was paused during the pandemic, only restarting this year. Dr. Austin expressed his excitement, saying, “I enjoy all of those features of Cookies and Cocoa,” referring to the chance to engage with students, and having something to look forward to on Friday afternoon. Showcasing some wonderful aspects of the community, Cookies and Cocoa has benefitted Deerfield Academy since it began. Although it is a small tradition, it brings joy to many students during the Winter Term, as they can look forward to relaxing with friends and munching on delectable treats. Many students can agree with Dr. Austin when he said, “I think what [the students] enjoy most is gathering together to have a Friday end-of-week snack.”

The Scroll presents “Never Have I Ever (Deerfield Version).” Our list is a loose measure of your time at Deerfield, not a bucket list (though you may treat it like one). Many of the items on our list encompass some quintessential elements of life at Deerfield, so we are sure that you’ll be able to check off at least one. Never Have I Ever… ☐ Skipped Sit-Down ☐ Made an announcement at Sit-Down ☐ Cut in the first waiter line ☐ Made a salad/sandwich instead of lunch/dinner ☐ Helped set a table that I didn’t have to ☐ Been assigned to the Parker Room ☐ Eaten in the Parker room regardless of my assignment ☐ Been ditched by my Sit-Down head ☐ Gotten sung to in the D-Hall ☐ Been to Sunday Brunch ☐ Broken something in the D-Hall ☐ Signed up for a club/alliance’s emails and never attended ☐ Dressed the theme for a sports game ☐ Watched a sport I didn’t know the rules to ☐ Continued a chant when everyone else stopped ☐ Visited Richardson’s ☐ Visited Bittersweet ☐ Eaten at the Deerfield Inn ☐ Asked someone or been asked to Semi ☐ Learned how to swing dance ☐ Stayed for the entirety of a dance ☐ Taken the shuttle to Greenfield ☐ Shrived at the Riv ☐ Hiked to the Rock ☐ Gotten parietals ☐ Been on stage in School Meeting ☐ Unrighteously walked on senior grass ☐ Learned the lyrics to the “Evensong” ☐ Participated in Choate Day festivities ☐ Kept prohibited items in my dorm ☐ Been late for curfew ☐ Been late for class ☐ Skipped class ☐ Dressed up for Halloween (the dance counts too!) ☐ Bought something from the Louis Café ☐ Stayed in the Health Center overnight ☐ Read the Scroll (Free square!)