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Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to “creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth,” according to their website. The organization’s chapter in Franklin County serves as a mentorship resource for the county’s youth, consistently including “Bigs” from Deerfield Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon. At Deerfield, rising juniors who are interested in becoming a “Big” are required to complete an application and participate in an interview to demonstrate their interest and commitment to spending two hours weekly with their “Little.” After in-person meetings between Bigs and Littles were suspended due to the COVID pandemic from the winter of 2020, the beloved service program and its Littles made their comeback on campus on April 1st, 2022. Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters at Deerfield Academy and College Advisor Erin Hutchinson said that the program provides an opportunity for the Bigs to “interact with people outside of Deerfield and stay connected with young people,” making the Academy feel “less like a bubble.” When asked about how the Littles are benefited by the program, Mrs. Hutchinson said the Littles get “someone who’s not part of their family to look up to.” Zoe Matias ’23, a current Big Sister, said her experience with the Littles is “so valuable and fun,” and that it is a “good distraction from challenging junior year classes and APs.” Matias said she was convinced to apply when she saw Angela Osei-Ampadu ’21 with her Little on campus. This sentiment was echoed with Jamie Weymouth ’23 who shared that he was also influenced to apply by a former Big Brother, Will Savage ’20, his freshman year proctor, whom he looked up to and “set as a role model.” Weymouth, a current Big Brother, said he believes the program allows for the Littles to be “exposed to a greater community, and have a role model.” The visibility of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program on Deerfield’s campus amongst peers and across grade levels provides opportunities for others to see how they can be more involved in the local community. As a program, Big Brothers Big Sisters centers around the formation of meaningful relationships and current Bigs seem to have been drawn to volunteering after benefiting from similar sentiments. On Fridays Bigs and their Littles can often be seen running across the campus as well as contributing to a fun atmosphere in the dining hall. Mrs. Hutchinson encourages current sophomores to “definitely apply to the program if you like children, and can be patient and understanding.” Matias said that “it might be an inconvenience to set aside time on Friday evenings, but the relationships you build with the Littles are worth the time.” Sage Piekarski ’23, a current Big Sister, also expressed the amount of value the relationship between her and her Little holds. She said she and her Little have similar interests, and that “they grow each others’ interests together.” The Deerfield chapter is one of the oldest ones to exist for a high school and students are encouraged to apply in addition to exploring the many resources available on Big Brothers Big Sisters website. The many Deerfield students that are a part of the program is a testament to the community values emphasized at the Academy. Mrs. Hutchinson’s advice to future Big Brothers and Big Sisters is to “be prepared to have a deeper connection with your Littles than expected.”

On Sunday, May 8, Deerfield Academy hosted the sixth annual Deerfield Math Competition (DMC)–organized by Deerfield students and participated in by middle school students. After the opening ceremony in the Garonzik, teams participated in a round where the theme of questions relate to Sherlock Holmes, followed by an individual relay round, a lunch break, then the team general and guts rounds. The individual round had eight problems, with all problems weighted equally The event concluded in the afternoon with an award ceremony where a team from Eaglebrook were announced as the competition’s victor. There were three main branches for organizing the competition: problem writing, logistics, and outreach. The problem writing branch wrote all problems used in the competition; the logistics branch organized the event, reserving the Garonzik and other rooms in Koch; and outreach, mainly Jerry Yuan ’22 and Summer Zhou ’23, the two leaders of the Deerfield Math Club, corresponded with participating schools to arrange the event. Questions in DMC were designed to be thoughtprovoking but not necessarily require mathematical knowledge beyond precalculus. Although the original guidelines required the difficulty to range from American Math Contest 10 (AMC 10) to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), the organizers composed a new set of easier questions as the date of the event approached. As Deerfield Math Club member Daniel Wareham ’24 commented “[The competition] is something enjoyable rather than making the questions too hard that [middle schoolers] cannot do [them].” This year, the DMC had slightly fewer participants due to some schools’ strict COVID-19 protocols. Some of the schools indicated a desire to be separate from other teams. Therefore, the DMC arranged separate rooms for these teams during the team rounds. Although the format of DMC was largely inspired by large university competitions including the MIT and Harvard Math Competition and the Princeton Math Tournament, DMC has fewer participants, therefore, has a more intimate setting. Especially during the team guts round, in which participants could see everyone’s score updated immediately, seeing the scores created a competitive atmosphere for all participants. Zhou said that in some large competitions, “if you are not in the top several teams, then you can’t really see the score and feel as if you are just a part of it, and can’t really feel your presence. But that is a good thing about competing in a small setting.” Similarly, Wareham, who has only competed in the online Harvard and MIT Math Competition, said that online competitions “are nowhere near the atmosphere of a live competition.”

William “Bill” Griffiths joined Deerfield Academy in the fall of 2020. Prior to Deerfield, he taught at a private college preparatory school in Kansas City, Missouri for seventeen years. At Deerfield, he taught mathematics, served on the Admissions Committee, and coached Junior Varsity Football and Thirds Basketball. Max Peh ’24, who is in Mr. Griffiths’ AP Calculus BC class, said that his ‘Philosophy Days’ will be memorable because they “made [mathematicians’] work more interesting.” Peh added, “He makes everyone in his class feel welcome; I’ve never been afraid to speak or ask questions. It’s a really safe and productive learning environment where everyone is able to enquire about what they want to learn about.” Emily Feng ’22, who is also in AP Calculus BC, commented, “He’s the most supportive teacher and mentor and person […] He always made me feel that I was being supported and never felt that I was asking as stupid question. […] He emphasizes improvement and makes sure that we understand everything.” She added, “He genuinely cares about his students […] and makes sure they’re okay,” and that they are “confident and comfortable in their abilities.”

Science Teacher Ms. Rowena Schenck, a Penn fellow, joined Deerfield in the fall of 2020. She taught Chemistry 1 and AP Seminar: H2O & Food Systems, lived as a dorm resident in Mods and was an associate of Johnson her first year, and was an assistant coach of the Varsity Alpine Skiing and JV Girls Lacrosse teams. Carson Belaire ’23, her student in the MODS, said, “She’s super caring and down-to-earth and she’s always willing to take time out of her day, especially during the nights she’s on duty, just to hang out and chill with the MODS boys. She obviously has the greatest feeds, and she always has something to talk to us about…We’re going to miss her a lot—there’s no doubt about it.” Although 2020 was a “crazy and wild year to start teaching,” according to Ms. Schenck, she enjoyed her experience at Deerfield, especially the school spirit. She commented that leaving Deerfield is a bittersweet moment. Ms. Schenck will miss the students, the friendships she established with faculty members, especially working with Mr. Toby Emerson, a Science Teacher who is also Ms. Schenck’s mentor for the Penn program. Recently, Ms. Schenck received her master’s degree on May 14. Moving forward, Ms. Schenck will continue to teach chemistry at Phillips Academy Andover.

Director of Counseling Joshua Relin is saying goodbye to Deerfield Academy. Dr. Relin, who first joined the Academy in 2015, helped build the Counseling Office from its very infancy. On campus, Dr. Relin is well known for his Mindful Moments during school meetings. He explained, “Mindfulness is such a powerful skill. Why not help everyone start to learn and practice every week when we’re all gathered together?” During his time at the Academy, Dr. Relin has tried implementing several different ways to impart mindfulness skills into the Deerfield Community. Students have come to appreciate this time as well. Sam Thiel ’22 said, “It’s good to have a few moments of rest, and Dr. Relin’s efforts have encouraged a pos- itive atmosphere on campus.” “Making sense of why people feel and think and behave the way they do” has always fascinated Dr. Relin, he said, even in his youth. While attending Skidmore College he enrolled in several different psychology courses, eventually focusing on the realm of existential psychology. After college, he worked at a residential middle school for youth dealing with trauma in San Leandro, California. “I was so inspired by the growth and change I got to witness in the kids, and challenged and nourished by the relationships I got to form with them,” he said. This experience cemented his desire to pursue a career in helping others grow and heal. In 2015, Dr. Relin was living in South Deerfield while working at the University of Massachusetts when he found a local listing for Director of Counseling at Deerfield. “What really sealed the deal for me was when I came for my interview and met the students and faculty,” Dr. Relin said. During his time at the Academy, Dr. Relin has seen the biggest change in the community’s tolerance and inclusivity. “I really hope that kind of progress continues,” he said. Dr. Relin said he plans to open a private practice working with teens and adults in the local area. He also hopes to consult and teach.

History and Social Sciences teacher Timothy Morris will be leaving Deerfield after this school year. He teaches Ancient Civilizations, U.S. History, and From Sun Tzu to Suicide Bombers. In addition, he coaches Varsity Football and Varsity Wrestling, and is the hall resident for Scaife II He has been at Deerfield for two years. Prior to Deerfield, he served in the Marine Corps for six years, working at posts in the Philippines and Iraq. While at Deerfield, he continued to contribute to military training in western Massachusetts; for the first half of spring term this year, he took a leave of absence to be trained as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor at a Marine base in Arizona. Mr. Morris said that he treasured “quality time, in the classroom, on the field, and in the dorm, with students.” He said that he will miss the curiosity and insight of his classes and the opportunity to meet a variety of students during sit-down meals. James Fealy ’24, who is Mr. Morris’ advisee, in addition to residing on Scaife 2 and playing on Varsity Football, said, “I really enjoyed my time with Mr. Morris as my advisor. I feel like he always wanted what was best for me and pushed me to be the best I could be.” His student Aly Gonzalez ’23 said, “He’s really passionate about what he teaches, and he’s really understanding and flexible around your schedule and how you want to work. […] There was a really fun project where we researched a current event and gave a presentation […] It was really insightful because we were able to understand the history of America through modern issues. […] Mr. Morris has really helped me improve my work ethic and I’ve been able to work more consistently. I’ve gotten a really well-rounded understanding of American history through his class because he knows so much and he’s able to provide multiple perspectives without clouding our judgment. […] He’s always quoting ‘growth mindset’ stuff, and although we don’t usually take it seriously, it actually really helps, because it’s a small reminder […] that everything will eventually work out as long as you stick with it.”

Over his two years at Deerfield, Kiyomasa Kuwana taught five sections of Asia in World History and received an M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania after completing the Penn Fellow program. As a new faculty member during the pandemic, Mr. Kuwana was thankful for the guidance from colleagues such as Dr. Friends, feedback from his students, and discussions on pedagogy with fellow Fellows that shaped him as an educator. Outside of the classroom, he grew to know the wider Deerfield community as a dorm resident in MODS and Field, in which he recognized each student’s rich and multifaceted lifestyles, and as the Girls JV Squash coach, where he felt inspired by their resilience and competitive spirits. He also served as the co-advisor of the Asian Student Alliance, noting his appreciation for student activism and active inclusivity toward students of Asian descent. In the future, he plans to travel domestically to delve deeper into Asian American histories and to Japan, Korea, and Spain to learn more about World War II. Bonnie Pang ’24, who was in Mr. Kuwana’s Asia in World History class last year, said, “One thing he did really well is that he tried to connect current issues to any subject matter we had in the class, which made the class feel more relevant. I appreciate that he tried to make the class beyond what it said in the syllabus. [For instance,] when the Asian-American shootings happened after spring break last year, we read articles about it and listened to podcasts. It proved how whatever we were learning about would be useful.”

For almost five years, Erin Hutchinson has been both a College Advisor and the Assistant Director of the Center for Service and Global Citizenship. Ms. Hutchinson, who currently lives on Doubleday I, also serves as the faculty advisor to the Deerfield Black Student Alliance, an elected member of the Committee for Faculty Life, and an appointed member of the Inclusion Task Force. She emphasized that her favorite thing about Deerfield has been “being able to assume new roles, from working in the Office Of Inclusion and Community Life to coaching Girls Third Basketball.” Yet the most meaningful experience for her was leading the faculty trip—Leadership and Activism through the Lens of the American Civil Rights Movement—this year over spring break. “I loved seeing the trip grow over the years from an idea to reality,” she said. “I appreciate the faith and resources that Deerfield Academy invested in my project to the great benefit of the students who went on that trip.” She added, “I’m really going to miss the students when I am gone, especially Donald, but that happens every year whether I stay or leave as the students graduate… What I’m really going to miss is having my adult friends so accessible in my life, just across the Quad or stopping by my office to invite me to lunch. HG, Dr. Brown, Dr. Pfeffer, Mrs. Gray, Ms. Dolan, and Dr. Hunt have been incredible friends to me, and the thought of leaving them behind makes me feel really vulnerable and sad.” Alioune Dia ’22, one of Ms. Hutchinson’s current advisees who also participated in her CSGC spring trip, said, “What makes her unique is her ability to combine kindness and a sense of empathy for the students as a faculty advi- sor and as a college advisor, with her pragmatism as a woman but also her unique standpoints as an African American woman. And I think that that’s something that will sorely be missed on campus. And also her […] inescapable smile. It was a pleasure having her as my advisor; [she helped me] understand a part of myself as an African American in ways that I couldn’t with most of the other wonderful faculty on campus.” Ms. Hutchinson will soon be joining her husband at Earlham College, a liberal arts col- lege in Richmond, Indiana. She has accepted the position of Assistant Vice President of En- rollment Management, and is “looking forward to returning to the field of college admissions at an institution whose values closely align with [her own].”

Before her four years at Deerfield Academy, Health Teacher Margaret Brown taught at an independent school in Greensboro, North Carolina. There, Dr. Brown performed a myriad of duties, such as teaching science for a portion of her time there. In Greensboro, she mainly served as a college counselor and later went on to be named a dean, meaning she was responsible for both col- lege counseling and discipline. Health classes have been a part of the Academy’s curriculum for years, but was previously only required as a tenth-grade term-long class. However, when Dr. Brown was hired in the fall of 2018, she was brought in with the goal of eventually expanding the health syllabus to a four-year program, allowing students to take Health at every grade level. Her first year was spent getting to know the campus and community. In the beginning of her second year, she helped implement weekly ninth-grade health classes, which have remained for the past three years. Dr. Brown enjoys working with adolescents and finds it rewarding. In addition to teaching Health, she also coaches Girl’s Varsity Volleyball during Fall. When Dr. Brown is not encouraging her athletes on the court or engaging students in conversations about mental and physical wellness, she may be found on the first floor of Pocumtuck dormitory. If you find yourself near Pocumtuck on one of their feed nights, you just might be lucky enough to enjoy some of Dr. Brown’s homemade baked goods. Caroline Hoff ’22 has known Dr. Brown for all four years of her Deerfield career, as the two arrived in the same year. Their first real interaction was during Hoff’s sophomore health class. The time Dr. Brown and Hoff spent together during health classes motivated Hoff’s decision to request Dr. Brown as her advisor for her last two years at the Academy. Especially with Dr. Brown as her hall resident this past year, Hoff has found Dr. Brown to be somewhat of a mother figure for her. Hoff describes Dr. Brown as being very good at understanding and listening. She recounted times when, noticing Dr. Brown’s keen understanding and listening skills, her friends have gone to Dr. Brown for guidance even though she was not their advisor. Hoff explained, “I have just watched [Dr. Brown] talk to them and treat them the same way she does me, so I know she treats everyone with that caring attitude.” Dr. Brown is also known for her love of baking and bring- ing treats to students. “If you tell [Dr. Brown] you’re hungry, she’ll even offer to bake for you and I don’t think anyone at Deer- field really does that.” Hoff said. Dr. Brown has appreciated being a part of the Deerfield community while raising her three young sons. She has enjoyed seeing her kids find people they connect with on and around campus for the past four years.

Mr. Mark Teutsch, a teacher of 15 years in Deerfield’s Science Department, plans to retire upon the conclusion of the 2021-2022 academic year. Departing with immense gratitude for students that have influenced his career, he leaves Deerfield with the intention of either fully retiring or transitioning to a new category of work. “The reason why I’m seeking to retire at this point is it feels right. In all my life, I’ve tried to respect the feelings that I’ve had, to move […] to those feelings,” Mr. Teutsch reflected. During his tenure at Deerfield, Mr. Teutsch has felt inspired by student leaders that have sat in his classes, and he has undoubtedly inspired students himself. Additionally, Mr. Teutsch has played a key role in the development of Deerfield’s greenhouse. He has spent countless hours planting various vegetables and flowers to turn the place into a highlight of the campus. Jarvis Shema ’23 will have the privilege to sit in Mr. Teutsch’s final class of Honors Biology at Deerfield. Shema praised Mr. Teutsch for being “a teacher who goes above and beyond to ensure each student is understanding as best as they can while also ensuring each student is enjoying the class. Indeed, Mr. Teutsch has played a significant role in developing the Science Department’s Research Program. He has credited past and current students for their roles in launching this program from the ground up. In particular, he recalled, “Caroline Skillman ’19 was able to show that seizures in individual flies could be rescued by medicinals. Annabel Gerber ’20 and Sarah Wright ’20 followed up with the molecular investigations of the signaling processes that were occuring in these flies. Juliette Lowe and Rosa Sun ’21 took these investigations to a new level for me during COVID lockdown.” Deerfield’s vibrant and intellectual community has left a mark on Mr. Teutsch that he will carry with him into the future. The Academy will greatly miss Mr. Teutsch, and his positive influence on the learning environment here will linger for years to come.

On Thursday, May 11, 52 students performed Ukrainian mu- sic in the Hess Auditorium. The concert raised awareness about current events in Ukraine and supported the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. All the pieces were written by influential Ukrainian composers such as Valentyn Silvestrov, a revered composer and pianist, and Ukrainian student Alisa Stepchuk ’23. Other student-led groups including The Deerfield Cellos, Deerfield Community Chorus, and the Deerfield Saxophone Ensemble collaborated to make the concert a success. With regards to the role of music in social movements, Stepchuk said, “I feel that music is a very powerful tool [because] it is a piece of art and a cry from the heart. The recent victory of Ukraine on Eurovision is a key moment in this fight [against] genocide and dicta- torship.” The young musicians in the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine were forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine. Over 12 million Ukrainians have been displaced, 90% of them being women and children.  However, the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is not letting the events in Ukraine stop their music. Currently, the group is asking for donations to perform at the Beethovenfest in August. During spring term, Deerfield musicians worked to rehearse 13 songs, including Ukraine’s national anthem. Each musician also conducted studies about the composer, message, and background of each piece. Stepchuk reflected, “The concert was a great opportunity to showcase my original songs and perform for people I know and who appreciate my art. A lot of artists, writers and musicians were stolen from Ukrainian history the same way Russia is trying to steal our land and wipe out our culture now.” Director of Music Thomas Bergeron acknowledged that “it can be difficult for us here in Deerfield to fully understand the tragedy facing Ukrainian youth,” he said. Mr. Bergeron said he hopes by educating the community through music, there will be a greater degree of awareness and education surrounding the tragedies in the Ukraine. Daphne Huang ’25, one of the performers, said, “Music is just another way for us to understand [other] culture[s] more holistically.” By communicating important messages through music, artists are able to transcend language barriers and connect people across the globe. Stepchuk expressed that it is not an individual’s duty to educate everyone around them, but to first educate themselves and spread positive awareness. All of the musicians’ hard work culminated in a meaningful performance that the audience was able to connect with. Edie Huffard ’25, who attended the concert, said, “I thought it was a great way to both appreciate Ukrainian composers and listen to music that I otherwise might not have seen.” Mr. Bergeron explained that Deerfield chose to spread awareness about Ukraine through music because it is “a universal language which connects humankind.” With so much divide, music connects communities of people while supporting issues around the world. Specifically for Deerfield, Stepchuk believes it is vital that stu- dents and teachers educate themselves about the crisis in Ukraine because, “the war is affecting every part of Ukrainian society and every part of our lives—this is why art can’t be apolitical,” she said, “Boarding schools are a place for an elite that can make tangible change. It is important this elite is educated and active, especially because Deerfield has actual power to raise awareness, bring connections, and start conversations.”

The 2021-2022 academic year marked Deerfield Academy’s third schedule in three years. The new schedule featured ninety-minute classes, alternating days with periods one through three on one day, and periods four through six on the following day. This schedule will be implemented again in the 2022-2023 school year. In creating this schedule, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Ivory Hills expressed that health and wellness were primary factors in the decision making process, as well as the length of the classes allowing students and teachers to delve deeper into topics and classes. Dr. Hills said, “With ninety-minute courses in our curriculum, we can further support students doing what real people in that discipline do.” Dean of Studies Lydia Hemphill, who played a critical role in devising the current schedule, said, “We needed to be pushed to change to a different schedule. Ironically, the pandemic provided us an amazing opportunity to change dramatically, with the two courses per term schedule last year, and then dial it back a little bit, and I think we have ended up with a pretty reasonable schedule this year.” Ms. Hemphill elaborated on the uniqueness of the schedule, saying, “I like the way that classes meet either three times a week, one week and then the next week, two times a week. I like having this variety in the schedule.” She remarked that although routine is beneficial, it can be fun to diverge. English Department Chair Christian Austin said that he enjoys the longer length as it allows for discussions of homework reading in addition to writing. He said, “It was a long time ago now, but Deerfield for a very long time had a seven-period day with 45-minute class periods. Looking back on that now, I don’t see a reason to ever go back. It was like whiplash all day, and to change gears that many times for a student I don’t think makes a lot of sense.” Amelia Goetzke ’24, echoing the sentiments of Mr. Austin, said, “I like the new schedule because it allows me to focus on only three classes each night rather than six. I also enjoy the longer duration of classes, as more can be learned overall.” In regards to shortcomings of the schedule, Science Teacher Jeffrey Crosby said that while he appreciated the length of classes as it allows for more in class work, the impact of less homework presents a new challenge. Dr. Crosby remarked, “I think that students have responded predictably. We asked them to do less homework and they did less homework. Additionally, we overtly said they only have to prepare for three classes a day which is a kind of tacit approval. It’s a problem, though, because you forget a pretty large percentage of what you’ve heard in class in the first 24 hours.” On the other hand, greater time between classes can allow for more thorough preparation. History and Social Science teacher Tricia Batchelor said, “My sense from what I see in class is that because there are never nights when students have to prepare for all five classes, it’s more likely that they have engaged with our assignment in preparation for our meeting.” Although there are instances in which students may have completed the homework the day it was assigned and do not attend the class until five days later, which presents a balancing act, Ms. Batchelor said that, overall, this component of the schedule has been good. Most faculty and students supported the decision to continue this schedule for the coming school year, as changing the schedule for the fourth time would present even more challenges than any potential shortcomings of the current one. Dr. Crosby said, “I’m a big fan of slow evolution over time.” He suggested that gradual changes to the current schedule would be more beneficial than completely changing it. Additionally, Dr. Crosby expressed that while other schedules might allow for longer and less frequent meeting times for some classes and the opposite for others, these schedules, while not impossible, can be quite complicated. Perhaps Deerfield will change its schedule once again, but after some deliberation, the administration has decided to maintain the status quo for another year.