Search this site

Chris Thagard ’20 is a three sport varsity athlete whose passion, tenacity, and leadership has earned him the position of co-captain of the boys’ cross country and the co-ed varsity wrestling team. Having won two fifth place Class A Champion titles and an invitation to compete in the New England Wrestling Championship two years in a row, Thagard’s high impact can be attributed to his exemplary attitude towards being an athlete. “Everyone is on the same playing field — it’s all about how much work you put into it,” he said.   Thagard’s love for wrestling began at age six. He attributes a lot of his success to his older brother.   “He went 50-0 in wrestling, and I was his practice dummy,” said Thagard.  Deerfield wrestling is based on a foundation of integrity, intensity, and intelligence. Head coach Daniel Houston attests to Thagard’s model leadership.  “Chris epitomizes the ideals of Deerfield wrestling,” he said. Assistant coach Marshall Carroll highlights Thagard’s success as captain through his ability to instill these ideals into each of his teammates.  Carroll said, “Chris is a very special athlete. He is very coachable and one of the hardest workers I’ve ever come across in my 15 years of coaching wrestling… He exhibits the mental and physical toughness I want to see out of all my wrestlers.”  Fellow captain Angela Osei-Ampadu ’21 echoes the opinions of her coaches.  “Chris Thagard is the most dedicated person in the Kravis every day. He works hard and pushes everyone else to be the best wrestler they can be. I am lucky to be his co-captain and even luckier to have him as a role model, someone I, and the rest of the team, can look up to every day.”  Teammate Matthew Fierro ’22 said, “[Chris] sets the tone for the day with vigorous intent and inspiring leadership.”   Thagard’s leadership does not stop at the end of practice. His role as proctor in Louis Marx, a sophomore boys’ dorm, is only a continuation of his ongoing work as a mentor and friend.  From sharing a room in Doubleday their ninth-grade year to proctoring together, Elliot Flagg ’20 is grateful for the experience of working alongside Thagard.  Flagg said, “Chris is as loyal a friend as he is a proctor.  He always knows how to balance the needs of each kid versus the hall as a whole.  An unrelenting source of enthusiasm and humor, Chris cares for each kid and is one of the most inclusive people I have ever met. He may well be the epitome of what Deerfield searches for in their proctors, and I am truly lucky to have him as my counterpart in the job.” Since freshman year, Thagard’s athleticism and team spirit has manifested across all three seasons and it is still growing. Thagard’s character, effort, and commitment inspires those around him and exemplifies Deerfield spirit across all aspects of life as a student at the academy.

During His Majesty King Abdullah II ’80’s surprise visit to Deerfield Academy back in September, the Deerfield community had the opportunity to learn about the challenges facing the Middle East. After His Majesty’s visit, the recent events in Iran feel all the more relevant to Deerfield students and the broader Deerfield community. The conflicts with Iran and the tensions developing in the Middle East have brought up the question of how this will impact Deerfield’s relationship with our sister school, King’s Academy in Jordan. King Abdullah II spoke about how oil is the chief export of most Middle Eastern countries and a highly valuable and contested commodity. In May 2018, President Trump not only abandoned the nuclear deal, but also reinstated sanctions against Iran, leading to an Iranian economic recession. In June, the U.S. tightened sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, exacerbating an already strained relationship. Iran retaliated by shooting down a U.S. military drone. The U.S. countered by assassinating the second most powerful leader in Iran, General Qasem Soleimani.  As a result of these conflicts, some members of the Deerfield community began to wonder if the biennial trip to Jordan and King’s Academy would be cancelled, as the geographical location is quite close to Iran. However, the trip, led by the Center for Service and Global Citizenship (CSGC) is happening as scheduled. Students will be visiting the country to immerse themselves in the Jordanian culture and meet students from King’s Academy. The focus of this year’s trip revolves around the issue of food and water in a country where agriculture and access to potable water is a serious problem. Associate Director for the CSGC Heather Brown said, “The trip is on and we are excited to host students in Jordan.” Mrs. Brown also mentioned that Deerfield works with a company called International SOS which analyzes data to deem if a trip is safe or best suited for that group. According to International SOS, “There is no risk assessment change for Jordan after events in Iran.”  Commenting on the common misconceptions on the political and social environment in Jordan, Head of School of King’s Academy Peter Nilsson stated, “It’s important to begin with an understanding that Jordan is a nation that actively promotes peace and is proud of, and ever vigilant about, the stability and security it has achieved. As a result, the people here in Jordan do not feel the same sense of unease that others might imagine exists in a country so close to Iraq, Syria, and other neighboring nations.”  Echoing similar sentiments, Alesia Radzminski ’21 of King’s Academy said, “Campus is exactly the same. It feels very safe in Jordan.  Besides, a threat posed to King’s would mean one to the royal court, which is highly unlikely.”  Sharing her own perspective, Gabriella Hu ‘21, head of the Muslim Student Alliance said, “It can be frightening living in the Deerfield bubble and not having much knowledge about what is going on in the world. This is definitely something that we will talk about in our upcoming meetings as well.” Head of School Dr. John Austin concluded, “Jordan is an incredibly resilient country. Recent events may have an indirect impact, but will not directly hinder day-to-day operations.” When asked about how these events in Iran may impact Deerfield, Dr. Austin said, “These events won’t cast a huge impact on our campus unless, of course, a full war ensues.”  Dr. Austin shared hopes that Deerfield will be able to educate students more about the Middle East and demystify some common misconceptions.

2020: the year where media directs advocacy. The year where we receive presidential updates through Twitter, watch political debates through online live streams, and receive breaking news from Instagram.  In the past decade, social media has evolved from its footings as an entertainment platform to a vast network for international connections. 2010 began with major events such as the Haitian earthquake and World Cup, becoming among the first to garner vast online attention.  This trajectory continued into 2019, with the Internet’s influence expanding to support global strikes against climate change and gun-related violence, fundraise for disasters such as the Australian bush fires, and share the stories of immigrants facing persecution.  Our generation has grown up immersed in an age of smartphones and the Internet; with this, we’ve developed a new definition of communication. And, with that, we must redefine what effective advocacy means. We’ve all seen the signs of inefficient online campaigning: a post uploaded to your friend’s wall, consisting of images that all too often border the fine line between clickbait and accurate news. These photos trigger your emotional centers, manifesting feelings of guilt and helplessness. The thought that I would help if I could circles your mind, post after post. You are then confronted with a call to action, reduced to a simple like or retweet. It convinces you that a click of your fingers will result in a step towards global change. It provides you with a sense of power, one that fills the self-created vacuum of advocacy. But how do initiatives like these stimulate direct change? As part of the first generation to be considered “social media natives,” I find that drawing the distinction between screens and reality becomes more difficult as technology continues to expand into our lives.  To us, our lives within and beyond these platforms are intrinsically linked, and, as such, it’s easy to believe that our actions online are direct and impactful.  Yet, online advocacy ultimately follows a cycle of action and dismissal. Social media platforms allow us to learn about campaigns to an extent broader than ever before, but it also gives us the option to simply click away. The call to action that forms the backbone of online advocacy is minimized to a single second, diluted by the continuous distractions of the Internet.  Despite the lack of direct action, these initiatives provide the same fulfillment that we find beyond our screens, giving us the false illusion that what we are doing is enough, that we are truly creating a change in our communities. I have been guilty of falling into this cycle myself: with campaigns like the #BlueforSudan movement that spread through online communities — including Deerfield’s — seemingly overnight, it’s hard not to think that social media is the ideal platform for advocacy.  But there’s a point at which these initiatives transition from encouraging awareness to a hollow movement. The oversaturation of posts and shares is what ultimately kills online advocacy.  Once we reach a point where these kinds of posts are normalized, enough that even the calls to action aren’t able to sway individuals, we can no longer truly incentivize change. This isn’t to say that social media can’t be used as an effective means of communication. In our status quo, online platforms have given us the opportunity to reach out to those across the globe in a blink of an eye, and are instrumental in movements such as the climate strikes in October. But these initiatives can’t sustain themselves solely on these networks. They require a balance of virtual and direct action, able to utilize the characteristics of social platforms to their advantage. With this, a shift in our community must also occur alongside in order to incentivize the spread of information through undistorted news outlets. In my time at Deerfield, only occasionally have I seen discussions of current events centered around non-social platforms.  As a community, we have accepted social media as our primary means of receiving information. With the majority of current events going unaddressed in class discussions, our window into the status quo is often limited and misrepresented. In order to promote effective advocacy, it is critical to make accurately represented sources accessible to the community as a whole.  Deerfield has made strides in the past few years to tackle this issue. Current event updates at school meetings, workshops at the upcoming MLK day celebration,  and recent participation in local climate strikes have kindled the flame towards developing the fire of advocacy in our community — and it should be our priority to continue this trajectory.  Although resources and  news services are available and often catered towards younger demographics, they are not nearly as prevalent as they have to be to promote active conversation. By incorporating these news platforms into our daily lives, and by connecting students to them through their school emails or the Bulletin, we can truly open our doors to the global community. We are at a point in our lives in which we have the power to create change. By the end of the decade, we will be the generation taking charge of our governments and societies. The fact that the media will continue to act as an integral part of our lives is inevitable.  All I ask is that we, as a community, are able to always question the effects of online campaigns, and to act aptly to develop the institutions around us.

Every New Year’s Eve, people around the world wait in anticipation for the ball drop, hoping for a better year than the one they are leaving behind. Whether that is getting better grades or trying to improve themselves, resolutions are what keep people focused for the year. This new year is also a new decade, and as we leave the 2010s behind, here are some resolutions and tips from a resident artist on how to make the most of the new decade: Tip #1: Decorate Your Room  Whether it be rearranging the decorations you already have or going out to buy new ones, creating your own space in your room can make you feel more relaxed and ready to work.  If you’re feeling artsy, you could always create something in the iLab to make your room feel more unique and personalized. This is a great way to feel comfortable in your living space before you have to buckle down and complete your homework or study for a test. Tip #2: Outline Your Year  Find a notebook and write down your resolutions. You can draw little check boxes and design your notebook with pictures of the goals you want achieved. Organize your reminders and goals using markers or stickers to make your notebook more artistic.  If you want to go the extra mile, try bullet journaling, and create your dream journal from scratch! This could be a fun way to make sure you stay on track and accomplish what you want! Tip #3: Clear Your Head  Many times throughout the year there is so much going on that people don’t have time to reflect on their resolutions. Start with clearing your head by taking a trip to the art loft or just drawing in a quiet space inside or out in nature. If you have a pen and paper in your room, just doodle. Doodling is a great way to relieve stress and help you focus on what you want to accomplish.  Tip #4: Explore DA Art  Art is how many people stay connected. From the songs on the radio to new fashion trends, art is all around Deerfield Academy. Learning about the arts on campus can help you stay connected to other students and become a more creative person.  Audition for a dance piece, an a capella group, or a theater performance; take an art elective, like photography or visual art; visit the von Auersperg Art Gallery and learn about local artists! The arts at Deerfield are full of wonderful surprises that will add more color to your life. You’ve already started reading this page.  Hopefully you take some of these ideas into consideration for the rest of your year. Here’s to 2020!

If you have been literally anywhere in the world for the past six months other than a sensory deprivation tank, you have heard about the new social media craze: Tik Tok.  Tik Tok is a social media platform in which the users publish short videos often accompanied by music.  These videos range from life advice to stupid jokes to truly awful dancing. But regardless of how bad the videos are, it is the new craze of Gen Z to go Tik Tok viral. I will give you a step-by-step breakdown of how best to impress your friends, schemes, teachers and the world. Step 1: Hop on a theme/trend. Videos on Tik Tok are diverse and each can affect the user differently. However, many of the most popular videos are not the users’ original ideas, but just variations of already successful Tik Toks. These include trends like Hydrodipping, lip syncing, texting song lyrics to your parents or crushes, playing Still D.R.E. on the piano, walking down stairs with Electric Feel in the background, “respect the drip, Karen,” and of course, the ever-popular light-saber duels. Remember that if you follow these trends, make them unique. The one thing that nobody likes is a rip off Tik Tok. You can also get creative and be that trendsetter by showing off a skill or making a hilarious joke.  Step 2: Choose your music wisely. No matter what, your music should match whatever you are doing. If it is a scenic Tik Tok, your go-to should be Dissolve or Can We Kiss Forever . When you’re making a joke or doing a comedy skit, you can almost always find dialogue from a “TV” show or another Tik Tok to lip sync, such as  “I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security to my new empire” from “Revenge of The Sith.” And of course, if you are doing something stupid, dangerous or both, you have to use ‘This Girl’ and follow the video up with a picture that says “Shot on iPhone” on the drop. Never, under any circumstances, use ‘The Box.’ Step 3: Editing. If Tik Tok teaches you anything, it’s that 99% of the work is done in post-production. A good video will only go viral if every moment is perfect. The lighting must be clean and clear and the video can’t be hazy or shadowy.  We’re making Tik Toks, not crappy Snapchat videos. In addition, it must sync up with the music or dialogue and any transitions between videos should be clean. And unless you’re trying to become the CEO of visual effects, don’t overdo it: chances are you won’t be able to compete with the likes of Joshvfx, and clean and simple is better. Step 4: Cliffhangers. No matter how complete you feel your Tik Tok is on its own, always finish your video by saying “Like for Part 2,” or “Come back in 24 hours to see the results.” This is guaranteed to maximize the number of likes and follows you will receive from each video. By doing this, you will get your viewers so invested that they will desperately need to see the rest of the video, and will have to follow you to see it. Step 5: Tags. Now that you made your masterpiece, you need people to see it! The key to turning a good Tik Tok into a viral Tik Tok is having the right tags. If you want as many eyes on your work as possible, always include the tags #xyzcba and #straighttohell. If you want to get on the for you page, use #fyp, #foryoupage and #foryou or you have no shot. Step 6: Get yourself a twin, by whatever means necessary. Whether it be for making satisfying synchronized dancing Tik Toks or trippy, twin-telepathy themed ones, twins never fail to roll in the likes. Missed out on the biological lottery for a twin? Don’t worry, genetically engineered is fine. In fact, while you’re at it, make yourself three or four. The more the merrier.  Step 7: Post! And remember, if it doesn’t go viral, post the exact same thing again and again until it does. Ideas for a Deerfield Tik Tok: Take a video of all of Deerfield’s facilities and your shortest friend, with a sound that goes “Private school check!” in the background. Finally, if you want to go viral and need examples of perfect Tik Toks, go check out davidchen725, echenna_tiktok and swimyy.

The Boydens and their legacy at Deerfield thrives within our campus. The icons are reflected in our community in many ways.  One such manifestation of their commemoration are the ten major artistic depictions of Mr. and Mrs. Boyden situated throughout the campus.  Wherever you might find yourself in the Valley, you are quite likely to find yourself under the watchful eye of one or both of these Deerfield icons.  Interestingly enough, no portrait of Mr. or Mrs. Boyden appears alone in a room. The two are always depicted in pairs, so if you find yourself looking at a portrait of Mr. Boyden, you can rest assured that Mrs. Boyden can be found nearby. Frank L. Boyden is an iconic patron of Deerfield Academy. Boyden nursed the Academy from its adolescent days in which the school had so few students that the Headmaster had to play on both the football and baseball teams.  Fresh out of Amherst College, Mr. Boyden accepted a job at what was, at the time, a small local public school in Deerfield, Massachusetts in the hopes of attending law school in the future.  However, Mr. Boyden soon became enamoured with the vivacious community of the school.  He would often show his devotion and respect for both the school and its close-knit community by often times setting up his desk in the hallway of the Main School Building.   When asked how he approaches his job as a leader at Deerfield, Mr. Boyden said, “We just treat the boys as if we expect something of them and we keep them busy.” His dedication and passion for the school was obvious to the students.  One previous student, William Zinsser ’40, remembered Mr. Boyden’s influence on the students and said, “His school enabled us to be comfortable with our limitations and confident in our strengths.”  Helen Childs Boyden, the wife of Frank Boyden, similarly impacted the spirit of Deerfield Academy. In 1905, Helen Childs applied for a teaching job at Deerfield a year after graduating from Smith College.  Due to her lack of experience, Mr. Boyden was hesitant to hire the young applicant at first. Despite this, she got the job, and the two were married two years later.  Mrs. Boyden taught as a teacher of mathematics and science at Deerfield for over 50 years, and left a unique imprint on her students through her valuable outlook on education.  Instead of viewing the class as a collective whole, Mrs. Boyden sought to teach the individual, telling students who struggled in school to “stop trying to remember, and start trying to think.” Mrs. Boyden’s impact on education made her a recognized figure among numerous schools in the area. At her twenty-fifth reunion at Smith in 1939, Mrs. Boyden was made an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.  Trinity College honored Mrs. Boyden with the same distinction in 1952, and, in 1946, St. Lawrence University made Mrs. Boyden an honorary Doctor of Science.  Over the span of 66 years, Deerfield Academy was reorganized—by Mr. Boyden’s dedication and Mrs. Boyden’s perspective on teaching—into one of the best schools in the country.  Their influence on the school remains not only in the school’s structure and ideals, but also in the multiple artistic renditions of the pair as they keep a watchful eye on students around campus.  Can you spot the pair?  In the Caswell library of the Main School Building, two large portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Boyden hang on opposite ends of the room.  Mrs. Boyden is depicted posing behind a chair with a white background, white blazer, and flowers. Mr. Boyden, on the other hand, stands in front of a black background in a black suit, holding a pen. On the main floor of the Boyden Library, two large portraits on opposite ends of the room show Mrs. Boyden wearing a blue cloak and  Mr. Boyden once again in a suit in front of a dark background. Mrs. Boyden’s portrait likewise depicts her surrounded by flowers. One cannot walk through the Kendall without first taking a look at the smaller, yet very realistic pair of portraits that hang on the wall above the Kendall common room.  Mrs. Boyden sits on a chair in a floral dress, while Mr. Boyden is once again in a dark suit and tie. Ephraim Williams House demonstrates a number of unique dedications to the Boydens. Among them, a portrait of the pair, a statue version of a portrait of Mr. Boyden, and a handwritten letter from Mr. Boyden himself.  The statue was created in 1982 by Helen Hooker O’Malley, mother of Deerfield student Cormac O’Malley ‘61.  Finally, one of the more recent and intriguing depictions of the Boydens is in the basement of the library, awaiting those who pass by.  The two pieces, created by Kento Yamamoto ‘16, are made entirely out of Rubik’s cubes. Yamamoto used the pixels in the images of the pair, which correlated to the individual squares in the Rubik’s cubes. The portrait of Mrs. Boyden took 5 hours and 49 minutes to complete.  You can find a time-lapse of Yamamoto creating this piece by searching “Rubikscubism at Deerfield” on the Bulletin.  Next time you find yourself in one of these areas on campus, make sure you keep an attentive eye out for the Boydens.  Can you find any artistic depictions that we missed? Where do you see the Boydens?  We have listed the major places, but can you find any hidden spots where they might still be hiding?  Although they are no longer around physically, they will forever be integrated into the Deerfield community  in spirit and through art.

After much anticipation, students returned to campus in September to find the new health center in full operation. In addition to the medical facilities and new health class and counseling rooms, the newly opened D.S. Chen Health Center also houses student services, including E&R Laundry and Shipping & Receiving. Deerfield alumnus Jack Chen ’08 named the building after his father, Chairman Chen (Dongsheng Chen). Mr. Chen is the founder and chairman of Taikang Life Insurance Company Limited, the fourth largest life insurer in China. The Chen family, who currently reside in Beijing, were on campus for the official dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place on Oct. 25, 2019. Head of School John Austin, President of the Board of Trustees Brian Simmons, and members of the Chen family were among those who spoke at the dedication. D.S. Chen and his family has contributed significantly to Deerfield, funding all the annual faculty trips to China for the past ten years. Since the start of these trips, over 40 employees at Deerfield have had the opportunity to visit different regions of China and experience the local culture.The D.S. Chen Health Center features state-of-the-art facilities, which both students and medical staff are excited about. “I think the feel of it is just open, airy and clean,’’ Nurse Linnea Constant said. Anne Brown ’21 said, “I think it was necessary for the health center to be upgraded because the previous one was just a bit outdated.” When discussing the impact that the new facility will have on the Deerfield community, Nurse Christine O’Neil said, “I think the advantage of the new building is that there is much more space; we were very crowded in the old building. Everything is more spread out which allows for more privacy. Everyone seems to have their own space, so we’re not as on top of each other as we were before.” O’Neil finds that although the buildings are different, they are unique. “I really liked the old building because it was quaint and cozy. This feels different because it’s so big. There are advantages to both [buildings]. The rooms [in the new building] are easier to maneuver,” O’Neil said. With the new building comes more advanced climate control and private bathrooms in many of the rooms, which the previous building did not have. Additionally, the new health center does not have a dorm attached to it, unlike the previous health center which was attached to Dewey dorm. “I like that it’s so much quieter and less disruptive as there isn’t a constant flow of people coming from a dorm,” Brown stated. However, just as before, the health center includes counseling services, including an office for the peer counselors. “I think the old health center was a bit less approachable than the new one, especially the peer counseling room because it was situated in the basement,’’ shared peer counselor Elsa Marrian ’21. “The new peer counseling room is a lot cozier and it feels like a safe space.” In addition to the peer counseling office on the second floor, there is a classroom for health classes. The openness of the new health center allows for more accessibility between students and the medical staff. “We are seeing more kids as they come into health class – before we never saw them because it was separated,” explains Nurse Constant. With the new classrooms in the health center, students have been able to learn in a far more updated and more modern space during their health classes. With the new health curriculum being implemented this year, having freshmen and sophomores having health class every term, these new classrooms have already been put to good use. So far, the new and vibrant D.S. Chen Health Center has already been in full operation and well used, as the medical staff has received more students during the first month of school than years before. Marrian shared, “The new health center feels a lot cleaner and it just seems like a better place to be in if you’re sick.” The beauty and “cleanliness” of the new Health Center is evident from first glance. The large glass windows let in an abundance of light and the modern interior boasts both beauty and utility. Constructed very similar to the new Athletic Center, the Health Center is an incredibly modern and impressive facility that we should count ourselves lucky to have access to. The Deerfield community benefits from the generosity of the Chen family and other donors, which has allowed for a new state-of-the-art health facility. This facility emphasizes Deerfield’s commitment to every student’s wellness both in and out of the classroom.

Visibly leading the Deerfield student body with enthusiasm and thoughtfulness is Hanna Deringer, a current senior. She stands proud, worthy of the title Captain Deerfield. Appointed as the first solo female captain, following in the footsteps of Bailey Cheetham ‘19 who co-captained alongside Mikey Holland ‘19 in the previous year, Hanna had big shoes to fill. However, Hanna has risen to the occasion and set an impressive example for generations to come. “I feel empowered as a Deerfield girl to pursue sports and leadership because of Hanna,” said Camila Navarro Dela-Vega ’20. Fellow cheerleader, Evan Burkert ’21 said, “She is showing everyone that girls can be just as capable as leaders here at Deerfield.” Hanna was described by her peers as “supportive” and “welcoming,” with an undeniable energy that she never fails to bring to both school meetings and sports games. Her hard work, determination and sportsmanship also mark her play on the field. Towards the end of her lacrosse season, Hanna tore her ACL; despite this, she showed up to every game. Hanna’s energy both on and off the field is admired by many. “She came to practice and games with such a positive attitude and still contributed to the team through her celebrations and joyful spirit,” said teammate Sarah Stonestreet ’22. Julia Placek ’20, a fellow teammate and cheerleader, said, “Hanna was so supportive on the bench” and always “started the cheers.” Hanna brings this same sense of positivity and spirit to her role as Captain Deerfield. As a four year senior, she recalls looking up to Captain Deerfield as an unattainable position. She said, “I was sitting in the dining hall as my friend told me what Captain Deerfield was. I didn’t know before, but when she told me, I thought the position was especially honorable because it wasn’t faculty chosen.” Hanna has taken this position with the same sense of honor and pride she once admired as a ninth grader, and she has set a tremendous example for the rest of Deerfield. Burkert ’21 said, “Her modest approach to her immense power has shown me what it means to be a leader at Deerfield.” Exemplifying truly admirable habits of humility, Hanna is unapologetically herself. Loud and passionate, she has fun with the role and notably “bleeds green!” She boldly exhibits her Deerfield pride, and as cheerleader Sim Bethel ‘20 adds, “Every game day, you will undoubtedly see her wearing her Captain Deerfield outfit!” With Choate Day 2019 approaching, the Deerfield community is certain that Hanna will lead Deerfield with the respect and gratitude she always seems to possess. Hanna looks forward to “having Choate Day on our home turf.” Her self-proclaimed favorite part about wearing the uniform is when she “sees the Deerfield student body encouraged and excited by the cheerleaders and [herself].” Hanna hopes to create a special first Choate Day for new members of Deerfield. As for the senior class, there is no doubt that Hanna will make our last one memorable!

Adding to the beautiful familiarity of the Deerfield campus are the various artistic depictions that highlight and preserve Deerfield traditions and memories. Among such sculptures one might see around campus is Brooke’s Garden, a memorial situated next to the Arms building on the way up the stairs towards the Hess. The memorial itself is composed of two rounded cement benches outlining a circular patio with a square stone in its center. This memorial commemorates the life of a beloved student, Brooke Emmens Gonzalez ’97, who died in a tragic car accident soon after her time at Deerfield. She had just begun her first fall at Brown University. The memorial honors the mark her life and death left on the Deerfield community. The square marker is inscribed with Gonzalez’s date of birth and death: January 20th, 1979 and September 4th, 1997, respectively. The benches are engraved with the names of long-time faculty members. Just outside the bounds of the circular patio is a raised stone dome coated in a constant film of water. Gonzalez was a devoted Deerfield student who built strong ties to the community during her time at Deerfield as the Vice President of the senior class, a cherished proctor, and a commendable athlete. Gonzalez was especially dedicated to the sport of sailing; she was twice a member of the U.S. International 420 Sailing Team, and had competed in two world championships. Today, her parents continue to exude her passion for the sport by running an advanced racing clinic every summer, which will meet for its 18th annual running this summer in Newport, RI. In addition to the Garden, along the path to the dining hall a marker is inscribed with the words “Resist the Ordinary,” a motto Gonzalez adhered to both during and after her time at Deerfield. This inscription embodies Gonzalez’s legacy, as she honored this motto throughout her life. Longtime Science Teacher and Science Department Chair Heidi Valk, who knew Gonzalez personally, remembers her as “a standout student and involved community member.” When standing on the square slab at the center of the memorial, students will be pleasantly surprised to find that the spot serves as a whispering gallery, giving the space an intriguing effect and capturing the essence of “resisting the ordinary.” In the wake of the tragic event, the Deerfield community built the memorial to serve as a place for all to coalesce in reflection and unity on campus. The community continues to enjoy the space frequently, whether it be by simply strolling by the memorial or spending a class outside to savor a few quiet minutes in the sun before taking on the rest of a hectic Deerfield day. English Teacher Mark Scandling reflected upon the memorial saying, “Though I did not know Brooke well, sitting or passing by the Garden always reminds me of the way a school community rises to the demands of a tragic loss. In those moments, we truly discover the resilience and resonance of school spirit.” Thus, even though the students that roam the campus now, just over two decades after Gonzalez’s time at Deerfield, cannot personally attest to her evident spirit, zest for life, and compassionate heart, they can certainly acknowledge and admire the silent beauty of her presence. Memorials such as these lie embedded deep in the vines that make up Deerfield’s sweeping tree of tradition, culture, and history. Look deeper.

“What I love most about Deerfield is the school spirit — it feels like home.” This is what tour guides often tell prospective families when they tour Deerfield. There is no doubt that Deerfield fosters a family-like environment through shared experiences: hikes to the rock, sit-down dinners, and Choate week, to name a few. However, should a place that one calls home be abandoned as soon as the weekend comes? Unusually, many students have been leaving campus weekend after weekend with, bringing into question their willingness to buy into the community The Board acknowledges that there can be circumstances that require that you leave campus: mental health issues, college visits, pursuits of excellence. These are legitimate reasons. But what about when people are leaving for less important reasons? Statistics from the Student Life Office show that most of the signouts are for reasons other than those mentioned above. The weekend before Parents’ Weekend, 96 students left campus. Six students left for college visits, and another six left for pursuits of excellence. These statistics show that 84 students left Deerfield campus for other, unknown reasons . This data also seems pretty consistent based on the number of signouts on the weekend of Oct. 4, 2019. That weekend, 84 students were signed out. This means that, consistently, about 10% of the student body is leaving Deerfield on a weekly basis. This is not a good sign for two main reasons: not all students have the privilege of leaving Deerfield and this pattern makes Deerfield into a means to an end, a place to collect accomplishments rather than a community to participate in. The Board encourages all students to reconsider what Deerfield truly means to them. Is Deerfield simply a week day job that you can abandon when the weekend comes? Why did you come to a boarding school if you leave every weekend? Second, many students are unable to leave. For instance, international students, or any student who is not from the Northeast, do not have an option to leave campus during the weekends. Going home to Chicago, Atlanta, California, Texas, or abroad simply isn’t possible. One of the greatest selling points about Deerfield is that it truly feels like home. We ask that people remember that not all of the students here can leave on the weekends. Leaving on the weekends is a privilege — one that should be used mindfully and sparingly. Weekend events such as the Denunzio Disco and the Semi-Formal dance are packed with excitement and anticipation. The Student Life Office puts in many hours organizing these events. However, these are not the only opportunities that are available throughout the school year to socialize with your friends. There are events that are thoughtfully planned every weekend that don’t get as much attention from students, such as the haunted house or cookies-and-canvas. It is these smaller events that can come to define your Deerfield experience. We have found that the best of times are often times you never thought you would have. By leaving campus because you are not expecting to have a good time over the weekend, you are missing out on the unexpected. You are missing out on the last minute hikes to the rock at sunset, the impromptu dance parties in the Greer, the late night movies in the dorm. You are missing out on those unique friendships, those little moments. When you leave on the weekends, you are missing out on making Deerfield your home. Seniors, we don’t have much time left at Deerfield. Much to everyone’s surprise and amidst the stress of college applications, senior year goes by very quickly. The Board would like to remind all of the students to fill their time here with memories of weekends spent with friends in this beautiful place that we call home. Whether it be cheering your friends at sports events, binge-watching movies on Netflix, hanging at the Greer, or playing pick up in the gym. This is our last year that we have together Let’s make sure we spend it here. Deerfield is truly what you make of it. And this recent trend of students leaving every weekend suggests that Deerfield is not a home for some students. The Board would like to invite all students to consider the place that Deerfield has in their heart. Next time you feel the urge to leave campus on a weekend, we ask that you simply take the time to consider whether or not it is something you truly need.

7:30 a.m. Your mother wakes you up to ask if you have been accepted to your ED yet, knowing full well that decisions don’t come out until mid-December. Roll over and go back to sleep. 9:00 a.m. You can hear your grandmother downstairs asking why you aren’t awake and helping to prepare the turkey. 11:30 a.m. Your 20-year-old cousin arrives, complaining about the long drive from Harvard. Your parents have asked that you discuss Harvard with him and if he has any suggestions on how to get accepted. You are still asleep. 12:26 p.m. You wake up. You hear your annoying younger cousins screaming downstairs. You go back to sleep. 12:29 p.m. Your younger cousins fling open your door and start jumping on your bed. The printed drafts of your application essays with your parents’ edits fall onto the floor. 12:30 p.m. You decide you can no longer pretend to be asleep. You hit one of your cousins with an SAT prep book and get into the shower. As you exit the bathroom, you hear your parents talking about your supplements. You stay in the shower for another thirty minutes. 1:00 p.m. Your mother says that if you aren’t going to spend time working on your college applications, you need to help cook dinner. While making the cranberry sauce, you realize you have fallen into her trap: you cannot escape the stove while she barrages you with questions about your applications. 1:30 p.m. You decide to be productive because it’s the only way to avoid talking to your family. You spend the next hour looking up “how to write a good ivy league supplement.” You end up writing only three words. 2:30 p.m. You come downstairs and see your dad and your uncle watching the television. You have missed the Bears – Lions game. You are sad. Your dad asks if you have been productive. You nod your head yes. You are lying. 3:00 p.m. Your mother calls you for dinner. Why are you eating so early? This is a legitimate question. Why do people eat dinner this early on Thanksgiving? 3:15 p.m. Your oblivious 30-year-old uncle asks, “Which college are you going to?” 3:16 p.m. Your younger brother exclaims that you are going to Harvard. You are not. 4:00 p.m. You have spent the last forty-five minutes keeping your mouth full at all times to make sure nobody has the time to ask you any questions. 4:30 p.m. Your father asks you how your last interview went. You tell him the Cowboys game is about to start. Luckily he loves the Cowboys and completely forgets about college to go watch the game. The next three hours are spent eating turkey in front of the television. 8:00 p.m. Your mother finally brings out the dessert. It’s pecan pie. Pecan pie is amazing. It makes everyone forget you’re applying to college. 9:00 p.m. Somehow, you are still eating dinner. Seriously, why does this meal have to last so long? You cannot stand to talk about college with your relatives anymore. You are crying. 9:30 p.m. You want to get in line for Black Friday shopping. Your father tells you that you can spend his money once you get into college.

Since stepping onto campus her freshman year, Victoria Patterson ’20 has been an incredible runner and example of a Deerfield student-athlete. In her four years at Deerfield, she has competed in countless races and has led the Deerfield Cross Country and Track Teams to many victories, including New England championships. As described in her Athlete of the Week election by her coaches in September of 2016, her fall freshman season, “Ninth grader Victoria Patterson finished first in the Division I girls’ race at the Canterbury Invitational at the Canterbury School in Connecticut on Saturday. She took the lead before the quarter mile mark and never looked back, expanding the differential to over 30 seconds by the finish. She led Deerfield to a very comfortable second place team finish, besting ten other teams.” Beginning in 2016 and extending to her fall senior season, Patterson has been extremely successful. In 2017, Patterson helped lead the girls team to uphold an undefeated fall season. She currently holds the 3,000 meter, 1,500 meter, 1 mile, and 2 mile record titles at Deerfield. Her accomplishments have also represented Deerfield Academy far from the valley, specifically last March when she finished 13th at the New Balance Indoor National Track and Field Championships at the New York Armory. When asked what Deerfield Cross Country means to her, Patterson said, “I often describe DAGXC as a family. The girls on the team are some of my closest friends, and every day I look forward to seeing them at practice. We bond over our love of running, and we push through painful speed workouts and races together.” Serving as the Varsity captain her junior and senior years, Patterson has been a role model for younger runners. When commenting on Patterson’s leadership, co-captain Grace Russell ’21 said, “Victoria has always been super supportive of all the girls on the team and a really good example of what it means to work hard. Co-captaining with her has been great, and she is always looking for ways to improve the team.” With three more races left in the season, the Girls’ Cross Country team will face Andover, NMH, and other top tier schools at New Englands on Nov. 9th, 2019. So far this season, the team has faced tough opponents such as Exeter, Westminster, and St. Paul’s under Patterson’s leadership. A few weeks ago, Patterson verbally committed to Duke University, where she will continue her academic and athletic career. Patterson will bring her superb talents, leadership, and work ethic to Duke, where she hopes to accomplish many things. Patterson said, “While I am at Duke, I plan to run cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Within those three seasons, I aspire to be an ACC champion and NCAA Division 1 All-American. Ultimately, I would like to run professionally while going to medical school, so achieving the milestones within the NCAA will be the first step in continuing my running career. I would also like to grow in my knowledge and love of running through the guidance of my future coach, Rhonda Riley.” Looking back on her impactful experiences at Deerfield, Patterson said, “One of my most influential coaches, Dr. Cullinane, took me under his wing my freshman year and developed me as a runner. I owe all of my cross country and track related accomplishments to him. He inspired me through his passion for running, and he shepherded me through my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. I would not be a nationally ranked athlete without his wisdom and guidance.” Patterson is an exemplary Deerfield student-athlete who will leave an enormous legacy with our Cross Country and Track and Field program. As she moves on to Duke University, she will continue to represent the Big Green while continuing her remarkable success.