2024 October – The Mirror

Humans of Northwood: Zach Wargo ‘25

October 30, 2024 by Yosef Spear

“I am a senior and this is my fourth year here. I live here in Lake Placid, four minutes from the school. Growing up, I always wanted to go to Northwood for ski racing, so I am glad I made the switch from public school to Northwood. I have made many friends and met so many great people.

“Some of my favorite things to do here during the school year are going into town with my friends, watching hockey games, skiing, and doing other various activities that the school provides.

“My favorite things about Northwood are the opportunities it provides; not only can I get into a great college, but I can pursue skiing to its highest level. Northwood provides the perfect balance between school and sports. I can get an amazing education while still skiing at the highest level possible at my age. During the summer I mountain bike and go golf with my boys.

“My favorite thing about the Northwood community is its inclusivity; everyone can find a place at Northwood, no matter who you are or what your background is, there is a group for you. Northwood is the best school, in my opinion, as it provides a perfect balance of everything. I am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what my future holds.

“After high school, I want to get onto a good Division 3 ski team while majoring in business management or marketing.”

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Colton Cushman ‘25

October 30, 2024 by JT Wint

“I have lived in many places: Mexico City, Mexico; Michaleen, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and Suzhou, China, but I have been living in Saranac Lake now for the past six years. Other than Portland, where I had lived for 4 years, this is the place I call home. I can’t say that I have a favorite place I have lived in because they are all so different from each other.

“I picked Northwood for its FIRST-level robotics program (they build bigger robots) and the outing club. I was really interested in NOC because I had taken an outing program at North Country School, and I liked it, but mostly, it was because Northwood was super close to home, so I could be a day student. It also helped that at least 4 of my friends from North Country School also went to Northwood.

“I like pretty much any outdoor activity like rock climbing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, kayaking, etc., but I think my favorite outdoor activity would be backpacking. I also like designing and inventing things. For example, I designed a sliding door that turned a corner and a ceiling-mounted bed.

“My favorite year at Northwood would be my junior year because I got to go on many NOC trips such as the climbing trip to Redrocks, NV, and the kayaking LEAP trip to Wales. Both trips were very fun. I was also in the Peak Pathways program that year, which allowed me to build a model airplane and make an idea I had. My senior year has also been going great this year.

“I have been interested in flying for a long time. Both my dad and grandfather (his dad) have their licenses, though neither of them has flown recently, so I wanted to get mine, too. I soloed two years ago, so I have flown alone but haven’t gotten my private pilot license yet. I hope to get it sometime in the future.

“Something most people don’t know about me is that I went to school in Suzhou, China, for 4^th grade. Though my Mandarin is now a bit rusty since none of my schools after 4th grade offered Chinese, I am taking Mandarin 1 in the language lab to try to relearn it.

“After high school, I plan to go to college for engineering—specifically, aero/astro engineering. Mostly astro, because I love designing and creating things, and after that hopefully get my private pilot license.”

As told to JT Wint ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Fishing a Popular Pastime Among Students

October 30, 2024 by Pete Moore

Students fishing in the fall of 2024. Photo provided.

Fishing has become a popular pastime for some Northwood students over the last few weeks. Some are veteran fishermen, while others are just beginners. I took the liberty of going to watch the fishing group in order to get some insight into what makes it so enjoyable.

“Fishing is one of my favorite things to do. It is so relaxing for me and relieves any stress I may have,” Cody Betsch ’26 said. “I have been fishing for a long time, and one of the first things I did when I arrived at Northwood was buy a fishing pole. Being from California, the fishing is a little different, and that is something I really enjoy. Usually, we have a group go on Mondays after class because that is our off day from hockey, but days like today are awesome because after the PSAT we have time to go enjoy ourselves on the dock,” Cody added.

“Like Cody said, being from California, it is awesome to get to fish in a different environment,” said Cody’s twin brother Kevin Betsch ‘26. “We couldn’t fly our fishing poles out with us when we moved in, so we made sure to buy new ones when we arrived. I’ve always loved fishing, and I love the fact that others share the same passion as me. It’s been a familiar activity to come back to, even though I’m in a new environment. It would be cool if we could take some boats or kayaks out on Mirror Lake or Lake Placid to see what fish we could catch in the middle of the lake,” Kevin continued.

“I lived in Latvia for most of my life, so I never fished before a few weeks ago,” Anton Malyshev ’25 said. “The Betsch boys and some of the other guys have shown me the ways, and I really love fishing now. I look forward to Mondays now because I know that is the day we get to fish. I just bought my own pole, so now I can go whenever I want, especially with my shoulder injury. It was a great feeling when I caught my first fish, and it made me want to keep coming back to try and catch bigger fish,” Malyshev added.

“Having been here last year, I fished a lot to begin with, and finding other guys that enjoy it too has been great,” Ryan Racine ’25 said. “I fish a lot at home too, in Mooers, NY, so fishing here is very similar. I love teaching some of the new guys how to fish, and I can even learn a little from some of the other guys who have fished for a while. Overall, I’m just happy that we have a good group that likes to go every Monday and enjoy each other’s company,” Racine said.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Flu Vaccine Clinic Helps Keep Community Healthy

October 30, 2024 by Yosef Spear

Ms. Lisa Wint got her flu shot at Northwood this fall. Photo: Ms. Tara Wright.

Northwood School hosted a flu clinic to ensure all kids can get a flu vaccine. A date was scheduled with local pharmacy Kinney Drugs in the spring. Parents signed their students up in the summer by completing the online form in Magnus Health. Appointments were scheduled by sports team/co-curricular activity during flex to not miss class time. Four staff members and Nurse Marge helped the pharmacist at the vaccine clinic.

Ms. Wint, Ms. Wright, Ms. Mandigo, and Ms. Hathaway were volunteers for the clinic.

“I love to volunteer my time to good causes and help others, so of course, I said yes to helping our very busy Nurse Marge when she asked. Having a clinic on campus at Northwood makes it easy for students and faculty to get vaccinated for the flu, which will hopefully keep our community healthier this fall and winter,” Ms. Lisa Wint said. “Avoiding the flu will reduce the number of missed class days and keep us all healthy so that we can enjoy the many extracurricular things we love to do, too. I told Marge that I was happy to do any job they needed to be done at the clinic. It turned out that my key role was to distract kids who were nervous or scared of having a shot, and I was also a “runner” who went to find the students who were missing from their appointed time slots,” Wint added.

“I volunteer for the flu clinic each year because, as part of the health team, I like to help whenever I can with health initiatives at Northwood,” Ms. Tara Wright explained. “It is important to offer students and faculty the option of a flu vaccine at school because it is usually not available before school starts. Students might get other vaccines before coming to Northwood, but they cannot get the flu vaccine at that time. I helped determine which arms students would use for the vaccine, recorded that on their vaccine forms, and helped Nurse Marge confirm the information on the computer. I also tried to help reassure students who were nervous about getting a shot,” added Wright.

Gus Garvey ’25 got his flu shot at Northwood because his parents signed him up for it. They have done this every year, and he is not opposed to it because it makes his life easier. He has gotten his flu shot many times before this. Gus was not scared, but he said it is “unpleasant like any needle going into your arm is.” He had things that he thought were the flu. “I’m sure I have had the flu, but I’ve never gotten tested to prove that I had it. To get through it I just look ahead and get it over with, not a big deal,” Garvey said.

Clay Fuller ’25 also got his flu shot at Northwood because he needed the vaccine. There is no real reason he did not get it at home. He has gotten his flu shot before. “There aren’t any downsides that stand out other than my arm being sore for the day.” He was not scared to get the flu shot. “I have never been scared of needles,” Fuller said. He had the flu as a kid, and it was horrible. “I was throwing up and was sick. I would never want to experience the feeling again,” said Clay. Another reason for getting his flu shot is that he does not have to go through that again. “I have an insane pain tolerance,” Clay said, so he does not need to do anything to help him through getting the shot.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

Students Reflect on Self-Directed Study Hall

October 30, 2024 by Gavin Kruger

Northwood’s main goal is to set students up the best they can for their future. To set students up for a bright future, teachers focus on being as supportive as possible, while assigning intense workloads to their students. One of the ways this support is shown is through nightly study halls.

For readers unfamiliar with study hall, here is how it works: every night, from 8 to 9:30, students attend a location on campus and complete all homework and projects; this scheduled time and set location help many students get their work done and avoid procrastinating.

Here is the interesting part of study hall: if a student meets the GPA requirements that apply to their specific grade year (e.g., a Junior), they are placed in a “Self-Directed” study hall. They can also be placed in self-directed by receiving at minimum 3 excellent effort grades. This is a luxury provided to students that rewards them for their hard work throughout the previous quarter. Self-directed study hall means students can study anywhere on campus, whether in their rooms, the dining room, the living room, or in the library. It’s a highly-valued freedom.

At the end of each quarter, the prospect of being placed in self-directed study hall creates a lot of buzz amongst the student body. Here are students’ thoughts and opinions of study hall and the requirements to “get out” of it:

Devin Smith ’25

“I just think the standards should be lowered if you are taking much harder classes,” Said Devin Smith ’25. “Like if you’re taking AP lit and you have a C it should count as a B and therefore you are still eligible for self-directed study hall. I also believe that if you go to Flex or labs for extra help, you get your assignments done on time, and you get decent scores on tests (C+ and up) you should be eligible for self-directed study hall.” [Ed. Note: honors and AP courses are weighted, but not as much as Smith would like: a half-letter grade for AP and Advanced courses and a quarter-letter grade for honors courses.]

Sasha Luhur ’27

“Personally, I don’t mind supervised or self-directed study hall; I feel like I’m usually the same in terms of productivity,” Sasha Luhur ’27 remarked. “Self-directed is nice because it gives me flexibility, and I can study with friends more easily. I think it’s good that study hall placements are determined not just by letter grades but also by effort because a lot of people are working really hard in their classes and deserve to choose where they want to study.”

Alex Randall ’25

“I think that study hall is a valuable part of the education experience Northwood provides,” added Alex Randall ’25. “It builds strong working habits that continue into college. Someone who went through spent their evenings working in high school is going to be in a better position than someone who didn’t spend their evenings working. I think the requirements to get out of study hall are reasonable because they require a good work ethic.”

Machai Davis ’25

“I think that the study hall is reasonable,” Machai David said. “I think that if you put in an excellent effort in the class you take, you should have a good grade.”

Alessandro Lacchi ’25

“I honestly hated going to study in the evening right from the start, especially because my room is in Bergamini, so it’s quite inconvenient,” commented Alessandro Lacchi ’25. “However, I must admit that the hope of doing well at school and being able to avoid study hall really encouraged me to work hard. I also honestly don’t think that putting people who are not able to study independently in a room is not productive; in fact, what you get is just a big distraction.”

Jett Jewett ’27

“Self-directed study hall is better than regular study hall because it offers more flexibility,” Jett Jewett ’27 said. “In self-directed study hall you can choose where to study as well as the flexibility to do other things. This freedom helps you manage your time better and finish your work more efficiently. Additionally, without the strict timeframe of study hall, you can go to bed earlier, which allows you to get more sleep.”

Hudson Marshall ’27

“I think that the study hall requirements here at Northwood are reasonable,” added Hudson Marshall ’27. “I think that between honor roll and effort honor roll, students have a fair chance to meet the self-directed study hall requirements. I think the study hall hours are very reasonable and suitable for everyone living on campus.”

Jacob Slagel ’26

“Over time, study hall has become tedious,” Jacob Slagel ’26 observed. “It can be helpful but some days you are tired or have had a long day and you don’t get work done. In retrospect, [self-directed study hall] is a good idea. I think it’s a good reward for students who work hard to get better grades or get effort grades. However, that can also be difficult with the reduced benefit of taking AP and Honors classes. This is true, especially for the first quarter, where some classes don’t have enough tests to truly portray a student’s academic strengths.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Catching up with Sophia Schupp ‘24

October 30, 2024 by Sydney Kuder

Sophia Schupp ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Four-year survivor and recent alumni of Northwood School, Sophia Schupp ’24, is currently attending her first year at Boston College. I had the chance to catch up with her and hear about her experiences at BC so far. Sophia loves Boston College and has had much fun at the school. She also loves her roommate. When asked about her time at BC, she said, “It was definitely an adjustment at first, but now I really like it.” Sophia also likes her classes at BC, saying that they’re hard but small, just like Northwood. One of her classes is big, but most of her classes are the same size as her previous Northwood classes. Sophia is a math major at BC, which has been challenging but rewarding.

A typical day for Sophia at Boston College looks like this: she wakes up around 8 am every day, then has class until 2:45 pm. After class, she likes to work out and then work on her homework until dinner. After dinner, she socializes and does more work until it’s time for bed.

Sophia’s favorite part of BC is the campus. The Boston College campus is stunning; the buildings are white brick, and a gorgeous cathedral is at the center of the campus. Although Sophia loves Boston College, she still misses Northwood. When asked what she misses most about Northwood, she said she misses her friends, the people, and the teachers. She loves BC but misses Northwood all the time too. Her time at Boston College also has not been without its challenges. She said getting adjusted to not being at Northwood anymore was difficult for her at first. She has also had to adapt to the classes being exam-based only, as this is different from the grading system at Northwood.

Overall, Sophia has loved her time at Boston College so far. We all miss her at Northwood but know she is doing great things at BC.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Girls’ Hockey’s Rivalry with Stanstead College

October 30, 2024 by Eliza Quackenbush

The Girls’ Hockey team in action against Stanstead recently. Photo provided.

The definition of rivalry is “competition for the same objective or superiority in the same field.” When it comes to Northwood Girls Hockey and Stanstead College, every match is a battle for victory. The weekend of October 19th featured a two-game series between these teams, where tempers flared and nerves were high. The energy in the arena was palpable, with tension thick in the air. Both teams anticipated this showdown since their last match in the summer tournament. As skates met the ice, warm-ups served as the pulse of the venue, with the vibrant sounds of hockey and music filling the space.

These matches were meant to give us insight into what this team could look like as the year progresses and ending the weekend with a split 1-1 record suggests that the race for the trophy will continue fiercely. When I mention fighting for a right, I refer to it from Northwood’s standpoint. Two years prior, Northwood’s girls’ hockey team triumphed over Stanstead in the semifinals of the JWHL league championship, marking the first upset against them that season. The next year, we entered the season with that mindset, and encounters with Stanstead were consistently intense.

This year, every time we faced this team, the games went into overtime. There hasn’t yet been a definitive win this season, the games have always gone into a shootout or extra periods. The rivalry this team experiences is no trivial challenge. Expect high-level hockey, close scores, and intense gameplay. Anticipate enthusiastic fans who understand what these matches mean. Expect girls over 40 who prioritize the game of hockey over many other interests and prepare for some of the most intense play you’ve ever witnessed. This is a rivalry at its finest.

“They will continue to be one of the hardest teams we face, and we will be the same for them. This rivalry will only continue to grow,” said Sophia DeAnzeris ‘25, assistant captain of the Northwood girl’s hockey team.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Maxin St. Pierre ‘25

October 29, 2024 by Pete Moore

“I came to Northwood for the great hockey and for the exposure I will get from each showcase and tournament we go to. I also wanted to finish my education in a “real” school because I’ve been doing online school for most of my life.

“After the first month and a half I feel that the start of the year was hard on the academic side, and the hockey side was hard as well, on a new team, finding my identity as a player.

“My favorite Northwood memory so far is winning the South Kent Fall Classic and ringing the bell when we got back to school.

“I want to play juniors right after graduating from Northwood and then play Division 1 college hockey.

“If I could change anything about Northwood, it would be the type of food that gets catered to athletes. Maybe some guaranteed nutritious options every day that give athletes proper nutrition for their recovery after a hard day of training. I’ve enjoyed the new salad bar with chicken every night, which is a great option for all the athletes.

“Overall, I am very happy about my first glimpse of the Northwood year, and I am very excited for what is to come!”

As told to Pete Moore ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Calculating Your GPA (Updated Fall, 2024)

October 29, 2024 by Jack Kroll

Friday, October 18^th, marked the end of the first quarter for the 2024-25 school year. A new system for class weighting has been implemented at Northwood this year, leaving students wondering how to calculate their grade point average (GPA). Here is a guide:

First, take all your letter grades and assign the proper GPA equivalent to it using the chart below.
- If any of your classes are AP or Advanced, you add an additional 0.5 to the number for the grade. (class weight)
- If any of your classes are Honors, you add an additional 0.25 to the number for the grade. (class weight)
Then, add all of the number grades and additional class weights up. The number produced is your total grade point.
Finally, divide your total grade point by the number of classes you take. The number that this produce is your GPA.

Example:

Peak Pathways: A = 4.0
Advanced Biology: B- = 2.7 + 0.5
AP US History: B+ = 3.3 + 0.5
Honors Pre-calculus: B = 3.0 + 0.25
American Literature: A- = 3.7

4.0 + 2.7 + 0.5 + 3.3 + 0.5 + 3.0 + 0.25 + 3.7 = 17.95

17.855 = 3.59 GPA

Grading System
Grade	GPA	Grade	GPA
A	4.0	C+	2.3
A-	3.7	C-	1.7
B+	3.3	D+	1.3
B	3.0	D	1.0
B-	2.7	F	0.0

Table Produced by The Mirror Staff

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Candy Grams Raise Money for Lake Placid, FL

October 29, 2024 by Jesse Schoch

CeCe Keller ’25 sells candy grams in the dining room. Photo: Ms. Lisa Wint.

As fall rolls in the spooky season has kicked off with CARE’s annual candy grams. One of Northwoods traditions is the opportunity to buy a bag of candy for your friends. One of CARE’s members, Jenny Tran ‘25, tells me that Candy Grams is a fun tradition and a great way to express gratitude to those important in your life. She says thanking friends is an important gesture that can be overlooked daily.

The candies can also be bought anonymously, allowing students to give a friendly gesture to new peers. “It always has been a thing to celebrate Halloween. It can bring people together and be a fun way to get involved in the community,” says Tran.

Proceeds of CARE’s candy grams reach a bigger cause than just Northwood’s campus as well. Proceeds are donated to organizations such as the food pantry and breast cancer research. This year’s proceeds will go to Lake Placid, FL, after the category 3 hurricane Milton hit the state, causing devastating effects to many communities. “It’s a small action that could result in a big contribution to helping others, in this case, Lake Placid, FL,” says Tran. It’s vital that students look out for others, whether it’s in the classroom, the field, the rink, or even after school lets out.

Another way students can continue to support ongoing hurricane relief efforts is by going to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/. Giving even a couple of dollars to people who have been affected by these disasters makes a big difference.