Mitchell Baker

Collingwood Takes on Brisbane in Highly Anticipated Australian Rules Football Grand Final

September 29, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Illustration: AFL

The Australian Rules Football season is reaching its peak with the Grand Final of the Professional Australian Football League (AFL) on Saturday, September 30 (2:30 p.m. Melbourne time / Sat 12:30 a.m. New York time).

“Aussie Rules,” or “Footy” as it’s colloquially known, is a highly physical contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field with the objective being to kick an oval-shaped ball between the center two poles of four (a goal).

The Grand Final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with a packed crowd of 100,000 spectators. The day before the grand final is a public holiday in Melbourne.

The 2022 TV broadcast was the most-watched program, with nearly 6 million viewers domestically.

Footy is a great sport to watch as the game is a fast-running game, not unlike soccer or basketball in terms of ball movement, where players can kick or handpass a ball to teammates. Highlights of the match include players leaping in the air on the shoulders of their opponents to catch the ball (“take a mark or a speccy”), chasing an opponent and tackling them to the ground, or threading the needle from an acute angle to kick a goal. When there are 100,000 people in the stands cheering the atmosphere is electric, and fans cheer on mass to berate the umpire when they think a decision has gone the wrong way. There is no padding, and players can be hit from any direction so it’s not a game for the weak.

This year, the finalists are:

Collingwood Football Club (Magpies)

Illustration: AFL

The “Pies” have made it to their 45^th Grand Final after beating the Greater Western Sydney Giants in a nail-biting Preliminary final on Friday night by 1 point. 97,655 fans attended the MCG, and when the siren went to end the game, the noise was deafening. My friend Andy Smith was there and commented, “Best game ever, it was crazy! It was so loud; I’ve never heard anything like it.” GWS had won their last 11 games straight, and as the newest team in the league with a new coach, it would have been a fairy tale for them to win the Grand Final. However, Collingwood, who finished the season on the top of the ladder, held strong in a high-pressure game. American Mason Cox played well, kicking the goal to put them ahead in the 3^rd quarter.

Match highlights.

Brisbane Football Club (Lions)

Illustration: AFL

The Brisbane Lions finished second on the ladder from the home and away matches and defeated Carlton in the other Preliminary final on Saturday to advance to the Grand Final. Brisbane defeated Collingwood in the 2002 and 2003 Grand finals.

Collingwood’s forward (like a striker in soccer) sustained a knee injury on Friday and will miss the Grand Final. Despite this, Collingwood is a slight favorite to win the big event.

In the US, Fox Sports will cover the game. Who’s going to join me to watch and cheer for my beloved Pies to win?

Filed Under: Sports

New Academic Schedule Has Fans and Foes

September 26, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Drew Donatello ’25 (left) and Jack Spiegel ’24 study the new schedule posted in the school’s lobby (Photo: Mr. John Spear).

As the 2023-2024 school year has commenced, returning students are adjusting to a new academic schedule, and the diverse opinions are causing major debates on campus. The school year has only just begun, so students and faculty are still yet to see how this schedule plays out when travel for sports becomes hectic. Mrs. Carmichael plays an influential role every year in the modification of the schedule, she expressed, “We tend to change our schedule each year. It is an annual thing to tweak it and make it better. Around here it’s a pretty regular thing.” The annual schedule modifications always creates a debate at the start of every school year.

The major change in the new schedule is the return of classes on Fridays. Last year, Northwood decided to remove Friday classes for the first time because athletes were often absent due to travel and Friday classes were regularly half-empty. Mrs. Carmichael said, “The Friday schedule was very chaotic and was exceedingly difficult for non-student athletes, which is about 20% of our population. We did some further analysis on when teams travel and found that it was common for teams to leave earlier in the week than Friday, which didn’t make sense for the schedule.”

“I thought no Friday class last year was perfect for athletes,” said Lokoah Paye ’25, a soccer player. “Having no class meant I didn’t fall behind at all and on free weekends it gave me time to get ahead.”

Not everyone agrees. “Friday classes are important,” argued Sachiel Ming ’23, a teammate of Paye’s. “Missing a day of class each week will compound and put us at a disadvantage for big assessments like the AP exams. It can be challenging at times to manage class and travel, but I strongly believe it is better for the Northwood community. Friday class is normal everywhere else in the world, so hearing returning students complain about it is almost absurd. It is still early in the year, but the schedule has been fine.”

Another interesting change to the schedule is the addition of the lab blocks for math, writing, and science. This year, there are labs on Tuesdays from 9:50 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:35 to 1:55 p.m. Students can use these lab times to meet with teachers and catch up or get ahead on work. Science teachers will also hold practical lab sessions every second week during these periods. This allows teachers to dive into more detail with their lab teachings because of the longer allotment of time. A normal 45-minute class doesn’t allow students to experience a professional lab experience.

Ming appreciates the Tuesday labs. “I like this change to the schedule because these labs act as a Flex class, which is extremely beneficial during the busy parts of the season,” he said. Some students have observed that the lab change almost seems as if it is a solution to traveling athletes missing Friday classes.

Initial reviews of science labs have been positive. “The science lab was really great last Tuesday. I felt I learned a lot more and enjoyed the lab a lot more than previous years,” added Noah Moodey ’25.

Faculty have also had their opinions on the new schedule, Mrs. Carmichael said, “I can tell you for a fact that the math and science departments are very happy. As with anything, there are a variety of opinions especially within the faculty, but so far, I haven’t received any complaints.”

All returning students have an opinion and are talking about the new schedule change. Even if they don’t love the schedule change, there seems to be a lot of optimism about the new school year. The school community will soon find out if the new schedule is more sustainable than the popular “no Friday” class schedule.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Senior Leaders Share Advice

May 18, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Every year, a new senior class is granted the opportunity to influence and guide the next generation through leadership roles and leading by example in the Northwood community. The ’23 class has taken this opportunity to the next level.

“This year, the senior class has made everyone more involved in the community,” observed Sachiel Ming ’24. “They have done a better job in promoting more diversified friendship groups. I have learnt a lot more about the hockey and ski teams this year, and it has been a great experience,” Ming added.

The class of 2023 is composed of countless leaders from all teams, and their leadership has positively shaped our community. It will truly be noticeable when they leave. Their Northwood experiences provide wisdom like no other, and help younger students strive for more, throughout their Northwood journey. Members of this senior class will be commencing their college life at top universities such as Northwestern, Columbia, and Yale.

Turner Jackson ’23 is a three-year senior who will attend Northwestern University next year. Turner is a role model at Northwood and has inspired many students to strive as he has done. His personality is renowned at Northwood, and he is known to be a kind man who will always be there to help. His advice to Northwood students is, “Enjoy the process. Take everything one step at a time. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and put yourself out there. You have so many opportunities, so make the most of them.”

Jackson also reflected on his journey and regretted not taking enough time to get to know everyone. He acknowledged that often, students cling to their sports groups and don’t venture out. He wishes he had spent more time with other remarkable individuals at school. Turner, an international student from Hong Kong who came to Northwood to reach his goal of attending a top university, has been at the school for three years and reflected on his time here, expressing, “My Northwood experience has been unique. Everyone will have their setbacks and successes. My experience has been nothing short of that. It has prepared me for the next stage of life.”

Another role model senior is Thebe Mosehathebe. Thebe is a four-year senior who will attend Hobart College next year to pursue his passion for soccer. Thebe has constantly worked to improve the culture at Northwood School and has mentored younger students. He believes the most impactful advice he could give is to, “Live in the moment. Enjoy every day and see it as another opportunity to learn something new. Speak to the hockey girls, go out to town with the skiers, laugh with hockey boys, and get to know the independents. There are so many different types of people who come from different backgrounds, and there’s a lot to learn from them,” Thebe said.

“Get to know the faculty as well,” Thebe added, including the cleaning staff, the administrative team, and the kitchen staff. There are a lot of great people at Northwood, and all it takes is opening up and being friendly to learn a thing or two.”

Thebe also reflected on how he could have used his time at Northwood differently, expressing, “I wish I had gotten to know more people earlier each year. In my experience, you get to know a lot of interesting and fun individuals only at the end of the year, which makes me wish I had known them much earlier.”

Northwood students often neglect the opportunity to socialize with people from all over the world, and the diversity of Northwood is something that makes the school special. Students should capitalize on this. Thebe began his hectic Northwood journey as a freshman and emotionally reflected on his time at Northwood, saying, “It has been an amazing journey. I have experienced tremendous personal growth over the years, and I believe I have become a more well-rounded individual. I have forged many enduring relationships and have endeavored to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I can only express my gratitude to Northwood for shaping me into the person I am today.”

Northwood extends its heartfelt appreciation to this year’s senior class for their resilience and leadership. Thebe and Turner are exemplary role models at Northwood who have truly impacted this school. Northwood encourages all students to depart knowing that they have influenced the Northwood community for the better. With not much time remaining until our seniors bid their final farewell to Northwood, seize this opportunity to learn as much as possible and heed the advice given by Turner and Thebe. We will deeply miss our seniors and wish them the very best of luck in all their future endeavors.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

U19s Win Soccer Showcase; U17s Take 3rd

May 9, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

The U19 Team won the showcase. Photo provided.

Northwood recently hosted the Black Rock Spring Soccer Showcase. Teams from all over North America came to Northwood School to showcase their talent in front of top colleges. Several coaches left the showcase happy because of the high-standard games and the well-run program. The U19 and U17 Northwood teams competed hard and played in 4 intense games. The U19 team sought to defend its title on home turf after triumphantly winning the previous Northwood Invitational. The U17s were determined to avenge their previous effort to win the Northwood Invitational, where they, unfortunately, lost in the final in penalties. Northwood faculty and students were eager to support both teams and did so passionately.

The U19s started the weekend with a 1-0 victory against Pro Stars Fc. Sachiel Ming ’24 scored a beautiful left-footed goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. The hockey boys showed superb support and celebrated with the players after the potent goal. The game slowed after the first goal, and the U19 held on and won 1-0. The U19s then took on Riberio Moojen SPU for their day’s final match. The support decreased from the Northwood community due to the inclement weather, but that did not affect the team. The boys won 1-0 with a classy finish from Andreas Viteri ’23.

Sachiel Ming expressed, “The first day of the showcase was heaven. We were determined to put on a show in front of our fans, and we did. Playing in front of fans gives you that extra boost to work harder. The Northwood community was like a 12^th man with its support.”

The team dominated the last day of the showcase, winning its first game against Western Reserve 1-0 and its second 3-0 against Burlington Football Club. Cedric Lemaire proclaimed, “The team was excellent on our home turf. We entered a flow state as a team and were unstoppable.” The U19s defended its title, going undefeated without conceding a goal. They excelled in the previous Northwood Invitational and continued their impressive home form.

The U17 team started the weekend extremely slow, losing 2-0 against St. Anthony Futuro SC. The team started the game off lethargically, and the score line reflected it. Lohkoah Paye ’25, Co-Captain stated, “We started off terribly. We weren’t playing like us, and the team morale was low. St Anthony took advantage of that and capitalized early to put the game to bed. We picked our form up later in the game, but it was just too late.” The second game started much better for the U17s, as they took the lead early, with Mitchell Baker ’25 scoring off a Jace Donowa ’25 cross. They, however, didn’t hold the lead as the game continued and drew 1-1. Sam Rudy, a skier who watched the game, said, “The 17s played a lot better in the second game. They came out stronger and scored a nice goal. Unfortunately, the other team scored a banger which was almost impossible to save, but the 17s looked a lot better than I expected.” The U17 team was disappointed with their results after the first day because it put them in the 3^rd and 4^th playoff, not the final. They played the semifinal for the 3^rd and 4^th playoff against Immaculate Heart School (IHC), a familiar rival. It was IHC who won the previous Northwood Invitational. The U17 team was out for revenge and took this game personally.

Coach Martinez analyzed IHC’s game plan and changed the team’s formation and press. Coach Martinez deserves much credit for this tactical change because the team won the game. The team came out strong pressing hard. IHC didn’t know what to do, and the boys finally broke through with 10 minutes left. Diego Green ’25 scored off a Jace Donowa cross. Diego celebrated passionately, and the lads were experiencing pure joy. Later in the game, Baker scored a cheeky goal chipping the goalkeeper off a Hamish Riddle ’26 through ball. The game ended 2-0, and the team got their revenge.

The win secured a start in the playoffs for 3^rd place against Pro Stars FC. The game was immensely scrappy due to tired legs and heavy rain. Both teams were exhausted but battled hard but couldn’t find the back of the net. The team was preparing for a penalty shootout, but with 3 seconds to go, Baker scored a header from an AJ Etumnu ’25 corner. The team went crazy and stormed the pitch, celebrating the victory. The U17s weren’t happy with 3^rd place but were pleased with their performance on the second day.

Both teams competed hard over the weekend and entertained a passionate crowd. Northwood School held another successful event and would like to thank all teams and coaches who made the trip to compete over the weekend. The community loves hosting games for the teams and looks forward to many more successful showcases.

The U17 team took 3rd place in the showcase. Photo provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Spring Mountain Day a Hit

May 8, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Scene from Spring Mountain Day 2023. Photo: Provided.

On the 28^th of April, Northwood held its annual Mountain Day, which had been postponed from the usual start of the year due to horrendous weather. Students were disappointed about the event’s postponement but were thrilled to get the opportunity to participate.

Mountain Day has been an annual event at Northwood for over 45 years. Retired teacher and outing club director Don Mellor, an expert in outdoor activities, started Mountain Day and is responsible for this remarkable event. The event allows the Northwood community to engage in the Adirondack experience as students climb and hike through the beautiful mountain range surrounding the school.

Bobby O’Connor is the current head of the Northwood Outing Club (NOC) at Northwood and was in charge of Mountain Day this year. “This year’s Mountain Day was a modified version. It involved smaller mountains because of the timing. The trail conditions in the spring limited us to peaks below 500 feet. All in all, it was a really good day, and all the kids were able to get out and enjoy the peaks,” O’Connor said.

Mountain Day was also a good opportunity for kids to experience the NOC program. NOC is growing at Northwood and has been embraced by many students over the years. “Mountain Day is definitely one of the staples of the NOC program and is something we look forward to every year. It originated with Don Mellor, who is now retired from the school, but had such a strong presence here and his influence has really made Mountain Day huge for us. It is like the Super Bowl for the NOC program,” O’Connor said.

Several students were impressed with the experience and are looking to join the NOC program post-Mountain Day. Cedric Lemaire ’24 remarked, “It is hard to participate in NOC activities because of the rigorous soccer season, but now that the season is coming to an end, I am looking forward to potentially participating in NOC.”

Mountain Day is a great opportunity to experience the Adirondacks and a unique opportunity to get to know different people. It is usually at the start of the year, so it helps new kids settle in. A criticism of Northwood is different teams don’t often mix with each other, and it is a real problem. The athletic diversity in friendship groups is poor, as most athletes hang out with teammates from their own sport, which doesn’t create a family vibe within the school. On Mountain Day, the groups are randomized so people from all backgrounds and sports are forced to talk to each other. This was apparent this year.

“I usually don’t talk to many of the soccer kids on the U17 team, but I was in a group with two players on Mountain Day and I loved it,” Sam Rudy ’23 said. “I got to learn more about the hockey program and the people in it. I enjoyed the mixed groups and look forward to next year’s event,” Hamish Riddel ’26 said.

Mountain Day was a huge success this year. It is important to recognize all the hard work Bobby O’Connor and the other staff members put into the organization of the day. The Northwood community loved it and can’t wait for the next one!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Humans of Northwood: Santiago Salame ‘23

April 24, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

“When people first meet me, they usually think I am arrogant, but when they get to know me, they describe me as caring, nice, and funny. I grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with my five sisters and my dog, who is the smallest dog you will ever see. My childhood prepared me well for my adult life. I experienced many new things that matured me as a man. During my childhood, I had a big passion for food, and now as I have grown up, I have started to love cooking. I love to create new dishes and attempt to cook different cuisines from all over the world. From a young age, my dad took my sisters and me to several Michelin-star restaurants in Europe. These experiences made me fall in love with food. My favorite cuisine is Japanese and Mexican. I love making these foods, and the taste of these cuisines is elegant.

“I love to travel and experience new things. My favorite place to visit is my beach house in Olon, Ecuador. During the break, I will go to my beach house with my family and friends and enjoy the beautiful waves and the hot sun. I am going to try new things this break and potentially skydive.

“This is my first and last year at Northwood, and I absolutely love it. I originally came here to continue my dreams of playing professional soccer. Since being here, I have found that I can achieve bigger things. I have learned a lot about my characteristics and skills, which will make me successful. I want to help people in this world, which is greater than my original soccer dream. My family, friends, and goals motivate me to achieve these goals, and I am willing to work harder than ever to achieve them.

“I will miss the people and faculty I met at Northwood but am looking forward to post-Northwood life. I am attending Bentley University next year and am looking forward to the new challenges and goals I will face.”

As told to Mitchell Baker ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Sam Rudy ‘23

April 23, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

I can play the guitar and tend to impress the ladies when I play. I am from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, which is a small town with about 3,000 people, similar to Lake Placid. I am a skier, but I love to fish and hunt when I am not skiing. I have one sister and two brothers who I love to spend time with. Having siblings in a small town surrounded by nature gave me creativity and endless entertainment. I became an outdoors guy when I was younger, and I have loved nature and sports ever since. I was surprisingly a huge baseball kid growing up.

I came to Northwood this year because it is a good opportunity for my academic and athletic careers. I think Northwood has done a good job of challenging me athletically and academically, which was exactly what I was looking for. I am constantly pushed by my peers, which I enjoy. I want to ski in college after Northwood, and I want to be an aerospace engineer. I am working on my private pilot’s license and have a passion for planes.

My favorite food is my dad’s famous steak and chips. I don’t know how he does it, but the steak’s always cooked to perfection. I also love Costa Rican food. My favorite place to visit is Costa Rica because of the chill vibes, food, and weather. I want to travel the world when I get older, and the number one thing on my bucket list is to travel to Kitzbuhel, Austria to ski the Streif. I am going to work this summer and hopefully save enough money to visit Austria one day.

As told to Mitchell Baker ’25. Photo Provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Senior Privilege Open to All: Girls and Boys Now Permitted in Each Other’s Rooms

April 1, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Source: ISU Student Media

April 1, 2023 — Just two weeks after the start of a provocative new senior privilege allowing senior boys and girls to visit each other’s dorm rooms for two hours each week, the school has announced that from now on, the privilege will be available to all students at all times. “Girls and boys will be allowed on each other’s dorm halls at all times until curfew,” said John Spear, Assistant Head of School, in a statement to the Northwood Community on April 1.

Senior boys and girls were allowed to visit each other’s rooms for the first time on Sunday, March 19. The co-ed visitation was part of the class of 2023’s senior privileges, which were announced a few weeks ago and included giving seniors more choice over how to spend their school night study halls and exemption from 9:30 weekend check-in. The new visitation privilege was meant to be available to seniors on Sundays during quiet hours for the remainder of the school year.

“The two-week senior privilege ‘experiment’ went so well we have decided to allow boys and girls unfettered access to each other’s halls,” added Spear.

Traditionally, Northwood has been very strict regarding co-ed dorm room visitations. The school even installed security cameras recently to prevent such activity. The school’s about-face on this policy has surprised students.

Most students are thrilled. “This is a great change for Northwood. I think this change allows boys and girls to improve socializing, which is necessary in the real world,” Ezekiel Ling ’24 said. Ling and other students also noted that mixed-room visitations are typically permitted in college, and Northwood always says it’s preparing students for college, for the policy change makes sense.

Not all students are happy about the change. Samantha Luger ’24 values the serenity she finds in her dorm and thinks free co-ed visitation will be disruptive. “I can’t believe they are doing this! I want peace and quiet when I’m in my dorm. I don’t want to hear boys and girls flirting or partying nearby,” Luger said.

The trend of more liberal dorm policies is not new nor limited to Northwood. In the 1950s, dorms on college campuses were off-limits to members of the opposite sex. Then came the 1970s, when male and female students crossed paths in co-ed dormitories. To the astonishment of some baby-boomer parents, a growing number of colleges are going even further: co-ed rooms. At least two dozen colleges, including Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Oberlin College, Clark University, and the California Institute of Technology, allow some or all students to share a room with anyone they choose – including someone of the opposite sex.

It’s unclear if Northwood is headed in that direction, but for now, girls and boys will be in each other’s rooms at all hours of the day. “I know the frontal lobe of the adolescent brain, the part that controls decision-making and judgment, isn’t fully developed while the student is in high school,” Mr. Spear said, “but I trust them always to make good choices. What could go wrong?”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story Tagged With: AprilFools

Gothics Repeats as Winter Carnival Champion in Fun Day

March 20, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Last Wednesday was Winter Carnival, a fun annual event where students can showcase their talents and competitive spirit in various activities. The students were divided into four peaks, equivalent to houses at British schools, and composed of teams for each event. The captains of each peak selected their team members through a draft system. These diverse peaks allow students from various sports teams and cultures to bond over the goal of winning the Carnival. The Winter Carnival offers students a chance to take a break from their hectic academic and sporting schedules and socialize with a different crowd to have fun and ultimately win the traditional event.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This year’s Carnival was undoubtedly entertaining. The stiff competition made every event crucial for each peak, and the captains did an exceptional job selecting the teams, because all four teams had a chance to win.

Skylight was the 4th place peak in the 2023 Winter Carnival and didn’t perform as well as predicted but they put up a good fight. In third place was Big Slide, who made a valiant effort to win but fell short. The peak that came second by just a single point was Wolfjaws. After strong performances in the talent show and echo pond snow race, Wolfjaws fell just short of winning. This leaves Gothics as the 2023 Winter Carnival Champions. Gothics was consistent in all events and deserved to clinch victory in the Carnival.

The diversity of the activities meant that every student was strong in at least one event. There were 14 exciting events, including Dodgeball, Talent Show, Tug of War, Curling, Broomball, Baking, Wordle, Snow Football, Northwood Trivia, Heads Up, Echo Pond Snowshoe Race, Dog-Sled Race, and the Obstacle Course.

The most popular event was Dodgeball, and every member of each peak participated in the heated tournament with the desire to defeat their opponents. Big Slide emerged victorious, with star player Noah Leddell ’24 leading the team. He expressed, “Dodgeball was the highlight of Winter Carnival for me. Big Slide was dominant, going 3-0 and sweeping the competition. It was also fun to compete alongside the hockey players, which I rarely get to do.”

As expected, the Talent Show surprised and entertained everyone. Members of each peak were selected to participate, and some surprising talents amazed the audience. Kiet Do ’24 had a stellar performance singing “Sway” by Michael Bublé. Sam Rudy ’23, a member of Wolfjaws, proclaimed, “That was one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen in ages. I respect the confidence he had to bring out those fancy dance moves on stage.” Many other talented and humorous performances made the Talent Show unforgettable.

The Winter Carnival was a tremendous success this year, and students could step out of their comfort zones to socialize with new people and compete in new events. Northwood is incredibly grateful for all the staff who played a role in preparing for the tournament. Without their help, it would not have been possible. Gothics emerged as the 2023 champions of the Winter Carnival with an impressive win. Who will win next year?

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

“Northwood Confessions 2.0” Shut Down After Four Days

March 14, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Northwood Confessions 2.0, an anonymous Instagram account, recently made an impactful return and has been the center of attention for students on campus. The original Northwood Confessions started last year and survived for over a month. At its peak, the account reached a point where students were non-stop checking it for updates. It seemed like everyone was a fan until they were exposed. And then, suddenly, the account was shut down.

Northwood Confessions 2.0, like its predecessor, was an entertaining but harmful account that appeared out of nowhere and gained popularity quickly and dangerously. The student responsible for the account is still unknown, but the Northwood faculty has done a much better job of stopping the account compared to last year. The account spread several rumors, and numerous people were offended.

The return of the account left many interested but skeptical. Maegan Bryne ’24 stated, “I thought it was funny at some points, but it also went a little too far and hurt some people. A lot of false information was spread, so it was important to get rid of the account.” Several students debated the way in which the school handled the situation. Maegan believes, “The school handled it well but did kind of make a big scene of it. In my opinion, they made it out to be a lot worse than it was.”

New students were confused about the account and didn’t know how the account was run or what it was about. Hamish Riddell ’26 said, “I was really confused about the account, but similar accounts were apparent at my previous schools. I heard previous rumors about Northwood Confessions, but they were mostly positive. After the first few posts, I thought the account was really entertaining. Eventually, I saw a fake post about me. I found it funny, but I could see how it would affect others, so in the end, it was probably better that the account was banned.”

The vast amount of mixed reactions amongst students made this account significant yet dangerous.

After the issues last year, Northwood knew how to prevent the account going viral. Student leaders were informed of the account and played an active role in reporting and banning it, given that it breached the school community’s expectations and was facilitating harassment.

Lohkoah Paye ’24 expressed, “I found the account quite entertaining, but I knew it was wrong, and I knew it was my duty as a student leader to act upon this.”

Northwood Confessions 2.0 was handled far better this year, and the school prevented a potential disaster. Sachiel Ming, a second-year junior, said, “The account had far fewer posts this year so fewer people were offended. The school got rid of the account very quickly before the account grew exponentially. It was reported and banned on Instagram, meaning it only lasted four days and the school managed to limit the damage effectively.

Northwood Confessions 2.0 appeared and then disappeared mysteriously. The account is officially banned and is now not affecting anyone. The school has handled this well and is constantly learning how to make Northwood safer.

Who knows if or when Northwood Confessions 3.0 will come out?