Mitchell Baker

Humans of Northwood: Junior Happi ‘23

October 27, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

“I can eat a whole loaf of bread and three cups of hot chocolate for breakfast and dinner in one day. My favorite meal is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I am 19 and I grew up in Zimbabwe. Growing up in Zimbabwe was exceptionally good and peaceful. I grew up in a deeply religious and athletic family. My family was very cultural and disciplined, which has helped me at Northwood. My hobbies are playing soccer and socializing. I have a lot of free time this year, so I am looking for a new hobby that will keep me busy. I like to make people laugh so in my free time I love to socialize. I came to Northwood to further my education and to prepare myself for college soccer. Northwood has been vastly different than back home. The diverse personalities and cultures at Northwood make life here extremely interesting. My favorite thing about Northwood is the snow. I had never seen snow before coming here. In the future, I hope I will attend a very good university that will provide me with the opportunity to play professional soccer. In 5 years, I hope I am drafted by an M.L.S. team and I am constantly growing as an individual.”

As told to Mitchell Baker ’25. Photo provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Food Service Gets High Marks

October 27, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Some of the Northwood food service team while they prepared for lunch recently. From left to right: William Mott, Adam Fischer, Adrianne Peck, and Jim Bennett (photo: Mr. John Spear)

The school year is off to a fantastic start. Students from all over the world are adjusting to Northwood life. A major part of life at Northwood is the food. The food here at Northwood is extremely diverse. Several dishes from all over the world give students a taste of different cultural foods. Food in general can be a source of happiness and can unify people. This year, the Northwood chefs have stepped it up a notch. The food has been sublime and there have been several new dishes that have pleasantly surprised returning students.

Cedric Lemaire ‘24 has been impressed with the food. “It has been very pleasing so far. The food has improved, and I am all for it. The chefs have also been hardworking and polite which makes the whole dining system more attractive.” He also noted the chefs are always good at making new students feel welcome. “This year my favorite meal has to be Jerk Chicken and rice. The seasoning on the chicken is unreal. My favorite dessert must be the chocolate pie,” added Lemaire.

An incredibly significant part of the food here at Northwood is the kitchen staff. The Northwood community must appreciate the challenging work the staff put into making meals every day. Leo Doyle ‘25 said, “My experience with the kitchen staff has been excellent. I am happy that the staff is extremely nice and positive. It has been a lot easier settling in because of them.” Leo already has a favorite dish. “The fried chicken and chips is the best. The fries are super crispy and tasty, which complements the crunchy fried chicken. My favorite dessert must be the ice cream sandwiches. Ice cream is such a subtle way to end a meal,” he added. Fried chicken has become a new favorite for many students this year. “The food here is surprisingly better than what I anticipated. I heard negative things about the food at Northwood, but it has turned out much better than what I heard,” Doyle said.

The Northwood food has been great so far, which has pleased numerous students. The staff is working harder than ever, so it is particularly important that we recognize their demanding work. Hopefully, the food at Northwood will keep improving as it is a major part of life at Northwood.

If you have any suggestions or feedback, make sure you contact the kitchen staff. Every week they ask for suggestions in the weekend meal survey.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Family Weekend to Feature Student-Led Conferences

October 1, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Next weekend, beginning October 7th, Northwood will have its annual family weekend. Family weekend allows families from all over the world to come and experience Northwood life. Parents will get to experience classroom life as well as co-curricular activities. For many students, this will be the first time they have seen their families since the start of the year. There are several events over the weekend that will easily welcome and entertain families from all over the world. The soccer and hockey teams will display their talent on family weekend with home games.

A major addition to this year’s family weekend is student-led conferences. Student-led conferences were trialed with last year’s ninth-grade class. Ms. Noel Carmichael, humanities teacher and academic dean, played a significant role in the success of the student-led conferences last year. “I am really looking forward to the student-led conferences this year,” Carmichael said. “The student-led conferences are an opportunity for students to be in the driver seat for their educational journey. Students will have the opportunity to present a PowerPoint discussing their highlights, success, and challenges so far this year.”

The student-led conferences are a terrific way to let students take charge of their conference rather than them being disengaged in a normal parent-teacher conference. Ms. Carmichael is aware that not all families will be able to attend family weekend. She expressed, “We are aware many families can’t make it which will mean several students will have to do their student led conferences virtually.”

Ms. Wright is a teacher and a parent here at Northwood who attended the student-led conferences last year, and she believes that “The student-led conference was a wonderful way to learn about my child’s Northwood experience, from his perspective. The self-reflection was honest, and the goals were well thought out. Overall, it was a vast experience as a parent, and I enjoyed having my child guide his own conference.” It is safe to say the student-led conferences are a fantastic addition to this year’s family weekend.

The student-led conferences, one of the many major events of family weekend. There will be several events that will portray the exquisite Northwood experience to families. Many families are coming to Northwood next weekend and the students cannot wait. Students are looking forward to the much-needed break after a hectic start to the year and they cannot wait to share their experience here at Northwood with their families.

A full schedule of Family Weekend activities can be found here.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Girls’ Hockey Off to a Promising Start

September 24, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Postgrad Natalie Zarcone is the captain of the 2022-23 Girls’ Hockey team.

The Northwood girls’ hockey team is off to a slow but encouraging start with a 4-6 record. The team has extreme potential which is exciting for Northwood. The girls are playing in a new league called the Junior Women’s Hockey League, and this will be the first year they participate in this league, which is considered the best pre-college girls’ hockey league in North America. This will be a big challenge for the team, but Coach Gilligan believes that they are up for it.

“Our hockey team this year has been fantastic. There are 11 new girls, so it will take time for the girls to settle in and understand each other as players and people. I am very encouraged with the amount of progress the girls have made in such a short period of time,” said Head Coach Trevor Gilligan ’03. “This is a very special team that I am really looking forward to work with. This year our leaders in the team are Natalie Zarcone and Georgia Bailey. They have impressed me with their leadership so far this year,” Gilligan added.

Head Coach Trevor Gilligan ’03

The team has already travelled to Wellesley, Massachusetts, and Stoney Creek, Ontario. This weekend, they are at Harvard University to play 4 showcase games and to tour Harvard. The girls are really looking forward to this fantastic opportunity. Their first home game will be during family weekend, on October 7th. This will be a very big game for them, and Northwood encourages everyone to attend home games.

This year, the captain of the girl’s hockey team is postgrad Natalie Zarcone. Natalie is a senior here at Northwood who is a leader on and off the ice. “We had 11 new girls that came in this year, and they were a perfect fit,” Zarcone said. “Our whole team is willing to put the work in on and off the ice, whether that’s in the classroom, practice, or fitness center. We have only had two weeks of practice and two weekends of games, but when we step on the ice, we make improvement each time,” she added. “I’m super excited for our team to continue to grow and bond off the ice while on the ice we show teams how good Northwood girls’ hockey is,” Zarcone said.

Chloe Lewis ‘23 is a new player for the hockey team this year. She describes her experience with the team as “Really fun. The girls are awesome and we’re really coming together as a team on and off the ice. It’s already starting to feel like a family.”

The girls’ hockey team is very exciting this year. There are several new players who have impressed the coaches and will continue working hard to get better. Coach Gilligan is a fantastic coach who is constantly caring for his players. The team has several leaders this year which will definitely help them achieve big things. Once again, their first home game will be on October 7th, so make sure to show them your support.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Restaurant Review: Dancing Bears

September 18, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Amongst the many restaurants in town, Dancing Bears is my favorite place to eat. Dancing Bears is an American restaurant that is famous for its exquisite burgers. The restaurant has been a go-to spot for students at Northwood for over 40 years. The beautiful view of the lake is a major bonus alongside the spectacular service. Dancing Bears is the perfect place to spend a Friday night after a long week at school. The restaurant offers several different meals: chicken wings, burgers, fries, calamari, salads, and many more.

The best meal at Dancing Bears, in my opinion, are the dry-rub wings or the classic burger. The wings at Dancing Bears are crisp and flavorful. The ranch sauce is also a fantastic addition to the wings—a nice, tangy taste which complements the sweet dry-rub chicken. The wings are served with a side of celery which is a great pallet cleanser to snack on while demolishing the wings. My other recommendation is the classic burger. The classic burger is a great option because it is quite a filling meal and is served with some tasty fries. It is a basic burger with all the basic burger ingredients which taste extremely natural because none of the ingredients are processed.

The only issue with Dancing Bears is that it is quite expensive. A classic burger and the dry rub wings are 16 dollars without tip. For a high school student, the food is expensive but manageable. A meal for one person usually costs around 20 dollars. The service at Dancing Bears in very good though. The waiters are always ready to take your order, and they are also very nice people who make the Dancing Bears experience excellent.

Sophomore Sachiel Ming is a regular diner at Dancing Bears. “It is amazing. The best French fries I’ve had since I’ve been at this school,” said Ming. “The chicken is also out of this world. There is great hospitality at Dancing Bears which always makes me want to come back,” he added.

Overall, I think Dancing Bears is an excellent place to eat. It is my favorite restaurant in town because of the delicious food and the fantastic view of the lake. Dancing Bears is a great place to go to with your mates on a weekend. It is also the closest restaurant to walk to from school which is a bonus. I think Dancing Bears is a solid 8/10 and I truly recommend it.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Mr. Brantley Beach

September 16, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

I have two bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree. I was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Fayetteville, New York. I live near campus with my wife and my daughter, Luna. In my free time, I like to ski, mountain bike and play golf. My favorite place to ski is Brighton Mountain in Utah. My favorite thing to eat is a delicious Philly cheesesteak. I also have a dog name Skyward, named after a trail at Whiteface. My favorite place to travel is along the New England coast. I did a road trip there last year which was fun. I previously worked further upstate in Plattsburgh for 12 years.

I decided to come to Northwood to help the ski program and to move closer to my family. My goal here at Northwood is to help build the ski program and see our athletes succeed. I am super excited to be at Northwood and I am really looking forward to the season.

As told to Mitchell Baker ’25

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Northwood Robotics Goes 6-4 at World Championships

May 5, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

The Northwood Robotics Team travelled to Houston, Texas over spring break to compete in the FIRST Robotics World Championships. It’s the first time Northwood has qualified for the prestigious event. After a long season of preparation and hard work, they earned their place at the world championship, and the finished the competition with a winning record.

Teams go through qualifications, which include 10 matches. At the end of qualifications, the teams that place in the top 8 then pick 3 other teams to be with them. Northwood’s robotics team won 6 and lost 4 in the qualifying round, which is outstanding for their first world championship, but unfortunately, they didn’t get picked to advance.

There were 75 teams in their division and Northwood Robotics placed 46th based on points and placed in the top 20 based on wins and losses.

The team was encouraged by the performance.

“It was fantastic. There were 25,000 people at the arena. We focused mainly on being a strong defensive team,” David Garvey, one of the team’s leaders, said. “We played some really good defense. We held some of the best teams in the world down really well. We were one of the best defensive robots there. It was an unreal experience going to such a huge event, it will be a tournament I remember for the rest of my life. We learned so much from this trip. Experiencing new things and meeting new people helped me develop as a person. Overall, it was a fantastic experience,” Garvey concluded.

The robotics team found success despite having several issues getting to Houston. They were supposed to fly out of Albany at 9:30 on a Tuesday morning, but their plane broke down. The team began to worry that they wouldn’t make it to Houston. Thankfully, United Airlines gave them a coach ride to a hotel in New York, and with a 3:00 am start the next day, they finally made it to Houston.

“We arrived in Houston at 8:30 a.m., and it took us an hour to get to the competition. We competed hard all day and got back to the hotel around 7:30 p.m. which gave us a bit of time to rest, but not much, because we had to be at the competition at 6 a.m. the next day,” Garvey said.

The students who represented Northwood Robotics in the competition were Anthony Lavigne ‘22, Brian Bette ‘23, Brian Brady ‘24, David Garvey ‘22, Kiet Do ‘22, Matthew Burns ‘22, Minh-Khoi Nguyen ‘23, Mitchell Tuttle ‘24, Piper Teig ‘25, and Wyatt Wardlaw ‘24. Mr. Martin is the coach and mentor of the team and Ms. Martin also serves as a team mentor.

These students have worked hard all year and have talent and passion for robotics. They are happy with their performance in Houston and are optimistic about Northwood’s future in robotics. It was a great tournament for Northwood School and a valuable experience for students.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Arts Showcase Declared “Fantastic!”

May 4, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Kendin Basden ’22 performing at the Northwood Arts Showcase on April 27 at LPCA.

The Arts Showcase was last week on Wednesday, April 27th. Students from Northwood and other schools came together to put on a fantastic show for the Northwood community.

Students sang, played instruments, danced, and showed their paintings, drawings, illustrations and other visual arts.

Students worked for hours to be ready for this huge performance. Ms. Carmichael and Mr. Stewart organized the performance and played a huge role in the success of the show, which took place at the LCPA which allowed more students and family to come watch the show.

Cedric Lemaire ’24 was extremely impressed with the talent displayed at the show. “It was fantastic. I didn’t know so many students at Northwood were that talented. The most enjoyable performance of the show in my opinion was Kiet. All performances were amazing, but when Kiet sang ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ by Frank Sinatra I went crazy! His singing was fantastic and had everyone in awe. Overall, I had a fantastic night, I look forward to the next Arts Showcase.”

“Over 25 students, including skiers, dancers, soccer and hockey players came together to share their songs, dance moves, and artwork with the Northwood community,” said co-producer and music teacher Mr. Stewart. “While doing a production less than 48 hours removed from vacation is less than ideal, our amazing performers worked incredibly hard and put on quite a show! I thought we had moments of triumph, moments of resilience, and moments of joy, and that’s all you can ask for out of any performance. I’m so proud of all the work our students continue to do to help make both the visual and performing arts a vibrant part of their Northwood experience,” Stewart added.

The Arts Showcase was brilliant. I was lucky enough to participate in the show and had so much fun preparing for the performance and performing. Northwood encourages all students to try new things and to challenge themselves. This Arts Performance provided an opportunity for experienced artists to display their skill and provided an opportunity for new artists to learn and perform. The Arts Showcase this trimester was fantastic, the Northwood community can’t wait for the next show.

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Filed Under: Northwood Life

Prom Set for May 19th with “Midnight Garden” Theme

May 4, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

Students are extremely optimistic about this year’s prom, which will be the last social activity for the 2022 graduates. This year’s Northwood Prom theme is “Midnight Garden.”

Prom is an opportunity for students to make memories they will remember for the rest of their lives; it also gives students something to look forward to after a long, stressful year at school.

“I am really looking forward to this year’s prom, as a 2022 graduate this is a significant event for me and other 2022 graduates,” Aristide Gry ‘22 said. “I am optimistic about the prom theme; I think the prom committee chose very wisely this year and made a good decision choosing Midnight Garden.”

The Northwood Prom committee chose “Midnight Garden” because they wanted the same feel as last year’s “Enchanted Garden,” but this year they wanted to step it up a notch. Students can use endless creativity to choose what they’re going to wear. Midnight Garden is also a very calm, creative vibe that lets students enjoy their big night and allows them to have some fun.

Student activities coordinator Ms. Carrie Donatello, one of the organizers for the prom this year, shared some details of the event: “The prom will take place on Thursday, May 19th, a day before senior dinner. The prom will begin at approximately 7:00 p.m. and will be held on campus under the same giant tent used for senior dinner and graduation. Guests from outside of Northwood are welcome to join us this year,” Ms. Donatello, added, and “it will cost $70 per student.” The food offerings will be different this year. “There will be two food trucks, so there will be a variety of options for students to choose from,” said Mrs. Donatello. There will also be a pre-prom reception in the living room and a dessert table at the end of prom.

Because the event is mostly outside and COVID-19 community levels are not high, the school will not require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test. “We hope the whole school will participate,” said Donatello, “it will be like a formal party.”

Start preparing your outfit for this year’s prom on May 19th. Remember, the theme is “Midnight Garden,” so dress appropriately. Northwood encourages all students to attend prom—it will be a night to remember.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Robotics Team is Headed to Nationals

April 1, 2022 by Mitchell Baker

The Northwood Robotics Team has qualified for its first-ever national championship. The Huskies are headed to Houston during spring break for the 2022 FIRST Championship.

Some of the member of the Northwood Robotics Team (6300), including (l to r) Mr. Jeff Martin, Kirk NguyenLe ’23, Mitchell Tuttle ’24, and David Garvey ’22 (Photo: .

The Robotics team qualified for the national championship by winning the “The Engineering Inspiration Award” at a regional competition earlier this season. This award recognizes a team’s engineering and design skills for their robot; it also recognizes how well they work together and work with other teams. The Northwood Robotics Team showed great perseverance and resilience which inspired many Northwood students and staff.

The 2022 FIRST Championship is April 20 – 23 in Houston, Texas. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a robotics community that inspires young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

“The Northwood students on Team 6300 always work to help other teams,” Mr. Jeff Martin, the mentor for the robotics team, said. “At this event they specifically gave a great deal of help (programming, parts, strategy, etc.) to the Lake Placid High School team,” Martin added.

Martin believes the Huskies deserved the engineering award. “The judges at the event were impressed by how well kids knew and understood their robot design and how well they communicated their ideas to the judges,” Martin said.

Earning a trip to nationals is a huge honor. “Winning this award qualified the team for the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston in April,” Martin said. “Only 3 awards at any competition will earn you a trip to World Champs. They also earned a $5,000 NASA sponsorship,” Martin boasted.

“It was a fantastic tournament,” robotics team member David Garvey ‘22 said of the event that qualified the Huskies for nationals. “It was only our second tournament this year. It could have been better though. We got unlucky with some of our assigned alliances. However, we still succeeded.”

Garvey has high hopes for the Huskies in Houston. “We are excited to compete against the top 600 teams in the world,” Garvey said. “We are aiming to place really high in that tournament and potentially win it.”

Students interested in getting involved in robotics should reach out to Mr. Martin or Ms. Carmichael.

This Robotics Team has inspired many students and faculty around campus. Northwood wishes the Robotics Team good luck in Houston and hope they come home with a trophy.