Owen MacLean

Seniors Share Summer Break Plans

May 18, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Image: TFD Supplies.

As the school year ends, seniors at Northwood are looking forward to graduation and summer break. From exotic vacations to first jobs, this summer will be a busy one, with a wide range of activities and experiences.

Many seniors are planning to travel with family and friends, taking advantage of the warm weather and a few months off from studying. Some are heading to the beach to relax, while others are exploring new cities or going camping. Whether it’s a big international trip or a road trip close to home, travel is something students are really looking forward to. Here are a few highlights:

Henry Kress ’26 is going to France and off to Croatia.

Autumn Kelly ’26 is traveling to England with her dad and granddad.

Jacob Slagel ’26 is traveling to Latvia and Ireland.

Leanne Aubut-Laurin ’26 will be going to Saint Tropez in the south of France with her family and will be attending the horse races in Saratoga.

Music is another big highlight of the summer. Concert season is in full swing, and students have their tickets purchased to see their favorite artists. Outdoor festivals and stadium tours offer fun nights out with friends and are often the highlight of the summer. Here are some of the events Northwood seniors are attending:

Angel Ji ’26 is going to the raves in Spain.

Anna Monette ’26 will be going to Sam Barber in Florida.

Adam Sherman ’26 is going to a concert festival back home in Saratoga.

Sara Martin ’26 will be going to Bluesfest, a concert festival back home in Ottawa.

While summer is a time to be out with friends and have fun, another big part of the break is having a summer job. From working at a camp, landscaping, or a golf course, to working at a store in a shopping mall, it is time for students to gain valuable work experience and make some money. Here is where a few seniors will be spending their time working this summer:

Devin Smith ’26 will be making ice cream at Dairy Queen back home in Denver.

Thiago Cesar ’26 is working in Nashville as a coach for the younger kids at Black Rock.

Edouard Laberge ’26 is going back to his craft at a barbershop in Montreal.

Kevin Betsch ’26 will be doing an internship with California Fire San Diego to explore a possible future as a firefighter.

Summer is shaping up to be a busy time for seniors, with a combination of fun and work. Here’s to hoping it is everyone’s best summer yet.

Student photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

ADK Sciences Ends the Year with a Splash

May 15, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Students in Ms. Fagan’s ADK Sciences class left campus this week for an exhilarating end-of-year field trip to go cliff jumping at the Flumes. The Flumes are a series of natural rock formations and swimming holes along the Wilmington section of the Ausable River. This area is unique in how the water has carved smooth channels and chutes in the rock over thousands of years. The river has created small waterfalls and natural slides that widen into calm swimming holes.

Luke Lalonde ’26 jumps off the cliff into cold water. Photo provided.

Under a beautiful blue sky, but a rather chilly spring afternoon of 40 degrees, the group took a short walk from the parking lot to the Flumes. This area is a favorite among visitors for swimming and jumping off the cliffs. After a safety discussion, students started taking turns jumping into the freezing-cold water. The cliffs range from 10– to 20-foot drops, where students were jumping. “It was way more exciting than I thought. When I first saw the jump, I didn’t think anything of it, but once I jumped and was in the air, I honestly got scared. I had so much adrenaline from how high it actually was,” Luke Lalonde ’26 said.

Elliott Murch ’27 jumps off the cliff into cold water. Photo provided.

This was one of the best field trips the ADK has gone on this year. “This had to be by far the most fun trip we have done. This is something I will never forget and am so glad I got to do it,” Cooper Plotts ’26 said.

Several of the students went for a couple of jumps. “I’m so glad I went twice, even though the water was cold, I got over the fear of jumping, and the second time was even more fun,” Lalonde stated. Others braved their first jump and then called it a day.

This trip combined an appreciation for the Adirondack region’s beauty and some extreme outdoor fun. It was a great way for students to connect with the outdoors. By the end of the day, the group was energized and cold. They returned to school with stories of bravery and some great videos and photos from Ms. Fagan.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Learning That Every Child Learns Differently: My Peak Pathways Journey in Elementary Education

April 30, 2026 by Owen MacLean

This article is part of Northwood School’s Peak Pathways Program—a year-long, student-driven independent study that empowers students to explore topics they are passionate about in depth. Through research, creativity, and real-world application, students take ownership of their learning and produce meaningful work that extends beyond the classroom.

Many Peak Pathways projects culminate during Publication Week, when students share their work with authentic audiences. By publishing in The Mirror, these students contribute to a broader conversation, offering original perspectives, insights, and creative expression to the Northwood community and beyond.

Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Working with young children can be both challenging and deeply rewarding; a lesson I came to understand through my Peak Pathways placement at St. Agnes School. My interest in elementary education began last spring after volunteering at St. Agnes School and receiving positive feedback from teachers about my ability to connect with young children. Those experiences encouraged me to explore teaching further. Over this school year, I have volunteered as a teacher’s assistant in the kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. I gained valuable insights into early childhood education and cognitive development, and developed my skills in patience and adaptability to support these young students.

My Peak Pathways research focused on the differences in cognitive ability between girls and boys of the same age, particularly in reading and spelling. This topic stood out to me early on, as I quickly noticed significant differences in students’ learning abilities. Some children were confident readers, while others struggled with basic words and letter sounds.

Students at St. Agnes School, Lake Placid NY, autumn 2022. Photo by Nancie Battaglia

One of my key observations aligned with existing research on this topic, which found that many girls in the classroom demonstrated stronger reading and writing skills than the boys. Girls often show greater comprehension and confidence with more challenging texts, while boys sometimes struggle with simpler material. Studies suggest this gap may be influenced by learning styles, behavioral expectations, and even neurological differences, and it tends to become more pronounced as students progress further in school. Seeing this pattern emerge as early as kindergarten made me realize just how important early intervention and inclusive teaching strategies are.

Beyond academic observations, the biggest lessons I learned were about teaching itself. Patience quickly became the most important skill I developed. Not every child learns the same way, at the same pace, or with the same supports. Some students required extra help with reading and spelling, while others needed behavioral or communication support. Adapting to these needs taught me that effective teaching is about meeting the child’s needs.

Communication was another major skill I improved on this year. For example, if a student needed my help while I was already assisting someone else, we worked on clearly communicating expectations. I learned how to reassure them that I would help them shortly while still supporting another student. These small interactions made a big difference in maintaining trust in the classroom.

I also gained experience supporting children who needed additional learning supports, whether that meant breaking tasks into smaller steps, reading one-on-one, or offering encouragement when frustration set in. I spent a large portion of my time helping students build confidence in their reading and spelling skills, which allowed me to watch their progress throughout the year.

As a result of my Peak Pathways project, I have applied to the Concurrent Education program at Queen’s University in Canada. I am proud to share that I was accepted into the Elementary French Immersion stream. This was not a post-secondary program that I had ever investigated before I had this opportunity to work in the classroom at St. Agnes School.

My Peak Pathways experience showed me that teaching is not just about getting through the curriculum; it’s about understanding students as individuals, adapting to their needs, and helping them believe in their own abilities from an early age.

Filed Under: Real World Tagged With: PathPathwayPub

Dartmouth Wins First ECAC Championship

April 29, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Dartmouth Men’s Hockey celebrates its first ECAC championship. Photo: ecachockey.com

Northwood students had a great couple of nights attending the ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship at the Olympic Center. The fans and alumni from Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Clarkson came into town to support their teams. The crowds were loud – with the pep bands adding to the atmosphere. There is lots of ECAC swag for purchase and an upgraded menu of food available at the game. ESPN was also broadcasting from the arena.

On Friday night the two semi-final games took place. The first game was Clarkson vs. Dartmouth. This was a rematch of last year’s semifinal that Clarkson won. Clarkson came out hard the first period but hit the post several times and Dartmouth was able to capitalize with two quick goals. Unfortunately, Clarkson never really got back into the game even though they outshot Dartmouth 31-26; they ended up losing 4-0. This was a very special night for Dartmouth. This was the first time since 1980 that Dartmouth has advanced to the ECAC finals.

The second semifinal on Friday night was Cornell vs. Princeton. This was a tight game; both teams were playing very hard. The game was tied until there was just under 8 minutes left in the third period when Princeton scored and won the game 3-2. This was the first time since 2018 that Princeton advanced to the ECAC finals. While Cornell did not move on to the ECAC Championship final, they were top 10 in the NPI hockey rankings and have a spot in the Men’s NCAA Hockey Tournament. They will play on March 27, 2026, in Colorado against the University of Denver.

The Championship Final was held on Saturday night. It was such a good game and very close between Princeton and Dartmouth. The game was tied 1-1 and had to go into overtime. The teams were so evenly matched, both had chances to win. In the end, with just over 8 minutes left to play, Dartmouth player Tim Busconi scored the game winner. The was the first ever ECAC win in Dartmouth’s history. Dartmouth’s goalie Emmett Croteau was named MVP of the tournament. Dartmouth is now also headed to the Men’s NCAA Hockey Tournament. They play University of Wisconsin in Massachusetts on March 26^th.

This is definitely a high energy event held annually in Lake Placid. It is worth getting a student ticket to attend. Now we can watch the national tournament play out of the next couple of weeks to see which school is crowned the winner of the Frozen Four.

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All photos by Jacob Slagel ’26.

Filed Under: Sports

Inside the Owner’s Box: Northwood Students Explore St. Lawrence in Montreal

April 22, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Three Northwood School students were recently treated to a memorable evening in Montreal after being invited to a special admissions event hosted by St. Lawrence University.

View from the owner’s box. Photo: Owen MacLean ’26.

Held on March 24, the event brought a small group of prospective students and their families together in a unique setting inside the owner’s box at a Montreal Canadiens game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Known for having one of the loudest atmospheres in the NHL, the Montreal crowd did not disappoint, creating an electric environment throughout the night as the Canadiens skated to a 5-2 victory.

The experience was made possible through the generosity of St. Lawrence University alumni Geoff Molson and Kate Finn Molson, who hosted the group for the evening. The Molson family is the majority owner of the Montreal Canadiens.

Northwood students, Elizabeth Gauvin-Langevin ’26, Rafaelle Fondacaro ’26, and Owen MacLean ’26 were among a select group of invited attendees. The event offered more than just an opportunity to watch NHL action; it provided an inside look at the St. Lawrence community in an informal environment.

View from the owner’s box. Photo: Owen MacLean ’26.

Also in attendance was Jonathan Kent, Vice President for Enrollment Management, who spoke with students and families about academic programs, campus life, and what sets the university apart. Several coaches from different St. Lawrence University sports teams were also there, including the women’s hockey team’s Head Coach. Conversations throughout the evening gave attendees the chance to ask questions and connect directly with university representatives.

“It was an incredible experience that was unlike most college admissions events,” Fondacaro shared. “Being able to learn more about St. Lawrence from the staff in person really helped gain a better idea of how the school might be and if it is the right fit for me.”

The event reflects a growing trend among universities to create meaningful, personalized experiences for prospective students as they make their final college decisions. This event targeted Canadian students as St. Lawrence University looks to increase its international enrollment. By combining athletics, alumni engagement, and admissions outreach, St. Lawrence showcased what it offers prospective students.

Northwood’s strong college preparation process continues to see students recognized with unique opportunities like this. As the final buzzer sounded in Montreal, these students left with some lasting memories from the excitement of the game to a clearer picture of what their future at St. Lawrence University could look like.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Sports

ADK Science Visits Fish Hatchery

March 26, 2026 by Owen MacLean

On March 13, students from Ms. Fagan’s Adirondack Science classes had a field trip to the Adirondack Fish Hatchery for a firsthand learning experience on conservation. The hatchery is located just outside Saranac Lake and is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

A small tank of juvenile salmon. Photo: Owen MacLean ‘26.

A tank of mature landlocked salmon. Photo: Owen MacLean ‘26.

During the visit, students were given an inside look at how fish are bred, raised, and released to support local ecosystems. The hatchery specializes in landlocked Atlantic salmon, producing 30,000 pounds of fish per year. The salmon are released into lakes and rivers across New York State to maintain ecological balance and support recreational fishing.

Students explored the facility, observing large tanks filled with salmon at various stages of development. This included learning about the lifecycle of fish, from tiny eggs and newly hatched fry to larger juvenile fish. The hatchery uses a constant flow of cold water from nearby ponds and wells to raise the fish. This ensures fish are growing up healthy before they are released back into the wild. “I enjoyed it a lot. The hatchery was something I found really interesting and taught me a lot about how these fish are raised. It was also cool seeing just the number of fish they had there.” Cooper Plotts ’26 stated. This was a good opportunity to learn about the life cycle of fish and the importance of maintaining freshwater biodiversity.

A highlight of the visit was viewing the large broodstock fish. These are carefully selected adult fish used in hatcheries to breed the next generation. “Yeah, it was really cool how big some of the older salmon were. They are a lot bigger than I thought, and then seeing the fish in the display was even crazier. The trout they had in there were massive.” Plotts said. It takes a lot of work and care to keep our fish populations healthy and thriving year after year.

Ms. Fagan noted, “This field trip is important as it is an opportunity to learn firsthand how fish hatcheries function. Especially because we are raising our own salmon in the class on a small scale. And we’re working with a hatchery to release these fish in the spring.”

The visit to the Adirondack Fish Hatchery offered students a memorable day outside the classroom and a look at how local government supports the health and sustainability of the ecosystems in our community.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

Cross Country World Cup Final Coming to Lake Placid

March 18, 2026 by Owen MacLean

The Winter Olympics just finished a couple of weeks ago, but Lake Placid is in for an incredible weekend: the FIS World Cup Finals for cross-country skiing will be hosted from March 19 – 22 at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. This is the final race of the season, with the overall champion being presented their crystal globe.

Johannes Hosflot Klaebo won six gold medals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. He’ll be competing in Lake Placid. Photo credit: Olympics.com

This is a historic weekend for the community. It is the first time that a cross-country skiing World Cup Final has ever been held in the United States. Equally impressive is that this is the first time since 1979 that Lake Placid has hosted a World Cup, which would have been a warm-up event to assess the facilities before the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

On Friday, March 20^th, races will begin in the afternoon with both the women’s and men’s 10km classic. Saturday morning will have the women’s and men’s sprint free qualifications, with the finals in the afternoon. Finally, on Sunday, the men’s 20km free will start at 12:30 pm, and the women’s 20km final will follow at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available online for students for $10 per day or $25 for the full weekend at www.mtvanhoevenberg.com. Ms. Fagan is working hard to give her ADK students the chance to watch the World Cup and is hopeful that ORDA will get us tickets.

So, what exciting stories are coming out this weekend? First, there is American skier Jessie Diggins competing in the final World Cup races of her career. She is a three-time Olympian who has announced her retirement. Diggins is the most decorated American cross-country skier ever. She has a gold medal from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a silver medal and a bronze medal from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and, most recently, a bronze medal in the 10 km freestyle at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. She has also won and medaled in numerous World Cup events. She has a very good chance of medalling again on her last weekend of skiing.

The highlight of the weekend will likely be watching Johannes Hosflot Klaebo of Norway. You probably know his name because at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, he won gold in all six events he entered. He is the first athlete to win six gold medals at a Winter Olympics and now trails only American swimmer Michael Phelps for the most overall Olympic gold medals ever. Klaebo is a cardiovascular freak of nature. He went viral over the Olympics for a video of him sprinting up a hill on skis. His fastest pace up the hill was 11.4 mph, and he took off from the pack with such a lead that nobody was near him. He is the strongest cross-country skier in the world. It is a great opportunity to see him ski since he will probably win all his races again and will be awarded the crystal globe. It is your chance to see this sporting superstar.

If you have the opportunity this weekend to head up to Mt. Van Hoevenberg, go up and check it out. You will be seeing a little bit of cross-country history happening.

Filed Under: Sports

Men’s ECAC Championship Preview

March 12, 2026 by Owen MacLean

The Cornell Men’s Hockey team won the ECAC championship in Lake Placid in 2024. Photo: cornellsun.com

Northwood students have a fantastic opportunity to see some high-end hockey in Lake Placid on March 20-21, 2026, for the ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship. The Herb Brooks Arena has hosted the Championship from 1992 to 2002 and has hosted it annually since 2014. The winner of the event will earn a spot at the NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship, commonly known as the Frozen Four. This year, the Frozen Four will be held in Las Vegas in April.

The ECAC Championships have a long history, dating back to 1962. You can see all the teams’ logos and Championship wins displayed inside the Herb Brooks Arena. Cornell has won the most, with 14 championships, and Harvard is just behind with 11. Brown and Dartmouth have never won the championship in their school history. Dartmouth may have a chance this year to make the final. They have had an unexpectedly strong season.

The ECAC runs a three-week-long playoff schedule. The opening round of the playoffs is March 6-7, with a single-elimination game. The matchups are teams ranked fifth through twelfth. This year, the matchups are Union vs. Brown, Harvard vs. St. Lawrence, Colgate vs Yale, and Clarkson vs. RPI. There are usually a few upsets in this opening round, which makes for an exciting playoff weekend. I am predicting two upsets in this round, with RPI and Yale moving on to the quarterfinals.

The top four teams receive byes to the quarterfinals on March 13-15, where they will play a best-of-three final. The top four teams this year are Quinnipiac, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Princeton. Each of these teams has had extraordinarily strong seasons. Three of the teams are ranked in the top 20 by the NCAA: Quinnipiac 8th, Cornell 9th, and Dartmouth 12^th. I predict these three teams will move on to the ECAC Championship.

In 2025, the four teams that made the Championship weekend were Cornell, Quinnipiac, Dartmouth, and Clarkson. Cornell went on to win and earn their berth in the Frozen Four. I think we will see Cornell back in the finals again this year, playing Quinnipiac, who has been strong, with notable Flames prospect true freshman Ethan Wyttenbach leading the nation in points.

This year will be the first time former CHL players will play in Lake Placid. With the rule change in 2025, these previously ineligible players are now taking on big roles in the NCAA. Here is a breakdown of the four teams that have a bye to the quarterfinals: Quinnipiac has six players with CHL experience, while Cornell and Princeton each have one player, and Dartmouth has none. Clarkson has the most CHL players on their roster with eight. It will be interesting to see if teams with more of these CHL players go farther in the Championship than teams that did not pick up players this season.

It will be fun to follow the games over the next two weekends to see who ends up on a trip to Lake Placid for the Championship. You can guarantee it will be a busy weekend at the rink. If you cannot attend in person, the games will be streamed on ESPN.

Filed Under: Sports

Northwood Takes Home the PHC Championship

March 4, 2026 by Owen MacLean

Northwood Boys’ Prep celebrates their win. Photo provided

The Prep Hockey team headed to Minnesota to compete in the Prep Hockey Conference (PHC) Championship this past weekend at Shattuck St. Mary’s School. It was a long commute to get to the school, flying from Albany and stopping in Chicago before landing in Minnesota. Little did the team know, they would have the hockey weekend of their dreams.

Northwood finished second in the PHC East Conference for the regular season, so we did not have a bye this year into the semis. That meant the team had to play on Friday against the top ranked Canadian school, St. Andrew’s College (SAC) to try make the playoff rounds. This would be the fifth time the two teams competed against each other this season. The last game against SAC was when Northwood beat them at the MacPherson Tournament in January, so they were looking to avenge their loss. The game was extremely tight. There was no score until halfway through the second period when Charles Pigeon ’26 scored with an assist from Patrick McCormick ’26. This would be the lone goal scored in the game. Northwood won 1-0 with goalie Owen MacLean ’26 having a 34-shot shutout and SAC, last year’s PHC champion, was knocked out of the playoff round.

Northwood moved on to the semis on Saturday playing the top ranked team in the USA, Culver Military Academy. PHC East teams had not beaten Culver all season. The closest was a loss in OT during Northwood Senior Weekend in January. Again, there was no score until the second period when Charles Pigeon ’26 and Patrick McCormick ’26 got Northwood on the scoresheet. Soon after, Miles Van Mullen ’27 scored with assists from Hunter Chadbourne ’27 and Charles Pigeon ’26. Culver did come back, and the score was tied in the third period until 3:30 left when Charles Pigeon ’26 got another goal with assists from Cooper Plotts ’26 and Zach Klaich ’26. “I was so hyped after that goal—it was massive for our momentum. After giving up two in the third, getting that one so late gave us all we needed. I knew we would win after that, and I knew that was going to carry into the next day,” said Plotts. Goaltender Adam Sherman ‘26 protected the net and got the win with 47 saves. Northwood was on its way to the PHC final for the third year in a row.

Sunday would be a special day for Lake Placid. It was the 46th anniversary of the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The team got to watch the men’s gold medal game at the Olympics before heading to the arena and see Team USA win their first gold since 1980. Maybe this luck would pass along to another Lake Placid team. “It was really special getting to see that right before the game and I really think that gave a lot of us on the team a little extra boost of confidence for that final,” said Devin Smith ’26.

Northwood was playing Shattuck in the final. Shattuck is currently the second ranked team in the USA and had home ice advantage. Again, there was no score in the first period. But in the second period, Northwood took over with a flurry of goals. Charles Pigeon ’26 had two goals and Zach Klaich ’26 and Parker Thompson ’26 each had a goal. Anton Stackow ’27 had three assists, Kevin Betsch ‘26 had two assists, and Pigeon and Thompson both had an assist to put Northwood up 4-0. The game had taken a real turn and Northwood had control. Shattuck came on extremely hard in the third period but were only able to score a single goal. Stackow got his second goal of the game late in the third period with an assist from Charles Pigeon ’26. Northwood won with a 5-1 score.

This was Northwood’s first time ever winning the PHC Championship. It capped off an amazing weekend where Northwood had to take on the top 3 teams from the USA and Canada to win the championship. It was the hardest schedule possible to get there. The team was the underdog who worked hard together to succeed. This weekend was a little Miracle on Ice for Northwood.

Filed Under: Sports, Top Story

Humans of Northwood: Autumn Kelly ’26

February 24, 2026 by Owen MacLean

“I am from Mississauga, Ontario, which is about a 6- hour drive from Northwood. Before coming to Northwood, I played for the Oakville Hornets in Ontario. My favorite artist is currently Drake.

“I chose to come to Northwood because I immediately felt at home on my tour of the school. I could not miss this amazing opportunity to live in Lake Placid, and the hockey program is well-known and strong.

“My favorite class at Northwood is Advanced Psychology. I really like how it is a college credit course. I also enjoy the material we have been learning so far.

“My favorite part about Northwood is my teammates. We are all so close because we are together all the time. Every moment together is so much fun. We are a very close family.

“The best memory that I have at Northwood is from last year at the end of the season. All the girls on my team sat by the fire, and we talked about all our good memories and things we don’t ever want to forget about the past year. This was really special.

“My plan for next year is to continue my hockey career and further my education. I am attending Long Island University, where I will play NCAA Division 1 hockey and major in business. I am really looking forward to it.

“My best advice for someone coming to Northwood is to enjoy every small moment. Your time at Northwood goes so fast. Never take anything for granted. Every early morning practice is a privilege.”

As told to Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.