Northwood Life – The Mirror

Students React to LEAP Assignments

November 4, 2025 by Kevin Betsch

LEAP is a special end-of-year activity that is available only to underclassmen in grades 9-11. There is a variety of options, ranging from golf to a trip to Uganda. Students were asked to give their top three LEAP course options to Ms. Fagan, who then slots the kids into their LEAP for the year. 11^th graders get priority, followed by 10^th and 9th graders. There are only a limited number of slots available for each LEAP, and with the finalized list of LEAP students, the campus is filled with excitement.

Kevin Betsch ’26 with a catch during the 2025 Fly Fishing LEAP. Photo provided.

Sophomore Russell Astuto is in his first year at Northwood and is experiencing his first end-of-year LEAP activity. “I got slay the ADK,” Astuto said, “it was my first choice, and I am excited for it.” When asked what he is most excited about, he said, “To spend time with people I might not know super well. It’s exciting to meet new people. I am also excited for all of the activities that come with being in the LEAP, like ziplining and rafting,” Astuto added.

Faculty member Ms. Heather Odell is leading a brand-new LEAP course. She and Carrie Wardlaw are leading the trip to the Galapagos Islands. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people, and it is so amazing that they are able and willing to lead this LEAP. “I am most excited about visiting the place that Charles Darwin explored and researched to learn more about the evolution of species,” Odell said. “I am also excited to see the amazing wildlife and the beautiful landscape,” she added.

“LEAP week is an opportunity that you would not have anywhere else,” said Casey Morrissey ‘27. “It is sad when all your friends graduate and you must stay on campus for another week. Overall, though, it is super fun,” Morrissey added. “I am in fly fishing, and it was my first choice, so I’m pretty pumped,” He’s excited to learn about the sport of fly fishing. “Just learning more about fishing, I want to learn how to tie knots and tie-on different baits. I am also excited to learn to fly fish,” Morrissey said. “It is not something you get a chance to learn every day. Last year, some of my friends were in the fly-fishing LEAP and had a ton of success and fun while in the LEAP, so I am excited!” he added.

Staying an extra week after graduation does not sound very appealing or fun to most students new to the idea, but LEAP is a chance to do something you might never get to do again. When else are you going to be able to go to the Galapagos? The staff also does an excellent job of making the week super fun. Take full advantage of your Leap and have so much fun.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

NAS Installs New Cobble Trail Signs

November 4, 2025 by Nate Benjamin

The Cobble Hill trail just got an upgrade with two new signs. The Northwood Adventure Sports Program set off on a trek on a recent Monday to install two new informational signs on the Cobble Hill trail. These trail signs are very informative, with a bunch of information about the trail and the ecology that exists on Cobble Hill. These trail signs will be seen by many people each year, with Cobble Hill having an annual visitor rate of 20,000, making it one of the most popular trails in the Adirondacks.

These trail signs are located at the trailhead and also along the trail, near the middle. “These signs will let people know what is coming up and how many more steps till they reach the summit of Cobble Hill,” Bobby O’Connor, the Director of Northwood Adventure Sports Program, said. The sign lets people understand what they will be getting themselves into, even before the actual challenge occurs.

Each sign placed on Cobble features excellent weather resistance, which can last for over ten years without maintenance, making the signs very durable during harsh winter conditions in Lake Placid. “These signs located on Cobble Hill are also theft-proof,” Mr. O’Connor said. This makes the trail even safer this way.

The trail signage project on Cobble Hill fully complies with Adirondack Park regulations. Because the signs were installed on school property, the process required coordination with park officials to ensure all necessary permissions and environmental standards were met. As Mr. O’Connor explained, “We’ve gone through all the appropriate steps to make sure that we’re doing this correctly.” His statement confirms that Northwood has followed every regulation and that the project is in excellent standing with the park’s requirements.

Through the dedicated efforts of the Northwood Adventure Sports Program, significant improvements have been made to the Cobble Hill trail, making it both safer and more informative for visitors.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

Pumpkin Carving Contest a Hit

November 3, 2025 by Anna Monette

On the weekend before Halloween, Northwood hosted a pumpkin carving contest in the dining room. There were nine different groups. Each group was given a pumpkin and had to produce a unique idea, scoop out the guts, and then get to carving.

“Sometimes weekends at Northwood can get boring, so this was something fun that got everyone on campus involved,” Justin MacLeod said. “There were lots of different techniques to the contest, and in the end, my group had one of the best pumpkins,” MacLeod added.

The carved pumpkins. Photo provided.

Even though this was just for fun, Northwood is an extremely competitive school, so it had to be made into a contest. The winners were: 1st place: Puking Pumpkin, 2nd place: The Cat, and in 3rd place: Husky.

All the groups that placed received prizes. Along with being fun and competitive, it also made Northwood feel a little bit more like home for people. “One of my favorite memories growing up about the Halloween season was my family and I carving pumpkins, and I actually thought about how I was going to miss doing that with them this year, so it was nice to do it here at Northwood,” Cora Major ’27, part of the winning team, said. “It not only made Northwood feel more like home, but it brought me closer to other people in the community.”

Students enjoying the pumpkin carving activity. Photo provided.

This was a great activity that everyone loved and got them ready for the spooky season. “It was fun and a wonderful opportunity to get to do something with my friends outside of sport,” Andrew Sherland ’26 said. “Afterwards, we all decorated the common areas with Halloween decorations, and I really enjoyed that. It is something that we should continue to do in the coming years,” he added.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Unique Art Project Impresses

November 3, 2025 by Parker Thompson

In Ms. Van Slyke’s art class, creativity recently took on a whole new challenge. Students in the art class participated in a unique project where they made life-size sculptures of themselves using plastic wrap, packing tape, and filling them with newspapers.

The packing tape sculptures on stage at school meeting. Photo provided.

They used plastic wrap and wrapped it around their entire body, and then cut themselves out of it. And later, they filled it with packing tape to hold it all together and stuffed it with newspaper to ensure it was well-packed and maintained its shape.

When Mark Tverskoy ‘26 was asked about what he enjoyed the most about this project, he said, “I think the process of this project was the most enjoyable part, just something you have never done before, and it was super fun.”

When the sculptures were finished, they were presented to the entire school at our weekly school meeting. When the curtains parted and revealed the artwork, everyone was amazed at what they saw. This project showcased the creativity that the school has to offer and also demonstrates the creativity that our students here at Northwood possess.

Art students pose with their packing tape sculptures at a recent school meeting. Photo provided.

They are now displayed in different parts of the school for everyone to see when they walk around the main building. It is something that you can get a laugh at, as it once again shows us the creativity that Northwood students have displayed here, and will continue to impress us with their creativity.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Catching Up with Nick Palmer ‘25

November 3, 2025 by Owen MacLean

Today, we are checking in with Nick Palmer ’25, who is currently attending Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. The campus is located on the water of Mount Hope Bay. “I decided to attend Roger Williams University because of the strong business program, beautiful campus location, and the opportunity to play college hockey,” Palmer said recently from his new campus.

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Photos: Roger Williams Hockey (Instagram)

Palmer, who is in his first year of business school, says his “favorite thing about college so far has been the amount of time and flexibility you have every day.” His current schedule consists of hockey practice in the mornings from 8-10 a.m. and classes usually between 11a.m.-5 p.m. each day. He usually has up to three classes per day, each lasting an hour. Then he has workouts after class. Palmer notes his current university schedule is “very similar to Northwood’s winter schedule.”

This year is special for Roger Williams University. It is the inaugural season for their men’s DIII hockey team. Palmer provided some information on the recruiting process for him to play for the Roger Williams Hawks. The process “involved coaches coming and watching my games,” Palmer said. “Following this came lots of emails and then campus tours. It’s a cool experience.”

The Hawks played their first exhibition game on October 21 against the EHL All Stars. The Hawks won 3-2 in overtime. “The first game was good; our team is growing and improving every day as we continue to get more comfortable with our teammates and systems.”

The team’s first official DIII game is on October 25 against Albertus Magnus College. Palmer is most looking forward to playing Curry College in January, stating, “I think it’s always cool to play high-end teams, and they were very good last season.”

Palmer has great memories of his time at Northwood last year. His favorite part of Northwood was the town of Lake Placid and the rink. He misses the students, faculty, and staff, saying, “It is a very tight-knit community that is unlike any other.”

To end the interview, Palmer provided some advice for current Northwood hockey players looking to play NCAA hockey. “Take it one day at a time. It’s easy to get caught up in everything that goes on during the process, but if you continue to work hard and do the right things, everything will come together. Your time at Northwood flies by, and it’s so important to have a smile on your face and enjoy every day you have here.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Campfire Origin Stories

November 3, 2025 by Jacob Slagel

Ninth graders gathered at the Pavilion to share the creation stories they had prepared for their Integrated Humanities I class. Each student selected a story from Virginia Hamilton’s In the Beginning, researched the culture behind it, and then learned the tale well enough to retell it aloud. The aim was to hear different creation stories from around the world and notice both the unique parts and the common themes.

Integrated Humanities I students telling origin stories around a campfire. Photo: Jacob Slagel ’26.

Max Mortimer ’29 said the experience “was kind of cool to learn about another background of the story.” Mortimer enjoyed hearing what classmates presented. “It was fun doing it as a class,” Mortimer said while roasting a marshmallow. “My story was about the god Ra from Egypt, and how he created humans, plants, and animals. I did not know much about ancient Egypt before, but after researching this and telling the story, I feel like I learned a lot more,” he added.

Philippe Joly ’29 said he also liked the assignment. “Yeah, I really enjoyed it. It was good to learn like new mythic things.”

The stories covered a range of traditions. Some explained how the world began or why certain things exist, and others focused on gods or natural events. Students said that having a choice of culture and topic helped them find a story that interested them, making the retelling feel natural, as if they were hearing a familiar story from home.

Mortimer noted that the setting made the night feel different from a typical classroom activity. “I’ve never done anything like this around a campfire at night,” he said. “It made it feel special.”

The evening concluded with students completing their stories and reflecting on what they had learned from the research and from listening to one another.

“It was good for everyone to learn something new, and it’s another cool thing Northwood does,” Mortimer said.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

MSC Attends Elementary School Geography Night

October 28, 2025 by Yosef Spear

Northwood’s Multicultural Student Club visited Saint Agnes Elementary School, which serves grades pre-K through 3^rd, for their annual Geography Night, where students learn about a diverse mix of countries and cultures. Dominica Sarandeva ‘26, one of the club’s leaders and also a St. Agnes School graduate, arranged the visit with Profe. Coss to have a better understanding of the cultures within Lake Placid and introduce us to the Lake Placid community.

Lucas Smith said, “The event turned out well. I think their annual Geography Night was a good learning experience, and I learned a lot about other cultures’ foods. We also got to eat many different foods, and they all tasted amazing. It was nice to see people like Yosef and Tziyon being like older brothers to the younger kids, and everyone was just having a good time helping the kids with anything.”

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“It was nice to experience the unique cultures that are in the Lake Placid community, and I enjoyed learning about all the different cultures that are represented in the elementary school,” Mohammad Ahmed ‘26, the MSC’s social media manager, said.

Alex Darby ‘26, another MSC social media manager, was impressed. “The event turned out well; it was inspiring to see kids wanting to learn so much about different cultures.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

Burger Review: Big Slide Brewery

October 28, 2025 by Cody Betsch

Hey Northwood community! This is Cody Betsch ’26, and I’m excited to welcome you to another in our series where my good friend, classmate, and teammate, Parker Thompson ‘26, and I review all of the burgers in the town of Lake Placid. We’re here to give you all completely honest reviews of Lake Placid’s burgers on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best thing we have ever tasted and 1 being absolute garbage.

Big Slide Brewery. Photo: LakePlacid.com

The burger we chose for this week is from a restaurant just outside of town, Big Slide Brewery and Public House. This is a sister restaurant to another very popular spot, The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, so expectations were pretty high.

Unfortunately, I am not joined by Parker Thompson ‘26 this week. However, I brought two other burger fans with me, Henry Kress ‘26 and Charles Pigeon ‘26. All three of us got “The Burger,” a Donahue Farm patty, house-made burger sauce, bib lettuce, heirloom tomato, Vermont Cheddar, bacon, and onion jam, stacked on their homemade Bake Placid bun. It had a pickle on the side and French fries.

The burger and fries at Big Slide Brewery. Photo: Instagram/Big Slide Brewery.

The burger came in at $18, very standard for a Lake Placid burger. This burger lived up to expectations and even exceeded them for me. I thought the onion jam was great, and the bacon was a great addition, something new compared to the other burgers. I give it an 8.3 out of 10.

“The burger was super juicy and had really good flavor,” said Henry. He rated it a 7.9 out of 10. “Every bite brought me joy,” said Charles, who gave it a 7.8 out of 10.

“The Burger” at Big Slide Brewery and Public House. Photo provided.

Overall, Big Slide offers a great burger option in Lake Placid. The service was great, and it being outside of town gives it a little more of a quiet atmosphere. This was a great burger, and I would definitely recommend not only this burger but this entire restaurant.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Opinion

A Visit to “The Rez:” Teammate Shares His Roots

October 28, 2025 by Casey Morrissey

Left to right: Casey Morrissey ’26, with Parker Thompson ’26 and Anton Stackow ’26 at a recent formal dinner. Photo provided.

During one of the few fall weekends without hockey, I had the opportunity to visit my teammate Parker Thompson’s hometown. Parker invited me and another teammate, Cody Betsch, to spend the weekend with him at his home in the Akwesasne Nation, a place he proudly refers to as “The Rez.” I asked what being a part of the community is like, and he answered, “I am proud to be from the Rez, and I love the tight-knit community, and it is a lot like Northwood in that way.”

Our first stop was Parker’s home, where we were welcomed by his family. For many Northwood students, teammates become like family, yet most of us never see where they come from. We might know the names of our hometowns, but we rarely experience the communities behind them. Visiting Parker’s home offered a glimpse into the tight-knit environment that shaped his character both on and off the ice.

Later that day, we attended a game played by Parker’s father’s hockey team, which he owns. The energy in the rink was electric, filled with pride and community spirit. It was clear that hockey isn’t just a sport in Akwesasne; it’s a tradition that connects generations.

The visit was more than just a weekend away from school; it was a window into a culture deeply rooted in family, teamwork, and pride. Seeing where Parker comes from gave me a new appreciation for his perspective and for the sense of identity that “The Rez” brings to those who call it home.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Winter Clothing Drive Is in Session

October 28, 2025 by Nate Benjamin

The Winter Clothing drive at Northwood is a great opportunity for the school to give back to the Lake Placid community. Under all of the touristy, rich, and scenic landscapes, there is, of course, some poverty in the Lake Placid community.

“The winter clothing drive at Northwood is trying to help reduce many of these concerns for Lake Placid residents by giving away coats and cold-weather clothing,” said Florence Richard ’26, one of the leaders of CARE, Northwood’s Community Service club. This makes Northwood’s clothing drive very beneficial to the surrounding community.

The winter clothing drive is a part of a greater effort in Lake Placid. There are many places where you can drop off your old winter clothing, such as St. Agnes Church, St. Agnes School, the medical center, and the high school. It is a vast community-wide effort.

At Northwood, the donations are handled through Ms. Wint and CARE. They take the donation bin from the faculty office and then deliver it to Thrive and Thrift in Lake Placid, NY. With the donations Northwood brings in, 50-200 people stay warm in the cold weather of Lake Placid.

There are many more great ideas we, as a school, can offer to help the community. Flo has a suggestion for students. “So, you know that some people have more wealth and can help the cause. In the fall, many people like to clean out their closets to fill them with the new trendy clothes for the upcoming winter season. Instead of throwing these clothes out, they can put them in the bins and help the community that way.”

I think this is a great idea to give back to the community and help many people in need during the winter season.

CARE has some great plans for this year, with the Northwood clothing drive, and we are excited to see what comes out of this later this year. Hopefully, this community can help a large number of people with the clothing drive, and Northwood can be a main contributor to Lake Placid Thrive and Thrift.