There is a new entrance to the school, and it looks great! The construction of the new entrance began at the end of the previous school year and continued throughout the summer. It’s a good thing it was done in time for the start of the new school year! They have also remodeled the dining hall, making it more accessible to the rest of the school by replacing wooden walls with windows. Mr. Spears’ office was also moved to open the space even more. There are now many more windows, which provide much more natural light to the entire main area of the school. New Head of School Mr. Gino Riffle is exceptionally excited about the new entrance and how it attracts more people to the school’s lobby, now that there is more room.

Devin Smith ’26 stands beside the lofted beds in Bergamini. Photo by Kevin Betsch ’26.

As students in the Bergamini dormitory opened their rooms for the first time, many were shocked to see that their beds were now lofted. This came as a shock to most because of the difference from how the beds looked last year. Last year, the beds were either bunked or already separated, but on the floor. This year, the beds were separated but lofted up into the air. The shock of this lofted bed has sparked controversy across the campus, with some people liking it, others disliking it, and many holding mixed views.

When Assistant Dean of Students Leigh Riffle was asked about the switch to lofted beds, she responded by asking, “Do you feel like you have more space in your room this year?” I responded with “Yes.” Riffle then replied, “Well, that is the exact reason. It is the most efficient way to provide students with more space in their rooms.” So, here is our answer: the beds were lofted this year to provide students with more space.

Andrew Sherland ‘26 doesn’t love the lofted beds but doesn’t hate them either, saying, “I personally don’t like lofted beds. I wish we were given a choice to either have them up or have them down.” When asked if he felt like he had more space in his room this year, he said, “I feel like my room is just as crowded as it was last year, and I also liked the layout of my room better last year.” Andrew wishes he could have his room the same as last year, and finds getting into bed an inconvenience.

Casey Morrissey ‘27 has mixed feelings about the rooms, with both pros and cons. Casey enjoys “being up in the lofted bed and finds the bed to be cozier and more private than they were in my previous year. “I do, however, think it is a pain getting up and down every morning and night,” Morrissey said. He said he “feels like I have the same amount of space as I had last year.” Casey doesn’t seem to mind sleeping in the bed, but he does mind getting up to his bed and finds it a hassle.

Harry Vant ‘26 has a strong point of view on this. Vant said, “I do not like my lofted bed at all. I keep hitting my head on the ceiling and getting up and down at nighttime is super annoying. I also feel bad because whenever I must get up or down, I wake up my roommate, which is very annoying for them.” Harry went on to say, “I do feel like that I have more space, but I would sacrifice the extra space to have the beds be un-lofted.” Harry wishes they were back to the way they were last year. Many people are also upset that their beds do not have a ladder, and this is why it’s so hard to get up and down.

Don’t worry, Ms. Riffle said, the ladders are on the way, and if you ever want to ask Leigh Riffle why the beds are lofted with an attitude in your voice, she will simply reply with “Because I said so!”

The new study hall expectations, posted on the First West bulletin board. Photo provided.

A new school year always brings new changes, and among them this year at Northwood School is the new model of study hall. Previously, study hall required students to report to certain locations on campus for their specific grade every Monday through Thursday from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Under the previous study hall model, students were able to earn their way into a self-directed study hall through the Effort Honor Roll or the Dean’s List, enabling them to study in their room or a location of their choice, such as the library, dining hall, or living room.

With Headmaster Gino Riffle making his debut in the 2025-26 school year, new changes were brought about, including to the study hall. Students in the supervised study hall are now required to check in with their hall’s resident assistant (RA) between 7:45 and 8:00 and study in their dorm room with the door open, while faculty supervise the halls to make sure that the environment is conducive to studying. Students in self-directed study hall, attained through Effort Honor Roll, may close their doors and study in separate locations like the living room and library.

When asked, Assistant Head of School Life John Spear said that these changes were made to study hall because “We live in a residential community with adults living with students in the same community, so that is an important time for relationship and community building,” Spear said. “Having the opportunity for the dorm parent to interact with the students in a working environment is important in building that relationship,” he added.

When asked how he felt about the changes, Ryan Demers ‘27 said that he “Likes the new study hall because I feel more productive at my desk than I do in a classroom full of kids.”

When they arrived on campus and were informed of the changes, many returning students complained about them. However, upon asking students, most of them seem to have come around. “I think the new study hall is better because it allows for fewer distractions. I know many people who wouldn’t get as much work done when they were in the lecture hall because they would be surrounded by their friends and would chat instead of doing homework. So, I think being in our own rooms is very beneficial,” Sara Martin ‘26 said.

Overall, the new study hall model has sparked plenty of discussion among students – but early feedback suggests that the changes may be helping many find a more focused and productive study environment.