Northwood Life – The Mirror

Spirit Week a Fun Way to Build Unity

November 15, 2023 by Ivan Favreau

Spirit week is a week for the Northwood community to come together and be creative with their outfits every day. Spirit Week is an opportunity for students to bond, connect, and have fun. This year, Spirit Week was October 30 – November 3. Kristen Kiggen ’25 was the lead organizer for this year’s Spirit Week.

Monday: Twin Day

Twin Day is a day during Northwood Spirit Week where you meet with a friend and decide what you want to wear, and you will both wear the same exact outfit as each other, just like twins.

Jacob Slagel ’26 said his favorite day during Spirit Week is “Twin Day.”

Tuesday: Halloween

On Halloween, students wear their Halloween costumes to school. Costumes can be creative, although no weapons are allowed, whether they’re fake or not. No blood that could cause a mess in the halls. Costumes need to be school-appropriate, so nothing too violent.

Wednesday: Country or Country Club

On this day, you can either dress up like you’re going to a Country Club or you can dress up like a country folk. So for Country Club Day, it would probably just be a collared shirt and maybe some golfing pants, and for people that are going to wear country clothes, just some jeans, boots, and a nice work shirt.

Thursday: Pajama Day

PJ Day is a favorite for students because we usually have to wear khakis. But on PJ Day, they can wear anything that they would wear to bed. Sophomore Jackson Magnus says his favorite day is Pajama Day because it is “more comfortable.” Daven Linck ‘25 said that pajama day is also his favorite.

Friday: Class Color Day

Each class was assigned a color, and students were asked to wear that color to represent their grade. There were also competitions for class color day.

Throughout Spirit Week, we had competitions to see which Spirit Day was the best, and there were prizes handed out at the end of the week.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Chess Club Brings School Together

November 15, 2023 by Hamish Riddell

Chess Club founders Nathaniel Wright ’25 (left) and Trey Frantz ’25. Photo provided.

Chess Club is the newest addition to the Northwood extra-curricular catalog. The Chess Club was founded by Nathaniel Wright ‘25 and Trey Frantz ‘25, who said, “We wanted to start this club because chess has become a new passion for us both. We thought it would be a great way to be more inclusive in school and get some new bonds going.”

Chess is a game of strategy and patience; Nate and Trey have clearly mastered that as their 2-week-old club has over 50 members. Northwood School strives for unity and interdependence. Creating a new club shows the true spirit of Northwood. Nate and Trey spoke about starting a club for the educational purposes of the students at Northwood. They strive for excellence and thought that an addition of an extra-curricular that focuses on everybody talking and bonding is just what the school needs.

Members of the Chess Club play in the library. Photo provided.

“The Chess Club has gotten to an almighty start. We are holding a tournament, and I cannot be more excited. I honestly cannot believe how successful this club is, it is one of the greatest decisions I made.”

Chess Club participants are driven to get a higher rating so they can receive more prestige and a “Chess Club Instagram edit.” Some of the Instagram edit stars include Noah Moodey ‘25 and Jacob Brunton ‘25. The balance between socializing and getting better at a world-renowned game keeps bringing people to the chess board. Founders Trey and Nate are overjoyed with what has happened with the club so far and are excited for the future.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Humans of Northwood: Arthur Kaufmann ‘24

November 15, 2023 by Ahmed Elganainy

I am a first-year postgraduate student at Northwood. I was born and raised in the Philippines, where I also spent the majority of my childhood. Prior to moving to Northwood, I studied in Florida for two years.

I want to study kinesiology in college and deepen my awareness of the human body. I chose Northwood in an effort to improve my athletic performance while maintaining a solid academic standing. The people here have been so hospitable and supportive and have made me feel at home during my time here.

In addition to soccer, when I have free time, I particularly enjoy playing the piano and hanging out with friends. Something interesting about me is I am the youngest of three brothers and have three nationalities Filipino, Swiss, and Japanese.

As told to Ahmed El Ganainy ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Anderson Smyth-Trider ‘24

November 15, 2023 by Ahmed Elganainy

I am a first-year senior from Riverview, New Brunswick, Canada. I came to Northwood for its unique academic approach and great hockey team. My favorite part of Northwood has been road trips with the hockey team and my STEM research projects.

Other than hockey, I enjoy hanging out with friends and working out. Something interesting about me is that I speak French, as I am from the only bilingual province in Canada!

As told to Ahmed El Ganainy ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Samuel Rudy ‘24

November 15, 2023 by Hamish Riddell

I am from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and I am a ski racer. I grew up in a small town of about 3,000 people, which is like Lake Placid. Throughout my childhood, I loved playing sports and being outside. I played soccer, football, baseball, and basketball and am currently ski racing. A huge hobby of mine is fishing. I love to fish.

Before I came here, I attended a public school which was much different than Northwood. I found out about Northwood through friends who also came here to ski. This is my second year at Northwood, and I could not have asked for anything more. I’ve enjoyed every aspect of living here in Lake Placid and being part of this community.

Spending time with the ski team is something I enjoy more every day. After Northwood, my main goal is to ski in college at the highest level I can and major in aerospace engineering. Aerospace engineering is something I have been interested in for quite some time. I have grown fond of it and find it intriguing. I hope to pursue this passion in college and see where the dual passions of skiing and aerospace engineering can take me.

As told to Hamish Riddell ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Girls’ Hockey Goes 3-1 in Home JWHL Weekend

November 15, 2023 by Gus Garvey

The Huskies at home in October 2023. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Northwood and Lake Placid had the privilege of hosting the JWHL’s first major event of the year and the Huskies went 3-1 against some of the nest opposition in North America. They lost the opening game, 5-4, to Balmoral Hall, before rattling off 3 straight wins to finish the event, including a 5-1 win against Stanstead College, a 4-3 win against the Washington Pride, and an impressive statement win, 5-1 over the North American Hockey Academy, or NAHA, who had over 10 Division 1 commitments on their active roster.

Their first game of the weekend was against Balmoral Hall on October 13. Despite the loss, the offense showed up. Oswego commit Katie Demers ‘24 had two goals playing on the top line, and Loelie Lachapelle ’26 had 3 points including the opening goal of the weekend.

Later that day, they played Stanstead College, and won 5-1. Lachapelle scored again, but it was the veterans who showed up for the Huskies in this game. SLU commit Halle Mules ’24 scored twice, UVM commit Hilary Wilkin ’25 had two assists, Brac Kelley ’24 had a goal and two assists, and LIU commit Kristen Kiggen ’24 blocked what seemed like 70 shots. Three of Northwood’s five goals came in the final 5 minutes of regulation, and goaltender Oceanne Thiffault ’26 stopped 31 of 32 shots.

The next morning, they played Washington Pride, and won 4-3 in a nail-biter. Mules had another two goals, and Harvard commit Scout Oudemool ’24 had three points, including a goal.

The following morning, they played possibly their best game of the weekend, against NAHA. Lachapelle showed up yet again, scoring a hat-trick, with additional goals from Eliza Quackenbush ‘25 and Kiggen. Thiffault had yet another great game, stopping 22 of 23 shots.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Peak Pathways Project Aims to Build Underwater Robot

November 15, 2023 by Ivan Favreau

This article is the first in a series in which staff writer Ivan Favreau looks into students’ Peak Pathways projects.

Add Truscott ’25. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Addison Truscott ‘25 is building a robot that can go to the bottom of lakes to collect DNA and other samples from aquatic wildlife so she can study them. This work is part of Truscott’s Peak Pathway in STEM research. In Peak Pathways, students complete a two-semester, self-designed, and self-directed, in-depth learning exploration of a topic or field of interest that aligns with their future aspirations.

Truscott, who goes by “Add,” believes “where we can’t see is where we need to see the most.”

Truscott chose a STEM project because she wants to make a difference in marine biology in lakes and rivers by making underwater marine life more accessible to scientists. The samples she collects will allow scientists to catalog fish and other wildlife in Adirondack ponds and lakes.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Pink the Rink Weekend a huge success

November 14, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

Kate Broderick ’22 (foreground) at the Pink the Rink game in October 2021 (Photo: Northwood School/Facebook).

The “Pink the Rink” event took place at the Lake Placid Olympic Center on Saturday, November 4. Pink the Rink is a student-led event that was created to spread awareness and raise money to fight breast cancer. Halle Mules ’24 and Owen Flynn ’24 came up with the idea and coordinated the successful event.

Throughout the school day, students were given opportunities to donate money to help the cause. The organizers also did a fantastic job marketing the games, and with the soccer teams in Lake Placid for the weekend, large crowds came to support the cause, all wearing pink.

Ritter Coombs ’25 said, “It was a great experience playing for a great cause. It was also fun looking at the crowd and seeing everyone united.”

Halle Mules, the captain of the Girls’ Hockey team, is a key student-leader at Northwood. “We did Pink the Rink to hopefully make this event a student-led tradition at Northwood,” Mules said. “We wanted to play for something bigger than ourselves. We also wanted to correlate this idea to this year’s theme of unity,” she added.

Unity is something that is very important to the culture at Northwood and is something leaders at this school are trying to achieve. Diego Green ’25 expressed, “It was a great idea. Seeing everyone come together to support something that is bigger than sport is beautiful. Even [soccer Head] Coach Moodey and his family came to support.”

Halle and Owen would not have been able to produce this event without the help of several teammates, teachers, and students. The community didn’t only come together during the event but also during the process of creating the event.

The event was one to remember and is something that will most certainly continue to be a tradition at Northwood. “The event went really well,” Mules said. “Everyone being able to come out and support something bigger than us shows the school culture is alive and well. A lot of kids donated, and a lot of kids learned more about breast cancer,” Mules added.

As the community continues to grow, more and more leaders are trying to stimulate change. Northwood encourages these students to do what Owen and Halle did because it only brings positivity to the community.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

World Affairs Club Hopes to Educate and Unify School Community

November 7, 2023 by Hamish Riddell

Students at a recent World Affairs Club. Photo: Hamish Riddell ’26.

The World Affairs Club is a new student club at Northwood. Founded and run by Sydney Kuder ‘25 and Cecilia Keller ’25, a group of FIS ski girls who hope to bring attention to important events happening in the world to our campus.

“We want to inform students on what’s going on in the world around them from a source they can trust, they’re fellow students,” said Keller. “We believe that if young people are properly educated on current events, they will feel empowered to provoke change in the world.”

Kuder and Keller realized last year that few Northwood students had much knowledge of the important global events happening around the world, and they wanted to change this.

The World Affairs club has already gathered a small group of participants who are a part of the group. Leo Doyle ’25 is one of the club’s members. “I think that this new addition is going to be great for the students to branch out and gain knowledge of current events in a fun and safe place,” Doyle said.

One of the club’s goals is to make news broadcasts every week and share them with the Northwood Community to try and enhance student’s awareness of current events in this world.

“I think this club will be a very positive addition to the Northwood community. The school tends to be organized by sport, but this club will help students branch out and connect worldwide, which we think is beneficial.”

The World Affairs club is creating a platform to allow students to explore the issues they feel are most important and engage with their peers in a safe environment to create change in their world.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

The Man Behind the Microphone: Garvey Making a Name for Himself with Play-by-Play

November 1, 2023 by Machai Davis

Augustine “Gus” Garvey ‘25 is known for his skill as the play-by-play announcer for the hockey teams of Northwood. He’s a one-man broadcasting operation: he sets up the recording equipment, records the video, and calls the play-by-play. He’s developing quite the following and was even brought on the road for a weekend of away games in October.

Gus Garvey calling a game at the Herb Brooks 1980 Arena in October 2023. Photo provided.

Gus Garvey on game day at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid in October 2023. Photo provided.

“I got into commentary when I started watching hockey,” Garvey said. “My dad has a friend who worked for the New York Rangers, and he got me into the booth to watch [MSG Network broadcasters] Sam Rosen and Joe Mcaliley work. I got hooked from there,” said Garvey.

Garvey’s preparation for the games normally consists of him going on the opposing team’s website and getting player roster information there. “The preparation for the game is not that hard,” he said. “It depends on the game because of the jersey numbers and the players’ last names. For example, we had a team from Canada last week with the boy’s hockey. But the Northwood names are the easiest.” said Gus. “I live with most of the guys on the team, so I ask them questions about their background that I might use in a broadcast,” he added.

Gus finds calling girls’ hockey games easier than the boys’ games “because the opposing girls’ team’s websites are typically better, and the players usually have their names on the back of their jerseys.”

Garvey doesn’t think he’ll major in broadcasting in college. “I do not know if I am going to commit fully to doing play-by-play. I would like to call games as an undergrad. If I commit to this, I will go to a college with a good hockey team and try to commentate for them, but there are limited spots in the country,” said Garvey.

Whether or not Garvey pursues broadcasting in the future, it’s bringing him pleasure now, and his growing audience of parents and students appreciate his skill and look forward to tuning in when Gus calls a game.