Northwood Life – The Mirror

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

Humans of Northwood: Iva -Amanda Nelson ’23

October 27, 2022 by Anayo Etumnu Jnr

“You can just call me Amanda. I am from the Caribbean island of St Lucia. I came to Northwood to expand my academic opportunities and be more prepared for college in a way that the education system didn’t provide. I was introduced to Northwood by a community-based organization called Inspiring Young Minds, which helped me apply to prep schools.

“I would say some of my favorite memories of Northwood would be when I learned how to ice-skate on Cascade Lake in November 2019 and when I did LEAP and visited my home island (St Lucia) with a bunch of my friends this last school year.

“My favorite subject ever would be “The Voice of Toni Morrison.” because it allowed me to be fully engaged in the classroom. Additionally, it was a very interactive class that made me learn in abstract ways and forced me to learn different sophisticated views on different aspects of Black Americans.

“I do Crew and Dance as extracurriculars, but I would have to say that Dance is my favorite. I just really enjoy moving my body around. It is an expression of myself and allows me to physically show my thoughts. Another of my favorite hobbies would be talking to Mr. Runyon.”

As told to A.J. Etumnu ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Humans of Northwood: Finley Donahue ‘23

October 27, 2022 by Maisie Crane

“I enjoy rock climbing and recreational skiing. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, reading, hanging out with friends, and training (in the gym). I also participate in school groups such as Cheese Club, Sustainability Club, and Headmaster’s Council.

“I chose Northwood because of the better opportunities the school offers, which has proven to be true. My favorite things about the school are how nice and helpful the faculty are. The number of coco opportunities and the chance to meet all sorts of new people.

“Before I graduate from Northwood, I hope to finally attend a hockey game.

“Finally, a piece of advice I would have to offer rising seniors is to get the best grades you can. Senior year is important, but also make sure you keep a good lifelong friend group.”

As told to Maisie Crane ’23. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

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

Humans of Northwood: Carter Day ‘23

October 27, 2022 by Gus Garvey

“I really enjoy paddling, when I have time for it. Time spent outside is always good. I live on the Saranac Chain [of lakes], so pretty much in my backyard, I have a huge amount of water that’s open to me to use. I’ve been using it since I was really little, and I’ve grown quite fond of it. It’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of school or work, and it’s incredible to be out in the Adirondack backcountry.

“I’ve skied since I was two, and I joined NYSEF when I was seven. NYSEF was great. It gave me an identity – I had never been one for team sports – and it allowed me to get out and do something physical, which I really needed, and it gave me a passion. I also built a really strong group of friends through it. I had a lot of injuries, and the support that came from NYSEF when I had those injuries was remarkable. When I was seven, I took a wrong turn on Mount Hood glacier and ended up lost on the wrong side of Mount Hood, in territory known for crevasses and mountain lions. I don’t remember much about it, except I remember being very scared, and very tired after hiking out of it, which took me 3 or 4 hours with skis on my back.

“I was always interested in climbing, but I was never able to get out and do it. And then NOC came around at the time when I was thinking about ending my [ski] racing career. The only thing that I was really on the fence about was leaving a racing community that I’d been in since I was little. As I was deciding what to do, I spent a day climbing with NOC and felt very welcomed by the group and by Mr. O’Connor, and I decided that NOC would be a better fit for me than the ski team and that there would be a significantly lower chance of injuries for me.

“Downstairs Boat Rental is a company I started two years ago that specializes in short-term boat rentals on Mirror Lake. People come from all over the world to paddle on Mirror Lake, and the purpose of the boat rental is to get them on the water and enjoy the water for what it is. Owning DBR is a huge responsibility and balancing it with school can be very difficult at times. While it’s also a huge responsibility, it has also been a privilege to be able to have the experience of running something like that. It’s taught me more about the adult world than I ever really thought I would know, and it’s provided an excellent lens into what it really means to own a business, and how much work it entails. Before I started, I had no idea how much it would take.

“I’m really excited for the ski season. I’m lucky enough to be going to Utah for two weeks in January, and I’m super excited to get out and ski somewhere new, and that’s what I’ve been thinking about in terms of this year. Otherwise, I’m really excited to see what we can do with NOC. I’m amazed by the caliber of the trips that NOC is attempting this year. I’m also really excited for college. I don’t know where I’m going to go yet, but I’m excited to get out and see the world a bit, and experience new cultures.”

As told to Gus Garvey ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

NOC Provides Unique Experiences and Skills

October 27, 2022 by Hung Nguyen

Colton Cushman ‘25 climbing “Cure Cottage” at Mt. Baker (Photo: Alex Randall)

The Northwood Outing Club began about fifty years ago as a student hiking club and was quite popular for two decades before going dormant around 1980. It was re-launched as a co-curricular activity in 2021 and has ever since rapidly developed its palette of diverse activities and offerings. Led by Mr. Bobby O’Connor, with the occasional Mr. Emery and less frequent Don Mellor ‘71, students here develop unique skill sets and have experiences unlike any other.

Students will get to know a myriad of activities and skills. These activities include, but are not limited to, rock climbing, bouldering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, a bit of hiking, mountain biking, and indoor gym climbing. Intertwined with these activities, students are armed with an arsenal of outdoor skills: belaying, rappelling (descending from the top of a cliff), outdoor survival (first aid, cooking, heat conservation, layering system, gear usage), Tyrolean traverse (going across a river using 2 ropes), tying knots, putting up a tent, and orienteering (mapping, using a compass, determining the direction of travel and location).

Mr. Emery finds the program beneficial. “I think NOC gives young men and women an opportunity to explore their boundaries out in the physical world, challenge themselves, and see what happens when they’re faced with adverse situations,” Emery said.

In the last few weeks, the NOC crew has done rock climbing on various walls, namely at Mt. Baker, Beer Walls, Spruce Hill Crag, and Chapel Pond. Furthermore, they have also done mountain biking, indoor climbing at the Climbing Center in Mt. Van Hoevenberg, and orienteering on Cobble.

Alex “Big Al” Randall ’25 is an avid rock climber and NOC member. “NOC has made me a more thoughtful person; it teaches me to be more careful with my decisions,” Randall said.

The Outing Club is currently offered as a Co-Curricular, a Friday class, and 48-hr weekend trips.

NOC is offering two week-long trips during school breaks this year. During the Thanksgiving break, students may join the group to rock climb at Red Rocks, Nevada. In addition, they will learn about the environment there and tour the area. The other trip is Kilimanjaro, which is during the FISU week in January. This trip requires extensive training and signups have already closed. Students who have signed up will travel to Tanzania to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro, sightsee the Uvalde gorge (site of the earliest human footprint), and top it off with a safari.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Win at South Kent Gives Prep Team Momentum

October 27, 2022 by Aidan Lasky

The Prep Team celebrates the win at the 2022 South Kent Classic (Photo: Northwood Athletics).

The Boys Prep Hockey Team had an outstanding weekend at the South Kent Fall Classic that the team sees as a milestone and another step towards proving this year’s team identity. Until this weekend the boys hadn’t made a statement against any top team, but the games at South Kent showed that this year’s Prep Team has great potential and that they are a team that opponents should respect. Here are the results of the weekend.

The boys started the weekend with a Friday game versus the New Jersey Rockets, a team that had some skill but ultimately could not hang with the Huskies. The Huskies came out with a strong start but not without a push by the Rockets. The Rockets were able to put in 2 goals, but the boys were able to net 4, a great start to the weekend since recently the team hasn’t been able to produce as much.

The Saturday game against a 13-0 South Kent was the defining moment of the weekend. This game was especially important because South Kent is a member of the Prep Hockey Conference, the elite league that Northwood is a part of. The game started and in the first shift Nikita Meshcheryakov ‘23, a big point producer for the Huskies, scored to give the Huskies an important early lead. Coach Morris talks about how momentum is key in winning a game, because if it isn’t used then it can lose you the game. The boys were luckily able to ride the momentum and you could feel in the air of the rink that this was going to be a good game for the Huskies. The team was able to score 2 more goals, adding more and more momentum. This was not without a push by South Kent, who was able to tally a goal. The game ended with the Huskies winning 3-1, handing South Kent its first loss of the season.

The win over South Kent gave the team confidence going into the Sunday game against NAX, a team that was more physical than the previous games. NAX came out cocky and scored, putting them up 1-0. This act of trying to stay in the game was quickly shut down by an aggressive Husky team. The boys were 2-0 on the weekend and they were not going to let this team into the game. The team scored goal after goal until they reached a 4-1 lead, which resulted in the NAX team being more physical because they were being dominated. The boys resisted these acts of aggression and came out with the win. Not only was the team able to lift the banner, but they were also able to start their journey to becoming the team that they should be.

After the game, Coach Morris said, “We will not go back from this,” making sure the team had the mindset of never being content with where we are. Morris believed the team pulled together and rode the momentum. “You could feel it on the bench, the energy of everyone playing for each other,” Morris said.

This was an important weekend for the boys, and Northwood wishes them more luck throughout the season, and that they continue to ride the momentum of this outstanding victory. Go Huskies!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Varsity Hockey Has Promising Start to the Season

October 22, 2022 by Jackson Smith

Hockey action at the Olympic Center in October 2022 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).

The Varsity Boys’ hockey team has been off to a good start this season. On September 10-11, the team had home games against CP Dynamo and won both. It was a great way to start the season and instill confidence in the boys. The squad won the first game because of a last-second tying goal by Jackson Barbieri ‘24. They then went on to win in overtime and shared a great experience as a team for their first game. The second game was similar as they pulled out the victory in overtime for the second game in a row.

On the 23^rd and 24^th of September, the boys traveled to SLU and played Nichols School on both days. They won on Friday, 4-3, and won again on Saturday, 4-2, with an outstanding game from young goaltender Cash “Money” Lawrence ‘25.

The following weekend, September 30 – October 2, they traveled to South Kent School and battled South Kent on Friday, PAL Islanders on Saturday, and Palmyra on Sunday. They had a tough loss Friday at 2-8 against the selects U16 team. They had a tough fight against PAL Islanders and lost in OT 6-7. The Huskies finally pulled it together for the last game and beat Palmyra 3-2 in overtime with a great OT goal from Landon Cole ‘23. Good job to Northwood’s Prep team for winning that tournament.

On October 6-7, the Varsity squad faced Stanstead in two games. They played hard on Thursday’s first game but couldn’t put the puck in the net. Stanstead won 0-2. On Friday, the boys came back even harder. In the first 6 minutes of the game, they buried four goals on the opposing netminder. Before the end of the game, they netted four more to secure an 8-0 win. Cam Abel ‘23 had a hat trick, and Drew Donatello ‘24 had a shutout to leave the team 1-1 on the weekend.

The following weekend saw the team battle South Kent Selects again. They came out slow in the first game but kept the score close throughout, eventually losing 6-3 with an open net goal. The boys showed up the next day and dominated from the beginning and won 4-2 with a great game from all the boys.

The team is still working out the kinks, but the boys look great this year. They continue to get better and better. #RollHuskies

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Sophia Kelting ‘23

October 21, 2022 by Jackson Smith

“I am from Saranac Lake, New York. I chose to transfer to Northwood because I wanted to find greater Nordic Skiing opportunities and increase the volume of my training. I found Northwood to suit me very well because of the people around me with different backgrounds and with extensive diversity.

“Growing up in the Adirondacks has made me who I am today. I love the outdoors. As a kid, my parents had me in the Dewey Mountain ski program. I was deeply involved in my community. I was hiking mountains and spending all my time outdoors.

“I am very excited to further my academic and athletic career in college. I am currently looking to ski Division 1. I took part in the US Junior Nationals last year in Minnesota, and I continue to train daily.

“I am also looking forward to studying environmental engineering. I love studying math and science and hope to translate that into a college major.”

As told to Jackson Smith ‘23. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

A Class Without a Classroom Earns Credit in 48-Hours

October 21, 2022 by Maisie Crane

Mr. Bobby O’Connor (left) with the students who took Northwood’s first 48-hour course (photo provided).

Northwood School now offers a unique educational experience that is unlike other classes in that it does not involve a classroom. The new 48-hour course was designed by Mr. Bobby O’Connor, the director of the Northwood Outing Club (NOC) in which students have an intense outdoor learning experience over two days. The idea came from Ms. Carmicheal and Bobby O’Connor. The course was made to expose more people to the outdoors and the Adirondack landscape that surrounds our school. Upon successfully completing the class, students receive a credit towards graduation and outstanding wilderness training.

The basic structure of the course is that one weekend, on an early Saturday morning, a group of about 8 students backpack in the woods and set up camp for the night and hike the next day. The program is for anyone who wants to participate and so far, the school has run one 48-hour course and plans to run two more this year. Depending on the season. Here’s how the course is described in Northwood’s Course Catalog:

The first trip that set out this year took place on October 15-16. The group hiked in through the South Meadow and camped at Marcy dam. The next morning, they set out and hiked Phelps Mountain, which is one of the Adirondack 46 high peaks with summits over 4,000 feet.

The school and Mr. O’Connor also plan to offer a winter 48-hour course that will focus on back-country skiing and learning how to ski the slides. In the spring, O’Connor plans to bring a group of kids paddling/canoeing on the Saint Regis Lake.

Lea Lambert ‘24 is a ski racer from Quebec who took the recent 48-hour course and had a super “great experience,” even though she says she “froze” at night. She said she had a lot of fun on the hike and the views were very beautiful.

The following slide show contains images from the fall 2022 48-hour course. All photos are courtesy of NOC.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.