People – The Mirror

With Japan Course, Garvey First Student to Create a LEAP

October 11, 2024 by Jesse Schoch

Gus Garvey ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“When I started at Northwood, I had only been to Japan three times, but those were all during the summer and were mostly for visiting my cousins,” Gus Garvey explained as he spoke about organizing a LEAP course to Japan, the first LEAP organized entirely by a student. Garvey, a four-year senior at Northwood, along with a group of students, will be traveling to Japan to ski and experience Japanese culture as a part of the school’s LEAP program. The program is typically a week-long session in length and is designed to give students opportunities to gain experience from something new.

“When I first came up with the idea, I wanted to incorporate Bobby into it.” Mr. Bobby O’Conner is the school’s Northwood Adventure Sports (or NAS, formerly known as the Northwood Outing Club, or NOC) director. “I thought I would cater more to what his role is at school, so make it more skiing more outdoorsy.” However, Garvey tells me that this trip will not just be focused on skiing. “This isn’t just an après-ski vacation; you’ve got to make it educational. I split it in half with skiing and education.”

Nagano, Japan is called a “powder paradise.” Photo: http://www.go-nagano.net.

As Garvey tells me about how he intended to incorporate skiing as one of the main activities for the trip, he mentions a crucial factor, which was choosing what time of year to take the trip. He explains his two previous options for the time of departure, April and at the end of May. “April is when all the cherry blossoms are out, and all the schools are out too. It’s crowded and expensive. When you have a large group of students who don’t speak that language, there is a bigger chance of losing somebody in a very crowded city. The thing about May is that in Japan, there’s a rainy season from mid-May to mid-June. In Japan, all of the cultural stuff is generally outdoors. If it were constantly raining that would be miserable.”

Garvey has overcome barriers and continues his way on creating this trip. “Challenge number one was finding people to chaperone the trip. Challenge two was making the itinerary work. I anticipated seven people; instead, we had sixteen express interest.” This created a benefit financially. “That’s more of a cushion in case something goes wrong,” Garvey explained.

Garvey is currently working on raising money for students who need financial aid and overcoming language barriers. “Coordinating for a group of twenty as the only person that can speak the native language is going to be a challenge, but I think it’s doable,” he said.

Garvey continues to put forth a tremendous amount of time and effort into planning his trip. Not only has he worked to create a trip meaningful to his culture, but more importantly, he strives to create an incredible opportunity for his peers.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

The Endurance Journey of Dr. Benjamin LeBlanc

October 11, 2024 by Griffin Beam

From Sprints to Distances

Dr. Benjamin LeBlanc’s athletic journey began on the track, where he showed his speed as a sprinter during his high school years. However, it was in college that he discovered his true passion for distance running. With a newfound love for longer runs, he set a goal: to run 4,000 miles each year. This equates to approximately 11 miles a day—a feat he has accomplished almost every year for the past six years. Despite a slight dip last year, where he still managed an impressive 3,400 miles, LeBlanc’s dedication to his running remains very strong.

Leblanc running on an Adirondack trail. Photo provided.

“I just really enjoy it; it honestly relaxes me a lot,” LeBlanc shared when asked what drives him to maintain such a rigorous training schedule. “My training gives me the peace of mind that, from an endurance standpoint, I’d be able to handle any situation.” This mindset not only shows his commitment to running but also highlights how it relates to his overall well-being.

Milestones and Achievements

Among LeBlanc’s most significant accomplishments is his participation in the New York City Marathon 60K, equivalent to 38 miles. This race marked an important point for him, as it was the longest distance he had ever run at that time. The achievement was a testament to his dedication and a preview of the endurance challenges he would go after in the future.

LeBlanc has also taken on the high peaks of the Adirondacks, a great challenge for any runner. Most notably, he completed the Great Range, a 24-mile trek that involves over 10,000 feet of climbing, all done within six hours. This accomplishment not only shows off his physical endurance but also his ability to navigate the challenging terrain of the Adirondack Mountains.

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, LeBlanc has set his sights on even greater challenges. His dream is to compete in—and in an ideal world, win—a 50-mile race, and he also wants to attempt to complete it in under seven hours. This goal really shows the spirit of an athlete who continually seeks to test his limits, both physically and mentally.

LeBlanc’s story reminds us that it’s not just about crossing finish lines but also the journey itself. His passion for running and the meaning it brings to his life stand as a powerful example of the idea that true happiness comes from pursuing what we love.

As LeBlanc continues to chase his running goals in and out of the Adirondacks, he inspires others to find their own paths and pursue them with great determination. In a world that often moves too fast, LeBlanc’s story is a reminder to slow down, appreciate the journey, and enjoy the miles along the way.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

For Some Students, First Mountain Day was First Hike

October 11, 2024 by Sophia DeAnzeris

The Northwood Community participated in the annual Mountain Day tradition this past week. All the Northwood students were divided into small groups of 8-12, with a leader keeping track of the group. On Mountain Day, everyone branches out deep into the Adirondacks to hike and explore the amazing park they live in. For many, this was not their first time trekking up a mountain or high peak, but for others, it was.

Photos provided.

First-year senior Nathaniel Poole ‘25, was one of those students who set foot on a hiking trail for the first time this past week. “I thought Mountain Day was really fun. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I had a lot of fun hiking,” Poole said. Being exposed to this environment is a great chance for students to get involved in activities they don’t normally have the chance to be a part of.

It was not just students who experienced hiking for the first time. The new girls’ hockey assistant coach, Franny Geraldi’s, hiked of the first time on Mountain Day. Gerardi, originally from Yonkers, New York, began her role as an assistant coach for the girl’s hockey program this past year and participated in her first Mountain Day and hike. She explained her experience. “I found the elevation was the most difficult for me. I have never really been in any sort of elevation in my life. It was a different type of workout than what I’m used to or have ever experienced.”

The common themes from everyone were the experiences and unusual activities they encountered throughout the day. “I think it gives us all a day to realize how grateful we are and how lucky we are to be surrounded by the high peaks and are given the opportunity to be able to bond as a school community together in a day outside of our co-curricular activities,” Gerardi added. “Seeing the view at the summit was definitely worth the adventure!”

This yearly experience allows for new opportunities and for members of Northwood to get a deeper understanding of what the Adirondacks has to offer and the memories to be made while doing so. They also get to spend time with people they don’t normally spend time with. It was truly a wonderful day for everyone at Northwood!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Max Notley’s ’27 Pre-Game Ritual

October 4, 2024 by Gavin Kruger

Max Notley ’27. Photo provided.

This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.

On any given morning, while everyone else is asleep, you can expect to find U17 team captain Max Notley ’27 on the field or the turf. The American-Brit winger is a sophomore, who is in his second year at Northwood. He enjoyed a little taste of success last year, playing a smaller role. However, this year, he will be a vital piece for the team’s success. I sat down with him to learn about how he prepares himself for games.

“When I wake up, I’ll eat a good, heavy breakfast. Then I’ll prep my stuff for the game. And then I’ll continue my prep, stretching, getting my mind right, that sort of stuff.”

Max has a rigid pre-game routine. “I listen to music on the bus ride to games, usually English rap. While on the bus and even before I get on the bus, I start visualizing my game, picturing myself out on the wing, receiving passes into my feet, taking people on.”

The hardworking prospect feels that he is doing the right things but isn’t quite at the level that he would like to be. “I work very hard and will continue to do so, you know, getting up early and doing the extra stuff. I feel I am disciplined and have a good work ethic. So, I think I’m doing all the right things, but I’m not at the level I want to be at just yet.”

Max also shared some interesting advice that he would give to student-athletes. “Be in the moment. Because one day, there won’t be any more team meals or bus rides back to school after a win. So embrace it all, soak it in, and don’t take anything for granted. Give 100% every day. The last thing I’d say is to love what you’re doing, whatever your passion is, give it your all.

He also shared that “everyone is on their own path. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others because comparison is the thief of joy. It’s only a matter of time before your dreams come true.

Filed Under: People, Sports Tagged With: PreGameRituals

Peak Pathway Profile: Randall Learns Boat-Building

October 4, 2024 by Li Feng

Alex Randall ’26 with the canoe he built over the summer. Photo provided.

The Peak Pathways Program, Northwood School’s exciting evolution of its successful Independent Initiatives, has returned! The program is structured in a way that provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in a year-long, self-designed exploration of a topic or field that aligns with their future aspirations. Northwood continues to foster an environment where students learn and actively engage in research and critical thinking, transforming education into a lived experience.

This summer, Alex Randall ‘25 undertook an ambitious project: constructing a 15-foot canoe in his garage. He is preparing to build a second, larger canoe as part of the Peak Pathways Program, which encourages students to apply their skills to real-world projects. His initial canoe served as a test, using cheaper materials to minimize mistakes and learn the fundamentals of boat building. “I wanted to gain some first-hand experience before diving headfirst into a new project,” Alex explained. “I started with cheaper materials to avoid making costly mistakes.”

Guided by his grandfather, an experienced boat builder, Alex tackled a foreign process. The project involved bending different widths of wood to form the canoe’s shape, followed by applying fiberglass to waterproof the wooden planks. One of the more challenging skills he mastered was steaming wood to make it flexible enough to bend. Reflecting on his learning experience, Alex noted, “One of the most remarkable skills I had to master was bending wood through steaming. This technique softens the cell walls, allowing the wood to become flexible.”

Alex Randall works on the wooden canoe he built over the summer. Photo provided.

While rewarding, the project was not without its difficulties. Balancing the time between his summer job and the demands of canoe construction was tough, and the extended periods of waiting for glue to dry often delayed progress. Nonetheless, Alex remains committed to refining his skills through this experience.

Looking ahead, Alex plans to build a second, larger canoe with greater width, depth, and more intricate details than his first attempt. This next phase of the project will push his skills further as he continues to grow through Northwood’s Peak Pathways Program. By allowing students to design their projects, the Peak Pathways Program equips them with practical problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills. Programs like this prepare students for a rapidly changing world by promoting their strengths and encouraging them to take ownership of their learning, making them better prepared to adapt and innovate.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Nine Students Elected to Class Councils

October 4, 2024 by Sasha Luhur

Northwood’s class councils for the 24-25 school year were elected on the 24^th and announced the next day. Below are our new student councils:

9^th Grade (Class of 2028):

Landon D’Arco ’28

Emmett Fox ’28

10^th Grade (Class of 2027):

Maxwell Notley ’27	Marley Tracy-Deuss ’27
Sasha Luhur ’27.

11^th Grade (Class of 2026):

Aston Ferrillo ’26	Hamish Riddell ’26
Jacob Slagel ’26	Yosef Spear ’26

This year’s class councils are set to improve the Northwood community. Landon D’Arco, elected to 9^th grade council, is excited for his new role, “I decided to run for class council because I wanted to take a leadership role in my grade so I could make positive changes. I’m excited to represent the ninth grade and making sure my classmates’ ideas are heard.” New sophomore Marley Tracey-Deuss has a similar view, saying: “I just want to help people and make a difference in the community. I was very surprised to be elected, and a little nervous. I am new here so I don’t know yet what I can really do to help, but I am a fresh pair of eyes who just wants to do the best I can for everyone.” These new voices will give our class councils a different perspective and help balance decisions.

We also have repeat members on the councils. This will be Aston Ferillo’s second year on student council, this time on 11^th grade leadership. He spoke a bit about the election results: “I’m glad to have been re-elected to student council. I think that it’s great being able to advocate for my grade and organize events to make the student experience just a little bit better.”

Leigh Riffle, who is in charge of the class councils, spoke about restarting the councils. “Stuff got lost when COVID hit, and now we’re slowly getting our heads above the water. Before COVID, the way the school was structured, the classes spent a lot more time together and were a closer community. We changed to Team Deans instead of Class Deans during that time, so the class community needs something else to bring it together now. The past two years, especially this year, we’re trying to bring back that class camaraderie that got lost for a little.” When asked about how the student council role has evolved over the years, Ms. Riffle said, “The idea of the class councils has always been that you guys are the voice of your class, but I also hope that the councils will work together to create more student initiative. I mean, last year, when the 9^th and 10^th grade councils put together the Valentine’s Day formal, that was one of the most successful activities we had all year. Students talked about that for the rest of the year and wanted more of that, so it shows that the class councils have an eye for what students want.” She says the goal is to increase student initiative on campus and have voices from all grades. Having formal elections this year helped to establish the process, and the student council is set for a great school year ahead.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

A Day in the Life of a Skier in Chile

October 3, 2024 by Sydney Kuder

Photo by Raychel West of Sydney Kuder ‘25.

The Northwood ski team has been in Valle Nevado, Chile for over a week in a half, and have loved every second of our time on snow and off.

Every ski day in Chile starts bright and early at 6:00 AM. First, the team has breakfast in the dining hall, then gets ready on the hotel’s first floor. A lot happens before we click into our skis; we use a variety of bands and stretches to warm up our muscles before we hit the slopes. Cara Dempsey ‘25 does hip mobility, ankle mobility, and muscle activation with bands before she eats breakfast. I like to use a band for activation and a lacrosse ball to roll out my feet before stuffing them into ski boots.

Once the team is ready to go, we trek outside around 7:15 am. The sun doesn’t rise in Valle Nevado until 7:35, so we load the first pomma while it’s still dark out. I love to lap with Cara in the morning before we jump into the course. We do slow drills to warm up and inspect the course thoroughly before we begin running it. We run the course for about two hours once we’re warm and ready to go. In that time, we get around 5-8 runs in. So far, we have skied four days of Slalom and six days of GS. After running the course, we’ll help our coaches pull the gates and bundle them. Most days we freeski after gate training for about an hour. Valle Nevado this time of year has plenty of snow and a lot of terrain open, making it the perfect hill to explore.

After training, we tune our skis before study hall. Tuning entails sharpening to maintain edge steepness and waxing using paste wax to keep our skis fresh and sharp. Depending on the day’s conditions, tuning can take up to an hour if our skis are dull.

We have dryland some days, where we stretch or do ladder and hurdle drills with our head FIS men’s coach, Seppi Stiegler. If we don’t have dryland that day, we have study hall from 1-3:30. Raychel West runs our study halls, ensuring we’re keeping up with our schoolwork and staying on top of assignments. After study hall, we review our videos from the day with our coaches. Our coaches usually shoot 3 runs of us skiing in the course every training session. During video, we look at our entrance to our turns in the course, and our overall technique while skiing. Our coaches give us feedback on what to work on the next day.

For the rest of the day, we have dinner as a team and relax before bed. Our coaches heavily enforce a very strict bedtime of 9:30 p.m. Because of our early wake-up calls, we strive to get as much sleep as possible.

The ski team has two days left on snow in Chile and can’t wait to make the most of it. We travel back to Northwood on Friday, September 27.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Loher Named to the 2024-25 National Team

October 3, 2024 by Jack Kroll

Henry Loher 26’ Ski Jumping during 2024 Junior National Championships. Photo Provided.

The Northwood community congratulates Henry Loher ‘26 who was named to the 2024-25 U.S Ski Jumping Team last week. Henry was one of the four athletes selected for the National Development team, which he qualified for by winning the U16 Junior National Championship last February and the overall US Cup series last winter. Being on the National Development team will give him priority over other jumpers for both national training camps and international competitions.

After his strong winter last year, he set the goal for himself to “compete in my first FIS Cup before the end of the next winter.” Henry is set to complete that goal next week by traveling to Estonia for his first-ever international competition, which will be at the FIS Cup level. Henry says he is “super excited to get to travel the world competing and hopefully come away with some FIS points.”

NYSEF/Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Head Coach Colin Delaney. Photo by Monica Whitt Photography.

NYSEF Ski Jumping head coach Colin Delaney attributes Henry’s success to “two years of really focusing on specific off-hill training for ski jumping. He has put in another good summer of work on and off the hill, and I’m hopeful for some strong performances in his first international competitions.”

As Henry comes up on a major career milestone, he has been reflecting on his journey. Henry would like to thank his “Mom and Dad for always being there for me and helping me to become the jumper I am today. I would also like to thank all my coaches over the years, especially Colin Delaney who has really taken my jumping to the next level.” Congratulations, Henry, and good luck in Estonia.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Artist Van Slyke “Finding the Ordinary: A Portrait of Everyday Shared Spaces”

October 3, 2024 by Cedric Lemaire

Ms. Ingrid Van Slyke. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Lake Placid is a beautiful place. That is exactly what Northwood’s very own award-winning artist and art teacher, Ms. Ingrid Van Slyke, is trying to capture in her series called Finding the Ordinary: A Portrait of Everyday Shared Spaces. Her series will consist of 52 oil paintings over a year, which will require her to average a painting every week.

Finding the Ordinary captures the “non-touristy everyday places that Lake Placid has to offer,” says Ms. Van Slyke. This effort sheds light on the Lake Placid local perspective and changes the audience for the artwork. Often, when Ms. Van Slyke’s work is displayed in galleries, “buyers are from out of town and not local residents,” she says. Her series aims to “allow locals to be the audience for my art—so now the parent that passes the stop sign every day to drop their kid off at school can have a painting of that.”

Ms. Van Slyke had already completed 22 paintings when she got the news from The Adirondack Lakes Center of the Arts (ALCA) and the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) that she had been awarded a grant for her project. Her 52 paintings will be displayed in the Lake Placid Main Street Library, which fits the theme of her series and is welcoming to her target audience.

Ms. Van Slyke’s series will avoid landmarks such as the 1980 arena or Whiteface Mountain, which she expects to be appealing to locals who can now have a piece of art and a piece of community. As a result of her efforts, her art will go directly back into the community.

All proceeds made from the gallery will go to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks. Mercy Care is especially important to Ms. Van Slyke because they helped her mother when she was struggling with illness. It is truly inspiring to see an artist work so hard to support the efforts of her community, so please, if you see Ms. Van Slyke, congratulate her and thank her for giving back to her community.

Ms. Van Slyke’s project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.

The back side / lake side of the library. Photo provided.

The John Brown Road. Photo provided.

Ms. Van Slyke’s early-stage piece starting as a sketch of reference photo. Photo provided.

Ms. Van Slykes Studio. Photo provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize Recap

September 30, 2024 by Sasha Luhur

Sasha Luhur ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

I’m at the gate at JFK International Airport, recounting my experience as a shortlisted finalist in the 2024 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize event in London, UK. It was a truly fun and rewarding week, and I made many new friends!

Friday

This was arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the week—I walked into the lobby with my parents and was surrounded by fellow finalists. No one was talking to each other, and they mostly stayed with their parents, so it was daunting. I remember feeling out of place or that I shouldn’t be there with all these amazing kids. (Later, I found out that literally all of us had felt the exact same way.)

2024 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize event in London, UK. Photo by Sasha Luhur ’27.

The event on the schedule that day was our mixer and welcome dinner, with the main purpose being to meet our peers and get comfortable with each other for the rest of the weekend. By the time the night was over, everyone on our table had become good friends, and we talked about everything, from our essay topics to our daily lives at our respective schools. We listened to the welcome speeches whose themes were around the goal of the John Locke Institute– “intellectual humility and the courage to think differently”– followed by preparations for our academic conferences, which were scheduled for the day after.

Saturday

2024 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize event in London, UK. Photo by Sasha Luhur ’27.

The day started at 9:45 a.m., beginning with a welcome address before the speakers took turns onstage. We listened to speeches from different professors on neuroscience, history, economics, and philosophy, as well as from politicians on their experiences in their fields. There were also student speakers selected to present their essays to their peers, and it was really inspiring to listen to these intelligent peers and get a sense of what other people wrote. In between lectures, we attended exhibitions from The Economist and different college-prep organizations. It was a long and packed day, but I learned a lot from the conferences and rushed back to the hotel at about 5 p.m. to prepare for the awards gala later that evening.

The awards dinner was my favorite part of the weekend—not for the food and ambiance, which was amazing, but because at my assigned table I met an entirely new group of eloquent and funny finalists. That group formed some of the best conversations I had at the event, and by the end of the night, we had covered many kinds of academic and school-life topics. I didn’t win a podium award; I earned a Merit award, but I’m glad I was even chosen as a finalist and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to meet so many brilliant, fun, and humble peers from different parts of the world.

Sunday

On the last day, we had a half-day of college briefings about admissions into Oxford and Cambridge, or as they like to call it there, “Oxbridge.” We heard from alumni and former admissions officers about what they look for in their applicants, how the UK admissions system works, which parts of the application are emphasized, and how it differs from other countries’ expectations. It was very informative, and afterward, I still had the rest of the day to explore more of London with my parents. After dinner, it was time to pack as we were to leave London the next morning.