Did We Come Here to Make a Speech?

Drew Rosenblum, Editor Emeritus

February 7, 2020

The senior speech has outlived its effectiveness, becoming a meaningless gimmick that exists solely as tradition for the sake of tradition. They have outlasted their purpose and constrain assemblies, forcing important announcements to be on Bearhug. The best (and easiest way) to fix senior speeches is...

Did We Come Here to Make a Speech?

Caroline Hardy, Editor Emerita

February 7, 2020

Senior speeches are glorified, dreaded, openly hated, and everything in between by students and administrators alike. However, it is undeniable that the positive impacts of this speech for the individual and the community deeply outweigh the drawbacks. The act of required public speaking pushes a student...

Teachers Create a Politically Safe Space

Noor Naseer, Sports Editor

February 7, 2020

Talking about politics can be awkward and tense, but the combination of excited students and diligent teachers creates political safe spaces. Social studies teacher David Graham shares how he broaches the commonplace topic of politics in his AP Gov class, “We do talk about ideologies and where peo...

Students Learn from Iowa

Caroline Hardy, Editor Emerita

February 7, 2020

A contingent of 67 students from all four grades along with 13 teacher chaperones returned from Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, February 4. The group spent the three days prior canvassing, meeting, and rallying for the various democratic and republication candidates vying for a victory in the Iowa Caucu...

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?

December 9, 2019

30 out of 48 observed recycling bins in the Upper School contained materials that would prevent them from being recycled ...

Students Seek Clarifying Communication of Definition, Consequences

Sara Richardson, Arts and Culture Editor

November 8, 2019

On paper, academic honesty has a similar definition for most students. Amaka Nwokocha '21 describes the definition of academic honesty as "[j]ust not cheating. Doing your own work." But, while the meaning of academic honesty seems simple, there is abundant confusion and issues between students and t...

A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE EDITORS: Restructuring Policies Paramount to Clarification

Drew Rosenblum, Co-Editor-in-Chief

November 8, 2019

While there are many different mechanisms for discipline at Blake, perhaps the most well known is the community judiciary board or CJB. The eight-member committee hears cases on a variety of issues, a common one being academic honesty. While the number of cases per year has remained about the same f...

Honestly Confusing

November 8, 2019

  “I, _______, acknowledge that academic honesty and integrity are core values at Blake and core components of a Blake School education. I understand that I am expected  to abide by all policies regarding academic honesty and integrity, and I recognize that should I break the trust invested in m...

Teachers Work to Find Teaching Moments in Instances of Academic Dishonesty

Noor Naseer, News Editor

November 8, 2019

When asked about what academic honesty means to her, math teacher Christin Winkler shares, "I think academic honesty is presenting something that reflects what you know without copying from someone else or receiving assistance from someone else." This idea generally summarizes the role of academic ho...

Hinduism Finds Minimal Involvement in Classes

Rishab Haldar, Contributing Writer

October 14, 2019

There isn’t an emphasis on religion at Blake and as a result, there really isn’t any interaction with Hinduism at Blake. For being a minority for the majority of my time at Blake, and with there being about two or three devout Hindu students per grade, it didn’t make sense to bring up my relig...

Fear of Stigma Suffocates Religious Expression

Louise Ba, Contributing Writer

October 14, 2019

I remember sitting in a circle made of chairs in advisory during my sophomore year. Hearing about everyone’s different faith and backgrounds after Eboo Patel’s visit was intriguing, but nerve-wracking. We went around the room and shared our religious affiliation, and as the attention was drawn to m...

Existing Religious Accommodations Ease Holiday Stress, Wish for More

Sage Marmet, Food Features Editor

October 14, 2019

As a Jew, I observe and miss school for two major holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I really enjoy these holidays as it brings my family together and encourages reflection on the previous year. It’s challenging is to miss two days of school just ten days apart. As Jews are a small minor...