The News of The Blake School Since 1916

The Spectrum
The News of The Blake School Since 1916

The Spectrum
The News of The Blake School Since 1916

The Spectrum
Yoni Zacks

Yoni Zacks, Editor Emeritus

Hi! My name is Yoni Zacks, and I am a senior (wow!). In the past, I have been Co-Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Online Editor, Multimedia Coordinator, and edited too many pages to name. This is my eighth semester being involved with Spectrum. I have always loved to read the newspaper, and I’m so excited that I get to write for one! Outside of Spectrum, I like to watch sports (Go Canucks Go!), play tennis, and discuss politics. I also contribute periodically to TC Jewfolk!

All content by Yoni Zacks
McClanahan (right) walks to the locker room after the first period of the Bears’ home opener against Mounds View alongside Wyman and athletic trainer Aubrey Dudley. Wyman, who has been involved with the team since 2015, was recently named McClanahan’s successor. “Blake Hockey has played a pivotal role in my life. I am honored and excited to be leading this program into the future. Thank you to the Blake community for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am excited and look forward to the challenge,” he said.

Celebrated BBH Coach McClanahan Retires

Yoni Zacks, Editor Emeritus
March 12, 2025
Stavney, manages school development from her office at the top floor of the Hopkins Campus.

Stavney Reflects on Experience

Yoni Zacks, Editor Emeritus
March 10, 2025
Role of Athletes in Politics

Role of Athletes in Politics

Yoni Zacks, Editor Emeritus
February 7, 2025

Code-Switching Stunts Authenticity

Yoni Zacks and Andrew Jetton
February 6, 2025
Phillips and Morrison humorously recall their time at the Upper School.

“YOLO:” Dean Phillips ’87 and Kelly Morrison ’87 Mark Historical Send-Off

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
December 19, 2024
Top to bottom. All photos obtained via campaign websites and Instagrams. District 2: Rep. Angie Craig (DFL) and challenger Joe Teirab (GOP). District 2 includes West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan, Apple Valley, Shakopee, Prior Lake, Lakeville, and New Prague. District 3: State Sen. Kelly Morrison (DFL) and former State Sen. and Judge Tad Jude (GOP). District 3 includes most of Edina, Wayzata, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prarie, Hopkins, Excelsior, Medina, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Osseo, Champlin, Anoka, Dayton, Rogers, Loretto, Hamel, Maple Plain, Long Lake, Orono, Crystal Bay, Mound, Minnetrista, St. Bonifacius, Greenwood, Shorewood, and Bloomington. District 4: Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL), and May Lor Xiong. District 4 includes Saint Paul, New Brighton, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, Maplewood, and Woodbury. District 5: Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL) and journalist Dalia Al-Aqidi (GOP). District 5 includes Minneapolis, some of Edina, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Columbia Heights, Righfield, and Robbinsdale. District 6: Rep. Tom Emmer and Nurse Anesthist Jeanne Hendricks. District 6 includes Blaine, Cneterville, Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, Waconia, Maple Lake, Ostego, and Elk River.

Talking Politics

Ben Aviles, Ben Passi, Evie Chow, and Yoni Zacks
November 3, 2024
This survey had 101 responses. Students could select multiple activities.

[Photo] Building Your Resume

Steven Cao, Evie Chow, and Lilah Johnson
December 10, 2024
As antisemitism runs rampant among both major parties, many Jews feel left behind by the current political system.

Jewish Identity, Frustration, Political Independence

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
December 9, 2024
Aafedt watches the teams battle for the puck in the neutral zone. Aafedt had 24 saves in his first victory of the season.

Boys’ Hockey Outmuscles Mustangs in Home Opener

Yoni Zacks, Editor-in-Chief
November 29, 2024
Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 4.25.58 PM

[Photo] The Best Halloween Costumes

Oliver Brown, Contributing Writer
November 3, 2024
Pesky, Silvestri, and Bell speak at a postgame press conference. Silvestri gave his final words of advice for future teams: "Everything starts in practice, and then off the field. And what you can do off the field really translates, because as a team, play together and work with each other and believe in each other. I think that takes a team really far," he said.

Boys’ Soccer Falls Short in State Semifinal

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
October 30, 2024
Silvestri, Brown, Bell, and Greg Perepelistyn ‘27 celebrate after Bell scored the game-winning goal against DeLaSalle at home in the Section semifinals on the night of Oct. 15.

Return to Glory

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
October 30, 2024
The Bears pose as a team after their victory. The celebration continued the next day when all the players wore their conference championship t-shirts.

Boys’ Soccer Dominate Second Leg of Sections Doubleheader

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
October 10, 2024
The Bears celebrated their IMAC championship on the field after the game with t-shirts and a plaque.

BGS Dominates in First Sections Match

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
October 9, 2024
Republican Senate Candidate and ex-NBA Player Royce White (left) spoke with The Minnesota Star Tribune agriculture reporter Christopher Vondracek (right) in an interview at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 22.

Republican Senate Candidate and ex-NBA Player Royce White (left) spoke with The Minnesota Star Tribune agriculture reporter Christopher Vondracek (right) in an interview at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 22.

MN Senate Race Heats Up

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
September 30, 2024
Nate Benson '25 hurriedly enters the doors at 8:14 a.m.

Door Access Problems Annoy Students

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
September 27, 2024
New Upper School Director: Ms. Maren Anderson

New Upper School Director: Ms. Maren Anderson

Lilah Johnson, Gabi Marmet, and Yoni Zacks
September 6, 2024
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[Photo] Six New Administrators & Faculty Greet New Year

The Spectrum Editorial Staff
August 29, 2024
Spring Sports Photo Gallery

Spring Sports Photo Gallery

Steven Cao and Yoni Zacks
June 6, 2024
Current Events

Current Events

Yoni Zacks, Co-Editor-in-Chief
June 2, 2024
Students Engage in Community Outside of Blake

Students Engage in Community Outside of Blake

Gabriella Marmet, Ethan Klaiman, Camila Pardo, Charlie Dean, Anna Tao, Caitlin Strauss, and Yoni Zacks
May 30, 2024
110 Upper School students participated in this survey.

Perspectives on College Touring

Antonia Pflaum, Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Amelia Bush, Yoni Zacks, and Gabriella Marmet
May 13, 2024
Wendy Johnson checks Alex Zhang ‘25, Eddie Shen ‘25, Tony Liu ‘25, and Roland Bentley ‘25 in for the PSAT on Oct. 18, 2023. The PSAT is the first standardized test students take.

[Photo] ACT, SAT Exams Return

Alvin Liu, Contributing Writer
May 5, 2024
Most of the Chinese IV class, including Rossalyn Moore ‘25, Macaella Sikhoya ‘25, Emma Connor ‘25, Kai Capistrant ‘25, Sophia Peterson ‘25, and Anya Agrawal ‘25 perform their dragon dance with excitement during the Chinese New Year Celebration.

Chinese New Year Celebration Succeeds

Anna Tao and Yoni Zacks
March 14, 2024

Rate Your Upper School Elective

March 25, 2024
The Power of Sleep

The Power of Sleep

Camila Pardo, Yoni Zacks, Steven Cao, Izzie Miller, Anna Tao, and Gabby Geer
March 13, 2024
All data from the Minnesota DNR

[Photo] Let it Snow?

Caitlin Strauss, Staff Writer
March 14, 2024
Pranks

Pranks

Yoni Zacks, Kate Rekas, and Bennett Wieland
May 30, 2023
Chamber Orchestra accompanied A Capella Choir at 8:45 a.m. on Feb 17 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

MMEA Participants Perform at Conference

Yoni Zacks, Managing Editor
February 28, 2024
Phillips, enthusiastically working on her laptop, prepares for a meeting with Senior Class Dean CJ Eckhardt.

[Photo] Scheduling Realities Unmasked

Gabriella Marmet, Managing Editor
February 28, 2024
Students Study Away

Students Study Away

Aditi Gandhi, Lilah Johnson, Yoni Zacks, and Kai Capistrant
February 6, 2024
Rather than empty space, Hollander recommends “to have pretty stuff on the walls, not have it be cluttered. Have some beauty.”

[Photo] Study Space Superior to Lockers

Evan Vezmar, Editor Emeritus
February 5, 2024
IMG_2299

Community Shares Words on Israel-Hamas War

Yoni Zacks and Ali Hecker
November 2, 2023

Final Performances Cap off Semester in Arts

December 17, 2023
On Nov. 30, Maggie Molter’s Physics: Mechanics class went over the grading system for about 20 minutes. The class had just finished a lab report, so Molter explained what the class’s current grades were and what students were on track to get for the semester.

[Photo] “A” For Advanced?

Amelia Bush, Managing Editor
December 8, 2023
Map of the Middle East as of December 2023. The geography of the State of Palestine is highly contested. About two million Palestinians reside in the Gaza Strip and around three million in the West Bank. The green star marks Jerusalem.

Historical Timeline Leading Up to Current Events

Yoni Zacks, Online Editor
December 6, 2023
Map of the Middle East as of December 2023. The geography of the State of Palestine is highly contested. About two million Palestinians reside in the Gaza Strip and around three million in the West Bank. The green star marks Jerusalem.

Israel-Hamas War

Mackenzie Higgins, Yoni Zacks, Gabriella Marmet, Amelia Bush, and Zoey Ueland
December 6, 2023
Aidan Zhang '25 throws away his food after lunch on Friday, Oct. 27.

[Photo] Forum’s Forum

Izzie Miller, Contributing Writer
October 31, 2023
Early Learning Center students play on the El Bosque Playground, one of the four playgrounds surrounding the building.

ELC Opens Doors

Yoni Zacks, Student News Editor
October 7, 2023
Many college conferences have restructured due to new TV deals. These groups break up traditional matchups and geographical rivalries, impacting players and fans alike.

Football Realigns: Sport Changes for the Worse

Yoni Zacks, Student News Editor
October 4, 2023
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Get To Know New Community Members

Ali Hecker, Gabi Marmet, Ethan Klaiman, Amelia Bush, Evan Vezmar, Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Steven Cao, and Yoni Zacks
August 29, 2023
Amelia Bush ‘24 and Fatemeh Vang ‘27 take a last day of captains’ practice BeReal.

Captains’ Practice Inspires Juniors

Yoni Zacks, Page Editor
August 29, 2023
Molter teaches an Algebra II class about exponential growth through the financial system for a final project.

[Photo] Baroody, Molter Transition Departments: Continue to Draw Interdisciplinary Connections

Ahan Devgun, Staff Writer
June 7, 2023
Blaze offers a plethora of delicious toppings to choose from.

[Photo] World Renowned Masterpiece Has Many Good Minnesota Options

Max Yousha, Staff Writer
May 31, 2023
Co-Editors-in-Chief Mackenzie Higgins ‘24 and Zoey Ueland ‘24 interviewed Lythcott-Haims after her speech on April 11.

[Photo] Julie Lythcott-Haims Strikes Chord

Mackenzie Higgins and Zoey Ueland
April 28, 2023
The Political Roundtable Club, which meets on Fridays during FLEX, discussed Trump’s indictment.

Trump Indictment Sparks Discussion, Interest

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
May 2, 2023
Forum representatives ironed out plans for the Blake-Breck Defend the Den event, which will feature 4 lacrosse games.

Forum’s Forum

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
April 19, 2023
From February 3 to February 28, 121 students were polled on who they think Blake's biggest rival is.

[Photo] Students Say: Breck Provide Best Rivalry

Amelia Bush, Managing Editor
March 7, 2023

Short Weeks Annoy

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
March 6, 2023
Cheese pizza that was just enough to fill one person. Blaze Pizza is open from 11a.m.- 9p.m. every day of the week.

Blaze Pizza Serves Absolute Heat

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
February 3, 2023

The New York Times

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
January 29, 2023
Higuchi’s piece of advice for future athletes going through the commitment process, “Just taking the time to get to know yourself and what you are looking for in a college experience and taking that into account when making your decision.”

Students Reflect on Commitment Process

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
December 3, 2022
Layla Chakhvashvili ‘26, Claire Cao ‘26, and Shruti Balachander ‘26 research political candidates together.

[Photo] Political Roundtable Club Prepares for November 8 Election

Raiden Chen, Contributing Writer
November 13, 2022
Fast-casual chain Wahlburgers partners with Impossible Foods Inc. to serve the Impossible Burger at their restaurants.

Alternative Burgers Provide Options

Yoni Zacks, Sports Editor
September 29, 2022

Imbalance in Sports Media Unfairly Promotes Football

Yoni Zacks, Staff Writer
June 1, 2022
Benefits of Children Being Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Outweigh Concerns

Benefits of Children Being Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Outweigh Concerns

Yoni Zacks, Contributing Writer
December 16, 2021
Ella Chester also attended Camp Ramah this summer. She’s pictured here at curtain call participating in her age group’s play.

A Life-Changing Summer at Camp

Yoni Zacks, Contributing Writer
September 29, 2021
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