SM Global Citizenship in Action:Chilean Exchange

by Kaela Dunne '18 and interviews conducted by Ji Woo Kang '21

As most of you know, the Chilean exchange students headed back to Chile last Monday after a month-long stay at St. Mark’s and, according to Mr. Cifuentes, St. Mark’s Partner School Coordinator,  “they had a great time!” Mr. Cifuentes and Dr. Warren work together to ensure that St. Mark’s global exchange programs run smoothly and that St. Mark’s students are acclimating well to their exchanges- that students visiting us are made to feel at home and welcome in the community. As our exchange students visit a totally new part of the world, they get to experience academic and community life at St. Mark’s, but also learn about American culture beyond campus. In addition to attending classes, the Chileans also got to see the area we live in from a tourist’s point of view. Mr. Cifuentes took them into Boston to experience the city and its history, particularly the Freedom Trail. The Chileans also spent a day in Cambridge. Mr. Cifuentes reports that “they love to shop!” and they particularly enjoyed frequent trips to the Wrentham Outlets and the Mall. Additionally, Ms. Fu took them into Boston to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chinatown. So, not only did our Chileans get to experience the community and academic aspect of St. Mark’s, but also the sharing of cultures and global citizenship that St. Mark’s works towards. Looking back on their stay, Mr. Cifuentes reflects that, “Overall, I think they liked visits to Boston, shopping and the community feel at St. Mark's.”

Investigation on Michael Flynn

by Anishka Yerabothu '20

On December 1, 2017, Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of lying to the FBI.  He arguably had the shortest tenure of post in U.S. history!  He served in office from January 20, 2017 to February 13, 2017.  Flynn resigned after it became apparent that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian Ambassador to the U.S.  On February 13th, the Washington Post reported that the Justice Department informed the White House that Flynn “mischaracterized” the nature of his conversations with Kislyak to such an extent, he had made himself vulnerable to blackmail.

Robert Mueller was investigating the possible collusion of the Russian government and members of the Trump campaign during the 2016 US Presidential Election. Flynn admitted that he had lied to the FBI about the nature of the phone calls with Russian government officials. Later, he agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s investigation.

Barack Obama, President at the time, had just imposed sanctions on Russia for its interference with the 2016 election. Flynn was accused of lying to the FBI about being in contact with Russia right after the Election, attempting to block a UN Resolution condemning Israeli settlements in exchange for removing these sanctions.

Michael Flynn is also suspected of having vested business interests with Russia and Turkey.  According to a whistle blower, Flynn texted a business colleague saying that the plan was “good to go.”   The “plan” in question was to build nuclear power reactors with the Russians in the Arab world, given that sanctions would be lifted. Moreover, he is alleged to have been part of a discussion to kidnap a Muslim cleric wanted by Turkey, since the U.S. refused to extradite the cleric.

Former FBI Director James Comey testified that Donald Trump had asked him to “go easy” on the investigation into Michael Flynn. Trump tweeted, “I had to fire Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!”  This tweet is tantamount to admitting obstruction of justice. In response, Trump’s lawyer claimed that he drafted the tweet, not Trump. He claims that the President “cannot obstruct justice because he is the chief law enforcement officer, and has every right to express his views on any case.”

Mueller’s team is investigating potential obstruction of justice when Donald Trump fired James Comey as Director of the FBI.  The role of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also being investigated as part of the probe into Russian interference. This is a federal investigation that seems to deepen with each passing week.  Stay tuned for the next update!

Solar Panels on St.Mark's Campus

by Laura Drepanos '19

One of the newest additions to the St. Mark’s Campus is the solar panel field. Situated on West Campus, this solar field is presented in a conspicuous manner. While many St. Marker’s have noticed this addition, very few know its exact purpose.  I spoke with St. Mark’s new CFO, Mr.Robert Kuklewicz who explained some of the facts about the solar panels to me.

The system is a 641.7 kW DC and 480 kW AC set of panels operated by Tesla. While the solar panels do use solar energy to generate usable energy, that is not their primary purpose for St. Mark’s. Unfortunately, St. Mark’s uses far too much electricity to be generated by the solar field alone. The purpose of the solar panels is to lower the electricity cost for St. Mark’s. The savings is estimated to be fifteen to twenty percent of the annual electrical cost. However, this percent is dependent on the amount of sunlight for a given year. In addition to the cost savings, the solar panels are a great leap in sustainability efforts at St. Mark’s as they will generate energy in a manner that is far less harmful to the environment and more efficient than other methods.

An interesting fact about the solar panels is that they are not actually running yet. However, this is soon to change. In order for the solar panel system to be energized, the Southborough Fire Department needs to run a safety check to ensure that the department could turn off the system in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the engineers of the solar field need to give it a final survey for the Town of Southborough Conservation Commission. As these are the only tasks remaining, the solar panels should be running by the end of the month.

Tree Lighting: Drone Footage

Video by Funny Movie Corporation

Article by Rick Sarkar '19

On the first Friday back from Thanksgiving break, St. Markers joined together for the House Cup Holiday Songfest, also known as Deck the Halls, followed by the Christmas tree lighting. The SM jazz bands opened up Deck the Halls with renditions of “Blue Christmas” and “Charlie Brown Christmas.” They were followed by Maple and Pine-Oak with original takes of holiday classics. Gaccon, Marr-Coolidge, Thayer, Sawyer, Coe, and Theriot-North also showed their holiday spirit with performances that included spirited costumes and live instrumental accompaniment. After the songfest wrapped up, the community moved outside to the VI form quad. Below is a video taken via drone of students enjoying the tree lighting. The video was provided by Funny Movie Corporation, a group that has been increasingly involved on campus this year.

Click link for video: https://youtu.be/CHJcJi6Cbbk

Holiday Dorm Decorations Up!

This year is the first year in which all dorms decorate their space for the holiday! We're sharing photos here to give you a sense.

Community Service at St Mark's

by Laura Drepanos '19

If you are interested in getting off campus and doing something that you can feel good about, sign up for community service! St. Mark’s does not have a community service requirement because the decision to do community service should be solely driven by your desire to help others. However, the school still provides students with many opportunities to live a life of leadership and service in this way.

If you are uncertain as to whether or not you want to commit yourself to community service, consider signing up for Our Father’s Table as it is the only community service opportunity that does not have a weekly requirement. Our Father’s Table is a soup kitchen in Marlboro that provides and serves meals for individuals and families. St. Markers who participate in OFT set the tables, serve the food and drinks to each individual, and clean up afterward. This is a fulfilling form of community service as your actions directly impact others, and additionally, you become familiar with the individuals who come for a meal regularly.

Another great community service opportunity is the Immaculate Conception after-school program in Marlboro. At IC, the kids really love to build close relationships with the St. Markers who volunteer. Volunteering consists of either helping the students with homework, doing crafts or games with them, or playing outside with them. Speaking from personal experience, coming into IC and seeing kids who are so excited to see you bring the best feelings in the world.

In addition to IC, there are many great community service opportunities to work with and be a good role model for kids. At the Boys and Girls Club, you can play with the kids in the gym or help out in the game, homework, tech, or crafts room. There are more children at Boys and Girls Club than IC, but St. Mark’s students in the past have really been able to have a significant positive influence on some of these children.

If you are interested in staying on campus for community service, the Lego League is a really great option. This is on Thursday evenings in STEM, and you get to help little kids build Lego robots for an hour. Helping children think critically and learn in this way can be very rewarding, and additionally, the children will develop close connections with the volunteers.

Lastly, our newest community service opportunity is Coding for Girls at the Trottier School in Southborough from 6-7 on Tuesday nights. St. Mark’s volunteers at this community service opportunity get to help teach a computer class for girls. In addition to the relationships you build, empowering young girls to pursue their passions in STEM is a really meaningful and undeniably worthy use of your time.

If any of these opportunities interest you, please contact Mrs. Wells or look out for the email that she will be sending soon. If you are unsure, I highly encourage you to at least give Our Father’s Table a try, and if you find that you like community service, branch out to the other great opportunities that the school provides!

Korean Exchange Students: Hear Their Voices!

by Lora Xie '20

Name: Grace

Form: IV

Fun fact about yourself?

I had my appendix removed.

What’s the funniest/weirdest moment you’ve had since you’ve been here so far?

In my first day of class, almost everybody chose to sit across from me because I was new. It seemed like they were as scared as I was!

How is your experience here different from that at home? How do you feel about the difference?

I like how SM is more close-knit, cozy and diverse. In classes, because of the small size, teachers are closer to students, and students have the chance to participate more. I really like the school meeting at SM because it is relaxing and fun, and sometimes there is meaningful content like the video about Devin. In KIS we only have serious, formal monthly community meetings in the auditorium. For the same reason, I like the chapel talks too. Furthermore, I really appreciate the free blocks I have here at SM because we don’t have free blocks in KIS, even though we have many more assignments there. I like how I have time to take a rest here. Finally, SM has a much more diverse community, and I love the diversity here. People are not afraid of differences, and they respect one another’s culture. I think that such open-mindedness is really important.

What would you say to someone who is considering an exchange program, either a student from SM or KIS?

I would definitely recommend it! It might be challenging, but you will love it! It gives you great experiences and a lot of new friends. You will discover a new self. Harry is even seriously thinking about transferring to SM. Don’t be intimidated by something you have not tried yet.

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Name: Julie

Form: IV

Fun fact about yourself?

I have no eyebrows. Hair does not exist above my eyes, so I struggle every morning to make myself not look like Mona Lisa. I heard that eyebrows grow at the same speed as our hair does but mine does not like to grow at all :(

What’s the funniest/weirdest moment you’ve had since you’ve been here so far?

I was surprised to find out that sometimes teachers allow students to have “second breakfast” or work in places of their choice during class. Such occasions are definitely not possible at KIS.

How is your experience here different from that at home? How do you feel about the difference?

The classes here at SM are more engaging because it incorporates more discussion compared to the lecture-based classes at KIS. Also, there is a greater emphasis on “non-academic knowledge” here, like how to be a better person. For example, in my social justice class, the Gray colloquium speaker came in and talked for almost the whole period. This would not happen at KIS, where covering course material would be the priority. In addition, I like how SM is more cozy and people-oriented. I think this derives from the long history of the school. Finally, the buildings here have character. In KIS, buildings all have an industrial look because they are recently constructed.

What would you say to someone who is considering an exchange program, either a student from SM or KIS?

You will need to prepare for being open-minded about differences and new experiences. It might be discomforting at first, because you might feel like you are not “owning the place.” But it is exactly this out-of-comfort-zone experience that teaches you things that you cannot learn in your own culture. Even if you regret going on the program, it is better to regret doing it than to regret having the experience at all!

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Name: Emma

Form: IV

Fun fact about yourself?

My mother is from Mongul; my dad is from China; but I was born in Korea.

What’s the funniest/weirdest moment you’ve had since you’ve been here so far?

It feels weird when people asked me this question: “how good is your English?” I guess it’s a cultural difference. In Korea, we never ask foreigners “how good is your Korean?”

How is your experience here different from that at home? How do you feel about the difference?

I think the biggest difference is that students at SM participate more in class. In KIS, students rarely ask questions. Also, SM gives students more freedom. For example, you can keep food in the dorm, you have free periods, and you can go back to your dorm room during the academic day if you have free time.

What would you say to someone who is considering an exchange program, either a student from SM or KIS?

Just try it! I think putting yourself in a new environment is important. You can make new friends, and you will feel refreshed.

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Name: Harry

Form: IV

Fun fact about yourself?

Once I played 80 hrs of video games in 5 days.

What’s the funniest/weirdest moment you’ve had since you’ve been here so far?

I think it’s the overall difference. Korean culture is more conservative, so it shocked me a little bit to see people wearing minimal clothes in dorms.

How is your experience here different from that at home? How do you feel about the difference?

KIS has many rules that SM doesn’t have, such as no food in the dorm and no phone at night/during class. Classes here are more discussion-based and therefore encourage more student participation. The SM campus is really big, so there are more resources, like the PFAC building that is specifically dedicated to art. I also like the natural elements on campus. I do miss the air conditioning at KIS though.

What would you say to someone who is considering an exchange program, either a student from SM or KIS?

After coming to SM, I would definitely recommend any exchange program. You will be impressed by the new perspectives in a different culture, even from countries close to your home country.

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Name: Sophia

Form: IV

Fun fact about yourself?

My name is actually Sophia, not Sophie. It’s misspelt in the email address.

Today (Nov. 6th) was my birthday!

I can sleep for 14 hours straight but I usually only get to sleep 6-7 hours a day in Korea (because of the amount of work of course).

What’s the funniest/weirdest moment you’ve had since you’ve been here so far?

I felt kind of weird when people asked me how much English I speak because it's a very unusual thing to ask in Korea. If some foreigners speak or understand Korean well, we just assume that they have mastered it for a while or have lived in Korea. Another thing I found weird is that people are allowed to use their phones during classes. In KIS, boarders do not get their phones until school ends, and day students are punished alike if they are caught using phones.

I find the spirit week very fun. Back at home we compete with other schools (there are only four international schools in Jeju island) vigorously for sports too, but there is not as much tension as there is in the rivalry between SM and Groton.

How is your experience here different from that at home? How do you feel about the difference?

In KIS we don’t have free periods, but study hall instead. We are not allowed to enter the dorm until school ends, and we have to get out of the dorm by 7:45 in the morning. Because there aren’t that many regulations, dorms at SM feel more like a home than a dormitory. Another difference is that at KIS we don’t have sports practice every single day. We only have 2 hours of practice twice or thrice a week, depending on the team. Also, at KIS, we have a lot more ongoing assignments and projects at the same time. A lot of students tend to sleep late at night.

What would you say to someone who is considering an exchange program, either a student from SM or KIS?

I would highly recommend an exchange program to anyone who gets to have the opportunity to do so. Just try everything you can. Don't regret after missing the chance!

If there is work that you need to do for the homeschool, (for me there is a lot, especially notetaking for Global Studies and Chemistry) please finish that earlier so that you can fully enjoy your exchange experience!

The Importance of Off-Campus Conferences

by Lauren Menjivar ‘18 and Grace Darko ‘18

Every year, a number of our St. Mark’s students attend off-campus conferences to learn and discuss topics and issues surrounding diversity with other students from independent schools. Unfortunately, most of the students here do not know about any of these conferences that former and current students have attended due to lack of interest or exposure. I’m here to tell you that these conferences do exist, and they are worth attending. The four main conferences that St. Markers attend are the the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), AISNE (Association of Independent School in New England) Student of Color Conference, White Privilege Conference, and Unconference. These conferences provide safe, open spaces where students from across the nation meet others to exchange thoughts, ideas, and paths to solutions on issues that schools face today. Although students who attend the conferences tend to be vocal about improving their schools’ approach on difficult issues such as race, gender, and socioeconomics, you could attend one of them to learn about something you never knew before.

Each conference has a different focus on current social issues. For the White Privilege Conference, students examine what privilege and oppression are, and they work together to create solutions to make the world more “equitable.” Each year, 1,500 people attend this conference from different states and countries. Secondly, the AISNE conference is oriented towards supporting students of color and working on diversity education. Last fall came the addition of the Un-Conference, an event that is run by the attendees, who get to decide the topics that will be discussed. Anyone who wants to create a meeting space and time for a certain topic are open to do so.

Lastly, there is SDLC, one of the biggest multicultural and multiracial conferences in the U.S. It is highly competitive to get into, for only six students from each member school can attend. The conference provides a safe space for discussion and teaches students to “self-reflect, form allies, and build a community.” Students learn to listen to one another and communicate effectively with others from different backgrounds and perspectives. Some students also take on a role as peer facilitators who lead small group discussions amongst students. Applying is highly recommended, as it is a worthwhile experience.

These conferences are great ways to create connections with other students and learn about topics that are not typically discussed in school but that apply to our everyday lives. Anyone is welcome to attend any of these conferences– contrary to popular belief, it’s not for a specific “type” of person. Get off campus and go to one of these conferences. It will open your eyes to something you didn’t know before.
 

https://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com/about-us

http://www.aisne.org/professional-development/student-conferences

https://pocc.nais.org/About/Student-Diversity-Leadership-Conference

Interview with Bill Isaac: Economic Philosophy

by Rick Sarkar '19; featuring Bill Isaac, Former Chair of the FDIC, on the State of the Economy

Over the Trustee Weekend, Connor Browder ’19 and I had the pleasure of interviewing an SM parent and trustee Bill Isaac. Mr. Isaac is the former chair of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), the government department charged with insurance banks and maintaining public confidence in them, and today he is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting in Sarasota, Florida. He served as the chair of the FDIC during the 1980s, in a tumultuous time for the economy, in which he had to manage nearly 3,000 bank failures. We discussed his economic philosophy (at the start of the video), tax legislation (at 2:16), banking regulations (at 6:45), current day polarization in America (at 15:32), and advice for high schoolers like us (at 18:39). A slightly condensed version of our interview is below. If you wish to see more from our interview, including information about Mr. Isaac’s role at the FDIC and his thoughts on Janet Yellen as the chair of the Federal Reserve, please feel free to reach out to me.