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Audrey Hua '26 < Back Quaking in the pews Audrey Hua '26 On a rainy Sunday afternoon in April, members of Mercersburg community–the borough and the Academy alike–gathered in the Irvine Memorial Chapel for the Mercersburg Community Chorus Concert, a concert performed biannually by over 60 local community members. “I play the carillon for forty-five minutes before each program,” Jim Brinson, organist and carillonneur, said. “My favorite part is seeing how many volunteers come to sing. They come from all over this area, and none of them are paid, except the soloist and the orchestra.” Bryan Morgan ’07, Director of Music, shared his experience. “When I was a student here, I was in the Community Chorus. I knocked the average age down by like forty years, but it was fun!” he chuckled. “I think it’s a great event for the community, and it’s really awesome to see people that enjoy singing, enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves.” Morgan’s favorite part is the quality music. “You get to hear a professional orchestra right in our own chapel; it’s so cool.” Marilyn Houck, retired Mercersburg athletic trainer, has performed with the alto section since 1975. “I love the Durufle: Requiem. I’ve sung it maybe two times before, and I love the music, orchestra, and everything that goes with it,” Houck said. Her sister, who resides in Florida, drove all the way up to Mercersburg “just for the concert!” Kayla Statler, Vice President of Community Chorus, said, “The opera choruses are amazing. It’s a lot of fun to sing them and watch the soloists perform.” Sheila Parsons, who came to watch her daughter Elizabeth, said her favorite moment was “the soloist wearing a cape and holding a sword or the ‘Meow’ song because it was so silly!” Chinese teacher Grace Abel and her husband Andrew agreed: “It was wonderful.” Richard Rotz, Community Chorus director and founder and Mercersburg’s retired Director of Music, said, “It’s great music; music will stay with you for a long time, and these guys did it really well. “Magic was swirling all around me,” said art teacher Sydney Caretti. “We have a push-pull in visual arts, and my goodness, the push-pull was there. I love when it all comes to a crescendo, and it goes whoosh! I loved their acting, too.” The Community Chorus Concert stands strong, preserving the passion of local singers and performers. “In this country, choruses like that have been dying out,” Brinson explained. “People are not committed to singing groups like they used to be, so the fact that Mercersburg has a chorus like this is somewhat unusual.” He emphasized, “I’m glad this tradition is still alive.” Previous Next

Caroline Hobbs ‘25 < Back The Andy Brown club Caroline Hobbs ‘25 With the appointment of Andy Brown as Assistant Dean of Student Life, The Mercersburg News conducted an interview with Brown where he shared his vision for his work to come. Mercersburg News : “Can you tell us more about your prior experiences at Mercersburg?” Andy Brown : “Teacher, coach, Dean on Duty, Grade Dean” MN : “Were your jobs in the past similar to the ones you have now” AB : “I mean kind of - it's like putting together a program. So basically, in leadership of any educational program you build out, you know what you want the outcome to be and you build out what has to happen. It is building programming, whether you are building programming for the Robotics PGA, the culture for the football team, or a capstone project. It is all transferable skills, right? It's having an outcome, how to get there, how to make sure we do it where it meets as many people's needs as possible, and then collect feedback on it and make sure we improve it for the next time” MN : “What does your new position entail?” AB : “It's a new position, basically in charge of student activities programming. I’m also the dean of day students, so I am monitoring how the day students are doing on campus, and how to improve their experience here. I am also in charge of behavior from 0-18 [behavioral points]. My job is to help with early intervention, such as students racking up late points, missing classes, or missing required appointments. I try to identify potential situations earlier and get students the help and support they need.” MN : “With Trini retired, what do you hope to bring to your new role as SAC Director?” AB : “Man, that's a loaded question. Well, I want to carry the same energy and care Trini had and the excitement she brought to student activities. Getting back out in the community is to get to more local areas Harpers Ferry, Frederick, Washington DC, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. You know get everyone out and about.” MN: “Since you now serve the school in multiple capacities, how do you balance your various commitments?” AB: “Right now I don’t! I’m excited! It's like any time you’re in a new position, you have to figure out what you don’t know, and I just don’t know what I don’t know, right now . I’m super thankful for all the support from the people I work with to make sure all the events happen the way they are supposed to. The building and grounds people do a phenomenal job helping me out and getting things set up. So, just being surrounded by a lot of great people, knowing it's a lot of work, in the beginning, to get things established and the balance will come hopefully in a week or so.” MN : “Can you tell us about any SAC events that are currently in the works?” AB : “Ummmmmmm, I mean I have a schedule of some upcoming ones. Well, we’ll see, there are some ideas I gave and we’ll see if they come out or not. So, I’ll leave the suspense to hang…but we’re hoping to have some cool stuff. Previous Next

Bob Hollis '24 < Back Music to my ears...and my plate Bob Hollis '24 Oct 7, 2022 With the departure of Merriwether Godsey’s Bill Korhammer comes the promotion of Sarah Music to the position of Director of Dining Services at Mercersburg Academy. Music said, “I came across MG in a general job search for a catering position within the Chambersburg area. I have always loved event planning and catering events. So when my family and I relocated here I knew that was what I wanted to continue to do.” Music is very enthusiastic to accept this opportunity. “I am most excited about being able to create the third place for the students, faculty, and staff. I am sure you are asking what does that mean? If you think about it, everyone has home being their number one place. Then, for the student's school is your second place and faculty and staff have work as theirs. So your third place is where you spend time outside of your two other places. So, being away from home and stepping out for a breather from work the Dining Hall and food are that place and reason to bring people together. During my time here I have focused on catering events throughout campus to bring visitors in to have an unforgettable experience. So now, I want to add those touches and details to the dining program.” Sarah Music she also wants to continue to improve the culinary experience at Mercersburg. “I have so many ideas about how I want to enhance the dining program. Some are going to take longer than others to implement. One thing we are actively doing is trying to source more local ingredients. This has been an ongoing effort and will continue to be. I am also looking forward to getting the students more involved to help create more diversified menus. I have a meeting this week scheduled to collaborate on different strategies to implement this idea. I’m also excited about how we can utilize the True Blue Cafe more. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but it will be a process to get the cafe operating to its fullest potential. I want to be sure the cafe adds to the culture and the experience, not take away or cause a distraction.” Ultimately, Music feels that it is the people she works with and feeds who make her job great, not just the fact that she enjoys her work. She said “My favorite part has honestly been and continues to be the community as a whole. I lost my brother in February 2022 and the amount of support that I received was indescribable. It was during that time I felt that even though I lost my brother, I gained so much more.” Mercersburg also looks forward to working with Music. Previous Previous Next Next

Maddie Mamoudis '27 < Back Ex-Ed Day: learning through connection Maddie Mamoudis '27 On April 14, 2025, Mercersburg launched an effort to take learning beyond the classroom with “Ex-Ed Day,” short for Experiential Day. Each grade had an opportunity to explore assigned goals through hands-on experiences. While the day varied for each class, the intention was the same: to encourage personal growth and build a stronger, more connected community. “With the shift away from intensives, we decided to have an experiential day to fill that gap,” explained Emily Parsons, Director of Experiential Education coordinated the events. “I hope that students were aware of leadership, global citizenship, and their strengths. And also that they made new friends by hanging out with people they wouldn’t normally.” The day emerged through collaboration between faculty and was tailored to reflect where students are in both their personal and academic journeys. The Class of 2028 visited the Conococheague Institute, where they explored life in 18th-century Pennsylvania. Moving through stations featuring archery, traditional dance, colonial medicine, and games, students experienced early American life. Grade dean Jamar Gaulbreath said, “For the Class of 2028, we discussed the fact that they are no longer the new kids on the block, so we wanted to allow them to reflect and think of themselves as leaders.” The activities emphasized group bonding and self-reflection, encouraging students to notice how their leadership evolved across the challenges. Hailey Huang ‘28 observed, “I learned about taking initiative and leadership, and the importance of working together.” The Class of 2027 spent their time in nature at Cowans Gap State Park. With games, hiking, and discussion, the day was designed for the class to increase their sense of belonging in the Mercersburg Academy community. Tim Kerr, grade dean for the Class of 2028, stated, “They enjoyed each other’s company out in nature without technology, and had a nice day away from school and away from the pressures,” he said. “I think it was an absolute success.” Students agreed, “I was really surprised about how fun it was,” said Teagan Mewett ‘27. “I thought that it wouldn’t be that fun because they were taking our phones, but we ended up connecting more than ever.” Zoe Kerf ‘27 added, “I collaborated with people I wouldn’t normally, and learned that you shouldn’t have a negative mindset going into something just because of the people in it.” Throughout the day, students considered how personality and perspective shape collaboration, ultimately creating presentations or prototypes to express what they had learned. The Class of 2026 traveled to Washington, D.C., where they explored the question “How am I becoming a global citizen?” through visits to historic monuments, museums, and government buildings. Students split into three groups for a variety of experiences. One group visited the National Archives, had lunch at the National Portrait Gallery, and met with a former ambassador. Another group took a walking tour from the Lincoln Memorial to the American History and Natural History Museums. A third explored government buildings, including the Supreme Court and the Capitol. Grade dean Andy Brown called it a “fantastic opportunity” for students. “If they hadn’t gotten the chance to see D.C. before, I’m glad they had that opportunity. There are a lot of cool things, as far as government and memorials, so it’s a great place to learn a little more about America and its past.” Sophie Oh ‘27 enjoyed her visit to the Supreme Court: “It was a really interesting experience,” she said. “I never really thought you could go into there, but it was great to get to know the place that's making all the decisions about the laws and policies in the U.S.” Meanwhile, the Class of 2025 remained on campus. After a year of trading letters with elementary school students, the pen pals met up in person. Seniors considered: How can I be the best leader when I leave Mercersburg? Cindy Fowler, grade dean for the class, described the meet-up as an opportunity for seniors to recognize the impact they have on others. “It revolved around them being role models,” she said. “It was connecting with younger students, and then having that opportunity to realize what it means to be a leader, a role model, and how to set an example.” Taimur Rehman ‘25 agreed, stating, “I think we left the day feeling like we made a positive impact on these kids' lives and that these kids made a positive impact on our lives.” Jo Wrzesinsky praised the effort that went into making the day meaningful: “I think that the work Ms. Parsons did in organizing it and planning it was really, really impactful, especially with some of our younger students.” From colonial homesteads to hiking trails, or the National Archives to a lunch table with a pen pal, Ex-Ed Day was more than just a break from school; it was a day about connection, purpose, and others. It was a chance to see the Mercersburg community through a new lens. Previous Next

Last week, Mercersburg’s Communications Office issued a statement: “The school is interested in exploring whether our community would be open to creating a mascot that could accompany our "Blue Storm" terminology. Currently, our unofficial mascot is the lightning bolt. < Back New Sports Mascot Haris Yahaya '24 Sep 30, 2022 Last week, Mercersburg’s Communications Office issued a statement: “The school is interested in exploring whether our community would be open to creating a mascot that could accompany our "Blue Storm" terminology. Currently, our unofficial mascot is the lightning bolt. Do we need an official mascot? Let us know what you think, and, based on your feedback, we will take the conversation to the next level.” To understand both current and past students’ views, we interviewed students to understand their perspectives on the matter. Isonah Dlodlo 23’ is currently in her fifth year at Mercersburg and wants a cool mascot. “I think the Blue Devils would be cool; the merch would be so cool,” they said in an interview. Nina McDowell 25,’ Caroline Wilkinson 23,’ Oscar Su 25,’ Jason Jones 24,’ and Peter Rice 23,’ all shared her sentiments. “First off, I think we should go back to being the Blue Devils because that would be so much cooler [than the lightning bolt],” Jones stated. The Blue Devil was the school’s mascot before it was changed in the late 1990s. Although unspecified within Mercersburg history, the nickname was most likely adopted in 1963 as detailed in a New York Times article. During this time period, Mercersburg used the name for branding and clothing but never created a physical mascot that students were allowed to represent. This mascot was eventually changed in the late 90s to the school’s current Blue Storm but the tradition of the Blue Devils still has appeal among members of the community. To be sure, the Communications questionnaire asked students to create or think of a mascot that would accompany the lightning bolt. As the Blue Devil would replace it, students had to think about other creative options. “If we had to have a mascot, I think I would want it to be like a Greek god that holds a blue lightning bolt; kind of like Zeus,” Jones suggested. “Our mascot should be someone like Thor who can ‘summon the storm,’” Wilkinson added. Both ideas do a great job of mixing the simple lightning logo into a fun and strong school mascot. As we have now heard from a wide variety of current Mercersburg students, how did alumni feel about the mascot during their time here? Jen Smith ‘97, Mercersburg’s Dean of Academics said, “There was not a physical mascot, at least not when I was a student here. No costume, no one dressed up, etc. I think there was a cartoonish blue devil that was painted in some of the athletic areas and on some of the school clothing, but I don't really recall. I can't speak for all students, but it was my impression that the student body would have preferred to keep the Blue Devil mascot rather than change it to something else. I don't think this was due to a particular fondness for the blue devil itself, but rather because it was what we associated with Mercersburg and it connected us to alums from the past,” Smith stated. Smith’s commentary emphasized the importance of reviving traditions that unite alumni and current students. Rice suggested that the return of this mascot would revamp a school tradition in a similar way that the return of Step Songs has. Whether or not Mercersburg reinstates the Blue Devil as its mascot, there will always be a need for someone to play the role of the mascot during school and sporting events. Students offered a mixed array of responses to that idea. “Jerry Wei should be the mascot,” Su said, nominating his fellow lower-middler. Others added their suggestions. “The mascot should be Peter Rice,” McDowell and Wilkinson agreed. Jones noted that the mascot could be anyone as long as they bring energy and spirit to Mercersburg. Rice, on the other hand, took a more unusual, yet creative approach. “Get one of those big, hot mascot costumes, and make kids with guard wear it as a punishment,” he said. This consequence could be a fun replacement for guard and would surely be preferred to walking around a track on weekend mornings. Previous Next

Dean Tae '24 < Back Mr. Worldwide heads to Asia Dean Tae '24 Head of School Quentin McDowell will travel to Hong Kong and South Korea on April 15 i n conjunction with Mercersburg’s regional events for accepted students and families from Asia. McDowell will update attendees on the school, specifically with regard to the many projects in progress, including meaning and mastery, civic engagement, the campus master plan, and much more. McDowell emphasized the importance of the school’s global networking initiative: “It gives the school the opportunity to connect with our families (current and past) as well as many of our alumni. It ultimately helps inform our decisions about how to best serve everyone here on campus. Personally, it is all about seeing familiar faces and exploring different places.” The school’s previous trips have been very successful in terms of establishing a strong Mercersburg image and personal connections in Asia. “The Mercersburg brand is strong abroad, particularly in Asia, and that is due largely to word-of-mouth advertising from the students' families and alumni who live there. They are eager to share their experiences with others and encourage new families to learn more about our school. We are very fortunate to have those strong voices, and it has definitely elevated awareness of and interest in Mercersburg,” said Amy Marathe, the director of strategic marketing and communications. Even when the representatives couldn’t travel abroad due to pandemic restrictions, the Academy made continuous efforts to stay connected. Jake Kennedy, associate director of admission, said, “The school took extra care to ensure our international students were sufficiently supported during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the Virtual 'Burg days. Many families abroad noticed that our virtual programs were far more accommodating than other schools, and those efforts were noticed and appreciated.” In preparation for his tour to Hong Kong and South Korea, McDowell generously held a reception at the 1893 house to meet with students from both countries. “I was really happy that he invited us all to his house and asked about our experience at Mercersburg. He was perhaps open to feedback, asking for any improvements the students would like,” said Claire Chow ’26. “I was excited when I heard that Mr. McDowell will be visiting South Korea and Hong Kong this spring. I’ve always wanted to share my culture with the people here at the Academy, and I assume his trip to Asia would be a great opportunity for him to experience my culture and have meaningful conversations with parents abroad,” added Derrick Park ’25. McDowell is determined to fully recognize the school’s large Asian population in campus life, as well. “He has been making a lot of effort and actions to acknowledge the Asian population here. He celebrated the Lunar New Year with us and celebrated our community's important events with care,” said Coco Zhai ’24. Asian Student Union President Ben Cho ‘24 said, “I am pleased that Mr. McDowell is trying to make a deeper connection with the large Asian population of Mercersburg Academy.” Others were quite unsure of the purpose of the trip and even cynical about the motive. Ivy Chan ’24 said, “I am uncertain about the reasons behind Mr. McDowell's upcoming trip to Asia. It could be an opportunity for the school to secure financial support and funding for its initiatives.” Koon Hui ’25 added, “It is rather surprising that he would choose to only go to Hong Kong and Korea.” Considering the COVID restrictions still in place in other Asian nations, McDowell’s stay was restricted to the two countries. “ Where we would typically visit 3-5 different countries, we are only going to Hong Kong and Seoul on this trip. We are already looking at getting back to our normal routine in the fall of 2023,” said McDowell. Current and prospective Mercersburg Academy students and families can look forward to a new tradition of annual visits that will promote goodwill between the school and its Asian representation. Previous Next

Caroline Hobbs ‘26 < Back Stay fruity, Mburg Caroline Hobbs ‘26 On Sunday, October 8, roughly 35 students attended the Chambersburg Pride Festival as Community Engagement volunteers or part of a SAC event. The annual festival was organized by Pride Franklin County. Their goal is to “[Increase] the visibility of our LGBTQ+ neighbors and their contributions to our community, while bringing the LGBTQ+ community and straight allies together to celebrate diversity, acceptance, and belonging in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.” Pride is an important celebration for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Specifically in the US, the event recognizes the legacy of the Stonewall Riots in 1969. The uprising was revolutionary for gay rights in the USA. The first Pride Franklin County Pride Festival took place on August 5, 2018 and it has grown into an annual celebration that includes performances, food trucks, face painting, and vendors expressing allyship. Upper-middler Anne Sehon took time from her busy school and cross country schedule to attend. “I had never been to a pride event before, so it was a super cool and cathartic experience for me. I had this overwhelming feeling of belonging and happiness. I’m so glad I was able to go,” she said. Apart from the event, an offering for Mercersburg LGBTQ+ students is the LGBTQ+ affinity space. This space is run by Director of Library Services Alexandra Patterson. Affinity spaces allow students to come together as a community with people who share a common identity. This means that only people of this identity can participate in the meetings. These spaces do not have any public affiliation like clubs or student organizations (such as Rainbow Alliance or Gay/Straight Alliance ). The LGBTQ+ Affinity space did not sponsor the trip to the Pride Festival as a way of protecting the privacy of affinity space members who may not be out to the community. Patterson says, “We've very intentionally set up affinity spaces so that they do not have [a public] component.” While most of the event attendees were there in the spirit of celebration and support, a few protesters gathered at the outskirts of the grounds. They behaved peacefully as they expressed their objections to community support for non-traditional lifestyles. Emily Parsons, Director of Community Engagement, said that about 12 of the 35 students volunteered to work at the festival. Their jobs included greeting attendees and managing traffic. Parsons highlighted the importance of Mercersburg taking students to the Pride Festival, saying, “[I hope] that those who attend see and experience the joy and sense of belonging that is throughout the festival. I also hope that it serves as a system of support and celebration for our students and faculty members in the LGBTQIA+ community.” Previous Next

Bauhinia Chen ‘26 < Back Eagles Bauhinia Chen ‘26 Last Friday, amid fervid clamor in the Simon Theatre, the long-awaited Mercersburg mascot reveal finally took place. As the Blue Storm logo came into view on the colossal projector screen superimposed on a raging thunderstorm, an outburst of cheering and applause issued from the passionate crowd. The commotion eventually culminated with the emergence of the new mascot from the darkness, unveiling itself to be an Eagle. When asked why an eagle, Associate Head of School Jennifer Craig said, “The Blue Storm manifested itself mostly as a 2-D representation of a lightning bolt or two words on a sign. It's hard to argue that it was a mascot in the most traditional sense. The school was looking for a more concrete and united representation of something we strive to be.” “One of the first steps we took was to survey our entire Mercersburg community to get their input. We looked at each and talked about which animals are native to our region and whether they had characteristics that paired well with Storm. That led us to the three original candidates. The Eagle received the majority of votes,” said Head of School Quentin McDowell. History department member David Bell said, “The Blue Storm is fine as a mascot, but because it's not as tangible as animals or most other symbols it can be a bit confusing when people ask ‘What's a Blue Storm?’ I'm happy with the eagle, as I prefer the imagery associated with eagles.” Students had much to say about the mascot. “I feel like the wolf and the mustang wouldn’t accurately represent the school. The eagle would be the perfect mascot for Mercersburg because of its relationship to the storm,” said Jinn Phakam ‘26. “I think the eagle and the Blue Storm are a great combination because they are both in the sky,” said Yuma Matsuo ‘25. “I'm happy with the eagle. The logic and reasoning behind the choice seems sound… but I sort of wanted to keep Blue Storm,” said Leah Willis ‘24. Some students favored other candidates over the eagle. Annie Wu ‘27 said, “I believe that [the eagle] is a more commonly used mascot than wolves, and hence I like the wolves more—the eagles are banal. I prefer the wolves also because they live in packs, which embodies team spirit.” A few faculty members taught at Mercersburg in the days of the Blue Devils - the athletic identity but unofficial school mascot, among them, math teacher Andy Schroer. “I was okay with the image and nickname of the Blue Devils. I understood why the school felt the need to change the nickname. Among the three candidates, I didn't have a favorite, though eagle or wolf were ahead of mustang, because mustang is the mascot for a local elementary school,” he said. “I was fine with the Blue Devil because it was the mascot for at least my first ten years here. The Blue Storm did not appeal to me that much. Out of all the candidates, my favorite was the eagle. I like all birds of prey,” said Jim Malone, science and mathematics teacher. Science teacher Dave Holzwarth ‘78 said, “I'm cool with the eagle/Storm brand. Being a physics teacher, it's important to note that storm events and thermals are an eagle's best friend for migration and staking out territory.” Amid a medley of opinions, it is hard to condense every sentiment into one all-encompassing consensus. Whether the eagle will prove to be the appropriate mascot for Mercersburg will be up to the community to decide. Previous Next

Ava Jones '25 < Back Turning the page...of the menu Ava Jones '25 Mercersburg Academy values feedback from constituents to create an inclusive environment; however, recent surveys reveal that the dining experience is one of the school's lowest-ranked aspects of student life. In response, Chief Financial and Operating Officer Rochelle Hargraves says, “It was time to seek a different program that provides a diverse dining experience, including and expanding to all different types of dietary restrictions.” The new dining hall redesign, commencing in summer 2025, will feature an updated kitchen, as well as a modified breakfast area and a pizza oven. This will be an improvement not only for students but also for the dining hall staff, who will work with newer equipment. Unfortunately, these renovations will require patience and understanding from the student body. The renovation will not happen overnight, so meals will occur in the Hale Field House at the start of 2025-2026 school year. This is a significant change from previous years, but don't fret; Mercersburg plans to continue its family-style lunch and Monday night dinner tradition during this temporary move. Some students question the practicality of the location change. Sophie Koroma ‘26 asks, “Why are we in the field house? I feel the Edwards Room would be a better choice.” Grace Labans ’26 asks, “How are they keeping the food warm as it’s transferred from the kitchen to the field house?” However, this is a necessary sacrifice. Hargraves says, “An improved dining experience will only come with significant change.” Because the dining hall kitchen will be out of service during renovations, the dining hall staff will cook in a portable kitchen. Hargraves describes it as a “commercial kitchen on wheels” that provides a menu similar to what Mercersburg is used to. Some students feel that the dining hall doesn't have to be fully renovated; rather, it would be beneficial to make small but appreciable changes within the menu. For example, many athletes prefer a “smoothie bar in the morning for after workouts,” says Louisa Gunkelman ’25. Among seniors, there are sentiments of excitement yet sadness at the new dining hall opening after their graduation. Amanda Xi ’25 says, “I'm so excited for Mercersburg. I wish I could experience the change!” While some members of the student body are disappointed they won’t be here to enjoy the new dining hall, there is a sense of pride in being a part of the Mercersburg community that will help pave the way for future students to benefit from it. Previous Next

Audrey Hua '26 and Chloe Allis '25 < Back Preparing for the November elections Audrey Hua '26 and Chloe Allis '25 Election Day in the United States is approaching, and at Mercersburg Academy, students reveal a range of levels of engagement anticipation for the first Thursday after the first Monday in November - election day. The results from early primary elections around the country all but promise another Biden-Trump showdown. Underclassmen expressed a mix of uncertainty, intrigue, and apprehension. “I’m feeling nervous,” Annie Mohr ‘26 said. “I don't think Trump's gonna win, but if he does, I think I'd be very stressed and concerned.” Harry Cameron ‘26 said, “I’m interested to see the result of the upcoming U.S. election. I believe that independent candidates are slowly gaining popularity in the country, and am intrigued by how they will affect the two major parties.” Shublean Kaur ‘27 expressed, “I’m not too aware of a lot of what goes on in American politics, especially in the upcoming election. It's kind of hard because I'm always around biased people a lot.” William Luo ‘27 added, “As a non-citizen of the US, I rarely feel about the election: however, as any person would hope, I do want our new president to bring policies that would benefit society and improve our daily livelihood.” Among the upperclassmen, there was a widespread feeling of anxiety concerning the contest. “I mean, it’s quite obvious that it’s an abysmal situation,” said Gabe McGuire ‘24. Likewise, Oliva Glick ‘25 commented, “I am very nervous. I definitely don’t know what’s going to happen or if everything is going to be okay afterward.” Additionally, many students felt that there could be no possible positive outcome from the election. The 2020 presidential election proved to be a polarizing event in American history, revealing the nation’s very clear divide down the middle. In preparation for the November election, Mercersburg Academy is planning to foster opportunities for students to prepare and educate themselves. Mercersburg Academy’s mission statement states, “Our students commit to a life of learning, seek to understand the spiritual nature of human existence, and develop a determination to lead and serve the world.” These principles must extend into this election. Students who commented reccomended that the Academy educate and respect students’ views on the upcoming election. “I would say that disseminating information about it and making sure that people are aware of everything is how Mercersburg should prepare for the election,” said Glick. “I think a lot of people don't know about what's going on,” Kaur added. “I personally don't know a lot of what's going on, so I think having a brown bag lunch educating people on it would be helpful.” Luo said, “The Academy should remain neutral to whatever the results are, and embrace every student's opinion on the election.” As Election Day draws near, students expressed their desire that the Academy provide resources for them to make educated decisions and figure out what issues matter most to them. A safe environment on campus for students to have informed and engaging discourse will undoubtedly be Mercersburg Academy’s top priority as November 5 approaches. Previous Next

Taimur Rehman '25 < Back Mercersburg’s new routine Taimur Rehman '25 With the advent of a new school year, the academic office has unveiled a new daily schedule. Julia Maurer '90, Associate Head of School, spoke on the ongoing process of schedule changes, “So, we said years ago that we were going to do a schedule redesign, we had a schedule that had six classes, and the day felt too hectic, so we wanted to reduce the load on students and teachers. But we wound up having three classes one week, two the other week, and so teachers were not able to cover enough of their content.” In designing the new schedule, Maurer talked about what the school’s limits were, “So what we did with this new schedule is try to keep what we liked about the old one but increase class time, things like help, Friday school meetings, sit-down meal lengths, that was the goal.” Academic Dean Jennifer Smith, who was a member of the committee that worked on creating the new schedule, explains, “From when I started working on it, there were two specific goals for the schedule change: one was to increase class time to get closer to our peer schools because we’re way behind, and to increase class meetings to three times a week so that students won’t have to review as much.” Besides the addition of class meetings and class time, Smith explained the new, non-alphabetical order: “We voted on that, and it was very close, almost split. But if you go in alphabetical order, some of the rotations end up meeting in the morning all the time… and it would have been impossible for everyone to have a sleep-in.” Reactions to the new schedule have been mixed, with both teachers and students expressing positive and negative feelings about it. Heather Prescott remarks, “There is more class time than there has been in the past two years. This was something I was hoping would change, and I am very pleased that it has.” Class time increase has also been seen as positive by some students. Max Friedman ‘25 shares, “I like that the schedule provides more class time overall, and I’m actually a big fan of the hour-long classes.” Michele Poacelli commented, “The schedule to me feels like scaffolding; it’s what you hang the important stuff on, and so more scaffolding equals more of an opportunity to hang the important things on.” Unfortunately, more class time has also led to students feeling more pressure. Madeline Chu ’27 elaborates, “I feel like I have the same amount of homework from each class as I did last year, except with half the time to complete it.” Friedman adds, “More classes mean more work, and as far as I’m aware, most classes haven’t reduced homework loads to account for the extra classes and meetings per week.” Not all students find the new schedule daunting. Keagan Killinger ’28, a new student, shares, “I’m still getting used to it, as it’s a little inconsistent. The days are shorter than my old school days, and we start later, which is extremely nice. Overall, I enjoy the schedule.” More frequent classes are not the only major change to the schedule. This year, classes no longer meet in alphabetical order. Prescott notes, “The fact that the schedule is not always sequential can be confusing. I need to look at the schedule several times a day. This is not problematic since I have several printed copies of it.” She adds, “I know why the shifts have been observed, and I am fine with the fact that the non-sequential nature of the weekdays allows for certain blocks to meet first thing in the morning and, at other times, in the afternoons.” Poacelli agrees, adding, “It’s incredibly confusing, and it forces you to pay attention to Google Calendar. For me, it’s easy because I’m glued to my Google Calendar, but if you didn’t already have those habits, it would be difficult.” Students have been less forgiving about the schedule’s confusing nature. Cole Piriano ’26 shares, “It has been challenging to memorize the schedule.” Caiden Bowers ’25, a new student, adds, “My old school followed a seven-block, four-class daily schedule that rolled alphabetically. So the schedule here is similar, but it has been difficult to memorize my class schedule because the classes do not flow strictly alphabetically.” As a whole, the school community understands the importance of increased academic time, and the campus has received the changes moderately well, but issues persist. From teachers to students, some aspects are seen as needing change. Prescott elaborated, “Some of the class periods are 60 minutes, and some are 75 minutes, so I am trying to do my best to offer the same content, skill-building opportunities, and learning experience to all of my students. This is a challenge. I would prefer that all class meetings be 65 minutes, all the time.” Prescott’s statements are shared by many. Friedman bluntly adds, “Make every block 60 minutes. We need standardized class times.” Chu suggests, “I would bring back late starts on Wednesdays. It was just something to look forward to, especially since we’re all so overwhelmed by the middle of the week.” While the new schedule provides much-needed increases in class time, along with increased variability of sleep-ins, it is certainly a mixed bag. Poacelli sums it up well: “I’ve lived, you know, a million different schedules… and you just adapt because we’re adaptable creatures, right?” Previous Next

Audrey Hua '26 < Back Chapel gets lit Audrey Hua '26 On Sunday, December 11, Mercersburg students, faculty and guests will gather to participate in a truly spectacular event: Mercersburg’s annual Christmas Candlelight Service. Will Whitmore, the School Minister, oversees the ceremony. “[There’s] lots of preparation,” said Whitmore. “We have to get music prepared, we have to green the chapel, we have to coordinate all the bulletins, we have to get ushers… The planning even starts all the way in October.” All this planning is no easy task. “It’s the volume of stuff to do, and there’s a pressure to do it well.” The annual service is made up of sermons and performances alternately, and the greening of the chapel is a volunteer-based event that helps decorate before the service. “Everyone is welcome to come to greening. It’s a lot of fun and always a good time,” Whitmore said. Jim Brinson, the school pianist, organist, and carillonneur, explained the preparations: “Mr. Morgan and I start choosing music in the spring before Candlelight, but usually by September or October we have our selections.” Michael Cameron, Strings Director, said, “The groups rehearsed on their own, about a month before.” Mary. Campbell, an instrumental music fellow, shared her challenges. “I want to make sure I represent the tradition correctly, because I really respect everything we do.” The faculty all agreed that the group this year was exceptional. “Any opportunity to share music in public is something really special,” said Mr. Cameron. Julie Maurer ‘93, Associate Head of School for School Life, who helped supervise the greening, said, “We follow the same template every year with the greens, trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and candles.” The process of decorating takes “around an hour,” but much preparation comes beforehand. “It’s a really big space,” Laura Patterson, Dorm Dean of Tippetts Hall, explained, “Ensuring that we have all of the things in the right places can be difficult.” Karen Hawbaker, the previous decorations manager, who retired last year, has passed on an important duty. Students participants are always eager to perform at the service and in the events surrounding it. “I’m excited about the greening of the chapel,” Damien Dowling ‘23 said. “You put up leaves around the chapel, and you even get free cookies!” Lisa Wei ‘26, a strings student, said, “I’m excited to be able to perform and showcase what we’ve learned to the school community.” However, the students also voiced the challenges. “It’s a lot of commitment and the nights can be long,” Dowling explained. Bob Hollis ‘24 said, “It takes a lot of time to get proficient at many songs in a relatively short time.” He continued, “The group is super talented and we have been killing it lately, but we wouldn't be anywhere without Mr. Brinson and Mr. Morgan!” Every year, the hard work of the community pays off in the magic of the ceremony. “The Candlelight service has always been one of my favorite times at Mercersburg, so I just love being able to help in a small way,” Maurer said. While the beauty of the Chapel is breathtaking, every participant has a personal favorite part of the event. “I enjoy hearing the languages of the nations, and the languages of our community,” said Whitmore. “What’s the best thing about Candlelight? You. All of you,” said Bryan Morgan ‘07, Chorale director. “Getting to share this moment with y’all.” Previous Next