Keep it spicy over summer break

   Keeping a long-distance relationship strong over summer can be very difficult. The most important thing you can do is to trust the other person. Here are some ways you can keep the other person close:

5. Watch movies or TV shows at the same time with the other on the phone. This way it is just like they are in the room watching it with you!
4. Skype often. There is nothing that helps make the distance seem smaller than the internet connecting loved ones.
3. Try and schedule at least a couple meetings if possible. Even if it doesn’t work out, the fact that you are trying says a lot.
2. Send flowers to him/her for special events like birthdays or anniversaries.
1. The most important thing to do to maintain a long distance relationship is to talk about how you are feeling. If you are feeling jealous about the other person going somewhere, tell them. If you are missing the other a lot at that time, tell them. Every little bit of honesty helps.

- By Ben Geleris

Writing contest with Bulgarian sister school: the runner-ups

Let it snow: A fountain on the campus of ACS

We held a writing contest with our sister school in Bulgaria, the American College of Sofia. These are the runner-ups; the winner will be published in the paper next week.

The gate of the American College of Sofia


   It is that thing you can love and hate with equal passion. Some days you wake up dreading what is upcoming, other times you wake up with delight at what the day will behold. It is the thing that will swamp you with assignments and tests, yet will reward you for the hard work (or lack thereof) you have put in. It is that place where you will see people you get along with and people you cannot stand. On the outside it may appear to be just the latest school, but in reality, it is so much more than that. Welcome to ACS.
   ACS is considered to be one of the best schools in Bulgaria. In order to get accepted into the school, ACS-ers had to take a special entrance exam that most students diligently prepared for. Take Emil Narev, an eighth grader for example. He started going to tutoring lessons in the sixth grade in order to prepare for the exam. Most students, however, start preparing for the exam in the seventh grade. And a lucky handful, such as Chrissy Petrova, a sophomore, did not require any preparation at all. “My parents told me they had signed me up to take the exam about a week before it was held. I didn’t do a thing to prepare. I merely went in order to test my skills.”
   Hearing this, a lot of students get the wrong impression. “When I first came to ACS, I thought that it would be filled with only a bunch of nerds who do nothing but study in their free time,” shares a junior, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I thought that everybody would be some genius that gets all A-s and understands everything”, a senior confides. Needless to say, both the junior and the senior were wrong. Very wrong.
   Wandering through the school, you definitely do not get the “nerd” impression. In typical student fashion, most homework and projects are done the day before they are due. In fact, in my English class, recently the teacher asked us when we start preparing for our vocabulary quizzes. Two thirds of the class raised their hand that they prepare the day before the quiz. And the other one third prepare on the actual day of the vocab quiz. As Kalin Stoyanov proudly shares, “I read my vocab words in the morning in the bus, on the way to school.” Multitasking at its best.
   While there are many students who copy their homework in the morning or do it during the lunch break, stupid is something these students are not. ACS-ers know when to study hard and when to take it down a notch. After all, the school sets high standards in education and demands them to be upheld: cue being put on academic probation for a GPA under 4.50. Furthermore, ACS wants more than just academic successes. It also requires that its students take part in various clubs and extracurricular activities.
   ACS-ers do have a lot on their plates with the multitude of assignments and projects they have day to day. As Boyan Georgiev shares, “I have a chemistry quiz, a math test, an English essay, and geography homework to do. And that’s just for tomorrow.” But don’t feel too bad for him. With a sheepish grin, Boyan admits that the fact that he has all this work to do now is because he procrastinated. “It happens to the best of us!” he jokes. And, after all, it is just the latest part of the ACS experience: study hard, but don’t miss out on the chance to have some fun while doing so.


-By Nadya Netcheva

Writing contest with sister school: the runner-ups

We held a writing contest with our sister school in Bulgaria, the American College of Sofia. These are the runner-ups; the winner will be published in the paper next week.

Academics + fun = our lives at ACS


   Every year, the 15th of September marks off the end of another unforgettable summer and the beginning of a new school year that will lead us in a new direction towards a new goal and hopefully, a new success. It’s just 8 a.m., but the green school grounds are already crowded, and wherever you turn, you see hugging friends who are excitedly talking over each other about all the places they have been to in the months apart. The spirit of summer still lingers in the air, and there is not a single cloud on the sky to mar the perfect day.
   The day’s events begin with the introductory ceremony of the 8th graders, the youngest students at ACS, and following an old Bulgarian tradition, all the older students throw carrots at the inexperienced young “preps”, who are stepping into an adventure filled with obstacles and difficulties. Freshmen are excited as they are no longer the youngest ones, and they often sneak a peek at their “descendants” to evaluate them. The school year has now officially begun.
   Every year, the students in each grade level get divided into eight groups, called sections. The roughly twenty people in your section are the ones you will have all of your classes with throughout the next ten months. There is always a great level excitement as the students wait for the lists to come out, and they are all crossing fingers to be with their best friends, and not with people they do not really know.
   The first weeks pass in a haze as everybody tries to get accustomed to the things that are new. For the freshmen specifically, this first semester is extremely difficult. After studying only a handful of subject in the preparation year, they desperately try to cope with the fifteen classes they are now taking. Alissar Riachi, 9th grade, says, “I really thought that it would be somewhat easier this year, but as I soon found out, I was wrong!” Similarly, Geno Ganevski, also in 9th grade, shares that he “did not really believe that it would be that hard up until the moment the teachers started saying how many difficult things we are going to study.”
   Slowly, things fall into place. The days grow into weeks, and the weeks grow into months. Rainy autumn afternoons replace the lazy summer days, and before you know it, the final days of October have arrived with another spooky Halloween. Although this is not a holiday traditionally celebrated in Bulgaria, ACS organizes a number of entertaining events. The students dress up in creative costumes, and the 8th graders even have their own little competition between the sections. The day’s events culminate with the Halloween party that takes place in the afternoon on school grounds. The music is really loud, and there is a lot of dancing. Basically, as Blagovest Tschasovnikarov, 9th grade, says, “it is a great place, where people have fun.”
   After Halloween, the students begin to count the days to the Winter Break. As November passes, you can almost begin to sense Christmas in the air. There are people in the hallways humming “Jingle Bells”, and the musical crew is preparing fiercely for the upcoming Christmas concert. Finally, the long-awaited day arrives.
   Unfortunately, as always, the vacation ends up being too short for all the things that we want to do, and when we come back to school, we immediately need to start carefully preparing for the final exams that are scheduled to be in just a few short weeks. The 9th grader Blagovesta Dimitrova defines that period of time as being tiresome. On the other hand, her friend Alissar Riachi shares that “in addition to feeling nervous, [she] also felt hyperactive and excited as the new semester would be kind of a new beginning.”
   With the first half of the school year done, everyone starts to look forward to the summer vacation. The cold winds slowly turn into warm breezes, and the blazing sun pushes away the rain and freezing snow. The days pass more quickly, and the final quarter of the school year slowly arrives. Sandra Rangelova, 9th grade, says that she eagerly waits for the last days, and Blagovesta Dimitrova shares that she is going to do her best to “forget all about school” during the summer months.
   Another year has slipped by, and the time for sunbathing on the beach and hiking in the mountains is slowly arriving. Our life at ACS, although filled with difficulties and pressure, is unique and always full with excitement.


- By Vanessa Angelova

Japan nuclear disaster level raised from 5 to 7

   On Tuesday, April 12, members of the International Atomic Energy Agency raised the alert level of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi reactor incident from a five to a seven, the worst level on the international scale.

   The last time a nuclear fallout incident has reached this alert level was in 1985, during the infamous Chernobyl incident which left the city of Pripyat and surrounding area uninhabitable even today. Experts dispute the amount of radiation that has already been released. Even though radiation levels have not passed that of Chernobyl, leaking has not stopped and experts fear that it could very easily surpass the Ukrainian disaster.

Turn off your lights

March 26th at 8:30pm, earth hour.

Tragedy in Japan

   According to the Richter scale, an earthquake of magnitude ranging from eight to nine hit Japan yesterday around midnight pacific time.
   The earthquake has devastated many of Japan’s coastal cities as it precipitated an onslaught of tsunamis. Videos illustrating the incredible force of the tsunamis can be found online: cars, trains and buildings are flowing across land like toys in a bath tub and even entire airports have been completely submerged.
   Additionally, in the city of Sendai (the area that has suffered the greatest damage), the earthquake devastated a nuclear plant, unleashing a holocaust in the process. All communication and transportation has been effectively cut off and the Japanese government has already deployed military planes to evaluate the damage. It has been noted that this specific earthquake ranks in the top five that the world has ever experienced.


Watch a video here.

The best restaurants to be hidden in a strip mall 10 minutes from Webb

1. Pixie Doughnuts (in the Vons plaza down Baseline Rd)
   A dozen doughnut holes for one dollar? Seriously? Walking into Pixie Doughnuts is a trip into another era. People stop by for a chocolate with chocolate sprinkles, a glazed twist or a pink cardboard box of assorted cake doughnuts, all served up with a smile at rock-bottom prices. I bought three dozen donut holes (cake, cinnamon-sugar, and glazed) for my first period class this morning for less than the cost of a single Jamba Juice smoothie.


2. Bangkok Blue (by the Pet Depot at Fruit and Foothill)
   Why does the best Pad Thai so often reside next to an acre of parking lot? Bangkok Blue is the classic strip mall paradox – an incredible restaurant masquerading as a random hole-in-the-wall. Go and eat curry to your heart’s delight.


3. 21 Choices (at Mountain and Foothill)
   If you've been at Webb for a while, you probably already know 21 Choices. But if you only moved to the lovely land of Claremont recently, you might not yet have experienced the bliss of a sickly-sweet circus animal cookie chopped into vanilla froyo alongside chunks of cookie dough, or the crisp headache-inducing fruit flavors like “Snappy Blue Berries” or “Caramelized Banana.” The quest for the perfect combination of candy, fruit and yoghurt will never end…


- By Betsy Potash

How to relieve mid-semester stress

   This week is somehow stressful for everyone. Everything is happening at once. There are elections, the SAT, projects, tests, Sadie’s, sports games. Everyone’s schedule tensions are rising and stress levels are reaching boiling points. It is important in a time like this to take deep breaths and stay organized. Here are some simple tricks to staying level-headed when you want to break down with stress:


1. Punch a pillow (avoid people; this is frowned upon)
2. Get enough sleep
3. Cut down on distractions
4. Drink decaffeinated tea
5. Close your eyes and roll them up; this calms you as well as gets you focused
6. Go for a quick run or do some other form of cardio to keep your blood pumping
7. Take a few minutes before you start something to breathe and make yourself comfortable
8. Schedule out your time
9. Eat slowly
10. Eat healthy and avoid sugar and caffeine
11. Find an environment that helps you focus


   Stress is temporary and you have to manage it somehow, but remember: it isn’t permanent and relaxing moments are in your future. Good luck.


- By Jessica Romero

Totally Fk'n Awesome!!!

Review of Totally FK'n Awesome by Wyatt

Debuting next year for their 2012 product line, the Capita Totally FK’N Awesome is an all mountain, quiver killing snowboard that promises to be rideable in all conditions all over the mountain. The Totally FK’N Awesome lives up to its name; this board is at home in all conditions, from icy steeps to park booters.
The Totally FK’N Awesome can be described as the little brother to the Black Snowboard of Death, Capita’s flagship freeride board. The Totally FK’N Awesome is softer and retains a more twinish shape than the Black Snowboard of Death while maintaining the Capita’s freeride flatkick, a hybrid camber. This hybrid camber places camber between the feet, and slightly rockered tips past the bindings. The shape is a directional twin- it is made of a twin sidecut and directional core with an inch setback on the reference stance. This means the sidecut, or the curve of the board that affects how it turns, is symmetrical over the middle of the board. While riding, this translates into a board that is confortable to ride regular or switch. The directional core means that although the shape of the board is almost symmetrical, the flex in the nose in tail are different. In the Totally FK’N Awesome, this means that the softer nose is forgiving, but the stiff tail allows for more snap out of turns. The reference stance, or the recommended placement for bindings, has a one inch setback. This gives the board one more inch in the nose than in the tail. This lets the nose float through choppy snow and powder, and keeps the tail turning down the mountain.
So far, I have put about five days on my 159cm Totally FK’N Awesome, and it has left me impressed. As a Southern California snowboarder, my pursuits of snow often leave me in many different shred situations. I rode the Totally FK’N Awesome through slush, scraped off ice, and deep days old wet powder. Throughout all of this, the Totally FK’N Awesome more than held its own.
My first turns with the Totally FK’N Awesome were scary. I had trouble getting the elevated contact points to fully carve in the snow, and I felt like I was sliding around more than turning. After about five turns, I gained control and was soon confident. The board was easy to get used to, and once I did it felt natural.
On slushy mountain high groomers, the Totally FK’N Awesome surprised me. On the large moguls that form in warm snow from high traffic, I used to have to go slow and still risk danger of getting bounced around. With the Totally FK’N Awesome, I sped down the mountain freely, as the damping of the board absorbed the shock form small bumps in the snow. As I grew more confident, I was using the small moguls as platforms for ollies, and I soon looked for natural features to use as jumps. The Totally FK’N Awesome did take some time for me to get the ollies down though; the elevated contact points made the board hard to control while flat-basing, and I had trouble finding the pop. Compared to traditional camber, I could not just lean back, weight the tail, and explode. With Capita’s hybrid camber, I had to make the pop a more fluid motion- instead of weighting the tail I slapped it down while lifting my front foot, similar to skating. Once I had the pop down, I found that the Totally FK’N Awesome has similar boost to a cambered board, and does not suffer from the lack of pop like other reverse cambered boards.
What impressed me most about the Totally FK’N Awesome was its stability and grip. On a particularly icy day on Cornice Bowl, I dropped and made my first turn- a deep toe side carves. I did not expect the snow to be so scraped off, and as I began my turn I was ready to fall. However, I kept the edge tight, and I managed to make the turn. I was completely surprised that I was able to hold such a critical turn on such a board. The Totally FK’N Awesome is not just a playful all mountain destroyer, it can rip the mountain as well.
When I finally got the Totally FK’N Awesome into some decent snow, the board floated through day old sunbaked Mountain High powder beautifully. With the Totally FK’N Awesome I descended into tree deep tree runs that I previously did not think were makeable. With the Totally FK’N Awesome, I loved the float that the reverse camber and setback gave, but the best part was still having a tail to pop off of and to land on.
Overall, the Totally FK’N Awesome has led me to be a much better rider. The 2012 Capita Totally FK’N Awesome is the epitome of a quiver killing snowboard. It has the pop and playfulness to play with through the park and flats, but when things get steep, deep, and critical, the Totally FK’N Awesome charges the mountain without skipping a beat.

A diary of a day in LA

A Diary of a day in L.A.

By Lauren Taflinger

Once again Dies Mulieres rolled around and I was looking forward to a field trip- I mean who wasn’t? Getting off campus, no classes, hanging out with my friends; it was going to be a good day. However, I wasn’t feeling so perky once I heard I’d be forced into trucking into Los Angeles, a location I’ve visited countless times not only during my lifetime, but throughout my four years at Webb. Nothing new, I’d rather stay home.

But the sun rose on February 28, so I grabbed my book, my iPod, my best friend and sat on the bus as I prepared for the long boring day ahead of me. Staring out the window, mini snap shots of the journey to the city zooming pass me, I sulked.

We arrive and I’m thrilled-not really, but at least I’m off the bus. One of the first places we search is the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I’d always seen the outside of it, heard of it, but didn’t really see the point of actually going inside of it. I get my neon orange circular sticker allowing me access into the actual theatre and make my way up the stairs. So far I’m not too impressed. Doesn’t look like anything I haven’t seen before.

Finally, other advisory groups and I step in, and I have to say, I’m actually quite amazed. The wooden organ gracefully immerges from the wall and there are rolling sections of the room, like waves. It’s peaceful and serene, and the multicolored cushion seat I’m sitting in makes me wish I’d never have to leave. I’m busy taking pictures clumsily with my phone and I overhear that this place can hold over 2000 people, it certainly doesn’t look it. But it’s Disney, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with what magic they can do.

A few minutes of silence tick by and finally it’s time to depart, relenting I move on to our next location after passing through the gift store strategically filled with nifty trinkets.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) seems to be our next stop. I’m feeling more enthusiastic, and I like art- seems promising. Plus they have this cool lemonade place, nice.
I stride down the steps, show the lady my ticket and begin my art review. Through the first exhibit, I’m intrigued by many of the larger paintings, rich in textures and vibrant colors. Many of my classmates fleet through, but I take my time, even jotting down a few of the names of some artists I like. Next I step into a dark room, filled with noise and videos projected on every wall- it’s a video montage. It’s different, and I’m instantly intrigued, trying to figure out its modern meaning and all that.

As I continue throughout remaining exhibits, I really start to see the shift to what one might consider modern art, with head turning sculptures, statues and photo collages. Not wanting to leave, with seconds to spare, I rejoin the group to continue our tour.

The main final stop of the tour was an international market place. My group and I had stopped by for a pizza, or should I say two, at California Pizza Kitchen, so I wasn’t too hungry, but the sight alone was a new experience in itself. Seeing, and smelling fresh authentic foods in open shops one after the other, after the other even started to make me hungry again.

As I stepped back onto the bus, tired, full and satisfied, I didn’t need the company of my book or my iPod because all I needed were the memories of the day, fueled by my excitement, to discuss with my best friend.

Do you actually like him?

Are you confused on whether or not you like a guy? Well if you can relate to more than one on this list, chances are you do!

1. You get butterflies in your stomach every time you see them or think about them

2. You check if they are on Facebook or First Class and then you IM them with no apparent reason

3. You make of a fool of yourself every time you try and talk to them.

4. You bring his name up in random conversations

5. You always complain about that guy to your friends

6. Your finger hovers over the send button as you check the text for the millionth time

7. You re-read his messages over and over again looking for some clue that he likes you

8. You play hit him…..a lot.

9. You get jealous when he talks with other girls

10. You just happen to show up at every single one of his games

how did facebook change your lives?

By Ben Geleris

Facebook has revolutionized the way people connect with each other. Long-lost friends can find old classmates to reconnect; anyone can see the latest school gossip; relationships can be made official; and anything you want the world to see can be posted. But, is this website really helping us?

Parents consistently talk about how “back in the day,” they did not need the internet to stay connected. They were perfectly satisfied with seeing their friends at school and then waiting 12 hours to talk to them again.

Facebook is always open and completely free. When used responsibly, Facebook can be extremely useful and a great way to connect with friends.

Although Facebook can be beneficial, it can also be harmful. If used inappropriately, Facebook can affect personal relationships, make one more susceptible to stalkers and even ruin chances of getting into a choice college. If someone spends all of his time updating his profile page, then he or she will only understand how to connect with another human being over the internet. Additionally, he or she will begin to neglect other important things like homework.

He or she can ruin his or her chances of getting into a good college if a friend decides to post a picture of him or her doing something illegal like, drinking alcohol. Even if he or she removes this tag, some colleges bypass this action by paying companies to go on Facebook and find untagged pictures of accepted applicants.

On another note, if a person is responsible with his Facebook page and ensures that nothing negative is posted on his page, he or she still has no control over what friends may put on their pages. A new Facebook layout allows five of one’s most recently tagged pictures to be seen by anyone who comes across one’s page friend or stranger. Although this setting can be changed, this default option is problematic for the user.

Facebook has damaged our generation. Too many people spend too much time on Facebook and people are able to easily see everything about a person’s life: the good and the bad.

Do you actually like her?

Ask yourself these questions to know for sure:

1. You get excited when she texts you and maybe even a little sad when she is not texting you.

2. If you are old friends, you enjoy talking about past memories you have of each other.

3. You don’t care what a group of people think about you, except when she is around.

4. You find yourself always laughing and having fun when she is around.

5. You hate to see her go but I love to watch her leave.

6. You actually care to match, just so she will comment on how good you look.

7. You tell her all the stories of yourself (including the embarrassing ones) of when you were younger.

8. You constantly question yourself but you try and act like you have all the confidence in the world.

9. You can’t sleep when she is mad at you or you even think she may be mad at you.

10. If you could make her laugh but it would embarrass you, you will choose to make her laugh.

Strokes disappoint?

The Strokes offer an amuse-bouche from their anticipated fourth album to tease anxious fans, which they unfortunately do not succeed in doing. The label released their single “Undercover of Darkness” via the band’s website for free downloading Feb. 9. Overproduced and lacking in the rawness from their debut album Is This It, The Strokes give us something that cookie-cutter bands, such as the Plain White Tees and Nickelback, could whiff up in one sitting. This leaves fans with one thought: Please don’t let this be the “ONE” song from their upcoming album.

True Grit Review

In the vast world of spaghetti westerns and cheesy cop-and-robber plotlines, True Grit stands above all other movies in the genre of the essential western, supplementing the Cohen Brothers’ masterful remake of the original film with superb acting by both old-timers and newcomers alike.

If you’ve seen the original, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how closely True Grit stays true to the John Wayne classic, keeping the essential story and character dynamics intact and flourishing, while losing some of the more outdated elements of the 1969 film. This livelier, more realistic retelling of the classic story, keeps both die-hard film critics and movie novices engaged throughout the film’s duration.

The story revolves around a young girl, played by 14-year old Hailee Steinfeld, trying to track down the man who killed her father. Along the way, she enlists aid from down-and-out U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn, originally John Wayne’s character but now played by Jeff Bridges, and a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf, played by Matt Damon.

A major difference from the original is the very real character flaws that are inherent in each of the characters. In the original, Cogburn is portrayed as more of an archetypal heroic figure, while in the modern retelling, Bridges brings out the complexities within the character, adding extra levels of depth to the twisting plotline.

However dramatic it may be, the movie still has the ability to satisfy fans of the fast-paced, action-packed gunfights that Westerns are notorious for. However, unlike many more unsuccessful movies of the genre, this particular film ties these gunfights seamlessly into the film’s plotline itself, making the realism factor of the film skyrocket. Each shot fired is in fact a calculated move coming as the result of several actions taken previously by the characters, and not just a gimmick to attract audiences.

All in all, it’s no surprise to see that True Grit has grossed over $138 million. The plot and characters stay true to the original version, while adding a modern, realistic touch with a whole new level of depth. It’s definitely worth your time and money to see this film.

Jamba Juice Secret Menu

Want to mix up your smoothie order? Try these fun concoctions!

Blue Gummi Bear

Chocolate Gummi Bear

Green Gummi Bear

Pink Gummi Bear

Red Gummi Bear

White Gummi Bear

Andres' Surprise

Apple Pie

Berry Depressing

Blue-Topia

Butterfingers

Chocolate covered Strawberries

Fruity Pebbles

White Fruity Pebbles

Pink Fruity Pebbles

Hello Jesus

Reese pieces

San Diego

Skittles

Sourpatch Kid

Starburst [aka Pink Star]

Lemonade Lightnin'

Strawberry Shortcake

Sunny Delight

Thank You Jesus

Tootsie Roll

Tropical Tango

Melonade wave

Now and Later

Orange Dream Machine

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Rainbow Sherbert

Enjoy!

Dear Webb Boys,

P.S.-

Boys, don’t be afraid to talk to a girl you like! We may be smarter than you but we can’t read minds

Boys, if your girl plays a sport a cute way to show you’re interested is to go to her game and cheer her on!

Secrets secrets are no fun for anyone! Trust is what it’s all about.

Boys, a girl is a girl no matter what there is always room for a little romance.

Boys, there is no such thing as perfection so don’t try for it. Embrace your imperfections, her imperfections, and your relationships imperfections.

In-N-Out Secret Menu

In-N-Out is a special treat that we get for living in southern California so we may as well make the most of it. Here are some of the ‘secret’ menu items you might want to try. Beware if you wanted to order a 20x20 they now have a meat limited of a 4 patties! So sad! But check out what you can order:

2x4: two beef patties and 4 pieces of cheese

Double Meat: two beef patties regular servings of everything else

Animal Style: mustard cooked beef patty with extra pickles, spread, cheese, and grilled onions

Cut in half: Burger. Cut in half. Gasp!

Flying Dutchman: Two beef patties and two slices of cheese plain and simple

Grilled Cheese: everything but the meat

Mustard grilled: Mustard on the patty of a regular burger

Protein style: A burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun

Veggie burger: grilled cheese with no cheese.

Animal fries: onions, sauce, cheese, and grilled onions on top of fries

Cheese fries: fries with cheese

Fries light: barely cooked fries

Well-done fries: crispy fries

Neapolitan shake: all 3-shake flavors (you can do any combo you want)

Root-beer float: root beer float!

teacher spotlight-Mr. Bartlett

Teacher Spotlight- Mr. Peter Spaulding Bartlett

For the past two days, just in order to interview Mr. Bartlett, I tried stalking him. I visited his office 3-4 times a day, but he was never in his office. I saw him rushing to the dining hall to grab lunch or chatting with different students. But, when I ran into his office he was never there.
Mr. Bartlett is probably one of the busiest people on campus. Most people just recognize him as the “academic dean”, but Mr. Bartlett is way more than that. He is the JV volleyball coach, an advisor of a group of “knuckle-heads,” he is always there during formal dinners, Thursday night duties or any basketball games.

Even though he is so busy, he still has time to sit outside of his office, enjoying his vanilla ice cream, greeting all of us with his typical “Bartlett” smile. Also, Mr. Bartlett just knows everyone. Even though you are freshmen, new on this campus, Mr. Bartlett knows something special about you. That’s just the way he is.

So this morning, right after breakfast check-in, I stomped into his office hoping he would be there. Luckily, I could meet him, the superstar, Mr. Bartlett.

KJ: How do you know at least one thing about every student on this campus?
PB: (Laughter) I just try to pay attention. One of the most interesting parts of this job is that I get a really good quality interaction with students and others around me. Also, that is part of my commitment and I want to know everyone well enough that when I need to make a decision about them, I could really help them.

KJ: Did you recently learn any new facts about anyone?
PB: Actually, this morning, when I was walking Linus (Bartlett’s dog), I found several sophomore boys working out in the gym with John, the security guard. I was pretty amazed that these boys actually woke up very early to exercise.

KJ: What is your educational philosophy?
PB: We try to teach you how to face problems in life. Especially in a time period like this when the landscape shifts, it is hard to prepare you. The hardest part is that these days, kids need to rely on themselves; they don’t have much support, so I try to be that support system for you all.
As I was nibbling on my banana and listening to his response, a random question came up on my mind. His bulletin board; for those of you who visit Mr. Bartlett’s office probably have an experience of staring at the bulletin board full of our pictures. (If you have never checked this out, go check it out!)

I don’t know how, but he gets our pictures from somewhere. Maybe on Facebook, maybe from your friends or maybe he took them. No one knows. Anyways, I feel like this wall is a typical Mr. Bartlett thing; no one else can even imitate his genuine love and care for all of us.

KJ: So, why do you have that bulletin board dedicated to all your students?
PB: If kids come in here and see themselves, they feel closer. It is one way to have better connection with the kids. At my old school, there was a great photographer who took amazing pictures of students and I loved looking at those pictures. And after coming to Webb, I just dedicated a part of my wall for that.

(try to find yourself)

KJ: You always bring extra snacks to formal dinner, and when you are on dorm duties you always bring snacks too. Why do you put this extra effort in that most of the people do not?
PB: We just try to be creative around you all. When we bring little treats, it gives the excitement to the dorms or our tables. And this excitement makes it better for everyone and it is much more enjoyable for Colleen and I too.

KJ: Mr. B, what is your motto in life?
After I asked this question, Mr. Bartlett thought for a while. Instead of giving me an answer right away, he pointed at a frame behind his back. It was a Diploma from South Kent School, founded by the Bartlett family. On the diploma it said, “You have been an active, concerned, loyal son of the school, leaving it a better place than you found it.” Mr. Bartlett seems like he is following his motto in life very well because he is making Webb a better place.

This is in his office!

KJ: What is your favorite book?
PB: Hmmm. Plutarch’s Lives is one of the books I read the most and I benefited a lot from it. When I was 18, I used to work in an oil construction company and I got this nasty blood disease. I was contagious, so I was stuck in a Brazilian hospital, surrounded by non-English speakers. So I read this book 5 times and when you read this book, you really learn a lot about the human nature. Also, I enjoy reading writings by Hemingway and John Mcfee.

KJ: Can you share a little bit about your surfing career?
PB: I love everything about surfing. The beach, nice water and the process of surfing; everything is spiritual. I started surfing because my cousin was a surfer and I used to surf with him. Maizie already started learning how to surf!

Another keyword that cannot be separated from Mr. Bartlett is Maizie Bartlett. Her blond hair, green-blue eyes and bright smile resembles her father so much. When you are around Mr. Bartlett and Maizie, a warm smile appears on your face as you are watching this dad-daughter snuggling with each other.

KJ: As a father, what do you want Maizie to be like?
PB: I want her to have courage around her ideas and confidence in who she is. I think I became a better teacher having had her; I learned the patience that I have never known about.

KJ: Mr. B, what was the biggest challenge you ever faced in life?
PB: I think it was when we considered adoption. It was hard for me to watch Colleen facing her own difficulties.

For those of you who don’t know this story well, I would like to quote Mr. Bartlett’s chapel talk he gave a few years ago.

“So we initiated that adventure on which so many other couples before and after us have and will embark – we went about the business of having a child….. For two driven and successful people this is an experience akin to biological purgatory – you begin cycles of hope, doubt, then disappointment, that bring you to the brink of your worst fears, again and again. Desperation becomes a way of life and you start to view your options differently with every blow to your psyche.”

“I want to be gentle, but honest here – I had always been very open to the idea of adopting a child to start our family, but for the first time in my life, I found myself struggling with the idea of perpetuating some of the less desirable practices that are pervasive in the world of adoption. As much as it meant to me to have the chance to raise a child, there was a part of me that was vehemently opposed to contributing to a practice that I’d convinced myself took advantage of people who were often in dire circumstances.”

Many of those who heard Mr. Bartlett’s chapel talk about Maizie recall this as one of the best chapel talks. His genuine story of how he became a parent moved the hearts of many others.

KJ: So, Mr. B, what kind of student were you in high school?
PB: I also went to a boarding school and my grandfather was headmaster there. I had grown up in that environment so I was used to it. I didn’t work so hard, but I really enjoyed my high school years.

KJ: Can you give some advice for all of us on how we could enjoy the high school experience more?
PB: You should approach your academic experience with intention but not the intention you commonly have; I’m not talking about getting all A’s. What I’m talking about is developing a passion about new ideas and keeping that passion through the years here.

As I finished my 30 minute interview with Mr. Bartlett and rushed to my English class, I was truly appreciative for having Mr. Bartlett around us. At Webb, the word “Bartlett” is not just a noun, but it is also used as an adjective that describes genuine, caring, and loving nature. If one says “That’s such a Bartlett thing”, you would understand what that means because for all of us, Mr. Bartlett is more than just an academic dean who consults with us about our courses and grades, he is the guy with a comforting smile on his face ready to greet us and talk to us. Just as his motto is, he makes this place a better place for all of us.