Revamping the Maverick
Revamping the Maverick
By: Sarah Boyk and Samina Hejeebu
Welcome to the new and improved Maumee Valley Newspaper, otherwise known as the Maverick. We are so excited to present you with our first issue. You may wonder why we feel that having a school newspaper is so important at a school like MV. At Maumee Valley, the students are passionate, motivated, and curious. We have the opportunity to do a three-week internship, travel around the globe, and intensely study electrical engineering all in one school year. We have talented actors, athletes, musicians and writers roaming our halls side by side. We have students who travel to study with us from all around the world. We have faculty members who are are incredibly dedicated to our education both in and out of the classroom.
The purpose of the Maverick is to highlight the exciting things that are going on in and around our community with both teachers and students. For example, every issue we will have a teacher spotlight. We also have decided to add a “Dear Dolly and Don” portion to our newspaper. Similarly to a city newspaper, we have selected two students in the Upper School who we feel have a wide enough variety of experiences to assist you with some of your burning questions. We will have a box to submit questions in the commons. Every issue, Dolly and Don will choose a few of these questions to answer in their section of the newspaper. You can ask them anything from what to wear to prom to how to do well in a specific class. They are here for you!
We are so pleased to have such a devoted group of writers who can take the exciting things you are all doing and turn them into concise and compelling articles. We look forward to a great year! Thank you for being part of the growth of something new and exciting. We hope you enjoy our first issue and look forward to many issues in the future!
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New Teacher Information
By: William Cagle
Dr. Dan Cohen
Mr. Cohen will be teaching several different classes at Maumee Valley in the Humanities departments. He is looking forward to “teaching classes that bring together lots of tools and concepts from different disciplines: literature, history, philosophy, science, math, etc.” “That,” he says, “ is what humanities is all about.” When he was in school, his favorite class was, in fact, not a humanities class, but rather Chemistry. In addition, he participated in cross country and track, and played in the marching band. Having grown up in Akron, Ohio, he finds Toledo “not that different.”
However, he does believe he will be challenged by resisting the urge to eat Toledo famous Tony Packo’s hot dogs, as he is vegetarian.
Charity Tripp
My name is Charity Tripp. I attended Bluffton University where I was active on the Residence Life team and where I graduated in 2014 with an Art Education degree. After college I moved to California, spent a year there learning to surf, working with a family, and soaking up the sun. I just moved back to Ohio this past April. I am excited to be apart of the Maumee Valley team as they encourage collaboration, excellence, and creative living, which are all personal passions of my own. The food is great too!! I am looking forward to guiding and supporting the Dayal House students in their everyday life. Cheers to the new journey!
Mr. Alex Mata
I am Spanish with a British Citizenship. I am married with two children. My daughter, Tiziana (12 years old), is going to be in 8th grader at MVCDS this year, and my son, Gianmarco (just turned 18 years old), is going to be his second-year (Sophomore) at The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. He is studying Business Studies (Accountancy) with a minor in Spanish. My wife, Gioconda, is half Spanish and Half Italian. She is a Librarian, and has been teaching Italian and Spanish in United Kingdom and Tucson, AZ for many years.
Before I joined MVCDS, I was working at St Gregory College Preparatory School (independent, private, non-sectarian, coed middle and high school in Tucson, Arizona.) as Mathematics Department Chair. I have taught AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Differential Equations with Linear Algebra in the US, and, A-Level Maths and Further Mathematics in the UK. I have also had experience in management of an Information Technology department of industry best practices for seventeen years.
I have a passion for Mathematics, and believe that an important part of teaching math is to encourage students to believe they can learn, understand, and communicate mathematically. I have a passion to teach students what I know and to foster learning that will provide future generations with the tools to survive in our society. I feel that my effectiveness as a teacher is due in large part to my excitement about the material, and my ability to convey this enthusiasm to my students.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Upper School team and am eager to contribute to the MVCDS learning and teaching community.
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Back to What
By Samantha Reynolds
If you’re anything like me, you woke up about a week ago and realized that school snuck up on you. You have all your school supplies, your books, maybe you got a new haircut, you are, technically, “prepared” for school. Except… you’re not. Your brain is still on summer vacation, which is really not going to help you on your first test of the year! So what do you do to get your head back into “school mode”?
Wake up at the Same Time… EVERY Morning.
Monday through Friday, your alarm clock goes off at 6:30, but on the weekends you let yourself sleep till 8, 9, maybe even later. And why not? You’re tired, and it’s not like you have anywhere to be. But when Monday comes around, your alarm clock feels like someone poured cold water all over your face and you spend the rest of the day fatigued. By the time you can wake up to your alarm without feeling sluggish all day, it’s Friday. Then the cycle repeats. I know it’s painful, but waking up at the same time every morning, even on weekends, will help you feel more awake and alert going into the new school year.
Get Organized
By November, it’s normal for your locker to be a little messy but the first week of school you really have no excuse. Line your notebooks up so you can get to them easily, keep stray papers in a folder or binder, and tape your schedule somewhere you can see it. It will cut down on the time it takes you to get from one class to the next, and you’ll be less likely to forget something or grab the wrong notebook when your locker is neat. You might find that, when you keep your locker tidy, your mind feels less cluttered, too.
Take Study Breaks
Plowing through your homework is great, but if you’re human you’ll probably reach a point where you start to run out of steam. Instead of getting discouraged when you feel tired, unfocused, or like an assignment is taking too long, step back and take a deep breath. Eat a healthy snack. Go outside, run around the block. Paint your nails or listen to music. Stretch a little and clear your brain of cobwebs. Then, get back to work. Sometimes people feel that they have too much work to do to take a break, but you’ll finish the same homework in less time with a rested brain than a stressed one.
Strategize Your Studying
Let’s say you have Science homework, Math homework, History homework, and English homework to do tonight. Decide what order you want to do them in before you even start. Maybe History is your least favorite subject, so you decide to start with that and reward yourself with your favorite subject, Science, after you’ve finished the rest. Some people like to do their favorite subject first to ease themselves into the work. Or, you might decide based on how long each assignment will take, doing the most time consuming work and finishing with the least time consuming work or vice versa. Experiment and figure out what’s best for you. Whatever you do, having a plan will feel more prepared and will help you get everything done more efficiently.
Allow Yourself to Rest
I know sleep can be hard to come by when you have tests, projects, and regular homework on top of everything else, but make a commitment to sleep and stick to it. Come up with a time that you have to be in bed and don’t go beyond it for work or play. If you’re feeling really overwhelmed, talk to your teacher about extending a deadline* rather than pulling all-nighters in a scramble to get everything done. The work you do when exhausted and sleep deprived isn’t the kind of work you want to be graded on.
And When You Just Can’t Focus?
You might very well find yourself in class sometime in the next few weeks completely unable to focus. It’s understandable. After all, you just spent two months watching Netflix and all of a sudden you’re expected to think for the entire six hour school day? It’s almost inevitable. So, if it happens, take a few deep breaths, the extra oxygen will help stimulate your brain. If you have a water bottle, drink some water, which will help wake you up. If you don’t have a water bottle, ask to get a drink from the water fountain, the walk certainly won’t hurt given that muscle activity helps to stimulate the brain. In fact, even if you have a water bottle, shift in your seat and try to stretch your back, legs, or shoulders. Before you know it, you’ll be engaged in class and ready to take on the year!
*Ask in advance. Requesting an extension the day before is a reflection of your time management, not your workload.
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A Guide to Fighting Procrastination
By: Emma O'leary
For those who are new to high school, and even for some of those who are not, the workload assigned to us each night can be the most daunting thing about returning to school. We’ve all had a few of those terrible nights where the minutes tick by into the night and we can’t even begin to think about starting our homework—and there’s nothing more stressful than showing up to class in the morning and realizing you haven’t done your work. One of the biggest reasons homework seems like such a weighty task is because many of us suffer from the dreaded “P” word thrown around in warnings given by our teachers; ‘procrastination’. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “don’t procrastinate!” from every one of your teachers multiple times, and yet it seems very difficult to just stop. It can be very scary sitting down to work knowing that there are a few hours worth of work waiting ahead of you, so you just decide to put it off…”just for another 5 minutes”. However, as we all know, life is much simpler when you don’t procrastinate. “But how do I stop procrastinating?”, you might ask. Surprisingly, it is relatively simple to stop procrastinating, given the right mindset and a few helpful tips. The following pieces of advice are strategies that I’ve used personally or that have been helpful to others throughout their high school careers:
1. Using a planner:
I know that planners seem like things of the past that you left behind in middle school, but they are actually quite helpful for organizing your work and figuring out how best to tackle a weighty project or presentation. You can find planners that have a page for every day, where you can map out how much homework you have, divide up longer assignments over the course of a few days, and even put reminders for yourself like when you have sports or club meetings. Having a planner will allow you to plan ahead when it comes to school work, which will (hopefully) help you stop procrastinating in the future.
2. Goal-setting:
One of the strategies that helps me conquer homework (especially things like reading or writing essays), is setting small goals for myself. For example, I like to cut up the work into small bits, and then reward myself for accomplishing my small goals. For example, if I have 30 pages of reading to do, I will give myself ten minutes of break for every ten pages I read, or something along those lines. Setting up those smaller goals will make the task less daunting, and achieving your goals will boost your confidence and make the assignment seem easier.
3. Creating a Schedule:
This one is a classic; it’s been told to you time and time again, I’m sure, that creating a schedule will help you get ahead on your class work. In fact, many teachers have times during the first week or so of school where they have you make a realistic schedule (including carved out times of sports practices, watching T.V., eating dinner, etc.) so that you can see just how much time you actually have for your work. I know that these can become tedious, but there’s a reason that teachers have you make schedules: because they work. Schedules are essentially a map that shows you exactly how your average day looks so that you can know when you can and need to complete your work. It helps cut out some of the stress you can have when you don’t know when exactly you’ll be able to sit down and work. These may not work for everyone, but organizing your time is never a bad idea. I would seriously recommend setting aside a time to map out your average day, because it will help you complete your work quickly, and on time.
These are the tips I’ve found most useful in helping conquer my procrastination. However, these are not the only strategies! Make sure to ask other people (siblings, older students, teachers, etc.) for more advice if these don’t work for you. I promise, school is much less stressful when you don’t put work of until the last minute!
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The Festival of India
By: Toral Soram
On the 9th of August, Maumee Valley students came to Centennial Terrace to support their fellow peers at the Festival of India. Months before, the planning for this beautiful celebration was in action, and all the hard work put in by the organizers, dancers and choreographers was finally showcased to the public. The turnout was amazing, and after a little rain the celebration began. The dancing portion of the event took place all day, the performances all involved different music genres. The most popular seen were bhangra; a mix of Western pop and Punjabi traditional dance, Bollywood; a fusion of classical and modern music and traditional; which are dances that have been performed for centuries. During the traditional performances your eye would catch the intricate costumes and dramatic makeup that was worn by the individual dancers. The makeup is key when enhancing the facial expressions during the performance. In the evening the Bollywood portion was performed, upbeat music and beautiful choreography made the festival lively and fun. In between dances you could grab a bite to eat, and there were a mass of vegetarian dishes to choose from. Food ranging from Samosas and Paneer to Dosa and spicy potatoes. Not only is there food and music but while you walked around it wasn’t hard to miss the booths showing off indian necklaces, bracelets and earrings of all different colors and sizes. And, if you wanted to take a little bit of the festival home with you, there was a henna stand where you could get your palms tattooed temporarily. It was a great way to get involved in the community as well as experience the indian culture!
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A New School Year at MV
By: Sunny Ding
Hot, sunny, and relaxing, it is the middle of the August. Although some students might still be enjoying their vacation with their family, most international students at Maumee Valley Country Day School are beginning to pack up and get ready to fly back to America. It is upsetting for me to take my huge luggage out of storage and begin to put my clothes and booksin it because it means I will be leaving my dear hometown very soon. However, it is very exciting for me
to think about the new school year because there are new classes that we can take, new activities that we can participate in, and new students that we can be friend with. This is a fresh start, the school year is coming soon!
In the school year, 2015~2016. We have some new "international" blood who will be joining our community. There are students from China, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Vietnam, and many more! Additionally, fifteen students, ten of which will attend MV, have spent their summer taking classes at MV and living in the dorm to improve their english. We are looking forward to welcoming these students into our community and helping make MV their second home.
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Club Information for New Students
By Emma O'Leary
High school is, as it is often described, a place where we can learn who we truly are as people, and what passions we want to pursue as we go on in our lives. One of the easiest ways to not only determine what our passions are, but also to get involved in them, is to join clubs. If you simply walk into the high school you can see that clubs are a major part of Maumee Valley life; the walls in the commons are covered in bulletin boards colorfully advertising different groups that celebrate and endorse various interests, social issues, and cultural groups, just to name a few. Almost every single student that you ask will be able to tell you at least one club they’re a part of, if not many. With our vast and diverse collection of clubs, there is something for everyone to get involved in.
What clubs can I join?
The Maumee Valley Upper School boasts a wide assortment of clubs and groups to be involved in. There are groups where people of the same cultural, ethnic, or social group can come together to discuss issues or events relevant to that group, or even to raise awareness. Some of these clubs include the Feminist Club, the Gay/Straight Alliance, Christian Club, Afro-Am, Indian Club, and the Muslim-American Society**. Similarly, there are many clubs devoted to social and political awareness, including Echo (an environmental awareness club), the Global Leadership Program, and Community Service Club.
Another popular genre of clubs is academic-based clubs. These clubs include Quiz Bowl, Speech and Debate Team, Model United Nations, Book Club, and Robotics Club. These are places where you can pursue learning outside of the classroom, and really pursue your interests in a new way. For those of you who are into the arts, you can pick from a plethora of clubs that may spark your interest, including Vocal Ensemble, Drama Club, and Art Club. If you’re all about school spirit, you may also want to join the Maverick (school newspaper), Yearbook Club, or Pep Club.
What is the point of clubs?
Clubs are groups that bring together people of similar views and interests, and create environments that allow for creative and interesting dialogues. Some clubs organize events and social gatherings, or fundraise for charity. Clubs like Art Club and Speech Club allow you to express yourself through the arts, while clubs like Quiz Bowl and Robotics allow you to improve and test your knowledge on subjects that interest you.
Why should I join clubs?
The popular answer to this question is often “because it looks good on a college resumé”. While this may be true, there is much more to it than that. Joining clubs allows you to not only benefit yourself by furthering your learning, but it helps you find and expand your interests so that you can pursue what you love. It also can give you a sense of community with those who share the same views, culture, or interests as you. Joining clubs is a great way to create and participate in important and interesting dialogues that pertain to issues or subjects that you are passionate about. I urge you to be on the look-out for new or existing clubs that you want to join at Club Fair and during announcements, and try out as many as you can. The conversations and experiences you will have in clubs will not only be interesting and fun but they will help you expand your horizons and grow as a student.
What if there is a club that I want to join that doesn’t exist?
If there is a club that you want to start, you are more than welcome to do so. In order to start a club, you must fill out a proposal and submit it to Student Council (for more information, talk to Sarah Boyk or Grace O’Leary).
**Please note that these are the clubs that existed during the ’14-’15 school year, and it is possible that some of these clubs might not exist in the ’15-’16 school year. Information on all of the clubs available to join this year will be given during assemblies and at Club Fair.
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Four Points of Entry in the High School Student’s Life
By Fareid El Gafy
As the beginning of the academic year fast approaches, many students across the country are readying themselves to join legions of others in one of four distinct stages of their career. As I am now entering my senior year, I have experienced each. They are all distinct from one another, pose different challenges, and serve different purposes.
As a freshman, the whole ordeal is quite new. You’ve entered an unknown classroom many times before, but as this is your first taste of high school, it is undoubtedly daunting, and anyone who claims to be entirely devoid of anxiety is either a liar or a fool. It is an opportunity, for some, to reinvent oneself. As you move into the last institution of your general education,
you will take on heavier workloads and have to seize a selection of opportunities as you take your first steps towards the common ultimate goal of college acceptance. For now this beast shall remain in the shadows, watching as you retain some semblance of your junior high naïveté and formative youth.
For the sophomores the proverbial bar is certainly raised. There is no mollycoddling, and no patience for finding the ropes once more. You have had one year to become accustomed to the rest of this journey, and you must immediately jump back into the swing of things. It’s not all too difficult, as long as you are able to build on the pace you set during your freshman year, balancing your responsibilities, both mandated and elected. The beast will not hide anymore, however. He will dance about in front of you and bare his teeth every now and then, for he and you both know that your days as an underclassman are numbered. The big leagues are about to begin.
As you enter your junior year you will certainly know how to keep up with the crowd, but it does not mean that it will be easy. Now you will have to beat the crowd. The race has begun, and beast has grown hungry, and he decides to give chase. This is the time to prove your mettle, bearing the weight of Advanced Placement classes, standardized tests, and tackling with fervor positions of power and chances at exhibiting your skills. No secret is made of the urgency of the situation, and you must take trips around the country, compete with classmates, and keep your eyes set forward to succeed. Fear not, however, for lo and behold, the final stretch does approach.
Senior year is a strange limbo. You are treated, in some respects, as a monarch. You enjoy personal privileges, and those below you plan events for your pleasure. But no amount of teen movies, musicals, books or other dramatizations of this humble time can mask the true nature of these gifts—a final meal as you sit on death row. The beast seizes all, this much is true, but for those who were able to wear it out, it spares them its gnashing teeth. Here in the belly of the beast you wait and wonder. You send your SOS far and wide from within his gut, and can do no more. Shall you burst forth from the beast, victorious and bathed in all the light you dreamed of, or will you be unceremoniously discharged, and funneled off to some low point in life that you never dreamed you would see? If you keep your head up all the way through, you may avoid such a fate. Know that the beast is always there, but do not let his presence frighten you, for he is inevitability, but the next chapter in your life is yet to be written. You will grow up considerably and, who knows, you may even enjoy the ride.
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A Fresh Start
By: Ishani Gupta
With the start of a new school year comes a new set of bewildered freshman and a plethora of questions come along with them. Many of those begin with: "Do I have friends in my classes?" , "what should I wear?" and "How hard are Cambi’s portfolios?". While those questions may be valid, the first day of school will tell you that these questions like these are far more useful to ask: What classes am I in? How do I prepare for each of those? What do I bring to each one? And, how do I keep myself, and everything I have to do together for this whole year?? Those questions mostly through experience, but having a guideline or at least a few words of wisdom can go a long way.
Organization is the key to managing a year of high school. But as you may already know, organization isn’t easy. It starts with preparation. Beginning the school year with all your things organized for each classes does go a long way. The first step is to go school supply shopping. Many people believe they can get away with some loose leaf paper and pencils with no erasers, and an iPad. This is not the case. Find some spare binders and equip each of them with lined paper and a folder. Some classes will require this, for others it would be helpful to have a notebook with a built in folder instead (or in addition to the binder). Those tips are more or less barebones for starting off any school year, but keep them in mind.
Each class is different, and require different things. For example, going to geometry without graph paper is not recommended. Attending Spanish with Señora Buccilli and not making room in a binder for (many) packets of Spanish grammar would contribute to losing important assignments and general disorganization.
Try to access your syllabus for classes ahead of time.They are often available on the teachers MyMV pages, otherwise they will be given or discussed on the first day of school.Use these to understand what to expect in terms of grading, homework, materials, and other policies that each teacher may have.
In each class you will have tests to study for, notes to take, books to read, papers to write and more. When doing these things, it is important to be organized. A handy skill is learning how to create study guides. Start with breaking the content that you will be tested on into divided categories. Use the main ideas as your headers and fill in all the supporting details underneath designated headers. Planning out how to write a paper is also done in a similar. Distinguish the big ideas and add support for each of them.
When taking notes, it is absolutely mandatory to keep your notes all in the same place, whether that means a binder, folder or notebook. Take notes diligently. Do not try and write everything that you see on the board or screen, instead write main ideas and focus on what the teacher is saying rather than what he or she is writing. Having the most written when taking notws doesn’t make your notes the most useful ones written.
In terms of reading, use sticky notes. Actually writing out notes, actively highlighting, and listening to in-class discussion about the book are all things you should be doing when reading for a class. When you think something is important, mark it, because it probably is. Especially focus on details, concentrate on the details when you are reading and your success will be greater. Rereading pages, chapters, or even the whole book is a strategy that always will help you ace your tests.
Staying organized is a not only a skill that will help you this school year, but it will also create habits that you will carry with you and appreciate throughout high school and even life. If you try not to stress yourself out when it isn't necessary and focus on your goals, everything will turn out just fine. Look at high school as a whole new world of possibilities, opportunities, and more than anything, a fresh start.
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Overview of Rotation Schedule
By: Poom Pipatjarasgit
“1, 2, 3, 7, 4, 6, 5! 4, 2, 3, 5, 1, 6, 7…”
The days of the old schedule. Reciting the (confusing) order of the periods helped me to remember each day’s schedule. It even tripped me up on one day during my sophomore year, on which I showed up to one of my classes at the wrong time.
But with the changes in this year’s new schedule, confusion will hopefully be eliminated
due to the fewer number of periods. Although the structure of a regular school day will
be very different, some parts will remain the same.
Assembly will still be a part of the Upper School, but they will only take place every other day. Students gather at assembly to make announcements and for short presentations. And once in awhile, Soapbox will take the place of assembly, which allows for special events, guest speakers and longer presentations. The point of the “Business Person’s Lunch” is to allow students to have more time to eat and socialize, as well as to allow club leaders to hold longer meetings. Hopefully, this allows for a less rushed lunch period, as well as more productive and engaging meetings. Compared to last year’s lack thereof, breaks will allow both students and teachers to have time during which they can regroup, transition, and travel to their next classes. The morning break is fifteen minutes, and the afternoon break is five minutes.
So the overview of any given day during the rotations:
Morning
8:15 AM to 8:35 AM: Advisee OR Assembly (20 minutes)
8:35 AM to 10:00 AM: Class Period (85 minutes)
10:00 AM to 10:15 AM: Break (15 minutes)
10:15 AM to 11:40 AM: Class Period (85 minutes)
Afternoon 11:40 AM to 12:35 PM: Business Person’s Lunch
12:35 PM to 1:45 PM: Class Period (70 minutes)
1:45 PM to 1:50 PM: Break (5 minutes)
1:50 PM to 3:00 PM: Class Period (70 minutes)
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How Not to Be Afraid of Maumee Valley Students
By William Cagle
People at Maumee Valley can be a little intimidating. Sure, many people have accomplished great things, have traveled far and wide, and have money and connections, all of which can be intimidating. Yet there’s more to it than that. There’s a way we carry ourselves, a sort of imposed worldliness that suggests we know what’s going on, who everyone is, where we’re going in life, and why human kind exists in the universe. Here’s a hint: that’s all a facade. I can say this because I’m one of the people who do this. I throw up a facade of put-together-ness every day, and although many others may be slow to admit it, I bet you I’m not the only one. The honest truth is
that behind this facade, I feel no different than I did as a freshman. Even going into senior year, I still have to remind myself I’m no longer the baby of the school, and that there are no more older students to rely on, or to hide behind, squeezing my eyes shut to the reality of the rest of the world.
We’re all the same - freshman, sophomore, junior, senior - floundering in this state we call high school, the teen years, youth. So as a new student, or as an old student still struggling with this concept, just remember this: whenever you look at any fellow student in the Upper School, gaze past the facade they are projecting, and see the fellow high schooler who is feeling just as new, just as unadjusted, just as stressed as you are.
I give this advice because something really struck me when I realized that this is my senior year. I think back to my freshman year, looking up at the students older than me, and especially the seniors, and thinking that they were so much further along than me, in social skills, talent, and understanding of the very universe. Now I realize that I’m where they were. I’m there. And maybe I’ve grown, maybe parts of me have gotten better, gotten stronger. But the fact is that I don’t feel any different.
I’d like to be able to tell you that it gets easier, that you start to feel like you fit in, but what I’m telling you is the exact opposite and I’m hoping that makes you feel better. My hope would be that it would be easier to fit in, if you just realize that no one feels like they do.
So there you are. How not to be afraid of Maumee Valley students. The trick is to keep in mind that we’re no better than you, and you’re no better than us. At our roots we’re all just equal and that’s perfectly okay. Have an awesome year!
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Inside The Pain of Field Hockey
By: Alafair Turner
With two weeks until school begins, Maumee Valley Field Hockey is already in full-swing. Twenty six girls wake each morning at 7am for warm-up stretches and a run to Swan Creek, followed by two straight hours of passing drills, obstacle courses, shuttle lines, rapid fire, corners, pressure-cover, and agility. After gallons of water have been downed, copious amounts of sunscreen applied, and plenty of balls whacked across the field, it is time for a lunch break. But it’s not over yet—practice resumes at 1pm. Two-a-days are grueling and invigorating,providing a period of conditioning and serious preparation for a long season. The girls will play tons of games, both at Maumee Valley and around the state, throughout the next few months, and these two weeks until school are their opportunity to bond as a team, improve their stick skills, and, most importantly, whip their bodies into field hockey shape.
The players spent all summer preparing for a tough August.
Shannon Herrmann, freshman and daughter of coach Terri Herrmann, gets geared up for her
first day of high school hockey:
With one full day under her belt, sophomore Emily Rigby keeps a pragmatic attitude:
Maddie Lockyer, a senior, speaks of the immense pride she feels in her sport: “I am so so so
excited to be working with girls from all grades, getting to know them, and having a big family
feeling to the team.... I am just excited to feel the close connection.” When asked about her new
role as the oldest member of the team, she said, “It feels absolutely amazing to be a senior! I
love the responsibility of being a role model to the younger girls, and just knowing that they all
look up to us (other senior captains). I enjoy getting to pick out the fun wearable and ribbons; it
just adds a personal touch that makes field hockey even more awesome!”
The girls even spent their lunch breaks puffy-painting tee shirts to show spirit and a love of the game:
"Field Hockey at Maumee Valley is dedication,” says Grace O’Leary, a senior this year. “It is all about a love for your team.... My favorite part of every field hockey season is getting to know the girls. Our bonding during preseason and throughout the fall will be what makes us great.” The girls definitely seem to get along well, as photos from their outings to Panera and Byblos in addition to pool and dance parties have proven.
The seniors feel “bittersweet” about this year, as Grace says: “I am proud of myself for coming this far in terms of skills and hard work, but I’m sad that this is my last season of high school hockey. I will cherish these few months as much as I possibly can.” On the other end of the
spectrum, freshmen are both anxious and excited for their careers as MVFH players. As Ellie Dapkus explains, “I’m a bit nervous because I don't know what to expect for the next four years, but I know I’ll learn a lot and improve by practicing with the upperclassmen. I’m looking forward to going to games and spending fun time with my teammates.” Sophomores seem to feel they’ve reached a new level with their play; Claire Lockyer says that, “being a sophomore, I have more experience on the field and feel more confident playing the game. I'm looking forward to a season full of fun and laughter, with lots of wins and lots of team bonding.”
spectrum, freshmen are both anxious and excited for their careers as MVFH players. As Ellie Dapkus explains, “I’m a bit nervous because I don't know what to expect for the next four years, but I know I’ll learn a lot and improve by practicing with the upperclassmen. I’m looking forward to going to games and spending fun time with my teammates.” Sophomores seem to feel they’ve reached a new level with their play; Claire Lockyer says that, “being a sophomore, I have more experience on the field and feel more confident playing the game. I'm looking forward to a season full of fun and laughter, with lots of wins and lots of team bonding.”
Freshman Precia Soram has sincere advice for her teammates:
Overall, the MVFH team is off to a great start! “The team has great potential as long as we all work together and keep a positive attitude. We have lots of talent and fun personalities on the team this year,” says Maddie. Grace reminds us that support from classmates goes a long way in fueling the girls’ success: “...hearing our peers cheer us on from the sidelines really encourages us to play harder. The more support we can get to come out for games, the better we do! That goes for any MV sport.” With August’s two-a-days nearly behind them, the girls are ready to dive into games, playdays, tournaments, and, as always, plenty of running.
#MVFH4LYFE!
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