Student Life

One by one students ducked and reached, passing the medicine ball over their heads and under their legs, the last relay of the day and the deciding factor for which grade would make history. The gym was filled with screams, cheering on the last person from each grade running to the finish line. Everything came down to a dive between Wyatt Loomer ‘29, Eloise Freeland ‘28, Eli Moore ‘27, and Laura Coffey ‘26. Who would take home the golden trophy? 

An old tradition was brought back to the St. Andrew’s campus on April 10th, as the Student Senate created a day full of competition, teamwork, and school spirit. The council thought it would be nice to “decompress from academics” according to Vice President, Allie Shoberg ‘27, and “challenge ourselves in a non stressful environment.” From sweaty games of capture the flag, to highly intense dodgeball matches, each game was filled with competitions between each grade level, competing to win the championship trophy. The first annual Highlander Games was an “unforgettable experience” according to Piper Fauth ‘28, creating a new and improved tradition at Saint Andrew’s. 

Back in 2022, Saint Andrew’s held a field day similar to the Highlander Games. Although it never followed through to other years, it helped with the planning of this year's tradition. Most of the same games were used which made organizing this event easier on the Senate. The main idea of this day was for “people to experience school not like school,” according to Ms. Horne. With all of the stress SAS students have, the Senate wanted to create a day of friendly competition. Students were divided into their grade levels and advisories. Three advisories from each grade were in groups competing in games like capture the flag, dodge ball, relay races, and tug of war, all testing their teamwork. 

The groups rotated to different activities, and one group started off the day with capture the flag. 10 people from each grade level group entered the field. They each tied on their velcro belts with a bright red flag hanging down. Four sat on the bench, while six started ready to sprint at the whistle. As the game started, some grades agreed more on being a defensive team, while others headed straight for the pool noodles. Substitutions were made throughout the game if you got tagged, cycling players in each group. There were three rounds of speed, teamwork, and skill, making capture the flag a sweaty start to the day. “The strategy of the game was to stay back on defense and play together as a team instead of individually,” Eloise Freeland ‘28 said and her favorite part of the game was “the spirit and seeing everyone work together.”

Heading onto the next friendly competition–dodge ball. Yellow and black balls lined up  in the middle of the court separating each side. As soon as the whistle blew, people sprinted as fast as they could to get as many balls as they could on their side. One by one people got out. “The game was intense,” said Diego Salinas ‘28, “but we managed to pull out a win against the freshmen.” Three rounds led to victories and losses, but everyone had a great time on the court. 

Now off to tug of war! Walking into the gym, there was a rope lying on the squeaky clean floor. Students in each group lined up strategically beside the rope getting their hands ready to grip. The whistle blew and both teams jolted back all of their strength and weight on either side. Millie Deane ‘26 said, “This was the hardest activity yet, because the seniors don’t have as many players as the other grades, but it was still a lot of fun competing.” This competition either went on for a minute, or was done within the first few seconds. 

Last, but certainly not least, was relay races. With three rounds, each person in each team paired up with someone else in their group. With coordination and chemistry, these duos had to tie their legs together and hop half way down the basketball court hoping to not fall and cost their grade the game. With speed and precision, Maggie Tate ‘28, and Remi Snyder ‘28, held together tightly down the court securing the first place in that heat for the sophomores. “It was a close one, but Remi and I worked well together when hopping down,” Maggie Tate ‘28 said. The relay races were a hit, making most of the students tired and thirsty after a long run.

The Highlander Games wasn’t just all competing and sports. The Senate also offered Kona Ice and pizza rolls after a long afternoon of work. Students were revived after having their bright rainbow color snow cones and pepperoni pizza rolls with a side of ranch. As everyone took a well earned break, the games had to move inside due to the rain. They still had the over under toss to do, and Saint Andrew’s wasn’t going to let a little rain stop them from this ending, so they headed into the gym. 

It was loud and energetic. Cheers from every grade filled the arena, as everyone was fired up to begin this last event. 20 students from each grade volunteered to be in the toss. The countdown began on the jumbo tron. The medicine balls were making their way down each grade quickly, as the last person was ready to sprint to the finish line. The seniors reached the end first. Laura Coffey ‘26 sprinted to the line followed quickly by Eli Moore ‘27, Eloise Freeland ‘28, and Wyatt Loomer ‘29. It all came down to the last second. All four of them crossed the finish line, leaving everyone unclear on who the winner was. When Mr. Latreille pointed to the seniors, “First!” the senior class flooded the gym all highfiving and jumping. The seniors had won it, for their first and only Highlander Games. 

Ms. Horne followed this event by saying, “It will be something you remember because it's different, special, and fun.” Everyone had a great time during the Highlander Games, but there is always room for improvement. Ms. Horne's first goal in adding to this special tradition is getting the whole student body involved next year, because this year a chunk was at ISAS. She wants everyone to be able to experience the Highlander Games because “Students will remember these days,” she said. Ms. Horne believes that  “if you can get a tradition started, 10 years after you leave school this is what you remember.” Now, Ms. Horne didn’t do this all on her own. She was very appreciative of Dr. Fletcher and Mr. Latreille, who also played key roles. The Student Senate played a tremendous role in planning this. Ms. Horne says, “I can tell them to do things desperately, and they do it calmly.” The Senate all bounced ideas off of each other until they had the final product. 

Overall, the day was a huge success. Shoberg said her favorite part of the event was “seeing the outcome of it.” With what started with stressful thoughts from the Senate of “failure,” ended with everyone “authentically overjoyed,” as Ms. Horne would put it. She believes that SAS "doesn't lack creativity,” and we know how to plan an event and succeed. Saint Andrew’s pulled off this event in a phenomenal way, marking a new annual tradition at school. With a few tweaks and edits, the Senate can’t wait to host other Highlander Games in the following years to come.

It's that time of year! The St. Andrew’s Prom is rapidly approaching, and prom talk is circulating in the school as students scramble to make their prom plans. The St Andrew’s Prom will be held at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on May 9th from 7-10 PM. It will be a night filled with exciting traditions planned by the student senate. But while glamorous on the surface, the story behind the prom is far from positive. The prom holds a deeper and darker history, enveloped with racism and sexism.

The prom, deriving from the Greek word promenade, was a formal banquet held for the elite men of society in Ancient Greece. In the late 18th century, as proms became widely popular, they soon transitioned into the now famous tradition of the debutante ball, with the first one originating in London, England with Queen Charlotte's Ball. The debutante balls were exclusive events, only available to wealthy, elite, white people, and openly excluding those of other races. They served as a way for families to introduce their daughters into high society, showcasing their marriage compatibility, etiquette skills, and cementing their status as a woman in society. Due to the strong appeal of the debutante balls, in the late 19th and early 20th century, the American middle class adopted similar traditions, utilizing school funding as a way to hold smaller, less costly events for students. Lesley Kennedy in How Prom Traditions Have Evolved Through History, shares how these were referred to as democratic deb balls, “a democratized version of the debutante ball.”

While considerably more inclusive, the democratized debutante balls were still utilized as a way to reinforce gender norms in society, reminding men and women of the social expectations for them. According to an article from Teen Vogue, a popular dating book in the 20th century, Gentlemen Aren't Sissies, published in 1938, shared the advice to men that, “you don't win prom princesses. You buy them like show horses.” This quote portrays women as “property” and emphasizes the idea that by having money and status, men can “buy” women. While men were told they are more powerful than women, women were told that if they “try to usurp the rights of boys to choose their own dates, they will ruin a good dating career” for themselves. Guidance as such further reinforced the idea that women have little to no control in their own dating career. This idea, although not foreign in today's age, is behind today’s extravagant promposals, in which women may wait for a man to ask them to attend prom 

The prom’s history is not only rooted in gender stereotypes but also reflects America’s struggles with racism. After the overturning of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, desegregation in the Deep South became a regulation. Despite this hopeful step in the right direction, not every school made haste to integrate every aspect of their school. For example, as recent as 2014, a high school in Wilcox County, Georgia made history for hosting their first racially integrated prom. The event, although long overdue, made headlines as the integrated prom was a foreign concept to Wilcox County.  Many community members in the county felt hopeful about the integrated prom but felt “traditions are hard to change.” 

Despite its past, prom today has taken a complete 180, with many still unaware of the dark racist and sexist history of the prom. Today, proms are fully integrated, with students of all races joining together, showing that while traditions can be hard to change, doing so is not impossible. Students continue to challenge the traditional social and gender norms. For example, an article by Teen Vogue highlights a shift in the right direction in which a South Carolina teen, Adam Bell, won prom king while wearing a dress. This moment emphasizes students' initiative in challenging the gender norms associated with Prom Court. Overall, through breaking “dress codes” and branching out from dated traditions, this era of prom is more inclusive than ever, highlighting that prom's history does not define the event today.

Students should get excited for our very own St. Andrew’s Prom, which encourages students of all identities to show up and fully express themselves. The event, held on May 9th, will feature many exciting games and traditions. Ava Barnard, Student Body president, shares, “I think seniors should definitely look forward to trivia, which starts an hour before prom starts. It's a tradition for seniors to have an hour of senior class time.” This “senior class time” offers one final moment for seniors to spend valuable time together before their time at St. Andrew’s comes to an end. Barnard further shares how this year's prom will be different from previous years: “ It's in a museum so the atmosphere of the dance will be really cool and honestly a little bit bougie.” So, when you step foot into the Bob Bullock Historical Museum on May 9th, remember that history does not determine the future.  

If you scroll on social media chances are you’ve stumbled across some kind of crafting video suggesting you try a new hobby. Whether it’s someone showing off their bedazzle kit and their bedazzled products of the week, girls night scrap booking inspo or analog bag tours filled with on the go hobbies like needlepointing- your algorithm suggests old school hobbies are making a comeback. According to AP News, crafting is shortening Gen-Z’s doomscrolling hours with “grandma hobbies” rapidly gaining popularity. 

So the real questions remain: Have any of these crafty trends spread to our favorite Southwest Parkway school? Are SAS students putting down their phones and picking up a hot glue gun? What “old school” hobbies have your peers picked up?

Maybe someone on TikTok has tried to sell you a bedazzle kit, filled with tens of thousands of colorful rhinestones and glue to attach them to various items. Well, SAS junior Harper Drake caved in and bought one. It’s an individual activity for her that she does while watching a TV show to take her mind off the stress of junior year. Drake said “My favorite craft is my bedazzled makeup. It sparkles my life and makes me happy.” Drake isn’t the only one who loves bedazzling. She influenced fellow junior India Lewis who said “It looked cute and easy so I picked it up.” Lewis doesn’t consider herself to be particularly crafty, but she loves bedazzling. “I may use my phone to play music while I do it but I’m not staring at my screen,” she said. Lewis loves to bedazzle Sonny Angels, a popular blind box doll. Lewis said, “I combined my love of buying Sonny Angels and bedazzling and I put them on each handle of my dresser for DIY room decor.” Bedazzling has become a popular hobby across the internet and also among the junior girl population here at SAS. 

But the “niche” grandma hobbies don’t stop there. Junior Elle Wallin enjoys reading and painting in her free time. Her favorite way to destress is to paint scenery pieces. “It makes it especially fun to do when I go on trips and get a cool photo that I can re-create in my painting,” Wallin said. Senior Aiden Tynberg and sophomore Laith Osborne both enjoy tactile hobbies like Legos. “Legos are a way I pass my time and it is fun to see my creations used as decorations,” said Osborne. Aiden Tynberg has known how to crochet since 8th grade. She had to learn to crochet a hat in boarding school, and now finds it to be a hobby she returns to every couple of months. Tynberg said that “the more you do it the easier it gets [and] there’s so many things you can make.” She also has group hobbies like cards and poker with her family and Mahjong with her friends. “My neighbor got me really into [Mahjong]. We have Mahj Mondays and I’ve gotten all my friends really into it,” said Tynberg.

SAS students have also been enjoying old school group activities. Senior Andrew Gilster likes to play cards with his family, particularly ONze. He said he plays “because not only is the game fun, but it’s a way for our family to connect and bond over something we are all doing together.” Additionally, girls night craft searches are up 242% this year according to Michaels. Senior Marnee Richardson and her friends started making scrapbooks together to commemorate their senior year. “Every once in a while we will get our photos printed and go to our friend's house who has a lot of supplies and we will work on them for a couple hours together while talking,” Richardson said. She recommends all seniors make a scrapbook to record the memories from their last year of high school. Richardson and her friends also did a popular online trend where they paint blind portraits of each other. She said she enjoys group crafts like this because “it gives us a reason to connect with the conversation we are having because we aren’t just sitting there on our phones together.” Richardson also started the Arts and Crafts Club at SAS this year with fellow senior Aneesa Ravula. The club learns new DIY crafts each meeting such as making pipe cleaner flowers, gingerbread houses, flags out of felt, and various clay projects. Individually, Richardson enjoys painting movie scenes and nature at home, and exploring 3D art at school. Her favorite thing she made in art class is a lamp that resembles a fish which she took to ISAS this year. She said “It was really difficult to get it right but I’m happy with how it turned out.”

Marnee Richardson isn’t the only one taking advantage of artsy opportunities here on campus. Harper Drake used her exploratory course first semester to design and make her own wallpaper. She said “It was cool to see the creative process and also how to manufacture it.” The wallpaper is baby blue with colorful butterflies and is now a statement wall in her bathroom. Aiden Tynberg learned how to weld in her Tech Theatre class and helped make the staircase for the Upper School Musical Chicago. Junior Helia Askew handmade a giant lipgloss sculpture out of plaster in her 3D art class and bedazzled it with tiny pink rhinestones. “I really wanted to make something unique and incorporate something I wanted to do. It took me about four days to bedazzle the whole thing,” said Askew. From free periods to fine arts, students are going the extra mile to get crafty on campus. 

Maybe the quirky crafts and hobbies your peers are doing will inspire you to power off your phone and make something. Maybe these SAS students are onto something. Social media may not be what we need to recharge and we should be searching for a new outlet to get inspired. Senior Aiden Tynberg said, “I feel so much better doing something like crafting than scrolling on social media. It's more refreshing. It feels childlike. All I do is adult-y stuff like Stats and Latin. When I do crafts I feel like I'm back in second grade.” So whether it’s a girls night making bag charms, a round of poker with your friends, or a quiet night of needlepointing, maybe our generation can redefine our free time and what it means to unwind.