Greenwich Connecticut, known for its affluence, is a place that embodies the “posh lifestyle,” housing a plethora of designer stores and high-end restaurants. However, contrary to the stereotypes, one will find that Greenwich has a motley of people and cultures. This diversity helps to produce an abundance of art and creativity. 

One of the most notable art establishments in this town is The Bruce Museum, located off Greenwich Avenue in a small, tranquil nook amidst the bustling central roads. Having recently undergone significant reconstruction and upgrading, The Bruce boasts a modern architectural structure with a clean, sleek, and aesthetically-pleasing design. Peyton Gray, a member of The Bruce’s marketing and communications team, shares that the renovations have “[tripled] the gallery space” which “greatly expands the variety of exhibitions” the Bruce can display.  However, it's not only the building that deserves recognition, but the diverse culture of art found in the museum that instills a strong sense of hometown pride within Greenwich residents. 

Despite The Bruce being an incredible haven for artists and art-enthusiasts, even one who is new  to art can admire the beauty and creativity of the works in this museum. Upon entrance, visitors are enchanted by the “Gabriel Dawe: Plexus no. 43,” a breathtakingly intricate installation that is intended to replicate the color spectrum. Gray remarks that one of the popular pieces in science is Penguins: Past and Present, which details the “fascinating history of this remarkable bird.” According to Gray, when The Bruce reopened in April 2023, the exhibition featuring Lois Dodd: Natural Order, got the attention of the press, and articles were written complimenting The Bruce’s efforts to “finally [shine] a light on her extraordinary body of work.” 

Ms. Gray also shares that The Bruce caters to a multitude of people through numerous adult and youth education programs which annually attract about 60,000 people from the broader Fairfield County Area. The museum also comes equipped with a Bruce Mobile that helps to transport the magic of the museum to other locations within the community. One program highlighted on The Bruce website is the “Lifetime of Looking” program, which aids adults with memory loss in examining and interpreting art. 

Although The Bruce is a remarkable landmark in our town, in the greater highschool community, there is minimal conversation about the benefits the museum offers in terms of intellectual development  and visual stimulation. Gray mentions that in a technological age, many teens find themselves often “glued to [their] phones and computers,” and although technology can offer an abundance of resources such as widespread accessibility to art and music, “there's nothing like seeing works of art up close, seeing how really big or small they are, noticing the three dimensional brush strokes on the paper and experiencing the artists vision live and in person.”. The Bruce provides numerous teen-centered programs including youth intern positions and the Junior Docent Team, which aims to gather a “group of dynamic teen peers” in order to “regularly engage with art and science, interact with field experts, and plan events for teens” as Gray says. Museums can be an interactive way to spark creativity for artists and seeing as our town offers this amazing resource, (discounted for students), why put it to waste? Gray shares that another significant student opportunity is the iCreate regional juried high school expedition, where student artists have the ability to submit their artwork. This exhibition “serves as an outlet for emerging artists” and “celebrat[es] the young minds of artists in our community”. One especially notable thing about the iCreate exhibition, is that it is run and organized with the high-school senior interns at the Bruce, who coordinate with schools across the tri-state area, drawing in hundreds of talented and commendable work that is further judged and then selected to be displayed at the Bruce in the new Works on Paper Gallery. 

Overall, being a part of a community of artists and immersing yourself within creativity is something that is not only soul-soothing, but it's also a way to discover a hidden world within a place that may exteriorly elude artistic diversity.

This past Saturday evening, on May 28th, nine-time Grammy winner Billy Joel took the Greenwich Town Party by storm. Both GHS students and their parents alike have been raving non-stop regarding his charismatic performance. Laura Kostin, a GHS parent noted that, "It [the Greenwich Town Party] is a wonderful event that always brings the community together. Billy Joel was outstanding."

Joel performed hits from many of his albums, including the 1977 album entitled The Stranger. During Saturday night's performance, he performed songs such as "Vienna", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)". Attendees from all ages sang along word for word. Towards the end of the performance, Joel and his background musicians stopped playing to hear the audience sing their somewhat off-key, yet incredibly enthusiastic rendition of "Piano Man". During Joel's performance, it became clear that Billy Joel would not only remain a star of the seventies and eighties, but to current GHS students as well.

Sophomore Skylar Seides raved, "I was jamming my heart out. The performance was absolutely amazing." Over the past few months, the student body participated in Tik Tok trends involving Billy Joel songs. Posts increased with viral videos using songs such as "Vienna" and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", which ultimately led to students adding these songs to their playlists.

When asked about her opinion regarding Joel's newfound popularity for GHS students, Kostin noted that, "Billy Joel's appeal spans decades across all age groups, and I think the enthusiasm for this year's performance is evidence of that." It can undoubtedly be deduced that Billy Joel is a classic for students, teachers, and parents alike in the Greenwich High School community, as his music continues to impact the masses.

Olivia Rodrigo has made a roaring return with her sophomore album GUTS. This 2000s-inspired indie-alternative album clearly draws upon her influences like pop icon Taylor Swift, 90s power rock The Smashing Pumpkins, and pop-grunge sensation Courtney Love. The album immediately shot up to the number-one spot on the Billboard 200. The album was prefaced by two singles: power ballad "Vampire" and angsty-rock "Bad Idea Right?" The first track, "All American B***h" starts the album with a beautiful light guitar riff intro that transitions into a hard-rock angsty hit. It is a perfect first track with its mixture of loudness and delicacy. The outro ends it back on that serene note with angelic harmonies. Track two, "Bad Idea Right?" goes the opposite direction, starting off with a striking guitar riff. Its bombastic chorus is full of ostentatious drums perfectly juxtaposed with her light voice. This song's intensity fits very well with its petty, almost joking lyrics. The album is brought back down with Track three, Vampire", a vulnerable power ballad and what seems to be this album's attempt at being Rodrigo's previous hit, "Drivers License." The soft and pleading piano gives all the more drive behind her hurt and vulnerable voice. The beat drop is what makes this song all the better, making her begging and hurt all the more prevalent. Next, "Lacy" brings that delicate guitar back and really harps on the idea of innocence and jealousy that most if not all teenage girls experience. It feels as though the song lifts up at the bridge with serene harmonies and glossy voice effects. Track five, "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" brings that grungy, angsty tone back with the blustering guitar and bittersweet chords. The nonsense outro makes the song sound more playful than hateful. "Making the Bed" is another melancholy, heartbroken ballad, this time the message seems to be about herself and her own issues, rather than the pain caused by someone else. The light and graceful piano brings the song back down in the outro after a bombastic build-up, showing its true roots of being a ballad. Track seven, "Logical" keeps this heartbreak up, with its undertones of confusion perfectly mixing with the graceful piano and soft guitar picking. Next, "Get Him Back!" is a spiteful grunge song driven by a powerful drum beat and pulsing song. Her talk-singing makes the song again seem less serious even with its semi-crazy sounding lyrics. Track nine, "Love is Embarrassing" keeps the pulsing bass and driving drum beat up but is more regretful than spiteful with its lyrics speaking about her regrets in a relationship. "The Grudge" is another soft ballad that emulates Rodrigo's "Deja Vu." Her heartbreak rises to the surface alongside the pulsing piano and surging synth. Track eleven "Pretty isn't Pretty" is a dreamy-sounding soft-pop song that contradicts its sad lyrics about how insecurities often get the best of us. The final song, "Teenage Dream," beautifully ties the album together with its poignantly asked questions that are often made by young adults going into the world. Coming in at a short 12 tracks and 39 minutes, this album is definitely defying the "sophomore slump" stereotype. 

An ordinary parking lot became a vibrant art gallery as GHS Juniors Owen Benison, Will Maasbach, and Nicholas Lira set up shop at 'Art in the Park..ing Lot Show.' The trio’s photography stand was nothing short of a success; at the end of the day, the group made more than 200 dollars. The event on October 1st aimed to foster a “nurturing environment for artists, as well as recognize the “significance of art as a medium of expression and enrichment.” The show’s organizer, Marcos Torno, is the owner of "Images of OG," a company that makes custom prints and frames. Owen describes how he got the opportunity to be a part of the event: “After seeing  some of my shots, he informed me about the upcoming show, asking if I was interested. I immediately reached out to Nick and Will, who share my passion for photography to see if they would want to join me.” Owen has been honing his photography skills since he was just a freshman: “In my first year, my sister, taking AP photos at that point, convinced me to try the ‘Intro to Photography’ class at the high school. Until then, I had enjoyed photography but only put a little effort into it.” Throughout the class, while working in black and white photography, he “fell in love with the art form.” Now, he has been expanding his passion, exploring a multitude of techniques and genres: “My greatest passion is underwater photography. However, I also do extensive work with drones and traditional photography.”If you missed the opportunity to experience the event, Owen has big plans to pursue his art in the future: “I hope to participate in several similar events throughout Greenwich. I'm currently working with the organizer of this event and art staff from GHS to set up a similar event exclusively for the students of Greenwich.” Keep an eye out for more innovative exhibitions and collaborations in the future, as these young talents work to bring art closer to the heart of Greenwich.

Though Mr. Patrick Taylor said his tearful goodbyes to the GHS Music Department in June 2023, his legacy still lives on. He served as the Director of Choirs and Program Associate of the Music Apartment for 24 years. His commitment and dedication are unmatched, and many of his former and current students say he has deepened their joy in music. 

During his last concert, the annual spring Choral Pops Concert on Wednesday, May 24, he received a roaring ovation for his extraordinary work for the past two decades. The theater was packed with former students, parents, and families of the singers. The concert went as usual, with the four choirs—Concert Choir, Witchmen, Madrigals, and Chamber Singers—each performing their pieces. The Class of 2023 later sang a song composed by Mr. Taylor himself, along with lyricist Kate Quarfordt, “Something Is Holding Me Here.” The performance of this song has been a tradition since 2010. Though Mr. Taylor didn’t anticipate that it would become a tradition, every class he has asked to sing it has willingly done so. 

Speeches were then given by Orchestra Director Bethany Fuscaldo, Electronic Music Teacher Barbara Freedman, Band Director Michael Breaux, several choir students, GHS Principal Ralph Mayo, Ms. Laura Newell, First Selectman Fred Camilo, Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, and Connecticut State Senator Ryan Fazio to thank Mr. Taylor for his dedication. As a finale, a photo slideshow of Mr. Taylor through the years was presented. 

As his replacement, Mr. Luke Rosenberg has been hired. Mr. Rosenberg started his tenure in September 2023, having previously taught at Staples High School in Westport beginning in 2012. He received a Bachelor’s in Music from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music Education from Boston University. His talent is seen through many choirs under his receiving invitations to sing in other countries at selective programs. An a cappella group he previously directed, the Orphenians, received an invitation to sing in Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Clearly, like Mr. Taylor, he had a profound impact on his students and will be missed at Staples.

“My favorite thing about teaching at GHS so far has been the students! They have been amazing in the classroom and I'm really looking forward to seeing where they will be musically at the end of the school year,” says Mr. Rosenberg. 

Choir students are still adjusting to Mr. Rosenberg’s instruction, but they have many positive comments about his work in the beginning months of school. 

“Mr. Rosenberg is different from Mr. Taylor, but his classes have been fun and interesting! I’m excited to see where the year takes us with choir, and to see his progression as a teacher at GHS,” says junior Charlotte Marcussen. 

Senior Ziyi Yan echoes similar sentiments. “While I miss Mr. Taylor, I am always super excited to work with Mr. Rosenberg and to discover the new exercises and techniques that he has to offer. His expertise and enthusiasm leave no doubt that our choirs are in good hands.” 

Overall, GHS students are happy to be working with Mr. Rosenberg, and while it has “definitely been a transition,” as Senior Cindy Li says, everyone is excited to work on new music for the fall concert. 

It is exciting to have a new choir director at GHS, and I cannot wait to go listen to the choir’s first concert in October.   

MAR 2023 "Come on, Wildcats!" All throughout January, Eastern Middle School students have practiced their production of High School Musical. Starring Matthew Smiles and Lyla Salvatore--who play Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez respectively-- the show follows the two teens as they navigate their newfound interests in high school. Additional cast members include Ned Davis, Nora Stern, Lucia Sepulveda, Kyler Woerz, and seventy-three other EMS students amongst all three grades. This is the first show open to all grade levels, something which Jennifer Badillo, the technical director of the show, thinks, ".gives an opportunity for like sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to blend," which was "not really an opportunity for that before here at Eastern." Furthermore ,as Badillo commented, "If you're interested in doing the musical, it's better, because you can be in it for three years instead of only one." On Feb 2, the EMS production of High School Musical will open. In the words of East High announcer Jack Scott, "Wildcats rule, baby!"

Taylor Swift continues her reign as a queen of the music industry, winning a Grammy for her 2020 album, "Folklore". Swift's 2019 announcement of re-recording her early albums, which were owned and sold by record executive Scooter Braun, caused a frenzy in her fanbase. "Fearless", the first album she re-recorded, was released in April 2021, while "Red" was not announced until June 2021 and then released in November. On their initial release, both "Red" and "Taylor's Version" charted at number one.

"State of Grace" kicks off the album with bassy rock drums and an echoing guitar, emulating the sound of live music. The next track and namesake of the album, "Red", brings the country aspect of the album to life with a melodic banjo. "Treacherous" slows the album down with a soft guitar along with Swift's voice, enhanced with a reverb or echo effect. The next track "22" brings the energy back by morphing its initial country, twangy acoustic guitar sound into a pop song with synths featured in the background.

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is overall a fun pop song with an acoustic guitar that creates a reverse-sounding effect. "Stay Stay Stay" has a whimsical electric guitar, strong drum beat and a ukulele that makes it sound a bit more cutesy. "The Last Time" features Gary Lightbody from the band Snow Patrol. It has a dramatic piano that fits the tone of a Snow Patrol song but the emotional lyrics of a Taylor Swift song. The harmonies between Lightbody and Swift really emphasize the heartbreaking message of the song.

"Holy Ground" has a very similar tone to the first track "State of Grace" with a bassy rock drum beat. "Sad Beautiful Tragic" again brings up that heartbreak tone with its soft acoustic guitar and melodic ukulele. The re-recorded version of "Everything Has Changed," featuring Ed Sheeran, makes the song sound a bit less produced and more personal. "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" differs in tone from the short version with a reverberated guitar. It does, however, have the classic-sounding heavy kick and snare drum.

This album as a whole elaborates on the original, making it sound more mature and heartfelt. Taylor Swift fans and non-fans alike would agree that "Red" is not just a re-recording but a reimagining of an amazing collection of songs that sound and feel like the music has grown with us.

Hey Cardinals! Summer is approaching, albeit slower than we'd all like. But even while studying for finals and AP exams, you can still look stylish. I will be profiling some of my favorite brands this season, talking about colors, patterns, and silhouettes you'll likely see everywhere this summer. Rest assured, I have you covered for all your summer occasions. So let's dive into this stylish summer fashion guide!

Forget the brands of past summers! Cult Gaia and Lululemon are no longer the go-to retailers for Gen-Z. This summer, you can expect to see For Love & Lemons' iconic bustiers (and FL&L inspired pieces from fast-fashion brands, thanks to the trickle-down fashion effect) on all your favorite IG influencers' feeds. Plus, I can't overlook the undeniable popularity of Agolde denim. Whether you're a fan of the 'Parker' cut-off denim shorts or you prefer the 90's inspired pinch waist straight jeans, it's clear that this 'Cali-cool' brand initially aimed at fashion-forward millennials has found a new audience with the Gen-Z crowd in recent months. In fact, I personally love the quintessential 'Parker' cut-offs, available on Revolve for $128 in multiple shades.

Moreover, if you've browsed Revolve's website, you've likely noticed Amanda Uprichard's preppy, contemporary designs. The brand's 13-year legacy and New York City-inspired designs (described as a 'celebration of sexy, feminine fun') have undoubtedly propelled Uprichard's designs to mainstream popularity. Like Agolde, Uprichard's label was initially aimed at the millennial demographic but is now attracting younger consumers with their own income (or access to their dad's black Amex). While many of Uprichard's brightly-colored, structured garments retail for upwards of $200, the brand prides itself on its commitment to sustainable practices.

This brings me to one of the up-and-coming trends this summer: the rise of sustainability in the fashion industry. Uprichard's website asserts that the brand doesn't 'sell off our fabrics or discard our old.' Instead, they 'reuse and reinterpret.' Additionally, Uprichard maintains 'humane working conditions in our overseas factories and never uses child labor.' If you're following any of the current issues within the fashion industry, you'll understand the significance of a popular brand upholding sustainable values - and how rare this is. Thankfully, more and more retailers appear to be stepping back from previous tactics of cheap labor and unsafe working conditions, coupled with excessive waste and unnecessary consumption, to create a better tomorrow.

Another one of my favorite brands, Love Shack Fancy, is following in Uprichard's footsteps with their ethically produced and sustainable garments. Love Shack Fancy, founded by former senior fashion and beauty editor at Cosmopolitan magazine Rebecca Hessel-Cohen, prides itself on the thoughtful approach presented towards all steps of production. In particular, the process of design inception, the partners and retailers utilized, and the materials used to create the garments demonstrate Love Shack Fancy's consideration for sustainability.

As evident in the price tags of items sold by Uprichard and Cohen, sustainability and ethically-sourced products don't come without their faults: a positive environmental impact does cost more. However, it seems like a shift is happening concerning the consumer perspective. In recent years, Gen-Z fashion trends have been rooted in environmental and social issues, with many of this demographic shopping sustainably from retailers and joining second-hand marketplaces, such as Depop, to purchase used clothing from other users. Second-hand shopping lessens the amount of unnecessary consumption in the industry. In a survey conducted by Forbes in 2020, 54 percent of Gen-Z shoppers stated that they would be willing to spend an incremental increase of 10 percent or more on clothing from sustainable brands.

Perhaps that’s why clothing from brands such as Love Shack Fancy and Amanda Uprichard have become so popular—the brands’ environmental and social impacts are second to none, with colorful, unique designs to boot. Trust me; you’ll be seeing these brands everywhere this season, which makes them some of my top sources for on-trend summer clothing.

To all my budget-conscious shoppers, I promise I haven’t forgotten about you! One of my all-time favorite brands of choice is Superdown, a super youthful and modern Revolve sister brand. According to The Cool Hour, a stylish online fashion retailer—similar to the likes of Intermix, Revolve and SSENSE—Superdown has "Laid-back Cali vibes meets downtown glam" and sells everything from "Show-stopping dresses to casual tops for brunch." Indeed, Revolve’s lower-priced counterpart maintains the trendy yet fashionable vibe we strive for when shopping on the retailer’s website but foregoes the exorbitant price tag typically accompanying these garments—a win in my book!

When it comes to the 'it' colors of the season, the first thing that comes to mind is none other than eye-catching, brightly colored garments. StyleCaster predicts that shades such as lime green, saturated yellow, kelly green and sunset orange will rise to popularity after the prevalence of these shades on the Spring/Summer '22 runways. Eye-catching colors such as neon green, pink, yellow and orange have been likened to conveying the messages of strength and victory—something that we all could use when heading to summer festivities post-pandemic. This summer, sunglasses aren’t only necessary for blocking the sun’s rays but also shielding your eyes from the array of blinding, fluorescent textiles that are sure to follow you everywhere—even to your tropical destination of choice.

This summer, fashion is expected to be better than ever, with trends of bright colors, eye-catching, bold patterns, and even the rise of sustainability in the industry. There’s truly a trend or popular brand for everyone. Whether you’re a vibrant pattern fan, a preppy Love Shack Fancy customer, or a sustainable Depop shopper, this summer is your time to shine!

Hey Cardinals! Summer is approaching, albeit slower than we'd all like. But even while studying for finals and AP exams, you can still look stylish. I will be profiling some of my favorite brands this season, talking about colors, patterns, and silhouettes you'll likely see everywhere this summer. Rest assured, I have you covered for all your summer occasions. So let's dive into this stylish summer fashion guide!

Forget the brands of past summers! Cult Gaia and Lululemon are no longer the go-to retailers for Gen-Z. This summer, you can expect to see For Love & Lemons' iconic bustiers (and FL&L inspired pieces from fast-fashion brands, thanks to the trickle-down fashion effect) on all your favorite IG influencers' feeds. Plus, I can't overlook the undeniable popularity of Agolde denim. Whether you're a fan of the 'Parker' cut-off denim shorts or you prefer the 90's inspired pinch waist straight jeans, it's clear that this 'Cali-cool' brand initially aimed at fashion-forward millennials has found a new audience with the Gen-Z crowd in recent months. In fact, I personally love the quintessential 'Parker' cut-offs, available on Revolve for $128 in multiple shades.

Moreover, if you've browsed Revolve's website, you've likely noticed Amanda Uprichard's preppy, contemporary designs. The brand's 13-year legacy and New York City-inspired designs (described as a 'celebration of sexy, feminine fun') have undoubtedly propelled Uprichard's designs to mainstream popularity. Like Agolde, Uprichard's label was initially aimed at the millennial demographic but is now attracting younger consumers with their own income (or access to their dad's black Amex). While many of Uprichard's brightly-colored, structured garments retail for upwards of $200, the brand prides itself on its commitment to sustainable practices.

This brings me to one of the up-and-coming trends this summer: the rise of sustainability in the fashion industry. Uprichard's website asserts that the brand doesn't 'sell off our fabrics or discard our old.' Instead, they 'reuse and reinterpret.' Additionally, Uprichard maintains 'humane working conditions in our overseas factories and never uses child labor.' If you're following any of the current issues within the fashion industry, you'll understand the significance of a popular brand upholding sustainable values - and how rare this is. Thankfully, more and more retailers appear to be stepping back from previous tactics of cheap labor and unsafe working conditions, coupled with excessive waste and unnecessary consumption, to create a better tomorrow.

Another one of my favorite brands, Love Shack Fancy, is following in Uprichard's footsteps with their ethically produced and sustainable garments. Love Shack Fancy, founded by former senior fashion and beauty editor at Cosmopolitan magazine Rebecca Hessel-Cohen, prides itself on the thoughtful approach presented towards all steps of production. In particular, the process of design inception, the partners and retailers utilized, and the materials used to create the garments demonstrate Love Shack Fancy's consideration for sustainability.

As evident in the price tags of items sold by Uprichard and Cohen, sustainability and ethically-sourced products don't come without their faults: a positive environmental impact does cost more. However, it seems like a shift is happening concerning the consumer perspective. In recent years, Gen-Z fashion trends have been rooted in environmental and social issues, with many of this demographic shopping sustainably from retailers and joining second-hand marketplaces, such as Depop, to purchase used clothing from other users. Second-hand shopping lessens the amount of unnecessary consumption in the industry. In a survey conducted by Forbes in 2020, 54 percent of Gen-Z shoppers stated that they would be willing to spend an incremental increase of 10 percent or more on clothing from sustainable brands.

Perhaps that’s why clothing from brands such as Love Shack Fancy and Amanda Uprichard have become so popular—the brands’ environmental and social impacts are second to none, with colorful, unique designs to boot. Trust me; you’ll be seeing these brands everywhere this season, which makes them some of my top sources for on-trend summer clothing.

To all my budget-conscious shoppers, I promise I haven’t forgotten about you! One of my all-time favorite brands of choice is Superdown, a super youthful and modern Revolve sister brand. According to The Cool Hour, a stylish online fashion retailer—similar to the likes of Intermix, Revolve and SSENSE—Superdown has "Laid-back Cali vibes meets downtown glam" and sells everything from "Show-stopping dresses to casual tops for brunch." Indeed, Revolve’s lower-priced counterpart maintains the trendy yet fashionable vibe we strive for when shopping on the retailer’s website but foregoes the exorbitant price tag typically accompanying these garments—a win in my book!

When it comes to the 'it' colors of the season, the first thing that comes to mind is none other than eye-catching, brightly colored garments. StyleCaster predicts that shades such as lime green, saturated yellow, kelly green and sunset orange will rise to popularity after the prevalence of these shades on the Spring/Summer '22 runways. Eye-catching colors such as neon green, pink, yellow and orange have been likened to conveying the messages of strength and victory—something that we all could use when heading to summer festivities post-pandemic. This summer, sunglasses aren’t only necessary for blocking the sun’s rays but also shielding your eyes from the array of blinding, fluorescent textiles that are sure to follow you everywhere—even to your tropical destination of choice.

This summer, fashion is expected to be better than ever, with trends of bright colors, eye-catching, bold patterns, and even the rise of sustainability in the industry. There’s truly a trend or popular brand for everyone. Whether you’re a vibrant pattern fan, a preppy Love Shack Fancy customer, or a sustainable Depop shopper, this summer is your time to shine!

Before I joined the Greenwich Literary Magazine, I had always enjoyed creative writing. One day, I decided to share a piece of writing with my English and U.S. history teachers, Ms. Von Brachel and Mr. Belanger. By chance, they were the advisors for a creative literary magazine at GHS. When they read it, they told me how much they enjoyed it and encouraged me to join the Greenwitch club. They informed me that their club creates a winter and spring issue each year, publishing a mix of poetry and short stories from members and non-members. The club sounded interesting, but I was worried about what the club would be like. I went to the meeting anyway, since it doesn’t hurt to try. Turns out, I am glad I made that first step.

I’ve since interviewed poetry editor Sydney Floch, a member for 3 years, who shared that her favorite part of the club is “definitely the atmosphere,” saying, “I’m always drawn back to Greenwitch by the amazing people and writing. It doesn’t matter what ‘level’ of a writer you are, as long as you arrive with an open mind.” I definitely felt what Sydney said, for everyone was friendly, funny, and brought great ideas to the table.

A typical session at this club entails coming together and looking at a piece of writing somebody would like to share. We give the writer both praise and constructive criticism. For me, this workshopping helps me grow as a writer. Having different people review my piece and share their views helps me make my writing stronger, more detailed, and more varied. Not to mention, looking at other people’s short stories and poems helps me see what styles and techniques I can emulate from them. I’m not the only one. Alicia Tang, the lead editor, feels “the diversity of thought that pervades every club meeting continually encourages [her] to broaden [her] writing horizons.” Not to mention, all the interaction between the writer and the rest of the club is positive. Junior Laforest, a member for 3 years, loves how “we're all very accepting of feedback and honest thoughts, and we're able to come together and grow.” He learned how being honest produces the best feedback.

In addition to workshops, the Greenwitch club hosts many exciting events. We try to have a couple of “Open Mic Nights.” At these events, “members and non-members alike can come to the podium to share their pieces,” says Alicia. We are in the process of organizing another one for Friday, June 3rd. Everyone, including parents, is welcome. Students are welcome to bring their best-written work to share in front of everyone. If you enjoy writing and want to get better with others as like-minded as you, Greenwitch is the perfect place to do so.

The club meets Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:15 in room 219 in Clark House. If you have any questions, feel free to email: alicia.tang@greenwichschools.org

On Friday, June 3, the Greenwitch Club hosted its first annual Poetry Picnic. During this event, students had the opportunity to share poetry and prose with an audience in a "picnic-like" format. The event was held in the sanctuary just beyond the tennis courts.

As I walked to the sanctuary, I couldn't help but think how beautiful the weather was. The sun was shining, the grass was green and there were dandelions everywhere. An enthusiastic audience attended, including Greenwitch alumni Veronica Paez-Deggeller and Alex Shaw.

Clara MacLean, the secretary of Greenwitch, was especially good at emceeing with the microphone. She was wonderful at making funny jokes in between poetry performances. The event started with one of the faculty advisors, US history teacher Michael Belanger, reading a poem from 1939. After reading the short but descriptive poem, Belanger thanked everyone for coming to this event.

Then, MacLean took the microphone and called each person to the black music stand (the make-shift podium) to read their poem. The audience, each sitting on a picnic blanket, listened attentively to the speaker. When each speaker was done, the audience "snapped" (a way of applause for the poet).

Honestly, I can't say which poem was my favorite, because there were so many amazing pieces. Belanger agreed, saying it was "too difficult to choose! Everyone did a great job and brought something unique to the event." As for Alicia Tang, the current Editor-in-Chief and a graduating senior, her favorite poems were "The Lost Generation of Spain" by GHS sophomore Ciara Herrera and "Ripe Mirage" by GHS junior Elizabeth Wallace.

When the event was over, I chatted with English teacher Jessica VonBrachel, the other faculty advisor of the club. I asked her what she thought of the event and if she would be open to having one next year. VonBrachel stated that it was "really successful" and she has plans in the works for next year. In the future, she would like to collaborate with the Poetry Club at GHS and incorporate the "Poetry Out Loud" program, which encourages students to memorize a poem and perform it dramatically.

Mr. Belanger agreed with VonBrachel that it was a "wonderful event." He stated, "This event showed what Greenwitch leadership can accomplish and the creative ways they come up with to spread the love of writing to the wider GHS community." I agree with Belanger; this event was a great way for writers to share their work in a casual setting. This Poetry Picnic is one of many events the Greenwitch club holds. During the school year, the club workshops literary works and creates two magazines. Hopefully, there will be more events to come in the following years!

In my three years of high school English, I've only read two books written by a woman. Looking at past classes, roughly ten books make up these three years. Only Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" and Sandra Cisneros's "The House on Mango Street" made the cut in our male-dominated curriculum. Literary works created by women have been overlooked and implicitly discredited. What is undervaluing women's work teaching students?

Virginia Woolf, a modernist 20th-century writer, explained in her essay, "A Room of One's Own," that a woman's genius is not given the credit it deserves because it is not believed to be real. She gives Shakespeare a fictional sister, Judith, who has equal talent, but failed to earn recognition because she is a woman. For this reason, women wrote under male or gender-neutral pseudonyms like George Sand, Currer Bell, and more recently, J.K. Rowling.

Meg Wolitzer's New York Times article, "The Second Shelf," questions why men view fiction written by women as an "undifferentiated mass that has little to do with them." She wonders whether a woman would get the same credit as a man if they wrote a book with the same values shared. It's the idea argued by Virginia Woolf, just years later.

This gender discrimination extends even further to women artists. Along with years of criticism for writing about past relationships, something men equally do, critics have attacked Taylor Swift's songwriting ability. At the beginning of her career, she sought to allay doubts by writing the album "Speak Now" without any help. But still today, some like the singer Damon Albarn allege that Swift "doesn't write her own songs." Women have consistently had to prove themselves and even then, it's not enough for some.

The problem isn't the lack of books written by women. We have a great deal of literature by women authors both old and new. The problem is a lack of education and exposure to these works. It's a school's responsibility to reflect the students in the classroom to what is being taught. They should add books like Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women", a coming-of-age story about four sisters. Or the more recent "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas about racism in our policing.

We need to stop overlooking the talent and hard work of a person just because of her gender. We need to give the same appreciation we have given male authors for years. We need equal representation in our school curriculum. Strong literary examples will build confidence in girls and lead boys to respect the works of women instead of devaluing their genius. Represent the fifty percent of girls in the classroom because two books by women is not enough.