The Occasional Slater: Some Of The News, Some Of The Time

ARTS & CULTURE

Slater Band & Chorus Spotlight

By Clara Young, Staff Writer

You may not be able to hear us when we’re hiding away in the band room, but the FHUHS band, chorus, and rock ensemble have been working hard and creating music all year, and it’s time to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the members of our school’s music program. As a member of both the band and chorus, I have seen first hand how much hard work and time these students put in in order to learn more about music and put on performances for our community and they deserve to be recognized for doing so.

This year didn’t start out easily for music, with mask requirements, bell covers for instruments, and social distancing. But even with these added difficulties the band, chorus, and rock ensemble still managed to put together and pull off a virtual concert in December to celebrate and show off what they were able to achieve during the first semester. It’s safe to say, however, that there was much excitement when we could finally put our masks and bells covers to the side, see each other’s faces, and make music with a sound even louder and fuller than before.

In March the rock ensemble successfully hosted the “Night of the Elephant”, which showcased the musical talent of many of our students, as well as some incredible artwork and performances from the theater club.

This spring marked an important moment for our band and chorus, when we were able to have our first in-person concert since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The music selections performed included a variety of pieces from movies and films. On May 4th, during our Celebration of Learning, the band and chorus had the opportunity to perform some of these pieces again, as well as some other songs that they were able to pull together in only a few days. With the year winding to a close, there aren’t many musical performances left, but the band will be playing in the Memorial Day parade in Fair Haven, and both groups will perform at graduation.

Another extremely notable musical accomplishment that should be recognized is the acceptance of six Fair Haven Union High School students into the All State Music festival, which took place at the beginning of May. In order to be accepted into the festival, students must learn a difficult solo piece, memorize thirteen different scales, and play a section of music without having practiced it beforehand. This year, out of hundreds of video auditions that were sent in, Sam Young (trombone 2-orchestra), Nate Young (euphonium 2), Royal Wood (euphonium-trombone 3), Kat Shaw (alto saxophone 2-1), Ayame Merkel (flute 1-1), and Clara Young (flute 2-3), were amongst the group of the most talented high school musicians in the state chosen to attend. They spent three days at Colchester High School rehearsing with other students from all over the state and played in a concert that included incredible performances from both the All State band and orchestra. Extra congratulations are also in order for Ayame Merkel, who was also chosen to attend the New England Music Festival in March as first flute, third chair, and represented our school as not only one of the most talented high school flute players in Vermont, but in all of New England.

The dedication, hard work, and incredible accomplishments of our student musicians deserve to be recognized, as do our music teachers Ms. Patch and Ms. Harris for all they’ve done to keep a music program up and running this year. Our four graduating seniors, Chris Colton, Alexis Martindale, Jay Morgan, and Jillian Hetrick, also deserve recognition for what they’ve brought to the band and chorus. We will miss them going into next year.

This spotlight on our musicians is one that they have rightfully earned for all they have achieved this year, and for all the music that they have brought to our high school.

SPORTS

Track and Field: A Hidden Gem in the World of Sports

Recent Track News

By Ayame Merkel, Staff Writer

Among baseball, basketball, and football, track and field doesn’t get as much recognition. However, many of our track and field athletes are some of the best at FHUHS and certainly deserve credit. Their hard work and dedication has brought many of them well-earned success as athletes and as individuals; this sport isn’t messing around when it comes to grit. FHU senior Isabella Carrara says, “I really like the mental component that comes into play with track,” and makes the point that since track and field events focus so much on personal performance, mental toughness is especially crucial. Reilly Flanders, another senior, says, “Track and field has helped me excel with athletics more than any other sport...Even after the injuries and life complications, the sport has motivated me to become a stronger individual just from how much I love it.”

Isabella comments, “seeing consistent PR’s [personal records] is one of my favorite things about track!” A great thing about this sport is that, with straightforward personal records, it’s easy to track progress.

Katarina Stevens, also an FHU senior, makes another great point: “I like how you are competing for yourself. If you fail, it doesn’t affect how your team does. You are competing for your goal; what you want to accomplish and achieve.” The idea is that you try to overcome your weaknesses and beat your PR. The “competing against yourself” concept is what makes track and field so unique.

Caleb Barrows mentions, “What I like about track is you will always get your chance to shine. There is no bench.” Unlike other sports, you can always participate and compete.

When Covid struck in 2020, students lost their entire end of the school year - a peak time in terms of extracurriculars. Athletes lost their outdoor season in the spring of 2020 and their indoor season the following winter. Isabella Carrara says that the virus affected, among other things, her mindset about working by herself versus being on a real team: “Covid...gave me an opportunity to both train on my own and identify and work on my weaknesses as an athlete.” But all that time separated has made Isabella “forever grateful for” the time she now gets to spend with her team. “...I think the most successful track teams are the ones who can make an individualized sport, such as track, a group effort. That is something I am starting to see with the team we have this season, and can predict great things.”

Perspectives can change as people become more familiar with the uniqueness and demands of this sport. Isabella shares her journey as a multi-sport athlete: “From the outside, it looks like running in literal circles, throwing heavy things and jumping as far as you can, which for a substantial portion of my high school years, that was honestly what I defined track as. I viewed track as a way to stay in shape for soccer...”

Isabella, as well as many other track athletes, now know: track and field is much more than a way to stay in shape - it plays an exciting, special and irreplaceable role in the world of sports. “At the end of the day, I am just a big fan of circle runners, kids who throw heavy things and other kids who jump super far - they’re my kind of people.”

By Ayame Merkel, Staff Writer

The Penn Relays, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, is the world’s largest and most widely recognized relay meet; Isabella Carrara, Ella Keuhn, Ayame Merkel and Maddy Perry had the chance to travel to and compete in.

The entire track team also has been able to compete at New York invitational meets, thanks to FHU track and field coaches John Oakman, Randy Shutter, and Nathan Stone, who tirelessly provide their athletes with amazing opportunities. “The coaches...have made the sport a much more memorable and outstanding experience in my life,” Reilly reflects. Caleb says, “I don't think it's possible the coaches in any team in sport history are better than Randy Shutter and Jonathan Oakman.”

Along with our seniors, many of our juniors and underclassmen have been very successful. Ava Shull and Nathaniel Young have competed multiple times this season in the 2K and 3K meter steeplechase. Both girls and boys have promising 4 by 100 and 4 by 400 relays. At the SVL (Southern VT League) Championship on May 24th, the team saw a great number of wins. This includes the boys 4 by 100 relay in 1st place; Noah Beayon in 2nd place in the 100 meters and 1st in the 200; Patrick Stone in 1st for pole vault with a new PR of 11 feet 1 inch; David Doran, 1st in shot put; Nathaniel Young, 1st in the 300 meter hurdles; and Alexandra Williams placing 1st in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and 3rd in the 400.

At the Essex Invitational Meet, to qualify for the New Englands Championship on June 18th, Patrick Stone qualified for pole vault and Noah Beayon qualified for the 100 and 200. At the same meet, Patrick Stone, Reilly Flanders, Luke Williams, and Noah Beayon of the boys 4 by 100 relay placed 1st in all of Vermont, and they will also compete at the upcoming New Englands Championship. This relay team secured their position as best in the state at the DII State Championship on Friday, June 3rd.

SPORTS

Senior Track Spotlight

By Ayame Merkel, Staff Writer

Luke Williams is an extremely consistent, multi-sport athlete. Luke has competed in numerous events and excels in many. He finished 19th in long jump at the New England Indoor Track Championship of 2022 with his PR length of 19 feet 9 inches. He also competes in triple jump, sprinting relays, and even high jump.

Despite all divisions being combined in the 2021-2022 indoor track season, Alexandra Williams won the indoor girls 55 meter dash during Vermont Indoor Track State Championships at the University of Vermont, sprinting her PR of 7.64 seconds. She was also among the athletes who made it to the New England Indoor Track Championships in Boston, MA. This current season, Aly is competing in the 100, 200, and 400 meter races.

Caleb Barrows has a passion for long-distance running, and his excellent endurance has brought him far. He continuously demonstrates mental toughness and he’s not afraid of hard work, like demanding running workouts. He runs the mile, which is his favorite event, and the one he is most focused on. Caleb also runs the 800 meter race and the 4 by 800 relays (with Emmet MacKay, Cole Oakman, and Chicory Greene). Caleb comments, “There's a lot of cool people you meet [on the track team]. Some you bond with through a shared grief of running an event like a 4x800.”

Katerina Stevens enjoys competing in a mix of field and running events. She is currently focused on the 300 meter hurdles, javelin, and high jump. Her goals for the end of the season are to PR in these events and get into the State Championship.

Riley Buckley competes in sprinting and the long jump. He has improved in the long jump by two full feet just this season.

Being on the track team has always felt like home to Reilly Flanders. Despite the injuries that have greatly altered his high school sports experience, he has never stopped working and striving to improve. Prior to his injury, Reilly competed in a variety of events including the 100 (PR: 11.77 seconds), 200, 400, throwing events. His focus for this season is to get back to running a sub-12-second 100 meter, and this goal he accomplished at the SVL Championship meet on May 24th, placing 6th. Reilly looks forward to running track in college. When taking his football senior photos, it was easy to realize that track was his favorite sport. “...it was far from being the actual track season. I went onto the track for one of my pictures, and the feeling of just standing on the track rubber material reminded me of how great the sport has been to me.”

Isabella Carrara ran middle-distance through this year’s indoor season - until this spring. Now she has turned her focus to sprinting (as well as the 400); she is a key contributor of all the girls relays. “I am also on a 4x100 relay team, which is by far my favorite event to run, especially as the only senior on the relay squad. I love seeing how diligent and talented my underclassman teammates are and all they have accomplished thus far in ways like competing at UPenn relays and other high-end invitational meets, being in 9th, 10th and 11th grade.” Isabella is relied on by her coaches and teammates, and steps in whenever she is asked. Her goal of being the best captain and teammate that she can be is at the top of her track goals, along with seeing improvements in her PR’s. Her long-term plans for track are to get back into distance running and train for half-marathons.

THE SLATE QUARRY

Community Events, and Classifieds

Classifieds

By Kat Shaw

1. Mr. Bruce Winham from West Castleton is looking to fill two positions. You must be 18 years old to apply and you must be vaccinated!
** Landscaping at his home includes mowing, weed wacking, pulling weeds, etc. Work hours to be discussed with Mr. Winham.

2. Poultney Pallet - You will make slate pallets out of hardwood. This is heavy work. The hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You must be vaccinated! Starting pay is $17 per hour. If after a week you are determined to be a good fit for the job, you will then get $18 per hour.

If you are interested in either of the two jobs above, you can email Mr. Winham at brumilli@comcast.net or stop by Ms. Ryan's office to discuss.

3. Prunier's Market has two job openings.
** Cashier (must be 16)
** Shelf Stocker (must be 16)

If you are interested in either of these positions, stop by Prunier's Market in Hydeville to get an application or stop by Ms. Ryan's office.

4. Devil's Bowl Speedway needs to hire some workers for the
Concession Stand on Saturday nights. If you are interested in working at the Devil's Bowl Speedway, please see Ms. Ryan in her office located right next to the Art Room.

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