THE VIGORNIA Volume 1 34 Issue 7 Student Newspaper Februa ry 14, 2013 Since 1878 Carnation Sales Spread Sweetness Across Campus Every year on February 14th, the WA campus is lled with owers as the sophomore class delivers carnations. This year, the Class of 2015 will try to surpass the Class of 2014’s record of at least 650 owers sent. The student leaders Riley Doherty ’15, Sarah Padgett ’15, Susie Shepardson ’15, and Zach Fask ’15 will try to spread some love across the Upper School, and make this Vale n- tine’s Day the best. The carnation sales are an annual WA tradition, and a lovely way to show some affection for friends. In sending a carnation, there are three color choices: white, red, and pink. Each color represents a different type of relationship. A whi te carnation is representati ve of friendship. Pi nk owers are meant to be sent to a crush, while red owers symbolize true love, and are generally sent to signicant others. Regardless of the color, owers can be sent to anyone and everyone for the small fee of one dollar per ower. The recipient will receive an email instructing them to pick up their gift, and will be given their ower and the card at - tached (upon buying a carnation, one has the option to write a note). Along with their o wers, recipients are generally gifted with a smile, because who doesn’t like getting owers in the middle of the day? In order to make receiving carnations a little bit sweeter, this year, the Class of 2015 has decided to include candies with the car- nations. By Jason Lu ’14 Carnations are ready to be delivered Photo Courtesy of Alexandra DelloStritto ’14 And That’ s the T ea: Breaku p A dvice From the Heart By Andrew Reiter ’13Columnist Well its that time oyear again! Yes the love is in the air, and the couples are PDAing, and everyone groans more and more because Pux- atawny Phil made the wrong decisions. Y es that’s right! Its almost V alentines Day! You know , read ers, Valentines Day sits in a special hole in my heart. For my h birthday, I got a pet para- keet named KK. When I was nine years old, I woke up one Valentine’s Day (a Sunday) to nd him dead at the bottom ohis cage readers! Can you imagine that! What an awul day that was, and to think, it didn’t even get me out ochurch. I still blame the babysitter that came the night beore or the incident. She claims to not remember. Anyways the death odear old KK doesn’t dampen this holidayor me, as I enjoy a good Valentine’s Day just much as I do the other major holidays othe year: Ash Wednesday, Arbor Day, and whenever the Repub- lican National Convention is held. But I’ve been asked by the good people o“Te Vigornia” to write some break up advice. I’ve never been in a re- lationship, but thank God I’ve seen every episode o“Sex and the City” at least twice. So I’ll be drawing almost my entire article rom SAC (that is an abbreviation). Te rst rule ohow to break up is to never do it via Post-It note. You’ll see in season six that Berger, the writer, breaks up with poor ol’ Carrie with a Post-It note! Te nerve! And while Carrie was ofended, the sticky did get her out obeing arrested or smoking weed in public. Silver lining! So be sure to be tactul (unlike Berger). Now, rule number two is that iit is important to you whether or not your signicant other wears clothes rom the children’s section (because he or she is so tiny) be sure to check ahead otime. Remember when Samantha dated the vertically- challenged man? Well his height threw her of at rst, but she learned when you keep your mind open you’ll nd you surprise yoursel! She quite liked the short man, until she learned he wears a youth large jacket, and dumped him on the spot. Keep an open mind (unlike Samantha). It is going to take a lot more than tape to mend this broken heart. Photo Courtesy of Michael Schermerhorn ’14 T urn to Carnation Sale on page 7 Tu rn to Breakup Advice on page 7
THE VIGORNIA Volume 134 Issue 7 Student NewspaperFebruary 14, 2013 Since 1878
Carnation Sales Spread Sweetness Across CampusEvery year on February 14th, the WA campus is lled with
owers as the sophomore class delivers carnations. This year, theClass of 2015 will try to surpass the Class of 2014’s record of atleast 650 owers sent. The student leaders Riley Doherty ’15, SarahPadgett ’15, Susie Shepardson ’15, and Zach Fask ’15 will try tospread some love across the Upper School, and make this Valen-
tine’s Day the best. The carnation sales are an annual WA tradition,and a lovely way to show some affection for friends.
In sending a carnation, there are three color choices: white,red, and pink. Each color represents a different type of relationship.
A white carnation is representative of friendship. Pink owers are
meant to be sent to a crush, while red owers symbolize true love,and are generally sent to signicant others. Regardless of the color,owers can be sent to anyone and everyone for the small fee of onedollar per ower. The recipient will receive an email instructing themto pick up their gift, and will be given their ower and the card at-tached (upon buying a carnation, one has the option to write a note).
Along with their owers, recipients are generally gifted with a smile,because who doesn’t like getting owers in the middle of the day?
In order to make receiving carnations a little bit sweeter, thisyear, the Class of 2015 has decided to include candies with the car -nations.
By Jason Lu ’14
Carnations are ready to be deliveredPhoto Courtesy of Alexandra DelloStritto ’14
And That’s the Tea: Breakup Advice From the HeartBy Andrew Reiter ’13
Columnist
Well its that time o year again! Yes the love is in the air, and thecouples are PDAing, and everyone groans more and more because Pux-atawny Phil made the wrong decisions.Yes that’s right! Its almost ValentinesDay! You know, readers, ValentinesDay sits in a special hole in my heart.
For my h birthday, I got a pet para-keet named KK. When I was nine yearsold, I woke up one Valentine’s Day (aSunday) to nd him dead at the bottomo his cage readers! Can you imaginethat! What an awul day that was, andto think, it didn’t even get me out o church. I still blame the babysitter thatcame the night beore or the incident.She claims to not remember.
Anyways the death o dearold KK doesn’t dampen this holiday or me, as I enjoy a good Valentine’sDay just much as I do the other major
holidays o the year: Ash Wednesday,Arbor Day, and whenever the Repub-lican National Convention is held. ButI’ve been asked by the good people o
“Te Vigornia” to write some break up advice. I’ve never been in a re-lationship, but thank God I’ve seen every episode o “Sex and the City”
at least twice. So I’ll be drawing almost my entirearticle rom SAC (that is an abbreviation).Te rst rule o how to break up is to never do
it via Post-It note. You’ll see in season six that
Berger, the writer, breaks up with poor ol’ Carriewith a Post-It note! Te nerve! And while Carriewas ofended, the sticky did get her out o beingarrested or smoking weed in public. Silver lining!So be sure to be tactul (unlike Berger).Now, rule number two is that i it is important to
you whether or not your signicant other wearsclothes rom the children’s section (because heor she is so tiny) be sure to check ahead o time.Remember when Samantha dated the vertically-challenged man? Well his height threw her of atrst, but she learned when you keep your mindopen you’ll nd you surprise yoursel! She quiteliked the short man, until she learned he wears a
youth large jacket, and dumped him on the spot.Keep an open mind (unlike Samantha).It is going to take a lot more than tape to
mend this broken heart.Photo Courtesy of Michael Schermerhorn ’14
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, the Vig decided to get up close and personal with some of the cutestcouples on campus. Our writers chatted with a few of the many faculty couples to nd out their engagement stories, andother aspects of their relationships. Let the cuteness ensue:
Mr. Liller and Ms. Kastler, a couple who will be marriedfor 8 years on June 26th, met at Worcester Academy. He wasthe Math Department Chair and she taught math in addition totutoring in the Center For Learning. They were kindly willing toshare their story this Valentine’s Day. On the subject of Valen-
tine’s Day, they say that the one they remember most fondly isthe rst one they spent together. Their day consisted of wackycards and a sushi dinner from Yama Zakura. Before theyspent Valentine’s Day together, they had their very rst dateat the ninety-nine restaurant in Worcester. Many dates later,Mr. Liller got down on his knees and proposed in their home,
asking Ms. Kastler to marry him. Then came the wedding day,which they say was a small, non-traditional ceremony withonly close family in attendance. It took place at Chappaquid-
dick Beach Club in Edgartown, Massachusetts with a Hawai-ian theme. The ceremony was followed by a New Englandlobster bake for dinner. The couple also has a blended family;Ms. Kastler has three children from her previous marriage andloves the fact that Mr. Liller took them into his life. The couplealso revealed that their song is “Over the Rainbow” by IZ. Ms.Kastler revealed that the best gift she recevies is owers thatMr. Liller buys for her when he knows she’s having a bad day.Young couples, take note of the formula to make love last.
Mr. and Mrs. Dow, who are one of a few faculty couplesthat live on campus, met at Worcester Academy and have beenmarried for 3 and a half years. Their rst date consisted of goingto Ash Wednesday mass together and then out to dinner. A fewyears later, Mr. Dow proposed on the beach in Florida duringspring break, after waiting for the perfect moment when no oneelse was around. Shortly before, they saw a blue herring, whichsymbolizes good luck. They got married on October 25th inKennebunkport, Maine, and had a perfect day, luckily for them,
as it poured the day before. They had a large wedding with lotsof family, friends, and work friends. Their song is “You Are TheBest Thing” by Ray Lamontagne, but it was originally supposedto be “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz until it became too “over playedand cheesy.” The best gifts they have given each other includeMr. Dow’s bracelet engraved saying “I’m Yours,” Mrs. Dow’s dia-
mond earrings, and their wedding rings engraved with “E143T”and “T143E” meaning “Erin: I love you, Tuffer” and “Tuffer: Ilove you, Erin.” For Valentine’s day, they do not go out to din-
ner or buy owers or gifts because they are “a waste of money,”but Mr. Dow cooks lollipop lamb chops and only Kennedy, their daughter, gets gifts. Every other Valentine’s Day, they havebeen on duty, but not this year (courtesy of Mr. Healy), however they do have family dinner. They say living on campus as afamily is easy and is like living in “an old school neighborhood.”Kennedy gets to interact with all ages including other facultychildren at Mrs. Legault’s daycare and high school students.
By Kasey MacDowell ’15, Nicole Mills ’15, and Shannon Martin ’15
On St. Patrick’s day years ago, Mrs. Thorn, fresh out of college, made her way to Worcester Academy to sign her contractto become an English teacher, little did she know she was on her way to meet her future husband. With a persisting cough bother -ing her, Mrs. Thorn went to the headmaster’s ofce to get a drink,
where she rst met Mr. Thorn. From there the rest was history. Therst date was a memorable one, as they went to the movie theater to see “Animal House.” Many dates after, they went on a specialValentine’s Day date. The couple was admiring the Worcester Gal-leria, when Mrs. Thorn noticed a beautiful ring in the jewelry store.Surprisingly, they went in the store as boyfriend and girlfriend, andleft as each other’s ancés. The day of their wedding was as Mr.Thorn quotes “delightful.” Keeping it local, the memorable cer -emony was held at Holy Cross with the reception at The Castle inWorcester. Throughout the years of their marriage many gifts wereexchanged, but Mrs. Thorn’s favorite was a ski trip on her birth-
day while Mr. Thorn’s favorite was their daughter, Elisabeth. TheThorn’s have had many memorable experiences, from listening totheir song, “In your eyes” at the Peter Gabriel concert to watch-
ing their daughter graduate WA in 2003. Unlike some of the other faculty couples here, WA has been the home base for their entirerelationship, and they will, hopefully, stick around a bit longer.
Mr. and Mrs. Thorn
Mr. and Mrs. Thorn at their daugther’s wedding
Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Thorn
Señor Butler y Señora Perez-Soto While language differences might pose a barrier for some, it
was exactly what Señor Butler needed to approach Señora Perez-Soto(then, Señorita) one magical evening in Columbia, Missouri, the homeof the University of Missouri, where Señor was working on his PhD.While Señora lounged in a chair talking on her phone in Spanish in acommunity establishment where Señor worked part-time, she caughthis attention. Like a hawk, Señor Butler realized the initial approach
with conversation and, after subsequent rendezvous; they found thatthey had more in common than they had thought. After their rst ofcialdate, a spontaneous lunch at Longhorn steak house, the couple knewthey were meant for each other given their simultaneous, unexpectedordering of the same plate: pork ribs. Very little time passed before thetwo novios got engaged, and then, in 2008 they were married in Sedo-
na, Arizona with a small crowd of roughly fty people. Throughout thenight they danced to a sweet medley of international melodies in manylanguages, but all united by the language of love. Since Valentine’sDay falls on a Thursday this year, Señor, unfortunately, could very wellbe monitoring Academic Study; but if he had it his way, they would begoing back to a steak house somewhere in this fair land to revisit their date with destiny. Some ve years later, the couple lives by Gaskilleld with their new baby, Óscar Antonio, and their dog EccoDulce. Tothis day, it’s unknown who asked whom to marry, but one thing is for sure: love, true love, breaks down barriers no matter the language.
Señor y Señora con Óscar Photo Courtesy of Señor Butler
Beyonce’s child is______Ivy7. Heart-shaped candies with sayings
on them
9. ______, Gossip Girl10. Known for the song “Barracuda”
(also an internal organ)11. If you like it then you shoulda put
a ____on it
12. Sealed with a _______ 13. Known for shooting people witharrows
Down:1. Signed, sealed, delivered,
I’m ______.2. “Be _______”4. A classic ______ is dinner
and a movie5. Life is like a box of _______ 6. A card sent to a loved one8. A secondhand emotion
(sing it, Tina Turner)
10. A loving embrace11. Taylor Swift’s latest album
Email [email protected] with your solutions. First person to email the correct answers receives a prize!
Admired From Afar
Valentine’s Day is here, and you can almost hear theangsty teenagers’ cries echoing across campus. The dayserves as a wonderful catalyst for anxiety surrounding promdates and asks the always welcome question of “who will I
spend the rest of my life with?” So, if you’re like me and wouldrather spend the day sitting on the couch with a minimum of 3 boxes of chocolate watching Grey’s Anatomy all day, takea look at a few interesting valentines that members of theWorcester Academy student body wrote during the annualSemi-Formal dance on February 2nd 2013. And hey, whoknows, maybe your secret admirer is right in front of you.SPREAD THE LOVE!
Semi Dance: And the Fun Never Stops.By Meaghan Barry ’15
On February 2nd, Worcester Academy hosted the much-anticipated winter semi-formal in the Old Gym, as part of Winter
Carnival 2013. The theme of the night was the Olympic Village After Party, as the gym was decorated with international agsand paper lamps. There was dancing, food, and even a photobooth which kept the night alive and entertaining. At one pointduring the night, there was a minor technical difculty with themusic. “When the music went out that was a little awkward, butafter it came back the dance was twice as much fun,” exclaimedSusie Shepardson ’15 on the music malfunction. Even though
there was this technical difculty with the music, the WA studentsnever stopped having a great time. “It was better than last year;
the photo booth was a great idea,” commented Kasey MacDow-ell ’15. Everyone looked great, proving that the WA student bodycan clean up well. The night was so fun that some students wereleft wanting more, “It should have started earlier or gone later sowe could dance more!” added Shepardson. Through the hustleand bustle of academics and extracurriculars, Semi was theperfect event for everyone, both students and faculty, to have funand relax.
They have also decided to increaseparticipation with faculty as well, hopingfor more customers, and in return, morecustomer satisfaction. Reafrming thisdesire for greater participation, PresidentSarah Padgett states, “People think thedrive is only for boyfriends and girl-friends or people that like each other, butit really should be for friends too.” Sellingsuch a great amount of owers (600+) isno easy feat, but the Sophomore Classis ready to send out some owers andspread some smiles.
By Kara Banson ’13
Editor-in-Chief
It’s Valentine’s day and you still haven’t gotten that specialsomeone his or her gift. No worries, the Vig has got your back.
Below are some quick gift ideas:
1. Candy: Satisfy a sweet tooth
2. No one can refuse cute and
adorable stuffed animals
3. Beautiful Flowers
4. A special card or if you have time express your
creative side and make one
5. Musically talented? Serenade your special
someone with a song you composed
Breakup Advice Continued
Photos Courtesy of Kara Banson ’13
Now i you really must leave somebody at the
altar, or God’s sake be considerate!In the Sex and the City Movie (the rst one[we’re not going to talk about the sequel]),Mr. Big leaves Carrie at the altar because hechickens out because this is his umpteenthwedding or something.
Anyways, Carrie goes and takes herthree best riends (sorry, Stanord) to Mexico!Now isn’t that wonderul! How good o Mr.Big to let Carrie take three riends to Mexico.Tey probably had more un than they wouldhave at home with their lazy husbands, chil-dren born out o wedlock, and demanding
jobs (insert classic Samantha snicker here).Anyways, be sure to be considerate. Its best tohave an all-expense paid trip to Mexico linedup or whomever you’re breaking up with.
Finally I have some advice or peopleto avoid breaking up. I’ll save the best orlast with my avorite SAC girl, Miranda(notice how I’m purposely leaving out thatgood-or-nothing harlot, Charlotte). Goodold Miranda, so awkward, so cynical. Now in the rst season, Miranda’s boss sets herup on a date with another woman. Mirandadoesn’t really realize it’s a date, and just thinksthey’re playing soball together or un orsomething. I don’t know why Miranda wasso naïve. She’s usually the smart one. Any-ways, Miranda didn’t know it was a date untilaer the game, but the point is, know whatyou’re signing up or. I have no patience orpeople who complain about how much work AP English or Anatomy class is because they knew what they were getting into. Tey knew that they were gonna have a lot o work! Tey knew exactly how little sleep they’d be getting(unless they were acting like a Miranda) soI don’t want to hear it! Same thing goes orrelationships. Just make sure you know what
you’re getting yoursel into.Um. Happy Valentines day? (Rest in
