The Pebble Issue 1

the Pebble
May 2016
Dress Code
How to Get Free Stuff
Marketing MPH
Seniors Give Advice
advice
• culture • food • issues • spotlight

Spring 2016
Issue 1
editor-in-chief
managing editor
creative directors
designers
photography
staff writers
advisor
HYEMIN HAN
JEONGYOON HAN
SPENCER KRYWY
MADDY RIEKS
SAM GOLDMAN
HYEMIN HAN
SAM GOLDMAN
CHRIS HUNTER
MADDY RIEKS
DANIEL ALBANESE
MAJA CANNAVO
JUSTIN DING
SAM GOLDMAN
LILY GRENIS
CHRISTOPHER HUNTER
SEAMUS MULHERN
SUZANNAH PECKHAM
EMMA PITNICK
JEANNE ALBANESE
Manlius Pebble Hill School
5300 Jamesville Road
Syracuse, New York 13214-2499
Phone: (315) 446-2452
thepebblemag@gmail.com
2

ON THE COVERS: Sam Goldman and Maddy
Rieks, photographed by Hyemin Han, edited by
Sam Goldman and Chris Hunter.
Departments
4. Letter from the Editor
5. MPH by the Numbers
6. Spotlight
8. Ask an Alum
10. Advice
12. Selfie
Features
20.
MPH 2.0
By Hyemin Han
Crane Metamarketing rebrands
Manlius Pebble Hill.
13. Seen at School
14. Culture
15. Interactive
16. Health & Beauty
22.
26.
Dress to Impress
By Maja Cannavo
The evolution of the MPH dress code.
Respect Your Elders
By Sam Goldman
The Class of 2016 gives advice to rising seniors.
18. Food
28. Issues
spring 2016 | 3

letter from the editor
4
and it will be given to you.” and re-edited. Every page, from the extra
Out of context, it’s any petulant 1/16th of an inch in the margins to the picture
of Mr. Leclercq in the Dress to Impress
“Ask,
child’s dream. But it’s also the
statement I’ve grown to appreciate at MPH, a feature, was thought out, re-thought out,
school that provides us with the opportunity debated, consulted, laid out and re-laid out.
and support to pursue what we care about, Everything you see and read is a reflection of
even if it means letting go of something that our deliberate decisions, made right up until
we’ve had since 1927. MPH bets on its students;
it certainly bet on us, when we chal-
go to the printer for publication.
the timer ran out and we were forced to let it
lenged to create something wildly new and This kind of devotion is what made this
unproven, while giving up a long-standing, magazine a reality. I’m thankful that this
award-winning tradition.
year’s staff, from the new members to the senior
seniors and Ms. A, were willing to go on
But we asked, and we received.
A magazine format provides versatility in this journey. This issue is what it is because
students’ expression, more so than a newspaper
format could, both in written word and and sometimes conflicting personalities that
of the humorous, sarcastic, bubbly, genuine
hin design and photography. It was difficult make 2
up this year’s class. I can’t recall a more
for The Rolling Stone, published quarterly, to fun and meaningful journalism experience
rightly keep its title of a “newspaper,” especially
in today’s instantaneous news culture. I came full circle by shooting Maddy (who’s
than the final photo shoot for the cover, when
Shifting to a biannual magazine would also been on the paper since her freshman year,
allow for different kinds of features and the longest of all of us) for the cover of my final
issue, as I shot her for my first cover story
exposes as well as more creative and pertinent
photography. After 46 volumes (and too for The Rolling Stone.
many issues to count) with the same types of As I recall my journalism beginnings at
spreads, we were ready for some text-bending MPH while I approach the end, it’s humbling
layouts and full-bleed pictures.
to know that our magazine contains the
As the apogee of Upper School-wide same determination, effort and thought that
tutorial discussions, one-on-one interviews was put into The Rolling Stone. Despite the
and in-class debates, the new format brings change in size, the article topics have not diminished
in seriousness or relevance, and the
with it new content: MPH By the Numbers,
Ask an Alum, Spotlight, Food, Issues and journalistic integrity with which we approach
Interactive. Even the stuff we’ve kept from the our reporting has not relaxed.
newspaper— Advice, Selfie, Culture and Big In other words, everything’s changed,
Picture—are all reimagined.
except for us. This is The Pebble.
These changes were, in part, driven by
you. Though a handful of students started
the conversation and executed the plan, this
publication has its foundation in its audience.
But our process has not changed. Every
story, from the Spotlight of Mr. Z to the
Big Picture on cancer masks, was outlined,
re-outlined, discussed, workshopped, edited

1
“I had not played the banjo before [in
a competition] and I hadn’t played the
banjo in front of a crowd before.”
-Ted Curtis, after he won “Best
Showmanship” at the “Rockin’ the
Redhouse” benefit concert, March 11
at The Landmark Theatre
41
Awards won by the
MPHMUN team this
school year
4
“If the average AP exam score in
my class is a 4... I’ll dye it [my hair]
then I’ll shave it. ”
-Matt Vural’s promise to his AP
Chemistry students
By Justin Ding
MPH BY THE N U M BERS M PH BY THE N U M BE RS
9
MPH former athletes to
be inducted into the MPH
Athletic Hall of Fame on
June 4
31.5
Overdue slips handed out
400
each month
Books checked out per month
42Students to recieve diplomas at
commencement in June
16,874
Books in the library
56
Average bags of
Munchies sold by
the Campus Shop
each week
spring 2016 | 5

spotlight
For Ryan Zlomek, becoming an adult—
going out on his own, getting a job and
buying a house—was inevitable. But
he was determined to stay best friends with
his inner child.
When Zlomek bought his first house in
2013, in addition to considering the quality
of the heating system, the age of the roof,
and the size of the bedrooms, he made sure
his dream house had enough room for the
pinball machines he planned to collect.
“I had all of those things,” said Zlomek,
MPH’s tech teacher. “And then there was a
little footnote on every one that was, ‘Where
on Earth would I put the pinball machine?’”
During a trip to a family friend’s house
when he was 10, Zlomek discovered pinball—which
became his secret to never
having to truly grow up.
“I was like, ‘This is awesome. Adults
can have toys, cool toys—not like bank
accounts—but pinball machines,’” said
Zlomek, 29.
From there, Zlomek’s exposure
to pinball continued to
grow. Some of his most vivid
memories are of going to
arcades with his dad. His
favorite place to play
was Button’s Arcade in
Eastwood. Shortly
after he purchased
Zlomek keeps a machine in his classroom, Sky Kings, which he worked with several MPH
students to repair. Zlomek hopes to put the machine to good use at school.
6

his first home, Zlomek bought his first two
pinball machines from Craigslist and set them
up in his living room. Soon after, he started
playing after coming home from work to decompress.
He now owns 11 machines.
Eventually, he started competing in weekly
tournaments at Trapper’s Pizza Pub in East
Syracuse and Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge
downtown. Based on these tournament performances,
Zlomek is ranked among the top 3,000
(out of 40,000 players) in the world.
His highest score is 980 million points on
his own machine, Judge Dredd, which is based
on a British comic book. But a great score
involves more than pushing buttons. Zlomek
said that playing pinball requires interacting
with the machine—bumping, nudging and
adjusting it throughout play.
“If I have a really good run on a machine,”
Zlomek said, “I am physically tired afterwards.”
Now, Zlomek’s goal is to help bring pinball,
which had its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s,
back to life around Central New York with his
new venture called Syracuse PINheads.
With PINheads, he hopes to grow interest
in the game locally through tournaments,
events and seminars. Four of his machines are
currently on loan at Cloud City Comics and
Toys in ShoppingTown Mall for customers to
enjoy.
“My ultimate goal,” Zlomek said, “is to
build a pinball arcade.”
Story by Suzannah Peckham
Photo by Sam Goldman
Life of a PINhead
Zlomek bumps and flips his way to pinball glory
spring 2016 | 7

8
ask an alum
From the Red Schoolhouse
to the Red Carpet
Estabrook at a dinner party hosted by Vanity Fair in Beverly Hills to celebrate
the Oscars. She is wearing Zuhair Murad. Photo courtesy of Estabrook.
Amber Estabrook balances family life and a busy career at Vanity Fair
By Lily Grenis
Alum Résumé
Amber Estabrook, 41 (Class of ‘93)
College: Bucknell University, 1997. Spanish and Geography majors, minor in Creative Writing.
Job: Associate Publisher Luxury, Vanity Fair
Family: Husband Simone Poggi; three children
Career: Estabrook began her career in publishing with W magazine. She met Poggi while working
in Milan for“W.” The couple moved back to New York, where Estabrook eventually became
Executive Director of International Fashion at Vogue, traveling often to Milan, London, Paris
and Germany. Estabrook then moved to Vanity Fair. Festivals, dinner parties and even private
performances from celebrities like Gwen Stefani come with the job description.

Q: What are your responsibilities as associate publisher of Vanity Fair?
A: I oversee the luxury category. My specialty is managing the relationships with the large European
investors that we have, the large European fashion luxury companies that invest money to
advertise in Vanity Fair, in our brand.
Q: What is the hardest part about your job?
A: The hardest part is that you always have to do more. In sales, the goal is a number that is
always growing. You’re only as good as your last number, so you’re constantly trying to do more.
Q: To what do you attribute your success?
A: I think grit. I’ve been working since I was 14, from bagging groceries at a supermarket [to
working] as a hostess at the Dinosaur BBQ. I always had numerous jobs throughout the summer,
and I grew up working. I’m exceptionally competitive and I love to win, and so sales is the right
profession because it’s a competitive field. You’re constantly being charged with doing better than
you did before, and winning. That’s a personality requirement I guess. So work ethic, being competitive,
wanting to win, and loving what you do. You have to really like what you do.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Having a wonderful family coupled with a fun and successful career that is stimulating and
rewarding.
Q: What did you want to be when you were in high school?
A: I thought a lot about either international law or environmental law.
Q: Have you seen yourself change a lot since then?
A: A little bit. I think the international part is still very much there. I was a big champion of environmental
rights and that sort of thing, but I kind of grew away from that, and the international
aspect of it all stayed with me. When I got to college, I went to Spain on my semester abroad, and
that was my first trip to Europe, and that’s really what planted the seed. I knew I wanted to go
back. I just loved living in Europe, I loved living in Spain, I loved the Mediterranean culture.
Q: How did MPH contribute to your success?
A: I had a wonderful experience at MPH. There was a lot of individual attention that you received
because the class sizes were very small. Some of my best memories are really in the Lower
School, kindergarten through fifth grade. Those were really formative, fundamental years there.
Great teachers and a real sense of community and family. And as a matter of fact, my two best
friends today ... I met in kindergarten at MPH. We are still very close today.
Q: What advice do you have for MPH students?
A: Be gritty. Stick through even the hardest times. Don’t give up too easily. Hard work does pay
off. You can create your own luck and opportunity. Always create short- and long-term goals.
Always have a vision of what you want to achieve. Trust your gut and intuition. And know you
can do anything you set your mind to.
spring 2016 | 9

advice
YOUR SUMMER PLANS
Q: What should I do over the summer?
10
By Chris Hunter
A: Summer is the time to take a break from
school and focus on your mental health and
academic future.
For rising sophomores, I recommend
doing fun or amusing
activities, like
going to the MOST
or rebelling against
those who control
the social means
of production: the
bourgeoisie. The
freshman-to-sophomore
summer is one of the last “free” summers
you’ll have, so enjoy it.
When the summer of your sophomore-to-junior
year approaches, the dawning
realization that you are becoming a young
adult comes to light. This summer is when
some would say that you should find a job,
but that’s exactly what they want: for the proletariat
to stay underneath them. Either that,
or go visit the Dinosaur BBQ with friends.
Probably one of the most important
summers of your high-school life is the summer
of your junior-to-senior year. Colleges
are likely looking for things that make you
college-worthy, but don’t stress. If you’re
interested in art, visit the Everson Museum
of Art; if you find theater entertaining, take a
trip to Syracuse Stage.
If you’re frustrated with working long
hours with low wages for the benefit of the
upper class, take up arms against the
bourgeoisie. It’s important to reward yourself—here’s
room where you can be a narcissistic
capitalist.
Some colleges
ask applicants to
list their favorite
concerts, exhibits
and movies, so not
only will you have
fun doing things
you love, but it may
give you an upper hand in the application
process!
The summer before your senior year is,
in my opinion, a time to relax. By this time,
you’ve concluded months and months of
schoolwork, so you have time to unwind.
Make a bucket list of things you want to do
or a list of materials needed for the rebellion.
Gathering friends for the revolution is step
one to our step-by-step plan to end the capitalist
rule that we have all learned to obey.
If you want actual advice, finding things
that interest you is a great place to start. Go
buy tickets in advance for the Great New York
State Fair in August and go as many times as
you can afford. Keep in mind that you don’t
have to do everything; just do things that
you know will help you have fun and have a
stress-free summer.
“If you’re frustrated with working
long hours with low wages for the
benefit of the upper class, take up
arms against the bourgeoisie.”

By Dan Albanese
being true to yourself.
In all seriousness, summer is a time
to enjoy yourself. Summer can be a lot of
fun, but it’s also really easy to waste time.
Find stuff you can do with your friends, like
Graphic by Chris Hunter
“I personally like hanging out with my friend Jeff, who is
actually a 3,000-pound Beluga Whale.”
A: Congratulations! You’ve survived another
year of “The Man” trying to get you to
conform to his plan for you. It’s summer.
Summer is the time to sit back, relax and
enjoy yourself, and nothing says relaxing
like eating a big bucket of bees. Summer
can get very hot, and it’s important to stay
hydrated, and nothing says thirst-quenching
like a nice tall glass of bees. Just eat
them by the handful. Kill as many bees as
you can, because at the rate the human race
is killing them, you might as well join in on
the fun.
It’s also important to stay social during
the summer. I personally like hanging
out with my friend Jeff, who is actually a
3,000-pound Beluga Whale. Jeff and I love
to swim and hula hoop and look like really
fat dolphins with tumors on our foreheads
and talk about how much we love anime.
While you’re hanging out with your
whale friend, this is the perfect time to have
an absolute existential crisis. You only have so
much time on Earth, and yet you are spending
your limited time eating bees and talking
about anime to whales, and more importantly,
you’re making life choices based on an
advice column in a magazine.
Bottom line, you have to do what makes
you happy, which is why you are going to
confess your repressed love for actor John
Goodman to your whale friend. You’ve kept it
bottled up inside your whole life. Love should
never be a secret. If you keep something as
complicated as love stored up inside, it could
make you sick. Today is the day you start
going to concerts or going to the beach or to
amusement parks. It will be a lot more fun if
you’re doing stuff with your friends, even if
they’re whales, instead of staying at home and
watching Netflix for three months straight.
Trust me, I know.
You only have a little bit of time until you
gotta go back to school, so you have to try to
make the most of it.
spring 2016 | 11

selfie
GOODBYE,MPH
A senior reflects on high school and looks forward to college
Photo and story by Seamus Mulhern
For me,
high
school is
like a relationship.
One day,
you’re going
about your
business and
you meet this
person. You
strike up a
conversation
and it quickly
becomes apparent
that this person is … different.
For example, during my first day of high
school, I spent a whole study hall talking to
people I had just met rather than doing work.
I know that sounds trivial, but compared to
middle school, where someone gets lectured
for whistling too loudly, it felt liberating.
It seems as though there’s a world of mystery
surrounding this new person in your life.
A collection of undiscovered revelations not
just about them, but about your life and the
world as a whole. At first glance, High School
is welcoming and interesting and warm and
sweet. The teachers are nice, the students are
all right, the lunch is certainly better than at
the public middle school I attended.
The first few days together live up to expectations.
You’re inseparable. Every day feels
like the best day of your life.
Sure, the classes are a bit harder, but
every day is a new adventure. Every day, I was
meeting new people and making new friends.
Best of all, it’s all under the guise of being able
to say that you are a high-schooler. During
my first few days of high school, I had a much
easier time making friends than my entire
time in middle school. There was a sense of
liberation, as if I was being restricted for my
entire life and I was just then learning what
it meant to be my own person. I will never
forget the time when I helped make a bike for
a science project or my first free block when
I watched Monty Python with friends when I
should have been studying for a math quiz.
It’s unexplainable. It’s engaging. Nothing
can stop you. You’re killin’ it.
Then, what feels like an eternity passes
by. Suddenly, this person who had once felt so
welcoming and interesting becomes someone
you feel distant from. What used to fill you
with excitement and joy now just becomes a
source of needless anxiety and stress.
There’s a consistent onslaught of difficult
projects and exams, social drama, and, a lot
of the time, whenever you’re there, you just
feel uncomfortable with yourself. It just does
not feel like you’re in the right place.
In my case, I was obsessing over creating
the perfect college application, creating a
great artistic portfolio to apply for a screenwriting
degree, and, all the while, trying to
make time to be a relatively social person in
my final year of being “young and innocent.”
Because of all of this, High School feels
very clingy. Though still nice and all, High
School’s previously inviting embrace suddenly
becomes an inescapable grip that makes
you feel trapped. It feels like you’re being tied
up by college deadlines, STP deadlines and
homework deadlines. You just get to a point
12

where you’d rather be anywhere but here.
Near the end of senior year, I was at my
lowest point. I was just coming to terms with
this anxiety and stress being a part of my life
when, all of a sudden, I met someone new.
This new person’s name is College. In
College’s eyes, I see even more difficult classes
and the eventual social controversies that will
occur. College initially terrified me.
The very thought of living on my own
(and, potentially, in a different part of the
country) was enough to send shivers down
my spine. I can barely do my own laundry!
It’s intimidating and somewhat terrifying, but
for some odd reason, I want to try and see
College again … perhaps on a regular basis.
The worst part about all of this is that you
know in your head that you want to be with
College, but there’s a very particular moment
where you second guess yourself and think,
“Maybe High School wasn’t that bad.” You
think about the triumphant Rocky-esque
feeling of accidentally acing a math quiz. The
days when the lunch that’s served is actually
something that you like. The early morning
drives to Taco Bell during your senior year.
It’s all there. It’s all real.
But, in the end, you have to make the
decision that makes you happy.
Ultimately, I’m gonna feel happier in a
place where I can find that thrill of adventure
I felt in my freshman year. It may be strange
and scary and it may be a metaphorical dive
into the deep end of the introspective pool of
life, but it’s gonna make me feel better.
High School will understand.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have reservations
with College… also, laundry. I need to
learn how to do laundry. If anyone is willing
to teach me, that would be fantastic.
the backpacks of MPH
MPH students sport trendy backpacks
seen at school
Photos by Maddy Rieks
From left: James Xu - Korea MCM $2,500; Lexie Wiggins - Michael Kors $200;
Meredith Yang - Louis Vuitton $3,000; Juli Teres - Journeys Kidz $42.
spring 2016 | 13

culture
Summer Movies and Concerts
By Dan Albanese & Seamus Mulhern
Summer is the biggest time of the year for blockbuster movies and great concerts and this
summer is no exception. Movies like “Suicide Squad” and a remake of the classic “Ghostbusters”
are scheduled for release. In music, the famous Vans Warped Tour, consisting of
dozens of performers, comes to the Lakeview Amphitheater in July. But most notably, there’s
“Finding Dory” and a performance by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa in Syracuse.
“Finding Dory?” More like “Finding Ellen
DeGeneres’s Credibility.” (When did she lose
it? At the point where her biggest claim to
fame was taking a selfie at the Oscars.) In
all seriousness, “Finding Dory” should be decent.
The art direction looks vibrant, DeGeneres
seems just as funny as Dory as she was
13 years ago, and returning director Andrew
Stanton seems to be looking for a sure hit
after making one of the biggest flops of alltime.
(Anybody remember “John Carter?”
Exactly.) Worst-case scenario, this movie
should make Ellen’s wife financially secure
enough to make “Arrested Development”
season five. Get on it, Portia!
Syracuse doesn’t usually get a lot of interesting
concerts. This summer is highlighted
by the Dave Matthews Band, the Zac Brown
Band, 5 Seconds of Summer and Keith
Urban. And on Aug. 13, Snoop Dogg, Wiz
Khalifa, Kevin Gates, and Jhené Aiko will
perform at the Lakeview Amphitheater. Like,
dude. That’s pretty cool. We have no idea
who those other guys are, but everyone loves
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. This comes
after Snoop’s initial plans for a free concert at
Chevy Court last September were canceled
and he was replaced by Nas. So not only will
Snoop Dogg really perfom in Syracuse, but
it will be even bigger than initially planned
thanks to the addition of Wiz Khalifa.
14

interactive
“Make America __________ and __________ again!”
screamed Donald with glee. The crowd __________
with ____________, for their one true ____________,
Trump, was making his speech. Trump had been
planning for __________; now was his chance to put an
end to ________________’s campaign once and for all.
Trump’s plan to brainwash the entire world with his
___________ Trump Steaks would be ___________! The
ADJECTIVE
Trump Steaks would be laced with his special ingredient,
_________ ____________. With his _________ plan to
ADJECTIVE
Trump’s Steak Over
EMOTIONAL STATE
ADJECTIVE
AMOUNT OF TIME
2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
PLURAL NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PAST TENSE VERB
OFFICIAL TITLE
VERB (ING)
ADJECTIVE
control the minds of all the ___________ in the world,
PLURAL NOUN
soon everyone will be divided by walls!
Created by Chris Hunter
spring 2016 | 15

health and beauty
Tap, Shop, Save
Three easy apps offer great student savings
By Emma Pitnick
For my birthday, my grandmother usually
sends me $200. This year, however, she sent
me $100, for which I was grateful, but it was
not enough to buy the For Love & Lemons dress
that I’d had my eye on for six months. The dress
cost $230. Instead of trying to scrounge up the
other $130, I waited.
Lo and behold, after only a few weeks, UNi-
DAYS sent me an email with a special code for 60
percent off anything at For Love & Lemons, a Los
Angeles-based retailer.
I couldn’t believe it. My dream dress now cost
$100—exactly what I had.
This is how I shop. I’ve rarely paid full price
for anything in more than a year. There must be a
catch, right? Think again!
I use three free, easy apps that help me get everything
from discounts to completely free clothing
and cool gadgets: UNiDAYS, Shopkick and Shopular.
These apps will permanently change the way
you shop for anything, ever.
Photo by Maddy Rieks
Purse bought with a matching faux fur scarf from ASOS through
UNiDAYS. Scarf purchased at 50 percent off.
Makeup: Clinique - $50 savings from Shopular. Dress: Forever 21 - $15 savings From Shopular.
Purse: Asos-$40 savings from UNiDAYS. Socks: Urban Outfitters - $10 savings from UNiDAYS.
Shoes: Public Desire-$12 savings from UNiDAYS.
16

UNiDAYS:
UNiDAYS is created just for students. It is
the “Shop more, spend less” app that gives you
great discounts online and in stores.
Just verify that you are currently a student—you
will need a school email or school
ID—and you’ll be instantly dropped into a
boatload of discount codes. Most of them are
for clothing brands such as Urban Outfitters,
American Apparel and Jack Wills. But there
are also discount codes for a range of other
companies. These include Ray-Ban sunglasses,
Dylan’s Candy Bar and Casetify phone cases.
Just log onto your account, copy the code,
go to the website and shop away. One of my
best deals through this app was getting 40
percent off at For Love & Lemons, which saved
me $190 on another important dress—my
prom dress.
Shopkick:
Shopkick rewards users with free gift cards
for the shopping they already do. Shopkick has
more than 15 million users who have earned
more than $60 million in gift cards.
This program has tons of uses. The app
locates where you are, programs itself to all
of the stores near you that participate with
Shopkick, (for me it’s places like Target, Wegmans
and Marshalls), and hooks you up with
coupons for those stores.
But there’s more: when you open the app
upon entering one of the stores, it gives you
points called kicks. (Yes, just for walking in.)
You can also get kicks from scrolling
through ads or from scanning featured items
on the app that they have in the store. It’s like
an instantly rewarding scavenger hunt.
Once you save enough points, you can
choose from one of almost 50 different free
rewards, ranging from gift cards, to donations
to charity, to products such as headphones or a
Vespa scooter.
To date, I have almost 6,000 points. That’s
pretty good because I have more than enough
points to get $25 in gift cards and donate to a
charity. In the past, I’ve earned a $30 Aerie gift
card and donated to the American Red Cross.
While I am nowhere near winning a Vespa,
which costs 1.8 million kicks, I gain points
and get free gift cards all the time. What’s the
best part about all of this? It’s 100 percent free.
You’re literally getting paid to shop.
Shopular:
Shopular is similar to both UNiDAYS and
Shopkick in that it helps you save money while
you shop. What makes Shopular different,
however, is that it takes over 100 stores, many
in the area, and gives you a range of weekly
ads, promo codes and mark-down items. Even
better, these offers are updated every single
day. You can also pick out your favorite stores,
and it will send you an alert with their deals.
The best coupon I have used so far on
Shopular was for Macy’s. I bought a Clinique
beauty product, a foundation costing just $27,
and received a free eight-piece makeup set
worth almost $100.
Most of the clothing stores Shopular
promotes are big brands such as Abercrombie
& Fitch, Bath & Body Works and Forever 21.
Shopular also has tons of deals for restaurants,
craft stores, pet stores and even drug stores.
***
Shopping is and will probably always be
my favorite hobby. Teachers scold me for being
on my phone during class but always end up
laughing because they realize I’m not texting,
but shopping online.
How could I not constantly try to shop
with all of these amazing apps giving me the
chance to save hundreds of dollars every day?
Without these apps, I would feel so lost. Soon,
you will too.
Stop reading, and get saving.
spring 2016 | 17

food
Super Summer
Ever want to cool down on a hot summer day and enjoy
a delicious treat? These three quick, easy and healthy
smoothie recipes are the answer!
Berry Green Tea:
Ingredients:
- ½ banana
- 1/3 cup mixed berries
- ½ cup iced green tea
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1/3 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 tsp. chia seeds
- 1/3 cup ice
Directions:
Pour green tea, yogurt, honey
and chia seeds into blender
first. Then add banana
and berries. Add ice last and
blend to desired
consistency.
18
Graphic by Maddy Rieks

Smoothies
Carrot Cake:
Ingredients:
- ½ banana
- ½ cup diced carrots
- ½ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 tsp. of honey
- ¾ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ginger
- ½ tsp. nutmeg
- 1/3 cup ice
Directions:
Pour almond milk, honey and
yogurt in first. Next, add
cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
Then add banana and
carrots. Add ice and blend
until smooth.
Tropical Tundra:
Ingredients:
- ½ banana
- ¼ cup pineapple
- ¼ cup mango
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1/3 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1/3 cup ice
Directions:
Pour coconut water, yogurt
and honey into blender
first. Add banana, pineapple
and mango next. Add ice
and blend until completely
smooth.
*Recipes adapted from Pinterest by Emma Pitnick
spring 2016 | 19

features
MPH
By Hyemin Han
This fall, the MPH and greater CNY
In the summer of 2015, Head of School Jim Dunaway attended a workshop for new heads
of schools in Atlanta, where he heard a presentation given by Crane Metamarketing. Dunaway
learned about Crane’s brand work for independent institutions and knew that MPH,
recovering after a year of a crippling financial realization, had to work on its marketing.
After the workshop, Dunaway shared his interest, yet inability, to hire Crane with an
established school donor, who requested anonymity. The donor agreed to pay for what
Dunaway calls the “astronomical” expense of retaining the firm.
But the costs are worth it to Dunaway, who said that there is some perception within the
local community that MPH did indeed shut its doors, or is planning to. The end goal is that
with a new marketing emphasis, Manlius Pebble Hill School and what it is about will become
as recognizable as a can of Coke.
One year after a financial crisis that threatened to shut down the school, it’s easy to question
the validity of using this money to work on branding rather than put it towards something
the school lost, such as scholarships. Dunaway, however, believes rebranding will be
most beneficial to MPH moving forward.
“[It] will, in my opinion, have more long-term positive effects than having used it for
scholarships,” Dunaway said. “We would have run out of that money very quickly with scholarships.
... There would be no continuing value.”
To attempt to understand MPH fully, Crane team members spent 33 hours on campus
conducting interviews, observing classrooms, touring campus and attending MPH events.
They led focus groups with 129 members of the MPH community, including students, faculty
20

2.0
community can expect to see, hear and read about a new MPH message
Photo by Sam Goldman
and board members.
“Our job is to capture the essence of MPH, not to create it,” said Christina Albetta, Crane
program manager who visited MPH’s campus this year.
The administration has since been presented with a reflection paper (a report of what
Crane saw and understood about MPH) and a Promise Statement (the text of which may
or may not be fully released to the public), which intend to detail the MPH experience, the
core of what represents the school. The administration will utilize language in the Promise
Statement and reflect that message on the school website, in the literature MPH sends out, its
letterheads and radio advertisements. Crane will be on retainer until next year to continue
consulting for MPH as these materials are implemented.
While the school continues to recover from the crisis, and faculty and students look forward,
the events of last year have left an indelible mark.
“It’s a feature of the history of this place now,” said English teacher Pat Bentley Hoke.
“Have we moved on? Yeah, although, I don’t think we want to forget it.”
The effort to rebrand MPH comes at a crucial time. With the unforgettable backlash
towards the “Way Forward” and “MPH First” campaigns when the financial situation was
revealed, whatever new project that is launched, especially one that seeks to depict MPH’s
essence, will not only be under scrutiny of the MPH community, but the MPH alumni, donors
and greater CNY community.
Crane will “recognize, identify, and articulate, using common language, what we really do
well,” Dunaway said. “Maybe we all know that, but people out there need to know that.”
spring 2016 | 21

features
dress to
By Maja Cannavo
It’s a warm spring day, and MPH students
have welcomed the change in weather
with shorts, skirts and dresses in a
rainbow of colors and styles. Upper Schoolers
walk to class chatting and laughing. But
anyone who’s left a little too much of their
legs or shoulders exposed is also watching for
Dean of Students Alex Leclercq, who could
be lurking around the corner with his red
notebook, lying in wait for the next out-ofdress-code
student.
Through April of this year, Leclercq had
cited students for 53 dress code violations.
Two years ago, he recorded 101.
But despite students’ perceptions, Leclercq
doesn’t enjoy playing the clothing police.
“Quite frankly, the idea of telling people
what to wear,” Leclercq said, “is antithetic to
what kind of person I am. I sometimes feel
like a Taliban who’s conquered the land and
decided to impose a dress code on the people
in that land, and I hate being in that position.”
Even so, Leclercq acknowledges that the
MPH dress code is an important part of the
school’s identity. While today’s standards are
much more relaxed than those of the past
and some miss the days of neckties and dress
shoes, the code’s current expectations reflect
the school’s values of promoting individuality
and freedom of expression in a welcoming
atmosphere. This is reflected not only in
the more causal expectations but also in the
enforcement policy that Leclercq said affords
students respect, as does the open invitation
for students to have a say in their own rules.
“I’m not sure the dress code contributes
to MPH’s identity so much as reflects
it,” Head of School Jim Dunaway said in an
email. “The school is relatively casual and
supports individuality, and I think you can
see that in the dress code. MPH is a place that
not only tolerates differences, but actively
supports them.”
Although students tend to complain
about the dress code, some also acknowledge
its positive effect.
22

Seniors Ato Arkhurst and Madison Brang with Dean Alex
Leclercq in his office, photographed by Maddy Rieks.
impress
MPH’s dress code evolves to reflect individuality and fashion trends
“I appreciate the level of class that it gives
to the students,” junior Lisa Morocco said.
“And when you look at the student population
here compared to other student populations,
it makes us stand out, I think, in a
positive light.”
The current MPH dress code is far removed
from the school’s original one, which
was similar to that of Christian Brothers
Academy. CBA’s dress code allows dress
pants, knee-length skirts, oxford shirts, polos
(in the fall and spring only) and sweaters; it
prohibits sneakers and sandals, among other
items.
When Donna Meehan started teaching
math at MPH in 1984, Middle and Upper
School boys had to wear ties or turtlenecks,
and girls in those grades had to wear stockings
or socks. Pants had to be dress pants
worn with belts; boys had to wear dress
shoes and socks as well. Sometimes when
the weather was warm, the Dean of Students
would declare a “No-Tie Day,” allowing boys
to take off their ties and girls to take off their
stockings or socks.
Today, the dress code has far fewer
restrictions. Ties and belts are no longer
mandatory, nor are socks or stockings. Sneakers
are allowed, as are all pants except jeans,
leggings, yoga pants, pajama pants, sweatpants
and athletic pants.
Changes to the dress code have occurred
gradually; important changes last came
during the 2013-2014 school year, when the
school abolished the requirement that skirts
and shorts reach students’ knees. Now the
dress codes states that clothes must cover
shoulders, thighs, stomach and chest.
Thanks to a petition by then-senior Hannah
Lukow, the dress code also became gender-neutral
that year, meaning that its rules
became the same for boys and girls. Most
notably, boys were no longer required to wear
collared shirts. However, all shirts must have
a “finished neckline” if they do not have a
collar. The meaning of “finished neckline” has
spring 2016 | 23

ecome a topic of contention and confusion
among students.
Another controversial aspect of the dress
code is its ban on hoodies. Students often
wear them to keep warm, and junior Andrew
Park believes they should be allowed.
“No hoodies makes no sense,” he said.
The current dress code reflects, to some
degree, today’s cultural expectations. Leclercq
said the professional world is shifting toward
a more relaxed standard of dress; he expects
school dress codes to follow suit.
But what are the implications of a relatively
relaxed dress code on students’ behavior
and performance? The 1991-1992
MPH Palladium, a condensed handbook for
students, stated, “At MPH we expect students
to be well dressed because we see a high correlation
between behavior and dress.”
Such a statement is no longer written
in the Palladium; however, history teacher
Edward Curtis, who started at MPH in 1992,
agrees that it is important to dress well. Curtis,
who wears a tie to work every day, said he
would be open to a stricter dress code.
“I think that the clothes you wear tend
to reflect your attitude and approach towards
your daily work, and dressing according to
a certain standard improves your work and
your attitude,” he said.
Dunaway views dress similarly.
“We send strong messages with our
clothing; there is a reason one doesn’t wear
shorts and a T-shirt to a job interview or a funeral,”
he said via email. “There is an element
of self-respect and regard for others in the
way we dress.”
Experts disagree on the impact of dress
codes. While some believe dressing up aids
performance, others argue that dress codes
can create a stuffy environment that hinders
success.
MPH allows students to dress down for
AP and final exams in the interest of comfort.
The third Wednesday of each month is also a
dress-down day, a policy similar to casual Fridays
in the professional world, and students
can dress down on Fridays if they wear MPH
attire.
Regardless of the research, Leclercq said
the dress code helps students transition to the
expectations of the workplace and fosters a
sense of togetherness.
“The dress code is not about individuality;
it’s about community,” he said. “Although
we have a dress code that, in my opinion,
promotes a certain level of individual expression,
it’s also a rule, or a set of standards, that
we all share in common, and it’s one expression
of our being together as a community.”
And although the dress code can present
a hassle for students, some say that it has
a positive effect on the school. Even senior
Madison Brang, who said she breaks the dress
code once or twice a week by wearing leggings
or torn pants, acknowledges its benefits.
“I am glad I go to a place where I am
surrounded by people who are dressed fashionably,
along with myself,” Brang said via
email. “It’s not like I’m [breaking the dress
code] to rebel or make a statement; leggings
are just really comfortable and easy to wear
with anything.”
Despite the dress code’s advantages, some
faculty agree that it is, and should be, far
down on the school’s list of priorities.
“The focus ought to be on academic work
and what you’re doing to make yourself the
Photos courtesy of MPH.
24

est you you can be,” Curtis said. “A school
that focuses very, very strictly on dress code
and never talks about ideas is not a school
that I think we want to go to or work at.”
Leclercq also said that enforcement
should not infringe upon students’ dignity.
“I mean, to a great extent, membership
in the MPH community is a chance for
young people to experience a certain level
of freedom … and I think it’s important
that you do get a chance to experience this
freedom, even if you’re going to break small
standards like the dress code from time to
time,” he said.
Accordingly, consequences for dresscode
violations are fairly mild. Students
receive a verbal warning and an email to
parents for their first two violations each
school year. A third violation results in the
loss of free blocks or lunch duty.
“I once had to do lunch duty for a week,
which was not fun,” Brang said via email.
By contrast, Christian Brothers Academy
has a strict dress-code violation policy. CBA’s
Parent-Student Handbook states that students
breaking the dress code may not attend class
until they are in dress code. Teachers may
give them zeros on any work, including tests
or quizzes, they miss.
Regardless of the enforcement policy,
Dunaway believes it is impossible to eliminate
violations altogether.
“What I have seen is that whatever the
dress code, strict or lenient, students test the
limits,” he said in an email. “That’s just the nature
of being an adolescent, I think.”
However, Meehan values consistent enforcement
of the dress code.
“I think it’s not fair to the other students
who follow the dress code,” she said. “They’re
being part of it, buying in, and doing the right
thing, so I think it’s important for people to
realize that.”
Although some students and faculty
In the 1990s, boys were required to wear
a collared shirt or a turtleneck.
agree that enforcement has become more
relaxed in recent years, Leclercq maintains
that he eased up only last year due to the
stress of MPH’s financial crisis, logging only
23 violations for the year. However, he admits
that it is difficult to spot all violations.
Perhaps the most prominent dress-code
violation came during last year’s financial
crisis, when two students dyed their hair
blue and pink, respectively, to protest the loss
of their scholarships. The MPH dress code
prohibits unnaturally colored hair as well as
facial and body piercings.
Leclercq sees the dress code as a work
in progress. Students can petition him for
changes but rarely have; Lukow was the last
student to do so.
“I’m very disappointed,” Leclercq said.
“I was hoping for more changes to the dress
code. I mean, the dress code is intended to
evolve with fashion, right?”
Leclercq said that changes should be left
up to the students and that even jeans could
be allowed should a student compose a valid,
logical argument.
“I think students are more on the edge of
fashion than any of the adults in the building,”
he said, “and so I think that push needs
to come from them.”
spring 2016 | 25

features
Respect Your Elders
Current seniors give advice to the Class of 2017
Story and graphic by Sam Goldman
Visit one of the junior class meetings at
MPH, and the sense of urgency in the
soon-to-be seniors’ voices is obvious.
Each student at MPH is uniquely different,
but something on everyone’s mind is applying
to college.
College is especially alarming to the Class
of 2017 in part because of the newly formatted
SAT. This raises questions regarding its
difficulty and scoring system, and adds itself
to the already large list of daunting senior
tasks. Do I have a “good” SAT score? Will
they accept me? How can I get into the college
of my choice?
The shift between junior and senior year
is the most important one in high school.
Though seniors set high expectations and
worry about their future, one senior offers
advice all juniors should take to heart.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t feel like you aren’t
worth it and that you aren’t going to get anywhere,
because everyone is a smart person,”
said senior Dorothea Hamblin.
Be confident, and get off to an early
start. While summer is normally for rest
and relaxation, for high-school juniors, it’s
quite the opposite. Summer is a crucial time
to improve the chances of getting into the
college of your choice by broadening your
knowledge. Do this by attending a summer
camp that suits your interests. Some colleges,
like Princeton, have asked prospective students
to list what they’ve done their previous
two summers. Whether it’s a camp dedicated
to aerospace engineering or pogo sticking,
there’s something out there for everyone.
“Going to a summer camp is very beneficial
because it shows colleges what your goals
are,” said senior Amina Gingold, who attended
camps for photography and film. “It shows
that you’re actually doing something, as
opposed to sitting on the couch all summer.”
Getting a job can be equally helpful.
Holding a job shows colleges your maturity
and responsibility, and also puts money in
your pockets and gas in your tank.
“I would definitely get a paid job and
then do something that you’re interested in,
because colleges like to see that,” said senior
Cady Ridall. “Also, it’s fun to do something
that you like.”
Community service is another thing
students can do and an area more and more
colleges are starting to value. But don’t try
to become someone who you are not. You
shouldn’t partake in community service, or
anything else for that matter, unless it”s
something that interests you.
“Do something meaningful to you and
perhaps your family,” said Will Cardamone,
MPH’s Director of College Counseling.
Additionally, the overwhelming advice
from the senior class regarding academics
and college applications is to start early.
Whether it’s your summer assignments or
the Common App, don’t procrastinate. Doing
some of the work at the end of junior year,
and even over the summer can alleviate the
stress that comes with being a senior.
The most daunting and time-consuming
part of the college application process is the
Common Application, aka the Common App.
The Common App is a generic application
that many colleges now accept. With it, you
26

are able to create one in-depth application
and send it to 625 schools that accept it.
“The Common App is going to be your
life,” Gingold said.
But several seniors agree that though the
task seems overwhelming, it is manageable if
you’re smart about it.
“It’s a very time-consuming process so I
would recommend splitting up your application
process into little chunks,” Ridall said.
During senior year, the academic load of
classes and AP courses is difficult to balance
alone; add the college application process,
and it becomes excruciating. Getting a jump
on things will allow you to take it easy the
second semester of senior year, unless you’re
waitlisted. Being waitlisted by a college can be
discouraging but you have to remain hopeful.
A marathon runner does not jog the 25 miles,
just to walk the rest of the way.
“[If I were waitlisted] I wouldn’t be able
to chill,” said senior Joel Kaigler. “I’d act as if
I’m a first-semester senior.”
Cardamone said that though the college
search can be stressful, it is important to keep
it in perspective, and he advises that students
avoid focusing on school rankings found in
guidebooks.
“What students do when they get to college
(making the most of academic/extra-curricular
opportunities) is far more important
than the name of the college they attend,” he
said. “Understand that a thoughtful process
with healthy doses of self-discovery and honest
communication with parents will lead to
the best outcome at the end of the search.”
Although senior year is difficult, make
sure you enjoy it. Recognize that high school
is a time to try new things and discover what
interests you. Try something new, whether it’s
extracurriculars such as theater, sports, or the
tons of clubs offered at MPH, or even branching
out to a new group of friends.
Often, unique strands of the notorious
disease “Senioritis” have infected countless
seniors. John Bierut fell victim to “Senioritis”
toward the beginning of his senior year,
quickly warning others that “senioritis is
gonna hit, and it’s gonna hit hard.”
“[Senior year is] way harder than you
think,” said senior Bryce Church, “but make
sure you enjoy it. You can only be a senior
once.”
spring 2016 | 27

issues
Election of a Lifetime
A junior overcomes her ineligibility to vote
By Jeongyoon Han
I
was born in 1999, which makes me ineligible to vote in the 2016 Presidential election by
one year. Some say this is a blessing, but I see my ineligibility as a curse.
The remaining candidates represent all parts of the political ideological spectrum,
from Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders to the radical right businessman
Donald Trump.
Because these candidates have such a wide range of political views, it has been harder for
them to gain approval from the majority of Americans. In a Real Clear Politics poll done in
seven states, Republican support ratings for any of the GOP candidates were generally dismal.
With the country in a frenzy over who to vote for, I’m more concerned than ever about the
future of our government. The next president will have to settle the nation’s qualms
over our most pressing issues, and in such a crucial election, it’s more important
than ever that the younger generation is heard. World relations with
China, Russia and Arab countries, along with domestic policy issues
over immigration and the budget, are so fragile that it is imperative
for every voice to count.
Matthew Twomey-Smith, who teaches AP U.S. History
at MPH, said this election season is especially important
and unique. As unconventional runners, Sanders and
Trump have managed consistently strong campaigns,
which hasn’t surprised him. Twomey-Smith said their
popularity resulted from the “confluence of a perfect
storm”: Americans have reached a point where they
are tired of politicians constantly fighting.
“[Americans] don’t want the same old, same
old candidates anymore,” he said.
Neither do MPH students, like senior Emery
Spina, a registered Democrat. His strong opposition
to the GOP is the result of what he views as
the party’s insensitive stance on social issues.
“I’m kind of ashamed that people like Trump
have made it this far,” he said.
Many share Spina’s disdain for Trump.
Gallup Poll stated 7 in 10 women disapprove of
Donald Trump, and that 50 percent of Americans
would be scared if Trump was elected
28

president—and with good reason. He is unable to empathize with anyone who isn’t white or
American, particularly immigrants and Muslims. Duke University professor and imam-in-residence
Abdullah Antepli once said, “Trump is validating the narrative that the West is at war
with Islam.”
Even some of our allies have distanced themselves from Trump. U.K. Prime Minister
David Cameron called Trump a disgrace, and more than 600,000 people in the U.K. signed a
petition to ban Trump from entering the U.K.
Contrastingly, Trump supporter Jordan Darling believes Trump would be the right fit as
president because he will represent all of America’s values in international issues.
“I think a lot of people are just entertained by him and I think he isn’t going to be afraid
when it comes to world leaders.”
Regardless of their views, some new voters agree this will be an election to remember.
“Three or four years ago I would not have ever thought I would be thinking of Trump for
president,” said Darling, a senior.
Yet, we have seen what once was considered absurd come to reality. And of all age demographics,
my peers are left with the task of addressing our ever-so-evolving politics with
the power of the ballot, something that we have wanted our whole lives.
That’s the exciting part: the thrill of the election is not just hitting
new voters, but those of us under the age of 18.
Should the race boil down to Former Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton or Trump, had I been old enough
to vote, I would have had to think deeply about my
decision. Clinton’s connections to large corporations,
her untrustworthiness and Trump’s
offensive remarks have made me wary of voting
for either. Plus, though this isn’t new to
American politics, the candidates’ quickness
to slander each other, some of the GOP
candidates’ insensitive comments and
ideologies have made me embarrassed of
our leaders.
While it is a bummer I can’t vote,
my disappointment pushed me to be
immersed in the campaigns: attending
political rallies, phone banking and
canvassing for Sanders. Even though
it’s not the same as voting, remaining
active in the campaigns as a minor can
be just as impactful. It has given me a
taste of the excitement I will feel once I
actually step into the voting booth and
cast my first vote on November 3, 2020.
spring 2016 | 29

ig picture
30

from adversity to art
Cancer masks transformed into masterpieces for charity auction
Everything will be OK.
I’ll be in a better place.
I love you.
By Lily Grenis
Amina Gingold’s mother spoke these words to her while dying of colon cancer.
Gingold paid tribute to her mother by embellishing these phrases with paint and flowers
as a way to transform suffering into beauty.
Gingold and six other MPH students in the Advanced Studio Art class created art out of
radiation masks used to treat head and neck cancer as part of Beneath the SurFACE, a project
organized by the Upstate Cancer Center. Eight schools and 25 professional artists from Central
New York participated in the project, which also educated the artists about these cancers.
Gingold lost her mother, Naomi Chernoff, in fifth grade.
“I wanted it to be something meaningful for the cause,” said Gingold, a senior. “I thought I
would make an ode to her.”
Gingold painted her mask white with tears flowing from its closed eyes. Clustered in the
blue are vibrant flowers, representing beauty growing out of pain.
Creating beautiful art from unimaginable ordeals was no simple task, however. Teresa
Henderson, chair of the Visual Art and Design Department and class instructor, described the
difficulty of doing justice to a cancer patient’s experiences through the masks.
“Because it’s such a big topic and it’s such a real topic,” Henderson said, “the topic has to be
treated with a level of respect, but it also needs to have the balance of the artistic voice as well.”
Six MPH masks, including Gingold’s, were auctioned off at the Upstate Cancer Center in
April. The auction raised more than $6,000 for the center’s head and neck cancer patient fund.
Upstate also produced a documentary about the project designed to serve as an educational
tool for cancer prevention. MPH students were interviewed for the film.
Going forward, Henderson hopes the masks will be informative tools in the community.
“Art isn’t something that just hangs on the wall,” she said. “Art is something that has the
ability to engage, it has the ability to advocate, and it has the ability to bring more information
and more awareness.”
Photo courtesy of Teresa Henderson
Amina Gingold’s mask was featured in an auction benefiting the Upstate Cancer Center in April.
spring 2016 | 31

5300 Jamesville Road Syracuse, NY 13214