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CATLIN GABEL’S STUDENT VOICE
CATLINSPEAK
THE SPRING ISSUE
By Olivia Morrison ‘24
As students buckle down and prepare for their last month of classes before immersives, the senior Class of 2024 is preparing for our senior projects and final days on the Catlin Gabel School (CGS) campus.
By Vishaka Priyan ‘26
As our senior class prepares to embark on their journey beyond our school walls, I've seized the opportunity to gain insights from these soon-to-be graduates, seeking out their most valuable pieces of advice. Below are the pearls of wisdom offered by our seniors, from the most cliche to the most practical.
By Tia Chakrapani ‘27
When you take the occasional scroll through the CatlinSpeak website (and if you don't, you really should), you might notice some of the fabulous artwork of seniors Eva Vu-Stern and Angie Nguyen!
By Erin Chow ‘25
As seniors approach their final classes before graduation, they will leave Catlin Gabel School (CGS) having taken many classes whether it be mandatory or elective. But which classes stand out among the crowd? To find out, I talked to a handful of seniors and surveyed them to try to find which classes were favored the most among the senior class.
By Lewis Anderson ‘24
The endowment is critical for Catlin Gabel School’s daily operations. Without it, Catlin could not afford all its current programs except by raising tuition.
By Elise Kim ‘25
Erin. Lily. Sienna. Lauren. Katie. My name is Elise, but these are just some examples of names I’ve been called by teachers over the years.
By Harper Davis ‘24
This last month is a conflicting time for many seniors. While the prospect of college is exciting, it is unfortunate that the lives we’ve grown so accustomed to will be inevitably uprooted.
By Ayaan Sait ‘24
Jack Gutman ‘24 can be seen around the Catlin Gabel School (CGS) campus shooting hoops on the JV basketball squad, throwing in track and field in the spring, or suiting his iconic grey outfit, the “groutfit.” But, how many of us at CGS really know who Jack Gutman actually is?
By Hadley Cress ‘27
Walking into Dant, it’s clear that Catlin Gabel School (CGS) has a phone problem, which has promoted talk about an upcoming phone policy. Many students are on their phones instead of talking to their peers.
By Holland Swan ‘24
As school winds down and summer approaches, change is a natural consequence of this time of year. At the end of the 2024 school year, we will be saying goodbye to not just one, but three beloved faculty members who have helped make the proud and inclusive Catlin Gabel School (CGS) community what it is today.
By Hadley Cress ‘27
Have you ever needed someone to talk to? At Catlin Gabel School (CGS) there are two counselors, Dan Petrocelli and Erin Gilmore, who are here to help.
NEWS
Catlin News
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Catlin News -
Local News
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Local News -
Currently, over one third of the world’s fisheries are overfished, meaning fish are caught faster than they can reproduce and grow. Worse yet, scientists at National Geographic predict that “global fisheries will collapse by 2048 unless we find a way to stop rampant overfishing.”
Portland, Oregon, has been dealing with a housing crisis since 2015 when Mayor Charlie Hales declared it a city-wide emergency. Since then many volunteer opportunities including Beacon Village have come out to shine hoping to engage the Portland community in ending the housing crisis.
Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL for racism. Flores, who is Black, is alleging three NFL teams discriminated against him in their hiring process.
I love sad music. I love the way beautifully tragic lyrics hit me, and melancholy melodies have this otherworldly ethereal feeling to them. Still, there is a time and place for sad music. In this article, I sought out music that truly makes people happy.
As we enter the winter season and burrow into the darkness until spring, I want to pay tribute to the beautiful nature surrounding us in Oregon. I asked students and faculty at Catlin Gabel School (CGS) to share their favorite nature spots, what makes them special, and a photo of the place. Here is a complete list of seven places to be in nature in Oregon, according to the CGS Community.
The first time I spotted Lehman Noviello’s artwork, it was adorning the walls of Focus Group, a thrift store in SE Portland. The colors were tasteful, yet explosively vibrant.
Global News
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Global News -
Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history.
“It’s not just like add women and stir, it’s like, let’s rethink the recipe of what we put into it.” -Maureen Reed
Women’s voices and stories have been consistently absent from the narrative of the history of humanity, specifically in the curriculum we teach to our youth. While sexism is recognized as a systematic problem globally, we don’t often reflect on how it is represented in our education system.
Seven years ago, LGBTQ Americans crowded the steps of the Supreme Court and rejoiced in the legalization of gay marriage across the US. The crowds cheered and waved rainbow flags. Couples kissed, knowing they were finally free. The past was rewritten. The future was bright for the youth in America.
In a post-COVID world, American customers grapple with choosing between maintaining the meaning of tips or providing an adequate wage to service workers.
Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL for racism. Flores, who is Black, is alleging three NFL teams discriminated against him in their hiring process.
On September 20, 2020, New York City’s Metronome digital art installation was reprogrammed to display a countdown of the time left to dramatically cut down carbon emissions before the effects become irreversible.
CULTURE
Food
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Food -
As we move toward the drizzly heart of fall, mushroom foragers across the Pacific Northwest are commencing their fall mushrooming season. If you’re interested in snagging a few different mushrooms for yourself, you’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find a guidebook tailored to Oregon, containing everything from what treasures to expect, to methods for consuming them safely.
The summer is coming up, so I'm here to offer two new food places that might be new to you, including an Indonesian restaurant and a Scottish one.
Culture
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Culture -
Author’s note: I’ve written this piece to share the first-hand recount of the story my family and hundreds of thousands of other Vietnamese refugees experienced after the Vietnam War. My hope is that people will read this story, share it, and understand the hardships these refugees endured and other refugees around the world are currently enduring.
At the end of every calendar year, music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music offer music wrap-ups for their users. These wrap-ups provide a summary of the user's listening habits over the past year, including the top songs, artists, and genres they listened to.
Not many experiences compare to relaxing with a series that has cozy vibes, a pleasant ending and plot, and compelling characters. If you’re looking for a delightful activity to enjoy at home this winter, consider curling up with a blanket and a warm drink to watch these Netflix comfort shows.
Sports
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Sports -
By Chip Downes-Le Guin ‘25
On Sept. 27th, 2023, former Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian “Dame” Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Deandre Ayton, Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and a first-round draft pick.
By Vishaka Priyan ‘26
Whether you are a new student or a lifer at Catlin Gabel School (CGS), walking into a new community can be a daunting experience, but the path to integration and a sense of belonging for some might just start on the soccer field.
By Amare Kaainoa ‘24
Through its triumphs and defeats, Catlin Gabel soccer has made a long-lasting impact on both its players and the general Catlin community. Spectators of the sport delight in seeing the men’s varsity team win 4 consecutive state championships, or the women’s mercy rule OES 8-0, but what goes on behind the scenes?
Recently crowned world No. 1 and one of the “Big Three” Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) champions alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic has decided to withdraw from the Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) Paribas Open, also known as Indian Wells Masters in Indian Wells, California, on account of his vaccination status.
Many students know the excitement of returning to their favorite sport after the off-season, getting ready to play a big game, or practicing with beloved teammates. Unfortunately, countless student-athletes also know the pain of suffering a sports injury, and suddenly no longer being able to participate in the sport that they love.
The College Football Playoff organization has announced an expansion of the size of the post-season playoffs, from a four-team bracket to a 12-team bracket, in order to benefit smaller teams that don’t often make the playoffs. However, the expansion may do just the opposite.
Conspiracy Corner
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Conspiracy Corner -
Content note: Conspiracy theories contribute to dangerous and divisive schools of thought. Catlinspeak does not endorse or support any theories that can be or have been disproven by research or common sense. That being said, the misguided and often ludicrous logic of conspiracy theories can be entertaining for people who ground their realities in facts. Please enjoy the Conspiracy Corner.
Opinion
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Opinion -
By Vishaka Priyan ‘26
Since I first became aware of the different political perspectives in our country, I've found myself aligning with more liberal ideology.
By Chip Downes Le Guin ‘25
Whether it is finishing a math test or getting back a paper, it feels nearly impossible to go a week without being asked the question “What grade did you get?”
By Erin Chow ‘25
Working with children was never something I thought I would learn so much from since it always seemed pretty straightforward. However, as I started immersing myself in the experience of mentorship with kids, I found the opportunity truly rewarding in teaching me life skills that I would carry with me for many years.
By Lewis Anderson ’24
To many students, the college application process may seem overwhelming, but the college counseling office did an amazing job helping me navigate it.
By Chip Downes-Le Guin ‘25
The New York Times (NYT) is well-known for its investigative journalism and quick releases of breaking news, however, students may be even more familiar with its daily minigames.
By Elise Kim ‘25
Ivy League. Under 10% acceptance rate. Elite. Highly selective. Upon hearing those words, ears perk up, eyebrows raise, eyes widen in awe.
By Ayaan Sait ‘24
Are you a hopeless wandering soul hoping for gastronomical guidance? Tired of being in a chip predicament every time you go to the Barn? Look no further. I’ve rated 5 of the Barn’s most popular chips and ranked them below.
By Harper Davis ‘24
It was our big moment. Standing on stage, recorder in hand, a miniature leaf blower sent wind through our hair as we performed a rendition of “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys in front of the whole school.
By Guest Writer Alana Hill ‘27
Portland, ‘the place where young people came to retire’, or so the joke went. This city was once eccentric, charming, and full of life; even attracting the slogan ‘Keep Portland Weird’. However, in recent years, many problems have come to the forefront, the largest of those being homelessness.
The college admissions process for the class of 2022 has been monumental in several ways. Many of the decision letters I received - whether they were acceptances, waitlist offers, or rejections - contained a sentence about the record-breaking number of applications they had received this year.
The day has finally come for the Class of 2022 to say goodbye to Catlin Gabel (CGS). Some of us have attended CGS since preschool, and others joined this very year. Regardless of when the Catlin journey started for each of us, the friends we have made here have become family.
During the pandemic, many jobs around the country have had to readapt to the Covid lifestyle. And one of the professions most impacted was teaching.
This has led to an increase in teacher departures from their positions, and that movement has come to Catlin Gabel School (CGS) as well. This year, we’ve already seen multiple faculty leave the Upper School, including English teacher Krystal Wu.
“When you live in a foreign culture you start to understand how your home culture influences everything that you see. I remember being constantly challenged by things that were very new to me, and trying to resist the urge to say that they're bad or that they're not as good.”
"I feel like I'm constantly running and running until the weekend. No rest," one Catlin Gabel School (CGS) teenager confided, their schedule crammed every day and bedtime often creeping towards midnight.
In our third episode of Artist’s of Catlin Gabel, Teresa Walsh talks about her passion for performing arts. In particular she speaks to music and her past experiences with Pacific Youth Choir and current time with Catlin High school Choir. We also get to learn about how the people in her life have helped her reach her true talent. The accompanying background music is Over the Rainbow played on the piano by Eva VuStern.
"So I have like 65 or 70 cousins or something, we would go, oftentimes, at my grandparent's house, and there would be upwards of like 30-40 people on the regular basis. We would be there for hours, and there was just a lot of meal sharing and play." When asked about her childhood, Catlin Gabel (CGS) Head of School, Aline Garcia-Rubio, shared.
This spring, Catlin Gabel’s very own theater group, which comprises a cast of 31 actors, will be producing “A Chorus Line,” a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch lyrics by Edward Kleban. The exhilarating show is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater. The musical is centered on seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. “A Chorus Line” provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer, and describes the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. But only a select few can make the final cut.