Snow Days at Sem

By: Dominica Delayo ’22

You wake up in the morning and look out your window. Everywhere you look, you see white. You check your phone, and – yes! – it’s a snow day! You go back to sleep and spend the rest of the day doing anything you want.

The Opinator recently questioned students on how they spend their snow days. While some people love to sleep until noon and watch Netflix all day, other students use snow days to catch up on all the schoolwork they have been pushing off all week. Others want to spend time catching up with their friends: Gigi Ruggiero ’22 states, “I love snow days because I can get a break from school and hang out with my friend.” 

Some students believe snow days can be both positive and negative. Students can have a fun day off of school, but at the same time, they miss the clubs and games they were supposed to have that day. Max Liu ’21 explains, “Snow days are a good way to catch up on lost sleep and work, but sometimes they impede on scheduled activities.” 

According to students, snow days are also a perfect time to drink hot cocoa and bake cookies. Alyssa Shonk ’22 says her favorite snow day activity is “sleeping until noon and then snuggl[ing] in a blanket next to the fire drinking hot chocolate.” 

Even though we have only had two snow days this term, from what The Opinator can tell, the student body wants more before it is too late. With the term almost ending, spring is just around the corner, but, hopefully, there are many more fun snow days in the future.

Faculty Highlights: Mr. Lyavdansky

Photo courtesy of Mr. Lyavdansky

By Mya Dobrowolski ’21

In this week’s edition of Faculty Highlights, get to know Russian teacher Mr. Lyvandansky!

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in a town called Leningrad. It was in the Soviet Union or the USSR, but as most Americans say, the CCCP.

 

How long have you been working at Sem?

I started in 1992. I’ve been here for 28 years. 

 

What is your favorite class to teach?

Russian 4, by far. The students are very mature and advanced. They even have some knowledge of Russian that is applicable in the real world when they travel to Russia.

 

What is your favorite football team?

The Cowboys because when I was little, I loved cowboy movies. 

 

If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?

A cat. When I was little, I read a story about a cat who walked by himself. I think Kipling wrote it. 

 

What is your favorite color?

Blue. It’s calm but at the same time warm. 

 

What is one place you’ve always wanted to travel to?

Well, I have traveled everywhere I have wanted to. I wanted to go to Western Europe and I did it. 

 

What is one object that you couldn’t live without?

Tik Tok. I spend hours on it. 

 

What is a quote that you live by?

I believe that everyone should “live, laugh, love.”

 

What is your favorite thing about Sem?

The sense of community here. It’s one big loving family 

 

What is your favorite sport?

Skiing. Love it. 

 

Any plans for summer?

Spend time with the family. I’ll teach my twins how to swim, ride bikes with Leo, and host a lot of BBQs.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Sem

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Sem

By Nahisha Pokhrel ’23

Martin Luther King Day is celebrated each year as a national holiday in America to commemorate the Civil Rights Movement put forth by Martin Luther King Jr. The Students of Color Association presented an assembly regarding Martin Luther King to celebrate his legacy. 

The first speaker was Mr. Tom Morris, who gave a presentation on his interest and study of Martin Lurther King Jr., during his 15 years in Memphis, Tennessee. He displayed some of Martin Luther King’s famous speeches, including “On the Mountaintop,” and “I Have a Dream.” Mr. Morris revealed that Martin Luther King Jr. used many Biblical references to the Civil Rights Movement in these speeches. For example, Mr. Morris compared MLK’s Civil Rights Movement to the Exodus and slavery in Eygpt to the Promise Land. Martin Luther King Jr. was also a great follower of Mahatma Gandhi during his non-violence movement, and, instead of fighting back, he felt that he could persevere with peaceful movements.

Also, the Film Club presented an interesting video regarding student opinions on Martin Luther King Jr. Most of the students’ explained  MLK was a great man in history, a fantastic activist, and a radical role model. Most students also added that he is the reason they are able to be at Sem, a school full of so many cultures, races, and ethnicities. 

After the video, Glynis Johns, a doctoral student at Rutgers University and the CEO of the Black Scranton Project, came to speak at the assembly. She is 26 years old, and she explained the impressive work Martin Lurther King Jr. had already completed by the time he was her age. Johns also explained that MLK gave more than 276 speeches and wrote books while guiding strikes. She presented Martin Lurther King Jr., as a human rather than just an idol. Additionally, Johns explained how many local areas during the Civil Rights Movement had their own activists who supported other causes, like women who marched in a crowd in the Civil Rights Movement. Johns also explained that because she was sparked to make African Americans feel more at home in Scranton, she created the Black Scranton Project. Overall, SOCA presented an inspiring and well-received assembly that will be remembered by all students for the rest of the year.