Author: Ivy Miller

 By McKayla Williams ‘24

Wyoming Seminary’s campus was packed with students, alumni, and parents alike for homecoming weekend this year.  From the homecoming dance, to alumni events to a pep rally at the lower school, both campuses were filled with activities and loads of Sem spirit that persisted even through rainy weather.

Students started off strong showing their pride during spirit week. On Thursday they went all out with wigs, tutus, boas, costumes and more in their society colors for points, and on Friday they took part in a class competition donning blue and white.  

The football team led Wyoming Seminary to victory against St. Francis’s regional team on October 14th while they were cheered on from the bleachers. The Sem community came out to support the football team despite the cold and rainy conditions and helped celebrate their win. “Seeing friends and family cheer you on when battling through tough games can make a huge difference,” Edwin Lora ‘24 states. “It means a lot to some people on the field.” At halftime the alumni service award was given to two extraordinary students, Lucy Lew ‘24 and Paul Stevenson ‘24. Sem’s Blue Knights finished off the game with a score of 7-6 ringing in the third victory of the season. 

Even down at the lower school students were included in the homecoming festivities with a pep rally run by upper school students. They kicked off the weekend Friday morning by welcoming the parents in the car line and later throwing shirts and rally towels into the crowd. During the pep rally lower school students were encouraged to attend the homecoming game to help bridge the gap between the two Sem campuses. “Many of the students who started at the upper school didn’t realize there was a lower school just three miles down the road,” Ms. Cinti, who organized the pep rally and many other events on campus, said. By including the lower school in homecoming, not only did they create a tighter knit community but showed the younger students what they had to look forward to when they reached the upper school. “The lower school students love when the high schoolers come to visit. It feels like they have big brothers and sisters.” Several lower school students came out to support the team for their homecoming game. 

Past students joined in on the campus festivities as well. Sem alumni celebrated their own class reunions while parents met with teachers and dorm heads to get a better understanding of what students experience here at Wyoming Seminary. Alums enjoyed a reception on back campus while the students held their homecoming dance in the Blue Gym. There they enjoyed music, snacks, and most importantly, the time they spent with their friends and classmates for their 2023 homecoming. Sem’s community including faculty, staff, parents, and students both past and present showed up to celebrate homecoming and demonstrate that, rain or shine, the pride of the Blue Knights shine through. 

by Liz Mantush ’25

With finals week just around the corner, many students may be stressing over how to prepare themselves. For many Wyoming Seminary students, especially underclassmen, this is their first real experience with cumulative finals, and the stress that they may experience is real.

Finals week will consist of at most two-three finals a day, with extended bells meant for term-cumulative exams.  The exam slots will be equivalent to a long bell, giving each student enough time to complete their tests. Teachers do their best to prepare students for their tests, however the unaccounted for emotional toll it takes on students is sometimes harder than the test.

For one, taking time for yourself is the best way to ease the stress. Watching comforting movies, playing your favorite music, and spending time with people who lift you up are ways to distract yourself from any anxieties you may have. There are many quiet spaces available on campus like the Wellness Center, SLRC, and the library, where students can study, nap, and relax before and after their exams.

Our school counselor Breanne Finagen would like to remind students of some ways to prevent burnout during finals season. She states that the best way to keep yourself above water is, “Focusing on caring for yourself and realizing it’s not the end of the world.” She suggests visiting the Wellness Center when feeling stressed as well as getting a good night’s sleep, warning that “You’re not going to be able to retain the information when you’re pulling an all-nighter.”

However, when it comes time to study, SEM’s learning support official, Kristen Coffay suggests “knowing your exam schedules and creating a study plan” in order to optimize your study time. Structure in the time leading up to your exam and keeping yourself on track are going to help prepare you to your fullest ability.

Conferencing with your teachers, seeking help in the many academic support we have, including the Math, Writing, and Language Centers when needed, and maybe even a peer tutor are all great ways to get in the right direction for your tests. Exams can be daunting, but it’s important to get help where you need it, so you can end the term on a good note. Many students struggle to ask for help, but being direct with your teachers is the best way to excel in your courses. Here is a link to the school’s learning support resources.