Category: Features

By Imane Sabir ’26 and Violet Xu ’25

Spooky celebrations approach on campus as Halloween inches closer. During Halloween, students dress up in their favorite costumes from TV shows, movies, or video games. Some even take it a step further by dressing like their favorite teacher on campus. On the 31st, boarders can go trick or treating around faculty homes. Metz Culinary serves Halloween-themed dinner treats, and costume contests take place. Academic and residential buildings begin decorating as we get closer to the 31st. “Halloween is always a super fun time on campus, it allows kids to really express themselves and get into the Halloween spirit,” said Gabby Adeghe ‘25. 

On October 10th, 2024 pumpkin carving, which will take place in Fleck at 2 pm, giving students a chance to get creative and create something of their own. Later they can use the pumpkins to decorate, and give an autumn touch to their dorms. In addition, Sem has offered various fall-themed trips for both boarders and day students. This past weekend, a trip to Brace’s Orchard was hosted. This activity involves apple picking, farm stand goods, and much more. As well as, a trip to Creekside Gardens in Tunkhannock lets students go on a pumpkin walk, explore the farmers market, and try various fall-themed foods in the area.

As for boarders, Carpenter, Swetland, and Darte all compete in the popular, “Haunted Hallways” competition where students dress up in their scariest outfits and put on their best acts to spook the other dorms. In preparation, on October 23, 2024, a community night with different halloween treats will be hosted for dorms to gather and finalize their plans for the big day! In the past 2 years, Swetland has taken home the crown. Can Darte and Carpenter rise with a win this Halloween?

Student Life has already started planning by setting up various trips and events to prepare. A local shuttle on October 19, 2024, from 2-5 pm to Halloween, Party City, Walmart, etc. Students eagerly wait for haunted hallways to approach and mention, “It’s a time where all the girls get together, and laugh and have fun. It’s such a fun night for all of us,” said Destiny Lora ‘25. Haunted Hallways is something everyone at Sem can enjoy, uniting the community.

By Jake Bacon, ‘26

A mysterious orange cat has been showing up on campus within the last week, quickly gaining popularity and becoming a favorite among students. Its sudden presence has become a fun and unexpected addition to the students’ day.

No one knows exactly where the cat came from, but it has quickly become a public figure in students’ eyes. However, some students don’t like the idea of having a furry little friend around, “I want to punt the cat… someone has to do it. It’s harmful to the ecosystem, has malicious intent and drives security crazy.” Said Nathan Desmond ‘25.

The cat, which some students have nicknamed “Whiskers,” seems completely at ease with the hustle of school life. It’s often seen lounging near the benches by the main entrance or walking through the bushes around back campus during lunch breaks. Unlike many stray animals, this cat appears comfortable around people.

According to Desmond ‘25, who has been keeping track, “the once-plentiful squirrel population on campus has been rapidly decreasing ever since the cat’s arrival.” Many of the students worry the cat’s hunting methods are disturbing the local environment, since the squirrels play a role in seed dispersing and maintaining the health of nearby trees.

Some students have suggested relocating the cat to a local shelter, while others feel the cat should remain as long as no immediate threats arise. “It’s just being a cat, There’s no need to kick the cat out, it hasn’t caused any issues.” Said Jude Correa ‘25.

As the debate continues, students and faculty are keeping a close eye on Whiskers, waiting to see if the cat’s presence on campus will lead to a more significant environmental impact. 

However, for now, Whiskers remains a popular figure on campus, representing both a loved companion and a reminder of the difference in balance between humans, animals, and nature. 

By Clare Booe ’24

Wyoming Seminaary’s Mock Trial Teams, both historically and presently talented, worked through the winter term preparing their arguments for two highly selective invitational tournaments, and of course, the varsity districts tournament. This year, Mock Trial received such and influx of participants that three teams were made: varsity, junior varsity 1, and junior varsity 2.

The varsity team, full of highly experienced and highly talented seniors is still set to compete in the district competition for mock trial, where Wyoming Seminary’s teams have previously excelled, some making it to the state championship.

The Pennsylvania state bar association released this year’s case, and all three teams have been diligently working on it since. This year it was a murder case, involving a business rivalry that turned into violent crime.

This case being criminal and not civil sets it apart vastly from past cases, and with the coaching of Dr. Froelich, Mrs. Stevenson, and Atty. Kowalski, all three teams assembled their casting and cases in different ways.

Ella Magida ‘26, acting co-captain of the B-team, says that a criminal case is, “incredibly different than a civil case. The way it’s performed is much more dramatic and there’s a bigger emphasis on being scored on passion.” Ella is currently in the role of a prosecution attorney, tasked with convicting the defendant of murder in the first degree.

Sadly, Sem’s teams were unable to compete in either invitational tournament. The first tournament was set at LaSalle University and the second invitational was hosted by UPenn.

Several scrimmage brackets have been planned for the end of wenter term, allowing the three teams and both sides of each team (i.e. defense and prosecution) to practice their cases and performances.

First year mock trial team member, Josie Carpenter ‘26, explains how the scrimmages have run this far by saying, “We already had one in house scrimmage, and it was just really cool to see how everyone’s cases came together, and how people on the varsity team perform and act in a courtroom like environment.”

However, these home scrimmages aren’t the only ones to come. The teams will also have a more formal scrimmage against each other at the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, where unlike an invitational tournament, more spectators are able to come support the team. Although this scrimmage’s date is still uncertain, the team knows that it is  going to set the varsity team on the track for success leading up to the district and state seasons.