Category: News

by Evan Coates ’24

Improvements to campus have been going on since the start of school. So far, they have included the exterior and interior repainting of different buildings and various landscaping upgrades. Some of the more routine work around the 25 acre campus ranged from the cutting of lawns, making and laying new mulch, and pruning trees, all the way to seeing up every single on campus event, both athletic and social.

The amount of time and work that goes into these tasks is remarkable and should be appreciated by the entire community, as many on campus events would never be possible without the maintenance team led by Janet Murray, Director of Facilities Operations. 

One of the more current project on campus was the repainting of the Sprague Hall basement and offices. This brought a refreshed and updated look to the building, making it a more pleasant experience to spend time there for both faculty and students.

These are just some of the improvements done during the school year, while the vast majority of the work to residential houses, school buildings, and dorms were completed over the summer.

Sem residents were happy when they returned from summer break to find common spaces and residential spaces fitted with multiple upgrades. These included, but are not limited to; a new roof for the Pettibone Dickson Darte Center , new flooring and painting for the 3rd floor of Swetland Hall, along with new furniture for the 3rd and 4th floors, 45 new windows, trims, trims, surface sills, and painting in Nesbitt Hall, the expansion of the athletic training center, and repairs to the tennis court. The combination of these projects adds to the visual aspect of Sem’s sophistication and appeal as a day and boarding school. Looking into the future, the maintenance team is considering seeking board approval for pool renovations, more roof replacements, new HVAC chiller for Sprague Hall, and possibly more.

 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.