By Jason Suh ’17, News Staff Writer

The trees might be bare, but the Student Council has the winter calendar filled with events to serve as, according to Ms. Galvin, “an antidote to the winter blues.”

First on the calendar is Winter Schminter, a Newark Academy staple, where ping pong tables, board games, and the like are set up in the front foyer. A tradition that is nearly a decade old, Winter Schminter was originally established by former student William Goldstein during his time at Newark Academy. “He thought that the students needed something to take their mind off of their schoolwork, so that’s how Winter Schminter came to be,” stated Ms. Galvin. Winter Schminter has stood the test of time to become a community favorite, according to Senior Class Vice President Lauren Whelan who said, “the council decided to have [Winter Schminter] again because it is usually an event that is widely enjoyed by the community.”

Next up, March Madness is a new event, inspired by the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament. This 3-on-3 tournament extravaganza promises to be a lighthearted tradition. Teams can dress up in crazy outfits as the community comes out to spectate, ultimately providing a welcomed jolt to the start of the second half of spring term. The tournament is an exciting prospect for Newark Academy students. Lauren Whelan believes that “many NA community members enjoy the hype of the March Madness basketball season, whether they are basketball players or not.”

Finally is the Spring Ball for Cancer Research, which has been postponed to April 5th. The event was introduced last year to commemmorate Ms. Baccash, a former Newark Academy math teacher who passed away on May 30, 2012 after her battle with cancer. “Although the Winter Ball was first held to show the Baccash family that we remember, it has now become a way for the NA community to join the fight against cancer,” Ms. Galvin said, noting that all of the event’s proceeds are directed to cancer research funds. Upper School President Hannah Zack ’14 added, “Last year was our first time with the event. It felt very poignant as we had so recently lost a member of our community. With that in mind, we decided to split the money raised between an ovarian cancer research fund and the American Cancer Society. This year, we have formed a team of people within the Council to research different places we could send the money to.”

Simply put, the Student Council is planning to host a variety of events throughout the winter season, whether they be worthy fundraisers or simply “fun-raisers.” Whatever these events turn out to be, the students at Newark Academy are excited about them. Alex Chang ’17 said, “I think these upcoming events are a wonderful way to unite our community together. The Spring Ball is going towards a virtuous cause, and Winter Schminter provides a relaxing break from our stressful lives. It goes without saying that I am extremely excited for these  events!”