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Championships Abound:  Girls Varsity Soccer, Boys Varsity Soccer, and Girls Varsity Doubles Tennis All Secure State Championships

 

Girls Varsity Soccer and Boys Varsity Soccer both were victorious in their NYSAISAA state championship finals on November 5^th at Manhattanville College. The girls defeated Brearley 2-0 and finished their successful season with a record of 12-4-3. The boys defeated UNIS 2-1, ending the season with an impressive 15-2-4 record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2023 Varsity Water Polo Team outplayed Fieldston, Riverdale, and Trinity to secure the Ivy League title with an in-league record of 5-1. The team’s overall record for the season was 8-3.

 

As the Horace Mann School Program of Studies explains, the Public Forum (PF) Debate Team is one of HM’s largest and most decorated student organizations and the school’s only nationally recognized classic debate organization. In PF, teams of two students research and argue both sides of pressing national and international issues. Debating competitively within New York City and on the national circuit allows students to compete in the world’s largest academic competition. It also offers students the opportunity to strengthen critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills, and join a vibrant community of friends and peers across the United States. At the 32^nd Annual Yale Public Forum Debate Invitational in October, Horace Mann was represented by one varsity team and six junior varsity teams. During the contest, the varsity PF team showcased its prowess and was ultimately crowned champion. The junior varsity students had an excellent showing as well, with three JV teams placing in the competition. As The Record explains, “PF debaters prepare their cases in advance and debate one topic for several months. The topic for September and October was whether or not to increase military presence in the Arctic.”

New Security Protocol:  Students Scan In

 

Horace Mann School has augmented the school’s security by installing 13 digital scanners at three access points on campus. Students are required to authenticate themselves and mark themselves “present” by scanning the bar code on their IDs.

 

Beginning this fall, HM’s Middle Division instituted a new cell phone policy that requires sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students to hand in their phones when arriving at school. They are permitted to collect them when the school day is over, or can sign them out if they are leaving school early. A large rack, which is safely locked away during school hours, keeps the devices organized by last name. The policy has spawned an increase in social interactions among students and decreased the temptation students often feel to check their phones. More and more middle schools nationwide have adopted similar policies.

 

At the Fall Clubs Fair in September, Upper Division students were courted by many of the 95 clubs and organizations that are in operation for the 2023-2024 academic year. Representatives from the 24 student publications also tried to woo new members. All clubs and publications are teamed with a faculty advisor and are supported with school resources as needed.

Descriptions of the 95 clubs and activities can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/uhxhhmnc

 

 

Over the summer, HM’s maintenance crew put the finishing touches on a brand new mini-park behind the Jeffrey H. Loria Family Aquatic Center that offers skateboarders a variety of rails, spine ramps, and quarter pipes, as well as a huge half pipe. The installation was funded in part by an HM family to enhance student life and extracurricular activities.