By Claire Heinichen, ‘11, Lighter Fare Section Editor. After a summer trip to the Down Under, senior Claire Heinichen gives tips on how to find adventure in Austrailia and make your way out alive.

By Holly Dayton ‘13, Contributor. Populated by hundreds of thousands of Americans, scores of American flags and infectious patriotism, the National Mall Washington D.C. was a thrilling place to be on August 28, 2010.

By Ali Breneman ‘11, Contributor.
This summer, Ali explored Europe with her brothers, Nathan and Kevin, and her parents. She shares her family’s mishaps and escapades to offer her top ten travel tips.

By Lindsay Dougan, ‘11, Contributor. The college counseling office provides students with advice on plans for the summer, including programs at universities and exchanges abroad. These programs cater to a range of interests, from engineering and biology to acting and journalism.

By Haleigh Miller, ‘12, News Section Editor. Cincinnati’s finance committee voted 6-2 to fund the planning process for installing streetcars in the city of Cincinnati. Originally, the committee planned the Monday Apr. 19 meeting to vote on whether or not to fund the actual installation of the cars, but after the request of a council member, Finance chair Laketa Cole postponed the vote.

Compiled by Kathryn Black, ‘11, The Lens Section Editor, and Kate Taylor, ‘11, The Lens Editor. It was our first day in Jerusalem, where we would stay for five weeks, and we had been deliberating for over an hour on the specific restrictions that we, as a community of twenty-six, would set on activities during Shabbat. Some of the more traditionally religious Fellows were insistent upon adhering to halacha, or Jewish law, in every possible way, disavowing the use of electricity and prohibiting writing and the reading of non-Jewish books, attitudes distinctly unfamiliar to me because of my less observant background.

Compiled by Kathryn Black, ’11, The Lens Section Editor and Kate Taylor, ’11, The Lens Editor. When I was younger, I knew with utter certainty that I was invincible. I scraped through childhood with more bruises and band-aids than most girls, but I always bounced back to my feet. Although I was invariably the smallest kid on the basketball court, I never gave up, no matter how many knees I took to the face.

Compiled by Jayne Caron, ’10, former The Lens Section Editor, and Kathryn Black, ’11, The Lens Section Editor. I only stayed with my Greek family for two weeks of my six-week trip, but I remember every detail. Their unfamiliar customs took a while to get used to. But even though I was eventually able to feel comfortable with the Greek way of life, I never broke through the language barrier.

Compiled by Jayne Caron, ’10, former The Lens Section Editor, and Kathryn Black, ’11, The Lens Section Editor. An introduction to organometallic chemistry for a naïve, sixteen-year-old hotshot should never come from a man with a Zimbabwean accent. “Grab a stopcog!” A brown, toxic solution would spill onto my arms and hands – a day’s work ruined. “Use an errenmier flak!” A thick cloud of sulfur gas floating by. Coughing. “Chlooorroform D, Chlorrrroform D!” Shattering glass.

By Holly Dayton, ‘13, Contributor. Of the many kinds of learning at CCDS, learning through online, or electronic textbooks is a method unique to the middle school. Using this modern medium of learning can be helpful for some and difficult for others.

Compiled by Kathryn Black, ’11, The Lens Section Editor. Yet, although most girls’ visions of paradise involve dragging their begrudging fathers to spend a day shopping with them at Nordstrom, I had a different destination in mind. Staples. The mecca of all that is holy in school supplies and office equipment, otherwise known as my personal heaven.

Compiled by Jayne Caron, ’10, former The Lens Section Editor, and Kathryn Black, ’11, The Lens Section Editor. A true Stafford: I am thickheaded, unpredictable, and slightly wacky. From dressing my dog in tuxedo, to reading a book when my mom tells me. From making blowtorches to watching the travel channel. I know I am a little weird but it took me a while to come to this understanding of just how crazy my life was living in the midst of my family.