Lion Cards Declining

On Saturday March 7th, 2026, the final day of winter term, all current student badges ceased to work with the Academy’s Lion Card-scanning building and door access system. Afterwards, the PEA Information Technology Services’ (ITS) investigation revealed that the error occurred because the “Regular Session Current Student” role had been erased from the system’s data warehouse following a refresh earlier that day. All issues have now been resolved.

Community Remembers Max Sahinoglu

We’d just departed campus for spring break when we learned about upper Max Sahinoglu’s tragic passing on Mar. 9. During our time away from the Academy, we did our best to follow Principal William Rawson’s advice, who shared the news of the loss with the PEA community and reminded us to lean on each other during these unprecedented times.

Students Affected by War in Iran

On Feb. 28., the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran, striking sites across the country. Iran responded with strikes against Israel, US bases, and US allies in the Middle East, including the Gulf states. The war has since spread further throughout the region, implicating more countries in the area, like Lebanon. Iranian strikes have allegedly also hit Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, and the Iranian government has taken steps to prevent oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, strongly affecting the global economy. While the war can feel abstract and far away, it has had very real effects on many Exonians. The war has been a source of anxiety for students who have family in the Middle East, as well as for those who reside there or in East Asia. Airport closures in the Gulf states complicated travel plans for millions, including a great number of Exonians.

Students Return from Spring Break

As students arrive on campus for their final term of the year, they are welcomed by remarkable changes to the campus’s atmosphere. The grass has been uncovered, and the snow has finally melted. Although the weather is still cold enough to wear a coat, and the flowers have not quite bloomed yet, students come refreshed from break with new schedules, sports and goals for the term.

Swayam Bagaria Delivers the Human Mind to Exeter

Two birds sit on the same tree. One bird is busy eating the fruits, jumping from branch to branch. The other bird sits very still, watching. It doesn’t eat the fruits, or interfere with the other bird, but solely sits on the branch and observes.

Exonians on the Oscars

On the evening of March 15, in the gilded glamour of Los Angeles, this year’s Oscar Nominees gathered in celebration of the most critically acclaimed films, each hoping to hear their name called on the world’s most famous stage. As celebrities took their seats, viewers from around the world tuned in, eagerly awaiting the first of the winners. Among the audience, cinephile Exonians followed the ceremony closely, forming opinions and sharing reactions to the eventful night.

Word of the Wise: Best Spring Term Activities

The Edit: Katherine Luo

Upper Katherine Luo sits on her bed, a blue bull shark plushy politely resting on her lap. In classic Luo style, she’s wearing a pair of intricate lace socks over thermal tights, styled under her olive-green poplin shorts. “I like layering,” she explains. “It makes things interesting. It gives me the chance to wear a lot more things because if I don’t layer, I wear like what? My pants and my shirt. That’s all I got.”

You Belong at Exeter: FOTW Nahin Jorgge

On a warm, spring afternoon in the Admissions Office, families filter in and out. Excitement buzzes among the students, but some faces are tinged with nervousness. In the middle of it all is Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Outreach Nahin Jorgge ‘07. He’s greeting each visitor with a warm smile, easing nerves with conversation, and making the charged Bissell House feel more welcoming with each word and every hug.

Leading with Compassion: SOTW Alex Trotman

Raucous cheers reverberate from the stands at Phelps Stadium. Draped in red, the varsity football team marches out from the tunnel, greeted by whoops, shouts, and a particular drone zipping above their helmets, recording. From a distance, senior Alex Trotman stands close to the bench, piloting the drone.

The Downfall of High School Traditions: Why Our School Events Have Become Monotonous

Exeter events are a major part of the Academy, and they have been for the past 20 years. The events we frequently have on the weekend started after the reduction of Saturday classes in 2005. However, many students on the weekend feel that the quality of activities on campus has declined. During each term, we have one to two major dances, as well as multiple smaller events that occur over the weekends. Such events include magic shows, visiting authors and concerts.

What the Masthead Tells Us: A Research-Based Approach to Examining Social Dynamics, Diversity, and Representation in Select Academic Extracurriculars at Exeter

A little over a year ago, I wrote an article for The Exonian titled “Clubs at Exeter are Broken”, exploring a culture of exclusion that I believed had taken root in PEA’s major “academic” student-run clubs (The Exonian, Debate, Model UN, etc.) and created a fundamental institutional failure in the system. Expressing my conviction and frustration as a new upper eager to get involved in all Exeter had to offer, I had little to rely on then besides my own experiences within Exeter’s club culture. Over a year later, I’m no longer just an “outsider” criticizing the system — I’m a part of it.

A Split Soul

A 14-year-old boy, alone at an airport. He has been running for weeks at this point, but now, there are only a few flights left. His feet hurt, but he must keep his shoes on. His mother put some money in their soles. It’s the only thing he has left. His country is broken, its government in tatters, and his freedom ripped away from him.

Stay Long Enough to Care

When I walk into the Forum on a weeknight for a club meeting, the front rows are filled with people, but half of them are scrolling on their phones or doing homework on their laptops, instead of participating in the meeting. When the meeting ends, they put their phone in their pocket, shove their computer into their backpack, go up front, grab a piece of pizza or a donut, and sign their names on the attendance sheet. “Active member of the [name] club/association/society” appears on their activity sheet. The meeting becomes a transaction: show up, be seen, get the line on the resume, leave.

Art Beyond the Visual: Creative Writing

When we think of art, we think of the visual arts: painting, drawing, sculpture, maybe even photography or fashion. After, or perhaps first, depending on your own extracurriculars, we think of the performing arts — dance, theatre, music. And last, if at all, we jump to writing. And yet, writing is among the most common of the arts. It is omnipresent in our society, our primary form of communication.

Varsity Softball’s Weapon: Coach Jennifer Boyden

At a preseason practice down in Florida, the girls’ softball team had just wrapped up a long day on the field when the focus shifted to something unexpected: roller coasters. Within minutes, coach Jennifer Boyden led the group through the park, darting from ride to ride with the same intensity she brings to every drill. Players laughed as their coach raced ahead, the serious, detail-oriented coach seemingly becoming a kid fully in her element. It was a side of Boyden they didn’t always see during practice.

Preseason Athletes Travel to Sunnier Fields

Preseason is a perfect chance for all Big Red teams to build connections before their official seasons start, and begin to feel comfortable going into games and matches. The girls’ varsity softball, varsity lacrosse, and varsity tennis teams all went on preseason trips. “We build team culture, set individual and team goals, and get competitive match play before the season starts,” girls’ varsity tennis head coach Gayatri Ramesh summarized.

GV Hockey Wins the NEPSAC Large School Championship

On Mar. 8th, Exeter’s girls’ varsity hockey team won the Patsy Odden Large School Championship, securing their first New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) title since 2000. At first glance, the scene seemed like any other conclusion to a game. Hair stuck to sweat-covered skin, cheeks flushed from exertion, and cheers echoed across the ice. But the joy that filled the rink that day felt different. The players’ smiles were more radiant, their hugs tighter as they accepted the golden trophy.

Girls’ Varsity Swim & Dive Wins NEPSAC Championship for the Fourth Consecutive Year

On March 7 and 8, girls’ varsity swim & dive competed at the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championships and won for the fourth consecutive year, continuing a remarkable streak of dominance in the program’s history.

Boys’ Varsity Basketball’s Miracle Overtime Win at E/a

With only 72 seconds remaining on the clock against their Phillips Academy Andover opponents, the Exeter boys’ basketball team was down by 14 points. In a packed gym, the air was thick with tension. Through a series of huddles, Exeter had grand plans. Slowly but surely, the gap closed with each possession until senior Jake Attaway’s three-pointer tied the game, sending it into overtime. Exeter would go on to seal the deal, and this game would be one for the memory books.

“What’s the Worst that Could Happen?”

Oh, Experience Exeter; thate wonderful time of year when a young Exonian’s despair and exhaustion magically turns to excitement and cult-like fervor. It seems like nothing even unpleasant could ever happen this week; the world itself seems to stand still for ourthe budding future students to experience the school in its full spring glory.

Ask Humor

Aaliya Huang ‘29: “The wind bothers me.” Yeah no the wind is sometimes just cold like blades carving into my skin. Sometimes it comes with dirt and sand that blinds my eye so that I can’t make it to my next class on time. One second you’re walking to class, the next you’re getting exfoliated by sand and arriving five minutes late, looking like you fought a leaf blower and lost.

Exonians Talking to Terms Again. Sigh.

Dear Spring Term, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GASLIGHT ME LIKE THAT?!?!? I thought I would return to school and find some lovely cherry blossoms and a beautiful, shining sun waiting to greet me and provide bearable conditions for the term. But no, it just had to snow the day we got back, crushing all of my naïve, good-for-nothing dreams. All I want to do right now is lie down in bed and hibernate until the summer. The number of bears in the wild is running low anyway, so why don’t I just become one? What a perfect win-win situation.

New Spring Term Schedule

Mar. 21 marked the last day of spring break, and so the grind began once again. Maybe you found out who your teachers were early on using the “link-hack”, so you at least had a preview of what the next three months would look like. Aside from the teachers you have, there are also classmates and sleep-ins to consider. After all, it could decide whether spring term would be sunshine and rainbows or rainy and muddy.

Springing Into Term

A once gray sky is now cloudless and brilliant blue. Several feet of snow have melted to reveal the bright green grass that was hidden underneath, and the freezing weather has now warmed up to a glorious forty degrees! Yes, spring is upon us. Now that we have reached this most wonderful time of the year, how should we spend these precious ten weeks full of sunshine and birdsong? Should we spend our weeks soaking up the sun and watching the newly defrosted spikeballers, or should we lock in at the library to get ahead on a history essay? Well, I have come to solve all of your problems.