Fall weather has caught up with Moravian after a long summer, and a very warm beginning of fall. Students have begun to wear sweatshirts and long pants in an effort to warm up for the coming of winter. In all, many different events have come up, like Coffeehouse, the International Festival and huge soccer games.

Every year, Moravian students perform in a variety show called “Coffeehouse.” Faculty members Jarrod Yuskauskas and Rob Riker direct the show, in which students offer their many abilities, including dancing, singing, piano playing, comedic acts and cultural representations. I performed in last year’s Coffeehouse and can say that it is a must-see. It takes place Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Moravian Merle-Smith Campus. Tickets are unfortunately sold out, but there is always next year.

At the annual International Festival, many different traditions and cultures were showcased at the Upper School. The night started off with the each grade level breaking off into groups to talk about different cultural topics. The group I attended was “The Danger of a Single Story,” where we discussed stereotypes, and how ignorance can fuel stereotypes. As said by Elizabeth “Boots” Bloys (Class of 2021), “Ignorance is bliss, but is it really?” The discussion was serious, but at times we laughed at our stories of how we were met with certain stereotypes.

After we finished with the discussions, there was a parade of kids and drummers dressed in traditional clothing of different cultures, which led into the beginning of dinner that night. The food was spectacular, and represented countries ranging from Haiti to Ireland. The night ended with sweet desserts, also representing different cultures.

This year, sports have been a big part of Moravian’s fall. Recently, Moravian’s boys soccer team won the PIAA State Championship. This is the seventh time our soccer team has made it to the PIAA finals, and it is a huge rush for everyone at Moravian. On another note, girls soccer ended its season with a tough loss, but the team did win the District XI Championship, and made it to states for the first time in the school’s history.

On a more serious note, following the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Moravian Academy Upper School community honored the victims. Robbie Shaff (Class of 2018), who is the leader of Moravian Academy’s Jewish Heritage Club, organized and led the emotional ceremony, which ended with the lighting of 11 candles – one for each victim – and the recitation of the “Mourner’s Kaddish.” One thing that stood out from the whole ceremony was when Shaff said that even though there has been much hate toward the Jewish people in the past, there has always been a response of “love, and kindness toward those who have hurt them.”

The candles were left to burn for the rest of the day in the rose garden.