SOPHMORE ARTICLES AND LAYOUT
2020-2021
COMMUNITY REACTS TO FIRST U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
October 2020
President Trump and Former Vice President Biden challenge one another in this year’s first presidential debate of the 2020 elections. They addressed issues surrounding healthcare, climate change and taxes.
BORIS JOHNSON FUMBLES PANDEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES
December 2020
Londoners flout restrictions imposed in November for the second lockdown. In an attempt to lower coronavirus cases, Boris Johnson ordered a national lockdown Nov. 5 which was problematic for the country to go back into seclusion.
ADVISORY PROGRAM INTEGRATES ANTI-RACISM WORK
October 2020
Over the past couple weeks, advisory groups have been focused on anti-racism with the hopes that students develop a better understanding on the importance of diversity and inclusivity. Students and faculty respond to the work they have done so far.
'THE SOCIAL DILEMMA' HIGHLIGHTS TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION
November 2020
The newly released documentary on Netflix discusses the way in which technology controls people's lives. Students and faculty share their initial thoughts about how the movie has changed their phone usage.
COVID-19 PROVOKES UNCERTAINTY AROUND ASL'S FINANCES
March 26, 2021
The coronavirus has huge implications for the education sector. The school has taken measures to address these impacts while also maintaining a long-term outlook.
DANIEL RAVEN-ELLISON HOSTS ‘HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD’ WEBINARS
February 2021
Article on webinars held on Feb. 1 which were part of a series of webinars hosted by Innovator-in-Residence Daniel Raven-Ellison.
ELLA JACKSON-DREXLER EXPRESSES HERSELF THROUGH ART
March 2021
I contributed to Humans of ASL by telling Ella's story. She is a passionate and dedicated artist whose art has underlying meanings mirroring her personality.
COMMUNITY PREDICTS IMPACTS OF BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY ON U.K.
January 2021
The Biden administration has voiced specific changes that may come into effect after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration day, Jan. 20. Students and faculty predict that Biden’s presidency will likely influence the ways in which the U.K. handles certain issues.
ASL CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY
April 27
Signs and balloons hang around the school to celebrate Founders Day. American journalist and Teacher Stephen L. Eckard founded ASL in 1951 with only 13 students in his Knightsbridge flat
MUSLIM STUDENTS RECEIVE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EID
May 12
Images relating to Eid, the Islamic holiday at the end of Ramadan, hang on the Top O bulletin May 12. During Eid, students celebrating are not required to take assessments or submit assignments.
VALENTINE'S DAY PACKAGE
KEITH AND NATASHA ROBINSON
February 2021
Keith Robinson (’88) and Natasha Robinson’s (’93) relationship sparked through their shared values and love for ASL. With a five year age difference at school, they crossed paths but did not have many interactions. However, in the summer of 2003 on his way to Paris, Keith stopped in London for a friend’s birthday party and Natasha, living in London at the time, was there as well – the rest is history. They are now married and have two boys: Alexander Robinson (’28) and Christopher Robinson (’31), both of whom attend ASL.
SUSAN SAVAGE AND BOB CAVENAGH
February 2021
Susan Savage (’61) and Bob Cavenagh (’61) met at ASL in Grade 11 when Susan tripped over Bob in algebra class. Bob claims that she fell for him. At the time, the school’s campus was on Gloucester Gate and their grade consisted of around 18 students. On their first Valentine’s Day, Bob knocked on Susan’s door to give her a red tulip that he picked out of a yard. They have lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania since 1972, and have three children and six grandchildren. They remember high school at ASL as a “less complicated time.”
JESSIE AND NATALIE WILLIAMSON
February 2021
Jessie Williamson (’95) and Natalie Williamson (’97) described their reconnection after ASL as “pure coincidence.” Natalie attended ASL for three years in lower school while Jessie attended for four years in middle school. They said they may have passed each other in the hallways. Well into their working careers, Natalie became friends with Jessie’s stepsister who invited her over to their house in Bridgehampton for a weekend. Natalie said there was an element of love at first sight. They now live in New York City and have a 2 year old daughter named Sienna.
AREJE AL-SHAKAR AND HAMZAH BAWKHER
February 2021
Areje Al-Shakar (’99) and Hamzah Bawkher’s (’99) relationship blossomed from their shared experiences not only at ASL, but also through their third culturedness – they were both raised in a culture other than their parents’ and countries of nationality. While they did not date at ASL, Facebook reconnected them in 2010 when they discovered they were both in Abu Dhabi at the same time. From there, they began to connect on a deeper level. They are now living in Bahrain and hope that when they have kids, they will be able to give them the same education experience that they had at ASL.
WAYNE BROOKS-AUSTIN AND DEBORAH NELSON-AUSTIN
February 2021
Wayne Brooks-Austin (’70) and Deborah Nelson-Austin’s (’71) relationship is founded by their shared experiences at ASL and their common faith in God. They met when he was in Grade 12 and she was in Grade 11 on a school trip. They soon developed a strong friendship, leading to their marriage during their freshman and sophomore years of college. They said their London years had huge impacts on their lives.
LISA COTTLE AND MICHAEL COTTLE
February 2021
Lisa Cottle (’80) and Michael Cottle (’79) are inseparable. Even when their relationship adjourned after college, Lisa said she could not stop thinking about him. They parted their separate ways, got married, had kids and started living different lives. 20 years later when they found out they were both getting divorced, they found their way back to one another and in 2017 they tied the knot. Their ASL friends attended the wedding. They are now living in Estero, Florida with their combined families: five kids and three grandchildren.
