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Learn More About Kent Place’s Six Student-Run Upper School Publications

Learn More About Kent Place’s Six Student-Run Upper School Publications

Over winter break, we presented on Kent Place’s Instagram and Facebook the history and focus of each of Kent Place’s six Upper School student-run publications. Read on to learn about their evolution, unique contributions, and the creativity behind the pages, and to hear “straight from the source” — that is, the student editors of each publication.

Ballast
In its 86th year of publication and one of Kent Place’s oldest, Ballast is the Upper School newspaper. Every year, Ballast publishes five issues: Thanksgiving, STAR, February, April Fools, and Graduation. This year’s editors are Allie Weil ’27, Katie MacKay ’27, Tanseem Arampulikan ’25, Kayla Peng ’26, Julianna Abrantes ’26, Sophie Ewart ’26, and Miranda Kristina Santiago ’25. “Ballast amplifies student voices from all parts of the Kent Place community through articles, art, photography, and more. Each issue serves as a time capsule, capturing the ever-evolving conversations and dynamics within the school,” they say.

Cargoes
First published in the mid-1920s, Cargoes is Kent Place’s yearbook. From accomplishments, to academic pursuits, to extracurricular activities, this publication serves as a beautiful way to celebrate and connect the community at the end of each school year. This year’s editors are seniors Louisa Gordon, Lila Gorke, Sonia Gulati, and Alexa Garrido. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to share the vibrant student life at Kent Place and the hard work of the student body in a visual keepsake,” they say.

Dichos
Dichos
is Kent Place’s world language literary magazine, exploring cultures, languages, and global understanding through podcasting, written submissions, and visuals. This year’s editors are seniors Louisa Gordon and Liv Minton. “We’re eager to showcase the rich cultural diversity that lies within the student body and appreciate the outlet that students have to share their identities in a greater and educational way for everyone,” they say.

Lodestar
Lodestar
is a brand-new Ethics publication, in preparation for its debut later this year. Launched by the Ethics Institute, Lodestar is dedicated to promoting the application of ethics in everyday life, educating communities about contemporary ethical issues, and encouraging curiosity and discourse surrounding ethical dilemmas. The editors are Naina Bhardwaj ’25, Helen Wu ’25, and Olivia Peters ’26. “Lodestar has the potential to make ethics more accessible and widespread across our school, especially for students who want to explore ethics as a potential field of study,” says Naina. “I’m looking forward to seeing how our leadership team and contributors shape the journal.”

Starboard
What began as Ballast Online in 2014, Starboard is Kent Place’s online newspaper. The site’s main audience is Kent Place Upper School students, and it posts Morning Meeting announcements and “Sis Notes” — messages from ninth- through eleventh-graders to seniors at the end of the school year; hosts and builds club pages; and delivers periodic newsletters. The publication has expanded to offer different creative and leadership opportunities for students, including video series, podcasts, site and special page creation, and social media content. This year’s editors are Ceci Hirawat ’26, Nia Gitau ’25, Evelyn Grissinger ’25, Geo Thatch ’25, Evelyn Melendi ’26, Isha Talpade ’25, and Medha Sahay ’26.

Windward
Windward
— a literary and arts magazine — collects students’ art and writing throughout the year to showcase annually in the spring. To encourage creativity and provide a safe space, submissions can be made anonymously. Each year, students enter their artwork as part of Windward’s Winter Contest; the winner’s art appears on the cover of the magazine. This year’s editors are Sarina Sheth ’27, Kaitlyn Wang ’25, Chelsea Cui ’25, Anna Gambuzza ’25, and Grace Williams ’25. “This year’s Windward Coffeehouse is on January 24,” says Grace, “and will include student performances. They may be drumming, playing the piano, singing, dancing, acting, or reading a poem or a story, and we hope to get more of the school community involved.” 

Pictured: The editors of Ballast