Skyline Volume 2, Issue 3
Spring 2018
Memorial Assembly By Lauren Regan On February 14th of this year in Parkville, Florida, there was a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This shooting left seventeen dead and fourteen wounded. In memory of the lives lost, a school assembly was held at 10:00 am on March 14th in honor of those killed in the shooting. This was done at the same time as many school walkouts across the nation, which lasted for 17 minutes, one minute for every life lost. In Saint Saviour, after all
Samantha Cassata ’19 tells her fellow peers, “I don’t want to be next and I don’t want you to be next.” Continued on Page 3
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Art Show 2018 By Olivia Medina On Wednesday, May 9th, Saint Saviour held its annual Art Show. As always, Ms. Draghi’s senior art class displayed their work throughout the gym for guests to judge. Some categories to choose from were “Whoot!” which were paintings of owls that showcased the students’ ability to reproduce feather work, and “A Walk In My Shoes,” black and white pencil sketches of different footwear. Not only was senior work Ms. Draghi and some of the students on the Corning Museum trip sit showcased, but the sophomores’ value together to do crafts. paintings were the highlight of the show, as were the junior class scratch art projects. Each sophomore had the challenge of painting a picture while demonstrating her knowledge of value, or the difference between light and dark in colors. When the current juniors were sophomores, they had the final task of scratching designs in India ink to create pieces full of The senior art class’ display for the “A Walk In My Shoes” project. dimension. In addition to required work that the art classes had to complete, Ms. Draghi displayed the glasswork done by students who went to the Corning Museum of Glass. Colorful wind chimes were hung up for everyone to see as well as globes that were blown by the students. Handmade jewelry was sold by the Art Club, as were wreaths for the spring season. Guests even tried to buy work that was not for sale, a testament to the beauty of the art. Overall, the show was a success and created another memory for Saint Saviour girls.
The marvelous sophomore value paintings displayed at the art show.
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Continued from Page 1
accompanied by a donation. The dress
students reported to the gym. Upon
down was held on April 20th, the 19th
arriving, Ms. Sucich led a prayer for the
anniversary of the historic shooting at
lost souls, who was followed by
Columbine. When asked about the color
Samantha Cassata, who organized the
of the dress down, Samantha observed:
assembly and dressdown, and who
“Orange is the color that hunters wear to
made orange ribbons for the event.
let other hunters know they aren’t a deer,
Samantha gave a speech concerning the
that they are human and therefore not to
tragedy, and read out loud the names and
shoot them. So wearing orange is
ages of the victims: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14;
basically a saying, ‘Don’t shoot, I’m not
Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque
an animal, I’m human.’” The money
Anguiano, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17;
collected from the dress down was given
Aaron Feis, 37; Jaime Guttenberg, 14;
to the affected Stoneman Douglas
Chris Hixon, 49; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara
shooting survivors, victims, and families
Loughran, 14; Gina
via the Broward Education Foundation.
Montalto, 14; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina
The date of this dress down also aligned
Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena
with the other organized school
Ramsay, 17; Alex Schachter, 14;
walkouts, in which many students across
Carmen Schentrup, 16; Peter Wang, 15.
the nation participated. Samantha also
Each name is followed by a moment of
wants to “thank everyone who donated
silence. Then students were invited to
and dressed down to spread awareness
reflect on the lyrics of the song “What
for the fight against gun violence,
About Us,” by P!nk, on how the lyrics
because we (students) are changing the
relate to school shootings and gun
world, and reshaping our country and
violence.
schools by doing this.”
Samantha also arranged with faculty a dress down in orange,
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March for LifeAlexandra Natale and Teresa Kiernan On Friday, January 19th, 2018 the 45th annual March for Life took place in Washington D.C. to protest the decision handed down in 1973 by the Supreme Court case Roe v Wade. This was the landmark case which legalized` abortion in the United States. The plaintiff, Norma Leah McCorvey Nelson, was pregnant and was arguing for the right to terminate her pregnancy. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a woman had the right to an abortion during the first two trimesters. Ironically, Ms. Nelson eventually came to term and birthed the child she was arguing to abort during the trial. Since that decision, thousands of pro-life Americans, including Ms. Nelson, march every year at the March for Life, including students from Saint Saviour. First, Savorites walked past the Washington Monument, where they saw a large crowd gathered, holding signs in front of a stage. On the stage, President Trump spoke, making this a historical moment for march participants: it was the first time a presiding United States President had appeared at the march. After the speakers completed their program, the march began in earnest up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court and Capitol Buildings. Many were
holding signs with messages such as, “The right to life is among the first human rights’ and “Heartbeats detected must be protected” and “A true feminist would march for the rights of unborn women.” These images were hard for students to look. There weren’t many people there to represent the opposing viewpoint. At most, we saw two women wearing “ my body my choice” t-shirts. They quietly stood on the sidewalk and held signs displaying their message. Though there were some who veered away from the issue, holding objects such as a confederate flag, overall, the people marching spread their message respectfully through chants and some songs. Saint Saviour and students from Bishop Loughlin marched as one large group, striving to show our support for the cause. The event was impactful, demonstrating that there is still support for pro-life legislation in America.
Ms. Clary stops to say cheese while marching with students.
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March For Our Lives Student Reflection By Samantha Cassata On March 24th, some Saviour students and I participated in the March For Our Lives, in Manhattan, a powerful movement happening across our nation. Many people showed up and marched for what we believe is right: safety for students through pro gun legislation. People marched, spoke, chanted, made signs, and did everything they could to show that something needs to be changed. We even walked past the place where John Lennon was shot and killed, which for me was important to see as it showed how long gun violence has been a part of America. Many people die daily because of gun violence, and many times we don’t hear about it in the news. However, gun violence has recently come to the forefront of American news. And even though people are hearing about these incidents more, we know nothing has really
changed because of the recent shooting at the Santa Fe High School (as we go to press yet another school shooting has occurred and at least one disaster averted by a conscientious mother). People can talk about it, people fight over it, get angry about it, and many people cry about it. But then everyone seems to forget, and people do nothing until there’s another shooting. But there shouldn’t be another one; there shouldn’t have been any in the first place. It’s awful to be living in a world where school shootings are “the norm” because this shouldn’t be normal.
Juniors Samantha Cassata, Loraine Aitken, Julie Laclide, and Alex Salvatierra gather for a picture.
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Review By Shannon McLoughlin Where can you find excitement, love, loss, and a good time? At the annual Saint Saviour play of course! This year the Panda Players put on a stunning performance of A Midsummers Night’s Dream. Ms. Clary, in her first year at Saint Saviour High School, worked tirelessly with the
The cast and crew gather for a photo on the closing night of the show while receiving well-earned applause from the audience.
cast until they knew their lines perfectly. Doctor Wenglinsky worked with the stage crew to make an unbelievably realistic forest and to have the lights and speakers working perfectly. The level of acting seemed almost professional as monologues about love hit the heart and hilarious fight scenes brought the house down. The couples in (and out of) love, the King and Queen, the fairies, and the rude mechanicals combined comedy, love, and drama to present an amazing experience for the audience. One of Shakespeare’s greatest works was memorably executed by the Panda Players, and it leaves this reviewer with great anticipation for what play the Players will tackle next Daniella Rodriguez ’18 and Quyn McCaffrey ’21, who play the leads Lysander and Hermia respectively, pose for a prom-esque picture during the break.
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Saint Saviour High School Sleepover in Space By Quyn McCaffrey The 2018 Saint Saviour High School Sleepover in Space was a total blast! Students gathered to play games and bond overnight. Complete with a photo booth and enormous tents, this night was filled with true Panda Pride. At the beginning of the night, students from all grades rounded up to play a fun game of charades in the center of the gym. At midnight, we got together to commiserate over pizza and soda. Many girls hung out with peel-off facemasks, which seemed to be a popular trend that evening. The photo booth did a great job to promote the space theme, while also giving students a stellar opportunity to dress up and laugh with their friends. Anyone who attended the evening could tell you that it was so much fun. At three am, we went down to the cafeteria and ate some delicious vanilla ice cream. All in all, the Sleepover in Space of 2018 was an awesome way to spend a Friday night!
A group of freshmen get ready for a cozy night’s rest after having a fun time at their first ever Saviour Sleepover.
Quyn McCaffrey ’21 and Kelly Pender ’21 rock matching hats while waiting in line for the photo station.
Kyler Brown ’18 celebrates her last Saviour Sleepover with a festive pose.
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Gospel Choir Concert Alexandra Natale Saint Saviour High School’s Annual Gospel Choir Concert is an opportunity for members of this talented club to shine and show off their amazing repertoire of songs. This night filled with fabulous entertainment is open to all members of Saint Saviour High School and to the parish community. On that night, April 20th, there was a full house to listen to the amazing performance. The choir entered, wearing their traditional red and white robes, and blew the crowd away with their opening number, setting the tone for an amazing evening. Our school’s instrumental ensemble
Members of the Gospel Choir are eager for the concert to commence.
accompanied the choir and performed their own breathtaking solo during the performance. At intermission Ms. Draghi and student volunteers sold refreshments and raffle tickets to patrons. Eventually, the night came to a close with a spirited final number that moved the crowd to its feet. Then came the most touching part of the event; underclassmen gave heartfelt, meaningful speeches to the departing senior members of the gospel choir. All in attendance enjoyed the performance by the gospel choir and the ensemble, all under the direction of Mr. Huie.
The Saviour Ensemble, excited to perform, tune their instruments one last time before the start of the concert.
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Junior Retreat By Julia Canny The Junior Retreat was held at the Precious Blood Monastery on March 20th, 2018. The retreat began appropriately in the ornate church with a morning mass. Following the mass, the juniors went to the retreat area, where they played a fun game, which helped the juniors get to know each other better. Next, the juniors went back to the church to listen to a musical performance by musician Michael Corsini. He played the guitar while singing melodious, pious hymns. Subsequently, the juniors went back to the retreat area where Michael began speaking. He gave insight on the Theology of the Body, offered/shared personal stories, past mistakes, and analogies to help the juniors understand the topics better. Lastly, the juniors had a chance to speak to the sisters of the Precious Blood Monastery, and to ask questions about their monastic life. The juniors learned more about their lifestyle and what their daily life is like. The retreat was a positive, enriching experience, and the juniors appreciate the efforts of Ms. Clary and Ms. Sucich in coordinating this event.
Juniors listening to Michael Corsini playing in the beautiful Precious Blood Monastery.
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Saint Saviour High School Class of 2018 Where We’re Off To Catherine Bracco-Nieves
Camden County College, Blackwood - Undecided
Kyler Brown
Saint Peter’s University- Art
Athena Bruce
Dominican College - Athletic Training
Alexandra Chiriboga
Saint Francis College - Biology
Teresa Collins
US Naval Academy - Naval Architecture + Marine Engineering
Aviance Darrell
Pratt MWP- Fine Arts
Kate Danaher
SUNY Cortland - Undecided
Ashley Danza
College of Staten Island - Undecided
Cameron Fernandez
St. John’s University- Undecided
Jacqueline Fiquet
Kingsborough CC- Computer Science
Jessica Gonzalez
Borough of Manhattan CC - Criminal Justice
Ashley Hall
St. John’s University- Legal Studies
Tien Henry
St. John’s University - Business
Julia Hunt
Penn State, University Park- Undecided
Kara Jackson
Howard University- Undecided
Riane Jean-Charles
Central State University- Studio Art
Ria Khristi
Undecided- Nursing
Julia Kenny
Macaulay Honors College, CUNY Hunter - Psychology
Vanessa Lopez
Adelphi University - Biology/ Pre-Medicine
Madeleine Lorenzen
Iona College - Sociology
Jazmin Mayorga
Saint Francis College - Chemistry
Rechielle Morales
St. John’s University- Business
Kim Mullings
Borough of Manhattan CC - Criminal Justice
Abigail Nolan
St. Joseph’s University - Marketing
Jillian Nolan
College of Mount St. Vincent - Nursing
Ariana Nurse
New York Institute of Technology - Chemistry
Rebecca Ocasio
St. Francis College - Early Childhood Education
Janina Pelaez
SUNY Buffalo State - Biology
Daniela Peraza
Borough of Manhattan CC - Criminal Justice
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Julie Pham
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Civil Engineering
Yuen Yan Ingrid Poon
Penn State, Eerie/Behrend - Forensic Science
Christina Powell
St. Joseph College - Nursing
Chanel Ramirez
Dominican College - Nursing
Lauren Regan
Le Moyne College - Psychology
Bethany Reyes
Brooklyn College - Undecided
Daniella Rodriguez
Macaulay Honors College, CUNY Hunter - History/Human Bio
Samantha Rodriguez
Borough of Manhattan CC - Science for Health
Elizabeth Roemmelt
Dominican College - Athletic Training
Angelina Russo
St. John’s University- Speech Pathology
Mary Therese Ryan
Fairfield University- International Business
Nabihah Siddiqui
Long Island University, Brooklyn - Undecided
Lauren Slattery
Georgetown University - Undecided
Corinne Sonitis
Borough of Manhattan CC - Biology
Alexandria Spinks
Johnson and Wales University – Forensic Psychology
Ashley St. Claire
Saint Francis College - Psychology
Isabella Wagner
The Catholic University of America - History
Nanyamkah Washington
Barry University - Athletic Training
Sidney Campbell-Wells
Medgar Evers - Nursing
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Pandas on Tour By Shannon McLoughlin and Isabella Wagner Each year, some of our pandas get to spend their Easter break abroad with EF Tours, traveling with their friends and learning about exciting cultures. These EF Tours give Saint Saviour students the chance to experience new traditions, sights, and most importantly, food. This year, students traveled from snowy New York City to the sunny coasts, countrysides, and cities of Spain! Beginning in Cordoba and Granada, then onto the bustling capital of Madrid, ending with Toledo,
Saviour seniors celebrate their last EF Tour with a picture.
Activities such as the scavenger hunt in Granada and free time in Valencia immersed students in the everyday life of the people there. Interacting with locals and exploring popular areas helped them to put to good use what Ms. Muinos had taught them in Spanish class! Each amazing day ended with an even better meal! From paella to tapas, Savourities tasted - and even made - some delicious foods that would become their favorites. The culture, sights, and people of Spain are astoundingly beautiful, and any student would be lucky to embark on an adventure to this “pais fantastico� with Ms. Draghi, Ms. Postler, Mr. McDuffie, and Ms. Darcy.
A view of the magnificent Cathedral of Toledo.
Valencia, and beautiful Barcelona, the girls got a glimpse of what being a Spaniard is truly like. They got to see amazing landmarks such as La Alhambra, the Sagrada Familia, The Royal Palace, and the Cathedral of Toledo. The rich history of Spain is evident in its architecture, a mixture of Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish influences. If you could identify each style of architecture while on tour, Ms. Draghi would be very proud!
A delicious dish of paella!
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Enrichment Day 2018 By Lauren Regan Enrichment Day is one of many beloved traditions at Saint Saviour, in which students take different trips of their choice throughout the city the day before spring break begins. Every year the options are always a combination of fun and educational experiences for the students, and this years Enrichment Day was no exception. The choices of trips this year included the Central Park Zoo, the Hall of Science, the
Saviour Seniors feeling relieved after conquering the Escape Room.
before time ran out. The man who worked there was on his way to open the door when we did.” One of the students who took to Broadway this Enrichment Day to see the Tony nominated play “Come From Away”
Museum of Moving Images, a painting party, an Escape Room challenge, pilates, the opportunity of volunteer at C.H.i.P.S., and even a Broadway play. This year was also no exception from the others with the girls on the trips reporting having a wonderful time and having enjoyed their
also expressed how fun and interesting that experience was. With Ms. Sucich and Ms. Clary, a group of girls went to the C.H.i.P.S. soup kitchen and shelter where the girls were kept very busy, performing a multitude of tasks, setting the trays, preparing and serving food,
trips. One student described her experience at the Escape Room. “It was really cool, there were clues hidden in every corner and we kept finding secret rooms” said Jessica Gonzalez “We escaped just
signing in the people who came to eat, and cleaning the facility afterwards. “I thought that it was very fun to have the opportunity to serve people at the soup kitchen in celebration of the Easter season,” said Julia Cont’d on next page
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Kenny, who added “And it was very rewarding to see how happy what a simple meal to us meant to the people we served.” Some girls who attended this trip even plan to continue volunteering with C.H.i.P.S. The students who attended the Broadway play,Come From Away - which was nominated for 6 Tony Awards and winner of Best Direction of a Musical (2017) - loved the show and were very glad to have gone. The play follows the story of a small town, Gander, to which flights were diverted following the events of September 11, 2001, and shows how the townspeople dealt with the news of the terrorist attack while trying to accommodate and care for the passengers of the thirty-eight flights that landed in Gander. When asked about her
Saviourites aiding the community at CHIPS.
All reports regarding this year’s Enrichment Day trips have earned a large amount of praise. Enrichment Day has been a tradition at Saint Saviour for years, and every year offers new and exciting trips, suited to the interests of the students. It is a great day for students to have different and interesting experiences before the Easter holiday begins, and it seems to get better every year.
experience, Cristina Melian said: “I thought the play was really cool. It was really awesome to go see a show. It was very well done and I really hope we can do something like that again.” With more options to see plays, some of the girls from this Enrichment Day trip were very excited. Students enjoying the performance of the Broadway play, Come From Away.
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Daylight Savings Time By Samantha Hughes “Wait, it was daylight saving time last weekend?” Every year, daylight saving time comes in with the fresh gusts of spring, along with the question of why it is observed. Many have debated whether or not the practice of daylight saving time should continue. Currently, only one fourth of the world operates on Daylight Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time has its benefits and drawbacks. It acts as a stimulus for the economy; however, altering one’s perception of time heavily affects the body. Although it is always recommended that we receive more sunlight, an especially difficult task for teenagers, Daylight Savings Time may actually hinder one’s health. Ultimately, in order to fully comprehend the significance of daylight saving time and its effects, one must know how it emerged. The origins of Daylight Savings Time date back to 1905 in London. William Willett believed moving the clocks forward would allow individuals to enjoy more sunlight. Finally in 1916, Germany implemented Daylight Savings Time to conserve electricity during World War I. Following suit, under the guidance of President Woodrow Wilson, Americans began the practice of moving their clocks forward in 1918. Shortly thereafter Daylight Savings Time was repealed, only to be reenacted during World War II and repealed once again. Many states still observed Daylight Savings Time, which has resulted in disorder as people travel from one city to another, entering multiple time zones. In 1966, the Uniform Time Act was passed, enabling Daylight Savings Time in the United States,
although states had the option to utilize Standard Time throughout the whole year. Today, all of the United States sets its clocks ahead for summer, with the exception of Hawaii and Arizona. Furthermore, Daylight Savings Time was initially advantageous for the United States, especially during a time of war. Daylight Savings Time has allowed the United States to become a safer place; “When DST begins in the spring, robbery rates for the entire day fall an average of seven percent, with a much larger twenty-seven percent drop during the evening hour that gained some extra sunlight.” (Doleac and Sanders) Without daylight, it is much easier for predators to commit crimes or to hurt individuals, and few people are outside when it is dark out. Additionally, lack of sunlight can harm one’s mental health as the lack of light causes individuals to become more susceptible to depression: “Absent DST, for eight months per year our days would not be structured to enjoy the most sunlight possible. Our mornings would be bright and cheerful, but the sun would tend to be set before we leave work each day...This gives the average 9-5 adult very little time to enjoy sunlight.” (Nosowitz) Experiencing sunlight ultimately enhances people’s mood, and enables individuals to complete more tasks each day, as we are not limited to a narrow time frame when it is bright outside. Daylight Savings Time allows for this necessary amount of sunlight on a daily basis, something that would not be possible if the clock was not moved ahead. Unfortunately, Daylight Savings Time has a dark side as well as a bright side. Adjusting the clocks can increase health risks. It is easier to become more 15
fatigued, as losing an hour of sleep can cause shifts in one’s sleep cycles over the course of one week. One might it difficult to recover from the loss of just one night’s sleep: “Till Roenneberg, a chronobiologist at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, argues that our bodies; circadian clocks never entirely adjust to the shift in daylight hours. So while more morning light helps jumpstart our bodies, the extra evening light leads to a lag.” (Handwerk) While one’s body goes through the day, one becomes more tired which can lead to disturbances in mood and to lower work performance. Moreover, in the physical realm, fatigue can cause people to become sick more easily. “Two studies, conducted in the United States and Sweden, found that heart attack risk increased by up to 25 percent on the Monday after we move the clocks ahead.” (Handwerk) Serious medical concerns, such as heart attacks, can be life threatening. Many may not believe a simple, routine action, such as moving time ahead by one hour, can have such detrimental effects. When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of Daylight Savings Time it is crucial to factor in the potential health risks posed by this change. Overall, Daylight Savings Time has been a controversial issue for centuries. In recent years, there has been a rise in the desire to end Daylight Savings Time, as many states have filed petitions for its repeal, including New York. Ultimately, people must decide whether the increased amount of sunlight is worth the risk. Although sunlight grants humans essentials for their survival, such as vitamin D, and boosts people’s moods, are the effects of fatigue and other health risks worth it?
The exhaustion may be temporary; however, a heart attack has long-lasting effects if one does occur. Due to its drawbacks, Daylight Savings Time may become extinct in a few years. As for now, the most one can do is soak up the sun. Sources: “Top 3 Pros and Cons of Daylight Saving Time.” ProConorg Headlines, www.procon.org/headline.php? headlineID=005345. Klein, Christopher. “8 Things You May Not Know About Daylight Saving Time.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Mar. 2012, www.history.com/news/8-things-youmay-not-know-about-daylight-saving-time. Nosowitz, Dan. “Why Daylight Saving Time Is Actually Great.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 12 Mar. 2018, www.popularmechanics.com/science/enviro nment/a18011/in-defense-of-daylightsaving-time/. Doleac, Jennifer L., and Nicholas J. Sanders. “Fighting Crime with Daylight Saving Time.” Brookings, Brookings, 29 July 2016, www.brookings.edu/blog/brookingsnow/2015/10/29/fighting-crime-withdaylight-saving-time/. Handwerk, Brian. “The Case for and Against Daylight Saving Time.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 3 Nov. 2016, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/1 1/daylight-saving-time-2016-why-changeclocks/ Jones, Kaci. “NY Lawmakers Push to Eliminate Daylight Saving Time.” WHEC News10NBC, WHEC, 7 Mar. 2018, http://www.whec.com/news/lawmakerspush-to-eliminate-daylight-savingtime/4816307/
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St. Patrick's Day Parades Julia Kenny Every year, the Gaelic Society is honored with an invitation to represent and promote St. Saviour at New York’s famous parade honoring St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and the rich cultural heritage of the Irish people. This year was no different, with Gaelic Society marching in a total of three parades. The first parade was the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17th. With senior members holding the Gaelic club banner, Gaelic Society members, accompanied by parents and teachers, marched from 5th Avenue and East 45th Street to East 79th Street in their customary bright green parade sweatshirts and white gloves. Despite the girls’ exhaustion from walking so many long city blocks with bright smiles and waving hands, Gaelic Society marched in the Brooklyn Irish American Day Parade in Park Slope the very next day. The following Saturday, members again congregated to take part in the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
When asked about her experience in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration as part of St. Saviour’s Gaelic Society, Lauren Regan ’18 responded: “This is my fourth year marching with Gaelic Society, and each year has been so much fun. It’s definitely a part of my high school experience that I will remember and look back on in the years to come.” Elizabeth Roemmelt ’18 also said, “It was a great opportunity to celebrate my cultural heritage.” Taking part in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations is not only a way to honor St. Patrick and the Irish community, but also a way to remind members of the St. Saviour High School community of our Catholic tradition. By marching in these parades, Gaelic Society celebrates St. Saviour’s continual commitment to providing Catholic education to young women in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, as has been accomplished through the school for over one hundred years.
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Senior Saviourites, clad in the traditional white scarves and gloves, lead their fellow students.
Mother Daughter Luncheon Julia Kenny On Saturday April 14th, the annual Mother Daughter luncheon took place at Gargiulo's Restaurant in Coney Island, where students from each grade gathered with their mothers, aunts, sisters, and other special women who have impacted their lives. Thanks to the delicious food (including an ice cream
Seniors posing one last time at the Mother Daughter Luncheon.
station), the seemingly endless supply of
from freshman year. The food and prizes
raffles to win, and the opportunity to spend
were incredible, but the best parts were
quality time with friends and loved ones,
hearing the senior speeches and spending
this event was a huge success.
time with the women I love.” Teresa Collins
As is tradition, the senior attendees
’18 also reflected on her experience, stating
of the luncheon took part in the Golden Rose
“For me, it was a chance to thank my birth
Ceremony in which they gave speeches of
mom for giving me a second chance and my
appreciation to their mothers, with many
adoptive mom for making that second
reflecting on childhood memories, on how
chance possible.”
they will be attending college in just a short
Mothers and those who act as
time, and on their incredibly strong bonds
mother figures in our lives play an
with and love for the mother figures in their
incredibly important role in shaping us into
lives. After they spoke, the girls gave their
the people that we are and into the people
mothers a golden rose to honor them. This
we will continue to become. St. Saviour’s
beautiful ceremony likely brought the entire
Mother Daughter Luncheon gives students
room to tears after just the first senior gave
an opportunity to reflect upon the incredibly
her speech.
impactful role that these special women play
When asked about her experience at
in their lives, giving girls the opportunity to
this year’s Mother Daughter luncheon,
thank them and celebrate with them in a
Daniella Rodriguez ’18 stated, “It was only
beautiful way, surrounded by St. Saviour’s
my second time at Mother Daughter, but it
loving community.
was just as much fun as I remembered it
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When Enough Is Enough: Armed Teachers and Politically Active Students By Daniella Rodriguez April 20th, 1999. December 14th, 2012. February 14th, 2018. These dates will forever be known as some of the most heartbreaking, tragic days in American history. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Columbine High School Massacre in Columbine, Colorado took the lives of thirteen victims. A decade later, twenty children and six adults were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. This year, the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, in which seventeen victims died, surpassed the Columbine massacre as the deadliest high school shooting in American history. By April 20th, only nine weeks after the Parkland shooting, seventeen more school shootings had occurred. In the face of what seems to be an epidemic of gun violence, what are we as Americans to do? History has shown that tragic mass shootings tend to bring about major change. Following the Columbine massacre, many schools across the country enacted “zero-tolerance” policies regarding disruptive behavior and threats of violence from students. In the weeks following the Parkland shooting, Wal-Mart - the largest retailer in the United States - announced that it would stop selling guns and ammunition to anyone less than twenty-one years of age. In a similar gesture, Dick's Sporting Goods announced that it would cease to sell military-style semi-automatic rifles,
as well as guns to anyone under twentyone. Unfortunately, however, these changes have done little to bring an end to gun violence in schools. In response to the outcry for stricter gun control laws, several politicians, including President Donald Trump, have suggested a solution to the issue: allow teachers to carry weapons. How are students reacting? In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, several survivors banded together to form Never Again MSD, a student-led activist group that advocates for stricter regulations to prevent gun violence. In response to debates over whether or not to arm school teachers, one Never Again member, junior Demitri Hoth, stated: "Legislators voted down a debate on banning assault rifles, but they allowed a debate to go through on whether they should arm teachers or not, which in my mind, I don’t understand how they can see the logic for that because adding more guns to the equation is not the answer." Indeed, adding more guns to the equation could be equivalent to adding more fuel to the fire. Stoneman Douglas teacher Darren Levine also responded unfavorably to the idea of armed teachers: "I think it’s an absolute asinine idea," he said. "All of this other discussion, all of this other talk is a distraction. Listen to the kids…these kids know what they're talking about. If you ask a kid if they want their teachers armed, those kids are going to say no.” As Parkland students and members of Never Again have stated multiple times, their goal is to end gun violence, and they believe that arming teachers is a step in the opposite direction. While this debate went on, Stoneman Douglas students brought
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awareness to the need for stricter gun control regulations by organizing the March For Our Lives demonstration. Other schools and organizations rallied in support of the Floridian students by hosting national walkouts, including on that took place of April 20th, the nineteenth anniversary of the Columbine Massacre. Students are not only taking a stand in Florida; change is being made right here in Park Slope. Samantha Cassata, a junior at Saint Saviour High School, was so touched by the events that unfolded in Parkland, she decided to raise awareness in our own school community: “...It’s awful turning on the news and hearing that seventeen people died in a place that thought they’d be safe in. I wanted the girls at St. Saviour to feel how I felt about this situation and really understand that this is real life and happens so often in America”. On April 20th, during a nationwide walkout from classes, Saint Saviour honored the lives lost in Parkland by having a intimate organized by Cassata. “I just kept thinking, what if it was at my sister’s school? What if it was Saviour? What if it was my mom’s school?” She added, “I couldn’t even imagine losing anyone in a school shooting. It’s awful to be living in a world where this is the ‘norm’ because it shouldn’t be normal.” In response to the controversial topic of arming teachers, Cassata offered her own views; “When I first heard about the idea of arming teachers with weapons, I was very against it. I was talking to one of my teachers about it and she said that if it were a student that she had taught, she would not have the
heart to shoot them. I believe there are other ways to prevent school shootings in the future besides arming teachers.” One way to prevent future incidents involving gun violence besides arming teachers, as Cassata mentions, is to tighten background checks on those who purchase guns. “[I read that] in other countries, the people who want to purchase a gun have to do a training class, pass a test, and have a mental health test.” Samantha also recognizes bullying and emotional distress as major causes of gun violence in schools; “I think an enormous part of helping to prevent school shootings is if everyone was nicer to each other. Teenagers, adults, and really everyone could feel lonely, scared, or broken because of something that’s happening at home, or something that someone said in school. No one should ever feel [so] alone or scared that [they are pushed] to go to their school, or any school, and murder people.” It is no secret that school shootings leave permanent, painful scars on the communities they affect. While the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School was certainly not the first ever school shooting, and has unfortunately not been the last, it has served as a major turning point in promoting activism among young students across the nation. These students, students such as Samantha Cassata and the members of Never Again MSD who work to have their voices heard and fight against gun violence, will be the next generation of politicians and world leaders. With them leading our country, there is hope that similar tragedies will never again occur.
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From the Staff of Skyline:
Op-Ed 1
Dear Readers: In our never-ending efforts to expand and improve Skyline, we are embarking on a new venture, the creation of an OP-ED page. The New York Times succinctly explained the purpose and nature of an OP- ED page this way: “The objective [of the op-ed page] is . . . to afford greater opportunity for exploration of issues and presentation of new insights and new ideas by writers and thinkers who have no institutional connection with [the newspaper] and whose views will very frequently be completely divergent from our own.”[NYT Dec. 3. 217] In a free society, the freedom to express one’s own opinion, to hear the opinions of one’s neighbors, and to question or challenge the opinions of others– all without fear of rebuke or recrimination, these are fundamental rights and responsibilities. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt put the issue in proper perspective when he observed that “Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.” – FDR And so it is in this spirit, and with this great tradition in mind, that we present three oped pieces on the subject of Political Correctness. The respective authors have approached the subject with the respect and seriousness it deserves. We hope that, if you are moved to do so, you will join the discussion by submitting letters to the editor, which we will strive to publish in the Fall 2018 issue. Likewise, if there are other opinions you wish to share, you may submit a letter to the editor on those subjects as well to caughey.j@stsaviour.org. We thank you in advance for helping us to expand the vision of Skyline.
There are very few countries quite as diverse as the United States. Often referred to as a melting pot of culture, the United States is built on the basis of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as outlined in our Constitution. The First Amendment outlines one of the most sacred rights given to Americans, the right to freedom of speech, press, and religion. This right is given to every person living in the United State and, in theory, is only limited in very specific instances - for example, screaming fire in a crowded theater. Yet, as America looks forward, a growing trend of limiting speech has been popularized in hopes of promoting “political correctness.” While I believe self-censorship and sensitivity are important things to impose on oneself, I believe that mandated censorship of “offensive” words is a dangerous practice which will only increase, not lessen, political tension. Currently, America is a politically divided country. One issue that arises from censoring words for “political correctness” is that not everyone agrees with the political reasons why these words have been banned in the first place. For example, words such as “dialect,” “dogma,” and “heretic” have been included in banned word lists enforced by groups such as state departments of education, textbook publishers, and test makers. These words, to some people, were deemed offensive, but to many people these words have little to no political connotation. Rather, such words help create the basis of study for such subjects as linguistics and theology, but have been banned from tests and textbooks. People in these fields might find it difficult to teach effectively relying on the use of vague “PC” language. Another issue that arises in the debate over Political Correctness is the blatant disregard of the First Amendment by many Americans. A study entitled “The State of the First Amendment,” done by the First Amendment Center, reported that among Americans the belief is that offensive speech
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directed at religious and racial groups should not be allowed. Thirty five per cent of people surveyed believed that offensive religious speech categorically should not be allowed and thirty nine per cent believed that offensive racial speech categorically should not be allowed. I believe that we all should respect one another and that calling people names based on their beliefs or their race is a disgusting thing, yet I believe it is dangerous to ban what is commonly called “offensive” speech. The First Amendment guarantees Americans the right to say what they want, therefore self-censorship and thinking before we speak is the best way to avoid offending someone. Some people do not care about offending people and therefore will face the consequences of saying offensive things. The government should not be the one to legislate what is “offensive” or not, especially due to the large political division within our country. Additionally, marginalized groups and people have begun reclaiming previously offensive words. For example, American author Nancy Mairs has reclaimed the word “crippled.” In an essay entitled “On Being a Cripple,” Mairs, who has battled multiple sclerosis for years, declares “I am a cripple… whatever you call me, I remain crippled. .” Mairs even takes offense with other words used to describe her, words such as “differently abled” which she describes as “pure verbal garbage designed to describe anyone… [and] no one.” This divide creates tension between people who deem this description more “politically correct” and the actual people who are being described. Ironically, “differently abled” appears on a banned words list for being offensive, further demonstrating that there is very little consistency within groups regarding what words are truly offensive or not. As we have progressed in society, we have learned from our past actions, both as a country and as a society. We have begun to understand that words hold great power and that power is bestowed on each and every one of us. I firmly believe that this
power should continue to rest solely in our hands as individuals, and that all involvement of outside parties to regulate speech should be seen as an infringement of our First Amendment right. While I believe these groups, who argue in defense of Politically Correct speech guidelines or requirements come from a place of compassion, I believe opening the gate to limiting “offensive” speech via legislature is a dangerous practice, which can lead to censorship of whatever the people in charge deem worthy of censorship. This is why I believe the campaign to promote the use of “PC” terminology has only further divided the country as opposed to bringing us together.
By MaryTherese Ryan
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Op-Ed 2 Have you said the words “doorman,” “dialect,” or “disabled” recently? These seemingly harmless words have been dubbed as “politically incorrect” , according to Diane Ravitch, whose recent book The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn, provides an eye-opening Glossary of Banned Words, on which the aforementioned words appear. Thinking before one speaks is certainly a good quality, but an enforced list of banned words is not in anyone’s best interest. We can push for censorship and politically correct language endlessly, but this does not translate into a politically correct attitude. Telling people not to say certain words that have been deemed offensive will not necessarily spark the offender’s desire for change. Making people feel that they are “under the beady scrutiny of a whole new language police”, as American essayist David Foster Wallace describes it, may censor the offending party, but such scrutiny definitely won’t change their attitude. In that same article for Harper’s Magazine, Wallace asserts that political correctness “enables the bizarre conviction that America ceases to be elitist or unfair because Americans stop using certain vocabulary.” This speaks to the fact that even if we flaunt our politically correct vocabulary, we are not truly politically correct. In the media we see various figures in the cultural limelight scrutinized for their use of politically incorrect language. Often times men are seen using derogatory language about women, and we try to condition them to speak in a more politically correct way. If a man thinks that women are truly less than men, it is a real folly to believe that forcing him to change his word choice will force a change in his opinion. Politically correct language is only effective in its rarest form: people truly thinking cautiously and respectfully without a sense of obligation.
This, I know, is not the popular stance. S.I. Hayakawa, the author of Language in Thought and Action, a challenging read, argues that using a word with a negative connotation toward a group contributes to our attitude toward that group: “to think of people as bums is to think they are only getting what they deserve” and “new names for such people… may find new ways of helping deal with it.” I would refute that point of view. If I truly had that negative attitude toward so-called “bums,” and if I used that word to label or identify them, someone forcing me to say “street people” would definitely not change any negative attitude I truly harbored toward them. This warped idea of language change as a catalyst for attitude change is misleading. The bottom line is, politically correct attitudes must precede politically correct language for any real social change to take place. Political correctness, as a social policy, may even have the opposite effect on the public, seeing it as forced censorship against their First Amendment right. In a 2005 survey, published under the title “American Attitudes Toward Freedom of Expression” and conducted by The First Amendment Center, almost half of the people surveyed thought offensive speech should be allowed. With this attitude, I don’t see a politically correct point of view coming from censorship any time soon.
By Alexandra Natale
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Op-Ed 3 Political Correctness, PC, the replacement of degrading, offensive, or vulgar terms with more sensitive ones, is applied to such considerations as race, ethnicity, and religion. Many people in America are more aware of these politically correct concerns and of the words used to refer to someone or to a group in relation to such criteria as race, religion, and ethnicity. However, the level of awareness and the level of acceptance of the idea of PC can be vastly different from place to place within our country. More diverse areas of the country reflect an increase in the awareness of and adherence to political correctness, likely due to a large community of those to whom (or against whom) the offensive terms might be applied. For example, I live in the very diverse and open-minded place that is New York City and I have never heard some of the words, deemed offensive, that one might find in the “Glossary of Banned Terms” published collectively by various state departments of education [and examined by social and political theorist, Diane Ravitch]. I have never, for instance, heard the word “drunken” used specifically as a way to label or identify a Native American person, nor have I heard of someone with a speech impediment referred to as a “dummy.” However, I am sure [since it was deemed necessary by state departments of education to create a list of words not to be used] some of the terms on this list are used in places around the country. The difference in perception contributes to the rift in America around the question of political correctness. Political Correctness is growing in importance, though, at times, people can become so cautious that they don’t really know what to say. In an article published by Harper’s, contemporary American author David Foster Wallace notes that under the conventions of PC the term “”differently abled” is the correct way to refer to someone who is wheelchair-bound or similarly challenged. However, in that same Glossary of Banned Words published by the amalgam of state education departments, “differently
abled” is listed as a banned word, likely to give offense. These differing stances illustrate just how complex the question of political correctness has become. There are, as well, cases of a particular group reclaiming a previously banned or offensive word. This point was made by the well-known publisher, Random House, in whose recent edition of the Random House Dictionary the following caveat was offered: “A within the group rule often applies, which allows a member of a group to use terms freely that would be considered offensive if used by a non-member of the group.” Examples of this can be seen in the African-American community and in the LGBTQ community. The degree to which we are aware of terminology in relation to political correctness is further heightened due to the number of terms and the rules attached to them [like the within the group rule]. Random House, in that same cautionary essay, points out another intricacy of political correctness in observing that “a group may disagree with itself as to what is acceptable and what is not,” a point made clear by American author, Nancy Mairs, who lived for many years with multiple sclerosis, a debilitating, degenerative disease that eventually leaves one a “cripple” - the word Mairs chooses to define or describe herself. In her now famous essay, “On Being Cripple,” Mairs insists that she prefers the term “cripple” in reference to herself, over terms considered politically correct, terms such as “disabled,” “handicapped,” and “differently abled” because as she confides, she wants others “to see [her] as a tough customer, one to whom the gods/fates/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely.” We are certainly at a high point in our embracing of political correctness in America, but even so, there are varying degrees of political correctness throughout the country. It is, paradoxically, in some of the confusion and uncertainty surrounding politically correct terms that the heightened awareness is raised even further.
Lauren Regan, ‘18
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Saviour Stomps to Second Place By Nioka Gaudin On April 13th, the Saint Saviour High School Boosters took part in the annual GCHSAA Step Competition at Bishop Kearney High School. The boosters perform in this competition every year and practice for it all year long. Other schools, including Saint Joseph’s, Saint Edmund, Bishop Kearney and Archbishop Molloy, competed this year.
As the boosters step on to the gym floor on competition day, the entire crowd is in sync with every stomp and clap. The message hits everyone in the gym, encouraging all to face the reality of the world that we are living in today. While waiting for the results, every step team said a prayer to remind us that God has given us the talent to use our body as an instrument [for peace].
Boosters smile for a group picture right before performing.
Beginning as early as September, the boosters worked to come up with an original routine to perform, with a clear theme, which they then practiced. This year’s theme was “Increase the Peace.” The routine spoke about terrorism, racism, and how we, as members of this society, must work together to increase peace and unity.
The excitement can be felt through this picture of the boosters with their plaque.
When the judges announced Saint Saviour High School had won second place, the adrenaline and excitement from every Saviourite could be felt, as boosters leapt into the air with joy. “This plaque shows just how hard we worked and how much it paid off.” This is what a fellow booster Briana Esper said after they received the plaque.
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Sports Corner By Teresa Kiernan In Saint Saviour High School we might moan and groan about the daily pain of going to school, but it’s important to remember that in reality our daily education is a great privilege. Heroes like Malala Yousafzai, who are willing to die for the chance to receive an education, are a constant reminder never to take what we have for granted. Some of the leaders on our Saint Saviour sports teams embody similar powerful characteristics that Malala possesses. During this spring season we found many leaders shining on and off the field. Our Saint Saviour varsity softball team is
The track team posing with their new coach, Grace Dolan ’17.
just one of the many teams which has numerous leaders. Not surprisingly, the girls won the very first AA division softball game ever in Saint Saviour history. Janina Pelaez ’18 is not only this year’s MVP, but is also attending Buffalo State in the fall. Like Malala, she is grateful for her education and for her athletic ability. Along with softball, track is also currently in season. The team, composed of a majority of freshmen, is coached by recent Saint Saviour graduate Grace Dolan. In an interview, Grace described her team with deep pride. She remarked on how a freshman, Kelly Pender, tried hurdles for the first time ever, and, despite her lack of experience, did great. Furthermore, Kelly’s bright personality sparked the rest of the team to develop an interest in hurdling. As for coaching, Grace says that every day is a new experience. She remarked on how she has developed a relationship with teachers and faculty that would never have been possible as a student. In her time as a coach, Grace is a great leader for the young track stars of her team.
The softball team honoring their seniors at the Senior Game with colorful posters.
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Mission Day Liturgy This year Saint Saviour began a new tradition, Mission Day Liturgy. During the liturgy, Mrs. Bernstein and Father Frank educated Savourities on our first founders, Jesus and Mary. The liturgy occurred on May 8th, and combined previous Saint Saviour traditions, the May Crowning and Founders Day, where Saviourites celebrate the SSND founders of Saint Saviour in 1917. Father Frank delivers a homily about our first founder, Jesus, to the school.
“…On this Foundress Day that the Schools Sisters of Notre Dome and the Saint Saviour Community remember Mother Theresa for starting the order and many years later starting us…” (Excerpt)
Mrs. Bernstein enlightening Savourities about the importance of receiving a Catholic education and its beneficial effects.
“My Catholic education has enriched my faith and spiritual life. It kept Jesus as a major part of every day… To the School Sisters of Notre Dome I want to say thank you for dedicating your lives to teaching. You will always be in my heart!” (Excerpt from Mrs. Bernstein)
The student body attends Saint Saviour’s first Mission Day at the beautiful Saint Saviour Church.
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Skyline Staff Editor-in-Chief – Daniella Rodriguez Assistant Editors – Samantha Hughes and Alex Natale Contributing Writers – Julia Canny, Nioka Gaudin, Julia Kenny, Teresa Kiernan, Quyn McCaffrey, Shannon McLoughlin, Olivia Medina, Alexandra Natale, Ariana Nurse, Isabella Wagner, Lauren Reagan, Mary-Therese Ryan Art – Cristina Melian Moderator – Ms. J. Caughey
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