Gratitude is a key to happiness. Check out pages 8-9 to see why students are grateful.
Chelsea Blake and Abby Forrest designed the cover to show the theme of “gratitude.”
The photo below was taken by Caleb Andrews in Issue 1. The Flyer regrets the error.
Brady Duling and other athletes to watch this winter. Photo by
Page 15
WHAT’S HAPPENING Catching up with people & events
Food Drive Success. This year’s Feeding Families Drive brought in 27,744 cans for charity. Last year, 26,563 cans were collected.
“I was really happy that all the communities reached their goal,” said Mrs. Bergman, whose Calcutta community organized the drive. “The food drive is one of the most important things we do at Bishop Carroll service-wise.”
The top house was Mrs. Gordon/Mr. Hilliard with 2,153 cans.
Mrs. Gordon emphasizes the charity
angle of the drive and also enjoys the competition and motivating her house kids.
“I always remind them that there are kids in their own school, and in their parishes, that benefit from the food bank,” Mrs. Gordon said. “I (also) tell them that competition is healthy. They are kids and they like contests! So let’s win!”
— by Hailie Bowyer, Journalism
Daily Prayer. Teachers and staff are praying together every day before school
in the chapel — a point of emphasis from Principal Dester in his first year. He said about 40 teachers attend and that he will keep promoting it until 100 percent attend.
“The biggest benefit is that God answers prayers,” he said. “We are praying for our students every morning but we also ask for petitions. The second benefit is that it builds community among our faculty and, lastly, it sends a message to our students that we put prayer first.”
— Flyer staff
Jamie Lubbe and Isabella Martinez.
Students go to pray almost every day in the chapel during lunch. “I see students praying in ways that are real and beyond what I was doing at their age so it’s like exciting to me...” Father Hayden said during a meeting with the
FAITH REVIVAL
Students’ attendance of faith-based activities has increased
Chelsea Blake Editor
There are many opportunities for students to pray throughout the school day that are being utilized even more this school year. The past two months has seen an increase in optional mass attendance and in student confessions. Students are using their time well in the chapel and are even attending optional mass with their friends.
Father Hayden Charles, in his first year as chaplain at Bishop Carroll, is excited about the students’ participation in their faith. Father Hayden, a BC graduate, sees an opportunity for faith to keep growing this school year.
“I see students praying in ways that are real and beyond what I was doing at their age so it’s like exciting to me...there’s potential for a real rival of faith and encounters with Christ,” Father said.
Father sees confession as an opportunity for students to be better and learn about themselves. Father Hayden recommends going to confession just to “let everything go” as it is better for you than holding it in. In future, Father Hayden, along with Father John, would like to expand the chapel. He would like to make it big enough to hold a class mass.
“There’s no concrete plans, it’s just a pipe dream of mine,” Father said.
Mr. Dester, also in his first year at the school, is proud to see an increase in confession attendance. He sees the stream of kids in the line during lunch. Dester finds it impressive that students go during their
lunch period.
“I think we wanted to see if confessions during lunch would even work,” Dester said.
Dester himself said he even takes advantage of that time to go to confession.
Mr. Dester made a change to the teacher’s prayer life by creating prayer time in the chapel every morning. He believes in faculty prayer each day for four reasons: God answers prayers; to build community with faculty and staff; let students see that teachers put God first; and that Jesus is there in the chapel with them.
“We want our students to see that we are putting it (prayer) before anything else,” Mr. Dester said.
Students have noticed this change in chapel attendance as well. Aaron Gorges, vice president of Liturgy of the Hours Club, goes in every day during lunch and after school for the Liturgy of the Hours. He sees more students going to the chapel as a good thing, especially the freshmen.
“I think the sophomores need to be pushed more to going into the chapel more often,” Gorges said.
Molly Lasak, a junior, goes into the chapel during lunch with her friends. She has noticed that there are more people already in there when she gets there. Lasak likes the chapel as it adds routine to her day and she can share the experience with her her friend.
“It’s nice to separate from school and everything and just be with Jesus,” Lasak said.
Flyer newspaper staff.
Photo illustration by Jamie Lubbe, Bella Martinez, Addison Goertz.
FLYER STAFF
Editor: Chelsea Blake
Sports Editor: Evan Long
Photo Editor: Abby Forrest Staff:
Kolbe Asmussen
Rica Bluml
Bridget Gear
Tien Le
Gabrielle Martin
Daylin Riedlinger
Adviser: Kollen Long
Publication:
The Flyer is the student produced newspaper of BCCHS. Editorials and columns are not necessarily the opinion of the adviser, administration, faculty, or the Diocese of Wichita.
Letters:
The Flyer encourages students to share their opinions by writing a letter to the editors. Letters should be typed, signed, and brought to Room 307. Or submit your letter to longkollen@bcchs. org. Include a parent on the e-mail.
Online:
Additional content can be found at bcflyer.net, Instagram, (@bishopcarrollflyer) and Twitter (@carrollflyer),
Honors:
The Flyer was an All-Kansas winner in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Journalism won state titles in 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
STAFF OPINION: Service Day
Day was rewarding, and we can make it better
Chelsea Blake, editor: One positive about the day was all the good we did for the community around us. Many houses helped in many different areas, such as baking, cleaning, or taking care of kids. It was really nice to hear what good houses did for others. The weather was also nice for what we did since many people had to be outside. Communication on the administration’s part could have been better. A schedule should have been sent out to all houses on what the day entailed because when we came back from our project, there was confusion on what to do. When ice cream was served on the field, it felt as if we were cattle put into a pen. If they gave more to do on the football field, it would have been more enjoyable.
Abby Forrest, photo editor: I think that it was good to have everyone go the same day so people weren’t missing class throughout the year. I also think that it was good so people can compare their experiences at different kinds of places. I think that it was hard to find places for each house to go to.
Bridget Gear: I thought that it was really good to have a full day of helping others out and learning about all of the great ways that we can help in the community. The day made for a great time to hang out with my housemates and friends and to give back to the community. Something that I would change about the service day is having more activities once we return from our service projects. I also think that the setup for the stewardship fair could have been a little more organized because it was hard to have it all in one place.
Tien Le: I enjoyed being outside of school and helping out the community. I also enjoyed everyone doing their service projects on the same day, the all-school mass, and the Stewardship fair. I wish they allowed us to eat out after doing
our project. It was one of my favorite parts about Service Day.
Evan Long, sports editor: It feels very good to make a difference in the community. Having everyone participating and helping a good cause was awesome. It was also a great opportunity to get service hours. I wish we could’ve gotten food at a restaurant after completing the service. It makes the day feel more special and it’s a nice reward after helping the community.
Kolbe Asmussen: I thought it was fun to hang out and play games like Bingo with senior citizens, and I talked to them about life. There wasn’t a lot of variety in terms of games in the afternoon and it got bland after a while. I didn’t like the fact that we couldn’t go out to eat.
Gabrielle Martin: The positives of the day were having fun with my house while still working, getting to listen to a good speaker, and exploring different volunteer activities The cons of the day were as follows: It honestly could’ve been an early dismissal day, kids were throwing around and destroying items they got from the volunteer tables (for example some kids were throwing this baby from one of the tables into the air, and some were trying to rip the heads off of them), and I wish we were able to go somewhere for food as a house.
Daylin Riedlinger: I thought it was fun to be able to help out the community while hanging out with friends. I got to help improve a community garden so it was in better shape to get food out to people. I felt like we didn’t get enough time to get a whole lot done. We obviously got some done but I feel like if we made it a whole day that it would have been more beneficial.
Houses did great work in the community on Service Day. Mrs. Bergman’s house helped Wyatt Ormiston with his Eagle Scout project. Photo by Mrs. Bergman
ON OUR MINDS
Students share their opinions of various topics
What’s
ON FIRE
New Scoreboard:
Bishop Carroll’s new video scoreboard, which was generously donated by four sponsors, was a great success during this year’s football and soccer games. The video board played hype videos for all the fall sports during the games.
LUKEWARM
No late starts:
Due to the extra days added to Christmas break, we no longer have late starts. See the debate below!
and what’s
HOT
Optional Mass and Chapel Attendence:
More students have been attending optional Mass and going to the chapel. Students have been going to the chapel after they’re done eating lunch, and before and after school.
COLD
Stink Bombs:
Certain students have been partaking in throwing stink bombs at each other and in the hallways. The stink bomb epidemic has gotten out of hand! It needs to stop.
THIS OR THAT
Debate: Flyer staffers debate: a longer Christmas break or late starts?
I prefer having late starts because I use it to spend time with my friends. When we have that extra hour, we get breakfast at some of our favorite restaurants. Late starts are good for me because I never get to see my friends during the school day, so it is a good way to see them before school. Late starts are also good for the kids who don’t get a lot of sleep. That way, kids can get more sleep and be better prepared for the school day.
-Chelsea Blake
Quick Hits
Students share some of their favorite things about Thanksgiving.
“I really enjoy our tradition of our family UNO game and the winner writes their name on the winning card.”
- Addie Goertz, sophomore
“Every night after we eat Thanksgiving dinner, my grandma makes homemade ice cream. I really like eating it and spending time with my family.”
-Drew Ferguson, junior
“My family doesn’t get to visit for Christmas so we do Secret Santa. This year our theme is books.”
-Clare Cook, sophomore
“My favorite Thanksgiving food is cherry crumb pie. My great aunt always tells us she made it but it’s really store bought but it tastes amazing.”
-Genevieve Wilhite, junior
“My favorite Thanksgiving food is ham and pineapple. It tastes great and we have it every year.”
-Brooks Morrow, sophomore
“My favorite Thanksgiving day food is my uncle’s turkey because he seasons it so good and it’s always warm and tasty.”
I’m glad we got a longer break this year. Don’t get me wrong, I love sleeping in and spending time with friends getting breakfast, but I like not having to go to school. A longer Christmas break is more days away from school, free to do whatever we want. Also, who wants to go to school when it is freezing? It’s cold enough during the winter days, but it’s so much colder in the mornings when your car has been sitting outside all night.
-Gabby Martin
-Mia Poggi, junior
“My family goes to Mass together with my extended family and then we all go to breakfest.”
-Aimee Sanders, sophomore
Bishop Carroll’s new video scoreboard. Photo by Abby Forrest
The Chapel is full of students after lunch. Photo by Rica Bluml.
Page design by Rica Bluml
30 Days 2 Countries 14 Cities 1 Family Adventure
Bridget Gear Staff Writer
Paris Santiago Lourdes
Lisieux
Ars
Orleans
This past summer, I had an experience that I will be able to cherish forever and one that I’ll never forget. I was blessed with the great gift of getting to travel over to Europe to walk 12 days on the Camino, a series of walking paths throughout Europe, and tour multiple holy sites in France. This trip was nothing like a vacation; it was a pilgrimage. I experienced the Lord in so many ways and I want to share with you my experiences and how they have impacted my life.
My parents had been saving up some money for quite some time, hoping to use it to take a pilgrimage over to Europe with the whole family (two adults, six kids, plus our uncle). It was in November of 2023 that my parents had been sitting at the kitchen table, briefly checking for cheap flights over to Europe. They ended up coming across some fairly priced tickets for the summer of 2024. After some contemplation and discussion, they booked the tickets. That’s right, we were going to EUROPE!
We first started our pilgrimage by walking for 12 days on the Camino in Spain, which was one of the hardest things I had probably ever done. But every step of the way I tried to offer up my suffering for intentions that I had gathered from friends and family before the trip. We saw so many different types of scenery, and we were able to take it all in and really see God’s beauty. At night, we would stay in albergues, which consisted of a shared bathroom with other pilgrims and typically a whole room to our family. The Camino was difficult, but through it, we were able to grow closer as a family, knowing that we were all going through the hard times together.
The last half of our pilgrimage consisted of touring around France and seeing the holy sites. We went to Lourdes, Lisieux, Caen, Orleans, Ars, Mount Saint Michel, and a couple other pilgrimage sites. It was incredible to see where a lot of the saints we know today grew up, went to church, and had apparitions of Jesus, Mary, or some of the other saints. It gave you chills to just think that you were in the same place where these saints were centuries ago. Getting to visit all these places made me really think about the stories of the saints and how God used them in simple, but incredible ways. But getting to share that experience with my family was the best part. We were able to talk about and share our experiences with one another and how they had impacted us.
Lastly, through this experience, I was able to truly grow closer to our Lord. It made me realize that in doing hard things you are able to call on the Lord more and more for help and to praise and thank Him for all the little things in life. By being where the saints were, it helped me to experience in a deeper way how life was for them and what it means to grow close to our Lord.
Caen
Avila Lyon
Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela. Photo courtesy of Gear.
Ready to depart for another day of walking on the Camino. Photo courtesy of Gear.
Visiting the Eiffel Tour. Photo courtesy of Gear.
Hurricane Havoc
While hurricanes and tornadoes are both dangerous and deadly, hurricanes tend to have more overall damage. With hurricane season coming to a close, the Flyer reached out to members of the Bishop Carroll community who were affected by Milton.
Kelly Schwamman, 2010 graduate: ‘We were in the direct path...”
Before the Hurricane “We live in Central Florida. The preparation and week following the hurricanes is a very nerve wracking experience. Everyone panicks and the grocery store shelves quickly become bare. We keep a supply at all times so we don’t have to endure that craziness. The gas stations also run out of fuel in the days prior to the hurricane. You can’t really be sure what to expect because the track can shift at any time. We prepared as well as possible by moving all outdoor furniture and anything loose that could end up airborne/hitting our home, ensuring we had plenty of water, extra gasoline to run generators when power goes down, plenty of non-perishable food, flashlights/lanterns, our crank radio fully charged, and extra batteries on hand. Some of our friends decided to evacuate but our county was not under a mandatory evacuation notice so we decided to stay. The roads were at a stand-still and the gas stations were running out of fuel so it made more sense for us to hunker down and stay off the roads so the people along the coast under mandatory evac could make their way to safety.”
Experience of the Hurricane
“We were in the direct path of the hurricane (Polk county). It was a scary experience starting in the afternoon with tornados—Florida homes don’t have basements due to the high water table. Although many of our friends joked with us about Kansans being used to tornados, the experience is very different when you don’t have the shelter of a basement. Fortunately, the tornadoes avoided us as we took shelter in our main floor bathroom, our only room without windows. We had the four kids in the tile shower with plenty of blankets and snacks to ride out the tornado warnings. The rain and high wind speeds picked up in the evening and carried on throughout the duration of the storm. As the night went on, we continued to monitor the storm, although there is nothing to be done at that point other than hunker down and ride it out. My husband, Greg Schwamman, also a BC alumni, boarded up our front door to secure it during the storm. The noise from the wind and rain is hard to explain, it sounded like our windows were going to shatter between the pressure from the wind and the downpour of rain against them. It’s VERY loud and scary for several hours. We lost power so we were unable to watch the radar to determine when the eye of the storm had passed us, but we did have our crank radio to monitor tornado warnings. It isn’t uncommon to see tornados along the outer bands of hurricanes so that was my biggest fear.”
Damage
“We had some damage to our lanai (pool enclosure). Several screens torn out and a broken corner support beam due to the high winds, one large tree was uprooted, and our flag pole snapped in half, and of course lots of tree limbs and debris to clean up. We feel very fortunate that the flag pool landed away from our vehicles and the tree fell away from our home!”
Update on the family
“I am currently staying home with our children. Greg is a plant manager at Cargill Animal Nutrition. I recently passed my Dental Hygiene boards in Florida but have no plans to go back to work until the kids are a little older!”
Additonal Information
“We had several friends that experienced roof damage due to large trees falling on top of their homes or the winds tearing parts of their roof off. One of our friends ended up with their neighbor’s trampoline and playset in their back yard the next morning. We are very thankful that we experienced minimal damage in the grand scheme of things.”
Friends, family of BC staff affected by powerful storm
Mr. McCracken’s brother is a lineman and he was sent to Edgefield, S.C. to help restore power in the area. He stayed nine days. Mr. McCracken said he checked in with his brother through text messages.
“Anytime my brother goes on storm work trips I am worried about him,” he said. “Electricity makes me nervous and especially downed powerlines. He always chuckles at us because he says that in devastated situations like this, they cut power to the grid until they make all of the repairs and then they restore power.
“I sent him a couple of texts checking in on him. He just had a daughter this summer and she has him wrapped around her finger, so I was checking to see how he was handling being away from his family.”
Mrs. Meyer is friends with a family who live just outside of Asheville, N.C. They were without power, internet and cell service for several days.
“Apparently the emotional toll has been very intense as some of their friends have lost their homes and are grieving the loss of friends and loved ones.”
Mrs. Richardson’s close friend, a former teacher at St. Catherine of Siena, was forced to evacuate her home for two weeks. Mrs. Richardson kept up with her situation on Facebook.
“After about two weeks away, they were able to sleep in their own bed again! There was a lot of damage in their yard and surrounding areas. Trees fallen, scattered debris, and homes and businesses that were destroyed.”
Mrs. Lager has family in Florida. “No major damage, water got pretty close.”
Page design by Gabby Martin
Seeds of Gratitude
We all have so many things to be grateful for, and we never know when those things may be taken away. Many times, we take things for granted, but it is always good to take a moment and appreciate the little things in life and show gratitude. Staff writers Tien Le and Bridget Gear compiled answers from students about gratitude and it’s importance in our lives.
The Importance of Giving Thanks
Whenever Thanksgiving time rolls around, the typical “Who are you grateful for?” comes along with it. The question itself is simple enough, but the answers are endless. Is it a pet?
A childhood best friend? How about a close cousin? For Clare Cook, it’s the students around her.
“I’m grateful to be surrounded by students who care about their faith and, in extension, care about their classes and the people around them. I forget that not a lot of schools have that,” said Cook.
According to “Where Is the Child’s Environment? A Group Socialization Theory of Development,” a psychological review by Judith Harris, the behaviors, or the people, one surrounds themself with outside their home is what truly influences their personality as an adult.
It’s important to realize how much the people around us affect how we grow and develop. Here at Bishop Carroll, students are surrounded by people who deeply care for them, including friends, as well as staff. The administrators, teachers, lunch ladies, and janitors work together to contribute to the arguably most memorable time of teen lives, and to that, students owe thanks.
How do you show your gratitude?
While Bishop Carroll does create the pathway to the future, students must always remember the past. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says familial influence plays a strong role in how a child develops early on. Because of this, we should always remember to give thanks to the ones who raised us with the upmost care. For Bella Martinez, this person is her mother.
“I am beyond grateful for my mom. She always does the most for my brother and me. She is the most selfless person I know,” said Martinez. When she was asked why she thought it was important to show gratitude, she said, “Sadly, we never know when the people we love and care about won’t be here anymore.”
“Gratitude Reduces Regret: The Mediating Role of Temporal Focus,” a research paper written by Mo Luan, Yufeng Zhang, and Xiaoyu Wang, said that post-decision regret can cause one to make suboptimal decisions or avoid making them at all. However, Zhang found that gratitude causes one to focus on the present, rather than the regrets of their past, consequently reducing the feeling of regret.
According to the clinical psychology review “Gratitude and Well-Being: A Review and Theoretical Integration,” positive emotions
“I show my gratitude by smiling, or by saying thanks.”
- Juan Acosta
“I thank them and make the most of my time with them.”
- Alex Smith
“By telling them I love them and reminding them how grateful I am.”
- Marcus Mosa
“Say thank you for the small things and tell them I love them.”
- Emersyn Pfingsten
stimulate mental activity that is used to build resources for creativity, curiosity, planning, and other pleasurable activities. Perspectives from Emotion Theory insinuates that gratitude acts in the same way. These three works show the positive role that showing gratitude has on us. Not only does it minimize regret, but it also positively affects mental health. Not only is it important to know what we have, but it is just as important to show those we care about exactly why.
Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of your body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Tien Le, Staff Writer
Who is someone you are grateful for?
“My family because they never will leave me.”
- Gracelyn Goertz
“I am grateful for my grandpa, and I feel this way because he always makes me so happy.”
- Addie Goertz
“Someone I am grateful for is my mom because she has done so much for me and taught me so many things.”
- Aisyln Anderson
“I am grateful for a loving family because without them I wouldn’t be who I am.”
- Mitchell Frank
“I’m graeful for my parents because they show me how to be good person and they’re always there for me.”
- Hailie Bowyer
Addie Goertz and her grandpa showing their close bond. Photo courtesy of Goertz.
Gracelyn Goertz and her family all dressed up nicely. Phtoto courtesy of Goertz.
Bella Martinez and her morther. Photo courestesy of Martinez.
Gratitude
Why do you think it is important to show gratitude for the good things in our lives?
“I think gratitude is important because letting people know how much they mean to us can mean a lot and we need to let them know that what they do doesn’t go unnoticed.”
- Jenna Casanova
“So we can realize the good things that we have and recognize it makes our life better.”
- Genevieve Wilhite
“It is important to show gratitude for the good people and good things in our lives because we could take it for granted.”
- Isabel Kite-Martinez
“Why I think it’s important top show gratitude is because people really need to brighten up their day.”
- Emily Sandoval
“It’s important because we have been given so much, we don’t even realize it. Everything we have is a gift, and we need to show gratitude for it because it can be taken away.”
-Rachel Lipinski
Flyer Staffers Reflect on Acts of Gratitude
“At a party, my mom wasn’t feeling well, so I got her a plate of food, water, and medicine. I stayed with her as she started getting better even though she wanted to have fun but felt bad instead. My mom does a lot for me, and I can take it for granted. Taking care of my mom made me realize how grateful for her and how much she does for me that I do not know. We should all be intentional on how much gratitude we show others, especially the ones who take care of us.” Chelsea Blake
“This weekend after mass I got to hang out with my papa. It is awesome to be able to talk with someone that you can joke around with but can also be serious when needed to be. I am so grateful for my papa because without him I wouldn’t be where I am at. He is a very goofy guy that will help whenever needed.” Daylin Riedlinger
“I used a gratitude journal for a few days to see the effect it would have. I wrote down specific things I was grateful for that day. Doing this forced me to reflect on all of the little things in life that I usually ignore. It made me more thankful and appreciative which made me
What are you grateful for at Bishop Carroll?
“I’m grateful that I got to go to B.C. and that they accepted me, and all the teachers are kind and understanding of things.”
- Alaiysha Clement
“I am grateful for the community system because without it I wouldn’t feel a sense of community.”
- Harley Gaggero
“The lunch ladies; they provide us food.”
- Piper Ohl
“Someone I’m grateful for at Carroll is my sister, Brinley. She is a freshman this year, but I am grateful for her because she is my best friend and knows me so well and always make me laugh.”
- Addie Christiason
“Sister Dolores because she always shows how much she cares about people and always has my back.”
- Logan Jagolinzer
“I am grateful for the Catholic education because many people don’t get to experience it.”
- John Corrigan
have a better mindset. I definitely recommend starting a gratitude journal because it has several benefits.” Abby Forrest
“For my gratitude project, I decided to bake cookies and give them out to all my neighbors. Baking the cookies was really fun, but a little sad because I knew they were not for me. But the sadness quickly turned into joy when I handed them out to my neighbors the next day. Everyone was super happy to get free cookies, and it made me super happy to see how much I brightened their days. One of my neighbors even texted my mom to tell her how appreciative she was. Overall, this was a fun activity, and I would definitely do this again.”
Rica Bluml
“I bought Euriel Rueda lunch here at school last week because he was running low on money. He didn’t ask or anything, he just wanted to get a bottle of Vitamin Water, but I felt bad for him and bought him lunch. He was very happy because he was starving, plus, the lunch that day was very filling.” Kolbe Asmussen
Logan Jagolinzerw and Sr. Mary Dolores full of joy. Photo courtesy of Jagolinzer.
Piper Ohl showing gratitude to Cheri, one of the hardworking lunch workers. Photo by Abby Forrest.
‘I HAVE GREAT FAITH’
Father Hayden Charles tells grandparents that he has ‘great faith’ in their grandchildren at annual Grandparents Mass with 815 guests in attendance. Flyer staff members discuss their grandparents.
My dad is the youngest in his family and had kids later in life, so my grandparents were fairly old when I came around. Before they sold their house, I remember spending time with them there. My Grandma and I would make microwave s’mores, and I would also make bracelets with their caregiver. After they moved into an assisted living facility, we would still have family dinner with them every month. Rica Bluml
My grandparents have gone to Grandparents Mass every year. They love the opportunity to go to mass with their grandchildren. They love to spend that time together and talk during the reception. I’m glad that they go because it makes me feel closer to them. My favorite memories with my grandparents are listening to music and eating the Christmas tree shaped cookies my grandma makes every year. Abby Forrest
Despite living in the same house, me and my grandparents aren’t very close. I think it’s the fact that everyone’s extremely independent, paired with the language barrier I struggle to cross. I only know enough Vietnamese to make simple conversation, so my grandparents and I don’t know much about each other. Even though we may not talk much, we show each other love in different ways. Since my grandmother is the only adult home on weekdays, she always makes sure we’re fed, washed, and well behaved. No matter how much she complains or how tired she is, she never lets us skip a meal. My grandfather always gives me a high five when he sees me, sporting a big smile as he does so. They aren’t particularly affectionate people, and I’ve never heard them say “I love you.” Instead, it’s through their words and actions that I know they care and love me. Tien Le
Almost every time my grandparents and I go out to mass together in the evening, they will usually take me to Dog ‘N Shake. They do this because when we were kids, they used to always take me and my sisters to Dog ‘N Shake for lunch, so now it’s just a tradition. Kolbe Asmussen
The grandparents on my dad’s side of the family are great supporters of my sister and I. They make it to almost all of our soccer games. My grandma on my mom’s side makes the best French toast ever. It is a tradition that every time we visit her in Kansas City, she makes it for us. My grandparents are amazing, and I love them very much. Evan Long
My grandparents are one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love learning from them, hanging out with them, and talking to them. One of my absolute favorite things to do with my grandparents when I go and see them, is in the evening, we all sit down together, have a snack, and watch a movie. My grandparents mean so much to me and I am so thankful to have them in my life. Bridget Gear
My grandma and I didn’t have the closest relationship, but it was one that I still appreciate. When she lived with us, she used to help me with my religion homework and teach me how to cook African dishes. Every year on her birthday, we get a coconut cake in her honor. Chelsea Blake
Teens and grandparents benefit
• Grandparents help teens connect to their family legacy.
• Grandparents help teens feel secure and more confident.
• Teens help grandparents stay mentally sharp and engaged.
• Grandparents help teens avoid stereotypes of older people.
Source: Your Teen Magazine
Treats made by Culinary classes
500 mini cinnamon muffins
215 chocolate-chip cookies
20 slices of Dutch apple bread
Bridget Gear (third from far right) says her grandparents are “one of the greatest blessings of my life.”
Evan Long appreciates the support he gets from his grandparents, who attend all his soccer games.
‘GO, GO, GO’
Pates
brings ‘joy’ to her activities
By Daylin Riedlinger Staff Writer
Brooke Pates is the definition of busy.
She participates in color guard, choir, theater and is the drum major for the band. She has been a leader for many of the incoming students in all that she does. She is highly regarded as a hard worker by teachers and students and is trusted to get things done.
Pates has been singing with the choir for all four years of her high school career. She has been a part of the Madrigals, which is a combined choir of boys and girls, since her sophomore year.
Students say she is a person that you can rely on.
“She will be a support system for you,” Claire Borland said. “She will be a shoulder for you.”
Pates plans on continuing choir into college at K-State. On top of choir, Pates is in band. This year, she decided that she wanted to be the drum major for the marching band. Band is her favorite activity and she hopes to be involved in it when she goes to K-State for college.
“She brings a lot of joy,” Elijah Kelly, Sophamore, said.
Pates, who has been a part of the theater program for all four of her years at BC, said she enjoys being a part of plays and musicals. Her favorite play she has been a part of was one Carroll put on last year, “Clue.” Her favorite musical she was in was the “Addams Family.”
“She does a great job at keeping the atmosphere light,” said Mr. Rosales, theater teacher.
In addition, Pates has been a part of the Color Guard since her sophomore year. “Nothing beats the feeling of being with my team,” she said.
Her favorite place to perform is at Carroll football games. Pates has very limited free time, but she is OK with that.
“I am a person that is like go, go, go,” she said. “If I’m not stacked from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., I feel like I haven’t done anything.”
Father Hayden looks ahead to Boston Marathon
Evan Long Sports Editor
Father Hayden Charles loves to run as a hobby.
He recently ran at the Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita and did very well. Father Hayden ran a 2:53:30 and finished sixth overall.
The time gives him a good shot at qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2026.
Father Hayden caught the “running bug” after he ran in the Chicago Marathon with Franciscan sisters. He likes to run with Father Seth Arnold,
who is the chaplain at Kapaun Mt. Carmel and also a BC alumn. Father Arnold ran cross country at Carroll as well.
Running provides Father Hayden with a lot of time to think.
“In the rest of my life, it leads to more peace and calmness,” Father said.
He said that running teaches great perseverance and discipline. Father takes this same attitude towards his prayer life. The time and pain that running takes is worth it because it gives him “a sense of accomplishment.”
Brooke Pates is involved in several activities, including flag team. Photo by Caleb Andrews.
Father Hayden likes the peace that he feels when he is running.
Hector Ortega
What has been your best memory at BC?
Running a sub 75 400 meter with no training for a Crumbl cookie, and then sold half of it for 5 bucks.
Margarette Sponsel
What has been your best memory at BC? Making awesome new friends.
Amy Arreola-Ibarra
Share something no one knows about you:
I have 2 dogs and 2 cats, and ice cream is my favorite dessert.
Tristan Kloke
What is your most embarrassing moment at BC?
Breaking my ankle freshman year P.E. and Mr. LaMunyon pushing me in a wheelchair down freshman hall.
Jill Frost
What is your most embarrassing moment at BC?
Falling in senior hall with Izzy Strunk and Mr. Skaggs caught it on footage.
Logan Mitchell
Any advice for future freshmen? Don’t trip up the stairs.
Evan Long
Vianney Cordero
Any advice for future freshman? Get involved! Enjoy your time it flies
Makenzie King
What is your most embarrassing moment at BC?
Freshman year I passed out backstage and woke up with a crowd of people around me.
Share something no one knows about you.
I was stung by a stingray in Galveston, Texas, when I was five years old.
Hayden Sattler
S I P S E N I O R L L
Share something no one knows about you: I am 1/32 Apache.
Leah Henke
Share something no one knows about you:
I have a chronic Hamilton addiction.
Victoria Eastman
Share something no one knows about you: I have 10 siblings.
OVERRATED
Flyer Staff gives their opinions on the most overrated movies.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Kolbe Asmussen
“This is one of the most overrated movies of modern times because it took too long to get to the point. The first one outshines this movie in almost every way and all this one has going for it are the story and characters. Plus, it ends with a cliffhanger.”
Titanic: Evan Long
“Despite being the fourthhighest-grossing movie of all time, Titanic is extremely overrated. With a runtime of over three hours, Titanic is very slow and drawn out. I really enjoyed the part where the ship hit the iceberg. However, it takes a long time to get to that point in the movie. Furthermore, I wasn’t a big fan of the antagonist. Caledon Hockley is just a stereotypical rich and stuck-up villain. I also didn’t think the romance between Jack and Rose was well done. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet didn’t seem to have a lot of on-screen chemistry.”
Book of Life: Bridget Gear
“I have heard many people say how good and cute the movie is, but I think it’s just weird, and the characters are strange. Not only that, but the plot is quite predictable. For how creative the characters are, the plotline definitely could’ve been better. For the amount of praise it gets, I feel like it didn’t quite live up to expectations.”
Good Will Hunting: Rica Bluml
“I think Good Will Hunting is a very overrated movie. Don’t get me wrong; the premise of the movie is definitely intriguing, but in my opinion it’s a very slow movie up until the end. The whole time I was watching it, I found myself getting easily distracted because the movie was not captivating me. I will admit it had a charming ending, but it wasn’t good enough to make up for the rest of the movie. So, although the story is very heartfelt, I just don’t
understand all the hype around it.”
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Daylin Riedlinger
“Everyone hyped it up so much and it just came out to be an OK movie. More jokes were made from the movie than good reviews. Jack Black singing the song “Peaches” was the only memorable part of that movie. Literally, the movie was talked about for three weeks then it fell off so fast. Now, it’s like that movie was never even created because no one even references it anymore. I don’t think it was a bad movie, but I 100 percent think that people hyped it up way too much.”
Greatest Showman: Chelsea Blake
“This movie didn’t really move me in any of the ways it tried to. It was carried by Zendaya and Hugh Jackman and it fell flat for me. Songs like “Rewrite the Stars” are so overplayed, and the song didn’t add much to the story. Every time I am forced to watch it, I can’t stand to watch it for more than 10 minutes. I don’t know how this movie is still getting recognition because it is severely overhyped.”
Princess Bride: Gabbie Martin
“I just don’t like it. I think it’s such a cringey movie. I literally like one thing from it, and that’s Inigo Montoya’s line “I am Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.” I think the plot is weird and the acting is not great. I know it’s from the ‘80s, so the editing and CGI aren’t great, but I dislike the editing and CGI. It just feels like a fever dream watching it.”
Elf: Tien Le
“I think the concept of the movie is good. The movie itself, however, was only mediocre. The movie wasn’t funny, sweet, or any of the adjectives used to describe it on Google reviews, and it most definitely didn’t put me in the Christmas spirit. Elf is extremely overrated.”
Photo courtesy of IMDB.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios
Photo courtesy of IMDB.
Photo courtesy of IMDB.
Photo courtesy of IMDB.
Photo courtesy of IMDB.
Powderpuff: Seniors win
1. Zoe Buessing runs toward the end zone in the annual Powder Puff game. 2. Ally Orth returns to the field after a gain on a play. 3. Senior girls huddle before the kickoff. 4. Senior boys cheer on the girls. 5. A group of senior boys put on a halftime show for the first time.
Evan Long Sports Editor
Girls Basketball
Coach: Mrs. Dugan, going into 13th year of coaching at BC.
Last year: Took 2nd place in City League, sub state champs, and Newton tournament champs.
Strengths: “I believe our team’s greatest strength this season will be our chemistry and leadership,” Mrs. Dugan said. “With dedicated returners committed to our collective success, we’re focused on preserving our identity as a gritty, hard-working unit that plays with unwavering determination.”
Top athletes: Lilly Martin (senior guard): “Lilly is a very intense and competitive player who is always putting in extra work,” Mrs. Dugan said. “She can get by players with ease and can also hit the 3.”
Avery McCorry (junior guard): “She always guards the other team’s best player whether they are a guard or a post,” Mrs. Dugan said. “She sees the floor very well and sets other players up for success because of it.”
Megan Simon (senior forward): “She is strong around the rim and is probably the best rebounder in the city,” Mrs. Dugan said.
Abigail Pedruzzi (senior forward): “She can play on the outside but also post up strong on the inside which makes her very versatile,” Mrs. Dugan said.
Winter SPORTS Preview
Brooke Steven: (sophomore point guard): “She did a great job of controlling the offense while also being a scoring threat,” Mrs. Dugan said.
Boys Basketball Coach: Mr. Faber, going into 14th year at BC, first since 1999
Expectations: “We will be a hardworking group that genuinely cares about their teammates and how we are representing Bishop Carroll as our school and our athletic department,” Mr.
Faber said.
Favorite memory from coaching at BC: “The cave and it being packed every Tuesday and Friday,” Mr. Faber said. “I would love to see that again in the AC. Bishop Carroll basketball games were the place to be for our student body and our fans for both the girls and the guys’ squads. Our fans packed the opponents’ gym as well. The energy traveled with them.”
Boys Swim and Dive
Coach: Mr. Shellhammer, 11th year
Last year: “Our biggest accomplishment last season was at our
league meet, over 95 percent of the swims were personal bests,” Mr. Shellhammer said.
Strengths: “We have a very strong returning group of guys this year, so we are looking forward to some great sprint freestyle as well as butterfly. Our divers should perform well also as all of them are state medalists.”
Top athletes: “Our top returning athletes this year will probably be Zach Stephen – diving, Caden Meier – 50 and 100 free, Will Sorochty – 100 fly and free, and Gage Cooper (Andale co-op) diving,” Mr. Shellhammer said.
Boys Wrestling
Coach: Mr. Cline, going into 5th year of coaching at BC.
Last year: “Last year we qualified 10 wrestlers for the state tournament, placing as a team in the top 10,” Mr. Cline said. “We placed 5 individual wrestlers including two freshmen.”
Strengths: “Their strength will come from one another and pushing each other day in and day out in the practice room,” Mr. Cline said.
Top athletes: “JP Morgan, Jackson Hermann, Caden Denton, Connor Landers, Owen Newell, Campbell Denton, Brady Duling, Eli Means, and Turner Gillman are all state qualifiers, and/or state placers,” Mr. Cline said.
Girls Wrestling
Coach: Mr. Edison, going into 4th year of coaching at BC.
Last year: 3 state qualifiers
Top athletes: “Lexi Means, Derly Lopez-Frio, Maddie Fritschle, Kylie Hallacy, Audrey Jones and Taylor Munk,” Mr. Edison said. “We’re Carroll so almost everything they do will be well because it is expected in their performance on the mat.”
Note: Bowling will be in next issue
Eli Means and Brady Duling are leaders on the wrestling team. In preseason rankings by coaches, Duling was ranked second at 150 pounds. Means was sixth at 165. Photo by Jamie Lubbe and Isabella Martinez
FOCUS
Practicing their skills, PhotoJ students visit other electives and document their activities
1. Jenna Casanova snapped this picture of Barron Nguyen working on a piece of pottery in Ceramics class. “We’re learning how to use clay, make slab projects, and how to use different things to make stuff,” Nguyen said.
2. Addie Christiason took this photo of Ashley Setser carefully working on her cross. “I like this picture because it’s up close and you can see her hard work and the details of the cross,” Christiason said.
3. Izzy Neises shows her intensity when it comes to working out in this picture by Jamie Lubbe. “I love it,” said Setser of working out. “It’s part of my daily routine.” Coach Lager said, “Weight lifting is something you can do for a lifetime, and it’s a way to stay fit and active.”
