Trojan Matters - December 14, 2015

Trojan Matters December 14, 2015 Vol. 2 | Issue 4

Christmas Cookie Contest winners announced

More online at the-blueprint.org

Different types of cheating

Etsy changes gift-giving

Recap of state championsip

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 On the cover. . .

The annual cookie contest overall winner - Marissa Almack, junior. p. 12. Thank you to all students and judges that participated. photo by E. Giudice

In this issue...

Trojans Matter. . .

In our continuing prayers:

- For all those in the BCHS community and their families who are suffering from illness. We especially lift up in prayer adults in the building, Mrs. Paula McConnell, foods and consumer science teacher; Mrs. Vicki Traub, resource center; Mrs. Barb Gaffney, main office; and Mr. Tom Mahaney, grounds superintendent.

- For peace in our world and an end to terrorism - For all students and faculty who have lost a loved one.

Congratulations:

- To the football team for winning state and to Mr. Vince Lorenzano, varsity football coach, for his seventh state title as well as all the other coaches and contributors to the football team.

- For the success of the ResCare party.

- To the students who participated in senior-directed One Acts.

Do you have something to say to the Trojan Matters staff?

Send your letter to the editor at the school website, www. bishopchatard.org under Popular Links. Comments and letters can also be sent to blueprintBCHS@gmail.com.

Trojan Matters staff Editor: Anna Giudice News Editor: Jacob DeCastro Opinions Editor: Emma Kinghorn Sports Editor: Cecelia Stonner Features Editors: Sian Rhodes,

Victoria Toetz Photographers: Reporters: Kylie Donaldson Marissa Almack Ellen Giudice Mary Barnes Kelly Marsella Bill Nash Abby Park Kelly O’Brien Emily Smith Christine Stephenson Kaitlin Traub Publications adviser: Mrs. Tracy Luke

STEM lab p. 2

Classic literature p. 6

Teenagers then vs now p. 4

Restaurant reviews p. 10

Origin of Christmas songs Continuum of Santa p. 15 p. 14

Trojan Matters Mission Statement: We promise to bring you, the students of BCHS, the most obtainable version of the truth through courage, integrity and freedom of speech.

Unsigned staff editorials reflect the opinion of at least two-thirds of the staff. Columns with bylines reflect the opinions of the writer. The newspaper will try to publish all letters to the editor within the constraints of space limitations. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for the length and clarity.

Etsy businesses p. 16

Day in the life p. 19

Trojan Matters is the monthly news magazine produced by the Advanced Publications class. In addition, daily news updates can be found online at theBluePrint.org Letters/Comments can be submitted in Room 210 or to the online news website at blueprintBCHS@gmail.com

Sick in school p. 20

Scouting reports p. 21

Cover

Christmas by the numbers...

News

For many shoppers, the Christmas season offers the best deals on the newest products, while for many retailers, the holiday season is where the majority of their sales come from.

See how much the average American will spend on gifts and how they will spend their holidays: What people will do...

- 86 percent of Americans plan to buy gifts during the season - 60 percent plan to give homemade gifts (crafts or baked goods) - 79 percent of Americans plan to put up a Christmas tree this year - 65 percent of Americans plan on sending Christmas cards Data from Pew Research What people will spend...

- The average consumer will spend $459.87 on gifts - 56.9 percent of shoppers said they will use Christmas promotions to save money on things for themselves - Holiday sales totaled $822 billion in 2013 - $62.1 billion of that came from online sales Data from the National Retail Federation and CMO TM Jacob DeCastro

Finals schedule...

As the first semester comes to a close, only finals remain between students and winter break. Each final will last one hour with 30 minutes between finals. Dismissal will be at 11:15 a.m. every day except Friday when dismissal will be at 9:45 a.m.

Time Tuesday 8:40-9:40 Period 1 10:10-11:10 Period 2

Wednesday Thursday Friday Period 3 Period 5 Period 7 Period 4 Period 6

If you are curious and want to calculate what your semester grade will be depending on your final test score, you can use this formula to calculate it: (Quarter 1 percentage x 0.4) + (Quarter 2 percentage x 0.4) + (Final percentage x 0.2) = Semester grade TM Jacob DeCastro

sic s u M tter Ma

1. That’s Christmas to Me - Pentatonix 2. Shake Up Christmas - Train 3. Welcome Christmas- The Grinch 4. Do They Know It’s Christmas? Band Aid 5. Indiana Christmas - Straight No Chaser

Features

Opinion

Sports

We heard it!

You said it!

I literally cannot right now; I just love John Cena.

I started a new season on Netflix. It was a big mistake.

What substance is yogurt?

I probably sweat guacamole.

I finally wore real shoes today and I already have tripped twice.

If Jesus can walk on water, can he swim on land?

I am so unlucky. I can’t shatter anything.

I believe in karma because it happens to me like every day.

Can I trade in my JV pin for a varsity one?

The difference between plagiarism and research is saying who you stole your stuff from.

My sneeze sounds like an elephant playing a trumpet.

Have you heard a song more people should know about? Go online to the school’s website, www.bishopchatard.org, and click on the “Students” link and then on “To the Editor” to submit the song title and artist. We’ll run a Music Matters Mixtape each issue of Trojan Matters.

6. Here Comes Santa Clause/Winter Wonderland - Anna Kendrick and Snoop Dogg 7. Last Christmas - Cascada 8. Christmas Eve - Justin Bieber 9. Who Spiked the Eggnog - Straight No Chaser 10. Drummer Boy - Josh Groban

Do my ears look fake?

The weather will be brisk, like your smile!

An adventure? Alpaca my bags! *Sees three ambulances with flashing lights* “It looks like a carnival!”

Of course there’s a ghost in here.

Havehere! you heard it? Bring the funny lines to I’m Room 210. Or, you can submit them online at the-BluePrint.org in the Letter to the Editor section.

Trojan Matters 1

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 Web Page Blocked!

Adult/mature content, nudity, weapons or war games. These are just some of the keywords that BCHS’s website filtering system is programmed to catch.

Using a piece of hardware called Fortigate, BCHS is able to filter what is and isn’t allowed to enter the computer systems or iPads from the Internet.

According to ncl.org, 24 states have Internet filtering laws that apply to publiclyfunded schools. The majority of these states require school boards to adopt Internet acceptable use policies to prevent students from accessing sexually explicit or harmful materials.

This law only applies to public schools, but BCHS administration believes they, too, have an obligation to help guide their students to school-appropriate websites and

content.

Mr. Ben Reilly, vice principal of student services, explained why these filters are important to have and said, “It is our responsibility to set students up for success and to help teachers with class management.”

Because of the different distractions iPads can provide, the administration believes that blocking certain websites is beneficial to students and teachers alike.

Along with blocking sexual, explicit or harmful websites, as different gaming or social media websites come up, the administration continues to block the various distracting sites. Mrs. Lorie Homan, director of technology and integration, believes that this filtering program helps keep students more focused on school work. She said, “Teachers have concerns that websites like

Facebook are distractions to the students’ education.”

Because of all the web blocks, students are having trouble accessing certain educational websites that help with their studies. Junior Grace Lundy, who takes four AP classes, shared her view on the many web blocks and said, “With all the projects and homework I have to do, having so many websites blocked makes it very hard to get some of my work done during school, although I do see how some websites are very distracting.”

Although many sites are filtered which can take away from educational websites, Mr. Reilly said, “It is hard at times. Students are still finding ways to go around the filters, but we feel (maintaining the blocks) is in their best interest.”

TM Mary Barnes

STEM lab is incorporated into curriculum The extra space was needed space and their parfor Trobotics because they ent company 3D didn’t have room to store Parts Manufacturing their supplies and projects. to provide the school Last year, the team also had 3D printers that can to travel to other schools to be used in class. practice for competitions.

Susie Liu, senior, is on However, this year, because the Trobotics team, of the STEM lab, the took AP Physics last team can practice here and year and is currently doesn’t have to store supin principles of engiplies in the AV closet used neering. She said “It by the theatre department. provides a huge space “We are avoiding conflictfor Trobotics because ing spaces with theatre and before we didn’t have can now practice in-house space to store our instead of practicing at robots, but now we other schools,” said Mr. are more organized.

Pritts.

Also learning is more In addition to using the Mr. Gary Pritts, physics teacher helps interesting, hands senior Susie Liu with the 3D printer.

STEM lab for Trobotics, on and fun. We can physics class and principles of engineering, use the 3D printer so we are learning new students are able to use seven 3D printers. things.”

BCHS has partnered with First Maker- TM Victoria Toetz Zoe Schrader| 2015-16 Citadel

A new facility was added to the building over the summer, the science, technology, engineering and math lab or STEM lab.

Daily in Room 107, the new STEM lab, funded by a capital campaign at Chatard-ABration last year, serves as the facility for different classes and groups, including the competitive robotics team, Trobotics, practice, principles of engineering and physics class.

Mr. Gary Pritts, science teacher, said “The room makes our engineering class possible. It also has allowed us to support the largest Trobotics team that we 2 have ever had.”

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ADD and ADHD myths debunked Myth #2: ADD and ADHD Myth #4: Children who take can be outgrown. medication for ADD and The reason more children are diagnosed ADHD are more likely to with the disorder than adults are because the majority of adults with ADD or struggle with drug or subADHD remain undiagnosed due to a lack stance abuse when they are Myth #1: ADD and ADHD of awareness when they were children. older. are not actual medical disor- “Luckily, students are being In fact, those who struggle with abusing ADD and ADHD medication are typically diagnosed by physicians earders. those who do not have either disorder and AD(H)D stands for Attention Deficit lier rather than later in life so use the medication to get ahead in school.

(Hyperactivity) Disorder. These disorders that parents, schools and careIt is also untreated ADD and ADHD that are the imbalance of chemical messengers increases the risk of abusing drugs and algivers can work to enhance or neurotransmitters in the brain. The main cohol later in life. symptoms include difficulty paying at- good attention, study and life tention, impulsiveness and, with ADHD, skills throughout grade school hyperactivity. ADD is the inability to efMyth #5: People with ADD fectively pay attention and sit still in class. and high school years,” said or ADHD are lazy or stupid.

ADHD is the same with the additional Mrs. Brogan.

The truth is that students with ADD or issue of finding it more difficult to behave ADHD are actually smarter than the avMyth #3: ADD and ADHD in certain classroom settings. For both, the erage student. Mrs. Brogan said, “People most common form of treatment is medi- result from bad parenting. with disabilities typically work longer, Learning disabilities come as a mystery to both doctors and those it affects with the lack of concrete diagnosis and treatments or remedies. The term “learning disabilities” comes with false assumptions about one’s future and personal life outside of school.

cation. Mrs. Beth Brogan, director of academic support, disagreed with this myth.

She said, “Physicians from around the world diagnose children and adults with these disorders everyday.”

These disorders are genetic. If a child struggles with sitting still and continually acts out in class, it is not because they weren’t taught to behave. It is because their brain doesn’t know any better.

achieve more and are specifically focused on achieving a task even if it’s more difficult for them.” Therefore this myth is the total opposite of the truth.

information from attitudemag.com

Student connections:

Emily Smith | Trojan Matters

According to healthychildren.org, most children with learnpsychologist. Stapleton takes medication for her ADHD and said ing disabilities have above average intelligence, but find it difthat she can feel a difference in her behavior and how much she talks ficult to demonstrate their intelligence on standardized tests. when she doesn’t take it.

This happens because students’ with learning disabilities brains Another learning disability is dyslexia. Dyslexia is a disorder that incompensate for the disability in order to stay caught up with volves difficulty in reading, math and interpreting words, letters and their peers. This means that the symbols. Again, there is no one test to diagmind of an ADD or ADHD stunose it, but usually doctors will ask parents and dent works harder than the average children a set of questions, have the child take brain to do the same activities and a vision or hearing test or have the child take work. a psychological or academic test. Dyslexia also There is no concrete way to definiaffects children and adults everyday. tively diagnose ADD or ADHD, Junior Anthony Banayote was diagnosed but it becomes evident due to bewith dyslexia in first grade at a learning cenhavior and/or grades. Sophomore ter where he was tested on things like readTaylor Stapleton was diagnosed Mrs. Vicki Traub, ARC supervisor, assists students ing sentences and reading comprehension. The with ADHD through a series of who use the ARC for testing. best treatment for him was tutoring and aid surveys that she, her mother and a from his classmates and teachers. “I learned few teachers had to fill out and submit to a doctor. Other posmany helpful skills that I still use today,” said Banayote. Some of these sible ways to diagnose ADD or ADHD is by evaluation from skills include spelling, sounding out words and better reading skills.

TM Kaitlin Traub a psychologist, occupational therapist or a speech and language Trojan Matters

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TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

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omparing the 1960’s and 1980’s to 2015, changes and advancements in technology, school, sports and many other aspects of a teenager's life have been made. Today, it is completely different to be a teenager compared to what it was like when your parents were teenagers.

Ms. Jamie Marx, guidance counselor, reminisced on being a teenager in high school, and said, "I graduated in 1978, so things were very different. I went to a high school in a small town, and my high school years were simpler and less complicated than today."

Many things have changed since that time, with differences in the use of technology, different forms of communication and being able to play certain sports. Ms. Marx added that technology back then was practically nonexistent, "The most advanced technology I had was a television with three channels."

Communication was also different in the past. You would've only talked to your friends during school or by calling a land line to talk to them. "All we had was a land line phone and school to communicate with each other. Pagers started becoming popular in high school when I was a senior, but none of my friends had a pager. The worst was if you wanted to call a girl to ask her out, you had to call the house phone and 9 times out of 10 her dad would pick up...

That was the worst," said Mr. Tyler Mayer, vice president of institutional advancement, who graduated in 2000.

Sports and athletic events were very different as well. Most schools didn't have girls sports teams and if they did, there weren't very many of them. Ms. Marx said, "I don't remember having any girls teams until I was probably a junior or senior in high school. We did, though, have girls sum4 mer softball leagues that were a lot of

fun. Sports weren't year-round like they are now with traveling and club teams."

That had changed a little by the time Mr. Mayer got to high school in 1996 with athletics becoming more of a focus for some students. "When I was a junior and senior, it became more popular to really focus on one or two sports and try to do them year round; I played football. So June through October my life was consumed with that (training, practice, games etc.). Then, in January, a weight lifting program before school (3 days a week) began and so I would be busy doing that," he said.

Even with extra curricular activities and school work, the balance was different for students in the 20th century.

Today, students are expected to add rigor to their schedules and take that next AP or honors class, to learn as much as possible in a school year and to try to get the best grade they can get. Back then, school was not as stressful. "We certainly had homework in high school, but our school did not have AP courses or any kind of college level courses. Not everyone went to college, and those who did found it easier to get accepted than today," said Ms. Marx.

So, today’s students certainly see changes in all areas of being a teen. School is more challenging, technology is constantly improving, students are always communicating and sports have become more prevalent in students lives.

Junior Connor Brown thinks it would be extremely different to be a teenager in a

time when his parents were teenagers, "It would be different because nowadays we have different things that they didn't have, like cell phones."

He also thinks that communication would probably be the biggest difference of the generations. "Today, we can connect over social media but they were stuck with house phones. I think that is the biggest difference because you can constantly see what people are doing with social media but back then, the only way to stay in touch was to talk with them in person," Brown said.

Students today also have more challenges in school, with harder classes and standards. AP and honors classes are encouraged and colleges require certain GPAs and test scores to be admitted. Donna Riner, senior, thinks that school today is so much more stressful than in the past. "We put more pressure on ourselves now to succeed than they (our parents) did when they were teenagers. We have a lot more factors to consider when making plans and important decisions," Riner explained.

Riner added that she thinks that the sports dynamics in schools have drastically changed. "There's a lot of pressure to become something others aspire to be- maybe it's committing to play Division 1 sports, because you know that will get you recognition versus doing things for yourself that will benefit you and others," she said.

Whether it’s sports, school, technology or communication related, there are many generational differences between when our parents were teenagers and now. Riner said, "I think the biggest difference is that we are more fast-paced. I think that we are less willing to go with a slower process because we want it done now." TM Sian Rhodes

Communicating by phones has 1989 1963 1973 *Information from softschools. com

The pushbutton phone debuted in 1963.

The first mobile phone was created by Motorola. It didn’t go public until 1983.

The first flip phone was created in 1973

by Motorola.

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Teenagers seen throughout the years Fashion

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Left: Ms. Marx dresses in her best for a homecoming event at New Haven High School near Fort Wayne. Center: Mr. Tyler Mayer, school vice-president (first row, second from the right, number 73) poses with the defensive squad from his football team at Glenbard West High School in Illinois. Right: Mr. Mayer with his date to homecoming his junior year.

Sophomores Sarah Mastrian, Emma Kennedy and Katie Meek sporting the latest styles.

5 1 0 2

5 1 0 2

Emily Smith | Trojan Matters

Ellen Giudice | Trojan Matters

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The varsity Trojan football team poses with the state trophy after defeating West Lafayette in the 3A state game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 27.

Photo Courtesy of Jax Crawford | Trojan Matters

Photo Courtesy of Ms. Jamie Marx | Trojan Matters

homecoming

Photo Courtesy of Mr. Tyler Mayer | Trojan Matters

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Photo Courtesy of Mr. Tyler Mayer | Trojan Matters

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homecoming

homecoming

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Juniors Jax Crawford and Margaret Nickerson pose together before this year’s homecoming.

s changed over the course of 40 years 2002 1993 2007 2015 Text messaging is developed by Europeans.

The first smart phone and camera phone are invented.

Apple released its first iPhone.

The iPhone 6s is released

by Apple.

Trojan Matters 5

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

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In the Indiana Department of Education’s high school literature standards, the only explicit guidelines are what the student should be able to analyze and pull out of the text, not what text should be taught, according to doe.in.gov. The novels were chosen by Mrs. Pingatore because, “It is important for students to be exposed to classic American literature.”

Although sophomore Christine Oppold understands why classics are taught in the classroom, she admits that doesn’t lessen their difficulty. “They’re harder to read,” she said. That different use of language contributes to expanding the vocabulary on the student, another standard that needs to be met by high schoolers.

Some students strive to see more modern works implemented into the curriculum.

Landers said, “These relate more to the students.” Mrs. Pingatore also expressed her desire to bring contemporary literature pieces into her class to expand the variety of things taught.

However, regardless of the classroom setting, some students love reading classic literature. Boyce’s favorite novel is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. “The themes are much more universal and touching than the modern comparison,” he said.

Whatever the justification, classic literature can be seen as very beneficial in the classroom setting and beyond. Mrs. Pingatore said, “(These books) are applicable across generations. The issues they portray are still TM Anna Giudice present today.”

Jenna Phelps, sophomore, said, “I like reading because it’s a nice way to sit back and relax. It helps get your mind away from worrying about finals coming up.”

Kylie Donaldson | Trojan Matters

Stacks of books consisting of vampire romance, dystopian societies and fantasy tales litter teenage readers’ rooms, but when students enter the classroom, some seem to dread reading novels including Of Mice and Men and Shakespearean plays.

Although the concrete definition of a classic is an “outstanding form of work,” the connotation of the term differs depending on who is asked. For example, if people love a form of work, they’re more susceptible to call it a classic. Jack Diedrich, junior, said, “(A classic is) something that you couldn’t imagine not being there.”

Noah Boyce, senior, said that a classic is constituted as “a book that respects itself. It isn’t being marketed or anything. Classics are worth the time that they take (to read).”

What comes to mind when one says classic include works like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby and The Scarlet Letter.

However, when asked, most students’ favorite books were more modern tales. Diedrich said his was The Martian. Freshman Cierra Landers considered her favorite book John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. However, the importance of teaching the long-ago written classics cannot be stressed enough by literature teachers.

“I teach (A Separate Peace, The Great Gatsby, and The Taming of the Shrew) because there is a reason they have been deemed as classics,” said Mrs. Katie Pingatore, English teacher. When teaching these pieces, she has focused on teaching effective reading strategies in a way that applies to all learning styles.

Kylie Donaldson | Trojan Matters

Old and new classics wanted in the classroom

Darian Williams, freshman, reads on his iPad in the CLC.

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Students determine cheating by varying degrees “Hey, can I see that work- eryone’s able to consult about ing them what was on it.” sheet?”; “Have you done those it, and we are all doing some of Clare McHugh, junior, problems?”; “Can you send this the work.” agreed. “Passing that kind to me?”; “What was on that Mr. Cameron Huffman, sci- of information balances out. test?” When students receive ence teacher, said that on an You can be the first period various types of homework, individual homework assign- to take one test and pass that cheating can occur in a variety ment, this is still cheating. “You information on, but people of different ways. With such are responsible for your own will tell you information variation, it is sometimes diffi- education. If asked to com- about other classes too,” she cult to decide what is working plete a problem and someone said. together, learning from other else did all the critical work on, Mr. Huffman disagrees, “It you would be at a disadvantage absolutely is academic disstudents or what is cheating.

Mr. Aryn Stack, math teacher, because you were not forced honesty.” He defines acathinks that demic dishonesty in his syl“It’s not really cheating. cheating should labus as “any act that gives a be defined class student an unfair advantage Everyone’s able to consult by class. “For over another student.” about it, and we are all doing me, if students Cheating takes many forms are collaboratsome of the work,” said Leah in students’ evolving educaing on hometion. No longer just cheat Engler. work or a lab, I sheets or answer keys, stu- Eighty-three percent of students do not consider dividing homework cheating. to think through the process don’t consider that cheating bedents can find and share cause it’s part of a collaborative ahead of time,” he said. answers to homework aslearning process and sometimes When teachers have multiple signments, or test forms. Ulhelps them learn,” he said. Mr. periods of the same class, infor- timately, not doing the work Stack defines cheating in his mation about tests and quizzes themselves can put students own classroom as, “If you’re tak- can be passed to later classes, at a disadvantage in the long ing an assessment or quiz where inflating scores. “Test sharing run. you need to know the material, among upperclassmen has dras- Despite varying types of asit’s obviously cheating if you are tically impacted my course,” signments or assessments, looking off someone or using said Mr. Huffman, “I have to any time a student is not dospend extra time making mul- ing his or her own individual something to help you.”

Helping each other figure out tiple forms of exams within a work is considered academic Seventeen percent do consider dividing difficult homework problems class and now, between differ- dishonesty. The BCHS Stuhomework cheating. is a part of this collaborative ent periods, to limit the sharing dent Handbook defines Survey statistics from schoollearning process, Mr. Stack said, of sensitive test info.” cheating as “any intentional wide student survey (+/-). but there’s a fine line between Engler doesn’t consider this deception by which a student copying and helping. “Students cheating. She added, “You’re passes off someone else’s aca- their future,” said Mr. Huffneed to understand that one of “It absolutely is academic demic work as their own.” man, “Thus, in the event of high these will help them and the “We put too much stress a low degree of applicad i s h o n e s t y,”s a i d M r. on teenagers and don’t stress, other will not,” he said. tion and rushed schedules, the When a teacher assigns a long Huffman. always present them the easy way out seems to be the homework assignment, stuchance to make the con- best option at the time, despite dents often divide up the work. nection between a true knowing it is not in your best Sophomore Leah Engler said, not telling them the answers. learning experience and where long-term interest.” TM Emma Kinghorn “It’s not really cheating. Ev- It’s helping them study by tell- this skill will be necessary in

Is dividing homework between classmates cheating?

Trojan Matters 7

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

And on the eighth day, God gave us finals Finals are just around the corner and you know what that means, stuDYING! As if being on Ambassadors, sports teams, other various clubs, eating dinner with your Cat Brown, family, living, breathing and bejunior guest ing a normal hucolumnist man being wasn’t enough for students, God decided to give us finals! But, don’t worry kids, I’m about to teach you how to turn stuDYING into stuLIVING.

Tip #2: All that leftover Hal-

Tip #1:

Tip #4: Listen to music. Oh

Tip #3: To help you remember,

Try reading your notes out loud to someone in your family. It might make your mother hate you while reading your notes out loud while she’s making dinner. Soon enough, those chicken pot pies will be only a distant dream, and she’ll be making Kraft Mac & Cheese in order to get you to shut up faster.

yes, this one appeals to many. You can definitely listen to music while “studying.”

Sorry Mr. Shaughnessy, but Kanye West and theology definitely do not go hand in hand. (And, to mention

Test Taking Tips:

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Tip #5: Go to your local coffee

shop with one of your friends to study.

But, what happens when neither of you know how to do a problem on the semester study guide? You do what any logical person would do: ask the barista! But soon you know their whole life story and that they’ve lived in six different states, their pet bunny ran away three days earlier, and on and on. After being brainwashed by his adventures, you’re oblivious to what you had learned these past couple months.

I would bet my grandma’s secret cookie recipe that you’re stressed out about finals or school in general. My advice to you: calm down, Child. You’re a superstar and you’ve got this. So whether it’s me telling you that you can do this or by the power and grace of Beyoncé, we will do just fine.

And, remember, as High School

Abby Park| Trojan Matters

Take a 15 minute nap in between studying! Then, pretty soon that 15 minutes turns into 30 minutes, then an hour; then pretty soon you’re waking up the next morning to your daily alarm with your head shoved in the crease of your Spanish textbook.

loween candy isn’t going to eat itself ! Try putting an M&M at the end of sentences for stopping points. But, who am I fooling? One M&M at a time and having to wait for the others? Yeah, right.

it, I never thought I’d use Kanye West and theology in the same sentence.)

1. Study more than just the night before.

2. Arrive early for tests to avoid panic.

Cat Brown, junior, falls asleep while trying multiple study tips 3. Be comfortable but alert. for her finals.

4. Read directions carefully.

5. If there is time, look through tests for an overview before hand.

6. Answer easy questions first, then move onto the ones with most point value.

7. Look over test afterward for errors or omissions.

8. Decide on and adopt study strategies that work best for you.

9. Stay relaxed and confident.

*Information from www.studygs.net

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Student column:

Senior believes all can embrace and engage on retreats Retreats. We hear about them all the time from our friends, parents, classmates and teachers. We hear how student have been impacted, moved and changed by them.

But do we always believe them?

I have been on every class retreat here. From walking awkwardly late into Freshmen Day of Reflection at Knights of Columbus (since changed to a trip to The Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indi-

TM

Victoria Toetz

Photos Courtesy of BCHS Media | Trojan Matters

“I encourage you all to attend your class retreats, no matter what grade you are in or where you are in your relationship with God.”

ana) with my arm in a cast, to the beauty of CYO Camp Rancho Framasa, to the peacefulness of the Benedict Inn and finally to the relationships built at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House. I went into all, a little scared and apprehensive, but knowing that what I would get out of each retreat was what I put into it.

Freshman year, my class

went to Knights of Columbus and learned more about who we would be spending the next four years with, by making new friendships and strengthening existing ones. We were divided into groups based on our interests and did activities with seniors that shared the same interests. I was with the theatre group and we played Comedy Sportz games.

Sophomore year we went to CYO Camp Rancho Framasa and learned how to handle the challenges that appear in our lives. As a small group we participated in different activities including the high ropes. I volunteered to go first and when I was about half way done I looked down and got really freaked out. As my brain was shutting down and saying that I couldn’t keep going, I heard my classmates cheering me on

and willing me to continue. I learned that through other people and with God, I can get through any challenge that I encounter in my life.

Junior year, the girls traveled to the Benedict Inn and grew in our relationships with our families, friends and God. I learned the importance of my relationships with my parents and brother through seniors sharing their own experiences. We sang songs with Sister Cathy Anne, theology teacher at Roncalli, and learned the importance of self worth and strong relationships.

Senior year I spent four days at Fatima in November. I didn’t know what to expect going in and was a little hesitant after hearing my small group for the week because none of us were very good friends before retreat started. It wasn’t clear at first why we were in a group together but as we opened up, we soon saw that God put us together for a reason. I realized that I had qualities that other members of my group didn’t have and they had qualities that I didn’t have. Swiftly, this group of kids that saw one another as just classmates before retreat became fast friends. We were laughing and joking around with one another like we had been friends forever. Wanting to spend as much time together as possible, my group ate together often and were always talking to one another. We became a family.

I encourage you all to attend your class retreats, no matter what grade you are in or where you are in your relationship with God. Retreats have taught me lessons and shown me friendships that I couldn’t have learned or developed in a classroom.

I believe that if you go in with an open heart and mind, you will get something out of the time you spend with your classmates.

Yes, making up the school work is hard and sometimes there is a lot of anxiety that goes along with retreats. I know that I have felt that, but the relationships, friendships and fellowship that you experience make it all worth it to me.

Trojan Matters 9

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

Cake Bake Shop

La Chinita Poblana

Mimi Blue Meatballs

Restaurant Reviews

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TM

Emma Kinghorn

Emma Kinghorn | Trojan Matters

Taste: Overall, spice was a common factor of everything I ordered (they are “Asianinspired,” reads the sign on the building), but not too spicy. In fact, on the crispy shrimp, the chopped onions outdid most of the other flavors.

Ambiance: The bright green exterior of La Chinita Poblana certainly stands out in contrast to the surrounding buildings on Westfield Blvd., but the food stands out

even more. The interior of the place was certainly sparse with just a single table in the middle and a countertop surrounding the walls without any chairs. La Chinita Poblana seemed more like a food truck that wanted a bit more space.

Service: La Chinita Poblana is categorized as “fast casual,” so I just waited by the counter for a few minutes before they brought my meal out. There wasn’t a line when I came in for dinner, and it took them about four or five minutes for everything to be ready.

Cost: For two tacos and chips and salsa, the total cost of my meal came out to only

Once you’re seated and served, they also check back frequently to ensure you’re enjoying your desserts.

Cost: On first glance, one would be taken back by the prices. However, when one cake slice can leave two hungry teenagers looking for a box, it’s easy to see the reasoning. Excluding the macaroons, their portions are huge, and worth every penny from the very first bite.

What I ordered: 2 macaroons ($3.50 each) 1 slice of cinnamon apple cake ($8.99) and 1 lemon bar ($4.99) total- $22.50

6515 Carrollton Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220 $8.60.

What I ordered: 2 tacos ($3.00 each): the chicken tamarind and the crispy shrimp, as well as an order of chips and spicy salsa ($2.99). TM Jacob deCastro

Jacob deCastro | Trojan Matters

Taste: All of these desserts are expertly displayed. I can’t imagine anyone could walk away disappointed, and when all of the desserts are sprinkled with edible sparkles, it’s impossible to not have fun.

The cinnamon apple cake is a slice of fall.

Its sparkly cinnamon crust encases an abundance of perfectly preserved cinnamon coated apples. The taste they leave in your mouth makes you waiting for the next bite.

The macaroons are expertly crafted and melt away in your mouth. However, this dessert is for jam-lovers only; the middle fruit filling was overwhelming.

The lemon bar was so perfectly whipped up, you don’t even need to chew. The taste holds true to the “citrusy” tang, as

if you are biting right out of a lemon. The powdered, sparkly sugar only adds to the delight of eating it.

Ambience: A quaint, dainty atmosphere makes for a meal fit for a princess or prince. The entire place is decorated expertly from head to toe, making the customer feel cozy and at home as they step in the door. With elegant place settings and cushy surroundings, every small detail is taken care of and adorned. Currently in Christmas decor, the room summons up a need for caroling, hot chocolate and a few treats. With all of the Christmas decorations, merry can verge on messy; the tables are small circles anyway, but with so many adornments little room is left for your plates.

Service: All the employees are like your favorite baking grandma with warm smiles, tones and attitudes. They answer all of your questions about their displays and options, but also give you the space to make your difficult decisions.

927 E Westfield Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46220

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potatoes, carrots and spinach. Although the same meatballs or you can get the “4 it doesn’t sound too pleasing on its own, baller” which allows you to get four meattopped with a creamy garlic sauce, it really balls of your choice with a sauce to top it. hit the spot. Other options include turkey The service was definitely top notch. meatballs with parmesan cheese and spinCost: The cost seemed reasonable for the ach. They offer a special meatball of the portions and quality of the food you get. day, too. I paired my four meatballs with a What I ordered: “4 baller” ($11)- Classide of buttery linguine that went perfectly sic meatball with marinara sauce, veggie with each bite. meatball with creamy garlic sauce, turkey Ambiance: When you walk into this cute meatball with creamy garlic sauce and spelittle restaurant, you’d hardly think it could cial Asian meatball with pineapple teriyaki pack such a powerful punch with their sauce. Side of linguine ($6) flavorful menu. The vintage atmosphere TM Sian Rhodes makes you feel sophisticated and each table is simple but expertly decorated with a single orchid in a small vase.

Service: Every employee in the restaurant was polite, friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant and its menu. When I first sat down at the table, my waiter was quick to explain the system of ordering. There is a dry erase marker at each table, used to fill in the menu. You have the choice of getting a plate of four of 874 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202 Sian Rhodes | Trojan Matters

Taste: There is definitely a meatball for everyone here, whether you’re vegan, glutenfree or a full on meat lover. Each meatball is about the size of a “cue ball on a pool table” as my waiter explained and full of flavor. Every dish is served with two slices of a baguette and there’s an option to get an additional side, including pasta, their most popular brussel sprouts or a salad.

First off, the classic meatball covered in marinara sauce was as comforting as it sounds. The combination, along with a bite of my pasta, satisfied my hunger for spaghetti and meatballs.

The vegan “meatball” was a combination of

News

The case against the Matters Trojan Staff Opinion 7-period schedule The 7-period schedule. Long days and lots of assignments. To many students, the 7-period day, (what was the regular schedule five years ago) can be exhausting in comparison to our usual rotating 6-period day. The 7-period schedule is used during 2- or 3-day weeks or when there is a special event during the week in order to keep time in each class balanced.

However this balancing act of classes can cause many students to have an unbalanced amount of work. Having to do homework, study or complete projects for all classes causes a hectic and stressful day for us. When there is a 7-period schedule the next day, we are expected to complete all of our assignments in one night.

A factor that contributes to the heavy work loads on these days is the shorter time spent in class. Having grown ac-

customed to hour-long classes, a shorter class period causes a world of a difference.

Teachers don’t always have time to fit their lesson into the shortened time. Some students may have to finish work from class while not having heard the entire lesson.

SRT is also shortened, adding to the crunch of the day. We are unable to get help or get a good start on our homework in the 13 minutes (or less) given. We have become accustomed to the rotating schedule, and we are all creatures of habit which is why it becomes frustrating to throw in these 7-period schedules.

In addition, one of the benefits of our rotating schedule is classes meet at different times of the day helping both morning and non-morning people. With the regular rotating schedule, we are able to have a diverse schedule which isn’t as tiring and

banal. A lot of students struggle to wake up and be productive so early in the morning which makes visiting multiple classes before SRT difficult.

If there is anything BCHS is, it is that we are flexible. The necessity of every minute being balanced is not worth the stress and frustration of the 7-period day.

Teachers figure out how to fit in what needs to fit in. We highly recommend just keeping to the rotating schedule regardless of what the week looks like. It all seems to balance out by the end of the semester and even the two semesters don’t have the same number of days.

We understand the importance of keeping a balanced schedule, but it comes at the cost of our exhaustion and stress.

Trojan Matters 11

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

TM Jacob DeCastro

Visit the-blueprint.org to see recipes for each entry.

The Trojan Matters staff thanks all the contestants for participating, as well as the judges for their time.

Marissa Almack, junior, created these reindeer peanut butter Rice Krispie balls.

Ms. Liz Biro, food and dining reporter at The Indianapolis Star. Her favorite entry was Almack’s because, “(It was) a hit on all three counts: great texture, great imagination, and great taste.”

Ms. Mallory Curtin, English teacher. Her favorite entry was Mrs. Homan’s because, “The Santa hat was cute and the cake ball (snowman) was delicious!”

Juniors Abby Park and Kelly Marsella’s hot chocolate cups received the award for most creative.

Almack’s treats won the award in the taste category too. Ms. Biro especially liked the texture of these.

Freshman Mia Malasto’s red velvet sandwich cookies earned high scores from all three judges in taste.

Sophomores Lindsey Traub, Emma Kennedy and Bridget Benson’s snowmen were some of the most creative according to the judges.

Anna Sorenson, senior. Her favorite entry was Almack’s because, “(She was) creative with the ingredients.”

photos on page 12 by Ellen Giudice and page 13 by Emma Kinghorn

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cups of flour*

by Mrs. Lorie Homan, director of technology

by Maxine Shaikhadeh, seventh grade daughter of Ms. Jaydene O’Donoghue, art teacher

*Combined total for all 16 entries.

by Juliet Wassall, sophomore

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cups of sugar*

by Ashley Freiburger and Molly Keating, freshmen

by Mary Claire Fagan and Eric Smith, Class of ‘12

by Amani Gates, freshman

by Lucy Park, freshman

by Timmy Brogan and Brian Doyle, seniors

9 1/4 cups of butter*

by Maggie Peck, sophomore

178

minutes spent baking*

by Jaeden Crawford and Claire Williams, freshmen

by Lawrence Coan, sixth grade, brother of Becca, senior.

by Carmen Sullivan and Abby Klineman, freshmen

Trojan Matters 13

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

Christmas songs have unique backgrounds Everyone knows Christmas songs, but few actually know their origins. From the beautiful beginnings of “Silent Night” to the quirky inspirations of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” each holiday classic has its own unique backstory. TM Christine Stephenson Written by James Piermont in 1850 ritten in 1850 in Piermont’s town of Medford, Massachusetts (North of Boston), this funloving tune was inspired by the annual sleigh races in Salem, which were equivalent to drag races in the mid-1800s. Originally, the song was intended to be for Thanksgiving. But once “Jingle Bells” received overwhelming amounts of praise after being performed at a Thanksgiving service, the lyrics were slightly modified and used for Christmas.

Fun Fact: James Piermont was the uncle of John Piermont ( J.P.) Morgan, the founder of the multinational banking company, JP Morgan Chase.

W

*Information found from mentalfloss.com and cbc.ca

Written by Josef Mohr in 1818 group of actors was traveling to a small church to perform their reenactment of Christ’s birth.

Unfortunately, the church’s organ was broken, so the actors performed in the nearby home of Pastor Josef Mohr. Mohr, inspired by the performance, recalled a poem he wrote about Christ’s birth. With the help of church organist Franz Xaver Gruber, the two created a melody. Later, when the man who came to fix the organ arrived, Gruber played the song for him. The man was impressed and took copies of the music back to his hometown and introduced it to two famous singing families, the Rainers and the Strassers. From there, the song spread throughout Europe and the United States, gaining the fame and popularity that it has today.

Fun Fact: “Silent Night” has been translated into 40 different languages.

Fun Fact: During World War I, French, German and English troops sung the song together at the Christmas Truce of 1914, which was an “unofficial cease fire between the combatants.”

A

*Information found from home. snu.edu and christmassongfunfacts.wordpress.com

Written by Robert L. May in 1949 ay, an ad man for a Montgomery Ward retail store in Chicago, was requested by his boss to conjure up a new holiday promo, as Christmas sales were down during the Great Depression.

Thus Rudolph, the friendly yet oppressed reindeer, was born. Fortunately, May’s brother-in-law was a songwriter and created the catchy tune to accompany his creation. After gaining popularity, the song was picked up by the famous singing cowboy Gene Autry and sold more than 2.5 million copies. You could say the song “went down in history.”

Fun Fact: The animated movie version of Rudolph first premiered in 1964 and is the longest running holiday special on television.

Fun Fact: Rudolph was originally named Reginald. “Reginald the Red-Nosed reindeer” just didn’t seem to click like Rudolph does.

M

*Information found from npr.org and techtimes.com

Written by Randy Brooks in 1979 Ds, ringtones, novelty Christmas toys - “Grandma” can be found almost anywhere during the Christmas season. Recorded by Elmo Shropshire, this quirky song was inspired by Merle Haggard’s song “Grandma’s Homemade Christmas Card,” in which a family waits for a Christmas card from their dear grandmother, only to find out halfway through the song that she had died.

Brooks, confused by Haggard’s song, challenged country artists to tell the listener in the first line that a beloved character had died. So he did just that. Shropshire thought the song was hilarious and recorded it as a gag gift for his friends. Although there was some controversy surrounding it that the song was “against the Christmas spirit”, “Grandma’s” popularity skyrocketed and became the sensation that it is today.

Fun fact: Millions of plush reindeer toys that sing Shropshire’s version of “Grandma” have been sold by major retailers.

14 Fun fact: Shropshire ran his first marathon in 2005 right before turning 70 years old.

C

*Information found from eventsin-music.com and abcnews. go.com

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Santa plays different roles in families Every family has its different Christmas traditions and important aspects of the holiday season. For some families, Santa plays a big role (especially with young kids in the house), while for others Santa wasn’t really emphasized in their childhood Christmas celebrations.

Natalie Harkness, junior, looked forward to Santa’s visit as a kid. “When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to see Santa so badly that I slept on the fireplace one Christmas Eve and waited for him,” she said.

Historically, during the fourth century, St. Nicholas delivered presents to children in Europe. He gradually grew into the jolly, sleigh-riding, beloved Santa known around the world today, having been fully standardized in the late 19th century to have all the qualities that the world knows him to have today, according to National Geographic.

Regon Brenner, junior, has a younger brother who enjoys Santa’s visit each year.

“He gets really excited about Santa to the point where he jumps up and down for him and goes outside to the blow-up Santa in our yard and says ‘Ho Ho Ho’ to him,” she said.

Incorporating Santa into Christmas is a common thing to do, with 84 percent of

Holiday

adults saying they believed in Santa at some point in their life, according to The Atlantic.

Families tend to incorporate Santa in different ways in their household. For example, sophomore Madeline Karaba’s parents would shut the garage door on Christmas Eve and say that was Santa coming in through the garage since their house didn’t have a chimney.

Likewise, in “When freshI was in fifth man

grade, I wanted to see Santa so badly that I slept on the fireplace one Christmas Eve and waited for him,” said Natalie Harkness, junior

Anthony Cuevas’ household, one of his relatives would dress up as Santa and come in his house and leave presents under the tree. “It was really enjoyable to think that some magical person was giving me stuff,” said Cuevas.

However, in some cases, families may choose not to incorporate Santa into their Christmas traditions. For Anastasia

events around

Jingle Rails: Eiteljorg Museum, through January 18, 2016 Circle of Lights: Monument Circle, through January 11, 2016 Celebration Crossing: Indiana State Museum, November 27 – January 3, 2016

Fowler, sophomore, Santa didn’t play a big role in her childhood. “Our Christmas was always more focused on family and not Santa, and we thought our presents were brought by our parents or other family members,” she said.

On one hand, incorporating Santa in families can be important to the children who believe in it. “Santa is probably kept alive in so many families because it gives the children hope to believe in something bigger,” said Karaba.

On the other hand, though, Santa may also shift the focus of a family’s Christmas. Fowler noted how she thought her Christmas would’ve been different if Santa had been a bigger part of it. She said, “I think it would’ve been more based on the presents instead of the idea of being with your family.”

Mrs. Katie Schaffner, math teacher, keeps the balance between Santa and the real reason for the season with her son. “We try to focus on the Nativity scene as well as make going to mass a big part of the Christmas season,” she said.

But even as kids grow up and see a different Santa than they saw as children, he still comes to town for those who keep the TM Bill Nash tradition alive.

Indy

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, through January 3, 2016 Christmas at the Zoo: Indianapolis Zoo, through January 3, 2016 *Information from www.visitindy.com

Trojan Matters 15

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

Etsy businesses become more popular for online shoppers and business owners

Photo Courtesy of Ms. Jamie Marx | Trojan Matters

I

f you are stuck looking for a Christmas present to give someone, Etsy may be just the place to start your search.

Etsy is an online shopping website focused on handmade or vintage items and supplies, as well as unique factory-manufactured items. People create accounts to buy and sell products.

According to etsy.com, there are 1.5 million active sellers and 22.6 million active buyers. Etsy made $1.93 billion in 2014 in the amount of sales throughout all the shops.

Etsy receives 3.5 percent of the product revenue as well as includes a $0.20 listing fee for each A packaged order of homemade dog biscuits from item listed.

Nutty Mutt Bakery, the Etsy shop that Ms. Jamie Ms. Jamie Marx, director of guidance runs with her daughter Abby. The Marx’s previously had a shop in GreenMarx, director field, but now only sell the dog items on Etsy. of guidance, shares an Etsy shop with her daughter that they have had for about two years. “We bake from scratch, decorate and sell dog treats. We make traditional dog biscuits in about 18 different flavors, and we also decorate treats for special occasions such as birthdays and holidays,” said Ms. Marx.

Junior Sam Haimbaugh discovered Etsy through Pinterest and says that everything she has ever ordered is in good condition and unique. “The prices are usually a good deal which is why it’s getting so popular. I have even ordered stuff from India before, and

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it has come in just like the picture with no problems,” she said.

Haimbaugh likes Etsy because it’s cheap, homemade and easy to place orders and receive them as well.

Most people use Etsy as a side business and a fun way to make extra money by showing off artistic skills. Ms. Marx said, “Keeping products and pictures up-to-date in Etsy can be time-consuming, and baking and getting items packaged and shipped in a few days can sometimes be stressful.” Ms. Marx said that her shop is on “vacation” because they had too many orders to keep up with and are finding a better way to manage the store. “We will be opening up the store (again) at the beginning of next year.”

Mrs. Alison Mayer, assistant to the principal and vice principals, had an Etsy shop, but closed it because it was too time consuming while having four children and returning back to work. She sold coasters, hair bows, headbands, bow ties and leg warmers. “The start-up was tough. It’s hard to get your name out there. I had to do a lot of research on how to get found in the gigantic world of Etsy,” said Mrs. Mayer.

Mrs. Mayer said that her business was successful. “I was juried and accepted into the Junior League Holiday Mart for two years and did well at many other craft fairs. I was also getting about 20 orders a month through Etsy, which was keeping me quite busy.”

Mrs. Mayer also said that she tried to personalize each sale so that the customer would feel appreciated and return to her shop.

“I would recommend Etsy for anyone looking for a unique find that wouldn’t be able to find any place else. There are so many items you can find that you would have never thought of,” said Haimbaugh. TM Cecelia Stonner

20%

Cecelia Stonner

of students here have purchased something from Etsy. But only

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Etsy quick facts:

Another order of Ms. Jamie Marx, guidance director and her daughter’s dog biscuits from their Etsy shop.

Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Allison Mayer | Trojan Matters

Number of active Etsy sellers: 1.5 million Mrs. Allison Mayer, principals’ assistant, used to sell homemade tutus and headbands for toddlers and babies in her currently closed Etsy shop,

Amount of items listed for sale on Etsy: 35 million products Percentage of Etsy sellers who are women: 86 percent

Thinking about selling on Etsy?

Here are tips for top sales:

1. Use high quality photos of your products 2. BYOB- Build your own brand 3. Have good costumer service 4. Have good search engine optimization 5. Be easily found on social media sites to promote your products 6. Find something that makes your shop stand out and use it to your advantage 7. Communicate with costumers with emails to stay up-to-date 8. Use aesthetically pleasing packaging 9. Send samples for bloggers and costumers to try out for promotional uses 10. Observe other successful shops *Information from Etsy.com

2%

of students here have sold items on Etsy.

43%

Number of countries Etsy has sellers in: 83 countries

Ellen Giudice | Trojan Matters

Photo Courtesy of Ms. Jamie Marx | Trojan Matters

Number of active Etsy buyers: 21.7 million

of students here have browsed the Etsy website.

Survey statistics from school-wide student survey (+/- 5%); Etsy quick facts from Etsy company reports or DMR marketing web page.

Trojan Matters 17

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 Whether sitting at the same table everyday or a completely differTrojans ent one; lunch can be an interesting sight to see. The 23-minute eating period is used by students not only to eat, but to socialize. rarely According to a student survey sent on Nov. 17, 92 percent of students said that they sit in the same general area everyday at lunch. change M A seats Check out the-blueprint.

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arissa lmack

org to watch a time-lapse video as more than 700 people cycle through a lunch period.

A lunch “I sit in the first place I see my friends. We are hungry and just want to sit down,” said Mallory Grant, junior.

B lunch

“We like to sit here so that we aren’t crowded by the underclassmen,” said Alex Barnes, senior.

C lunch “All the freshmen boys sit together. It started as a small group and then more people came,” said Jimmy O’Brien, freshman.

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All photos taken in all three lunches, Friday, Nov. 20.

Kelly Marsella | Trojan Matters

Ellen Giudice | Trojan Matters

“It doesn’t matter to me where I sit, but who I sit with,” said Fouse.

Ellen Giudice | Trojan Matters

Kelly Marsella | Trojan Matters

“My friends and I usually sit in the same spot out of familiarity,” said Gillian Fouse, junior.

A lunch

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A Day in the Life of Cianna Grummer

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In school, freshman Cianna Grummer has participated in the theater program in addition to her class work. Outside the classroom, she is an awardwinning horse jumper for the Zionsville Equestrian Team who is advancing to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Regional Finals in March.

Anna Giudice

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photos courtesy of Cianna Grummer

Q: How did you get into horse riding?

A: “I started out when my friend wanted to do it. She in-

vited me to go take a lesson with her, and I just kept going with it even after she quit. I practice twice a week for about an hour. In shows, I jump two feet. It takes a lot of work and leg muscle, but it’s a lot of fun. My trainer owns the thoroughbred horse I jump with, Lucas, so I have to lease him, almost like renting a car.”

Q: What other things are you involved in at school? A: “I’ve helped with the play in the

crew, and I’m a shadow host. I get busy with homework. Some days I’m either really busy or not busy at all.”

Q: How has horse jumping influenced you?

A: “Jumping horses has taught me a lot, especially

how to be patient with the animals and to work with a team and to let go a little bit because the shows can get pretty disorganized. I just go with the flow and have become more relaxed.”

Q: How do you balance school with your horse jumping?

A: “I try to get a lot of work done here and then

when I go there, I try to focus on what I have to do to prepare for shows. I’m usually done riding at 8 p.m. and I try to get the rest of my homework done when I get home. I space things out so that I don’t have a lot of work do on one day.”

Q: What is something that you’ve learned from jumping horses that you can apply to school?

A: “I’ve learned how to work with other people through horseback

riding because when you’re riding, a horse has a mind of its own, so you learn to work with them and not against them. This applies to working with people; work with them and not against them.”

Sound Off...If you could play pro sports, what team would you be on?

“I would be on the Pacers because they are from Indiana.” -Aidan Sedlak, freshman

“I would be on a cheer worlds team because I’m not really good at anything else.”- Emily Evers, sophomore

“I would be on the Juventus.

They’re the best team in Europe and my favorite.”-Ethan Manuszsk, junior

“I would be on a curling team. It’s not an active sport and I’m not very coordinated.”-Hannah Nickol, senior

All Sound Off photos by Kelly Marsella

Trojan Matters 19

TM Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 Students feel compelled to attend school even when they aren’t well

A

achoo! The sound of cold and flu season is upon us. This means students are coming to school sick making them lethargic and unproductive in class, in addition that student can become a distraction and a contagion to other students.

Many students come to school sick instead of staying home because they feel pressured from their parents, the amount of make up work they’ll have and missing important lessons.

Grace Gore, senior, said that she sometimes comes to school sick because “I’m afraid of missing classes and having tons of makeup work pile up. I don’t want that stress from missing school, especially if I have a dual credit class that docks you points if you miss too much class.”

Some dual credit classes limit the number of absences. If a

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student misses too many, he or she may fail the course. The stress of the make up work and falling behind is a big deterrent from students staying home.

Another factor in students coming to school sick are

*information from a student survey taken 11/17

Students responded to how many times they have come to school so far this year while sick because they felt they couldn’t miss a day.

10 or more times 6-10 times 1-5 times none (never missed school even if sick)

4.9%

13.7%

54.8% parents not wanting their kids to miss school. Kayla Zehner, junior, said, “My parents encourage me to come to school if I’m sick because they know it’s hard to make up work even if you only miss one day.”

From behind the teacher’s desk, social studies teacher Ms. Stacy Wright said, “Students should stay home (if they are sick) especially if they are contagious. Especially with having Canvas, they can stay connected.”

A decision that students face is how sick is sick enough to stay home. A big factor is if you are contagious or not. When people come to school sick with contagious illnesses, they are risking the health of other students and teachers around them.

Being sick in school is not fun or helpful to a student’s

26.6%

health.

Zehner said, “If you’re too tired or distracted by pain or discomfort, you won’t be paying attention anyway, so you might as well stay home and rest up.”

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Kelly O’Brien

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Athletes discuss value of scouting reports “No. 7 has great defensive positioning.”

“No. 30 always breaks to her left.”

“The team overall has good fundamentals, but trouble executing it.”

These are the types of things commonly seen in scouting reports. But how much does it actually help at game time?

Senior Bailey O’Brien, defender for girls lacrosse, believes that these reports help her get into game mode. “I find the reports helpful because I use them as a tool to mentally prepare myself for the opponent I am going up against,” she said. The girls lacrosse team typically receives scouting reports on the opposing team a few days before a big game.

Scouting reports weren’t always taken so seriously. They actually started as a joke and eventually spiraled into an effective way to prepare for recruiting and games.

They began in 1956 when the Los Angeles Rams general manager, Tex Schramm, received a note sarcastically talking about how they needed a certain player on their team. This evolved into a different team drafting that player under the impression

that he was actually an excellent player.

This incident caused coaches to want to see their potential new players in action and write reports on them in order to have a better understanding of the players’ mannerisms before they considered them for their team.

This is why the football players receive scouting reports every Monday, so they can have all week to study it. Quarterback Lewis Dilts, senior, said that the scouting reports, “allow us to see what the coaches have seen on film and any information they want to tell us.” He said that most players take home their packets and continue to study them through the week.

Once in college, the importance of studying these reports increases. Aaron Hepp, ‘12 graduate and current Ball State wide receiver and punt returner, said that it is imperative to study them because, “football is more like a job in college, and if you miss something that you could have gotten from the scouting reports, then they will just get someone else to do your job.”

Hepp also said that he receives two reports

Advantages

per week in game season: one for special teams and one for offense.

In volleyball, they receive one report for both offense and defense. Senior Anna Fehribach, outside hitter, said that for volleyball, “it helps me to track the best hitter they have so we can put a block up and try to stop her from scoring.”

Volleyball only received scouting reports for the big games including New Palestine and (Our Lady of ) Providence, as well as tournament games. These reports especially helped the defensive players because they would be able to study the tendencies on where the hitters usually aim.

Mr. Jimmy Pappas, assistant varsity football coach, compiles the scouting reports for the team. “The process of compiling a scouting report forces me as the coach to analyze the opponent,” he said. “This gives me game planning ideas that I can take to other coaches for discussion. The end product helps players study their opponent and adds to their overall preparation.”

TM Kaitlin Traub

Disadvantages

“There are advantages in knowing their best players, so we can know what to expect.” -Senior Paige Dietz, lacrosse

“Sometimes the team we scouted were just having a bad day so when we played them we really didn’t know what to expect.” -Dietz

“A big advantage is being able to spot the weaker players and prepare on how to deal with them.” -Sophomore Casie Maexner, softball

“A huge disadvantage is that the team we are scouting may not have all the players at that time.” -Maexner

“I really liked them cause I got to know who was who on each team, and what to expect from them.” -Senior Jenna Kimack, volleyball

“I felt less prepared at times because I expected one play but they did another one.”

-Kimack

Trojan Matters 21

Trojans take record-breaking 13th state title

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The Captains:

Caleb Kobets, senior kicker, tacked on 4 extra points, and a 31 yard field goal.

Junior Jarrod Stiver made a 65 yard touchdown run.

Gabe Coleman, junior, ran 30 yards to the endzone.

Senior John Chavis dodged defenders and ran 42 yards for a touchdown.

Graham Jaeger, junior, catches a 21 yard touchdown pass from Lewis Dilts, senior.

All Photos By Emily Smith | Trojan Matters

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“ “

It was honor to lead and play with my boys all year.”

- Lewis Dilts, quaterback It didn’t really make a difference if you’re a captain or not, all that mattered was pulling out the ‘W’ with each other.”

- Matthew Adkins, fullback

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I felt like I had a responsibility to lead the team to a victory. ” - Danny Godlevske, tackle

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We had a great group of guys and being able to help lead them to a state championship along with the other seniors was unbelievable.”

- Jack Gleaves, tight end

The Supporters:

Coach Andrew Schmutte addresses the offensive linemen during the game.

Coleman embraces mother after the game.

Appy Park| Trojan Matters

The Scorers:

The cheer program stunted and performed a dance routine at halftime.

The student section dressed in white out, chanting and pumping up the team.

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Bishop Chatard - 31 West Lafayette - 7