OCT 25 2023
BI WORD
LEAVES ARE FALLING, AUTUMN IS CALLING
CONTROVERSIAL REGULATIONS IN THE PARKING LOT
DIGITAL SAT– ANOTHER COLLEGE BOARD MISSTEP?
FAMILY FUN NIGHT A HUGE SUCCESS
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PLUS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. GERKE ABOUT BISHOP IRETON ICE HOCKEY
LETTER FROM THE STAFF Dear Readers, Welcome back! Thank you for reading the September 2023 issue of the BI Word. Classes, sports, and clubs are back in full swing at Bishop Ireton. This issue includes a variety of topics from the summer, such as “Barbenheimer,” and upcoming events this fall like “International Day of the Girl,” and our Cardinal’s epic win against Saint Stephens Saint Agnes. We hope you enjoy this issue! -Journalism staff
BI WORD STAFF MIA HOOPER– EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ERIK GUNDERSON– WRITER/EDITOR CASSIE PAGE– STAFF WRITER NORA GARLAND– WRITER/EDITOR KYLE BURNER– WRITER/EDITOR
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Bishop Ireton: Family Fun Night
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Interview with Mr. Gerke
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Student Ambassadors
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Local & National News:
Lifestyle: Barbenheimer
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Pumpkin Bread Recipe
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Burning Man Disaster
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Editorials:
9/11 Reflection
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The Digital SAT
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GOP Debate
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The New Parking Lot
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International Day of the Girl
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Family Fun on the Field
By: Erik Gunderson
Hundreds of people turned out on the night of August 30th to continue Bishop Ireton’s longstanding tradition of Family Fun Night. Students, teachers, and their families enjoyed Italian ice and played lawn games on the Ireton Football Field underneath a blazing sunset. Family Fun Night has been an annual Bishop Ireton event for at least the past decade and has helped welcome Bishop Photo Credit: Josh Goldman Ireton families back to school every year. Attendance this year was up from previous Food served included pulled pork sandwiches, potato salads, years, in part due to the and Italian ice. Games included spikeball, football, and a moonplanning of Student Activities bounce, which was at first occupied by younger kids before being Coordinator Mr. Kevin taken over by Ireton students as the night went on. O’Keefe, who arranged for Ireton’s Student Council Association was responsible for Ireton sports practices to end setting up and cleaning up the event. McKenna Hayden, Student early so that athletes could Council President, was pleased with the results . “It was our biggest make their way from practice turnout yet. Food was enjoyed, laughs were had, and games were to the football field to relax played. It was super nice seeing all the families, students, and with their friends. “Every year faculty connect.” this event has got bigger and All in all, this year’s Family Fun night was a massive success, bigger. It’s so great to have and the Student Council has already started planning for next year’s, the community come out and which promises to be even bigger and better than this year’s. support,” O’Keefe said.
Photo Credit: Josh Goldman
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Interview with Mr. Gerke By: Kyle Burner
Photo Credit: Billy Sabatini
Sports are a big part of Bishop Ireton. Ice hockey is one of them. I did an interview with Mr. Gerke, who is a Bishop Ireton alumnus and former Bishop Ireton hockey player, to see what playing hockey at Bishop Ireton was like, as well as what he thinks of Bishop Ireton hockey now. The first question I asked was “What was your experience like playing Bishop Ireton Ice Hockey”? Mr. Gerke replied “It helped my hockey career; great group of guys, and had a lot of fun playing for Tony DiCarlo”. Then I followed up that question with this question: “What have you noticed about Tony Dicarlo’s coaching style over the years?” To which Mr. Gerke replied, “Coach DiCarlo has always been honest with his players and has always been himself. He has a great balance between fun and business”. This answer sparked my curiosity, so I asked “What are some differences from when you played and now”? “I was one of three freshmen on the team during freshman year. This year for the 2023 season there are almost 20 freshmen. The program has grown significantly.” Wanting to continue to find out more information I asked, “What are some of your favorite memories from playing hockey at Bishop Ireton?” Mr. Gerke responded with “We had 4 sets of brothers on the team one year, the ‘Band of Brothers,’ and we ended up in the newspaper. On my last shift ever I wrecked three guys, that was fun too”. Finally I asked, “Is there any advice that you would give to someone playing ice hockey now at Bishop Ireton”? Mr. Gerke said, “Do your best every second you’re on the ice, don’t forget to have fun, and most importantly, keep in mind you’re joining the Bishop Ireton Hockey family”. Mr Gerke also added “Be ready to be a good brother to your teammates.”
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Bringing Together the Cardinal Community By: Cassie Page
Photo Credit: Josh Goldman
As the club fair took place on September 12th, Student Ambassadors is happy to report that more than two hundred students have signed up to help support the Ireton community for differing events! Mrs. Mahon, the clubs’ moderator, Cassie Page and Ethan Miller, the Student Leaders are thrilled to continue expanding the club. This year will contain additional workshops, club meetings and prep sessions, mock tours and so much more. Each year over a hundred Student Ambassadors see many nervous, excited, and eager prospective Cardinals join the nest. An essential part of the future student experience is a large club on campus, Student Ambassadors. A Student Ambassador’s tasks include assisting with tours of the school, participating in school sponsored events, and giving prospective students a way to gain insight into juggling homework, sports, friends, etc. This year new and returning Student Ambassadors will participate in the annual open house, which is one of the biggest prospective student events of the year. Additionally, Student Ambassadors have the opportunity to volunteer for the “Cardinal for a Day” program. This program allows prospective students to gain insight to “a day in the life as a Cardinal” by shadowing a current student. Those are just a few of the events that include Student Ambassadors each year. As always if interested in joining the Student Ambassadors club please reach out to Mrs. Mahon.
Burning Man Catastrophe
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By: Mia Hooper
Tens of thousands of artists, musicians, and activists scrambled to evacuate the muddy wasteland of the Black Rock Desert. In a statement provided to The Hill, the Burning Man Project confirmed the report of a man’s death, emphasizing that it was not related to the damaging weather conditions. The organizers stated that their emergency services department received a call for assistance but was unable to resuscitate the individual. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the investigation of a single death, although specific details such as the individual’s identity and the suspected cause of death have not been disclosed, Photo Credit: San Francisco Standard as reported by The Associated Press. The region experienced more than half an inch of rain during the weekend, as reported by Mark Deutschendorf, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno. This precipitation exceeded the typical September rainfall average of 0.21 inches for Reno, located approximately 140 miles south of the festival. The heavy rain prompted shelter-in-place advisories for festival attendees, with organizers cautioning against driving due to many vehicles getting stuck in the thick mud. The event left numerous attendees of the Burning Man festival stranded in the desert. The festival’s organizers noted that some vehicles with four-wheel drive and allterrain tires could navigate the mud and exit successfully, but most other types of vehicles attempting to depart were getting stuck, causing difficulties for everyone. Therefore, they urged festivalgoers not to drive at that time. Sergeant Nathan Carmichael of the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office reported that over 70,000 people were still stranded on Saturday. While some individuals left the site by walking out, many RVs remained immobilized.
Photo Credit: India Times Today
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9/11 REFLECTION BY CASSIE PAGE Jim Page
Former President Obama stated, “Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” On September 11, 2023, Bishop Ireton Held a school wide mass honoring the lives lost and families impacted forever on September 11, 2001. Although the student body was not alive for 9/11 many have family members impacted or affected by the terrible tragedy. The day the twin towers fell my uncle was serving as an Arlington County Police Officer. When the Pentagon was struck, he was sent to respond and support. Each year when we pray for those who lost sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and other family members I can’t help but think how brave my uncle was and how God was watching over him. The Washington Post writes “In the first chaotic hours after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as motorists were being re-routed away from the Pentagon, Arlington Detective Jim Page threw on his bright orange vest and hit the streets to help out. By the time he got to the massive backup on Columbia Pike, a citizen was already in the thick of it, trying to direct traffic on his own.” Former Arlington Detective Page is known today by many Alexandria and Arlington Police officers after retiring in July after 28 years of service.
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The GOP Debate By: Nora Garland
Photo Credit: Morry Gash, Associated Press
The Republican party held their first debate of the 2024 primary election in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 22, 2023. After the debate The Washington Post polled Republican voters on the winners of the night. The poll found 29% of voters thought Florida Governor Ron DeSantis performed the best. DeSantis is a somewhat controversial candidate due to his recent educational policy in Florida state public schools, which censor or remove standard matierals, such as removing the AP Pyschology course in their public schools. A relatively unknown and somewhat inexperienced candidate named Vivek Ramaswamy polled closely behind him with 26% of Republicans voting that he performed the best. He is a 38-year-old entrepreneur and businessman who made his fortune with his pharmaceutical company. One of his notable moments during the debate was when he claimed climate change was a hoax. He dominated the conversation and got into a pretty nasty back and forth with former Vice President Mike Pence. Another candidate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, also claimed that Ramaswamy “sounded like ChatGPT.” Surprisingly, polling way behind them with 7% is the former vice president, who was expected to become a front runner. In front of him with 15% is the former Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley. Her strategy was to oppose some popular right wing rhetoric that many others on the stage promoted to appeal to more moderate voters. A notable absence at the debate was former president and current front runner Donald Trump, who was preparing to turn himself into Fulton County Jail for voter fraud. At the same time as the debate, he livestreamed a pre-taped interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson on Carlson’s X, formally known as Twitter, account. Trump explained his reasoning for not attending to Carlson, “Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that? And a network [Fox News] that isn’t particularly friendly, frankly.” Despite his absence and recent arrest, he continues to lead in the polls with a little over 50% of the vote. One surprising moment from the debate was when moderator Staurt Varney asked who would support Donald Trump if he won the Republican primary election. Seven of the eight candidates raised their hands.
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International Day of the Girl? What’s That? By Cassie Page
Picture Credit: Soo Today
Have you ever heard of the story of young Meena? Meena was a 17-year-old girl that was forced to work as a child domestic labor in Delhi far away from her local rural village in India. Meena is just one example of roughly 7.5 million girls under the age of 18 that are exploited through child domestic labor. These children, specifically girls, are made to work in private homes and establishments to perform tasks such as laundry, cooking, taking care of children, elderly relatives and pets. Research shows that there is more than enough evidence to back up the detrimental effects of child domestic labor such as, higher risk of diseases and developmental disadvantages both physically and mentally. Additionally it is proven that there are insufficient national funds to address the continuing issue at hand. Today, there are 35 countries that have ratified the ILO Convention 189, allowing for minimum age and additional rights to workers between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years old. “Invest in Girls Rights; Our Leadership, Our Wellbeing.” This year was the 11th Annual Observance of International Day of the Girl, on October 11, 2023. This day promotes girls’ human rights, highlights gender equity, promotes digital literacy and secondary education nationally. Organizations such as The United Nations, UNICEF, United Nations Women, Convoy of Hope, GirlUp and many more are leading organizations in the efforts of change through girls’ empowerment.
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Barbieheimer Takes the World by Storm By: Erik Gunderson
Photo Credit: Brit.co (left), Den of Geek (right)
It is indisputable that the Barbieheimer phenomenon that took the world by storm this past July was the biggest pop-culture event of the summer. Across America, millions of moviegoers turned out to watch the two movies, sometimes seeing them back-to-back in a double-header cinema experience. The duo of masterpieces was completely antithetical to each other, one about the making of the atom bomb and the other about a plastic doll, and yet both were widely praised for their direction, acting, and overall cultural impact. Box office sales indicate that Americans agree that both Oppenheimer and Barbie were great movies, but the question remains: “Which one was better?” Most would agree that a movie’s primary purpose is to entertain, and Barbie as well as Oppenheimer both achieved this on an elementary level. However, Barbie ultimately had an edge in the entertainment category due to its humor, music, and sheer absurdity.
Oppenheimer, on the other hand, was far and away the more cinematic of the two. Its sweeping shots and searing score made for a haunting cinematic experience. It was as if you felt the bomb being dropped right there in the theater. Oppenheimer also had a slate of fantastic actors, with Cillian Murphy being cast as the titular character. It was ultimately Robert Downey Jr., though, that stole the show, transforming a mundane bureaucrat into a calculating antagonist in the form of Lewis Strauss. The film’s score, composed by Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson, also contributed heavily to the cinematic experience, elevating each scene to the next level. The film was ultimately hindered by its excessively long runtime. It felt bloated at times, and there were some scenes that simply did not contribute to the film. The exposition especially was drawn out in a way that lengthened the movie by fifteen minutes without contributing much to the overall plot. So while a fantastic movie, it took itself a little too seriously and insisted upon lengthening itself out unnecessarily. Barbie, if anything, was the opposite. No minute of Barbie was wasted, and the movie had a very straightforward, linear storyline. Expectations for Barbie’s cinematic value were low, considering that it was a movie about a plastic doll, but the film ended up cutting as deep, if not deeper, than Oppenheimer. It was at times completely ridiculous, but also commented on overarching cultural themes in a fresh way. It too had its share of fantastic acting, with Australian actress Margot Robbie perfectly playing Barbie. It was Ryan Gosling, though, that truly impressed, turning his character, Ken, into a cultural icon almost overnight through several clever quips and well-choreographed dance routines. Barbie also didn’t expect much from its audience. To see Oppenheimer, it was expected that you knew who Niels Bohr was and that you had a general understand of the Los Alamos project. To see Barbie, all that was required was that you knew what a Barbie was. All in all, both movies were fantastic, but it was ultimately Barbie that had the edge, with a witty blend of comedy, action, and deeper meaning that has been unparalleled in American cinema in recent years.
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Pumpkin Bread
Courtesy of Nora Garland Source: My Baking Addiction
Pumkin bread is the perfect snack or dessert for the beginning of fall. Ingredients:
- 15 ounces of pumpkin puree - 4 large eggs - 1 cup vegetable oil - 2/3 cup water - 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract - 2 ½ cups sugar - 3 ½ all purpose flour - 2 teaspoons baking soda Photo Credit: All Recipes - 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt - 2 tablespoons of cinnamon Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. Whisk together the eggs, oil, water, pumpkin, sugar, and vanilla extract. 3. In another bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. 4. Pour batter into a greased pan and bake for 60 minutes. 5. Enjoy!
The New Digital SAT
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By: Nora Garland
Students no longer even need pencils to take the SAT. On October 11, the PSAT was administered digitally for the first time. In January, the College Board will now exclusively administer the SAT digitally. Some very major changes will be made to the test. The new test will take two hours while the current test takes three hours. It will include only two Photo Credit: Notre Dame Learning sections, math and verbal. Calculator use Bluebook, the testing software requires has been extended to newer additions of Windows, Mac, and the entire math section Chrome. What about the many students and students will be throughout the country who do not even provided with a digital have access to a computer, let alone a newer graphing calculator. one? The SAT has been criticized in the past The reading section will for consistent disparities in scores between have shorter passages students from low income households and with less questions. students who are not. Now, those students One of the more may not even be able to take the test. Even for significant changes is students who have access to approved devices, that the test will be many technical issues could go wrong. “computer adaptive.” I asked a fellow junior at Bishop Ireton This means that her thoughts on the upcoming changes to the based on a student’s SAT. She stated,“I like how the passages are performance on the shorter but personally I don’t like reading on a first questions, they screen. I like to annotate the passages.” While would receive either discussing adaptive questions she said, “I feel easier or harder there is less opportunity for a higher score.” questions. If something is not broken, don’t fix it. A Many students digital option could be a great idea, but to are excited that the completely eliminate the paper test would test will be shorter, bring too many additional problems. The SAT which will reduce is already becoming increasingly insignificant testing fatigue and in college admissions, is a dramatic change anxiety. But there are really the College Board’s answer to bring it disadvantages. back into relevance?
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How Do You Feel About the Parking Lot? By: Mia Hooper
Photo Credit: Mia Hooper
Over the summer, Bishop Ireton’s parking lot underwent a change in traffic pattern and aimed at enhancing traffic flow efficiency. During the past few years, leaving the parking lot in the afternoon would be a time-consuming ordeal, sometimes taking as long as thirty minutes! This was due to the backup of traffic when turning left to exit the lot. The limited duration of the traffic light at the end of the hill exacerbated this problem. To remedy this issue, it was decided to implement a new and improved traffic system. Included in this system is a two-way traffic lane in the middle of the lot (which was once a one-way road), restrictions on turning left during specific times of the day, and the installation of new stop signs. When asked how my peers felt about the new parking lot system, Erik Gunderson shared, “Turning right may seem like it marginally improves traffic flow, but it just moves the backup to the street rather than fixing the issue. It addresses the symptom, not the cause.” Another student shared that, “Instead of waiting twenty minutes in the parking lot, I now wait twenty minutes in the street.” Some have strong feelings about the restrictions on turning left such as Aidan Kelleher who noted, “We should be able to turn left.” The recent modifications made to our school parking lot were aimed at enhancing the proficiency of traffic during morning and afternoon hours. As someone who encounters this traffic on a daily basis, I can attest that there has been a noticeable reduction of congestion during morning carpool. Instead of the previous situation where I had to juggle parking and waiting in the parent drop-off line, there is now a dedicated carpool lane that students no longer have to deal with. However, when it comes to afternoon traffic, it is still about the same as last year. When exiting the lower lot, I find it to be significantly more convenient to turn left, not because I wish to bypass the line and reach Duke Street faster, but rather because my car is manual. As a new stick-shift driver, stopping and going while on a steep incline is quite nerve-wracking as I fear I will roll back into the person behind me! Lately, I have observed the horribly congestion on Janneys, Dartmouth, and the intersection at the base of Cambridge Road. It has become more and more common for people to exit the parking lot to the right and proceed to make a U-turn in the middle of the road towards the intersection at the base of the hill! In essence, the new parking lot system has improved traffic during the morning hours, but the challenges remain during the afternoon as people rush to leave the parking lot.
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Thank you for reading!