BI Word - May

THE BI-WORD

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” -- Ladybird Johnson

12 13

Ireton Performs Into The Woods

Princess Kate of Wales Has Cancer

UConn Wins March Madness

LETTER FROM THE STAFF

Dear Readers,

With joy and dedication, the staff of the BI Word extends a heartfelt goodbye to each of you. This edition of our journal is a testament to our passion for sharing insightful articles and educating you on the world around us while taking a peek into our community here at BI. Through the collaborative efforts of our esteemed contributors and the diligent work of our editorial team, we strive to offer content that informs, inspires, and challenges.

Thank you for being a vital part of our community. As we bid farewell with this last edition of the 20232024 BI Word, we cherish the journey we’ve shared together and eagerly anticipate what the upcoming year has in store for us.

Warm regards,

-Mia Hooper

BI WORD STAFF

MIA HOOPER– EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ERIK GUNDERSON– WRITER/EDITOR

NORA GARLAND– WRITER/EDITOR

KYLE BURNER– WRITER/EDITOR

JAMES LOWE– WRITER/EDITOR

JOE HARDY– WRITER/EDITOR

DESIREE TRIPODO– WRITER/EDITOR

HADLEY REARDON– WRITER/EDITOR

FRANKLIN MCCLARY– WRITER/EDITOR

NAOMI NELSON– WRITER/EDITOR

BEMNET MEKEBEB– WRITER/EDITOR

IZZY SPOONER– WRITER/EDITOR

THE BI COMMUNITY

“The Easter Season” By Kyle Burner - pg. 4

“Spring Musical Opens to Great Fanfare” By Erik Gunderson - pg. 5

“BI Track and Field Advances to Penn Relays” By Joe Hardy - pg. 6

“What Do Students Do During Spring Break?” By Franklin McClary - pg. 7

“Signing Day” By Bemnet Mekebeb - pg. 8

“Spring Has Sprung, Get Ready for Prom” By Naomi Nelson - pg. 9

“Countdown to Graduation” By Izzy Spooner - pg. 10

THE WORLD

“Goodbye TikTok?” By Nora Garland - pg. 11

“Kate’s Cancer Battle” By Mia Hooper - pg. 12

“UConn Uses Strong Second Half to Beat Purdue, Win 6th Men’s National Championship” By James Lowe - pg. 13

“Oppenheimer’s Big Night and the 2024 Oscars” By Hadley Reardon - pg. 14

“Cherry Blossom Season” By Desiree Tripodo - pg. 15

The Easter Season

By: Kyle Burner

The Easter season is a season to remember the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus was crucified by the Romans in about 30 A.D. Lent is celebrated during the Easter season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. At Ash Wednesday Mass, we receive ashes in the shape of a cross on our foreheads to signify repentance and devotion to God. This year Ash Wednesday was on February 14 and Easter was on March 31. Lent is celebrated by going to Mass and not eating meat on Fridays. Holy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper that takes place between Jesus and his Apostles before the crucifixion. Good Friday observes the crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross. Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus rising from the dead and His ascension into Heaven. Easter is observed and celebrated by many. Easter is a good time to reflect on the importance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Photo Credit: Fuller of Grace and Truth

Spring Musical Opens to Great Fanfare

By: Erik Gunderson

Bishop Ireton’s production of the musical Into the Woods was well-attended through five showings between Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 24th. The musical followed a group of fairy tale characters as they tried to collect a group of magical objects and battle a giant.

At just under three hours long, the musical was one of the most ambitious the theater program had ever attempted, and sported an ensemble cast, starring Ellie Viana (’24) as a witch, Donovan Furey (’25) and Lauren Allen (’24) as a baker and his wife, Larissa Yaksic (’24) as Little Red Riding Hood, and Erin Allen (’27) as a princess. The story centered on the baker and his wife’s quest to collect a series of magical objects that could be given to Viana’s witch in exchange for a child. These objects included a very expressive cow, played by freshman Gabby Viana, and a lock of Rapunzel’s hair. With a little help from senior Andrew Matherne’s Mysterious Man, the duo were able to successful trade the items for a child, and the first act concluded with the characters living “happily ever after.” However, this was not to be, as the second act brought disaster to the fairy tale kingdom. A giant, voiced by Mary Smith (’24), quite literally trampled on the dreams of the musical’s characters, killing a number of them in the process.

The musical concluded with the show’s heroes overcoming their differences to lure the giant into a trap, restoring the land to tranquility once and for all.

The set was designed by a stage crew led by seniors Joseph Murray and Charlotte Rayder. A large bridge spanned the stage, with a model of Rapunzel’s tower on one end and a bakery on the other. One of the musical’s biggest technical coups was a remote-controlled chicken designed by Aidan Kelleher (‘24), which careened across the stage to the amusement of the audience.

The costumes were designed by Claire Gibbons (’24) and her team, and ranged from the simple clothing of a baker to the intricate outfit of Ellie Viana’s witch and Andrew Matherne’s Mysterious Man.

The theater program will find out if the show earned a nomination to the prestegious Cappie Awards in mid-May. If Into the Woods is nominated, it will be the second time in three years that Ireton has been nominated, following 2022’s Anastasia

PHOTO CREDIT: BIHS

BI TRACK AND FIELD 4X4 ADVANCES TO PENN RELAYS

BY: JOSEPH HARDY

The BI 4x4 relay team capped off their historic season with a qualifying time for the legendary Penn Relays. The Penn Relays is a prestigious track and field competition for the best of the best runners and teams and the BI boys 4x4 relay team was recognized as one of them. This season was historic for the boys relay team as they have broken the school’s 4x4 relay record three times this year. With additions made this year like Coach Gregory Shia and runner, Charlie Bestic, the team has been elevated to becoming one of the best in the area. We got a closer look at the story with one of the runners on the 4x4 team, Bemnet Mekebeb. He stated that “This is the best team that I have been a part of here at BI and we plan on coming home from Penn with the gold.” The BI boys 4x4 team had a really good chance of winning the event and could have made history as BI’s first and only team to go to Penn Relays and win. On April 27, the boys 4x4 team of Stepahn Tambwe, Charlie Bestic, Sean Owens, and Drew Madden competed in the Penn Relays. The boys finished 8th, with Bestic beating the previous school record for best 4X4 split.

PHOTO CREDIT: BISHOP IRETON HIGH SCHOOL

What Do Students Do During Spring Break?

By: Franklin McClary

Spring break is a time during the school year normally sometime in March or April when students are out of school for a week. This time off from school allows students to take a break from their usual school routines. During this time off they are able to enjoy a variety of activities that they might not have time to do during the normal school year. Depending upon the student’s interests, age, location and family plans, spring break allows students the chance to engage in a variety of activities.

Some common spring break activities include the following: traveling, which could include trips to the beach, visiting Tropical Islands, and amusement parks. Participating in outdoor activities such as playing sports, hiking, biking, swimming or going to the park are also popular. Some students may attend sport, art and crafts, or academic enrichment camps during their week off from school.

Students also take this break and time off to enjoy time with their family and friends. Some may not necessarily travel or go anywhere in particular but may use this time to recharge themselves from the normal school hustle. Who doesn’t enjoy staying up late, sleeping in late, and not having any school work to do for a whole week? Doing nothing is sometimes the best thing to do. Some spring break activities may include: reading, listening to music, attending parties, cooking, going out to eat, visiting a museum, playing games, playing video games, going on local day trips or simply lounging around the house.

Some students may also want to spend their week helping their community by volunteering at various organizations such as food banks, pantries, shelters or participate in environmental cleanup projects (to include cleaning up trash or cleaning the local area streams).

Many students look forward to this week off from school whether they have something planned or not. Everyone enjoys a break away. This time off provides a break from the normal school routine and can be refreshing and rejuvenating for students. Being able to recharge during this time off reduces stress and allows students an opportunity to take a mental break from their academic routine. Overall, spring break offers a combination of activities that can be fun, adventurous, include social opportunities that can make the week fun and memorable.

Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

BY: BEMNET MEKEBEB

Signing Day

When it comes to athletics at high schools, there is no greater experience for seniors than the one of committing to continue playing in college. These achievements are the result of years of determination, labor, and passion in their chosen sport. This reward brings to light the deep influence of these achievements not only on the athletes but also their families.

Signing to play for a college team illustrates that these student-athletes are gifted, talented, and determined. Over and over through training sessions and match competitions, they have sharpened their skills to the point of standing out. Their determination in their sport has not only brought the level of their own performances but has also motivated those around them, they prove how achievement can be made possible through endurance and tenacity.

The Seniors who signed this time were Joe Hardy, Alison Baldino, Torren Myers Will Hamilton and Thomas Shefrin. We asked Joe Hardy how he felt and how his experience was. This is what he had to say:

“I felt accomplished with my goals because I felt like all my hard work paid off. I’m also glad that the whole BI community celebrated this achievement with me. This just shows how much BI has helped throughout my years.”

Spring Has Sprung, Get Ready for Prom!

By: Naomi Nelson

PHOTO CREDIT: COORDINATE.NNET

The beginning of the 4th quarter represents another successful school year slowly coming to an end but before summer break and graduation there is one more major event that is highly celebrated across the country: prom. Prom is one of the most highly anticipated events that happens toward the end of the school year. It is a time for seniors and juniors to dress up and enjoy one more final moment together. As reported by Crystal View Weddings and Events, prom first originated in the 19th century with debutante roots but later transitioned to sophisticated tea parties reserved for male college students and their affluent families. It wasn’t until the 1920s that prom transitioned to more casual and inclusive events for high school students. In the 1930s it became customary for high school seniors to attend prom with the supervision of teachers and parents. In the 1950s prom became an important part of every student’s high school experience. It was not until the 1970s that African American students were allowed to attend prom with white students. As years passed prom has evolved to the event that we know and love today. Prom is a time where students from all walks of life come together to have a great time and find out who will be named prom queen and prom king. Bishop Ireton’s prom is set to happen on Saturday May 18, 2024. Even though it sounds like that’s a lot of time it is never too early to start looking for that special dress or that special suit to show up and show out so get ready cardinals for the event of the season! I have interviewed a few students who have reported that they are most excited about seeing everyone all dressed up and the school’s afterparty that is set to happen after prom. Even though not everyone has their outfits, a couple of students like Izzy Spooner (‘24) and Hadley Reardon (‘24) have their dresses. Last but not least, prom king and queen predictions are a mystery and we are excited to see who will win.

Countdown to Graduation

By Izzy Spooner

With the end of the school year rounding the corner, excitement is filling the air when it comes to the class of 2024. With spring break, prom, graduation, grad parties/events, and preparing for college, there’s a lot to think about as we count down to the end of the year.

Starting the 3rd quarter off with spring break, there’s lots of excitement to have a whole week and a half off of school. With some staying home and others traveling to different countries, its the perfect buffer between the middle of the year and graduation. Many feel like the school year has ended by the time we come back, counting basically a month and a half before seniors leave campus. Spring break also brings the start of Senior Assassin, a game most of the class plays where they try to eliminate each other using water guns. As the coordinators gear up to release the targets, students are getting busy buying goggles, floaties, and water guns to stay in the running.

Following spring break comes the thick of prom season. Everybody racing against the clock to find dates, dresses/suits, and places to take pictures gives the seniors and juniors a lot to think about to make sure they have the perfect night. Looking for dresses and suits also brings in the thoughts of graduation outfits and parties.

After prom it is completely downhill, leaving just a few days before the seniors face their farewell, go to the Baccalaureate mass, and graduate. Post graduation, the seniors can look forward to grad parties, summer trips, and getting their things together for college as they begin to split ways for the next 4 years!

Photo Credit: Good Housekeeping

Goodbye TikTok?

By: Nora Garland

The United States House of Representatives passed a bill on March 14, 2024 that could potentially ban the social media platform TikTok nationwide. The bill passed with an overwhelming majority with 352 house members voting in favor and only 65 opposed. This bill has received wide support from both democrats and republicans. The bill was proposed because of concerns about its parent company, ByteDance, affiliation with the Chinese government and the threat this might pose to national security. While this strong opposition to the platform may seem out of the blue, this is not the first time that a ban on TikTok was considered.

One of the first notable restrictions came after the Department of Defense named TikTok a threat to national security and the U.S. Army and Navy banned the app on government devices in January of 2020. Later that year, the Trump administration requested that TikTok be sold to an American company by November of 2020 or fa ce a ban, as reported by Variety in August of 2020. Later TikTo k filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, as reported by Reuters. In TikTok v. Trump, TikTok claimed that the ban was to boost reelection support through restricting trade with China. The case was dismissed following the succession of the Biden Administration in 20 21 and for all intents and purposes put a potential ban on TikTok on hold.

While the Biden Administration overturned the executive order that banned TikTok, they continued to pass restrictions. In December of 2022, the Biden Administration signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act which prohibited TikTok on federal government devices, as reported by NBC News. Besides federal action, 34 states have also prohibited TikTok on state government devices. Also, many universities have banned the platform on school WiFi and devices.

In March of 2023, The House Energy and Commerce committee held a hearing where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified. Most notably, he was repeatedly asked about his affiliation with China and the Chinese Communist Party. Afterwards, Chew faced overwhelming support from TikTok users and house members were scrutinized. Representative Richard Hudson asked if TikTok accessed the home wifi network to which Chew answered yes. While Hudson framed the question as if this was concerning, all apps access wifi when the device is connected. He was heavily criticized by the public.

While this bill has received a lot of support from Congress, there are still 170 million Americans on TikTok and this bill has faced plenty of opposition. There are also free speech concerns from the opposition. The American Civil Liberties Union said, on thei r TikTok account, “the government shouldn’t be able to tell us what social media apps we can and can’t use. TikTok itself has launched i ts own campaign, #KeepTikTok. The campaign focuses on sharing the impact of TikTok in the United States. TikTok shared that they contr ibuted $24.2 billion to the US economy in 2023 and that they have driven $14.7 B in revenue for small business. There also warned that there are also 224,000 American jobs at risk if TikTok shuts down all operations in the United States.

TikTok also released a video where creators talked about the community on TikTok. One creator, an Episcopalien nun named Sister Monica Clare, who posts videos about faith and religious life, said, “TikTok has really surpassed all my expectations in terms of connections and positivity and warmth.” Another user, owner of a ranch called the Bar 7 Ranch said, “TikTok has allowed me and my family to share our livelihood from what we do on a daily basis here on our ranch to our businesses in town.”

So, will TikTok actually be banned? On April 23rd, the Senate passed the bill and President Biden has signed it. TikTok has a year to sell to an American company or face a federal ban. Oracle and Microsoft are considered likely buyers. But, we can not be sure if TikTok is here to stay until then.

PHOTO CREDIT: CNET

PHOTO CREDIT: CNN

PHOTO CREDIT: MPR

Kate’s Cancer Battle

By: Mia Hooper

SOURCE:

After discovering cancer from a planned abdominal surgery, The Princess of Wales released a statement on Kensington Palace’s social media accounts saying it was a “huge shock” to her and her family. She remained positive and spoke of how she is “getting stronger every day” and Kensington Palace is confident Catherine will fully recover.

According to BBC, before undergoing abdominal surgery, Catherine was unaware of the cancer. “However tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” said the princess.

Due to Catherine’s recent absence from the media and official events, her health and whereabouts have become quite the social media frenzy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “In recent weeks she has been subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and on social media.” The conspiracy theories and scrutiny surrounding the royal couple are thankfully coming to a stop. One can only imagine having to recover from surgery and receive a cancer diagnosis only to receive scrutiny and speculation after such terrifying news.

William and Catherine are entitled to privacy and time as their family recovers and Kate receives her treatment. Catherine closed her statement with an empathetic remark: “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

STILL FROM A VIDEO MESSAGE BY CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES.

@KENSINGTONROYAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SOURCE: CONNECTICUT TODAY COURTESY OF NCAA

UCONN USES STRONG SECOND HALF TO BEAT PURDUE, WIN 6TH MEN’S

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BY JAMES LOWE

For college basketball fans, March is the most exciting part of the season. The NCAA men’s tournament, also known as “March Madness,” is a 68-team touramenrt that pits top teams and conference champions from the regular season. The teams are given a seed 1-16, corresponding to how they did during the regular season. (1 being the best, 16 being the lowest.) There are 4 groups of 1-16 seeded teams, each put into their own “region.” The winner of each region then goes to the Final Four, where they will play a semi-finals, and then if they win that , a final to determine a champion. While it may seem like top teams would have an easy path to winning, that is not always the case. However, this year the former was indeed true.

On the afternoon of Monday April 8th, millions of Americans witnessed a solar eclipse. Yet that night, something even rarer happened. Connecticut became the first team since Florida in 2006-2007 to win back to back national championships, taking down Purdue 75-60 to win the title. In a tournament that prides itself on underdog stories, Connecticut was anything but, dominating throughout the tournament. According to CBS, Connecticut has won 12 straight NCAA tournament games by double digits, a record that spans back to last year’s run to the championship. Meanwhile for Purdue, they are still yet to have ever won the championship, though they made much progress this year after being only the second 1 seed of all time to lose to a 16 seed in the tournament last year. The game itself started out close, as Purdue and star center Zach Edey put up an early fight to keep the game within 6 points at halftime. However, Connecticut did what they have done all tournament, and used a big second half to put away Purdue for good. They were led by guard Tristen Newton, who finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Purdue meanwhile, were led by the 7 foot 4 Edey, who finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds.

However he had 0 assists, showing how his teammates were unable to get much done, and in the end Connecticut’s depth pulled through. It was a disappointing end to a stellar college career for Edey, who according to Bleacher Report, became the first men’s player since 1983 to win consecutive Nasmith Player of the year awards (similar to the Heisman Trophy in football). Meanwhile for Connecticut, according to CBS, their win ties them for 3rd all time most title wins (6), along with North Carolina. What’s impressive is that all 6 have come since 1999.Looking ahead to next year, people will wonder if UConn can win 3 titles in a row. History is heavily against them, but as the Huskies have shown, they make their own history.

Oppenheimer’s Big Night and the 2024 Oscars

By: Hadley Reardon

The Oscars are an annual award ceremony celebrating motion pictures, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This past awards was the 96th Oscars and took place on March 10, 2024 at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where Jimmy Kimmel returned to host his fourth Oscars. This season featured popular films, such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, as well as new releases like Poor Things. Oppenheimer overwhelmingly took home seven Oscars, including Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Picture, and Barbie’s solo Oscar win for Best Original Song surprised women and men alike. The awards were accompanied by special performances from category nominees, like Ryan Gosling and “I’m Just Ken,” “It Never Went Away” by John Batiste, and a performance of “Wahzhazhe” from Killers of the Flower Moon. Other winners included Godzilla Minus One for Best Visual Effects, Da’Vine Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress, and Poor Things for Best Production Design. In addition to the history made on screen, the Academy announced that Achievement in Casting would be added as a category in 2026. The Oscars are designed to not only acknowledge the achievements of the actors and actresses we know and love, but to also acknowledge the people behind the scenes who make our favorite movies possible, making the Oscars such an important event to the film industry.

Photo Credits People Magazine

Cherry Blossom Season

The cherry blossoms in DC have always been a popular place to visit in the spring. It’s a great tourist attraction and great for locals to enjoy the beautiful blossoms. Recently we got word from the Smithsonian Magazine that 158 cherry blossoms by the Tidal Basin will be cut down due to rising waters. The rising waters flood them out and overwater the trees. To prevent this from happening, they are building taller seawalls around the basin; to do this, cherry blossoms will have to be sacrificed in the process. Though the Washington Post says they will be replanting a total of 274 trees, including trees of other species. But for a cherry blossom tree to fully grow it’ll take about 10 years to fully grow. There is one tree in particular that people have been drawn too. The tree has been named Stumpy. This frail cherry blossom tree with tiny branches grew popular in 2020, after a tweet, with Stumpy in the photo, captioned “This tree a little ways from the Jefferson memorial is as dead as my love life”. A few ways people have been saying their last goodbye’s to Stumpy is by taking photos with it, making art of the tree, and simply just visiting and taking photos of it. Aside from all the cute commemorations, this year has had their earliest blooming cherry blossoms since March 27, 1409, according to the Washington Post. The warmer it is during spring, the earlier anything will blossom. This is a climate change crisis. If this continues, the cherry blossoms won’t be able to bloom fully. Cherry blossom trees need a few months of cool weather to reach peak bloom and to hold their bloom for longer.

Photo Credit: Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR NEWS

Photo of the famous cherry blossssom Tree, Stumpy

ARTICLE BY DESIREE TRIPODO

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