BI Word - April/May 2021

BI Word

VOLUME I, ISSUE 6

APRIL/MAY, 2021

A Profile of Principals

By Dustin Gardner

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new leaf has been turned at Bishop Ireton High School as Dr. Timothy Guy has been named as the new principal who will succeed Mrs Tobin. The Bishop Ireton community is very sad about this departure, but looks forward with confidence as Dr Guy steps into his new role.

Dr Guy has been a math teacher at the school for several years and he currently teaches Pre-Calculus and Statistics. His commitment to teaching and helping students has been recognized by his colleagues and peers, earning him his new position. Dr Guy said, “ I’m delighted to be serving in a new role next year and looking forward to the challenges of that new role and the opportunities.” One goal that Dr Guy discussed in an interview with Mrs. McNutt, Head of School, is to regain the community at Bishop Ireton. He noted that Covid-19 has made it much harder for students to socialize, so the first task is to rekindle the entire Bishop Ireton community.

Though we congratulate Dr. Guy’s exciting accomplishment, we also recognize the sadness that comes with seeing Mrs Tobin leave after 6 years at Bishop Ireton. Mrs Tobin was an educator for most of her career and especially dedicated her time to science and

STEM. Prior to joining the Ireton community, she was a research scientist and she later taught Biology, Anatomy and in some cases Chemistry. She came to Bishop Ireton in 2015 with the goal of establishing and growing a STEM program and this initiative has been met with great success. Some of her greatest contributions to our community include adding courses in Anatomy, Engineering and Computer Science; implementing religious electives for seniors; and forming partnerships with colleges for dual enrollment courses. Mrs Tobin talked about her retirement stating, “I will spend much more time with my grandchildren; help to care for my 93 year old mother-in-law; renovate my house; travel, read, and do many more NY Times Sunday crossword puzzles.”

The Ireton community wishes Mrs. Tobin the best of luck in her future endeavors and congratulates her on her outstanding accomplishments at Bishop Ireton High School.

Bishop Ireton is extremely lucky to have such a great faculty. Mrs Tobin has much improved our Ireton community and we’re confident Dr Guy will see similar progress as he tackles the new and unpredictable challenges of the new school year.

Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, I want to start this off by saying thank you for reading the past five editions and sticking with this publication during a year that has been far from normal. It’s been such a rewarding, enjoyable (and at times a little stressful) experience as Editor in Chief of The BI Word. I am so glad that I was able to work with such an amazing team of editors and journalists this year to bring you stories about current events, and stories right here in our Bishop Ireton community. In our sixth, and final edition of The BI Word this year, we have a special profile of all the seniors on the newspaper staff written by the underclassmen journalists! I hope you enjoy reading the senior profiles, as well as the rest of our issue this month. If you have any opinions or comments about what you liked about the newspaper this year, or what you would like to see in the future, please feel free to reach out to us by email. It’s been a pleasure to serve as Editor in Chief, and I look forward to a new chapter of student journalism in college next year.

The BI Word Staff Editor in Chief Miriella Jiffar ‘21 Editors Grace Young ‘21 Chloe Ko ‘21 Kelly Reilly ‘21 Journalists Dustin Gardner ‘21 Jen Porcaro ‘21 Morgan Taylor ‘21 Fiona Fedorochko ‘22 Jack Grzebien ‘22 Thad Worth ‘23 William O’Reilly ‘23

Sincerely, Miriella Jiffar, Editor in Chief

Email Us! Submit any inquiries or Letters to the Editor to: biword@bishopireton.org

What Is Happening With Prom and Graduation?

Student Life

By Chloe Ko

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s a result of the pandemic, students all over the country have had to miss out on school traditions, especially this year’s senior class. Fortunately, the Bishop Ireton Graduation Committee and Student Life office have been working hard to make it possible for the class of ‘21 to be able to take part in senior activities in a Covid-safe environment. Because of the pandemic, it has certainly been difficult to plan activities since many locations are unable to accommodate the entire senior class and their families as a whole.

According to Head of School, Mrs. McNutt, Bishop Ireton’s main focus was to figure out how to safely execute events that include the full senior class instead of splitting them up alphabetically as it has been done this school year. While dealing with state and local restrictions that are constantly changing with the pandemic, the Graduation Committee and Student Life office have planned unique ways to celebrate this year’s senior class.

As a result, prom has become a senior-only event at Bishop Ireton this year in order to follow the maximum capacity of 195 students, meaning juniors will have to hold out until next year for their turn. Instead of a dance, a Senior Formal Etiquette Dinner will be held on May 15 at the Fairview Park Marriott at 8 pm. Tickets for the dinner will be available starting April 14 at eighty dollars per person. Only hybrid status students may attend the dinner in-person only event, Bishop Ireton’s staff has worked hard for this event to be able to comply with COVID protocols.

The planning process for events like prom and graduation has not only been discussed amongst Bishop Ireton’s administration and staff, but also at all four high school administrators among the Diocese of Arlington. Together, they have been sharing ideas with the superintendent to work out the events for the end of the year. Usually, graduation is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception, but pandemic restrictions are not allowing high schools to continue with this tradition. Mrs. McNutt explains, “We also looked at Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University, but that venue ultimately became a vaccination site and was no longer able to hold graduation ceremonies.

The venue that allows us the most flexibility and the opportunity to have guests for our seniors is right here at Bishop Ireton!” In order to allow for seniors to bring guests to Baccalaureate, the event has been split up into two different dates.

On May 25-26, a Baccalaureate Mass will be held at St. Thomas More Cathedral in Arlington, VA. Although being split up into two groups means that seniors may not be able to celebrate with their friends, they will, fortunately, be able to bring a maximum of four guests to the Mass.

Then on May 27, all seniors are able to come together as a whole for graduation on Fannon Field in the comfort of their own school and are additionally allowed to bring four guests to this event.

Along with prom and graduation, another senior tradition that last year’s senior class had to miss out on was the All Night Grad Party.

Luckily, Student Life and Bishop Ireton parents have been able to make it happen for this year’s senior class. Mrs. Jordan happily states, “The All Night Grad Party will be at BI, the students will be in pods and still have their casino games, individual and group challenges, and many, many snacks and fun! There is a large group of parents dedicated to making the All Night Grad Party happen for our seniors.” This year’s senior class is very fortunate to have a group of faculty, staff, and parents that are determined to make endof-the-year events possible for everyone. With a pandemic amidst, students are more than fortunate to be able to celebrate the school year since students at other schools in the county have not had the opportunities to do so.

The Future of Football at Bishop Ireton

Sports

By Kelly Reilly

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his school year, Bishop Ireton Cardinals may have only had a 4 game season, however, they started out with two huge wins. At the first game on March 13th, the Cardinals faced John Paul the Great shutting them out 41-0. The seniors dominated in this game with Chris Ntumba scoring 3 touchdowns, Nick Hamer having 2, and Jaeven Hughes adding 1. The next game was against one of Bishop Ireton’s biggest rivals in the WCAC, Bishop O’Connell. Ireton beat the Knights 45-7, which marks the largest margin of victory against the Knights in Bishop Ireton history. Again, seniors dominate in this game with Sam Bowen scoring 3 touchdowns, and Chris Ntumba and Nick Hamer both having 1 as well. The Senior Night game was played on Ireton’s home field against St. Paul VI. It was a tough battle for our Cardinals; they lost 2720, but they battled the whole game to keep it close. Seniors Jack Baldridge, Nick Hamer, and Sam Bowen scored touchdowns with great passes from quarterback Faisal AbuTaa. The team finished out the season playing Bishop McNamara on Ireton’s home field as well, with some of the senior class there to cheer them on! They played hard every second and fought until the very last second, losing 12-7, with senior Nick Hamer scoring the touchdown.

This year, Bishop Ireton’s football team had twelve seniors: Faisal Abu-Taa, Jack Baldridge, Kyle Barbour, Ryan Barbour, Sam Bowen, Dylan Deavers, James Gillespie, Nick Hamer, Connor Harrison, Jaeven Hughes, Rod James, and Chris Ntumba. These seniors were key members of Ireton’s football team and significantly contributed to the four games this season.

When speaking with senior wide receiver Jack Baldridge, who is committed to play football and baseball at the Catholic University of America, I asked him how he felt about how the team did as a whole this sea-

son even when they were only able to play four games. Jack said: “I think our team did well this season. It’s the beginning of a culture change for Ireton football. We showed that we can compete with the best teams.”

Jack continued to speak on what improvements contributed to shutting out JPG and beating O’Connell by 38 points saying, “In our games against JPG and DJO, we were able to win so decisively because we played as a team. Everyone played their assignments correctly and did their job.” This was actually Jack’s first season playing football for Ireton, and when he was asked who had the biggest impact on him when he first joined he answered, “The person who helped welcome me to the team most was Coach Wells (the defensive back coach). I learned more from Coach Wells than any coach I’ve had in any sport. He was extremely supportive, but also held me and the entire team to a high standard.”

Coach Armstrong, the head coach of the Bishop Ireton Football Team spoke on his plans for the future of the team: “Because of the quick turnaround between this year’s spring football season and our regular upcoming fall season, we won’t have much of a break. We run a year round program so we will start training again in the beginning of May. Since we aren’t able to use the weight room at school we plan on using an outside facility for training purposes. We have some big shoes to fill because we are graduating ten seniors who were very good football players. I tell our players that we must continually improve and strive for excellence.

‘Either you are a football player or a football player in the making. We don’t want anyone with a lukewarm approach to playing football.’ The most important attributes of a good player are passion, integrity, humility being a team player.” (continued on the next page)

Sports This past season brought lots of good memories to the players and coaches. Coach Armstrong’s favorite memory was the daily interactions with the players and coaches at practice. “We had a very special group, but it was challenging because we didn’t have much practice time together. We have wonderful assistant coaches and our practices were energetic and intense. I think that the reason that this is one of my favorite teams is due to the way that they played and practiced.” Overall Coach Armstrong is happy with how his team performed this season and “how our players overcame adversity and handled change this year.” “I think the thing I admire most about this group is how joyful they were when they played football. It’s the mark of a good team and this was a tough, physical team who played and practiced with great intensity.” He also added, “When I was the head coach at Ireton in the 1990’s we won two football championships but never beat O’Connell so this year’s victory was very gratifying.”

Senior Wide Receiver Nick Hamer said that his favorite memory from playing football here at Ireton was “being a part of this team that has changed the football culture here at Ireton.” He also added, ”beating O’Connell by the largest margin in Ireton history was a lot of fun and all the fun we had in the locker room, bus rides, and at practices and games.”

Nick Hamer has not fully decided where he will attend college next fall but he will either go to Virginia Tech, and try to walk on as a player there, or play for Christopher Newport University. From his freshman year until now he has grown tremendously as a player, “ Freshman year and the start of sophomore year I was an offensive lineman, which wasn’t all that fun. I finally proved myself to

be a receiver in one of the JV practices and from there I never looked back. I ended up starting the last game of the varsity season that sophomore year and scored my first touchdown. That offseason I worked hard to change my body and was ready for junior year. That year I played mostly defense, but that didn’t stop me from what I wanted the most, which was playing receiver. I took advantage of quarantine and trained and got better with my teammates Faisal Abu-Taa and AJ Porter with two different coaches, who pushed us every single day. And so, by the end of the season, I became an important part of the offense, scoring 5 total touchdowns in the limited season we had.” Nick ended his interview by saying a quote that Coach Powell told to the team: “Your story has yet to be written. don’t let expectations of others define your story.”

As we look at the future of Bishop Ireton’s football team, I spoke with Sophomore Reid Burke who starts on the varsity team.

He said, “I think our team has tons of potential and we have made huge improvements in one year alone, and we are going to keep growing as a team and individually, and in the upcoming years we are going to become a really good football team as we continue to bring in recruits and keep working together.”

Football Seniors on Fannon Field with Coach Armstrong and Head of School, Mrs. McNutt Picture Credit: Mr. Sabatini

Ushering In a New Student Body President

Student Life

By Will O’Reilly

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his March, the Student Council election for president and vice president were held, continuing Bishop Ireton’s legacy of student representation through leadership. The roles of president and vice president allow for the student body to voice their opinions concerning matters that affect their school experience, spanning from events such as homecoming and senior prom. As such, leadership roles are coveted, and candidates have to run a convincing campaign for a shot at them. Similar to most modern elections, votes were split between two “tickets,” each consisting of two candidates, one for president and one for vice president. The victorious party was made up of Bradley Klink and Connor Mcnutt, paired against the ticket of Stella Herman and Qin Kramer. Each ticket ran its campaign on a variety of platforms, with candidates advocating for themselves on social media, taking the online approach which has become the norm during the pandemic.

Bradley Klink, BI’s new Student Council president, sheds some light on how he ran his new age campaign, “I created a campaign poster and video that would entertain students foremost, engaging them enough to listen to what we had to say and present us as approachable and passionate leaders.” The online poster involved Bradley and his running mate Connor standing aside one another, their arms crossed. Surrounding them can be seen a black hole with a moon inside (decorated with a”Bradley/McNutt flag), a cardinal, a halo, fire, and last but most definitely not least - Morgan Freeman, seamlessly woven into the poster, voicing his desire for the Ireton student body to vote. While seemingly irreverent at first glance, Bradley and Mcnutts’ bold and entertaining designs were much akin to professional media campaigns which rely on that same irreverence to draw the attention of the public, in this case potential voters, a strategy which proved itself during the election. Entertainment was not all the campaign had to offer, though, as Bradley and Connor touched on several pressing issues at Ireton, focusing their attention mainly on mental health, a topic with intrinsic ties to the high school experience. “Our campaign revolve[d] mostly around normalizing the conversation of mental health at our school and making it a more enjoyable place with events that students are gen-

uinely happy and excited to participate in,” said Bradley. With focus on boosting the overall morale of Ireton post covid, Bradley and Mcnutt say they believe only unification of the student body can lift our collective spirits, and improve our mental health.

Qin Kramer, who ran for Vice president alongside running mate Stella Herman, says she and Stella developed their campaign along a similar online thread, using videos which they hoped would “let voters see who we were, why we were qualified, and what we would bring to the table.”

Organized and minimalist, these campaign videos and posters directed onlookers attention to only the most important information - all related to their campaign vision, which hoped to cross the invisible boundaries set by cliques that anyone in high school can account for. Qin says “our campaign goals were focus[ed] on inclusion and voice for everyone no matter what your interests or extracurriculars are.” In terms of planning, Qin and Stella hoped to bring events to Ireton that were fit for everyone, all while “representing our school well.” Although Qin and Stella won’t be part of Student Council leadership next year, Qin says she learned several valuable lessons from this campaign, such as “time management and teamwork in order to get deadlines finished while still [delivering] quality work.” Qin continued by saying, “even if we didn’t win[,] it was really exhilarating campaigning and having a small friendly rivalry during the ballots.”

Ireton was privileged to have two professional and entertaining campaigns run by this year’s student leadership candidates. What one can only imagine was a close election result has Bradley and Connor leading next year’s Student Council into an era of student body solidarity and unification, a product of the welcoming culture Ireton has for student leadership roles, as demonstrated by Qin and Stella’s appreciation for the campaigning process, and the overall respect each candidate held for one another throughout. The candidates met the challenges of an online school year with grace, excelling beyond what any of us could have expected in terms of campaign quality. Overall, it was a great run, and a valid representation of Ireton’s leadership culture.

What Happens Next After The Stimulus Bill?

News

By Thad Worth

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n early March the Senate voted along party lines and on March 27th President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package in order to help the country get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Congressional Republicans called the bill a purely political move, while Democrats said that the country needs the bill to get through the next few months. Regardless of what either party says about the bill, it’s been passed and put into effect. So the question on everyones’ mind is what will happen with nearly $2 trillion dollars?

The most recent stimulus package is in some ways different from the bill President Obama passed in 2009, called The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA cost over $830 billion dollars, while the stimulus bill costs nearly $2 trillion dollars.

They do however, also have some similarities.

Both bills were passed by Democrats during an economic downturn and both have been criticized by Republicans.

Under the new stimulus plan, many unemployment benefits will be increased or extended and health care will get a boost. On a visit to Ohio State University’s James Cancer Hospital on March 23rd, President Biden gave a speech saying “We have a duty not just to protect it (healthcare), but to make it better and keep becoming a nation where healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege for a few.” One of President Biden’s biggest achievements as a Vice President was the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. The ACA expanded Medicare and was the largest expansion of coverage since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Despite repeated Republican attempts to completely abolish Obamacare, parts of it have remained in effect and many Americans still rely on the program for medical care.

In the world of politics, there is growing debate about the $3 trillion infrastructure bill that President Biden has unveiled. It seems that Congress will likely vote along party lines as they did with the COVID relief bill in March.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has

called the bill a “Trojan horse” for Democrats to raise taxes on Americans. On the opposite side, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for unity saying that she wants to work with her Republicans colleagues on this bill.

The proposed infrastructure bill is very different from what most people consider infrastructure. While the bill does provide money for traditional infrastructure such as roads and bridges, it will also include different aspects of infrastructure such as renewable energy and car chargers. These will fulfill Biden’s campaign promises of enacting new environmental laws and promoting renewable alternatives to fossil fuels such as electric cars and wind and solar power which currently contribute a small fraction of America’s energy needs. The infrastructure package will also include universal pre-K (preschool), free community college, and paid family leave. Republicans have opposed programs such as these and will likely try to make amendments and either reduce the cost or more money to be spent on traditional infrastructure.

Some believe with the passing of massive bills such as the recent COVID relief bill which split Congress down the middle marks the end of an era of bipartisanship. What the Congress of today does is sure, but the Congress of tomorrow is not guaranteed. We can only pray that all members of Congress see God’s plan for this great country and follow His guidance. picture credit: the Hill.com

How Will Covid-19 Vaccines Impact School Next Year?

News

By Miriella Jiffar

Editor’s Note: Written as of May 9th, 2021 include: healthcare personnel, long term care

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light at the end of the tunnel may finally be here during the Covid-19 pandemic that has upended so many parts of everyone’s lives in the past year- a much awaited vaccine.

The three main Covid vaccines that are currently approved and recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. On April 13th, the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recommendation to pause distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States due to concerns about one dose vaccine causing blood clots in some individuals. Rollouts of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine have also been delayed in Europe. After a “thorough safety review” the FDA stated in a press announcement, the pause was lifted on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on April 23rd. Regular distribution and use of the vaccine has now been resumed. As of April 25th, the CDC’s daily report shows 28.5% of the total U.S. population is fully vaccinated and 42.2% has at least one dose. Different priority groups have been established to distribute vaccines to people who need them most. The most prioritized

facility residents, frontline essential workers, people aged 65 and older, and anyone 16 and older with an underlying medical condition.

President Biden originally announced on March 11th, according to whitehouse.gov, that every adult in the United States will be eligible for the vaccine by May 1. However, he moved that date up 2 weeks. Following April 19th, every American 16 and older is now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. On April 22nd, President Biden reached his goal of 200 million doses before his first 100 days in office, a significant achievement for vaccination rates in the United States.

Now that Americans 16 years of age and older are eligible for the vaccine, it poses a very interesting question for schools across the country who are considering their options for using a fully in-person model when reopening in the fall. Mrs. McNutt, Bishop Ireton High School’s Head of School discussed Bishop Ireton’s plans for the 20212022 school year. She firmly emphasized that the school is planning and doing everything possible to get students back into the building on a fully in-person schedule next year while still following all the Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines established by the city of Alexandria and Virginia’s Department of Health. More details will follow in the summer months, when Ireton releases its updated plan. As Head of School, Mrs. McNutt is working with Security, Student Life, the Dean of Students, the Technology Department, Athletics, the school nurses, and many more groups of people to ensure that everyone is in the building next year, while following all the appropriate protocols. The school nurses work directly with the local health department and field information concerning contact tracing, quarantine measures, etc. to the administration. Mrs. McNutt explained that the school is modifying and adjusting

News the reopening plan they had for the 20202021 school year according to state and local jurisdictions in order to open fully in person next year. There was also a survey sent out the week of May 3rd to students, teachers and parents. In the survey, they were able to evaluate how this year went and give their opinion of how this year’s hybrid instruction model worked. “I don’t think anyone wants people in school more than me!” Mrs. McNutt said confidently, because she knows how important in person learning is for students and is determined to ensure equitable access for education and instruction.

No official statement has been released yet concerning the mask requirements for next year and if they will stay the same, because that depends on information from the state and local Alexandria officials. For social distancing, the school will be utilizing a three feet social distancing model instead of the current six feet model next year, which is approved by health officials. On March 19th, the CDC issued a statement on social distancing requirements in K-12 schools, stating “CDC also recommends students should be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal and in communities where transmission is low, moderate, or substantial.” The move to 3 feet in classroom spaces will impact how many students are in class sections per course. The social distancing requirements will be different per type of room, for example, classrooms will adhere to three feet, but the cafeteria and other spaces with a larger student population could stay

at the current distance of six feet. As well, Covid-19 vaccination requirements are not a Bishop Ireton decision. It comes from the state of Virginia, who then passes it down to the Arlington Diocese. Bishop Ireton will then inform students and their families as soon as possible about any information they receive from the diocese. There are lots of questions and subjects that are up in the air, but the best attitude to have is to be flexible, keeping an open mind when considering Bishop Ireton’s plan for next year.

picture credits: whitehouse.gov, cdc.gov, and abcnews.com

Spring Break Recap

By Jack Grezbien

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s Spring Break and Easter still fall within the Covid-19 pandemic for the second year, the changes this year were much different. Students were able to travel safer than before and many were able to attend Easter Mass this year. This year with the vaccine rollout, many parents were comfortable traveling to warmer climates to celebrate Easter.

Since most plans for last year’s spring break were nixed due to the start of the pandemic, this year many students were eager for the opportunity to escape the Washington metropolitan area and head south to the beaches. Some juniors took this time to attend college visits.

Being able to fly again this year made it easier for students to have a fun Easter Break. Senior Dustin Gardner, an avid traveler, said in reference to flying in the pandemic , “I felt very safe and I have been fully vaccinated which definitely helped. They said they sanitized everything and took the necessary precautions to make all the travelers feel safe.” He does recommend that if you are high risk, “you should be careful since many people are sitting close together.”

Many airlines have strict mask enforcement rules and have new boarding procedures like boarding in groups of 10 people.

With Easter Mass being a large gathering, many people were concerned about whether it would be safe to attend, as Easter is one of the most important days in the Catholic and other Christian faiths. While the Arlington diocese still has a special dispensation for regular Mass and holy days of obligation because of safety concerns, many families chose to attend Mass in person instead of logging in via live stream. Junior Will Kopp who not only traveled to Florida but also attended in-person Easter Mass said “It seemed like a very nice community and it was nice to be surrounded by three generations of my family, we felt very safe with our

Around BI

masks on and the social distancing that the church had. The service was great and it was nice to be in-person for the music.”

While some students were enjoying their spring break by the sandy shores, others were visiting colleges and touring to get a feel for where they would like to apply next year. Junior Kieran Kelleher said “Visiting colleges over spring break was an interesting experience; while many colleges aren’t giving tours, interacting with the students, talking with them, and them showing me around campus was a highlight of my break. I definitely would recommend this for other students questioning college.”

Many students this year were able to enjoy the Easter break even with all the travel and safety restrictions. As described by the students this was a great step forward in the country during Covid-19. While traveling is now safer it should not be taken lightly and all safety precautions should still be taken so everyone can enjoy their time traveling.

Picture Credit: https://us.newschant.com/usnews/easter-sunday-celebrated-around-theworld-with-socially-distanced-services-amidcovid-restrictions/

What Should Seniors Know for College Next Year

Student Life

By Morgan Taylor

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s the school year comes to a close people may be curious as to what the future holds for the senior class of 2021.

A lot of our seniors will be continuing their education at college while some will be taking gap years while waiting out Covid-19. Many seniors were stressed these past months with college decisions being due on May 1, 2021 as they finalized their plans for next year. However, most should finally feel relieved since the stress of worrying where to go has been lifted off their shoulders. Yet, that still leaves stress about other things, such as what to do to prepare for college.

Just like going to a new school or moving to a new town, going to college can be a very scary and difficult process at the beginning. You are leaving your family and friends behind and moving to a brand new location all by yourself. It is somewhat the first step into adulthood. So what are some ways you can prepare for this new way of life in the upcoming months? One thing you could do is get the Covid-19 vaccination. Many universities are requiring students to receive it before coming back to classes in the Fall of

2021.

After picking the college of their choice, students may want to start looking at housing applications, classes, and potential majors. The college’s official website can inform you about student life and upcoming events.

You can also reach out to people through social media pages who may go to the same school as you by joining Facebook groups or following your college’s official Instagram account. Senior Betsy Hopkins, who will be attending Baylor University in the fall, said, “I’m most nervous about being so far from home and having to meet all new people, but I’m also excited about all those things too because it’s a chance for me to grow and be independent.” Another great way to do this is by checking your email for any important updates from the school. By doing this you can see if the school provides any information about move in day, what items to bring to school, and what will be provided. Life after high school is a very exciting and new time in everyone’s life and will be fun to see where the next few years will lead you.

SENIORS ON THE BI WORD STAFF !

Kelly Reilly has played soccer, softball, golf and basketball while she was here. She also started her own club, Cardinals for a Cause, whose mission originally was to focus on raising money for childhood cancer research and cooking for the families at Ronald McDonald House, now the club focuses on many issues facing society today. Kelly’s favorite memory from Ireton was when Mr. Cogliano hit multiple three pointers during the Senior vs Faculty basketball game her sophomore year. After Ireton she plans to attend Marquette University studying sports journalism. After college she either wants to work for a professional team or work for a news outlet writing and reporting sports news.

Kelly Reilly Class of 2021

Dustin Gardner Class of 2021

Dustin Gardner has participated in many Ireton activities including four years of tennis, three years worth of varsity and one year as a captain; two years on the soccer team, and as a member of the Economics Club.

Dustin’s favorite memory from his time here was him playing in the WCAC tennis tournament and losing in their play-in match. After Ireton Dustin will study sports management and once he completes college he plans to have a job in a field related to sports marketing.

SENIORS ON THE BI WORD STAFF !

Grace Young has been a part of many Ireton events and clubs throughout her four years, such as the Haitian Alliance and the Peer Helper Program. Grace’s impact goes beyond BI where she is a proud member of the “Alive House ‘’ in Old Town. She reads and entertains the children of single mothers in need, doing all she can to help wherever help is required. This desire to help is a big part of Grace’s future plans, as she has concerns about the environmental state of the world, and hopes to do what she can to fix them, starting with going to the University of New Hampshire where she will major in environmental conserva- tion and sustainability. She has her eye on poli tics, where she hopes to foster conversation about the change this world so desperately needs in order to save its environment.

Chloe Ko has attended Bishop Ireton since her freshman year and got involved with the journalism program as a junior. She’s also been very active in Ireton’s French classes and went on the French-exchange Paris trip during her sophomore year. Chloe considers this trip her favorite memory because she was able to travel abroad and do it along with her best friend. Additionally, she’s been with Ireton’s peer helper program since her sophomore year. This fall, Chloe will be attending the University of Delaware and majoring in biological sciences. She hopes to eventually attend medical school and become a dermatologist. Outside of Bishop Ireton, Chloe has been dancing competitively for the past six years. Chloe is extremely dedicated to dance

and is in the studio almost everyday after school.

Chloe has worked so hard in journalism these past two years and she will be missed!

Grace Young Class of 2021

Chloe Ko Class of 2021

SENIORS ON THE BI WORD STAFF !

Morgan Taylor is part of the B.I. sports community and active in several clubs. Morgan made the varsity soccer team and was captain her junior and senior years. She was also a part of the Environmental Club, the Key Club, and Cardinals for a Cause. Her favorite part of B.I. is the connections and bonds that she made with the people here. Morgan is going to the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado where she plans on studying criminal sociology. Morgan believes that one reason to come to B.I. is that there are many opportunities to push yourself and prepare for the future.

Jennifer Porcaro has many prestigious titles under her belt. Not only is she treasurer of the Science National Honor Society, she’s also president of the Book Club, participates in the Peer Helper Program, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Jen also played soccer for three years from her freshman to junior year switching to cross country her senior year. She has done Track all four years at B.I. and was the captain of the team last year and is the captain this year. One part of Bishop Ireton that Jen feels sticks out is the community. Even though Ireton is a small school Jen feels that it is diverse and filled with people of all types. This is one of the reasons why

she thinks that prospective students should look into Ireton. Besides a friendly community, Jen has nothing but praise for the counselors saying that they can help with a variety of issues. When she graduates, Jen plans on going to Purdue University in Indiana to study chemical engineering.

Morgan Taylor Class of 2021

Jen Porcaro Class of 2021

SENIORS ON THE BI WORD STAFF !

Miriella Jiffar, one of Bishop Ireton’s most impassioned writers and current Editor-In-Chief for the BI Word, is an active member of the Ireton community. Miriella’s ambition and talent shine in the clubs and activities she has participated in. Miriella has been writing for the Cambridge Road Literary Magazine for the past four years and now serves as Editor-In-Chief for the magazine. Miriella’s Ireton involvement extends to serving as Co-President for Sustained Dialogue Club, playing on the volleyball team her first two years, and being the Founder and President of the new National English Honor Society. Outside of Ireton, she participates in the Teen Museum Council at the Smithsonian’s National Por trait Gallery. Miriella will continue exemplifying her ambitious spirit at the University of Virginia, where she will be double majoring in English and Media Studies. Miriella is looking forward to taking electives in college and continuing her passion for writing and communications. Miriella is easily one of the most active members of Ireton’s community, and her contributions to the Journalism program and so many other Ireton activities has not gone unnoticed.

She will be dearly missed next year!

Miriella Jiffar Class of 2021

Evening of the Films!

By Fiona Fedorochko

Media/ Culture

T

his spring, Bishop Ireton incorporated a unique twist on its annual “Evening of the Arts” event and hosted a film festival to showcase student-produced films.

The “Evening of the Arts” has been an annual tradition at Ireton for many years and in this unusual school year, the event is now a virtual activity. Ireton’s Student Council and The National English Honor Society worked collaboratively to plan the film festival.This project was headed by Student Council President Caroline Czarnecki and Vice President Bradley Klinck. SCA and NEHS were very excited to kick off Ireton’s first event of this nature.

The first major task was to have students send in their videos. They could choose from a wide array of genres including comedies, science fiction, and musicals. The videos were showcased via Microsoft Teams on April 23rd. Students who participated in the festival were eligible for prizes for their films. However, before the videos could be showcased there was some necessary behind the scenes work that had to be done.

Students who wanted to submit a film had to enter it by April twentieth. Following that deadline, a panel reviewed the movies to ensure the videos were appropriate for the event. Additionally, NEHS and SCA students advertised the event through videos, articles, and graphics. After advertising, it was time for the event to take place! Students met on Microsoft Teams on April 23rd and the videos were played one by one.

The event was an absolute success! Students and teachers all gathered virtually at 7pm on the day of the event. There were nine films showcased and no film was similar to the previous one. Films ranged from a fishing team mockumentary, a mental health awareness film, a parody for the hit television The Office and so much more. Once all the films were played, SCA President Caroline Czarnecki announced the award winners.

Awards ranged from “Most Aesthetically

Pleasing Film” to “Best Mockumentary.”

Everyone who attended the event had a wonderful time. Junior Emma Rice says, “It was such a fun experience, and I loved seeing everyone’s work. I had no idea how talented my classmates were until I watched it.

It probably took a lot of time, courage, and effort to produce each film, so I have a lot of respect for everyone who submitted a video!”

Students like Emma Rice came out to support their friends and classmates as well as faculty and staff who came to cheer on the filmmakers and their work. The 2021 Film Festival was a monumental success, so make sure to tune in next year for this fun and creative event!

Editor’s Note: Look for the reviews written

by National English Honor Society members about two films from the film festival on the next page!

Student Written Reviews of “Heart of Del Ray” and “The Guardshack”

Media/ Culture

By Nelsa Tiemtore (NEHS member, Class of 2022)

Mary Kate Mull’s “Heart of Del Ray” is a creative illustration of life within the city. It uses vivid images and colors to highlight the beauty of the landscape in Del Ray, the sights, and activities as well as the little things one always takes for granted like a smile, your favorite Starbucks drink, the love of a dog, and the elegance of the flora. Her usage of Tik Tok aids in creating a highly aesthetically pleasing montage that fills the viewer with warmth and brightens every face. The incorporation of calming music also builds a feeling of nostalgia within the audience and an air of appreciation for the community of Del Ray whose value is enunciated in this short film. The lighting and filter used in the production of “Heart of Del Ray” are absolutely phenomenal. The high saturation and soft images are captivating and only enhance the quality of the film.

By Connor Hoffman (NEHS member, Class of 2022)

Set at Mansion House Swim and Dive Club in Alexandria, VA, Bradley Klinck’s “The Guardshack” provides an insight into a fun-loving work environment filled with hard-working lifeguards. Main character Colin Eckert expresses his love and appreciation for the opportunity to save lives with his best friends in our private tour of the pool. Shenanigans and unexpected twists lead to an amusing work day at Mansion House Swim and Dive Club. It’s a light hearted and feel good film that was extremely well-produced. The content proves to be entertainingly ironic! The camera work is extremely aesthetically pleasing to the eye and makes one hope for a sequel in this exciting series!

The National English Honor Society Book Drive

Around BI

By Jen Porcaro

D

uring the two week period from April twelfth to twenty-third, the National English Honor Society (NEHS) held a book drive. The book drive included all different types of books and donations will go to a local charity. The National English Honor Society was formed this year by Miriella Jiffar, and the book drive is one of the organization’s first school-wide projects. Miriella and Emma Rice, the current NEHS secretary, also recently hosted a few English professionals during Ireton’s Real World Wednesday program, such as the English teacher Ms. Steg, Eric Lupher, the Executive Director of Humanities Texas, and Gibson McMahon, a journalism graduate and professional writer, to discuss the uses of an English degree.

Students dropped books in boxes in Campus Ministry, the library, and other places around the school. Any kind of book, from children’s storytime books to teen dystopian novels to nonfiction books were welcome.

But, before they were donated, the books were screened for appropriateness. Additionally, complying with Covid-19 guidelines, the books had to be quarantined for a few days to ensure that the books would be clean.

Iza Bustamante and Bradley Klinck, NEHS Treasurer and Vice-President respectively, led the book drive. Since they were in charge of the NEHS book drive committee, they had to learn about the different charities where the books could be donated, and organize drive itself. They also had to comply with Covid-19 precautions. Iza and Bradley coordinated advertising teams leading up to the book drive to spread the word around the school. Plus, there were daily announcements during the week of the drive to give students more information.

Iza says, “What inspired us to do a book drive is that NEHS members love to read and a book drive is a way to spread reading to others. We had to learn about organizing a committee and advertising techniques.”

Bradley adds, “People don’t always have access to a library and books and this is a way to expand people’s opportunities to read. For instance, soldiers fighting overseas might not have access to reading materials and donating books would expand their access to reading.”

People who donated books had the opportunity to enter a raffle. There was a QR code on the side of the baskets and carts where people donated their book. Students scanned the QR code, put their names, email, how many books they donated, and grade to enter to win a Chipotle gift card. The winner will be announced after the drive is completed and the books are donated to Carptenter’s Shelter, a local charity in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Murphy, one of the NEHS faculty advisors comments, “I hope that the Book Drive becomes an annual thing. With Covid and everything, things will be different.”

NEHS expects to conduct another book drive next year and make it an annual event to spread the joy of reading to everyone. Also, NEHS is planning to create a Free Little Library for Bishop Ireton. The goal of the library is to take a book and give a book. The BI Word staff hopes that the Free Little Library will be a wonderful and educational success!

After NEHS members sorted and organized all the donated books, there were a total of 19 boxes!

Should AP Exams Have Been Option This Year?

Opinion Is Taking A Summer Course Worth It?

By: Morgan Taylor

By: Fiona Fedorochko

During the 2020-2021 school year learning has not been the same as other years due to Covid-19. Many students have chosen to be all remote, which means they do not come into the school building and learn online, and everyone else is hybrid, which means they switch from online learning to in person learning. It has been difficult to adjust and even more difficult to understand and process the material being taught. With all these changes and adjustments to this new way of learning the AP Exams should have been optional to take this year. Deya Norton, a senior in an AP class, stated, “I think AP exams should be optional. Especially for kids who are all online like myself, it is harder for me to get extra help with the material and be able to talk with my teachers whenever I need help.”

AP Exams are also extremely expensive and if someone feels like they had a very difficult time with the curriculum throughout the year it would be a waste of a lot of money. Exams go towards college credits, if you get a certain score on the exam, so opting out of the test should be a choice and not a mandatory thing. The exam does not affect your GPA whatsoever and will not show up on your transcript. Some people also have a hard time staying focused with cumulative tests that can be four plus hours.

Many other schools have allowed the student not to take the exams this year and I believe we should have been one of those schools. Some students still do not feel comfortable coming into school or public places and having the AP exam be mandatory forces people to come into enclosed spaces like the school.

Every summer, Bishop Ireton offers summer courses that students can take to either jump ahead in their academics or fulfill necessary requirements. This summer, Ireton is offering Basic Web Design and Geometry through a program called Educere. These courses are entirely self-paced, however, Educere designed a schedule for students to complete a class before the end of the summer. Ultimately, students can choose to ignore or follow this schedule and work however they please as long as they complete the course by mid-August. The courses have lessons, assignments, quizzes, and projects. For grading, Educere has several teachers for each course that grade assignments. Additionally, students have the ability to contact these online instructors for assistance if needed. So the question is, are these courses worth spending your summer? If you’re looking towards having access to more academic opportunities, absolutely! Taking a math class over the summer can allow you to jump ahead in your math courses and have a chance at taking higher level math courses. The computer class can complete a necessary requirement for graduation which opens up space in students’ schedules. Online classes also teach discipline and scheduling which are vital for college. Also, these classes are great if you are good at working independently. If you typically have a busy summer, they may not be for you.

If you have the time and would like to jump ahead in classes or fulfill graduation requirements outside of the regular school year, consider taking a class this summer!

April/May Recipe: Berry Smoothie Bowl Ingredients:

- 1 heaping cup organic frozen mixed berries - 1 small ripe banana - 2-3 tbsp light coconut or almond milk - 1 tbsp shredded unsweetened cocnut - 1 tbsp chia seeds - 1 tbsp hemp seeds - granola (amoung of choice) - favorite fruits

Instructions:

1. Add frozen berries and banana to a blender and blend on low until small bits remain 2. Add a bit of coconut or almod milk and blend on low while scrapping down sides as needed until the mixture reaches a soft serve consistency 3. Scoop into 1-2 serving bowls and add chia seeds, hemp seeds, and your desired amount of granola and fruit of choice 4. Best when fresh, though leftovers can be keep in the freezer for 1-2 weeks Source: https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/The-PERFECT-5-minute-Smoothie-Bowl-Simple-ingredients-naturally-sweet-SO-healthy-vegan-glutenfree-smoothiebowl-recipe.jpg

A Prayer for the Class of 2021 In Gratitude, We Pray God of joy and hope, We thank you for this time of graduation.

Your spirit of wisdom has empowered our hard work and discipline in such a way that our hunger for learning has been nourished with knowledge, discovery, creativity, and determination.

As we prepare to walk across the stage to receive our diplomas, let us walk in prayerful gratitude for the many blessings that have made this moment real and filled with great potential.

In gratitude, we pray for our families and the many who have sacrificed and worked to see us to this hopeful moment.

In gratitude, we pray for the professors and administrators who have challenged, cared, and crafted us along this academic journey.

In gratitude, we pray for fellow students who have taught us more about friendship, collaboration, and sharing.

God, even as we have faced challenges and accomplished much, we understand that our lives move into a new chapter where there will be more challenges to face and more will be demanded of us in order to accomplish good things. May your grace cover our anxieties and fears so that we may stay encouraged about the future.

Give us patience and hope to energize our search for work that is just and makes proper use of our gifts.

Give us courage to face the challenges of carving out a place in society where we might live in peace, service, and gratitude.

Give us strength to resist the temptations of greed, laziness, pride, and envy as we strive to do and be our best.

May your spirit guide us as we unfold the next chapters of our lives. Help us to enliven hope in the world and bring good things to Your Kingdom. And, may this celebration be a reflection of the blessings that we find in knowing and loving you.

For this is the day that You have made.

We are glad and rejoice in it!

- Author Unknown Published on JesuitResource.com

Fun and Games!

Spot the Difference

Source: housebeautiful.com

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