BI Word
VOLUME I, ISSUE 5
MARCH, 2021
What Do Teachers Think About Virtual Learning ? By Grace Young
Pictured: History Teacher, Mr. Rauer in his classroom prepared for virtual learning s we are approaching the one year anniversary of Covid-19, there has been more emphasis on the effects of online learning. Most of the focus has been towards students and their experiences tackling online school. However, what many fail to realize is that teachers are challenged by the adjustment too. By now it is known that Covid-19 has brought unexpected difficulties in almost every aspect of life. So it was no surprise when it was announced that Bishop Ireton High School would be doing hybrid learning for the 20202021 school year. Now that it is second semester, teachers, along with students, have a better understanding of what is working and what is not. The biggest complaint from students about hybrid learning is that students are not getting a full, focused education, but are receiving the same, if not more, work than they were in previous years. Student, Elise Norquist, said, “I was
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frustrated at first, but as the year has gone on I think I have begun to appreciate the effort teachers are putting into hybrid learning. It is easy to forget that they are struggling too.” Like Elise said, it is often forgotten that, like students, teachers are under a lot of pressure and are adjusting to this new form of learning. To combat these frustrations, students should reach out to their teachers and express their concerns. This allows for there to be a better understanding between the two, and encourages growth in hybrid learning. This year, teachers have had to make drastic changes to their lesson plans and teaching styles. New teacher and Instructional Technology Specialist, Devon Dixon, explains that she has had to convert everything digitally and make pre-recorded lectures. She has also been busy helping Bishop Ireton adjust to online learning. She says, “For the school, I have been researching different platforms that can be used in conjunction with the programs we already have.” She follows up by assuring that teachers are “excited about new technology,” and “want to see new methods of learning.” This is the attitude that teachers at Bishop Ireton had when we first went virtual in March 2020, and have continued to have ever since. Overall, it is easy to assume that teachers don’t understand what students are going through and that they are trying to make things more difficult than they already are. But the reality is, they are in the same boat as us. Teachers, especially at Bishop Ireton, want to see students succeed and thrive despite all the hardships we have faced in the past year. What is important to remember is that we are all struggling, and the difficulties of online learning are just one more thing students and teachers will tackle together as a community.
Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, I thought February would be the shortest month, but March has flown by! With the teases of warm weather in the past few weeks, I am so excited to spend more time enjoying the outside during Easter Break. At Bishop Ireton, it is easy to think of Spring when there are chicks in the building! The two chicks, Francis and Jane, are pictured below and have grown a lot since that picture was taken. There are also a few new additions, as some of the eggs just hatched! As the school year winds down, the BI Word only has one more issue left. Should we do a story on the chicks in our last issue? Let us know what you think by sending us an email. We would love to hear from you! Sincerely, Miriella Jiffar, Editor in Chief
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
Email Us! Submit inquiries or Letters to the Editor to: biword@bishopireton.org
Francis and Jane!
Women’s History Month
News
By Jen Porcaro
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nternational Women’s Day (IWD) took place on March 8 and the whole month of March was dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging women’s contributions throughout history. March 8, 1911, was the first time International Women’s Day was celebrated, but it did not become a worldwide concept until 1975 when it was celebrated by the United Nations. International Women’s Day is when women around the world are celebrated for their accomplishments. In 2011, former President Barack Obama declared March to be National Women’s Month. According to the International Women’s Day website, this year’s theme is “Choose to Challenge” because it helps challenge gender stereotypes and raises awareness of the inequality women face everyday. Also stated on the website, the purpose of IWD is to raise money and awareness, collaborate with companies, uplift women around the world, and call the world to action. Anyone can celebrate International Women’s Day. For example, Marvel released their first woman-led superhero movie on March 8, 2019. This year, there are numerous events planned through the IWD website and organization. Per the pandemic and restrictions, there are more virtual events this year. In the United States, there are virtual leadership conferences, panel discussions, and women’s activist speeches and panels. Most events take place on March 8, but there are few afterward, such as: women’s private equity summits, how men can choose to challenge gender stereotypes, and diversity in STEM. There are also events around the world, For example, in France, there is a virtual women in business conference on March 8th. Similarly in Kenya, there is an African Women In Security Network conference. At least 40 different countries with in-person and virtual events this year celebrate International Women’s Day. At Bishop Ireton, throughout March, there will be an announcement about women’s
contribution throughout history. During the week of March 1, Ada Lovelace was recognized as one of the first computer programmers. She established the math behind computer programming and helped develop algorithms. Oprah Winfrey was also honored with her contributions to the TV community and Malala for her contributions to women’s education and her Nobel Peace Prize. Mrs. Verducci first heard of International Women’s Day when she was in college. She says,”A day to celebrate all women! Women as a group and women as individuals. Women are equal and yet different from men. We should celebrate the value and diversity that women contribute in the workplace, and in society as a whole.” As the psychology teacher, she acknowledged that we live in a gendered society, but over time the playing field has become more equal, “I was one of only a few girls in class. Today, in the United States, more women than men attend college and the gap in STEM fields is rapidly closing as well.” Bridget Barker, a freshman, says, “I heard about International Women’s Day through Instragam and I downloaded a calendar to follow the events. I think International Women’s Day means influencing young women to exceed the boundaries of society and to inspire women.” International Women’s Day can be celebrated by anyone, anywhere. Let’s honor the women in the past, and influence those in the future. Picture credits to hananeshopping from teepublic.com.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
News
By Jack Grzebien
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t. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and of Irish people across the world. In America, St. Patrick’s Day is normally celebrated with parades and appreciation of Irish culture the weekend before or after March 17th. Though the creation of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States is argued over, to many it is known as being started by The Charitable Irish Society in 1737, according to History.com. In the United States the largest St. Patrick’s day celebration is in Boston, Massachusetts. Although Covid restrictions affected many of these celebrations, there were still ways to participate in the holiday safely. On average in the United States, it is estimated that around 57% of the population celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, according to Insider website. At most celebrations people wore the green colors of Ireland and ate corned beef and cabbage to start their day. This year the masks were green with shamrocks, but the usual spirit of the holiday was still celebrated even if many of the classic traditions had to be done with people socially distanced. While this celebration has strayed from celebrating St. Patrick and creating an Irish community, the roots are still very strong among largely Irish populations like that of South Boston. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston is one of the most frequented St Patrick’s Day parades. According to the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, this event started in 1901 to commemorate Evacuation Day, the day that British troops left Boston during the Revolutionary War, and St. Patrick’s Day. This year, for the second year in a row, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston was cancelled. One thing that was not taken away this year was the coloring of the river in Chicago. In Chicago,
the city dyes the river green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Although many celebrations were shut down due to Covid, other events still happened to celebrate the holiday. In Washington, DC the annual St. Patrick’s Day Marathon was still held. This year however there were staggered start times and runners had to have a mask with them. Many restaurants were also open with their traditional St. Patrick’s Day menus. Kieran Kelleher, a Bishop Ireton student said “St. Patricks Day is a good way to bring people together not only of just Irish descent but of all people and just eating food and having a great time. Although we can’t have Irish parades the fun will still be had.” This attitude is present in many cities this year as large celebrations are being cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. With the pandemic still happening, many Irish men and women across the country put on their green attire and shamrocks and celebrated the feast day and holiday with socially distanced merriment! Picture credits to livescience.com.
Girl Scout Cookies
News
By Morgan Taylor
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he Girl Scouts of America has been around for over a hundred years since it began in 1917. Girl Scouts have been coming out with different types of cookies for many years and some have remained popular for a long time. This year, cookies were sold from January 22, 2021 to March 21, 2021. During this Covid-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts around the world have had to adapt to a new way of blessing America with their cookies. Some Girl Scouts were able to sell their cookies online this year if they did not feel comfortable going out in public places. Customers also ordered cookies online or had them delivered to their house through apps like GrubHub. Jasmin Koss, a senior at Bishop Ireton, said, “I got my first purchase at a stand outside a store, but recently my family just ordered them online and had them delivered to our house.” Girlscouts.org, the official website of the Girl Scouts of America, details the history of their infamous cookies. The original Girl Scout cookie, from 1917, was just a simple sugar cookie that the girls cooked themselves. In the 70’s, they expanded to more advanced cookies that are now classics such as Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-
dos, and Trefoils. Thin Mints are a chocolate cookie made with peppermint. Samoas are toasted coconut cookies covered in caramel and drizzled with chocolate. Tagalongs, a personal favorite of mine, are chocolate covered cookies with peanut butter inside. Dosi-dos are oatmeal cookies that have peanut butter as the filling. Trefoils are shortbread cookies with the Girl Scout logo on them. Ella Turner, a senior at Bishop Ireton, said, “I think my favorite Girl Scout cookie would probably have to be Tagalongs, they are just the best cookies.” Girl Scout cookies not only bring joy to the person who is consuming them, but help the young girls who are selling them get life experiences and social skills. Girl Scout cookies are always in high demand during the months that they are available for sale. According to Fox Business, every year about 200 million boxes are sold around the country. That is about 800 million dollars from these cookies boxes that goes to projects and trips for different Girl Scout trips all over the United Staates. This gives girls different opportunities to get involved with their community and become important people in society at a young age.
Source: https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/girl-scouts-get-creative-to-sell-cookies-during-the-pandemic/
The Minority Student Athlete Alliance Club
Student Life
By Thad Worth
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n the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, junior Kennedy Clifton approached Mr. O’Keefe and asked if she could create a club for minority students at Bishop Ireton who participate in sports. Mr. O’Keefe agreed and the Minority Student Athlete Alliance (MSAA) was born. Ms. Clifton, president of the MSAA, said that it’s a great opportunity to expand one’s skill set and find something that they enjoy doing. It also encourages bonding between members of different grades by allowing them to work together. The alliance aims to build leadership skills in all students and improve the educational experience at B.I. It also follows the Bishop Ireton example of inclusivity and open mindedness. Because of this, the Minority Student Athlete Alliance is open to all students, whether or not they participate in athletics. Every other week the MSAA members hold meetings. They have achieved much in a short amount of time. In November, a food drive was held by the alliance and the proceeds went to Community Lodgings. Bylaws have been established to ensure that each meeting is run in an organized manner. So far, the club has had four panels with pro-
fessional athletes. One discussed the double pandemic as a minority athlete. In another, there was a discussion with a former NFL player about athletes and money management. Their third panel was a discussion on athletes and the law. For Women’s History Month, the Minority Student Athlete Alliance Club presented their most recent panel called, “I See You Sis” on March 24th. Moderated by MSAA’s President Kennedy Clifton, the panel engaged with notable women in sports, including Erica Wilkerson, a Nascar Senior Account Executive and Megha Parekh, the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. February was Black History Month and Bishop Ireton highlighted many achievements of Black individuals. During Black History Month, the Minority Student Athlete Alliance Club had a fundraiser selling t-shirts that students were able to wear at school.
Despite its newness and small size, the MSAA is thriving and leaving a mark on Bishop Ireton. By championing inclusivity and fostering understanding of everyone’s differences, the Minority Student Athlete Alliance is one of the most welcoming clubs at Bishop Ireton.
Pictured above: Members of the Minority Student Athletes Alliance Club at Community Lodgings, delivering boxes of food that was collected during the MSAA sponsored Food Drive at Bishop Ireton in November for families in need.
With Spring Forward, Sunny Days are on the Horizon
Student Life
By Chloe Ko
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t is an exciting time when the weather finally gets warmer after winter, but this is not the only sign that spring is near. Every year at the beginning of March, people dread the thought of losing one hour of sleep due to daylight savings, which occurs on the second Sunday of March. According to an article from National Geographic, the history of daylight savings traces back to 1895 when entomologist George Hudson thought up the idea of shifting time back two hours so that he would have more hours in the day to work in the summer while the sun was still up. Unfortunately, Hudson’s idea did not become official. Later in 1902, William Willett, a British constructor, suggested to England’s Parliament to come up with a way to save daylight. Much like Hudson, Willett’s idea was rejected. It was not until 1916 that the idea of daylight savings was enacted by the German government in an effort to save energy. Soon after, every country that fought in World War I followed Germany, along with the United States. On March 9, 1918, the United States’ first daylight savings law was enacted. Citizens would turn their clocks forward one hour on the second Sunday of March every year as a way of preparing for the surplus of sunlight that spring will bring. Although losing an hour of sleep does not sound appealing, Senior Kayla Wolfe has several reasons why she is looking forward to daylight savings. She explains, “I love daylight savings because it gives me more time after school to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. I’m also able to take my horses to the fields and watch the sunset. That’s one of my favorite things to do with them.” People do not have to dread daylight savings, for there are many ways to enjoy one of the first signs of spring. Along with turning clocks forward for daylight savings, there are many other ways people can prepare for the new season.
While some turn to spring cleaning, others simply relax and enjoy the nice weather. Senior Mary Kate Mull loves to do both. She states, “I’m normally a lot more relaxed in spring. I like to deep clean my room and start spending more time outside to prepare for spring. I’m most excited for warm weather and the sun being out for longer.” For those who tend to keep themselves busy when preparing for spring, there are multiple ways to stay active. By going outside and tending to their gardens, people can get pre-spring chores done while enjoying the pleasant weather. In addition to gardening, people can also get some yard work done whether it is mowing the lawn, cleaning outdoor furniture, or repairing any potential damages from the winter. For those who do not have a knack for spring cleaning, mentally preparing for the new season is a simple, yet effective way to get ready. With spring, comes Easter. In an effort to prepare themselves for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Catholics can reflect during the Lenten season. But no matter the preference, there are countless ideas for preparing for spring.
Tips and Tricks For AP Exams This May
Student Life
By Dustin Gardner
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s the end of the year rolls around, everybody looks forward to getting over that one final hump, AP exams. AP exams are for highly motivated students who challenge themselves with Advanced Placement classes and can be rewarded with college credit. To ensure that each college gives the credits that students earned through the year of hard work, it is important to do well. The AP exam is scored on a scale of 1 through 5. Most schools will only give college credit to those receiving a 4 or a 5, with some exceptions. This year, AP exams will be slightly different than in previous years because the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the learning and testing process. One problem that arises is whether or not people will be able to test in person. For those who will not have this ability, the College Board has put forth new precautions to protect the integrity of the exam. This includes some form of exam software and likely includes a camera. Another change forthcoming is going to be the material on the test itself. During the 2020 AP exams, many tests were altered to ensure integrity and to account for learning challenges throughout the year. AP Computer Science Principles, for example, completely terminated their multiple choice section of the test and instead put a larger emphasis on
the creation and writing tasks. Students will likely see a little more normalcy this year due to the tremendous adjustments to online learning that the schools have been forced to adapt to, but tests will be the same as they were pre-pandemic. The College Board specifically laid out its plan on its website and offered three calendar options for taking exams. The first one will be administered normally at school and is for those who can attend in person. The second option splits the school so that half the students are in school and half take the exams online through testing software. The third and latest option will consist of all online tests and be heavily proctored to prevent cheating. It is up to the schools to decide which option they choose for their students to test in and a majority of Bishop Ireton students will take exams in person. Exams will not only be difficult to administer but stressful for students. Charlie, a senior at Bishop Ireton stated, “I think it will be hard especially for seniors to stay motivated after such an exhausting year. I still hope to receive my college credit.” Charlie shares this concern with other students, but for seniors, not having final exams in other classes will help this process. It’s time for one final push! Picture Credit: collegeboard.org
Senior Spotlight: Matthew and David Burdick
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By Will O’Reilly
n every issue, the BI Word celebrates the Senior of the Month, a title given to seniors who demonstrate exemplary dedication to the school, lifting up other students and faculty each and every day. This month, we have not one, but two seniors in the spotlight, Matthew and David Burdick! These twin brothers, who have attended Ireton since their freshman year, have been active members of the school community, participating in a variety of sports, extracurricular activities, and clubs. David Burdick keeps a busy schedule. Currently, he is a part of Stage Crew, Cyberpatriot Club, and HackBI, and is a member of the Cross Country Team. He ran cross country for the past three years, participating in several tournaments. David says that he values being a part of different clubs and sport teams for many reasons, such as the variety of skills they help him develop. “They provide me a great opportunity to gain discipline, time management skills, stress management skills, courage, humility, and collaboration skills.” A grateful and well rounded individual, David’s thoughts on his senior year are hopeful, “I am very blessed for my senior year. Although I believe our senior class is missing out on things like prom, and maybe an in-person graduation ceremony, the mere fact that I have a computer at home that I can use to log on to school with relatively little difficulty (with the exception of the occasional portal shut down) is a privilege in itself.” His dedication to the school and cheery disposition is something that we can all hope to emulate. Matthew Burdick is also a vital part of our community, contributing to two varsity sports teams (Cross Country and Crew), the Bishop Ireton Theatre program, and the stage crew. Matthew is especially dedicated to his sports, noting, “as a varsity athlete for Crew and Cross Country, I have been able to excel for my team both in the track and the water.” Matthew doesn’t just excel in physical competition, however, he is also thriving in clubs such as Hack BI, and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), a club he says that he is very proud
Pictured from left to right: Matthew Burdick and David Burdick to offer himself to. When asked about his feeling towards this senior year, Matthew was honest about how disappointing it is for him and his fellow seniors to have their last sports seasons delayed, but he understood it was necessary, making sure to recognize the huge efforts of Bishop Ireton has undertaken to allow students to play sports this year, commenting that “While it does still stink that most of my sports and plans have been pushed back into the Spring, I am grateful for the effort that the administration is putting in to making the school as safe as possible.” Matthew’s empathy for his fellow students, as well as his pride for what he does, is a vital part of how he makes his impact on Bishop Ireton. Bishop Ireton is a school filled with opportunities, challenging students to take hold of them, and to strive for academic, social, and physical greatness. The Burdick twins are prime examples of what it means to meet this challenge. They manage the different aspects of academic life, while participating in a wide selection of clubs and sports and treating those around them with kindness and respect. Matthew and David Burdick surely fit the bill for Seniors of the Month! Editor’s Note: After the interview with David, the school announced plans for an in-person senior graduation and other events.
Movies in a Covid World By Fiona Fedorochko
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he Coronavirus pandemic has affected all our lives and jobs, but one world has been truly devastated by the pandemic: the movie industry. As we all remember, March 2020 started a nationwide shutdown of non-essential public businesses. Places like bowling alleys, arcades, and of course, movie theaters were closed. 2020 was supposed to be a big year for movies since there were large projects coming out such as Marvel’s Black Widow and No Time to Die. Since theaters were closed temporarily, these highly anticipated films had to be postponed from their original release dates. Once, theaters began to reopen, a few big blockbuster movies were released, like Wonder Woman 1984 and Tenet. However, many movie studios have held off releasing their other projects entirely while others have planned on 2021 release dates in hope that they can put their movies out and still perform well at the box office. Another pending issue is the technical aspects involved in movie production. Movies require an abundance of employees, from the actors to the cinematographers to the makeup artists. Production teams must follow safety protocols such as temperature checks, frequent covid testing, and additional quarantining to ensure their movies can continue shooting (Variety.com). While some movies have been able to safely film, others have had to postpone production. Sadly, some projects were scrapped altogether. Due to the inability to shoot films as filmmakers normally would have done, the current movie selection at theaters has narrowed. These past few months, movie theaters have mostly shown smaller films. Theaters have been struggling to attract movie goers due to the pandemic, and with many big blockbuster movies not currently playing, the general population has been mostly uninterested in attending movie theaters. AMC Theatres, as well as other companies have worked hard to keep their theaters open and safe for guests. Mask requirements and socially distanced
Media/ Culture
seating is being enforced to keep the theater doors open. Junior Michael Caturano saw Sonic: The Hedgehog in theaters and reports “I felt pretty safe in the theaters. We were masked and distanced but still had a great time.” Streaming services have taken advantage of the quarantine and have put new movies on their platforms. Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu have all put original content on their platforms. Since these films do not regularly appear in theaters, they are efficient during covid times. HBO Max even went the route of releasing Wonder Woman 1984 on both its streaming service and in theaters with successful results.
Unfortunately, the pandemic resulted in devastating theaters financially. NBC News reports that “If the status quo continues, 69 percent of small and mid-sized movie theater companies will be forced to file for bankruptcy or to close permanently, and 66 percent of theater jobs will be lost.” Even before the pandemic, theaters were competing with streaming services which already had a toll on their finances. While the future of theaters is uncertain, it is possible that we will see more blockbuster movies either move to streaming premieres or watch studios take risks and release them to the theaters. Picture Credit: USA Today
The Madness Is Back
Sports
By Kelly Reilly
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he madness is here. In March of last year, COVID-19 hit the United States and caused most states to go into a severe lockdown, which meant the traditional NCAA March Madness Tournament for Men and Women had to be canceled. For many college players, this was their last opportunity to play for their schools. This year, as we have started to see some improvements and changes in our society to adjust to the pandemic, the NCAA is trying its best to hold the tournament. Selection Sunday was held Sunday, March 14th, with games following shortly after starting on March 18th. The championship game is expected to be played on April 5th. The teams will be kept inside a bubble in Indiana, which is where all the games will be played. All 68 teams travelled to the Indianapolis area where they are playing at the Indianapolis Colts arena, the Indiana Pacers arena, Butler University’s arena, Purdue University’s arena, and Indiana University. Arenas will be open to 25 percent capacity, with fans having to be physically distanced and masked. This includes the families of players and coaches along with the staff members at each location. Every player and coach had to receive 7 negative Covid tests prior to the tournament, and each person will be tested every single day to make sure that they are negative before participating in the games. The teams will stay with each other and either eat in their hotel rooms or have pre-arranged meals with their teams only. Brackets for the men’s tournament came out on March 14th, with the four number one seeds being Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, and Michigan. Duke and Kentucky did not make the tournament this year, which is definitely something that shocked most people. UCLA and Michigan State had to play each other to enter the tournament and the winner faced BYU. The Georgetown Hoyas have had a great season and they are the 12th seed and took on the 5th seed, the Colorado Buffaloes. March Madness is not just about the men’s teams, NCAA women’s teams will also be competing at the same time for the national title as well. They had their selection on Monday,
March 15th, and started not too long after on the 21st. They are playing in San Antonio, Texas. The top seeds in the women’s tournament are Stanford, South Carolina, NC State, and a team that comes as no surprise… University of Connecticut. Maryland is seeded at number 2, with one of their starting players, Freshman Ashley Owusu, from Paul VI. Their first matchup was against Mount St. Mary’s. In our school community, lots of students are excited to fill out their brackets and watch the tournament this year. Senior girls basketball players Jordyn Grandberry and Laila Jewett both are hopeful that for the women’s tournament NC State will kick out UConn and win the National Title. Seniors Michael Murphy and Brigid O’Connor both think that Michigan will win it all for the men’s tournament, and girls basketball player Jordyn Grandberry agrees. Junior David McAdam said, “Gonzaga will be eliminated quicker than people expect.” However, Senior Jack McGowan disagrees saying that, “Gonzaga will win it all for the men’s.” Jack also thinks that South Carolina will take home the National Title for the women’s tournament this year.
Pcitured: The 2019 March Maddness Winners Picture Credits: CBS Sports & UVA News
Should AP Exams be Full Length?
Opinion
By Jen Porcaro AP Exams are a constant source of stress and anxiety, no matter if it is a pandemic year or not. Last year, most AP Exams consisted of a single essay. That was not a good idea. I acknowledge that the College Board tried to make the best of a horrible situation, but judging students on a single essay written in forty five minutes for a year’s worth of work is not reasonable. That being said, should the AP Exams be full length this year? Absolutely not. This school year has also been strange and unusual. High school students across the country are learning in many different ways. For example, the students of Fairfax County are just stepping back into school buildings, while others have been in school this whole time. It has been shown time and time again, that staring at a screen for an extended period of time is not the same as in person learning. With disparities existing across the country, and AP Exams being the same nationwide, the exams this year should not be full length. They should only be half length, and not a single stressful essay. According to the College Board score distribution, students in 2019 who took the English Language exams scored better overall than the students in 2020. In 2019 10.1% got a 5 and 18.5% got a 4. In 2020, only 9.3% got a 5 and 17.6% got a 4. In both years, the majority of the students got 2s or 3s. Despite the similarities in lower scores, most colleges do not accept 3s or even 4s for college credit. 2020 was when everyone went online for the final quarter and the lower grades showed. If students are going to be taking a full length exam after being online all year, they have a lower chance of getting a better score. The half length exam, roughly two hours in time, is still enough to test students of their knowledge and ensure that students, no matter how they received their learning this year, still get a chance to earn a good score. The half length exams would provide less stress to students because of the truncated time and still provide an opportunity to test knowledge across the year. Each test should have a multiple choice part and a free answer part so all students can be tested on a variety of topics. Additionally, some students may do better in the multiple choice than the essay, or vice versa, and one part will not tank their score. In all, College Board please consider that this year has been tough on everyone, and that taking a four hour test at the end of the year despite learning differences is not a productive way to test and treat students. Picture Credits to: palyvoice.com (right) pioneerinstitute.org (left)
Opinion
Should Fans be Present for Opening Day? By Jack Grzebien
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question that has been asked many times throughout the recent months with many sports having started again is, “Should we allow fans to be present?” Opening Day for Major League Baseball is a tradition like no other for many across the country. Families and friends alike grab their favorite team’s jersey or hat and head to the ballpark for a fun first day of the season. This year, some fans will get to do that, but not all fans, namely Washington Nationals fans. The Washington Nationals first game is April 1st, a home game against the New York Mets where fans will not be in attendance. Over 20 teams in the MLB plan to allow fans to some extent. While not having fans is a seemingly small change, this can hurt family traditions and the atmosphere for the players is not the same as well. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, a team in close proximity to the Nationals, is allowing fans to attend thanks to Governor Hogan of Maryland, who is allowing 50% capacity for all outdoor venues. However, Mayor Bowser of DC is not allowing fans. This poses a problem. It is known in the sports world that there is a “home field advantage.” If only some teams can have fans to hype up their own players and create that atmosphere, other teams may be left at a disadvantage. While yes, having fans may not directly impact the outcome of the game, it never hurts the home team to have in person support from their fan base. Mayor Bowser has no problem allowing patrons of restaurants to eat outside at restaurants and also eat inside at a limited capacity. As Mayor of Washington D.C., would you not want to promote an outdoor activity and also promote America’s pastime? To bar fans from watching sports in person to me is unacceptable. Now, I completely understand if this was an indoor stadium where having fans could pose a potential health risk, but when you are socially distanced outside I see no problem, especially with mask requirements. Even though the pandemic is still occuring, having fans at a socially distanced stadium should be safe. Not only is it beneficial for the players and the team but also it continues family traditions of going to opening day and can bring joy to a community that has been affected by Covid-19. This year has been hard enough, and as many other stadiums continue to reopen so should Nationals Park for opening day.
March Recipe: A Simple and Easy Homemade Shamrock Shake! Ingredients
-3 large scoops vanilla ice cream -1/4 cup heavy cream -1/2 tsp. peppermint extract -6 drops green food coloring -Whipped cream for topping -Maraschino cherry for topping Steps 1. In a blender, mix vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, peppermint extract, and food coloring until completely smooth, then pour into a glass 2. Top with whipped cream and a cherry before serving
Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a46050/ copycat-mcdonalds-shamrock-shake-recipe/
Fun and Games!
Word Bank Mardi Gras March Day Light Leprechaun Aries Shamrock Savings St Patricks Day Parade Ash Wednesday Spring Pisces Pi Day
Spot the Difference
Source: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/358810295285948222/
Brother Rick was a valued and much beloved member of the Bishop Ireton community, and in the wake of his passing this March, the BI Word is commemorating him with pictures and reflections from both a student and teacher’s perspective. The second reflection continues on the next page. Thank You, The BI Word Editorial Staff
Joseph Claeys, Class of 2021 “I had Brother Rick sophomore year for Creative Writing, and I can safely say it was one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had. Class after class he would come in clad in denim, listen to our writing, and share with us poetry he liked or just stories from his life. One day he brought in a meteorite he found in a parking lot; another day he told us about how he used to wear leather jackets and ride a motorcycle. But I think my fondest memories with Brother Rick were those from my time in the Word Write Shop. For those who haven’t experienced the real Word Write Shop (pre-Covid), it is a small little closet-like space next to the bathrooms on the third floor. Referred to as Room 202, it was packed full of crates that Brother and the English Department used to store various writings as well as all sorts of odd decorative materials - a poster of Jimi Hendrix, an intimidating portrait of Edgar Allan Poe, and an old stone gargoyle used as a doorstop. It was here in that cramped old space that we read poetry, wrote poetry, and just talked about whatever came to mind. There was a sort of creative energy to the place and Brother Rick seemed to wear it everyday, just like his denim habit. Words and language may be limiting to thought and feeling, but I attempted to create a sort of ode to this space as an assignment for Creative Writing. Now that Brother Rick is gone, I think it will always remind me of my times with him. It goes as follows:”
Gargoyle’s Abode (Room 202)
Confined in space with table and cabinet Latrine adjacent, with little space sparing Clos et in disguise with boxes piled high The people sit scribbling with speech.
The learned and learners, waiting on inspiration, Adjusting flow of thought, fixing the lineation.
A half-forgotten space, it’s true, But Muses often speak to you, From boxes marked as Brother Rick’s And Poe’s dark glare with smoke of Hendrix.
Ms. Steg, English teacher and friend of Br. Rick, also wrote a poem: In Memoriam Brother Rick Dear Bro, That time of year thou mayst in me behold (how often you and I joked about the increasing aptness of that Sonnet to folks of our vintage!) when my lavender plants start blooming, burgeoning blue, heaven sent, leaves and flowers heavy with soothing scent. All hippies know that lavender, dried and hanging by your window can help to ease the pain can help you sleep. That was my annual gift to you, that lavender, from my garden to your window in friendship and solidarity, since 2015. You always said it helped. This spring, of course, you won’t need the help to ease. The pain, of course, is mine, missing you, missing our regular exchange of gifts: yours to me – by far the greater! a gift of intellect, shared love of the joy of the literary hunt (Yes! you, like me, found life and truth in the works of Walker Percy and John Gardner), shared solace in great poetry (how grand it was to read John Donne with you, even – perhaps mainly – “Hymn to God my God, in my Sickness”); a gift of humor, our shared membership in the Old Curmudgeon’s Club (motto: everything was better in Our Day, especially the music); a gift of grace, back before COVID when we could share a sign of Peace during morning Mass in the chapel and your smile, then, suggesting that you knew something, really knew something, about that Peace helping me, so often, confirm what I also know, that we truly are One Body, in Christ, with a capital B. And that our bodies, with a small b, are only the opening act of something so much more glorious. I’ll cut and dry some lavender for you this spring anyway, though you surely need no gift from me. I’ll hang it by my open window, looking out upon my statue of St. Francis of Assisi in the garden. Peace, Brother