BI Word
VOLUME I, ISSUE 2
NOVEMBER, 2020
Athletic Director, Mr. Bryant, is Confident that Sports Will Continue By Dustin Gardner
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he current school year has brought with it several exciting events and crucial changes. While the pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty, the student body can have hope due to the outstanding work of the school’s new Athletics Director, Mr. Dwayne Bryant. This has not been a normal year for sports at Ireton. With the second wave of Covid-19 increasing and Ireton revealing several cases, decisions on the upcoming athletic seasons are difficult to make. At Ireton, most teams have been given the luxury of being able to practice amidst the pandemic. While none of the sports teams are pursuing matches with other schools just yet, the ability to practice is a bright spot. Senior Jonathan Cassin, who runs cross country for the school stated, “We have had a few practices which I believe is important. I can still get outside and continue to get better with these rules!” Jonathan makes an excellent point that athletes can still improve their ability. Through these frequent practice students can excel in either moving up in their high school career or excelling at the college level. In addition, teams have had the opportunity to pursue off season workouts. Off season workouts allow players to improve their overall performance, and even allow for social distance. Players can potentially complete off season workouts at home or in small groups in the Ireton Workout room. This gives athletes further resources to improve their game. Though teams have been able to find hope by holding practices and workouts, the future looks even brighter. In an email sent out on November 12, the Athletic Director set a schedule for organized play in the WCAC. The WCAC had the conference schools agree to a tentative schedule to start athletics January 10th. This included plans to pursue spring and possibly win-
ter sports. Teams such as, swimming, baseball, hockey, and cheerleading will start sooner and will follow all COVID-19 protocols. Dwayne Bryant, Athletic Director at Bishop Ireton stated, “Wrestling, football, and cheerleading have suffered the most due to the pandemic.” He also touched on some potential issues that could occur. He explained that “There will be some schools that will probably have issues because of their jurisdiction. DC has not been allowed to practice and schools in similar areas will likely cancel their season.” He also talked about the possibility of having no fans at the games. Everybody will have to wear masks and be socially distant, including the coaches. This could be a challenge, but the Athletic Director seems confident that everyone was up for the task. “I am very proud of the school and the coaches for giving the kids this opportunity to play” he said.
Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, Happy November! With the 2020 election, a rise in Covid cases, college applications, and so much more, it is so hard to believe an entire month has passed. Sometimes, it still feels like September. As we approach Thanksgiving, I hope we are all proficient in Zoom or Google Meets software. With online school, I know I’ve gained a new repertoire of skills I never thought I needed. But whether you celebrate with your loved ones together or virtually, the BI Word Staff sincerely hopes that you have a safe, restful, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving. Now, more than ever, there is a lot to be thankful for. You can tell the BI Word how you’ve spent this holiday weekend, or the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, and have a chance to be featured in the next issue! We would love to hear from you. With the upcoming schedule for midterms, and Christmas break in December, the BI Word will sadly not have a December issue, but a combined December and January issue. Have a great Thanksgiving, and good luck to all the Seniors submitting college applications!
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 Federochko ‘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
Real World Wednesday or Real Life Wednesday?
Around BI
By Grace Young
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hio State has opened up new opportunities for their football players through their newly implicated Real Life Wednesday program. Through the program, players are given the opportunity to learn from speakers and workshops the qualities needed to have a successful career after football is no longer an option. While the program insures that players will have the materials needed to help themselves, it is also benefiting Ohio State as it is making the college more desirable for players looking to commit. The program was built with the intention to ensure that Ohio State players will be able to provide for themselves after their football career comes to an end. Football is a dangerous sport and one injury is enough to make a player retire. With this program, Ohio State is acknowledging the risks that come from pursuing a career in football and giving players the tools needed to provide for themselves when football is no longer an option. Freshman Binx Young, said, “I think it is cool that Ohio is giving this program. I feel like football isn’t a career that lasts forever so it’s good that the players are given options for after.” One way the program is helping their pla-
yers is through their speakers and workshops. Influential businessmen and women are invited to talk with the player and give them tips on how to build their own platform and make personal connections with people in the industry that will benefit them after their football career. Additionally to helping the players, the program has made Ohio State a more appealing school to applicants and their parents. When looking at a school, people want to know that the school has their best interest and is going to help them be successful. The Real Life Wednesday Program at Ohio State does this. With this program, parents and athletes know that they will be looked after and that they will be committing to the school that is looking out for their future. This, along with Ohio’s already strong football program, makes Ohio State more appealing to
some of the best athletes. Much like Ohio State, Bishop Ireton has implemented a “Real World Wednesday” program aimed at helping students connect with alumni and other speakers who can give them advice about their future. Already Bishop Ireton has been blessed to have experienced speakers, such as John Applewhite (BI ‘87), participate in the program. In the future, Ireton hopes to focus on career networking on the first Wednesday of the month and connecting staff on the third Wednesday of the month. The program is an excellent addition to Bishop Ireton and one that can benefit it’s students and alums far into the future. Overall, Bishop Ireton and Ohio State should be examples to other schools on how to treat their students and players. These programs are giving their schools, and students amazing opportunities and the long term outcomes of the programs are ones both schools look forward to seeing. Picture Credit: https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/2018-ohio-statefootball-real-life-wednesdays/
Club of the Month: TV News By Chloe Ko
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ack in September, the TV News Club made its first debut to students at the club fair. The idea of the club had been up in the air for many years, and now Bishop Ireton’s current Student Council President and Vice President, Caro Czarnecki and Bradley Klinck, finally decided to make it happen. They brought the idea to co-moderators, Ms. Chelsea Powell and Ms. Kaitlynn McNutt, and kickstarted the process of creating Bishop Ireton’s first news show, Good Morning Cardinals. According to co-moderator and school librarian, Ms. Powell, the purpose of the club is to broadcast a weekly segment providing students with Bishop Ireton related news or any pressing matters around the world. She stated, “Good Morning Cardinals is entirely student run, so the news we air is entirely up to the students. Most of the time it will be Bishop Ireton related news, but the students may choose to include segments on local or global news.” Before Ms. Powell arrived at Bishop Ireton this year, she previously worked at a high school in upstate New York where she was the moderator of its TV News Club, so it is safe to say she has a lot of experience with broadcasting news. Good Morning Cardinals first aired on October 16th and returned to air next on November 12th. The TV News Club plans to broadcast Good Morning Cardinals every Thursday during advisory once they get the hang of how production will play out. The club meets approximately once a week to plan for the show, and students work on recording their segments during their free time. Ever since the show first aired, there has been a lot of interest expressed in the club since it allows students to get a feel of what broadcasting news is like on live television. Alongside Bi-
Student Life
shop Ireton’s Journalism elective, the TV News Club is a great way for students to branch out and get experience. Caro stated, “I think a lot of kids at our school would be surprised how fun it is to create your own tv segments and record, edit, and compile the show yourselves! I recommend the TV News Club to anybody who has a voice that wants to be heard, and a propensity to explore and create new media.” If students or teachers are interested in submitting announcements or video clips for student related events, projects, and accomplishments to be considered for Good Morning Cardinals, they need to send an email to either Ms. Powell, chelsea.powell@ bishopireton.org, or to announcements@bishopireton.org. Because of the surge of interest in the TV News Club after its first segment in October, Bishop Ireton students may want to consider taking “Broadcast Technology and Production”, an English Department elective offered for the first time this school year. As the 2020-2021 Course Catalog describes the course, stating, “Students in this course will use digital tools to design and produce multimedia projects with a focus of conveying information through responsible journalistic practices. Students will learn storyboarding, scriptwriting, editing, and production techniques to capture a memorable story. They will gain an understanding of the pre-production, on-air and post-production roles and responsibilities of broadcast journalism.” This new elective will be taught by Ms. Powell, and will be offered to students starting second semester after Winter Break. To learn more about the TV News Club, contact Ms. Powell, Ms. McNutt, or Caro Czarnecki and Bradley Klinck. Ms. Powell is hard at work editing a segment for the TV News Club’s next show!
Senior Spotlight: Jack Baldridge
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ack Baldridge, or as some call him, “Baldy” has been chosen as this month’s Senior of the Issue. Jack came to Bishop Ireton mid-way through his sophomore year and has made such a wonderful difference in our school community. Prior to Bishop Ireton, Jack attended St. Stephens & St. Agnes, right down the road. Jack has participated in baseball since freshman year, at both schools, for his senior year at Bishop Ireton he is participating in football as well. Jack is a member of Cardinals for a Cause and the National Honors Society. He maintains high grades, and constantly brings a smile to people around him- especially in the hallways! Jack’s favorite thing about Bishop Ireton is the people. He said, “It is the most genuine community I have ever been a part of. It truly feels like your teachers and friends have your back.” When asked about his favorite class, Jack decided it was AP Human Geography. “It is interesting to learn about other cultures and groups of people. I also like my teacher, Ms. Dixon. She does a good job of keeping people engaged in her class.” Jack also benefited from other aspects of Ireton academics, noting the organizational skills he’s picked up along the way. He said, “If you don’t keep up with your work it becomes challenging further down the road. Organization helps keep me ahead of my work.” In the summer after Sophomore year, Jack worked as a camp counselor for the Bishop Ireton baseball camp, as well as Prime Time Baseball. While helping out with Prime Time, he got the opportunity to coach a U8 team for their games and practices. Jack also has spent his time volunteering at a Special Olympics program, where he helped Coach Olerta with drills in the outfield. Talking about his free time Jack said, I like to workout and practice my sports, and I also like to hang out with my friends and just relax.”
By Kelly Reilly
I talked with Jack McGowan and Michael Murphy, two of Jack’s closest friends, and I asked them: How would you describe Jack in one word? “Happy and Motivated”, said Jack McGowan. “Humble and caring,” said Michael Murphy. What makes Jack different from other people, in a good way? Micheal Murphy said, “he is different because of the way he puts his mind to what he truly wants.” Jack McGowan said, “he is different because he is a two sport college athlete.” Finally, I asked who is Jack to you? “Jack is a funny person who I can call one of my best friends,” said Michael Murphy. “Jack is one of my best friends and is a great person to be around,” said Jack McGowan. On behalf of the BI Word and the rest of the Bishop Ireton community we would like to congratulate Jack on committing to play baseball and football at Catholic University in Washington D.C. When Jack was asked what he was most looking forward to at college, he said, “In college the thing I am looking forward to most is interacting with the new people.” We know that he will do great things, and carry on his big smiles and generous acts to the community at Catholic University.
New Faces Around Bishop Ireton High School
Around BI
By Morgan Taylor
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s we are settling into the new school year Bishop Ireton has acquired some new additions to the community other than the freshman class and transfer students -- our new faculty and staff members! Over the summer Bishop Ireton searched and reached out to qualified members whom they thought would benefit our school community in a new learning environment which resulted in a highly qualified set of new teachers. Due to the recent pandemic with Covid-19, the job interviews were done a little differently. They were conducted over a series of Zoom calls and other technological ways. Mr. Pressimone, a new religion teacher, described the job process as interesting, “We had a lot of Zoom calls where I answered a lot of questions about my experiences as a teacher, and my approach to education. The biggest advantage to the virtual job process was that I wore shorts the whole time... no one could tell since I was wearing a shirt and tie, but my legs were nice and comfortable.” Being a new teacher can be similar to being a new student. You have to learn the ways of the school, get familiar with the hallways and classrooms, and learn the names of the hundreds of
people to whom you have been introduced. It can be hard and overwhelming, especially in a time like now when we cannot even see the faces of half of our peers. These teachers have done an outstanding job getting accustomed to the Bishop Ireton lifestyle. Ms. Gonzalez, another new religion teacher, explained,“Every day is truly so unique, some days I feel like I know everything and am able to accomplish so much good. Other days, there are new learning experiences so I need to take a step back and learn from some of the other veteran teachers of this school.” Some of the students who have been given the chance to have these teachers have had some nice words to say about them. Julia Lin, a student of the new English teacher Mrs. Morris, stated, “Mrs. Morris is a great teacher that checks up on her students often and is always open to help when needed.” In the month of November and for the rest of the school year make sure to recognize and appreciate the new faculty and staff that has worked so hard to be here and become accustomed to our school culture and traditions.
A group of new teachers in the library during new faculty orientation in August 2020
2020 Presidential Election By Jack Grzebien
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he 2020 United States Presidential Election is one of much interest and intrigue in the United States and around the world. The two major candidates were Former Vice President Joe Biden who had Sen. Kamala Harris on the ticket, and President Donald Trump with Vice President Michael Pence on the ticket. With many polarizing issues such as Coronavirus, the Supreme Court, the economy and racial justice, every voter seems to have a strong opinion on each candidate. Joe Biden served as Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Prior to his Vice Presidency, he was a Senator for the state of Delaware. When he ran for a Senate seat after being a lawyer and property manager, he ran on some of the same principles he is running on in this election. He ran on ideas such as “equitable” taxation, increased health care, and the environment. Sen. Kamala Harris has been a United States Senator for the state of California since 2016. Former Vice President Biden and Senator Harris both are advocates for healthcare and tax reform. President Donald Trump was elected President in 2016. Prior to his presidency, he was a career businessman and a business celebrity. He won in 2016 in a polarizing election on promises of building a wall around the U.S. southern border, cutting taxes, and repealing Obamacare. When he was on the campaign trail in 2015 his slogan was “Make America Great Again.” Vice President Pence was a sixtime representative in the House for Indiana and then went on to become the Governor of Indiana. President Trump and Vice President Pence have similar views on tax cuts and on certain gun policies. Vice President Pence de-
News and Politics
scribes himself as “a Christian, a conservative, and a republican, in that order”. This election has been said to be one of the closest elections in recent times. As of November 6th Vice President Biden held a 1000 vote lead in the state of Georgia: Georgia has not flipped for a Democrat since President Clinton in 1992. Pennsylvania has now also flipped for Vice President Biden. These states that have flipped are all crucial for a Trump presidency. If these states at the end are won by Biden, he will have secured the presidency. The Associated Press called the election for Former Vice President Biden on Saturday, November 7 at around 11:25 A.M. This is a historic win for democrats as they flipped states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. This year’s election has important policy implications for years to come. Alex Catanzaro, a student at a local high school, said “I think that this is one of the most important elections in history. This is very important because of Coronavirus and the economy.” With many different opinions on key issues, this election will truly show what people care about. With Former Vice President Biden’s tax plan many people are concerned that he will be hurting the economy in the long run, while others are at odds with President Trump and how they think he handled the Coronavirus in the United States. The results of this election were shocking to some, but to many Americans this outcome was wanted and they saw this coming. Best of wishes to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.
A Controversial Confirmation By Thad Worth
News and Politics
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n September 26 President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett, a judge from the Seventh Circuit Court, to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. One month later, on October 26th, now Justice Barrett was confirmed 52-48 with the vote being divided mostly along party lines with only Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine voting with Democrats and against Mrs. Barrett’s confirmation. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called the confirmation a “cynical power grab” and he pointed to the Republican held Senate in 2016 that refused to vote on President Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland who would have replaced late Justice Antonin Scalia. Mr. Rauer, a history teacher at Bishop Ireton, stated his opinion that were the positions switched, and Democrats controlled the Senate and the White House, then they would have likely done the same and nominated and confirmed a Justice. This is especially controversial as this is an election year and Justice Barrett was nominated just nine weeks before the 2020 election. Many Democrats have threatened to pack the Supreme Court, or add more justices. This would be hard as Republicans may have control over the Senate after the 2020 Senatorial races and packing the Supreme Court is very unpopular with the American people. To break the 6-3 Conservative majority four Justices would have to be added which would bring the total number of Justices to thirteen. Jim Lucchesi, a senior, said that if the Supreme Court were to be packed then it would take longer for the Court to rule on cases. This would be especially true if only two Justices were added; as conservatives would still have a 6-5 majority. Many rulings that the Supreme Court hands down are often divided along ideological lines, as the job of the Justices is to interpret the Constitution. In the past cases were often decided 5-4 with the based on whether liberal or conservative Justices had the majority. With a ratio of 2:1 even if one conservative Justice breaks from the others, conservatives would still hold a 5-4 majority. There is no set number of Justices on the Supreme Court with the number of Justices at times as low as five to as high as ten. However, since 1869 there
have been nine justices on the Supreme Court. The last time there was an effort to change the number of Justices on the Supreme Court was in the 1930s when president Franklin D. Roosevelt threatened to pack the Supreme Court if it struck down his New Deal and other government programs. Justice Barrett has a distinguished career as a judge. She mentored under late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and in 2017 was appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court. She was a law professor at Notre Dame, making her the only Justice currently on the Supreme Court who did not go to Yale or Harvard. While this may not seem like a significant detail, Notre Dame is not known for its lawyers, unlike Yale and Harvard. Mr. Rauer pointed out that the American Bar Association (which rates Judicial nominees) gave Mrs. Barrett a “fully qualified” rating; one of the highest ratings that it can give. Many political analysts speculated how Mrs. Barrett would rule in cases in the future. One case that has gained attention is the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. This case was brought up during Justice Barrett’s hearings as the Affordable Care Act provides healthcare to many Americans. Justice Barrett said that she wouldn’t make any decisions before she heard the arguments but has not ruled out striking it down. Another case is Roe v. Wade. While Justice Barrett is a devout Catholic and the Catholic Church teaches that abortion in wrong, Mrs. Barrett is not allowed to let her personal feelings get in the way of her decisions. Even if Roe was struck down, abortion regulation and restriction would go down to the state level and in some places such as New York, striking down Roe would cause little change as the ability to have an abortion is written into their state constitution.
Thanksgiving Traditions Are Changing
Media /Culture
By Jen Porcaro
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hanksgiving is usually a holiday where families and friends gather under one roof to share delicious meals and exchange funny stories. But this year on November 26th, people will have to celebrate Thanksgiving in a different way to ensure the safety of families and friends. Thanksgiving is a classic American tradition where students get a few days off of school, a turkey is pardoned by the President, and people can stuff themselves into a food coma. But with the ongoing pandemic and the recent spike in cases, people must celebrate Thanksgiving differently and safely. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for Thanksgiving include having a meal with housemates, sharing recipes virtually or having a virtual dinner and watching events from home. If people are going out for Thanksgiving, they are advised to wear a face mask and
keep six feet apart. Senior Molly Knudsen usually celebrates Thanksgiving with family and friends but this year she says, “I will probably eat with my immediate family, my dog and cat, then watch a football game.” Junior Quinn Doyle comments, “This year my grandparents will come for Thanksgiving. They will quarantine before coming.” Mrs. Faletti plans to play an online card game with her family in California to replace the loss of the usual family gathering. The CDC recommends to not physically participate in post-Thanksgiving shopping, saying it is very unsafe. If someone is going to go to a store, wear a mask, keep six feet away, and continually sanitize high touch surfaces. On the bright side, Thanksgiving football and the Macy’s Day Parade are on! The Ravens and the Steelers are facing each other on Thanksgiving at 8:20 pm. Also, the Washington Football Team
is fighting against the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 pm, a perfectly safe activity for a post-thanksgiving meal. The Macy’s Day Parade is purely formatted for television. Macy’s cut their route short and entertainers are just performing in front of Macy’s flagship store in New York City. People out of state will not be able to attend, but everyone can watch from the comfort of their couch. Macy’s will also not allow high school and college marching bands to play in the parade. The bands supposed to play this year will play next year, but people who tune in will be able to listen to local New York bands and musicians. The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to stay home and eat with people in the house or invite people virtually. But just because people are staying home, it does not mean that Thanksgiving cannot be enjoyable.
The BI Word Staff wishes you and your loved ones a happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving! Picture Credit: https://www.languageconnections.com/blog/6-thanksgiving-november-holidays-around-the-world/
Ten Minute Plays Are Much Harder than You Think
Media and Culture
By Fiona Fedorochko
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his fall, the Bishop Ireton community was devastated to hear the news that the anticipated Freaky Friday musical would not be performed. To keep theater alive in a Covid world, the Bishop Ireton Drama Club has come together to put on a safe, socially distanced ten minute play festival featuring Ireton students with the help of Director of Theater Arts, Mrs. Rice and Assistant Director, Mrs. Henry. In absence of Freaky Friday, the directors and Drama Club explored new ways and ideas to keep theater alive this fall. It was vital that the final idea adhered to coronavirus precautions and include students both at home and at school. The final decision was to put on five ten-minute plays with Ireton students safely working on stage and behind the scenes. The name of the festival is “Obstacles” because it is a recurring theme in each play and a theme relevant to today. The festival features completely student-driven short shows. Mrs. Rice shares her excitement “These plays are unique, in that they offer the students a chance to sink their teeth into some very interesting and and oftentimes quirky characters. Big mainstage productions are awesome to do, but shows with small casts and offbeat characters are something I have always found especially fascinating.” This decision also accommodated both hybrid and remote students who are interested in theater arts. The drama club held auditions and students were cast into their appropriate roles and plays. Students who prefer working behind the scenes were given opportunities to be directors, stage managers, or even work on the props teams. The stage crew and costuming classes have also contributed efforts for the show. Students were permitted many different ways to get involved in theater this fall in spite of the cancellation of Freaky Friday. To prepare for the show, the actors have been rehearsing both in person and virtually. They were each assigned to a play and have been rehearsing throughout October and November. Student actors who do not go in person are rehearsing and performing virtually and logging
into online meetings. For in person rehearsals, students wear masks and are socially distanced for maximum safety. “I have to modify my acting a lot with covid restrictions but I am getting used to it. It’s overall been a challenge but a good challenge,” Junior Aidan Foley describes. Alongside the actors, the student directors have also been working extremely hard on the show. For many of them, it is their first time directing a show and they’re working under coronavirus restrictions. “I am an actor first, and I’ve loved being able to combine my vision of the characters with the qualities that each actor brings to this play,” student director, Melanie Becker describes. Stage managers and props teams have also been working behind the scenes to prepare the festival for its opening. The stage crew class meets every Friday night and all day Saturday to create set pieces for the show and work on lights and sound. Likewise, the costume team has been busy creating costume pieces for the show. One of the costume members, Junior Gabby Peña, explains the role of the costuming team, “We do a lot of research based on color, history, styles, etc. It’s a lot of work that we do week by week. We also divide ourselves into teams and each team works on a specific play. We then finalize it within the teams and we also discuss with the directors.” Much of the overall design work is remote and brought to life by students in person and virtual. Stage crew teachers, costume teachers, as well as Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Henry have also assisted students with their individual efforts. “Obstacles” is being performed on November 21st and November 22nd at 7pm in the Garwood Waley Auditorium. The performance will be live streamed and recorded. Coronavirus restrictions disallow over twenty-five people in a room so there will be no live audience. Students, parents, teachers, and community members are all welcome to join virtually and share the joy of Bishop Ireton theater. The students have worked very hard on these plays and would love for everyone to tune in and support their performances.
Bishop Ireton Theater Arts Presents: Obstacles
November 21 November 22 @ 7 pm
Ghost Lite Director: Maya Andersen Nelsa TiemtorĂŠ Lauren Allen
CAPS OFF TO US Director: Emma Rice Isabelle Phillips Hannah Smith
Walls Director: Melanie Becker Assistant Director: Fiona Fedorochko Allison Dunnegan Aidan Foley Maeve Chawk Aidan Furey
Let Me In Director: Sophia de Waal Sofia Cruz Quinn Doyle Hallie Crawford Aidan Foley Caroline Coffin It Came From the Sea Director: Dagny Scannell Jerome Kip Sisel Vivian Spendley Aidan McNerney Elina Viana
How to Prepare for Midterms By Will O’Reilly
A
s we all know, this year stands unprecedented in recent times. Politics and pandemic seem to be working in unison, challenging all of us to balance health, school, and social life. On top of this, midterms are approaching, leaving many students with more work and stress to balance than ever before. Fortunately, lessons and tips on how to prepare for midterm are available with resources like the internet and those with previous experience. One such tool we can use are sites like Signet Education, which offer students personal assistance on how to prepare for evaluations like the midterms, Signet Education, a tutoring company that specializes in standardized testing, gives good advice on its website in a blog post by the CEOJay Bacrania about their preferred methods of midterm prepping. First, Signet says that one must review all concepts of topics of class during and after class. Studying notes at home, making flashcards, and finding a good time and place to study away from class time is pivotal to retaining information. Signet also highlights working on past mistakes, going through past exams, finding what you did correctly and incorrectly, as these topics can often come back to haunt you during the midterms. Students should also do their best to clear up any confusion they have with what they are studying. Mr. Bacrania advices students not to be too shy to ask a teacher for help, or too lazy to refresh yourself on a topic, as “nothing derails learning like building on a shaky foundation.” Using these tips, students can take the steps necessary to bring them closer to testing success. With that said, no students can succeed if stress dominates their thinking, so it’s important that on top of studying, students manage their mental health. Ms. Lathe, a counselor at Bishop Ireton, has dealt with a plethora of students stressed by testing, offers some useful tips on how to manage it.“START EARLY! This is my biggest piece of advice to help you do well and mitigate stress. If/when your teacher hands out a study guide use it to plan out a schedule for studying. Studying for smaller, more frequent chunks of time will generally be more effective than cramming the night or couple days before the exam. If you feel prepared you should have less stress.” Studying over a lengthy period of time makes retaining information much easier, and as Ms. Lathe said, minimizes worry. Stress isn’t all bad though, says Ms. Lathe, “Stressing about exams means that you are invested and care about your performance which is a good thing! Where we run into trouble is when our stress becomes big enough that instead of
Student Life
motivating us to do what we need to do to succeed, it paralyzes us and gets in the way of our focus and success… If you are feeling stressed about exams/ life in general, go see your counselor. We are here to help. If you are feeling uncertain about a specific exam or the content, reach out to your teacher.” Balancing so many topics of study can be stressful, but it’s important that students know they have resources to help manage it. Although midterms are demanding, many students have successfully prepared for these tests in the past. Josie Abrials, a sophomore at Bishop Ireton, shares some tips on how she was able to ready herself for the tests. “You have to make sure you aren’t distracted when you study. . . . I try to take my phone out of my room.” What Josie says is true, in an age that revolves so heavily around quick entertainment, it is important that students are able to dedicate their full attention to what they study, especially when midterms are involved. Television, social media, and other things of that nature should seldom be involved in studying, and although students know that in their heart of hearts, putting away distractions is not an easy thing to do. As Josie explains, “I get distracted pretty easily, so if I do end up on my phone while studying, I try and make it a five minute distraction”. Scrolling endlessly through social media can be a big time waster, so scheduling these distractions is a less extreme way of making sure you stay on task, even functioning as a way to revitalize students if they’ve been working for too long. Standardized testing is no easy task, especially in today’s general turmoil. Students have to retain a huge deal of information while also keeping up with general studies, and it can be draining for many. However, this is not a new concept, and those in the past were able to surmount this challenge, which we should look back on as motivation, and draw inspiration from them. In today’s age, we are better suited than ever to find proper studying techniques. Students can access virtually any piece of information with the click of a button, and if we can utilize that power while not suffering too much from the distraction of the internet, we can use our tech as a tool for forwarding success. We also have access to counselors here at school, all of whom have open doors for any students dealing with stress or any other issue that inhibits them from studying properly. If students wish to succeed in midterms, it’s important they take the necessary steps, most of which lie within reach.
Should Students be Allowed to Eat During Class? By Fiona Fedorochko
Editor’s Note: The Editorial Staff is aware that food in classrooms is currently forbidden due to health and safety rules enacted due to Covid-19. This opinion piece pertains to non-pandemic times.
W
e can all collectively agree that some school days feel long and we tend to get hungry. Unfortunately, eating in class is discouraged at Bishop Ireton and in some classes, forbidden. The reasons for this policy are to avoid classroom messes and to prevent students from being distracted. However, there are many benefits to eating in class. The first benefit is that it allows students to eat something in the morning if they are unable to eat breakfast at home. Some students do not have the time to prepare breakfast at home and can only grab something such as a granola bar to go. It is very important to start your day off with a nutritious and energizing meal, as you all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Another perk of eating in class is that it provides a general boost of energy. Students will be able to focus on their studies better and learn more efficiently. This could also be opened up to teachers and they can have the chance to snack in class. Similar to any other privilege students receive, eating in class should have some policies enforced. Messy foods such as applesauce should not be allowed.. It is imperative that students also maintain cleanliness in the classroom so students should be expected to clean up after themselves. Foods should also have to be allergy safe in the classroom. Students should be casual about eating rather than passing food around and being disruptive. If these rules are in place, eating in class should not be a problem. Food is a vital source of energy which is needed to get through a long day of school and that is why food should be allowed in classrooms rather than banned or frowned upon in class.
Opinion
Should We Rebrand Powder Puff? By Jen Porcaro
P
owder Puff is a classic American high school tradition in which junior and senior girls play football. At Bishop Ireton, it is a tradition that happens at the end of Homecoming week. The Merriam Webster dictionary definition for powder puff is, “of, relating to, or being a traditionally male activity or event done or played by women.” This definition sounds off. Powder Puff is a spectacle of young women playing sports, and not in a good way. I acknowledge that football is traditionally a male sport, but that does not mean that we should make a public display of women playing sports. Women’s sports are just as serious as men’s sports and should be treated as such. Additionally, having young men coach the young women, it implies that the men need to show women how to play the sport properly. I can read a book or watch a game to know how to play football. I do not need someone to show me how to play, it comes off as patronizing. I know that Powder Puff is a beloved tradition, but maybe we should change it up a bit. For one, instead of playing football, we could play a more inclusive sport such as soccer. Unlike football, soccer is played by both men and women around the world. We could combine junior girls with junior boys and make it a general junior versus senior game and see who the superior class is. (Seniors, duh.) Two, we could have a more even coaching staff. Yes girls have the option to coach, but most play while the boys coach. We could have an even coaching staff of boys and girls leading boys and girls to win. This way everyone who wants to play can play and have a more complete and representative game revealing who our school is. Powder Puff is a great way to show school spirit and friendly competition, but we should change it so that the connotation of the game does not trivialize women’s sports.
November Recipe: Swedish Bar Cookies Ingredients
1/2 cup butter 1/3 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. granted lemon rind 1 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder Strawberry jam 3/4 cup cnofectioner’s sugar 1/2 tblsp water Steps • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees • Cream butter and Sugar • Beat in the egg and lemon rind • Combine flour and baking powder and stir into the butter mixture. • Make a smooth dough • Divide dough in half and form each into a ball • Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and chill for minimun one hour • On a floured board, shape each ball into a 12 inch long cylinder • Place on greased baking sheet and flatten. Using index finger, make a groove down the middle • Fill the groove with jam • Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden • Beat confectioner’s sugar with water until smooth • Brush on warm cookies on either side • Cut into 3/4 inch pieces This recipe was provided by Mrs. Tobin, Princpal of Bishop Ireton High School! picture credit: https://www.sprinklebakes.com/2016/12/gift-this-split-second-red-jamcookies.html
Prayers Page
Catholic Faith
A Catholic Thanksgiving Prayer:
Prayer Before an Examination (helpful for midterms!)
Loving God, who created and sustains the universe, who loved us all into being, and who gives us every good thing, we thank you for the blessings that you bring into our lives. We thank you for the gift of life itself, which you gave us in our mothers’ wombs. We thank you for the fresh start of each new day, which is a sign of your renewing and creative love. And we thank you for our friends, our families, our neighbors and our coworkers, whose human love is an image of your divine care. Increase our gratitude this Thanksgiving Day, and help us to recognize all the good things that we have, both large and small. And magnify our desire to share what we have with others, so that they too may be grateful to you, Loving God.
Dear Lord, as I take this exam, I thank you that my value Is not based on my performance, but on your great love for me.
Amen. This prayer is by Jesuit Father James Martin, author of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.” Source: Catholic Review, November 27, 2013
Come into my heart so that we can walk through this time together. Help me, not only with this test, but the many tests of life that are sure to come my way. As I take this exam, bring back to my mind everything I studied and be gracious with what I have overlooked. Help me to remain focused and calm, confident in the facts and in my ability, and firm in the knowledge that no matter what happens today you are there with me. - A Salesian Prayer Source: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/studying-and-examination-prayers
Fun and Games!
Word Bank Corn Fall Family Feast Gravy Harvest Mayflower November Pilgrim Plymouth Thanksgiving Wheat Turkey
Thanksgiving Spot the Difference Can you spot 10 differences between these two pictures?