BI Word
VOLUME I, ISSUE 1
O CTOBER, 2020
Bishop Burbidge Visits Campus!
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By Grace Young and Kelly Reilly
ishop Michael Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, visited our campus on October 7 for half of the day. The students and faculty had the opportunity to attend the Mass, or watch the live stream that Bishop Burbidge offered in the Chapel. Father Noah, our chaplin at Bishop Ireton, said, “it was a really beautiful visit, he started with offering Mass in the Chapel, which was unique this year we had student representatives, some adults, some teachers and faculty who were in the chapel as well, but the mass was then live streamed to the other classrooms. In it he spoke about the power of resurrection because this was shortly after Aidan Kwelberg’s passing, and so Bishop had the opportunity not only to visit the gym, but also to speak to students in person about Aidan, their friendship with Aidan, and the hope that we have in Jesus and in the Resurrection.” For the rest of the visit, the Bishop visited several of the classrooms. He was able to visit the students in the Options Program and DeSales Program, and he visited one of the religion classes. In addition, he had lunch with four seniors, and he enjoyed hearing about upcoming events, as well as how students are managing some of the restrictions such as masks and safe distancing. The conversation with the students includ-
ed the upcoming Kairos retreat, the upcoming Hack BI event, and a few other events as well. On the whole, it was a very positive and uplifting visit. Bishop Burbage always enjoys being with the students and greeting them because he has a true heart for education, especially Catholic education, and being present as our Bishop, as our Shepherd of the Diocese of Arlington. He is always kind and complimentary when he comes and visits all the schools. He spoke about how he recognized how clean the building is, how he recognizes all the different work that has gone into making this in-person school experience possible. Even though there have been a lot of rules, he has been really impressed with how the schools in our Diocese have been doing in handling the different restrictions. Several other Campus Ministry events took place during the first quarter of the school year. The Junior and Freshman retreats were held on campus, and the Sophomore retreat days are coming up in November. The first Kairos Retreat of the year is coming up at the end of October, but it will be a little bit different than in the past because it will not be overnight, and it will stay on campus. However, it promises to be a very special religious opportunity to deepen one’s Catholic faith.
Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, Happy Halloween! I hope you and your families are all healthy and well. I am glad you have taken the time to read our first issue of the year! All the journalists and editors have put a lot of hard work and time into making this edition relevant to our Bishop Ireton Community, and the global community we are all a part of. As all of us are moving into the virtual world, the BI Word has transitioned into an online format. We now have a website that features the monthly issues, featured stories, profiles of our Staff and much more. This year we are also introducing a new feature to the newspaper called: “Letter to the Editor”, where readers can email us at biword@bishopireton.org with questions, comments, or suggestions. Letters that the Editorial Staff find helpful or entertaining will be published on our website and in the next paper, so you have the chance to be featured! We value constructive criticsm and feedback to make our newspaper even better. All we ask is that there are no mean or negative comments as this is a student run publication.
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
How does Back to School Night Work with Covid-19?
Around BI
By Grace Young
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A screenshot of Mrs. McNutt’s video for Bishop Ireton’s Back to School Night
s the 2020-2021 school year begins, one thing parents and teachers can look forward to is Back to School Night. Back to School night takes place shortly after the start of the school year, giving teachers and students time to get the hang of things. On this night, parents visit each of the child’s classes and get an idea of what the teachers goals are for the class that year. This night is important because it gives parents the opportunity to meet the teacher their child will be spending so much time with and to get an idea of the learning environment they will be in for the next year. It is just as important for teachers since they get the chance to meet the students’ parents and get an idea of what their home life is like. This year at BI things ran a little differently due to social distancing procedures. For starters, everything was virtual. Administration knew this adjustment would be new to all, and
made a great effort to make it as professional and connective as possible. Additionally, they wanted to stress that this year is a new adjustment for everyone and that we all have to work together to make everything run as seamlessly as possible. Bishop Ireton administration first sent out a video explaining the details of Back to School Night. The video features Kathleen McNutt, head of school, as she explains the new COVID-19 procedures and what parents can expect to see this year. She says, “the administration team did a really nice job in making sure that it (Back to School Night) happened and that making sure the administrators videos got on there. So on our end it worked really well.” To participate in virtual Back to School Night, parents were instructed to log-in from their parent portal and look at the videos created by each teacher. This gives parents the chance to get a glimpse of what remote school is like for their children. Addi-
tionally, parents are able to take the time to really absorb what the teacher is saying without the stress of rushing notes and moving from class to class. This adjustment is also beneficial to teachers. At Bishop Ireton, there is an assortment of parents who work on the administration. And while they may not have had the chance to attend Back to School Night as a parent, going virtual has presented them a new opportunity. Mrs. Rier, Bishop Ireton history teacher and BI parent, said, “I had the opportunity to look at other teacher videos and the opportunity to look at the intro piece. Normally as a teacher I wouldn’t be able to see because I would be with parents.” Although this year’s Back to School Night was unlike any before, some would say it ran better than in previous years. With many new opportunities virtually, having Back to School Night online could be something that will be implemented for years to come.
A Summer of Change
Around BI
By Thad Worth
This past summer, Bishop Ireton (BI) unveiled its Diversity Initiative to make the school an even more welcoming community for all. While this unfolded, the United States continued to experience a pandemic that has claimed thousands, a heated presidential election, and the deaths of multiple African-Americans including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and Jacob Blake who died or were injured in what have been called racially motivated incidents at the hands of police officers. These events sparked massive protests on a national level in many of America’s major cities. Much happened this past summer while students were virtual and away; so much that you could call it “a Summer of Change.” Last March at the 2020 Peace and Justice Conference, Bishop Michael Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, stated, “More than 50 years after the civil rights movement began in this country, the sin of racism continues to afflict our communities and our nation. As followers of Christ, we are called to confront and eliminate all forms of prejudice and bigotry. The question we must ask ourselves and answer is: ‘What am I willing to do?’ As members of God’s holy family, we have a responsibility and sacred duty to do our part in eradicating racism and replacing hatred with love, so we can live in harmony as brothers and sisters united in Christ.” Over the Summer, the B.I. Diversity Council announced that it was going to implement its Diversity Initiative. Its goal is to cultivate cultural knowledge, embrace differences, and build a stronger community. The Diversity Council, headed by Mr. Milton Powell, includes many faculty, staff, and student members, such as: • Mr. Dawson - Computer teacher and basketball coach, • Mrs. McNutt - Head of School
• Mrs. Tobin - Principal • Mrs. Jordan - Assistant Principal for Student Life • Sean Bailey - Senior Students are included so that the council can get a feel of what is needed for the students. One new initiative already in place is the “See Something, Say Something” resource through which students now have the ability to report bullying and harassment directly to B.I. ‘s administrative team using the Resources tab on the Portal. The goal of See Something, Say Something is if students witness something that they believe is harmful to the community or a student, they can report it confidentially, but not anonymously, to B.I. ‘s administration where the incident will be investigated as soon as possible. Students appear to be optimistic about the Diversity Initiative. Tiffany Nguyen, a Sophmore, said that she is happy to hear that B.I. ‘s administration is working to make the school more welcoming for students. In addition, the faculty and staff recently participated in implicit bias training from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. The goal of this training is to help individuals recognize their own implicit biases and to develop a more just and inclusive community. In light of recent national events, there have been protests, while much closer to home, a lauded initiative focuses on making Bishop Ireton a more inclusive place. How these events and the Diversity Initiative will affect our nation and our school remain to be seen, but in these times of change, one thing is certain: that God is there for us.
Is the Hybrid Learning Approach Effective?
Around BI
By Dustin Gardner
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ybrid learning at Bishop Ireton has kicked into full stride and according to students, it’s a success. Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been questions on how things would be handled differently. For the 2020 school year, Bishop Ireton has decided to adopt a hybrid learning system that consists of in person and virtual classes. Ireton has also adjusted rules to combat the spread of the virus, such as mask requirements, social distancing guidelines, and optional study halls. Because of these vital changes, student life has been largely impacted, and not necessarily in a bad way.Se-
nior, Charlie Hornung, commented, “I think that the stress of online school is much lesser than that of normal school. There’s something about being in my house that is comforting. ” Reducing stress for students should be of utmost importance this year. According to nonprofit organization Mayo Clinic, stress can cause health issues both emotionally and physically. These include, but are not limited to, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, irritability, depression, and sleep problems. Although hybrid learning has helped students level their stress, there are also downsides to logging on through a computer to attend class. When as-
ked about the cons of hybrid learning, Charlie responded, “Students are more distracted during hybrid learning. I think a lot of them play games or do other work during class.” Charlie brings up an interesting point which could pose a problem at Ireton this year. Many students, especially seniors, do not have the same motivation in online classes as they do in person. This concept, also known as senioritis, could be blown out of proportion if the virus still affects them toward the end of the year. As students start to realize that their time in high school is coming to an end, they may be less inclined to participate, pay at-
The Journalism class engaging in Hybrid learning!
tention, or in extreme circumstances, attend class. Senior, Jonathan Cassin, stated, “Giving students complete freedom on their computer without supervision cannot be good for learning. Online school is not only more distracting but it’s harder to ask questions and receive help online.” Ireton has adjusted by creating virtual outlets to receive help. Students can meet with their counselor or receive writing and math help through the schools online sources. Many students claim these are less effective than in person meetings but these adjustments are necessary for the safety and health of everyone.
Recruiting for College Sports is a whole new world.
Sports
By William O’Reilly
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ver the span of a few months in early 2020, COVID-19 brought the sports world to its knees. In a normal year, a new wave of high school athletes put their all into their sports seasons in hopes of getting recruited. Despite the unfamiliar sports world, the athletes at Bishop Ireton are taking this season just as seriously, navigating new challenges and learning how to prioritize their health alongside their game.
For seniors, the recruiting season is especially important if they want to play in college. Ariel Goddot, a talented basketball player from the Class of 2021, brings up a challenge he has been facing as a young prospect: lack of publicity. “Well due to Covid-19, we weren’t able to play in the live periods. So that really hurt my chances of getting recruited.” Like Ariel, many athletes are suffering from the lack of exposure they would usually get from playing their sport live, making it harder for them to prove themselves to scouts. Ariel also notes how hard it is to train, as most places where he can work on his game are closed. “On top of that (not being able to play live games), since most of the courts were closed, I had to improvise by working
out at home, going to the track to run, or simply going outside to dribble.” Tracks, courts, and fields alike are closed around the nation in the name of health, forcing many athletes to search for alternatives in order to continue practicing their sport. Even for those recruited, the process is especially stressful. As Maggie Gately, an accomplished varsity girls’ lacrosse player from the Class of 2022 explains, “This year however with COVID it was very uncertain if this date (when recruiting begins) would stay… a lot of coaches didn’t have their shortlists ready because of this.” This, of course, affects the players. Maggie added, “There was a lot of doubt in the air which gave a lot of players including myself tons of anxiety.” In order to sort out the general confusion, coaches are working to connect with players in a new way: over the Internet. Maggie continues, “Something different that doesn’t normally happen was Zoom calls with your family and the coach’s staff. Normally this would be your official visit where you’d tour, meet the coaches, watch a practice, get to know the team,
and have an interview with the coaches.” With the lack of in-person interaction, the recruitment world is adapting, and its staff with it. Not all is over the phone, though. “The weekend of September 1, I actually flew out to California and Colorado to see two of the schools that were interested in me campuses,” says Maggie, who was recently recruited to the Denver Pioneers. Some shred of normalcy remains in the recruiting process, but for the most part, it’s still trying to find a way to reinvent itself. The Internet, with tools like Zoom and Google Meets, as well as film clips from the past games, have been handy ways for high school athletes to showcase their skills. Maggie Gately shines a light on this when explaining how she was recruited “Denver saw me play in some of my tournaments last fall and watched my film from this summer. And that’s basically how I got recruited.” In the ever changing landscape of this Corona-ridden world, high school athletes and college recruiters are racing to keep up.
How do Clubs adapt to the Hybrid Learning Approach?
Around BI
By Miriella Jiffar
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ue to Bishop Ireton’s choice to return to school on the hybrid approach in lieu of complete online school, there are some students in the building, some at home, and some students and teachers all remote, which poses a unique challenge for student leaders and teacher moderators for how after school clubs, honor societies and Ireton’s robust theater department are structured, organized, and run. After-school extracurricular activities are a vital part of high school culture, and at Ireton, there is always a club fair in the beginning of September to promote different clubs and activities students can join. Of course, students are also encouraged to start their own club if they don’t find something they like. However, with the interest of keeping everyone’s health a priority during the Covid-19 pandemic, clubs and the annual club fair look undeniably different this school year. Mr. O’Keefe, the Student Activities Coordinator in the Student Life Department, played a vital role in developing guidelines for clubs to follow regarding safety precautions and social media, as well as producing a socially distanced club fair with an in person, and online portion for students. “There was a lot of collaboration that went into not only adapting clubs, but the whole school environment to the hybrid model. We worked closely with the Head of School,
Principals, Student Life team, Nurses, and Facility Managers to ensure that clubs could operate in a safe environment,” Mr. O’Keefe explained. The Club Fair took place over two days, September 3rd and 4th, so interested students and club leaders from both the A-K and L-Z groups could participate. For the online portion of the club fair, each club president created a short informational video and powerpoint that were sent out in an email to the student body. All students needed to do to find out more about the club was to watch the video or read the powerpoint. Freshman, Bridget Barker, commented on the online and in-person Club Fair, remarking, “In my opinion that was a bit confusing. They sent us an email of all the clubs and what room they were in. Though, because of people’s last names, most of the club’s presidents weren’t there, so you couldn’t sign up for the club. Basically, half the clubs I would’ve signed up for, I couldn’t. I understood completely, but it was a bit of a bummer. Despite that, though, I got to join the clubs I wanted and I am very happy about that!” Minimizing physical contact was another goal of Mr. O’Keefe’s while strategizing for the in-person part of the Club Fair, which was why it wasn’t held in the atrium, gym, or cafeteria like it has been before. “Obviously we could not have that many people in one area, so we spread
out the Club Fair throughout the school into separate classrooms. It allowed the foot traffic to flow more smoothly while maintaining social distancing. It also gave freshmen and transfer students the opportunity to explore the layout of the school.” Mr. O’Keefe also mentioned a great suggestion from the Girls Who Code Club, led by juniors Cameron Arnold and Ashley Michaelis:“They came up with an easy, yet vital solution for students to sign up for clubs by using a QR code. Each club was able to link that QR code to a google form to capture names, contact info, etc. This was a great ‘touchless’ option that reduced the need for pens and paper.” Just like the Girls Who Code Club’s suggestion, thinking outside the box is key when it comes to activities, events or fundraisers that clubs plan to host this year. They need to be mindful when it comes to people’s health and also follow the school’s guidelines for how a club can operate, whether it meets in person or online. Many clubs have been creative, Mr. O’Keefe noted, “Food and bake sales have always been a big part of club fundraising at Bishop Ireton. Because of the safety measures put in place due to COVID-19, clubs have had to rethink this approach. One great suggestion I have heard came from the club On My Team 16, led by senior Alex Malone. They are considering (Continued on the next page)
Around BI doing an online raffle to raise money for a non-profit that helps children in their fight against cancer. We have all had to become more creative with our solutions to problems during the pandemic and I have truly been impressed with the way our student club leaders are rising to the challenge.” If any club is thinking about something similar to what On My Team 16 is doing, an officer needs to ask Mr. O’Keefe or Mrs. Jordan for permission first. At a mandatory safety meeting, Mr. O’Keefe told club leaders over Google Meet about the protocol for meetings in-person, which are as follows: Clubs must follow the same rules students do throughout the school day during their club meetings and events. Students must still stay 6 feet apart and wear masks while on campus and wipe down desks and chairs after using them. An adult moderator or proctor must be present. The same is true for virtual meetings, as the rules and requirements for online school apply to online club meetings as well. Many club leaders acknowledge that abiding by these requirements adds another layer of responsibility to making sure the club runs smoothly. President of Human Rights Club, Mary Kate Mull, understands these challenges as a club leader, observing, “It’s more difficult to plan for meetings. It’s absolutely harder, because we also have to figure out how not to only organize normally but also consider
social distancing and find locations that can hold all of us.” However, she hopes to bring a service and project based approach to the traditionally discussion oriented Human Rights Club, because she knows that everyone is probably tired and bored of Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, or breakout rooms that students constantly use for discussion in class. If it all goes to plan, the Human Rights Club hopes to have a Drive-In Movie Night fundraiser this year to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Another part of Bishop Ireton’s extracurricular opportunities is its well known theater department, that has put on two mainstage productions and a night of one-act plays at Evening of the Arts every year without fail. However, when school was shut down last March, its anticipated rendition of Freaky Friday was canceled. Caroline Coffin, Secretary of Drama Club this year, recalled the reaction she and her fellow cast and crew members had to the news, “We all found out at the same time on the group chat we’re all in. Most people were not surprised, given the situation, but the seniors were really sad because it was their last show.” But the freshmen, sophomores, and juniorsnow sophomores, juniors and seniors- had hope for Freaky Friday. “Mrs. Henry told us that she planned to continue Freaky Friday as a fall show when school
reopened, but that’s not happening now,” Caroline said, laughing. The Drama Club has had to be creative and cautious as to how they participate in theater because they can’t produce the show as they’d intended due to the Covid-19 safety regulations and Ireton’s hybrid model, which are not conducive to a show like Freaky Friday which has a large cast and many musical numbers. The new Theater Director (Mrs. Henry is part-time this year), Mrs. Rice is optimistic about creating theater opportunities. She worked with the Drama Club officers over the summer to generate ideas and activities for students to participate in. They are hoping to put on an outdoor, socially distanced, 10 minute play festival directed and produced by seniors to take place on November 21, and 22. The possibility of a spring play, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, is still up in the air, but Mrs. Rice hopes that her initiative in creating a school-wide music video set to the tune of, “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray will bring students and faculty together, and demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of the Bishop Ireton community- all within Covid-19 guidelines of course. If anything, Bishop Ireton students, teachers and administration have all proved these traits again and again during this very unique year.
Check out the infographic on the next page for more information! If you have any questions, talk to Mr. O’Keefe or Mrs. Jordan.
Infographic created by Miriella Jiffar
Spirit Week: Road Trip
Around BI
By Jack Grzebien
This year the Bishop Ireton Student Council Association (SCA) has been working with administration and the SCA faculty moderators to plan a fun and Covid-19 safe Spirit Week. Ms. McNutt along with the SCA members have been coming up with ideas to make this year’s Spirit Week as fun as possible. At the most recent Student Council meeting on September 15th, many ideas were discussed. Not only were Spirit Week ideas discussed, but a few ideas were shared about how a homecoming event could take place. While during a pandemic you cannot have 600 plus students dancing and jumping around in an enclosed space, ideas such as a formal brunch or dinner have been discussed. This year, new ideas for dress out days and other events have surfaced. One idea that was brought forward was a road trip theme. Students would, one day, dress up as New England prep, for example, and then would “take a road trip” down to a more southern state and then would continue out west and then finish in a California setting or vice versa. As Spirit Week and Homecoming are coming closer to time the Student Council and SCA faculty moderators decided on the Homecoming idea of a carnival in through the school parking lots where you decorate your car and drive through the parking lots where there will be stops for carnival games, all while remaining in the car. For spirit week the themes were as follows: on October 16th it was homecoming shirt dress out day, the 19th was cowboys and cowgirls for the freshman and New England for the sophomores-seniors, the 20th was Hawaiin tropical, the 21st was West Coast/Hollywood where you could dress as your favorite celebrity, west coast sports team, or a tourist, and the 22nd was advisory dress out day and senior vs junior girls kickball competition, and finally the 23rd
2020 Homecoming T-Shirt Design by Senior, Jack Bolster
was advisory dress out day and senior vs junior girls kickball competition for the students who were at home. With the spread of Covid possibly happening through surfaces, the SCA has had to rethink money collection. Venmo, Cashapp, and other online money services were discussed, as well as ways to minimize the overall interaction with physical dollar bills. Student Council Vice President Bradley Klinck’s take on the situation was “We have brainstormed multiple ideas to keep homecoming and spirit week as entertaining as possible in a Covid environment. We have some great things in store and are excited to share with the students.” Vice President Klinck also was ardent on how hard the SCA has been working this year. Kieran Kelleher, Junior Class Representative, also shared the common sentiments of Vice President Klinck. Representative Kelleher said “the team working with the students and adults are coming into the final phases of homecoming and spirit week planning, and are trying to make it as enjoyable as possible.” The common theme from students is that everyone has been working their hardest to make this as smooth as possible. “I think at the end of the day, homecoming season isn’t about the game or the dance, but the school spirit they bring. The SCA is doing an amazing job at making sure that when it’s all said and done, the modified spirit week will have the same effect,” Senior Class Representative Critter Johnson who embodied what is the true spirit of Spirit Week. Again and again it is said that the SCA is doing the best they can in this situation. Hopefully Covid will not bring an end to the fun enjoyed by many students. The SCA has been working hard to keep it that way.
Senior Spotlight: Caroline Czarnecki
By Morgan Taylor
Caroline “Caro” Czarnecki, a senior at Bishop Ireton High School, has gone above and beyond this month by showing leadership, determination, and a helping hand everywhere she goes, which has earned her the title of Senior of the Month for the month of October! Caroline has shown amazing leadership and determination on and off campus. She has attended Bishop Ireton since freshman year and has become quite known throughout the Bishop Ireton community. This may be one of the reasons why she was voted by her class peers as Student Council President. When she is not busy doing school work and trying to make BI a fun place, she participates in extracurriculars like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and cross country. Some of the clubs she is involved in on and off campus include Red Cross, Best Buddies, Cardinals for a Cause (Vice President), Human Rights Club, the Hackathon Marketing Team, Robotics Club, and many more that benefit the community. Caroline is a very bright young woman who earned membership in the National Honor Society where she helps tutor students in subjects like science, Spanish, and art. Some things that she has done to deepen her faith was attending a trip to the Dominican Republic with
her church to build ninth grade classrooms and painted religious images on homes. With BI, she attended winter Kairos 2020 and has been to all the retreats since freshman year. “Sophomore retreat had to be my favorite when I got to work at a food pantry in Old Town. I got to use my ability to speak Spanish to help understand the families’ food and jacket size orders,” Caroline stated. During her weekends, Caroline likes to help out with the Sunday school children, which she has been doing since 8th grade, and now has the position of the teacher there. She explained, “My boss saw how much I loved working with the kids and talking to them about their beliefs, and how I loved incorporating my love for art and culture into the lessons about God and was able to bring a bunch of arts and craft supplies to classes on Sundays.” Caroline not only has impacted the lives of people outside and inside BI, but also has changed some of her closer friends lives. “Caro is adventurous and seeks thrill. I always have a good time with her. She’s dedicated to her studies and always gets tasks done no matter the circumstances.” Jessica Gerard, a good friend of Caroline, stated. Caroline has made her community and better place and has impacted many people’s lives along the way.
Pictured in the middle is Caroline
Mental Health during a Pandemic
Around BI
By Jen Porcaro
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ental health can be a complex conversation. As we adjust to the new demands necessary to stay safe and healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic, the mental health of some high school students, including students at Bishop Ireton, may have fluctuated since March 2020. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “Symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during April–June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.” Therefore it is possible that some students are feeling more stress and heightened anxiety. Because the pandemic is stressful, it is important to be aware of mental health issues and how they can affect students. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services defines mental health as the emotional, psychological, and social well being of someone. Having good mental health can help people cope with stress and make well-thought out decisions. Having poor mental health can mean making rash decisions, feeling hopeless, and the lack of ability to cope with stress. The pandemic is a new and unusual situation which
can take a toll on students. Since March, students have had limited interactions with friends and lots of screen time thanks to online learning. The new school year brings hybrid learning, synchronous online and in-person learning, into the picture, but students must still limit their interactions with their friends and take the proper precautions. With the national and statewide rise in positive cases, students must remain vigilant with the restrictions. Friendships are one of the most important things to students, and not having the opportunity to talk to their friends on a regular basis takes a toll on them. Students can feel more alone or depressed. Also, the general atmosphere of the pandemic, and not seeing an observable end, can heighten anxiety and stress. Bishop Ireton is one of a few high schools where they actually let students into the building and learning takes place in classrooms. This can make it hard for students to maintain friendships because their friends may be in the opposite group. Groups are split alphabetically by the first letter of their last name: Group 1 is A-K and Group 2 is L-Z. For example, a student may have many
friends in Group 2, but the student is in Group 1. Students have also found alternative ways to interact with friends from afar. For example, some students have had Zoom Movie Nights or FaceTimes during the day. Plus, students can still gather outside, six feet apart, and with face masks. But as the weather changes, Zoom calls may become more frequent. Despite the unfortunate situation, students have developed coping mechanisms to handle the heightened stress and anxiety. Senior Audrey Moses says, “I have taken up old hobbies such as drawing to keep sane.” Other students have taken up reading or new hobbies to destress. Mrs. DiLorenzo, one of the school counselors, says, “Keeping a balance between school and ‘me time’ is very important.” She goes on to explain that balancing your time will help decrease stress and relieve the feeling of being overwhelmed. The counselor’s office is always open, just send your respective counselor an email. Either way, students are finding ways to bring light to dark and damp situations. They are persevering and coping with the troublesome times. (Continued on the next page)
Pictured here is the Bishop Ireton Counselig Team, Mrs. Lathe (9th grade counselor), Mrs. Dilorenzo (grades 10-12 Last Names O-Z), Mr. O’Hara (grades 10-12, Last Names A-G), Ms. O’Leary, Director of Counseling Services (Grades 10-12, Last Names H-N) In the article, “Stress Management and Teens”, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry lists these wasys to reduce stress: • Exercise and eat regularly • Get enough sleep and have a good sleep routine. • Avoid excess caffeine which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation. • Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. • Learn relaxation exercises • Develop assertiveness training skills. • Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress. One example is taking a speech class if talking in front of a class makes you anxious. • Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task into smaller, more attainable tasks. • Learn to feel good about doing a competent or “good enough” job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others. • Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress. • Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.
Service Hour Ideas
Campus Ministry
By Chloe Ko
B
ishop Ireton always strives to find ways to live in a Salesian way, even during a worldwide pandemic. Every year, students are required to complete fifteen hours of community service. Helping out one’s community is a way to follow Salesian teachings. Students are not only helping others out, but are also bettering themselves in a Salesian way. However, the pandemic has made it much harder to get close and help others in a community. Students used to be able to volunteer for food drives, homeless shelters, and their local churches but cannot anymore due to Covid-19. This year, students must find a way to volunteer while social distancing. Though it may be difficult to maneuver through the pandemic, it is never impossible
to help the community. Father Noah, Bishop Ireton’s Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, explained, “Despite current restrictions, I encourage students to use creativity and effort in completing their fifteen service hours this year.” Due to the pandemic, campus ministry will be slightly more lenient when it comes to completing service hours, but students are still expected to complete all fifteen hours. Father Noah’s favorite service trip has been Camden, where students spend two nights in New Jersey serving the poor and homeless in the city. Along with this trip, Bishop Ireton has also taken part in the Kairos overnight retreat here in Virginia. Unfortunately, these fun overnight trips have been cancelled due to the pan-
demic, but students should not be discouraged from completing their hours since there are many other opportun`ities that work around the ongoing pandemic, such as doing yard work for a neighbor, praying a holy hour for an ill or deceased person, organizing care packages, or calling an elderly or isolated relative. Students are also allowed to come up with their own service hour ideas and can run them by either Father Noah, or Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Mrs. Jennifer Grub. Covid-19 has forced students to get creative with their volunteering. Senior, Sarah Glasow, personally came up with her own ideas. She stated, “It will be challenging this year because different organizations have different rules and regulations regar-
ding Covid. I have not yet started my service hours, but I have come up with a couple ideas.” Along with Sarah, fellow senior, Sydney Robinson, has planned some Covid-friendly service projects. She said, “I plan on continuing my internship and working with my neighbor and her food drives.” No matter if students are not allowed to go out to complete service hours or if they are, there are always opportunities to help someone in need. Bishop Ireton’s service hours not only help neighbors and the community, but can also help develop a closer relationship with God. Service hours are due Thursday, May 14, 2021. To find more information, go to the portal under the resources tab and click “Service Hours Campus Ministry”.
Pictured here are some students from the 2019-2020 school year participating in a sercive project, pre-COVID-19.
Is the era of Tik Tok coming to an end?
Media and Culture
By Fiona Fedorochko
T
he future of the popular app TikTok was in danger this summer after President Donald Trump was recorded saying that he was launching an executive order to ban the app in the United States. TikTok rapidly gained international appeal and prominence, featuring videos of people all across the globe dancing, singing, giving fashion inspiration, and other creative content. The app has accumulated over approximately fifty million users since its start as Musical.ly in 2016 and then being rebranded to TikTok in August of 2018. Unlike Youtube, these videos must be less than a minute to capture the attention of viewers. This July, it was announced that TikTok may be permanently banned in the United States. TikTok users were devastated and said their goodbyes on the app. Several popular creators made final videos thanking their fans and releasing their social media pages so users can still keep up with their favorite tiktokers. Isabelle Phillips, who loves using the platform to make videos with her friends, commented on this and said “I probably wouldn’t go anywhere else if TikTok was banned, it wouldn’t be the same.” TikTok has accumulated over about fifty million users since its start as Musical.ly in 2016 and then being rebranded to TikTok in August of 2018. TikTok influences pop culture by popularizing smaller artists, creating new fashion trends, and has consumed most of our battery lives. The app has brought together people all over the world, but there are many concerns over the safety of the app. A Chinese technology called ByteDance owns TikTok. Concerns were raised that ByteDance may be stealing private information from users and spying on the United States with that information. The current Trump administration saw this as a threat to the national security of the United States and pursued efforts to remove the app altogether in the United States. Other companies stepped in and offered to purchase the app. Companies such as Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft were discussed as potential buyers with the motivation of see-
king United States information. TikTok is also a profitable app and these companies would be making millions if they purchased it. TikTok’s interim global head, Vanessa Pappas, relieved the stress of creators and declared that TikTok is here to stay because it has found a United States tech partner and will be working with them for the time being. However, the future is still uncertain. There are many unanswered questions regarding the app and some Americans continue to question the security of it. Junior Dave Figeroa stated, “I don’t believe TikTok is really going away.” The app could still be banned but for now the app will still be available for access. The app has gained popularity among the Bishop Ireton community. In 2019, one of the advisory retreat activities was to make a TikTok with your advisory. Ireton students use the app to pursue their creativity and watch others make silly videos as well. TikTok has brought a lot of people together and if it were to leave, the parting would be bittersweet for many of Ireton students. Junior Sofia Cruz said that “I would be really bored without TikTok.” It definitely has an impact on the Bishop Ireton community and has influenced people all over the world. For now, we can relax regarding the ban, but the future of the app still is at stake.
Should Classes have mandatory breaks? By Morgan Taylor
C
lasses should be required to give students a break to stand up, stretch, or go to the bathroom during class. This school year our classes have been changed to 90 minute classes. This is an hour and a half of just sitting and listening to a teacher talk. For some cases that is also 90 minutes of just staring at a screen and straining the eyes of a student. Remote learners are stuck at home in a seat and do not get to switch classes for the five minutes that students have to do so. So when do they take breaks? Probably never. Deya Norton, an all remote student, said in an interview, “I do believe that we should have mandatory breaks. It’s hard for students to sit and stay focused for 90 minutes straight. It’s especially hard for remote students who never get up.” Trying to stay focused on the classroom from home is hard enough but adding in back pains, strained eyes, and no time to take a break and recollect oneself is tourture. Colin Barid, a hybrid student, stated, “We are sitting in a chair for eight hours with five minutes in-between just to click on your next 90 minute class.it is easy to lose focus and doze off because teachers will just talk the whole class and you are forced to sit there and look at a screen.” Research shows that students can be easily distracted during school but short breaks can help them get back on track, reduce stress, and increase productivity. “I do not think it should be mandatory but I do think it is welcomed” Ms. Gonzalez, a religion teacher, expressed in an interview. Not all teachers however welcome breaks which is why by making them mandatory it would force teachers to give students the break they need. This new learning style is hard for all but it can be easier on everyone if we let our eyes and ourselves have a break every once in a while.
Opinion
When is the right time to confirm the next Supreme Court Justice? By Jen Porcaro
S
upreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the “Notorious RBG,” died on September 18. She was on the court for twenty-seven years and was a champion of women’s rights. She shattered stereotypes and inspired young women everywhere. RBG’s “I dissent,” regarding the court’s decision to strike down aspects of the Voting Rights Act, made her a cultural icon. She was not afraid to speak her mind. But Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell decided that, only an hour after her death was announced, the Senate would vote on the nominee from President Trump before the 2020 election takes place. In February 2016, when Justice Antonin Scalia died, Senator McConnell said that it was too close to an election to decide on a new justice, let the people decide, but he now says that the timing when a justice died in September is fine; it’s not too close to the election. I believe that the Senate should not vote on the nominee. The 2020 election is, for lack of better terms, chaos. The people are going to decide which way they want the country to go. Yes, justices should interpret the law based on what it says and on previous court decisions; ideologies should not come into play. But we do not live in a perfect world, and the court is influenced by the justices’ ideologies and that is reflected in the court’s decisions. Times are changing and the Supreme Court should reflect that. To quote Senator McConnell, “let the people decide.”
Need some Halloween Ideas? We’ve got you covered! By Chloe Ko With Halloween just around the corner, students must be wondering what they can do to compensate for not being able to celebrate the fun holiday normally. With a global pandemic happening, it is obvious that there will be little to no trick or treating this year. To make up for the lost tradition, students can come up with new ways to celebrate, while social distancing of course. They can host a Halloween-themed/scary movie night with a small number of friends or virtually while video chatting. If students want to keep the tradition of dressing up in costume, they can gather with a group of friends for a small costume party on Halloween night, or they could host a costume mandatory video chat. Another fun idea is baking Halloween-themed treats to share with family and friends. With Covid-19, the usual haunted house activities have been put to a halt, but have been replaced with drive-thru Halloween attractions to maintain the haunted house feel. No matter what students’ Halloween traditions were last year, with creativity everyone can come up with ways to get into the Halloween spirit.
Fun and Games! See if you can get thrrough the maze, starting from either side! Source: http:// www.getcoloringpages. com/halloween-maze-coloring-pages
October Word Search B K T R E A T A N P J W G G R
R A M A E H W H J U Q C Y I E Q C U B M A U Y Y G G T H T B Q L M L U Y Q T T D S V S E L E L M J T A T C M C T N I Y O E O Y S S Z Y X R N O C W C A N D Y Z O S I I I M E N O T E L E K S C K O G E L J S I W I K S K P M Q I R R Y D M Y M O G M T U S X F Y V F F P E J U H C T I W L D O B W O C P D W B L A T T Y N L W T J D Z E X M K A A K J K G X A N H A R F K G Z A Y Z S F H B N O N F M V A E L S J Z P A N M J B S J
Word Bank BAT CANDY COSTUME HALLOWEEN MONSTER PUMPKIN MUMMY SKELETON TREAT TRICK WITCH
October Recipie: Apple Bread Ingredients
1 cup salad oil 3 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp salt 2 ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp ground allspice 1/8 tsp ground cloves ½ tsp cardamom ½ cup golden raisins 3 cups flour 4 cups (6-8 apples) diced apples 1 cup nuts (optional)
Steps
• Combine first 3 ingredients. • Add spices and raisins. • Add flour. • Add apples. • Pour into 2 greased, floured standard-size loaf pans. • Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. This recipie was provided by Mrs. Battle, Journalism teacher and Assistant Principal for Academics!
picture credit: https://houseofyumm.com/apple-bread/
In the wake of Aidan Kwelberg’s recent passing, the BI Word has decided to commemorate him with a series of testimonials from people who knew him: students, teachers, and coaches alike. Aidan was a gift to our community as a student and athlete, but most important of all, he was a great friend. We know that grief takes time to process, and everyone has their own unique experience. However, the Editorial Staff put this page together in hope that when you read these comments, it might help you smile. “I played basketball with Aidan for two years, and every practice he would bring his hair products and do his hair before every practice knowing that he was about to get sweaty” - Graham Lawrence
“One thing I will miss about coaching Aidan is, no matter what mood I was in, whenever he would smile and say “What’s up Coach O?” You couldn’t help but catch that contagious smile yourself.” - Mike Olerta, Baseball Coach
“I think it is really important to just highlight how much of a light he was to everyone, especially in his classes” - Lilly Taylor
Pictures and Comments are continrued on the next page.
“Aidan was taking AP Computer Science Principles with me, aka CSP. We were learning about computing innovations and Python programming. He had the biggest smile that even lit up the virtual classroom. He was a great communicator about what he understood and what he was still trying to understand more deeply. He got along with everyone in the class. When we broke up into smaller groups to pair program, Aidan was happy to work with all different groups and was complimentary about how good they were at helping him understand programming better. I will never forget him. He was bright, engaging, and made everybody smile and laugh which makes me selfishly sad that he won’t be giving us any new memories. Even in the short time I knew him, he made an impact. Everyone should make every minute count like he did – always reaching out and connecting with people (even teachers like me!). Whenever I eat trail mix, I will think of Aidan. On his last day in my class – last period on B1 day – everyone was wishing him Happy Birthday! So, at the end of class before being dismissed, I offered him a bag of trail mix and asked him if he liked it. Without missing a beat, he said with zest, “I LOVE trail mix, Mrs. Briody!” - Mrs. Briody, Computer Science Deptartment “Aidan was a wonderful young man and I am thankful that I got to know him so well. He was a wonderful teammate and the type of young man that every parent would be proud to have as a son. He was smart, athletic, funny and kind. I will always remember his smile and the way he treated others” - Mr. Armstrong