LIFE
KNIGHT BISHOP MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 • VOLUME XLVI • ISSUE 1
5430 TORRANCE BOULEVARD, TORRANCE, CA 90503 WWW.BMHS-LA.ORG
Welcome to Paradise The BMHS “Ohana” had a fun filled Hawaiian themed week with dances and sisterly bonding Written by Mary Costa, Shannon Lipp, David Locke, and Samantha Nishimura ASB worked hard during the summer to plan it. Students look forward to it every year. With the start of every school year comes the much anticipated Aloha Week, which was held from September 4- 7. It launches the entire school into an atmosphere of festivities and fun and serves to build excitement for the first football game of the season. Everything from Club Awareness Day to the Big/Lil Sis lunch to the original Tailgate took a lot of effort and advance planning to pull off; however, it is always well worth it. With the start of Aloha Week came the “Aloha Week Festival,” which was held on the lower field, during lunch on Tuesday. The BMHS Band, color guard, and spirit squad performed, while the yearly Club Awareness Day took place. Club Open House lasts until September 21, during which students may attend meetings of any clubs to determine which they will join. Club presidents of returning and new clubs alike spent the summer preparing poster boards, flyers, and other eyecatching knick-knacks to interest the students passing their tables. As soon as that lunch bell rang, club presidents were already down on the field, ready to recruit more members and answer questions about their clubs. Freshmen admitted to being slightly overwhelmed at all of the opportunities that Bishop offers. As for club presidents, however, this is the best opportunity they have to promote their clubs. Frantic cleanup
of the lower field began when the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, but the event was a great way to start off the festivities of Aloha Week. On Wednesday, the first mass of this new school year took place, and it honored those BMHS alumni who have dedicated their lives to public service. These alumni and parents who are LEOS (Law Enforcement Officers) included: LAPD Chaplain Rev. Mike McCullough ‘64, El Segundo Police Chief Mitch Tavera ‘76, Torrance Police Officer Rey Lara ‘00, Fullerton Police Officer Carlos Aceves ‘05, and retired Palos Verdes Police Officer Rob Blee. Two other law enforcement officers who took part in the mass played a crucial role in the rescue of several wounded victims during the tragic Gardena High School shooting. Those first responders on that horrific day included Gardena Police Lt. Vince Osorio ’87 and Gardena Detective Hugo Gualotuna ’90. Both of these men were honored by the South Bay Medal of Valor Committee for their exemplary courage and heroism in the line of duty. Senior Robert Lobo was very much taken by the heroic actions of the police officers, and says, “All of us should try to do something heroic daily, no matter how important.” Ms. Libbon also spoke on the importance of sacrifice, loyalty, and love during this inspiring mass, as she addressed students of all grade levels. It is no surprise that the mass has been seen (Continued on pg. 8).
Above left: Ian Rivera ‘14 speaks into the microphone at the Aloha Week Festival on the lower field while Kyle Cabahug ‘14 plays the ukelele. Above right: Seniors Sofia Valenzuela, Jessica Capicoy, Arianna Atienza, and Danielle Shanahan show off their Hawaiian spirit after entertaining the crowd. Lower left: Emma Chaidez’16 and Nella Zagara’13 smille at the camera with their tiaras and balloons at the Lil Sis Big Sis lunch. Lower right: Freshman Raeanne Austria cheerfully hula hoops at the Tailgate party.
New Adults on the Block Bishop Welcomes new Faculty Members to our community
Written by Kira Coyne, Samantha Nishimura, Alexander Rodriguez, and Michael Seo One unfortunate thing about our teachers and staff at Bishop is that they cannot stay here forever. Every so often, we must bid farewell to certain members of it’s wonderful staff. Last year we said goodbye to teachers Mr. Roehl, Mr. Vucajnk, Mr. Chavez, and Mr. Winter. These departures are bittersweet, however, because with their leaving, we welcome new members to the Bishop Montgomery family. This year we have a new Dean of Women, Ms. Behen, and two new teachers, Mr. Lee (Honors World History) and Mrs. Mitchell(Intro to Calculus and Statistics)! Read on to learn more about the latest additions to the BMHS family.
CARMELITA JETER
PG. 3
Mr. Lee
Q: What university did you go to? A: I went to UCLA: Class of 2007! Q:Where else have you taught? A: I taught for four years at Cathedral High School and one year at Our Lady Of Lords. Q: You are also an alumni from BMHS: what differences have you noticed since you graduated in 2002? A: One big difference I noticed is the diversity of the students and backgrounds now. Nothing else has changed much, especially the values and morals. Q: What are your goals for this year? A: Make sure my students are prepared for AP U.S. History.
RISE (DARK) KNIGHTS!
PG. 5
Mrs. Mitchell Q; What university did you go to? A: I went to UCLA as a math major. Q: You have also taught at Bishop in the past: what years did you teach back then and what brought you back to Bishop? A: I taught from 2000 to 2008. After teaching here, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, but then I came back to LA, and here I am! Q:What are your goals for this year? A: Help all of my students do their best in Math and prepare them for next year! Q: Message to general population? I’m happy to be back and Math is fun! Go Knights!
CHANGES ON CAMPUS
PG. 6
Ms. Behen Q: Most of the students at Bishop have known you through the subbing you did last year. Have you been involved in teaching at Bishop before, and how do you feel about being the new Dean of Women? A: Last year as a substitute was my first time teaching at Bishop, but I have held other administrative positions in other high schools, so I feel well accustomed to the position of Dean. Upon arriving at Bishop, I felt instantly welcomed into the Bishop community by both staff and students. The biggest difficulty I have encountered here is being new!
PIZZA PARTY
PG.8
2
SPORTS/CLUBS
FALL in Love with these Senior Athletes Get to Know some of our Senior Fall Athletes Written by Mary Costa, Shannon Lipp, and David Locke
Ben Villa
Andrew Reimer
Juliette McCall
Danielle Shanahan
Senior Ben Villa has always had a passion for the sport he calls his own, football. Ben first started playing football in middle school and soon found himself hooked. Even before Ben came to BMHS, he knew deep down that he wanted to play high school level football. So with hard work and determination, Ben Villa was accepted here at BMHS and started out his football career on the JV team freshmen year, playing center. At that time, Ben had already begun his physical routine, which included a well thought out diet and a gym regiment. With much grit and determination, he quickly advanced and reached his goal of playing Varsity football during his sophomore year, starting as center. Playing center for Ben opened up many challenges for him, but with his experience and leadership skills, Ben had no problem, adjusting very quickly and effectively. During his junior year, Ben honed his football skills by reading many sports journals, reviewing famous coaching strategies, and used time management to better himself both on and off the field. These actions and habits landed him the prestigious, “First Team All League Honors” award. Ben also likes to face new challenges, which is why he will be playing nose guard and full back this season. When asked about the upcoming season, Ben said “We have all the tools we need to be a great team, now it’s time to show it.” Ben and the coaching staff look forward to many victories this season, and plan to work harder then ever before to become champions. Ben also mentioned during his interview that, “I’ve always dreamed big, and look forward to making even more dreams come true.” Ben plans on playing football in college and can’t wait to meet more friends and learn new skills.
“I’ve always welcomed challenges,” Andrew Reimer said in our interview. ”They make a person stronger both physically and mentally.” It’s no surprise then that Andrew (class of ’13) has worked his way up the ranks of the football hierarchy, now landing himself a starting position on the varsity football team. To accomplish his goals, Andrew has relied on his willpower, love of the sport, and his relationship with God. Beginning freshman year, Andrew played both right and left tackle, but found that his true ability lay in the left tackle slot. There, Andrew began to learn how to work as a team and truly proved himself by staying late after practices and reading many football related sports journals. Andrew pushed himself even harder sophomore year and received the coveted “Second Team All Del Rey League title.” He was a better person both on and off the field. “It really helped me see that hard work pays off, and that is key in life, hard work”. However, Andrew did not stop at his first major accomplishment as many would have, but rather pushed his psyche and body harder, which has inspired many on the football team and several of his friends. Andrew visited the gym on a daily basis, and monitored every aspect of his life to become a better football player, student, and son. Andrew is proud to say that he wants to continue playing his beloved sport in college and welcomes the challenges and memories that lie ahead.
Senior Juliette McCall, as skillful and expert as the young woman is at her favorite sport of volleyball, was not always the ace of her team. “I used to watch the older girls playing, hitting the balls really hard, and I got jealous,” Juliette says when recounting the tale of how she first became involved in volleyball at her elementary school, American Martyrs, in fifth grade. “It was really cool,” she says, and she relates how her envy led her to work even harder. Now in her senior year, Juliette McCall takes the outside hitter slot on BMHS Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team, which is surely no small feat. McCall started her freshman year on the right foot, impressively hitting outside for the Junior Varsity team, and spent the next three years of her high school career on the Varsity Team. “We’ve been doing pretty well,” Juliette says proudly of her team. McCall’s dedication to volleyball surely pushes her to excel. “I work really hard at it,” Juliette says when describing how she flexes her lifestyle to match the vigor of her sport. “I go to privates on the weekends, and I play beach with my friends,” she says. When asked about her proudest accomplishments, she spoke of her sophomore year when she received the Second Team All-League Award at the Fall Sports Banquet, and she recounted the time her team won the North Tournament last season. The future still seems hazy for most seniors, but one thing is for sure: BMHS Volleyball will surely miss Juliette after she graduates. But rather than frown at the loss, Juliette McCall leaves the younger girls with an invitation and challenge: “You should try out,” she says. “It’s really fun, and if any of the younger girls out there are thinking about it, they should definitely do it.”
Senior Danielle Shanahan runs with the power and zeal of an athlete who has been racing her entire life and wins like one, too; it would be hard for one to believe that the girl only became involved with cross country at the start of freshman year. It was love at first sight for Danielle and she has been running ever since. “I got started in high school,” she told Knightlife. “I fell in love with it and decided to stick it out.” “Sticking out” proved to be a wise decision for the senior as her perseverance led her to winning several victorious titles over the course of her high school career at BMHS, including 9th place at the California State Meet her sophomore year, 7th place in CIF her first two years at Bishop, and 13th her junior year. Along with her team, Danielle runs six days a week and about eight miles a day. “I do core and drills everyday,” she described. “And I cross train in the pool. Running takes pretty much every muscle in your body so I have myself in the best shape possible.” Not everyone can subject themselves to such a rigorous and demanding lifestyle that Danielle follows, which makes her 4.0 GPA an equally impressive feat. “I want to run in college, too,” she said. “Preferably on scholarship.” Danielle was an impressive novice when she first joined, but now as a senior, she remains in prime shape to bring home even more victories as she made the Knights proud with her 1st place victory at the Don Bosco Tech Invitational last weekend. “I love the thrill you get the moment the gun goes off,” Danielle said, describing the rush she feels when she runs. “I have an innate drive to push myself into the front pack and win the race.” One can hope that her drive will continue to push her to achieve her future goals.
CLUB CORNER: Key Club
Written by Samantha Nishimura President: Arianna Atienza Vice President: Claire Thatcher Secretary: Sammie Tran Treasurer: Mark Loera Publicity: Jazmine Santos Spirit: Abraham Garalde Fundraising: Samantha Nishimura Moderator: Mrs. Luhrsen
Meetings: every other Wednesday, at lunch, in Room 109
This service club provides fun opportunities for students to participate in many different service projects and fundraisers and simply branch out to find new ways of involvement in the community. The BMHS Key Club is a part of Division 19 South of the South Bay, which, in turn, belongs to the larger Kiwanis International organization. Consequently, many of Key Club’s activities involve the clubs from other schools in our division, which allows Key Clubbers to meet other students and interact with those that share the same interest! Key Club focuses on service projects within our community and even those right here at Bishop, by hosting the annual BMHS blood drive, volunteering at the Barnes and Noble book fair, and holding various fundraisers yearly, in which any BMHS student can become involved. Joining Key Club is a great way to become more active in the community and meet new friends along the way.
Above: Multiple members from different Key Clubs show their club pride at last year’s fall rally.
SPORTS/CLUBS
3
Carmelita Jets to the Finish Line Bishop’s gold medal Olympian’s successful Summer
Written by Alexander Rodriguez
Above: Mrs. Libbon speaks to Carmelita Jeter ‘98 on stage about her amazing accomplishments at the London Olympics this summer and her greatness in general. Below: The crowd was filled with alumni, students, faculty, and parents as they Above: Carmelita Jeter ‘98 expresses her gratitude to the Bishop community at the pep rally on “Carmelita Jeter Day” on September 11, 2012.
Above: The student team bites into their gold medals after defeating the faculty team in the pep rally competition.
KNIGHTLIFE: REVAMPED
40.82 seconds. That’s the time of the new world record that BMHS alumna, Carmelita Jeter ’98, helped achieve in the Women’s 4 x 100m Relay in this summer’s London Olympics beating tough competition like Jamaica. Team USA shattered the past world record, which was set 27 years ago in Germany, by .55 seconds and brought a gold medal to U.S.A. for the first time in that event since 1996. Coincidentally, Bianca Knight passed the baton to Jeter in the final leg of the race. In addition to her stellar gold-medal-winning performance in the relay, Carmelita also raced in the Women’s 100m and Women’s 200m, and medaled in both. In an intense 100m race, Jeter came in second to Jamaica’s Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.75) with 10.78. Along with the silver medal, Carmelita won a bronze medal in the 200m with a time of 22.14. Jeter became the first woman since Florence Griffith-Joyner, AKA Flo Jo, to medal in both sprints. In concluding the Olympics, she collects all three types of medals: gold, silver, and bronze, thus making her Bishop’s first Gold medalist Olympian! To add even more glory to Carmelita’s winnings, a cheetah cub at the San Diego Zoo has been named Carmelita after the BMHS alumna! Bishop’s world-record-breaking Olympian had her own celebration, Carmelita Jeter Day, at Bishop on Tuesday, September 11 with a pep rally opened to students, parents, and alumni. The rally commenced with the members of ASB and Bishop Ambassadors (along with a rouge Mr. Sansalone with his Australian flag) carrying the flags of multiple countries, thus creating our own little Olympic ceremony. When ASB President Parth Ahir walked in carrying the American flag, the crowd, decked out in the red, white, and blue shirts rose up, screamed, and cheered for Carmelita Jeter as she walked in behind the flag bearer. Jeter rose up to the stage and waved
Above: Carmelita Jeter and the ASB officers prepare to bring in the flags before the pep rally. *Photo credit - Daily Breeze/Brad Graverson
Knightlife is new and improved! Written by Knightlife Staff
Welcome back Bishop Montgomery Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and welcome freshmen!
If you are not yet aware,
KNIGHTLIFE is Bishop’s newspaper, and it is our job to snoop around this school and stay on top of the latest events. Our club has recently gone through, what we like to call, a ‘revamp.’ We now have a new moderator, Mr. Hong, and we are ready to bring a new, fresh Knightlife to Bishop by releasing monthly or bi-monthly issues. With this issue, we mean to give Bishop Montgomery a taste of what is to come in the future. We are targeting eight-page issues for the future instead of our past four-page newspaper.
The stories are going to be on your school life, clubs, sports, and other entertainments around you. We also offer cartoons, which will help you relax from too much excitement you get from our news. After enjoying our monthly news, you will be more aware of the events around you and you won’t be behind the trend. Each one of us works in different positions to deliver you more accurate and entertaining news than we ever did. If you are interested in joining Knightlife, come to Room 205 at lunch on Tuesdays and after school on Friday and check it out! We will be waiting! Thank you! Your 2012-2013 Knightlife Staff
to the crowd and our band played the National Anthem. Afterwards, Carmelita made a speech about how she wanted to leave the school forever when she was a young student at Bishop, but she now just finds herself wanting to come back, which is why she came back in 2004 to teach track and cheerleading. Carmelita continued to speak about her experience here at Bishop and Ms. Libbon’s and Mr. Marafino’s constant, love-filled texts and phone calls. Jeter ended her speech with a short yet meaningful phrase: “I’m still a Knight!” Later on, she helped the teachers against the students in our own relay race, in which students from each grade and teachers raced each other in small yet difficult challenges. It was very close in the end, but the students won in the penny stacking competition. Subsequently, a cover of the summer smash “Call Me Maybe,” by Carly Rae Jepsen, by the student body appeared on the screen. The video contained snippets of faculty and students lip-syncing to the song, acting out scenes according to the lyrics, and a montage of photos of Carmelita. The video ended with Miss Libbon telling Jeter, “Remember Carmelita – I love you!” At the near end of the rally, Bishop announced that one of its October Denim Days would be dedicated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in remembrance of Carmelita’s aunt, Brenda Washington, who unfortunately passed away because of breast cancer. Jeter was then presented a proclamation from the City of Torrance, declaring that September 11, 2012 is “Carmelita Jeter Day” and to conclude the ceremony, Miss Libbon unveiled a banner in the gymnasium that states in golden letters the astounding Olympic achievements of Carmelita Jeter. Later on that night, Carmelita was given the Key to the City of Torrance by the Torrance City Council! Congratulations on all your achievements Carmelita Jeter!
Right: The 2012-2013 Knightlife Staff: (Bottom) Claire Park ‘13. Sojung Kim ‘13, Kira Coyne ‘15, Jackie Nkansah ‘15, Sabrina Supapkooha ‘15, (Second row) Tali Alexander’16, Yidan Yuan ‘15, Samantha Nishimura ‘15, Rachael Wecker ‘15, Hee Shin’15, Kayla Wilkins ‘13, Shannon Lipp ‘13, Mary Costa ‘13, (Top): Jesse Seale ‘15, Alexander Rodriguez ‘15, Alexander Horejsi ‘15, and Rosalia Park ‘15, Not pictured: David Locke ‘ 13, Aimee Myers ‘15, Jordan Tabaldo ‘15, Claire Thatcher ‘14, Michael Seo ‘14.
4
ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION
Jepsen Dials Up a Summer Smash Carly Rae Jepsen claims the title of “Song of the Summer!” Written by Aimee Myers
Above: Sophomores Milanne Izawa and Courtney Ferrin hold up signs stating “Call Me Maybe,” referencing Carly Rae Jepsen’s summer hit.
The Stars Reach for the Moonmen at the VMA’s Written by Jordan Tabaldo On September 6th, MTV hosted its annual Video Music Awards with comedian Kevin Hart as host in Staples Center in Los Angeles. Celebrities of all ages joined, with many presenting awards, performing, or simply watching from the crowd silently hoping to win an MTV Moonman. Pop star Rihanna opened the award show with a performance of her new single with A$AP Rocky and then transitioned into her mega-hit “We Found Love,” which some faculty danced to at last year’s “Faculty
Flash Mob.” Other performances ranged from Britain’s global sensation, One Direction, to rap superstar, Nicki Minaj, who joined Alicia Keys and gold medal Olympic gymnast, Gabby Douglas, who did a floor routine whilst Keys sang. Douglas and her other Olympic teammates, together the Fab Five, Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross, McKayla Marooney, and Ally Raisman presented Minaj and Keys. Additional notable acts included newcomers Frank Ocean and 2 Chainz both making their VMA debuts. The
#FreshmanProblems Artistically Crafted by Kira Coyne and Jackie Nkansah
Pop music is synonymous with the summertime. Every summer, there are always a few pop songs that are released sometime around the end of spring and lead us into the summer vacation with a sense of optimism and excitement. These same songs are played constantly on the radio, and become the soundtracks to road trips down the coast, afternoons at the beach, and trips to the mall with friends. This summer, Carly Rae Jepsen, a 26-year-old Canadian pop singer, earned title of “Song of the Summer” with her hit, “Call Me Maybe.” A contestant on Canadian Idol, she was signed to Fontana Records despite the fact that she did not place first in the competition. On September 21, 2011, she released “Call Me Maybe” on 604 Records. Around February of this year, a video was uploaded to YouTube of Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and a few of their friends dancing to Jepsen’s song. The song instantly became a massive hit. It jumped to the top of the charts and got itself almost a guaranteed play on every radio station across the country; it immediately became the anthem of Summer 2012. By the time summer started, almost everyone was asking each other to “call me maybe”. show concluded with a big, sassy performance of Taylor Swift’s latest single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” One Direction took home the most awards that night with three ‘Moonmen’ for Best New Artist, Most Share-Worthy video, and Best Pop Video. Rihanna, however, took home the most coveted award of the night, Video of the Year, with her video for “We Found Love.” Other winners included Drake, Demi Lovato, Calvin Harris, and many more. Unfortunately, not everyone was a winner: Carly Rae Jepsen, Gotye, and fun., who all had big summer smashes and videos, did not receive any Moonmen, ironically. The show itself was not a winner: ratings dropped massively and the amount of viewers dropped by more than 50% from 12.4 million last year to 6.1 million this year.
Many people instantly became fans of the song. Sophomore Sara Toia says, “It’s really upbeat and catchy. It always gets stuck in my head!”. Others, however, never became fans of the pop hit, like sophomore Jane Lee who says, “I feel as though the song was put together by a six year old girl.” Most people, however, find it hard to resist the song’s quintessentially pop melody, like junior Claire Thatcher, who says “I think it’s incredibly catchy and I really wish I could hate it, but every time it comes on I just have to sing along”. Soon enough, even celebrities were sharing their rendition of the hit, including the likes of Kelly Clarkson, James Franco, the US Olympic Swim Team, and the Cookie Monster singing his version, “Share it Maybe”. Even Bishop Montgomery has made a video montage our own staff and students singing and dancing along to the song in honor of alumna and Olympian Carmelita Jeter (’98). Although the summer has ended, each time we hear the song, we can all be reminded of this past summer, and all the equally optimistic and hopeful memories we experienced while hearing it.
Above: Aimee Myers ‘15 holds up her “Moonman,” the award given out to winning artists at the MTV Video Music Awards.
ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION
4 5
K-Pop Bursts into American Media Artists like PSY, 2NE1, and Wonder Girls Heat up the Airwaves Written by Alex Rodriguez
Above: (Left to right) Nia Liggins ‘15, Manaka Sato ‘15 and Kevin Arbasto ‘15 reenact Psy’s infamous choreography from the viral music video, “Gangnam Style.”
With the catchy chorus, undeniably hilarious music video, and infectious beat of PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” Korean Pop, commonly called K-Pop, has come into the spotlight of American media. The video for “Gangnam Style” has gone viral on Youtube, racking up as much as 10 million views a day and currently stands at over 200 million views, and it is now the most viewed K-Pop video of history beating out Girls Generation’s “Gee,” which had nearly 85 million views. PSY’s worldwide smash is also reaching airwaves here in California, as it was the first Korean song ever played on several radio stations such as AMP Radio and KIIS FM and continues to become more popular on the radio. PSY even made an appearance at this year’s MTV’s Video Music Awards on stage as “Gangnam Style” played in the background and he danced along with host, Kevin Hart. The K-Pop star also made appearances on “Ellen,” “Good Morning America,” and even “Saturday Night Live!” Also boosting K-Pop’s popularity in America is the girl group, 2NE1, who recently had a sold-out concert at L.A.’s Nokia Theater and another nearly sold-out concert in Newark, New Jersey. 2NE1 is the first group ever from Asia to have a sold-out concert at Nokia Theatre. BMHS student Nia
Liggins’15 attended the concert and could not contain her excitement about it: “Everything was so, so, so perfect! “ Liggins also adds that, “They will be BIG in America because they are so addictive and have such universal appeal!” Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am, is currently working with 2NE1 on their debut English album, hoping to give 2NE1 a great debut into the American market. Their first single is rumored to be called “Take the World On,” and the title has been hinted at in various videos and interviews with the group. In addition to 2NE1, The Wonder Girls also plan on dominating the American market with an English album coming soon with help from hip-hop mogul, Akon. The group has already made several appearances in American media through their MTV Documentary series back in 2007, the hit single, “Nobody,” in 2009, which was the first Korean song ever to chart Billboard’s Hot 100, and recently announced “The Like Money US Tour,” named after their latest English single. Since the charting of “Nobody,” no other Korean song has debuted, on the Hot 100, but as of last week, PSY’s “Gangnam Style” deubted on the Hot 100 at #64, making “Style” the second Korean song to ever chart on the Hot 100! K-Pop is definitely taking the world on!
DARK KNIGHT RISES TO THE TOP This Summer’s big blockbuster gets reviewed by Knightlife Written by Shannon Lipp This year’s summer blockbuster, The Dark Knight Rises, grossed $941,255,218 worldwide to date. The film ended Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy with a bang (literally). Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist Bane and his (literally) underground crime ring begin to wreak havoc on Gotham, and Wayne masks himself once again to defend the helpless city. *SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!* The film reaches its climax when Bane transforms the Wayne Enterprise’s secret nuclear power source into a bomb. Wayne escapes from a foreign prison, returns back to Gotham to defeat Bane with the help of Kyle, Blake, Tate, Commissioner Gordon, and Lucius Fox, and takes matters into his own hands as he flies the bomb over the ocean. The explosion that follows afterwards suggests that our hero has fallen.
However, the film comes to a close as Alfred, Wayne’s trusty butler, sits down to lunch in Florence, Italy and looks up to see his dream realized: his Master Wayne seated at the table across him with the lovely Selina Kyle. Christopher Nolan leaves his audience with a subtle suggestion that the Batman story continues beyond the confines of the film, as it ends with John Blake, whose real name is revealed to be Robin, inheriting the Batcave. The casting crew did a terrific job choosing the actors for the film; Christian Bale reprises his role as Batman, and also returning is his husky Batman voice, which, admittedly, you learn to ignore after two movies. Bale’s performance does not disappoint, and he lives up to his work in The Dark Knight. While Anne Hathaway at first seemed like a pick straight out of leftfield, her work as Catwoman was
phenomenal. She proved her flexibility as an actress as she jumped from the sweet Selina Kyle who just wants a clean slate to the mysterious and dangerous Catwoman on a Robin Hood-like crusade to spread the wealth to the slums of Gotham. Despite my immense love for Joseph Gordon Levitt as an actor, his role as John Blake left more to be desired. But while he wasn’t very convincing for the first bit of the movie, he became more believable as the film progressed. Maybe it was the face mask, but I completely forgot Tom Hardy, who played Bane, had also been in Nolan’s other film Inception (along with Levitt and Marion Cotillard) as his acting was so different in both those roles, which demonstrates his talent as a thespian. Cotillard played Wayne’s love interest, Miranda Tate, and I won’t go further into detail to avoid any spoilers.
The cinematography was absolutely beautiful! The experience was like walking into a DC comic book, only with a little more pizzazz and bombs. If you’re a tech-geek, you’ll be gasping in awe of the special effects utilized in this film: from loud explosions to the pew-pew of bullets whizzing by, Nolan’s special effects team deserves all the awards. Even more impressive is the lack of 3D option for the film; Christopher Nolan proves his talent as a filmmaker, as he presents us with this breathtaking conclusion to the Batman trilogy in plain 2D, saving all of us a couple extra dollars while Batman saves Gotham. The disorienting effects of the 3D glasses don’t corrupt this movie. While I may be biased in my opinion, I believe The Dark Knight Rises is the best movie of 2012 so far.
Above: Lauren Hall ‘13 strikes her best Batman pose aside the movie poster at Del Amo Movie Theatre.
6
STUDENT LIFE
Renovate, Celebrate!
BMHS receives multiple renovations to the campus over the summer. Written by David Locke
Above: The new George and Virginia Schneider Retreat Center, located on the third level.
Above: Students socialize and eat their lunches at the new metal tables below the shade of the new lunch area canopy. The Bishop Montgomery High School staff has always had a strong desire for making BMHS a beautiful and rewarding learning center. This dedication to beauty, learning, and love can be seen all the way back to the school’s first days in the mid to late 1950s. George Schneider contributed to BMHS not only by helping determine the campus’ current location, but also by having a dream of a retreat center on campus. His dream was shared with many including Mr. Schneider’s wife, Virginia, his children (BMHS alumni), and several BMHS staff members. The Schneider family has, in years past, given generous contributions to the school. These gifts are apparent in the chapel’s stained glass windows and in the new retreat center that bears their name. Notable staff members who have been instrumental in the construction of the new George and Virginia Schneider Retreat Center include, Mr. Steve Miller (assistant principal),
Ms. Libbon (principal), and countless teachers and staff members throughout various departments. One of the goals of the new retreat center is to provide a place for students to enjoy the excitement of being at a distant and exotic location, while remaining on campus. The George and Virginia Schneider Retreat Center has a magnificent view of the campus and other local businesses and homes due to its location on the third level of the campus. “I love the new retreat center because it is a place where I can go to relax and listen to God,” says Senior Luke Lee. The center has some of the lowest sound decibels in the entire city of Torrance due to its elevation and location. The construction of the retreat and leadership center began in mid February 2012, and lasted for six months. Today, both Ms. Libbon and Mr. Miller have ambitious plans for the new retreat center, including holding both freshman and sophomore retreats at the location. The new center will show-
case leadership seminars for grade school students and our own BMHS ASB (student government) members. Campus ministry events, religion classes, and Bishop Ambassadors (student club) meetings will all take place at the George Virginia Schneider Retreat Center. The beautiful retreat center is also joined this year by two other new campus renovations that make student and faculty life much easier here at BMHS. The Guidance Office, a place where students can monitor their courses, change classes, and ask questions about their college futures has now relocated to the first building, adjacent to the Dean’s Office. This move from the third building has placed the three guidance counselors closer to the students where they can easily meet with them and other fellow staff members in both the main and dean’s offices. Senior Nick Tolin says, “The new office’s location helps me stay in contact with my counselor, which helps me plan for college.”
Students are also blessed this year with a completely remodeled lunch area. The new lunch area features new metal tables and an enclosed roof for those rainy days. Sophomore Jared Backner is thrilled about the new lunch area, as are his friends. Jared said that the only drawback of the new design is that “It’s so nice, I don’t want to leave.” There is also an extensive drainage system, that will last for decades, and the students can look forward to a road that will connect the lower field to the lunch area, making lunch time activities and events that much more exciting and accessible. The lunch area now feels more spacious and gives off a welcoming feeling that characterizes BMHS student life. It is undoubtedly clear that our faculty, staff members, and generous contributors here at BMHS have an everlasting and sincere commitment to making student life at Bishop the very best.
terranean River National Park. “The whole trip was memorable,” Gianni says confidently. “There was never a day where we would lounge around; it was an adventure every day.” Senior Leah Noble went on a European holiday with her family; the Nobles travelled to the vibrant English capital to catch the 2012 Olympic Games, where our very own Carmelita Jeter took the gold medal in the relay race. While people Stateside watched the tape-delayed coverage of the games in their homes, Leah watched USA go head-to-head against France and North Korea in soccer live. She also caught a few games of handball and badminton, along with some weightlifting. At The Swiss Olympic Headquarters, the Noble family tasted delicious Swiss chocolate made by a master chocolatier. When the family wasn’t in the stadium cheering, they hit up all the popular tourist destinations, such as eating at the very first Hard Rock Cafe; visiting 221 B Baker Street, home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, Sherlock Holmes; stopping by Buckingham Palace; and just relaxing with her family in England. Noble had to say her trip, “… was the best vacation ever!” As the bells ring and cast students deeper into the school year, it can be
difficult to recall the peaceful dog days of the preceding summer. But for those who stood up against monotony and boredom by making each day memorable during their vacation, the constancy of the new school year may present a refreshing reliability, a nice reintroduction to a busy, fast-track world. For now, all those lovely memories must fade back into the grey matter of the brain and make room for new ones.
Awe-Summer Vacations Written by Mary Grace Costa, Shannon Lipp, and Yidan Yun Year after year, students face the universal dilemma of what to do with the two summer months allotted to them. While a few choose the path of productivity by participating in summer sports leagues or taking a summer school class or two, others decide to take advantage of their newly-free schedules by going on vacation. Be it a restful homecoming or an enthralling tourist experience, BMHS students seized their summers and made their vacations extraordinary. Senior Sojung Kim sped through her last round of final exams on that concluding June school week, and then promptly got on a plane with her older sister. The two girls flew to their hometown of Seoul, South Korea on the other side of the world for the summer where they met up with close family and friends. The two girls surely missed the cozy familiarity of life in South Korea, and they were delighted to be back even for just a short while. “The best part of the trip was Nami Island,” Sojung says, referring to a popular island vacation-spot in Chuncheon, South Korea known for its peaceful, romantic atmosphere. Though it is famous as a quiet place to relax and unwind, Sojung and her family found some diversion in the form of feathery flightless birds: “I got to feed ostriches there, and I took pictures
with them,” she recounts. As dreamy and amusing as the activity sounds, feeding ostriches at Nami Island isn’t quite the same as walking into your average petting zoo. “One time, I got really close to one of them, and it tried to attack me,” she answers, when asked which part of the trip she thought was most exceptional. Likewise, sophomore Gianni Pajaron got in touch with his Filipino roots with a vacation to the beautiful tropical islands of the Philippines. He attended his cousin’s wedding and caught up with some long-lost family. Rather than stay in one spot, the Pajarons visited several of the Philippine Islands and learned about the unique characteristics of each one. ‘What stood out to me was the differences between the islands I went to and how each one was almost like a different country,” Gianni says about the islands he visited. True to his words, the Philippines are made up over 7,000 islands, and each one is immensely different from all the others. When asked about the activities he took part in during this vacation, the sophomore recalled a memorable trip to one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. “We traveled to a lot of different places like the Underground River and mainly a lot of beaches,” he says, referring to the Puerto Princesa Sub-
Above: Leah Noble ‘12 and her father watch a soccer match at the Olympic soccer stadium in London.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
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STUDENT LIFE
Aloha Week: Continued ...as a great success in both student and faculty circles. “The mass really touched me. There are a lot of important messages and concepts that we tend to forget from day to day, and this mass has helped all of us remember just how lucky we are,” Gabby Podegracz ’14 affirms. For the student body as a whole, the mass symbolized the honor and glory of being a Knight at BMHS and the sense of belonging in our loving community. The annual Big Sis Lil Sis tradition took place at lunch the next day, and the arrival of the event was hailed by the sudden appearance of a plethora of balloons and a colorful array of decorative wear. Senior girls arrived to school early with their tote bags filled with magnificent gifts for their freshman little sisters. “I remember being a freshman girl,” Senior Lauren Hall recounts. “My heart was pounding when I got the basket full of goodies. It was nice to know that someone remembered what I liked.” Now, the roles are reversed as the young women of the class of 2013 transitioned from being the recipients to the gift-givers. The lunch took place, as usual, on the Upper Field, and the BMHS band entertained the students with live music. It was a festive atmosphere, full of laughter and excited exclamations as seniors and their freshmen little sisters trooped up the steps to enjoy their extended lunch. “It was really fun to talk to my little sister,”
Senior Jessica Capicoy explains. “Lauren Campbell and I paired up as Kassandra Madrigal’s big sister.” Jessica continues to describe her lunch experience befriending the little freshman and handing down their wisdom. “We talked about high school and discussed the different teachers while we ate salad and pizza.” On the receiving side, the freshmen had a blast and were overwhelmed by the crazy costumes and the extravagant gifts they received. “My big sisters (Kayla Doucette and Imani McMillan) dressed me up in fairy wings, ginormous glasses, and a lot of zebra print stuff,” Freshman Tiffany Phillips says. “The decorations were the best part of it!” As Tiffany describes it, the festive outfits and accessories are a Big/Lil Sis must. Freshman Jessica Seto compliments her big sis, Denice Belandres, as she talks about the delicious Asian cuisine her group served. “We got a lot of really good stuff,” Jessica says. “There was even a live band!” The goal of the Big Sis Little Sis Lunch is to make the freshmen feel welcome in their new school as they connect with the parting seniors and give them the opportunity to gain some tips on how to survive high school. “We got to talk and bond a lot,” Freshman Gilian Miles describes of her experience with her big sisters, Sofia Valenzuela and Jenny Oishi. “I had a lot of fun and we ate Caesar Salad and
chips.” Strangers meet and friendships are formed at the Big Sis Lil Sis Luncheon. It won’t be long until the class of 2016 has their turn as big sisters, and the tradition continues. To culminate Aloha Week, the usual Frosh Dance was replaced this year by a Tailgate Party to kick off the first football game of the year. It was a refreshing addition to Aloha Week, and the Tailgate acted as a mini pep rally to build excitement for the game. Many students were more than eager to buy their $7 ticket, which included a hamburger dinner and dancing. The Tailgate began at 4:00, but students trickled in throughout the entire evening. They showed off their school spirit with black and gold attire, and the atmosphere was full of enthusiasm
Above: BMHS students sing and dance along to the DJ’s song at the Tailgate Party.
and anticipation for the football game. Freshman Jennifer Capozza says, “I had a blast… I loved that they played great music, and there was never a moment when someone wasn’t dancing. I hope that if we have another tailgate, that more people will join!” In the gym, students rocked out on the dance floor to popular, fun tunes, such as the “Cha Cha Slide” and “Party Rock Anthem.” Others simply relaxed outside with friends, lounging around the renovated lunch area or running to the snack bar for a last minute bite. The earlier time to accommodate the football game was a change from previous years, and it allowed students to spend more time outside, enjoying the fresh breeze and afternoon sun. As 6:30, the end of the dance, approached, the BMHS band, led by Mr. Hankey, marched into the gym while playing “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz. The Varsity Song Team made an appearance and impressed the audience of students and teacher chaperones with their complicated dance routines and crisp synchronization. Cheers and loud applause followed, and once the DJ played the last song, everyone was in the mood to go to the field and root for our team. With a dance like that to kick off the first game of the season, no one could expect anything but a win, and surely enough, BMHS swept Bell-Jeff 49-32! It was, overall, a satisfying conclusion to Aloha Week and an exhilarating welcome to a new football season and new school year.
Shake Up Your Appetite! Local pizza parlor gets reviewed by Knightlife By David Locke
Above: Senior Nolan Wilson stands outside of local pizza place, Shakey’s.
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor on Torrance Boulevard in Torrance (just a few blocks east of BMHS) has been making memories for decades. Many local residents in the South Bay enjoy going to this classic institution for countless reasons. Shakey’s main attractions include their awesome pizza, pasta, and salad dishes. The “original style” pizza has just the perfect amount of cheese and dough, which makes the customer want more and more. There are a wide variety of salad plates, and one cannot go wrong with any of their pasta dishes. Shakey’s also offers several devilish
deserts and appetizers, which can be considered a meal unto themselves. Shakey’s Pizza is the go-toplace for fun with family and friends due to its retro feel, fun arcade games, and reasonably priced food. For many, a trip to Shakey’s evokes an era of burning rubber, Pink Floyd, and Watergate. It’s no surprise then that a large amount of the customers found at Shakey’s on any given day are baby boomers, but that’s not a problem for many high school teens. “Shakey’s is a place where I can go and have fun, and fill up my tank,” says senior Nolan Wilson.
The Question Corner
The restaurant is ideal for groups and younger adults due to its large portions and plethora of arcade games. “It is a sad reality that these types of places are becoming extinct,” states sophomore Zachary Hayes. At the end of the day, Shakey’s is the place to go if you’re simply hungry for great food, or want to travel back to a moment in time where getting down meant you had to boogie and the eight track was groovy.
KNIGHTLIFE STAFF
What are your goals for this 2012-2013 school year?
The Knightlife newspaper is published by the Knightlife Club of Bishop Montgomery High School, 5430 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503. Opinions expressed in this paper are not a reflection of those of Bishop Montgomery High School. Petra Holdbrook-smith ‘16
Cassandra McGill ‘15
“My goals for this year are to get at least A’s and B’s and I want to make a lot of new friends!”
“For my sophomore year, I would like to get straight A’s and also receive the George Montgomery Scholar Award.”
Editors-in-Chief: Samantha Nishimura, Alexander Rodriguez Staff Writers: So Jung Kim, Samanatha Nishimura, Alexander Rodriguez, Aimee Myers, Kira Coyne, Shannon Lipp, Mary Grace Costa, David Locke, Yidan Yun, Hee Shin, Rachael Wecker, Rose Park, Jesse Seale, Alexander Horejsi, Sabrina Supapkooha, Jordan Tabaldo, Michael Seo, Andrew Beimel, Stephanie Nwaiwu, Claire Thatcher, Kayla Wilkins, Staff Artists: Kira Coyne, Jackie Nkansah Staff Photographers: Jordan Tabaldo, David Locke, Andrew Beimel, Stephanie Nwaiwu, Angela Francis, Kayla Wilkins, Excalibur Yearbook Staff Advisor: Mr. Hong
Brendan Marafino ‘16 “My main goal for this 2012-2013 school year is to focus on my grades.”
Arielsela Holdbrook-Smith ‘13 My goals for this year are to get good grades, get ready for college, and have fun in my last year at high school!”
Proofreaders: Mr. Flores, Mr. Marafino, Ms. Vigon-Morffi Publisher: Ms. Libbon