Soundings - Week of Jan 9, 2017

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SOUNDINGS The Weekly Report Week of January 9, 2017 Volume 7

As a student operated and edited publication, The Weekly Report brings current events from Fairfield Prep to students, faculty, alumni, and more.

SOUNDINGS, THE WEEKLY REPORT

Campus Life Happy New Year and welcome to the end of the first semester!

On behalf of Fairfield Prep, The Soundings welcomes our new faculty and new writers. We are also pleased to introduce Ben Short, our Winter Sports Editor.

Through all of the rain and warm weather the Fairfield Prep skiing

By Jamie Paul team is finally starting its season. Postponed several times, the team finally had its first race and tryouts last Thursday at Mount Southington.

Sport of the Week:

Ski Team

Due to popularity, the team narrowed the participants from 29 to 22 skiers. These skiers are broken up into 10 Varsity and 12 Junior Varsity skiers who race on Southington’s Giant Slalom (GS) course each week.

Last year the team had outstanding results, winning all of their races for both Varsity and Junior Varsity, 27-0, and winning the state championship. This year, in hope of a repeat, the team started dry land training early in the fall to prepare.

The first race went well for Prep, starting off the season 4-0, with 4 skiers in the top 10, led by George Visnic on varsity placing third out of all 170 competitors. This weekend is the annual Sugarbush training trip where the team practices on the mountain with coach Cary Nadal.

The team hopes to continue their success through January and February and take home the state title again for Fairfield Prep.

Week of Jan. 9, 2017

SPORTS Varsity Basketball Overall 5-3 01/11 FP 73 Guilford 60 01/09 FP 57 Sheehan 41 01/06 FP 54 Career Magnet 53 01/03 FP 56 Wilbur Cross 62 12/30 FP 80 Hamden 74 12/27 FP 65 Warde 69 12/26 FP 60 Ludlowe 59 12/23 FP 70 Notre Dame 84 Varsity Ice Hockey Overall 4-3 01/08 FP 3 Notre Dame 4 01/04 FP 4 Notre Dame CHS 0 12/30 FP 4 La Salle College 2 12/29 FP 2 Mount St. Charles 3 12/28 FP 3 Bishop Guertin 2 12/21 FP 3 Darien 2 12/18 FP 1 Ridgefield 2 Upcoming Home Games: Fri., 1/13 Basketball v. Cheshire 3:45 pm Freshman 5:15 pm JV 7:00 pm Varsity Tues. 1/17 Basketball v. Hillhouse 3:45 pm Freshman 5:15 pm JV 7:00 pm Varsity

What is the Bellarmine Guild?By Cole Simons

Wed.,1/18, 5:00 pm Varsity Wrestling v. New Haven

The Bellarmine Guild, a long-standing tradition at Fairfield Prep, is Prep’s women’s organization. Comprising all mothers and female caregivers of Prep students, the guild sponsors many events throughout the year, some large, some small, some with the Prep students, some without.

The goal of the guild is to provide social, spiritual and service-oriented activities that encourage involvement as participants or volunteers.

Wed., 1/18, 5:15 pm JV Hockey v. Hamden

In addition to holding monthly meetings, the Bellarmine Guild coordinates the Mothers’ Masses and Monthly Rosary, the Fall Social and the Parents’ Christmas Party, the Mother/Son Illusionist event, and Mother/Son community service projects, as well as many events for our senior moms/caregivers and their sons. It is the guild’s hope that these activities promote a true sense of community. After all, this is a community, unified by the common experience of raising young men!

Upcoming Away Games: 1/13 JV Hockey v. Brunswick 1/14 JV Wrestling v. John Chacho Duals 1/15 JV Hockey v. Bishop Hendricken (RI) 1/16 JV Hockey v. LaSalle Academy (RI) 1/17 Varsity Indoor Track v. SCC Novice 1/17 Varsity Swimming & Diving v.

Xavier 1/18 Varsity Hockey v. W Haven 1/20 Varsity, JV, Freshman Basketball v.

Xavier 1/20 JVHockey v.St. Luke's 1/21 Varsity Wrestling v. Staples Duals 1/21 Varsity Indoor Track v. SCC

SOUNDINGS, THE WEEKLY REPORT

Bellarmine Corner

By George Seyfried ‘18

Changes to the History & English Departments The Fairfield Prep History Department, under the leadership of Department Chair Mr. Mauritz, has decided to round out the

Week of Jan. 9, 2017

Faculty Update

By Evan Bean ‘19

International Exchange Students Teachers

History curriculum by offering a more global look at history.

Starting next year, freshmen who are placed in history courses will be enrolled in a Global Studies course. This course stems from a desire to provide a more global overview of history where students will gain an overall understanding of the history of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Next year Asian Humanities Honors students will be required to learn basic Japanese and even Chinese vocabulary, grammar, and characters. Students will not be required to take an online Japanese course from an outside agency as they have for the last several years, allowing for a more comprehensive class.

Juniors will be required to take an American History course, either at the regular or AP track. Senior electives will remain the same: American Government (either at the regular or AP track), Economics, Sociology, AP Modern European History, Modern Asia, and The Modern Middle East/US History Since 1945. All students must achieve a 3.75 GPA or higher to be eligible for honors/AP courses and courses are subject to change or cancellation.

Mr. Mauritz notes that these changes are “a great way for us as a Department to serve the needs of the school by offering options to students in the context of our curriculum.”

Expanding on the philosophy of offering a variety of course options, the English Department will be changing in the new academic year: For seniors, the current two options for the required English course are AP English and British Writers.

However, next year, a new core class will be added to the list.

Based on a survey taken by the class of 2017, a new class will be created by the members of the English Department, appealing to their own interests while academically enriching them. English Chair Elaine Clark says, “We are open to rotating courses year by year, depending on student interests.”

English teacher Mr. Tom Shea ’73 is participating in an international cultural exchange this coming semester with a teacher from Sydney Australia.

Mr. Shea arrived in Sydney on January 10 and will teach English to grades 7 through 10.

In exchange, Mr. John Caillard of St. Aloysius College (Australian for High School) took over Mr. Shea’s five sections of English as of January 9. Mr. Caillard has over 25 years of experience teaching English and French to all high school age groups.

Besides his exemplary teaching experience, he brings a fresh perspective from “down under.”

Let’s extend Mr. Caillard a warm Prep welcome!

Look for more about Mr. Caillard in next week’s issue.

SOUNDINGS, THE WEEKLY REPORT

Ignatian Corner

Week of Jan. 9, 2017

The Arts

2017 Mass Schedule

Winter Concert, Wednesday Jan. 11

This year the Campus Ministry Team has made a change in their daily morning mass schedule.

Instead of having mass every day, the team has

Six Prep music ensembles performed at the Quick Center Wednesday night, in what Mrs. Evans called her “favorite performance yet.”

decided that it would be best for the student body if there was one day designated for morning mass.

Every Friday a mass is held at eight o'clock in the Prep Chapel on X1. Teams, clubs, friends, and individuals are more than welcome to participate and be a part of the mass.

If you are interested in being a part of the Campus Ministry Team, meetings are held in the Prep Chapel after school every Monday.

Alumni joined Encords for “Irish Blessing.”

In an average meeting the team prays, discusses current religious topics, and prepares for school masses. Being a part of the team allows one to become an Altar server, Eucharistic minister, Lector, and Usher, etc. If you would like more information please talk to Mr. Gualtiere or Father Stockdale.

By: Frank Gallagi **************************************************

Bellarmine Review

Staff:

By George Seyfried ‘18

The

Bellarmine

Review

seeks

original

Moderator: Elaine Clark Co-Editors in Chief: Evan Bean, Jamie Paul Campus Life Editor: George Seyfried

student work for its annual publication.

Students are encouraged to submit poetry, prose, and artwork for publication in

Winter Sports Editor: Ben Short

Fairfield Prep's 75th Bellarmine Review.

Contributing Writers: Frank Gallagi Cole Simons

edition

of

the

Please email submissions to p18gseyfr ied@fairf ie ldprep.org , and consider attending the Creative Writing Club's weekly Wednesday meetings in B204.