GROWL The Growl

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December 2011

Wollrath Wins State Title A Student Publication of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

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Opinions

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GROWL Volume 9

Issue 3

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy 5625 Holy Trinity Drive Melbourne, FL 32940 (321) 723-8323 news@htes.org Dana Slomins Editor in Chief Shannon Sapourn Feature Editor Ally Neutze Photo Editor Staff Reporters Matthew Allison Patrick Black Bobby Forman Kenny Liska Megan McCreery Casey Nierenberg Catie Sergis Kyra Weiss Adviser Jim Hale Headmaster Catherine A. Ford Printing Indian River Press

Cover Photo by Kay Oliver

The Growl is published monthly during the school year by students of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. The publication is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents. Unsigned editorials express the view of the majority of the editorial board. Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be published as space allows. Letters must be signed and will be verified. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process, as are all contents of the paper. Op i n i o n s i n l e t t e r s ar e not necessarily those of the staff, nor should any opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

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Car-line for the Bus Creates Safety Issues in the Parking Lot By Shannon Sapourn From the grass, to the football field, to the junior parking lot, it seems like there is no fitting place for the bus to park in the morning. A number of students have complained about the inconvenience of the bus stationed in the junior lot. The bus, which takes kids down to the lower school, arrives around 7:30 a.m. and departs around 7:40 a.m. -- the prime time for high school students to arrive at school. “I get here at 7:30 a.m., when the bus is here, so all of the parents wait in their cars in front of my spot,” said junior Ally Neutze. “So when I got here, I would park in the front spots, the ones by the handicap spots in the front. Then, during second period, I would have to go out to my car and move it to my spot.” The parents form a carline down the middle row in the junior lot, blocking student’s spaces. “The bus doesn’t directly block me, but the parents waiting in line to drop their kids off block my spot. The kids are little and are slow, so this isn’t exactly fast. It can take up to 15 minutes for me to get to my spot,” said junior Patrick Black. Junior Ryan Allison has also had problems with getting to his spot. At least once a week, he will have to park in the grass

in order to avoid waiting in the carline, which has become a combination of parents and students. This has forced him to schedule his arrival time around the bus. Mr. Mancini said that the location of the bus in the junior

spot,” said junior Rachel Motro. The location of the bus has created a serious safety issue for both cars and students. There is a huge safety hazard having the bus in the junior lot. The combination of student drivers and younger students

lot has created a nightmare to assign spots. He has had to move a number of spots because of the back-up of drivers. This carline also creates issues in other parts of the parking lot. The line backs up into the regular traffic flow through the parking lot, which causes the line of cars trying to get into the school from Pineda to become backed up. “This congestion causes people to try and pass other cars, and that’s not safe. Most people just wait to get to their

is obviously dangerous. There must be a better spot for the bus. Many students have suggested moving the bus back to the football field. It is out of the way of the parking lot, and there doesn’t seem to be as much traffic in the carline at that hour as there is in the parking lot. It’s a safer and more convenient option for both parents and student drivers.

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Water, Water Everywhere By Ally Neutze The Central Florida’s Finest! 2011 Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest recently ranked the water of Melbourne as the best tasting water in all of Central Florida. The water was judged and won based on color, taste, odor, and clarity. Given that we evidently live in a water paradise the question arises -- Where is the best tasting water on campus? Seniors Cedric Plummer and Matt Clow believe the best water comes from the fountain in the chapel. “I must say, it’s the best tasting,” said Plummer. Other students, such as junior José Pazmino thought that the main hallway’s fountain was the place. “The water fountain next to the bathrooms has the best,” said Pazmino. The gym was also a popular place for students to get water. Eighth grader Colton Girard claimed that this was his favorite spot. Junior Brandon Collins agreed. “I don’t usually drink water, but when I do, I prefer Zephyrhills,” said Collins imitating actor Jonathan Goldsmith as The Most Interesting Man In the World. “But if I do get water other than Zephyrhills, I get it from the water fountain in the gym, next to the dance room. It’s a lot nicer now that they’ve gotten a new fountain put in. Before it was working one day, and broken the rest of the week,” he said. One teacher has her very own water fountain. According to Mrs. Lorie Wacaster, students make special stops for the water in her room. “Every day around 10:00 a.m., Dana Higgins comes in here to fill up her water bottle,” said Mrs. Wacaster. “I think it’s because not a lot of people come in here and use it so it’s always cold. I always try to make sure that it’s clean too.”

Higgins added that, “It should be noted that in order to obtain this water, you must be in one of Mrs. Wacaster’s classes -- you can’t just come in here and drink it.” Senior Lydia Pagan, who enjoys drinking bottled water most days at lunch said, “The best water is definitely from the Tiger Café.” Senior Kevin Yoo agreed with Pagan that bottled water was his favorite. “My favorite place to get water is from the gym concession stand where Mrs. B is always there to give me a cold bottle of water,” said Yoo. Putting aside all of the clichés of water bottles and fountains, junior Erica Diamond claimed that the best water on campus would be “the products of combustion in Brenda Cannon’s chamber after firing.” Apparently, Mr. Trevor Herntier has an experiment that involves alcohol combusting to form H2O through means of his cannon, affectionately referred to as Brenda. It is nice to see so many students and staff around the school not only trying to reuse their plastic water bottles, but also using alternative water bottles such as Britta, Bobble, Camelback, and Sigg. These bottles encourage the use of tap water by adding a filter to signature, reusable, and eco-friendly bottles. With the increased use of filtered water bottles, maybe the best water can come from anywhere.

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Bringing it Back By Megan McCreery

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n 1994, Colleen and Ken Braid’s son Kyle took his own life in a steroid rage incident. He attended Melbourne High School, and would have graduated two years later. Kyle was very active in football at Mel High, where he played alongside Coach Tracy Biggs. Biggs, a running back, and Braid, a lineman, were high school teammates and best friends. “Our team was so close; it was pretty bad. People didn’t expect suicide [from Kyle]. He had such big leadership skills,” said Biggs. The team, in general, felt the pressure to get bigger, faster, and stronger by any means necessary throughout the season. “At that time, teenagers didn’t understand what that meant,” said Biggs. When the JKB program was set up in high schools around Brevard County, the students

involved thought it was amazing. Mel High was very happy, however, there was little available funding for the trips. When Biggs left Mel High and came to Holy Trinity, he was very excited to find the JKB program active here. “It’s a big part of me; I’m extremely happy,” said Biggs. Mr. and Mrs. Braid established “The Ranch” in 1994 in honor of Kyle’s life. Roughly 160 rising juniors head out to Colorado from places such as Ohio, Illinois and Florida each summer. Through leadership training, horseback riding, and team-building, “ranchers” grow as individuals, both physically and mentally, and end up meeting soon-to-be best friends. Student athletes who spend a week at the ranch vow to be drug and alcohol free for the remainder of high school, and have the

responsibility to pay it forward at their own schools. Here at Holy Trinity, our current group is led by Mrs. Melissa Euziere and Mrs. Lara Duguid. The group constantly tries to encourage and help peers by promoting alternative options to substance abuse. Members of JKB are expected to bring back leadership skills to their own communities, through work-shops and activities. Halfway through their sophomore year of high school, two boys and two girls are given the opportunity to head out to the ranch the following summer. The selection process begins with nominations made by teachers and coaches, as well as an explanation of activities you are involved in. This results in the top six to eight boys and six to eight girls who will eventually be interviewed. The next process includes a resume and a

JKB participants ride through mountain trails surrounding the ranch this past summer. Horseback riding, the low ropes course, and leadership training were part of the week’s activities.

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Holy Trinity’s J. Kyle Braid Participants

Amber Kieklak, from West Chicago, Illinois, Megan McCreery, from Indialantic, Florida, Karina Mann, from Merritt Island, Florida, and Miranda Hirsche, from Rockledge, Florida, enjoy delicious desserts while staying at the J. Kyle Braid ranch in Villa Grove, Colorado this past summer.

teacher recommendation. Then the JKB group, along with a large panel of respected judges, including Holy Trinity teachers, faculty, administrators, and the present JKB members, conduct an extensive interview with the nominees on a Sunday. Following that afternoon, the selected representatives are announced. The J. Kyle Braid leadership ranch impacts all who attend differently. “The biggest thing I learned from my experience with JKB is how to work with other people who have big personalities and strong opinions,” said Steven Hale, a 2006 JKB alum. “It’s one thing to be a leader when you’re the only one stepping up. It’s another thing to have to get something accomplished along with other people who care about the end result just as much as you do. Other than that, I think the Braids’ effort to make a difference in other people’s lives, after facing tragedy in their own, is inspiring,” he said. Other alumni felt the impact upon returning to the school environment. “What it did for me is make me reevaluate my own leadership skills and realize that there were definitely things I needed to work on. So, it was more the

catalyst for leadership development, at least for me,” said Hannah Chalmers, a 2010 JKB alum. Current students in JKB at Holy Trinity recently visited the ranch. The group of seniors went during the summer of 2010. “I think JKB strengthened my beliefs in ethics. I know that people who went to JKB can say that there is a different way to live. You don’t have to follow, you can do your own thing and have other people support you,” said senior Peter Karas. “I also met amazing people who value the same things that I value. I know that the friends I made are lifelong friends, who would do anything for me. Being at the JKB ranch was easily the best week of my life,” he said. This past summer, a group of juniors got to experience the ranch. “Going to the JKB Ranch in Colorado was a memorable experience. I got the chance to meet so many incredible people who taught me so much through their actions,” said junior Karina Mann. “The Braids also taught a lot about leadership and striving to be someone that others can rely on. Although activities like paintball, horseback riding, and target shooting were a blast, it was the positive attitudes of

2001 Jen Degeyter, J.T. Schroeder 2002 Eric Keen, Krista Middleton 2003 Scott Alpizer, Erin Crowe 2004 Jackie Burke, Dan Flavin Steven Hale, Laura Renfro 2005 Johnothan Amgott, GiGi Echezvria Chris LeBlanc, Kalen Wilezek 2006 Kyle Cooke, Josh Greenspoon Ashley Suchoski, Abbey Thompson 2007 Laura Canina, Wade Harris Natalie Mason, James Todd Rathmann 2008 Hannah Chalmers, Blake Hament Grace Pezzeminti, Al Valette 2009 Ali Cobb, Bailey Oas Jason Powell, Jake Shuman 2010 Peter Karas, Nikki Kilbourne Shannon Sapourn, Raleigh Sims 2011 Dylon Collins, Karina Mann Megan McCreery, Christian Teather

everyone who spent time at the JKB Ranch that make the experience unforgettable,” she said. The Holy Trinity J. Kyle Braid chapter works hard in our community to make any difference possible. By spreading the fundamental idea of teens taking the lead, change is possible. “Every year, an amazing, new group of leaders pop out,” said Mrs. Catherine Ford. “I get to see them grow; and not only that, but I see them try to grow our school. It can’t come from the adults; it has to come from the students,” she said.

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The Marshall Plan By Megan McCreery Throughout her 12 year swimming career, senior Alex Black has dreamt of becoming a collegiate athlete. Next year that dream will come true at Marshall University. Black began competitive swimming at the age of six when two days per week of practice seemed like enough of a challenge. After training with Space Coast Swimming for two years, and then switching to another club team in seventh grade, Black realized that her dreams and aspirations were beginning to require her to train longer, faster, and more often. Recently she switched teams and joined the Y.M.C.A. Central Florida swim team under Coach Colby Mack, who has encouraged her to follow her dreams. “This past summer I learned to be a racer and a competitor, to focus more, and to take things more seriously,” said Black. Black has always hoped to swim in college and has been working towards her goal for years. When she was younger she hoped to swim for the University of Florida, and also looked at other in-state schools, but realized the competition was extremely tough. Without any solid college plans, Black hoped things would soon fall into place. “Marshall contacted me first. When I got a call from them over the summer, I didn’t really know much about the school,” said Black. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, the climate will be drastically different from Florida, where Black has grown up. “I’ve never seen snow before, so I am freaking out a little bit,” said Black. Although her high school and club training has been a challenge over the years, Black acknowledges that the soonto-come college workouts will exceed any (continued on next page)

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Girls Compete at State Meet By Matthew Allison Four girls represented the Holy Trinity swim team at the FHSAA State Championship swim meet at the Orlando YMCA on November 11th. “The four girls did great, going against the tough state competitors,” said Coach Kate O’Connell. The relay team of sophomore Skye Carey, seniors Alex Black and Gaby Rowland, and freshman Whittaker-Anne Johnston came close to setting a Holy Trinity medley relay team personal record previously set at regionals. The girls did an impressive job winning their morning prelims, and making it to the finals where they placed 14th. Swimming in the state finals was a huge goal for the girls since the beginning of the season. “The girls were up against fierce competitors, but held themselves with grace, acted with true sportsmanship, and made a statement with their swimming,” said Coach O’Connell. The girls also did very well in their individual events. Carey had a truly impressive day. She is only a sophmore and is already placing at the state level. She placed 15th place overall for the 100 yard back freestyle, and came in 12th place for

Skye Carey The Holy Trinity sophomore placed in two individual events at the state meet.

her 100 yard back stroke. Coach O’Connell is expecting a lot from her in the future, maybe even an state title. “Our relay team did great, but I thought individually I could have done much better. I still have two years ahead of me, and I am looking to the future and what I can improve on,” said Carey. Coach O’Connell completely disagrees with Carey’s breakdown of her performance at the state meet. “I thought that Skye swam her heart out, and next year, being only a junior, she will be eyeing the podium,” said Coach O’Connell. Black, who has recently committed to Marshall University, and Johnston also swam impressively in the morning prelims in the 100 yard breaststroke, and the 100 yard back stroke, respectively. Johnston, who is only a freshman, has more than enough time to improve on her strokes and became a tough competitor through out the rest of her high school career. “I was really proud of them. They swam great,” said Coach O’Connell. “They did not break their personal record, but with the atmosphere of the state meet they gave it their best shot.”

Black commits to swim for Thundering Herd in college (continued from previous page) previous struggle, although she welcomes the challenges that lay ahead. “The college swim season is a little different from high school. Pre-season begins about three weeks into school, and we begin competing in early October when there are meets almost every weekend,” said Black. “Training ends around Christmas time and then after having a week off, you go on a training trip. After that trip, the intense training picks up again, because conference, the main meet of the year, takes place in February,” she said. After going up for her official visit at Marshall University and meeting their current team, Black loved how the team seemed like a family, which is a large part of the reason she decided to go there. Also,

she really likes the coaching staff led by Head Coach Russ Hunt. Her future team and coaches, along with her family have always been very supportive. “Nobody ever told me I couldn’t do it. And for that matter, I wasn’t going to take no for an answer from anyone. Everyone was always positive, and kept enforcing it to me that ‘if you want it, go get it’, and ‘if that’s what you want, then we’re behind you.’ Honestly, I just can’t imagine my life without swimming,” said Black. Black knew many years ago that her favorite stroke was breaststroke, mostly because that was what she was good at. Her personal record for the 100 meter breaststroke is 1:08. On the contrary, her least favorite has always been backstroke. “I’ll need two events. My second

best, after breaststroke, is the 200 meter freestyle. I also like relays because it’s one of those times that the pressure’s not all on you, because everyone is working for one common goal,” said Black. Black knows that in order to be successful at the Division I level in college she will have to stay very focused. She understands the hard work and stamina that will be neccessary, and she commits to herself that academics always come first because she also needs to be successful in the classroom. Black has considered many career options, but has zeroed in on graphics and marketing, hoping to someday work for a surf company similar to Hurley.

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Boys Cross Country Tea By Catie Sergis The boys cross country team has seen nothing but success this past season, both individually and as a team. The boys have taken first place at several races this season, and the state meet was no different. “We just did what coach said,” said senior Joey Castagnaro, co-captain of the boys team. “Six of us have been there before, so we knew what it was like and how to mentally prepare.” The boys had a total of 37 points, and a team average of 16:23. Second place went to Trinity Prep, with a total score of 55 points. Clearly a unanimous win went to the Holy Trinity boys. “All we were looking to do was win state with as little points as possible,” said Castagnaro. With the state meet over, the boys traveled to Cary, North Carolina to compete in the southeast regional meet of Nike Cross Country Nationals. The team placed 10th overall in the regional meet, competing against all classes. Daniel Moore spent his senior year with wins across the state. Since his course record time of 14:57 at Great American this season, he has had many opportunities for a

successful running future. “I still have lots of time, but I’m excited to be attending Duke University,” said Moore. “I want to be a part of a successful group of guys, and get a good education.” As the girls walked to the starting line, you could tell they were determined. As soon as the girls 1A race began, freshman Julie Wollrath took the lead at the front of the pack. Once the race set in, the girls heard the words of the commentator, “Oak Hall and Providence are in the lead.” Junior Brianna Wahy, co-captain of the girls team, said “I was feeling confident at the start, and I was excited to see the outcome.” Many of the girls were excited, and others nervous. “I felt nervous going into the race, but I heard the fans and I started to feel better,” said junior Mackenzie Dummer. Once all seven girls crossed the finish line, they realized first place might not be within reach this year. “I knew Providence was ahead when Coach Butler told me their number seven was in front of me at the second mile,” said

senior Dana Slomins. The girls team ended their season with a third place finish at the 1A state meet. While past years have often seen first and second places, the girls did a phenomenal job all season. Their hard work and dedication is very admirable, and they have a bright future ahead. “We definitely came a lot further than predicted. Oak Hall and Providence had really good days. If we would’ve had a better day, we would have been that much closer,” said Wahy. “I was happy for both teams, but I knew that the later time affected the girls because of the heat,” said Coach Doug Butler. “I was really happy for the boys, but sad for the girls because this is the first time in ten years we weren’t first or second.” However, a major win on the girls side went to freshman Julie Wollrath. Although Wollrath won a state title during last year’s track season, this was her first individual cross country title. She ran a time of 18:18. “I was nervous like the others, but still excited. I was a little stressed during the week because this was the first time I was

Junior Ruby Watts, eighth-grader Stacey Torkelson, and sophomores Lydia Kucera and Catie Sergis cheer on the cross country team at the state meet held at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

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am Wins Fifth State Title

Alex Hoffman, Tristan Kattenberg, Alex Brown, Cole Oliver, Joey Castagnaro, Andrew Cacciatore, Daniel Moore, and Coach Doug Butler stand atop the podium at the 1A state meet in Dade City. The boys took first place, earning their fifth state title.

predicted to win the race, and it always seems easier for me to win as the underdog,” said Wollrath. The upcoming years are looking very bright for the girls cross country team. Much of the team is made up of young talent. Sam Folio, a seventh grader, ran at the state meet with a time of 21:04. Along with Folio, there are a number of junior high girls on the junior varsity team that will definitely be seeing the state course very soon. “It’ll be exciting to see the team improve in the upcoming years with the younger girls,” said junior Karina Mann, co-captain of the girls team. This cross country season was full of success for both teams. With individual titles and team titles, the Tigers are truly a dynasty. A major reason for the successfulness of the Holy Trinity cross country team is due to Coach Butler. He recently earned a spot in the record books. “I currently hold the record of having the most state champions in the state of Florida. I have 11 state titles. There are three other coaches in Florida that have 10 state titles,” said Coach Butler.

Moore commits to Duke By Kenny Liska As the cross country season came to an exciting close, so did the high school cross country running career for senior Daniel Moore. With a third place finish at the state meet this year and having committed to Duke University, Moore’s running experience is far from over. Moore began running cross country during his eighth grade year. He decided to give it a try due to past experiences of running well during elementary school. During eighth grade he had a best time of 20:04, but he continued on through high school to finish his final season with a best time of 14:57. “When I started, I just wanted to focus on myself,” said Moore. He convinced himself that he would not become intimidated and focused on his own development. By the time his freshman year came around, it definitely showed. The state meet in 2008 was a defining moment for Moore. Holy Trinity and Trinity

Prep, one of the boys’ top rivals, were extremely close. After the fourth runner on both teams had crossed the line, Moore was far behind Trinity Prep’s fifth runner. Head Coach Doug Butler knew that the team title would be lost, so as Moore passed him he told him he needed to pick it up if they had any chance of winning. Moore followed those words perfectly, passing the Trinity Prep runner and several others before finishing and securing the victory for the boys team that year. “I wanted to be the best,” said Moore. He has definitely proved this desire by becoming one of the best runners in the state this year, winning the Race of Champions at the Great American Cross Country Festival and placing third in the state meet. One thing Moore is certain about is the amazing experience that he has had running for Holy Trinity. “Loved it, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Moore said happily.

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At Home in the Gym By Casey Nierenberg Coach Natasha Ward adds to the Hoosier population here at Holy Trinity by joining the faculty as the new junior high PE coach. If you have never heard of a Hoosier, then you should know that a Hoosier is the nickname given to a person from Indiana. Coach Ward was born and raised in Speedway, Indiana which is the capital of Indy Car racing and home to NASCAR’s Brickyard 400. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a huge tourist attraction with the oldest racetrack in the country, where the Indy 500 is held every year. Even though Coach Ward says she isn’t a big fan of auto racing, she has attended the Indy 500 every year that she can remember and doesn’t plan on stopping. She loves the atmosphere and the people there. After graduating from Speedway High School, home of the Spark Plugs, she decided to move in with her family in Melbourne, Florida, and figure out what she wanted to do. She originally didn’t like Florida, so she moved back to Indiana and attended

college at Indiana University. After graduating from Indianapolis, Coach Ward moved back to Florida while looking for a job. She never thought of or saw herself becoming a PE teacher, but she believes it was God’s plan for her to meet Coach Vicki Bransford who suggested the job at Holy Trinity to Coach Ward. She has had a lot of fun with her students while competing with them during her favorite games such as handball and capture the flag. Coach Ward had a fantastic volleyball career in high school. She also played varsity softball and basketball, and was offered a scholarship to college for volleyball, until she had a major back injury and lost discs in her spine in spots L3, L4, and L5. Coach Ward was also a part of HT’s varsity volleyball program as one of the assistant coaches. “I had fun with the girls and enjoyed watching them play, and I thought they all have tremendous potential,” said Coach Ward.

She was upset about the team’s regional loss, but wouldn’t have done anything differently than Coach Barret. Coach Ward is also excited about her new upcoming job as the assistant softball coach. She is looking forward to being a big influence on the girls and helping to improve the team’s pitching and fielding skills. Athletic ability runs in the blood of the Ward family. Her brother became a professional kicker and played for numerous NFL teams such as the Chiefs and Jets, and also played for a Canadian team. If you’re ever trying to find Coach Ward outside of school, the first place to look is at one of the local gyms. She loves to workout. Another place that she spends most of her time is at her church. She also said that she is only social once in a while and enjoys spending most of her free time with her family.

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Spirit of the Season By Kyra Weiss With Christmas break approaching and the holidays getting closer, plans for Christmas break are being made. There are many things in our area that keep the holiday spirit alive and happy. The annual Wickham Park light show runs through the entire month of December including Christmas Eve. Disney’s Epcot Park is presenting Holidays Around the World through December 30, where you can experience the diverse Christmas customs and traditions of other countries. Included in Holidays Around the World is Candlelight held every night at the American Gardens Theater at Epcot. Candlelight is the retelling of the Christmas story with music from choirs and orchestras.

The Ice! exhibit at Gaylord Palms is two million pounds of hand carved ice set up as a winter wonderland to walk through, play with, and enjoy. The Ice! exhibit is running through January 2. At Sea World there are a lot of holiday activities and shows to enjoy. Shamu’s Christmas Miracles show is a special Christmas show that runs through the entire month of December. The Winter Wonderland on Ice is a spectacular show with water fountains and fireworks featuring performances by many famous ice skaters. The Polar Express Experience is a Christmas-themed simulator ride based on the book and movie The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. There are also some great concerts coming to our area this month. The Trans-

Siberian Orchestra is performing at the Amway Arena on December 11. Performing at the House of Blues are the XL’ent Xmas 2011 shows featuring LMFAO, Jason Derulo, Karmin, and Outasight on December 12, Avril Lavigne with Cobra Starship on December 13, and One Republic and The Fray on December 14. Coming to the Bob Car Performing Arts Center in Orlando is the Broadway Musical South Pacific, and the Nutcracker Ballet. The show times for South Pacific are December 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 8:00 p.m., December 10 at 2:00 p.m., and December 11 at 1:00 pm and 6:30 p.m. The Nutcracker Ballet with Orlando City Ballet is showing on December 15, and 16 at 7:30 p.m., December 17 at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.; and December 18 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

The Fray, along with several other artists will be performing in the XL’ent Xmas shows at the House of Blues this month. There are many holiday events for students to attend throughout the month of December.

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‘Tis the Season for Christmas Classics By Patrick Black With the holiday season kicking into gear, everyone finds ways to get into the holiday spirit from decorating your house, to singing some catchy Christmas tunes, to stuffing your face with more pumpkin pie. However, watching Christmas movies has always been a big part of the holiday season. Here are some classics. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Firstly, if you have not heard of or seen this movie, then stop reading and go watch it right now. Secondly, if you are going to watch Miracle on 34th Street, do not watch any of the four remakes. Now that that’s settled, let’s continue. The original movie tells the story of Kris Kringle (yes, that really is his name) the new department store Santa for Macy’s. After touching the hearts of so many children, they start to believe that he is actually Santa Claus, which leads many to become concerned. Eventually, he is put on trial where his sanity is questioned (don’t worry, it gets better). The movie is

phenomenal, even after 64 years. It has great acting, a wonderful story, and just makes you believe that Santa is real. It is

a true holiday classic that you will want to see every Christmas as it really puts you in the Christams spirit. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) Probably the best remembered adaptation

of a Dr. Seuss book ever. This film is also a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. The Grinch, a Scrooge-like character decides to steal Christmas from the Whos in Whoville out of jealously. However, instead of being visited by three ghosts, he literally has a change of heart (it was apparently two sizes too small), and brings back Christmas to the Whos. The 1966 TV special is also well known for the song You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch which is still played even after all these years. There was also a live action movie released in 2001 that starred Jim Carey as the Grinch. However, the original is better. Home Alone (1990) This is defintely one of filmmaker John Hughes’ greatest works. The movie chronicles Kevin, who was accidently left behind by his family on Christmas Eve. He tries to defend his house from two bandits

Student Voices What is your favorite Chirstmas movie? “I like The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s awesome.” -- Jenna Hindsley, junior “Definitely Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it’s a claymation, and the toys on the island of misfit toys are really cute. Also I like it becuase I felt like a misfit as a child.” -- Kim Fiore, sophomore “Christmas Shoes because every time I watch it, I still cry.” -- PJ Rodriguez, junior

“The original Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer because it brings back delieghtful childhood memories.” -- Joey Rain, sophomore

“It’s a Wonderful Life because my father made me watch it every year and you develop a taste for it.” -- Nick Belston, freshman

“A Charlie Brown Christmas because my family watches it religiously almost every year.” -- Dolan Bortner, junior “I don’t have a favorite, but let’s go with Miracle on 34th Street.” -- Peter Fuentes, junior “The Nightmare Before Christmas because it is not really Christmasy. Christmas movies are usually cheesy.” -- Ann Bostanjian, freshman

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with a series of boobie traps that result in hilarious and painful outcomes for the bandits. This film will always be a classic for its great use of slapstick humor and witty dialogue. There have since been three sequels made: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Home Alone 3, which has a new set of actors and story, and Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House, which was not released in theaters. The Santa Clause (1994) This movie starts off with Scott, played by Tim Alllen, accidentally killing Santa Claus while with his son on Christmas Eve. By putting on Santa’s coat, he becomes the new Santa Claus. The movie is a nice family comedy that shows that Santa’s job is a lot more complicated than originally thought. The film, like all Christmas movies should, makes you feel good as you watch Scott rebuild the relationship with his son and try to save Christmas (like that has not been done before). The success of the film has spawned two sequels, The

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Other Notable Christmas Classics It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) White Christmas (1954) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) Frosty the Snowman (1969) Christmas Vaction (1989) A Christmas Story (1983) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) The Christmas Shoes (2002) Love Actually (2003) A Christmas Carol (any version)

Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3: the Escape Clause. Elf (2003) This is a more modern holiday film that became an instant holiday classic. Will Ferrel is really at his best in this comedy where he plays Buddy the Elf, a human who grew up as an elf and eventually returns to the human world to find his family. Buddy’s gullibility and his childish point-of-view really hits New York hard, as it is a town without Christmas spirit. The film is truly funny because of the way Buddy handles seemingly normal tasks, and his innocent view on the world tends to conflict with other people’s realistic views. His high-energy Christmas spirit eventually changes New York for the better and once again saves Christmas (this cliché is really starting to get old). The film’s popularity has spawned a Broadway musical appropriately called Elf the Musical. The show itself has gotten mixed reviews, but has broken box office records three times.

Will Ferrel stars as Buddy the Elf in the movie Elf. Elf is a popular film among Holy Trinity students for its unique brand of comedy and Christmas cheer.

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The Growl

The Growl

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Shelf Life Can traditional school libraries survive in the age of the Internet and hand-held technology? By Dana Slomins You walk through the doors and suddenly find yourself among rows and rows of books of every kind. Students are studying, others are reading their favorite novel, and some are catching up on the news in today’s newspaper. But something is different. None of them are reading from an actual book or newspaper, despite the thousands that are available to them in that very room, but instead they each have an iPad, a laptop, or a Kindle in their hands. Over the past several years, technology has drastically changed the way we read. It seems like using the Internet at the library is just as common as flipping through the pages of a book. With this sudden increase of technology, some believe libraries may soon be a thing of the past. Schools across the country, including prep school Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, have decided to get rid of their traditional libraries in favor of technology. They are replacing the books with electronic readers, flat-screen TVs, and laptop cubicles. O t h e r s , h o w e v e r, d i s a g r e e w i t h completely replacing books. They feel that technology is only helping to supplement the books that are available to readers. Upper School Librarian Mrs. Arlene Sutherland has noticed this technology craze at our school, but feels that libraries are still

just as important as ever in students’ lives. “Studies have been done that show when libraries are not available, students don’t do as well on the ACT, SAT, and FCAT,” said Mrs. Sutherland. She has, however, recognized that libraries are changing and is working on incorporating more technology into our school library. “We already have some eBooks. They’re mostly reference books, so I’m not buying those any more,” said Mrs. Sutherland. Students are able to search for books, newspapers, journal articles, and encyclopedias on databases including Questia and EBSCOhost. The selection of novels that are available online is not as large, so Mrs. Sutherland has not yet purchased any other eBooks besides reference books. “We may need to purchase Kindles or Nooks, but that might be a budget issue,” said Mrs. Sutherland. This technology that is slowly taking over books does have some disadvantages, though. Electronic books can lead to confusion if a teacher assigns certain pages to be read since page sizes of Kindles, iPads, and actual books can vary significantly. It will also take a while to digitize the estimated 100 million books that have been

printed, and most authors will not allow their work to be accessible for free on the Internet. This makes it hard to believe that all libraries will be completely gone any time soon. Especially since in some communities, libraries are the only place where students have access to both computers and books. So even if publishers can agree on a format and the majority of books do become available online, it’s unlikely that libraries will be completely phased out of our lives. School libraries, however, may not face as much opposition as public libraries. The number of books that are being checked out from school libraries nationwide is very small compared to the number of books that are available to students. Teachers reserve times to bring their classes to the library for the sole purpose of using computers, not books. It seems unlikely that books will become a thing of the past any time soon. After all, it’s been 10 years since the invention of the iPod, and an estimated 400 million CDs are still sold each year. The future of school libraries, however, is a topic that is in debate around the country. It’s hard to tell if they will be able to survive in such a technology-driven world, but for now we can expect them to continually change as technology advances.

The Growl

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Volleyball Wins Districts By Bobby Forman Holy Trinity volleyball had an excellent year, hosting the regional game in early November. The varsity team won their fourth district title in late October, but ended up getting knocked out of regionals in the first match, losing to Orangewood Christian in the fifth set by two points. “Personally I think this was one of our best seasons yet,” said senior Jackie Swalchick. “I definitely think Holy Trinity will never forget this year’s volleyball season,” she said. Other members of the team shared Swalchick’s opinion about the team’s performance this season. “Overall we improved as a team and we were able to win districts,” said fellow senior Shannon Sapourn. Senior Sofia Peterson felt the team needed to put more effort on and off the the court. “Honestly, I think we could’ve done better,” said Peterson. Junior Gabriella Aguilo-Seara shares Peterson’s outlook on the season. “At the begining of the season we had a lot of potential to go far, but it was pretty disappointing how it ended,” said AguiloSeara. Sapourn explained that everyone on the team wanted to get better and that there were areas the team could have improved on, but it was still a successful season. A total of eight seniors are leaving the volleyball team this year and many of the younger girls will have to step up to fill the

seniors’ shoes. Sapourn feels there are plenty of girls, including juniors Savannah Hicks, Izzy Carmona, and Gabriela Aguilo-Seara, and sophomores Chelsea Pruitt and Gabby Dixon, who will be able to step up and lead the team into a successful season next year. Some of the seniors leaving the team have already committed to play at the collegiate level. This includes Swalchick who will be playing for the University of Florida next year. “I’m super excited about getting to play for Florida next year, not only because of the collegiate level of intensity, but also for the learning experience. I really look forward to working with all the coaches there and learning different techniques,” said Swalchick. “I know that it’s going to be a difficult path to take, but I couldn’t imagine not playing volleyball. I know that in the end all the hard work will pay off,” she said. Peterson is also excited about playing collegiately. She will be playing for Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio, which has an excellent volleyball program. As always, the Ambush has been making their voices heard at all the varsity volleyball games, with their many traditions such as The Book, The Roller Coaster, and Bowling. Now that this season of volleyball is over, we have to wait until 2012 to see what success is in store for next year’s varsity volleyball team.

Top: Ambush leaders Marcus Maye, Ryan Rufo, and Douglas Dial smile for the camera. Middle: Junior Savanah Hicks hits a serve to the other team during the regional game. Bottom: Seniors Bridget Higgins, Jackie Swalchick, and Haley Revills wait for the opposing team to return the ball. Left: The volleyball team and Ambush members celebrate Holy Trinity’s district title.