"The Patriot," Issue 2, Volume 60

Patriots celebrate 2024 Spirit

by Ella Dodds Patriot Staff Photographer

Spirit Week began on Monday, October 7 and ended on Friday, October 11, building excitement for the Homecoming Dance.

This year’s Spirit Week was two weeks later than last year’s when the events fell at the end of September.

SGA Co-Moderator Allison Hall said this was positive because “freshmen were able to have a bit more time in school, and students were able to have more time to prepare.”

On Monday, the week started strongly with a holiday theme. Each grade was assigned a different holiday.

Grade levels voted on their preferred holidays. The 4th of July was originally not an option on the ballot due to the political nature of the upcoming election. However, seniors provided the administration with strong arguments as to why that holiday should be included.

Monday’s special event was an Advisory Block Party where students could visit other advisories to see friends and eat food.

Sophomore Kate Grovich said, “I liked the Advisory Block Party because I could get food from other rooms.”

The second day of Spirit Week was Class Color Day in which students wore class t-shirts.

Tuesday also included the Powderpuff Game between the junior and senior girls; the seniors won 36-6. During halftime, there was a goal- kicking competition between sophomores and freshmen girls.

Junior Julia Dominick said, “My favorite Spirit Week theme was Class Color Day because it was really cool to see all the classes being proud of their colors and representing their grades with all kinds of accessories.”

The third day of Spirit Week was Celebrity Day. On this day, students could dress as their favorite celebrities.

English teacher Sherri Woosley said, “Celebrity Day was my favorite because Izzie Parrish dressed as me. I was shocked and delighted to find another set of twins in the Woosley family.”

The fourth day of Spirit Week theme was Age Day.

Mrs. Hall said that while Age Day is not one of the preset dress days like Class Color and Black and Gold Days, Age Day seems to have become a tradition. “Age Day has had one of the top votes for the last several years. Seniors look forward to dressing up as senior citizens.”

Thursday included an extended

Spirit Week and Homecoming in October

advisory for the Quiz Bowl competition between an All-Star Teacher Team and the Academic Team. The teachers won the competition 280-40.

Thursday included a ring hunt during five different mods. Students who found the ring won Amazon gift cards.

“Dr. Davidson and I start looking for places to hide the ring at the beginning of the school year. The challenge is to hide the ring in common places that may not be too obvious,” explained Mrs. Hall.

The final day of Spirit Week was Black and Gold themed and included the pep rally, in which offered different types of games for athletes and coaches to participate.

“Credit for the pep rally real-

ly goes to Mrs. [Tricia] Giuffrida, Mr. [Nathan] Nocket, and Mrs. [Hannah] Roy. They did an awesome job putting the games together and making sure things kept moving,” explained Mrs. Hall.

Business Teacher Christopher Scannell commented, “The last day when everyone was dressed up in John Carroll gear was my favorite because it was kind of like a Dress Down Day, but everyone was just supporting the school. That one just really stood out to me.”

The Homecoming Football Game took place Friday against St. Vincent Pallotti High School. The Patriots lost 6-3 in overtime.

On Saturday night, over 900 Patriots and their guests attended the Home-

coming Dance with the theme of “Under the Sea.” The event was held in the Upper Gym, the cafeteria, and the courtyard. Reflecting on Spirit Week and future themes, freshman Peyton Straub said, “I really hope that they will bring back the Country vs. Country Club theme; I want to experience it at least once.”

Overall, Mrs. Hall said that she and Co-SGA Moderator Anthony Davidson thought the week went really well.

“For seniors, this was their final Homecoming and Spirit Week. For freshmen, this week included new experiences. We hope that students from all four grades will take away great memories of the days and the dance.”

Holiday Day kicks off annual Spirit Week

by Maggie Wells Patriot Underclass Editor

Excitement filled the halls of John Carroll on Monday, October 7 for Holiday Day to start the first day of the fun-filled Spirit Week.

Holiday Day was organized by grade into four separate categories of different celebrations.

Freshmen dressed up in their best Valentine’s Day gear, with tons of hearts and bows and arrows. Sophomores wore Halloween-themed outfits including pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. Juniors wore Christmas outfits, including some with their best ugly Christmas sweaters, Christmas pajama pants, and Santa hats. Seniors spread the patriotic spirit with Fourth of July outfits, wearing red, white, and blue, carrying flags, and dressing up as bald eagles.

Students generally were very pleased with the holiday themes this year.

Junior Gianna Gargano said, “I have always found the concept of holidays to be quite appealing, and I really enjoyed the theme this year. I think that the seniors did the best dressing up because they had a wide variety of accessories they could incorporate.”

Students also got to look forward to the Advisory Block Party on Monday morning. This was officially the third year for this block party.

Advisories were asked to bring in snacks and open their doors to students to create a fun and friendly environment. The turnout was wonderful this year.

Junior Annabeth Hohman said, “I really like that we can walk around to other advisories; the freedom is my favorite part. I think my advisory brought the best snacks because we had chicken minis and hash browns.”

Monday: Holiday Day

Grade levels show off their class colors

by Ava Rogers Patriot Photography Editor

Class Color Day took place on Tuesday October 8. On this day, each class wore its designated color. Seniors wore green; juniors wore blue; sophomores wore red, and freshmen wore white.

Along with their class shirts, students wore tutus, capes, beaded necklaces, hats, tights, shoes and other accessories to show their class spirit.

Freshman Juliana Mauldin said, “It was fun seeing everybody go all-out for school.”

There were an equal number of options for everyone to wear. It was up to the creativity of the student. Many decided dress up and match with their friends.

Senior Ellie Hughes said, “It’s fun to see the rivalry between the classes.”

The Class Color Day is one of the set dress down days of Spirit Week. The special event for the day was the annual Powderpuff game. The seniors won the game 36-6.

Junior Sescie Wann said, “My favorite part of Class Color Day was Powderpuff. I did not play, but I enjoyed cheering on my friends from the stands.”

Junior Jade Thames said, “It was so fun going all-out and getting covered in paint for the game.”

Senior Katie Cushing said, “My favorite part was watching my class beat the juniors.”

Due to a special bell, all four grade levels were dismissed early to sit in the stands to watch the game. At halftime, a few freshman and sophomore representatives participated in a field goal kick competition.

Senior Brooks Muller said, “It’s cool to see all the different ways people support their classes.”

Tuesday: Class Color Day

Courtyard cookout provides highlight

by Autumn Gray Patriot Photography Editor

This year Wednesday’s Spirit Week dress down theme included new addition. It also included cookout in the courtyard during lunch mods.

The theme was Celebrity Day. Students could dress up as a celebrity or wear a t-shirt that displayed their favorite celebrity.

The specific rule for this theme was that the selected celebrity could not be involved in a scandal or in the news for a negative reason.

“I really liked Celebrity Day because there were so many different people you could be,” commented junior Maddie Hall.

There were a variety of celebrity selections such as Adam Sandler, as well as popular movie characters such as Olaf from Frozen. Others dressed up generically as rich and famous celebrities.

During both lunch mods, a special Spirit Week Cookout was offered in the courtyard.

The lunch was selected by students with “The Ballpark Special” being the winning vote out of the three possible lunch choices.

The Ballpark Special included a hamburger or hot dog, nachos with cheese sauce, bagged popcorn, and a bottle of water for $5.

“I loved how delicious the food was. I also really enjoyed how great the atmosphere in the courtyard was, and I was able to spend time with my friends and other people I don’t normally sit with at lunch,” said junior Julia Dominick.

“I enjoyed being in the courtyard with my friends for the lunch,” said junior Emma Kaminski.

JC Patriots of all ages walk halls for the day

by Ella Dodds Patriot Staff Photographer

The fourth day of Spirit Week started strongly with many students walking into the building dressed for Age Day.

The freshmen dressed up as toddlers, wearing many colorful onesies, hair bows, and pacifiers. Sophomores dressed as elementary school children and wore pajamas and children’s backpacks.

Juniors were assigned working adults, and several students wore suits and ties and other career-related clothing like scrubs. Finally, seniors went all out for their last Spirit Week as senior citizens; from wigs to walkers, seniors did not disappoint.

Sophomore Michaela Hipley said, “I liked how a lot of seniors went all-out on their costumes. A lot of seniors had canes and stuff that was really funny.”

During an extended advisory, students watched the Academic Team take on a teacher team. The competition was hosted by Academic Team Moderator Sherri Woosley.

Teacher Team Member Matthew Blair said, “It was very well organized and put together.”

The Quiz Bowl included puzzling questions from various subject areas and even some curve ball questions regarding athletics and tire changing.

A second member of teacher team, English teacher Lucas Denzler said, “Quiz Bowl went well; for my first year here, it was very exciting, Mr. Blair and the others took it very seriously. I also did Quiz Bowl at my last school.”

The teachers won 280-40. The students just could not compete with the teacher’s knowledge on various subjects.

The Ring Hunt also took place on Thursday during mods four through nine. Each mod, students were emailed a clue about the location of the ring. When the ring was found, it was taken to the security desk, where the student who found the ring received an Amazon gift card.

Thursday: Age Day

Black and Gold displays JC Patriot Pride

by Madelyn Aiosa

Patriot Club Manager

This year on Friday, October 11, Patriots enjoyed various spirit-themed festivities. From dressing up in black and gold to cheering on teams at the annual pep rally, Patriot Pride was at an all-time high.

Friday’s dress-down theme was Black and Gold. All students and faculty were instructed to wear their favorite JC merchandise or anything that showed off their school colors. Girls wore gold tutus and headbands with black leggings and various shirts, and boys mostly wore sweatpants with JC hoodies.

Senior Brooke Carroll said that her favorite part of Friday’s dress-down theme was “coming together with my senior class and going all out for our last spirit day.”

Sophomore Madison Harris enjoyed this theme, but if she could change anything she said she would “make it acceptable to wear black and gold face paint.”

Every spirit day included an in-school special activity, and Friday’s was the pep rally.

The pep rally allowed all fall sports to be represented. From football to field hockey, each team was called into the gymnasium to be recognized and cheered on by their peers.

The cheerleaders gave a show-stopping performance

during the pep rally. There were various stunts and songs, making it exciting and extremely impressive to watch. Madison Harris enjoyed cheering in the pep rally and showing off her hard work in front of the entire school.

During the pep rally, different sports teams battled it out over games like Hungry Hungry Hippo, Tug-of-War, and Hula-Hoop Rock Paper Scissors. Grade levels cheered on teams, making the gym roar with excitement.

Junior Sescie Wann enjoyed the Hula-Hoop Rock Paper Scissors game the most out. “I am friends with a lot of people on the volleyball team, so I really enjoyed watching my friends and cheering them on.”

The Homecoming Football Game was on Friday evening. Alumni, parents, and students from all grades showed up to cheer on the Patriot football team.

Halftime was kicked off by all a performance by the cheerleaders. The Royal Homecoming Court representatives then were announced. Patriots from each grade level had their names announced while they proudly walked across the field. After the Court was announced, the marching band and color guard took the field with a choreographed routine.

Unfortunately, JC lost 6-3 in overtime to St. Vincent Pallotti High School.

The game buzzer sounded, officially ending Spirit Week as students would soon begin preparations for the Saturday’s Homecoming Dance.

Pep Rally

Over 900 students and guests attend the 2024

by Autumn Gray Patriot Photography Editor

This year’s annual Homecoming Dance had the theme “Under the Sea.” The dance took place on the evening of Saturday, October 12.

Last year the Homecoming Dance was outside, however this year the dance was moved back indoors to the Upper Gym.

SGA Co-Moderator Allison Hall said that several students had come in earlier in the day to decorate. “SGA Members took care of putting things up at the entrances and on the tables in both the cafeteria and the gym”

The balloon arrangements arrived shortly after and were set up. “The balloons worked well in adding to the atmosphere of the overall theme,” Mrs. Hall added.

A giant whale was hung inside the gym over the dance floor.

Junior Melina Boyle said, “I liked the decorations, especially the big whale that hung over-top the dance floor.”

Students walked into the dance through the doors closest to the Upper Gym beginning at 7:00 pm where they were met by teachers and staff who checked them in at various tables in the entryway.

“We had about 100 more people than we did last year, and we were happy with the overall response,” explained Mrs. Hall.

Once students were checked in they were directed into the upper gym for the dance itself.

Tables were located in the back of the Upper Gym for students and their guests to relax. Students also had the option to spend time in the cafeteria and in the courtyard.

“I loved the setup and the overall atmosphere of the dance and getting to spend time with my friends,” said junior Bennett Mcadarra.

The SGA selected Baltimore Premier Event Solutions for the DJ again as last year they were enjoyed by many students.

Sophomore Kate Grovich said, “I loved the music and the energy of everyone at the dance.”

The Royal Homecoming Court was announced at 9:00 pm. Each member of the court received a small rose bouquet as they came to the front of the gym in order to be recognized.

The court included seniors Sophie Andrychowski, Makayla Casey, Samko Duracka, Julian Ramirez, and Sara Shorts. Juniors were Patty Colangelo, Julia Dominick, Aidan Heister, and Wyatt Shifflet.

Members of the sophomore court included Katherine Grovich, Quinn Haisfield, Sydney Heister, Devin Jablon, John Lambie, and Callie Lien. Freshmen court members were Jackson Culpepper, Knighten Frank, Pierson O’Hare, Peyton Straub, and Cameron Stricker.

While a number of students and their guests did leave at 9:00 pm, several remained until the last song ended at 10:00 pm.

The main dance floor was located in the Upper Gym. Additionally, there were some tables in there decorated with the theme.

2024 Homecoming Dance

National Honor Society welcomes 81 new students

by Addie Biscoe Patriot Entertainment Editor

81 students were inducted in the National Honor Society on the evening of Thursday October 3. Including both current and newly-inducted students, the NHS now has a total of 135 members

Most new inductees are juniors, but a if senior who was not already inducted met the requirements, they could be inducted this year. Eight of this year’s inductees are seniors.

To qualify for membership, students must have a minimum GPA of 4.2 and must have completed a minimum of 60 community service hours before their junior or senior year. Students must also have not missed more than 10 days or have been late for more than 10 days per semester unless there were unusual circumstances.

When students meet these requirements, they are automatically considered. From here they receive an email with an application; students must fill out the application on time to be inducted

Once in NHS, students are responsible for keeping a 4.2 GPA, completing two service hours per quarter, being an NHS tutor, maintaining a clean discipline record, and helping assist at required NHS events.

During the induction ceremony, new inductees repeated the pledge, received their certificates, signed their names in the NHS book, and received their pins. After the ceremony, there was a brief reception with desserts in the cafeteria for inductees and their guests.

NHS Moderator Hope Hemphill hopes that students had a good time at their induction and will fulfill all of their requirements. She said that the induction “was a lovely evening that celebrated the academic, service, and leadership accomplishments of our most dedicated students.”

New inductee junior Marquis Mingle said that this was “an important

feat in his life.”

He added that being a part of NHS shows off all his hard work in and out of school and hopes that being a part of NHS will show others his leadership skills and grant him more opportunities in the future.

A week after the induction ceremony, the moderators and student board members in NHS hosted a meeting during advisory with reminders, and requirements for both new and returning members.

Above: Juniors spend time with their friends after the ceremony. Below: Senior Cameron Leach receives his award from Assistant Principal of Academics Danica Attanasio.

Above: Junior guys celebrate their academic achievements. Below: Girls gather around to enjoy desserts at the reception after their ceremony.

Festival of Lights returns for third year to celebrate holiday

by Caroline Bomboy Patriot Editor-in-Chief

John Carroll will host their third Festival of Lights in about six weeks. This annual event brings in guests from the Harford County community and beyond to celebrate the Christmas season.

On the evening of December 7, JC will open its doors between 4 pm and 8 pm to any member of the community who wants to come admire the decorations and participate in activities.

Hallways and doors throughout the building will be decorated in the time leading up to the event. Festival of Lights gives advisories the opportunity to showcase their door decorations.

All club trees and advisory classroom doors will need to be completed by December 6. Earlier that week, there will be some extended advisories to provide time for decorating.

During the event itself, there will be places to get pictures taken with Santa, ride the Polar Express train, and see a train garden. Visitors may also tour the three floors in the academic wing to see the decorated doors.

Festival of Lights is a special event because many clubs and organizations within the school community come together to put on the event.

The PTA will host a Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen with Christmas cookie decorating in one of the classrooms.

Students from the National Honor Society have already signed up to volunteer at the Festival of Lights. NHS President Natalie Gotzmann said, “We conduct face painting for children and set up a Whoville scene. Members of NHS are always excited to take part in this event and always look forward to the hundreds of people who attend.”

The music department will put on several performances throughout the evening singing Christmas carols in the chapel. They will also have singers greeting guests as they arrive.

The dance program, a major sponsor of the event, will host a craft station in the cafeteria.

Dance teacher Laura Ward-Moran said, “The dance program volunteers their time and resources to help the children who attend the event create crafts. We create different stations each with about 15-20 crafts so the kids can rotate and complete a bunch of different crafts.”

The Learning Commons will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland with decorations handmade by architecture club students.

The Student Government Organization also is a large contributor to the Festival of Lights.

They help with the administrative side of the event as well as organizing volunteers, working elevators, and showing guests around the school. The SGA purchases many of the decorations as well as the shirts for all of the student and faculty volunteers.

New additions to this year in-

clude a Tropical Sea Christmas area and a Frosty’s First Pitch.

In the courtyard, the Peer Ministry will perform a Living Nativity several times throughout the evening.

“We have a prayerful rendition of a Nativity using scripture passages from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Peer ministers dress in costume and act out the scene while another Peer Minister narrates the story using the words from The Bible,” said Director of Mission and Ministry Ken Goedeke.

Deacon Goedeke continued, “One of the best things about the Living Nativity is that it gives people who are watching a way to envision the story. The actors help people enter more deeply into the story -- almost as if they were there watching it happen in real life.”

The Campus Ministry department also lets guests take home the blessed straw as a visual reminder of the birth of Jesus to be placed in their own Nativity scenes.

HOMECOMING FLOWERGRAMS: Homecoming flowergrams were sold in September for $3 each. Each included a flower with a special note delivered to a student’s advisory on Friday, October 11, the final day of Spirit Week. Students as well as their families had the opportunity to send flowergrams to any student, faculty member, or staff member at the school. The flowergrams were organized by the staff of JC’s student newspaper, The Patriot. In addition to being sold in the school store and on-line, members of the staff sold the flowergrams at Back to School Night. Around 300 total flowergrams were sold. Those who purchased them were able to include their own personal messages that were attached to a carnation.

14 NEWS

Service ministry encourages students to get involved

by Faith Menefee

Patriot Ministry & Service Editor

Service is a huge part of ministry at John Carroll, and students get involved within their four years. There is always some type of activity or news regarding a service project.

This year John Carroll welcomed new Service Learning Coordinator Kristen Brown. Ms. Brown said there are some new opportunities and updates to the overall program.

Ms. Brown explained how they are currently in the process of updating the service website “which will include over 50 different organizations that you can serve for and a direct link that you click on to sign up to make things really easy for students to find service opportunities.”

Additionally, there will be QR codes posted around the hallways throughout the building as well as on the campus ministry bulletin board with the same list as the website. There are also always new updates in the weekly Sunday emails with the latest service ministry news.

A couple of opportunities coming up include the St. Michael-St. Clement Christmas Bazaar, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, and the Bel Air Community Clean Up. Information can be found on the website and bulletin board.

There is a TV placed in the Student Service hallway filled with information.

Mrs. Brown said, “Many students don’t know in the Student Services hallway on the TV monitor, there are different opportunities for service that are coming up for each month. Currently it’s all focused in October and some for November, too.”

Coming up is a service-based sophomore retreat at St. Joan of Arc where students will be working in classrooms with children from Pre-K to third grade. Another new update is that the service hour balance is now available at any time in Veracross. There is a new link in the Veracross parent and the student

portals to view service hours. In the Student Portal the link will be under “Student Links” heading on the right side of the page. In the Parent Portal the link will be on the “Links tab” under each child’s name.

Before service hours were updated quarterly on report cards, but now students can see their total hours at any

given time. It will take about a week for it to transfer over to Veracross after a student logs hours in Mobile Serve.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive at JC will begin on Monday of next week. Each grade level is asked to bring in certain items, and the goal is for each student and faculty member to bring in a minimum of two items.

Pond continues recovery after sudden drainage

by Peyton Donaldson Assistant Media & Online Editor

As of last spring, the Facilities department noticed a sudden drainage in the school pond behind St. Joseph Hall.

Principal Carl Patton was alerted and called environmental engineers from the Chesapeake Management Team to work on the problem.

Engineers used a temporary fix by putting sandbags along the pipe outside of the pond and hoped to have it restored back to its previous state within time.

Dr. Patton explained, “If you go take a look at where the water was coming out, there is a sandbag and stone barrier there…That equalizes the pressure so that the water can fill back up.”

Although the stone barrier is temporary, it could last indefinitely and provide a better ecosystem for the wildlife that still lives there.

During the summer, the pond suffered through drastic dry heat, causing the water levels to be lower. However, during the last weeks of summer, rain supplied the pond with better levels.

Since the pond has gained more water, “you’re going to see a film over top of [the pond] simply because when it was very low, a lot of vegetation grew in that area because it was sitting there,” Dr. Patton added.

This will cause the pond to decay and cause it to smell bad temporarily. Although currently, it has turned

The pond located behind St. Joseph Hall formed a new stable environment since its drainage.

into a waiting game due to the weather which determines when the pond can fill back up to its original size.

Science Teacher Mary Beth Cochran said, “[The pond] is getting better. The problem is that it’s not raining.”

Nevertheless, students and faculty are still able to access and visit the pond during classes and after school.

Ms. Cochran added, “I just took the Chesapeake Bay class out. The students put waders on and actually went in and scooped out water samples… The pond is a very important part to a lot of classes.”

As the pond continues to recover, many of the wildlife such as fish, turtles, and herons have been spotted and are maintaining a safe habitat.

photo by Peyton Donaldson

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI MEMORIAL MASS: John Carroll held a Mass on Friday October 4 to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The Mass was celebrated by JC campus priest Father Zach Watson, and Deacon Ken Goedeke. Students sang along during Mass and learned more about St. Francis. At the end of Mass, students sang along to the new closing song.

ANTHROPOLOGY TRIP: The anthropology class visited Mr. Gary Scholl’s home to explore local history and culture on October 3. Anthropology, the study of human societies, came to life as students examined Cheyenne artifacts and learned about their significance. A highlight of the trip was setting up a traditional tipi, which provided a handson understanding of Cheyenne life and traditions. This visit allowed everyone to connect with the past and see how artifacts tell stories about different cultures.

photos courtesy of Maggie Scheidhauer

2024 Fall SeaSon

Patriots can soak up fall with seasonal activities

by Elizabeth Balint Patriot Features Editor

As the fall season moves into its second month, one may be wondering good ways to spend it to soak it all in. A fall list is a great way to organize all the different things to do and places to go.

Field of Screams: Field of Screams is a great place to get into the Halloween spirit. It is located in Olney, Maryland, and Mountville, Pennsylvania which are both a little over an hour away from school. It is open Friday and Saturday as well as most Thursday and Sundays. In 2022, it was rated the winner in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award contest for “Best Haunted Attraction.” This is a great place to go with friends and family for a

fun and spooky experience.

Pumpkin Patches: This activity is a great way to soak in the fall weather with friends and families with multiple Pumpkin Patches locally. Not only is it a fun experience, but you can also find the perfect pumpkin to carve out later.

Hiking: Hikes are another great way to get out of the house into the beautiful fall weather. There are lots of local hiking trails to go on with friends, families and even a pet. Hiking is a fantastic way to experience great scenery while staying active.

Baking: For more of a home body activity and something fun to do on the colder fall days, baking is a great activity. It helps to stay warm and active and make some comfort treats to enjoy. Baking can start

from scratch, or pre made treats are available in stores to pop in the oven and enjoy in limited time.

Visit a Farmers Market: There are plenty of farmers markets local to John Carroll to visit and to pick up some fall treats like apple cider, apple cider donuts, and other seasonal cinnamon and pumpkin treats. The Bel Air Farmers Market is open each Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm through November 23.

Go to a Football Game: With football now in season, going to the games is a fun and popular way to cheer on a favorite team. Not only is it enjoying watching and cheering on a team, but tailgating is also another popular activity lots of football fans look forward to doing. Tailgate by setting up tables, favorite snacks, and games to prepare for the game.

As the leaves change outside, so can seasonal clothing

by Ella Campbell Patriot News Editor

As seasons change, the fall months open up many opportunities to do a wardrobe refresh. Below is a list of trendy fall favorites.

Low-Rise Jeans

Low-rise jeans are making a stylish return, captivating a new generation while reviving nostalgia for those who loved them in the early 2000s. These flattering pairs of denim can be styled up with a fitted top or down with a loose sweater or sweatshirt, making them perfect for any occasion.

Baby Tees

Small-fitting t-shirts, also known as baby tees, are a perfect basic item to keep

in the closet. These pieces can range in colors or patterns and are the perfect staple for anyone. They are also beyond comfy and allow for the wearer to look stylish while staying comfortable. Baby tees are a great to layer underneath a fun jacket, or they can be showcased by themselves.

Adidas Tennis Shoes

Originally designed as a soccer training shoe in 1949, the Samba has left its athletic roots to become a fashion icon. With its distinctive leather upper classic three stripes and rubber outsole, the Samba is hard to miss. Whether paired with jeans, skirts, or joggers, these shoes elevate any outfit with a touch of retro flair. These classic pairs of shoes come in so many colors and can add a pop of color to any outfit.

Bows

Bows are a classic staple to showcase

femininity. A small bow or two in the hair is playful and fun while a large bow on a dress, skirt, or shirt makes more of a statement. This small accessory can enhance any outfit and create a fresh new look.

Fun Prints

A great way to add color or pop into any outfit is by grabbing a piece that showcases a unique print. Camo has evolved from its military origins into a trendy staple, perfect for adding an edgy flair. Whether in jackets, pants, or accessories, camo can be dressed up or down, making it a versatile choice for various styles. Stripes, on the other hand, are a classic that never goes out of style. From bold horizontal lines to subtle pinstripes, this pattern can create a polished look or a relaxed vibe. Stripes are easy to mix and match, allowing for endless outfit possibilities.

Senior Barbato prepares for final roles on JC stage

by Juli Aragon Patriot Senior Coverage Editor

Senior Dom Barbato has been in the theatre program all four years at John Carroll. In his time at JC, Dom has been in six plays and currently is preparing for his seventh.

This is a special time for Dom now that he is able to look back at the memories from freshman year and to see himself shine in his senior year.

Dom’s first audition for a JC production was for Legally Blonde for which he was in the ensemble. For his first audition, he said that was very excited and nervous. For the current show, Catch Me if You Can, Dom was not as nervous. “I was definitely more comfortable auditioning. I knew what they were looking for, and I was able to use my past experience in the audition.”

Dom’s role in Catch Me if You Can is Agent Branton who he describes as “the main FBI character’s partner.”

Dom said, “Theater has changed my high school experience in the best way

possible. It’s given me a lot of experience when it comes to collaborating with others and has allowed me to meet some of my favorite people.”

Dom first got into theatre as he attended JC shows when he was younger. Seeing the shows slowly started to spark his passion for music and performing on stage. Once he got to JC, he felt nothing but encouragement from the Fine Arts Department to audition.

Dom said, “Being able to be a part of the theatre program has made me realize that hard work and determination can lead to a truly special reward when I get to see it all come together on stage. I know that we have made something special when I’m on stage or on the side, and I get to see and hear all the people laughing and smiling, knowing we are the reason for that.”

This was something special for Dom as he found light in being able to share his passion and love for music and performing. Dom wanted to encourage other young kids just like the JC theatre did for him when he was young. This is exactly what the theatre program does for young kids; it helps them discover their passion for music and performing.

Dom said, “Being in the theatre program is the most amazing thing I could have ever done. It has helped me with my time management skills, and it has helped me meet some of my best friends who I know will be long term friends because of the relationships and connections we were able to build during the long hours spent during plays.”

FRESHMAN FIESTA: The class of 2028 came together for their freshman year family dinner on October 8 at 6:00 pm. The meal consisted of a taco bar and dessert table filled with brownies and cookies. The class members and their families bonded by eating and playing a variety of games in the courtyard.

Dom Barbato (far right) performs in last year’s spring show.

photos courtesy of Mrs. Everett

JC teachers share childhood Halloween traditions

by Kira Jenkins Assistant Media & On-line Editor

While some Halloween traditions have changed, many have stayed the same.

Religion Teacher David Huber said when he was about seven-years-old, his mother didn’t get him a costume. He had to make a makeshift costume.

“I had this snow suit; it was black and silver, and I had a football helmet on. It was a Baltimore Colts football helmet. She wrapped my football helmet in aluminum foil, and she said I was a spaceman,” said Mr. Huber.

He then went walking around his neighborhood drenched in sweat since he was in a snow suit with everyone asking him who he was.

Math Teacher Teresa Pleiss said her favorite memory from Halloween as a kid was getting dressed up and going trick-or-treating with all her neighbors.

“We lived in a pretty big neighborhood and would get lots of candy. When we got back home, we would lay it out and trade each other for our favorite kinds.”

World Language Teacher Cathy Edge said that in her neighborhood, Halloween was considered the last block party of the neighborhood before the darkness of winter.

“It was a very special community tradition. All the neighbors would set up their trick-or-treat stations in our front lawns,” said Ms. Edge.

“They would put out candles and fire pits to light the way for the little ones.” She added that she loved staying out late as a kid and would normally end her night around 10 pm. “It was a way for us to celebrate our community.”

“As long as you had a costume, you would get a treat,” explained Ms. Edge. At the end of the night, all the neighbors would say, “See you in the spring” to close out the night.

Religion Teacher Nathan Nocket said that a tradition for him as a child was always trick-or-treating with his cousins.

“When we were younger, we would go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood, and then we’d go to my grandparents’ house and then go trick-or-treating around there with our cousins.”

When he was younger, Mr. Nocket’s favorite costume was Scooby Doo. “Growing up, I was a huge fan of Scooby Doo—like my bedroom was painted like the Mystery Machine.”

Kincaid takes on Administrative Assistant role

by Olivia Guenther Patriot Managing Editor

The Administrative Assistant role at JC has now been filled by Mandy Kincaid.

Ms. Kincaid will work closely with Assistant Principals Danica Attanasio and Jake Hollin as their assistant. She is also taking over attendance and organizing substitute assignments during the school day. This role is crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of the daily schedule at JC.

As the Administrative Assistant, Ms. Kincaid’s role is to help maintain order and efficiency within the JC community.

Her job will primarily lessen the overall workload on other staff members, allowing them to focus on their main responsibilities and contribute more effectively their duties in the classroom

However, her roll supports both

staff and students, ensuring a properly functioning school day operations and enhancing the learning environment.

“My job is to make things run as smoothly as possible,” said Ms. Kincaid.

Along with managing attendance at JC, Ms. Kincaid must use great communication skills to connect with teachers and other staff periodically throughout the day to ensure all students are where they are supposed to be during the school day.

Students can find Ms. Kincaid in the Learning Commons if there is an issue with attendance.

Left: A young Mr. Nocket with his cousins. Above: Math Teacher Mrs. Pleiss on one Halloween

Learn to grow on your personal journey

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” — John C. Maxwell

Whether you’re just now beginning your high school journey or leaving it behind, change is no easy thing, but it’s the growth that can result that matters.

As I’m nearing the end of the college application process, I’ve realized that every minute of every retreat, sport, and club I’ve participated in at John Carroll was worth it.

As a transfer student during my sophomore year, I didn’t think any of that was possible. It was my first year at JC. I was confined and set boundaries with myself that I thought I’d never cross. I’d tell myself, “You’ll never do that,” or “That could never be me,” but here we are.

I thought change was a choice, and I could avoid it, but it’s unavoidable, so make it count.

Progressing as a student has its challenges, but growing as a person can be difficult, which is why embracing every opportunity, doing the things you love, and figuring out who you are matter the most.

When I transferred, I began small. I began making new friends and adjusting to a change that, in all honestly, was uncomfortable. I had to meet new teachers and adjust to a uniform I wore daily. It was a whole new world that I never in a million years thought I’d be able to take on.

Nevertheless, freshmen, your journey is just starting, and it may seem overwhelming. While you have so much time ahead of you, you can never start too early or too late.

My freshman year, I was unsure of everything. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, what hobbies I really enjoyed, or which people I wanted to be around. However, with time,

I found my path and grew as a person. I hope you do the same.

Sophomores, I can’t say I’ve had the same experience, but this would be the year to truly take in the smallest moments; have fun on retreats, hang out with friends, and pick the classes you find interesting.

When I came to JC in my sophomore year, I embraced the uncomfortable. I joined various leadership clubs like SGA, the newspaper, and sports, which was shocking, but I began to look on the bright side.

Junior year had its ups and downs, but it truly paved the way for who I wanted to become. It can be stressful, especially researching colleges and having five tests in the same week, but believe me, you’ll make it.

There is the reoccurring assurance needed from academic successes, but believe me, those grades do not define you.

It can become tempting to want to apply to every college that gets sent in the mail or join every club at the beginning of the year, but do it for you, not for an application.

Learn to grow and be better the next time and learn from the challenges and awkward situations. Be able to reflect on those moments and say, “I did it.”

Throughout it all, I learned to accept the uncomfortable and indulge in every opportunity that sprung my way.

As a Patriot, learn to strive for success and do what you love for yourself, not for the approval of others.

Pursue the sports you’ve always wanted to try; make those new friends, and aim toward your dream -- for you.

- Peyton Donaldson, Media & Online Editor

Selecting Items of Interest for the Patriot Staff

What We Like NoW

CELEBRITY

DAY DANCE THEME PINK GAMES FALL DECORATIONS

THE PATRIOT

Volume 60, Issue 2 October 2024

The John Carroll School

703 E. Churchville Road

Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Editor-in-Chief

Caroline Bomboy

Media & Online Chief

Peyton Donaldson

WE LIKE THAT there was a new Spirit Week theme included this year. Every year, the students vote for the Spirit Week Dress Down Day themes, and this year a new theme, Celebrity Day, was voted in for Wednesday. During the lunch in the courtyard, students got to see many of the celebrities who were chosen. Students filled the halls dressed as their favorite celebrities, or they wore t-shirts representing one, and it was refreshing to see a new theme that does not occur each year.

WE LIKED THE theme and decorations at this year’s Homecoming Dance. The Homecoming Dance was moved into the gym which was a difference from last year ’s outdoor dance. The indoor setting allowed for more decorations and a more elaborate theme. Students were wowed as they entered the gym and saw the giant whale hanging from the ceiling and balloons everywhere. Each table resembled an underwater scene with table cloths, blue lights, and balloons shaped like an octopus.

WE LIKE HOW John Carroll is incorporating meaning and awareness to athletics by promoting Pink Out games and things like ‘Dig Pink’ for fundraising for breast cancer. By promoting the fundraisers and spreading awareness, it brings the Patriot community together. Students can socialize and celebrate for a good cause.

WE LIKE THAT the John Carroll community is celebrating the fall season with pumpkins and fall flowers outside the building. Students and faculty are welcomed with an arrange of pumpkins and mums that are vibrant colors. It’s a warm feeling for a fall morning. We look forward to the holiday decorations that will follow the fall season.

Managing Editor

Olivia Guenther

Assistant Media Chief

Kira Jenkins

News Editor

Ella Campbell

Features Editor

Elizabeth Balint

Perspectives Editor

Emily Kerr

Entertainment Editor

Addie Biscoe

Asst. Entertainment Editor

Daisy Everett

On-Campus Sports Editor

Grace Marchetti

Off-Campus Sports Editor

Kallissa Coats

Assistant Sports Editor

Cali Friedel

Photography & Art

Autumn Gray & Ava Rogers

Staff Photographer

Ella Dodds

Senior Coverage Editor

Juli Aragon

Underclass Editor

Maggie Wells

Ministry & Service Editor

Faith Menefee

Organizations Editor

Maddie Kimmel

Club Director

Madelyn Aiosa

Junior Reporter

Addison Weaver

Staff Writers & Contributors

Khali Addair, Mara Avampato, Hailey Chalmers, Bella Cocks, Eliza Edwards, Siena Frisone, Kendall Gallup, Billi Heinz, Michaela Hipley, Katie Kruk, Andrew Hall, Gianna Lazzaro, Brooke Maley, Maureen McMennamin, Alison Montemurro, Gabby Reed, Sophia Townsley

Moderator

Mrs. Allison M. Hall, ‘89

The Patriot is a publication of The John Carroll School. The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views of the Board of Trustees or the Administration of The John Carroll School.

The Ella Effect

ThoughTs from Ella CampbEll, ‘25

PaTrioT News ediTor

EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, I have had a keen sense of love for our earth. My childhood was filled with long weekend days on the farm. Picking vegetables, swimming in Deer Creek, and fishing were all consistent activities in my life.

I cannot remember where this love came from, but I can imagine it had to do with my father. My dad has been a beekeeper and gardener for as long as I can remember.

I looked forward to putting on the veil, tucking my sweatpants into my muck boots, and helping my dad in

the hives. Something I do not necessarily miss is the laboring hours spent over a five-gallon bucket snapping the ends off peas. But even this I would not change for the world.

I am forever grateful for the love of nature my father has instilled in me.

Now, I sit on the Harford County Soil Conservation district. With this position, I attend monthly board meetings and attend field visits with the other board members. As I move forward with my education I intend to pursue a soil science degree. While re-watching

Protecting the planet has to be a priority

one of my favorite childhood movies I was struck by a quote. In Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, the Lorax says to the Once-ler, “A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean.” Our decisions will dictate the state of our earth. It is more important now than ever.

By protecting our planet, we protect ourselves. We must put an end to mass deforestation, limit the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere, and start restoring our planet to its original beauty.

In today’s world

trashing our planet has started to become normalized and overlooked.

It is not uncommon whatsoever to be walking down the street and see someone in the act of littering or seeing litter throughout our streets.

Putting your trash where it belongs is a very simple place to start to work towards a better planet. So, the next time you feel the urge to throw your water bottle out of your car window, think twice. We only have one home; let’s take care of it.

Commentary: Homecoming morning activities grow in popularity

by Olivia Guenther Patriot Managing Editor

As Spirit Week came to an end, friends began to look forward to the day of the dance. Many groups of girls came together for brunch and to make bouquets for Homecoming.

Getting together in this way is an amazing way for groups to bond and make the most lasting memories. All who plan on attending the dance in the future should plan to gather for this amazing bonding experience.

My friends and I each brought a different type of flower and a food item. We shared knowledge on how to arrange the prettiest bouquets and helped each other along the way.

Making bouquets and having brunch with friends on the morning of Homecoming was such a delightful way to start the day. We gathered around a table filled with vibrant flowers, each creating our own unique bouquets to match our dresses.

After the bouquets were done, we sat down for a lovely brunch with fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and delicious orange juice. The morning, filled with laughter and excitement about the day’s up-

coming events, was a chance to relax and enjoy good company before getting ready for the dance.

It is not just about the flowers; it is about the joy of being together, sharing tips on arranging the bouquets, and complimenting each other’s designs. While the dance itself is always fun, the memories made around it are the most lasting.

From the helping hand of a friend when struggling to arrange a bouquet, to the stories told and bonding moments that bring the group together, the joy from that morning has made a lasting tradition for our friend group.

I expect to hold this tradition with my friends before all upcoming dances and events and recommend it to all who are looking for something to do in the awkward time between getting up and waiting to get ready for the dance.

Many other friend groups gathered in their own ways as well. This event is becoming a trend and for good reason.

It is easy. Grab some good friends, some flowers, and some breakfast food. This type of event does not need to be all fancy and thought out, just an opportunity to make some of the most lasting memories of your high school career.

The smell of the flowers, the joy of bonding together, and the joy of a beautiful morning with the people closest to you can be the best part of the day of Homecoming.

Should future homecoming

PRO Let’s hold the Homecoming Dance outside next year

by Maggie Wells Patriot Underclass Editor

The Homecoming season brings a lot of joy and excitement to John Carroll as it is a time filled with friendship, unity, and love. Because Homecoming is so well-enjoyed by everyone, opinions are formed on the dance’s location. Should the Homecoming Dance be inside or outside?

The Homecoming Dance should be outside.

First, being outside offers a more scenic atmosphere. The trees and sky really set the mood for a fun-filled night. Outside dances also allow more decor opportunities for things like outdoor seating, string lights, and lanterns.

Another factor may be that there is much more space and fresh air during an outside event. Outdoor venues often offer more space for dancing and activities, making it easier for students and guests to enjoy themselves without feeling crowded.

Students often have gotten very hot and out of breath at indoor dances,

Question: How would you best describe the holiday season at JC?

and they definitely would enjoy a more comfortable alternative. Students are allowed more opportunities for themes with an outside dance. These themes would be more realistic outdoors, typically, as well. An outdoor venue allows for more diverse themes, such as a garden party, beach luau, or starry night, providing opportunities for creativity and design. Having the dance outside makes social interactions and the flow of people a lot better, too. The open space encourages socializing and movement, making it easier for students to interact with each other and form new connections.

It is beneficial for guests to be as comfortable as possible, and with more free range to move, it is ensured that they will be.

Last year’s Homecoming Dance was an outdoor event with a theme of “Under the Stars.” The theme went perfectly with being outside. In addition to physically having the event under the stars, the parking lot was decorated with star balloons and with tables that had star centerpieces and strings of star lights.

One may argue that planning an

outside dance the size of Homecoming is risky due to the weather.

It is true that when the dance was held outside in 2021 (due to the Covid pandemic), an unforecasted rain storm occurred in the middle of the afternoon, soaking all of the decorations that had been set up. The rain did stop a few hours before the dance, and SGA was able to scramble and pull it together. However, this is not quite normal and is often the exception.

In 2023, the administration made the announcement that they would monitor the weather for the night of the Homecoming Dance, and if rain was in the forecast, the dance would be moved inside, and an announcement would be made several days before the dance itself. All went well, and the dance was held outside.

While outside dances may cause concerns for temperatures, heating units are available to place in the dance area.

Outdoor dances are fun and provide a lot more space. Future Homecoming Dances need to be outside, and younger classes need to have the opportunity to experience a dance outside.

Payten Root, ‘27

“The holiday season at John Carroll is very special to me. It is my favorite time to be at John Carroll.”

Ellie Hughes, ‘25

“It’s fun, and I think it brings everybody together.”

Keep next year’s dance inside in the gym and cafeteria homecoming dances be held outside?

by Cali Friedel

Patriot Assistant Sports Editor

This year the Homecoming, location was moved inside into the Upper Gym. Last year, Homecoming took place outside in the employee lot. Although some people believe that the Homecoming Dance is better outside, there are many great reasons for the dance to be inside.

With the Homecoming Dance taking place at the end of September or into October, it starts to get chillier outside. With Homecoming inside, students don’t have to worry about getting cold, because it is warmer inside. This is especially good for girls who wear dresses and who don’t bring a coat or sweatshirt to keep themselves warm.

Last year, the Homecoming Dance ended early because of noise complaints. With Homecoming inside, there are no worries of noise complaints since

“Festive and unifying because we do activities such as decorating the halls.”

the loud music is being played in a closed space and not out in the open. Additionally, since the surrounding community would not be able hear the loud music, the neighbors would not get upset with the school.

Regardless of noise complaints, some students still prefer the dance to be outside because they feel that there is more room and space outside.

With last year’s Homecoming being outside, there was only one area where the dance took place: in a parking lot. Students could go inside to go to the bathroom, but besides that, all the snack and drink tables were outside, so it felt super packed, and it seemed like there was no extra space.

When the dance is inside like it was this year, there are many areas that students can go to spend time with friends such as the cafeteria, the gym, or the courtyard. In the Upper Gym this year, there were also tables towards the entrance, that gave students the option to sit down, and still be able to hear the music. In the cafeteria, there were waters that students could drink, and other tables, where

“It’s welcoming and exciting because of all the activities.”

Con

students could hang out and talk, without loud music in the background.

The courtyard was also a popular area during the dance this year. If students were hot and needed fresh air from dancing, they could go out to the courtyard and enjoy a change in location. This also allowed the people in the Homecoming Dance to not be squished into one area. When Homecoming is inside, it is also easier to decorate. With the theme being “Under the Sea” this past year, those from the SGA who were decorating could hang things like fish. They could also add lights all around the Upper Gym to really show that guests were “Under the Sea.”

When Homecoming was outside last year, the theme was “Under the Stars.” This made sense since it was outside, but the overall decorating was more challenging as decorating options are more limited to trees and tables.

Overall, the dance inside is so much more fun than it is outside, and we should continue having the dance inside. There are more places to go; it is easier to decorate, and there are no worries of being cold or having noise complaints.

“I would best describe it as electric. The lights, decorations, and vibes are immaculate and an irreplaceable feeling that I would hope everyone could experience at least once in their life.”

Matthew Kim, ‘26

Brooks Mueller, ‘25

Alyssa Sturm, ‘27

Jumping with Juli

Driving on back roads by yourself is the best way to deal with stress.

When things get stressful, or I just need to think about things, the best way I approach this is by going for a drive. There is something so calming about going for drives just because or just to get things off my mind. I never pick a specific place to go or have a set time or destination when it comes to going on drives.

I simply just put on my music and drive; not really knowing where I am going is the best part in it. I do not have to think about if I am going to miss my turn or if I am going the wrong way. The calming nature in driving around during sunset is the best. It feels like I am in a movie because the only thing I am worried about it myself.

Driving around with my music playing helps me clear my mind and has proven in my case to help me focus on things I need to do or get done. If I ever do not know how to handle a difficult situation, a long drive alone helps me decide what to do or how to handle the situation.

I always find going on long drives on back roads help

Marching with Grace

by Grace Marchetti, On-caMpus spOrts editOr

October has been nothing short of a crazy month. Not only did we have Homecoming, Spirit Week, Powderpuff, and so many other school activities, there has also been many fall sports being played.

I play soccer, and this season has been very bittersweet in the sense of it being my last season to ever play soccer again in high school. I try to savor every moment because this season truly has flown by me in the blink of an eye, and now, as I write this, we have one more game left in regular season before playoffs.

I find it very hard to balance sports, schoolwork, and social. I’ve always heard going through high school that senior year is the easiest, but this year has been the most academically challenging year I have ever had. I have struggled trying to find time to finish all my work, and my grades are lower than they have been in previous years.

Juli Aragon, ‘25 Senior Coverage Editor

Today’s

Topic: The Benefits of Drives

me the most because the roads are not busy, and I am normally the only one on the road. This has always been productive for me, especially when I am stressed with work; it gives me a clear head or a new prospective on things.

I would recommend

everyone to go on drives when they are filled with stress because sometimes even when you are at home, you never get to have the alone time that you want, and it is hard to know exactly how to deal with this stress. Stress is something that everyone can relate to, but not everyone knows a good way to deal with the stress or handle it in a good manner.

Driving by yourself during sunset with your favorite music playing is the best escape from reality, especially when sports are causing more stress. I personally go on drives at least two times a week when its busy. Some drives are longer than others. I can go from driving for 30 minutes to one hour. This is my most positive way to deal with stress.

October is one of the busiest months of the year

I feel like October is prime senior high and, in a few weeks, I will be back on a regular schedule.

With that being said, I need to prioritize and put school first so that I can be successful and not go to bed past midnight every night. I don’t want to feel tired throughout the entire school day just because I decided to cram in all my work last minute.

I truly do believe that I will eventually get back into a schedule and back on track, but I truly am trying to enjoy my last year of high school because in a blink of an eye, the first quarter is over and the class of ’25 only has three more quarters left.

It feels like just yesterday I was getting my schedule and meeting all my teachers for the first time, and now we are just months away from walking across that stage to get our diplomas and getting accepted into college.

It feels surreal to be thinking about college and how much harder it’s going to be to prioritize sports, school, and social. I think if I figure it out now, it will only benefit me more when I get to college when it’s even harder.

Freshmen reflect on their first John Carroll Homecoming

by Caroline Bomboy Patriot Editor-in-Chief

Homecoming week at John Carroll was from October 7-12.

During this week, the class of 2028 experienced many JC Spirit Week traditions for the first time.

Spirit Week began with Holiday Day. The freshman holiday was Valentine’s Day. Pink and red shirts and heart shaped necklaces and headbands filled the classrooms and halls.

Additionally, the freshman class participated in their first Advisory Block Party, where students traveled between advisories, shared food, and hung out with friends.

Class Color Day is a theme that occurs every Homecoming Week. The freshman class color is white. In the afternoon, the annual Powderpuff game was played between the junior and senior girls.

The freshmen watched the game, and at halftime, a few freshman girls participated in a field goal kicking competition against sophomore girls.

Freshman Matthew Proctor said, “Powderpuff was my favorite activity because it was an athletic event, and it

allowed us to be outside.”

Wednesday was Celebrity Day. Students from all four grades dressed as their favorite celebrities. During the lunch mods, there was a cookout in the courtyard.

Thursday was Age Day. This day is always a fan favorite and comes back every year. The freshmen dressed as toddlers. On Thursday, the freshmen also watched their first Quiz Bowl and participated in their first Ring Hunt.

Freshman Matthew Gostomski said, “My favorite day was Age Day because I got to wear pajama pants to school.”

English Teacher Shannon Olsen said, “My freshmen all had a really fun time. I think they most enjoyed Age Day; I saw a lot of them participating in the theme by wearing onesies.”

On Black and Gold Day, students showed their Patriot spirit by dressing in the JC school colors. Friday afternoon was the pep rally followed by the Homecoming football game that evening.

Matthew Proctor said, “My favorite day of Spirit Week was Black and Gold Day. On Black and Gold Day it was the easiest to plan an outfit, and I think the most people participated.”

Freshman Austin Keller agreed

that he was also surprised by the participation level on Friday. His favorite part in the week was the pep rally because “almost everyone could take part in that and be with friends.”

Ms. Olsen added that, in class on Friday, “they were all looking forward to going to the Homecoming Game and Dance.”

The Homecoming Dance was held on Saturday night to conclude the week filled with activities. The theme was “Under the Sea.” Overall, the freshmen seemed surprised by the number of students in attendance and the number of students dancing.

Freshman girls gathered with their friends to make bouquets and have brunch the morning of the dance. Friend groups gathered to take pictures together before heading to the dance.

Matthew Procter said, “The thing that surprised me the most was how many people showed up. There were a lot more people than I thought there would be.”

Matthew Gostomski said, “I was surprised by the number of people dancing.”

The freshmen got their first impression on a week that they will get to take part in for their next three years of high school.

WELCOME SPIRIT WEEK: To begin Spirit Week on Monday, October 7, the Student Government Association greeted Patriots and passed out candy to students as they entered the school. SGA President Sara Shorts, who handed out candy that morning, said, “It was really nice to see everyone dressing up in their holiday themes. It was also fun to try and figure out what holiday everyone was.” Joining members of the SGA was the Patriot mascot.

Battle of the Pretzel Bites

Who has the best twist in their pretzels?

Pretzel Twister vs Philly Pretzel Factory

Pretzel bites are the perfect bite-sized treats to eat after a long day of school. The warm and chewy pretzels are the best salty snack to have on-the-go. This treat is also perfect for any time of day.

Taste

Philly Pretzels

It’s the perfect bite size that is not chewy. It comes with a good amount of salt, and when paired with the sauce, it is even better. However, when you get to the bottom of the cup, the bites can get a bit soggy.

Pretzel Twister

The pretzel bites are not too salty and are served warm. It is not too soft or hard and is the perfect bite size.

Accessibility

Philly Pretzels

This is located less than a mile away from JC, roughly a four-minute drive with the traffic lights. Students can also walk to this location. Parking can be limited during peak times since it is near multiple other food shops.

Pretzel Twister

This location is 2.1 miles from JC, which is an eight-minute drive. You do have to go inside the Harford Mall to locate the establishment, but they have lots of parking available.

Price

Philly Pretzels

It is $1.50 for one cup and a dip.

Pretzel Twister

It is $3.75 for one cup and does not come with a dip.

Philly Pretzels

Pretzels are served in a nugget-sized cup with one free dip. It is packed to the brim, so you know you are getting your money’s worth.

Our Winner Is: Look

Pretzel Twister

They are a lot smaller in size compared to Philly and have less salt, and more butter on them.

Overall, the Philly Pretzel factory is the winner. Its quick drive from school, and it’s being within a 15 minute walking distance makes it the perfect location. Its delicious chewy taste and its more affordable prices, makes it the clear winner.

Battle

by

Art

by

Addie Biscoe, Entertainment Editor

Caroline Bomboy, Editor-in-Chief

Halloween Movie Guide

Unleash your spooky spirit with these Halloween movies

by Elizabeth Balint Patriot Features Editor

As we get ready to enjoy Halloween night, one might be wondering good movies to watch to get into the spooky spirit. There is not a better way to find the perfect movie than a Halloween movie guide.

Haunted Mansion: this movie was recently remade and released in 2023 and is a supernatural horror and fantasy film.

The movie is about a single mom and her son who move into a house only to find out that it is haunted.

In hopes to rid the house of the haunted spirits, she hires a team of people to do it for her. The movie is being streamed on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.

Hocus Pocus is a timeless classic Halloween film that came out in 1993. It is a supernatural horror film about three witches who are resurrected after having been executed. Trying to gain immorality, the witches try and steal the lives of the kids who are trying to stop them before they succeed. This movie is currently being streamed on Amazon

Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV.

Another classic comedy and fantasy movie that came out in 1998 to get you in the spooky spirit is Halloweentown This movie is about a young girl named Marnie who discovers she comes from a family of witches.

On Halloween night, Marnie, her siblings and her grandmother travel to Halloweentown where all the supernatural characters live together. This movie is being streamed on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

Disney’s Cruella came out in 2021 as a live action film telling the backstory of the classic villain Cruella from 101 Dalmatians. She is played by Emma Stone and follows Cruella’s life as she grows up to be the villain she becomes. The movie is available on Disney+, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

Into the Woods came out in 2014 and stars Emily Blunt and James Corden. The plot involves two bakers trying to lift a curse that was placed on them by a witch.

The movie intertwines with some classic films like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. The movie is available to stream on Disney+, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

Fall lovers can experience spine chilling fun at Legends of the Fog

by Eliza Edwards Patriot Staff Writer

Families looking for a great, fun, thrilling, and spooky attraction should look no further than Legends of the Fog.

Legends of the Fog, located in Aberdeen, has many different attractions including the Classic Haunted Hayride, The Farewell Hotel, Corn-Stalkers Haunted Maze, and the Slaughterhouse.

All four attractions will make a person go home questioning what lurks in the dark.

There are many different pricing options including combo tickets for $40$45, which includes all four attractions and the hayride only for $22-$25, and if you are interested in the Fast Pass they are priced at an additional $10-$20.

Fast Passes are relatively perfect to purchase for Friday or Saturday nights

when everyone is trying to purchase the fall thrill.

The destination is recommended for ages 10 and older, taking into consideration that everyone handles horror differently.

Groups looking to experience the thrill with a group of 15 or more may want to check out the discounts offered at Legendsofthefog.com/contact.

Not only does Legends of the Fog offer the four main attractions, but they also have a large fire pit to enjoy, as well as carnival games, food trucks that change regularly, and a snack and merchandise stand.

Legends the Fog will be worth the money. The attractions are more than just an average scare, including the different things seen in the attractions such as lights, sound effects, and scary characters. Your family or group will remember for this experience for rest of the night and beyond.

The best of the four attractions is The Farewell Hotel. The objective in the haunted house is to book a room at the front desk and then experience all the different things that the hotel has to offer including the elevator, lobby, and eerie hallways.

All tickets for Legends of the Fog are non-refundable, but is worth the purchase for people who enjoy being scared and having a good time with friends or family.

Legends of the Fog is the perfect Halloween destination for those looking for a fun place to either drop off kids 14 and older or hangout with friends while fearing the dark.

Legends of the Fog offers two Black Out Nights on, October 31 and November 12.

If you think you’re ready for the great Halloween attractions, visit Legends of the Fog and make sure to watch your back.

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Maple Lawn Farms is the place to be this season

by Bella Cocks Patriot Staff Writer

Maple Lawn Farms is a wonderful place to visit in the fall. It is located in New Park, Pennsylvania and includes many fun fall things to enjoy.

One of the biggest things they are known for at Maple Lawn Farms is their homemade cider with can be enjoyed there.

Another thing that is super popular there is the variety of fruits, plants and vegetables to pick. Guests can pick apples, blueberries, cherries, lavender, nectarines, peaches, pumpkins, and sunflowers. Anyone who picks pumpkins gets a free tractor ride.

The Maple Lawn Farms Fall Festival is also another thing that they are known for. The fall festival includes 30+ attractions for people of all ages.

Something that will put everyone in the mood for fall is their corn maze. It is one of the original corn mazes in America that stretches across

nine acres. It brings in thousands of visitors each year along with a new theme for the corn maze every season.

Not only does Maple Lawn Farms have a nine-acre corn maze, but The Giant Corn Maze is one of 10 mazes on the farm.

They also have a corn maze tower, a bamboo maze, a rope maze, a no left turn tile maze, a go straight tile maze, a red, white, and blue tile maze, a straw bale maze, an indoor play maze and a maze mountain slide.

A fan favorite at Maple Lawn Farms is the farm market. Guests can get pumpkin-flavored everything from ice cream and slushies to donuts. One of the most popular items at the farm market is the apple cider donut that is coated in cinnamon sugar with apple-flavored dough.

Fall is the perfect time for a group event or family outing. Maple Lawn Farms offers tours of the farm to many different groups such as scouts, schools, sports teams, and clubs, With an awesome concession stand, campfires, hayrides, and pumpkin patch, Maple Lawn Farms is the place to be this fall season; grab a ticket and bring friends.

RogeRs RePoRTs

Commentary by Ava Rogers, Photography Editor

ConCerts should be Cheaper

There should be ways for everyone to see their favorite artists.

In recent years, artists like Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan have majorly grown in popularity. These artists were all on tour this past summer, and their concerts saw sky rocketing ticket prices. Some people like reselling

tickets, which can more than double the original price.

Many high schoolers do not work, and those who do get paid get close to minimum wage. With prices this high, it is hard for many people this young to get tickets.

The average ticket price for the top 100 tours last year was $122.84. Many will anticipate cheaper tickets closer to the show, but that can never be guaranteed. On top of the original price, there is usually a large number of added fees.

As a teenage girl with a part-time summer job, I had to be selective with what show I wanted to go to because I did not want to use all of my money on just concerts.

Most fees go to the venues. Other percentages go to the ticketer, concert promoter, and concert performer.

There needs to be more options. For Example, Taylor Swift made a movie out of one of her shows so that fans could watch it whenever and wherever they want. This is such a great alternative as her prices were reaching the thousands -- even for the nosebleed seats.

If performers used Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, people would have ways to enjoy their shows. Live streams that still cost maybe 20-30 dollars to still profit is more considerate of the fans who could not make it to the show.

Saying this, I do not want to make them sound greedy, but it would benefit everyone, and it is a great way for artists to show appreciation for their fans.

DISCOVERING JC: Discovering JC #2 took place duirng the evening of Tuesday, October 29. This event gave eighth grade students who aspire to become Patriots the opportunity to take a first look at John Carroll. Upon entry, parents were sent to the auditorium to hear about the Patriot story. Students headed to the Patriot Café where the evening started with prayer and a small “ice-breaker” game. The activities for the night consisted of numerous stations and enriching lessons with JC teachers and students. The young guests were asked to complete puzzles in various classrooms to learn more about John Carroll.

Justin Moore releases new album ‘This Is My Dirt’

12-song album contains relatable topics & was released earlier in the month

by Madelyn Aiosa Patriot Club Director

Newly-rising country artist Justin Moore released his album ‘This Is My Dirt’ on October 11. The 12 songs cover topics such as family, fatherhood, and small-town life.

Justin Moore has other albums including Late Nights and Longnecks, Straight Outta the Country, and Kinda Don’t Care. His most popular songs are “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” “The Ones that Didn’t Make It Back Home,” “This is My Dirt,” and “We Didn’t Have Much.”

The new album is named after Moore’s popular hit originally released in 2023, “This is My Dirt.” He re-released this song on the new album.

Some songs in the album are “The Worst,” “Love Your Hometown,” “Time’s Ticking,” “Put A Boot In It,” and “The Getting By.”

The most popular song in the album is “Time’s Ticking.” This song features Dierks Bently and talks about how fast time goes by and the importance of appreciating the little things.

The song focuses on small memories regarding family with lines like “Kiss your babies,” and “Call your mama.” This hits deeper because it mentions the deep reality of time and the need to treasure family while possible.

Another song that is notable is “Love Your Hometown” which is told from the perspective of a hometown who watches someone move away to join the military.

The song is all about missing someone who is gone and in the military, but supporting them and acknowledging the pride they bring for being so strong.

“Love Your Hometown” is a

favorite song on the album because it is catchy and has listeners humming the tune even when the song isn’t playing.

There are three collaborations in this album. “The Worst” features Randy Houser with his deep country voice, “Time’s Ticking” features Dierks Bently, and “Beer Ain’t One” features Blake Shelton.

The album is a blend of tra-

New ‘Beetlejuice

ditional and southern country. All the songs incorporate newer instrument styles but keep the old, southern rural family life topic.

Overall, the album is touching, heartfelt, and highly catchy.

It draws in new listeners while still appealing to old ones with themes that have been sung about before like family and the military.

Beetlejuice’

movie now streaming in time for Halloween

by Kallissa Coats

Patriot Off-Campus Sports Editor

The first ‘Beetlejuice’ movie was released in 1988 and directed by Tim Burton. This movie is considered a comedy. It is based around a deceased couple, Adam and Barbara, who find themselves stuck haunting their old residence. Beetlejuice himself is played by Michael Keaton with Adam and Barbara played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis.

The Beetlejuice sequel was released this past September, 36 years after the original release. This movie is also directed by Tim Burton. Beetlejuice is also played by Michael Keaton.

This movies is about the three generations of the Deetz family returning home to Winter River, along with the house still haunted by Beetlejuice.

The original movie had some very interesting reviews from critics. Slant Magazine critic Mick LaSalle wrote, “It’s two hours of your life wasted, time once spent that can never be regained.”

Not all of the critics hate the

movie. An anonymous critic from Variety said, “Beetlejuice springs to life when the raucous and repulsive Beetlejuice rises from his moribund state to wreak havoc on fellow spooks and mortal enemies.”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was released on digital platforms on October 8. Viewers can buy or rent it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or Vudu. It will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 19. The remake has made an impressive $403 million at the worldwide box office.

BBC critic Nicholas Barber said, “The nicest surprise is that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is that rare thing, a big-budget comedy which is actually funny.” The remake has gotten significantly more positive reviews than the 1988 version.

Another critic at The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney, wrote, “The zippy pacing, buoyant energy and steady stream of laugh-out-loud moments hint at the joy Burton appears to have found in revisiting this world, and for anyone who loved the first movie, it’s contagious.”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the movie to watch. It it much more lively and more interesting to watch.

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Original ‘Hocus Pocus’ movie continues to entertain audiences Halloween Movie RecoMMendation

by Gianna Lazzaro Patriot Staff Writer

‘Hocus Pocus’ is a classic Halloween movie that is a favorite of many people nationwide. It combines humor, fantasy, and a bit of spookiness, making it a perfect family-friendly Halloween film. It made its debut in 1993 and is still watched today.

The story centers around three witches who are resurrected by kids on Halloween night. The kids must stop the witches before they succeed in their evil plan. The movie is filled with funny moments, magical spells, and a race around town to save the children from the witches’ plot against them.

The storyline of Hocus Pocus is good because it mixes humor, fantasy, and a bit of spookiness in a way that’s enter-

taining for everyone. The plot is engaging with memorable characters like the Sanderson sisters who bring a lot of charm and comedy to the movie. The adventure of the kids trying to stop the witches keeps the audience hooked from start to finish.

Each of the kids and the witches act in a way that matches their roles, keeping things as realistic as possible, even with witches involved. The cast features talented actors like Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who work well to bring their characters to life with great energy. Their commitment to their roles helps make Hocus Pocus a beloved film.

Filmmakers did a great job of using real locations and detailed sets to create a believable fantasy world.

The movie takes place in Salem, famous for its association with the Salem Witch Trials, a series of hearings for people accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts.

This backdrop adds a spooky

atmosphere that enhances the film’s plot.

The movie’s script is filled with clever and funny moments that keep the audience entertained throughout the movie. The characters have distinct personalities, which are conveyed through their dialogue and actions.

The actors have great chemistry with each other, helping to create a more realistic group of characters. The comedic timing and delivery of lines are well played, adding to the overall charm of the movie.

Hocus Pocus is recommended for people to watch because of all its great aspects. The talented cast delivers memorable performances. The setting in Salem, Massachusetts adds an authentic backdrop that enhances the story. The witty and clever dialogue keeps the audience entertained, making it a delightful film for both kids and adults.

Overall, Hocus Pocus an entertaining movie that’s perfect for the Halloween season and beyond.

Maize Quest serves as a fall fun park to amuse local families

by Alison Montemurro Patriot Staff Writer

Maize Quest Fun Park is a fun-filled activity center in rural southern Pennsylvania. Maize Quest has activities for all ages and skill levels. This fun park is highly recommended as an enjoyable fall experience for everyone.

If anyone is looking for a fall fun park that includes a corn maze, Maize Quest is an excellent choice. The maze includes four different sections which are distinguished by color.

The corn maze changes its theme each year. This fall season, the maze provides a circus theme with “decoder”

glasses and a short video presented before entering.

Other than the usual corn maze, the fun park offers a bamboo maze. This maze is not a traditional enter and exit one, but instead it has five colors of finger chalk hidden throughout. When exiting the maze, there is a decoder. This decoder takes the colors of chalk chosen and gives a silly animal themed action to do based off the order of the colors.

Within each section of the fun park, there are various activities like an indoor play maze, a jump zone, slides with various heights, and a miniature railroad that younger children may enjoy. The variety of activities allows for people of all ages.

This adventure park has specific options for older ages as well. These include hayrides, pumpkin picking, a stone

labyrinth, and a maze. All ages can participate in the jump zone. When attending, wear comfortable shoes for walking and socks for certain activities.

When choosing what to do with all the options, consider the time. Generally, Maize Quest can take three to five hours to enjoy all the available activities. The maze itself is very lengthy, so being in a rush may not make this a great option. The process of getting a ticket is simple; ticket purchase is available online and in person. They offer a general admission pass, as well as an ultimate access pass. At the gate, prices range from $19-$24 dollars while on their website, the prices this season are between $16 and $21 before tax.

Consider checking out the market next door. They offer fresh-picked apples, delicious treats, and more.

Popular Halloween store meets costume and decorating needs for spooky holiday

by Michaela Hipley Patriot Staff Writer

Spirit Halloween is a popular chain store that comes around each fall season. It sells items like costumes, decorations, and other Halloween themed items.

It is very popular and well-known during this spooky season. People of all ages are all able to find things to purchase..

This store can be found in multiple locations, and lots of Halloween fans can get a chance to shop at this terrifically spooky store.

The costumes feature a large selection ranging from things like witches and other creatures to funny characters and inflatable costumes. There are different sizes to choose from so customers can pick the best fit.

There is also a section where guests can make their own costumes. This section features many different accessories like angel wings and cowboy hats.

Those wanting to add some extra touches to a costume can buy accessories like face paint, vampire teeth, and fake blood.

There are costumes for both kids

and adults, giving people a wide selection of options. These costumes are pretty good quality and not bad for the prices.

Spirit Halloween also sells Halloween decorations. There are big and scary animations that can frighten people. There are also classic decorations like fake spider webs, gravestones, skeletons, and headless heads.

These decorations can add a spooky touch to a house or room for Halloween. They are realistic looking, making them even more appealing.

Spirit Halloween also sells comfier decorations like throw pillows and blankets. They may feature spooky designs with characters from scary movies like Stripe from Gremlins or Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas

When walking up to check out, some additional items are on display for purchase. There are items like magnets, pens, and plushies that feature Halloween characters. These can be bought for low prices, but they are good quality. They add more Halloween spirit to a celebtration.

This store is recommended to people of all ages who want to get into the spirit and want to buy some costumes and decorations. It is overall a good store to shop in order to fill all of the Halloween needs.

Pumpkin beverages celebrate fall season

by Billi Heinz Patriot Staff Writer

The fan-favorite pumpkin cream cold brew returns to the Starbucks menu year-after-year.

The Starbucks cold brew is sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and a pumpkin spice topping to create a perfectly balanced fall sip. In 2019, the fan favorite pumpkin cream cold brew came out and is still a fan favorite five years later.

The pumpkin cream cold brew is made with Starbucks cold brew and vanilla and includes a pumpkin cream cold foam on top that has real pumpkin in it (and it’s beautifully orange) with some sprinkled pumpkin spice topping to balance it out. It has both cold brew and pumpkin-lovers racing to try the fan favorite.

The fall flavors and the upcoming

Christmas flavors are served during the most popular part of the year at Starbucks. Startbucks is not just serving its Pumpkin Spice Latte. They also have their Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and the new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, plus a variety of at home and ready to drink coffees in grocery stores.

It’s reached markets all around the world – even in the southern hemisphere, where it’s springtime.

Some non-coffee lovers were surprised to like this drink; it’s not too overpowering and includes a pumpkin flavor. It is a very good drink overall.

There is a thick layer of foam that’s blended before it’s poured over iced coffee, and some say it is their favorite part of the drink. Go try the fan-favorite Pumpkin cream Cold Brew and see if you like it as much as others love the yearly drink from Starbucks before it goes away.

However, if you miss it, know that the winter drinks are coming out soon.

‘Outer Banks’ is one of hottest TV shows out there

by Kallissa Coats Patriot Off-Campus Sports Editor

‘Outer Banks’ Season One first premiered in April of 2020 with Season Two following in July of 2021. Season Three debuted in February 2023. Season Four/Part One came this month with Part Two arriving in November.

Outer Banks is considered an action-packed drama television series. The show centers around two friend groups: The Kooks and The Pogues. So many teenagers love watching this show because of how much they can relate to it. They understand some of the things that the characters feel.

Main characters John B. Routledge and Sarah Cameron are played by Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline. Other characters, Pope Heyward, Kiara Carrera, and JJ Maybank are played by Jonathan Daviss, Madison Bailey, and Rudy Pankow.

In the previous season, the Pogues have been searching for the golden treasure of a lost shipwreck, and it has never been easy. With their journey both John B. and Sarah Cameron lost their fathers. They came out with the gold in the end, but at the conclusion of Season Three, they were asked to go on a bigger gold chase for Blackbeard’s lost gold. Season Four/Part One is by far the best season with the best storyline the shows has had in its past three seasons. Part Two for Season Four could very well be the best part to the ending of this show.

Season Four was cut into two parts with the first part coming out earlier this month. This is the first time that this show has cut the season in half. When it was announced that it was divided, fans were not happy because Outer Banks is known for the cliffhangers that it leaves after each season. Season Four/Part One ended in a major cliffhanger and has fans super ready for Part Two.

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Starbucks is the place to go for your fall season hot and cold drinks

Taste of fall includes variety of flavors

by Kendall Gallup Patriot Staff Writer

Imagine the taste of delicious pumpkin flavors. The creamy caramel and fluffy whipped cream. The feeling of never wanting the drink to be gone. This is the feeling and flavors of Starbucks fall menu items.

On August 22 of 2024, Starbucks released their hugely-anticipated fall drinks. The drinks include the traditional pumpkin spiced latte, the unique iced pumpkin cream chai, and the delicious hot and iced apple crisp oat milk macchiatos.

The rave and excitement about the release of these items was incredible. The line out the door at the local store was ridiculous; some may have even thought that Starbucks was giving out free stuff. All over social media platforms all, people saw was the hype and excitement for the release.

The first drink that was highly awaited was the pumpkin spice latte. This is a best-seller for the Starbucks franchise.

The drink consists of fall flavors like pumpkin spice sauce, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice topping. This creates the flavors of fall the second the drink hits the customer’s tongue.

The latte has lots of caffeine to keep one going throughout the day but has a decent number of calories, which is a slight downfall of the drink. However, for many of the pumpkin spice latte fans, the calories are worth every penny.

Another drink that is very loved by many Starbucks fans is the pumpkin cream chai. This is an iced drink with a ton of pumpkin flavor as, like tasty pumpkin spice topping, and the unique pumpkin spice cream.

The flavors from this flavorful and luscious pumpkin drink have fans coming back for more. To be honest, who wouldn’t with this delicious flavor combination.

Lastly, they have both iced and hot apple crisp oat milk macchiatos. This drink is full of apple flavors, drizzles, cinnamon, and so many other fall like flavors.

Everyone has many different taste preferences. For Starbucks fans who aren’t big on pumpkin flavors, this is a tasty drink to make customers coming back for more.

Pumpkin Chai Latte among popular items

by Brooke Maley Patriot Staff Writer

Every fall, Starbucks and many other restaurants come out with their fall menu. Whenever restaurants do this, it always gets customers excited.

Starbucks has a whole new menu of fall items. This first started in 2003 with the creation of holiday-themed items. Customers and reporters have said that the Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte is their favorite.

Even though Starbucks started their line of fall drinks in 2003, it has continued to excel since then. They have come out with many more drinks and even a whole line of food. This makes it easy for people to try new things and the crazy fall flavors.

Customers have gotten the Iced Pumpkin Chai a few times now, and it is amazing. The latte is incredibly rich and

Atmosphere contributes to Starbucks experience

by Katie Kruk Patriot Staff Writer

As autumn arrived, the warm and comforting smells and flavors of the season came back to Starbucks. The return of these seasonal favorites, like the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte, really signaled that fall was here.

Starbucks really knows how to market their pumpkin drinks. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a delicious mix of espresso, steamed milk, and pumpkin puree, and it’s become a classic that many people look forward to each year.

Customers visited their local Starbucks to try out these special drinks, and the barista greeted them with a friendly smile, making them feel welcome and adding to the community vibe that Starbucks promotes. However, there’s more than just the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Starbucks also introduced a new drink called the Pumpkin Cream

creamy, with a heavy mouthful of pumpkin cold foam on the top. The combination of the richness and pumpkin flavors give it more of an eggnog feeling. This drink is also not caffeinated.

It is super easy to get your hands on one of these because it is found at the local Starbucks. Starbucks locations are all over; customers have said to love a Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte. On a cold fall day when the leaves are falling, it can put someone into a good fall mood.

The overall product of the drink is amazing; it looks and tastes great. It looks just like coffee with a hint of orange on top, and pumpkin spice is sprinkled on top.

The drink catches many customers off guard with how good it tastes. It is packed with so many fall flavors. A customer’s favorite part is that Starbucks uses real pumpkin in their pumpkin flavored drinks.

The service at Starbucks is always good. Every time visitors go, they always make the drink to the customer’s specifications.. When Starbucks comes out with the holiday-themed drinks, it makes customer orders so much more fun.

Cold Brew. This drink has a tasty layer of pumpkin cream on top of cold brew coffee, making it perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy fall flavors but still sip something cold. The combination of the creamy pumpkin and the smooth cold brew is super tasty.

The atmosphere at Starbucks during this season really enhances the experience, too. The cozy decor, with its warm autumn colors, invites one to sit back and enjoy a break from the busy world outside. Whether hanging out with friends, trying to finish homework, or just looking for a quiet spot, the mood is as comforting as the drinks.

Starbucks is not just about great coffee; the festive atmosphere makes it even better. It’s a nice place to relax and enjoy a drink, whether working or just catching up with friends.

If somebody wants a true fall/ winter experience that delights the taste buds and captures the spirit of the season, the creativity and quality of their offerings, along with the warm and inviting atmosphere, make it a fun outing.

Grab a favorite sweater and head to the nearest Starbucks to enjoy all the wonderful flavors of fall.

Viewers should not miss ‘Gilmore Girls’ during fall weather

by Siena Frisone Patriot Staff Writer

Fall is here, and everyone needs a good show to indulge in during this cozy season. The show to binge this fall is ‘Gilmore Girls.’

Available on Netflix, this show has seven seasons full of episodes for everyone to enjoy.

Gilmore Girls takes place in the town of Stars Hallow, Connecticut. Following the life of a mother and daughter, this show is sure to have viewers swept away in its fall wonderland.

Protagonist Rory and her mother Lorelai face hardships in their relationships, school lives, and town lives. Rory and Lorelai (and their friends) never have a dull moment living in Stars Hollow.

The best quality of Gilmore Girls is its way of being relationship-orientated. No matter what happens between characters, they’re always around for each other.

One negative aspect of this show is how viewers aren’t able to see the show in a year cycle. Its main focus is fall, and

that’s the only season audiences see.

The town is always full of cool breezy days with color changing leaves everywhere viewers look. The brown, auburn, and yellow leaves circle the town, setting the tone for the perfect autumn season.

If viewers look at the characters carefully detailed outfits, they’ll see that everyone is always in fall clothing. The protagonist Rory always wears a fall-colored sweater with a pair of jeans.

Along with everyone else in the town, the shops are decorated with wreaths and pumpkins, giving the viewers a feeling of insertion to this small-town community, glittered with fall.

The show tends to skip over every summer month as the years change, making it fall focused for all who watch. Instead of the summer months, the settings focus on leaf littered houses and streets. Without summer, viewers know where to look for some fall quality entertainment. This show is highly recommended in general, but especially for the autumn months.

The focus on neutral colors, and the protagonist’s (Rory) obsession with

coffee and pumpkin spice adds to the elements of fall viewers all know and love. Even if someone isn’t looking for a fall-based show, Gilmore Girls still provides amusement for everyone who watches.

The relatable characters create a common ground that people can relate to, therefore, making the show more indulgent. The ability of the show to relate to audiences all over provides more reason to watch Gilmore Girls.

Family is a huge part of this show. Rory and her mother Lorelai have a strong bond in this mother daughter duo. Viewers see how inseparable they are. No matter what happens, these two stick by each other through everything, creating a feeling of love between viewers and this show which makes it extremely recommended. No matter what season someone is in, they are always able to step back into the realm of Gilmore Girls. The show creates a fall world everyone can enjoy, no matter when viewers decide to pick up their remote and play the familiar intro of Gilmore Girls

Fun adventures exist at Brad’s Farmers Market in Churchville

by Gabby Reed Patriot Staff Writer

Brad’s Farmers Market is a great place to visit during the fall season. The location has so much to offer for some fall fun.

Brad’s Farmers Market can be found in Churchville. Brad’s has so many activities and purchases to choose from.

If you would want to do fun activities for a younger sibling or friend for free, there is the straw maze, the silly picture station, and a ring toss stand.

To be able to experience the full fall festival that they offer, it is recommended to arrive at least two hours before closing.

A fan favorite is a free hayride that takes customers out to a lovely pumpkin patch. It is open on all weekends through October from 10 am to 4:30 pm.

If someone would not want to get on the hayride or is unable to do so, there are pumpkins available at the front of the farmers market that can be purchased instead.

Another fall activity at Brad’s is the corn maze adventure. It is open from September 30 to October 31 from 10 am to 4:30 pm, yet it does close on Halloween at 2 pm.

The best part about the corn maze is that it is challenging and has a cool theme. This year they decided to go with a Sherlock Holmes theme and decorated the maze accordingly.

Brad’s is also a farmers market

with many things available to be purchased, from their mums to corn, jam, and more. The market is always stocked with fresh produce and other foods.

Right outside of the market, there are stands for visitors. They consist of a hot dog stand and a cinnamon sugar donut stand.

All the aspects throughout Brad’s Farmers Market are sure to give people the fall fun they need. Even though Brad’s main season is autumn, they still are open from April to March and sell the traditional things for any particular season. For example, August is said to be when they put summer produce into full swing.

Despite Brad’s Farmers Market being open for the majority of the year, the best time to stop by truly is during the fall, a time like no other at the market.

34 ENTERTAINMENT

Pumpkin spiced iced signature latte returns to Dunkin’ for season

by Khali Addair

Patriot Staff Writer

A favorite time of year is when all of the coffee places bring out their fall menus. There are so many things to choose from including donuts, Munchkins, bacon, iced coffees, hot coffees, and refreshers.

Though Dunkin’ may have all of those options, the best one by far is the Pumpkin Spiced Iced Signature Latte. It is the perfect drink to get you into the fall season.

The latte is an espresso made with milk paired with the sweet nostalgic pumpkin flavoring, with vanilla notes. It is topped off with a swirl of whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.

Dunkin’ is known for their holiday menus and the variety of amazing items that come along with it.

The amazing fall tastes hit the tongue and immediately puts a customer into a fall mood. The pumpkin spiced iced signature latte can remind someone of the season and all of the great memories that come along with it.

Although the fall menu first came out in 2019, it has continued to excel since then. They have come out with many more drinks and food options. This makes the menu open to everyone -- even kids.

Even though this drink is delicious, not everyone is a coffee drinker. The Dunkin’ menu is extremely diverse and open for everyone. If you’re not a coffee drinker, it’s fine; just look at some of the many other options on the menu.

Dunkin’ is a very convenient coffee shop because it can be found in multiple locations.

Dunkin’s fall drink is the perfect way to get in the feeling for fall. Along with the taste, it is perfect when watching a favorite fall or Halloween movie. This drink is recommended to anyone who enjoys coffee or loves this time of the year because of its amazing taste and feeling.

Wawa’s fall menu is festive and affordable

by Mara Avampato Patriot Staff Writer

Wawa may be a gas station, but their seasonal menu is arguably as good quality as Starbucks. With many drink options -- all equally delicious -- there is something for everyone.

The variety in the fall menu is vast with the classic drinks like pumpkin spice coffee, plain pumpkin, and chai. But there are also some specialty drinks like pumpkin brûlée ice coffee, apple pie milkshakes, and pumpkin cookies and cream. When taking a sip of these crafted drinks, no one can tell they were made at a gas station.

One of the highlights of Wawa’s fall menu is their pumpkin spice coffee, a beloved classic that never fails to feel warm and nostalgic. The rich blend of coffee infused with pumpkin spice creates a perfect blend of sweetness and spice, making it a go-to choice for those chilly fall mornings.

One of the famous items off the fall menu is the gobbler hoagie, a Thanksgiving

special sub with turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, and stuffing. Wawa announced recently they are bringing it back, months before Thanksgiving. This hoagie is something that could be skipped on the fall menu.

However, there is a similar, but more delicious alternative as Wawa often includes turkey bowls on their fall menu. These bowls combine tender turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, and a side of cranberry sauce, like a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey bowls offer a comforting meal that is perfect for the colder months.

Additionally, there is a selection of warm soups that are perfect for a crisp autumn day. The hearty chicken noodle soups provide a comforting and flavorful option for those looking to cozy up with a hot bowl of comfort food.

Overall, Wawa’s fall menu is a perfect stop for the season’s flavors and comforts. Whether a fan of pumpkin spice, hearty meals, or warm soups, Wawa’s fall menu is a cheap way to satisfy fall cravings. So, if near a Wawa this fall, be sure to stop by and try these seasonal treats that capture the essence of the season.

Fall Festive flavors are a hit in Jarrettsville

by Hailey Chalmers Patriot Staff Writer

The Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli on Jarrettsville Road has a lot to offer for fall. Their two fall flavored ice creams, Pumpkin Pie and Carmel Apple are heavenly.

Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli has been open since 2009 and has made over 100 ice cream flavors since. They allow customers to step back in time to their fall decorated old-fashioned ice cream parlor.

When walking into the creamery there is a nice, homey atmosphere as families gather for a sweet treat together.

All of their ice cream is homemade, and they always have 28 flavor selections to choose from. Every season they always have specialty flavors that match the season.

The pumpkin ice cream has a creamy, rich, and sweet flavor. It is a light orange color and has a bit of caramel swirled

into it. It has a rich pumpkin spice flavoring and a soft creamy texture to resemble a pie filling.

This is recommended to someone with more mature taste buds and people who like a richer dessert.

The apple pie flavor is even better than the pumpkin one. It has a sweet vanilla flavor base that just melts in your mouth. It has soft apple chunks in it, a caramel swirl, and a bit of cinnamon. There is also a sundae form of this flavor that has apple pie filling on top with crushed graham crackers, and whipped cream.

This is recommended to anyone. Young or old, it is the perfect fall flavor to satisfy anyone’s taste buds.

Even if these flavors aren’t appealing, there are many other selections to choose from like Dutch chocolate, tropical blast, and cookie monster. They also have Italian ice for the non-ice cream lovers and for lactose intolerant people. Flavors for those are lemon, strawberry and mango. There’s no other ice cream place that compares to Jarrettsville Creamery,

Girls cross country captures championship

Team parades through halls with championship banner

by Kallissa Coats

Patriot Off-Campus Sports Editor

After falling short last year, this year the girls cross country team was determined to win against their main competition: The Severn School.

In the championship race, senior Maddie Wassin led the team and placed second overall. Runners Lily Holcomb, Carter Eberle, Reese Eberle, Eliza Edwards, and Ellery Shertzer also played a major role in the team’s win.

Head Coach Robert Torres said that The Severn School was JC’s biggest competition and the one to beat to win the race although Coach Torres mentioned that the race was too easy for JC runners because The Severn School came out flat and looked “not ready to run.”

“We prepared so much for what Severn has been in the past, and we worked really hard just to get an easier win then we thought.”

Not many runners this year have run cross country at all before, yet some of them were big impactors in the race. Senior runner Carter Eberle transferred from Gerstell Academy this past year and decided to join the team, not having run before.

Carter said, “It was so easy to join the team; everyone was so welcoming and helpful with it being my first time running cross country.”

Coach Torres spoke about Carter and said, “Although it was her first time running, she did an exceptional job.”

Coach Torres feels that Maddie Wassin is one of the best runners that JC has seen in a while. He said that if JC has a Mount Rushmore for cross country runners she would be on it. Maddie only started running for JC her sophomore year.

Junior Isabelle Parrish is also a first-year runner. She was unsure about running at first, but as the season started

she really started to love it. Winning in her first year was a major accomplishment. She said, “It’s really nice to see

that all of my hard work and stressful workouts paid off.”

The cross country team shows off the “2024” that has been added to their team banner.

Boys cross country wins third championship in a row

by Kallissa Coats Patriot Off-Campus Sports Editor

The boys cross country team completed the three-peat as they won this year’s fall championship. They finished first overall on the season, going undefeated at 6-0. The championship run was held at Shawan Downs. Senior Evan DeVoe finished second overall for the Patriots. JC runners also got third, fourth, and fifth.

This race was the most important for senior Will Root because it was what

they worked for all season.

Will said he told his team, “This is what we have been working for. I believe in you guys to do your best and get your best times” because there were a lot of nerves.

When arriving at the race Will said, “I kept thinking about how I really didn’t want to lose, and that’s what kept me going throughout the race.”

Preparing for a race this big took a lot of preparation. Evan said that their team “tapered” their runs, meaning they lowered their intensity so they would have enough energy leading up to race day. However, it was also important that they ate well.

Will said then he encouraged his

team to eat healthier and get a lot of rest in those last couple of days before the race. Evan said leading up to the race there were a lot of nerves and anxiety -not just because the team wanted to win but also wanted to get their best times this season.

After the race, Evan said, “Everyone was satisfied with their runs and performances, and the vibes were super upbeat and happy.”

When running, the team likes to stay together to push each other when racing. Coach Michael Monaghan said they won the race by a lot more than he expected. “We were well positioned during the race, so it made the win easy.”

Dig Pink event raises money for breast cancer awareness

by Maddie Kimmel Patriot Organizations Editor

In volleyball, to “side-out” means to regain control of the ball. Since the charity’s founding in 2005, The Side-Out Foundation has helped people with metastatic breast cancer regain control of their lives. They have flipped the traditional definition of a non-profit by recruiting researchers to operate their very own research.

Dig Pink is the name of these events that raise funds to directly support The Side-Out Foundation’s research program and spread their mission.

Worldwide, the foundation raises approximately $1.5 million annually. Hundreds of middle schools, high schools, and colleges participate, and in this fall sports season at JC, boys and girls volleyball added to that number.

On October 15, the girls volleyball program had their Dig Pink match against Roland Park Country School. The gym was beautifully decorated with pink streamers, posters, and had Dig Pink

ambassadors selling pink JC attire.

Varsity and junior varsity players wore pink accessories and pink spandex. As varsity’s second to last regular season game prior to playoffs, there was a lot of pressure to win. Thankfully, they celebrated a win over the Reds 3-1.

On October 16, the boys volleyball program competed in their Dig Pink match, took on Archbishop Curley High School. In a competitive battle, the varsity boys went to five sets. Scoring 15-12 in the final set, the Patriots took the win 3-2.

Head Coach Jordan Smith commented, “I thought the event went great overall. Both teams did an amazing job representing John Carroll for the Dig Pink Association. Our team moms did an amazing job running the event; it would not have happened without them.”

Both the girls and boys teams sported Dig Pink warm-up t-shirts and cheered for each other as teams to show their spirit. In total, over $3,000 was raised between both teams.

As this event ended and money was raised, the teams and coaches now have a new favorite tradition to look forward to: Dig Pink volleyball matches.

Patriots show school spirit at the Homecoming Game

by Daisy Everett Assistant Entertainment Editor

To finish off an energetic and enthusiastic Spirit Week, the Patriots packed the stands for the JC Homecoming Football Game on Friday, October 11.

The bleachers were filled to the brim with cheering students prepared for an exciting game. The Patriots played the St. Vincent Pallotti Panthers in a difficult match at 7:00 pm.

Similar to all Friday Fall Fun Nights, the games were accompanied by food trucks and a DJ.

Additionally, an extended halftime saw performances by the band and cheerleaders as well as the introduction of the Royal Homecoming Court.

Junior Penelope Streett said, “I enjoyed the halftime show and then got a drink from a food truck.”

Students were dressed in black and gold to show team spirit for the football team, and the colors in the stands meshed the classes into one whole unit as a school. This game was a great way to bring together all grade levels for one big Homecoming celebration.

Junior Cydney Eid said, “The

Cheerleaders perform their halftime show on the 50-yard line at the Homecoming Game.

Homecoming Game got me excited for the Homecoming Dance.”

This is a game that students often look forward to each year for the entertainment, food, and company.

Penelope added, “The Friday Fall Fun Nights are fun, and I am happy when everyone goes.”

Cydney said, “I enjoy hanging

out with my friends, watching football, and getting food from the food trucks.”

This was not an easy game for the football team and certainly, one filled with lots of emotion as the score remained 0-0 for most of the game, taking them into overtime.

In overtime, the Patriots lost the game 6-3 to the Panthers.

Above: Patriots get ready for the next play. Right: The Royal Homecoming Court is introduced after the cheerleaders performed.

FALL FUN NIGHT: JC’s football team hosted a Pink Out game to raise awareness for breast cancer. The game was held on Friday, October 18. The Patriots faced off against Boys Latin and came out on top with a 17-7 win. Yearly, a home football game in October has a Pink Out theme. Students wear pink to support and raise awareness for those who are currently battling or have previously overcome breast cancer. At the game, student volunteers from SGA handed out pink wristbands to fans. Many students decked out in pink showed up to support the football team.

MEET THE COACHES AND ARTISTS NIGHT: On October 23, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, the coaches and artists of John Carroll were able to meet possible incoming students who were interested in a sport or special arts program. This night was to allow children who are interested in a specific sports or arts program to ask any questions that they had. They also were able to meet the coaches, which was a great way to feel welcome. Along with meeting coaches, sports teams had a variety of athletes representing their sports. This also allowed the incoming students to gain some information from the players themselves and learn ways to feel and get prepared for the upcoming tryout of their sport.

Girls lacrosse program hosts an ID

clinic

by Grace Marchetti Patriot On-Campus Sports Editor

Assistant Athletic Director Laura Seifert is now in her second year running the ID clinic, and it has been very successful. She said, “We met and were lucky to meet and coach some fantastic young ladies and as a program, continue to give back and teach the game we love to the next generation.”

Coach Seifert was assisted by Varsity Assistant Coach Ally Carey, JV coaches Jamie Kirkner, Kelly Emgee, and Shannon Olsen. There were also current program student-athletes involved in coaching and playing in the drills.

The purpose of this camp is “to bring prospective lacrosse student-athletes to campus and introduce them to the program, our current student-athletes, and our staff,” Coach Seifert said.

These ID clinics are great exposure to prospects looking to come to John Carroll and truly show what our program is about.

These ID clinics have gone so well that the program hopes to continue this. “We are adding a new winter clinic option due to the positive feedback and requests to have more clinics. Our staff loves having more opportunities to work with the next generation and hopefully some future Patriots.”

Not only are these ID clinics fun, but they give the girls lacrosse program so much more exposure and constantly builds to make it better.

The girls lacrosse program has been thriving, and these are almost like a bonus to try and recruit future Patriots to embark on the John Carroll journey.

40 SPORTS

seniors: class of 2025

juniors: class of 2026

Seniors and juniors face off in annual Powderpuff game

by Cali Friedel Patriot Assistant Sports Editor

This year’s Powderpuff game was nowhere near as close as it was last year. The seniors came out with a win, 36-6.

With the former juniors having a hard-fought game last year and coming short 32-28, they were determined to get the win this year.

Grace Marchetti, Mylana Stevens, Addy Carter, Kalissa Coats, and Claire Moffitt all scored a touchdown for the seniors, along with two-point conversions scored by Kalissa Coats, Grace Marchetti, and Addy Carter. The juniors’ only touchdown was scored by Lucinda Stearns.

Although the juniors did not have

as great of a year this year for Powderpuff, many juniors still enjoyed their time participating.

Junior Danica Ross said, “Even though we did not win, I enjoyed it because it was fun dressing up and doing cheers on the sideline. I thought it was fun and brought everyone together.”

Junior Moderator and Coach Shannon Olsen said, “I think next year we could be a little better if we just have a couple more consistent practices; a lot of girls showed up to one, and a couple showed up to another. I just think if we have more consistent attendance, we can be more successful next year.”

Senior Mylana Stevens said, “The juniors were not as strong this year, so the seniors were confident in their abilities. We did very well this year.”

For the seniors, it was a great way to close out their Powderpuff experi-

ence during their last Spirit Week.

Senior Coach Laura Seifert explained, “The seniors had a dominant win this year. It was all because they worked together as a team; they executed, and they had fun together.”

This year’s Powderpuff student section was not as energetic as past years. The student section for seniors was very spirited.

The section had several different cheers and were very engaged in the game. As for the juniors, sophomores, and freshman, they were not as engaged, and there was not much cheering coming from their classes.

The practices for juniors took place once in the morning of a two-hour delay, before school 8:00-9:00, and three times after school from 2:50-3:30. For the seniors, they practiced eight times for about two weeks, during their lunch times.

FRESHMAN VS. SOPHOMORE HALFTIME FIELD GOAL KICK:

Throughout the Powderpuff game, the freshmen and sophomores watched from the stands as the upperclassmen battled it out on the field. However, during halftime of the game, the freshmen and sophomore girls had their chance to show off their field goal kicking skills. Three girls were selected from each class to come onto the field. Each girl had two opportunities to attempt to kick a field goal. When the final results were in, the sophomore girls were victorious.

42 SPORTS

Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles

Ottone dominates the soccer field

by Addison Weaver Patriot Junior Staff Writer

Bella Ottone has dominated the ‘24 soccer season, scoring five goals in regular league play. She helped lead the team to the IAAM quarterfinal game where they lost 2-0 against Archbishop Spalding.

Bella started playing soccer when she was three-years-old and has “never looked back.” Now in her sophomore year she is a part of the JC varsity program and plays for Pipeline Soccer Club outside of school.

Every day after school, Bella attends practice with the team to help her improve. As a threat on the offense, she displays her skills in multiple attacking roles, playing the 9, 10, 8, and 11.

Bella was awarded Player of the Week for Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. The IAAM highlighted her role in the team wins against Century High School and Archbishop Spalding, as she scored three goals in the two-game span.

Teammate Cali Friedel commented, “As someone who runs indoor and outdoor track with Bella along with playing soccer with her, she has a great attitude going into anything. Bella’s hard work and endless hours of training is noticed on the field and on the track.”

For the rest of her high school career, Bella’s goal is to win an IAAM A conference championship.

One of Bella’s fellow teammate, Sophomore Clara Madore, said “Bella is a great team player and a hard worker.”

Bella’s favorite hype up song to listen to before a game is “The Fall of Jake Paul” by Logan Paul. Her favorite JC pregame tradition is the last song in the locker room.

Additionally to soccer, Bella enjoys hanging out with her friends and going to the beach.

Cullison excels

as student & teammate

by Daisy Everett Assistant Entertainment Editor

Junior Sam Cullison brings the right amount of energy and excitement to all her matches. On the court, she is a superstar with precision and strength, but off the court, she thrives just as much with her extracurriculars and academics. Sam participates in a variety of clubs such as Speech and Debate, Patriots For Kids, and Architecture Club.

Sam has been a vital part of the John Carroll tennis team since her freshman year when she made varsity. Her love for tennis comes from when she started playing the summer in 2022 to be able to practice with her friends. She has been playing doubles

since then, and never gives up an opportunity to practice.

While Sam embodies what it means to be a student athlete, that does not mean that she has not struggled.

Sam said, “The biggest challenge I face as a varsity player is having to leave school for so many matches, and not get home until late.”

This is a problem many athletes at John Carroll encounter, but Sam overcomes this challenge by maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

The tennis team has many rituals and team warm-ups to hype up the group, but Sam has her own way of preparing for a nerve racking match.

Sam said, “I mentally prepare for high-pressure matches by eating beforehand and listening to music to calm my nerves.”

Sam’s first year on the team was a memorable one as they almost won the championships.

Sam reminisces about the stressful match she and her partner played in the championship game.

She said, “My proudest moment on the court was freshman year when my doubles partner and I won our championship game.” Even though the John Carroll tennis team did not win the championships that year, Sam and her partner won their match.

photo courtesy of Bella Ottone

photo courtesy of Sam Cullison

Sophomore Bella Ottone

Junior Sam Cullison

Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles * Athlete Profiles

Olivi finds success on varsity team

by Maddie Kimmel Patriot Organizations Editor

Freshman Tyler Olivi tried out for the boys volleyball team in the fall. He quickly made an impression on the coaching staff, who ha bdeen looking for a new setter for the team.

A setter controls the entire offensive side of the game. It requires someone with excellent communication and resilience to constant feedback from others. Tyler exceeded expectations, showcasing these qualities and more in his play.

Jack Grabowski, a junior on the team, said, “Tyler is brave and willing to try new types of sets during games. He’s really good at controlling different plays, too, which always surprises our opponents.”

“Tyler has adapted to the team really well. He took the position with an open mind and is still improving by communicating on the court,” added Jack.

His ability to read the game and make quick decisions under pressure has made him a valuable asset to the team.

“I have been doing clinics and recreational volleyball for about two years. Last year, I played my first club season,” Tyler said.

Despite his limited experience, Tyler was beyond surprised to make varsity, realizing his “hard work really did pay off” when he found out. His progression from more casual play to the competitive high school sport world highlights his commitment and dedication.

As the season began, practicing with more seasoned players sharpened Tyler’s skills for a higher level of play. The team lost their first few matches but fought hard and ended with close scores.

Tyler mentioned, “I have im-

proved as a player by becoming stronger and not just focusing on my position. I have also become more vocal as a player calling the ball, new plays, and communicating with my team.”

Despite various losses, Tyler has loved his first season so far. “My favorite part of the season was probably when we got our first win against St. Paul’s,” Tyler said.

His first victory with the team was memorable for everyone, but will mark the start of many more wins to come for Tyler.

“In the future, I am looking forward to having more fun with my teammates and seeing how I can reach my potential this season,” he said.

Baltimore Ravens aim for the Super Bowl

by Emily Kerr Patriot Perspectives Editor

In the 2023 season, the Baltimore Ravens started off incredibly strong, but slowly faltered until they were out of the playoffs. They were a big competitor in the AFC north with an 11-6 record.

In the beginning of this season, the Ravens were a little shaky. They lost the first two games they played, which had fans nervous for the upcoming season and angry about the losses. Luckily, the Ravens have overcome these hard losses and have now won some games.

As of presstime, the Ravens most recent win was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a score of 41-31. However, the Ravens lost to the Cleveland Browns on October 27 after a five game win streak, with a score of 24-29. Many fans blame this hard loss on the team’s defense.

Last year, Lamar Jackson won his second NFL MVP award. He earned his first MVP award in 2019, and he was the first unanimous winner of this award.

The Ravens drafted a lot of great players in the 2024 draft. This includes CB Nate Wiggins, who was drafted in the first round, and OT Roger Rosengarten, who was drafted in the second round.

The Ravens have had a few major injuries, including RB Keaton Mitchell and LB Malik Hamm. Mitchell is out with a knee injury, but there has not been much discussion about the details of the injury. Hamm is out with a torn ACL, and he is on injury reserve.

While playing against Washington on October 13, Wiggins suffered an injury to his shoulder. He was taken out for the rest of the game. Luckily, it seems Wiggins avoided what could’ve been a major injury.

While the Ravens gained a lot of great players, they also lost a lot. This includes RB J.K. Dobbins and WR Odell Beckham Jr. Dobbins got drafted to the Los Angeles Chargers and OBJ got drafted to the Miami Dolphins.

The Ravens are aiming to go to the Super Bowl, and if they keep continuing with the path they are on without further injuries, they have a good chance of reaching this goal.

photo courtesy of Tyler Olivi

Freshman Tyler Olivi

Halloween 2024

Students were greeted in the morning by FCA members with Boo Grams that had been organized by the group. They also saw many of their teachers who had dressed for the day. At lunch, SGA brought back the Candy Wheel where students could win gift cards and candy by landing on a graduation year.