Issuu

ZEPHYR 2024 - 2025

Editorial Board

Editors in Chief.: Darian Rouse '26 Lily Panday '26

Copy & Layout Editor: Adriana Barnett '25 & Lily Panday '26

Visual Arts Editor: Lilina Giarusso '25 & Emily Zhagnay '26

Staff

Darian Rouse '26

Lily Panday '26

Lilina Giarusso '25

Emily Zhagnay '26

Adriana Barnett '25

Annie Benoit '26

Laila Dailey '26

Marlys Glenn '28

Victoria Hui '25

Elleana Mariano '26

Sara Meserlian '27

Julia Rearden '26

Natalia Rios '28

Lily Sandals '25

Natalie Sims '28

Ava Varrenti '28

Joelle Walden '27

Kyra Yates '26

Advisor

Ms. Giarrusso

Thank you to everyone who was vulnerable enough to share their work with others. You are an inspiration.

Sincerely,

Zephyr Staff

Dedication

Darian Rouse '26

The English dictionary deﬁnes an educator as a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher. For many people, especially teenagers an educator is simply just that. Kids often drag themselves to class and manage to get through the period. They don’t take the initiative to ask questions, they don't participate, and they struggle. Leading them to fall behind all because of the crippling fear of rejection and embarrassment. But what happens when an educator reaches the students who blend into the background? Do those students come out of their shell or do they continue to try to camouﬂage?

There are some educators, such as Aristotle and Maria Montessori, who changed the world's approach to education.

Aristotle is known for his contributions to the world of philosophy, which emphasized the importance of education and teachers. He went on to found his own school called the Lyceum in Athens, which contributed to the development of education during his lifetime and after. He argued the primary responsibility of teachers is to allow children to learn naturally by making mistakes.

Maria Montessori was the only female student at a teacher training school in Italy in 1870.

She went on to open a childcare center in Rome after receiving her doctorate degree. Montessori came to realize that children learn the best through activity and developed methods to achieve this. She created environments that contribute to children's learning processes by having appropriate tables and chairs designed for the children. Montessori is one of the pioneers in the world of education with her materials that were taken from everyday life and her approach that pays attention to each child.

The contributions of educators such as Aristotle and Maria Montessori forever shaped the education system and helped it to become what we know today.

For students at Lacordaire, our very own Mr. Beck is the perfect example of an educator who challenges traditional teaching methods in order to help all of his students. In the classroom, Mr. Beck provides a fun, yet, serious environment, allowing students to both joke around and take their work seriously. He makes sure to explain math in a way that makes sense to everyone.

Whether he uses modern references or personal examples that will help students better understand the material. He uses a variety of teaching styles including writing out math problems on the board, giving verbal explanations, and allowing students to solve problems amongst their peers and on the board. His mixed teaching method makes his class both interesting and inclusive for all students.

Not only does Mr. Beck uses a variety of teaching methods, he’s also extremely accessible. He makes time to accommodate all of his students who have

questions and don't feel comfortable asking questions during class. He’s always available through email and makes time for students both before, during, and after school. Most importantly, Mr. Beck never allows his students to give up or be afraid to make mistakes. Whenever Mr. Beck would make mistakes, he’s never afraid to admit that he’s wrong and needs help. This encourages students to be more interactive during class and encourages them to ask questions.

Mr. Beck’s love and care for his students makes the classroom a warm and safe place where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. His work as an educator has only proven his determination and dedication to go above and beyond for his students.

Beck Brings Real World Experience to the Classroom

Darian Rouse '26

A few months ago we sat down with Mr. Beck to learn more about his life and the journey that led him to teaching at Lacordaire Academy.

What is your full name?

My name is Mark Thomas Beck.

Where were you born?

I was born in Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

Where is your family from?

My family is from Luxembourg. In fact, I travel there a lot.

Where were you educated?

For elementary and middle school, I attended Catholic school in Illinois. For college, I went to Miami University in Ohio for my undergraduate degree, and I later attended Montclair State for graduate school.

Where have you previously worked?

My last teaching job was at a middle school called St. Leo’s Middle School in Elmwood Park. Prior to that I was a student at Montclair State University and a hedge fund manager in Connecticut. I commuted back and forth between New Jersey and Connecticut every day. On my drive I would listen to audiobooks to pass the time, which proved to be helpful and educational.

When did you become a teacher at Lacordaire?

I became a teacher at Lacordaire in June of 2021 right in the middle of the pandemic.

How has this position helped you evolve as a person?

This position has given me insight to the younger generation especially because I work so closely with teenagers. It gives me a better sense of what the future holds

What makes/made you happy to come to work each day?

Coming to work every day gives me the opportunity to see how good I can be in this business. Every day brings new challenges, but it shows me if I can be good at this.

How did you develop your love for math? What made you want to become a math teacher?

Well, I didn't always love math. In fact, for a long time I found it difﬁcult. However, I realized that I was passed over for many jobs because of my poor math skills. I watched all of the companies around me hire students from out of the country because of how strong their math skills were and passed over students in the country because of how poor their math skills were. I realized that I needed to improve my math skills so that students such as myself wouldn’t be passed over for jobs like I was.

Outside of math, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Well, I’m really into music and in my free time I play the cello. My wife also plays the violin so we often play together. In addition to my passion for music, I like to read nonﬁction books and historical biographies.

What has been the most impactful experience in your life?

The most impactful experience in my life is the good fortune of being married to a wonderful woman for 38 years. I’ve been so lucky to have met someone who has loved me for 38 years.

What characteristics would people describe you with?

People would describe me as cranky, serious, sometimes cold, but the people who know me well would say that I am generous and warmhearted.

Could you describe a time where you had to overcome a challenge?

A time when I had to overcome a challenge was when I went back for my master's degree. I had to drop my ﬁrst calculus class because of how badly I was failing. However, I was determined to never be in that situation again and used my resources such as ﬁnding a tutor, and I worked really hard to be successful in my calculus class.

If there was a piece of advice you could give to your younger self, what would it be?

A piece of advice I would give my younger self would be to stop with the shortcuts and to do things the right way and not the short way.

If there was a piece of advice you could give to your students, what would it be?

A piece of advice I would give to my younger self would be a piece of advice I got from John Lewis. The advice would be to get an education. Education is the door opener like no other in life, those who are well educated get great opportunities.

Mr. Beck has dedicated the latter end of his career to service and education. He has made such an impact on Lacordaire's young women and community as a whole. His guidance and leadership will be sorely missed.

Mr. Orso Proves Once Again His Teaching

is Egg-cellent!

Annie Benoit '26

After dedicating ﬁve years of his life to working at Lacordaire Academy, we decided to take some time to learn more about the man that has helped shape the math department, Mr. Orso.

What is your full name?

My full name is Sean Thomas Ezekiel Orso.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. My dad's parents lived in Sussex County, so we eventually moved out there, and I have been living there the last 11 years.

Do you have any siblings? If so, how is your relationship with them?

I have one older brother....sometimes he's the last person I ever want to talk to, but he's always the ﬁrst person I could ever count on.

Where were you educated?

I got kicked out of Catholic preschool, went to public school until 8th grade, then went to Catholic High School, then went to William Paterson where I got a math degree. I actually didn't know I was going to be a teacher when I was in college!

What was your favorite subject growing up and why?

History was my favorite subject in school. It was the one subject in school I didn't (at least) fail a marking period of! But also (and I'm saying this as a devout math teacher) history is the most important subject in school, in my opinion. Every subject and ﬁeld of study has history to it, including mathematics.

Where did you work before working at Lacordaire?

I was a janitor/general services technician at a four seasons resort for four years. I started working there during high school, stayed there my four years of college and then kept working there for a few months after I started teaching (I was also working a third job at Mathnasium during this time, but that's a story for another day.) I learned more about the human condition from cleaning-up for the general public than college could ever teach me. Eventually, I got a math-teaching job at a school in Newark that gave me the opportunity to give teaching a try, even though I wasn't actually sure it was for me. This was also the school year when COVID happened, so it was certainly a learning experience. The school, sadly, closed down at the end of that year due to pandemic. But then I found out about Laco, so the rest is history :)

How did it feel coming back to work at Lacordaire?

After two years at Laco, I tried a year teaching in the public schools. Obviously, everyone has their own experiences in life, but I'll be brief when I say that my experience in the public school could not hold a candle to Lacordaire Academy. At the same time, I was homesick that entire year. I had the Lacordaire website opened in another tab on my laptop. The stars lined up, and I was so happy I got to come back.

What

do you love most about working at Lacordaire?

After being here for four school years over ﬁve years, my feelings really haven't changed: this school is amazing. Obviously, the world of education is fast paced and can be challenging, but I am surrounded by the best people, particularly my amazing students. I'm not particularly religious these days, but I give my thanks to the Universe for sending me here!

What qualities/characteristics do you think are important for success as a teacher?

A good teacher needs empathy. Everything else (content mastery, even communication skills) can be found along the way. The challenges students face outside the classroom are just as real and complicated as for adults, so I want all of my students to feel seen and heard when they enter my classroom.

When did you ﬁrst have an interest in teaching mathematics?

The first time I actually felt confident in math was in 10th grade Geometry (after having just failed 9th grade Algebra 1.) There was a time when Catholic schools, sadly, would overlook students with disabilities such as myself, but my Geometry teacher was probably the most patient and caring teacher I had in high school with my IEP. That was probably the first year I ever said "I love math," and then when I got into NHS in 11th grade, I started tutoring students in my school's version of Math Lab. I think that was when I first considered teaching.

Mr Orso's chickens plotting school domination

What is your favorite type of math to teach?

Algebra is my favorite type of math to teach, because it's a language that communicates all of the different types of mathematics (Geometry, Statistics, Probability, Discrete Math, Calculus, etc.) As a teacher, one of my favorite things is to teach one concept by learning about another concept, such as teaching systems of equations by calculating the Orthocenter of a triangle!

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

In my free-time I like to do difﬁcult math problems just for fun (admittedly after teaching AP Stats for the ﬁrst time, this has stopped becoming a hobby and just becoming part of my job haha.) I love playing competitive laser tag, going to the gym and hanging out with my feather puppies!

What is an activity that you do as a stress reliever?

Hanging out with my chickens and watching them run around deﬁnitely relieves my stress!

Could you describe a time where you had to show perseverance?

When I was a junior in college, my Uncle, younger cousin and grandmother all died within a few months of each other (my cousin and grandma died within a few weeks.) That impacted me a lot, and I didn't know how to react. All of these deaths were sudden and draining on my soul, I didn't know how to react. I ended up working more shifts at my job just so I didn't have to think about how sad I was, and this caused me to start failing three of the ﬁve classes I took that semester (two math classes and a physics class. The irony was that I had just declared a physics minor that semester.) I barely passed two of the classes, and I failed Abstract Algebra (which, believe it or not, doesn't have much Algebra in it!) I have no idea if I showed any perseverance from that story, but it did remind me about empathy. I would rather my students get their eight hours of sleep and take care of things at home then stay up until midnight ﬁnishing their math homework.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To my younger self: surround yourself with kindness.

What advice would you give to your students?

To my students: surround yourself with kindness AND be kind to yourself. Because you deserve it. And get your eight hours of sleep, your health (including your mental health) is more important than anything else.

We really appreciate the “Big Dog” of the math department sitting down with us for an interview. We love you Mr. Orso.

Both students and teachers can agree, Mr. Orso is a positive inﬂuence on everyone he meets!

Ode to Spongebob

Adriana Barnett '25

As yellow as the bright sun you are always smiling with eyes full of joy.

Never passes a day without the echo of your laughter so familiar, so warm.

Kindness oozes from your pores

Why do I always cry over dead deer on the road?

Adriana Barnett '25

Brilliantly warm red splattered on the dark, unforgiving, cold asphalt

“Oh, a deer.”

My mother notes then returns to our conversation from before.

I give the stain one last look and hide my tears behind my sleeve

2025

Sonnet 68

Adriana Barnett '25

Pay no mind to her false quiet demeanor

Soon forgotten when she reveals her true self

Whenever I am with her the grass is greener

My day is brightened by her kindness and help

You prove the pen is mightier than the sword

Overcoming challenges with the ﬂick of your wrist

Even the sharpest mind looks dull compared to yours

Never is an assignment missed

Like Saint Francis drawing animals in They too cannot resist your orbit

It feels as though beside you I have always been

When we’re together I’m no longer dormant

On a basketball team that never wins

I am so honored to be your twin

Written as Count Orlock from the hit ﬁlm Nosferatu (2024)

Adriana Barnett '25

When I recall past lovers of mine

I think of their hair, lucious, long, and O so fair

Spun with ﬂecks of gold that withstand the pass of time

Fall gently against their neckline

Brushed every morning with utmost care what beautiful, wonderful hair

So perfectly ﬁne

But now I have taken to beautiful bangs

That rest above shining eyes

And ﬁll my heart with such pain

For I know this woman's heart lies

With men who do not have fangs

Anywhere near sharp as mine

Sunﬂowers

Lily

Panday '26 2025

My darling, if only words could encapsulate how my heart swells for you… The way it burns my soul with a promise, a proposal to hold you close. Closer than life can fathom.

I am all yours, I will always be yours, your unrequited eyes could never change that.

But your eyes… I can see…they shine otherwise, with tears that give me hope. Would you take my hand? Will you…marry me?

Dreaming again of that fateful day, the one that promised to tie the love of two hearts into one. And that they did, on a day that could not be more perfect even if you dreamed. That epitome of young love that did not hesitate to start a new journey of their own.

Today, their anniversary, their day, was quietly awakened by a rosy sunrise. Fifty years since their hearts were united in marriage, and the husband wakes early to surprise his wife with her favorite flowers. A present that has been tradition for as long as they have been together. He takes his time to get outside, and strolls along the dusty road. He treks up to a cliff where the sunflowers reside, a cliff that towers over their favorite beach view. There, the sunflowers are bright like her. The ones that always make her smile.

He gently feels its petals, and merely the sight crinkles his eyes into a familiar smile. He picks one that is just as perfect as her. Only the best for her. He closes his eyes and remembers the day they danced together in their little marriage hall adorned with glimmering sunﬂowers. He carefully waltzes with the ﬂower like it were her. He holds her close like he promised, stealing one more glance until he tips over the edge.

The Honors and Dishonors of War

Logan Grace Echegaray '26

It is a beautiful day. It is also the day of my daughter's marriage, the day that I hand my only daughter over for the rest of her life. It is the day that all fathers dream about since the ﬁrst breath. Most men dream of having a son to throw a football around or take to a baseball game, but not me. I’ve always wanted a daughter. I would do anything for her. I served my country for her. To keep her safe. I’m powerless against the misfortunes and burdens of life, but at least I can keep her away from harm physically.

I remember the day the draft came in the mail. It was a gloomy day. It's funny; the weather seemed to mimic the heaviness in the air. That fear that the unspeakable would happen weighted the air. But if being sent to war meant contributing to a safer country, then I had to do it. For my Maggie. I just wanted to make her proud. What man wants their daughter to walk around with shame of her father? I wanted her to proudly say, “My father is a veteran,” when she was asked about me. I promised then and there I would do everything to come home to her. I kept my promise. Now I get to be here for the happiest day of her life. And I thank God every day for that. I thank God for every argument over ﬂowers, invitations, tablecloths, and venues. When your life is on the line every day, you learn to be grateful for the tedious things that make your life a life.

“Are you ready to go, Mac?” I hear my wife ask.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I respond

"Well, then let's go; we are the parents of the bride; it wouldn’t look good to be late." She says as she tightens my tie.

It is going to be a good day. Everything is going to be perfect for my Maggie and perfect for my Jean because they deserve the world. And everything was. Until the liquor…

BANG. The noise rings in my ears as I drop to the ground behind a nearby tank. A paralyzing fear ﬁlls my body. I can’t move. Not a single inch. The air is too heavy, and it sits on my chest like a 50-pound weight, hindering my breathing. One wrong move. That’s all it takes to be taken from everything I hold dear. I wasn’t made for this. I wasn't made for war. I should be home.

Home with my Jean and my Maggie.

“GET UP SOLDIER,” I hear a voice yell, “THIS ISN'T NAP TIME, BOY. GET UP.”

I feel a hand pulling me suddenly. I can barely make out the owner of this hand before they speak. “That was quite a fall, lad.” Declan.

"Alright, you heard gunshots. Big deal, we still got a job to do, don't we? Can't let them damned stukes win, can we, Mac?”

I still can’t move. No matter how hard I try. I’m stuck in this motionless limbo.

“Come on, lad,” Declan says tiredly as he tries to get me up but to no avail. BANG!

“Mac!” he says, but it's useless. The bullet already hit his chest.

We were both on the ﬂoor now, but suddenly I was the only one who could move. More shots ﬁlled my ears. BANG!

BANG!

“MEDIC! MEDIC! MAN DOWN,” I sobbed. “MAN DOWN!”

I was not made for this. War. Violence. Before I recognized what I was doing, I loaded my gun, aimed, and fired. I fired because of a man I had loved like a brother, but I fired at a man who was somebody else’s brother.

A man I had never previously met. I don’t even know his name. I don’t know his story. But that was the last page of it because I had ended his narrative with one swift ﬁnger movement and one quick reﬂex.

I had fought ﬁre with ﬁre, something my mother taught me never to do. I had killed a man who killed my brother. I killed a man. Someone’s friend, boss, son, brother, father. He was dead, and my hands were at fault. A family tonight will receive news that their family member will never return home. I was not made for this.

A wave of grief ﬁlled my body. I felt paralyzed again. I curled up in the dirt and continued to sob. And sob. And sob. Longing to be in my Jean's arms and hear my Maggie's laugh.

“I want to go home!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as my eyes went blurry.

“I want to go home.”

“I want to go home!”

“God, I just want to go home.”

My eyes are focused again, but I’m not on the ﬁeld. I'm in the arms of a man. “Mr. McHenry, you're okay now,” he said, “you're okay.”

“Mac,” I heard my wife’s voice. I saw her on the side of a table with my daughter. They were both crying.

I looked down at my hands as it came to me what had just happened. I broke tables and chairs. I threw a vase on the floor. I ripped my jacket. I pushed the cake onto the floor. It took four men to hold me back and calm me down. My daughter’s perfect wedding was ruined. And it was all my fault. Why would she ever be proud of me now? Yes, I served my country, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to find my way home to my Jean and my Maggie.

Art

Joelle Walden '27

Can be anything,

Visual or non-visual,

Physical or non-physical, Always with a purpose, even if the purpose is boredom.

Healthy for the mind, body, and soul. Cannot be rushed in its truest form. Contains emotions, or a message or two. Has a thought behind it even if there aren’t any.

Can change the world. Can change a girl. Can change a mind and heart.

Emotions long overdue, but never late. Is always a beauty.

Can’t be copied because it requires emotion and interpretation. Wake up in a cold sweat with ideas that must be shown to the world. Always changing, Changing itself.

Art

Colorless

Lilina Giarrusso '25

I’ve never seen such a boring place no colors no designs it’s marketed as if for your beneﬁt “not to overstimulate” “not to overwhelm” “to create a calm atmosphere” but shouldn’t rehabilitation of whatever kind be marketed as exciting energetic a new vibrant beginning that would be especially good for the young ones the entire goal being your old life was gray your new one full of vibrant hues however my life has never felt darker I’ve never seen more dull red than when I was here

Love or Illusion Darian Rouse '26

And you, do you love them,

Or do you love the version of them you wish they could be?

Do you love them, Or do you fear the silence between their words?

Do they love you, or are you their last resort, The safe harbor they return to when storms tear apart their pride? Do they love you, or do they love the comfort of routine, The familiarity of a hand they don’t truly hold?

Do they love you, or is it simply the fear of loneliness That keeps them tethered to your soul, no matter how broken it feels?

Do they love you, or do they love the idea of love, Shaped by stories they’ve never lived?

And you, do you love them, Or do you love the version of them you wish they could be? Do you love them, Or do you fear the silence between their words?

Love isn’t always what it seems— Sometimes it’s the weight we carry, The hope we hold onto when we have nothing left but the shadows.

But does love have to hurt to be real, Or can we learn to let go, to be enough for ourselves ﬁrst?

Zephyr Cover Contest

Adriana Barnett '25

This year, like every year, we held a contest for the Zephyr cover. Although a winner was chosen, a fantastic piece by Victoria Hui, we have decided to include the many other compositions submitted in this year's issue. Every artist put in so much work into creating these pieces making it extremely difﬁcult for us to choose a winner. Please enjoy the following submissions! We are so proud of all the artists in the Laco community!

Anonymous 2025

Julia Rearden '26 Zephyr

Elin Smith-Freitag '25 2025

Lilina Giarrusso '25

Lilina Giarrusso '25

BSU x Fashion Club Fashion Show Write Up

Darian Rouse '26

In February, Lacordaire’s Black Student Union and Fashion Club collaborated to showcase a Black History Month Fashion Show. Our rendition of the fashion show was inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, super ﬁne tailor and Black style. During the show, models dressed in different outﬁts that represented popularized styles in Black culture during the different decades. Our host, Angie Castro, walked the audience through a variety of decades, starting in the '70s and ending in Present Day. The fashion show starred our '70s models Samara Navani and Francis Feliciano, our '80s models Lily Panday and Alice Cox, our '90s models Annie Benoit and Laila Dailey, our 2000s models Candace Thorpe and Dalilah Rivera, our 2010s models Samantha Venegas and Ava Varrenti, and our Present Day models were Suri Williamson and Reyna Bunyan. The Black Student Union Founders and Presidents, Suri Williamson and Reyna Bunyan, and the Fashion Club Founder and President, Angie Castro worked tirelessly to combine the clubs common beliefs to showcase history, culture, and art to the Lacordaire community. Both clubs enjoyed spending quality time together while also immersing in both Black history and culture. In addition to a remarkable show, the Black Student Union served food, which is also an important part of Black History. All in all, the show was a success and only leaves us more eager as to what both the Black Student Union and Fashion Club will do next.

Darian Rouse '26, Reyna Bunyun '25, and Suri Williamson '27

Darian Rouse '26, Reyna Bunyun '25,

Suri Williamson '27, and Angie Castro '27

1970s and 1980s

Darian Rouse '26, Francis Feliciano '25, and Samara Navani '27

Darian Rouse '26, Lily Panday '26, and Alice Cox '27

1990s and 2000s

Darian Rouse '26, Annie Benoit '26, and Laila Dailey '26

Darian Rouse '26, Candace Thorpe '27, and Dalilah Rivera '27

Darian Rouse '26, Ava Varrenti '28, and Samantha Venegas'28 2010s

Congrats to all for a great show!

Sewing Project Write Up

Elleana Mariano '26

This was my most challenging sewing project so far. I tried & failed to make this plushie, and after about three attempts, I gave up. About a year later, I was considering whether I should try again, but I decided against it, not wanting to waste more ﬂuffy green socks. It was only after a friend requested it that I ﬁnally had the courage to do so. The only piece I had that was still intact & usable from the last attempt was Duolingo’s eyes. I restarted the project, and right after I glued the eyes, I realized that they were uneven. So, I tried to cut off the eyes, but part of the body was cut too. So I had to scrap the whole thing and start over from scratch, even going as far as reprinting the pattern to a slightly smaller size. In the end, I was happy I did this, because the end result was better than I ever imagined!

This Duo plushie is a DIY project. In many ways, this Duo is similar to the ofﬁcial Duo Plushie. He’s stubby, he’s funny, and most importantly, schemes on how to “gently encourage” users to do their daily lessons. The problem is that DIY Duo is unofﬁcial. He isn’t industry high-quality, he’s DIY. So, he sits by a window, contemplating his worth. Nobody understands his feelings, as they always assume he’s being an evil mastermind, as expected of a Duo. Welp, this is something he’s gonna deal with later. He’s got a learner to torture.