The Bear Facts: March 27, 2014

St. Joe students march in Washington, A8

Bear Facts the

VOLUME 17, NO. 4

THE ROAR SWINGING INTO SEASON

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

DONATING BLOOD

www.thebearfacts.net

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ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

St. Joe revises class schedule Students will take 7 classes instead of 8; school day will end 30 minutes earlier

By JON DALE DIECKMAN The Bear Facts

St. Joe Bruins open the 2014 baseball season.

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St. Joseph Catholic School students will take seven classes starting next fall in a major schedule change that will re-shape the day for middle and high schoolers.

The school will rotate five classes each day, with each period lasting 70 minutes.

The school day will end at 2:55 p.m., giving student athletes an earlier start for practice.

“I think the schedule will be easy to adjust to,” said Jojo Katool, a sophomore, who added he is not worried about taking

one class less.

The new schedule was announced last week in meetings school administrators had with students. School officials met this week with parents to discuss the schedule and course selections.

Students must submit course selections for next year by Friday.

Besides reducing the number of classes from eight to seven and increasing class time from 65 to 70 minutes, St. Joe also will limit electives to one each in ninth, 10th and 11th grades and two in 12th grade.

Separate middle school English and

literature classes will be combined into one year-long course for seventh and eighth grades.

Students will attend a 10-minute homeroom that will start at 7:55 a.m. each day.

KEITH BARNES The new class schedule will take effect when the new school year begins in August.

School officials have been looking into revising the schedule and number of classes since last year.

During spring 2013, students in all grade levels participated in a one-week test run of a possible bell schedule.

No test runs are planned this academic year.

Jacob Caskey, a junior, said that losing “an elective will give me more time to focus on my academics.”

As for morning JOJO KATOOL assemblies that are popular with many students, St. Joe Principal Keith Barnes and Mrs. Kristi Garrard are still trying to determine when they will take place – possibly on Monday.

“We considered schedules such as a block schedule, a seven period set schedule, and an athletic period,” Mrs. Garrard said.

Honoring St. Joseph, feeding the poor Students participate in St. Joe’s annual blood drive this February.

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The St. Joe community donated bread, canned goods and other nonperishable items to the Gleaners Food Bank

By WHITLEY PANNELL The Bear Facts

CHESS CLUB DOMINATES

The St. Joe Chess Club makes statement at Ole Miss tourney.

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SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP

Sophomore Taylor Healy spends her Spring Break in Haiti.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

Reed Collins wins the 2014 St. Joe Geography Bee plus other news from the 500 Building.

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GOD CHICKS GOD BROS

Middle schoolers participate Saturday in God Chicks and God Bros event.

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INSIDE n Opinion: A2 n News: A3-8 n Entertainment: B4-5 n Bruin Sports: B1-3

Photos by London Hatten/ The Bear Facts Above: The Rev. Ricardo Phipps, pastor at St. Mary and Christ the King Catholic churches, leads Mass on St. Joseph’s Day. The celebration, which honored the namesake of St. Joseph Catholic School, saw Father Phipps bless the St. Joseph altar. The canned goods and other nonperishable items were donated to the Gleaners Food Bank.

Right: Father Phipps, Principal Keith Barnes and President Mike Juhas stand next to the St. Joseph’s altar.

This year’s annual St. Joseph’s Day Mass, honoring the school’s namesake, brought the entire community together for a special cause and a grand celebration.

Every year, St. Joe students, parents and faculty members bring in canned goods and nonperishable items. They collect these items for about two weeks, and members of the St. Joe Parent Association set up an altar in the gym displayed behind the priest at Mass.

The St. Joseph’s altar is an Italian tradition in thanksgiving for the favors and protection from St. Joseph. People also create these altars to ask for intercession on St. Joseph’s behalf.

After Mass, all of the food and canned goods were donated to the poor through the Gleaners, a local community food bank.

“Lent is a time for sacrificing and helping others, so what better way to do that than donate the goods to the Gleaners,” said senior Caroline Bonin.

Mrs. Charlene Papale, who helps organize school Masses, said that “St. Joe has strong ties to the Gleaners.”

“Numerous people who work there have children and grandchildren that attend St. Joe currently,” she said. “It is a great organization that helps numerous communities.”

The celebrant for the Mass last week was the Rev. Ricardo Phipps.

Junior DeZell Lathon explained that he really enjoyed the mass.

“The Mass was a huge success,” Lathon said. “And I really enjoyed the homily that was given by Father Phipps.

The altar was absolutely beautiful, and I think the St. Joe See ST. JOSEPH’S DAY, A3

St. Joe students celebrate Black History Month

By BRIA PAIGE The Bear Facts February is known by many to be the month of love because of one of the most popular holidays out of the year, Valentine’s Day. But the love is also spread throughout the month as the celebration of the history and accomplishments of African Americans.

Formally known as Black History Month, February is one month out of the year set aside to remember all the great African Americans and their achievements which helped to shape and mold the United States into the country it is today.

Whitley Pannell, co-organizer of the month’s activities, said, “Jaela (Hefner) and I felt that it was important to organize different events that pertained to black

history for the Mondays in February. Our goal was to educate our school, in fun and innovative ways, about the influential people in America that helped shape our history.”

At St. Joe, the celebration officially kicked off on Monday, Feb. 3, with a special presentation during morning assembly.

Jackson State University’s Mad drama troupe gave an historical yet entertaining segment on African American poetry and literature.

Every Monday out of the month was dedicated to a different topic related to black history.

In addition to guest speakers, a trivia game including all grades was played every week.

On the second Monday, which was dedicated to religion, See BLACK HISTORY, A3

Photo by London Hatten/The Bear Facts Seniors Jaela Hefner, April Fulgam, Tarsha Paris, Whitley Pannell, and Kelsi May pose with the key speaker, the late Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

Opinion

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Is the perfect date really possible?

Put your girlfriend first when you take her for a Guys unfortunately are romantically night on the town in a long-awaited, dream date challenged, fall short of dating expectations

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Dates are usually a girl’s proud opportunity to spend hours getting ready and making every small piece of hair go in the right place. dream about As a girl, we are excited a romantic to just have someone with walk in the whom to share an outing or a park or a good conversation. picnic on the Sometimes love can be HALLE beautiful ANDERSON easily misunderstood by green grass young girls. I personally right beside blame the movies we watch. a beautiful clear lake where Girls watch romantic the wind is just right. movies and then expect If that’s not your type of things from guys that are a date, then maybe you are the type who just wants to go almost impossible.

But young men know to dinner or see a romantic nothing about romance. comedy.

Either way, love exists. It’s They barely know how to apologize correctly when they not something women have sometimes say insensitive just made up over time and thoughts. lots of girls think about or Their poor souls are busy spend hours dreaming about. just trying to get through Girls just want sweet surprises based on what their their day of constant wrestling around with their guys know about them.

Almost every girl will have friends, watching sports, playing sports and eating. something to say about love The life of a boy is and their expectations in a guy. On the other hand, many tremendously hard. As guys hardly have an opinion. teenage girls, we seem to irls

understand more about love at an early age – or at least be more interested in it more than the average boy.

Boys are just not as mature as girls. If guys would just look at these movies we like to watch, they would realize that it’s only the simple things most women want.

The walks in the park and comedy movies are all a girl needs sometimes. The little things are so important because you need them when the material things go away.

Going on dates is not just about spending money. It’s more about trying to make her smile. Trust me. Small things do the trick. Try giving your girl her own sweet romantic movie to be in.

Yes, this means you may have to put your girlfriend before video games or hanging with friends.

Sometimes, but she’s worth it.

Show her the simple things in life, and she will never forget you or let you go.

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ll girls want the same thing on dates: beautiful flowers, delicious NOAH GREENE chocolates, a romantic evening and a great day of overall companionship.

Ladies, I hate to break it to you, but that’s not going to happen. We as teenage boys are romantically illiterate, but that’s not to say we don’t want to give you a romantic evening.

This is how the scenario goes.

First, we, as men, think about the date overall – going through several ideas in our head and making plans. The only problem is we don’t act on these ideas.

Instead, the date arrives, and we have nothing to give you except a $6 flower arrangement we found at the

Doing my part to help the children

I

magine you go for a

much fun. I thought that it was a really great way for most of the student body to bond. Plus, we were doing doctor’s something for a great cause. appointment Even though I knew what at the Dance Marathon benefited, I hospital wasn’t aware of what went on and hear inside of the hospital at the KATHERINE the dreaded time.

MANGIALARDI words: “You My sophomore year, I have cancer.” was still just a dancer. But You are only 7 years old, I appreciated the hospital and you don’t understand more. I still remember that what the doctors are saying. was the year that we raised You think that something is the most money. We raised wrong with you. As you see more than $15,000 that year. your parents get emotional, By the time my junior you think it’s all your fault year came around, Christina that you have a disease. graduated and senior Teryn This is what many of the Yazdani became the new patients at Blair E. Batson director. I decided I wanted Children’s Hospital think. to be on the committee that I have always been a caring year. person. I would constantly After I interviewed for a volunteer. There is just position, I found out that something that I love about I was named codirector of doing good for others.

Dance Marathon. I would be During my freshman Teryn’s second-in-command. year of high school, junior I was ecstatic.

Christina Lawrence started an Being second-in-command event at St. Joe called Dance was fun. It gave me a good Marathon. All of the proceeds opportunity to show my go to Blair E. Batson. leadership skills.

Once Christina explained After a year of fun activities what Dance Marathon was, I and fund-raising events, was eager to participate.

Teryn told the committee That first year, I was that it was time to take just a dancer, but I had so a trip to the hospital. I

“

wanted to get to know them people. Some of their Imagine you as stories touched me deeply.

It made me realize the go for a doctor’s and struggles that appointment at the challenges these kids go through at such hospital and hear a young age. year, I am the director the dreaded words, of This Dance Marathon. This ‘you have cancer.’” means that I am in charge of everything.

So far, the meetings are running well. This year’s committee is composed of wonderful students. They smiled because I was really are all aware of the cause for excited. Little did I know Dance Marathon, and they how upsetting that little trip are eager to help in any way would be. What made this that they can. trip upsetting? Two words: You don’t have to be Cancer Ward. a committee member to We made our way down participate. You can get that deserted hallway and involved in Dance Marathon into one of the rooms. I by just being a dancer. almost burst into tears as I A dancer raises $100 saw a little girl who could throughout the year for barely sit up. She smiled at Dance Marathon and then me. comes to the event in May I had always known that the kids we were helping were to participate in numerous activities. sick, but I didn’t know the So, what’s the catch? extent of the pain that the Everyone in the gym has cancer patients went through. to be on their feet for eight From that moment on, I hours straight. There is no decided that I was going to sitting whatsoever. take Dance Marathon more I have a feeling that this seriously. year’s Dance Marathon is When the event came going to be the best one yet. around, I made an effort to It is on Friday, May 2. I hope talk to the kids who came. I

Student Views The Bear Facts staff members Mia Nichols and Rachel Reddix asked St. Joseph students what they did for spring break. Here is what some of them said:

“Getting to hangout with all my friends and go to the movies with them.”

– Katie Joseph, an eighth grader

“Sleeping in and hanging out with friends.”

– Alex Jwainat, an 11th grader

“Celebrating my mom’s birthday with my family.”

– Farrah Jones, an 11th grader

“The Jason Aldean concert in Orange Beach Alabama.”

– Karson Nelson, a 12th grader

“ Not going to school.”

– Stedman Strickland, a ninth grader

“Waking up whenever I wanted.”

– Shelby Doiron, a ninth grader

“Going to the reservoir with my friends.”

– Sara Espino, a 10th grader

“I had a lot of fun at Panama City Beach with my friends.”

– Caitlyn Beasley, a 12th grader

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poorly.

Next, of course, is the guy who just shows up but still cares.

And, lastly is the guy who doesn’t care at all.

All women want the first guy. But all women can’t have the first, and, instead, all women get a little piece of the last guy – the guy who just doesn’t care.

Dates are for women to be pampered and treated like convenience store. a queen which takes more But with every scenario, time than you think – time there is the exception in that can be better used on which some guys do make something else and more great plans and act on them. productive.

Some girls will visit their Was I only talking about locker in the school hallway teenage men acting in this and see mini chocolates, way? teddy bears and other sweet Adult men are often more treats on random days. mature and less romantically If you think about it, you illiterate – yet still have several options for a romantically challenged. “real date.”

Adult men go through First, you have the guy who a large effort to plan their planned and prepared an dates, but all men make awesome evening. stupid mistakes – and that’s Then, you have the guy who how it will be until the end of tried to plan but did it very time.

We as teenage boys are romantically illiterate, but that’s not to say we don’t want to give you a romantic evening.”

Our View

Finish the year on a positive note As we enter the final nine weeks of the school year, we know the seniors, other students and faculty are counting down the days to summer break.

Summer programs, summer vacations, and, for some people, summer school is approaching fast.

If you think you may be close to having to go to summer school, you should use these last nine weeks to sprint to the finish with all the energy you can muster.

We encourage everyone to finish strong.

The last nine weeks should be strictly business. Let’s all make sure we can end the year on a positive note.

This year is coming to an end,but that doesn’t mean we should give up early.

Let’s all go and have a good rest-of-theyear and finish strong.

BEAR FACTS The

Elisabeth Scott Editor Bria Paige Managing Editor Halle Anderson Opinion Page Editor Terry R. Cassreino, Faculty Adviser Keith Barnes, Principal Michael Juhas, President The Bear Facts, the official student newspaper of St. Joseph Catholic School, is published at least once each quarter of the school year. This newspaper is devoted to the interests of the student body, faculty, parents, alumni and community of St. Joseph. This paper’s purpose is to reflect the spirit of St. Joseph Catholic School, keep the school community informed and help promote the school’s Christian values.

All stories and photographs are copyright © 2014 by The Bear Facts and St. Joseph Catholic School. Reproduction and unauthorized use of any article, photograph or graphic in this newspaper is prohibited without explicit written consent in advance. Contact The Bear Facts, P.O. Box 2027, Madison, MS 39130-2927.

Unless otherwise noted, opinions expressed on this page belong solely to the author or authors and do not necessarily represent the beliefs and opinions of the staff of The Bear Facts; the staff, leadership and administration of St. Joseph Catholic School; or the staff, leadership and administration of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

If you disagree with any columnists’ opinions or want to share your own views, we invite you to submit a letter to the editor.

Letters should be no more than 300 words. The Bear Facts reserves the right to edit letters for clarity. Send your letter by email to thebearfacts@stjoebruins.com. Or mail them to: Letters to the Editor, The Bear Facts, P.O. Box 2027, Madison, MS 39130-2927

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Bruin News God Chicks

Photo special to The Bear Facts Middle school girls dance with senior girls at the middle school God Chicks event on Friday, March 21.

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God Bros

Photo special to The Bear Facts Middle school boys get ready to play dodgeball at the God Bros event on campus Friday, March 21.

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Our goal was to educate our school, in fun and innovative ways, about the influential people in America that helped shape our history.”

– Whitley Pannell, a senior

Beagle Bagel Cafe MADISON 100 Mannsdale Park Drive, Suite II Madison, MS 39110 Phone: 601.856.4377 Fax: 601. 856.6774 http://thebeaglebagelcafe.com

Jackson office The Pinnacle Building, Suite 100 190 East Capitol Street Jackson, MS 39201 Phone: (601) 948-3101 Fax: (601)960-6902

(800) 459-2222 208 Waterford Square, Suite 300 Madison, MS 39110-6857

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Bruin News St. Joe Draw Down

Special to The Bear Facts Coach David Wissel looks at baskets prepared for Bruin Bucks, one of several items offered as part of St. Joseph Catholic School’s annual Draw Down on Saturday, Feb. 22. More than 1,000 people attended the and took a chance at the grand prize: $10,000.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Giving blood

Special to The Bear Facts Kelli May, a sophomore, gives blood during the St. Joe blood drive last month. Students, faculty, staff and parents made this year’s drive a success for Mississippi Blood Services – besting last year with a total of 41 units. Most of the donors were students.

Pannell and Associates “Building a better tomorrow today”

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Middle School

Collins advances to state geography bee

By JACK HALL The Bear Facts Eighth grader Reed Collins won the 2014 St. Joseph Geography Bee, advancing to the state competition on April 4.

The state competition will be at 8:15 a.m. in the Muse Center Auditorium on the Pearl Campus of Hinds Community College.

One winner from each state and U.S. territory will advance to the national competition May 19-21 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington.

Transportation and accommodations for the Washington, D.C., trip are provided to each state winner and a teacher-escort from

the school the winner attends.

The St. Joe bee took place in the St. Joe library on Jan. 9. High school teacher Cathy Thomas, St. Joe President Mike Juhas and businessman Greg Hinkebein served as judges.

Collins won after correctly answering a variety of questions revolving around the states, international nations and historic events.

Some rounds had individual questions allowing for open ended answers, while other questions allowed for a map.

Each participant received the same question.

In mid-October, each middle school social studies class participated in a class geography

bee. The winner of each individual class moved on to the school wide competition.

Middle schoolers then competed for the medal and atlas that goes with the title of champion.

Second and third places received an atlas.

Within the first four preliminary rounds, Mrs. Thomas had narrowed down the contestants to Collins, Rodney Self Jr. and Avery Nicholas.

Self dropped out of the competition by answering incorrectly on his final question.

The final two contestants, Collins and Nicholas, competed head-to-head in the final round until Collins came out victorious.

LeDoux dives into new hobby

By GRANT MURPHY The Bear Facts Warm, murky water quickly flooded his mask 30 feet beneath the surface, making it difficult to see and sending Jack LeDoux into a panic.

LeDoux, though, calmed himself as JACK LEDOUX he remembered the procedure to clear his mask.

Even though it was just a test, LeDoux’s task of flooding and clearing his mask is still scary to the inexperienced diver.

LeDoux, an eighth grader, attends a summer camp two weeks every year in Vanderpool, Texas. He has been attending Lone Hollow since 2010.

This previous summer, LeDoux had the privilege of earning his suba-diving license at Camp Lone Hollow.

There are many more activities at his camp besides scuba diving. Some of the activities include go cart racing, playing ping-pong, and playing soccer.

LeDoux has always shown an interest in learning how to scuba dive, so he was very excited when he learned that the camp offered a scuba diving class.

LeDoux began training when he was 12 years old; after two summers of training, he obtained his scuba diving license.

Few people choose to take the course because they are terrified of an equipment malfunction.

When LeDoux got in the water for the first time, he was apprehensive and

ecstatic.

Before he was able to actually dive, he had to take a class on the various components of the scuba gear and how they operated.

When he jumped in, he was very nervous. After a few minutes of learning his way in the water, he calmed down.

Part of the test to get his license was to fill his mask with water and empty it all while he was underwater.

“The water was warm, and it was freaky because I was blinded by the dark, muddy water,” LeDoux said.

“The shock took my breath away at first, but then I realized I could breathe perfectly fine.”

After that, LeDoux said it was all a downhill slide to the end of the test.

LeDoux said he believes that getting a scuba diving license is very important.

There are many different jobs people can do that involves scuba diving.

You could be a diver for an archeological team, rescue diver or a dive instructor. LeDoux said he could even end up as a diving instructor one day when he gets older.

LeDoux said he will be interested in taking the scuba-diving course at Camp Lone Hollow for as long as it is offered.

He said he believes it is important to stay informed of the latest safety and diving techniques.

LeDoux has taken great interest in scuba diving and said he hopes to continue to gain the necessary skills needed to be a master scuba diver.

He has had the opportunity to meet many new people through taking the class, and he hopes to make many more friends in the near future.

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Photo by Jack Hall/The Bear Facts Reed Collins, center, won the 2014 St. Joseph Geography Bee. Avery Nicholas placed second while Rodney Self Jr. placed third. All three winners are eighth graders.

Religious architects

Mrs. Dena Kinsey’s eighth grade religion class built their cathedrals while studying Gothic cathedrals. Liam Nethery, an eighth grader, said: “I like this project because it demonstrated teamwork and design because I want to design as an engineer.“ In the photo above, Trey Frierson, left, and Blaine Turner Jr. show off one of the cathedral projects. In the photo on the right, Amari Wells works on her Gothic cathedral for religion class.

Above photo by Halle Anderson/ The Bear Facts Right photo by Dena Kinsey/ Special to The Bear Facts

Middle school rising stars take the stage in upcoming musical

By JACK LEDOUX The Bear Facts

Your hands are sweaty, you can barely talk, and you feel like you forgot your lines – then you walk on stage and perform extremely well.

This is what it might be like for many St. Joseph middle school actors. It has been the actors’ dreams to be on stage in front of large audiences doing what they love most – acting.

The middle school actors and actresses include Rodney Self, Cheryl Mackey, Jax Rasmussen and Rebecca Seale.

The play that they are participating in is “Guys and Dolls.” The young actors love to act in the play and are constantly excited.

“I love to act and the plays are always so fun and energetic,” Mackey said.

Besides enjoying the fun of acting, it is also hard for the middle school students.

“Because this play is more difficult, it puts my stress to the test to see if I can handle it,” said Self, who also had a large role in last year’s play “The Music Man.” To act with the high school students is a great experience for young actors. The older students have improved the new actors’ skills.

“They have given us pointers on dancing, learning lines and singing,” said Rasmussen, who also performed in “The Music Man.” “They have pointed out things that

I do wrong and tell me how I can improve,” Mackey said.

To be in the high school plays is a great honor and is really amazing for the young actors.

“I am glad to be in the play. The people who act with me are encouraging and lively friends,” Mackey said.

To be in the play is also a great experience and a chance for the middle school actors to meet new people of different ages.

“It is extremely fun. And as a plus I get to meet new people and learn many new things,” Rasmussen said.

For Self, it is a great honor to be in the cast.

“It makes me proud that Mrs. Kenyon entitled me a part in the biggest plays of

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I joined the play this year because it was so much fun last year.”

– Jax Rasmussen, an eighth grader

the year,” he said.

For two of the young actors, it is nothing new to be in front of a large audience of your fellow St. Joseph students and parents. Self played a large role as Winthrop Paroo in the production of “The Music Man” musical. Winthrop is the little brother of Marian Paroo and son of Mrs. Paroo. Winthrop has a bad lisp and

is very shy.

Self performed this role well, and loved it so much he decided to act again.

Rasmussen is the other middle school student who performed in “The Music Man.” Rasmussen was a man in the beginning of the play who was riding on the same train as the Harold Hill, also described as the Music Man. Rasmussen sang a very repetitive song that gave everybody a smile.

“I joined the play this year because it was so much fun last year that I wanted to do it again, “ Rasmussen said.

The St. Joseph Middle School is very proud of these actors. These young stars will be the face of St. Joseph plays in the future.

Bruin News

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Sixth graders attend school retreat at St. Joe

By MEGAN PATTERSON The Bear Facts

St. Joseph Catholic School began the year by starting a tradition with sixth grade Catholic school students.

On Feb. 11, the St. Joe Retreat Team held a retreat and about 76 sixth graders piled into the Fine Arts theater to celebrate Mass with celebrant Monsignor Mike Flannery.

The St. Joe Band and Choir performed at the Mass.

“We really wanted the students to have a retreat experience at St. Joe,” St. Joe President Mike Juhas said.

“We wanted the kids to meet other kids from different schools, talk about their faith, and most importantly to show them how high school students practice their spirituality in their high school environment,” he said.

Mr. Juhas, along with teacher

and school chaplain Mrs. Mary Banks, initially set up the plan for the All Saints Retreat.

“Mary Banks and I had talked with the principals and they were all for having their sixth graders coming to St. Joe,” Mr. Juhas said.

Afterward, the young students had lunch together in the cafeteria. Throughout the day, the St. Joe Retreat Team led games, led activities and sang songs with the students in the gymnasium.

“I really did have a lot of fun,” said Bailey Miller, a sixth grader at St. Anthony. “It was really cool getting to see what all of St. Joe is like.”

The All Saints Retreat got its name from the names of the schools: St. Richard, St. Anthony, St. Therese and St. Joseph.

“That was the whole purpose of having the All Saints Retreat,” Mrs. Banks said.

“It was a great opportunity for

the sixth graders to come and meet kids their age that they had never met before.

“It combines the students together and gets them to express their faith in a whole new way,” she said.

“It was also good for our Retreat Team instead of just leading a retreat for their own classmates.”

When the All Saints Retreat ended, it was apparent that something new had started at St. Joe. “The feedback from the retreat was very good.,” Mr. Juhas said.

“I know we’ll definitely do it next year and keep it going.

“I had a lot of fun there myself.

I was there at the beginning, and I saw the kids interacting with each other. I feel like they got to see what the spiritual life was like at St. Joe.”

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Swimming All-American

Special to The Bear Facts MariMac Collins, right, a member of the Class of 2013, attends Washington University in St. Louis where she studies chemical engineering and is a member of the swim team. Last week, she was one of 10 women and eight men who qualified from Washington University for NCAA Division III National Swimming Championship at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Collins was part of the 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. Washington University had its highest finish in the 800 free relay, finishing seventh in the nation, earning the four swimmers All American Honors. The 400 relay took 11th and the 200 free relay finished 13th.

MariMac was team captain of the St. Joe Bruin swim team last year and state champion in the 50 freestyle. She also anchored St. Joe’s championship 200 yard free relay.

New cheer squads announced Debaters plan Chicago trip

By HOPE ENGLE The Bear Facts This year’s St. Joe cheer team tryouts were competitive. Out of 23 girls trying out for cheer, 18 made the team.

The judges scored each girl on a scale of 25 points: 5 points for the dance, 5 points for the cheer, and 15 points for precise moves.

St. Joe sophomore cheerleader Taylor Healy said: “The dance was really fast, and there was a lot of arm motions and moving.

“It made you super tired. I had to practice more than I did last year for the tryout.”

All 23 of the young girls trying out for cheer on March 6 anxiously waited in the St. Joe Cafeteria for their turn.

Later that night, the St. Joe 2014-2015 varsity cheerleading squad was posted.

The 2014-2015 varsity cheerleaders are: Anna Grace Bolen, Mac Brown, Riley Cole, Sammie Dupont, Lindsey Funderburg, Taylor Healy, Maddie Grace

LeFleur, Akili Lewi, Carrie Ann Loper, Pera Massey, Taylor McBeath, Emily Miller, Ellie Smith, Luci Strong, Amanda Taylor, Amari Wells, Mary Kathryn Wheatly and Mary Scott Wolf.

The captions will be all three seniors: Sammie Dupont, Lindsey Funderburg and Mary Kathryn Wheatley. Next year’s team has a lot of girls who will be ninth and 10th graders.

Coach Emily Bechtold, the computer apps teacher and varsity cheer coach at St. Joe, said that the cheer team is looking forward to new warm ups and possibly new uniforms this upcoming here.

She also said that the team will be attending a different camp this summer than last years.

Eighth grader Maddie Grace LeFleur happily said she is “super excited about being on the high school teams and can’t wait for the Friday Night Football games.”

And the members of the high school team are not the only ones

who are excited to cheer this year, but also the middle school cheerleaders, who tried out at the same time as the high school.

“It was extremely challenging,” said sixth grade St. Anthony cheerleader, Liz Mangialardi, who will be cheering at St. Joe next year.

“It was hard trying to keep up with the older girls, but I am really excited to cheer for the Bruins.”

Members of the new middle school cheerleading squad are: Emma Kaye Beebe, Anna Gale Brown, Lily Burgess, Ava Case, Maggie Eidt, Amelia Ladner, Liz Mangialardi, Emmy McCafferty, Jennifer Nguyen, Amber Paige, Savannah Shorter and Sydni Vandevender.

Football season starts in August, so the cheerleaders are going to be working hard all summer to start the season on a high note.

By WHITLEY PANNELL The Bear Facts Members of the St. Joe speech and debate team are looking forward to an experience for which they have prepared all year long: Catholic Nationals.

Throughout the school year, speech and debate students go to regular tournaments at different schools. These tournaments are considered practice for the “big” tournament that always takes place in January.

This January tournament is known as the National Catholic Forensics League Qualifiers tournament. There, members get the chance to qualify for Catholic Nationals that take place on Memorial Day weekend.

“We spent the entire year practicing and preparing for this one moment, to go to nationals. The other tournaments were practice, but NCFL tournament was our opening for the grand finale in May. I’ve been to nationals two years in a row, and this will be

my third. I can’t wait to experience it again this year,” said junior Bria Paige.

At this tournament, the St. Joe speech and debate members competed against the other schools in the district. The top six members in each category advance to Catholic Nationals.

Some members qualified as top six of multiple categories, so they were able to choose which category they want to compete in at the national level.

Six alternates were also chosen just in case the top six are not able to go or choose to compete in different events. When one of the top six moves out of a category, it leaves a spot for one of the six alternates to take.

The different categories were Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Policy, Debate, Congress, Extemporaneous Speaking, Declamation, Original Oratory, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, and Oral Interpretation.

St. Joe had 13 members qualify this year. Those members were

seniors Whitley Pannell, Bailey Brilley, Gene Loper, and Maggie Smith; juniors Caleb McCullum, Bria Paige, and Meredith King; sophomores Noah Greene, Jack Hall, and Jack Collins, Luci Strong; and freshmen Natalie Ford and Chloe Owens.

“I’m really proud of the way we performed this year. It’s great to see our team develop and get the chance to compete at a national level,” Greene said.

These members will pack their bags and board on a plane on May 22 to compete on May 2325 at the NCFL tournament, also known as Catholic Nationals, in Chicago.

Brilley is excited about the national tournament this year and hopes to be a finalist.

“This is our last year and I’m really hoping Gene, my duo partner, and I can place at the national level,” Brilley said.

Every year, I watch the finalists. Hopefully instead of watch, I can actually perform in front of hundreds of spectators.”

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Honor societies induct new members

By SUTTON KLEIN The Bear Facts

Despite the fact that St. Joseph Catholic School has more than 400 students, it proudly boasts four honors societies with 104 students total taking part in them.

The National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, the National Latin Honor Society and the National English Honor Society has accepted St. Joe students with the purpose of gathering likeminded, bright students into one group to honor their merits in various academic fields and keep them involved in various service projects.

The National Honor Society, with President Ramsey Fairbank, includes 55 students – 26 of whom were inducted this year at St. Joe. It’s purpose is to foster a community of scholarship and service among high-performing high school students.

Members must be at least a sophomore, maintain a 3.0

“

National Honor Society membership ... is an embellishment to any college resume.”

– Bailey Brilley, a senior

grade point average, participate in leadership roles, be involved with service and show an excellent record of behavior at St. Joe. The society meets in the resource room at St. Joseph to organize events and projects pertaining to service in the community.

Senior Bailey Brilley, who holds a leadership position in the NHS, said that the “National Honor Society membership, as

well as membership in the National English Honor Society or Chi Alpha Mu, is a nice embellishment to any college BAILEY BRILLEY resume.”

Mu Alpha Theta, a math society, accepts students in Grades 10 through 12 who have demonstrated excellent performance in their studies in the various mathematical subjects. The goal of the society is to recognize the future leaders in technological and mathematical pursuits.

Becoming a member of the society involves completing two college-required classes, such as Algebra I and Geometry, and participating in a third. The student also must have a 3.0 grade point average in all three mathematics.

Mu Alpha Theta has 67 student members at St. Joe and is, there-

“

Latin is the most useful language because Latin scholars fill our hospitals, law firms and churches.”

– Stuart Inman, a senior

fore, the largest of the four honor societies. Anna Edge, a senior, is president of the St. Joe chapter.

Students who have outstanding achievement in literature and English may look forward to being in the National English Honor Society.

To join the 30 members of the society, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average, two complete semesters of

English, attendance at a school for at least one semester prior to consideration for the society, and submission MAGGIE SMITH and payment of an enrollment fee.

Maggie Smith, senior and president of the National English Honor Society, said that the society is important to St. Joe “because it places emphasis of the field of English, which is often overlooked and considered less useful than the maths and sciences.”

The society has been at St. Joe for a number of years and hopes to remain a part of this school for many years to come.

With 25 members, the National Latin Honor Society is open to any student in Grades 9 through 12 who has maintained an “A” or

A7

4.0 average in St. Joe’s Latin program and demonstrates honesty, integrity and dedication to Latin.

Stuart Inman, senior and consul of the National Latin Honors Society, said that the society is important because “we keep everyone very aware of Roman numerals, but most importantly, we keep St. Joe at ease with ‘bread and circuses.’”

The Latin Honor Society is the smallest of the four honors societies and attempts to encourage appreciation for the language of Latin, literature and the culture of Ancient Greece and Rome.

Inman also said that “Latin is the most useful language because Latin scholars fill our hospitals, law firms, and churches.”

St. Joe holds an assembly to honor members of all of these honor societies.

There were a total of 49 inductees to each of the four societies this school year, and St. Joe looks forward to inducting more.

Chess team takes no prisoners at Ole Miss tournament

By JACK OLSTAD The Bear Facts The St. Joe Chess team showcased their skills at the Ole Miss Chess Invitational Tournament held at the Student Union on the Ole Miss campus Jan. 11.

Out of the many experienced members of the chess team, only five St. Joe students attended the annual tournament sponsored by the Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association that invited students from Mississippi and even neighboring Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas.

Blake Rueff, Loden Snell, Joe Harkins, Jack Olstad and Johnny Taylor made the trip to Oxford along with their coach Mr. Matthew Hosler, the school’s Latin, mythology and creative writing teacher.

It was nothing new for the team, being the second competition the group attended since the chess tournament at Mississippi

College in Clinton just a few months earlier.

But the much larger tournament of more than 75 students overwhelmed some members of the St. Joe chess squad.

“It was unlike any chess tournament I’ve ever played at. There were a lot of capable chess players,” said veteran chess player Loden Snell, a senior at St. Joe. “I was intimidated by the masters behind the chess boards.”

The tournament consisted of five rounds, with each board including a clock that gave players 30 minutes each to make their moves before the round was over.

After the five rounds had finished, the blitz tournament followed where players were forced to make quick decisions with only five minutes to make all their moves by the end of the round.

Before their reign of dominance began, Coach Hosler gave some words of wisdom to inspire his team for the tournament.

“

lost in his first round.

Other St. Joe players like Harkins and Rueff each finished It was the tournament with winning records, with Rueff winning his unlike any chess first three rounds. tournament I’ve The most impressive perforever played at. mance of the Ole Miss Invitational Tournament from the St. There were a lot Joe Chess squad was senior Tayof capable chess lor.

After his first round of defeat, players.”

Taylor got tired of losing and the four remaining rounds, – Loden Snell, won earning the title of captain given a senior to him by his teammates.

“I didn’t expect to play that well.” Taylor admitted. “When I “Play with the intensity of get hot, it’s hard to stop me.”

1,000 suns,” he said.

Taylor placed second for the The St. Joe chess team went ninth through 12th grade diviout confidently to face their op- sion, bringing honor and glory to ponents.

St. Joe and its chess team.

For the first round, Taylor, Photo special to The Bear Facts the senior chess captain, was Members of the St. Joe chess team include seniors Stewart challenged early, being paired Inman, left, Blake Rueff, Joe Harkins, Justin Nesteruk, Johnny up with the No. 1-ranked chess Taylor, Brian Flaherty, Caleb Bowen.

Seated is Jack Olstad. player in Memphis.

Taylor gave a good fight, but

KENT’S KAJUN KITCHEN 119 COLONY CROSSING WAY MADISON, MS

Bruin News

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

The pro-life generation: St. Joe joins the march

By JACK OLSTAD The Bear Facts

More than 50 St. Joe students from freshmen to seniors returned home late Thursday, Jan. 23, from a long journey to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life pilgrimage.

March for Life is an pro-life rally held every year since the 1973 Roe V. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

The group of teachers, chaperones and students met for Mass, prayer and dinner at St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson on Sunday, Jan. 19. Then they piled aboard two charter buses for the lengthy, 14-hour drive to the nation’s Capitol.

Anyone who went on the trip would agree the first night on the bus was miserable. Some people stretched out and tried to sleep on the busses’ cold floors for the night. But Mrs. Mary Banks, the St. Joe school chaplain who chaperoned

the trip, always reminded students of an important fact: They were pilgrims, not tourists.

At the students’ first stop – a shopping spree at the National Mall – it was hard not to feel like a tourist. After that, the group headed to one of the most memorable spots for all the students on the trip: the Lincoln Memorial.

The same night, they walked only a few minutes to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the two stone walls filled with quotes that helped students realize why they were marching.

St. Joe beat the bad blizzard that would have made road travel hazardous throughout the drive up to the Capitol.

When the snow eventually came, 6 inches fell while everyone was asleep.

The group gathered in the Hampton Inn lobby the next morning to hear bad news. All federal buildings in Washington closed, including the Holocaust Museum that had been planned for the group’s first full day in Washington.

Instead of the Holocaust Museum, St. Joe students headed to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The basilica had been next on the agenda after the Holocaust Museum.

After touring the church, the group attended noon Mass. With extra time to kill, several students ventured outside where snow was still falling – an unusual sight for most Mississippians.

After an hour of sliding on the ice and throwing snow on others, the group headed back to the hotel.

Later that night, the group attended the Life is Very Good concert – where main act and Christian rocker Matt Maher performed before thousands who took part in the March for Life rally.

“It was an amazing concert,” said senior Jacquelyn Massey “To be there with thousands of others who came to Washington, D.C., for the same cause was a great experience.”

The next day was the reason the

“

To be there with thousands of others who came to Washington, D.C., for the same cause was a great experience.”

– Jacquelyn Massey, a senior

group had made the trip of the nation’s cold Capitol in January: The March for Life in support of the unborn.

Everyone helped pack the bus and then layered up with seldom-worn winter clothes to prepare for the icy weather at the march.

The students walked down the streets of Washington, joining thousand of oth-

ers waving banners and reciting prayers.

The crowd of pro-lifers also joined together to chant slogans and to speak for those who couldn’t.

After the march, the group visited the U.S. Capitol. Some students visited the Capitol’s historic treasures displayed throughout the building, while others took a tour to the dome to admire the architecture of the building.

Next, the students walked to buses, boarded them, and started the long trip back home. Only a few stops were made, including one at the Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala. Finally, at around 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, the busses rolled into the St. Richard Catholic Church parking lot with an exhausted St. Joe group.

That night the students returned to their own comfortable beds, with better understanding of the fight for life today and appreciative attitude towards how lucky they are to have theirs.

March for Life 2014 TOP ROW, LEFT PHOTO: Hundreds of people march toward the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 22, for the annual March for Life demonstration in support of the unborn. (Photo by Jack Olstad/The Bear Facts) TOP ROW, RIGHT PHOTO: Mackinzie Riley, left, and Emily Miller prepare for the march. (Photo by Elise Sheldrick/The Bear Facts) SECOND ROW, LEFT PHOTO: Sammie Dupont and Gracie Conn platy in the snow in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jack Olstad/The Bear Facts) SECOND ROW, SECOND PHOTO: Anagrace Salem, left, and Ashley Henle brave bitter cold in Washington. (Photo by Elise Sheldrick/The Bear Facts) SECOND ROW, RIGHT VERTICAL PHOTO: Ashley Henle, left, Karson Nelson, Anagrace Salem, Rachel Divine, Jacquelyn Massey and Lauren Tonos stand in the snow outside the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Jack Olstad/The Bear Facts) THIRD ROW: Tim Cook dodges a snowball in Washington. (Photo by Elise Sheldrick/The Bear Facts) BOTTOM ROW: St. Joseph Catholic School students pose for a group photo in Washington. The cold weather and snow storm left most of the group wearing clothes they don’t normally wear in Mississippi. (Photo

by Jack Olstad/The Bear Facts)

Bruin Sports PAGE B1

THE SCORE SOCCER SEASON ENDS

The Bruins ended the 2014 soccer season with a loss in the playoffs and a final 4-81 record.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

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www.thebearfacts.net

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ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Hamil, Beasley sign athletic scholarships special to The Bear Facts Two St. Joseph Catholic School seniors signed athletic scholarship offers with Mississippi colleges, allowing them to be athletically active while also earning an academic degree.

Football player Robert Hamil of Madison signed a full scholarship to play football this fall for Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson. Hamil played tailback and defen-

“

These student athletes have worked so hard and excelled at St. Joe in so many ways.”

– Mike Juhas, St. Joe president

sive end for the St. Joe Bruin football team this year, helping the Bruins to a winning season and a trip to the playoffs.

Volleyball player Caitlyn Beasley of Canton signed a full scholarship to play volleyball this fall for Tougaloo College in Jackson. Beasley played varsity volleyball for the Bruins for five years, helping the team advance to the playoffs.

“St. Joe is incredibly proud of these two fine students and their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom,” St. Joe Prin-

cipal Keith Barnes said.

“They have represented our school well.

We are excited they will have a chance to continue to compete on the field while also working on an academic degree.”

St. Joe President Mike Juhas was pleased.

“These student athletes have worked so hard and excelled at St. Joe in so many ways,” he said. “We wish them success at the next level, and are proud to call them Bruins for life.”

See SCHOLARSHIPS, B2

Hitting all the bases St. Joe varsity baseball players have high hopes – a winning season and a return trip to the state playoffs

By JACK OLSTAD The Bear Facts

BOWLERS STRIKE GOLD

Coaches Miller Todd, Derek Topik and Bill Wahlberg are hard at work directing the St. Joe squad. Having lost seven seniors from last year’s team, Coach Todd has been looking for a starting lineup that would best use their skills as a team.

The young team, historically composed of mostly juniors and seniors, has brought in many sophomores from the feeder junior varsity program to take over the ranks of the graduated class. They look to come out victorious as

Better MORE organizaINSIDE tion, greater challenges n Questions and more and answers responsibilwith St. Joe ity are just Athletic a few conDirector cepts St. Miller Todd, Joe Athletic B3 Director Miller Todd plans to stress with this staff and athletes.

“We are going to do what we’ve always done, but I want to get more organized,” Coach Todd said.

“I want every player to be more accountable; this helps the guys put the team first.”

Coach Todd was MILLER TODD named athletic director and head football coach in January after longtime Athletic Director Flip Godfrey resigned. Coach Todd also oversees the varsity baseball team.

Coach Todd has no time to waste to meet his goals.

While coaching the varsity baseball team and with spring football practice days away, Coach Todd must find time to lead the baseball team and also mold next year’s football squad into a playoff contender.

“I want to practice with a plan that when things come up in a game, it’s not a surprise,” Coach Todd said.

He began a strength training program last month and already is designing the football workouts for the summer.

Coach Todd plans to lighten his load and step down as head baseball coach after this year’s season. Coach Todd plans to interview potential candidates before choosing his successor.

Coach Todd joined the St. Joe community in 2006 as the assistant football coach-defensive coordinator. In that role, he helped garner back-to-back Region 6-2A division championships as well as four consecutive playoff appearances.

In 2011, Todd was awarded

See BASEBALL, B3

See MILLER TODD, B3

The St. Joe Bruins girls bowling team ended the season winning seventh place in the state competition.

GOLF TEAM ORGANIZES Rusty Boshers, St. Joe’s golf coach, is putting together a team for the 2014 season.

Contact him for more information.

Q&A WITH COACH TODD Learn more about Coach Miller Todd’s plans as the school’s new athletic director. Coach Todd also will serve as head football coach beginning next fall.

Page B3

Todd: Ready for the challenge

Bruin baseball player Thomas Benson, a junior, pitches in a home game last week against Leake County. The Bruins won 12-1. St. Joe plays Benton Academy on Friday. In the photo below, senior Pace McDonald and freshman Chad Doiron wait in the dugout for their turn at bat.

Story by Jon Dale Dieckman, Photos by Katherine Mangialardi

T

he Bruin Baseball team has been hard at work – even in the face of an unusually cold late winter chill – at the start of the 2014 high school baseball season.

With just three weeks into the season and the varsity squad is ready to run for the playoffs.

This weekend, the Bruins have two important away games – one Friday against Benton Academy and one Saturday against Morton.

Varsity soccer: Unsung hero of St. Joe athletics

I

f any of our fall sports ever give a mediocre season or if their playoff bid falls flat, St. Joe has one sport on that will never deny us a great season: soccer.

Let’s take a minute to thank the ever-competitive soccer program at our school. It often has been an unsung hero in St. Joe athletics.

Throughout the years it hasn’t been a question of whether the team will make the playoffs.

Rather, it’s been a question of how far will the team advance it in the championship tournament.

Hanging in our gymnasium is a blue-and-gold banner. On it, you can clearly read: “Dwayne Demmin Coach of the Year 2009.”

Demmin joined St. Joe in 2004 as the head boys varsity soccer coach.

The very next year in 2005 under JACK HALL his guidance, Sports Editor the team was listed as one of the top 10 in the nation.

In the past, Coach Demmin taught keyboarding to middle schoolers. Currently, he coaches varsity soccer.

Before coaching high school, Coach Demmin was a professional soccer player. He certainly has the experience, skill and determination to

make St. Joe varsity soccer a continuous top-notch contender for the playoffs.

Assistant Coach David Wissel agreed.

“Since its inception, St. Joe soccer has always been competitive and very successful,” Coach Wissel said.

“We’ve been known around town for our soccer team.”

It’s fairly safe to assume that the success of the program continues to lie in Coach Demmin’s hands in addition to the talent of the students on the team.

Many said that the loss of 11 seniors from the previous year’s team would hinder the success of this year’s team. I maintain it was a godsend.

Demmin brought in a number of exceptionally talented eighthand ninth-graders to repopulate the gaping hole left by the graduated seniors.

“

St. Joe soccer has always been competitive and very successful. ” – David Wissel assistant soccer coach

He put in the entirety of his time and energy in coaching the team to not only maintain the

skills of his upperclassmen, but also to bring the former junior varsity players to his standards.

These standards leave minuscule room for failure. As soon as the younger players learn this, the sooner they will become leaders on the field.

Coach Demmin has been training with his varsity and junior varsity teams since late fall.

The 2012-2013 season came to an abrupt halt as the team was eliminated from the playoffs in its first game. We could certainly use a change in pace with new leadership.

Seniors Charlie LeDoux and Josh Speyerer brought a level of accomplishment to the team that hasn’t been seen in years.

After not playing last year, Speyerer brought with him a new energy and a new mantra.

“We are going to win the real championship,” he said.

Through Coach Demmin’s rigorous regimen of training and preparation, the team met its first goal of becoming back-to-back district champions. The Bruins marched into the playoffs with their shoulders high as they took on Franklin County and arose victorious.

Unfortunately, the road to the state championship ended as they were cut after their loss in the second game. I look forward to their season next year, which will certainly pick up from the successes our team left off on this year.

B2

SCHOLARSHIPS, from page B1 Last fall, Hamil played a key role in the Bruins football success.

The Bruins went 8-4 before losing a first-round playoff game.

Hamil recorded 8.2 yards per carry as the Bruins’ tailback and seven tackles per game as a defensive end. Hamil is the son of Jeanne and Bob and Hamil of Madison.

Beasley was an important player on the Lady Bruins volleyball team this year; the squad went 24-11 this year before losing in the third round of the playoffs.

Beasley also was elected St. Joe’s Homecoming Queen last fall.

Beasley is the daughter of Melba G. and Stanford H. Beasley Sr. of Canton.

Miller Todd, St. Joe’s athletic director and head football coach, said he is proud of Hamil’s and Beasley’s accomplishments on and off the field. Their athletic scholarships say a lot about each student’s

Bruin Sports

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

“

Robert Hamil and Caitlyn Beasley are great examples of hard work and dedication.”

– Miller Todd, St. Joe athletic director ability and character, Coach Todd said.

“Robert Hamil and Caitlyn Beasley are great examples of hard work and dedication,” Coach Todd said. “They have done themselves proud. They are an example of the Special to The Bear Facts kind of strong academically-cenBruin football player Robert Hamil, second from left at table, is joined by his parents.

Caitlyn Beasley, second from right, is joined by tered athletic program we are runher parents. Both players attended a college athletic signing announcement earlier this semester in the St. Joe gym. Hamil will play ning at St. Joe. ” football at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, while Beasley will play volleyball at Tougaloo College.

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Bruin Sports

Todd plans for the future as new AD

By JACK OLSTAD The Bear Facts Shortly after Flip Godfrey stepped down as head football coach and athletic director at St. Joe, his assistant coach Miller Todd took over the position.

The Bear Facts recently sat down with Todd to talk with him about his plans for athletics at St. Joe – including the new baseball season and next year’s football season.

The Bear Facts: When was your first coaching job?

Miller Todd: In 2004 at Canton Academy for football and baseball. Jerald Ray, the pitching coach for the varsity baseball team, was the first person to hire me for a coaching position.

The Bear Facts: When did you first come to St. Joe? Coach Todd: In August of 2006.

Coach Godfrey was the high school coach for St. Joe at the time, and he

hired me.

The Bear Facts: Have you begun any programs for strength or agility training since you became head coach?

Coach Todd: MILLER TODD Strength training (began) in the middle of February. I need to figure out and juggle my existing staff before I plan the workouts. Since I am coaching baseball this spring, I’ll need some help from the other coaches.

The Bear Facts: When does spring football start?

Coach Todd: Right now, it is scheduled for April 28. But that date is still tentative.

The Bear Facts: Have you designed the summer football workouts?

Coach Todd: We are going to do what we’ve always done. But I want to

get more organized. Certain skill sets come at different times.

For example, if players with skill positions came at 9 a.m., linemen come at 10 a.m. I would also like to get weight lifting groups. That way, if you are late, you are held accountable for your coaches and your group. This helps the guys be more responsible and put the team first.

The Bear Facts: What coaches do you look to for inspiration and base your coaching methods off?

Coach Todd: There is nobody better than Coach Godfrey. I’ve learned from him. I also base my methods off the Les Miles and the Nick Sabans who coach the game so well.

The Bear Facts: Did you pursue the head coaching job?

Coach Todd: Yes. The more and more I coached, the more I felt comfortable coaching the game of football. I love coaching baseball, but there’s nothing better than coaching under the lights

“

For me, there’s nothing better than after a win to hear ‘Notre Dame Our Mother.’”

– St. Joe Athletic Director Miller Todd

on Friday night.

The Bear Facts: What do you love most about football?

Coach Todd: It’s an ultimate team sport: offense, defense, and special teams. You can get your butt beat one play, then beat somebody out the very next play.

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The Bear Facts: What kind of head coach do you want to be?

Coach Todd: I have to calm down and relax. I want our team to not have to be stayed and gotten onto. I want to practice with a plan that when things come up in a game, it’s not a surprise.

For me, there’s nothing better than after a win to hear ‘Notre Dame Our Mother’ and see the all the fans in the stands and know I gave it my all.

The Bear Facts: What are your thoughts on the upcoming season and the 2014 football team?

Coach Todd: Every year a team goes through graduation and lose players. We have some good skill people coming back, and we will have a battle for the starting quarterback position.

Your team is only as good as your seniors. And we are going to rely on their hard work, teamwork, and leadership – things that don’t show up on the stat board.

MILLER TODD, from page B1 District 6-2-A Assistant Coach of the Year.

In 2008, he added head baseball coach to his responsibilities.

In this role, he led the team to two consecutive playoff appearances.

Previous to his role at St. Joe, Coach Todd served as assistant football and baseball coach for Canton Academy.

“I’m glad the head coach position was filled by Coach Todd,” said Jack Harkins, a junior wide receiver on the Bruin football team. “I’m excited for my last year as a senior. He has a lot to bring to the table.”

Ever since his first job at Canton Academy, Coach Todd has

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been learning and mastering the game of football.

“The more and more I coached, the more I felt comfortable coaching the game of football,” Coach Todd said.

For the past few seasons, Coach Todd had the job of defensive coordinator for the Bruins – creating defensive schemes and strategies that made the St. Joe defense stand out.

“For me, there’s nothing better than after a win to hear ‘Notre Dame our Mother,’” Coach Todd said. “I love to look into the crowd and see all the fans in the stands and know I gave it my all.”

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as district champs and make a name for the Bruins, working their way as far as they can go in the playoffs.

With three of the top players involved in other activities, the team is working to create strong leaders out of underclassmen.

“I feel we will be competitive,” said Coach Todd, “but we will start off with some growing pains.”

The young team isn’t looking for any certain aged player to step up as a leader and set an example for all of the 10 freshmen on the varsity team.

The Bruins are looking forward to making the playoffs for the third year in a row. They hope to win the district and not settle for second place.

“I think we will have a good shot at winning the district and going deep into the playoffs,” said sophomore player Jojo Katool. “We have to develop to achieve these goals.”

Baseball may not be the most physical and strenuous game, but it is a mental game. The Bruins are conditioning their minds and body to be at their best – not at the beginning of the season, but when district play rolls around.

The young men have been hard at work weight lifting, running and working on fundamental aspects of the game. The lack of experience on the team puts the effort and fundamental part of the game into effect.

“We will be shuffling positions

“

Thomas Benson is the best player.”

– sophomore baseball player Jojo Katool

for the first part of the season looking to see who goes where,” Coach Todd said.

Many of the players on the varsity team only played on the junior varsity team last year and only saw playing time in games with big leads.

All of the players on the Bruin baseball team are good. When asked the best overall, Katool said “Thomas Benson is the best player in every part of the game.”

Benson, a junior, was one of the team’s best pitchers as a sophomore – second in many pitching stats only behind former player Charlie Waddingham.

The Bruin baseball team is looking to build on the 15-11 season last year. Players achieved the success through lengthy practices and rigorous conditioning.

This year’s team members are looking to get further than the first round of the playoffs. With a new district in which to play, the team can start fresh with new opponents as well as some opponents they faced last year.

PAGE 8

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Maher: Roman scholar

By JEANNE-NICOLETTE NIXON The Bear Facts

Imagine walking on top of what is the most famous volcano in the world and visiting the Vatican, while at the same time receiving academic credit.  St. Joe junior Sarah Maher will have that opportunity this summer.  Maher will travel to Italy to study and receive college credit in July for three weeks.  “I think it is a really great opportunity to study Latin, especially since it is set right where the heart of the Roman Empire flourished,� Maher said.

The trip is part of a three-week program through the University of Dallas; classes will be taught at the Dallas campus in Rome.

The University of Dallas is a Catholic University with an impeccable academic reputation. The course is in great demand and enrollment is limited. Â Maher applied online; the application required an essay and two teacher recommendations. Â The University of Dallas requires a student must have had three years of Latin to attend. Â The purpose of the course is to stimulate students and awaken their interest in the history, poli-

tics, art, and the architecture of Rome.

The school will also have an advanced study of Latin and the people who spoke SARAH MAHER it.  “I’ll be studying the writings of Cicero, Vergil, Pliny and Horace,� Maher said.

For 2,000 years, Cicero had an incredible influence on prose writings on the Latin language and many of the European languages.

Vergil was one of Rome’s greatest poets known for the Aeneid.  Pliny is credited for the first form of encyclopedia of which all other encyclopedia originated. Â

Horace was a leading Roman lyric poet who was full of charm and grace, yet at times quite daring, even repulsive.

Maher’s entire time will not be spent just in the classroom.  Although most of her stay will be in Rome, she will also visit Naples, the cave of Sybil and the Island of Capri.

With the school being a Catholic school, Maher will have the privilege of visiting the Vatican while in Italy. Â The Vatican has played a huge role in the development of Rome and Italy. Â The class will visit Pompeii, where students will be able to climb the famous Mount Vesuvius volcano.

The classes will be held at the beautiful Eugene Constantin Rome Campus at Due Santi which is located on the western slopes of the Alban Hills, about twelve miles southeast of the center of Rome, in one of the city’s most attractive suburbs. Less than two miles from the campus, in the small town of Castel Gandolfo, is the Palazzo Papale, a majestic palace that serves as the Pope’s summer residence. Maher will stay at this unique location in the comfortable and well-provided Due Santi campus.

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Mark the ‘Lone Survivor’ ‘Lone Survivor’ among top war films of all time

By NOAH GREENE The Bear Facts

FILM REVIEW

The “Lone Survivor� staring Mark Walberg is an incredible story that hooks viewers from the beginning and propels them through the two-hour film.

With military action, heartwrenching drama, and all the makings for an award-winning feature film, “Lone Survivor� meets all the criteria to be a hit.

The film is based on The New York Times bestselling memoir “Lone Survivor,� telling the story of the events during Operation Red Wing in 2005 which resulted in the death of 12 Navy Seals. The operation was the worst tragedy in special operations history and included the largest number of deaths in Afghanistan on a single day.

The author is former Navy Seal Marcus Lutrell, the only survivor of the mission that occurred almost a decade ago. Lutrell, alone and isolated, fought for his life and now lives to tell the tale.

The film begins in Afghanistan at Bagram Air base. The four-man team, Seal Team 10, prepares to go on an operation to eliminate high level Taliban operative Ahmad Shah.

The group of Seals were de-

ployed into the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. It isn’t long before things go wrong.

Upon setting up camp for the day, the Seals were discovered by three goat herders.

The Seals then had a decision to make: Eliminate the threat of goat herders who would surely rat them out to the Taliban, or let them go and be discovered by the Taliban.

To find out the decision, you’ll have to see the film. But even amid its great depiction of the bond between Navy Seals and extreme acts of heroism, some discrepancies do exist between

the film and the book.

The main discrepancy can be found through Lutrell’s later encounter with Afghan villagers who would take him in and protect him from the Taliban, evoking a 2,000-year code known as Pashuntia which requires them to help those in need.

Although the film accurately depicted Lutrell’s first encounter with the villagers, a touch of Hollywood magic was added when Lutrell was almost captured in the remote Afghani village by Taliban forces. The movie depicts Taliban forces attacking the village and killing villagers in an effort to capture Lutrell. While this did happen, it is not depicted in the book and didn’t occur during Lutrell’s time in the village.

Overall, I give this film 3.9 out of 5 and a MUST SEE rating of 93 percent. This rating is based on the film’s remarkable plot, great action scenes, and better -than-average acting by Walberg and the supporting cast.

In the end, the film lost a fraction of a point because of its variation from the book. But this is countered by the intensive camera angels of director Peter Berg.

Berg captured the beautiful landscape of Afghanistan even with the Seals constantly under fire.

Desert Island: What would you take from 2013 Albums from 2013

Movies from 2013

Books you read in 2013

Songs From 2013

Warren Beebe -

Joanna Bellan -

Ashely Henle -

Sophia Cosmich -

“Yeezus� - Kanye West “Paradise Valley� - John Mayer “Modern Vampires of the City� - Vampire Weekend

“Captain Phillips� “The Wolf of Wall Street� “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire�

“Divergent� by Veronica Roth “The Fault in Our Stars� by John Green “The Book Thief� by Markus Zusak

“Demons� - Imagine Dragons “When I Was Your Man� - Bruno Mars “Lego House� - Ed Sheeran

Buddy Paul Martin -

Lucy Kennington -

Anna Claire Chastain -

Jacob Caskey -

“Dear Bo Jacksonâ€? - The Weeks “BeyoncĂŠâ€? - BeyoncĂŠ “Mind Over Matterâ€? - Young the Giant

“We’re the Millers� “American Hustle� “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire�

“My Life Next Door� by Huntley Fitzpatrick “The Fault in Our Stars� by John Green “The Maze Runner� by James Dashner

“My Heart Will Go On� - Celine Dion “Party in the USA� - Miley Cyrus “Thrift Shop� - Macklemore

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Bruin News

Sophomore volunteers in Haiti for Spring Break

By NOAH GREENE The Bear Facts Instead of picking up a tan over Spring Break, one St. Joe student lent a hand to those in need.

St. Joe sophomore Taylor Healy spent Spring Break advocating for those in need. Healy went to Haiti during her week off and lent a hand to those impoverished in the country.

The mission trip sponsored by Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison was open to all those who wanted to attend. Broadmoor members frequently go on international mission trip to provide much-needed aid to those in need.

The group of participants spent their time expanding the already large church in Haiti from a capacity of around 900 participants to 4,000, along with spending their time at an orphanage. The group left Friday, March 7, and returned Friday, March 14.

Healy said she went on the trip “to realize that everything we have in the United States isn’t necessary to be happy.” Healy encouraged other St. Joe students to take a leap of faith and experience a mission trip, if not to Haiti then to another destination.

Currently Haiti is listed as a developing nation with a poverty rate of 84 percent. With a population of more than 10 million, a lack TAYLOR HEALY of employment leaves millions on the island nation unemployed.

Tina Foust, a St. Joe faculty member and member of Broadmoor Baptist church, has also shared in Broadmoor’s mission work, going on a similar mission trip to Haiti last year.

During Spring Break 2013, Mrs. Foust had the option of traveling to Haiti or the Ukraine; she then chose the shorter of the two flights.

“I think everyone needs to go on a mission trip,” Mrs. Foust said, recommending everyone to get outside of the United States to see how fortunate U.S. citizens are.

During the trip, Mrs. Foust fell in love with the small country and plans on going to Togo, Africa, in 2018. Mrs. Foust will work with a local church there to bring aid.

Mary Banks, a St. Joe faculty member and head of campus ministry, advocates for furthering service both TINA FOUST locally and internationally.

“It is important to serve,” she said. “I hope the policy on international travel is changed in the future so that St. Joe is able to increase its efforts to serve not only in our community, but in the international community.”

Mrs. Banks and St. Joe often look at the teachings of the church and the words of Pope Francis when looking at their call to serve. Mrs, Banks then looks at a quote by Pope Francis when thinking about her call to serve saying, “Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the word in body as well as spirit.” This quote by Pope Francis on the St. Joe service board captures the Christians’ duty to serve.

Healy met this call to serve and hopes to continue to serve for years to come.

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Bruin News

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Winter Ball 2014 Story by Rachel Reddix, Photos by Sara Powell For many St. Joe students, the 2014 Winterball proved to be a success.

Students enjoyed the music and decorations.

They also enjoyed the disc jockey this year.

“I had so much fun at Winterball. I’m glad I attended Winterball this year,” said Farrah Jones, a St. Joe junior.

The theme of the dance was Sadie Hawkins, in which girls asked guys to the dance instead of the traditional way of boys asking girls to attend.

This year’s Winterball took place on Feb. 1, 2014. The cost for admission to the dance was $5 as opposed to the normal $10 admission fee, about which students were also very happy.

TOP PHOTO: Rachel Divine, Sam Osborne and Bailey Brilley dance the night away.

LEFT COLUMN, SECOND PHOTO: Olivia Simms, Bergen Teeter, Ellie Smith, Taylor Dancer, Anna Grace Bolen hang with their friends at the dance.

LEFT COLUMN, THIRD PHOTO: Kaela Smyth and Rachel Divine.

LEFT COLUMN, FOURTH PHOTO: Ramsey Fairbank, Meredith King, Sarah Maher and Maggie Smith.

RIGHT COLUMN, FIRST PHOTO: Whitney Pannell and Dymond Jackson RIGHT COLUMN, SECOND PHOTO: Reese Newman, Cole Welch, Graham Hlavac and Will Walenta.

RIGHT COLUMN, THIRD PHOTO: Sophomore Eliza Strickland and her date Alex Blossman.