The Bear Facts: November 3, 2016, issue

HOMECOMING 2016

PLAYOFF BOUND

Senior Coralyn Jones reigns supreme

Bruins travel to Newton; will play Tigers on Friday

Bear Facts PAGES A8, B6

PAGE B1

the

VOLUME 20, NO. 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

MADISON, MISSISSIPPI

Bruin Girls team takes state swim title

By KIM KAISER The Bear Facts The Saint Joseph girls swim team took first place and the boys took fourth when Bruin swimmers traveled to Tupelo on Saturday to compete in the state championship meet.

It was the second straight state championship for the girls team. The win came two weeks after the girls and boys team took first place honors at the North State Meet in Jackson.

“Two of our first-time state swimmers made it to the finals, and we had a

clean sweep of the girl’s relays,” Coach Lauri Collins said. “The most exciting thing, though, is that our two best swimmers are currently in the eighth and ninth grades, giving me high hopes for future years.”

Although the boys fell short of last year’s second-place finish at the state meet, the swimmers said they believe a fourth-place finish is still a great result of their hard work.

The fourth-place finish this year was no small feat. Many of the seniors on last year’s second-place team were some of the strongest male swimmers – which meant those who returned this

Seniors contend for nat’l award

year had to pick up some serious slack.

“They were big shoes to fill,” senior Graham Hlavac said. “But I think that our performance at state was a good way to go out in my senior year.”

Huge amounts of time were cut by both boy and girl swimmers at the North State Meet. Even more time was cut at the state championship, leading to the impressive results acquired there as well.

While it is always good to be able to count on veterans of the team, new additions, or rookie swimmers, still made an impact. Many young swimmers helped the team be successful.

Submitted photo The Bruin girls swim team after winning first place in the state swim meet on Saturday.

It’s showtime at Saint Joseph

By GRAHAM HLAVAC The Bear Facts Three Saint Joseph seniors have their eyes set on possible scholarship money for higher education after being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

CAROLINE Caroline Doherty, Drew DOHERTY Liess and Ellie Smith all made to the semi-finalist stage of the national competition. They made the field based on scores that earned on the Preliminary SAT, more commonly called the PSAT. DREW The PSAT is the first step LIESS toward being considered for a National Merit Scholarship.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is determined “to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the ELLIE United States.”

SMITH Approximately 1.6 million high school students from across the country apply to the National Merit Scholarship Program every year by taking the PSAT. Of these, only 50,000 individuals with the highest PSAT scores qualify for recognition in the program.

Then, 34,000 students are chosen from the original 50,000 and are titled “Commended Students.”

The next step is becoming a semifinalist, which numbers about 16,000 out of the original 50,000 high scorers. This step is a huge success, with the next being notified as finalists in February 2017 and finally on to becoming Merit Scholarship Award winners.

“Having three National Merit semifinalists is a very big deal for this school because it is a testament to what we hope is excellent instruction across the board,” Principal Doug Jones said.

“Certainly a great deal of what this achievement represents for these students See PSAT, Page A3

Students ready for three-day run of popular children’s fantasy Story by Blaine Turner, photos by Collin Ledbetter

O

pening night is finally here.

After weeks of building sets, learning lines, and rehearsing on stage, the classic children’s story “The Phantom Tollbooth” will come to life on stage at Saint Joseph Catholic School.

More students than ever are participating on stage and behind the scenes to bring the children’s favorite to life. And all of those participating can’t wait for the curtain to rise at 7 p.m. tonight.

“The play is similar to last year’s spring

ABOVE: Ms. Leslie Harkins instructs the cast and crew of “The Phantom Tollbooth” during a recent rehearsal after school. The play opens a threeday run at the Fie Arts theater beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday.

TOP PHOTO: Liam Moorehead, left, Leah Blevins, Hannah Dear and Lake Dodson rehearse a scene one day after school.

See SHOWTIME, Page A3

Saint Joseph science classrooms benefit from new equipment

By GARRET GROVE The Bear Facts Saint Joseph Catholic School students and faculty who love science received a gift this fall: New equipment that increased space, added storage and made it easier to conduct experiments.

One could say certain science laboratories are like the school year: They

are not only new, but filled with new things.

“I can display a lot more specimens, so it looks a lot more like a biology class,” said Ms. Crystal Thomas, who teaches biology.

“When (the builders initially) told me that I would get increased storage space, I was super excited, because we were very limited on space.”

INSIDE THIS EDITION n Opinion: Page A2 n News: Pages A3-8 n Entertainment: Pages B4-5 n Sports: Pages B1, B9

Ms. Thomas’s room is also now home to multi-purpose class tables along with wooden cabinets filled with various laboratory equipment, microscopes and other wondrous things of biology.

The new labs in the chemistry and biology rooms were funded by an anonymous donor.

Another teacher who got his lab re-

DID YOU KNOW?

modeled is Mr. Chance Theriot, who teaches chemistry. He said that he was surprised about getting the new lab.

“I feel as if I can teach them (chemistry) at a higher level, because we now have additional space, (and) we have additional resources, more sinks, more faucets, stuff like that,” Mr. Theriot said.

Besides that, his new chemical closet

The human brain is more active during sleep than during the day.

has a more organized layout, which in turn, creates more space.

Other new things in both the biology and the chemistry labs include a new chemical wash station, a new eye wash station, a remodeled and very organized chemical closet, and a UV, antimicrobial cabinet for the lab goggles.

See EQUIPMENT, Page A3

THE BEAR FACTS

Named Mississippi’s Best High School Newspaper by the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association every year since 2013

Opinion

PAGE A2

Football injury raises concern

N

ATCHEZ – A Natchez Cathedral football player lay sprawled on the field, trainers and coaches surrounding him while the Green Wave-Bruin football game came to a screeching halt.

We waited for emergency vehicles to arrive and care for this player who appeared to suffer a GRANT serious blow to the head.

MURPHY We waited. And waited. And waited. We editor waited for what seemed like an eternity, but was actually closer to 30 or 45 minutes. In a case like this, a delay that long with the potential of serious head or neck injury could mean the difference between life and death.

Chills ran down my spine as I was watched it all unfold. I quickly remembered a similar situation last fall when my good friend Reed Collins was hit in the Saint Joseph-Lake game late in the season. Collins, too, suffered a neck injury and waited for what seemed like an eternity for emergency vehicles.

What I witnessed on Friday night, Aug. 26, in Devereaux stadium on the campus of Natchez Cathedral High School is just one of many examples over the years of one of the most overlooked problems in Mississippi high school football: the lack ambulances at football games.

Football, whether high school, college or professional, is a violent team sport. And in cases like Cathedral kicker Daniel Garrity, the player who suffered the unfortunate hit when he collided with a Bruin player, all he could do was lie in pain on his back in the middle of the field.

No one there knew the extent of his actual injury or injuries.

No one knew if they were life threatening or only minor. And, perhaps worst of all, no one had any idea where the ambulance was or when it would arrive.

“Unfortunately, I knew exactly what Daniel was thinking,” Collins said recently, referring to the night last year when he fell to the ground in pain after he was hit attempting a pass. “Trust me – they were not pleasant thoughts. No one deserves to be in that

E

Our view

Academic All-Stars

– Reed Collins, Saint Joseph Catholic School is extremely a junior at Saint Joseph honored to have three National Merit Semifinalists in our midst this year – a huge commendable academic achievement, one to type of situation.”

Luckily, Collins suffered only minor injuries. Thankfully, which every student should aspire.

Garrity’s injuries also were diagnosed as minor.

Approximately 1.6 million high school “It didn’t occur to me how long the ambulance was taking at first,” Garrity said. “Once the pain started to get worse and worse, students from across the United States take I realized how long it was taking and felt like I was sitting there the Preliminary SAT every year, the initial forever.”

If the Natchez Cathedral game didn’t raise enough concerns, step to enter the National Merit Scholarship take a look at the Saint Joseph Greenville game three weeks later on our own campus. A player for Saint Joseph Greenville suffered Program competition every year. a major leg break and had to wait at least 30 minutes for the Of the 1.6 million, only 50,000 individuals ambulance to arrive.

National statistics show that an average of seven deadly head with the highest PSAT scores qualify for injuries occur in high school football each year. Seven fatalities recognition in the program. At Saint Joseph may seem small, but try telling that to the families who lost their loved ones. No life is insignificant.

Catholic School, seniors Caroline Doherty, And that brings me to the same point I made in a column Drew Liess and Ellie Smith were named I wrote following the Reed Collins injury at the Lake game: Mississippi should legally require ambulances on call at all high semifinalists. We congratulate them. school football games.

“Having three National Merit Semifinalists Football is exciting and fun for many to watch and play. But it’s also our responsibility to make sure the players and all involved in is a very big deal for this school because it the game are safe and can be helped in the event of a major injury. is a testament to what we hope is excellent instruction across the board,” Principal Doug Jones said..

“Certainly a great deal of what this achievement represents for these students is their hard work and their natural ability but also what we have done as a school in helping those students better themselves through the great instruction they have received in their courses here at Saint Joseph.”

When it comes to academics, being at the top is highly respected. Doherty, Liess and Smith represent Saint Joseph, our students, our staff and our institution well.

We wish them the best as they remain in how candidates are going to handle this people that pushed to redefine this day had war, and Congress has fought back-andfriends or loved ones who were killed in the running for a National Merit Scholarship forth on the best tactics. the attacks. and the possibility of receiving significant Forgiveness is one of the hardest things More than 2,000 people just a few to do for anyone. Especially if the action miles from Ground Zero in New York financial help to fund the cost of their involves great loss of life, then forgiveness assembled to make more than 500,000 college career. almost seems out of the question. meals for hungry families throughout the For our nation to move forward, we have Northeastern United States.

You make all of us proud. to forgive – not politically speaking. But No matter the scale of the deed or the

Fighting fire with kindness

arlier this semester, our nation remembered the thousands who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

All of our military GRAHAM members who lost their HLAVAC lives in the ensuing war managing editor on terrorism also were honored on the memorial of that fateful day. Whether you read about the events in the newspaper, watched a documentary on television or simply held your loved ones a little bit tighter, we all honored 9/11 in some way.

An attack of this magnitude had never happened on American soil before, and no one knew what to do. The entire country seemed to be frozen in time, and all eyes were on a small smoldering field outside Shanksville, Penn.; the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., with a gaping hole in the side; and the crumbled remains of the Twin Towers in New York City.

Cell phone service was busy, financial transactions through debit cards were malfunctioning, and the United States was in complete disarray. Our nation’s response to this act of terror was a prolonged Middle Eastern military campaign that took place in several countries and is still affecting us to this day.

Whether a loved one served in the war or you are simply just a civilian, the Middle Eastern conflicts touched some area of your life. Presidential campaigns have relied on

P

“

Unfortunately, I knew exactly what Daniel was thinking. Trust me – they were not pleasant thoughts.”

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

in each and every American’s heart there needs to be forgiveness in order for us to unite and move forward.

Many individuals have taken advantage of this tragic day by putting a positive spin on it and helping others in need. For example, recognized under federal law as of 2009, 9/11 Day has grown tremendously “to become the nation’s largest day of charitable engagement,” according to feedingchildreneverywhere.com. Many

number of people you are helping, we all need to try to turn this day around to a day of kindness.

If every single person in the United States went out of their way to perform good deeds for others every year when September rolls around, then that would make our world a much better place.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9

Videogames and test scores

eople who play video games for lengthy periods of time have been shown to have a drop in test scores and their grade point average in high school.

JOHN A study found that TOPIK children who exhibited opinion page higher levels of video editor game playing scored lower on standardized tests in English, mathematics and science.

This study supports a grave and valid concern for the potential negative consequences playing video games have on academic performance.

Other studies also have shown the positive effects of video games on a student’s test scores. It shows that playing games helps improve cognitive functions.

Video games have also been shown to improve your visual perception, allowing you to take in more information in a short amount of time. Violent content video games like Doom and Mortal Kombat have become extremely popular among children and young adults over the last decade.

This study gathers findings from all empirical research on the effects of violent games to estimate the overall effect they

have on adolescents.

Results suggest a smaller effect of violent video games on child aggression – less than the effect of television violence.

This effect is positively associated with types of game violence and negatively related to time spent playing the games.

Directions for future programmatic research on video games are outlined.

The arrival of each new communication technology has brought public concern about the games’ influence on children.

That difference may have implications for gamers’ brains. People who display response learning strategies tend to have a bigger and more active striatum – a part of the brain that links simple stimulusresponse-reward sequences together – and a smaller and less active hippocampus – which forms episodic, relationship-based memories.

Playing video games could thus be increasing players’ striatum at the expense of their hippocampus. And that has implications for overall brain health because a shrunken hippocampus is associated with risk of such disorders as Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

Daphne Bavelier, who is a cognitive neuroscience professor at the University of Geneva, specializes in video game

BEAR FACTS The

Grant Murphy

Graham Hlavac

Editor

Managing Editor

John Topik

Blaine Turner

Opinion Page Editor

Assistant Editor

Terry R. Cassreino, Faculty Adviser Douglas E. Jones, Principal

research. She does not think that West’s chain of reasoning is so clear-cut.

“There is no evidence in the data they present for a causal link,” she says, “but rather quite a chain of inferences from the behavioral results to the conclusions, not only of a decrease in hippocampus volume, but then also of a risk of developing neurological diseases.”

And the study did not directly measure hippocampal or striatal volume in the volunteers’ brains. Other studies that have examined these structures in video gamers’ brains have found mixed results.

Super Mario was found to increase gray matter in the region including the hippocampus, but other studies have indicated that different game genres can have opposite effects.

I agree with Dr. Bavelier based on her findings and the fact that I play some games in my spare time. I have not felt any different and my school work does not suffer.

Some of the games I play help my memory when studying. It helps me to unwind and not become overstressed with all the school work I do. I would call video games an excellent way to drain away negative emotions. This will help your study habits immensely.

The Bear Facts, the official student newspaper of Saint 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 Saint Joseph Catholic School, keep the school community informed and help promote the school’s Christian values.

All stories and photographs are copyright © 2016 by The Bear Facts and Saint 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.

Congratulations to Bruin athletes The first semester has been a busy one for Saint Joseph Bruin athletes.

Our volleyball advanced to the third round of the state playoffs before falling to fellow Catholic high school Our Lady Academy from Bay St. Louis. The volleyball team made a smooth transition to a new coach, Suzanne Antonaros, and performed well.

The Bruin boys and girls swim teams took first place in the North State Meet. Just this past weekend, the girls team took first in the state meet while the boys took fourth.

The cross country team has its own success, performing well last week in the Region 6 Championship and looking forward to the state meet next week.

And the Bruin football team begins playoff games on Friday with a critical road trip to Newton High School. The Bruins,playing under first-year head coach and Athletic Director Todd Lott, have made a remarkable turnaround in one year more than doubling the three wins the team had last year.

Congratulations to all.

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 Saint Joseph Catholic School; or the staff, leadership and administration of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

If you disagree with any 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, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

SHOWTIME, from Page 1 musical ‘Seussical The Musical,’” said freshman Hannah Dear, who plays the lead in the production, a character named Milo.

“It is very whimsical. It’s about a boy who, while bored, imagines a tollbooth is in his room. Once he enters the tollbooth he’s enters a magical world that is all in his head, where his adventures take place,” In past years, Saint Joseph students have staged such fall plays as “Little Women,” “A Midnight Summer’s Dream,” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

This particular adaptation of “The Phantom Tollbooth” is based on the 1961 children’s adventure novel written by Norton Juster.

“Basically, it is like ‘Alice In Wonderland’ without a girl main character but a boy,” said actress Linda

PSAT, from Page 1 is their hard work and their natural ability, but also what we have done as a school in helping those students better themselves through the great instruction they have received in their courses here at St. Joseph.”

The significance of being named a Semifinalist is huge but comes with a large amount of hard work and practice.

These three were prepared 100 percent.

Doherty has lived in Ridgeland all her life and attends St. Richard’s Catholic Church with her family.

Her favorite class her senior year is AP English, with a focus on British Literature.

She is not sure what she wants to major in during college, but she has an interest in Pre-Med. Doherty hopes to attend either Georgetown University in Washington,

Bruin News

Martinez. “It’s a little creepy and suspenseful, but still child friendly.

“The complexity of the characters is really fun to learn and hopefully to watch,” Martinez said. “This year’s fall play is going to be a hit.”

Participating in the play for the cast and crew requires much more than just knowing the lines and plot of the play.

Many cast members do different things to remember their lines, develop their characters and match the words of the script with the actions and placement on stage.

“Honestly, I do most prep during practice,” Martinez said. “I find out what I should work on and fix, and I look at it and rewrite my lines several times to memorize them. I get my family to run lines with me and get their recommendations on how I

PAGE A3

“

The complexity of

the characters is really fun to learn.”

because we help the show go on,” said Tre’Jan Rogers, co-backstage manager.

“We operate the lights, move the set between the scenes and make sure that essentials such as the microphones are working properly. It’s my first – Linda Martinez year being a co-backstage manager so it going to be different for me this year. But this is my third play I have should improve.” participated in.”

Many people of the Saint Joseph Saint Joseph’s adaptation of “The community come together to make the Phantom Tollbooth” has a cast of annual fall production a hit. Several 26 students. These students have parents built the sets and provided spent tireless hours on Saturdays and props and costumes for the play. various weekdays since the beginning When it comes to the play, it is truly of September to put this play on. The a family affair. crew members also have spent long “A vital part are the parents who hours working to make sure that the build the set and the backstage people fall production premieres with no are also an imperative part as well problems.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: “The Phantom Tollbooth,” the fall theatrical production at Saint Joseph Catholic School.

WHERE: Saint Joseph Fine Arts theater, 308 New Mannsdale Road, in Madison.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4; 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, Nov. 5.

TICKETS: $10 each available at the box office the day of the performance; Saint Joseph students are free.

EQUIPMENT, from Page 1

“

She is from Madison and hopes to stay close to home for college, either at

Having three Mississippi State University or Loyola University in New Orleans.

National Merit The subject that most interests her is Semifinalists is a calculus, and she hopes to pursue engineering in college. very big deal for this Andrew Liess is a member of the school.”

Bruin band and the Saint Joseph bowling team.

Liess has lived in numerous places – Doug Jones, such as Alabama and Florida, among principal others.

He is 18 years old and thoroughly enjoys AP Physics II. His top three choices are Hendrix College in ArkanD.C., or the University of Notre Dame sas, Denison University in Ohio, or in South Bend, Ind., next fall.

Centre College in Kentucky.

Ellie Smith is a senior captain on There he hopes to study biology or both the Saint Joseph swim team and classics (Greek and Latin). cheerleading team.

Hands down, however, Ms. Thomas’s favorite part of her lab is the new open-faced shelves that house and keep her many and varied specimens.

Mr. Theriot’s favorite part of his lab is the space, which is not only generated by the closet and the chemistry lab’s own size but the shelves and cabinets that make up each of them.

Students also like the lab upgrades.

Emma Adkins, a junior at Saint Joseph and one of Mr. Theriot’s students, said that it is easier to do labs this year than it was last year.

Emma’s father, Eddie Adkins, is president of Sheldon Laboratories. The Crystal Springs-based company renovated the labs. Sheldon Laboratories started construction shortly after the 2015-2016 school year ended and finished all components of the rooms by the week before school started.

Of all the features the new laboratories have, Emma also has a favorite.

“I really like the (new fume hood), I think its really cool,” said Emma.

The fume hood – located in the chemistry room – is an object typically found in a chemistry laboratory and it is used to remove volatile chemicals, in situations such as a demonstration or after an experiment.

The new Saint Joseph labs are well constructed to fit the needs of their classes and are alike in some ways and yet unique, in others.

Both the teachers interviewed were surprised that they were getting a new lab, but yet they, along with the students, enjoy what the labs now have to offer.

Even now, however, new high chairs were added in the biology and chemistry lab in the last few weeks. So expect more new things for both labs to offer, whether it be from Crystal Springs or a place just down the road.

BRUINS VS. TIGERS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FRIDAY, NOV. 4, 2016 LISTEN LIVE ON BRUIN SPORTS RADIO

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Saint Joseph Catholic School proudly presents “THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH” 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

Bell & McCoy LIGHTING AND CONTROLS DAVE WOLF Principal/General Manager Office: (601) 607-7750 Cell: (601) 941-6872 Fax: (601) 607-7753 cwolf@bellandmccoy.com www.bellandmccoy.com

Bell & McCoy Lighting and Controls 1888 Main Street, Suite C-271 Madison, MS 39110

PAGE A4

Bruin News

Around the Saint Joseph campus

TOP LEFT: Senior football players and Coach Lou Holtz. From left: Holt Stockett, JoJo Gray-Lewis, Francis Ho, Jason Price, Nick Louvier, Holtz, John Turner and Jack Garrard.

SECOND ROW, LEFT: Eighth grader Cooper Klein works on a STEM project.

SECOND ROW, RIGHT: John Matthews, Christopher Watson and Max Walenta.

THIRD ROW: Jorrnalism students meet with WAPT-TV Sports Director Chris Hudgison. Back row from left: Nick Zouboukos, Jamarcus Sutton, Leah Blevins, Jason Price, Luckett Nixon, Hudgison, Andrew Sanli, John Baladi, Leah Murphy, JaylaDavis, Lake Dodson, Joesph Pearson and Collin Ledbetter. Front row: Michael Corkern III, Leila de Gruy, Graham Hlavac, Bailey Miller, Anna Chris Nicholas, Hanah Dear, Mollie Hall, Isabel Hebert abd Will Turner.

BOTTOM ROW RIGHT: Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum meets with Saint Joseph seniors last month.

BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Ole Miss Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter meets with Saint Joseph juniors last month.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

PAGE A5

Saint Joseph students ready to star-gaze

By SOPHIA de LANGE The Bear Facts A new telescope in the Saint Joseph Observatory will allow students, teachers and others see more deeply into the night sky.

“The old telescope was 16 years old and from a technology stand point, this is better,” Mr. Chris Callahan, a science teacher at Saint Joseph, said recently.

Mr. Callahan was involved with the process of obtaining the new telescope along with Pat Frascogna and Myron Lockey, friends of the Saint Joseph Astronomy Club and Aad de Lange, chief financial officer of the Catholic Diocese.

Saint Joseph Principal Doug Jones has been very supportive of the telescope. The only thing the old one could track was the moon. The new telescope is stronger; it can see as far as 2.5 light years away, and it has 600 times more magnification than the normal eye.

The new telescope is a MEADE 10” LX600-ACF (F/8) and was bought in Oceanside, Calif. But it did not cost the school anything because it was subsidized by a grant from an anonymous donor through the Diocese of Jackson.

The new telescope has a great feature called Starlock, in which the computer can locate a bright star nearby. This addition to the school observatory can see

the closest star, planets, comets and the International Space Station.

With the 10-inch mirror people can see the moon up-close and see all lunar eclipses and even the rings of Saturn.

Many students at other schools do not have such advantages.

“When I went to Saint Joseph, we never went out to the observatory. So now I would like students to get that chance. Anytime an interested student would like to go see the telescope they can ask me for adult supervision,” said Mr. Callahan, a Saint Joseph alumnus.

He also said that this will be part of the Astronomy Club, which there will be many meetings of, and to be on the look out for the first viewing of the observable universe.

The Astronomy Club will form soon and is looking for new members.

This telescope is similar to what most colleges have. While Saint Andrew’s and Madison Ridgeland Academy have telescope, they do not use them as much and they can not take pictures.

No other high school telescope has the capabilities of this one.

“If we have the ability to use it then we should use it,” de Lange said. “This telescope and the possibilities can set Submitted photo Saint Joseph aside and above the other schools not only in the area but far be- Mr. Christopher Callahan peers through the new telescope at the Saint Joseph Catholic School Observatory. Visitors can use the telescope to look at the night skies, including nearby planets. yond.”

New company provides hot lunch for students

By AMBER PAIGE The Bear Facts The school has a brand new lunch service. There are some new things students have to get used to this year.

“I am impressed with the quality of the food, and I also love the salad that is provided”, said Mrs. Sue Dickson who teaches 10th grade World History.

The lunch manager wants to incorporate any suggestions that students have in the lunch menu.

The benefits about the new lunch is that the staff serves a hot, well-balanced meal, soup and salad.

If students want a light lunch, there are plenty of options.

This year, students and teach-

ers have their own lunch account rather than students relying on a lunch card.

Students don’t necessarily have to carry money with them to order their food.

They can use their account number to loan money for their food, or they can put an amount of money on the account and don’t have to worry about paying for their lunch for a few days.

Theresa Layman and her staff arrives at the school at 7 a.m. and start to prepare food for break and lunch. When the staff is finished for the day, they leave at 2 p.m. everyday.

The lunch staff gets their food from Sysco.

They get their salads and vegetables and fruits from another

company called Sunrise.

Sunrise is a gourmet food store, offering organic meat delivery online through their frozen food delivery service.

They also get their bread from different companies and their milk from Borden. Borden is a company headquartered in Dallas.

“I absolutely love serving at Saint Joseph School,” Layman said.

She also said that the students and teachers are nice. She is excited about serving at Saint Joseph school.

Students enjoy lunch at the Saint Joseph Catholic School cafeteria

Special to The Bear Facts

Rep. Earle S. Banks Chairman, Enrolled Bills District 67, Hinds County Mississippi House of Representatives

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Bell & McCoy Lighting and Controls 1888 Main Street, Suite C-271 Madison, MS 39110

Bruin News

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Ronald May stresses the value of a doctorate Kinsey finishing her work on her own doctorate degree

By KELLYN PAIGE The Bear Facts Dr. Ronald May is currently the only teacher at Saint Joseph Catholic School with a doctorate degree, while Mrs. Dena Kinsey is working on hers in teaching children and adults.

Dr. May, the 10th grade English teacher, started work on his doctorate degree between 1993 and 1994.

Dr. May earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from Mississippi College. He taught at Mississippi College, Louisiana State University, Loyola City College, and Mississippi School for Law. Before he came to Saint Joseph, he worked for the Louisiana State of De-

partment of Education to teach students about the standards of assessments and looking at some online and assessment programs.

He is also working for Glencoe McGraw-Hill and training students in English, Mathematics, science, and social studies. He wanted to get a doctorate degree so he can become a professor at colleges, educate students, and publish books.

Dr. May wanted to come to Saint Joseph so he could move back to Mississippi; he is Catholic, and his family is from Clinton and Jackson. Dr. May loves Saint Joseph and he is still getting adjusted.

“It is a little different for me, and I

am expecting for things to fall in place,” Dr. May said.

Mrs. Kinsey, the high school director and 12th grade religion teacher, is still working RONALD on her doctorate degree MAY in teaching. She earned her master’s degree five years ago.

Because she really enjoyed going back to school, she decided to earn a doctorate degree Three years ago, Mrs. Kinsey began taking an online program for Mississippi State University. She takes a couple of classes each semester and some during the summer.

She did not take any classes this past summer. Mrs. Kinsey plans to complete her work before she turns 50 years old.

Mrs. Kinsey has to write a dissertation, which is a study of a topic and

may take her a couple of years to complete that.

She is going to balance going to school by considering what is going on this semesDENA ter. She had to take KINSEY one class this fall because of her work with Homecoming and other campus activities.

In the spring semester, she plans to take two classes because it is not as much to balance.

Next summer, she does not plan to travel as much as she did this past summer with workshops. She plans to get at least four classes completed over the summer of 2017.

Some professors require meetings on the computer at certain times, so she has given up certain activities at Saint Joseph because she has meetings on

Thursday nights. Her long-term goal after getting her doctorate is to have great job.

“I want to do whatever the Lord leads me to,” she said.

Her major is community college leadership because she already have a master’s degree in kindergarten through 12th grade leadership. One day she might want to teach teachers how to teach.

Byron Poindexter, a 10th grader, takes Dr. May’s regular English class.

“I like the way Mr. May teaches because he teaches us about how to write really good essays,” Poindexter said.

Poindexter thinks this class is challenging because Dr. May challenges students to figure things out on their own.

Dr. May’s teaching method and technique will benefit Poindexter in the long run because it teaches him to be an independent thinker.

Athletes draw attention to breast cancer last month

By GARRET GROVE The Bear Facts As the Saint Joseph volleyball team played their “Pink Out” game Tuesday, Oct. 4, against Ridgeland High School, their mind was set on winning for a teammate’s mother who is fighting breast cancer.

This teammate is junior Olivia Patterson, and she has been surrounded by the support of her teammates since the beginning.

So, when she was asked by senior captain Bergen Teeter if the game could be dedicated to her mom, Patterson was happy and appreciative of the request, that she said yes.

“Having someone you love have cancer, it’s just a really tough thing,” Patterson said.

“And knowing that there’s a group of girls that I’m a part of that really care and want to do something to help out is great.”

Other things that the volleyball team did for the game was wear pink jerseys during and set up an opportunity for students

to donate during the game.

Bergen as well has set up a link online through the Dig Pink Foundation to donate. Part of the games’s admission went to the foundation.

The Dig Pink Foundation is an organization whose goal is to unite volleyball players across the nation to raise money for the research of breast cancer, demonstrate the power of teamwork, and show support for those who have the disease.

The foundation, according to volleyball Coach Suzanne Antonaros, was chosen because the research done there correlates with the belief system and values of Saint Joseph Catholic School.

These efforts for breast cancer were taken because October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM).

NBCAM was founded in October 1985 through a joint effort by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries’ pharmaceutical division.

NBCAM’s goal from its origin was to promote mammography

as the most effective weapon infighting cancer.

The pink ribbon most synonymous for being the symbol for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was officially established by the founder, Evelyn Lauder, in 1993.

Lauder was the senior corporate vice president of Estée Lauder Companies at the time.

Beforehand, other family members of breast cancer survivors and the Susan G. Komen Foundation used similarly-colored ribbons for awareness.

All around Saint Joseph buildings were flyers displaying statistics for cancer to increase awareness to Saint Joseph’s students.

These messages display truths not just in relation with breast cancer but for cancer overall.

“We are going to show support by wearing pink this October,” said Todd Lott, coach of the high school football team.

The football team is no stranger for their support of National Breast Cancer Awareness

Month. Some of the football team’s equipment last year was pink, such as socks and other things.

For this year our school is

showing the importance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this way, we are truly united more so as a Christian family, as a school and in it’s

sport teams. Truly this shows the justness in our belief system and the strength to be man and woman enough to wear pink figuratively and literally.

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News

PAGE A7

Cheer squad helps build school spirit

By LUCKETT NIXON The Bear Facts The spirit and excitement at Saint Joseph football games has been at an all-time high – and one of the main reasons is the Bruin cheerleading squad.

Although a young squad with many new faces, the cheerleaders have provided great encouragement. It was apparent that this year’s squad would be special at cheerleading camp at Mississippi State this summer, where the squad won several awards for hard work, spirit and performances.

Ellie Smith is the only senior on the cheerleading squad and has provided strong leadership this year.

“This year has been different because it is my last year,” she said. “Also, this year I am the only senior on the team, which is a little overwhelming.

“In spite of that, this year has been the most fun year I’ve had as a cheerleader at Saint Joseph.”

Smith started showing her leadership abilities at cheer camp where the squad worked on stunts and learned dances and cheers. The camp helped the team bond and become closer.

Smith said all the cheerleaders are excited and passionate about cheering. She said the spirit of the squad has been elevated which had helped make her senior year so much more fun.

The one drawback this year, cheerleaders said, is not having as many pep rallies.

But in the end, Smith said she loves stunting and doing routines with her fellow cheerleaders and dancing to the band at the games.

And of course she feels privileged to represent Saint Joseph and cheer for her fellow classmates in victory and

in defeat.

Riley Cole, a junior in her third year as a cheerleader, said she loves how well this year’s squad gets along and works well together.

She enjoyed the cheer camp, as the squad learned teamwork and began to trust each other in routines and stunts while enjoying each other and goofing off during their down time.

“My favorite part of being a cheerleader is the teamwork and bonding along with tumbling, stunting, and Friday night lights,” Cole said.

Cole is one of the co-captains on the squad and had been a big help to Smith.

Cole hopes to continue the great leadership next year as she has learned so much about preparing for the games and all the hard work that goes into being a leader of the squad.

Freshman Annalise Rome is in her first year as a cheer-

Cheerleaders perform prior to a home football game this fall.

Photo by The Bear Facts

leader, and it has been a lot of fun for her. She learned new cheers and dances, while working on stunts and routines at the cheerleading camp that prepared her for the season.

Rome has enjoyed cheering on the sidelines during the games where she tumbles and stunts and does routines with the other members of the squad.

Rome’s favorite part of be-

ing a cheerleader is being part of the team and working with the other cheerleaders.

Even though there is only one senior on the squad, she said, that has worked as an advantage for the squad.

By GARRETT GROVE The Bear Facts

gia.

While on the trail, Mr. Hosler made some stops. His favorite was at Salisbury, a town on MATT the Northwest HOSLER Corner of Connecticut.

Mr. Hosler, every five days or so, also made stops from the trail to get food or take a shower. To take a shower, he hitchhiked into

town and he would stay at a hostel or hotel.

On one of these stops, he came to New York City to see the wife of a former teacher, Mr. Richards.

The highest point he climbed during his 550-mile voyage was on Mount Greylock. Mount Greylock has a top elevation of 3,491 feet, which is the highest elevation in Massachusetts.

But this isn't the only example of mountains on the Appalachian Trail.

“The Appalachian Mountain (trail) is designed so that (as) it goes, it summits as many mountains as possible,” he said. “(The trip) was just physically painful. My feet hurt a lot, and were covered with blisters. My muscles hurt and my body hurt.

At the end of the day, you're tired too, but its more the pain, than being tired. It's what got me."

Hosler returns to Saint Joseph campus Mr. Matthew Hosler returned to Saint Joseph at the start of the third quarter after hiking part of the Appalachian Trail.

Mr. Hosler, who teaches Latin and French this year, started his trip along the Appalachian Trail on Aug. 14 in Vermont, and ended it Oct. 3 in Pennsylvania.

He travelled 550 miles; he completed about a fourth of the trail overall.

He used trail names like “Timber” and “Foggy.” He even met some new people, like “Legs,” the Marine Biologist.

“I was with (Legs) for 50 days, didn't learn his real name.”

The Appalachian Trail goes through a total of 13 states, stretching in the north at Mount Katahdin in Maine to the South at Springer Mountain in Geor-

“

My feet hurt

a lot and were covered with blisters.”

– Matthew Hosler

PAGE A8

Homecoming

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Jones named 2016 Homecoming Queen

By BLAINE TURNER The Bear Facts Senior Coralyn Jones was named the 2016 Saint Joseph Catholic School Homecoming queen Friday night, Sept. 30, during halftime Homecoming festivities of the Bruins-Puckett Wolves football game.

Jones’ crowning capped a busy week of Homecoming activities as Saint Joseph students re-lived the past while they celebrated the 2016 “Bruin Throwback” theme.

Homecoming week celebrations began with a 1990s themed dress day on Monday, followed by a 1970s themed dress day on Tuesday and a “generations” themed dress day Thursday. Students wore their Homecoming T-shirts on Wednesday.

Generations day assigned each grade level a different stage in life to represent. Middle schoolers were young children, the freshman were kindergartners, sophomores represented college life, juniors were adults and seniors depicted the elderly.

The week concluded with a classic Bruin Blue and Gold day.

Thursday night saw the formal court presentation in the Fine Arts theater followed by the first-ever Bruin tailgate party outside the Fine Arts building.

Besides the football game Friday night, students also celebrated Homecoming at the 2nd Annual High School GameDay pep rally and sign contest.

The Bruin Sports Radio broadcast team hosted the pep rally.

Saint Joseph brought the annual celebration to a close with the “Bruin Throwback” themed Homecoming dance organized by the sophomore class officers.

TOP PHOTO: Senior Coralyn Jones is honored as Homecoming queen. Back row from left are Principal Doug Jones; Alannah Frierson, the 2015 Homecoming queen; Jones; Andre Jones, Coralyn’s brother; and Kristin Doherty, chair of the Saint Joseph Advisory Council. Standing in front are Landon Lipovetsky, and Katie Lancaster.

SECOND ROW LEFT : T.G. Bolen escorts his daughter, senior Maid Anna Grace Bolen.

SECOND ROW, TOP RIGHT: Dave Wolf escorts freshman Maid, Riley Wolf.

SECOND ROW, BOTTOM RIGHT: John Greer escorts sophomore Maid, Hailey Greer.

THIRD ROW LEFT: Mark Doiron escorts senior Maid, Shelby Doiron.

THIRD ROW RIGHT: Crown-bearer Landon Lipovetsky and flowergirl Katie Lancaster.

IMMEDIATE RIGHT: Senior Maids from left to right Anna Grace Bolen, Jackye Gergory,Coralyn Jones and Shelby Doiron and their escorts on the football field at halftime.

Bruin Sports PAGE B2

SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Making a statement

MADISON, MISSISSIPPI

Bruins ace great season

By OLIVIA PATTERSON The Bear Facts

Bruins turn program around, land first playoff spot since 2014

T ABOVE: Junior wide receiver Hayden Brice, right, talks with Coach Johnny Nichols during the Saint Joseph-Natchez Cathedral football game earlier this year. Photo by Leah Murphy/The Bear Facts TOP PHOTO: Senior running back Nick Louvier scores a touchdown during the Saint Joseph-Saint Aloysius football game earlier this year.

Louvier moved from receiver to running back for the 2016 football season.

Photo by Catherine Cook/The Bear Facts

Sports analysis

by Charlie Lott

he Saint Joseph Bruin football team will head to East Central Mississippi on Friday night to take on the Newton High School Tigers in a first-round playoff game.

The 8-3 Bruins will appear in their first playoff game in two years, a remarkable turnaround for a team that won three games last year and four the year before.

“Ever since the spring when Coach Lott came into the role of head coach, we’ve all felt like this team was going to be great this year,” said senior defensive back John Turner.

“Our attitude was totally different heading into this season and so was our knowledge about the game of football.”

See FOOTBALL, Page B3

Hundreds make football Fridays a special event

By KILAND HARRISON The Bear Facts

Hundreds of fans line the sidewalk cheering as the Saint Joseph Bruin football team walks through a giant inflatable bear and onto Bill Raphael Field.

The 56-member Bruin marching band stands alongside the fans while performing the school fight song. Bruin cheerleaders and dance team members yell “Go Bruins.”

“It’s something about home games that just gets everyone excited,” senior quarterback Jack Garrard said.

It’s the same scene every football Friday night in the late summer and early fall on the Saint Joseph Catholic School campus. The school, founded in 1870, is steeped in rich traditions dating back more than a hundred years.

And part of that tradition includes the vast amount of preparation that takes place before every home game. From preparing the football field to stocking the concession stand, there is work for just about any-

JACK GARRARD quarterback

TODD LOTT football coach

REID SMITH band player

one and everyone.

Todd Lott, Saint Joseph’s athletic director and head football coach, and his staff must make sure the football field grass is cut, neat and trimmed. He also has to paint the field before each game, putting yard lines and goal lines in the proper place, Lott and his crew have had an especially tricky time this year dealing with the Canadian geese that live or visit the school’s pond next to the football See GAME DAY Page B3

File photo/The Bear Facts Students enjoy the Bruin football game

The Bruin volleyball team exceeded expectations this year by a landslide – finishing third in the state.

The team started strong, defeating GerKATIE mantown, Ridgeland JOSEPH and Saint Andrew’s.

The team quickly gained the attention of not only the Saint Joseph community but also many residents of Madison.

“We planned on having a great season from KAITLYN WATSON the start,” said junior middle hitter Katie Joseph. “I never dreamed that we would become as close as we did.”

Joseph has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.

“Starting the year with a new coach was exciting, but nerve-racking,” Joseph said.

See VOLLEYBALL Page B5

Cross country eyes state meet

By JOE PEARSON The Bear Facts The Saint Joseph Bruin cross country team is preparing for the state meet on Monday, Nov. 7, at Choctaw Trails in Clinton.

Bruin runners turned out a successful district meet on Tuesday Oct. 18. For the boys, senior Matthew Hendley led, placing second overall; freshman William Turner placed sixth.

As for the girls, they were led by senior Caroline Doherty, who placed fourth overall. Close behind was freshman Anna Pearson, who placed 10th overall.

ANNA As a team, the boys PEARSON finished second overall, and the girls finished third overall.

The strong showing added to the already impressive resume the Bruins compiled throughout the year. Pearson, a freshman runner and first-year cross country team member, was pleased by the results.

“As a first year-runner, it’s been very exciting to have so much success,” Pearson said. “I’m very grateful to our coaches for putting us in a position to succeed.”

Now, runners are focused on the state meet. Everything they have done so far has been in preparation for this.

See CROSS COUNTRY Page B3

Tre’Jan Rogers: Swimming with the Bruins for a reason

T

re’Jan Rogers stood in five feet of cold water as the pungent, chemical aroma of chlorine drifted through the JOE humid air above PEARSON the Olympic-sized sports editor swimming pool.

The sun wouldn’t rise for at least another hour, but the Saint Joseph swim team was already practicing at the Lakeland Courthouse – just like it does every day during swim season.

Tre’Jan was there, too, hard at work

doing his part.

“I enjoy working with the seventh graders,” said Tre’Jan, a junior who encouraged Saint Joseph seventh graders – some of whom had never swum competitively.

“My freshman year, I didn’t know how to swim,” he said recently. “I swam the 50-meter freestyle in three minutes, which, if you don’t know swimming, is really slow.”

Tre’Jan isn’t your typical swim team member out to break a record. He’s not in it for the attention. He’s not in it for the glory.

While he competes as a member of the Bruins’ successful team and works

with young swimmers, Tre’Jan’s reason is another, more compelling story. He is swimming for his health.

Tre’Jan, who at 200 pounds readily admits he is fighting a serious weight problem, has lost and kept off at least 20 pounds since he began swimming in fall 2015. He wants to lose more.

SUCCESSFUL TEAM Tre’Jan is part of the Saint Joseph Catholic School swim team – one of the school’s more than 15 high school sports in which students can compete See TRE’JAN ROGERS, Page B3

Photo special to The Bear Facts Tre‘Jan Rogers dives into the pool at the Jackson Yacht Club during a recent swim meet.

Bruin Supporters

PAGE B2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Bridgett McDade Clayton Attorney at Law

Heritage Building, Suite 301 401 E. Capitol St. Jackson, Mississippi 39201-2608 attybmc@bellsouth.net

Telephone (601) 961-9494

Facsimile (601) 961-9494

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

FOOTBALL, from Page B1 It has been different.

The Bruins ended the 2016 regular season play last week with a convincing 42-18 road win over the Pelahatchie Chiefs; that victory followed a 30-6 home win the week before over the Lake Hornets.

Other impressive high-scoring wins this season included 44-20 over Natchez Cathedral on Aug. 26, 50-26 over Saint Aloysius on Sept. 2 and 42-14 over arch-rival Saint Andrew’s on Sept. 9.

QUICK TURNAROUND How did the Bruins manage such

a dramatic turnaround? The chief reason: a new coaching staff brought together under first-year Coach Todd Lott, who also serves as Saint Joseph’s athletic director.

Coach Lott, a high school and middle school football coach with stints at Germantown Middle School and Washington School in Greenville, installed new offensive and defensive schemes this year.

New assistant coaches, such as Johnny Nichols, completely re-tooled the Bruin offense and turned it into a major weapon. The Bruins averaged 38 points per game in 11 regular season contests.

Sports The overall team effort increased dramatically. Players attended earlymorning film and weight sessions.

They also participated in after-school practices that were lengthened by about an hour and a half.

Minutes after the conclusion of the Pelahatchie game last week, Coach Lott leveled with his team in the locker room.

“If I offered you an 8-and-3 season and a seed in the playoffs before the season started, would you have accepted the offer?” Lott asked.

“Yes, sir,” players responded.

Lott attributed the success this year to hard work.

TRE’JAN ROGERS, from Page B1

“

PAGE B3

HARD WORK

Chad Doiron.

“But I now realize that this has been “I just think the hard work and a major factor in us being a successful preparation in the summer and football team this year.” throughout the season has played a Now, football players have their major role as well as myself, the rest eyes focused on Friday night’s playoff of the coaching staff, and the players game. They know it won’t be easy. focusing on improving ourselves each They realize it will take extra effort on week,” Lott said. their part.

The transition wasn’t easy. Student The goal: Bring home the first athletes were initially wary about the playoff win since 2012 when the new football practice schedule and Bruins defeated Enterprise at home early-morning workouts. They weren’t following an undefeated regular season thrilled by the added responsibilities. record of 12-0.

“At first, I was reluctant about the Win or lose, the Bruins have laid the longer practices and early morning foundation for an improved football workouts,’ said senior defensive back program and a promising future.

GAME DAY, from Page B1

“So, by volunteering on the chain field.

Football fans, who include members crew, I help support the officials and of the Saint Joseph Booster Club and get a sideline view of the game.”

Besides the field and concessions, Saint Joseph faculty, also pitch in on game day. They sell tickets, man the the Bruin band also spends a lot of time concession stand, grill food for sale prepping for each home football game.

INFLUENTIAL LEADER The band may be small compared to and inflate Bruiser – the giant bear that straddles the sidewalk near the ticket other schools, But band members say After being forced to watch fellow what they lack in size they make up for swimmers last year, Tre’Jan vowed to booth.

“As a parent, it’s important to sup- in talent. return for an even better year this fall.

Ried Smith, who plays the bass guiAnd with the help of Coach Collins, he port our children in any way we can,” said Malcolm Harrison, who serves on tar for the Bruin band said Mr. Ronhas become an influential leader.

– Lauri Collins, “Coach Lauri is like a mom and a the executive board of the Saint Joseph nie Russell, the band director, “always pushes us and accepts only our best.”

Booster Club. all wrapped up in one,” swim coach cheerleader Tre’Jan said. “She’ll cheer you on the loudest, and she’ll tell you how to improve. Personally, I don’t think I would be the same without her.”

“The best example Tre’Jan sets for Anticipation is mounting, but the as they hope to end the 2016 campaign And that’s why Tre’Jan stood in the rest of the team is how he focuses Bruins are no stranger to the pressure of on a strong note. chest deep water early that morning on improvement, not winning,” post season running. Saint Joseph cross “We’ve been practicing hard all year, Coach Collins said. “He is also a very before the sun rose and the first bell country teams have a history of perand it’s very satisfying to see it pay off,” rang. important leader on our team. forming very well at these meets.

They Pearson said. “But we still have work He wanted to give back to a sport “He swims in the lanes besides hope this year will be no different. to do, and we have to practice hard all TOUGH ROAD he has grown to love – one that has seventh graders and other Expectations are high for the Bruins week and get properly prepared.” helped him grow as a person and inexperienced swimmers, teaching The road has definitely been a and instructing them. He plays a vital improve his health at the same time. difficult one for Tre’Jan. He has “I know people don’t perceive me leadership role on the team.” struggled with his weight since he as the average swimmer, but that’s OK BRUINS-NEWTON FOOTBALL GAME In his sophomore year, Tre’Jan joined the Bruin swim team as a ninth returned to the pool and improved with me,” he said.

LISTEN LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT -- AIRTIME 6:45 PM grader.

“I swim because I love it. I love every week. But when Tre’Jan – who By the end of his freshman season, being a part of the swim team and the BRUIN SPORTS RADIO also was a member of the varsity he stood 20 pounds lighter and became football team – hyperextended his swim family. I love the environment a much better swimmer. He was proud shoulder in football practice, he had to and I love the challenge; I wouldn’t TUNEIN RADIO CHANNEL ASOAUDIO 13 of his success, but knew it was only a forego swimming. trade it for the world.”

WJXC JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI CATHOLIC RADIO start. and the only one whose members include seventh- through 12th-graders.

The 54-member team, which practices every day at 5:30 a.m. at the Lakeland Courthouse, has been wildly successful in recent years.

One Saint Joseph swimmer last year, Sophia Waddingham, was so successful that she signed last spring to swim competitively for Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

Bruin swimmers, guided by longtime swim Coach Lauri Collins, spent the fall semester in major competitions.

Three weeks ago, the Bruin girls and boys teams took first place in the North State Meet in Jackson. Last weekend in Tupelo, the girls team won the state championship and the boys team finished in fourth place.

All were impressive performances.

The best example

Tre’Jan sets for the rest of the team is how he focuses on improvement, not winning.”

“I was devastated,” Tre’Jan said.

“After all the hard work you put in, it can be very disappointing when you have an injury like that.”

CROSS COUNTRY, from Page B1

THE SAINT JOSEPH MONOGRAM CLUB PRESENTS HEROES FROM THE PAST

Entertainment

PAGE B4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

‘Tollbooth’ unusual school production

W

ith the Saint Joseph Catholic School fall production of “The Phantom Tollbooth” opening tonight, it is a definite fact that the topic of this interesting play has become more widespread among students as of late.

Now, I’ve decided to add fuel to the fire.

No doubt it is a bit different from the past years’ fall plays. But it also has a few striking similarities to our last spring production, “Seussical the Musical.”

Once again, Ms. Leslie Harkins has decided to produce a child-friendly piece.

This play is based on the popular children’s book “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster, which has found itself to become a classic for the past KIM 50 years. If that’s not KAISER enough proof that this entertainment will be a production editor to remember, I don’t know what is.

Of course, no classics are without their faults.

The book has been criticized many times throughout the decades for being too intellectually advanced for the audience for which it is targeted. I

“

have to disagree with this, though. I’m sure that we all have a childhood read There are plenty that we never fully understood until of topics to we were older.

Really, I find those types of books to attract children be much better than the simple-minded literature that adults generally believe throughout the piece, to be appropriate for children. which is likely a key It’s a commonly forgotten fact that reason why the story children are sometimes frustrated by things they cannot understand and has lasted so long other times intrigued. So in that sense, I have to admit that this story can be a in the hearts of its bit of a hit-or-miss. readers.

Despite this quality, there are plenty of topics to attract children throughout the piece, which is likely a key reason hearts of its readers.

Some children will find the puns why the story has lasted so long in the

to be hysterical, while others will be more interested in the math and pictures of the book brought to life by those participating in the production of this play.

All of this taken into consideration, it can be unanimously decided that this will be a terrific play to see with the whole family, appealing equally to both children and adults with a plot and cast to remember.

For those who read the book as a child, it will be all the better. I would highly recommend anyone looking for a story of wit, hilarity, and entertainment to come out to see this production.

Speaker warns of serious dangers on the Internet

By LUCKETT NIXON The Bear Facts Timeko Whitaker came to the campus of Saint Joseph to talk to the students about the dangers of social media.

Mrs. Whitaker is a public speaker coming from a small town in Iowa. She was in the military for about 20 years, and she has a teenage son.

She previously came to Saint Joseph on Monday Oct. 3 to talk to the parents about parenting the snapchat generation. She gave the whole Saint Joseph community a great speech on the advantages and disadvantages to the online platform.

During the speech she informed the Saint Joseph students, as well as the parents and teachers, that being online takes a great level of maturity.

Mrs. Whitaker set up games for the students to involve in as a way to get information on the statistics of online danger.

The students played a round of true and false, deciding on statements such as, “70 percent of teenagers are a part of some sort of social media outlet.”

She tells us that the internet

is the main source for predators.

Teenagers may get stalked and could be potentially harmed if the wrong person gets their information.

Teenagers are a main target for online predators. Many strangers will create fake accounts, seeming more appealing to the teens in order to gain access to their account.

Whitaker says most teenagers on social media platforms get bullied or come across some form of bullying.

Most bullying online happens

“

Seventy percent of teenagers are part of some sort of social media outlet.”

– Timeko Whitaker, motivational speaker

around the times of 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., the most convenient times for most teens to access the Internet.

Students at this assembly learned that everything they do online is able to be tracked. If you post, like, or share anything on the Internet, it never goes away.

Whitaker discussed that colleges, most of the time, will check their possible upcoming students’ social media accounts in search for anything that they do not want their students a part of.

They will check your posts, likes, and even who you are following, to see who you’re associated with.

She discusses that the most used social media platform for teenagers is Instagram, not snapchat.

This surprised everyone, knowing that almost every teenager today has a snapchat account.

The Saint Joseph community really enjoyed being able to have Mrs. Whitaker come talk about staying safe online.

Eighth-grader Jordan Muse works on a project in STEM class.

Photo special to The Bear Facts

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Entertainment

PAGE B5

Draw Down preparations underway Special to The Bear Facts The 24th Annual Saint Joseph Catholic School Draw Down is fast approaching.

This year’s Jeans, Jazz and Bruin Blues is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017.

The laid-back event – where casual attire is the norm – will be filled with lively entertainment, delicious food, an open bar and great music. Admission for two is $130.

The evening will feature a live auction, silent auctions, various raffles, the Wall of Wine and door prizes.

And the main event will be the $10,000 draw Down, a reverse raffle in which people are eliminated as their name is puled from a barrel. The last name called wins the $10,000. Your chance to win is included in your $130 admission.

It’s also a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones.

Here is a look at what participants can expect: BRUIN BUCKS: This is a raffle of themed baskets assembled by Saint Joseph staff, faculty, students and parents. Attendees who want to par-

“

The laid-back event

– where casual attire is the norm – will be filled with lively entertainment, delicious food, an open bar and great music. ” ticipate in this raffle purchase Bruin Bucks for chances to win various baskets.

WALL OF WINE: Guests interested in the Wall of Wine purchase a numbered cork for $25.

The cork is then matched with a numbered bottle of wine worth at least $20; some bottles in the Wall of Wine are worth substantially more than the $25 cost of the cork.

FIRST CHOICE RAFFLE: Back by popular demand with be the “First Choice Raffle”. Only 100 First Choice tickets, at $100 each, will be sold. Prior to the start of the Live Auction, one of these tickets will be selected, giving the winner

Documentary focuses on help to Syrians

By KILAND HARRISON The Bear Facts

REVIEW

With all the violence that continues to tear through the Middle East, “The White Helmets” is a documentary that targets the volunteers that have rescued more than 62,000 people in Syria.

The White Helmets were formed in 2013. This organization of 2,900 volunteers work in 120 centers across the country.

These unarmed volunteers rush in after the bombs rain down, saving the lives of helpless civilians. This documentary shines a light on the brave men that risk their lives to help others.

The fighting in Syria has killed more than 400,000 Syrians in just five years of war. Along with the fighting, air strikes and bombs rip through Syria.

The White Helmets fearlessly go in the save

people who fall victim to the bombing. Although many of the volunteers feel that the situation in Syria is getting worse, they still risk everything to save lives The documentary shows planes coming over the horizon to bomb buildings as The White Helmets rush toward the destruction. They drop everything, including their breakfast, as they are always the first to arrive when there is a bombing.

It also shows footage of the White Helmets doing the miraculous work of saving adults and children. Pulling them out of the rubble after and rejoicing once they found them alive.

Anyone interested in the fight to save lives in Syria should watch this inspirational documentary that is available on Netflix.

VOLLEYBALL, from Page B1 “We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but Coach A. really brought us closer – not only as a team but as a group of friends,” said senior right side hitter Kaitlyn Watson.

Starting the playoff run, the team was 13-6 with 3 wins over Saint Andrew’s, one huge win over Madison Central, and a win over Jackson Prep.

The team grabbed the district title with a 6-0 record, beating Saint Andrew’s, MSD, Velma Jackson and Yazoo County. The Bruins advanced to the playoffs as the first seed.

In the first round, the Bruins played the Pisgah Dragons at home on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The girls won the game in three sets.

The second round was on Monday, Oct. 24, at Belmont. The game was scheduled for 2 p.m., meaning the team traveled by bus – leaving the school at 8:30 that morning, stopping in Tupelo for lunch and returning to the school at 9:30 that night after dinner in Starkville.

The team came out with a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals and advanced to the third round.

On Friday, Oct. 27, the team played Our Lady

“

We weren’t quite sure

what to expect, but Coach A. really brought us closer. ” – Kaitlyn Watson, a senior Academy – a team that the Bruins had already faced twice in tournaments. The Bruins lost, ending the season third in the state.

“We went into the game knowing that it was going to be a battle,” said freshman outside hitter Ellie Heilman.

“We worked hard in practice to hit around a block and hit open spots on the court. We were excited for the game.”

WINTER IS COMING Make sure you have proper schoolapproved attire for cold weather.

his/her choice of one of the items up for auction.

If you buy a Draw Down ticket, you might want to consider adding another $20 for insurance.

That way, you remain alive in the $10,000 drawing if you name is chosen in the first 100 of ticket pulls from the barrel.

And, of course, guests will be treated to a selection of gourmet food and desserts all night long – also included in you your ticket price.

Only 550 tickets to Jeans, Jazz and Bruin Blues will be sold. All proceeds from the event benefit Saint Joseph Catholic School, with this year’s proceeds focusing on technology needs.

If you are interested in helping with the event, you have many different options. Sponsors and volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated.

There are numerous sponsorship packages available, designed to meet different needs and budgets. Volunteer opportunities run the gamut from ticket sales and technology to decorating and bartending and everything in between.

Please visit the school website, www.stjoebruins.com, for more details on sponsoring, volunteering and purchasing tickets.

DRAW DOWN THE EVENT: The annual Saint Joseph Catholic School Draw Down.

THE DATE: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

THE LOCATION: Saint Joseph Catholic School gym, 308 New Mannsdale Road, Madison.

THE PRIZE: Grand prize for the Draw Down is $10,000; attendees will be able to buy raffle tickets for other prizes and participate in silent and live auctions.

THE TICKETS: Admission is $130 for two people; tickets are expected to go on sale later this year.

‘Miss Peregrine’s Home’: A unique motion picture fantasy

By MORRISSEY CLAIRE HARMON The Bear Facts

REVIEW

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is filled with adventure, love, fear, honor and the ability to find yourself.

Jake, one of the main characters in the movie, grows up listening to his grandfather’s stories about Miss Peregrine and her home on Welsh Island for peculiar children.

His grandfather tells him of each of the children and their specific abilities. As Jake grows older, he starts to doubt the stories that his grandfather, Abe, had told him – until he visits him sick and dying and witnesses a humanoid creature that only he can see.

When Jake’s beloved grandfather dies, Jake finds him with his eyes completely missing in the woods. Jake gets suspicious and starts to wonder about the truth of these stories from when he was younger.

When Jake’s parents finally allow him to go to Wales where Miss Peregrine’s home is supposed to be located, he starts exploring and finds that everything his grandfather said is true.

There, he meets Emma Bloom, whose peculiarity is air, and an invisible boy named Millard Nullings. They rescue Jake and escape with him to Miss Peregrine’s orphanage.

There, Jake is introduced to other peculiar children. Bronwyn Bruntley has amazing strength, and Claire Densmore has a mouth at the back of her head.

Emma and Millard tell Jake they exist in a time loop, reliving the same day forever due to Miss Peregrine, who is an “Ymbryne.”

Ymbrynes can create time loops. Hollowgasts — humanoid, tentacle-mouthed creatures

like the one that killed Jake's grandfather — are a threat to all Ymbryne-run orphanages.

Miss Peregrine tells Jake that he, like his grandfather, has the ability to see the Hollowgasts.

Jake then realizes that he is the only one who can save them from the Hollowgasts and decides to stay and protect the peculiar children once Miss Peregrine is captured.

If Jake stays too long in the time loop, he might never get to go back to see his family and he won’t get to reverse time to before his grandfather’s death.

Jake takes the risk, knowing that without him, all of his friends will die and their world will come to a complete end.

Throughout the movie, Jake becomes more of a hero than a shy teenage boy. He takes risks and does whatever it takes to save Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children — even if it means risking his own life.

Jake and the peculiars end up saving Miss Peregrine. Emma knows that Jake will choose to go back to before Abe dies, so she helps him get there, says her farewells, and leaves with the others.

When Jake arrives home to see his grandfather Abe, he tells him the whole story. Abe gives Jake money to different places around the world where time loops are located, so that Jake can go back to Emma and the others and stay with them.

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is a great movie that will show the true meaning of friendship, love, and family. And it will teach you to not be afraid of who you are, or your background.

Listen to Bruin football LIVE!

BRUIN SPORTS RADIO available on TuneIn Radio Channel ASOAudio 13 or WJXC Jackson, Mississippi Catholic Radio, 107.9

Susan Steckler The Mississippi Center for Plastic Surgery smsteckler@gmail.com

Contact Danielle Murphy with

THE BRUIN SHOP

dmurphy617@comcast.net . . . for all your Bruin spirit attire.

DAN DEAR CUSTOM HOMES INC. 1466 Saint Mary Street Jackson, MS 39202-1850

PAGE B6

Bruin News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Scenes from Homecoming 2016

TOP PHOTO: Saint Joseph students stand behind the anchor desk for the 2016 edition of the GameDay at Saint Joseph pep rally. Sitting at the desk from the left are John Baladi, Michael Corkern III, Nick Zouboukos, Josh Jackson, the WAPT -TV sports director, and Matthew Hendley.

SECOND ROW, LEFT: Nick Zouboukos, right, interviews quarterback Jack Garrard on the GameDay set.

SECOND ROW, MIDDLE: Varsity football players cram the stands at Bill Raphael Field for the pep rally.

SECOND ROW, RIGHT: The Spirit Steppers perform.

THIRD ROW, LEFT: Holt Stockett enters the stadium.

THIRD ROW, RIGHT: The Spirit Steppers perform.

BOTTOM ROW, LEFT: Michael Corkern III, Nick Zouboukos and WAPT-TV Sports Director Josh Jackson on the Game Day set.

BOTTOM ROW, RIGHT: Griffin Hardeman participates in the field goal contest.