Trojan Matters Oct. 16, 2015 Vol. 2 | Issue 2
Maturity based on more than gender How well do you cope with change?
How much of a thrill seeker are you?
How well do you control your emotions?
More online at the-blueprint.org
iPads four years later
Coffee taste test
Take a look into the cost of sports
TM Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
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Trojans Matter. . .
Trojan notes
In this issue...
In our continuing prayers:
- For all those in the BCHS community and their families who are suffering from illness. We especially lift up in prayer adults in the building, Mrs. Paula McConnell, foods and consumer science teacher; Mrs. Vicki Traub, resource center; Mrs. Barb Gaffney, main office; and Mr. Tom Mahaney, grounds superintendent. - For all students and faculty who have lost a loved one. - For all seniors returning from retreat today. - For Trojan Tot teacher Kathryn Grose and her husband, Dan, as they mourn the loss of their stillborn daughter, Adalynn Grace.
Cancer Awareness p. 1
Maturity of the Brain p. 2
Welcome to:
The plays have been chosen and seniors are excited to direct them. Students can still audition for Senior-Directed One-Act Plays. Auditions are today starting at 2:30pm. in Room 102. The night of comedy features the following shows: Cheating Death (dir. Emily Jorgenson, Anna Farmer)
Sun
SAT Scores p. 6
Mon
iPads 4 Years Later p. 8
Charity Jeans Day Progress Report Night
Do you have something to say to the Trojan Matters staff? Send your letter to the editor at the school website, www. bishopchatard.org under Popular Links. Comments and letters can also be sent to blueprintBCHS@gmail.com.
Editor: Anna Giudice News Editor: Jacob DeCastro Opinions Editor: Emma Kinghorn Sports Editor: Cecelia Stonner Features Editors: Sian Rhodes, Victoria Toetz Reporters: Photographers: Marissa Almack Kylie Donaldson Mary Barnes Ellen Giudice Kelly Marsella Abby Park Bill Nash Emily Smith Kelly O’Brien Christine Stephenson Kaitlin Traub Publications adviser: Mrs. Tracy Luke
Fall Break
Grades vs. Learning p. 11
Memorizing Lines p. 12
Power of Celebs p. 14
Letters/Comments can be submitted in Room 210 or to the online news website at blueprintBCHS@gmail.com
Cost of Sports p. 18
Preventing injuries p. 21
Fri
Mass and Guest Speaker
Snow White Football Fall Play @ Sectional 9:30 a.m. and Snow White 7:30 p.m. Fall Play @ 7:30 p.m.
1. Can’t Sleep Love- Pentatonix 2. The Words- Christina Perri 3. Roman Holiday- Halsey 4. Roses- The Chainsmokers 5. Wasted Love- Matt McAndrew 6. Stand by You- Rachel Platten 7. We’re On Our Way- Radical Face
Sat
Senior Retreat #1 Student Union Football Haunted House game vs. Shortridge @ HOME Fall Break
Dating v. Now Cost ofThen Sports pg.18p. 16
Trojan Matters is the monthly news magazine produced by the Advanced Publications class. In addition, daily news updates can be found online at theBluePrint.org
Thurs
Mass and Guest Speaker
sic s u M tter Ma
Trojan Matters Mission Statement: We promise to bring you, the students of BCHS, the most obtainable version of the truth through courage, integrity and freedom of speech. Unsigned staff editorials reflect the opinion of at least two-thirds of the staff. Columns with bylines reflect the opinions of the writer. The newspaper will try to publish all letters to the editor within the constraints of space limitations. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for the length and clarity.
Wed
Tues
Senior Retreat #1 PSAT testing 11:30 a.m. dismissal
-Mr. Tom Groot, the new north deanery chief information officer, who will now be positioned at BCHS.
Trojan Matters staff
Laughing Stock (dir. Valerie Schultz, Claire Rudolph) A Bench in the Park (dir. Henry Semler, Joseph Knight) The Psychotherapist in Spite of Himself (dir. Erika Meckauskas, Noah Boyce) For more information, please see Mr. Kyle Guyton, theater teacher, or any of the senior directors.
On the Calendar:
Congratulations:
- To Grace Lundy for receiving the Youth Pro Life of the Year award from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. - To the Class of 2016 for a successful Living Rosary event.
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You said it!
Opinion
Sports
We heard it!
This is what Facebook has becomeold women watching cute animal videos. Something smells bad and I don’t know what it is...Oh wait, it’s me. Don’t worry, my mom’s recording the Pope’s speech. You can’t suppress my passion for cat memes. I feel like they bring a new crop of Trojan Tots every lunch. Michelle Obama’s arms are their own person. Who needs a dance team when you have the Interlude?
Fall Break
Since the limo didn’t show up, we are taking a Chatard mini bus. Snow White Fall Play @ 3 p.m.
Have you heard a song more people should know about? Go online to the school’s website, www.bishopchatard.org, and click on the “Students” link and then on “To the Editor” to submit the song title and artist. We’ll run a Music Matters Mixtape each issue of Trojan Matters.
8. Town Called Paradise- Tiesto 9. Alive- Sia 10. Omen- Disclosure ft. Sam Smith 11. Running- James Bay 12. Money Rain Down- Big Black Delta 13. Sound and Color- Alabama Shakes 14. Writings on the Wall- Sam Smith
“My parents never let me watch Spongebob.” “Then why are we friends?” I was eaten by my pile of homework last night. Only Macklemore can make a song about buying a mo-ped and make it a national hit. I sacrificed my elbow for that! There’s feathers on it. It’s legit. I thought Gwen Stefani was dead. Sometimes when I lay in the grass I pretend to be a bug. You can’t just make magic happen... this math. Have is you heard it? Bring the funny lines to Room 210. Or, you can submit them online at the-BluePrint.org in the Letter to the Editor section.
Trojan Matters 1
TM Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
CANCER:
What do you know about it?
C
ancer. Maybe one of the most sensitive subjects to talk about. And, with it touching so many people locally and globally, it is still misunderstood. Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells. When these cells cannot be controlled, it can result in death. Most cancers cannot be prevented unless the cancer type is directly related to tobacco use or alcohol consumption. Cancer can be caused by use of tobacco products, unhealthy diets, genetics or hormones according to cancer. org. Some of those can be controlled; others cannot. According to Cancer Research
UK, there are more than 200 types of cancer and each cancer might act and react differently with each patient. Mrs. Vicki Traub, academic support team, has ovarian cancer. She said, “One thing I wish people knew more about us affected with cancer is that it is okay to talk to me about it, but please don’t tell me a horror story that you know about a person with cancer. My family and friends keep me going with their prayers and acts of kindness shown to me. Chatard and my family have been my prayer warriors.” Mrs. Traub has undergone eight rounds of chemotherapy and is currently undergoing a new treatment called Doxil that she receives every
Cancer Awareness Colors Appendix - Amber Bladder - Blue / Purple Brain - Grey Breast - Pink Carcinoid - Zebra Stripe Cervical - Teal / White Childhood - Gold Colon - Dark Blue Esophageal - Periwinkle
Gallbladder - Kelly Green Head & Neck - Burgundy / Ivory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma - Violet Kidney - Orange Leiomyosarcoma - Purple Leukemia - Orange Liver - Emerald Green Lung - White Lymphoma - Lime Green
Q & A with Mrs. Carol Wagner Mrs. Carol Wagner, director of campus ministry, was diagnosed with skin cancer due to an overexposure from the sun when she was younger. Because of its location (on her face), she has faced some self-image struggles, but she is managing.While her cancer will likely occur, it is manageable. Mrs. Wagner goes through full body scans every six 2 months.
four weeks. However, Mrs. Traub is not the only one in the Chatard community that has been affected by cancer. Freshman Amani Gates has Osteosarcoma (bone cancer). “The hardest thing about having cancer is losing my hair to chemotherapy. I stick out more and feel like people stare at me. I am just like other people; I just have a small disability,” said Gates. She has endured 29 rounds of chemotherapy that consisted of Doxorubicin, Cisplatan, and Methotrexate. There are many organizations and fundraisers to help cure cancer. Cancer affects everyone around the world but these organizations help empower the sick and fight with them. TM Cecelia Stonner
Melanoma - Black Multiple Myeloma - Burgundy Ovarian - Teal Pancreatic - Purple Prostate - Light Blue Sarcoma / Bone - Yellow Stomach - Periwinkle Testicular - Orchid Thyroid - Teal / Pink / Blue Uterine - Peach
Q: What kind of cancer do you have / had? A: I have had basal cell carcinoma; this is a type of skin cancer. It is the second type of skin cancer in severity. My skin cancer will most likely continue to appear. This is due to overexposure to the sun from when I was younger. I’ve had four spots removed from my shoulders and two from my face. I can’t change the past as far as sun tanning but, I can take a positive attitude about the vanity of my looks. It is hard to look in the mirror and see the difference in my face. Q: What kept you going when you were diagnosed? A: As always, I turned to prayer and my family. I put my trust in God, my support system of my family and friends as well as my doctors. I called on my husband and oldest daughter Mary to lean on for comfort and reassuance.
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Stages of Cancer Stage 0: ‘in situ’ - when a cancer cell comes in contact with similar cells; it can produce a tumor in the starting location but not life-threatening.
Stage 1: localised cancer - when the cancer cells pass through the ‘basement membrane’ (a thin, delicate membrane of protein fibers separating it from underlying tissue); this stage is a very serious step because it indicates that the cancer cells are growing and are becoming threatening.
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Opinion
Stage 4: distant spread - This step is can vary. Cells from the lymph node may spread farther into the lymph vessels or may enter the bloodstream and the cancer can go anywhere into the body compared to just the regional area.
Stages 2 and 3: regional spread - It has spread in the general region where it began but not to other parts of the body. Cells move through the lymph vessels. It can get caught in the lymph node which means it can respond and destroy the cancer. However, if this does not happen, then the cancerous cells will create a lump.
Cancer Awareness Months •
January
Cervical Cancer
• •
May • •
Brain Cancer Melanoma and Skin Cancer
• • • • •
Childhood Cancer Gynecologic Cancer Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Leukemia Lymphoma
September
February
National Cancer Prevention Month Gallbladder and Bile Duct
• • •
March
Colorectal Cancer Multiple Myeloma National Kidney Cancer
June •
• • •
National Cancer Survivors Day (first Sunday of June)
September cont’d Ovarian Cancer Thyroid Cancer Prostate Cancer
• • •
July • •
Bladder Cancer Sarcoma Awareness Week
• •
Breast Cancer Liver Cancer
October
Quick Facts
Sports
April
Testicular Cancer Esophageal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer
August / December •
None
• • • • •
Lung Cancer Carcinoid Cancer National Family Caregivers Pancreatic Cancer Stomach Cancer
November
- About 1,658,370 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year. - 29 percent of female cases is breast cancer (231,840). - 26 percent of male cases is prostate cancer (220,800). - There are more than 200 types of cancer that can appear anywhere in the body. - More than 30 percent of cancers could be prevented by not using tobacco and alcohol. - There are 28,000,000 cancer survivors worldwide. - There are more cases of more skin cancer due to indoor tanning than lung cancer due to smoking. - A man is 35 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than for a woman to develop breast cancer.
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TM Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
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Teenage brains still aren’t fully mature; boys, girls display varying maturity levels
TM
Sports
we ll do you cope with change
39 percent of the
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while, percent boy respondents of girl respondents reported coping well reported coping well with change with change.
Expert notes: Adolescent brains struggle with coping with change due to the fact that they have higher levels of emotional stress. copingskills4kids.net
Adult brains cope better with change due to maturity of the brain. They have the ability to manage their emotions better than an adolescent. copingskills4kids. net
Statistics gathered from digital poll of students surveyed on Sept. 29
Marissa Almack
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17
percent of the girl respondents reported being a thrill seeker
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while, percent of boy respondents reported being a thrill seeker.
30 percent of
the girl respondents reported having good control of their emotions
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These cliches are repeated time and time again from teachers, parents and peers for generations. Students are ahead intellectually but behind emotionally with regard to maturity levels, writes sociology professor Tony Campolo in Psychology Today He adds that well-intentioned parents might have stunted emotional maturity by doing too much for them. Being in high school, students are expected to have a reasonable level of maturity. Balancing tests, homework and extracurricular activities requires a higher degree of responsibility. From ages 11-14, kids lose some of the connections between cells in the part of their brain that enables them to think clearly and make good decisions. A study published by Oxford University has found a scientific reason supporting why boys may be further behind in maturing than girls. A study of magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) allowed scientists to prove that girls are more mature than boys due to different brain development in boys and girls. Girls' brains have been found to reach full maturity at the age of 21 while boys' brains reach full maturity at the age of 25. "Some boys can act more childish than girls at times and don't take things very seriously," Amaiya Gaddie, freshman, noticed
ns
?
“Grow up.” “We expect more out of you.” “Guys are so immature.”
H ow
Opinion
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According to a study done by Oxford University, boys’ brains reach full maturity at the age of 25 which can impact their decision-making . photo by K. Marsella
among her peers. Not everyone notices this difference among their peers. "I think that maturity can depend on your age because at a younger age, you don't have as many responsibilities or things to care about," Nick Bowers, junior, said. He doesn't think that girls are more mature because he believes that everyone has a different maturity level. The specific part of the brain that determines one's maturity is the frontal lobe. It is the decision maker of the brain and makes people contemplate the consequences of their actions. Girls' brains develop this faster than boys do, meaning that they are able to make more mature decisions before boys. Another brain process that scientifically proves girls are more mature than boys is in the brain fibers. Brain fibers create a network that helps people learn and communicate. As the brain matures, it finds easier, faster ways to communicate. This networking process has been shown to occur earlier in girls. This allows girls to communicate more efficiently a few years earlier than boys. This process explains why teenagers have mood swings and are seen as acting unruly. It causes the brain to gain knowledge on how to handle different situations, but a teenagers’ emotions pre-
vent them from acting on them in a healthy, mature way. Regon Brenner, junior, has seen this science play out in real life. "I think that boys don't care if they're goofing off, while girls have pressure to be more lady-like," Brenner said. She believes that society sets standard behaviors for girls and boys which could contribute to why girls may be more mature. "Many people generalize gender based maturity upon outward behavior, and I think that society encourages specific behavior from each gender. It is more acceptable to be seen as mature for a girl, and it is acceptable for guys to seem more immature," said Mrs. Renae Stoudt, AP psychology teacher. Not all boys act immature and not all girls act mature either. Maturity can be an effect of life experiences and age. The older the person, the more likely they are to be mature because their brains are more developed or because they have more life experiences. Mrs. Stoudt also said that maturity depends on the individual and on the things they choose to be mature about. "Sometimes a person can be mature in one way, such as choices they make about school, but immature in other ways, such as finances," Mrs. Stoudt said. She added that it is evident that some students are more mature than others, but that it isn't necessarily based upon that person's gender. "Maturity is important throughout your life, and different life experiences will prompt more maturity. It is important to have a more mature outlook on life, but often times it is the experiences that we have that push us to be more mature," Mrs. Stoudt said.
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while, percent of boy respondents reported having good control of their emotions.
percentages from an all school electronic poll sent Sept. 29
Expert notes:
Expert notes:
Teenagers can only see the immediate satisfaction and not the repercussions of their actions. [1] (from National Geographic - Beautiful Brains)
Girls’ brains start to ‘prune’ neural connections that decrease impulsivity and increase maturity as early as 10 years old whereas boys may not start that process until 15 or 20 years old. Journal of Cerebral Cortex, January 2013
Teenagers take more risks than adults because the impulse area of their brain is more stimulated. Sercombe, Howard (2014). “Risk, Adaptation,
and the Functional Teenage Brain”. CINAHL (Brain and Cognition 89): 61–69.
The amygdala is thought to connect sensory information to emotional responses. It is not highly developed in teens. Over the course of adolescence, it gains greater control of the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with planning, impulse control and higher order thought and emotions. LiveScience.com
According to telegraph.co.uk, girls mature up to ten years quicker than boys. photo taken by K. Marsella
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Format change hopes to increase average scores
S
aturday morning, bright and early, students stand congregated waiting patiently to spend the next 3 hours and 45 minutes taking the SAT. While many students take the standardized test hoping to earn college admission and scholarships, the average test scores around the country have been decreasing over the past decade according to the Washington Post. College Board, the company that owns the SAT, released recently the average test scores for the Class of 2015. Averaging a composite (combination of reading, writing and math subscores) score of 1490 out of 2400, the Class of 2015 was seven points lower than the Class of 2014 on average and had the lowest composite score for a graduating class in the past decade. According to the Washington Post, declining scores show the shortcomings of education-reform efforts and the lack of improvement in math and reading from elementary school to high
Upcoming SAT Dates 6
school. Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute said, “Kids don’t make a whole lot of gains once they’re in high school. It certainly should raise an alarm.” While some people believe that the decline in scores is due to
a result of more students taking the SAT. Mrs. Nixon said, “We have a new and different population of college-going students that are now pursuing college education, so there are more kids taking the SAT.” By more students taking the test, it
SAT National Average vs. BCHS Average
Information from the Washington Post, nces.ed.gov and Business Insider
lack of improvement once students reach high school, Mrs. Pam Nixon, college advisor, believes the lower SAT scores are
Current SAT:
Test Day: Registration Day: Nov. 7 Oct. 23 (Late) Dec. 5 Nov. 5 Jan. 23, 2016Dec. 28
would have a tendency to bring overall scores down. Generally, the lower the number of students taking the SAT,
New SAT:
Test Day: March 5 May 7 June 4
Registration Day: Feb. 5 April 8 May 5
the higher the average score is. North Dakota’s average SAT score was 1791 out of 2400 in 2015, 300 points higher than the national average, but according to a Washington Post article from Sept. 3, 2015, only 134 kids from North Dakota took the SAT from the Class of 2015. In Idaho, the average score was a 1372 but over 17,000 kids from the Class of 2015 in Idaho took the SAT. According to College Board, last year’s seniors in Indiana averaged a score of 1433 out of 2400. This number might seem drastically lower in comparison to North Dakota, but Indiana is considered to be an SAT state as opposed to an ACT state like many midwestern states, meaning more kids are taking the SAT because colleges in Indiana opt to consider SAT scores during the admittance process. SAT scores are generally used by admission counselors to judge a student’s preparedness for college, but Mrs. Nixon, said, “Some schools are going “test optional” because they don’t think the scores are an accurate predictor of college success. Students have the option of sending test scores if they think they are high enough and don’t have to if they think they are poor test takers.” According to Mrs. Nixon, colleges view high school GPA as a more accurate indication of college GPA and success
than standardized test scores. “I don’t have any data to show that college success is [directly] related to the test scores,” said Mrs. Nixon. Cyndie Schmeiser, chief of assessment for College Board, commented on the decrease in numbers and called for action. “Simply doing the same things we have been doing is not going to improve these numbers. This is a call to action to do something different to propel more students to readiness.” College Board plans to rede-
sign the SAT in March 2016, the hope is that scores will increase. The test will be shorter and the writing section will be optional for students to take. The redesigned test will be 3 hours instead of 3 hours and 45 minutes. If students chose to take the writing section the test will be 3 hours and 50 minutes. Also there will be no penalty for guessing on the new SAT; currently students are deducted one-quarter of a point for every incorrect answer. Additionally, the scoring has changed. The
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maximum composite score will be reduced from 2400 to 1600 with the writing scored separately and not factored into the composite score. Each section is still worth 800 points, but there is one less section students receive a score for. The new scoring has combined the critical reading and the writing sections from the old to create an evidence-based reading and writing score. If students want to increase their SAT scores, Mrs. Nixon said, “Students should take
Explore the difference between the old and new SAT Scoring Time Format Sections Penalty for guessing Eight tips to increase your SAT score Tips from www.testinfo.net
Current SAT New SAT
600-2400 composite score
400-1600 composite score
3 Hours 45 Minutes
3 Hours (50-minute optional essay)
Print only
Print and computer
Critical reading, writing, math
Math, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
1/4 point penalty
1. Read the question carefully. Answer what is asked. 2. Avoid stray marks on the answer sheet.
Opinion
Sports
practice questions on College Board, take the test prep class here in the spring and subscribe to question of the day emails or tweets.” Mrs. Nixon added that students should take it in spring of their junior year so they are comfortable with the test format and time management. Students have an app from College Board on their iPads that will send them a notification everyday reminding them to take a practice question. TM
Victoria Toetz
“
Colleges don’t think they can superscore the old test with the new one. If students have taken or have signed up to take the SAT, they should still take it because it is good practice and schools will still take the scores from the current test. If juniors are deciding between January and March to take the SAT, they should wait until March,” said Mrs. Nixon.
No guessing penalty
5. Check that you are placing your answers in the correct spots on the answer sheet. 6. Mark only one answer per question. 3. Don’t spend too much 7. Learn the directions time on one question. before the test. 4. Easy questions usually come before hard ones.
8. Guess if you can eliminate at least one answer choice. 9. Don’t change an answer unless you know you made a mistake. 10. Answer easy questions first.
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iPad policies haven’t changed much in four years Four years ago, the Board of Regents and school administration decided to go to 1:1 learning, equipping each student with his or her own iPad. These devices were restricted, but it was announced during the 12-13 school year that the App Store would be available by the end of the school year. Four years later, with the first class to use their iPads all four years graduating, the school's iPad policy has remained unchanged. The faculty’s opinion has been the greatest factor for this policy explained Mrs. Lorie Homan, director of technology and integration. "At the end of the (first) year, a survey was conducted and the faculty felt that things were running smoothly, so there was no need to change policy," she said. At the same time BCHS went to 1:1 learning, so did Cathedral High School. Their program is "BYOi" or Bring Your Own iPad. They purchase their iPads and are allowed to keep them with them during the summer. (Students here pay a technology fee for iPads, app purchases, and internet fees of $425 each year and then are given their iPads wiped clean after they graduate.) The CHS program "places restrictions at the firewall, rather than on the iPad," said Mr. Rolly Landeros, chief information officer at Cathedral.
Firewalls block unauthorized sites. Mr. Landeros said that this places responsibility on students to make good choices. "This is a primary learning focus we hope to achieve with all students so they are prepared for college and independent life," said Mr. Landeros. Blake Walker, senior who transferred here last year, has experienced 1:1 learning through both programs. "(At Cathedral) we could use iPads the way we wanted to. They put more trust in us that we would learn and not play games all the time." Mr. Landeros agreed that trust plays a key role in the program. "Our program works because students learn how to be responsible users of technology, which is an essential part of education and self-discovery during adolescence," he said. This responsibility continues in the students' use of the App Store, finding apps that fit their learning styles. "(Having the App Store) allows students to express themselves uniquely and individually," said Mr. Landeros. In a Quebec study for the Canadian Press, almost 99 percent of kids said that they played games in class when they should've been paying attention. While Walker admits that he may be less distracted by his iPad at Chatard, he believes that being able to download the apps he likes
is important, and beneficial to his note taking. "There are better ways to learn then just what we are restricted to here," he said. For example, Walker used an app called "Notability.' "I loved it and used it for every class," said Walker, "but everyone has their own app they prefer to use." Mrs. Homan pointed out some issues that could arise with the opening of the App Store here: students could run out of space, download apps that disable their device or make inappropriate choices that would take up more of Mrs. Homan and vice principal of student services, Mr. Ben Reilly’s time. In-class distractions could also be an issue. "Teachers don't have to discipline students because they are constantly playing games they have downloaded," said Homan. Homan acknowledged that there could be advantages as well. "Students and teachers could discover apps that enhance learning," she said. "They would also be able to update their own apps when a new version is released." In order to open the App Store, "a group of students and faculty members that support opening the store would come forward and ask for a meeting to talk about making changes in this policy," said Mrs. Homan. TM Emma Kinghorn
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Top apps provide loads of info CK-12
Britannica
Questia Library
CK-12 has over 5,000 math and science lessons where you can practice and learn in your own time and pace. There are quizzes, videos, simulations, interactives and more.
On Britannica, you can search over 80,000 articles on almost everything, and also view pictures, diagrams, and charts. It is free to download, but a subscription fee is required for unlimited content.
Questia Library is an academic research app. You can search through over 89,000 books and 10 million articles. There is also access to research and organization tools, like highlighting and notation. There are fees for full access.
Explain Everything
Kahoot
Drawp for School
Explain Everything is an interactive whiteboard where you can make instructional videos. You can annotate, change, and narrate papers, videos, and pictures. Teachers can use it and share with students, and students can make presentations. There is a fee to purchase.
Kahoot is an app that uses a game for learning. Students can join a game controlled by the teacher at kahoot.it if you are not using an Android device. This makes an educational game for the whole classroom to be engaged in.
Drawp for School is a tool that saves time and can help with management. It can be used for any subject and help distribute and collect work easily. The work is all stored safely in the Drawp Cloud. It is easy to use for sharing and collaborating. (info from the iTunes App Store and Google Play.)
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Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
Memorizing a few lines for a presentation in class is hard enough, but imagine being one of the 14 actors in the upcoming fall play Snow White, who split hundreds of lines over a 50-page script. Miles Lockrem, freshman, plays Doc in the show and has 68 lines to memorize. “It’s definitely hard to memorize,” said Lockrem, “but also easy because I’m learning them one ‘chunk’ at a time.” By grouping, or chunking, each part of the play together, Lockrem can piece together the different groups until he learns them all. Lockrem’s older brother, junior Jack Lockrem, has acted in every show at BCHS since A Midsummer Night’s Dream his freshman year. For this show, he plays the part of the Prince and the Huntsman. “I like to memorize my
lines in front of a mirror,” he said, “That way I can memorize (the lines) and the motions at the same time.” He said that acting is more than just knowing the lines; it’s about knowing the character. Lockrem added, “A past director told me you should be 90 percent character and 10 percent actor.” Knowing your character is increasingly important in case something goes wrong on stage. “You have to be able to cover mistakes in character so that the audience doesn’t find out,” said sophomore Edward Grambling, who plays Bashful. Junior Gillian Fouse agrees. She said, “It’s important to be at all the rehearsals so you can get in the head of the character.” Being able to memorize lines helps not just onstage, but in the classroom. Jack Lockrem said,
Sound Off...what game show would you go on?
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“Memorizing lines has helped photo by K. Marsella me learn and recall information iuhbhvhj from textbooks quicker.” For Grambling, it has worked the other way. He said, “Mem- Performance times: orizing material for school has helped me memorize my lines Oct. 29, Oct. 30 7:30 p.m. in the BCHS easier.” While Jack Lockrem and main gym Grambling had opposite thoughts, they do agree that Oct. 31 - 3 p.m. in the memorization has helped their BCHS main gym ability to recall information faster. According to BMC Tickets can be bought Neuroscience, memorization online at theater.bishopbenefits the hippocampal area chatard.org for reserved of the brain, which makes it seating easier to retain more informaGeneral Admission for tion later. All in all, memorizing lines may students is $2 with seem like a daunting task for student ID at the door some people, but the performThink it’s easy to memorize ers agree on one thing: practice lines? Check out a video of makes perfect. people trying to do just that on the-blueprint.org TM Jacob DeCastro
“I’d go on Survivor because I’ve watched the show forever. Sometimes I go into the woods and pretend I’m on Survivor. I’d definitely vote off Abby.” -Sara Wallender, sophomore
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Trojan Matters Staff Opinion Which is more important, grades or learning? By measuring students’ academic ability, letter grades are the determinant of success in school...or are they? A growing number of schools are making the switch from traditional grade reports to standards-based grading. Gaining popularity after the National Educational Goals were set by the U.S. in the 1990s (especially after the “No Child Left Behind” act in 2009), standards-based grading is a system that assesses the student’s specific skills without actual letter grades. According to ActiveGrade, a popular online gradebook for standards-based grading, “The idea is that at the end of the class, a student has mastered the essential content neces-
sary for the next level. You are focused on knowledge, not on points.” Not only is this kind of mentality beneficial to students’ self-esteem, but it just makes more sense than traditional grading. There are so many ways that a grade in a class can misrepresent a student’s understanding of the material. Teachers can be “too nice” and inflate a student’s grade with completion grades and easy assignments, when in reality, the student has gained no mastery of the material. Conversely, teachers can also be overly harsh and deduct points for things like being late to class, or simply because they are biased against the student. In addition, making assess-
ments simply based on test scores can be unreliable. Maybe the student forgets about an upcoming test and fails it, but masters the material by the end of the grading period. Maybe the student forgot to turn in a homework assignment. Maybe the student is simply a bad test-taker. Whatever the case, making evaluations on specific skills rather than offering a few cumulative tests just seems to make more sense. Of course, this grading system does have its drawbacks. In some cases, teachers cannot monitor students closely enough to correctly gauge their proficiency in every skill taught. This is especially true in many college classes. In a class
with a capacity of 200 students, it simply isn’t possible to individually monitor every student and his or her progress. This results in the most accurate assessments being based on major tests and projects. In the end, both grading systems have their own strengths and weaknesses, but standardsbased grading seems to be the more justifiable pick of the two. While BCHS may not switch over to standards-based grading any time soon, it would be beneficial to take into account the best aspects of it. top photos by A. Park
Tweet us @blueprintbchs or use # TMStaffOp or #TMSoundOff to join in on the conversation.
“I’d go on American Ninja Warrior because it would challenge my physical abilities and I would want to fall into the water.” -Abby Kleinman, freshman
“I’d go on The Price is Right because you get the best prices whether it be money or cars.” -Thomas Hirschfeld, junior
“I’d definitely go on Cash Cab because I can get a free cab ride, and a ton of money, too.” -Austin Scheer, junior
reported by and photo illustrations by by A. Park
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School experiment tests coffee lovers knowledge of favorite drinks From Starbucks to Speedway, many different venders sell all types of coffee drinks. Whether it’s premium dark roast black coffee or a mocha frappucino, many Chatard students and faculty members drink coffee on the daily. In this experiment, three coffee lovers tested their knowledge of this diverse drink to see if they can tell the difference between a premium coffee and its cheaper option. TM Sian Rhodes
Benefits of drinking coffee*
Coffee Lover: Cayley Beals, junior Coffee habits: Drinks coffee almost everyday Coffee of choice: Vanilla latte
Coffee lovers, who drink coffee daily, are 10 percent less likely to be sad or depressed than those who don’t drink coffee.
Her thoughts: “Speedway was really sugary, and I get Starbucks all the time so I knew what it tasted like. It eliminated the McDonald’s.”
The aroma of coffee is shown to stimulate genes and brain proteins that are known to protect nerve cells from stress-related damage.
The Results: 3/3 guessed correctly.
Coffee beans are rich in disease-combatting quinines (chemical compound that helps fight disease), which actually become more potent after roasting.
3-5 cups of coffee a day can reduce your chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 65 percent. Coffee also helps prevent Parkinson’s disease and decrease its symptoms. A 22-year study found that 1 cup of coffee a day reduces the risk of alcoholic liver cirrhosis by 20 percent. This study also shows that 1-4 cups a day can help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Coffee Lover: Mr. Damian Schmitt, theology teacher Coffee Habits: Drinks coffee daily Coffee of choice: Black coffee His thoughts: “I don’t usually drink gas station coffee. Starbucks coffee has a much bolder taste. Usually Speedway has a bit of a stanky smell.” The Results: 1/3 guessed correctly, Speedway and McDonalds were mixed up.
all photos by A. Park *All information found on the Loop by PerkSpot.
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54% of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee a day
28% of Chatard students who drink coffee get it from Starbucks.
Coffee Habits: Drinks coffee almost everyday Coffee of Choice: Vanilla latte Her thoughts: “I’ve never had Speedway coffee but I was right. I always get Starbucks and the McDonald’s was more sugary.” The Results: 1/3 guessed correctly, Starbucks and McDonalds were mixed up.
How often do BCHS students drink coffee?
10.3%
never
10.7% Junior Vincent Victery walks through the halls in the morning with a cup of coffee.
Coffee Lover: Sarah Cavender, senior
49.3% 29.7%
occassionally three to four times a week everyday- at least one cup
Statistics gathered from digital poll of students surveyed on Sept. 29
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Celebrities use popularity to influence fans, companies and consumers Celebrities are in the spotlight 24/7, often taking away privacy and making it hard to go about their daily lives unnoticed. However, celebrities can use their media attention to influence the world and culture around them. Fame and fortune can go a long way for these prominent individuals and their influence can often create change. TM Bill Nash
Donald Trump’s
decision to run as a Republican in the 2016 presidential race has continually been up for discussion, but regardless, Trump is making an impact in the polls. The businessman and past host of the TV show Apprentice has been leading the race for the GOP nomination in recent polls with about 25 percent of support, according to CNN. He continues to make political headlines with
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his presidential race, according to KUSI news channel in San Diego. The first Republican primary debate on Fox News had a higher number of viewers than any primary debate in television history. The debate had more views than all of the year’s NBA Finals, the MLB World Series games and most of the year’s NFL match-ups. Trump tweeted and said that he was the reason Fox News earned the ratings from the debate. “He says a lot of things
people are thinking but are afraid to say out loud which is why he gets so much attention,” said senior Sarah Wede. John Tantillo, a brand and marketing expert, said in an interview done by The Wrap, “He’s a great brand for the Republican Party because he excites — whether or not you disagree with him — the media and his opponents.”
Both with Destiny’s Child and her solo career, Beyoncé has had a strong musical presence for the past decade and a half. She is a renowned singer with a 4- octave vocal range and good breath control that allows her to sing well while dancing, according to Critic of Music. Spin Magazine has hailed Beyoncé as the best performer of her generation. With a Super Bowl halftime performance under her belt, Beyoncé has had a career full of momentous achievements. When she dropped her most recent album, Beyoncé, without any promotion in December 2013, it shattered music industry records. It became the fastest selling album
in the history of the iTunes store, according to Apple records selling 430,000 copies in four hours. In 2014, Beyoncé landed the cover of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people and
according to TIME, has encouraged women to be independent and to lead. Her charitable organization, BeyGood, is her global charity campaign that helps improve the lives of others in places including Haiti with the help of her fans. “I believe that Beyoncé is the beating heart of the world itself,” said Eliza Foran, junior, “Her power is mighty.”
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Swift’s influence has also been able to change Apple’s policy in her well-known letter Dear her fans. Young girls are Apple, Love Taylor. modeling after her.” In her letter, Swift It’s no surprise Swift is explained to Apple prominent, being the Taylor Swift’s her decision to remove most followed user on new album 1989 sold her music from Apple Instagram with approxi- Music because they 1.3 million copies in mately 50 million folthe first week and has were not paying artists lowers. sold 5.1 milduring the 3-month free Both lion copies trial. In less than a day, as of August Apple decided to 2015 in pay artists during the United a subscriber’s free States alone. trial months. From her However, Swift was album, three not able to have a songs reached No. significant effect on 1 on the Billboard all streaming serTop 100 chart (Shake vices. Her decision It Off, Blank Space to remove her muand Bad Blood). Her sic because of the recent concert stop in lack of pay artists Indianapolis on Sept. earn from Spotify 16, Swift sold out at - Katelyn Redelman, junior hasn’t slowed the Lucas Oil Stadium. momentum of the her Facebook and Twit- company, which has 20 Hannah Pletcher, ter profiles also have junior, was at Swift’s million paid subscribover 50 million followconcert. She said, “She ers and 75 million ers. has a huge effect on
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active users according to their website. In an interview with Rolling Stone she said, “I’m not willing to contribute my life’s work to an experiment that I don’t feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music” as her reasoning for taking her music off
the streaming service. “Taylor Swift is really capable of inspiring people and empowering them to be creative and stand up for themselves,” said Katelyn Redelman, junior.
Jack Dorsey replied to Kim saying that it was a great idea, according to Elle Magazine. However Twitter has yet to implement the feature. Her influence has also reached the App Store with Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. Her sponsored app is expected to gross $200 million by the end of the year according to Forbes, and will also allow the app developer, Glu Mobile, to have the most profitable year in the company’s history.
According to TIME magazine, Kardashian is also one of the 30 most influential people on the Internet, which she also uses to promote various business ventures like endorsements and her career in modeling. “She has excellent marketing to promote herself well,” said Pletcher, “She has a huge influence in America, especially with social media.”
Taylor Swift is really capable of inspiring people and empowering them to be creative and stand up for themselves.”
In the few years, Kim
last
Kardashian has
become a household name. The reality TV star and model has gained popularity across all forms of social media, having a substantial number of
followers on Instagram (47 million) and Twitter (35 million). Recently, Kardashian emailed Twitter asking them to allow users to edit an already posted tweet. In less than a few hours, co-founder of Twitter
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A Day in the Life of Matthew Adkins
From being apart of student council to taking a large interest in outdoor activities such as sports and fly fishing, senior Matthew Adkins is one Chatard student who is full of energy and has much to teach Trojans about being all in. Q: What sports or extracurriculars are you involved in? A: “I’m involved in football, hockey, lacrosse, National Honor Society and student council.” Q: Why do you participate in these activities? A: “I started participating in them because I had too much time not doing anything freshman year so I decided that I should get involved in other ways so I can always be active in school activities.” Q: How are you such an enthusiastic and energetic person about everything? A: “I eat breakfast. I think that’s why I’m so energetic because lots of people skip it or drink coffee instead, and they seem groggy or tired. I eat an egg sandwich with ham of some sort and cheese, all on an English muffin. Eating that allows me not to worry about being hungry and allows me to just have more energy all the time. I also think it’s somehow just been ingrained in me that I should be all in. Personally, it’s about eating right and bringing the right mentality to a situation.”
photo courtesy of
Matthew Adkins Q: How do you transfer your excitement to everything you do? A: “I would say that I’m just 100 percent in on everything I do and that in everything I do, I truly want to be there to do it, even if it may not be a fun task. I know that some stuff I do will be miserable if I don’t bring the energy, and I don’t like wasting my time being bored so I come ready to make the best of my opportunities before me.”
Q: How do you transfer your energy into your Chatard activities? A: “I want to do them. I don’t dread heading to practice or heading to a meeting because I want to be there. I don’t choose to do something that I don’t like which allows me to drive all of my energy towards things that I do like and that are my passion. Instead of feeling like work, it’s a lot more enjoyable because I’m actually enjoying what I do.” Q: Why do you love life? A: “It’s life, there’s always another day. If you have a good day then that’s awesome, enjoy it. But if you don’t, well, there is always tomorrow so you can go make the best of tomorrow. Life has its ups and downs, but overall it’s pretty nice to be alive. The world is a pretty cool place and getting to see some of it everyday is a good thing to look forward to I think.”
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Q: What are you most passionate about in your life? A: “Being outside and active is what I’m most passionate about. I guess I just fear boredom the most, and I associate boredom with the indoors so being outside and active is what I love. Playing sports is one of my favorite things to do, but sports aren’t always in season, so I choose to do things like fish, ski, ride a dirt bike, mountain bike or something outside that isn’t just sitting. The outdoors just offers so much if you just take the time to look.” TM Sian Rhodes
photo courtesy of Matthew Adkins
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The Difference of Dating Then and Now Don't look bored, smudge his handkerchief with lipstick, talk to other men, cry or caress him in public. Got all that? Welcome to the world of dating, 1938 style. Fast forward 77 years and dating looks nothing like it did back in the day. Even if back in the day is just 20 years ago. The main difference is in the way couples interact. In the past, there was more face-to-face interaction between couples. Parents were more involved than they are today when it comes to dating. According to Mrs. Jackie Bach, English teacher, she had to call boys on the landline if she wanted to talk to them. She said that, usually, his mom or dad would answer and she would have to ask to talk to him, which usually sparked a conversation between Mrs. Bach and his mom or dad. Sophomore Nathan Kolbus, who is dating sophomore Katie Nickerson, thinks that dating today involves more FaceTime and texting. Therefore the parents aren't as involved because they don't have to ask permission to talk to them. However, Kolbus said that dating Nickerson has helped him become less awkward and has improved his social skills. Agreeing, Joseph Knight, senior, dates senior Valerie Schultz. He said, "In the end, I think we stayed together longer because I was so awkward around her." To elaborate,
Knight’s many awkward encounters with Schultz caused a more meaningful and longer lasting relationship. Knight also believes that being around Schultz has lead him to be less socially awkward. On their first date in 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Bach skipped all of the awkward encounters and "laid all of the cards on the table," said Mrs. Bach. They “unloaded all of their baggage and if you didn’t like it then pick it up and move on.” The Bachs’ generation of dating has less awkward encounters due to the more personal interactions such as staying up until 3 am telling each other everything on the first date, which is what the Bachs did. Another comparable difference is that back in the day, when people started dating, it usually started with a date and then they were considered an item whereas, today, there's a time period where the almost couple becomes friends first and start "talking" before they are considered dating. Mrs. Katie Hilton, science teacher said, "It (asking someone out) was pretty unceremonious and then you were boyfriend and girlfriend." In contrast to this, Schultz, said about her and Knight, "We were basically already dating before he officially asked me out." These two generations of dating still have similar factors such as the issue with who asks who out. Most girls said that, in either generation, it was perfectly accept-
able for the girl to ask the boy out but they themselves wouldn't do it. Overall, the main difference between dating in today's generation and back then is that today kids don't exactly know how to communicate very well. Whereas, back in the day, they were less fearful of face-toface interaction and their communication positively affected their relationships today. TM Kaitlin Traub
photo courtesy of Valerie Schultz
photo courtesy of Mrs. Bach
Don’t know what dating looked like back in the day? For 50s think Grease For 60s think Breakfast at Tiffany’s For 70s think Happy Days, That 70s Show For 80s think Pretty in Pink, Princess Bride For 90s think Ghost, You’ve Got Mail
photo courtesy of Katie Nickerson
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Breaking down the football uniform cost
The cost of sports adds up for athletes
Football is one of the most expensive sports at BCHS, however the equipment is paid for mostly by the athletic department. “We can cut deals and buy in bulk,” said Mr. Lorenzano, head football coach,
“which brings the price down.” Additionally Mr. Lorenzano said that the cost for the uniform is only about $100 a year if the player uses the same uniform all four years.
Shoulder pads: $75-$125
M
oney flies out the door for any athlete. The shoes, the shirt, the ball, the gear, the training, the gym, etc. are all parts of sports that require pulling out the credit card. So, how much are you really paying to play for the sport you love? For football at BCHS, the pads and uniform costs are already covered for the players, but the cleats reach about $100-$150 or more depending on how much you are willing to spend. They also have practice packs that are about $150 and contains three shirts and six shorts that are worn during practices without pads. If they want to work on football in the offseason, the cost of offseason work adds up, too. Matthew Annee, junior, said, “I lift at LA fitness in the offseason.” A membership at LA Fitness is about $40 a month. Cross country doesn’t have all the pads and equipment like football, but there is still a cost. Their practice packs are about $86, and the boys get a pair of shorts, a quarter zip jacket, and a short-sleeved shirt. The girls receive a tank top, a shirt, and a quarter zip jacket. Freshman Jon DeemLoureiro said he has a pair of running shoes and a pair of cross country spikes that cost about $195-$200 all together. For the offseason, Deem-Loureiro said, “I go to IUPUI and run on another team, which costs about $87 a month.” To keep in shape for basketball, Ashlin Aycock, senior, trains with a trainer three times a week for $25 a session. She also has a gym membership at a sports center in Plainfield that is $14.95 a month. Aycock plays AAU for $700 plus $30 for tournaments from March to August. The practice packs for school basketball are about $90 which include a practice jersey and shorts, a gym bag, sweatpants 18 and jacket, a shirt and a warm-up.
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For equipment, Aycock spends about $130 for shoes and about $20 for tape for her knees. In addition to practice packs and other equipment costs, some teams also have camps to pay For girls lacrosse, they pay a fee of about for. Here are the costs for each sport’s $150 for the season. For all of her equipcamp: ment junior Hadley Driggers, said, “We all have to go out and buy our own mouth guards, stick, The cheerleading team cleats and goggles which altoCheerleading spends three days at Indigether is about $175.” Drigana University, Bloomington for their annual camp. gers also participates in clinics that are about $250 overall for two months of participating on Sunday games. She plays with Indy United which adds up to about $1500 per season. On the baseball diamond, home runs and The football team visits Football Saint Joseph’s College strikes mean a bat and a mitt which all add in Rensselaer, IN for to the cost of playing baseball. Senior Jofour days. seph Leone, reports his parents pay nearly $2500 on baseball a year which includes equipment, clothing, summer travel teams, private coaches and fall baseball. Their school practice packs are around $60 and usually include a rain jacket, long sleeve Cross Country The cross country team pullover, and a few shirts and shorts. travels to Warren Dunes, MI for their annual camp. Leone said that his gloves are probably the most expensive for him because he has four adding up to about $400. He also has bats, two metal and one wood, adding up to about $300. All of these sports and others have many The girl’s soccer teams Girl’s Soccer ways to add money to the bill to play. goes on a three day, two night retreat to From equipment to games to even just offSolsberry, IN. season work, athletes are paying hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year to play their sports. TM Kelly O’Brien
External pads: $10
Happy campers
Helmet: $200-$250
Game jersey: $85-$100
Game pants: $50-$75
Practice pants: $15
$299
$165
$125
$120
Cleats: $50-$100
Required practice packs add up Nearly ever BCHS sport requires the purchase of a practice pack to be used during practices or team events.
Most expensive....
Least expensive....
$375
$70
$185
$75
$150
$80
Cheerleading
Boys Lacrosse
Boys Basketball
Softball
Tennis and Football
Swimming
The most expensive practice pack is cheerleading. It includes warm-ups, a T-shirt, a tank top, sports bra, two pairs of shorts, spandex, cheer shoes, and four bows. photo by Lily Bardol
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Being mentally tough gives athletes an extra edge Imagine: It’s the big game/meet. You’ve been training for months. Your heart is pumping adrenaline rushing. You are ready. But then a million thoughts and doubts start to flood your mind. Your mentality can either make or break you in this situation, depending on how strong your mentality is. Regardless of age, gender or level, athletes encounter similar situations battling their own thoughts. While in a dedicated sport, one is training frequently throughout the week, practicing skills until perfected. The physical aspect is right on track. But sometimes, even the most talented athletes fall short because of their mentality. Students here agree that having a strong mentality is key to being able to perform one’s best. Maggie Kassenbrock, junior and varsity pitcher for the softball team, said, “Mentality is key. I tend to overthink everything which messes up my pitches, but when I just stop thinking and stay positive, it all works out better.” Even with lots of practice, bad mentality can negatively affect any athlete. Professional tennis player Billie Jean King often tells athletes that pressure is a privilege. She explains, “The moments of great pressure in your life — speaking in public, interviewing for a big job, ... raising a child — are born out of the importance of the situation. It is a privilege to have such opportunities...and so the pressure that comes with them must be seen as a
privilege also.” Opinions vary on what mental toughness is. . Positivity and keeping calm and relaxed is one such opinion. Maddie Wann, junior and varsity golfer, said ,”I just remember to have a positive outlook. It’s just a game. I’m here to have fun doing what I like.” While she takes a more laid back approach, others try to block the pressure by not really thinking at all. Senior Austin Scheer, who in August did a non-stop 100-mile relay with four other swimmers from his swim team, said, “It was all mental. My body wasn’t the thing hurting -- it was my mind. It was rough getting through those two nights with the cold water. What kept me going was just keeping my mind blank of all other distractions.” Scheer is an example of how a good mentality can push an athlete’s body through tough situations While mental toughness is an asset to athletes, having a negative outlook on a sport can often translate to defeat. During golf regionals last year, Wann let negative thoughts creep into her mind after hitting the ball into the water. “I started getting scared and doubting if I could do it,” said Wann. The next hole she hit it into the water again. Experts explain that once in a downward spiral of negative thoughts,
The mentally tough competitor is consistent in ingredients: • good technique & form • good mental skills & attitude
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information from positivesportparent.com
negative actions often follow. However, there are ways in which athletes can help to better their mental toughness for situations such as this one. Even if athletes struggle with positive mental attitudes, there are people including coaches and sports psychologists who can help guide athletes to build better attitudes. Coach Mike Harmon, varsity baseball coach, agrees that the mental aspect of sports is just as important, if not more so, than the physical aspects. What separates the good players from the great is their mental toughness during a rough game or day. Coach Harmon believes there are ways in which to keep a good mental attitude. He stressed, “Self-motivation during the off season and keeping calm and relaxed during games are the best ways to maintain a great mentality.” Harmon also practices these skills himself to give his athletes someone to look to for guidance. “I like to practice what I preach and make sure to stay calm no matter the outcome,” said Coach Harmon. Even the most talented of athletes who train their bodies can be defeated by a bad mental attitude. A positive attitude can help create success in one’s sport, while a negative outlook can cause someone to perform under their ability. As Kassenbrock said, “If you can’t handle the pressure, then you can’t handle the game.” TM
Mary Barnes
James E. Loehr, performance psychologist, believes that there are a set of mental skills, all of which are learned, that are characteristic of mentally tough competitors. They are: • Self-motivation/self-direction • Being in control of emotions • Calm and relaxed under fire • Highly energetic/ready for action • Positive but realistic
• Determined • Mentally alert and focused • Self-confident • Fully responsible
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Sports injuries: what are the most common and how to prevent them Boots and crutches have become part of the uniform for many athletes as seen by who is walking through the hallways. With so many injuries from the fall seasons, it is important to work hard in training and maintain physical health in order to prevent injuries during the season. From 30 million teens and kids who participate in sports in the United States, there are 3.5 million injuries per year, according to stanfordschildren.org. The most common of these injuries are strains and sprains. However, these can be prevented by the athlete’s efforts. Athletic trainer Ms. Kayla Keller said, “Maintaining flexibility and being smart with your body is important throughout the season.” For those who participate in sports year-round, this is imperative. Sophomore Abby Teed runs cross country, swims and runs track. She is currently recovering from a stress fracture. Before, she said that to prevent injury she would run on soft surfaces, do push-ups and workout her core. Ms. Keller agreed that working on core as well as flexibility are important in prevention. Strengthening the body has been found to be increasingly more productive than stretching. In a paper by Dr. Stephen Thacker M.D., he and his colleagues researched close to 100 published works on the effects of stretching, according to runnersworld.com. The results were that although stretching does increase flexibility, the best way to prevent injury is by better warm ups, strength exercises and balance training. Athletes have found that this along with diet and sleep have allowed athletes to stay healthy. Junior Tom Winternheimer, varsity tennis player, has stayed l healthy this season. He said, “The most important thing is to eat
healthy and stay hydrated throughout the season.” By also attributing his success to rest and recovery, WinMs. Kayla Keller, certified athletic trainer, wraps freshman ternheimer shed light on an Marlon Sykes’ ankle after school before football practice. photo by A. Park important factor of staying healthy that can be overlooked. “Athletes need to recognize that rest is as important as the workout,” said Ms. Keller. According to sportsmedicine.com, extensive physical activity results in the loss of fluids, breakdown of muscle tissue and depletion of energy. Rest gives the body Ankle sprain - practice balancing time to recover from these detriments, on one foot to increase stability especially when trying to recover after an and routinely stretch. injury has already happened. Senior volleyball player Anna Fehribach Groin pull - warm up by stretchdislocated her knee in seventh grade and needed surgery again sophomore year to ing groin muscles, and use propremove excess cartilage. She said that her er techniques and equipment workout routine consisted of exercises including sprints, box jumps and squats Hamstring strain - routine to help agility and speed. Now, Fehribach stretching to promote flexibility said, “I can still do those things, but I have is advised to be super careful.” Her susceptibility to bruising and fracturing of the bone has Shin splints - exercises for pregreatly increased after the injury. Prevenvention include: toe curls, heel tion of future injury will be more difficult drops and massaging with ice to those who have already had one, so it is important to know your body’s limits. Teed said, “If something hurts for two Knee injury (ACL tear) - strengthdays, go to the trainer or doctor. Don’t wait en your core and hip for two weeks.” Recovery time can be increased if an athlete practices or performs Runners Knee - run on soft suron an injury. faces For prevention of injuries during the season, Fehribach advised, “Work hard at Tennis elbow- wear counterforce being really strong off the court (or field) brace so that you can do everything on the court (or field) to the best of your ability without having the fear of getting hurt.” According to WebMD.com
Seven most common sports injuries and ways to prevent them:
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Anna Giudice
Trojan Matters 21
Crowd shots from the fall season Football game on Sept. 17.
Boys soccer game on Sept. 22.
“The student section is so involved this year, and the fans are all into every game. The seniors have really come together to make this the best year yet.” -Emma Schilling, senior
“The soccer student section is a smaller group, but we’re all there to watch the game. We go to watch our friends, fellow classmates and siblings succeed in sports and participate.” -Leah Engler, sophomore
“It’s awesome when the players cheer on the team, and it’s important for us to be supportive of each other, especially when it’s a tight match.” -Sam Luke, senior
City tennis match on Sept. 26.
City cross country meet on Oct. 3.
“(The fans) are very committed and supportive, and they’re important because they remind you while in the middle of the race that you’re not alone.” -Daniel Burger, junior
“(The fan section) is hype and electric. I come to the games because I like to support all facets of Chatard sports.” -Nicholas Najjar, sophomore
City volleyball game on Oct. 6.