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Bishop Kenny High School Volume 65 | Issue 4 Jacksonville, Fla. bktoday.org
Telling Your Stories
Katie Caples Ride Page 3
A Wrinkle in Time Page 10
Coach Wray Page 12
News
Spending Summer Across the Pond Student group travels to London and Paris in July Franchesca Peralta | Arts and Entertainment Editor
In addition to watching a musical and ascending the Eiffel Tower, the
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group will attend mass at the medieval Notre-Dame cathedral and rise above the skyline on the London Eye. This trip, which occurs every other year, has always been popular among students, but this year’s group is the largest in years. “We had our first interest meeting in January 2017, and there were so many families that we had to hold it in the Harris Center instead of my classroom,” Durbin said. Some of the travelers have never left the states prior to this trip and will experience a different way of life for the first time. For others, traveling to Europe will be another opportunity to embark on a new adventure. “I wanted the experience of traveling to another country other than China and the United States,” junior Vivian Guo said. “Also I think it’ll be an eye-opening trip since it’s another side of the world.”
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“I’m most looking forward to seeing the musical in London,” sophomore Dailey Jackson said.
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group of 22 sophomores and juniors, along with English teacher Jessica Durbin, Vice Principal Vincent Saladino, yearbook adviser Dawn Huskey and Durbin’s spouse will travel to London and Paris with Education First Tours in July. The eight day trip, “A Capital Connection,” will consist of visits to some of the most common tourist sites and sampling native cuisine while being immersed in other cultures. “I get to go out and experience the world in a way I’ve never seen it,” junior Noah Shalley said. From visiting the Louvre in Paris to walking through the streets of London, EF has selected sites rich in culture and history. The tour company also provides a full-time Tour Director, bus drivers and local guides.
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KENCRAFT BOAT LINE IN JACKSONVILLE
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LAT I T UDE 30.2754 LONGI T UDE -81.7175 FOR M O RE I NFO RM AT I O N: W W W.SADLE RPO I NT.C O M
SCALE 1:40,000
MAP NOT TO SCALE. FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSE ONLY.
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4669 R OOSEVELT B LVD. JACKSONVILLE, FL 32210 (904) 384- 1383 (904) 389- 5187 FAX
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Features
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Katie Caples Foundation celebrates 14th annual Ride for Life
very nine minutes, another name is added to a list of 125,000 people who are in need of an organ transplant. Today, 21 of these people will die. The demand for organ transfer in America is increasing, yet only 50 percent of eligible Americans are registered organ donors. The Katie Caples Foundation is dedicated to increasing this number until all those in need of a transfer are saved. In 1998, David and Susan Caples created the Katie Caples Foundation in memory of their daughter, Bishop Kenny student Katie Caples, who passed away in a car accident. As a registered organ donor, Katie saved the lives of five people, but since then she has saved even more. Brian “Wade” Ray, a U.S. Navy pilot stationed at NAS JAX who attended Bishop Kenny’s annual Health Fair, enjoyed being outside and was never intimidated by the thought of exhaustion. But one day,
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John Bogush | Staff Reporter
Ray began experiencing long periods of sickness and shortness of breath. In August 2018, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that causes a gradual decline in lung function. Ray, who served in the Navy for two decades and even conquered the Appalachian Trail, now found himself in need of a double lung transplant. He remained at the mercy of the transplant list for two months. By the time of his operation, Ray’s lung capacity was operating at 20 percent of its potential. The double lung transplant Ray received at Mayo Clinic saved his life. Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated transplant provider in the United States, with its Jacksonville location receiving awards for both heart and liver transplant operations. The Katie Caples Foundation teamed up with Mayo Clinic in order to spread awareness for organ
donation. On April 21, hundreds of cyclists, runners, walkers, and volunteers flocked to Amelia Island to participate in the 14th annual Katie Caples Ride for Life. People of all ages came to participate in 18-mile, 34-mile, and 64-mile bicycle rides, a fun run, and a mini-triathlon. Proceeds of this event go towards public marketing campaigns and education, especially at the high school and collegiate levels. And thanks in part to the Katie Caples Foundation, in Northeast Florida, the number of students who have registered as an organ donor currently exceeds the national average by over 20 percent. The foundation also invites everyone to come out for the next Ride for Life in April 2019, because it is not just a fundraiser backed by a moral cause; it is a celebration of life, health, and of all people who have made sacrifices for the lives of others.
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Opinion
Shield
The Shield is a member of FSPA and NSPA. It is published four times a year by journalism students at Bishop Kenny High School 1055 Kingman Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 32207 phone: (904) 265-9390 fax: (904) 398-5728 The policy of The Shield is to provide a forum for student expression. If you are interested in advertising in The Shield email newspaper@bishopkenny.org for more information. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Please submit them to room 224. Letters must be signed; names can be withheld upon request. Editor-in-Chief Allison Weinbecker Copy & Design Editor James Ragonese Business Manager Maddie Dyro News Editor Olivia Burch Feature Editor Julia Rodriguez Opinion Editor Emily Willis Arts and Entertainment Editor Franchesca Peralta Sports Editor Max Montana Web Manager Megan Yates Staff Reporters Niah Aleger John Bogush Hailey Farah Keith Stokes Adviser Jessica Durbin
Follow The Shield on Twitter and Online: @bkhs_newspaper www.bktoday.org
The Shield
Emily Willis | Opinion Editor
“There is so much gun violence in the world. How am I supposed to come to school every day when I am scared to even go outside?”
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- Troubled Teenager
ou are not the only person to feel this way; I can assure you that I am scared, the person sitting next to you is scared, your teacher is scared, your parent is scared -- we, as a country, are wary of an attack that could come from anywhere. The sad fact is that we live in a dangerous era and place. I am only 17, and I have been alive for the five deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history: Las Vegas, Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary and Sutherland Springs Church. The U.S. is home to more public mass tragedies involving gun violence than any other nation, according to a study by the University of Alabama. There have been 90 mass shootings in the U.S. between 1966 and 2012, which accounts for almost one-third of 292 attacks globally. There are more guns in the U.S. than in any other country. An estimated 270 million to 310 million firearms are in circulation in the U.S., while India takes second place with a mere 41 million firearms. No matter what you would like to think, someone is bound to get hurt with that many weapons. While we can never truly understand what motivates a person to kill another human being, it sometimes helps us to know the facts surrounding mass attacks to prevent them in the future. That brings me to my next point: how can we, as high schoolers, help to prevent such attacks in the future? If a person at your school is exhibiting warning signs, report them. First introduced in New York City after the 9/11 attacks, the slogan, “If you see something, say something” is licensed to the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security to heighten knowledge of indicators of future terrorism. Someone could simply be having a bad day, or they could be planning an attack. While you should not live life as a pessimist, this is a serious situation that you could potentially prevent. A violent temper, repeated disciplinary problems, cruelty towards animals, a preference of violent movies or shows and lack of supervision are just a few of the signs exhibited by attackers prior to tragedies such as the Parkland shooting, according to the National School Safety Center. If you notice all or several of these signals in an individual, reporting him or her can help to prevent a prospective attack. In light of the Santa Fe High School shooting, it is understandable to be anxious. However, a look at fatality statistics can reveal that you have a low chance of being involved in shooting. The leading causes of death in the U.S.in order are heart disease, followed by cancer, stroke, suicide, accidental poisoning, accidental falls, car accidents and drug use, according to the National Safety Council. All of these come before the tenth leading cause of death: assault by firearm. There is a better chance that one is killed by texting and driving than murdered by a crazy person with a gun. All of that being said, there is not a simple answer to your question. You cannot wish away your fear, but you also cannot live a life of fear. The old saying, “live every day as if it’s your last day on earth,” is macabre. You simply need to wake up every morning, hug your family, and spread love. You could be a beacon of hope for someone who has none.
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Arts and Entertainment
They say that chivalry is dead but I want to prove otherwise. I have taken an interest in a girl that would never go for me. She’s quiet and gives me death stares in class but I’m into it. I really think she’s into me and that her stares are just a coping mechanism for her inability to express her feelings for me. Despite what my parents and all my female friends say about my looks (mostly that I “have a great personality” and “don’t worry, not everyone cares about looks”), I think with your expertise and my beautiful jawline that I can bring her feelings to the surface. Sincerely, Chivalrous Sophomore
Step 1: Find her in the hallway, pass by her pompously and just give her a head nod. Then if you happen to be near the door with her, make sure to slam it shut. This will ensure that she gets an arm
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workout for when she skips arm day. Step 2: Slide into her dms and maybe tell her “What’s good?” This is a pickup line that all girls love. Maybe even add a word of endearment, like “shorty,” “shawty,” “baddie,” “baby girl” or “bighead.” This foreshadows your attempt to be her significant other while still adhering to basic chivalry. Step 3: Holler at her in the middle of the hallway and make a scene. In the meantime, tell her she looks good today and acknowledge her skin care routine. Because, trust me, girls value their skin care heavily. Being noticed makes quintessential girls like Chelsea or Britney feel insanely important. Step 4: Ask her on a date and if she says no, I’m sorry. Your story ends.
congratulations. When you guys arrive at the movies figure out a good, wholesome movie to watch. The limited choices will determine how well you guys can work together as a couple. After you guys watch a movie, you can make an extreme outline together. This will help you guys to decide what you consider conflicts. Furthermore, you want to know about your girl’s beliefs and dreams. Step 5: If the date was horrid or her basic beliefs don’t align with yours, don’t give up. She’s the only one for you and besides, it’s not like there are plenty of fish in the sea. Step 6: I finished my job so if you aren’t as good-looking or charming as you say you are, then good luck.
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Alternate step 4: Invite her to the movies and if she says yes,
May 2018
Arts and Entertainment
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Arts and Entertainment
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Madeleine L’Engle’s novel reborn in 21st century
ritten by librarian Madeleine L’Engle and published in 1962, “A Wrinkle in Time” is a science fiction novel with Christian morals. Walt Disney Pictures’ live action adaptation was released on March 9, 56 years after the novel’s publication. Meg Murry, played by Storm Reid, is a 13-year-old African American girl who struggles to be accepted in school, where appearance and background matter most. Murry’s parents are physicists who primarily investigate space travel through the mind, or “tesseracting.” Once Murry’s father unfolds the frequency required to travel through Spacetime, the frequency of Love, he disappears. Four years later, Murry, her gifted younger brother and a newfound friend are guided by three female supernatural beings to “tesseract” and find Dr. Murry. Mrs. Whatsit, played by Reese Witherspoon, embodies intellectual capability, yet consistently doubts Murry’s abilities for her unwillingness to trust the unknown. Mrs. Who, played by Mindy Kaling, uses only the words of prominent figures, such as Buddha or Dante. Mrs. Which, the oldest and most
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Hailey Farah | Staff Reporter
powerful of the three, is played by Oprah Winfrey. The diversity of these powerful female actresses sheds light on the ultimate oneness of humanity and the Universe. There is a reason the vibration of Love is the only frequency allowing the mind to “tesseract” through light years. Through Love, with Love, in Love, anything is possible. The film was directed by Ava DuVernay, who is now the first African American woman to direct a film with a $100 million budget. “A Wrinkle in Time” is DuVernay’s first science fiction film, as her usual genre exposes societal obstacles, such as the 2016 documentary “13th.” Yet, DuVernay transported timeless truths from this 20th century Christian novel. ‘“A Wrinkle in Time” is about the future and light, but they both speak to the same thing. It’s about treating people in a certain way, believing in yourself, and imagining a world that doesn’t exist,” DuVernay explains in an interview with NBC. “That’s what the civil rights movement was - people had to have a great imagination to walk across that bridge.” DuVernay and L’Engle conveyed the
kindred teachings of dreaming the best dream by trusting oneself and launching through the journey of self-discovery. The film portrays the reality of the manifestation of fear, the “darkness,” which often inhibited Murry’s strength to chase her dreams. Unlike many, Murry embraced this fear and used it as fuel for her expedition into the unknown. “A Wrinkle in Time” emits the universal message of learning to accept and love oneself. Murry had to contemplate the beauty in her “darkness” to take the fundamental evolutionary leap toward the Light. Although the characters are children, they are the ones viewers stand to learn the most from. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” As Bishop Kenny students work to the Light, “A Wrinkle in Time” teaches that God created everyone with faults and strengths. It is the responsibility of each human to recognize and love these qualities as God is doing, has done, and will do.
May 2018
Sports
Coach Wray Today Mainstay of BK Physcial Education has coached an assortment of sports
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Photos courtesy of James Wray
t 30 years old, James Wray considered a different course in life. He had played baseball since he was a child and had seen numerous parts of the world including Taiwan, Canada and Mexico during his professional career, but was missing his family more as each day transpired. Wray would ultimately decide to join his wife and his eldest son, who was seven at the time, in Jacksonville. “I was completely tired of being away from home,” Wray said. “I knew I wanted to have a normal job and do something where I could still spend a lot of time with family, and teaching was perfect for that.” Wray began his teaching and coaching career at First Coast High School, then moved on to Ramona Elementary School
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Max Montana | Sports Editor and, finally, arrived at Bishop Kenny. Wray began coaching the sport that formerly employed him: baseball. He coached pitchers on the Bishop Kenny baseball team for 15 years, and then changed direction by coaching soccer for one year. After trying soccer, Wray would coach golf for two years and then settle on tennis, which he still coaches today. Although Wray admits he has little experience in tennis, senior Matthew Cratem recognizes how much Wray’s attitude and coaching skills have played a factor in the tennis team’s success. “Coach Wray is always supportive to all the players,” Cratem said. “He gives us advice and keeps us motivated. He has phenomenal coaching skills and he knows how to get to the heart of the player.”
Another individual who recognizes Wray’s coaching skills, but has known him for longer, is his youngest son, Andrew Wray. Andrew has received pitching lessons from Coach Wray and has seen his skills as a coach first-hand and believes he could aspire to a similar position one day. “I would probably consider being a coach,” Andrew said. “I see how much fun my dad has doing it and how involved he gets with the school, so I think I would do it.” Wray implores anyone who has considered coaching to pursue the profession, especially at Bishop Kenny. “It’s been the best place ever just because of the students, teachers and administration,” Wray said.
May 2018