The St ar k St r eet Jour nal CENTRA L CATHOL I C HI GH SCHOOL - PORTL A ND, OR DECEMBER 2020
Vol. 2, Issue 3
W I N T ER BR EA K PL A N S A D A PT T O N EW T I M ES By Owen Hanson '24 Ho Ho Ho, and happy holidays my readers. We all have our plans to celebrate this year. However we all know that there are many ways of celebrating, other than our own ways. So in this article, I will be covering a few ways to celebrate Christmas and the winter break. Before I begin, to all you kids already in a sports team at school, do not leave the state of Oregon. If you leave the state, you will have to stay at your home in a 14 day quarantine and cannot enter the campus. Now for the Christmas celebrated in the audience, here are some suggestions. Many teachers choose to either escape or endure the cold weather. As far as research shows, only teachers will leave the state, because they can afford the trip, and they can afford to get caught with Covid-19. Among these teachers is Mr. Aric W ard, a Theology teacher. Mr. W ard in general thinks that the warmer climate is more representative of what Christmas is, not cold and snowy with family, but warm and cozy all the time. ?W hile you are over their riding down snowy hills, I will be in the waters of warmth, and riding waves that never end?said Mr. W ard. His activities on Maui include surfing, luaus, hiking, pineapples, swimming, and all things involving water. On the religious side of this holiday, is one Charlie Black. Charlie believes that Christmas is a holy day. His plans include mostly Zoom calling, with a typical American Christmas. The schedule starts with a Mass over Zoom. Afterwards, his family will go down to the living room, and open the presents given and gifted by the rest in the family. Then comes dinner over Zoom, where the entire extended family will join in and eat his mother?s ham and stuffing, and then he will end the night with a book. There are other teachers that plan on travel, like Mrs. Gran. Mrs. Gran plans on retreating to Northern California for the holidays. W hile down in California, she plans on camping with her mother and son, in the redwoods. Afterwards, Mrs. Gran will dive back to Oregon where she will do a repeat of a Thanksgiving meal with a small group of friends. ?My husband and I normally think that turkey and mashed potatoes are winter type foods, and we save them for Christmas,?said Mrs. Gran. She and her husband are prepared for the 14 day quarantine, on their return. At the end of this read, we generally think that there are three types of celebrators. There are people who think that Christmas is a day of God, a day of warmth, or a day of family. These are not the only ways to celebrate, and some people are already celebrating Hanukkah or have different traditions. At the end of the year, the winter holidays offer time to, we look back and either think that the year past was a trainwreck, or a gift. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
From Left: Charlie Black '23, Ms. Gran, and Mr. W ard are excited about their W inter Break plans
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 2
Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic Helps Student Mental Health By Sarah Rosenbaun '24 Central Catholic is a place where students are meant to feel safe and welcomed. Ms. Megan Bruce, a counselor at Central Catholic, said, ?We work with students regarding all sorts of things including social, emotional, academic, college prep and everything in between!?To help support student mental health, this past November, staff held a mental health day to let others know that they are not the only ones struggling. One of these staff members helping organize this situation was Mr. Horne. He is the Dean of Student Life, as well as the manager of Student Activities and Campus Ministry. Mr. Horne stated that he thinks mental health is important especially right now since students are in a crazy space and they need the time to focus on themselves due to not being able to see their peers and loss of the social aspect of school. This year they held five sessions offering discussions about academic anxiety, balance between mind and body, gratitude, along with ukulele jam sessions and a crafts club. That night they showed a documentary called Angst. Angst is a documentary that explores and aims to raise awareness about anxiety. You can only watch it when it's getting screened due to the filmmakers believing the documentary should be talked about after watching it. Even though this was a one day event, Central Catholic is there to support anyone and everyone. Staff are there to help you and reach out at any time. Obviously, mental health is always important to take care of. whether it is taking care of your own, or checking in on others around you.
Freshmen Retreat Still Builds Community By Sarah Rosenbaum '24 This school year, Central Catholic is trying its hardest to battle COVID, as well as give the students the closest they can to a normal school year. During the month of October, they held their Freshman retreat. They divided the students into two groups, in which group A met at 8am, and group B at noon.
Freshmen receiving a tour of the school at the October Freshmen Retreat
Mr. Ford stated that it was quite easy to control due to everyone being in smaller groups. Each group stayed at the school for about two hours. Students were divided into classrooms with each around 6-8 people in each. W ith each student group, there was an upperclassman who joined them. The classes each had activities like Jeopardy, and they also would ask questions and each student would hold up a card telling them their answer. Each class also gave a school tour to their student group. Though, during the day of the retreat, the S.A.T. test was being administered, so freshmen couldn't see the upstairs. Overall, this was a good alternative for the freshmen retreat and gave the freshmen a good experience.
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 3
Central Catholic High School
Could Oregon and W ashington's Hamburger Be Any Better?
Customers gather at Dick's Drive-in Photo courtesy Seattle PI
By: Max Matterazzo '21 W hile McDonald's may forever rule fast food burgers, many states have their own fast food burger joints that hit home. In Oregon, Burgerville, Super Deluxe, and Little Big Burger have dominated the scene. Up in W ashington, Dick?s Drive-In, Burger Master, and now Shake Shack have made their landing. It is pretty clear that of the two states, W ashington wins in comparison but let?s look at the burger spots in the two states and what is to come. Obviously, W ashington is not known for fast food burgers. Sports and sightseeing is what people go there for. Yet, there are hidden gems in terms of eateries that many out of towners miss out on. Mr. W ard, an esteemed theology teacher, who grew up in W ashington says that he never really went to these spots, but he had a local burger joint he and his friends went to. However, one popular burger spot is Dick?s Drive-In. In the early 1950?s Dick?s was founded. McDonald's hadn?t hit the scene yet, so there was room for a company like Dick?s. The idea was to have people come up to a window and order their food instead of sit down. Dick?s became the new hang out for everyone in Seattle. As for the food, simple: burgers, fries, and shakes. If you haven't made your way to a Dick?s yet, you are missing out. The next two are Burger Master and Shake Shack. Burger Master is much like Dick?s except you order in your car and the food is brought right to your door. As for Shake Shack, well I think people better start getting familiar with their great tasting burgers with a unique bun and incredible fries. The issue however, is that there is only one location in the heart of downtown Seattle. No need to fear because the wait shouldn?t be much longer for another location in Seattle. Oregon really only has two many staples in the burger category: Burgerville and Little Big Burger. Both are solid options, but Burgerville is the better one. It is pretty much the same as McDonald's but with better tasting cheeseburgers. As for Little Big Burger, it speaks for itself?High quality patties and well seasoned fries but that?s all it has going for itself. Fellow burger consumer Sam D'ambrosio (?21) says ?I think in and out is overhyped... the only reason people want it around here is because they can?t have it.? One new place is Super Deluxe. In my opinion, this place has and will dominate fast food in Oregon. This is the closest us Oregonians will get to Dick?s. The burgers at Super Deluxe are crazy good, but the fries have room to improve. W hile Oregon's fast food scene might pale in comparison to W ashington, it still satisfies the taste palate. For the future, Oregonians have a lot more to look forward to those up in W ashington. W ith the popularity of the new In-N-Out, Shake Shack will be coming into the Pearl district. W hile I may be writing this article talking down on Oregon, the state will come alive over the next few years. We all get highly delicious fast food here on the left coast that never ceases to amaze.
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 5
Central Catholic High School
Central Cath ol i c Serv i ce i n th e Ti me of Cov i d-19 By Jack Anctil '21 For decades, Christian Service has been a staple of Central Catholic High School. According to the program itself, Christian Service, ?develops relational and responsible students, committed to equity and justice.?But due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, and because many service opportunities require conditions that are not Covid-safe, service at Central Catholic has had to adapt. Recently, I had the chance to speak with Mr. Uchikura, Central?s Director of Christian Service. He expressed that during the spring, at the beginning of the pandemic, the state of service and service requirements was uncertain. At this time, Mr. Uchikura (along with the rest of the service team) realized, ?We [have] to dial back and let the students decide.?By doing this, certain advantages arose from the dramatic change in lifestyle. ?[The pandemic] gave us the chance Period Club Leaders (from left) Anna Lough ?21, Mia Miller to rewrite a twenty-plus year old program," Mr. ?21, Stella Schmautz ?21, Elliott Bush ?22, Maddi Raze ?21, and Uchikura said. This new program focues on allowing Abi Prentiss ?22 at the December 2nd packing party students as much creativy as possible, and leaves room for service opportunities that are 100%Covid-safe, such as watching and reflecting on a documentary or donating non-perishable foods. W ith no set list of service options, it gives students the freedom to come up with new ways to serve. ?The goal,?Mr Uchikura said, ?is to allow students to serve in ways that matter the most to them.? W hen asked about a favorite new service opportunity, Mr. Uchikura highlighted Brown Bags, also known as Character Conversations. This year, Central Catholic students are eligible to receive service credit for putting together or attending a Brown Bag event. Mr. Uchikura?s affinity for Brown Bags lies in their inspirational nature and the conversation each one provokes. ?If we?re inspired, we show up differently,?he said. Another facet of Brown Bags that Mr. Uchikura highlighted is what they remind us about service, particularly that it is relational. ?Service should be about doing something that needs to be done with other people, in solidarity, not for them,?he said. Brown Bags are useful and important because they remind us not only why, but how we should do service. Senior Stella Schmautz ?21 is a student who has taken advantage of parts of the new service program. This September, she, with fellow seniors Maddi Raze ?21 and Anna Lough ?21, as well as juniors Abi Prentiss ?22 and Elliott Bush ?22, founded Period Club, Central Catholic?s iteration of the PERIOD movement. So far this year, Period Club has hosted two Brown Bag Character Conversations (one of which in conjunction with W omen?s Coalition) and a menstrual product packing party, in partnership with the Portland Rescue Mission. Central Catholic students, either by attending or running these events, are eligible to receive service credits from all of them. For Stella, using Period Club to generate service opportunities is important because, in her words, ?not only are we educating our community on periods, but also inspiring people to participate in service that will locally help menstruators who have been disproportionately affected by period poverty.? Senior Gus Gianotti ?21, who this semester has helped the Archdiocese distribute boxes of food and attended the Period Club packing party, values service as a critical part of his time at Central. ?I?ll never be able to do enough for people in need,?he said when asked about serving, ?but every time I do service, I feel like I am helping someone get through another day.? Con't on page 5
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 6
Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic Service.. con't
(left) Ramaya Wright and her mom, Timisha Wilson (above) Rade Popovich, Agustin Montes-Tacuba, Jamilah Soriano, and Carmela Valdez collecting food for the Week of Giving
Despite the historically tumultuous world and national climate right now, the need for service is no different. There will always be suffering in the world, as well as ways to fix it. Through service, there is no better way to connect to others and work to solve the problems of our world. As Mr. Uchikura says, ?we all want to love and be loved.?Let?s just make it happen.
Potential Cure for World Pandemic By W ill Francis '23 In late 2019 a mysterious disease came into the public eye, a disease that spread quickly with many different symptoms that distinguished it from any other sickness. Its spread was nothing short of staggering. In China where the disease started, it was only a short while until the country closed its borders and stopped travel into and out of the country but they were too late. The new virus named the Coronavirus was already in the world. At first, the world did not believe how contagious the virus was. Many were convinced it would stay in China but did not realize that it was making points across the world. W hat started as a contagious virus soon became a plague that instead of covering a given area painted the world. The majority of human populations of the planet Earth entered a quarantine. This worldwide isolation was only meant to last for 3-4 weeks. But instead has lasted nine-plus months. But it could be potentially brought to an end sooner because in late 2020 what seems to be possibly accurate and effective cures have been developed and have started testing on those at the greatest risk: those with pre-existing respiratory issues and those over the age of 50 who are the most likely to catch it. Currently, in the United States alone over 16 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus with another 300,000 people who have died as a result of it. In October, the Veklury treatment was given the green light by the FDA to begin treatment tests on children and adults starting at an age range of twelve and up. Many other therapies and treatment plans have been given the go-ahead as well to attempt to slow and maybe stop the spread of this new plague. All across the world, people are trying to find a cure and things seemed to be looking up when a German-American company announced that they were on track to put a new drug into testing. Another example is the United Kingdom where an Oxford university developed vaccine is being developed and is being tested on people aged 65 and up. However, as these vaccines and treatments are developed one must remember that the Coronavirus has a high mutation rate which is why it has taken so long to develop a vaccine. Indeed many of the countries that have been working on making a true vaccine for the current virus are encountering huge shortcomings due to this high mutation rate. The United Kingdom has been forced into an even higher stage of lockdown due to a new variation of COVID-19. The world is working to end the pandemic and devoting vast amounts of time, money, and passion to this monumental task. Scientists and researchers were on the hunt for a vaccine as soon as the virus?s genetic code was deciphered in January. But it has only been in the later months of 2020 that proper treatments are showing signs of actually being effective. Healthline News says, ?Experts also expect that a COVID-19 vaccine might be available in spring or summer 2021, although certain high-risk groups may have access to a vaccine earlier.?This attitude is not only shared by experts, but by people who want the pandemic over. Researchers are recruiting more and more people to do test trials and hopefully as soon as those trials are approved more vaccines can enter the market. Many countries such as the UK and US have started to vaccinate people at high risk but also people that would come into contact with people who might have the virus.
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 7
Central Catholic High School
Tennis W r aps Up the End of Year w ith Nitto Final s By Gus Krauel '22 The Nitto Finals is the biggest tournament of the year. It took place in London, England November 15th through the 22nd. They take the top eight ranked players in the world and separate them into two groups of four. Then with each group of four, they play a round robin where everyone plays everyone in their group. In total each player plays three matches and the top two records of the players after completion of the three matches go onto the semi-finals. The semi-finals are the final four players where one person plays the opposite person in the other group. The eight competitors were Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Diego Schwartzman. The two groups were split up into Nadal, Thiem, Rublev, and Tsitsipas and the other group was Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev, and Schwartzman. The two who reached the semi final in the first group were Dominic Thiem with a (2-1) record and Rafael Nadal with an (2-1) record. From the second group Novak Djokovic advanced with a (2-1) record and Daniil Medvedev advanced with a (3-0) record. Daniil then went on and beat Nadal in the semi final (3-6, 7-6, 6-3) while Thiem came up with a huge upset and came back from 4-0 in the third set breaker to win (7-5, 6-7, 7-6). The final was set between Thiem and Medvedev to go head to head. Thiem pulls away in the first set and wins 6-4. Medvedev crawls his way back in the second set and wins 7-6. The third set would decide the 2020 Nitto Finals champion. Daniil Medvedev from Russia goes undefeated with a remarkable 5-0 record to defeat Thiem in the Finals 6-4 in the third set. He is now the first person to beat Nadal, Federer, and Djokivic in the Nitto Finals. Central Catholic Tennis Coach, Mr. Ford, offers his thoughts about Medvedec winning the Nitto Finals without losing a match. W hen asked if Medvedev would get the confidence to content for all of the majors now, he said ?I absolutely do. He?s the youngest guy in the top 5 and has shown a lot of resilience after some tough losses. Djokovic is still king, and will be for a while, but i would honestly say that Medvedev is his biggest threat moving forward.?Mr. Ford is putting out a bold statement saying Medvedev will become the closest player to take down Djokovic in these coming years. Now after the last tournament of the year out of the way, people will be training and playing smaller tournaments in preparation of the Australian Open, which will be in mid to late January. Daniil Medvedev posing with his trophy from the Nitto Finals Credit: Sky Sports
The Stark Street Journal is: Staff Writers and Editors: Jack Anctil, Joe Fricke, Max Matterazzo, Gus Krauel, Will Francis, Owen Hanson, and Sarah Rosenbaum Advisor: Ms. Quigley If you have any questions or letters to the editor, please email starkstreetjournal@centralcatholichigh.org.
DECEMBER 2020 - PAGE 8
Central Catholic High School
Retur n of the Mac By Joe Fricke '21
Conor McGregor during his fighter introduction in January against Donald Cerrone-Photo Courtesy of MMA Junkie
On November 23rd fans around the world, all received the news that Conor McGregor is officially coming back on January 23rd to face Dustin Poirer at UFC 257 with the location still up in the air; however, there have been rumblings that it may be taking place in Abu Dhabi. This will be McGregor?s first contest since January when he beat Cowboy Cerrone in a mere 40 seconds in what was supposed to be the first contest in his ?2020 Season?. One global pandemic later, and we have still only seen Conor McGregor for 40 seconds in the octagon this year. Having a motivated, active Conor McGregor is better for everyone who watches, covers, and participates in the sport. Conor McGregor?s star power is unrivaled, as he has headlined four of the top five highest selling Pay-Per-Views in UFC history. Conor McGregor was the essential piece to the puzzle for the UFC to secure a deal with ESPN and make it into the mainstream. W hen McGregor?s star power really began to rise in 2015, the UFC realized that they just did not have any box office attraction on their hands, but a global superstar. Hailing from Crumlin, Ireland, McGregor did things in the sport that has never been dreamt about in the promotion. He became the first fighter ever to hold two belts, in two separate weight classes, then went off to go box Floyd Mayweather to earn a quick 100 million dollars. Upon his return to the sport in 2018, he was handed a reality check in the form of an undefeated champion in Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor was submitted in the fourth round of their bout and re-entered a hiatus filled with fake retirements and new business ventures outside of the octagon. As previously stated, we saw McGregor return at the beginning of this year, although only for 40 seconds. Connor Luthi ?21, an avid supporter of McGregor?s said ?Having a motivated and active Conor is a gift. It thrusts the sport into an international spotlight which means more eyeballs on Mixed Martial Arts. Also, with Conor, comes a following like none other. The environment that his fans bring blurs the lines between sport and battle. In the words of Conor himself ?We did not come here to take part, we came to take over!?And that is exactly the mentality they bring.? The Conor McGregor seen in January was the one that we all want to see. He was not motivated by money and fame, such as the one we saw against Floyd and Khabib, as he clearly already has enough of it. That part was abundantly clear in interviews such as his one with Ariel Helwani before the bout earlier this year. Instead, we saw someone who was motivated by the idea of being the best mixed martial artist that he can be. It?s obvious that it?s not about the belts or checks anymore, but instead, regaining respect within the community that gave him his success. W ith an active Conor McGregor comes media attention from all over the world, hopefully opening eyes around the world about what this sport is about. For so long this sport has been trying to get rid of the ?human cockfighting?label, and a worldwide superstar like Conor McGregor being active in the sport undoubtedly helps the cause. Gregory Neal ?21, a follower of the UFC and MMA, said ?It?s really ridiculous how long this sport has been kept away from the public for so long. It?s a shame that others before Conor were not given the chance to really become a star. Hopefully, Conor brings enough attention that people will open their eyes to see what this sport is genuinely about-respect and competition.? Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier are scheduled to square off Saturday, January 23rd on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View. There have been speculations that there could be fans since the event is expected to be in Abu Dhabi. Dana W hite himself has alluded to potential pool-parties and making this the make-up International Fight Week, in a COVID-19 free zone. There is nothing like a Conor McGregor event.
Have a wonder ful br eak Centr al Catholic! We will see you next year !