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HEART Volume 30
CONTENTS News......................................2 Features.................................4 Profiles..................................8 Arts & Entertainment............9 Opinion................................11 Sports...................................12
BEAT
Sacred Heart High School, Kingston MA
April 1, 2013
Number 5
The Powder Puff Girls BY DAFEI LU Staff Writer
Mud is flying. T-shirts are soaked down to the skin. Facial expressions of determination line the field. Welcome to the 2013 annual Powder Puff football game. Once a year, the Sacred Heart community adds friendly tension between the senior and junior classes when the female students take on the roles of
football players and play for the title of Powder Puff Champion. After a terrible storm hit the East Coast on March 8, Sacred Heart High School, like other New England schools, was covered by thick snow. When game day came around, half of the soccer field was still coated in white. Even though the weather was not perfect, Sacred Heart Saints’ spirit was not dampened. “I actually think this weather
will make the game more fun!” Erin Bracken, two-year quarterback for the class of 2013, said. After the first kickoff, senior Molly Greenwood fell dramatically on the slippery and muddy field. Sacred Heart math teacher and game referee, Mr. Jon Olson noted: “That fall really set the tone of the game. It was a great time!” However, a game is a game. After the unexpected funny
The winning Sacred Heart Seniors raise up their trophy.
moment, both teams put all they had into the game. Since the class of 2013 beat the graduated class of 2012 last year, they showed more experience on the field and controlled the whole first half. Seniors Erin Bracken, Meghan Quinn, and Lauren Price all scored touchdowns for the seniors. By the end of the first half, the numbers on the score board read 22-0. It wasn’t looking good for the juniors. After a short break, the two teams changed sides. This also changed the fortunes of the juniors. Junior Moira Gattoni was the secret weapon for the class of 2014. She carried out several successful plays and finally scored a touchdown. In the end, Molly Greenwood scored one last touchdown for the seniors. With a final score of 28-6, the class of 2013 took home its second victory in two years. One of the junior coaches, Kieran Kelleher, said, “It’s disappointing for us to accept this result, but it’s not the biggest deal. We got the experience this time and will come back next year.” Class of 2014 set the tone: Class of 2015, are you ready?
Photo courtesy of Thomas Griffin
Plunging for a Cause BY JAY MEYER Staff Writer
Winter has come and passed, and it’s time to hit the beach. But if you think you’re going to be the first one out there this year, chances are you’re probably wrong. On Saturday, March 2, 2013, 650 people took part in the 11th annual Jordan Hospital Polar Plunge. The event is sponsored by the Jordan Hospital Club, an organization started in 1906 by a group of eight women. At the time the Club helped the hospital by wrapping bandages, sterilizing instruments and helping the staff. The Club’s mission is: “Excellence in health care, right here in our community, where and when we need it, requires our support and advocacy.” The Club organized the first official Polar Plunge in 2003, on Long Beach in Plymouth, Massa-
chusetts. Since then the event has stayed strong and grown. In 2003, only 150 people participated in the plunge. This year, Plymouth watched as over 650 people dove into the icy water. Each participant is supposed to find “sponsors” who will donate to the event. Every dollar is donated to the JHC Cancer Center. One might think that 650 people couldn’t make a large contribution, but this year the club raised over $130,000. Since 2003, a total of $1 million has been donated by the Polar Plunge to cancer research at Jordan Hospital. The event itself is paid for by local companies such as, We Print Today, Stevens the Florist, Mary Lou’s Coffee, and Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. Sacred Heart junior Eric Struski has participated in the plunge since 2003.
“My team of Team We Print Today has been jumping in the ocean every March. At first, we started small, as half of my team is made up of kids, so now that we have grown up our team has 84 members. This year we had a great year, as far as donations, and all together we ended up raising just under $12,000. We are open to any friends and family looking to join as it will raise our numbers and raise the amounts of donations we get, because the sole purpose of the jump is for the donations to the Jordan Hospital Cancer Club.” The Polar Plunge is an event that truly helps fund research that will aid in the fight against cancer. The event itself grows every year, bringing in more and more people who are dedicated to the cause. The Plunge takes place next March, and hopefully, we’ll see you then!
Photo courtesy of Thomas Griffin
Senior Erin Bracken stretches for a high hike.
Photo courtesy of David Struski
Sacred Heart Intermediate students Rachel Struski and Elena Murphy retreat from the frozen surf.
News
2 April 1, 2013
HEART BEAT
The Catholic Church welcomes Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis BY NICOLETTA PAPPAS Staff Writer As white smoke emerged from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, the first round of afternoon voting yielded a victor. After the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the conclave of Roman Catholic cardinals elected a new pope. After only two full days of the conclave, cardinals from around the world elected Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bergoglio took the name Pope Francis. This major event raised many questions to Catholics all over the world: Why did Benedict resign? Who is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio? Will the new pope bring change to the church? On February 27, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. This papal resignation is the first resignation in nearly six hundred years when Pope Gregory XXII resigned during the Great Western Schism of the church. In an official statement, Benedict said that the reason for his resignation was “that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.” As soon as the news of Benedict’s resignation went global, rumors started flying. With sex-scandals and whispers of corruption surrounding the Catholic Church, many people believed that Benedict felt ill-equipped to handle the growing church problems and resigned to hide a bigger scandal, or perhaps had a life threatening illness. Vatican spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi debunked these rumors and addressed news correspondents around the world. Lombardi said that the pope was not in poor health, but had “deterioration and weakness in his body,” which was his only reason for stepping down. Lombardi also stated that Benedict’s official statement was his primary and only reason for resignation. “I was surprised and a little sad when I saw the news,” Deacon Chris Connolly, Sacred Heart religion teacher said. “It’s a personal decision to step down and Benedict believed that God was asking him to make the right decision. I don’t believe that any other factors were at play regarding the reason he resigned.” Benedict pledged his allegiance to the next pope and left his position at 8:00 p.m. February 28, 2013. Sacred Heart graduate Shannon McKenna ’11 was present during Pope Emeritus Benedict’s departure (emeritus meaning “having served one’s time). “I am studying abroad in Austria and it’s part of a program that includes a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. We were blessed to be able to leave for our pilgrimage earlier which allowed us be there for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s last papal audience on Wednesday February 27th and his departure from Vatican City on Thursday February 28th,” McKenna said. McKenna was not present for the conclave, which began twelve days after Benedict’s announcement, but was able to witness his departure to Castel Gandolfo in the Italian hills. He will reside there until he returns to a monastery in the Vatican.
Who is Pope Francis? He was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires before becoming Pope He is a member of the Jesuit Order Pope Francis’ real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio He is 76 years old and was born in Buenos Aires His parents were from Italy, but he is the first Latin American pope ever Photo courtesy of heatlanticwire.com
The newly elected Pope Francis.
“I have spoken with people who watched his departure on TV and it was completely different than what I experienced.” McKenna said. “I was in St. Peter’s Square when he flew away and it was so powerful. He waved at us and blessed us from his helicopter and we could see him in the window of his helicopter.” The conclave started Tuesday, March 12. One hundred and fifteen cardinals marched into the Sistine Chapel for the Votive Mass. After the Mass, the cardinals were locked in a room to begin their discussion and debate on the new pope. The first vote is preliminary, deciding who the front runners of the election will be. Predicted favorites for the Papacy included Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola, Argentinian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, and American Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley. Over the past century, five popes have come from either Venice or Milan, Italy. Producing a non-Italian pope is rare, but not unheard of. In order to be elected to the papacy, the front runner must gather at least seventy seven votes. Secrecy has always been an important aspect of the conclave. All forms of communication are banned inside the Sistine Chapel. Technicians are sent in to sweep the area and ensure that no hidden audio or video devices are present. Any disobeying of the conclave rules results in excommunication from the church. As the cardinals begin the conclave, each of them recite the secrecy oath and place their hand on the gospel, promising themselves to “the holy word of God.” Four rounds of voting took place every day, two in the morning, and two in the afternoon. Each cardinal writes their choice on a rectangular paper ballot and places it inside a chalice on the alter. The ballots are read by three men called “tellers”, who count the votes and three other tellers double check the results. If a winner is chosen then one of the tellers announces it to the cardinals. The votes are taken to the chimney and first punctured with a needle and then burned. A chemical is added to produce either the white smoke (which means a new pope) or black smoke (which means no pope has been chosen). Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pontiff on the final round of afternoon voting on March 13, 2013. In 2005, Bergoglio was runner up to become pope next to Benedict. He is the first Latin American pope in recent times, the first Jesuit pope, and the first Pope Francis. The Photo courtesy of news.discovery.com new pontiff chose the name Francis after St. Pope Francis greets thousands of patrons shortly after being Francis of Assisi, who chose to live in service elected pope. to the poor. Bergoglio is known in Buenos Aires for taking public transportation and living in a
In his past, he has worked with AIDs victims He has 4 other siblings He has vowed a life of poverty small apartment in the city. He has sworn a vow of poverty and promises to continue his vow throughout his papacy. “When Francis addressed the crowd for the first time and asked for us, the people, to pray for HIM, I was moved,” Deacon Connolly said. “He is handling such a difficult job and that movement makes me so excited to see him become the universal shepherd of the church.”
Schedule of Conclave *Cardinal’s must be under the age of 80 to vote* 9:30 a.m. - Voting Starts 10:30 a.m. - Initial morning ballot 12:00 p.m. - Second morning Ballot then lunch break 4:00 p.m. - Cardinals return to Sistine chapel to vote 5:30 p.m. - First afternoon ballot 7:00 p.m. - Final ballot, Black smoke if no decision
News
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April 1, 2013
Trouble from North Korea
Tensions mount in Korean Peninsula as Kim Jung-Un threatens Washington D.C. BY PATRICK MACDONALD Staff Writer
This month, tensions in the Korean Peninsula have escalated to a fever pitch. North Korea has taken a much more violent stance against South Korea, the United States, and the United Nations. This new stance began after the UN created newer, tougher sanctions in retaliation for North Korea’s latest nuclear test. On March 8, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to ban the trade of equipment used in nuclear weapons to North Korea. This is surprising as China, North Korea’s largest ally and Security Council member, was convinced to vote against the North, saying that it was committed to maintaining peace in the Korean Peninsula. North Korean media responded to the new sanctions by saying that they were an “act of war.” In response to new large-scale military exercises between the United States and South Korean militaries, North Korea nullified the 1953 armistice, which had ended the 3-year long Korean War. North Korea threat-
Photo courtesy of thetimes.co.uk
North Korean dictator Kim Jung-Un greets sailors.
Photo courtesy of militaryphotos.net
The South Korean and American flags fly over the USS George Washington during joint military excercises.
ened to turn Washington D.C. and Seoul, South Korea into a “sea of flames” with “lighter and smaller nukes”. This past week, North Korea has begun to sever the few remaining phone lines that connect it to the South, further isolating it from the rest of the world. Computer networks in South Korea were paralyzed by cyber-attacks. The attacks hit three major banks and two news networks, slowing and even disabling systems. Officials believe that North Korean hackers are to blame, using Chinese servers to reach the South. In response to the North’s more aggressive stance, the US and South Korea signed a new agreement this week that would strengthen defense against North Korean “provocations,” such as border disputes and incursions
by low-flying planes. Previously, the US had the option of whether or not to lend help in potential skirmishes against the North. This new plan allows the South to call upon the United States in any potential military emergency. This plan was created in response to the 2010 North Korean shelling of a South Korean island and the sinking of a South Korean vessel, leaving 46 sailors dead. North Korea has denounced the new plan, calling it the “last kick of those going to ruin.” The North has also released two propaganda movies, depicting the destruction of Washington and the invasion of Seoul. Each day, the tensions between North and South Korea continue to put the world community at risk. Nations of the world nervously wait the outcome of these tensions.
d r a w r o DEEDS D F O O G t F I PAIGN O M A Pay C D D A AS
“Pay it Forward” is asking the beneficiary of a good deed to “repay” it to others instead of to the original benefactor. SADD would like you to join us this month of April in Pay it Forward. If you receive this ticket with a kind deed, pay it forward to someone else that you may or may not know!
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Features
a g M e M a s t ’ h y d C o o hallenge M
April 1, 2013
BY TIAN YANG Staff Writer
teams who reach the second round will have a chance to go to Manhattan in New York to present thier work. “We had two good teams this year,” said Math teacher Mr. William Foresta, the coach of both teams. “I enjoyed watching the kids go up and down for those math problems.” As head coach, Foresta led the two groups of mathematicians in fighting for the final reward. Each individual had to collaborate with their team members to resolve a certain task. Lots of teamwork and math problem solving skills were required in this intense challenge, and the senior team encountered more difficult math. “First come first serve,” said Foresta, expressesing how he chooses his teams. “I am planning on having two senior groups next year, even though about 10 sophomores and 10 juniors showed their interests in Moody’s Math challenge already.” Mr. Foresta has his big plan and whole system ready for next year. The more effort the students put in, the better result they can get out of the competition. When asked how the students should prepare themselves for the challenge next year, Foresta replied, “by turning the pre-exam papers in and doing more practice. The two teams for next year need to be more prepared.” As Moody’s challenge is getting more and more competitive, Foresta has decided to prepare his students next year in order to better face the challenging material.
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Five seniors and five juniors spent their Saturday and Sunday in the Sacred Heart library solving math problems for more than 12 hours, not because they were crazy about mathematics, but because they were trying to win thousands in scholarship money from a national mathematics competition called Moody’s Mega Math Challenge. Seniors Kelsey Malone, Michael Nee, Sophia Pizzi, and Jeffrey Millman teamed up on Sunday while juniors Lily Bessette, Molly Pressutti, Mark Khalil, Reilly Robbin and Hannah Wisniewski teamed up on Saturday. Moody’s Mega Math Challenge is a competition where young math enthusiasts solve real life problems using mathematics. About 6,000 students from all over the country participated in this year’s challenge. Moody’s Mega Math Challenge gives a total of $115,000 in scholarships to winners for continuing education. The top
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Staff photo by Kathryn Mullen
Seniors Michael Nee and Jeffrey Millman write out their work on a whiteboard.
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Juniors Lilly Bessette and Mark Khalil research the problem on the computer.
Blood drive is successful Students and faculty donate to a worthy cause BY SHAUNA SWEENEY Staff Writer March is national Red Cross month. During that month the American Red Cross Association sponsors a multitude of blood drives in an effort to stock blood banks for future use. Thirty eight percent of the United States population is eligible to donate blood but only five percent of those eligible actually donate, but only one donation of blood can save up to three lives. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day. Each year more than one million people are diagnosed with cancer. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily. In addition, Sickle Cell Anemia disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S. for whom blood transfusions are a necessity. The average blood transfusion requires about three pints of blood but car accidents as well as other emergencies may demand far more than the usual three pints of blood. It’s not odd that a serious automobile accident might require as much as one
Staff photo by Thomas Griffin
Freshman Benjamin Novak lends support to junior Hannah Wisniewski
“It’s a good way to give of yourself to help others.” -Miss Karen Arnold hundred pints of blood for the accident victims. On Thursday, March 14th, Sacred Heart High School’s Student Council organized the school’s own blood drive from 11:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the lower gymnasium. All blood donations came from volunteer donors. “It was really great to see all the students and faculty coming down to donate. Donating blood is a great thing to do for your community; it is really important,” said junior Student Council member Caroline Imparato. Sacred Heart’s blood drive was extremely successful; forty nine people donated blood. Nineteen of those forty nine donated their blood for the first time. Thirty five pints of blood were given to the American Red Cross Association. “I was really nervous at the beginning before I actually donated but afterwards I felt great that I did it and I hope that my blood will help someone in need,” said first time donor, junior Andriana DiMaria. The Student Council sponsors the school wide blood drive as a yearly event. Being able to donate blood in school allows students to contribute to the American Red Cross in a familiar and safe atmosphere. “I just want to encourage everyone who can give blood to give blood. Each donation can help up to three people so it’s a good way to give of yourself to help others,” said Student Council adviser Ms.Karen Arnold. Many thanks to all who participated and to the Red Cross for sponsoring the event. Student Council hopes to see the same success in years to come.
The Heart Beat staff takes NYC
This past March, The Heart Beat staff ventured to Columbia University for the 89th annual Columbia University Scholastic Press Association Conference. We were one of 303 schools and among 2,729 delegates from over 34 states and three foreign countries. The conference allows us to take journalistic seminars while getting a taste of life on a college campus. Scan the QR Code above for a closer look into our adventure!
Video created by photographer Kathryn Mullen
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Features HEART BEAT
Keep an “ion” science fair
April 1, 2013
BY MOIRA GATTONI Contributing Writer The annual Sacred Heart Science Fair showcased the scientific exploration and research of current students. Those who got to view the projects included students, teachers, parents, and alumni, some of whom returned to judge the projects. The 2013 science fair took place the evening of February 13th, and involved students in grades seven through twelve. First place, second place, third place and honorary mention awards were given to both the upper and intermediate schools. Awards were also given for individual and group projects. In the upper school division and for the individual projects, LeighAnn D’Andrea received first place for “I Can See the Light, Phase 4”, Victoria Manning received second place for “The Optimal Pointe”, Christopher Gren received third place for “Can Binaural Beats Increase Your Energy”, and for honorable mentions; Cam Keough (The Sounds of Science), Tim Kuketz (Wind Energy) and Jen Rathje (Bacteria All Around) all received awards. For the group projects, Christopher DeCamp & Thomas Gerhard received first place for “Hydrogen Generator”, Alessandra Pasquale & Caroline Thomas received second place for “Fluffin’ Your Muffin”, and Maria Fonts & Abigail Sagona received third place for “Get Fresh”. In the intermediate school division for individual projects, Yanni Pappas received first place for “Wind Turbines: Most Efficient Blade Design”, Michaela Dodge received Staff photo by Kathryn Mullen second place for “TsuEighth Grader Yanni Pappas’ namis”, Melissa White project on windmill efficieny.
Staff photo by Kathryn Mullen
Freshman Matt MacDonald poses with his scinece fair poster.
received third place for “Evolution of Batteries”, and for honorable mentions, Olivia DiBiase (Save Those Spoiling Strawberries), Caitlin Rodway (Got Winter Water?), Morgan Brodie (Singing Water Glasses), Joshua Towner (Which Search Engine is Most Relevant?) and Joseph Pasquale (Crafting Physics) all received awards. For the group projects, Hanah Coulter & Josie Tracy received first place for “How Sugar Content Changes in the Ripening of Fruit”, Julia Fratus & Joy Moriarity received second place for “Printing the Connections”, and Erin Carberry & Elizabeth Hokanson received third place for “Does Upbeat Music Decrease Your Running Time”. For many years, SHHS alumni have returned to judge the Science Fair. Sister Ida Mary said, “We have been very strongly supported in the science fair by our
alumni. Many come one year but can’t return the next depending on their job and what they’re currently doing. Overall it was a good representation.” Dr. Joseph Flaherty, an ’02 graduate and dentist on Cape Cod, returned to judge this year’s fair and felt, “it is a great way to stay involved in the Sacred Heart community.” He was impressed by the hard work and dedication of the students and the variety of projects which focused on a range of subjects including biology, engineering, psychology and physics. He plans on returning to judge future science fairs. Due to her success at the Massachusetts State Regional Fair, LeighAnn D’Andrea will be attending the Massachusetts State Science Fair on May 2nd, and we wish her the best of luck.
“My story is their story”
Holocaust survivor Janet Applefield shares her experience miraculously reunited with her father who had survived the horrors of the concentration camps. Only recently has she discovered what really happened to her mother. She was sent to a concentration camp shortly after putting Applefield into hiding. There she was shot. Applefield says that the Janet Applefield shares her story discovery of this new with the student body. information has made the story more difficult to tell. While living in Poland after forgive, there has to be World War II, Applefield and an acknowledgement that her father experienced extreme what they did was wrong.” anti-Semitism, so they packed up Applefield plans on returning and moved to the United States. to her village in Poland this She learned English by paying year. At the conclusion of her attention in school and her father presentation, she asked her learned by going to the movies. audience to go and tell at least a Applefield has three children piece of her story to someone else. and five grandchildren, and her “My story doesn’t really children continue to share her end here. My children and story with others by giving similar grandchildren continue to tell presentations. She received her my story because I am a witness masters at Boston University and to this horrendous event in became a clinical social worker. history and I’m a voice for the Applefield is not bitter about her people who did not survive.” experience and stolen childhood, but when asked if she has forgiven those who robbed her of it she said, “I think in order to omas Griffin
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they went back to Poland. Her grandparents, aunt, and uncle stayed in Russia and were sent to labor camps in Siberia. Her grandfather was the sole survivor and the reason that family photos were preserved. Applefield’s immediate family went back to Poland. Shortly after arriving, they were assigned to a Jewish ghetto. They were forced to wear armbands, identifiying themselves as Jews. Her parents saw what was happening to the community: people were starving, there were poor living conditions, and more and more Jews were getting deported to concentration camps everyday. Twice Applefield’s family of three attempted to escape, once to a nearby village in Poland and once out of the country altogether. After both escape attempts failed, her parents pleaded with a woman named Maria to take care of Applefield for they realized it was her only chance at survival. “It was a desperate situation. I can’t imagine what my parents were thinking and feeling.” Applefield was bounced from many different homes and families. She was mistreated and knew from an early age that her true identity could never be revealed. After the war ended, she was
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Janet Singer Applefield is the epitome of bravery. At the age of twelve, she had already moved to a foreign country where she did not speak the language, changed her name three times, lived with five different families, and most importantly, survived the Holocaust. Only 11% of Jewish children survived the Holocaust, “I was one of those very lucky children,” Applefield told grades 8-12 on March 12th. Applefield tells her story in hopes that she can spread her message against discrimination, hatred, and violence. She has spoken all over Massachusetts, is writing a memoir, and is in part of a documentary. She tells her story for the victims who cannot. “My story is their story,” Applefield said. Applefield is from a small Jewish community in Krakow, Poland where she lived until the age of four with her mother, father, and younger sister. During those years, her family was much like any other typical family. She remembers the holidays and the gatherings she had with her large extended family. During Applefield’s
presentation, she shared rare family photos that were saved by her grandfather, illustrating the first four years of her life. Applefield remembers the first few days of the war, when Germany attacked Poland and when her life was changed forever. No one in her community knew what to do or where to go. “It was a very confusing time,” she told her audience. Before she knew it, her father was sending her mother, sister, and her away to live with relatives. Applefield’s family decided to head eastward toward Russia. She recalls the carriage that they traveled in, and how many times her family was forced to hide in a ditch when they heard gunfire, and had to wait until the shooting stopped. Two thousand Polish Jews escaped to Russia, Applefield’s family included. After reuniting with her father, Applefield’s sister was diagnosed with diphtheria and died at the age of three. This crushed her whole family. In order to stay in Russia; Polish immigrants had to obtain Russian citizenship. This divided Applefield’s family. Half the family was scared they would never be able to return to Poland if they settled in Russia, so
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BY KATHRYN MULLEN Staff Writer
It’s Time for Africa!
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By Sophia Pizzi Staff Writer
Jambo! (That’s Kiswahili for “hello!”) Come join the excursion across the Atlantic Ocean to the small African city of Kisumu, Kenya. This February, twelve Sacred Heart students and three chaperones ventured to Kisumu on the journey of a lifetime. While there, the group visited schools, orphanages, landmarks, and many more exciting places, coming back with crazy stories and unforgettable memories. Social Studies teacher Mr. George Rose organized the trip. During the 1970s, Rose’s parents helped build a church, school, and water irrigation project in Kisumu. In 1999, Rose visited the town to teach. While there, he met a Kenyan teacher by the name of David Omollo. The two became friends and have stayed in touch for the past fourteen years. This year, when Rose found reasonable airfares and enough student interest, he contacted Omollo. In just a few months’ time, Omollo organized a full, busy schedule, and before they knew it, the kids were off. To follow the groups’ Kenyan journey, match the number on the map to the activity.
Snapshot of Kenya: What was it like? The food “The food was surprisingly good but we had the same thing every night. We ate this potato dish called ugali with vegetables and chicken. It was dry and sometimes bland. Also, the people would always give you Coca Cola and you had to drink it out of courtesy. They were extremely generous. For the little they had, they gave you so much.” -Vanessa Daily, Senior The infrastructure “It was like 1910 America. Everything was in the midst of development. The roads were auctioned to China, so China actually owns them and is currently paving them.” -Nicoletta Pappas, Senior The weather “Most of the time it was hot, dry, and dusty. The air quality was subpar, too, because so many people burned things on the side of the road emitting a lot of toxins.” -Jamie Johnson, Senior The animals “We saw a ton of unique animals! There were donkeys, cows, giraffes, buffalo, and flamingos, just to a name a few. It was really cool because we’d be driving along the highway and right next to you there’d be wild zebras, and in the morning we would wake up to monkeys on the roof.” -Alison Hagg, Senior The lifestyle “They are very laid back. No one had watches or clocks and we would take the time. We were late for everything, even though we tried to follow the schedule.” -Devlin Flaherty, Senior
1. Travel
Students traveled for over twenty four hours in order to reach their final destination of Kisumu, Kenya. First, they flew from Boston to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and then from Amsterdam to Nairobi. They spent the first night at the WCK headquarters in Nairobi. The WCK (Wildlife Clubs of Kenya) is an educational center that focuses on environmental and outdoor activities. They had lower-priced accommodations that fit the mission trip agenda.
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2. Game park
Traveling from Nairobi to Kisumu, the group stopped at a game park in Nakuru. Because it was unsafe to continue on to Kisumu in the dark, the group stayed overnight in a Nakuru hostel. Interestingly, the hostel is located in the middle of the game park. Only a small fence separated the kids from the cheetahs.
Sacred Heart students pose with a class of Kenyan studen
3. Orphanages
Once the group arrived in Kisumu, they took several day trips in and around the city. While there, the group visited two orphanages. The first orphanage was on the outskirts of the city. Here, the number of children was low and the quality of the orphanage was high. The kids had better living conditions than they would have in the city. In contrast, the second orphanage, called Kibuye, was located in the city and had an abundance of kids in a small space. There, they met a little boy who needs spinal surgery. Although his exact condition is unknown, our students are considering a possible fundraiser to help provide his surgical needs.
Staff photo
Senior Nicole Clement holds a young African orphan.
The President’s grandmother
tudents drove to the small age of Nyang’oma Koo, where President Barrack ama’s grandmother resides. r name is Sarah Onyango ama and her house is actuy on U.S. property under ellite surveillance by the government. While there, Senior Andrew Buckley students and chaperones chats with the President’s down outside and asked her grandmother. estions. Sarah didn’t speak glish, so they communicated with a translator. She told us how excited she was when her grandn was elected President,” senior Jamie Johnson said. ut she also said that she was content in Kenya, and t her life isn’t much different than before he was sident.”
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everal days of the trip, the students visited Kenyan schools. The schools included St. primary and secondary schools, Sianda School (where David Omollo is the head of nce department), Kobala School, Archbishop Okath’s school for girls, and Saint Ayaol’s n the Reru village. Ayaols is the school that Mr. Rose’s parents helped build in the or years, the Sacred Heart cross country team has donated supplies to this school, and students finally got to see where their contributions have gone. At St. George’s school, the students took on the roles of teachers. They paired up with a student and taught him English, Social Studies, Math, and Geography. The language barrier frequently prevented them from thoroughly teaching the subjects. Alternatively, they would play games that taught the children life lessons. “The games we played were lively and fun,” senior Vanessa Dailey said. “We played this game like chicken where you held your leg and tried to push each other over. It was supposed to teach you to face your fears and not run away from whatever is trying to knock you down.” Staff photo by Thomas Griffin
Map courtesy of randmcnally.com
6. Soccer
At one of the schools, the students also had the opportunity to play soccer against the third best women’s soccer team in all of Kenya. “The girls on the other team thought it was hilarious because we were terrible compared to them,” senior Devlin Flaherty said. “They made us look pretty bad, but the game went into overtime and we had a lot of fun doing it.”
Staff photo by Thomas Griffin
Senior Jamison Johnson shows off his soccer skills.
nts at St. George’s primary school.
o by Thomas Griffin
8. Bolo Cathedral
7. Site seeing
Not only did the group help many in need, but they also got to see many unique sites. On their way to Kisumu, they passed a major tea plantation. It was a field of tea plants that stretched for hundreds of miles. One day the students visited the Equator, where it was around 90° F. They also saw a natural landmark called “Kit Makaki,” which is basically the Kenyan version of a “Stonehenge.” Students took a boat ride on Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and, of course, went walking through a rainforest, where they saw a lot of insects and unique plant life. Senior Devlin Flaherty poses at the Equator.
Staff photo by Thomas Griffin
Prior to leaving for Africa, the students fundraised and received many donations for their trip. With the money raised, they purchased food and mosquito nets to distribute to orphans and poor families. On the last day of the trip, the students visited a church in the small town of Bolo, where they handed out food purchased by the donations. Unfortunately, it was very chaotic and the students ran out of donated food. Afterward, the students were taken back to the priests’ house where they were given a nice lunch. “The lunch was nice, but I felt it was wrong to eat when they left so many families without food,” senior Anthony Jordan said.
Profiles
8 April 1, 2013
HEART BEAT
Exchange students return home for Chinese New Year BY ELIZABETH SULLIVAN-HASSON Staff Writer After a five hour flight to Los Angeles, then another eleven hour flight to Beijing, the group finally landed and split-up, going home to their families for one of the biggest celebrations in Chinese culture, Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, usually lasts for seven days in cities and fifteen days in the countryside, and started on February 10th this year. The New Year festival is a
time for families to reconnect with one another, eat delicious traditional food, and pay respects to their ancestors. For Sacred Heart’s Chinese international students the reunion with their families was especially poignant. Senior Dafei Lu returned to his home province of Yunnan, which is in the Southern part of China. When he got back to China one of the first things he noticed was the heat.
Senior Dafei Lu’s father brings flowers to their family’s memorial.
“The weather was a big thing, it was a lot warmer. When I came to my home town it was about 60 (degrees),” Lu said. Quite a contrast to the snow storm Lu nearly missed when he left for China on Friday, February 8th. He also had a special surprise for his grandparents, or rather he was the surprise, “The thing is, my parents, they knew I was coming home, but they didn’t tell my grandparents and my aunts and uncles. Once I came out of the airport we went directly to my grandparents’ house.” It was the first time Lu had been home to celebrate Chinese New Year with his extended family in two years. The festivities began on New Year’s Eve for Lu and his family, all 14 of them. That night Dafei and his cousins all received little red envelopes filled with money, a symbol of good luck, to spend in the weeks of festivities that followed. On New Year’s Day it was time to feast. Handmade noodles, dumplings and fish dishes were served. “During Chinese New Year you can’t miss the fish,” Lu
said. “It has a special meaning in China. It means that you always have something left, It’s a symbol of prosperity.” Out of all the food eaten, Lu said that the dumplings are always his favorite, explaining that it is a tradition for the person making the dumplings to hide one gold coin inside one of the dumplings. Lu said he has never been the lucky one to find the coin yet, but that doesn’t discourage him from eating as many dumplings as his stomach can handle. Along with the New Year’s Day feast the Spring Festival is a time for visiting the memorial sites of ancestors. “After the (festivities) people always go to respect their ancestors, even if they are not with us anymore,” Lu explained. Junior Yajing Zheng had a similar New Years’ experience in her own, more traditional province of Fujian, also located in Southern China. Unlike Lu, Zheng said she “did not celebrate New Year’s Eve, although the children did get their envelopes then,” referencing the little red envelopes full of money.
Staff photos by Dafei Lu
Instead of visiting her grandparents right away, Zheng said that she waited until after New Year’s Day to visit her grandparents on her maternal side, and spent New Year’s with her father’s family. “I can’t go to my grandmother’s house until two days after (New Year’s Day)” Zheng said. This is an example of some of the more traditional practices put into place for Chinese New Year. Zheng and her family also went to a Buddhist temple, which she said was her favorite part of the trip. The feast food of choice for Zheng was noodles, a traditional dish which symbolizes longevity. Her family also made small moon cakes for the Lunar Festival. To welcome in the New Year both Lu and Zheng’s provinces were bedecked in red, the color of Chinese pride. They both had two weeks full of family, friends, and, of course, food. The most important part of the week, however, was being with their families. “The spirit of Chinese New Year is to gather with people. Family will always be around,” Lu said.
Photo courtesy of Yajing Zheng
The traditional Chinese firecracker is ready to be lighted to celebrate Chinese New Year!
Spoken from the heart Brigham and Women’s heart specialists visit science classes BY MOLLY GREENWOOD We go to Sacred Heart. We experience heartbreak. You’re reading the Heart Beat. The term “heart” is everywhere, and we often forget it’s one of the most important organs inside of our bodies. So what is the heart really, and how does it work? This past month, students at Sacred Heart received the answer to this question. On Friday, March 22, Michelle Lucier and Dr. Antonios Antoniadis from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston came to Sacred Heart to discuss their research with science
teacher Ms. Kielynne Banker’s Anatomy and Physiology, AP Biology, and Biology classes. Michelle Lucier is a senior research assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Dr. Antonios Antoniadis is a research fellow, a cardiologist from Greece who is on a fellowship working in the vascular profiling laboratory with Lucier. The presentation focused on the research of Endothelial Sheer Stress, which is the frictional force of blood against the interior wall of an artery. “I thought his presentation was really helpful,” senior Acacia Towers said. “It made me
want to eat better because he told us that younger people can just as easily be affected by heart disease as older people.” “The way Michelle and Antonio spoke was simple enough that people could understand without having to know extensive background information,” Banker said. “They also gave great analogies to help make the information clearer!” Currently, Brigham and Women’s is one of the only hospitals in the world conducting research experiments on sheer stress. With advanced medical technology and help from the team in the research center, Mrs. Lucier and
Dr. Atonios Antoniadis were able to construct a 3D image of an artery in the huPhoto courtesy of Walter Lucier man heart. Mrs. Lucier and Dr. Antoniadis postpresentation! With this up within the wall of an artery. newly developed image, the ex“It was really interesting and he perts at Brigham and Women’s explained it really so well. Evhope to be able to create new ways erything made sense even though to detect plaque buildup in the arthe information was complex,” teries and maybe even develop freshman, Biology student, Vicnew procedures to treat it. Low toria Manning said. “It’s interestareas of sheer stress are a huge ing to see how that information cause of concern. Dr. Antoniadis will relate to what we will learn.” also discussed the various ways to treat and detect plaque build-
Arts
9 April 1, 2013
HEART BEAT
“We accept the books we think we deserve” BY SOPHIA PIZZI Staff Writer
E
Freshman:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower By: Stephen Chbosky
Photo courtesy of thatswhatwesaid.net
Written in the form of anonymous letters, protagonist “Charlie” starts his freshman year of high school trying to fit in. Along the way, he finds a group of friends who ultimately help him find himself. (The book was recently made into a film, but like most occasions, the book is better than the movie!)
Tales of the Madman Underground By: John Barnes This book captures the first week of protagonist Karl Shoemaker’s senior year. For the past few years, Karl has been part of the “Madman Underground,” the high school’s therapy group made up of an eclectic cast of students. This year, Karl is on a mission to “be normal” and escape his group therapy. This book is great because it explores the struggle of fitting in and finding where you belong when you’re so young.
Photo courtesy of glbtrt.ala.org
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
ach year in high school, students delve into the classic novels required in their various English classes. From To Kill a Mockingbird to The Scarlet Letter, each book is essential in its own way, exploring cultures of different time periods and changing our perspective on the world we live in. That’s the best part about books; they have the ability to change how we think and act in real life.
Throughout my high school career, I enjoyed reading all of the classics, but I also searched for some new, fresh stories to augment the required reading. If you get the chance, pick up a copy of one of the suggestions below and don’t be afraid to get lost in the pages. These are essential reads for high schoolers; you’ll be able to relate with, laugh at, and cry over all of the main characters and their exciting journeys through life.
Seniors:
The Fault in Our Stars By: John Green 16 year old Hazel Lancaster spends her days battling a rare case of thyroid cancer. When she meets the charming Augustus Waters at one of her support group meetings, her life spirals into a journey of answering the questions so many leave unanswered: How can we cope with loss? Does true love really exist? And my personal favorite: how do you live a life full of meaning?
Another John Green novel, and equally as fantastic. High school junior and outcast Miles Halter leaves his small town in Florida for a boarding school in Alabama in search of the “Great Perhaps.” While there, he expects to make new friends and have a better high school experience. When his roommate “Chip” introduces him to the beautiful and mysterious Alaska Young, Miles experiences more than he expected. The humorous, shocking, and devastating plot twists to this book will have you glued to the pages until the very end.
BY MEAGHAN DUPUIS Staff Writer
Andrade, Vanessa Dailey, Zoe Emme, Payton Fleming, and Emily Waystack entertained the crowd with their spectacular musical talent. A crowd favorite appeared to be Sophia Pizzi’s original piano compsition “16 & Beautiful.” Another crowd-pleaser was Griffin Ostrowski’s and Sam Boyles’ grand finale version of “Gold on the Ceiling” by the Black Keys. Nicole Henderson, Tim Kuketz and Lauren Price performed their original literary pieces. Tim Kuketz shared a humorous essay on his outlook on the end of the world while Lauren Price shared a sentimental story about birds that she used as her college essay. Corey Turner, Katherine Lombardo, and Amanda Latini performed their well-practiced speech pieces. Unfortunately, the international band “Made in China” was not able to perform at this coffee house, but thankfully they will be making an appearance at the upcoming Variety Show in May!
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
Juniors:
Sacred Heart’s second coffee house of the year showcases many talents The lights dim as a spotlight shines on the MCs. Along with the smell of coffee and pastries, you can feel the performer’s excitement and nervousness circle the room. “Welcome to the coffee house,” seniors Michael Nee and Jeffrey Millman start. And so the night begins. The coffee house on March 13th was the second one of the year. “Some of the performers were out sick for our first coffee house. We’ve tried to have two in the past, but it was difficult because we waited too long. And since the spring is so busy, we decided we could have another one if it was before sports began. We also had another so we could get more food and money to local Catholic charities,” Sacred Heart High School English teacher and coffee house organizer, Ms. Carey Zigouras said. The night consisted of music, poetry, writing, and dramatic interpretation. Jeff Millman, Griffin Ostrowski, Sam Boyles, Enzo Fiore, Sophia Pizzi, Kaitlyn Prario, Hannah
Sophomores:
Looking for Alaska By: John Green
The coffee addicts are back at it
Seventh graders Katherine Lombardo and Amanda Latini perform their speech piece for the crowd.
Staff photo by Thomas Griffin
Arts
10 April 1, 2013
HEART BEAT
Shakespeare, Seuss, and Interviews Sacred Heart thespians showcase their talents in a medley of three different plays BY KELSEY MALONE Staff Writer
T
he sets were painted and the tech crew was in position. Ms. Kristin Hanover, Sacred Heart School’s Performing Arts director, was set up backstage, script in hand. All the actors had come to practice after practice, going over line after line, gliding from stage right to stage left. “The Scheme of the Driftless Shifter”, “13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview”, and “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet” debuted at 7pm on Saturday, March 16th. In “The Scheme of the Driftless Shifter,” Sacred Heart actors played thespians messing up on their obviouslyunrehearsed play. The joke came across very clearly and had many audience members laughing aloud. In order to help explain the joke, there were actors planted in the audience, a fake stage-manager played by Senior Emily Johnson, and Sophomore Nicole Henderson playing the part of a “scrubwoman” trying to clean up the stage at the beginning of the play. The play’s standout performance was given by Sophomore Griffin Wagner who played the hero, Victor Strongheart. Wagner received hearty applause each time he appeared on stage. The short, sweet, and to the point humor of “13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview” kept the laughs coming. The skit was a series of “interviews” that alternated between Junior Griffin Ostrowski and Freshman Katie O’Neil as the interviewers. Ridiculous characters such as an overly nervous girl named Jessica played by Sophomore Emily Waystack, a wanna-be body-builder named Cory played by Freshman Kira Pyne, and a struggling magician named Jason played by Senior Jeffrey Millman, all kept the audience in hysterics. One interview included a character wearing a full Santa suit who had, up to this point, never known who Santa was. After an identity crisis, the character Tony, played by Senior Michael Nee, quickly left in order to rediscover himself, leaving Ostrowski’s character at a loss for words.
The rhyming tetrameter and jolly tone of “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet” helped form the running joke between the audience and the two narrators, Senior Emily Johnson and Freshman Katie O’Neil. The narrators would continually claim that their play had no affiliation or likeness with any Dr. Seuss works, but would also constantly reference Dr. Seuss. By the end, they did admit the poignant familiarity to a Dr. Seuss work. From balloon sword fighting, to death crackers, to Senior Vanessa Dailey’s portrayal of a Brooklyn monk, the show was light and entertaining. The narrators even threw in a surprise ending where the two star-crossed lovers, played by Sophomore Timothy Kuketz and Emily Waystack, did not die! Thanks to Dr. Seuss’ influence, the two families reconciled and became great friends. At 2pm on Sunday, March 17th “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” was performed. The play was roughly an hour long and not only starred students from grades 7-12 but also students from the Sacred Heart Elementary School. The melding of the two schools was a complete success. Eighth grader Zoe Emme, who took part in all four skits, said that the younger students “were actually really well behaved.” All performers were in agreement that the Staff photo by Katthryn Mullen collaboration was beneficial. Fourth grader Erin Leone said “it was really fun” and Senior Vanessa Dailey plays Monk Larry in a Dr. Sethat she “loved the chance to meet new people”. She felt uss take of Romeo and Juliet welcomed by the older kids and especially enjoyed the mances. She plans on preparing more one act plays to Fizzy Lifting Drink scene. Seventh grader and audience make sure that “everyone in the cast has a chance to be member, Teaghan Gokey, agreed that the Fizzy Liftspotlighted.” ing Drink part was also his favorite. He also was highly impressed by Millman’s rendition of the character Willy Wonka. Overall, Gokey felt it was a “very good play with great acting.” Hanover was highly pleased with her cast’s ability to master “a high level of comic timing and technique” and to “memorize so much dialogue”. She remarked that “at first, having 30 little ones surrounding you seemed a little overwhelming,” but she continued to be impressed by their focus and determination. While Hanover isn’t quite sure what’s in store for next year; she does have high hopes for next year’s perfor-
HEART FOR HEART WEEK STARTS MONDAY, APRIL 1
APRIL 1: SACRED HEART GEAR DAY
Staff photo by Katthryn Mullen
Wear any Sacred Heart shirt, or sweatshirt
APRIL 2: SPORT ATTIRE DAY
Wear any sport team shirt or sweatshirt
APRIL 3: UGLY SWEATER DAY Pick out the ugliest sweater you can find and wear it!
APRIL 3: MR. SACRED HEART Contestants will be competing to be the man of Sacred Heart!
APRIL 4: NO-UNIFORM DAY
Junior Griffin Ostrowski plays the desperate college admissions officer with “magician” crazy senior Jeffrey Millman
*Student with the most school spirit on April 1-3 recieves a $10 Moe’s giftcard
Opinion
11 April 1, 2013
HEART BEAT
All that’s Ivy is not Gold One rank to rule them all, one rank to find them, one rank to bring them all, and under ‘Ivy’ bind them. This, of course, is the U.S. News “Best Colleges and Universities” ranking. Then there’s the Forbes and the Wall Street Journal rankings, too, but they all say the same thing. Harvard and Princeton duke it out for first place, followed by the rest of the eight Ivies and then other, still very reputable ‘public Ivies’ such as the University of Virginia. What does that mean exactly? What differentiates these hallowed Ivies from state schools? If we put aside the prestige, the name, and the gorgeous gothic architecture, all we are left with is a school, classrooms, professors, and students. Funny. That’s the same thing I find when I visit the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Now while I am sure there are many other factors that distinguish a university such as Yale from a state school like the University of Vermont the fundamentals are the same. Besides the creature comforts, I really don’t see that much of a difference. For years there has been a lot of griping about college rankings. The arguments that the methodology used in the rankings is far too mysterious and convoluted have been made, and people have questioned whether or not one school can really be 100% better than the rest. Unless you are looking for a specialized program, such as nursing, engineering, or marine biology, is there any concrete value or advantage to a more pricey and ‘refined’ education? While I am still mulling over those questions and seeking to strengthen my own arguments, there is a much more pressing matter on my mind when it comes to higher education, and trying to decide whether prestige can determine the quality of an education. Cost. Plain and simple. Cost. With an economy still recovering from a recession, an unemployment rate still too high, and college graduates being buried alive under student loans, frugality is a lesson we might need to be retaught. The cost of an
Ivy education just isn’t feasible or prudent in our time. Our generation has what I like to call the “Harvard Syndrome,” which has captured the minds of many high schoolers, and even some precocious middle schoolers. It has wormed its way into the conscience of our generation, and is the result of our American materialistic idealism. Students who have this syndrome are being seduced by the idea that bigger, and in this case extremely overpriced, is better. This very dangerous syndrome can cause students and parents (who usually end up funding a portion of their child’s education) to be duped into thinking that the higher the status of a school, the better education they are getting. There is a common perception that high school graduates who go to a more prestigious school like Duke or Princeton University fair better after graduation and make more money than students who go to a school a couple of tiers down, but the facts state otherwise. In the book The Thinking Students Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education by Andrew Roberts, researchers discovered that it is not school rank that determines how successful someone can be, but the students themselves. The studies showed that students who would have gone to Harvard or Princeton University but went to a lesser ranked school instead, such as a state school, were just as successful as the students who received a Harvard or Princeton University education. So is there really any truth to the “Harvard Syndrome?” It would appear not. It seems the desire to go to a prestigious school is just one more manifestation of our status-driven society. For you high school seniors, juniors, and over enthusiastic seventh graders stressing about getting into top ranking schools, don’t worry. All you need is determination, commitment, and the knowledge that you can succeed no matter where you go; all you really need is you.
Editorial
Dear Jeffrey... About two months ago, I wrote what was perhaps my most salient piece. A horoscope that accurately predicted everything that happened in the months of February and March. Seriously, there were way more reports of boating accidents on the news. But anyway, I decided that helping people with their lives should be my new thing. This month, I've started an advice column. Several people have sent questions that they want me to answer, and in this column I will attempt to answer them to the best of my ability. "Dear Jeff, My boyfriend Michael sometimes yells at old people on subways. How should I tell him that this makes me depressed and uncomfortable? -Lizzie Sullivan-Hasson" Hi Liz, Of all the things Michael does, that makes you uncomfortable? "Dear Jeff, I have a lot of trouble paying attention in class. Do you have any advice on how to improve my listening skills? -Oh! Look - a bird" Hi Oh Look, we all get distracted from time to time. Trust me, I totally understand where you're coming from. I get so distracted writing these articles, that sometimes I can barely finish my "Dear Jeff, My girlfriend told me she doesn't want to ride the subway with me anymore. How do I convince her to continue to go on the train? -Totally Not Michael Nee" Hi Totally Not, You should come up with a fun activity to do together. Yelling at old people always makes my day! "Dear Jeff, I have a secret crush on my newspaper teacher. Is that legal? -Sophie Pizzi" Hi Sophie, only in Tennessee.
BY JEFFREY MILLMAN Contributing Writer
"Dear Jeff, Yesterday, two rotten teenagers yelled at me on a subway. How do I overcome their insults? -Mr. Golden" Hi Mr. Golden, Give it right back to them! If you see them on the subway again, start screaming! An eye for an eye and all that. "Dear Jeff, Everyone really wants me to play football next fall, but singing is my passion. Which do I choose? -Mr. Foresta Hi Mr. Foresta, compromise: join chorus, but tackle Ms. O whenever you have the chance. "Dear Jeff, you recently gave me advice about riding the subway with my boyfriend. Well, I decided to go along with his strange behavior, but yesterday some crazy guy started screaming at us! His insults really stung, too! Should I give up on riding the subway? -Lizzie Sullivan-Hasson" Hi again Liz, stop whining and figure it out yourself! I'm not going to advise you on your life. That's not what this column is about. "Dear Jeff, I really like this boy but I don't think he knows I exist. What should I do? -Invisible Lover" Hi Invisible, if you really want him to notice you, fashion a shank out of your pencil and stab him in the leg. I guarantee that he will probably notice you. Or, you could get Lauren Price to drop a priceless religious icon on his head, and take credit for it. The ball is totally in your court. That concludes my first advice column. I hope that the questions people raised had some impact on your own lives. If you'd like a question answered, please don’t send it. Photo courtesy of www.apartments4students.com.uk
THE HEART BEAT Editors-in-Chief: Sophia Pizzi Elizabeth Sullivan-Hasson Photo Editor: Thomas Griffin Front Page Editor: Jay Meyer News Editor: Patrick MacDonald Features Editor: Sarah Kamp Double Truck Editor: Kelsey Malone A&E Editor: Nicoletta Pappas Opinion Editor: Christopher DeCamp Profiles Editor: Tian Yang Sports Editor: Thomas Gerhard Photographers: Dafei Lu Kathryn Mullen Staff Writers: Meaghan DuPuis Shauna Sweeney Contributing Writers: Jeffrey Millman Moira Gattoni Molly Greenwood
THE HEART BEAT is the student newspaper of Sacred Heart High School, located at 399 Bishops Highway, Kingston, MA 02364. The views expressed herein are those of the staff. Responsible letters should be addressed to the Editorial Staff c/o Mr. Boccalini or via e-mail at vboccalini@sacredheartkingston.com. THE HEART BEAT welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. Letters must be signed. The editors reserve the right to reject, edit, or shorten letters. THE HEART BEAT is printed by Graphic Developments, Inc.
Mission Statement The Heart Beat is Sacred Heart High School’s newspaper. As the present custodians of this long-standing and award-winning publication, we pledge ourselves to the following threefold purpose: To inspire and foster a sense of passion and love for journalism, journalistic ethics and the integrity of the written word; To create and develop an atmosphere of responsible leadership, commitment to truth and dedication to the highest standards of journalistic principles; To recognize that in all we do, we are in the service of our Provident God who has blessed us with the opportunity to minister to the Sacred Heart community. -Vincent Boccalini Moderator The Heart Beat
Press Affiliations Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA) American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) Suffolk University (SU)
Sports
12
HEART BEAT
April 1, 2013
Robbin’ the score sheets The tale of Reilly Robbins and her explosive swim career BY THOMAS GERHARD Staff Writer Reilly Robbins is one of the finest female swimmers in Sacred Heart’s history and has set many school swimming records. Reilly, a junior, has been going to Sacred Heart since fifth grade but only started swimming for our school this year. She competes in two events, the backstroke and the butterfly and holds records in both. Robbins holds the female record for the 100m backstroke, the 100m butterfly, as well as the 200m individual medley, which is an individual event that has two laps of all four strokes: butterfly, freestyle, backstroke, and breast stroke. “The backstroke is definitely my best, although I also compete very well in the fly,” Robbins said. Robbins didn’t achieve such greatness and high accolades easily. Reilly has committed much of her life to swimming; she first swam competitively at 5 years old. In addition to Sacred Heart swimming, Robbins swims for the Cape Cod Swim Club, a club swim team based in Buzzards Bay, MA. “I’ve been swimming for Cape Cod Swim Club since I was 5,” Robbins said. “Although it has been great for me and it’s a great team, I like swimming for school more. It’s much more relaxed and we have a lot of fun. It’s nice because it’s less about your times and more about the team and it’s nice to know you can always count on your teammates to be behind you.” As any athlete who plays a club sport knows, the level of commitment is immense, and while Reilly does compete for a
Photo courtesy of Joe Masi
Reilly Robbins shows championship form in the butterfly.
club team, she also competes for school, so her workload is off the charts. “I have nine practices and three gym workouts per week, as well as three morning sessions before school,” Robbins said, “which means I’m working about 15 times a week for swim.” With such a busy schedule, Robbins still finds time to work. She works as a lifeguard at the Kingsbury Club, where she can always hone her swimming abilities. Robbins says she “definitely plans to swim in college.” She hopes to take her skills to the next level and swim for a Division Two or Division Three college swim team.
T.J. Byrne takes control of the up-and-coming football team T.J. Byrne is going to be coaching Sacred Heart’s fledgling football team this coming fall. Coach Byrne has a lot of football experience, having played four years at Abington High School before going on to play four years of college ball at the University of Massachusetts . Coach Byrne has a wealth of experience in the coaching position as well. He spent two years as a varsity assistant at Sharon High School before coaching at Abington, his alma mater. At Abington, he started coaching the freshman squad, but worked his way up quickly. Before he left Abington, he was in charge of the conditioning, strength training, special teams and in-season and off-season study hall programs. From there, he went to Scituate High School, where he was the defensive coordinator for four years.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Griffin
T.J. Byrne, a graduate of UMass, will be the freshman football coach next year.
Boy’s Baseball
Bishop Connolly- April 2nd Diman- April 8th Southeastern- April 12th Westport- April 24th Pope John Paul II- April 27th Blue Hills- May 8th Tri-County- May 15th Avon- May 17th Bristol Plymouth- May 23rd
Girl’s Softball
Coming soon to a field near you CHRISTOPHER DECAMP Staff Writer
Spring Varsity Home Matchups
When asked about his goals for the football team, Coach Byrne wanted to ensure that kids were excited to come back next year and wanted to really build the program. He said that the initial success of Sacred Heart’s football program will be determined by getting kids excited to play football for Sacred Heart. Also, Coach Byrne is pretty confident that the football team will be successful down the road. He believes that “because of the success that this school has had in other avenues, I don’t expect it to fall short on a football field.” Coach Byrne thinks that the students who come out for the football team will have a very unique and rewarding experience. He says that very rarely are you going to be the first people to do anything.Coach Byrne firmly believes that the student athletes who are a part of the first football team at our school will be talked about for years to come. He wants people to realize this and take responsibility for the program and be proud of it. Looking back on his playing years, Coach Byrne fondly remembers the time spent with all of his friends, saying: “It’s those times that you spend with your buddies that are probably some of my fondest memories. Just the everyday stuff that seems mundane at the time, but when you get away from it, a couple years after you graduate and start to look back on it and realize that we just had a spectacular time.” He hopes to foster the same kinds of relationships and camaraderie that he enjoyed in his own playing career to the football players at Sacred Heart. Coach Byrne hopes to organize a Sacred Heart youth camp next summer. Byrne and Sacred Heart Athletic Director, Mr. Robert Duquette, have been discussing the camp’s possibility. Byrne wants all of the youth football players from surrounding towns to take part in Sacred Heart’s summer camp. He is also interested in getting the help of ex-Patriot players like Steve Nelson and other prominent local college and high school coaches to help inspire Sacred Heart football players. Coach Byrne believes that a camp like this will bolster enthusiasm for the program and encourage a higher turnout for the football team in its second year.
Pope John Paul II- April 1st Bristol Plymouth- April 4th Blue Hills- April 9th Carver- April 27th Tri-County- April 29th Bishop Connolly- April 30th Diman- May 6th Southeastern- May 10th Westport- May 13th
Track and Field
Bristol Plymouth- April 4th Holbrook- April 11th Diman- April 22nd Southeastern- April 25th Cohasset- April 27th Bishop Connolly- May 9th
Boy’s Lacrosse
Quincy- April 1st Blue Hills- April 3rd Tri-County- April 10th Pope John Paul II- April 27nd Southeastern- May 1st Coyle Cassidy- May 6th Bishop Connolly- May 8th South Shore- May 15th Upper Cape Tech- May 20th
Girl’s Lacrosse
Cardinal Spellman- April 12th Pembroke- April 25th Pope John Paul II- April 27th Cardinal Spellman- May 10th Coyle Cassidy- May 13th Southeastern- May 22nd
Boy’s Tennis
West Bridgewater- April 2nd Plymouth South- April 8th Sturgis- April 11th Pope John Paul II- April 27th Bishop Connolly- May 7th Westport- May 13th Cohasset- May 14th West Bridgewater- May 16th
Girl’s Tennis
Plymouth South- April 1st Bishop Connolly- April 9th Westport- April 24th Pope John Paul II-April 27th Sturgis- May 5th West Bridgewater- May 3rd Cape Cod Academy- May 10th Bishop Connolly- May 21st Westport- May 23rd