March/April 2022 by St. Mary's Messenger

March/April 2022

The Rock 2022

CHOIR TOUR 2022

An exciting look at our upcoming Choir Tour to Nashville, Tennessee.

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HOLY HOOPS 2022

The Seniors boys describe the most memorable part of this event for them.

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BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR

The polls are in. Find out what the student body voted as the Best Movie of the Year!

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St. Mary’s Central High School | 5802 Ridgeland Dr. Bismarck, ND 58503

March/April 2022

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dear SMCHS Student Body, Thank you for picking up the Messenger today. We have many articles for you to read that our staff has been working tirelessly on. The Messenger team is sad to announce that this is one of our last issues coming out for the 2021-2022 school year. Throughout the year, we have worked to make the issues primarily about the school, and, most importantly, about what you want to read. We hope that you enjoy this issue!

Teagan Bauer Editor-in-Chief

OUR EDITORS TEAGAN BAUER Editor-in-Chief

JULIANNA LENGOWSKI Entertainment Editor

ALEXYS HUGHES Feature Editor

FIONA KELLY Religion Editor

MARGARET KATHOL Opinion Editor

MAJA DOJS Layout Editor

OUR MISSION Here at Messenger, we love to see the groups of people huddled around our paper, the proud smile when students read articles about themselves, and the slight laughs as students make fun of our bad attempts at jokes. Our mission at the Messenger is to produce a quality newsletter that provides insight into SMCHS by featuring our own students and their accomplishments and goals.

ON THE COVER The April Rock 2020.

EVA RYKOWSKY Activities Editor

BELLA SLETTELAND Co-Layout Editor

READ IT ONLINE

OUR WRITERS Makenzie Mills Hannah Koch Soraida Pichardo Samuel Huntingtion

Kerstin Hilzendeger Rose Kelly Eva Krebsbach Nate Letteer

Emily Storick John Schaff Eli Davis

https://issuu.com/smmessenger

Table of Contents Question of the

Month

What are your Lenten Plans? Interviews By Kayla Hilzendeger

Pages

Choir Tour 2022

An exciting look at our upcoming Choir Tour to Nashville, Tennessee.

Holy Hoops 2022

Memories our Senior Boys will remember about this event.

How to Find a Summer Job

Some advice to help you serve your community and work this summer.

An Inside View From the Only Girl in Physics A scientific observation.

I’m doing the 40-day mass challenge and I want to read the bible for at least 5 minutes every day.

- Marie Wilson

I’m giving up social media and swearing and plan on praying and going to mass more.

- Lucy Brooke

Best Movies of the Year

We rank your favorite movies of this year.

The Importance of Irish Monks in the Development of Western Civilizatioin How our Catholic faith has affected the world.

I’m not going on Instagram for lent.

- Benjamin Jensen

I’m giving up my computer and I’m not going to procrastinate.

- Liam Turman

Senior Spotlight

Highlights the Seniors in Speech. 2

FEATURE

Destination: Nashville

An exciting look at the upcoming choir tour | John Schaff

he Saint Mary’s Central High School choir tour is always a very exciting event, particularly as travel has been so difficult these past several years. In spite of all of the unknowns and roadblocks, the choir will be traveling to Tennessee this summer from June 7th through June 13th. The 35 students going on the trip have had numerous opportunities to fundraise, starting back in June of 2021. The choir will be spending most of its time in Nashville and in Pigeon Forge, performing at multiple venues as well as enjoying the sights and entertainments. Although the choir tour is proceeding in full swing, there have been a variety of hindrances along the way. The first struggle many faced was the cost. It has shifted slightly, as the price of the tour hinged upon the number of students participating, but the final number came down to $2,866 per student. However, Mrs. Boechler informed me when I interviewed her that this number includes all costs, not simply travel fees. She stated, “The kids really only need to bring their spending money that they want.” In order to make this cost more manageable, there have been a number of fundraisers throughout the year. The first was held in June, when students cleaned the softball diamonds at McQuade. Several other fundraising events included students providing a pancake breakfast, working at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, and delivering Valegrams on Valentine’s Day. The largest difficulty in place of the choir tour has been, of course, COVID-19. In fact, Toronto, Canada was originally selected for the choir tour. In order to cross the border, however, all students would have been required to be fully vaccinated. Mrs. Boechler explained, “I think that that limited the participants. The other thing is we don’t want to leave any families in Canada if they get sick. I’m not willing to take that risk for them. Their safety first.” When I interviewed senior choir student Rachel Bleth about the choir tour, she informed me that the change of location to Tennessee had not daunted her at all. She went on to say, “Honestly, I’m really excited to go to the new place. I’ve never been to Nashville before, but it’s obviously a really big place in the music industry in America. I’m excited to experience that and just be able to walk through streets of music everywhere.” None of these

Photo credit: Brandon Jean difficulties have been able to stop the choir tour, and all the students attending are looking immensely forward to it. As previously stated, the choir tour will be taking place in Tennessee, specifically Nashville and Pigeon Forge, and there is a great deal in store for those going. “This is somewhere I’ve never been, which is really exciting, and the fact that I’ve never been there means that there’s still lots of things for me to learn.” Students will have a chance to visit Black River Entertainment Recording Studio in Nashville. This is where several very large names in music record, including Pryor & Lee, Ray Fulcher, and Kelsea Ballerini. Mrs. Boechler has been working with Dawn Delvo, the head of media and public relations at Black River and alumna of Saint Mary’s. In Nashville, the choir will also be visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. “You’re gonna see artists you know, even if you don’t know country artists,” Mrs. Boechler told me about the Grand Ole Opry, a 95 year old stage known as the “home of American music.” In Pigeon Forge, the choir will be visiting Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood. Mrs. Boechler has informed me that all of the performances are still tentative, but that the choir will be singing at whatever church they go to for Mass. The choir tour is going to be full of singing and learning more about the music industry as well as a chance for all of the students to bond. This will be the first music tour since the outbreak of COVID-19, and the choir is thrilled to be going to Tennessee. Rachel had this advice for those considering going on the choir tour in the future: “Honestly, I was hesitant at first, too, just because I am a senior, and I’m going to be graduated by the time it rolls around, but if you go for no other reason than just to build a relationship with your peers, I think that is even more important than the music itself.” Mrs. Boechler encouraged students going either on this choir tour and any such trips in the future to “stay open minded to the unknown. Soak it in and be willing to step just a little bit out of your safety zone.” The choir tour this summer will be full of exciting sights and experiences and will certainly give birth to many memories.

2022 HOLY HOOPS:

Favorite Game Day Memory? Nick Windsor making two clutch threes! - Dominic Barone

Having the school cheer for our team and winning, and having a good, friendly game with the faculty and priests! - Will Condol

I enjoyed playing with fellow classmates and competing against admin! - Isaac Felchele

Ben blocking the last ten shots in a row to win the game! - Nick Windsor

The last 5 seconds of the game! - Will Lengenfelder Ending my high school basketball career with a win! - Nate Fedorchak When I had the step-back three pointer in the corner! - Jacob Verhaege

Just being able to have one last game with my classmates and teammates from the last dozen years! - Ben Morman

The celebration after winning in OT!! - Austin Link

Actually making a wide open lay up! - Sven Blomseth

Evan crossing up Father Dosch! - Brady Haskell Being able to play basketball with some of my classmates who haven’t played in a long time! - Easton Hinnenkamp 4

OPINION

a S d u m n i F m o e t r Jo b w o H | Anonymous Writers #57 and #42 from the Great, Mighty and All Powerful Nation of SamNathaniea

Do you know anyone who owns a business? The easiest way to get a job is to have a connection with the owner or management. It never hurts to ask so reach out to anyone you know. This can give you the How often What skills opportunity to explore all do you want to work? do you have? If you are kinds of jobs that could be a This is one of the most a good swimmer look into possible future career. important steps because this lifeguarding. If you enjoy yard will predetermine many of your job work look for lawn mowing jobs. opportunities. If you are a bum who If you have no special skills, consider Finding can only work for an hour before working for McDonalds. They will a summer job getting extremely bored, maybe be more than happy to teach can often seem hard consider doing something you the skills you need to be that is very part time. a successful employee!! and out of reach for many

people, however, there are Apply at the some simple solutions. Follow jobs that match your Consider your current these 5 easy steps for a sureskills. Applying to as driving status. If you fire method to getting a many places as you can find can’t drive we suggest you summer job. is a good idea. The more you can look within biking distance so

get your name out there the better you don’t have to rely on chance you have at finding a job. your ever so generous mother Sidenote: If Bismarck Parks and Recreation to drive you. Another thing to you are getting paid is always looking for summer consider is how far you would to do a job, make sure help. Local restaurants often have to drive each you do it to the best of your need summer help day. ability, there are many teens as well.

working at places that are really unhelpful, don’t know what they are doing, and they are very rude. Make sure that you are not one of these people.

ENTERTAINMENT An Inside View From the Only Girl in Physics A scientific observation | Bella Sletteland

n my first day of classes this year, I walked into Physics only to be informed by Mrs. Stacy Larson that I was the only girl taking the class. I peeked through the window and, sure enough, the chairs were filled with only guys. It was too late for me to ask any girls to take up the class and I wasn’t going to just drop, so I stuck with it. I’m not exactly sure how it might have happened, that no other girls are taking the class this year, unless there was a meeting for all of us to drop the class and I just missed it. While I occasionally feel as if I’m reliving the life of a woman pursuing science in the 1940’s, surrounded only by men (except for Mrs. Larson thank goodness) it’s really nothing too crazy most days. I promise I’m not a pick-me girl. It’s not “me and the boys”. It’s “me watching them like I’m on the outside of a social experiment”. Even though it’s just like any other class, there are some differences, which I hope to analyze with a scientific mindset. If I was a scientist, I would have taken this opportunity to conduct a study on the relatively unfiltered behaviors of a classroom full of guys, because there are some interesting patterns I’ve picked up on. Besides the fact that many of them routinely act like 5 year olds (and this is nothing new or different from any other class) there are specific patterns to them. Following a regular schedule and the actions of the most outspoken members of the group, they make different repetitive sounds. Some weeks it’s bird noises, others it’s squeaks, caveman-esque yells, and other more…disturbing sound effects. This pattern of what I can only assume to be communication has continued throughout the whole year. All year. Their bird

noises are surprisingly accurate. There are other more spontaneous things they do as well. I’ll refer to them by subject numbers, as this is my study and I wish for them to remain anonymous. For example, subject 7 once got his head stuck in between the wall and the safety glasses box. He said he wanted to know what claustrophobia feels like but then got stuck. Somehow. Subject 2 can often be found playing with high power lasers or plotting to overthrow the government. Sometimes a chromebook will be stolen and hidden outside in the snow. Some of their rituals include banging on the window to Ms. Bichler’s room/aggressively rattling the door handle and sharing a mutual hatred for ‘the Einstein chair’ that no one ever likes to sit in. I still haven’t figured out why and probably never will. In general, there are lots of unfiltered thoughts and whiny complaints. In-class projects that they make sometimes end up being hodge-podged mechanisms but are often surprisingly functional. Thankfully, Mrs. Larson is very chill with them, so we have a lot of fun. She is never too bothered by their complaining or all around tomfoolery. God bless her. In the end, I think I will be glad I’ve had this experience. It’s been very interesting to watch everything that transpires around me and although it is often annoying, it’s not the end of the world. They did clap for me on my birthday which is a reaction that I’ve never experienced for birthdays and I hope I never have to sit through again but still nice… I guess. I really hope more girls take physics next year and that you all get as much out of the class as I have.

What is Your Favorite Part of This Year? Definitely the new building.

I think Homecoming week.

- Katherine Dahmen

- Sean Hughes

Probably having the opportunity to solo with the Wind Orchestra.

Homecoming week was kind of interesting because I really like Pep Band.

- Sophia Klee

- Matthew Foolish Bear

BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR

| Elijah Davis and Julianna Lengowski The 2021-2022 school year was a strong period for superhero movies such as The Batman, Spiderman: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Black Widow. The Messenger has done movie reviews on all of these films, but which one is the best?

The student body overwhelmingly voted for Spiderman: No Way Home as #1. So, here is the final SM Messenger ranking and a bonus review of one of the newer releases!

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THE BATMAN

he latest installment in the DC cinematic universe is “The Batman”, one of the most ambitious projects by DC in some time. The Batman follows the story of Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson), a young billionaire in Gotham, who, in his early years of vigilantism, fights crime under the alter ego “Batman.” The film depicts Batman in his second year of his career, where he begins to form a name for himself and become a more prominent symbol of justice in Gotham. Fun fact, Wayne is referred to as “Vengeance” in this movie more than he is called “Batman,” as he had just started using that name. In this film, Bruce takes a step up in his vigilante career when he is faced with his biggest threat yet: Riddler (Paul Dano), a psychotic villain who attempts to take over Gotham through his odd use of riddles and puzzles. We see Batman team up with Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz) who takes on the alter ego of Catwoman. Together they attempt to unmask Riddler and put a stop to his crimes. As of March 13th, the Batman has made a total of $464 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022 so far, and the second-highest since the start of Covid-19. This film is one of the first in a new direction of DC films, and is already regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made.

RELIGION The Final Rock of the Year | Kerstin Hilzendeger

he ROCK theme for this year, chosen by our Assistant Chaplins, is “Jesus is King: The Last Four Things.” Through the ROCK events this year, we have learned about death with SMCHS alumni and practicing mortician Micheal Sweeney and judgment with Michael and Ashley Mortenson. We also had a special Catholic Schools Week presentation by Sarah Swafford about being virtuous young men and women. All good things must come to an end, but the ROCK isn’t quite done yet. On April 20 at 7:00 p.m., the last ROCK event of the 2021-22 school year will begin in the auditorium. Monsignor James Shea, the president of the University of Mary, will be speaking on the subject of Heaven and Hell, the last of “The Four Last Things.” Following his presentation, there will be adoration and a fun activity! And don’t forget to dress up in your best college game day attire. So let’s close this year out in the best way possible, by growing closer to Jesus and we hope to see all of you at the final ROCK event!

The Importance of Irish Monks in the Development of Western Civilization | Fiona Kelly

he conversion of Ireland was a monumental happening in the history of Europe and Western Civilization. In the 5th century A.D., St Patrick is credited with converting the entire island of Ireland to Catholicism. Formerly, the populated portions of Ireland had been rather resolutely pagan, with much Irish folklore and culture founded in pagan traditions. With the advent of Christianity, however, the pendulum of Ireland swung quickly and sharply to the opposite side. The culture in Ireland over the next 1500 years was rooted deeply in Catholic traditions. The pendulum has, admittedly, recently swung a bit back to the other side, but Ireland is still over 70% Roman Catholic. This Roman Catholic heritage had a profound impact not only on Ireland’s culture and traditions, but on the development of Western Civilization as a whole. Up until the introduction of the printing press to the Western world in 1436, books were rare and incredibly expensive. Before movable type allowed for mass printing, each individual book had to be copied out by hand. The most exposure the common individual had to books was perhaps a single copy of the Latin Bible kept in larger parishes. Books were so very rare that they were some of the most commonly stolen items, particularly from churches, because they were worth

considerably more than their weight in gold. The majority of books were kept in scholarly institutions such as universities and monasteries. However, during the early High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.) many scholarly institutions experienced opposition and conflict that destroyed or damaged their stores of books. These works were thought to be lost by scholars and church officials of this time. It came as rather a surprise, then, for them to learn that Irish monasteries had been, since their establishment, copying by hand every document that had passed through their hands: not only the Bible and church documents but also Greek and Latin literature. There were copies of classic literature that could only be found in small Irish monasteries. This included the works of numerous Greek and Roman philosophers that have served to shape modern society, particularly in the case of governmental and political ideals. The works copied by these Irish monks would likely not otherwise exist today. The impact of an exposure to the ideas presented in these works has been significant, to say the least. The actions of these Irish monks are in part responsible for the development and culmination of Western Civilization. 8

year, but I might throw an Entertain in the mix. Maybe another one, but I’m not sure yet! M: Why were you drawn to perform these events? S: I’ve been doing them for a couple of years now. I really appreciate poetry and I want to spread positive messages through it. EPR is fun because it adds variety to my events. M: How do you deal with nervousness or anxiety before performing?

S: I lay on the floor. M: What is your favorite team memory and/or personal

accomplishment? S: My favorite moments would probably be from the speech parties! Or when the bus is full of hyped-up speech kids after a meet or broken down on the side of the road. It’s hard to choose because everything that happens on this team feels like a post-wisdom tooth removal fever dream. M: Did you find that your time in speech helped improve your confidence and skills as a public speaker? S: I’ve improved so much since freshman year! Speech has helped me become less shy, and gain wonderful friendships in the process. This year I have a role in leadership, but I could have never made it this far without the great role models that I’ve seen on this team. I could never live up to them. There are a lot of great kids who will continue to be role models, and I am so proud to see how they have grown.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:

MADELINE ERICKSON

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SORAIDA PICHARDO

MESSENGER: What events are you performing this year? SORAIDA PICHARDO: I’m doing Poetry and EPR this

MESSENGER: What events are you performing this year? MADELINE ERICKSON: I am performing in Radio

Broadcasting, Inform, and Persuade. M: Why were you drawn to perform these events? M: When I originally started in Speech, I was drawn to public speaking events because I felt more comfortable when performing them. Over time I have narrowed down which of the public speaking events I enjoy the most and stuck with them. M: How do you deal with nervousness or anxiety before performing? M: Over time I have become less and less nervous about performing. Now I don’t usually get anxiety unless it is a really important round, but when I am feeling nervous I always take a deep breath before I begin speaking. This helps me to focus on my first sentence and start my speech off strong. M: What is your favorite team memory and/or personal accomplishment? M: My favorite team memories are definitely team bonding moments including bus rides after a meet and of course speech parties! M: Did you find that your time in speech helped improve your confidence and skills as a public speaker? M: My time in speech has made me a much more confident public speaker. Through my time in this activity I have learned how to speak in front of a crowd and now find it is quite easy and natural for me.

Persuade, Radio Broadcasting, and Extemporaneous Speaking. M: Why were you drawn to perform these events? M: I prefer the public speaking events to interp events, and so I always have kind of been drawn to them. I got into Radio as our coach needed someone to help, and I wanted a challenge. M: How do you deal with nervousness or anxiety before performing? M: I don’t have a surefire way to help with nervousness or speech anxiety, but just taking some deep breaths and knowing that everyone is in the same situation makes it a little easier. M: What is your favorite team memory and/or personal accomplishment? M: My most memorable speech memory was when I was a 7th grader. It was my very first speech meet and we were going to Dickinson. I don’t remember how I did, but on our way back, the bus broke down, so we were all stuck together on the bus until almost 1:00 am. It was so much fun to talk to the seniors and play games together. Everyone made the best of the situation, and we ended up having a really good time. M: Did you find that your time in speech helped improve your confidence and skills as a public speaker? M: Having confidence is something that can continually be worked on, but being in speech has allowed me to work on my speaking skill and allowed me to make new friends in the process.

MADISON BECKLER

MESSENGER: What events are you performing this year? MADISON BECKLER: This year I am participating in

Speech Edition MACKENZIE MEYER

Interviews By Eva Rykowsky

MESSENGER: What events are you performing this year? MACKENZIE MEYER: I am performing in persuade and

inform this season. M: Why were you drawn to perform these events? M: I’ve done these events since my freshman year, and I was drawn to them because of the upperclassmen I saw performing them. It gives me an opportunity to speak about what I feel is important, as opposed to something already written by someone else. M: How do you deal with nervousness or anxiety before performing? M: I usually take a minute to clear my head and run through the important parts of my speech. I also try to focus on being confident in my speaking, because when I feel confident, I speak better. M: What is your favorite team memory and/or personal accomplishment? M: My favorite speech memories would easily be the bus rides home. The team really becomes your family, so that time together is so enjoyable. On our way back from Hazen this year, we took the small bus and used the aux to blare our favorite music the whole way home. The high school students, middle school students, and even coaches were getting into it, and we all had a lot of good laughs. M: Did you find that your time in speech helped improve your confidence and skills as a public speaker? M: Definitely! It makes speaking a little bit easier during class discussions or presentations. I specifically noticed this while taking the Oral Communications class through the University of Mary. Writing and giving those speeches felt much more comfortable after being in speech for the last 3 years. 10