The Patriot December 2012, Issue 2, Vol 48

the

www.jcpatriot.com Issue 2, Volume 48

December 2012

International Student Program expands its borders Brianna Glase Online Chief Four years ago, current senior Iris Kim made the journey from her home country of South Korea to study at JC. Unlike the average JC freshman, though, her nervous first day of school feelings were amplified by the fact that she had a hard time speaking the language of her classmates. “I felt isolated.

I felt like I wasn’t part of the community. I was different,” she said.

Despite this, after four years of living in America, Kim feels like the experience has been beneficial. “We don’t have any after school activities in Korea, and I like that in America, especially the Music Department.”

In addition, Kim had first come here to primarily “improve my English and learn new cultures,” and now she says that “I’m still struggling and learning new things, but I’m definitely getting more used to it.”

Four years after Kim started at JC when there were only a handful of international students, the International Student Program has grown to allow 41 international students like Kim to attend JC. Similar to Kim, they still receive the same kind of culture shock on their first day of school.

“Everything is brand new for me, especially the culture and the education system is quite different. I have to get used to it,” sophomore Kevin Yin said, a new student this year from China.

Currently, the international students make up a little over 5% of the student body, according to Coordinator of International Student Programs Sandi Seiler.

Students come from Canada, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Korea, China, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

There are many reasons why the international students brave the culture shock of attending American school, stemming from their plans for the future. “I came because I want to go to a university here,” sophomore Claire Niu said. This is Niu’s first year attending JC, coming from her home country of China.

By coming to the U.S. earlier, the students are able to experience what the culture here is like

Photo illistration by Shannon Olsen and Sydney Setree

and become accustomed to American schooling. For the students, it’s easier to get into an American university if they are already attending school in America. With this, though, come challenges that must be overcome. “It’s a little hard because my first language is not English,” Niu said. “Some classes I do not like very much, like English class.”

In addition, there are financial burdens that come with studying abroad in America for an extended period of time. According to the Director of Enrollment Kim Brueggemann, in addition to tuition international students have to pay for “housing stipends, the

Lifestyles 4

Advisories give back to the community with presents and donations to the elderly, the Humane Society, and families in need.

cost of food,” and various fees associated with the legal documents needed to study in a foreign country.

“It’s a huge investment,” Seiler said. According to Brueggemann, there are specific prices that are not public knowledge.

“Due to differences between the liaison companies, prices differ depending on the situation of the individual students,” Brueggemann said.

Even so, students have still found reasons to like America.

“It’s better than in China. In America we don’t have too much homework. We have time to do whatever we want, after school

In-Depth 8-9

The Patriot investigates the ongoing competition between men and women to see which gender claims victory on the JC battleground.

ends early. In China, school ends at 4:45 p.m. We have nine subjects,” junior Sunny Lu said. “I have more freedom in America.

I am happy to study in America.”

There are also students who benefit athletically from playing sports in America. See Sports 15 for more information on these students.

Not only can the students benefit from studying abroad at JC, but the entire school community can benefit as well, according to Seiler and Brueggemann.

Statistically, having five percent international student enrollment helps numbers stay at target highs, which for Brueggemann

A&E 7

Quick Bites scopes out the most delicious destinations for waffle, crepe, and other breakfast cravings in and around Harford County.

would be 200 students in the incoming freshman class.

“We want to keep the school a certain size. There are so many students around the world who want to come here and it certainly helps with our numbers,” Seiler said.

Without these 41 international students, enrollment “would be lower, however our domestic applications are above where they were this time last year,” Director of Admissions Kim Brueggemann said. Currently, application numbers as a whole are up 26 percent from last year. In Nov. 2011, 61 applications had been submitted, and this year at the end of November 84 applications had been submitted.

According to Associate Director of Admissions Eddie Maynard, December applications are also “on pace with last year’s.”

According to Seiler, by having these students, JC stands out among many other schools in the area. “We just think [having international students] is great for our entire program because it makes us unique in terms of marketing John Carroll,” she said.

Seiler also hopes to expand the diversity of students at JC. “What I would really like to personally do is make our International Student Program more diverse. Right now, just the number of Chinese people that there are in the world has driven why they make up such a large part of our international student population.”

Seiler hopes to reach out to other countries and even continents. “I’m really hoping that we will have students from each continent. I would love to have students from Latin America or even the Middle East, not that we want to have 50 percent international students or anything,” she said.

However, this ideal percentage has not been discussed by the administration. Currently, it is still early in the application process for both domestic and international students, and “the target number [of international students] has not yet been defined,” according to Brueggemann.

Continued on News 3

Index News...................................2 Lifestyles...............................4 A&E.....................................7 In-Depth...............................8 Opinion...............................11 Sports................................14 The John Carroll School 703 E Churchville Rd Bel Air, MD 21014

news 2

thepatriot December 2012

O’Hara travels to China to recruit students Hope Kelly

Managing Editor President Richard O’Hara and Coordinator of International Student Programs Sandi Seiler traveled to China for 11 days with the Cambridge Institute on Nov. 2-13. The trip strengthened JC’s relationships with current and potential Chinese parents and students.

The Cambridge Institute brings Chinese and American high schools together. The institute has been encouraging JC to travel to China to help them find students.

JC finally accepted the offer and Cambridge covered the expenses.

Between O’Hara and Seiler, they traveled to eight different cities, including Beijung, Guiyang, Fuzhou, Nanning, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.

They attended recruitment fairs and met with prospective students and parents. They also met with parents of current students.

“The parents that I met were incredibly grateful that I had traveled a great distance to meet them in person. Many of the parents really miss their children and some of them actually broke into tears when they met me,” Seiler said.

expected to “ Igetnever to China, much

less to be able to get to go up to the Great Wall. It was invigorating.

President Richard O’Hara

”

O’Hara learned about China and its culture, by climbing the Great Wall. “I never expected to get to China, much less to be

INSIDER

115 Japanese students arrive before exams Sydney Setree

Photo courtesy Richard O’Hara

From left to right, William Porter, Coordinator of International Student Programs Sandi Seiler, and President Richard O’Hara visit the Great Wall of China. O’Hara and Seiler traveled to China for 11 days to strengthen current and potential Chinese relationships. able to get to go up to the Great Wall. It was invigorating. It’s like a gazillion miles long, and we only saw one tiny section of it,” O’Hara said.

“The highlight of the trip for me was getting to visit Guizhou Experimental High School,” O’Hara said. He met with the headmaster and teachers and spoke to students about JC. Students in China are “preparing for their college entrance exam,” called the Gaokoo. According to O’Hara, coming to the U.S. “automatically expands their options.”

“What I was most pleased about was JC is a player on the international stage. They believe we have very high standards for international students’ admissions, which is true,” O’Hara said.

JC doesn’t accept students with varied English proficiency because there aren’t any existing

USA vs. CHINA The Patriot compares American high schools to Chinese high schools based on students per class, duration of each school day, and free time for extra curricular activites.

15 to 20 students per class

50 to 60 students per class

6 hours and 40 minutes

8 hours and 20 minutes

Extra curricular activities

More studying

programs designed for students who don’t speak English. International students who apply to JC have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and score at a certain level.

“The hope is that we will send somebody [to China] every year,” he said. According to O’Hara, this is important to “maintain the relationships with the recruitment agencies and the Chinese student’s parents.”

“JC is looking to recruit from as many as 20 to 25 other coun-

tries,” O’Hara said. According to O’Hara, the expansion to other countries will help JC to be “truer to our mission and to be a community that better reflects the world.” He said the Chinese parents wanted the “richer education” that has students from multiple countries.

“It’s important for me to communicate to our parents why the international student program is important,” O’Hara said. “I look forward to opportunities to do that.”

STEM program visits Johns Hopkins robotics lab Haley Kyger Sports Editor Freshman Claire Grunewald looks into the eye piece and sees everything in 3-D. She grabs the finger grippers and every inch of her movement is picked up and mimicked. This was her experience while using the DaVinici robot at the Johns Hopkins Robotics Lab on Nov. 30.

According to Grunewald, “the DaVinici robot is a surgical robot used for doing surgery inside the body without making large incisions. The robot arms and a camera would be inserted into the body and the surgeon would sit at the control center. They would Monday Closed Tuesday - Friday 10:00am to 9:00pm Saturday 9:00am to 3:00pm Sunday Closed

put their face in an eye piece, seeing everything the camera sees in 3-D, and then pinch the finger grippers to move the robot hands. Every twist of the wrist was picked up by the robot.”

Grunewald went to the lab with the STEM program. The class left around 9 a.m. and arrived back to school at 1:30 p.m.

Freshman Sydney Branch was another student who attended the field trip. “My favorite part was testing the robot they use during surgery. It was cool to see robots completing a task that may be difficult for humans to do. I also liked the fact that the lab wasn’t

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Managing Editor 115 male Japanese students arrived on Dec. 10 “to experience a college preparatory high school in the United States,” according to President Richard O’Hara.

The students are from LaSalle Catholic High School in Hakodate, Japan and stayed for a week with different host families.

They studied in classes during their visit. On Dec. 12, they took a field trip to Washington, D.C. “Some may be interested in attending JC in the future, but we don’t know that at this point,” O’Hara said.

Equestrian team hosts Christmas Bazaar Haley Kyger Sports Editor The equestrian team hosted their annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 1 from 12-5 p.m. in the upper gym.

There were various crafts, artists, and retail vendors. According to Equestrian Assistant Coach Louise Doherty, “each vendor had an 8-by-10 feet space to sell their items and promote their products.” Items the vendors sold included gifts, handcrafted jewelry, and fine art pieces.

Fraser fir Christmas trees, pine roping, wreaths, and poinsettias were also sold at the bazaar. “We also had a raffle of assorted gift items,” Doherty said.

All the money raised pays competition entry fees throughout the year for the equestrian team.

Music department performs Christmas concert Caitlin Wolfarth Photo courtesy Sydney Branch

STEM students watch a robot display at Johns Hopkins Robotics Center.

They were also able to experiment with a robot used during surgery. shut down for the tour. Then, you were able to see people at work on multiple projects as if it was a regular day,” Branch said.

According to math and science teacher Courtney Hugo, a highlight of the trip was when the students were able to use the Da Vinci robot. “The robot is used for laparoscopic surgery, which is surgery on the eyes,” Hugo said.

PhD and undergraduate robotics students at Johns Hopkins showed the class robots they are researching in their hydro lab.

One of the items was a $2 million robot.

“In the very beginning of the tour, we were taken into a room with a 14 foot tank filled with water. They told us how robots

for underwater use are made and how they operate. The robot they showed us had six motors and cameras to get a of view from every angle,” she said.

“I had never realized how sensitive robots are until I got to use one,” Grunewald said.

The purpose of the trip was “just to expose the students to a different part of science,” according to Hugo.

“I liked seeing all of the labs and everything set up in them.

When I was a grad student at University of Delaware, I worked for their bio resources engineering department and spent a lot of time in labs like that, so it was cool to be back in that environment,” Hugo said.

News Editor The chorus, orchestra, band, jazz band, and Belle Voce performed in the Christmas Concert on Dec. 7 from 7-9 p.m. in the auditorium.

The orchestra and chorus each performed three songs. In addition, the jazz band and band played five songs. There were two pieces with all the ensembles collaborating. Belle Voce also sang two songs.

Some examples of songs that were performed were “Carol of Bells” played by the band, two pieces from the movie “Polar Express” played by the jazz band, and “Oh Silent Night” sung in German by the chorus.

“My goal is to give students different styles of music to try and to get the audience into the Christmas spirit,” Music Director Marc Bolden said.

3 news

thepatriot December 2012

JC strives to meet preparatory school standards Emily Clarke Print Chief With all the choices of schools in Harford County, JC tries to separate itself by using the title “college preparatory” school. JC prepares its students for college with high SAT scores, higher grade and class requirements, and severe consequences for absence.

While JC scores are above the Maryland average and national average on SATs, JC does not have the best SAT scores in Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) for each category. As the bar graph below indicates, JC has the highest writing score at 518, but falls behind multiple HCPS in the mathematics and critical reading sections.

Despite JC not scoring the highest on the SATs, JC boasts an 80% attendance rate to 4-year colleges after graduation. The other 20% is split between 19% attending a 2-year college and 1% joining the military. In HCPS, 29.6% to 54.8% of their students attend a 4-year college after graduation.

English teacher Christine Zurkowski taught in public school but believes private school has more to offer its students. “The goal of the private school is to be able to tell other people who are going to pay tuition that we get students into good colleges, so everybody’s working towards that goal,” Zurkowski said.

The statistical variation between HCPS’s and JC’s attendance to college is not a result of SAT scores. According to college guidance counselor Carrie Siemsen, the difference lies in grades, attendance, and class requirements, “At JC, our students are held to a higher standard. In HCPS, the lowest passing grade

is 60 percent. At JC, the lowest passing grade is 70 percent. Those ten percentage points make a difference,” Siemsen said.

“We’re college prep, that’s our mission, that’s why parents pay to send their kids here.

It’s the focus of everything from your freshman year to your senior year,” social studies teacher Brian Powell said.

JC students also face expulsion because of failing grades, something that is not threatened at public schools. JC students can only attend the school for four years, unless granted special circumstances. That means that if a student fails multiple classes and has to repeat a grade, it cannot be repeated at JC. “If you are missing class time, you are not going to get the same out of your education as you were in class. Class time is extremely valuable because there is so much information given. If you miss that you are putting yourself very far behind,” Siemsen said.

HCPS disciplines its students with detentions, phone calls to parents, and probation for tardiness and absences after the first four per quarter. Students, however, cannot be expelled for being absent. They can only be forced to repeat a grade. At JC, students receive a detention on the fourth tardiness of a semester. Students can also receive two demerits - four demerits are required for expulsion - for unexcused absences.

According to the handbook, if students miss more than 10 days per semester or 20 days per year, they have to make up days in the summer before they can get academic credit.

JC also provides a special curriculum. According to Siemsen, JC offers “a curriculum

more rigorous than most high schools in the area. JC’s lowest level classes are called “college preparatory” classes.

“Countless graduates come back to JC and tell us we prepared them very well,” Siemsen said.

“I give my students more challenging questions and hold them to a higher standard than I did when I taught in a public school where most of the students were not planning on attending any school after graduation,” math teacher Jean Willan said.

Senior Jimmy Knell sees private schools as having an advantage over public school, having attended Fallston Middle School before coming to JC. “It seems like the teachers are a lot more involved, where public schools seem to just not care about all the students. It just seems like these teachers are more involved in our lives than just our learning. I think John Carroll is actually preparing us for university, where in a public school, they are not too set on getting all of their kids into colleges.”

“It seems that students who come from public school have a harder time adjusting to our curriculum. I think as a school community, we do an excellent job of preparing all of our students, no matter what their background, for college level academics,” Siemsen said.

“I felt that going into private school after being in public school for so long, I was unprepared and behind everyone else,” junior Marina Conits said.

According to social studies teacher Rodney Johnson, who has also taught in public school, “kids always come back and tell us they are prepared for the college experience.”

MARYLAND SAT SCORES Critical Reading

502 Writing

Edgewood C. Milton Wright

516

427

Critical Reading

514 Writing

Fallston

489

496

Mathematics

488

Critical Reading Mathematics Writing

529

John Carroll

528 525 518

Patterson Mill

SAT Scores

488

553

451 457

512

Mathematics

NATIONAL SAT SCORES

How does JC stack up to local public high schools?

537

497

507 516

495

0

400

500

600

JC welcomes international students, fulfills mission statement Continued from Front Page In addition to gains in enrollment, Seiler believes that having international students will be academically beneficial to JC. “Academically, we really attract top qualified students. [Having these students] will eventually impact SAT scores. I can see our average SAT score going up in the future.

They are extremely determined,” Seiler said.

Another reason for the influx

of international students has to do with the fulfillment of JC’s mission statement, according to Brueggemann. “When you have educating the whole person as our mission statement says, we want to prepare students to serve responsibly in shaping a more just and compassionate global society,” she said.

“We believe that having international students is directly in line with our mission statement.

By having the students here, I

think that the American students can experience first-hand international cultures. It also stretches you in terms of tolerance,” Seiler said.

Domestic students also find that having international students can be beneficial to them. Freshman Eric Watson has enjoyed the interactions with international students in the orchestra. “The foreign exchange students are the only good players,” Watson said. In addition to this, he thinks

“honestly, it’s actually quite fun to learn about their experiences and where they come from.”

After having international students in her classes for all four years, senior Autumn Blevins has also enjoyed the diversity of the high school. “I think it’s really cool to have such diversity in our school, I like listening to them talk, even if I can’t understand what they are saying. The different languages sound so pretty,” Blevins said.

In the future, Seiler hopes to have more, better relationships between domestic and international students. “I have been listening to other schools [that] have requirements for their domestic kids to have to spend a certain amount of time with one of the international kids, going to the movies or to a concert or something, just encouraging them to meet,” she said. “We want to find ways to better celebrate the diverse cultures among us.”

lifestyles 4

thepatriot December 2012

Advisories bond by giving back to community Shannon Olsen Lifestyles Editor A little girl excitedly wakes up on Christmas morning and races down the stairs to see what Santa has left for her. Her eyes twinkle at the sight of the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree.

“The glow of a child’s eyes on Christmas morning is worth all the effort that goes into the season,” science teacher Tim Perry said. Perry’s advisory donates toys to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation every year during the holiday season.

For senior Kiana Wright, a student in Perry’s advisory, the best part about doing this project is “picking out the toy for the kids.”

Perry’s advisory is not the only one helping the less fortunate.

Spanish teacher Deirdre Magner’s advisory is collecting items for the elderly. The items that Magner’s advisory gathers will go to the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“I could not imagine not having someone there to take care of me, so knowing that I am making a difference in people’s lives is

Photo by Ashley Beyer

Enhance teacher Ann Drummey and junior Carley Bynion make dog beds during advisory. Drummey and her advisory normally make blankets for the less fortunate, but wanted to do something different this year. my favorite part about this project,” senior Sierra Ficca said.

Enhance teacher Ann Drummey’s advisory decided to do something different by makingdog beds and donating them to the Humane Society.

“I like how it’s something different and that we are actually in-

volved in it,” sophomore Morgan Broman said.

Spanish teacher Danica Attanasio’s and Principal Madelyn Ball’s advisories are collecting items that food stamps don’t cover. These include laundry detergent, pillows, and shampoo.

“We decided to do this project

so that we could give to those who are less fortunate during this holiday season,” Attanasio said.

During this season, several advisories have decided to adopt families for Christmas. Science teacher Julie Baker’s advisory adopted a family because they “wanted to help someone who

needed it,” according to Baker.

Math and science teacher Courtney Hugo and senior project coordinator Louise Géczy’s advisories teamed up and also adopted a family for Christmas as well.

According to Géczy, they “like knowing that they have a positive impact on someone else’s life.”

According to Director of Enrollment Kim Brueggemann, her advisory decided to adopt a family because “it is Christmas-time, and we should give to others in need.” Also, adopting a family for Christmas “is something [my] advisory does as a group every year, and it brings us closer together,” Brueggemann said.

“My favorite part is being able to deliver the gifts to the family and see their reaction. It just makes the experience much more personal,” junior Rachel Weskalnies, a member of Brueggemann’s advisory, said.

According to religion teacher Christopher Yeung, “Christmas is about the birth of hope in the human heart. It should transform us for the better.”

International students experience holiday spirit Chioma Iheoma Opinion Editor Lit paper lanterns fill junior Harry Wu’s view as he looks up into the sky. The Spring Festival in China has come to a close with the Lantern Festival.

“Christianity is not widely spread in China,” Wu said. Because of this, some Chinese students don’t celebrate Christmas in China.

“It’s a tradition that people celebrate Spring Festival in China,” Wu said. In the United States, the Spring Festival is called the Chinese New Year. “We celebrate the coming of spring and our family comes together,” Wu said.

This Spring Festival will take place on Feb. 10, 2013. 15 days later, the Spring Festival ends with the Lantern Festival.

“Chinese people began celebrating Spring Festival several centuries ago and we do the same thing since then,” Wu said.

Wu will be celebrating Christmas with his host family this year.

According to sophomore Mateus Maccieri, Christmas festivities in Italy are similar to the ones celebrated in the U.S. “We have Santa Claus, but there’s no snow,” Maccieri said.

Another similarity to American traditions is the family-oriented aspect. “I usually go to my grandmother’s for dinner,” Maccieri said.

Dinner usually starts around 12 p.m. and lasts about 12 hours on Christmas Eve, according to Maccieri.

“A lot of people have an important dinner,” Maccieri said.

“They stay together until midnight and then they go to Mass.”

While Maccieri stays up late to celebrate Mass, sophomore Steven Dierksmeier from Germany wakes up early. “We usually go to church before we open presents,” Dierksmeier said.

I think [Christmas festivities are] pretty similar because Germany isn’t too different. We have all the similar traditions,” Dierksmeier said.

Photos courtesy Harry Wu

Above: The Lunar New Year parade takes place during the Lunar New Year. Right: Firework display at the Ke Lok Si Illuminati in China. Wu celebrates Lunar New Year, also know as The Spring Festival, each year.

In South Korea, however, Christmas isn’t as big of a deal as it is in the U.S., according to senior Iris Kim. “Christmas in Korea is not considered as big as it is here. We have only one day off,” Kim said.

Christmas activities in South Korea are still similar to the activities done here. “We decorate

1.4 billion people in the world celebrate the Chinese New Year According to www.quora.com

22%

of those celebrating Christmas in the U.S. think this will be a happier Christmas than last year According to www.gallup.com

the trees and exchange gifts with family and friends. Some people who are Christians go to church, too,” Kim said.

Kim also points out the differences between Christmas and New Year’s in U.S. and South Korea. “People celebrate New Year’s Day more than Christmas [in South Korea],” Kim said.

Kim will not be returning to South Korea this year for Christmas. “I’m going to visit my sister in Las Vegas,” Kim said. However, Kim’s holiday plans extend farther than Las Vegas.

“We’re going to watch a lot of shows,” Kim said. “We’re going to California, to San Francisco.”

of the U.S. celebrates Christmas

93% 65%

According to www.gallup.com

of those celebrating Christmas in the U.S. will attend a religious service on Christmas Eve or Day According to www.gallup.com

Artwork by Emily Hennegan

Kurt Sudbrink: Vice President for Institutional Advancement Students may not recognize him as he strums along in Music Ministry, but Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kurt Sudbrink, class of ‘88, is returning to his roots by playing guitar in Mass.

“It’s a passion of mine, so any time I can play guitar during a workday makes it a great workday,” Sudbrink said.

Sudbrink attended JC, and his father worked as the principal from 1974 to 1990, so he “grew up around the school.”

He is drawn to JC because “every day I feel a little closer to him by working here ...

I am very proud to be a part of a place that he loved so much,” Sudbrink said.

As part of his job, Sudbrink contacts alumni and other people in the community about connecting financially, through volunteering, and “spreading the good news of [JC] in the community.” Students don’t see him often because his office is in St. Joseph’s Hall.

“It is such a joy to do this work for such a place that [I] love so much,” Sudbrink said.

By Martha Schick, Multimedia Chief

Sue Greig: Campus Service Coordinator

Campus Service Coordinator Sue Greig, class of ‘78, sits in her office twirling her class ring on her finger and typing away at her computer. Greig is the gatekeeper to holding events on campus.

“I oversee the school calendar and handle the entire inside and outside usage of the building. I handle all ring orders. I serve as an administrative assistant to the facilities department,” Greig said. Greig worked as Director of Alumni Relations for 15 years, but quit when it was cut to part time.

Due to the large amount of jobs and campus renovations, Greig has moved offices many times. She has been moved to the office next to the new bathrooms and now to her office in the guidance hallway. “Since I’ve been here I’ve been moved five times.

I feel like they’re going to move me to the loading dock,” Greig said.

“I enjoy just being here at John Carroll. As an alumna, John Carroll was so much a part of my life and I’m fortunate to give back,” Greig said.

By Chioma Iheoma, Opinion Editor

Theresa Lambert: SAGE Dining Services

At 87 years old, banquet waitress Theresa Lambert is called in to man the register in the cafeteria, perform jobs of a cook, and serve food. “I’m a jack of all trades,” Lambert said.

“She maintains the same diligent stamina no matter how long she works,” SAGE Dining Service Manager Jerry Hammer said.

After Lambert’s husband died, she “had to go out and find a job, and that’s what caused me to go out and be a banquet waitress.”

Lambert also got a job working for the court system. At this job, she typed letters for women to establish a court order so they could obtain child support.

Though she retired from the court system in 1989, Lambert continued to work for SAGE Dining Services, who she has been with for 20 years. Lambert came to JC with the company about four years ago. “I enjoy working. Everyone has been nice to me,” Lambert said.

Lambert wishes to “continue to work as long as long as she is able,” according to Hammer.

By Kailey Tracy, Copy Chief

Behind the Curtains: Stewart Walker: Director of Facilities Order forms for toilet paper, air vents, and bleach are just as likely to come across Stewart Walker’s desk as federal and state building permits and notices of Health Department inspections.

As Director of Facilities, he works to keep the school clean, safe, and running smoothly.

Walker’s main responsibility is coordinating the facilities and cleaning staff, as well as the outside contractors, vendors, and suppliers, and has taken the lead in implementing JC’s Master Facilities Plan.

Walker is also JC’s direct connection with outside agencies and entities. On a regular basis he deals with representatives of the town of Bel Air, state and local police officials, and government agencies like the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Having been in his position since Jan. 10, 2010, Walker says his favorite part about JC is interacting with the students when he gets the chance. “There’s always a few kids that get thrown my way during senior project and I love working with them.”

By Bryan Doherty, Opinion Editor

The Patriot goes backstage to uncover the covert contributions of some JC’s lesser-known staff members

5 lifestyles thepatriot December 2012

thepatriot December 2012

Romero sells sweets to support Sandy sufferers Kailey Tracy Copy Chief Plastic bags full of toddler’s sweatpants and mom jeans fill sophomore Annie Lerch’s view as she gazes around her garage. Lerch and her family prepared to fill a U-Haul truck with the donations, bringing the clothes to her old town near the devastated Jersey Shore.

Lerch moved from Toms River, New Jersey, last year to Fallston.

Although she lived on the mainland and there was not much damage to her old home from Hurricane Sandy, Lerch’s friends suffered much worse. “One of my mom’s friends who she worked with, her home was completely washed away. All she has left is what she put in her car,” Lerch said.

Another family friend packed up her car and family to escape the rising waters, but was overtaken by a flood. They crawled out of their car’s windows, only to swim to different neighbors’ homes. “She couldn’t get in touch with her husband because the cell towers were down.

For a period of time following the hurricane, the high school she would’ve attended functioned as a shelter, along with another area school.

After watching the images on TV of the storm-ravaged town she was once a part of, she said it was “kind of nerve wracking. I remember playing at [my friends’] houses, and now they’re gone,” Lerch said.

Lerch’s family began gathering donations shortly after the disaster, starting with her family’s old clothes. Her mom then took the

By Ashley Beyer

Photo Credit Shannon Olsen

Junior Karly Horn writes candy grams for students that donated school supplies. The donated items are going to Uganda and hurricane Sandy victims. drive to her old town to donate the clothes, and has since made two other trips with donations stemming from neighbors, friends, and her sister’s soccer team.

The donations have gone to a group created by women in her old neighborhood after the hurricane, Community Outreach Relief Effort (CORE). According to Lerch, people in the community tell CORE what they need, and the group gathers it for them.

The family is also giving the donations to “little relief groups who are helping people directly,” Lerch said. Lerch and her family are delivering the supplies to four schools in and bordering Lerch’s old town.

The Romero Club is teaming up with Le-

rch, gathering school supplies for neighboring schools in the affected area. Collaborating with the Culture Shock Club, who is collecting supplies for orphans in Uganda, the Romero Club used the incentive of candy grams to entice students to donate.

For every one supply students brought in or for 50 cents, they received a small candy cane.

If students brought in five school supplies or $1.00, they received a big candy cane, and if they brought in 10 school supplies or $2.00, they received a singing candy gram.

According to Lerch, gathering donations and giving back to her old neighborhood makes her feel like “I’m a part of up there still and [that] they’re still my family.”

Teacher Spotlight:

Alvin Ward, Math Teacher, class of ‘70 Stats

Ashley Beyer Lifestyles Editor

Subject: Algebra 2, Geometry Years teaching: 39 Interesting fact: He golfs with other faculty members, including math teacher Robert Torres, social studies teacher Anthony Del Puppo, math teacher Joseph Iacchei, and retired gym teacher Adolph Pons.

Pet Peeves: When students do not do their homework, because they are missing an opportunity to learn.

Riding in the wake of his friend’s boat, math teacher Alvin Ward, class of ‘70, kicks up a 10 foot spray. For Ward, this is just another vacation day on the water.

Ward has been water skiing since his junior year at JC, when he bought his first boat. “I raised money for the boat from my job. I was a paper boy,” Ward said.

His love of water skiing started at a young age, stemming from “seeing my mom waterski when I was young, I had to try it,” Ward said.

Ward first tried water skiing when he was 10, but was “unsuccessful.”

Since then, however, he has improved, but skiing still comes with its challenges. His favorite memory of water skiing was “trying to waterski barefoot. I saw them do it at Cypress Garden, Florida and on TV. I said ‘I’ve got to try it.’ After multiple tries, and falling while the boat was going 50 mph, I packed it in.”

He even has his own boat, The Relation Ship.

His children sometimes water ski on it, though Ward does not because it’s “too slow.”

Although Ward loves water skiing, there are some things he wishes he didn’t have to experience. His least favorite part is “falling and doing a face plant at fast speeds, 50 to 60 mph, and the water going up your nose,” Ward said.

At 60 years old, Ward likes to go skiing at the beach with his family, his brother-in-law and

Fork Veterinary Hospital, Inc. Specializing in Companion Animal Care Kevin C. Doherty, VMD

12546 Harford Road Fork, Maryland 20151-0118

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lifestyles 6 Yoga and Zumba pump teens up Healthy you

410-592-7569 Fax: 410-592-5675

Photo courtesy Alvin Ward

Math teacher Alvin Ward on his boat, The Relation Ship. Ward enjoys going on his boat and water skiing on his friend’s boat. daughters mostly, and thinks that it’s good that he can still ski. “I’m 60 years old and still doing it. That’s great,” Ward said.

Ward hopes to keep water skiing “as long as I am still physically able to ski.”

Ariel Basham Teacher of Piano & Voice Call for lessons in Contemporary, Popular, Jazz, Blues, Classical, and Gospel Music

410-836-7359 arielbashamsmusic.com

Exercising is not always at the top of teens’ to do lists, but it doesn’t have to be boring.

Doing fun exercises like yoga and Zumba are easy ways to exercise and stick with it.

Doing yoga is a great way to strengthen your muscles. Some poses that are best for beginners are the plank, full boat, chair, and downward-facing dog.

To do the plank pose, get in a position similar to a high push-up.

Hold that position for 30 seconds to one minute. This pose helps build wrist and shoulder strength.

The full boat pose helps to tone and strengthen your abdominal muscles. Lying on the ground, your body should be shaped like a V with your arms straight out and your hands placed on the front of your legs.

In the chair pose, raise your hands straight above your head and bend your legs as if you are sitting in a chair to strengthen your lower back and legs.

At first, the chair pose was challenging for me because it involves a lot of upper leg strength, but after doing the pose several times, I was able to hold the pose for 30 seconds to one minute.

The downward-facing dog helps strengthen your lower back and shoulders and decreases back pain. Your body should be in an upside down V shape with your hands and feet flat on the floor.

To view these yoga poses, go to www.jcpatriot.com.

Another fun way to exercise is Zumba, which has been a great way for me to get into shape. You can enroll in classes or buy a video game for Wii or Xbox Kinect.

Zumba involves challenging Latin style dances. They are fun to do and yield great results. Exercising with friends is a good way to stick with it. Doing Zumba regularly can strengthen and tone your muscles and improve your health overall.

Because I don’t have time to enroll in classes, I purchased the Zumba video game for Xbox Kinect. Now I am able to get into shape in my free time.

Zumba was difficult the first time because I had never done any Latin style dancing before.

Though the steps were challenging, I was able to pick up the moves.

It has a warm up, a main dance, and a cool down so you are able to get your heart pumping and experience different styles of Latin dancing.

Once I got the hang of it, Zumba became enjoyable and it is now one of my favorite ways to exercise.

Staying in shape, and finding fun ways to do it, is vital during the teenage years.

Bites:

quick

7 A&E

thepatriot December 2012

The Patriot staff scopes out the best breakfast joints in and around Harford County

Sunny Day Café

101 South Main Street Bel Air, MD 410-877-9020 www.sunnydaycafebelair.com

Rating Photo by Cole Alban

The Sunshine Grille offers tasty strawberry banana smoothies.

They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Sunshine Grille 12607 Fork Road Fork, MD 410-592-3378 www.sunshinegrille.com

Rating

Sunshine Grille’s food proves worthy of the hassle of waking up on the weekend.

Cole Alban Managing Editor Few people would like to venture out of their beds in the morning, even for breakfast. Traveling outside of Harford County for breakfast is even harder. However, heading out to the Sunshine Grille is worth the trip.

After entering the Sunshine Grille, it was a bit surprising to see that the waiting room was filled with people. However, I only had to wait 20 minutes for a table.

The restaurant welcomed me with a warm atmosphere. There looked to be too many people stuffed into a small space, but this just added to the cozy atmosphere.

The menu was large, but most of it was for dinner and lunch.

The breakfast menu was only about one page. There was an array of different foods from breakfast burritos, omelets, sandwiches, pancakes, and waffles.

I decided on getting French toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs.

I also got a strawberry banana smoothie. It took five minutes to reach my table. When I received it I noticed its consistency was not as thick as I would have liked, but the flavors were great.

The French toast finally arrived 20 minutes later. The thick and puffy bread was soft and light in the middle and became a bit tougher towards the crust. The portion was large. My eggs were not as light and airy as I would have liked, but they still tasted good. The bacon was cooked perfectly.

All in all, the breakfast was great and I would recommend the Sunshine Grille to anyone looking for a cozy breakfast spot.

The new Sunny Day Café charms customers with cozy atmosphere and fantastic food.

Mary Kate Luft A&E Editor Warmth and the smell of sausage and eggs lured me in. As we entered the newly opened Sunny Day Café, we were greeted by the aroma of good food and a cheerful waitress. She happily told us to sit wherever we would like and that she would be right with us. It was a good first impression.

We took our seats in a booth at the front of the restaurant. Within 10 seconds of sitting down, our waitress came by, handed us menus, and took our drink orders.

While she got our drinks, we decided on what to get to eat.

The Sunny Day Café has pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, a variety of omelets, and a whole page of the menu dedicated to savory and sweet crepes. I was interested in the s’mores crepe, a sweet crepe filled with graham crackers, melted marshmallows, and chocolate chips. However, because I have an allergy to tree

Photo by Mary Kate Luft

This scrumptious Wonderful Day Waffle Platter from Sunny Day Café is one of the delicious items on their menu.

Sunny Day Café is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. nuts and Nutella and pecans are used with other crepes, I first had to check to see if it would be safe for me to eat.

I told my waitress of my allergy and she immediately went to check with the chef. I hoped that she would return to tell me that it would be fine for me to eat.

Instead, she came back with the chef, who told me that he could not guarantee that there would not be cross-contamination between the different crepes. Although I was disappointed that I would not be able to try the s’mores crepe, I appreciated him coming out personally to talk to me.

I decided on the Wonderful Day Waffle Platter in lieu of the

crepe. I still got to see the s’mores crepe, though, because my brother ordered it. Drizzled with chocolate syrup and surrounded by dollops of whipped cream, it looked amazing. My waffle platter looked good too. The waffle was sprinkled with powdered sugar and it came with two eggs cooked to my desire, a sausage link, and two strips of bacon.

I ordered my eggs scrambled.

They were delicious. They had the perfect balance of moisture to dryness. The sausage was good as well. It was a large link with a nice crispy casing and good flavor. My Belgian waffle was also tasty, and I liked that it was only half of a Belgian waffle.

My only complaint is that there was no pure maple syrup available. I can’t stand the thick artificial syrup that seemingly all restaurants serve. If I could make one change to the Sunny Day Café, I would have them offer pure maple syrup, even if they would have to charge extra for it.

I would gladly pay a bit more to enjoy the sweet amber goodness that is pure and real maple syrup.

Overall, I enjoyed the Sunny Day Café, and I plan to go back in the near future. The previous two restaurants that were located there went out of business in a few years, but I sincerely hope that the Sunny Day Café will stay for many years to come.

Sweet Devotion

1834C Pulaski Highway Havre de Grace, MD 410-306-6610 www.sweetdevotioncupcakes.com

Rating

Sweet Devotion brings France to Bel Air with tasty sweet and savory crepes.

Emily Clarke Print Chief Living in Bel Air, it’s hard to find a crepe, let alone a decent one. Luckily for the inner Frenchman in us all, Sweet Devotion Cupcake and Creperie Café is up to the task.

A quaint café in a small Havre de Grace shopping center, Sweet Devotion is locally famous for its cupcakes. However, they also have a wide array of sweet and savory crepes.

After walking in, I ordered,

Photo by Emily Clarke

This delectable s’mores crepe from Sweet Devotion is just one of many enjoyable options on Sweet Devotion’s menu. Sweet Devotion offers a variety of sweet and savory crepes. paid, and found a seat. I attempted to satisfy my sweet tooth by ordering a s’mores crepe. My friend ordered a chocolate chip waffle.

There were about six tables, a counter with stools, and a couch for those willing to eat without a table. The food came out within 10 minutes and smelled irresistible, though it may have smelled so delicious because I hadn’t eaten anything yet and hadn’t realized how hungry I was. Maybe the sweet smell made me nostalgic of the crepes I remember from Paris. Either way, I dug right in.

The crepe was golden brown

and had just the right amount of crunch to it. In the very first bite, the inside ingredients exploded with flavor. It was a rush of chocolate, marshmallow fluff, and crushed up graham cracker.

The crepe was stuffed with the welcome taste of a s’more at a bonfire.

My friend’s waffle was tasty and had just the right amount of chocolate chips in it, but it was nothing out of this world. The crepes are what I would come back for.

If you don’t have a sweet tooth, fret not, Sweet Devotion has a

few choices of breakfast-friendly savory crepes. If you’re one of those people who eats lunch for breakfast, they also have lunch crepes.

Don’t forget to buy a cupcake or scone before you leave. Their bakery is stocked with scones and at least six types of cupcakes a day. Sweet Devotion recentely started selling their holiday flavored cupcakes, such as their Peppermint Twist Cupcake.

Whether you want something sweet or savory, you can’t go wrong with Sweet Devotion, no matter what your preference.

By Kailey Tracy, additional reporting by Brianna Glase In a world of academics and athletics, the world that is JC, no one gender seems to pack the dominating punch. Women swoop onto the scene towering above men in the number of athletic Letters of Intent and alumni volunteering on reunion planning committees. They also demonstrate their strength in the academic honors arena. Vocalizing their power in the classroom, seven out of the top ten GPAs per quarter in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes belong to women. However, the 2012-2013 school year’s enrollment plays to their benefit greatly, with 374 females and 319 males. Men strike back with big numbers in the Athletic Hall of Fame and top administrators. As

Culture Shock has 20 females and 3 males as members.

Between The Patriot and Yearbook staff, there are 30 females and 3 males. Respect Life Club has 24 females to 5 males as members.

only one female is inducted into the Hall each year on average, four top administrators out of five wear a red cape as opposed to red high heeled Wonder Woman boots, showing male dominance in these domains. Certain duels are still being duked out, such as athletic championships, which hold a “consistent pattern” depending on competition, according to Athletic Director Larry Dukes. Regarding faculty who are alumni and top positions in this world, like academic department chairs, the sexes are on the same wavelength.

Take your bets on who will claim the final blow, and read ahead to see how the sexes have evolved in dominance over the years at JC.

For the 20122013 school year, 47% of the student body is male and 53% is female.

! !

W W W O P KA

9 in-depth

thepatriot December 2012

The Patriot measures which gender packs a bigger punch in their pursuit of truth, justice, and the American Way. At JC, for every 1 Letter of Intent that a man signs, 10 are signed by women.

RA

G G R

On averge, only 1 woman is inducted each year ito the Hall of Fame.

The amount of men and women in each department is about even, although women are outnumbered 4 to 1 in the administration.

Mwaha hahaha ...

To protect their secret identities, seniors Hannah Jacques’ and Thomas Gardner’s names cannot be revealed.

“I think girls run the school, because

they outnumber us and girls have more assertive personalities.”

Take that, Smarty Pants!

For the 20122013 school year, 71% of students recieving first quarter honors were female.

A

Supermen vs.

Wonder Women

in-depth 8

thepatriot December 2012

QPA Top 10 Rankings Class of 2013: 7 females, 3 males Class of 2014: 7 females, 3 males Class of 2015: 7 females, 3 males

“I think females run the school, because not only do we suceed academically and athletically, we dominate the social aspects as well.”

Allison Kozel, ‘13

Brad Paszkiewicz, ‘14

SW OO SH

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A&E 10

thepatriot December 2012

Romero Club donates Maryland themed tree to Festival of Trees Caitlin Wolfarth News Editor

Photo by Emily Cassidy

Junior Zane Van Pelt creates a painting of junior Jessica Ruff in Honors Studio 3 class. Van Pelt has been taking art classes for two and a half years.

Junior finds comfort, relief in creating art Cole Alban Sports Editor Junior Zane Van Pelt sits down in the art wing and clears his mind. Everything that has been going on in his life flows out of his mind, through his paintbrush, and onto the canvas. Van Pelt not only takes art because it’s his favorite class, but because it gives him time to relax and clear his mind.

Van Pelt took his first JC art class when he transferred as a sophomore. However, he first began taking art in his freshman year at Boy’s Latin. Van Pelt said he began taking art because “[He] found studio as a way to take time for myself to think about whatever is on my mind.”

Van Pelt is currently taking Honors Studio 3, which is taught by art teacher Bruno Baran. Van Pelt has had Baran as a teacher his entire time here There is not one favorite art class Van Pelt has, as they are similar. “All studio classes are a sequel of each other with different assignments as we learn more techniques for different mediums, so I cannot really pick a favorite,” he said.

Van Pelt prefers creating whatever he can think of when in studio class. “I prefer doing any kind of studio artwork that pops into my mind as something I like or that I am interested in,” he said.

Van Pelt does not have a specific work of art that he made and likes the most, but has a few favorites. “I like my dream catcher, and my anatomical heart. Also I like my charcoal portrait and my oil painting of a hibiscus flower,” Van Pelt said.

Currently Van Pelt is working on portraits. “They aren’t my favorite projects to do but it is not too bad.”

Baran believes that Van Pelt is talented but has room for improvement. “He is a good artist but he needs to apply himself more just like everyone else,” Baran said.

Baran says he enjoys Van Pelt’s drawing work the best.

“I have seen a lot of improvement in his work.”

The Bel Air Armory was filled with Christmas spirit and eccentrically decorated Christmas trees. People gathered around to admire and bid on trees ranging from miniature to seven feet tall. Among the trees was JC’s “Christmas in Maryland,” decorated by the Romero Club.

The Romero Club and other schools and businesses in Harford County helped people prepare for Christmas by participating in the seventh Annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance.

Each school or business that participated bought a tree, decorated it, and donated it to the Festival. Each decorated tree was then auctioned off.

Christmas wreaths and gingerbread houses were also up for sale.

All the trees at the festival were sold. The three-day event raised about $30,000 and a record number of 2,500 people attended.

The money raised at the festival went to support the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance. This organization raises money for Upper Chesapeake’s Cancer Life Net Program, which helps to prevent and treat cancer, according to Romero Club moderator Rachel Harkins.

Health teacher Tess Gauthier donated an artificial tree to the club. With inspiration from Maryland Day during Spirit Week, seniors Becky Hottle and Susie Cumpston painted the tree skirt like the Maryland flag.

“Susie Cumpston and I made Maryland pants for spirit day and Mrs. Gauthier asked how we made them. I just offered to make the skirt because I like to paint,” Hottle said.

The Romero Club also hosted a bake sale at a home football game to raise money for other supplies. In addition to the tree skirt and the bake sale, students donated Ravens, Orioles, and other Maryland-themed ornaments to be hung on the tree.

A Baltimore Ravens Santa hat was used as a tree topper. According to

Photo by Caitlin Wolfarth

Junior Jessie Clingerman (above) decorates the Romero Club’s tree at the Bel Air Armory. The tree’s theme was all things Maryland. Below, a tag that identified JC’s Christmas in Maryland tree is displayed on top of the tree. Attendees at the event could bid on the tree with the profits going to Chesapeake Cancer Life Net Program Harkins, the club spent around $90 on supplies.

According to Harkins, six club members spent an hour and a half at the Armory in Bel Air on Nov. 23 to decorate the tree and set up.

According to Co-President of Romero Club junior Jessie Clingerman, due to the lack of ornaments donated by students, club members had to decorate ornaments there, using plain ornaments and glitter glue.

“In the future, I would like to get the school more involved in bringing decorations,” Clingerman said. “We had to make ornaments there. It was pretty crazy.”

Also, the club was not informed that the Festival was a contest. The trees were all voted on and a prize was given to the winner at the end.

“I would possibly like to win the prize next year,” Harkins said.

Despite these two minor problems, the Romero Club views the event as a success.

Cu p c a ke s w i t h C a s s i d y Emily Cassidy A&E Editor Nothing says Christmas better than hot chocolate and peppermint. This cupcake is the perfect combination of everyone’s two favorite things of the season. They are sure to be a hit at any Christmas party this year.

Hot chocolate cupcakes: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup cocoa powder 2 cups granulated sugar 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3 eggs 1 packet Hot Chocolate with 3/4 cup warm milk 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla extract Icing: 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened 6 cups confectioner’s sugar 1/4 – 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Instructions: Cupcake Base 1.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.

2.

In bowl of stand mixer, combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients: eggs, hot chocolate/milk mixture, vegetable oil and vanilla.

4.

Beat on medium speed until well combined. *Note the batter may seem thick, but that is normal* 5.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter.

6.

Bake for 16 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

7.

Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

8.

Once cupcakes are completely cool frost with Peppermint Buttercream.

Photo by Caitlin Wolfarth

“I think it [The Festival of Trees] was pretty successful,” Clingerman said. “It is something I would definitely want to do in the future.”

“The Romero Club has definitely grown this year,” Harkins said. “It was awesome to get out in the community and do something outside of JC. It was also fun to see everyone over the Thanksgiving break.”

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

For the icing: 1.

In bowl of stand mixer, beat butter until creamy.

2.

Gradually add in confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time.

3.

Add milk until you reach desired consistency.

4.

Add peppermint extract and mix well.

5.

Spread evenly onto cupcakes when cooled.

Pro

11 opinion

thepatriot December 2012 The Patriot

Marijuana should be legalized to lower crime rates and increase state revenue through taxation

Bryan Doherty Opinion Editor Americans are getting addicted to the idea of legalized marijuana.

The federal government should decriminalize it and states like Maryland should move towards legalization.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in two states in last month’s election. However, it is still illegal under federal law and in every other state. The federal and state governments refuse to acknowledge they are wasting time, money, and resources, and refuse to see the upside to legalizing marijuana.

Every police department, every district attorney’s office, and some federal agencies waste some form of manpower, taxpay-

er money, and resources to find, arrest, and convict users of recreational marijuana.

This does no good. In fact, it’s causing more harm than good.

Otherwise law abiding citizens, many of them young, have their lives ruined by run-ins with the law because of marijuana.

Too much time and money is being spent to put away petty, non-violent offenders. Instead of continuing to make marijuana a taxpayer money pit that sucks up governmental resources, make it a revenue creating machine.

If the legalization of recreational marijuana took place in more states, the local, state, and federal governments’ tax revenues could potentially go through the roof. Each ounce of pot and all drug paraphernalia could be

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014 Volume 48, Issue 2, December 2012

Print Chief: Emily Clarke Online Chief: Brianna Glase Multimedia Chief: Martha Schick Copy Chief: Kailey Tracy Artwork by Brynly Wilson

taxed. That is billions of dollars that can be added to the government’s income.

The government has an opportunity to stop wasting money trying to fix a problem that will never go away and create an enormous amount of revenue at the same time. This is money that

can be used for more important things like stopping dangerous crime, improving education, and improving infrastructure.

Maryland needs to stop tripping out and look at the cold hard facts. The economic benefits to legalizing marijuana far outweigh any negative side effects.

Con

Should marijuana be legalized in Maryland?

The health risks of marijuana far outweigh the benefits that would come with its legalization

Artwork by Catey Minnis

Patriots Answer

Brianna Glase Online Chief

After this past election, Colorado and Washington voters made the awful decision to legalize marijuana.

Maryland should certainly not follow in their footsteps for the general health and well-being of its citizens.

Marijuana may seem like no big deal but it has drastic psychological and physical effects.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, many studies have shown a correlation between marijuana use and increased anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Marijuana also heavily affects a person’s physical health. A person smoking marijuana is nearly five times more likely to suffer a heart attack at that moment because of increased heart rates.

Some say that it isn’t an addictive drug. Scientists beg to differ: according to WebMD, marijuana is a physically addictive drug that shows signs of addiction even for occasional users, and even worse signs with continued use.

Some say marijuana should be legal since cigarettes are. But according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana smoke contains up to 70 percent more cancer-causing substances than regular cigarette smoke.

According to the Huffington Post, a study done at the University of Michigan showed that marijuana use for teens has been on the rise.

The teenage years are some of a person’s most vulnerable, and Maryland should strive to provide guidance for teens. If there are laws in place that help to show them what’s right and wrong, their morals will follow suit.

Authorities should crack down more on marijuana use, especially with those who supply it to others, so that marijuana use starts to decline.

Marijuana damages the health of those that smoke it and the only way to counter the rise of marijuana use and combat these health risks is to keep it illegal. Maryland should first and foremost look out for the health and morality of its citizens, not the statistical benefits for the economy.

Should marijuana be legalized in MD? Why or why not?

Ryan Sheehan Sophomore

Brianna Mallory Junior

Zak Flair Senior

Rodney Johnson Social Studies

“I don’t think it’s “Absolutely. It would a good idea. make great revenue People abuse for the state. So it and it makes much more money things worse. would come in.”

“No, it will really impact the people of MD to become more pressured to actually smoke.”

“It should be legalized because people should be able to have rights to their own body.”

“I would favor strict medical marijuana but I’m not sure of the social and economic results.”

Rachel DiCamillo Freshman

News Editors: Sydney Setree Caitlin Wolfarth Lifestyles Editors: Ashley Beyer Shannon Olsen A&E Editors: Emily Cassidy Mary Kate Luft In-Depth Editors: Lauren Fabiszak Meredith Haggerty Hope Kelly Opinion Editors: Bryan Doherty Chioma Iheoma Sports Editors: Cole Alban Haley Kyger Copy Editors: Rebecca Driver Brianna George Multimedia Editors: Brianna George Emma Minnis Shannon Vinton Artists: Brynly Wilson Catey Minnis Moderators: Mark Ionescu Nick Attanasio The Patriot is a publication of The John Carroll School. The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views of the Board of Trustees or the Administration of The John Carroll School.

A copy of each print issue is distributed to each of the 691 students and 121 faculty members. Some of the remainder are sent out to exchanging schools with a return address. The remaining copies are shared in the Main Office, Library, Admissions Office, Office of Institutional Advancement, given out when needed, or archived. For more information, please visit jcpatriot.com/about.

The editorial staff invites and greatly appreciates comments from readers on any issue.

Local shops deserve priority over Wal-Mart

Doherty’s Democracy

By Bryan Doherty Wal-Mart is coming to town.

They’re making a list and checking it twice of all the profitable small businesses in the area that they can destroy.

The new Wal-Mart, set to be located at the intersection of Plumtree Road and Route 924, should not be allowed the opportunity to carry out its plans.

This Wal-Mart is actually an expansion and relocation of the existing Wal-Mart currently located near the exit from Route 24 onto Interstate 95 in Abingdon, Maryland, and people are not pleased.

There are several key issues that have the residents of Bel Air up in arms over this move.

The first is the effect it would have on local businesses. Bel Air is filled with locally owned and operated small businesses that make up the backbone of Bel Air’s middle class community.

Stores like Up-Town Cheapskate, the Bel Air Bakery, and Bicycle Connection are all located in the Festival Shopping Center or in downtown Bel Air. Businesses like these would have to compete with the prices and the convenience of the one-stop shop that Wal-Mart has become.

Harford County and Bel Air should not allow a large corporate retailer to come into the town and push around small business owners. The amount of small businesses and how profitable many of them are should be a source of pride for the town, not something that can be nonchalantly cast aside in favor of a corporation that’s the closest thing to a monopoly in this country.

There is also the issue of having a 24-hour super store in the middle of a residential area. Traffic, noise, and crime will all dramatically increase if a Wal-Mart is built on Plumtree.

Traffic on Route 924 has enough issues, with only two lanes and heavy traffic flow at rush hour. It is a residential road, lined with houses, schools, and playgrounds. Wal-Mart shoppers don’t need to make a bad traffic situation worse.

Everything that can be done to impede the Plumtree Wal-Mart becoming a reality should be done. The only people that support it are Wal-Mart executives and their lobbyists. The majority of residents and business owners most certainly don’t want it.

The next time you see “NO WAL-MART” signs lining the roads around Bel Air, stop and think about the real repercussions a new Wal-Mart would have.

Support your community and local business, owned by your family members and friends, and keep Wal-Mart out.

opinion 12

PATRIOT JC earns its title as a ‘preparatory school’ by

THE

thepatriot December 2012

PERSPECTIVE JC deserves its college prep title. It develops its students for success in college and beyond with more skill than any other school in the county.

While Fallston, Bel Air, and C. Milton Wright High Schools have higher SAT scores in some sections, they have only slightly more than a half of their students going to four-year colleges, with some even under 50 percent, according to mdreportcard.com.

Eighty percent of JC seniors attend a four-year college, with 99 percent attending some form of college.

JC’s SAT scores are higher than Maryland’s average and the national average because of the attention students are forced to pay to their studies. When JC’s

proving that it is more than just a name

highest passing grade is 10 points higher than Harford County’s, students have to work harder.

That 10 percent makes all the difference when it comes to the level of motivation students need to pass a class. Motivation won’t just get students into college, but will make them excel.

Public school students aren’t threatened with expulsion if they fail, as it is mandated that they attend school until the age of 16.

There is no mandate that students attend private school, meaning JC students must succeed to avoid expulsion.

While for some students, this pressure adds stress and requires hard work to avoid failing, it undeniably prepares them for the challenges they will face in col-

lege. Those who already know that failing leads to more than a slap on the wrist realize that the consequences of bad grades are a considerable danger.

A certain pride should be taken in the caliber of academics at JC, as it far outreaches any public school in the area. Of course, above average students at public school may opt to take honors and AP classes, but at JC the lowest level classes are college preparatory. These classes are designed to raise students to the academic level needed to be successful in college and not just string them along in classes that won’t help to further their learning.

JC has also devoted time and money to develop a strong college counseling department. With

the introduction of the College Center and the new college counselor position, JC has put a stronger focus on helping students navigate the college application process. Public school students rarely encounter this attention and is an invaluable resource for JC students.

Students at JC are statistically more likely to go to college.

However, they are also more prepared for college as a whole as they complete their secondary education. The guidance students receive with regards to college decisions, the threat of academic expulsion, and the improved education students receive all exhibit JC’s status as a college prep school. JC is unmistakably the best school in the area.

US education system needs reform In the midst of declining standards in US education, JC needs to prepare students for college not one-time tests

F

Artwork by Brynly Wilson

Chioma Iheoma Opinion Editor This past summer, the U.S. dominated the other countries in athletic ability at the olympics. However, when it comes to educational ranking, the U.S. doesn’t even make it to the podium. American students are not matching up with other first world countries, and this stems from education practices that should be adjusted.

In 2010 the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development held a test in 65 countries that tested 15 year olds on reading, math, and science. The U.S. was ranked fourteenth. If America wants to remain a “superpower,” education has to change.

The U.S. Department of Education and Maryland State De-

partment of Education should not fix the curriculum just to compete with other countries, but also to enhance the minds of young people. Average SAT scores for Writing and Critical Reading have declined since 1972. This is unacceptable considering the scores of students in other countries are continually increasing.

The main problem with American education in comparison to countries with higher scores is the style of teaching.

The current American curriculum teaches to the test. This means that tests are formed that cover all of the information the government would like children to know. This results in students learning information but only retaining it for a short period of time. The top countries teach for common knowledge and not just for a grade. This helps students

retain the information as they move forward in their education.

As a preparatory school, JC should praise teachers like math teacher Jean Willan who teach students according to what she knows they will need in college.

Teachers should teach more for the future and less for a test.

The “No Child Left Behind Act” promoted “teaching to the test” when it was passed so that teachers in lower ranking schools were required to teach their kids by a set curriculum. This, however, is not helpful for the country as a whole.

Fallston, the highest ranked Harford County school, according to schooldiggers.com, is ranked at just 34 out of 182 Maryland public schools. Harford County as well as JC should discourage teaching to the test in order to move up the ranks.

The problem with teaching to the test is that teachers teach at a different pace. Even though they “teach to the test,” some move at a slower pace depending on their students’ ability to retain information. A blanket test that covers a wide span of classes sets back students who weren’t prepared for that exact test.

While Maryland may be leading the United States in education, that is not enough. U.S. scores are average in comparison to the rest of the developed world.

According to the Gaurdian.co.uk, students in South Korea, the highest ranked country, or Canada, the third ranked country, have longer school days or school terms and teach through different methods.

The only way the U.S. can rightfully own its spot on the podium is by radically changing the education system.

13 opinion

JC website lags behind school in modernization Emily Clarke Print Chief Quick, check out the JC school website. It’s been turned into a time portal.

Oh wait, that is just the lack of updating that occurs on the site.

As you go to the homepage of the school website, the first thing you are greeted by are pictures of students who graduated four years ago. It makes you wonder, why are you looking at a picture of your friends when they were freshmen even though you are now seniors?

Could it be that newer photographs haven’t been taken that could be used to update the website? Have only mediocre things been happening the past four years?

While the pictures capture a wide array of events and people, they are events and people from years ago. Yearbook, sports teams, and clubs are taking new photographs all the time. The pictures taken around the school by different organizations could easily be added to the website.

The pictures are not the only thing that needs to be updated. The main page hasn’t been remodeled since it was first created, in 2005. The website looks nice and is better than many high schools’ websites. But why stop at average?

Website layouts and designs are always changing, so why not switch it up? The main page should highlight

Letter

to the editor

By Russian teacher Edward Miller In the October edition of The Patriot, In-Depth Editor Meredith Haggerty quoted Mr. Paaby, a longtime spectator of Powder Puff games. Having coached in over 30 of the games, I would like to add a different perspective, from the standpoint of a coach.

The game was initiated by the late Father Riepe, JC’s principal

the school’s greatest attributes. There should be large graphics about the competitions teams are involved in, special events advisories are doing for the holidays, and events that the school’s clubs are sponsoring.

The news bar on the side is updated regularly, which is great, but it shouldn’t be the only gadget on the home page showing what is happening around school. The website is one of the school’s best advertising tools, so the maximum amount of effort should go into producing a quality website.

To attract prospective students, the website needs to focus on aspects of the school that set it apart from other schools in the area.

The main page should have a link or graphic advertising the International Students Program. No other schools in the area have as an extensive of a program as JC does.

The opportunities that JC provides is a strong asset that should be advertised.

Community-active clubs, champion sports teams, and award winning publications are a few things that the school should take time to showcase on the site.

The website could also play up the fact that it is one of the few co-ed private schools in the area. The main page currently has a video about that, which is a step in the right direction. Similar updates need to be made on the rest of the website for the benefit of the school.

and president. Father Riepe’s intention was to give those girls not involved in fall sports the opportunity to be a part of an organized athletic team.

The game, as viewed by Paaby, was about “knocking the other team down and tackling, although prohibited. It was more of a physical confrontation, of who could be bigger and better.” Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Playing by the rules and good sportsmanship were a priority by the coaches.

Of course, football at any level involves a certain amount of body contact. Unintentional roughness

By Martha Schick

Artwork by Brynly Wilson

and collisions sometimes happen.

The caliber of past coaches, that speaks for itself, would not have tolerated otherwise. To mention a few: Gary Scholl, Al Ward, Joe Gallen, David Huber, Tim Perry, John Hughes, Kristen Porchella, and a beloved nun from the ‘70s, who also coached basketball, Sister Rita Woelke.

Paaby also comments on the improved caliber of play today as opposed to the past. It is inconceivable to me how this can be accomplished with only three practice sessions.

In the past we were hard pressed to teach the skills of of-

The Patriot turns the tables by grading the school on today’s issues

D

I have a dream, that one day this school will rise up and once again allow girls to wear pants.

The complete injustice in the uniform guidelines is apparent in the fact that boys can wear khaki pants to school, but girls cannot. Women are equal to men and have the same needs. If it’s winter, do legs not get cold? Tights and knee highs, the only current option to cover girl’s legs, barely keep anyone warm.

Let us wear pants. Just try wearing tights or knee highs with shorts for a day and see how you like it.

F

PDA: Please don’t attempt

Coming into school in the morning, students just want to be able to get to their class without having to awkwardly ask the kids making out in front of their locker to move.

Public Displays of Affection are against school rules. They’re gross, distracting, and sometimes even irritating. It just makes everyone else around you feel awkward. School’s not the time or place for it.

Teachers need to man up and enforce the PDA rule. And students, take your public displays of affection elsewhere. We don’t want to see that.

Speakers should spark discussion in classrooms Martha’s Musings

fense, defense, kickoff, and kick return teams in the required six practice sessions, with two experienced coaches.

One last thought: we made sure that every girl who came to practice session played the game. Can that be said about the game that was played in 2012?

We practiced hard and played hard to win. Many positive lessons were learned by players who otherwise would not have had a sports experience at JC. I always thought that’s what sports were about. That’s why I coached Powder Puff for so many years.

December Report Card Let them wear pants

thepatriot December 2012

C

Hope Kelly Managing Editor

Food prices need diet

When a wrap that’s half the size of the one last year costs the same as the original, it’s obvious that something’s wrong in the cafeteria.

Most teenagers love to eat. It’s $5.85 for just a small drink, a cheeseburger, and a candy bar. If that’s all a person eats, it adds up to $30 a week and $120 a month.

That’s expensive for something that isn’t going to be a filling meal for growing kids. There needs to be a less expensive option for students.

Something’s fishy here, and it’s not the fish sticks.

Students were lining up to ask questions after an hour of listening to the same person talk.

Nothing like that has ever happened in my four years at JC and, unsurprisingly, it was the result of a guest speaker.

Student body engagement should be something sought by the administration. Students desperate to have their questions answered should be something teachers celebrate. Kids raising their hands in class to discuss an assembly should be considered a victory for all involved.

Gerry Sandusky spoke about problems that students face at this point in their lives. He used language that endeared him to the students, but even with complaints about his mild swearing, no one can deny that his message was one that high school students needed to hear.

Sandusky was able to present his message with humor and engaging anecdotes. Students were actually lining up to ask him questions at the end of his talk instead of awkwardly sitting in bored silence. The benefit was obvious and it created discussion for days afterwards.

Speakers provide an invaluable experience that can’t be replicated in the classroom. If a teacher disagrees with the use of the word “jackass” in an assembly, it should lead to a discussion in a classroom about freedom of speech or how to speak to different groups. Having an advisory dedicated to talking about the speaker was a great chance to share opinions.

If someone wants to bring up a point that they disagreed with, they should be encouraged to share their opinion. Kudos to the teachers who opened their classes up to talk about the assembly.

If speakers are so beneficial to discussion and current issues, why aren’t they invited to JC more often? If JC decides to only splurge on a paid speaker once a year, that’s plenty. However, people like Sandusky came free of charge, which is exactly what we should be looking for.

There are plenty of people that would love to speak at JC for free, especially alumni. We could learn valuable lessons from the people who were once where we are now, particularly highly successful alumni.

JC is a college preparatory school. While learning all you can from your classes is all well and good, knowing the Pythagorean Theorem and hearing from people in the real world provide two very different kinds of knowledge, both of which are important to life after high school.

Women’s basketball scores for local families Martha Schick Multimedia Chief The women’s basketball team walks up to a stranger’s door in an unknown neighborhood. A member of the team rings the doorbell and the whole team prepares to deliver Christmas cheer. It isn’t Christmas carols they’re giving though. The team is donating gifts and other items that people need through the Shooting Santas fundraiser.

“We’re trying to help poor families at Christmastime who, through no fault of their own, find themselves financially in a situation where they won’t be able to provide Christmas in terms of presents, trees, meals, and stuff like that,” women’s basketball coach Mike Blizzard said.

Blizzard started working with Shooting Santas 12 years ago as a women’s basketball coach at Havre de Grace High School.

He took inspiration from the March of Dimes, a 25 mile walk in which people are sponsored for every mile they walk to help prevent health issues in babies.

Blizzard decided to do the same with shooting foul shots, but to assist families at Christmastime.

In their first year at JC, the team raised $1,500.

This money wasn’t raised, however, within JC guidelines for fundraisers in school.

SPORTS Wrestling team hopes for successful season Kailey Tracy Copy Chief

Photo from Patriot Archives

Sophomore Ashley Hunter participates in the 2011 Shooting Santas charity fundraiser. The event raised money to buy gifts for impovershed families.

“Shooting Santas is a perfect example of a well-intentioned fundraiser, but one that was never approved administratively here at school. It has to follow school policy just like any other fundraiser,” Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Relations Laura Lang said.

“People are good intentioned, but they need to know that they need to operate within the big picture. The guidelines and policies are intended to coordinate all

fundraisers within the school and to make sure that everything is on the up and up, that everyone is following IRS [Internal Revenue Service] policy in regards to their fundraisers,” Lang said.

“At first, JC wasn’t going to be associated with [Shooting Santas], but now they’re back supporting us,” senior co-captain Mackenzie Reese said.

Senior co-captain Sam Clarke is loyal to the program and how the basketball team is involved.

“With all the money we shop at Target and deliver the gifts we buy to families,” Clarke said.

Clarke has delivered to families in need through the program, but one visit stands out to her the most. “One family was living in the Red Roof Hotel. They had five kids and [one of the kids] had just had his bike stolen, so we got him a new one. It was sad to see all the kids living in the hotel in one room, but it felt really good to be able to help them.”

Teams continue to hustle hard during holiday Mary Kate Luft A&E Editor Outside, snow is falling and cars with Christmas trees strapped atop them pass by. Inside the gym, however, the bright florescent lights illuminate the sweat-scented mats the wrestlers are sprawled on, practicing for upcoming matches. While most students will spend the break enjoying quality time with their families, winter athletes will be working hard at their sports.

The men’s varsity basketball team will compete in the Benedictine Capital Classic in Richmond, Virginia. According to varsity basketball coach Tony Martin, this kind of national event gives the basketball players exposure to college opportunities and provides them with lasting memories.

The basketball players manage their studies while they travel.

“Every time we go away we have mandatory proctored study halls overseen by Kathleen Landers, who is a teacher at Cathedral and wife of assistant varsity coach Rick Landers,” Martin said.

Also, at some tournaments there are various events for the players. For example, two years

JC

INSIDER

sports 14

thepatriot December 2012

ago, the basketball team participated in a drunk driving workshop at the Stop-DWI Classic tournament in New York.

“There are no problems in arranging activities over the break and no one misses [them], as they and their families are excited for them to participate,” Martin said.

Men’s and women’s indoor track teams will compete in two track meets over winter break and will most likely practice four times. According to indoor track coach Robert Torres, there are two main reasons why the track team meets infrequently over the winter break. “One, a lot of kids go on vacation, or don’t have rides to school, so they end up missing. Two, we all need a break, so we lighten the load for all our sake,” Torres said.

On the other hand, the wrestling team will be working almost non-stop over break. The team will practice nearly every day and it will compete at three events. On the first day of Christmas vacation, Dec. 20, the team has a match at Loyola Blakefield.

Five returning All-Americans are going to the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware on Dec. 22 and 23.

With five returning All Americans, the wrestling team hopes to place in the top five nationally and second at states, according to head coach Keith Watson.

Senior Scott Strappelli agrees with Watson’s predictions. “My outlook on the team is seeing us finishing in the top three, if not in the final top two teams in the state overall,” Strappelli said.

Matches against McDonough and Archbishop Spalding will be the toughest for the team, according to Watson.

“This is the best bunch of wrestlers I’ve ever had, no matter what school I’ve coached at.”

Overall, “a lot of pieces of the puzzle are fitting together,” assistant coach Jake Hollin said.

Swimming dives into new year Caitlin Wolfarth News Editor

Photo courtesy Tony Martin

The men’s basketball team relaxes in the living room of their home during their bonding retreat in Ocean City, Maryland. The basketball team has also done other activities together such as a drunk driving workshop.

According to wrestling coach Keith Watson, it’s not hard to get wrestlers to show up and put in work over the vacation. “I don’t have to make them [go to practice]. They want this. My problem is getting them to take a break when they need to,” Watson said.

“They just want to go, go, go all the time. I won’t organize a practice on Christmas Eve, but I’m sure somebody will. Even on Christmas Day some will find a way to work out, whether it’s running or lifting.”

The women’s indoor soccer team takes a more relaxed approach to the winter break. There are no games or practices.

The swim team will have two voluntary practices over break, but they will not have any meets.

According to senior Rebecca Kotula, they might have a Christmas party. “We didn’t have one last year, but before that it was a tradition for [swim coach] Mr. Dukes to have a Christmas bonfire. So far I haven’t heard anything about it though.”

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The 2012-2013 men’s and women’s varsity swim teams’ seasons officially started on Nov. 16.

Practices are held at the Arena Club aquatics center on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

The women’s team has 34 girls, which is much larger than last year’s team of 13 swimmers. The men’s team, however, is still undermanned with only eight swimmers. The minimum amount of swimmers a team can have is seven.

The first women’s swim meet was Dec. 5 at Notre Dame Prep.

The first men’s meet is Dec. 11 against Indian Creek School at Bel Air Athletic Club.

“I’m really looking forward to this year’s swim season,” sophomore Taylor Fitzgerald said. “I hope to make new friends.”

“My goal for this year is to survive the boys’ team and for the girls, win the championship,” swim coach Larry Dukes said.

They say a photo’s worth a thousand words... ...we take a lot of photos Check them out at jcpatriot.smugmug.com!

15 sports

thepatriot December 2012

Foreign students travel to JC for sports Steven Dierksmeier

Braunschweig, Germany

Marta Moix

Madrid, Spain Sports: Varsity women’s basketball, JV women’s Cross Country

Yaounde, Cameroon

Lionel Owona

“Basketball in America is more physical, but in Spain it is more technical.”

Sports: Men’s JV indoor track, JV men’s soccer “I think Germans are better at soccer than Americans are.”

Sports: Varsity men’s basketball “In America, you are taught more about basketball and in Cameroon you have to play on a club team.”

Meredith Haggerty, Haley Kyger In-Depth Editor, Sports Editor Junior William Du splashes through the water during swim practice, working hard for the upcoming swim meet. Du isn’t just an athlete on the men’s swim team though, he’s swimming halfway across the world from his home.

He is one of the many international athletes who participate in sports.

On the swimming team, there are two international students, Du and freshman Rucheng Zhou.

They are both starting their competitive swimming career this year, at JC. According to swim coach Larry Dukes, “they both don’t have

much experience in competitive swimming, but they are working hard.”

International students also play on the basketball team. According to men’s varsity basketball coach Tony Martin, senior Mike Owona, senior Christian Owona, and junior Lionel Owona, sophomore Kimbal Mackenzie, sophomore Malik Tyne, sophomore Elijah Long, freshman Michael Tertsea, sophomore Mateus Maccieri, junior Rasheed Gillis, freshman Trystan Pratapas, and freshman Isaac Bassey are all international students in men’s basketball program.

According to Martin, these students’ homelands vary across

continents. “We have student athletes in our program from Cameroon, Canada, Italy, and Nigeria currently. We have also had student athletes in our program from Croatia and Poland,” Martin said.

As of now, there has been no new information about additional international student athletes coming to the athletic program.

According to Martin, the students currently on the team “are doing tremendously well. First and foremost, they are high character young men that have adapted well into our school community and been very well received.

They are doing well in the classroom, socially, and on the court.”

In women’s basketball, there is

only one international student in the program, junior Marta Moix.

Moix lived in Madrid and Spain, and moved to the United States on Aug. 19.

Moix plays guard as a varsity starter.

“Basketball in America is more physical, but in Spain it is more technical,” Moix said.

“Hopefully I can stay next year too, and maybe even go to college in America,” Moix said.

She had previously planned on staying only her junior year.

“My favorite thing about American basketball is the importance people give to it,” Moix said.

Sophomore Steven Dierks-

meier played JV soccer in the fall and runs JV indoor track during the winter. “I joined indoor track to get in shape for soccer,” Dierksmeier said.

Prior to living in America, Dierksmeier lived in Germany.

“People do run track in Germany, but it isn’t as popular as soccer,” Dierksmeier said.

In track, Dierksmeier runs the 4 by 800 meter relay, during the fall, Dierksmeier played on the JV soccer team as center midfielder position.

The rivalries between his home country and America aren’t far from Dierksmeier’s mind, as he still thinks “Germans are better at soccer than Americans are.”

Athlete Spotlight:

CJ Skokowski

Stats

Grade: Sophomore Featured Sport: Wrestling Weight Class:113 pounds

““[Skokowski] is one of those kids who will do anything you ask him to do. He is one of the hardest workers Wrestling coach Keith Watson

Record*: 25-0 JV 18-7 Varsity Accomplishments: Winning state championships in eighth grade Years Wrestling: 10 * Skokowski’s record from the 2011-2012 season

“

”

I like wrestling because it is hard and challenging and it builds character Sophomore CJ Skokowski

”

Photo courtesy of CJ Skokowski

Sophomore CJ Skokowski wrestles for his Phoenix wrestling club team outside of JC. Skokowski has wrestled in the 113 pound weight group, but also wrestles in the 106 pound group.

sports 16

thepatriot December 2012

Soaring

Photo by Cole Alban

toward success

The Patriot takes a look at men’s and women’s track and field athletes who run, jump, and throw Cole Alban Managing Editor Senior Kiana Wright stares down the lane as her palms get sweaty. She takes off at full speed and sprints at the pit. She reaches the end of the lane and leaps off the ground, soaring over the pit of sand. She sees the sand pit rush by under her and she comes crashing back down at 17 feet, setting a new personal record for the long jump.

Wright is one of the field athletes on the women’s indoor track team. Field events consist of high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, and shot put.

“I started field events because I wanted to try something new … I prefer field events over running,” Wright said.

Wright is also taking long jump past her high school sports career by attending Lehigh University located in Pennsylvania for track

and field.

Freshman Holly Driver, who is a high jumper, started because “my sister high jumps and I like jumping.” Driver prefers running to field events. “The hardest part of learning to high jump is knowing everyone is watching and not wanting to mess up in front of all the people,” Driver said.

The field athletes do not practice until they are done running for the day. They stay after practice for about 30 minutes every day to practice in their event. According to track coach Rob Torres, “We practice the forms and the jumps in the beginning [of the season] and then go on to hitting the qualifying marks.”

Senior Austin Markley is also going to college for track. “He is good enough to compete in college and the plan is for him to compete in decathlons,” Torres said. Markley is going to Utah State. Markley also pole vaults and

high jumps. Markley began pole vaulting in the beginning of his sophomore year.

“I was glad to be able to hit 9 feet back then,” Markley said. “About this time last year I got as good as I am now.” Markley also had to overcome his fear to get to this level. “You have to have no fear to pole vault … [class of ’12] Heather Kirwan, taught me most of what I know and gave me confidence,” Markley said.

According to Torres,many of the better field athletes graduated last year but there are a lot of new athletes trying out the events. With the new athletes and other returning ones such as Markley, Wright, and senior Rebecca Driver there are still competitors. “[Rebecca Driver] is always one of the top scorers and gets us a lot of points,” Torres said. “[Wright] is one of the best in the league and she and [Markley] are both awesome.”

20’ Qualifying height for D1 NCAA men’s pole vault Personal best for Markley in pole vault

18’6” 11’6” 8’6”

Athletes run up to the high jump bar and attempt to get over by jumping over it completely parallel to the bar

Pole Vault:

Athletes run up to a high bar and attempt to jump over it using a pole for leverage Athletes sprint towards a pit and try to jump as far as possible over it

Triple jump:

10’

Athletes sprint towards the pit and jump three times before going over it

Shot put: Photo by Cole Alban

0’

High jump:

Long jump:

Qualifying height for MIAA men’s pole vault

Raising the Bar

Field events explained

Senior Austin Markley competes in pole vault at Loyola Blakefield. Markley’s personal bests are 11 feet and 6 inches in men’s pole vault and 5 feet and 6 inches in high jump

Athletes throw a weighted metal ball as far as they can