March 2013 - Bishop O'Connell High School

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nesVisor March 2013 Campus NewsPage 2CatholicSchools WeekMaggie GoldsmithCampus New EditorCatholic Schools Week was asuper success!! The National CatholicEducational Association (NCEA)and Catholic schools around the U.S.commemorated this country-wide eventfrom January 27-February 2. This year,O’Connell kicked off the celebrationwith an Open House on Sunday. Studentsgave tours of the school to prospectiveparents and middle school students. Thefaculty also gave more information aboutthe curriculum and the classes offered atO’Connell.Throughout the week, eventswere held in honor of the O’Connellteachers, students, and most importantlythe Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. OnTuesday, the festivities began witha lunch for the faculty sponsored bythe PTO. The PTO has always beena significant source of support for theschool. The next day was dedicated tothe students. Students received lollipopsduring their lunch periods and gatheredtogether for a morning assembly. OnThursday, students were given a dressholiday in exchange for a donation toCatholic Charities. All these events area prime example of why O’Connell isdedicated to serving those around us inany way possible.The final event of catholicSchools Week was the annual SuperdanceAssembly. The assembly included specialguests whose lives have been impactedby Cystic Fibrosis. Students alsoorganized entertaining introductions ofthe 12 committees that make this 12-hourdance marathon possible.Senior Veronica Fernandezcommented, “The Superdance assemblynever ceases to amaze me and willforever be one of my favorite memoriesof O’Connell.”The long-awaited theme of thisupcoming dance was also revealed duringthe assembly. The O’Connell communitywas invited to “Step right up for theCure” and raise money for this importantevent!O’Connell Shines at VFW SpeechContest Once AgainVeronica FernandezStaff WriterOn January 19, 2013 theVeterans of Foreign War Post 1350hosted the Voice of Democracy winners.This contest open to high school levelschallenges students to express themselvesthrough their essays. The Veterans ofForeign War were honored to have threeBishopO’Connellwinners forthe Veteransof ForeignWar contest.Back inOctober,English1and PublicSpeakingstudentswere askedto write apaper andthen recordtheir speechon tape.The topicwas “Isthe Constitution still relevant?” Theyspent countless hours writing, analyzing,editing and completing their essays.With the help of Mrs. Wentzel, manystudents turned in essays and then spenttheir time afterschool recording theiressays onto a recorder. The speecheswere sent to a group of chosen judgesfrom the organization. People started toarrive at the VFW Post at around noon.A buffet lunch was provided. The awardsceremony started off with the Pledgeof Allegiance. Bill Kelly, Junior ViceCommander welcomed everyone andintroduced Commander Mike McCartney.Alex Nobles, senior viceCommander touched upon the Voiceof Democracy and the Patriot’s Penprograms and awards. The winners wereannounced by the order they placed inthe competition. Among the winners wereFirst Place Virginia Schilder, Rhett Nugentand Isabel Fernandez. Mrs. Cerniglia,head of the English Department was alsohonored as Teacher of the year. This was aspecial award for her particularly becauseher father served in World War II.When asked who inspires her,Mrs. Cerniglia said “The kids keep meyoung. I share my passion for literaturewith them.” Mrs. Cerniglia would liketo thank Mrs.Wentzel whonominated herand would alsolike to thankthe schoolas a whole.Josh Wisewas namedfirefighter ofthe year. Hedisplayedheroic actswhen he saveda person in acar that wasunresponsiveon thehighway. Hewas awarded money to a charity of hischoice. Isabel Fernandez read her speechon the first amendment and it’s relevancyto today’s Catholic Church. She went intodetail regarding what has inspired herand why she is so strong in her beliefsand her faith. Isabel was awarded a checkof seventy five dollars and a certificate.Rhett Nugent talked about the 2 ndamendments and was also awarded moneyand a certificate. The first place winnerFreshmen Virginia Schilder started off heressay by thanking the Veterans of ForeignWar and addressing them. Her essaythoroughly examined the freedoms andthe privileges that we have in this country.Commander Mike McCartney closed upthe event by thanking the audience. At theend of the ceremony, everyone erupted inapplause.Lent: A Time for RenewalMary BarnaCampus News EditorThe O’Connell communitygathered on February 13 to celebrateMass on Ash Wednesday. This markedthe start of Lent: 40 days of almsgiving,repentance, and reflection in preparationfor Easter. On this day, members ofthe Church are marked with ashes. Thesymbol of the cross is to remind us ofthe purpose of Lent. The phrase “Manis dust, and unto dust you shall return”allows us to recognize that life on Earth isprecious and does not last for long.Ashes are a symbol of penancemade sacramental by the blessing of theChurch, and they help us develop a spiritof humility and sacrifice. The distributionof ashes comes from a long-cherishedtradition of theChurch. In earliertimes, membersknown to havecommitted gravesins had to performpublic penance afterbeing marked withashes and walkingin a processionaround the Churchsquare. Thesepeople were alsonot allowed backinto the Churchuntil after the fortydays of Lent. Theashes are madefrom the blessedpalms used inthe Palm SundayThe VisorBishop O’Connell High School6600 Little Falls RoadArlington, VAPublished monthly, thestudent newspaper of Bishop DenisJ. O’Connell High School is a publicforum with its student editorialboard making all decisions about itscontent, under the guidance of itsfaculty advisor.Opinions in the paper arenot necessarily those of the staff,nor should any opinion expressedin this public forum be construed asthe opinion or the policy of BishopO’Connell High School, unless soattributed.Front PageVirginia BenderEditorialsKatelyn HoltEntertainmentFrankie Endo OndoStyleNylah GoldsmithEditor-In-ChiefTrey CarterStaff WritersSportsPatricia PopeMaddie Banister, Emily Bond,Deja Elliot, Veronica Fernandez,Domenick Gianelli, Arjun Sikund,Mackenzie Smith, Emma WilliamsFaculty ModeratorDan CullerCampus NewsMary BarnaMaggie GoldsmithSpreadsJ. J. LaPointeWill CrooksOutside NewsBrenna Hickeycelebration of the previous year. The ashesare christened with Holy Water and arescented by exposure to incense.Today, Christians come toreceive ashes out of devotion. While theashes symbolize penance and contrition,they are also a reminder that God isgracious and merciful to those withrepentant hearts. Catholics focus on God’sgift of mercy during the season of Lent,and the Church calls on us to seek thatmercy during the entire Lenten seasonwith reflection, prayer and penance.This year, Pope Benedict XVIcelebrated his last public mass on AshWednesday. In his homily, he spoke aboutthe journey of faith that we take duringLent:“We begin our Lenten journeywith trust and joy. May the invitation toconversion, to “return to God with all ourheart,” resonate strongly in us, acceptingHis grace that makes us new men andwomen.”We begin on Ash Wednesday theliturgical season of Lent with the thoughtprovokingrite of the imposition of ashes,through which we wish to take on thecommitment to convert our hearts to thehorizons of grace. In common opinion,this time runs the risk of being marked bysadness, by the darkness of life. Instead,Catholics view it as a precious gift ofGod; it is an intense time full of meaningsin the journey of the Church; it is theitinerary to the Lord’s Easter. The biblicalreadings of Lent give us the inspiration tolive this spiritual experience fully.
Visor March 2013 Campus News Page 3The Pro-LifeGenerationMary BarnaEditorOC TravelsDuring SpringBreakBrenna HickeyEditorChapel Bride in Luceren, SwitzerlandParticipants at the annualMarch for Life in Washington,D. C. on January 25th helped tocontinue a 40-year tradition ofprotesting the Supreme Courtdecision that created the right toabortion. They demonstrated theirdetermination by showing up insuch large numbers on a bitterlycold day.The battle continues tochange America because everylife should be protected. Supportfor the pro-life position has beenincreasing in the forty years sinceRoe v. Wade.Being pro-life is “the newnormal in the United States,”according toJeanne Monahan,the newHead of theMarch for Life.She added thatthe movement ismaking progressin changing lawsand attitudes.She was one ofmany pro-lifeadvocates thatspoke to theheavily bundledcrowd, standingon the snowdustedground.“Fortyyears ago,people thoughtopposition tothe pro-choicemovementwould eventuallydisappear,” Boston CardinalSean P. O’Malley told the crowdassembled on the National Mall fora rally prior to the march.He noted that Nellie Gray,the recently deceased founder ofthe annual march, “was not goingto allow that to happen.”“The march grows strongerevery year,” said the cardinal, whois chairman of the U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops’ Committee onPro-Life Activities.A new CNN national pollshows that 62% of Americans wantall or most abortions made illegal.This year in particular, the pro-lifemovement aims to raise awarenessin the minds of all Americanssince it is the 40th anniversary ofthe U.S. Supreme Court’s decisionlegalizing abortion. They also wantto bring to light the toll it has takenon the United States.The theme this year in-A group of O’Connellstudents and parents are lookingforwardto SpringBreakandtravel toItaly andSwitzerland.Ledby Mrs.Stabileof theGermanLanguageDepartment, the journey will beginin Lucerne, Switzerland. Therethey will learn about the geographicaland cultural significanceof the Alps. The group will take anexcursion on the world’s steepestcog railway and cable car up 7,000foot Mt. Pilatus.Verona will be the first stopin Italy to see the setting of Romeoand Juliet. Overnights will be inthe Garda Lake district. A day tripto Venice will allow the group toview St. Mark’s Cathedral and ridein gondolas onthe canals. Thetrip continuesto Florence, thecenter of theRenaissance. Itwill include aspecial tour ofthe Academia tosee Michelangelo’sDavid.Rome is thegroup’s finaldestination. Highlights includevisits to St. Peter’s Basilica, theVatican and the Sistine Chapel.cludes an equation: 40=55M, tosignify that in the forty years sinceRoe v. Wade, 55 million humanbeings have lost their lives to abortion.Fifty-five million is nearly thepopulation of California and NewYork combined.Abortionopponents fromall around thecountry marchedalong ConstitutionAvenue tothe front of theU.S. SupremeCourt, packingthe streets ofDC. Though some in the crowdwere veterans of previous marchesheld annually since Roe v. Wadewas decided in 1973, the majorityseemed to be teenagers and youngadults, many of whom carried signsidentifying themselves as part ofa “pro-life generation.” AlthoughAn inside visit to the Colosseumis also included. Dr. Stabilehas arranged a private visit to thePresidential Palace and the ForeignMinistry and an opportunity tomeet the president. The last nightwill allow the group to participatein a Pizza-making lesson and towork in teams to assemble andcook the perfect brick-oven pizza.Patricia PopeEditorBroadwayDesserts!Why travel all the wayto Broadway when you can geta similar experience right hereat O’Connell? The third annualBroadway Desserts was heldFebruary 22 in the upper gym. Theevening featured O’Connell’s veryown singers and band memberspreforming musical numbers fromBroadway musicals. The event wasinclement weather unfortunatelyprevented O’Connell buses fromtransporting students downtown,students from our community stillfound their way down to representus in the biggest showing of prolifein the country.Junior Abby Markleremarked, “thisyear’s March forLife is definitely oneto remember.”After marching,prayer continuedat rallies. One washeld at the nearbyPatriot Center,planned by the diocesan YouthMinistry and Respect Life officesto get young people excited andinspired for advocating a “cultureof life.”Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., urgedparticipants to continue to “standcourageously for life.” He said legislativebattleswillcontinueto takeplace tochangeabortionlaws andthat thepro-lifemovementmust becompassionatetochangetheheartsandmindsof otherpeople.catered by Harris Teeter and HeidelbergBakery and had an array ofwonderful sweets, and drinks suchas coffee, tea and hot chocolate.Senior Veronica Fernandezexclaimed “This was the bestBroadway Desserts yet; and I’m sosad it’s my last.”Led by Ms. Van Duzer, themusic department amazed friends,families, and teachers with theirtalented voices and performances.There is no telling what the futureholds for these talented youngmusicians and performers, but itwould be no surprise if they endedup on Broadway one day.
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March 2013 - Bishop O'Connell High School

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