The Quill - Mount Saint Joseph High School

The Quill
The Student Newspaper of Mount Saint Joseph High School - Volume LXXX - Issue II - October 2010
Change Visits Xavier Hall
New Campus Ministry Headquarters Offers Hospitality, Opportunities
Michael Lawrence
Quill Contributor
The Campus Ministry program
has long been an integral ingredient in
Mount Saint Joseph’s spiritual mission.
This year, however, sees the expansion and
relocation of the ever-important Campus
Ministry Headquarters. Previously limited
to small office space on the second floor
of Xavier Hall, the Campus Ministry team
has taken over space on the first floor of
Xavier that was previously occupied by
the DePaul Center.
The change in location has
undoubtedly given the team a more
adequate space to work, plan, and meet
and conveniently coincided with the
addition of staff members Mrs. Rochelle
Hubbard and Mrs. Mary Abdo. Each staff
member has their own office in addition to
the large open space meant for students.
When asked what students can
gain from the new headquarters, Campus
Ministry organizer Mr. Clay Bonham
responded, “It provides a nice atmosphere
for students to come visit during classes
or free periods. Computers, printers, food,
chairs, and couches are always available.”
He compared the environment to that of
the Guidance Office, but, here, students
can learn about upcoming liturgies,
retreats, and service opportunities.
Changes in the Campus Ministry
program for the year mostly involve
the retreat programs for freshmen and
sophomores. Incoming freshmen will now
attend a single-day retreat at Our Daily
Bread soup kitchen in Baltimore and, as
sophomores, take a trip to the Holocaust
museum to heighten understanding and
awareness of Jewish culture and antiSemitism. It is the hope of the Campus
Ministry team, however, that the biggest
changes to the program will come from
new, interested underclassmen. Mr.
Bonham insists that anyone interested in
the service offered by Campus Ministry
is more than welcome to visit the new
office, and that the office will be updated
throughout the year. Why not make this
the year you stop by Campus Ministry and
discover what’s new?
New Gym on the Horizon
Improved Locker Rooms, a Weight Room, and Other Amenities Coming Soon!
Chris Harrison
Quill Contributor
The proposed new gym will
provide opportunity and encouragement
for all of the sports in which Mount Saint
Joseph participates. As I am sure most
of you know, health classes right now
are taught in jammed locker rooms, with
benches and tables as desks. Even though
this might be the same in the new gym, it
will be better air-conditioned and it will be
more comfortable.
According to Mr. Loovis, “The
Phys Ed/Health Department is very excited
about the construction of a new gymnasium
and the renovation of Memorial
Gymnasium! During the average school
day we have over 300 boys attending Phys
Ed and Health classes. The construction
of the new gym and the renovation of
the Memorial Gym started in September,
when Brother James met with an architect
to design the new gym and plan how the
Memorial Gym will be renovated.”
The process of designing the
gym and the renovations will take about
a year to complete. This means that by
approximately the end of next school year,
the gym will be ready to be built. Brother
James Kelly, C.F.X.., president of St. Joe,
explained the process and set up. In the
new gym there will be additional locker
rooms, not only for the Gaels, but also
for any opponent that Mount Saint
Joseph plays, which is a charitable
thing to do because we are a Catholic
school. The new locker rooms will
be better quality, have more space,
and each team will have its own
locker rooms. It will also have a
brand-new weight room, a training
room for the different sports, and
a new wrestling room in which
the Gaels can practice. A new
equipment room and locker room
for Brother Charles will be added.
Finally, a second playing venue will
be available.
To make the process go
WE are going to need to do some
work. The longer it takes for the
fundraising, the longer it will take
to start construction. In order to
complete the new gym and renovate
the Memorial Gym, it will cost about
12 million dollars. With tuition
at $11,300 that would take 1,100
students to accomplish the goal.
But tuition does not go towards a
new gym. We still have to pay the
electricity and all the other necessary
expenses to keep the school running.
This is why we will need to have other
fundraisers throughout the year so that the
gym can be started on time at the end of
next school year.
Mr. Loovis said, “The additional
teaching space for the health classes, as
well as redesigned locker rooms, will
benefit the department greatly and create
a better learning environment for all the
students.”
Remember, you can help by
fundraising, and if all goes planned
the new gym will be available for use
beginning in September 2013.
page 2
A High School Melting Pot
One Brotherhood Joins Another as Transfers are Welcomed
Michael Bodley
Quill Contributor
Passionate purple pitted against
resplendent red reverberates in my
memory, from a dreary day in January of
my freshman year. There is nothing quite
like a rivalry game to bring out the best
and the worst of the players and fans.
Technical fouls flew left and right as
the volume reached a fever pitch within
the confines of Ray Mullis Memorial
Gymnasium. Our fledgling freshman
basketball team suffered a defeat, but
what I discovered about our archrival
has remained with me far longer than the
fleeting sting of a loss.
Here at the Mount, the concept
of brotherhood is emphasized. As the
popular adage goes, we are “classmates
for four years, brothers for life”. Little
did I realize the existence of the same
kindred spirit outside of our campus. I
first saw this kinship in the eyes of our
opposition, in the pride with which they
wore their red and white, in the way
they protected one another, and in the
recognizable and undeniable bond that
brought them together as a team. The
Cardinal Gibbons community was every
bit as much of a family as is Mount
Saint Joseph. Like any other family, the
pain of permanent separation is all but
unbearable. Strong and unwavering in the
face of such adversity, the entire Cardinal
Gibbons community can be paralleled
to the team that represented the ideal
Crusader so well. In a cruel twist of
fate, the proud leaves of the school were
spiraling to the ground as the striking
spring landscape cruelly mocked the
school’s plight in racing through autumn
to a winter deemed never-ending. Unlike
the leaves resigned to slowly deteriorate
back into the soil, Cardinal
Gibbons lifted itself up,
resigned never to go down
without a fight. Determined to ensure
the remembrance of their
home away from home,
the scattered survivors of
the now-closed Cardinal
Gibbons are doing all the
little things to contribute to
the livelihood of their own
legacy. After the bell rings, a
wave of red spreads across the practice
fields, in contrast to the rich purple we
all know and love. Our ability to accept
and adapt to our new friends and faces
is challenged. Can we as a family rise to
this test and emerge stronger? A school is nothing without its
students. The weight is on our shoulders
to exceed the expectation placed on us
by the administration. Strive not for the
minimum, but for the maximum. Take
a moment to imagine the emotions you
would experience in the wake of the
Mount closing its hallowed doors. Put
yourself in the shoes of our new brothers
and our new Mount Men.
Jake Parry, a junior transfer from
Cardinal Gibbons, put it best in saying,
“I’m treated just like everyone else. I
feel like I belong. The atmosphere in
my classes is so open and inviting. My
teachers have done a great job in making
me feel welcome and helping me with
the transition a lot. ”
Therein lies the golden standard
for each and every one of us. “Don’t be an 8-2:30 student.”
Take these words to heart, especially our
new students who may have not yet had
the opportunity to do so. You get out of
the Mount what you put into it. So get
involved, expand your comfort zone, find
what you love and make the most of it,
whether it be the cross country team, the
chain mail club, or the Asian awareness
club. Mount Saint Joseph is blessed
with such a plethora of diverse activities
that no one should claim to be able to
find nothing to hold his interest. Start
today. Explore everything the Mount has
to offer, and leave your mark upon the
shoulders of the giants on which we all
stand.
“I wake up every morning loving what I do.”
Religion, DePaul, and Science Departments Welcome New Members
Sean Gilmour
Rocco Andrews
Quill Staff Writer
Quill Contributor
The Mount’s newest DePaul
Although this is Mrs. Mary
Abdo’s first year teaching here at the
Mount, she already has established a close,
strong relationship with the school. Her
two oldest children, Kevin and Brian, are
both graduates of the Mount, from the class
of 2007 and of 2009 respectively, and her
two younger children are currently students
at Mount de Sales. Kathleen, a senior, and
Megan, a sophomore, are both involved
with the MSJ Drama program.
Mrs. Abdo has spent the past four
years teaching religion at Pallotti High
School in Laurel, right across the street
from where her daughters went to middle
school at St. Mary of the Mills. But now
the Mount community is glad to receive
Mrs. Abdo not just as a mother, but as a
faculty member as well.
Mrs. Rochelle Hubbard has a
nearly identical scenario. While she was
teaching religion at Seton Keough High
School over the past three years, her son,
Moses, now a senior, attended Mount Saint
Joseph. Over the past three years, Mrs.
Hubbard grew more and more connected
with the St. Joe community, and now she
too has become a teacher.
In addition to teaching religion
classes, both Mrs. Hubbard and Mrs. Abdo
are intimately involved with the evolving
Campus Ministry program. Mrs. Hubbard
says that the new, larger Campus Ministry
office will help encourage even more
student participation to make a “more
vibrant” program for the benefit of the
school and the community. Mrs. Abdo also
said she is looking forward to working
together with the service-oriented X-ACT
club and the new Liturgy Prayer team. If
that isn’t enough of an incentive to visit,
they both are happy to offer snacks to
anyone who may drift in.
Program teacher is Mr. Patrick Martel,
from the class of 2004, and the new
physics teacher is Mr. Jason Buchta. Mr.
Martel joins the DePaul Program, which
helps students with learning differences.
He graduated from UMBC in 2008, where
he studied English. After graduating, he
worked in the law office of Rick Martel,
and then for a short while at HAV Autos
on Edmondson Avenue. While at UMBC,
Mr. Martel tutored in their Learning
Resource Center, helping out students
for whom English is their second
language. He loves to help people,
which is what attracted him to the
DePaul program. Apart from being a
DePaul teacher, Mr. Martel is also the
newest volleyball coach, a position he
thoroughly enjoys. Mr. Martel will most
definitely prove to be a valuable asset to
the DePaul program.
Filling in for Mrs. Stender’s
physics sections is Mr. Jason Buchta. He
graduated from University of Delaware
last school year. At Delaware, he
majored in Biochemistry and Spanish,
and has always loved teaching people
and helping kids out. For his senior project
here at St. Joe, he taught middle-schoolers
at St. Louis in Clarksville. While here at
MSJ, Mr. Buchta participated in the drama
program, a love he’s brought back as the
new Stage Crew director. Besides that, Mr.
Buchta teaches three sections of conceptual
physics and two sections of honors physics,
a position he thoroughly enjoys.
“I’m very excited to be here, and I
wake up every morning loving what I do,”
Mr. Buchta says.
page 3
Welcoming Mr. K and Mr. B
Computer Science and Math Add to Their Ranks
Corey Koch
Quill Contributor
Mr. George Kapusinski is new to
the community here at the Mount. Since
many people have difficulties pronouncing
Mr. Kapusinski’s name, he is often called
Mr. K. He joins us after teaching at The
Seton Keough High School for four years,
and says, after only two weeks on the
job, “I feel like I’m right at home.” He
immediately noticed the strong connections
and family-like environment here at the
Mount. Mr. Kapusinski attended Seton
Hall Prep in New Jersey, and he finds many
similarities with his own high school and
MSJ.
Mr. K teaches AP Computers,
Honors Robotics, Honors C++, and a
section of Geometry. He describes his
classes as both interesting and fun. He likes
to be up to date and work with technology
in the classroom. His technologies classes
complete very complex tasks. The class
has already built robots similar to the Mars
Rover and will program a Droid phone
later this year. Mr. K has even appeared
on Catholic TV in Boston to demonstrate
his previous classes’ robots. Some of
his previous students have gotten great
internships in corporations such as Google
and NASA.
Mr. K said he was very impressed
with his students’ abilities. He is confident
enough to say, “They all will go very far in
life.”
It appears as if Mr. K is enjoying
teaching here at the Mount thus far. He is
certainly an outstanding teacher and fits
right in at MSJ.
Mr. Josh Bogdanor is another
new teacher we are welcoming to the
community at the Mount. He attended a
Blue Ribbon high school, River Hill in
Howard County, with which he can find
similarities to MSJ. He notes the focus and
emphasis on success he has experienced in
both schools. Mr. Bogdanor has seen that
faith is a big element here at the Mount,
and he feels more comfortable teaching
here because of that. He speaks highly of
the Mount community, as he witnessed the
polite, happy, and welcoming students and
staff here during his first time on campus.
He says that this was partly why he chose
to teach here.
Mr. Bogdanor teaches Algebra I,
Trigonometry, and Honors Calculus. He
has noted the motivation students here have
in their daily completion of homework.
Mr. Bogdanor is also active on the field
as the varsity football linemen coach.
Mr. Bogdanor played lacrosse in high
school and during his time at his college
alma mater, the University of Maryland
Baltimore County (UMBC), and he says
he will be involved with MSJ lacrosse this
coming spring.
Mr. Bogdanor is surely a great
addition to the teaching staff here at the
Mount. Mr. Bogdanor is undoubtedly
finding his niche here, and he seems to
enjoy teaching at MSJ.
from left to right: Ms. Czar, Mr. Kapusinski, Mr. Martel, Mr. Henry,
Mrs. Hubbard, Mr. Slafkosky, Mrs. Abdo, Mr. Buchta, Mr. Doherty,
and Director of Staff Formation Mr. Peace
Maryland’s Loss is St. Joe’s Gain
Coach Slafkosky Enjoys ‘Tremendous’ Guidance Department
Tommy O’Donnell
Quill Staff Writer
Don’t pass by Mr. Dave
Slafkosky. In fact, stop by to say hello
sometime—he’ll be glad to meet you.
Unassuming and always ready to laugh,
Mr. Slafkosky has his own office in the
Guidance Center, and this spring, he’ll be
on the fields as the head of the lacrosse
program. He’s been coaching lacrosse for
his entire career—first at West Point, and
then a “short stay” (as he calls it) at the
University of Maryland for twenty-seven
years. So how did he end up here?
“Well, to tell you the truth,” he
humbly states one morning, “I got fired
at my old job.” That’s not true. He just
wants to keep the explanation simple.
Just as the President of the United States,
once elected, starts selecting his cabinet, the incoming head lacrosse coach at
Maryland already knew which assistants
he wanted to hire for this current season.
Mr. Slafkosky wasn’t one of them, which
has become a blessing for us here at the
Mount.
“I just technically wasn’t rehired,” he later added, a much more accurate description. And because he worked
there for over twenty-five years, there are
even more technicalities with titles and
benefits and paperwork: “. . . technically
I’m retired from the University of Maryland, but I don’t ever think of myself as
retired!”
“Coach Slaf” as the large collage
hanging next to his desk reads, left behind an impressive record at Maryland,
but he didn’t mention that to me. Humility might just be his middle name.
Despite the tremendous responsibility he’ll have managing three teams,
Mr. Slafkosky does have an office in the
Guidance Department. “My number one
job is being a Guidance Counselor here
at Mount Saint Joseph,” he emphasizes.
“I like the Guidance Office, and I’m not
even fooling you. I like the people here,
they’re tremendous, and it’s been an exciting, new, frontier for Dave Slafkosky.”
And despite his impressive career as coach, Mr. Slafkosky is no stranger
to Guidance, having earned his degree in
counseling early on in his career. Sometimes coaches need to be counselors too.
He’s had to make some adjustments in his
move to a high school, though. “I have
to teach a couple classes—they didn’t tell
me that beforehand.”
Since Mr. Slafkosky is an easy
man to talk to, our interview often veered
off track, to anything from discussing
doctor’s visits to inquiries about my own
personal college plans. He’s excited for
the challenge of a new job, and with students and players in and out of his office
all the time,
Mr. Slafkosky
is already putting to use everything he’s
learned over
his years as
a coach and
mentor. “I’ve
had to deal
with kids all
the time, and it
wasn’t always
about X’s and
O’s on the lacrosse field.”
page 4
Remembering a Giant
Brother Kirby Boone Remembered as ‘Gentle and Firm’
Adam Kellermann
Quill Contributor
He not only made a difference
at the Mount but in the world as well.
Brother Kirby Boone, a Xaverian
Brother and World War II veteran,
passed away on Monday, September 6,
2010, at the age of eighty-four. When he
became a Xaverian Brother in 1948, he
took the name “Kirby” in memory of a
high school peer of his who had passed
away. Brother Kirby was a graduate
of Saint Xavier High School and The
Catholic University of America. In
addition to teaching students, he taught
followers of God as a pastoral minister
in Alaska.
Over a forty-plus-year career,
he was a teacher and principal at several
schools in Kentucky, South Dakota, and
Maryland. Brother Kirby was a teacher
and principal at Mount Saint Joseph
from 1976 to 1986. During his ten years
at the Mount, Xavier Hall was built.
According to Brother James
Kelly, president of the Mount, “Brother
Kirby never worried about if he was
popular of not; he just did his job. He
didn’t stand on his dignity as principal.
You would always see him washing the
floors, cleaning the grounds, setting up
the café – whatever was necessary.”
When asked his fondest
memory of his fellow Brother, Brother
James recalled a time when “Brother
Kirby and his brother, Brother Martin,
would come down to Louisville every
summer for the Boone family reunion.”
(Brother James lived in Louisville with
Brother Giles at the time.) “He and
Kirby had been stationed together at
one of the boarding schools, St. Joe
Prep. They would tell stories about their
days at the Prep,” which Brother James
described as “absolutely hysterical”.
Brother Kirby’s funeral, held
on Friday, September 10, in Louisville,
was attended by our own Mr. Bernd
McDivitt and Brother James. His
burial was held at his alma mater, St.
Xavier High School. He will always
be remembered at the Mount and will
forever be a Xaverian Brother. Brother
English Department Expands
Welcome, Ms. Czar and Mr. Doherty!
Robert Bolen
Quill Contributor
Mr. Jim Doherty and Ms. Mary
Czar are the two new additions in the
English department this year. Mr. Doherty
teaches both freshman and seniors and Ms.
Czar teaches sophomores and juniors.
Mr. Doherty attended LaSalle
University and got a B.S. in English
education. He majored in English and got
his minor in Education.
He received his Masters
in Business Management.
When asked why he became
a teacher he said, “I like
words and what talented and
creative people can do with
them and I like sharing that
affection for language with
others. It is the most useful
thing that I can do.”
Before coming to
Saint Joe Mr. Doherty taught at Cardinal
Dougherty High School in Philadelphia
for ten years and after that he taught at
Delaware Valley College as an adjunct
instructor. Mr. Doherty worked for twenty
years in the private sector in Philadelphia,
Chicago and DC before returning to his
first love, teaching..
“Mount St. Joseph is a rare and
extraordinary place. Teaching here is the
dream shot.”
Ms. Czar attended Loyola
University in Maryland and majored in
English and minored in Writing. After she
graduated, she taught for three years at the
Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy
in the Baltimore City Public School
System. While she was teaching there she
earned her Masters in Teaching from Johns
Hopkins University. When
asked why she wanted to
become a teacher she said,
“Because I love learning,
reading, and discussing
important issues, and I hope
to inspire students to become
critical thinkers and life-long
learners, too.”
“I have enjoyed
every moment at MSJ so
far, because I am constantly
learning,” Mr. Czar said. “For example,
I learned yesterday that the best way to
express yourself is through your choice of
socks. My students are diligent, ambitious,
and well-mannered young men, and it is a
delight to work with them every day.”
So if you see a new teacher at our
school this year say hello and make them
feel welcome.
James summed it up by saying, “He is
one of the giants on whose shoulders we
stand.”
This is a sentiment echoed by
Mr. McDivitt, who said, “Brother Kirby
was as fine a man as I have ever known. He was both gentle and firm in dealing
with teachers and students. And did
everything he could to make a teacher’s
job in the classroom easier. He never
sought credit for his accomplishments
and did all he could to shine the light of
success on others. More than anything
else, he was my friend.”
Sources: Funeral Digest: http://
www.funeraldigest.com/
obituaries/2010/09/08/brother-kirbyboone-cfx/145164429
Club Makes History
Two seniors join together to help students
Dominic Salacki
Quill Staff Writer
If you like
history, watching
movies, and hanging
out with your pals after
school prior to being
picked up, then there’s
got a club for you. Come
to the Historical Movie
Club where there are
snacks, drinks, movies,
and plenty of seats to fill.
President
Sungwon Kim and I cocreated the Historical
Movie Club last spring.
Kim, knowing my passion for movies,
asked me if I would like to be vice
president and I was happy to take the job.
One reason why we decided to change
the club’s name from “Movie Club” to
“Historical Movie Club” was because we
wanted it to have some purpose outside
of being just fun. That way, members will
have the opportunity to learn some things,
as well as have a great time.
On our list of movies to watch
are titles like Saving Private Ryan, Letters
from Iwo Jima, Glory, and The Alamo.
President Sungwon Kim explains,
“In Historical Movie Club, we not only
watch movies but share our interests in
history, too. If you want an entertaining
and academic time, come join our club.”
This club will broaden your
intellect with history and help you connect
the past with the present. By the time the
club has ended for the day, you’ll have had
a great time doing it. So grab a snack, fill
up your cup, and take a seat, because the
movie is about to start.
page 5
Governor O’Malley’s Trip to Success
Governor Maritn O’Malley hopes his strong background will make an impact for the election
Sean Gilmour
Quill Staff Writer
Martin O’Malley has been on
a roll. First he was elected mayor of
Baltimore in 1999 and reelected in 2004,
both complete landslides. During his
regime, the crime rate steadily declined,
though it is still among the highest in the
country. This success transitioned into
becoming the Democratic nominee in
the 2006 Maryland gubernatorial race.
O’Malley edged out incumbent governor
Robert Ehrlich. At the young age of 47,
it would be easy to see O’Malley ascend
even higher in his political career, so
many believe that he could soon become
a presidential candidate in either 2012 or
2016. In the present, though, O’Malley has
another election to be concerned with: the
one this November. And his competitor is
quite familiar: one Robert Ehrlich.
One of O’Malley’s constant
campaign goals, dating back from his
election to the state office in 2006,
has been acquiring jobs for citizens.
Maryland’s unemployment rate has
risen by 3.4% since the former mayor’s
inauguration in 2007, but it is still 2.2%
below national unemployment rate, which
has risen by 4.6 % since January 2007.
Meanwhile, Maryland still has the 11th
lowest poverty rate with 9.7% of the total
population. Another one of O’Malley’s
main platforms in 2006 was reducing
taxes, but the state was forced to raise
taxes to cut the state’s budget deficit. The
tax increase has turned out to be one of
the largest in the state’s history. However,
he initiated the StateStat program, which
acts as an efficient medium for the state’s
recovery process in this “Great Recession.”
The system, adapted from the CitiStat
program he began in Baltimore, indicates
the governor’s plan and progress for
reform in Maryland over the next ten years
to the public. His constant assessment and
reassessment of data has earned him
plentiful praise across the nation, even
from President Barack Obama, who
has expressed his desire to implement
a similar program for the entire nation.
O’Malley rode the success of StateStat
to being named one of the top Public
Officials of 2009 by Governing magazine.
The yearly honor has also been bestowed
upon Arkansas governor and presidential
candidate Mike Huckabee, Vermont
governor and presidential candidate
Howard Dean (does anyone remember the
term “Byah!”?).
Once again, O’Malley’s
opposition in this November’s election is
Apple’s New Design of Their iPods
Apple Inc. looks to start new trend with releases
Jordan Taylor
Quill Contributor
If you haven’t heard by now, on
September 8 Apple revamped various lines
of their popular iPods. The iPod Touch,
Nano and Shuffle all received upgrades,
bringing with them fun new features while
maintaining the same iPod feeling that
we’ve all come to expect from Apple.
The iPod Touch has received
various updates to put it on the same
level with the iPhone 4. The outside of
the iPod touch is still very slim, making
it the slimmest iPod ever, but now the
cameras on both the front and back of the
device are what really catch the attention.
The front camera is for the face time
feature; this allows you to video chat with
other iPod touch users or iPhone 4 users.
The visuals of the iPod have received a
complete HD makeover and Apple added
HD video recording to a long list of new
features. The iPod Touch 4 also now has
multi-tasking. With multitasking, a user
can switch between apps without losing his
progress. Another new feature to the iPod
touch is the ability to put apps into folders;
now you can have all apps together based
on need (ex. games folder, sports folder,
etc.). One really cool addition is that you
can change your home screen background;
instead of the generic black background
behind your apps you can change that
background to any picture you want.
The final new feature is the game center.
Game center is an app that lets users play
games with anyone from around the world.
Download games straight the game center,
sign in with your apple I.D., and then
prepare to play. The iPod Touch 4 comes in
8GB for $229, 32GB for $299, and 64GB
for $399.
Next up is the iPod Nano. The
Nano received the most drastic design
overhaul of the three. The iPod’s size has
decreased – the screen is only 1.5 inches –
and the clicker wheel was removed in favor
of a touch screen. There is a clip on the
back of it, making it suitable in a variety
of conditions, whether it is clipping it to
a sleeve while running or clipping it to a
backpack after school. The Nano comes
with an improved lithium ion battery,
giving the capability to listen to 24 hours
of nonstop music. The Nano has a built
in FM tuner as well, so users can listen to
their favorite radio stations whenever they
want. The FM on the Nano shows the song,
artist, and station and users can create
favorite stations. They can also pause live
radio and rewind up to 15 minutes so as
to not miss a thing. The Nano comes in
black, silver, blue, green, orange, pink, and
red. You can get and 8GB for $149 and the
16GB for $179.
Finally we have the updated
iPod shuffle. The design of this iPod most
closely resembles the square design of the
second generation iPod shuffle. This model
comes in blue, silver, green, orange, and
pink and it has a clip attached to the back
just like the Nano. The new shuffle brings
back the clickable control pad that was
present in previous models. A new feature
the iPod Shuffle this generation VoiceOver;
with this button users can instantly know
the song and artist they’re listening to and
what playlist the song is in. They can also
switch between playlist and knowing the
status of their batteries. The VoiceOver also
speaks 25 different languages, so users can
say any song title in any language that they
want. The fourth generation iPod shuffle is
4 GB for $49.
For more information on any of
these products visit www.apple.com on
contact a retailer near you.
Sources: Apple Inc. on the Web at http://
www.apple.com/iphone/software-update/,
http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/
in the form of Republican former governor
Bob Ehrlich. A popular figure in the GOP,
even during his term out of office, Ehrlich
won the primary against Sarah Palinendorsed candidate Brian Murphy, who,
alas, is not our own Director of Students;
he only shares his name. Ehrlich served as
the governor of Maryland from 2002-2006.
His very successful tenure was highlighted
by a drop in unemployment and significant
funding for education. He did meet
controversy, though, concerning the
“Walmart bill.” The Fair Share Healthcare,
or “Walmart”, bill required companies
whose employees in the state exceeded
10,000 to give 8% of their funding to
healthcare (Walmart was the only company
that would be affected). Although the bill
passed through state legislature, Ehrlich
vetoed the bill from becoming a law.
Ultimately, the state’s court system ruled
the law would be against federal law.
Nonetheless, Ehrlich was portrayed as
pro-corporatism and has been dubbed an
‘anti-worker’ by radical leftists. The fracas
may have left a bitter taste in the mouth of
voters as he was struck down in reelection
by O’Malley.
Four years later, it seems the
tables have turned. O’Malley’s approval
has declined, and Ehrlich has rapidly
gained popularity within his party, even
across the state. Both have essentially
the same focus for their administration
and beyond: create jobs, lower taxes,
and improve education. Both highlight
the importance of maintaining small
businesses and entrepreneurships in
the state, but O’Malley specifically
mentions giving opportunities to women
and minorities. They both also want to
rejuvenate the environment, especially
considering the state’s obvious dependence
on the Chesapeake Bay. They have
different approaches towards solving
local transportation problems. O’Malley
desires to further expand existing transit
outlets, but Ehrlich has expressed his
desire to completely renovate the existing
conditions. As different as the candidates
project themselves to be, finding the
aberrations is like splitting hairs, and this
is reflected by the slim margin in polls
between the two candidates, which is
lessening consistently as time goes on. It
seems to come down to the mentality of
“anything you can do, I can do better.”
If you wish to know more about each
candidate, you can visit their respective
websites (www.martinomalley.com and
www.bobehrlich.com) or follow either local
news affiliates like WMAR and WJZ or a
national news source like CNN, the New
York Times and Politico, all of which have
reported on the race. The site ontheissues.
org comprehensibly lists both Ehrlich and
O’Malley’s executive actions while in
office.
Note: This article is not intended to
endorse any candidate.
page 6
Does it Really Pay Off to Pay for Grades?
The Pros and Cons of Rewarding with Money
Alex Steiner
Quill Staff Writer
The end of the quarter is less
than a month away. Many students dread
having their parents view their grades
because, well some are just not very good!
However, the students who do well with
their grades in some cases have something
to look forward to: money. There are some
parents who attempt to bribe there children
with money for good grades, and in many
cases it actually does work; however, there
are many mixed feelings on the matter. I
myself never got paid as a child or even
now to get good grades; however, many
other people I know have. So does it really
pay off to pay kids for good grades?
Money for good grades is more
common in elementary and middle school
than high school. Some parents are against
this method, regardless of the age of their
children, because they feel that it is the
wrong reason to try to do well in school.
Others claim that money is part of a good
reward system that does in the long run
help their kids to do very well in school.
Richard Novak said, “I see no
problem in it as long as it motivates kids to
get good grades. It’s not that big of a deal.
Whatever works to get good grades should
be the main focus.”
After hearing this explanation, it
is easier to relate from a student’s point of
view, but as with everything there are two
sides to every story. Mrs. Meyer, a Spanish
teacher at the Mount, had this to say.
“I think it works really well for
parents to pay the kids because I know
from experience it can be a good motivator.
There is also a lot of research that proves
it works well, especially in the lower
grades.”
Senior Moe Siddiaqi disagrees.
“I think kids should be able to motivate
themselves. There is no reason they can’t
earn it [a good grade ] without cash. The
fact that they earn the grade should be the
reward.”
Mr. Norton, Director of Studies,
also has a say when it comes to paying kids
for grades. “I don’t believe in paying kids
for good grades. It should be expected of
them and there is no reason for bribery. I
never paid my own kids for good grades
and definitely feel as though it should not
be a habit for kids to expect payment every
time they get a good grade.”
Now that we have heard the two
sides of the story, it is easier to understand
each viewpoint, and it makes you think
about your view of this issue. Wherever
Quirks in Ticket Buying
Disappointment Surrounds Music Festival
Patrick Sweeney
Quill Contributor
In concept, the Virgin Mobile
FreeFest is a fantastic idea. The festival,
for the second year in a row, will take place
at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and be
entirely free of charge for the vast majority
of its attendees. Virgin Group founder
and president Richard Branson said, “In
a time of economic challenges and daily
sacrifices, we wanted to throw a fantastic
party so people could let loose and have a
great time – on us.” For both years, those
ordering tickets have been encouraged to
donate to charity while doing so since they
do not have to pay for the ticket.
All of this would seem to add
up to a gesture from Branson that is both
generous and groundbreaking. Why,
then, have so many people been less than
enthusiastic about the event since tickets
went on sale?
Those responsible for organizing
the event appear to have failed nearly
completely on one quite crucial front:
the ticket-buying process. Clearly, a free
concert featuring such big-name artists as
Jimmy Eat World, M.I.A., and Ludacris
was bound to sell out quickly, and those
not quick enough with a mouse would
inevitably be left out. However, what it
came down to in the end was little more
than pure luck. Ticketfly, the website
chosen by Virgin Mobile to sell the tickets
to the festival, apparently crashed due to
the massive number of people attempting
to claim their free tickets. Only those
fortunate enough to be unaffected by
the crash were able to do so, leaving the
majority of hopeful attendees feeling
profoundly unsatisfied.
In the words of Mount senior Dan
Cassidy, “It made me feel like someone
had taken something special from me.”
It seems a bit selfish to complain
about not being able to get tickets to a free
event. After all, the whole event is coming
right out of Branson’s pocket, or at least
that of his company. The real loss here is
the money of those who would have been
willing to make the optional donations.
Taking the extra time to fill out credit card
information all but guaranteed one’s failure
to secure a ticket.
Expensive secondhand tickets will
no doubt allow those willing to pay large
amounts of money to attend, but at the
price of the spirit of the event.
you stand, the questions parents who are
considering this method of reward should
ask themselves are: Have I really done
the right thing to help my child do well in
school? Have I really instilled in him good
values of earning good grades that I would
be proud of telling others? If you can
answer this question honestly and proudly
then I would say you are doing well as
a parent. On either side of this issue,
the remaining question of “Will it work
forever?” still remains present.
Ask Mr. Beck
Submit your questions to Mount Saint Joe’s history buff, Mr. Beck!
Just cut this form out and drop it in the box in the cafeteria, and
next issue he may answer some of YOUR questions!
Name_____________________________________ Grade___________
Question:
The Quill Staff 2010-2011
Editor-in-Chief:
Moses Hubbard
Senior Editor:
Harrison Bachman
Staff Writers:
Tommy O’Donnell, Alex Steiner, Dominic Salacki. Sean
Gilmour
Contributors in This Issue:
Rocco Andrews, Michael Bodley, Robert Bolen, Chris Harrison, Adam Kellermann, Corey Koch, Michael Lawrence,
Randy Price, Patrick Sweeney, Jordan Taylor
Production Staff:
Harrison Bachman, Moses Hubbard
Staff Cartoonist:
Brad Gonce
Moderators: Ms. Richmond, Mr. Bieniek
page 7
The Ups and Downs of a Football Game
Ravens Hope to Win in Week 5
Brad Gonce
Quill Cartoonist
Can Ravens Make it to Dallas?
In the NFL, QBs are the Key for Many Teams
Randy Price
Quill Contributor
The performance of Drew Brees
last year showed that he was undoubtedly
the best quarterback in the League. But
this year he has a competition on his
hands. Peyton Manning is the man I’m
talking about. Also, the League is packed
with teams that have added key additions
this offseason. This year looks to be very
tough. Could it be the talkative, hardknock Jets or the Ravens’ revamped
offensive attack? Maybe the Phillip Riversdriven Chargers? All that we do know is
that the Colts are sure to
be there.
The teams that
have the best likelihood
of getting back on top all
have QBs who do their
job very well. The Ravens
also have Anquan Boldin,
Ray Rice, and a mean,
pride-filled team. The
NFC has the Packers, led
by Aaron Rodgers, and
the Cowboys, led by Tony
Romo. One thing all these
teams have in common
is a proven defense or
experienced QB. Who
knows who will make it to Dallas? Any
Sunday can be anyone’s day.
The sleeper I have my mind on
is the 49ers. Aaron Smith’s maturity level
will be evident this year. He has big targets
in Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis.
Frank Gore and Patrick Willis give them
the tough “run the ball, stop the run” game.
They could very well be in contention
come early January.
The underachiever has to be the
Cowboys. Tony Romo doesn’t play well in
big games. If that isn’t enough to convince
you, maybe Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips
receiving yards last year. His combo of
mobility, accuracy, and smarts separate him
from others. Expect him and Jermichael
Finley to break out together. will. The Super Bowl will be in Dallas, but
that doesn’t make the fans in Dallas any
more patient. Bust is written all over them.
Overachievers are the Texans.
Andre Johnson is a stud on the football
field and in fantasy leagues. Matt Schuab
is getting the respect he deserves. They
feel like they are good enough to dethrone
the Colts. I’m not sold on that, but they are
certainly a wildcard. They are tired of 9-7
records. They want to get over the hump.
They will.
This year’s MVP has to be Aaron
Rodgers. He has Donald Driver and Greg
Jennings, who both eclipsed the 1,000
Wild card round
(4) Patriots over (5) Chargers
(3) Jets over (6) Texans
(6) 49ers over (3) Cowboys
(4) Vikings over (5) Falcons
Divisional round
(2) Ravens over (4) Patriots
(1) Colts over (3) Jets
(1) Saints over (6) 49ers
(2) Packers over (4) Vikings
Conference championship
(2) Ravens over (1) Colts
(2) Packers over (1) Saints
Super Bowl
(2) Ravens over (2) Packers
This year seems to be up for grabs, with
no supreme team. We do know what we
will get out of certain teams. Even with no
favoritism, the Ravens are as deep as any
team. Ray Lewis wants a second ring I’m
not getting in the way. Le goooo.
page 8
Tennis Anyone?
MSJ Tennis Swept the Season Last Year: How They Did it, and Why It’ll Happen Again
Moses Hubbard
Quill Editor in Chief
I think the tennis team captured
the imagination of the school last year,”
said Mr. Tom Hughes, speaking with the
confidence of a coach who led his squad
through a whirlwind (11-0) season last
spring.
Resting proudly on the wall
behind him is a large photograph of the
2010 Varsity Tennis Team. These are the
guys who did something last year that had
not been done in the past twenty years:
Colin Crawford plays both local and national
tournaments and in the 14 year-old division
finished the year ranked inside the top 20 in the
Mid-Atlantic Division. He was a MIAA Champion last year and his serve has been clocked
close to 110 mph.
Jordan Portner plays local and national tournaments and finished last year in the 14 year-old
division ranked 2nd in the country in doubles
and 33rd in singles. He was 17-0 last year in
match play, a MIAA Individual Champion and
was selected to the MIAA All-Conference Team.
they ended Gilman’s and McDonogh’s
twenty-year stranglehold on first place at
the end of the regular season. They are
the ones that went on to win three out
of five possible slots in the Individual
Championships, including both doubles
slots. This is the team that got Saint Joe
months a year. Many of them play two or
three tournaments each month, and are
regionally as well as nationally ranked,”
Mr. Hughes explained.
In March, the team has been
invited to compete against 15 other
high schools, which include 10 state
talking about tennis.
Last year, the Gaels won the
first match of the year against McDonogh
4-1. This would prove to be a harbinger
of things to come. They rolled over their
next six opponents before meeting Gilman
a little more than half-way through the
season. Both teams were 7-0. Wins
by Jordan Portner (#2 singles), Tristan
Boustany (#3 singles) and Matt Bishop
and Kevin Gates (#1 doubles) gave
the Mount the (3-2) victory and sole
possession of first place in one of the most
exciting matches of the year. The team
went on to finish the regular season at (110), and eventually lost the Championship
game to Gilman (2-3), the identical score
they had won by earlier in the season.
“That was a tough loss”, recalls
Mr. Hughes. “We were the number-one
seed and Gilman had to come to us. There
were hundreds of students, parents and
faculty who came out to watch the match
that day, and that was great for the team.”
The varsity squad did get the
last word, so to speak, as Mount players
claimed five out of a possible seven
Individual Champions the following
week: freshman Jordan Portner for #2
singles, sophomores Matt Bishop and
Kevin Gates for #1 doubles, and senior
Colin Keenan and freshman Colin
Crawford for #2 doubles. Matt Bishop,
Kevin Gates, Jordan Portner and Tristan
Boustany were also named to the AllMIAA Conference Team.
Unlike football, rugby and
baseball, tennis is not limited to its three
month season in the spring.
“Every one of these returning
players has a private coach, and train 12
champions from across the country at the
National High School Championships in
Louisville, Kentucky.
“It really is the best tennis team
the Mount has had in over thirty years,”
says Mr. Hughes. Having taught at the
Mount for nearly forty years, he speaks
with authority.
So they had a good season last
year – a great one, in fact, but what about
this year and the next? This is where
things really get good: what’s amazing is
the “nucleus of the team” as Mr. Hughes
calls it, was made up entirely of freshmen
and sophomores last year. This means
they have two more full seasons together
as a group, to train, play, and improve as a
collective.
Kevin Gates plays local and national tournaments. Once ranked #1 in the Mid-Atlantic
Divisionl, Kevin has been undefeated during
the regular season since joining the team as
a freshman. Last year he was 17-0 in match
play, a MIAA Champion and he was selected to
the MIAA All-Conference Team.
“Gilman and McDonogh have
some very strong seniors this year,” Mr.
Hughes says of the upcoming season,
“and so they will still be a challenge,
but after this year , we’re gonna be
unstoppable.”
Matt Bishop plays local and national tournaments and finished last year in the 16 year old
division ranked inside the top 25 in the MidAtlantic Division. Matt has not lost a MIAA
match, during the regular season, for the past
two years. Last year, he was 17-0, a MIAA
Champion and he was selected to the MIAA AllConference Team.
Tristan Boustany plays local and national tournaments and finished last year ranked inside the
top 10 in the Mid-Atlantic 14 year-old division.
In his freshman year, Tristan finished a perfect
11-0 after regular season match play. Tristan
was selected to the MIAA All-Conference Team.