WCAC Basketball Champions- See page 4 * Cochella Music Festival

The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
Volume 55 Issue 3
SuperDance!
Mackenzie Smith
Staff Writer
The 38th annual Super Dance
was yet another success! The students
of O’Connell participated in the
twelve-hour dance marathon, on March
2nd, to raise money to benefit the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation. They raised an
incredible $113,000. The students
asked friends, neighbors, parents, and
relatives for flat donations, and/ or
hourly pledges.
This year’s SCA and
Superdance Committees dedicated
hours upon hours of hard work to
make the dance run as smoothly as
possible. They have held meetings
twice a week since December,
Tuesdays and Thursdays, preparing
to make this year’s dance different
and better than all of the others.
The food was switched up this year
from the “year-after-year” pizza and
soda. The food committee came in
clutch this year with spaghetti
and garlic bread! The entertainment
committee introduced new DJ’s and
performers never seen before by
O’Connell fundraisers. The twelveh o u r d a n c e r s w e r e freed from the
pig pen this year and allowed to dance
around the gym for 12 hours with their
friends (shadowed by volunteers from
the manpower committee).
The food fundraisers for
Superdance this year were held at
Pizza Zolo and the Buffalo Wing
Factory. At the dinners the students
were able to ask the waiters to put
the proceeds towards Superdance.
The performers at Superdance this
year included some of O’Connell’s
finest teachers and alumnae. Their
performances really got the crowd
going, engaging the students and
keeping them “dancing for the cause!”
Later in the evening O’Connell was
visited by DJ Chris Styles, from the
radio station Hot 99.5. His groovy
beats and nifty remixes had everyone
on their feet. It was almost sad to see
another fabulous Superdance come
to a close. An old tradition lived on,
closing the night with “Piano Man,”
as all of the students swayed together
in a circle.
* WCAC Basketball Champions- See page 4
* Cochella Music Festival- See page 6
* Spotlights on Ms. Prebble and Lexy Dantzler- See page 7
* Superdance Spread- See pages 8 & 9
ines
Visor March 2013
Campus News
O’Connell Shines at VFW Speech
Contest Once Again
Veronica Fernandez
Staff Writer
Catholic
Schools Week
Maggie Goldsmith
Campus New Editor
Catholic Schools Week was a
super success!! The National Catholic
Educational Association (NCEA)
and Catholic schools around the U.S.
commemorated this country-wide event
from January 27-February 2. This year,
O’Connell kicked off the celebration
with an Open House on Sunday. Students
gave tours of the school to prospective
parents and middle school students. The
faculty also gave more information about
the curriculum and the classes offered at
O’Connell.
Throughout the week, events
were held in honor of the O’Connell
teachers, students, and most importantly
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. On
Tuesday, the festivities began with
a lunch for the faculty sponsored by
the PTO. The PTO has always been
a significant source of support for the
school. The next day was dedicated to
the students. Students received lollipops
during their lunch periods and gathered
together for a morning assembly. On
Thursday, students were given a dress
holiday in exchange for a donation to
Catholic Charities. All these events are
a prime example of why O’Connell is
dedicated to serving those around us in
any way possible.
The final event of catholic
Schools Week was the annual Superdance
Assembly. The assembly included special
guests whose lives have been impacted
by Cystic Fibrosis. Students also
organized entertaining introductions of
the 12 committees that make this 12-hour
dance marathon possible.
Senior Veronica Fernandez
commented, “The Superdance assembly
never ceases to amaze me and will
forever be one of my favorite memories
of O’Connell.”
The long-awaited theme of this
upcoming dance was also revealed during
the assembly. The O’Connell community
was invited to “Step right up for the
Cure” and raise money for this important
event!
On January 19, 2013 the
Veterans of Foreign War Post 1350
hosted the Voice of Democracy winners.
This contest open to high school levels
challenges students to express themselves
through their essays. The Veterans of
Foreign War were honored to have three
Bishop
O’Connell
winners for
the Veterans
of Foreign
War contest.
Back in
October,
English
1and Public
Speaking
students
were asked
to write a
paper and
then record
their speech
on tape.
The topic
was “Is
the Constitution still relevant?” They
spent countless hours writing, analyzing,
editing and completing their essays.
With the help of Mrs. Wentzel, many
students turned in essays and then spent
their time afterschool recording their
essays onto a recorder. The speeches
were sent to a group of chosen judges
from the organization. People started to
arrive at the VFW Post at around noon.
A buffet lunch was provided. The awards
ceremony started off with the Pledge
of Allegiance. Bill Kelly, Junior Vice
Commander welcomed everyone and
introduced Commander Mike McCartney.
Alex Nobles, senior vice
Commander touched upon the Voice
of Democracy and the Patriot’s Pen
programs and awards. The winners were
announced by the order they placed in
The O’Connell community
gathered on February 13 to celebrate
Mass on Ash Wednesday. This marked
the start of Lent: 40 days of almsgiving,
repentance, and reflection in preparation
for Easter. On this day, members of
the Church are marked with ashes. The
symbol of the cross is to remind us of
The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
6600 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA
the competition. Among the winners were
Published monthly, the
First Place Virginia Schilder, Rhett Nugent
student newspaper of Bishop Denis
and Isabel Fernandez. Mrs. Cerniglia,
J. O’Connell High School is a public
head of the English Department was also
forum with its student editorial
honored as Teacher of the year. This was a
board making all decisions about its
special award for her particularly because
content, under the guidance of its
her father served in World War II.
faculty advisor.
When asked who inspires her,
Opinions in the paper are
Mrs. Cerniglia said “The kids keep me
not necessarily those of the staff,
young. I share my passion for literature
nor should any opinion expressed
with them.” Mrs. Cerniglia would like
in this public forum be construed as
to thank Mrs.
the opinion or the policy of Bishop
Wentzel who
O’Connell High School, unless so
nominated her
attributed.
and would also
like to thank
the school
as a whole.
Josh Wise
Editor-In-Chief
was named
Trey Carter
firefighter of
the year. He
displayed
Front Page
heroic acts
Sports
Virginia Bender
when he saved
Patricia Pope
a person in a
Editorials
car that was
Campus News
Katelyn Holt
unresponsive
Mary Barna
on the
Maggie Goldsmith
Entertainment
highway. He
Spreads
Frankie Endo Ondo J. J. LaPointe
was awarded money to a charity of his
choice. Isabel Fernandez read her speech
Will Crooks
Style
on the first amendment and it’s relevancy
Nylah Goldsmith
to today’s Catholic Church. She went into
Outside News
detail regarding what has inspired her
Brenna Hickey
and why she is so strong in her beliefs
and her faith. Isabel was awarded a check
Staff Writers
of seventy five dollars and a certificate.
nd
Rhett Nugent talked about the 2
Maddie Banister, Emily Bond,
amendments and was also awarded money
Deja Elliot, Veronica Fernandez,
and a certificate. The first place winner
Domenick Gianelli, Arjun Sikund,
Freshmen Virginia Schilder started off her
Mackenzie Smith, Emma Williams
essay by thanking the Veterans of Foreign
War and addressing them. Her essay
thoroughly examined the freedoms and
the privileges that we have in this country.
Faculty Moderator
Commander Mike McCartney closed up
Dan Culler
the event by thanking the audience. At the
end of the ceremony, everyone erupted in
celebration of the previous year. The ashes
applause.
are christened with Holy Water and are
scented by exposure to incense.
Today, Christians come to
receive ashes out of devotion. While the
ashes symbolize penance and contrition,
they are also a reminder that God is
gracious and merciful to those with
repentant hearts. Catholics focus on God’s
the purpose of Lent. The phrase “Man
gift of mercy during the season of Lent,
is dust, and unto dust you shall return”
and the Church calls on us to seek that
allows us to recognize that life on Earth is
mercy during the entire Lenten season
precious and does not last for long.
with reflection, prayer and penance.
Ashes are a symbol of penance
This year, Pope Benedict XVI
made sacramental by the blessing of the
celebrated his last public mass on Ash
Church, and they help us develop a spirit
Wednesday. In his homily, he spoke about
of humility and sacrifice. The distribution
the journey of faith that we take during
of ashes comes from a long-cherished
Lent:
tradition of the
“We begin our Lenten journey
Church. In earlier
with trust and joy. May the invitation to
times, members
conversion, to “return to God with all our
known to have
heart,” resonate strongly in us, accepting
committed grave
His grace that makes us new men and
sins had to perform
women.”
public penance after
We begin on Ash Wednesday the
being marked with
liturgical season of Lent with the thoughtashes and walking
provoking rite of the imposition of ashes,
in a procession
through which we wish to take on the
around the Church
commitment to convert our hearts to the
square. These
horizons of grace. In common opinion,
people were also
this time runs the risk of being marked by
not allowed back
sadness, by the darkness of life. Instead,
into the Church
Catholics view it as a precious gift of
until after the forty
God; it is an intense time full of meanings
days of Lent. The
in the journey of the Church; it is the
ashes are made
itinerary to the Lord’s Easter. The biblical
from the blessed
readings of Lent give us the inspiration to
palms used in
live this spiritual experience fully.
the Palm Sunday
Lent: A Time for Renewal
Mary Barna
Campus News Editor
Page 2
Visor March 2013
Campus News
Page 3
ally disappear,” Boston Cardinal
Sean P. O’Malley told the crowd assembled on the National Mall for
a rally prior to the march.
He noted that Nellie Gray,
the recently deceased founder of
the annual march, “was not going
to allow that to happen.”
“The march grows stronger
every year,” said the cardinal, who
is chairman of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on
Pro-Life Activities.
A new CNN national poll
shows that 62% of Americans want
all or most abortions made illegal.
This year in particular, the pro-life
movement aims to raise awareness in the minds of all Americans
since it is the 40th anniversary of
the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision
legalizing abortion. They also want
to bring to light the toll it has taken
on the United States.
The theme this year in-
cludes an equation: 40=55M, to
signify that in the forty years since
Roe v. Wade, 55 million human
beings have lost their lives to abortion. Fifty-five million is nearly the
population of California and New
York combined.
Abortion
opponents from
all around the
country marched
along Constitution Avenue to
the front of the
U.S. Supreme
Court, packing
the streets of
DC. Though some in the crowd
were veterans of previous marches
held annually since Roe v. Wade
was decided in 1973, the majority
seemed to be teenagers and young
adults, many of whom carried signs
identifying themselves as part of
a “pro-life generation.” Although
inclement weather unfortunately
prevented O’Connell buses from
transporting students downtown,
students from our community still
found their way down to represent
us in the biggest showing of prolife in the country.
Junior Abby Markle
remarked, “this
year’s March for
Life is definitely one
to remember.”
After marching,
prayer continued
at rallies. One was
held at the nearby
Patriot Center,
planned by the diocesan Youth
Ministry and Respect Life offices
to get young people excited and
inspired for advocating a “culture
of life.”
Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., urged
participants to continue to “stand
courageously for life.” He said legislative
battles
will
continue
to take
place to
change
abortion
laws and
that the
pro-life
movement
must be
compassionate to
change
the
hearts
and
minds
of other
people.
graphical and cultural significance
of the Alps. The group will take an
excursion on the world’s steepest
cog railway and cable car up 7,000
foot Mt. Pilatus.
Verona will be the first stop
in
Italy
to see the setting of Romeo
Brenna Hickey
and Juliet. Overnights will be in
Editor
the Garda Lake district. A day trip
A group of O’Connell
to Venice will allow the group to
students and parents are looking
view St. Mark’s Cathedral and ride
forward
in gondolas on
to Spring
the canals. The
Break
trip continues
and
to Florence, the
travel to
center of the
Italy and
Renaissance. It
Switzerwill include a
land. Led
special tour of
by Mrs.
the Academia to
Stabile
see Michelanof the
gelo’s David.
German
Rome is the
Chapel
Bride
in
Luceren,
Switzerland
Language
group’s final
Department, the journey will begin destination. Highlights include
in Lucerne, Switzerland. There
visits to St. Peter’s Basilica, the
they will learn about the geoVatican and the Sistine Chapel. An inside visit to the Colosseum is also included. Dr. Stabile
has arranged a private visit to the
Presidential Palace and the Foreign
Ministry and an opportunity to
meet the president. The last night
will allow the group to participate
in a Pizza-making lesson and to
work in teams to assemble and
cook the perfect brick-oven pizza.
catered by Harris Teeter and Heidelberg Bakery and had an array of
wonderful sweets, and drinks such
as coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Senior Veronica Fernandez exclaimed “This was the best
Broadway Desserts yet; and I’m so
sad it’s my last.”
Led by Ms. Van Duzer, the
music department amazed friends,
families, and teachers with their
talented voices and performances.
There is no telling what the future
holds for these talented young
musicians and performers, but it
would be no surprise if they ended
up on Broadway one day.
The Pro-Life
Generation
Mary Barna
Editor
Participants at the annual
March for Life in Washington, D. C. on January 25th helped to
continue a 40-year tradition of protesting the Supreme Court
decision that created the right to
abortion. They demonstrated their
determination by showing up in
such large numbers on a bitterly
cold day.
The battle continues to
change America because every
life should be protected. Support
for the pro-life position has been
increasing in the forty years since
Roe v. Wade.
Being pro-life is “the new
normal in the United States,” according to
Jeanne Monahan, the new
Head of the
March for Life.
She added that
the movement is
making progress
in changing laws
and attitudes.
She was one of
many pro-life
advocates that
spoke to the
heavily bundled
crowd, standing
on the snowdusted ground.
“Forty
years ago,
people thought
opposition to
the pro-choice
movement
would eventu-
OC Travels
During Spring
Break
Broadway
Desserts!
Patricia Pope
Editor
Why travel all the way
to Broadway when you can get
a similar experience right here
at O’Connell? The third annual
Broadway Desserts was held
February 22 in the upper gym. The
evening featured O’Connell’s very
own singers and band members
preforming musical numbers from
Broadway musicals. The event was
Visor March 2013
O’Connell Takes The Gold
Emily Bond
Staff Writer
Bishop O’Connell defeated St.
John’s on Tuesday, February 26, to win
the WCAC title with an impressive 5853 victory Tuesday night at American
University. Junior Melo Trimble led
the way with 32 points, and senior
Junior Etou scored two free throws
with 4.9 seconds to play to seal the
victory and give Bishop O’Connell
their first WCAC title since 2004.
“We overcame so much
adversity,” O’Connell coach Joe Wootten
said. “We had a tough year last year, but
[the guys] got better and they grew up. I
couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
Sports
Track
The game was close throughout,
but O’Connell was finally able to pull
away late in the fourth quarter, led by Melo
Trimble and Junior Etou. Trimble scored 8
of his 10 free throws for the Knights. Senior
Junior Etou only scored 12 points, but his
two free throws at the end of the game were
enough to secure the win for the Knights.
Almost the entire student body
came out, decked in their spirit wear and
blue attire to support their team. The sound
in the gym was deafening as the seniors
lead the students in cheers. As soon as
the buzzer rang, the students stormed the
court and tackled their new champions.
The run to the title wasn’t easy
for O’Connell, who started the season
11-0 but lost to Gonzaga twice and Paul
VI once during the regular season; but
O’Connell won when it mattered most.
Royalettes Making History
Emily Bond
Staff Writer
The Royalette Dance Team has
made history here at Bishop O’Connell!
The team competed at the Universal
Dance Association National Dance
Team Championships in Disney World
in Orlando Florida on February 1-3.
The Royalettes competed on Saturday
February 2 in the Semi Finals in both large
varsity jazz and pom categories. After a
long day of competition the Royalettes
qualified for the Finals, which no team in
Royalette history has ever accomplished
“I can’t think of a more deserving
team,” said Coach Kelsey Timmerberg, the
choreographer and coach of the Royalettes.
“The girls have worked so hard for
this. We couldn’t be more proud!” claimed
Coach Chrissy Salvador about her team
after the finals results were announced.
In the finals competition on
Sunday the Royalettes competed pom and
placed 21st, making them the first team in the
history of the Bishop O’Connell Royalette
dance team to be nationally ranked.
“Reaching finals has been a goal
of the team for as long as I have been on
the team and making it this year means
more than I can express to all the seniors.
I can’t think of a more perfect team to
accomplish this with,” said Captain
Shanna Bishop about their success.
Not only were the Royalettes
extremely successful in competition but
they also had time to enjoy the attractions
in Orlando. They visited Universal
Studios and all four parks at Disney World.
“Nationals this year was one
of the best dance experiences I have
ever had. I am so proud of our team
and everything that we worked so hard
for we finally accomplished!” raved
senior team member Jenny Rakshys.
Emma Williams
Staff Writer
Track season is already underway
as the athletes for the 2013 team have
been preparing for the season and the
upcoming invitational. Last year, the
track field remained under construction
for the entirety of the season, and running
routes during practice were therefore
created throughout the neighborhood.
Coach
Fitzpatrick
remarked,
“Last
year,
the
athletes
performed
extremely
well,
especially with no place to train.”
Coach
Pierce
added
her
sentiments: “We’ve been looking forward
to hosting a meet on our new track for
quite some time. The ability to hold
Page
4
practice on a state-of-the-art facility has
already made a positive impact on our
performance. With solid returning athletes
and great potential in our new athletes I’m
confident that we will have a good season.
Along with an updated track and
field, new coaches have joined the team,
mainly to work with the sprinting group.
Groups within the track team compete in
different categories of invitationals, such
as sprints, jumps/hurdles, throws, and
distance running. Sophomore Josh Speier,
who joined the track team in his freshman
year, commented:“All of the teams have a
great history of being championship-quality
teams; we are gonna be awesome this year.”
With this upcoming season of track
and field at O’Connell, the team is aiming
for an undefeated season as preparations
begin
for
upcoming
invitationals.
New Baseball Field
Will Crooks
Staff Writer
With all of the buzz over
McMurtie Field, and the hype that comes
with basketball season, it can be easy to
forget the many other sports programs
at O’Connell. Programs such as the
Royalettes, who earned themselves a
ranking at 21st in the nation at the UDAs
in Disneyworld Orlando, or the 16-time
state champion softball team with three
college recruits on the roster for the
class of 2013. Perhaps another team that
deserves some attention as their season
approaches: O’Connell’s Baseball Knights.
The program has made major
changes over the last year. After Coach
Hart stepped down following eight great
years as Head Coach, Kyle Padgett, who
has coached at Wake Forest, Duke, and
William and Mary after playing at William
and Mary and in several pro organizations
assumed the helm. He is joined by Rob
Riley, who has helped a plethora of players
get to the college level over his years as
a pitching professional, following his
time playing in multiple pro leagues
both overseas and in the United States.
Finally they are joined by Assistant Coach
Sean Prince, who played at O’Connell
and has several years of experience as
an O’Connell coach under his belt. The
coaching staff has extensive experience at
all levels of the game and their knowledge
will be a huge benefit to the program.
Along with the new coaches
comes a new field! Jacobs Field has been
renovated alongside McMurtie, and the
team looks forward to throwing on their
cleats and tearing it up on the fresh grass. A
notable feature to the field is the short leftfield fence, which should see plenty of long
balls this year. The senior parking lot, which
lies only a few feet beyond the fence, could
be subject to falling baseballs this spring.
“Well we don’t really have a swingfor-the-fences approach to our offense,
but it would definitely be nice to set off a
few car alarms,” said senior Will Crooks.
“Some lucky fans might just get a souvenir.”
Both the team and the O’Connell
faithful look forward to the season with
great anticipation. The team can not
foretell the future but what is certain is
that they will work hard to prepare for
the season in the present. Don’t miss
an opportunity to to watch a great team
compete on a great field! and come out
and support your Knights this spring!
Visor March 2013
Entertainment
Academy Awards Shine!
Veronica Fernandez
Staff Writer
The Academy Awards took place
live on Sunday February 24. For those of
you who might not realize it, it is the most
lavish and exciting night in Hollywood.
Thousands of actors and actresses gathered
on the famous Red Carpet and strolled into
the Kodak Theatre. Fans cheered outside
the theatre and snapped pictures of as many
stars as they could as they exited their limosuines. Some big fashion hits of the
night included Jessica Chastain in a champagne, Armani Prive. Zoe Zaldana wowed
with an embellished Alexis Mabelle. Some
actresses made bolder statements, such as
Charlize Theron in Dior Couture.
For the first time, Seth MacFarlane
hosted the awards. Some fans disputed
the choice, claiming he wasn’t funny; but
as the night progressed he won over the
doubters, keeping the audience entertained.
Throughout the night, many standouts included Best Supporting Actor, Christopher
Waltz and best supporting actress in a musical Anne Hathaway. Jennifer Lawrence
caused some laughter when she fell up the
stairs as she received her award for her role
in Silver Linings Playbook. She then gratefully accepted her award and thanked her
family and friends. Brave won best animated picture and the best costume design
went to Anna Karenina.
Entertainment played a key role in this
year’s Academy Awards. The whole cast
of Les Miserables sang “One day More.”
The singers included Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne
Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, and Sasha
Baron Cohen. At the end of the night the
big winner was announced. Much to the
audience’s surprise, First Lady Michelle
Obama appeared on the Oscars via skype
and announced the winner of Best Picture
which went to Argo, directed by Ben Affleck. The crowd erupted in applause as
Argo won. The award was accepted by
Ben Affleck and amidst the applause he
graciously thanked everyone who was involved in the production. The Academy
Awards, as always, didn’t disappoint. This
year’s movies were hits and everyone who
won an award was truly deserving of it.
Super Bowl Half Time Show
Emma Williams
Staff Writer
While the Super Bowl’s fans were
seemingly focused on the competition between the two rivals team, the Super Bowl
half-time show is often more talked about
than the game itself. Each year, the halftime show is put on by some of the most
famous faces in the music industry and
this year was no exception. The 47th Super Bowl Half-time show featured none
other than Beyoncé. One of the most anticipated performances of Super Bowl history, Beyoncé delivered an incredible performance, packed with an elaborately lit
stage, background dancers, and guest singers from Destiny’s Child: Kelly Rowland
and Michelle Williams.
Despite the controversy regarding Beyoncé’s lip syncing at President
Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony; she
made it clear that she would not be repeating this at the Super Bowl,
SAFE HAVEN
Frankie Endo Ondo
Entertainment Editor
Safe Haven was released on Valentine’s Day, staring Josh Duhamel, Julianne
Hough and Colbie Smulders. The Story is
about a young woman (Katie) whose main
struggle in life is to be able to love again
after escaping an abusive relationship. Safe
Haven is based on the best-selling novel
by Nicholas Sparks, who is also the master
mind behind The Notebook and Dear John.
The mysterious young woman
move to North Carolina and her life style
and reluctance to be a part of the community raises questions about her past. Soon,
though, she begins a relationship with
Alex, a widower and store owner with two
younger children. But dark secrets intrude
on Katie’s new life with such terror that she
is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice, and rely on the power of love in this
deeply moving romantic thriller.
“I will absolutely be singing live;
I am well-rehearsed. This is what I was
born to do.”
Beyoncé’s performance included well-known songs such as, “Love on
Top,” “Crazy in Love,” “End of Time,”
and “Baby Boy.” Former Destiny’s Child
members Kelly Rowland and Michelle
Williams joined Beyoncé in a performance
of “Bootylicious,” “Independent Woman,”
and a much hoped-for performance of
“Single Ladies.” As the finale, Beyoncé
soloed with her megahit, “Halo.” Even
though Madonna’s memorable Super Bowl
performance in 2012 received higher ratings than this year’s show, Beyoncé was
praised by viewers and critics for her unforgettable performance.
TV Next Fall
Deja Elliott
Staff Writer
TV’s most dreaded time of year has arrived, which includes many network cuts
as well as renewals for the 2013 fall TV
listings. Executives, Producers and writters will be sitting down from now until
late May to decide which TV shows will be
back on your TV screens next fall. Visor
has uncoveredd the first list of the renwed
and cancelled shows that will or will not
be coming back to your screens this fall.
Renewed
Glee - Gleeks around the world sang songs
of joy when it was confirmed that FOX’s
hit comedy series Glee had been picked
up for a 5th season. There had been much
speculation among fans that the Glee writers had drained the plot dry, but Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Brad Falchuk are
always one step ahead, and always have
a few tricks up their sleeves; there’s been
whispers going around of the writers making an executive decision to move the entire show to New York! What started out
as a show about a high school Glee club
would become so much more if it hit the
city streets to explore the college dynamic,
a much more open and independent atmosphere than high school. For now, season
4 is in full swing, and our favorite characters are currently running out on weddings, coping with teen challenges, and
rekindling old flames. You can catch the
drama Thursday night’s at 9 on FOX.
Page
5
Supernatural - The Supernatural Family collectively breathed a sigh of relief
when it was reported that the Canadian
sci-fi/drama had been picked up for a 9th
season. Good news for everyone’s favorite rogue angel Castiel, Misha Collins has
signed to return to season nine as a fulltime regular. He is also planning on directing an episode, which will make him the
second cast member, after Jensen Ackles,
to get behind the camera. Right now, brothers Dean and Sam are focused on the task
of closing the gates of hell forever, which
requires three painful, nearly impossible
tasks to be completed before being able to
accomplish it. The last episode, “Remember the Titans,” left off with Dean praying
to Castiel to watch over Sam as he takes
on the three impossible tasks that lead to
slamming shut the gates of hell. Tune in for
the action on Wednesdays at 9 on the CW.
Doctor Who - The first half of series seven ended with the weeping angels taking
Manhattan by storm and occupying every
statue in the city. Amy and Rory PondWilliams were wisked from their time by a
weeping angel and forced to stay in 1930’s
New York forever, leaving the Doctor
alone. In the Christmas special, we were
re-introduced to Clara Oswin Oswald, who
first appeared as Oswin in “Asylum of the
Daleks,” in which she sacrificed her life
for the Doctor’s. Now she’s Clara, a barmaid and governor. A new companion always brings new adventures and shenanigans, and the Fandom Who Waited will be
soon rewarded when the series returns to
BBC America on March 30th of this year.
Arrow - Picked up for the back-nine, the
remainder of the 2012-13 season. Given
that it’s the highest-rated series on the CW,
I think fans can count on seeing this series stick around for a long time to come.
Pretty Little Liars - Renewed for season 4
the first half will get underway in June of
2013 and the second in January of 2014.
.
Nashville - The musical drama, which
debuted strong and has remained steady
ever since, scored a full-season renewal.
Also watch for a series soundtrack to arrive in stores by the holiday season.
American Horror Story - Just halfway
through the second season the horror drama was already renewed for a
third season. Series star Jessica Lange
has already signed for next season.
Entertainment
Visor March 2013
Page 6
BATMAN ZERO YEAR
Arjun Sikand
Staff Writer
COACHELLA
J.J Lapointe
Spreads Editor
There is a place, known by
few, hidden deep in the lush grass of
California’s Coachella Valley. For
two weekends in mid-April this open
oasis is transformed into a thriving metropolis where bands from
all walks of life show their unique
sound to the world; a sound that is
virtually echoed from the slopes of
the valley to the towering mountains
that surround the picturesque landscape. Coachella by its nature creates
an easy-going lifestyle, where the
problems of the world are overlooked
for the countless numbers of bands
that take the stage during this groovy
weekend.
This year Coachella has the
potential to present the valley with the
biggest turnout ever. Tickets started
selling in mid-January and were sold
out before the calendar could turn to
February. Each year this renowned
concert brings the legendary,
long forgotten and up and coming bands to perform in front of a
madcap crowd. What makes this
concert one of the most unique,
though, is the fact that most
people don’t leave. A substantial
amount of the more peculiar souls
decide to camp out for the two
week festival, making sure not
one note played by their favorite
bands is missed.
Every year Coachella
brings wide variety of bands and
singers to California. This year is
no different. 2-Chainz is said to
make a first time performance in
the celebrated valley. Following
the more than likely thoughtless
and dim-witted 2-Chainz performance, Ben Howard will take the
stage, an almost unheard of singer
from England who thrives off candid lyrics and a gift to play the guitar like a god. Other notable performances come from the likes of
Wu-Tang Clan, The Lumineers, Of
Monsters and Men, Pusha T, Passion Pit and so many more.
Unfortunately for us high
school students, who can only
dream of parents who give them
the ok to travel to California in
the midst of test and quizzes, this
concert may very well be…well…
just a dream. However, thanks to
YouTube Coachella will be brought
to us live. Yes! That’s right all 216
hours fed through our computers.
So DJO students get your calendars at hand and mark down April
12-14th and April 19-21st as the
days you will be sitting in front of
the computer all day long.
DC Comics has announced
a revision to the original Batman
mythology. It will be adding new elements to Bruce Wayne’s life before
becoming the Dark Knight. Although
changes will also be made to the
storyline of Batman, the major parts
of Bruce Wayne’s life will remain
the same, including the death of his
parents, witnessed by him as a young
boy.
Scott Snyder, creator of the
new “Batman” re-launch said, “It
was not “Let’s redo the original. It
was more let’s add some new layers
to the story, showing how Batman
became who he is in the New 52.”
The new 52 is a massive
revamp of the entire line of ongoing
monthly superhero books by DC Comics. Snyder also said the decision to
revamp the Batman mythology is due to
a massive reorganization project of the
publisher’s many characters. This will
present everything from new costumes
to new histories that mesh their original
appearances in the comics with more
modern changes.
Snyder also adds that these
changes in the mythology will show
Batman in a different light. You will
see how Bruce Wayne developed into
the Dark Knight and the challenges he
faced along the way. These changes
are not of how Batman came to be, but
rather a deeper look into his younger
years and the challenges he faced in
becoming the Dark Knight.
Top 10 Prom Proposals
Frankie Endo Ondo with Emily Bond
Entertainment Editor, Staff Writer
1. Bake Someone Cookies/Cake with an Invitation
2. String a Banner across a Highway
3. Seranade Someone
4. Decorate Someone’s Front Lawn
5. Sky-Writing
6. Decorate Someone’s Car
7. Rose Scavenger Hunt
8. Create a Rap/ Song
9. Halftime Cheer
10. Morning Annoucenments
Visor March 2013
Spotlight
Spotlight on:
Alexa Dantzler
O’Connell for the 2013-2014 school
year?
Prebble: I will be the next President of
The Academy of the Holy Cross, which
is an all-girls school sponsored by the
Sisters of the Holy Cross. It is composed
of approximately 600 students and is
located in Kensington, Maryland.
Mary Barna
Editor
Visor: So what inspired you to choose
the topic that you researched for your
science fair project back in freshman
year?
Alexa Danztler: During my freshman
year of high school at DJO in biology
honors, we were required to do a science
fair project. After reading about the toxic
chemicals in the environment, I wanted
to know if this chemical, known as perc,
remains in dry-cleaned clothing after it
is dry-cleaned.
Visor: What exactly is perc?
different fields of science in college, like
biochemistry and molecular biology.
Visor: How does it feel to be a finalist
out of 1,700 other entrants?
AD: It feels great to be one of the
40 Finalists. I really could not
believe that MY research was chosen
as some of the best in the nation.
Visor: Did you do anything extra to
prepare for the Intel Science Talent
Search?
AD: Perc, used by over 70% of dry
cleaners across America, is classified
by the EPA as a probable carcinogen
and has been linked to many cancers
in animal model studies, and in
the health of dry cleaning workers.
AD: Beforehand I reviewed my research
and extra scientific articles I had used
for the research. I also had to make sure
my poster for Public Day was perfect.
Visor: What made you interested in
continuing your research for the project
after science fair was over?
AD: After graduating from DJO, I will be
attending either Stanford, University of
Pennsylvania, or Case Western, as I have
gotten offers from these three and others.
I will be majoring in biochemistry and
pursuing a minor in anthropology.
AD: I think it was sheer curiosity
and my personal desire to find an
answer to a question I had put so
much effort into researching that I
decided to continue my study of it.
Visor: Tell me about the whole process
of the research. Was it a good learning
experience for you?
AD: The entire research project was
such an amazing experience. With
research, it is all about persistence and
dedication to learning the lab techniques
and skills you need to find the answer.
Doing research also required me to look
at scientific journals and other sources to
learn what other scientists had studied
in my field. Overall, my research that I
completed throughout high school was
part of my life. I am sad to be ending my
research, but I am going to try exploring
Page 7
Visor: What do you hope to do after
graduating from DJO?
Spotlight on:
Mrs. Prebble
Trey Carter
Editor in Chief
Visor: How long have you been President of Bishop O’Connell High School?
Prseident Prebble: Three years.
Visor: What was your favorite memory
from your three years as President at
O’Connell?
AD: I want readers to know that doing
science doesn’t make you a nerd or
weird. In fact, continuing research,
especially in high school, can lead to
a lot of recognition and opportunities,
including finanacial rewards.
Prebble: My favorite memory was to
witness Superdance. I just think that
it really shows the heart and soul of
O’Connell, how it comes together
around a particular cause that has a real
personal meaning to the school. I tell
people all the time about Superdance,
not because of all the money that we
raise, but because to me it is so phenomenal that it is completely run by the
students, organized by the students, and
the committees are completely made up
of the students. Everything from security, to food, to getting the entertainment
is run by the students and truly shows
what O’Connell students are capable
of doing.
Vi s o r : C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s f o r a l l
achievements! We all wish you luck
as you move onto college in these next
few months!
Visor: What is going to be your new
position, now that you have announced
your plan not to return to Bishop
Visor: As anyone can see, all your years
of hard work have really paid off. Is
there any message or words of advice
you would give to readers regarding
what you’ve learned from your academic
experiences?
AD: Thank you so much!
Visor: What was the ultimate “scale -tipper,” in what must have been a difficult
choice for you?
Prebble: The Academy of the Holy Cross
is located really close to my home so
logistically it made sense to me. Also I
believe that it is a good time to make the
move. I have really loved being part of
the O’Connell story even though it was
just for a brief period in time.
Visor: What has been your goal over
these past three years?
Prebble: It has always been my priority
to work with Dr. Vorbach and the rest of
the Administration as a team in order to
make the student experience at O’Connell
the best that it possibly can be. I believe
that we have done a great job in making
O’Connell a pleasant environment for our
students to thrive and work to the best of
their potential.
SUPERDANCE
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SUPERDANCE
Page 7
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Superdance Throughout The Years...
1975
1977
1980
1978
1976
1997
1995
1994
1996
1982
1985
1999
1998
1986
1990
1988
2005
2003
2002
2004
1991
1989
13
2001
2000
1987
1984
20
step
right up
1993
1983
1981
1979
FOR THE
CURE
2007
2006
1992
2009
2008
2011
2010
2012
Outside News
Visor March 2013
Medal of Honor
Will Crooks
Staff Writer
The
military
guarantees
our constitution and the rights of all
Americans. They represent everything
that the United States stands for:
loyalty, selflessness, sacrifice, and even
love. It was this final characteristic of
the military that drove Staff Sergeant
Clinton L. Romesha to put himself in
the way of danger to save his fellow
soldiers. Romesha earned the Medal
of Honor on February 11, 2013
for his heroic actions in Kamdesh,
Afghanistan on October 3 of 2009.
Staff Sergeant Romesha,
along with 52 other US military
personnel was stationed at Combat
Outpost Keating in Kamdesh when
they were attacked by over 300 Taliban
fighters.
Keating is a collection
of buildings made of concrete and
plywood, with a few trenches and
sandbags positioned at the bottom
of a steep valley. President Obama
described it as basically “indefensible.”
The Taliban attacked with
mortars, rocket propelled grenades,
and small arms fire. Outnumbered
and overmatched, the Americans were
driven back to a single building in the
outpost, where Romesha rallied his
men and began fighting the attackers
for control of the base. Romesha called
in air strikes on the Taliban before
being hit with shrapnel in his neck,
side, and leg. Despite his injuries, his
most dangerous and valiant act was yet
to happen: running 100 meters through
enemy fire to save the bodies of his
fallen comrades. Fighting on in spite of
his considerable wounds, he continued
to defend Keating, fighting heroically.
Staff Sergeant Clinton L.
Romesha is responsible for the safety of
the soldiers who survived the battle at
Keating. He exemplifies the sacrifices
United States soldiers are willing to
make for their comrades-in–arms,
earning the Medal of Honor through
his valor, courage, and resilience. He is
a walking example of the service men
and women around the globe, who are
willing to defend their country in the
face of discouraging odds. Camouflage
truly is America’s away color.
Page 10
Capitals Struggle With New System
Emily Bond
Staff Writer
Expectations for the 2013
Washington Capitals were never higher.
at the start of the season. Coming off
a long playoff stretch, and with the
hiring of former Washington Capital
Adam Oates as head coach, many
thought the Caps would pick up right
where they left. But this was not to
be. The Caps started the season off
winless in their first 4 games. The
goaltending, which was so stellar during
the playoffs, was showing weaknesses;
and the Caps high-powered offense
was having trouble scoring goals.
Recently, though, things have
begun to turn around. The Caps have
won 2 of their last 3 games, and their
stars are finally starting to lead the way.
Offensively, the Caps are being lead by
newly acquired center Mike Riberio.
Riberio has 5 goals and 12 assists for
17 points in 13 games. Captain Alex
Ovechkin has 7 points in his last 5 games.
Braden Holtby is starting to regain
his playoff form. Holtby has started 3
straight games and won 2 straight as
well. Because of the shortened season
due to the Lockout, the Caps have a lot of
work to do in order to make the playoffs.
But with the offense and goalteninding
coming around, there is no reason to
believe these Caps can’t get the job done.
ROAD TRIP!
Visit Longwood University, just 168 miles from Arlington.
Longwood is a public university of about 5,000 students located in the heart of Virginia.
Small Classes. Big Experience.
A “Must See” University.
Go to WhyLongwood.com to schedule your visit.
Visor March 2013
Outside News
Page 11
New Steroid Contovery in the MLB
Maggie Goldsmith
Staff Writer
The golden rule of major league
baseball is “You do steroids, you’re out.”
A recent Miami Biogenesis scandal has
claimed that over two dozen players,
including Washington Nationals pitcher,
Gio Gonzalez, received performanceenhancing substances. Many of the
accused players such as Gonzalez,
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan
Braun, Yankees third baseman Alex
Rodriguez, and Blue Jays outfielder
Melky Cabrera have been linked to
the Biogenesis owner Anthony Bosch.
The MLB drug policy clearly states
that, “all players are prohibited from using,
possessing, selling, facilitating the sale of,
distributing, or facilitating the distribution
of any Drug of Abuse and/or Steroid.”
Gonzalez and the other alleged baseball
players have publicly denied using illegal
drugs or having contact with Bosch. “I’ve
never used performance-enhancing drugs
of any kind, and I never will. I’ve never
met or spoken with Tony Bosch or used any
substances provided by him. Anything said
to the contrary is a lie,” stated Gonzalez.
More recently, ESPN stated Gonzalez has
been the only one named that was cleared
from using banned substances. Although
Gonzalez has not officially been cleared
by the MLB, he, his family, and teammates
are confident of a good outcome.
With Opening Day quickly
approaching, all the teams are hopeful
that their accused players will be cleared
soon, so they may return to spring training.
Steroid use has ruined the careers of many
former star players and the MLB and diehard baseball fans have faith that the careers
of the accused players are not in jeopardy.
Ravens Flying High
Frankie Endoondo
Staff Writer
This year the Super Bowl was
one Nail Biting game when the 49ers came
back after the Baltimore Ravens started off
the game with a big lead. The Game started
off with a Performance from Alicia Keys
who sang the National Anthem, which
has caused a bunch of mixed feelings
from fans, viewers and the media. From
the start of the game it was obvious that
San Francisco was the underdog of the
game. From the beginning of the game
the 49ers were hurt by penalties and
turnovers by The Baltimore ravens who
gained a 21-6 first half lead on them.
When the Second Half started The
San Francisco 49ers were eager to fight
and catch up with the Baltimore Ravens
who had gained a big lead on them. But
on the Second Half Kickoff Arthur Jones
received the ball in the back of the end
zone running down the field untouched
bringing the game to a score 28-6. After
the NFL record for the longest kickoff
return in the history of the super bowl,
Beyoncé took the stage for one of the best
halftime shows. After the Halftime show
the 49ers drove 80 yards with quarterback
Colin Kaperrick rushing 15 yards. At the
end of the quarter the 49ers came back
in the game making the score 28-20.
On the second play of the fourth
quarter the ravens made their first turnover
when Brown forced a fumble from the
Ravens at the 25 yard line. After Chykie
Brown was penalized the 49ers made
the score 28-23. This is when the game
became Nail Biting; everyone started
thinking, “Will the 49ers pull this off and
end up winning the Super Bowl?” After
the previous touch down the game got
intense with touchdowns and incomplete
passes and with 1 minute left in the game
it was obvious that the Baltimore Ravens
were the winners of the Super Bowl ending
the game with a score of 34 to 31. The
Ravens cheered and the 49ers left the field
with their heads down and disappointed.
Sequestration: Growing Frustration
Maggie Goldsmith
Staff Writer
The Sequester is one of the most
talked about government plans of this year.
Sequester refers to mandatory budget cuts
in federal spending that began on January
1, 2013. The many projected effects of
Sequester include discretionary spending
cuts of both defense and non-defense
components, cuts affecting Social Security
and Medicaid. Over the next 9 years starting
next year, the sequester would also reduce
planned spending outlays with a total of
over 1.2 trillion dollars in debt reduction.
Many people have commented
on the serious economic effects the
sequester would bring. Economist Paul
Krugman stated that, “the implementation
of the sequester could cost 700,000 jobs.”
The Congressional Budget Office also
reported, “In the absence of sequestration,
GDP growth would be about 0.6
percentage points faster during [the 2013]
calendar year, and the equivalent of about
750,000 more full-time jobs would be
created or retained by the fourth quarter.”
President Obama hopes to see the
sequester replaced with a package of tax
increases and spending cuts. The sequester
has not shown much progress in getting our
economy back on track and is leaving people
with doubts of the so-called outcomes.
Habemus Papam
Ginny Bander
Staff Writer
On February 28th, 2013 the
Catholic Church became sedovacinists.
Pope Benedict the 16th retired from the
papacy after being pontiff for 8 years.
His retirement came as shock to
the world as he was the first Pope to retire
since the 15th century. After much prayer
and deliberation he stepped down mainly
because he felt he lacked the mental and
physical strength to effectively lead the
church. His resignation displayed his great
humility and love of the Church.
The conclave, to elect the new
pope, began on March 12, 2013 and the
successor to Pope Benedict was selected
on March 13, 2013. His successor is
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was
the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and is now
known as Pope Francis.
He is the first pontiff to choose the
name Francis and the name is a reference
to St. Francis of Asissi. He is the first Latin
American Pope, which is sn as some to
herald the reinvigoration of the Church in
the Americas.
Pope Francis is a Jesuit and lived
a life of extreme poverty as archbishop. He
is especially concerned with the wellbeing
of the poor. This is an exciting time for the
Church and for the world.
Visor March 2013
Editorials
The Facts on CF
Katelyn Holt
Staff writer/Editor
Many people do not fully
understand the seriousness of Cystic
Fibrosis. Students at O’Connell know the
backgrounds of Cystic fibrosis go way
back. Although people were thought to
have it in the 1700, the first documented
case occurred in the 1930s. In 1949, Lowe
established that CF was a recessive gene
disorder. Swiss pediatrician Dr. Fanconi
wrote the first article on CF, which he
called “celiac syndrome”. In the 1960s,
organizations for CF research were formed.
By the 1980s life expectancy
had reached 14 years, which was an
improvement from the single digit number
Book Describing Mr. Martin’s Experiences in
Catholic Education Set for Summer Release
Ginny Bender
Front Page Editor
Mr. Martin was teachingand
coaching
at
O’Connellhere
when
Superdance began. He was here when
the entire student body was born. He was
here during 9/11. He has always been
here. Martin is something of an institution
at O’Connell; he has devoted his life to
Catholic Education and giving students the
best chance they could get for success.
Author Fredrick Day decided to
write about Martin’s dedication and the
redemption he found in Catholic Education.
Martin’s life would have turned
out very differently without the help of a
few key teachers and coaches in his life.
When he was a high school student himself,
he tried out for the basketball team, a little
of a longshot because of his size. But
during the tryout he was observed by the
wrestling coach, who had been passing by.
The coach admired the youngster’s tenacity
and asked Martin to join the wrestling team
instead. Being on the team turned his
life around. It required him to get good
grades and pay attention in school. Martin
says that without wrestling he probably
wouldn’t have turned out the way he did.
Wrestling forced him to focus in school,
which led to his subsequent success.
Martin was the wrestling coach
at O’Connell for a long time and was able
to help other troubled students find their
way, just as his coach helped him. He once
had a student with whom he had many
difficulties. But because of the student’s
perseverance and Martin’s humility in
reaching out to him, the student is now
about to be inducted into the O’Connell’s
athletic hall of fame. This just shows how
much love and dedication Martin puts into
his work at O’Connell.
While he was vice-principal he
would bring the kids who got into the most
trouble to St. Charles Borremeo School to
tutor children. Many of the teens would
experience a radical transformation as
this experience with the children and Mr.
Martin taught them how to be more selfless.
The
seamless
collaboration
between Day and Martin has been going on
for about 5 years and has now culminated
in a book that perfectly displays the power
a Catholic education can bring to a life.
Martin’s story is one of redemption; anyone
can move up from humble beginnings or a
bad start and turn their lives into something
beautiful.
Available Soon on Amazon
Page
12
it once was. Over the decades, doctors have
come out with new drugs and treatments.
A very common treatment is the highfrequency chest wall oscillation vest. This
vibrations from the vest allow the mucus
to fragment and thin out, helping clear the
airways. Just last year, the F.D.A approved
a new drug called Kalydeco. This drug
actually cures the people with a certain
mutation (G551D). Doctors are also
searching for new drugs to cure other CF
mutations every day.
This disease causes the body to
make thick, sticky mucus. The mucus clogs
the lungs and other portals, causing bacteria
to gather. Cystic Fibrosis generally affects
the exocrine glands; while mainly affecting
the pancreas, lungs, liver, intestines,
sinuses, and male reproductive systems.
Unfortunately, it is estimated that 30,000
Americans have CF, and over 10 million
people are carriers. The life expectancy
today for someone with CF is 37 years, but
the fight is not over.
Visor March 2013
It’s Prom Time, Seniors
Spring Break is Upon Us!
This year there has been a lot of “Fashion Do’s and of Fashion Don’ts” but with spring
and spring break on the horizon, it is time to put away all the layers and start shopping for the
season. We were all wondering what to wear, what to buy, and what we should avoid. Spring is
the time of sunshine and longer days. All the pleasant weather that spring comes with requires a
new wardrobe. The best part of this list is that we might not be in New York or Paris, but we can
still look our best in the DMV. Below are some images of affordable and chic new trends for the
spring from shorts, dresses, and sandals to tops.
Page 13