vol. 2 issue 1

September 2014Faculty: A. Cox & J. ReckardLayout: Katie Naour

Helping the Kids of St. JudeBy Faith WielandWith a new senior class comes a new senior charity! This year’s seniors have chosen the extraor-dinary St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to spend the year raising money and awareness for. St. Jude’s motto is “Finding cures. Saving children.” The research hospital was founded by the entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962. Since then, the foundation has grown into a world-re-nowned facility that has revolutionized treatments for cancer patients and those with serious diseases. They vow to never send their patients’ families a bill, because a family should only have to focus on their child’s health. St. Jude has also increased the cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since its founding over 50 years ago. For more facts and information like these, you can scan the QR code shown below for a direct link to St. Jude’s website!Your senior class has chosen this charity out of respect for all that St. Jude has done, and in hopes to aid their ground-breaking research as well as treatment for their strong patients. A few events to raise money for our senior charity include the annual Senior’s Car Wash, the St. Jude Telethon, jeans days, and restaurant fundraisers. Recently, Mr. Foster and Mr. Fabrizio agreed to do the gone-viral ice bucket challenge to raise money for our senior charity as well. There will be multiple other chances to donate to this one-of-a-kind organization, so don’t worry if you haven’t already! Our goal this year is to raise more money than any senior class ever has. Please help us achieve this!

New Leader at CentralBy Nick MorrisThis year we have a new principal, Mr. Foster. He starts his sixth year at Central. Mr. Foster started out at Central as our junior theology teacher and took the throne after Mrs. Allen resigned. I had the opportunity to ask him some questions about being the new principal. Has anything gone differently so far than you thought it would?Over 50 emails a day!! Most challenging thing. Very busy.What new and exciting things do you have planned?Be in the classroom more.Are you planning on making any major changes?I’m planning on having school one day a year...just kidding! No major changes in the first year. I would like to improve school spirit and make our student section more excited.Do you miss teaching?Yes, the very first Friday that all the students were in the classroom and I was not, I was very sad. That will be the thing I miss the most. Is it strange being in charge of people who were just your colleagues last year?We have a great faculty and staff. I make final decisions, but there is a lot of collaboration among staff members.We are proud at Central Catholic to have a new leader in front of us. Thank you Mr. Fos-ter for your time and we welcome you as the new principal.

Fresh AdviceBy Patrick PerringYou know the stereotype: since seniors have been at the school the longest, they’re wiser, right? But that’s not necessarily always true. Normally, the Central Catholic Journalism team does an advice column rendered toward the Freshman class. This year we’re doing a twist on upperclassmen giving advice to fresh-men... freshmen give advice to upperclassmen.What can upperclassmen do to make your freshman experience more enlightening?“Stop telling us to do stuff just because we’re freshman.” -JC Micklich“Helping out where I am supposed to go... I’ve gotten lost like two times already…” -Ally CaisleyWhat are some strategies for how to win home-coming events?“It’s most important to have fun and acquire some teamwork.” -Cole Zangerle“Come up with some original ideas, and don’t just throw it together; put real some thought into it!”-Haley DietzWhat are some tips to remember your locker combo/lunch cards?“Attach them to things you constantly have with you, like a lanyard.” -Erika Moore“Use your brain and remember them.” -Bo BevilaquaWhat are some sick ways to ask people to Home-coming this year?“Get together with a teacher before hand, and set up a classroom. The girl has to go through caution tape while you lie in a body outline with a sign that says, ‘I’m dying to go to homecoming with you.’” -Ally CaisleyHow much wood should a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck should chuck wood?“However much wood a woodchuck wants to chuck then the woodchuck should chuck that much wood.” -JC Micklich“Seven.” -Erika MooreHow should teachers start out this year as painless as possible?“Ease the hard work in; don’t have too much homework at the beginning.” -Joey McGraw“Not give any homework…. at all.” -Sarah Martin

Getting Involved By Katherine BradyAs a freshman, going into high-school can often be nerve-wracking. Coming from multiple feeder schools, mixing with upperclassmen, and adjusting to new staff involves many unfamil-iar faces. The best way to meet people and learn faces is by joining clubs, playing sports, and getting involved in all that you can.Central Catholic offers a club for just about everything. From rock climbing and bowling, to culinary and Interact, there is a place for everyone. Clubs do not involve huge commitment, they have lots of fun activities and events, and freshman through seniors generally mix together. Clubs are one of the easiest way to make new friends. However, if you are looking for something to keep you busy, a sport is the thing for you. You can get involved in three sports per year, and there are plenty to choose from. Sports teams rarely cut here at Central; you are just put with others on your level ( JV/V). While this might not always sound fun, it is helpful because groups are smaller, you can play fairly, and have more fun. If you play an instrument, sing, dance, or act, you can get involved in band, choir, the musical, or the play...and don’t forget you can help behind the scenes with sets, costumes, sound, and lights.It is highly suggested to participate in at least one of these activities a year. Not only does getting involved make a high school experience more enjoyable, it also looks great on college applications. So be active at school, make new friends, and make memories!

Dress CodedBy Katie NaourIf there’s one thing Central Catholic is known for around town; it would be our uniforms. For the majority of students here, we have had a uniform for all of our years of schooling, so we know the basics of what is considered dress code and what is not. For those who need a quick briefing on what is acceptable, here are a few reminders...For girls:-No white pants or skirts-No striped or patterned sweaters-No yellow pants or skirts-Skinny pants may be worn but recognize if your pant’s tightness is appropriate or not-Skirts must not exceed 3” above the back of your knee-Maxi skirts may not be of any see through material and cannot hug your legs-Belts must always be worn with pants or skirts that have belt loops-Polos must stay tucked inFor boys:-Hair must be cut above eyebrows and not reach your color-Shorts and pants may not be light blue only navy or khaki-Belts must always be worn-Polos must stay tucked in-Facial hair must be shaved before school everyday-No sweatshirts allowed unless it has the school logo (no hoods allowed)-Undershirts must be solid white, navy, or gold with no writing on itAn easy way to avoid dress code detentions is to just remember: if you have to question it, don’t wear it.

Girls’ Tennis By Katie ClarkSeniors Nicole Tamiroozy and Lauryn Oleson lead the girl’s tennis team last taking their season all the way to state in doubles. Another major contributor will be freshman Madison Tattini, who is nationally ranked. The team has started their season out strong with a first place finish in their tournament over Labor Day weekend, along with their first-ever championship in the Intercity Tournament. Team co-captain Nicole Tamiroozy said that one of the team’s big goals this year is team bonding as well as staying focused and not giving any points away.

Meet the Newbies--Miss KenneyBy Riley SimpsonA new school year means meeting new people. This year we have a new geometry teacher, Miss Kenney. Where did you go to college?U of I in ChampaignAny pets?Yes, one cat MissyDid you always want to be a teacher?Pretty muchIf you could go anywhere, where would you go?New ZealandCelebrity crush? I do not watch TV, but Gale (Liam Hemsworth) from Hunger GamesFavorite movie?The Princess BrideIf you had a superpower, what would it be? FlyingYour house is on fire. What 3 items would you grab?Laptop, change of clothes, sandwich?Biggest fear? Spiders and snakesWhen did you graduate from college?2013Would you rather have an eggplant as a nose or a squash bellybutton?Hahaha! Um...squash as a belly button because girls wear flowy shirts, so I could hide it.If you could sing one song on American Idol, what song would you sing? “22” by Taylor SwiftIf you had to pick one person to be your jailmate, who would it be? The Pope

Did you ever have an awkward stage?Yes, definitely, in 7th grade.What’s your favorite children’s show? Recess or Hey Arnold!What would you do if you won the lottery? Doubt everything I know about probabili-ty, but go to New Zealand.How weird are you on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest?6What’s the name of your car?Uh, Silver?

Mr. AllenBy Nick MorrisAt Central Catholic, you may see some unfamiliar faces, and Mr. Allen is one of them. Mr. Allen is the student teacher for Mrs. Schlickman this semester. I got the chance to ask him some great questions. Where do you go to college? Lincoln Christian University and ISU.How old are you? 25.How tall are you? 5’4”.Who is your Favorite actor/actress? I’m going to say Denzel Washington and Emma--the one from Zombieland--Emma Stone.If you had one superpower, what would it be? Time travel. That’d be cool.What makes you angry? Well, not being able to time travel sucks, but being stuck in traffic, specifically city.Crayons or markers? Definitely crayons.What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I’ve done a lot of crazy things; it is really tough…bungee jumping in Costa Rica.

What is in your refrigerator? Chicken and milk. Oh! And some spicy mustard.If you could go to one place in the world where would you go? New Zealand.How have you been liking Central? I like it. It was not what I expected, and I always like unexpected things.Marvel or DC superheroes? DC.What would you say to your family right before you die? I’d plan on dying last, but I don’t know.Have you ever stolen a pen? Oh yeah, definitely! Yesterday, in fact, from Mrs. Schlickman.Where was your tenth birthday? I guess at home on the farm.

Super Homecoming By Jane KueblerBOOM! POW! Super Homecoming is fast approaching! The week kicks off on Monday, September 29 with everyone’s favorite--pajama day! Wear your comfiest pajamas and participate in Superhero Trivia during homeroom. Tuesday is Real Hero Day, so come in police, firefighter, doctor, and other real life hero attire. The homeroom game is the Hero Challenge (relay race inspired by superheroes and board games). Dress as your favorite superhero or supervillain on Wednesday to watch the class videos. Wednesday night is also hallway decorating. Thursday is a half day and class colors day, so wear your prospective class shirt; powderpuff is in the afternoon. Thursday night begins with a JV football game, and Freshman, JV, and Varsity volleyball games; all teams are competing against Illinois Valley Central High School. After the games, there is tug-of-war, egg toss, car smash, and boys’ volleyball games. School Spirit Wear is on Friday accompanied with all school Mass, can-struction, open lunch, and the pep rally. Throughout homecoming week, every event counts as points for your class, including points for dressing in the appropriate attire. The winner of Super Homecoming will be announced at the pep rally. The homecoming football game is that night against Illinois Valley Central High School. To end homecoming week, there is the formal homecoming dance Saturday night. Everyone will come together, after a week of competition, and dance the night away.

Memories of 9/11By Rachael SeidlA certain September date remains engraved in the mind of every American. As Ameri-cans we have respect for its victims. As high school students, what we lack is the knowl-edge and experience. The reality is that most of us Central Catholic students were too young to fully grasp the situation as it was unfolding. That is why it is so important for us to talk to the people around us, the ones that were old enough to understand the gravity of the attacks as they occurred. It is only through putting ourselves in their shoes that we can truly empathize with the people that were affected by 9/11. Mrs. Garibay was in her planning period at the old Central Catholic High School when Mrs. Allen come over the school intercom. The moment Mrs. Garibay heard the inflec-tion in Mrs. Allen’s voice, she knew that something was terribly wrong. Mrs. Garibay im-mediately went to the library where she and the other teachers gathered around a small TV. Mrs. Garibay, Mrs. Cox, Mr. Taber, Mr. Fabrizio and many of the teachers watched in disbelief. Mrs. Cox recalled, “It was the first time I felt fear living in America.”Mr. Taber remembered the first attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993, and how the terrorists had attempted to destroy the towers with trucks containing explosives. The radio hosts back then debated whether or not those trucks would be powerful enough to destroy the towers. Mr. Taber remembers an expert concluding that the trucks would not be strong enough to destroy the towers, but something more powerful, like a plane would. On 9/11 Mr. Taber sat staring at the small screen in the library, stuck in awe and stung by irony. Back at home, Mr. Huberman was under the weather. His wife was already working at Central Catholic, but it was a year before his employment. He lay halfway unconscious on his couch, not fully gathering the information that was displayed on the TV in front of him when the first plane hit and the breaking news sound was going off. A few moment later his wife phoned from work, and she prompted him to watch the news. The moment he woke himself up, the second plane hit. Ms. Kenney was in fifth grade in Mrs. W’s class. Mr. Lawrence was in Mrs. M’s Algebra II class. Mr. Wendling was teaching in Aurora. Everyone remembers, as well they should. This September, I strongly encourage all of you to talk to the people around you. Find out where they were, what they were doing, how they felt. Learn from their experience.