Father Ekpo wins Fenwick's third apple - Fenwick High School

V o l . 7 4 , N o . 7A p r i l , 2 0 0 7Father Ekpo wins Fenwick’s third appleOn March 13, Mr. Sullivan askedDan Nemeth and me, Matt Brooks to sitin on a faculty meeting for the Wick thenext day. He told us that the meeting wassupposed to deal with the construction ofthe library and the renovations and extensionsin the Link and that we would betaking notes for a story.We arrived in the board room (Thirdfloor of the priory. It’s actually a prettycool room, it has nice chairs and a minifridge)only to be immediately confrontedby Ms. Marcotte. She appeared to bein a sate between anxious and hysteria.She grabbed both Dan and I by the armsand pulled us out of the room filled withstrange people and cameramen to ask uswhat we were doing there.So, apparently we were either givenfalse information or we were purposefullytricked into believing that the meetingwas for the construction of the building.In fact, Dan and I were the uninformedstudent reporters of Fr. Joe Ekpo’sGolden Apple Award surprise ceremony.After we got everything clearedup with Ms. Marcotte, we proceeded into the room ofstrange people and cameramen (and a camera woman).We introduced ourselves and learned that these strangerswere of our own flesh and blood. They too were reporters.The only difference was that they were reporters forthe Tribune, Sun Times, and Wednesday Journal.At first I was a little sheepish to step into the ring withthese reporters, but with a reassuring, “you have just asmuch right to be here as they do” from Ms. Marcotte, Iwas good to go. Thanks Ms. Marcotte.Then, after that, the real action started. Everybody inthe room (about 20 people) crept down the stairs into Ms.Matthies’ office. We then quietly made our way outsideFr. Joe’s door. Mr. Paulett and Dr. Quaid entered first inorder to interrupt and calm the class down. Then everybodyelse entered and the exciting news was broken to Fr.Joe.This was about the time that he showed off his 53 inchvertical jump. He put Tom Cruise to shame.Body buildingPhotos by Rebecca OrrBy Dan NemethOn Thursday March 29th, Ms. Stepansky’s AnatomyClasses traveled to the Museum of Science and Industry toattend the Body Worlds 2 exhibit. The Exhibit consisted ofmany different bodies and body parts, all dissected and laidout for the world to see. All of the bodies were real, and oncebelonged to people who agreed to donate them to sciencewhen they died. The bodies were put in poses/activities thatsuited their musculature. For example, there was a baseballplayer swinging a bat who had strong arm muscles, and a soccerplayer who had strong leg muscles. The cool part was thevisual difference in the muscle structure of the bodies.Human bodies weren’t the only bodies on display at theexhibit, however. Animal bodies, including a huge camel,were presented.One of the neatest parts of the exhibit was a comparisonbetween the lungs of a smoker, a non-smoker, and a coalminer. Those of the non-smoker were normal; the smoker’swere quite dark, and the coal miner’s were completely black.Because they were real lungs, it was easy to see what disastrouseffects come from smoking and working in a coal mine.Different organs with various types of diseases and defectswere on display throughout the exhibit.“I thought it was pretty cool because we got to see bodiesup close,” said senior Patty Lawley. “I was fascinated by theend of the exhibit in which development stages of the embryowhere shown.”Ms. Stepansky was also intrigued by the exhibit. “Myfavorite part was the exploded man,” said Stepansky. “Everythingwas easy to see because all the organs were separated. Ialso liked to watch my students explore the exhibit because Iwas interested in their thoughts and opinions of it.”After the initial shock wore off and thestudents stopped screaming (they were alsoin the middle of a test, but not to worry,Ms. Marcotte soon rounded up the scantrons)Fr. Joe led his class in every chant/song/prayer that we know. Then all of thestudents lined up to hug Fr. Joe.Just as this phase of celebration finished,the reporters surrounded Fr. Joe and askedhim question after question. I consideredfighting my way to the front, but then I rememberedthat I had Fr. Joe the next periodand could interview him then.Fr. Joe told me that he receives a $3,000reward for winning the Golden Apple. Healso receives a new laptop and a scholarshipfor a semester at Northwestern University.Fr. Joe will be studying at Northwesternduring the fall semester of next year. Hehasn’t chosen a major yet, but is consideringa science or a course in human development.He said that immediately after winning heviewed this as another way that helps him realizeGod is with him and is speaking to him.Helping children seems to be the right pathfor him. He said that one of his greatest joysin life is teaching kids to know and love God.He said that he will tell his mother andthe rest of his family back home about hisachievement as soon as he got a chance. Andhe has. They are thrilled and can’t wait tocelebrate with him.Even in the midst of all of this excitementhe still finds time to be humble. He wants tothank God, Jesus, the Catholic priesthood,and his mother for helping him grow up andteach him how to be a giving person.When I asked Fr. Joe what he was goingto do with the money he said, “I will donateit to the education of children in Nigeria, andnothing from McChicken!”I n s i d et h e A p r i l W i c kF e n w i c k N e w s• Relay for LifeE d i t o r i a l s• Netclassroom and test days• Parking ticketsF e a t u r e s• Percussion ensemble• Post-lent chocolate indulgenceS t u d e n t L i f e• Who’s Fenwick’s top malemodel?A r t s a n d E n t e r t a i n m e n t• Beauty and the BeastD i v e r s i o n s• Friar of the month• An amazing mazeS p o r t s• Spring sports previews• Sox or Cubs - who will be on topthis year?

Our Lady of the Angels: a service day adventureBy Matt BrooksOn March 23, my teammates and I embarked on a landscaping expedition. We metin the back lot at 8 am and loaded gardening equipment -- shovels, rakes, work gloves,wheel barrows, into a van. Then we drove to Our Lady of the Angels Mission.Once there we were greeted by Fr. Bob Lombardo, a Franciscan Friar and the manbehind the mission. He said a quick prayer, gave us an introductory lecture on the needsof his West Side community that his mission will provide, including services for seniorsduring the day and safe activities for kids after school, and then explained our task forthe day. He showed us the front of the parish. We were needed to turn over the soil, pullweeds, and lay down topsoil.Sign of the Times: Construction on the Link expansion started while you were leavingfor Spring Break. Check back next issue for an update on the progress.is the student newspaper of Fenwick High School, 505 Washington Blvd.,Oak Park, IL, 60302. It is published monthly and distributed free to theFenwick community. All views expressed herein are solely those of the writers.Advertising rates and policies are available, as are back issues, fromthewick@fenwickfriars.com.April Issue Staff:Front Page Editor:Fenwick News Editor:Features Editor:Student Life Editor:Arts and Entertainment Editor:Diversions Editor:Sports Editor:Matt BrooksMatt BrooksSarah BoyleRosaleen EganSara MansurAngeliki VerrosGeoff WaringWe worked knowing that one day there would be a memorial on this ground to 90kids and 3 nuns who died in a school fire next door about 50 years ago.As we made our way to the back of the parish we saw the other two garden-like areasthat needed to be landscaped. First, we needed to perform a lawn exfoliation. We pickedout rocks and turned over the hard inner-city ground.Then Fr. Bob unveiled a two ton pile of dirt. Actually, it was a two ton pile of siftedtop soil. This took about three hours to lay across the grounds of the church.By the end of the morning, we were eager to get to the hockey game at the UnitedCenter to cheer on the team and to sit down and rest after a tough but meaningfulworkout.Improving livesone step at a timeBy Colleen BathersonAs part of the Fenwick tradition, caring for the community and the sick is just one of themany character traits that the school teaches us. As many of us already know, “Relay for Life”,is just one of the many events that young people our age can partake in to help advance theteachings of the Dominican Tradition.Hosted by the National Cancer Society, “relay for Life’, is a 12 hour walk-a-thon in order toraise money and awareness for the fight against cancer.Cancer has effected directly over billions of people who have been or are going to bediagnosed with this devastating disease. It has also affected over billion more people whohave suffered the loss of someone they love from cancer. As much as we all wish to personallyfind a cure to save the life of someone we love, many us will never be given the resources orthe opportunity to do so. However, there will always be things we can do to help the pain andsuffering of those with this disease and that is to help the hundreds and thousands of doctorswho devote their lives to researching and hopefully finding a cure for cancer.Relay for Life is just one of the many ways that we can do so. It is a simple process to takepart in but its value and meaning are endless. To participate, you can go online to relayforlife.org and search for any upcoming relays around your hometown. They will provide for you thename and number of a representative for you to contact. After contacting the representative,they will give you a list of meetings you as team captain should attend in order to be wellinformed about the 12 hour walk.At these meeting you will discuss possible fundraisers such as charity auctions, carwashes,garage sales, and etc. You will also be given one donation packet per member of your team(up to 12 teammates are allowed). Each member is required to raise a minimum of 100 dollars.You will also discuss events to take place at the walk. The Relay we attended last year hadthings such as Karaoke and a movie played on a huge projector screen.The night of the walk you bring all of your donations to the track you are located and gathertogether for the opening ceremony. From six at night to six in the morning you partake innumerous events, some fun and active, while others such as the lighting of the luminaries, are atime to remember and pay respects to anyone whose life has been taken from cancer.Cancer is a disease we hear these days more commonly than the flu. Almost the majorityof you reading this article knows someone or loved someone who has had their life alteredcompletely because of this catastrophic disease. Our love and support can only do so muchfor those that are suffering and the Relay for Life is one step further in the fight against cancer.Even if we can not find the cure for cancer today, we can hopefully help those to find onetomorrow.Upcoming relays will be held in the following areas Oak Park 4/27/07, Elmhurst 6/15/07,Lyons Township 6/15/07, Westchester 5/11/07, Oak Brook 7/27/07, and Brookfield 6/29/07.

F e a r t h e F r i a r !The Fenwick Friar, a loving Dominican priest who devotes hislife and being to the will of God and the care of humanity. That,literally, is what the FenwickFriar is, but over the yearsour school mascot has gainedthe reputation of being anNow we all have seen what the Fenwick Friar looks like onhomecoming shirts or banners at sports games, but never have weactually seen a chantingfriar, exciting the crowds atfootball games or rallyingthe students at a Pepassembly.unbeatable, particularlySome feel thattalented, and even somewhatfrightening .“Fear the Friar” bannersflowed through the wave offans at the girls downstatebasketball games, “We beatRita” and “We are the Friarsand the Frairs are GREAT!”chants filled the stands atit is essential part of everyhigh school experience, tohave a live school macot!Today’s problem thoughis displaying mascots in anon-offensive way. Everyday there is an issue somewherein universities orhigh schools, even gradethis year’s football games,schools, about whethermore Kennedy cups than wecan even begin to count restin the halls of Fenwick highschool, and lets not forget ourever fearless aquatic teams,a dynasty that has been herefor decades.With a combination oflittle bit of an ego and animmense volume of schoolspirit, the Fenwick Friarsthat fill the halls have helpedto bring life to the mysteriousname for over the past 77years. However, how muchlife can you really bring to aname?This very mystifying andever popular “Friar” shouldbe brought to life, withFenwick’s first live mascot.It is true that for the past 77years we have excelled inIllustration by Dan Trivinosor not the portrayal ofthe schools mascot is offensive.We are all wellaware of the University ofIllinois’s recent mascot issue.The school’s officialsgave in to concerns aboutthe mascot not being givenenough respect or beingshown in a light and inappropriatemanner. This allresulted in the removal ofChief Illiniwek as the U. ofI. mascot.If Fenwick were givena chance to have a live andactive mascot not onlywould we proudly respecteverything that the DominicanFriar represents,we would bring just a littlemore spirit to every sportsgame and Pep assemblysports and academics and given every rival school a reason to “fear we have (and who ever thought that was possible?).the Friar” but there has always been something that set us apartfrom other schools.No parking in paradiseWith the upcoming springtime and summertimeweather right around the corner, we can expect tosee some of the longest and hottest days of ourlives and here at Fenwick, there is only one wayto end an exhausting and sweltering day and thatis with a bright orange parking ticket placed o soconveniently on the windshield of your car. Itisn’t there because you were too lazy to park faraway and it isn’t because you were running late,it’s there simply because there is nowhere else topark.There is no doubt that parking restriction andaccessibly has always been an issue for studentdrivers, but within the past year, it seems likeeveryone is driving, resulting in extremely scareparking, if any parking at all for students. Withnext year’s construction forcing faculty membersto park outside the Fenwick lot, parking conditionsare anticipated to be even more limited than theyare now.We’ve all learned, though, that no matter howmuch we complain about those $30 tickets, it isn’tactually going to make that walk to school anyshorter. So the question left in our hands is, whatdo we do?The first thing we do (and should be doingalready) is carpooling. This has always beenthe number one most sensible action for thisovercrowded town. It saves gas money andhelps to cut down on the toxic chemicals that arereleased into the air. With global warming such aprominent threat to our environment, we should alltake part to help reduce this catastrophe. We knowhowever, carpooling doesn’t always work. It canat times be an inconvenience but then again, isn’tthat five block walk to school an inconvenience?And will it not be an inconvenience when Illinoisbecomes part of the Atlantic Ocean? Carpoolingmay require you to sacrifice 10 or 15 minutes ofsleep, but it should be a sacrifice we are willingto make when we are given such a privilege ofdriving.This still won’t solve all the problems completely.The opposed solution is one that would requirean even bigger sacrifice than carpooling. Webelieve that starting in the 2007-2008 school year,Fenwick should institute a restriction allowingonly upperclassmen (seniors and juniors whohave attained a license for more than 6 months) bepermitted to drive their own cares to school. Thiswould free up the Student Staff Permit Parking bynearly half. Students would be required to registertheir cars and purchase permits through Fenwick.There would however, certain circumstances,be a chance to apply for a permit if you are asophomore and of age, however, these instanceswould be considered carefully.First we have to look at the benefits. Themost obvious would be the greater availability inparking spaces. As of right now the Student staffpermit parking is overflowing with single driversresulting in a number of students being forced topark illegally. The next benefit would be in ourenvironment. Now, this slight decrease in driverswould be by no means an exact solution to theglobal warming, air pollution, and over usage ofnature’s limited resources. However, we can all doour part to help influence others of this lifestyle.Besides the most obvious benefits, based onIllinois’s safe driving law, there are restrictionson the driving privileges of new drivers. Thislaw states that any person under the ages of 18is only allowed to drive one other person in thecar besides themselves for the first six months ofattaining their license. Also with much discussionover the recent tragic teenage accidents, theIllinois state council board is considering anextension of six more months added to that law,this meaning you would have to attain the licensefor a complete year. By abiding by this law, therecan be no carpooling, which is one of the thingswe desperately need to consider next school year.In many colleges and city schools where thepopulation of the school is immense and theparking is limited, the schools have institutedrestrictions to which students according to theirclass level can drive or park their cars on schoolproperty. For the majority of schools who practicethis restriction see results in the sufficient amountof parking for their students.Change needs action and with the regulation ofstudent drivers being only Seniors and Juniors, wewould see the changes that need to happen.Caughtin a Net(classroom)Any time that you are near acomputer at school, someone is likelyto be checking their grades online.Inevitably, the subject will turn toNetclassroom. Usually, the commentsare not too favorable.I understandthat students don’t like it because theirparents can find their grades, but I alsohear students complaining about theformat of Netclassroom.I don’t understand what the big dealis with people complaining about thiseasy non-teacher confrontational wayto find out what our grades are. Thepositives of Netclassroom are that wedon’t have to wait for our assignmentsto be returned to us before we knowwhat the grades on them are, we don’thave to keep a record of our owngrades, our grade is averaged for us,and sometimes, if we’re lucky, we getto tell our teacher that they have madea mistake when recording our grades.The downsides to Netclassroomare that our parents are one-click awayfrom grounding us, and that we mayeventually have to wake up to a harshreality just before the quarter ends.If the good and the bad are weighed,and we are responsible students, thanNetclassroom is a benefit.Now, my input may not always bethe only opinion on the matter. So, Idid a little interviewing to find outwhat the general consensus of the class(three people) was.Geoff Waring said, “Though I’veonly been on Netclassroom twice, Istill feel that edline was easier. Plus,from the way the teachers have reactedto Netclassroom, they’ve convincedme that it’s bad.”Matt Rauh said, “Edline was mucheasier, Netclassroom ruins the gradechecking experience. I really careabout my grades this year because I’mtrying to get into Duke or Notre Dame.Netclassroom has just added to mydifficulties this year. Go Blue Devils!”On the other hand, Joe Ryan said thathe preferred Netclassroom to Edline.He feels that Netclassroom is easierand has more to offer than Edline.“Netclassroom shows your gradesright away, you can see your lettergrades, your grades from past years,and its user friendly.”From what I’ve heard every teacherat Fenwick seems to have a certaindegree of dislike for Netclassroom.Whether it be because it freezes up,or hard to navigate, confusing, or yourlike Mr. Depaldo and hate electronicsaltogether, the majority of teacherswould rather use Edline.I feel as if I’m missing something.What is the problem with Netclassroom?Besides the difference in the names,I don’t feel as if there’s a differencebetween Edline and Netclassroom.Besides, our parents can still see ourgrades no matter what program theschool uses.Topics on this page weredeveloped by the editorialboard. Writers wereColleen Batherson,Matt Brooks, andSarah Boyle.

The Friar Wears PradaBy Chris RosemeyerWhen passing through the crowded halls ofFenwick High School, its not difficult to distinguishthe fashionable guys from your ordinary “bluecollar” students. Adorned in their striped shirts andtailored corduroy pants, these students representthe new wave of men’s fashion – our very owntrendsetters. These few brave men are alwaysbending the rules and redefining appropriatedress code, waging a growing battle against thepredominantly female driven fashion industry.For years, there has been little, if any, pressurefor men to step it up as far as school attire isconcerned. Women expected nothing more than aman in Old Navy jeans and a short sleeve tee. Well,times are changing and this “jeans and a tee shirt”look is becoming less and less acceptable. Instead,more guys are turning towards trendy clothingproduced by such fashion moguls as Abercrombie& Fitch, American Eagle, and Ralph Lauren. Withthe fashion world quickly evolving, the pressureis on as more and more guys are forced to definethemselves as “Fashionably Appealing” or “AFashion Outcast.” After careful surveillance of thehalls, I was fortunate enough to locate some youngmale scholars and ask them whether this crisis hasleft them “Fashionably Appealing” or “FashionablyOutcasted.” Here’s what they had to say.First up, one of our very own trendsettersConor “The Cat” Real and what he had tosay about his widely admired fashion awareness…“Well, I find that the majority of my outfits and colorcombinations are usually modeled off of Hollywood starslike George Clooney or Brad Pitt. I mean, these guys arethe best at what they do and dressing spectacularly is justone of their many duties. If only more Fenwick studentswould learn from Hollywood, maybe our school wouldget a little more respect from the fashion community.”(The always entertaining Conor Real- and yes,ladies, he has informed me that he’s single.)Big man on campus Conor Real struts his stuff for the camera.Photo by Christina HonanAnd last up is Brendan “Ellen Degeneres”Frainey, who proclaimed himself to be“fashionably appealing” (debatable…) whoclaims… “When I throw on a long sleevepolo each weekend and zip up those slightly,but strategically torn jeans…it’s gametime.”(Personally, I’m not a fan of the torn jeans.)Now its time for the other side of the argument,as we hear the claims of self proclaimed “FashionOutcast”, Jack “Dead Eye” Cook… “The reasonfor my lack of fashion success rides upon mycontinued use of the sweater vest. Sure is it warmand comfortable, but with the comments it gets mein the halls, I tend to think the ladies aren’t digginit.”(Just keep doing what you’re doing.)Now for my personal take on the men’s fashioncrisis sweeping through the halls of Fenwick HighSchool. I feel that it has both its benefits and itsdrawbacks. For the most part, an increase in fashionawareness and use of more flashy, demonstrativeclothing allows for a more debatable school dresscode. Perhaps the button infractions and continuedshirt tuck reminders will be halted when more andmore teachers concentrate on halting the spreadof the striped shirt or those illegal (but stylish)pants. However, this fashion awareness has led toa growing dent in the savings accounts of youngmale scholars. I mean who is going to argue thata pair of sweatpants from Marshalls is more pricythan those trendy khaki cargos from the geniusesat Abercrombie & Fitch. So sure, there are benefitsto both sides of this “crisis” and I’ve come to find thatthere is no clear right or wrong path to take in regard tothis issue. So, if you’re a little short on cash, maybe youshould rethink becoming a fashion idol and stick to thosesweatpants, bud. But if you’ve got the money and theguts to make an impression, I say go for it. But remember“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little to noinfluence on society” –Mark Twain. Good luck to you.Next is another savvy dresser, Vinny “SmoothOperator” Frangella who graciously shared his fashionadvice with me… “Sometimes, I think my fashion style isjust too advanced for the greater good of the community.So every once in a while I find I need to lower my styleand rock some sweats and a green t-shirt. You could saymy style is comparable to Armani . . . Giorgio Armani”(Ladies & Gentlemen, Vincenzo Frangella…)T h e y ’ r e b r i n g i n gT o u c h s t o n e b a c k !By Mike JakubisinOnce upon a time, around May of 2006, the largestedition of Touchstone, Fenwick’s own literary and artmagazine, was in the hands of students throughout theschool. This coming May, Touchstone is returning in abrand-spanking new edition, with full color artwork,around forty poems and ten short stories, and backed by asuper hero staff. Rarely does the student body get to findout what creates such a collaboration of literary goodness.Leading the way are Molly Redden, Anne Gallery, andGeorge Mavrogenes. These are the Editors in Chief thathave to sort through all of the submissions, over 275 thisyear, and put together a vision for the final product weknow as Touchstone. Between their hard work, as wellas the short story and poetry editors, nothing like “Rosesare red, violets are blue, in a galaxy far far away”, willever enter Touchstone. These editors make sure thatTouchstone is filled with the freshest material, and thatthe submissions are at their best. The art editor picks outa plethora of different photographs, sketches, and evenpaintings. Then it’s up to the layout editor, to take all thework, and put it in its final place, to be shipped off to press.But another part of the Touchstone staff that hasadded a flare to the staff is the marketing team. Headedby John Kilbane, the marketing team makes Touchstoneknown to the entire student body, yes, even the freshmen.In fact, anyone can submit and contribute to the magazine.The marketing team has the responsibility of teasing thestudent body with just a taste of what it will receive earlyin May. What does the Marketing team do for Touchstoneand why is it an important part of the staff? Marketingmanager, John Kilbane says “We are growing, and pavingthe way for future Touchstoners, and all those who enjoyreading Touchstone. It has become like a business.” Themarketing team has to put together ideas, create postersand clever announcements. Touchstone also has a budgetthat has to be taken into consideration whileits production and advertisement is in processI interviewed Ms. Marcotte, who as of last yearbecame the director of school publications. Sheis also a State Literary Magazine Judge for nineyears, now. When she came to Fenwick in 1994,she had experience in newspaper, yearbook, andliterary publications. The previous magazine wascalled “Transitions”, but it had stopped. It wasreinvented as Touchstone in 1995, along withthe yearbook. Ms. Marcotte taught the CreativeWriting Class for seven years after Touchstonewas started. Once Touchstone came out, morestudents took interest in it, and it grew to fit thestudents’ needs. The talent level at Fenwick isthrough the roof, and Touchstone acts as showcasefor this art and literary talent. Ms. Marcotte alsogave some input on Touchstone. She believesthat it raises the level of what students are able topublish. All the students can have an opportunityat Fenwick. “It is a microcosm of what studentscan expect as they move out into the world if theyare interested in this type of career field.”What makes this 2007 Touchstone differentfrom previous years?“We found a theme this year, and we are doingour best to stick to it”, says George Mavrogenes,“and it can relate to anyone”. The theme this year issimple, Home. A theme so simple can hold a lot of varietyand can cover a vast number of topics. The editors gaveme a sample of what they received, such a poem aboutsoftball, a poem about snorkeling, and a short story aboutthe Amish lifestyle. Even though one might not realize itat first glance, these share the common thread of Home.Ms. Marcotte makes the observation that students expectvariety when reading Touchstone. They also recognizeThe Creative Writing class poses. Photo By Mr. Verver.that it is composed in a high school setting. Studentsfeel pride in the work of their fellow classmates in apublication, and there is a select audience. The talent levelkeeps on rising and students need an outlet for this talent.And by the giving a common theme for students to workaround, then works can be stronger and more focused.“Home holds a lot of meaning for students,” says AnneGallery, “even Fenwick itself is considered part of home”.Watch out early May, the creative writing class isbringing Touchstone back.

T H E Y ’ V E G O T T H E B E A T .By Alex Province, Photos by Rebecca OrrWhat’s the most focused and interest-driven class at Fenwick? Some schools haveelectives like auto repair, shop, cooking, or basket-weaving classes. Fenwick seems tolack a bit in the fun electives department, but we do have one very different class. Oneof Fenwick’s most unique and lesser-known classes is the percussion ensemble class.Few students at Fenwick can say they start their mornings banging on stuff andmaking rhythmic beats for a grade, but that’s what the percussion ensemble’s all about.The class starts at 7:15 am, much earlier than any other class. It’s called period 0 and ittakes place in the band room every morning. Playing on the percussion ensemble takes alittle sacrifice, but it’s a fun and a different experience than any other class. “I enjoy theclass, but I’d like it more if it wasn’t so early,” said senior Dan LaBarge. “The people inthe class are what make it fun though.” It’s a small class with only 12 people.Percussion ensemble is similar to the band class, and is taught by the same teacher,Ms. Wsol, but it focuses only on percussion instruments. They play a variety of instrumentsincluding the snare drum, bass drum, xylophone, vibraphone, cowbell, templeblocks, timpani, and sometimes they incorporate the bass guitar and piano. “It gives youa chance to play a bunch of different instruments,” said senior Mike Jakubisin. Unlikethe concert band, percussion students often switch up the instruments they play.Currently, they’re playing the Mission Impossible theme song and a few other tunes.In the past, the percussion ensemble has done some very unique routines, including onewith trash cans and a blue man group-like song.Typically, the class starts with a few scales. Then they practice their songs for about15 minutes, run through parts, and perfect the rhythm and timings. The class is gradedmainly by attendance, but there are also some infrequent scales tests and playing tests.The percussion ensemble class is more focused than a normal band class. “I likepercussion ensemble better than concert band because we only work on our own stuffand there are less stops in the practices,” said Jakubisin. Things move more smoothlyand more gets done with less parts in the band.Why do we do that?By Sarah BoyleEver wonder where Easter traditions come from? Look no further becausethis is the tradition of Easter.Colored eggsOriginally the idea to paint eggs came from pagan mythology. The pagansbelieved that the world was hatched from one giant egg; therefore, the eggbecame a symbol of life. Over time it became common that Greeks, Chinese,Persians, and Egyptians would give each other dyed eggs in the spring tosymbolize new life after a long winter. The tradition was later adopted by theChristians to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus. Today we paint and dyeeggs as a decoration. So remember when you decorate your eggs this year,you are taking part in a tradition that is thousands of years old.Jelly BeansEach year when we go on Easter egg hunts we usually end up finding jellybeans in the eggs. Back in the day Jelly Beans came in eight flavors. But nowJelly Beans are made with in many different colors and flavors. In 1976 DavidKlein sold the first Jelly Belly, a specialized Jelly Bean and the rest is history.Today there are 50 official flavors produced by the Jelly Belly Corporation.Flavors now include juicy pear, pina colada, tutti-frutti and even jalapeño. TheHarry Potter’s series also has their own variation of Jelly Beans, the BertieBott’s Every Flavor Beans, with various flavors including rotten egg and sardines.Jelly Beans have been a part of American’s spring times for years andplan to stay around forever always coming up with new flavors.Easter LilyOn Easter morning, when people go to church, the altar is filled withEaster lilies. These delicate white flowers were originally brought to the UnitedStates in 1880 by Mrs. Thomas P. Sargent from Bermuda. They symbolizeinnocence and the radiance of the Lord’s resurrection.The Lamb CakeYou can buy them at the Bakery or make them yourself during the Easterseason. These cakes, shaped in the form of a Lamb with a hard frosted headand a soft cake body are covered in shredded coconut. Lambs are associatedthe Good Shepard Jesus who would watch over the people like a Shepardwould over lambs. Lambs are also born in the spring; therefore they havebecome a big part of our Easter celebration.Easter BellsIn France and Italy bells are rung every day of the year, except HolyThursday and Friday. For the people who hear the bells each day, these twodays when the bells aren’t rung are said to be the saddest days ever for thepeople who hear these bells daily.Conrad JavierLuke Campillo, Mike Jakubisin and Ryan McLean start the day with rhythm during their period00 Percussion Class.Life is like a box of chocolatesBy Colleen BathersonWelcome to the 21st century, a timewhere almost anything we come across canor will be turned into a trend. A time wherethe minority are the people without Ipods orBlackberrys. A time when every 16-yearoldgirl would not be caught dead without amocha-frappa-cappachino Starbucks drinkin her hand. A time where the North Face,yes the rugged-outdoor-hiking gear, hassettled comfortably into the closet of everyMidwest teenager. We live in a very modernworld with always changing trends, so what’s“We’ve allheard thetermchocoholicand we aresticking to itas Chocolatebecomes thisyear’sUgg boots.”tomorrow’s trend?Well, we all already haveour own versions of today’shottest technology and let’sface it, we can all admit tohaving one too many polo’sin our closet, so where dowe fall back on? Well hereit is ladies and gentlemen,2007’s most promising trend,chocolate.A favorite of yesterday,today and tomorrow, thisdecedent and delicious treathas gone from everyone’sfavorite midnight snackto today’s biggest trend. Iwitnessed chocolate as anupcoming trend just abouta month ago. It was oneof my friend’s birthdays and where did wecelebrate, no other than Hot Chocolate, atrendy and chic restaurant on North DamienStreet in Chicago. Made famous for its smallportions, pricey venues, and AMAZING desserts,pastry Chef Mindy Segal used her mainingredient chocolate as an inspiration foropening one of Chicago’s newest and mostdesirable restaurants on the North side. Ourwindy city isn’t the only place to be hit withthe chocolate lovers craze. If you are ever inNew York be sure to hit number one on theFood Networks top ten dessert restaurants,Chocolate Bar. This must see attraction offersa variety of choices stemming from hotchocolate, to chocolate coffees, to ice cream,cakes, cookies, donuts and more.If your not in the mood for a sit down dessert,feel free to bring home this chocolatelytrend by visiting any one of Godiva’s lavish,Chocolate Boutiques. With one located in theOak Brook mall, you can shop for all your favoritetypes of chocolate to satisfy your sweettooth. You can even purchase chocolategrams, where you can personalizeyour package and send it asa gift. I received on in Februaryfor my birthday and I am happyto say this is one trend I’m glad Ifell into.The most extreme case ofmaking chocolate a trend in ourlives, was when we received lastFriday a chocolate wedding invitation.Hand crafted, thin sheetsof white chocolate cordiallyinvited my family to celebrate thissweet and unforgettable event,where after talking with the bride,I found out that everything fromthe chocolate name tags, to thechocolate flower centerpieces,will be edible and add the weddingsChocolate theme.We’ve all heard the term chocoholic andwe are sticking to it as Chocolate becomesthis years Ugg boots. Even though we can’twear it or listen to it, we can still eat it andeat it in style we will. So go downtown andtreat yourself to a $6 cup of hot chocolate, orstop by Godiva’s store at Oak Brook mall becausethis is one trend you want to be part of!

Blackfriars Guild presents a “Tale as Old as Time”By Sarah Boyle and Sarah MansurFor the past ten weeks the cast of Beauty and the Beast has been rehearsingvigorously to put the show together. “We practice about 15 hours a week for threemonths, with all this practice the show is coming together quite nicely,” said senior NoraCollins.Although many of you saw the animated film in your adolescence, the stage versionof Beauty and the Beast is much more exciting. The stage performance adds in seven“Never have I been so challengedor excited to perform a part”- Dan Trivinosnew songs. It includes the hit numbers such as the idyllic opening “Belle,” one of thegreatest dance numbers “Be Our Guest,” and the timeless classic “Beauty and theBeast.”“I am very excited for the students and so proud of the hard work they have putinto this project. I know it will be a wonderful show,” said Dan Walsh the show’schoreographer.This terrific cast includes senior lead Nora Collins playing the book-loving Belle.She said that she is really excited for Beauty and the Beast because it is a really wellknownmusical and she feels as though she can really relate to her character, Belle.Senior Dan Trivinos, who plays the true-at-heart beast, said “Never have I been soexcited and challenged to perform a part. In three years at BFG, I have yet to sense somuch anticipation amongst my fellow BFG-ers. This show will be different. It will bebetter,”The whimsical Lumiere is played by Brooks Smith and Beau Blakely plays the tenseclock Cogsworth. The bubbly Mrs. Potts is played by Neala Barron and her youngson Chip’s part is played by Brendan Nemeth and Jack Gallo, two future Friars. Themasculine Gaston is played by Steve Kruzel along with his sidekick’s role shared byBrendan Frainey and Danny LaBarge. Enza DePaalma portrays the feathery Babetteand the singing wardrobe is played by Allison Lantero. Belle’s inventor father Mauriceis played by Dan Nemeth. Other roles of towns people, wolves, forks, spoons, and otherkitchen utensils are portrayed by fellow Friars.“This is one of the biggest undertakings the Blackfriars Guild has ever taken,” Saiddirector Mr. Finnell, “It is a very popular story, very family oriented, and is meant forall ages.” With eccentric costumes ranging from a wardrobe to a clock, it creates a bigchallengeJoin the Blackfriars Guild April 20, 21, and 22 for a magical “Tale as Old as Time.”Illustration by Conrad JavierG r e a t B o o k s f o r S p r i n gIf you find yourself bored this spring, turn off the T.V., log off of Facebook, and pick up a good book instead. On the Road by Jack Kerouac andEverything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer are two inspiring books that are sure to add to the excitement of the rest of your spring.By Mike PorterOn The RoadBy Jack KerouacThe defining story of the Beat literary and culturalmovement of the mid-20th century, On The Road stilloffers a valid reflection on the state of youth in America,as the characters ask in their own ways, “What does thiscountry hold for me?”On The Road isstrongly based onKerouac’s cross-countryjourneys with thereckless, unboundedNeal Cassidy (DeanMoriarty in the book).Throughout the book,Kerouac passionatelyreveals the beauty in thesimplest of observationsand exposes the uniqueperspective of Americanlife that can only be seenfrom the road.The author sees and writes on what America is whenseen from the road, taking in its majesty, brilliance, andstrength, but equally its poverty, baseness, and sense ofloneliness.On The Road is by no means a “mom’s-applepie-picnic-at-the-baseball-game”story, but neitheris it hateful. Lyrically elegant and nearly stream-ofconscious,the language is captivatingly honest.The unbridled passion in which the words flow isengaging and spiritually inspiring.Everything Is IlluminatedBy Jonathan Safran FoerNow a well-received movie starring Elijah Wood,this book is the story of two young men and theirgrandfathers, as each individually search for themeaning that exists outside of themselves.Jonathan, a young American Jew travels to Ukrainein search of the woman who saved his grandfatherfrom the Holocaust, with the hopes of finding enoughmaterial to write a book about it.He is guided by Alex, a young Ukrainian translatortrying to find a place for himself in the world, andAlex’s hypochondriac, nearly senile grandfather, aswell as their pathetic, but undeniably affectionate dog,Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.Speaking alternately in the refined tone of publishedtext and through the creatively mangled English of theyoung translator, the author reveals the humanity ineveryone, including the dog, in his honest examinationof morality, life, and most of all, Love.Above everything else, this is a book about Love:those who find it,those who lose it, andthose who spend theirwhole lives looking forit. In Everything IsIlluminated Foer hasachieved a delicate, butdeeply moving balancebetween sadness andhope.This is the sort of storythat holds somethinginside of it for anyonewho feels the desire topick it up.

Friar of the monthBy Alex ProvinceBeyond Facebook: On April 1, a new lawremoved the monopoly previously held by MySpace and Facebook,beginning a new generation of amazing social network websites, such as...Armbook: this site allows men (and women) to post pictures and measurements of their sculpted biceps, triceps andother arm muscles. Perfect for those who are tired of the superficiality of Facebook.Fakebook: Beautiful ladies (and men) who have “unreal” blonde hair, orange skin, running mascara, and any other fakeassets set the scene for this amazing site!Emobook: Love having your little brother stand on a counter-top just to take a birds-eye-view picture of you? Thenyou’ll love Emobook! Everyone looks dramatic, distressed and ALL ALONE!TeacherSpace: What? you think teachers don’t have crazy weekend stories to tell? Of course they do! This new websiteallows teachers to visually send greetings to each other using sparkling bright banners and creative images as studentsdo on Myspace. Bulletins and comments that need to be posted will also be automatically checked for both spelling andgrammar, allowing teachers to properly interact with one another, online that is. Finally teachers can have a MySpace oftheir own. Students, we really need to stop underestimating the teacher’s coolness, really.As a senior at Fenwick High School, Inever really thought about what makes me apart of this community. I rarely think aboutschool – I go, I sit, I take notes, I go home. Butnow, with two months to go and the majorityof our class counting down the days till Promand graduation, it made me think, which isprobably a good thing – what makes me aFriar?The answer? The never-give-up spirit. Thedrive to succeed is prevalent at Fenwick, andthat makes up the most of me. So if in anyaspect I do belong here, it’s probably the factthat I rarely give up.Apart from that didacticism (SAT vocab,anyone? Hey, I’m done with those), I guessthe other big parts of my life are the followingin order: violin, debate, and college. I startedviolin when I was three, and it has been myconstant companion as I moved through threecountries: Japan, UK, and USA. Debate hasbeen in my high school career ever since I wasa freshman, and… some of my classmates canattest to the fact that I’m a little neurotic whenit comes to college decisions. Wherever I go,however, I believe that the life of a physicianis truly my vocation – which is a career Ichose when I was three.Because I’m running out of space, I leavewith these words: if there is a will, there is away.Senior Prom Survey:Please put an X next to a preferred after-prom activity andreturn to Angie Verros.__ Relay Races! The dance is followed by a luxurious bus rideback to Fenwick for relay races and tournaments.__ Laser Tag! After dancing up a storm at Prom 2007, relaxand enjoy your fellow classmates with a competitive game oflaser tag.__ Tupperware Party! The dance is followed by a glamoroustrip to The Drake Hotel accompanied by parent chaperones.__ Boat Ride! The dance is followed by a fun night of sailingin the moonlight, as seniors are allowed to dance the nightaway.__ Chuckey Cheese! The dance is followed by a bus trip toChuckey Cheese. Soda and pizza will be served.__ Museum of Science and Industry! The dance is followedby an adventurous trip to the musem.__ In-school mass! After a night filled with provocativedancing, pray the night away with an all senior mass.__ ZeroGravity! Take a bus trip from prom toZeroGravity and dance to raves with all of your friends.(Must be 16 or older and have signed permission slip forthis one!)Conrad Javier

Baseball Begins: Sox v. Cubs Season PreviewSOX- Paul Konerko hit a career best .314 last year and completed his third straightseason with atleast 35 home runs and 100 RBI’s. He is a definition of consistency.1 Base CUBS- Derrek Lee had a huge 2005 hitting .335 and blasting away 46 homeruns. Due to injury he played just 50 games last season. A healthy Lee is capable ofduplicating his 2005 campaign.ADVANTAGE: EVEN. Konerko may continue his hitting tear, but count on Lee tohave a big year after sitting out 100 plus games last season.2 Base SOX- Tadahito Iguchi comes off a breakthrough year in which he batted .281and bombed 18 home runs. His fielding skills were exceptional as we saw when hisground ball charge and throw from upside down was nominated for play of the year onESPN. He committed just 8 errors all year, giving him a .988 fielding percentage.CUBS- Ronny Cedeno was the starter for the Cubs at second base last season.He hit just .245 in 150 games, slightly underachieving the .300 he hit in 2005, when hecame in as a pinch hitter. The Cubs plan to switch things up this year by playing MarkDeRosa at second. He hit .298 last season as a utility infielder, and may prove to be akey component to the cubbies playoff hopes.ADVANTAGE: SOX. Iguchi has gradually gotten better since joining the majors in2005. His third season lies ahead, and don’t be surprised is he hits .300.Short Stop SOX- Juan Uribe enters the season with some legal problems, but ifhe plays he brings some of the leagues best fielding with him. If for some reason Uribeis unable to play the year out, Alex Cintron, a steady .275 hitter, will take his place inthe lineup.CUBS- Cesar Izturis will likely start with Ronny Cedeno backing himup. The switch hitting Izturis hit .245 last year, but only appeared in 54 games.ADVANTAGE: EVEN. Uribe may have other things on his mind, while Izturis isexcepting his first starting job in a Cubs uniform.Third Base SOX- Joe Crede hit a career high 30 home runs while batting .283 onthe season. Crede’s average lived near .300 until he hit a slump in the last few weeksof the season. He treated Sox fans with a spectacular fielding percentage (.976) whileplaying the infield’s toughest position.CUBS - Aramis Ramirez hit a career high 38 home runs, and battedin over 100 RBI’s to lead the Cubs in the hitting department last season. With newlyacquired Alfonso Soriano, as well as a healthy Derrek Lee, we are yet to see whetherRamirez can improve upon his .291 average.ADVANTAGE: EVEN. Everyone knows Crede’s ready to breakout into stardom. Hemay even put up better numbers than Aramis this season. Because of Ramirez’ pastconsistency I call this one even.Catching SOX- A.J Pierzynski hit .295 last year after spending much of the year over.300. He hit 16 home runs, and batted in 64.CUBS- Michael Barret was the lone Cub starter to hit over .300 last season(.307), and he was able to hit 16 home runs as well.ADVANTAGE: EVEN. Michael Barret proved to be the better hitter last year, buthe can not match the numerous walk off’s that Pierzynski notched last season. Oneof his walk offs came last summer at Wrigley, a game cub fans struggle to forget.  Outfield SOX- When discussing the White Sox outfield you immediately start withJermaine Dye. Last year’s AL MVP candidate hit .315, cranked 44 home runs, anddrove in 120 RBI’s. His stuffed stat sheets don’t even tell the whole story if you followhis play in right field. Brian Anderson will most likely start the year at center wherehe played most of last season. He had a rough rookie year batting .225, but improvedupon this towards the end of the year. The last three months of the season he hit .270including a . 319 average in the month of July. The last piece the White Sox outfieldis Scott Podsednik. Its possible that Darren Erstad will take his place, but barring anystruggles Scottie should secure the spot in left. He hit a low .261, after hitting .290 in2005. Scottie did continue to do what many believe is his best attribute, and that isstealing bases. He stole 40 last season to lead the team, but still didn’t come near his59 steals he put up in 2005.CUBS- Alfonso headlines the Cub’s outfield in his first season with the team.He was one of the leagues premier hitters last season with 46 home runs and 95 RBIs.Soriano bat just .277 though, causing many to believe he swings for home runs a bittoo often. As far as Soriano’s fielding goes, this is just his second year starting in theoutfield. His previous seven seasons were played at second base. Matt Murton is preparedto start in left. Many thought Cliff Floyd would take the j ob after being pickedup this summer from the Mets. Floyd, has gone out with a slight injury though, andmanager Lou Pinella has more confidence with the steady fielding of Murton. In rightfield Jaque Jones reigns large. His fierce speed and explosive arm makes everyone confidentwith his play in the field. After being jeered early last year as a newcomer fromthe Minnesota Twins, Jones picked up his hitting to a stellar .285.ADVANTAGE: SOX. Soriano is a great hitter and nothing special in the field. JermaineDye is a great hitter and a great fielder. When comparing the two outfields thehitting may be the same, but the Sox have much better fielding.Pitching SOX- If the Sox pitching somehow enters the year with the swagger theyhad back in 2005 they can be dominant once again. The problem is last year was not2005, and they had a dreadful 2006. Contreres, Garland , Beurlhe, and Vazques makeup the starting rotation. The first three all had ERAs under 4.00 two years ago, butclimbed up last year. It’s the same old rotation for the Sox this year, will they get backon track?CUBS- The Cubs have one of the best pitchers in the league in their startingrotation this year, and that’s Carlos Zambrono. A Cy Young candidate last season, Zambronohad a 3.41 ERA on his way to a stellar 16-7 record. Other starters include TedLilly, Rich Hill, and Jason Marquis. The three of them combined for ERAs over 5.ADVANTAGE: SOX. Although the Sox had some rusty arms late last season, you cannot overlook the names on the backs of their jerseys. They should be ready to throwsome nasty stuff this year.Spring Sports ReviewB o y s Vo l l e y b a l lA new season starts for Boys Volleyball, and this yearthe team is being led by upperclassmen Matt Brykes andJack McInerny of the class of ’07 and Leo Galvez Roldan,Connor Kramer, and Jake Berent of the class of ’08. Theteam also had many newcomers join the team this yearincluding junior Jake Berent and seniors Matt Janda andMP Bagnowski. So far this year, the team has lost fourtimes to Brother Rice, St. Ignatious, Leyden, and NotreDame, but beat Proviso. The team has a lot of potentialand is expecting a better season than in past years. Starterand team leader, Leo Galvez Roldan has said, “Our recordshould definitely be better than it is, but despite the slowstart I think we’ll pick things up to improve this youngprogram to one as successful as the girl’s team. It willtake a lot of work but we have the talent to do it.”Boys Water PoloThe boys varsity water polo team enters the year under the leadership of coach Perryand assistant coaches Maguire and Meyer. They began their season with nine straightslaughters, their closest game was a 20-9 victory over Brother Rice.The Friar’s history has been made not only on a local level in our very own DanO’brien Center, but in the state of Illinois where they have won games on a largestage. Knowing that the past three years, our aqua men brought back the state championshiphardware does not call for them to display large egos, but rather to workharder.So far this season they have already won one tournament. The three captains TomParolin, Luke Baldwin, and John Barret lead the under and upper class members ofthe team. The team needs our support at their games, lets all gather round the pool andcheet our very own aqua men to another state title.G i r l s T r a c k & F i e l dThe indoor season is coming to a close, and the girls of the Fenwick track teamcoached by Mr. Heidloff have shown promising performances for this stage in thegame. On March 31st, freshman Margaret Connelly competed in the Illinois PrepTop Times indoor state track meet. She ran an excellent 5:23.35 placing 14th outof 22 of the best milers from across the state. Senior Colleen Sweeney also qualifiedto be put on the Illinois Prep Top Times leader boards by jumping 5’0” at theindoor conference meet at Bloom Trail.The strength of the girls track team can be seen in its middle distance squad(400 meters – 1600 meters). A lot of improvement has been seen with the comingof Coach Quinn, the new middle distance coach. A recent graduate of LaSalleUniversity in Pennsylvania , Coach Quinn has brought an immense amount ofknowledge and motivation from her college running days. Coach Coronado, betterknown as Coach “C”, has also been using his skills and love of the sport to helpeach athlete reach her full potential.The field portion of Fenwick track and field has grown in numbers sincethe 2006 season. Great performances are expected from strong new additions tothe team including Kaitlin Brown (shot put) and Lauren Gula (discus). Not onlyhas Sweeney been leaping to success, but freshman Katie Mullen brought homethe gold in the triple jump at the indoor conference meet. Other seniors on the2007 team include Jeana Caminiti (middle distance) and Erin Power (middle distance,shot put). At the conclusion of the 2006 season, there were many concernsthat the team would be hurt by the fact that only three of the athletes are seniors.However, due to these girls’s dedication and commitment, they have managed tolead team without any problems.Junior Catherine Toupin (middle distance) shared her thoughts on howthe team looks so far: “The team has a lot of potential, especially with the underclassmenon our team pulling through. Also, with our new coach for the middledistance team we are improving quickly.” Christina Honan, another junior, agreedby saying, “We’re a young team. A lot of girls are hurt right now, but when we gethealthy I think we have a lot of potential to have a great outdoor season this year.”When asked what her favorite part about being on the Fenwick girls track teamwas, sophomore Alice Owolabi replied, “My favorite part about being on the trackteam is that we always have a good time, no matter how hard practice is. We allget along really well and we feel like a family.”