Gallagher Services allows people with developmental disabilities to participate in school activities with students. So far, they have been to the homecoming football game, the school’s production of “White Christmas,” the American Indian PowWow Morning Star Celebration, and most recently, the men’s basketball game on Jan. 27 against Mount Carmel.

While at the basketball game, we ate snacks, cheered for the team, and talked about things the people from Gallagher Services liked. An hour before the game began, other students and I were able to meet with Gallagher’s friends and talk in the brown room.

In the Brown Room, I was able to talk to Kerry, whom I met at a previous Friend-to-Friend event. Kerry is always smiling, happy to see me, and even said he prayed for me every day. He always comes to the Friend-to-Friend events wearing a red helmet. He loved talking about the Ravens, his job, and his parents. Kerry works with “bubbles,” the toys you see in machines at the grocery store and other shops. He puts the different items into the bubbles.

Later in the gym, I sat next to Michael, who had forearm crutches to help him walk. He me entertained with his stories about going to an ice hockey game with his brother. Michael talked about how huge the rink was and how great it was to spend time with his brother.

The people from Gallagher Services were all rooting for JC, so when they won, everyone was clapping and cheering. Every time the other team got a basket, Michael would say “This looks like it’s going to be a close one.” The people from Gallagher Services were all thrilled that JC won.

Gallagher’s friends were able to fit in at the game just like everyone else. One of the most rewarding things about volunteering with Friend-to-Friend is seeing the individuals’ appreciative faces and seeing how happy and excited they are to be out at the basketball game, rooting for JC.

Since the people from Gallagher Services are not always able to get out of their homes, it was a special treat for them to come to an event such as the basketball game.

Throughout hardships these individuals are always smiling and happy. They have taught me to stay positive in a bad situation and to love and treat everyone with respect. These life lessons are things that I will definitely never forget.

I cannot wait to volunteer for Friend-to-Friend for the next event, which is a Valentine’s Day party on Feb. 10. This fun group has been a joy to work with, and I definitely will continue to volunteer and recommend others to do so as well. Not only did I meet great people from the Gallagher Services, but I also met awesome students who I would have never met.

Ashley Beyer is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

“My father dresses up as Santa and rides around in a firetruck.  My siblings and I follow behind and carol.” from social studies teacher James Fendryk

“My family does the German tradition of the Christmas pickle. My parents hide a fake pickle in the Christmas tree, and the person who finds it wins an extra present.  One year, it was a Wii.” from junior Bryan Pussler

“We read ‘The Polar Express’ on Christmas Eve.  Then we throw oatmeal and an apple on the front lawn for the reindeer.” from junior Mary Kate Luft

“Every year for Christmas we set up the menorah too so that we can celebrate Hannukah. Instead of giving us a different present for each day, my dad puts them around the Christmas tree.” from freshman Emma Klineberg

“Every other year we go to Canada for Christmas. We visit my mom’s family in Ontario and have a big family dinner.” from senior Talia Kahoe

“Every year we have a Slovak dinner with Oplatki and honey seeded dough bread to celebrate the Slovak side of my family.” from sophomore Mitchell Russell

“Every Christmas Eve, we go to a Chinese restaurant. We rent out a room because there are around 30 Harkinses, and we go to a Habachi grill where they cook the food in front of you. Our favorite part is shrimp baseball.” from religion teacher Rachel Harkins

Social studies teacher Jake Hollin and his advisory not only contribute to school wide charities but also volunteer outside of school. They collected cans for the Harford County Food Drive and donated toys and food to a needy family in Baltimore City.

“Right now we are doing the Adopt-a-Troop Campaign for Christmas, gathering items to send to our brave military men and women – trying to give back a little something to those who have given so much to us,” Hollin said.

Last year, his advisory also volunteered at Sharing Table, a soup kitchen in Edgewood, and collected Christmas gifts for an adopted family through the Mason Dixon program.

“It just feels really good to give back,” senior and member of Hollin’s advisory Megan Cunningham said.

Not only does Hollin “believe it is important to give and serve others” but also he has noticed that because “we [his advisory] serve together, we have gotten closer as a group.”

English teacher Eric Sutton and math teacher Jean Willan’s advisories have also teamed up for the past two years to Adopt-a-Family around Christmas time.

Willan has adopted families for 16 years both in and outside of school.

“I just feel that it’s important and I encourage my students to take part each year,” Willan said.

“I love shopping for little kids and I still love receiving presents on Christmas, so to be able to share that excitement around the holidays is a great opportunity,” junior and member of Sutton’s advisory Joe Novak said. Sutton’s advisory has already gotten a bike for the little girl in their Adopt-a-Family this year.

Enhance teacher Ann Drummey’s advisory also gives back by supporting Anna’s House. Anna’s House is a shelter for women and children in Harford County. Last year Drummey’s advisory made and filled stockings for the residents of Anna’s House, but this year they are changing it up by making blankets for the playrooms.

Freshman Morgan Broman’s favorite part of making the blankets “is just knowing I am helping someone else.”

Drummey tries to include every member of her advisory in supporting Anna’s House. “I think it is important for students to realize that others may not have some of the advantages that they do. Sometimes it is a simple gesture that can have an enormous impact on someone else,” Drummey said.

Hollin also mentioned that with busy schedules, finding time for charity can be a difficult task. “Everyone is so busy nowadays that it is hard to get together and to organize stuff for everyone. You just have to be flexible and try to have as many people as you can be involved,” Hollin said.

Even though it is difficult to get 100 percent participation from all of the advisees, Sutton says that “giving is what this time of year is really about.”

Sarah Kearby is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

Culture Shock tried “to spread awareness of the Native American culture and most importantly get students involved and see different cultures,” senior and President of Culture Shock Monique Romain said.

Scholl lent Native American artifacts, which are sold each year at the Annual Benefit Pow-Wow, to the Culture Shock Club to display. Participants at the fair were also offered various Native American foods.

Culture Shock is planning to have events similar to the Native American Culture Fair every month. According to Romain, the goal of having these Culture Shock events is so that the “student body can have fun and be informed [of a culture] each month.”

However, in January, JC will focus on Native American culture again during the 12th Annual Benefit Pow-Wow.

The Pow-Wow will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14. All the proceeds made will benefit St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana. According to Scholl this year’s goal is to “raise $5,000 in one day.”

St. Labre Indian School is the main school on the Crow Reservation, offering grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth. St. Labre runs St. Charles Mission School and Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy, two other schools on the reservation.

It took Scholl a total of 21 years to connect with St. Labre Indian School. He initially made contact with the Cheyenne culture in college when he decided to do service on a reservation in Oklahoma.

“I came away after two years with the feeling I hadn’t really helped a whole lot of people, but that they helped me a great deal,” Scholl said.

Scholl decided he wanted to visit a Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana after the Northern Cheyenne Breakout, when the Cheyenne tribe separated because the Northern Cheyenne people could not stand the southern heat.

“I went up to a house and knocked on the door. A little kid opened the door a crack and yelled ‘Mom, Grandma, there’s a white man at the door,’ I bought some barrettes and some of their bead work and that was my in,” Scholl said.

Starting with that initial connection, he attended a Pow-Wow and noticed St. Labre Indian School. While there, Scholl recognized people from Oklahoma that he previously knew and he kept making connections with others until he met people from the school.

The connection with St. Labre has blossomed since, and this year for the JC Pow-Wow they are sending in students, vendors, and a “good drum group who should make people want to dance,” Scholl said.

Since the inception of the Pow-Wow, JC has sent over $50,000 to St. Labre. This money not only included the proceeds from the Pow-Wow but generous donations from anonymous donors.

“The Pow-Wow is just an authentic cultural experience to help students get a taste of Native American culture,” Scholl said.

Sarah Kearby is a Lifestlyes Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

“Each new beginning presented its own special moments, with new people and new challenges and new opportunities,” Gatto said. No matter what position in the school system, Gatto knew his calling was to be a teacher “in order to pass on the love of learning.”

His passion for his students and learning showed when he directed Saint Clare School’s first annual Broadway Review, “Broadway on Brendan.”

Gatto encouraged his students by contacting multiple celebrities and asking for photographs and notes that could be used as incentives.

“Sandra Bullock actually contacted me directly to say good luck, and apologized that she wouldn’t be able to attend. That was quite exciting, and it really got the kids in the show even more pumped,” Gatto said.

For Gatto, strong relationships with students have always been the basis for learning. “I definitely remember most of my students. I always made it a point as principal to know my kids and their families,” Gatto said.

Over a 39 year span, Gatto has taught people such as Mitch Rozanski, who became the Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, as well as students who grew up to become physicians, international attorneys and even actors. But every student is special to him, especially the ones at JC.

“I can honestly say, too, that the students I have been working with here at John Carroll have been great. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with my kids this year,” Gatto said.

While having a passion for learning and strong relationships with students, Gatto believes that a good teacher is one that cares about his students.

Senior Matt Ridge, who is a student of Gatto, said, “He’s very open to us and he’s very easy to connect with.”

Eva Bialobrzeski is the In-Depth Editor for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com.

Two weeks earlier, Lozinak had no idea that her dream to bring Maher back to JC would become a reality.

“[The band] had a cancellation in Delaware, and we found out two weeks before Jan. 22 and booked them. We had two weeks to put it all together,” Lozinak said. “We didn’t expect for all this to happen, but we were really lucky that they agreed to come and do this. I don’t think any of it actually hit me until I saw them pull up outside of JC. At that point, I was just like, ‘Wow, this is finally happening.”

As a part of her project, Lozinak prepared a speech to read in front of the entire audience before the concert. Her speech outlined her experience at her first Maher concert and how she felt a pleasantly surprising reaction to his music.

The size of the crowd intimidated Lozinak at first, but she said, “Once I was onstage, I wasn’t really nervous at all. It kind of escaped me, and I was calm as anything.”

The crowd was larger than Lozinak had anticipated. She wasn’t sure how many people to expect since they had only two weeks to put the concert together and to promote it.

Over 800 people from school, the local community and out-of-state attended the concert. “Last time [the band] only had two weeks to promote, only 300 people showed up. So I’d like to think we did a pretty good job,” Lozinak said.

During the concert, members of the audience surrounded the stage, singing and swaying to songs such as “Sing Over Your Children,” “Shout of the King” and “Hold Us Together.” “Hold Us Together” is “the one song that always plays in the back of my mind because it means so much to me,” Lozinak said.

For senior Jenna Elliott, the concert served as “an exciting way to let go of stress from exams and to have a good time with my friends.”

Lozinak, who has gotten to know the band over the past four years, said that every show is “a mini reunion and a time of catching up and goofing up.”

This concert was no different, as Lozinak reunited with the band afterward. “After the concert, I was happy as anything. Seeing them perform in our gym again is something I’ve always wanted,” Lozinak said.

For Lozinak, her favorite parts of the concert were singing every song and being able to introduce him at the beginning. “Matt is my favorite artist, so to be the one to take him back behind stage and then introduce him is something that I’ll never forget,” Lozinak said.

“The Patriot” had a chance to meet up with Matt Maher before the concert. Click here to see the interview.

Jenny Hottle is the Online Chief for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com.

Four years later, now senior Lozinak can barely contain her excitement as she awaits Maher’s return to JC on Jan. 22.

Maher’s performance at JC is part of Lozinak’s senior project. “With my project, I hope to really show what John Carroll is based on—Catholic beliefs.”

Lozinak hopes that “many other individuals will be moved by the messages in his music” after the performance. She realizes that others might feel the way she did originally about the idea of going to a Christian concert but hopes that they will change their minds after hearing some of Maher’s songs.

“Matt is such an inspirational person, and I truly believe that if everyone sees him perform, they will be impacted like I was,” Lozinak said.

At the 2007 concert, Lozinak was surprised to discover that Maher’s style is “more like modern pop/rock with clean words.”

“I felt so moved by his music, and he just really had a strong, positive impact on me,” Lozinak said.

Lozinak met Maher after the concert through her uncle, Steven Lozinak, who knows Maher from college. Ever since the first concert, her family has traveled to various places to see him perform. Lozinak estimated that she’s been to about 15 shows over the last four years, always making sure to meet up with the singer.

Lozinak, who now considers Maher and his band mates good friends, said students who purchase a ticket for the concert by Thursday, Jan. 13, are automatically entered for a chance to do a meet-and-greet with the entire band. One student will be able to meet the band before the Jan. 22 show. “He [Maher] is such a great role model to me, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what he has to say in his music,” Lozinak said.

The Matt Maher concert will be held at JC on Jan. 22. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from religion teachers or Lozinak or by contacting mmaheratjc@gmail.com.

I don’t need to be jealous of another advisory receiving a warm breakfast though, because I know my advisory is the only one lucky enough to have their teacher making pancakes on a skillet.

Being a part of Mr. Hollin’s “Mighty Ducks” advisory has been about more than just enjoying a warm breakfast every other week and playing charades against Mr. Powell’s advisory, the “Butterfly Ninjas.” It’s been about building relationships with each other and extending our friendship outside of room 306.

At first I was uncomfortable changing from homeroom to advisory, especially after making friends in my homeroom for the past three years.

But, after the first week of being in Mr. Hollin’s advisory and deciding on our name being the “Mighty Ducks,” I realized I was mistaken. I quickly became excited for the rest of the year.

During the canned food drive, which the Mighty Ducks won, we raised over 700 cans.

Although we had a friendly competition between the advisories of Mr. Powell and Mr. Scholl, Mr. Hollin encouraged our advisory to reflect on the fact that not everyone is as lucky as us to be warm and well-fed. His encouragement made the canned food drive fun, giving us the motivation we needed to collect more cans than any other advisory.

He also encouraged us to go to the Sharing Table, a food kitchen that takes place every Saturday at the Prince of Peace Church in Edgewood. On Nov. 20, our advisory slowly filtered into the dining hall and began preparing to feed the less fortunate. We served the guests a warm Thanksgiving meal and socialized with them.

The dining hall filled up with elderly people, disabled people, and families with children.

A woman who was sitting at the table I was serving really opened my eyes. She noticed my JC sweatshirt and began to tell me how her daughter graduated from JC. She proceeded to pull out a photo of her daughter, who was dressed in a JC uniform. Her daughter graduated from a private high school and is attending college now, yet she is relying on the Sharing Table for a warm meal. This experience with her was truly humbling.

Besides volunteering our time, the Mighty Ducks are keeping with the spirit of Christmas by purchasing a Christmas tree to adorn with ornaments representing ourselves. More importantly, we’ve decided to adopt a family.

During this holiday season, we’re extending our helping hands to families who are unable to have a Christmas with gifts.

I’m extremely proud to say that I’m a part of the Mighty Ducks. We are excited to come to advisory every morning because Mr. Hollin has successfully incorporated good morals and fun into something that could otherwise be boring.

Vice principal of academics Gary Scholl returned to his administrative office after advisory this morning to a big surprise.

Scholl, the lead suspect in yesterday’s incident that left social studies teacher Jake Hollin’s Christmas tree in the courtyard, found the nearly six foot tall tree from Hollin’s classroom standing on his desk.

“That tree is like an albatross around my neck,” Scholl said, who claims the culprit is Hollin. However, Hollin did not confess, saying Scholl placed the tree on his desk by himself.

“Mr. Scholl is mocking [the Mighty Ducks] that he can take the tree at any time and put it on his desk,” Hollin said. “At this point, he’s showing off.”

Mighty Ducks member senior Pat St. Clair had a different story, however. “The courtyard was the last straw. We put the tree on the desk,” St. Clair said.

According to an anonymous Mighty Ducks member, an alliance was made this morning with social studies teacher Brian Powell’s advisory, the Butterfly Ninjas.

As of 2:40 today, the tree was missing.

Pictured to the right is the Christmas tree on Scholl’s desk. (Photo by Taylor Schafer)

Check back for more updates as the Patriot follows the story. Read below or click here to read previous coverage of the Christmas tree kidnappings.

The infamous Christmas tree from room 306 was on the move once again this morning. Though it was placed in social studies teacher Brian Powell’s room and the third floor teacher’s bathroom last week, the tree found a spot in the courtyard this time.

According to Powell, he spotted the tree from his window during mod two in the center of the courtyard next to the fountain. However, sometime between mod two and mod three, it was moved to being up against the window of the courtyard facing the gym.

Though the culprit(s) has not been found, vice principal of academics and social studies teacher Gary Scholl said that he is “shocked that anyone would be so bold to steal that tree in broad daylight.”

Scholl did not comment when asked if he was involved in the incident. “I plead the fifth,” Scholl said.

Members of Scholl’s advisory also refused to comment.

Owner of the tree and social studies teacher Jake Hollin retrieved the tree mod six and carried it back to his room.

“Some people just don’t know when to stop,” Hollin said. “But what I’m beginning to think is that the tree wanted to go back to nature because it missed the other trees. My only guess is that whoever did it was concerned for the tree’s health and wanted it to be with other trees.”

Hollin refused to discuss the incident anymore after saying, “Revenge is sweet. Just remember that.”

Additional reporting by Jenny Hottle.

Walking into room 306, Hollin expected to see the Christmas tree he had decorated with his advisory, the Mighty Ducks.  However, he found that the brightly decorated tree had vanished.

The only thing Hollin wanted to know was “what evil, dark, bad, malicious, hater of Christmas could do this and rob my Mighty Ducks of so much joy?”

Where was Hollin’s Christmas tree?  Who could have stolen it?

Hollin was immediately on the case, already having a suspect in mind.  He knew exactly what to do: check the security cameras of the third floor hallway.

The thieves were easily located on the cameras.  “Unfortunately, most criminals are not smart enough to cover their tracks.  They left a trail of pine needles,” Hollin said.

Hollin’s suspicions proved correct when social studies teacher Brian Powell and an anonymous student were seen on the cameras sprinting the tree away to Powell’s classroom.

Though the associated student remains unidentified, senior Ryan Eilerman brought the Christmas tree back to Hollin when he was called into Hollin’s room from Powell’s room during the last mod of the day.  “[Eilerman] fed me some nonsense about Fendryk stealing the tree, but I knew who the real culprit was,” Hollin said.

Eilerman’s story is slightly different from Hollin’s.  “I was surprised to see a real Christmas tree, so I went over to look at it and saw it had an ornament that said Hollin on it, and I wondered why it wasn’t in his room.  I thought Mr. Hollin would like to have it back, so, being a good Samaritan, I unplugged the tree and returned it,” Eilerman said.

When Powell was found in his classroom later in the day, he denied stealing the Christmas tree.  However, his story does not line up with Eilerman’s.

“I was walking by Mr. Hollin’s room around the time the tree was stolen, and somehow the tree found its way into the back of my classroom,” said Powell, who was unaware that Hollin had caught him on video with the mystery student.

“I decided that the tree was a nuisance and a fire hazard, so I returned it.  I would rather have a fire happen in Mr. Hollin’s room than in mine,” Powell said.

So Powell stole the tree, but why he took it is unknown.  In addition, the question of who the mystery student accomplice was remains unanswered.

Powell would not respond on this account, wanting to protect the student from any disciplinary action.  “I plead the fifth,” said Powell.  But the tom-foolery was not over yet.

In the early hours of the morning on Dec. 1, Powell walked into his classroom and stopped short.  There was toilet paper all over his room.

Toilet paper was hanging on the ceiling, off the walls, and scattered on the table.  Powell, who was previously caught up in the Christmas tree theft, took the toilet paper down before the first mod of classes. “I took it down with all due haste, speed, and agility,” said Powell.  Powell claimed to have been able to take down all of the toilet paper with such speed because he was a “butterfly ninja,” making a reference to his advisory group’s name.

“You never know when a ninja will strike,” Powell said.

Powell knew who had done it the second he looked at his door.  A FCA Dodgeball poster was taped to the door, making Hollin the prime suspect.

“I stuffed all of the toilet paper in Mr. Hollin’s backpack,” Powell said, thinking he had made a clever comeback.  However, much to Powell’s surprise, Secretary Susan Strawbridge called Powell’s room and informed him that there was a package for him.

Powell sent a student down for the package, not expecting what was inside of the package.  The package contained the toilet paper that Powell had stuffed in Hollin’s backpack.

Shortly afterward, Powell retaliated.  “[My advisory group and I] returned the toilet paper to Mr. Hollin’s room where it belongs,” Powell said.

“It was exciting. We kind of bonded as an advisory,” sophomore Carol Zubrowski said, who is in Powell’s advisory group.

Hollin had another means of retaliation against Powell.  He created a video with clips from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” pictures of Powell, and video camera footage of Powell walking near Hollin’s classroom and walking off in the distance holding something with a student.

“It was simply a way to protect the Mighty Ducks,” Hollin said.  “I also happen to know that Mr. Powell enjoys toilet paper and is considering decorating his house with it.”

The holiday season has started with some memorable hijinks and rivalry.  Who knows what will happen next?

Click here to view Hollin’s video.

Kirchner can be reached for comment at mkirchner@jcpatriot.com.