Newspaper moderator named single recipient of international award
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
May 17, 2012
On May 3, the phone rang in the Patriot room. The class went silent, and newspaper moderator Mark Ionescu was informed that he had been named Journalism Educator of the Year by the Youth Journalism International (YJI) organization. “Someone from Youth Journalism International called during... Read More
Three Patriot staffers win international awards
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
May 4, 2012
On Thursday, May 3, three Patriot staffers received awards from the Youth Journalism International organization. Opinion Editor Scott Novak won first place in the General Columns category for his column “Pro-Choice’s time to scream.” Copy Editor Kailey Tracy won an honorable mention in... Read More
Phonathon contributes to annual budget
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
May 4, 2012
Junior Sidney Griffin hesitantly walked into the spring Phonathon, nervous about asking strangers for money and worried that they would reject her attempts to ask for donations to the school. She soon found that she was the only student volunteer there, and would be the only student volunteer... Read More
Pro V. Con: YOLO just an excuse for making bad decisions
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
May 3, 2012
This is the con argument on YOLO. To view the pro argument, click here. Failed my test today, YOLO. Didn’t do my homework, YOLO. Ruining the only life I’m going to get, YOLO. The popular phrase “you only live once” has turned into an excuse for making bad decisions and... Read More
JC community commemorates Xavia Pirozzi
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
May 3, 2012
Coping with the loss of sophomore Xavia Pirozzi, the Pirozzi family and the JC community are coming up with many ways to honor her memory. After Pirozzi’s passing, members of the National Art Honors Society (NAHS) came up with a way to commemorate her. They wanted to find some tangible way... Read More
Academy showcases New York in upcoming recital
Brianna Glase, Managind Editor
May 2, 2012
Students can experience New York City without even leaving Bel Air this weekend. On May 5, at 7:00 p.m., students can catch a cab to “A Tribute to New York,” the first annual Academy of Performing Arts and Dance performance right at JC. The performance will follow the plot of a... Read More
Five Patriot staffers win national Quill and Scroll awards
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
April 30, 2012
Five members of the Patriot staff won awards for either stories or pictures from the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists in their 2012 International Writing/Photo Contest. There was a total of 3039 entries submitted across the nation in 12 categories. ... Read More
Seventeen year old runs ‘from sea to shining sea’ barefoot
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
April 25, 2012
Seventeen year old Rae Heim sprinted barefoot into a McDonald’s parking lot, panting to catch her breath. One consequence of keeping hydrated was the fact that Heim would have to interrupt her running across America to go to the bathroom, and McDonald’s was the only one available. “I... Read More
Library renovated to free up floor space, prevent misbehavior
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
April 4, 2012
Students were surprised the week of March 12 when they walked into the library to study at their usual private study carrel and found that a table made for four had taken its place. Over the course of a few weeks, the Department of Facilities renovated the library, making changes that included... Read More
Invisible Children organization raises awareness about Joseph Kony
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
April 3, 2012
On March 5, the organization Invisible Children (IC) posted a video that became a viral phenomenon. IC created a campaign called Kony 2012 to raise awareness about the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda: Joseph Kony. According to the New York Times, “the Lord’s... Read More
Intro to Engineering class constructs chairs out of cardboard
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
March 27, 2012
Cardboard and glue sound like the craft materials for a preschool class, but these are also the only things that Intro to Engineering students may use to build fully-functioning chairs that hold 200 pounds. Though the class won’t be actually selling these, the goal for this project and other... Read More
Cinderella Tea enchants little princesses
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
March 16, 2012
Elementary school student Morgan Lewis had a magical birthday on Saturday, March 3 at first ever Cinderella Tea fundraiser, following the Theater Department’s performance of “Cinderella.” At the tea, children received wands, took pictures, and got autographs from the cast of... Read More
New classes planned for 2012-2013 school year
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
March 15, 2012
Four new courses are being introduced to the curriculum for the 2012-2013 school year, in accordance with the new STEM program. The Math Department plans to revive two semester length courses: Math Analysis and Statistics. According to Math Department Chair Susan Gradishar, Math Analysis... Read More
Senior helps organize fashion show
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
March 7, 2012
Cinderella may have ended, but the fairytale dreams will continue at the “Once Upon A Dream” fashion show on Sunday, March 11 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. At the fashion show, teachers and students will model outfits donated by local retailers. “I’m looking forward to seeing the different... Read More
“One Death Too Many” program aims to educate students in a fun way
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
February 29, 2012
JC will host a “One Death Too Many” drug refusal seminar aimed at students in eighth through twelfth grade on March 1, from seven p.m. to eight p.m. During the event, teens and parents will discuss different refusal strategies, perform skits, and enjoy snacks and prizes, including... Read More
Representatives will visit JC to register students to vote
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
February 23, 2012
Representatives from the Harford County League of Women Voters will set up a booth at JC on Feb. 24 registering any student who is a U.S. citizen and who will be 18 before the 2012 presidential election. They will be on campus from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for students to register or get an... Read More
Color Guard excites audience at first performance
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
February 15, 2012
Rifles were spinning out of control at the men’s varsity basketball game Feb. 10, when the revived Color Guard showcased their first routine. The Color Guard was brought back to life by music teacher Marc Bolden with the help of baton twirling coach Christine Zoll. They held an informational... Read More
Patriot staffers win national awards
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
February 15, 2012
A total of ten members of the Patriot staff from this year and last year won national awards on their individual articles from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. These awards are for articles written from November 2010 through November 2011. Online Chief Grace Kim won first place... Read More
Science department offers students option to graduate with distinction in science
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
February 2, 2012
Though the STEM academy that will be implemented next year is primarily for incoming freshmen, current students will not be left in the dust of science, technology, engineering, and math. For students who wish to pursue a career in science, the option to graduate with a diploma with distinction... Read More
Catholic Schools Week holds many opportunities
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
January 13, 2012
As the only Catholic school in Harford County, JC should look at Catholic Schools Week (CSW) as a highly anticipated week packed full of activities that every member of the school looks forward to. Though Campus Minister Patti Murphy Dohn works hard to plan activities and themed days throughout... Read More
Teachers, students react to Twitter being blocked
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
January 13, 2012
Due to the recent inappropriate tweets written by students, the administration decided to block the social networking site Twitter. The News article can be read here. With this change, members of the school community have had opposing viewpoints about the blocking and the inappropriate tweets... Read More
Pro V Con: Administration actions on blocking Twitter are justified
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
January 12, 2012
This is the pro argument for whether the administration should have blocked Twitter. To read the con argument, click here. Twitter is undoubtedly a convenient tool to keep updated with world and classroom news, but with all the potential it has for communication, it’s no surprise that... Read More
Patriot online site receives All-American ranking
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
January 6, 2012
The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) has awarded jcpatriot.com the ranking of All-American. This is the highest ranking available and the highest ranking the online site has received since its launch in 2008. In order to receive this rating, The Patriot had to score 3,400 points... Read More
Naviance program remains useful despite glitches
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
December 16, 2011
With classes, college applications, and senioritis setting in, some students find it difficult to keep everything organized. With the implementation of the online program Naviance, senior Becca Falter is enthusiastic about how much easier it is to keep track of all of her college applications. ... Read More
Debates during holidays are ho, ho, horrible
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
December 16, 2011
People always find a reason to start an argument, but the Christmas season should be reserved as a time of joy, a time of togetherness, and most importantly, a time of peace. The raging debate on the possible replacement of the phrase “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays”... Read More
Single vehicle flips over guardrail outside of JC, driver taken to local hospital for treatment
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
December 5, 2011
A woman about 40-50 years old drove off of Route 22 and flipped over the guardrail outside of JC at 1:13 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, according to Bel Air police. The Bel Air Police Department arrived on the scene to find that a single vehicle had left the roadway without striking any other vehicles,... Read More
“White Christmas” to be featured on ABC 2 News
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
December 1, 2011
The theater department is dreaming of a white Christmas, but a little bit differently from the ones they used to know. For the first time ever, the cast of the winter musical “White Christmas” will be featured on ABC 2 News, both the morning show and the nightly news. “It was just by... Read More
Glee Christmas album spices up holiday season
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
November 30, 2011
Glee, by definition, is opening yourself up to joy, and the cast of “Glee” has certainly spread that joy by releasing their festive new album “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2.” The album kicks off with a powerful rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas... Read More
Tennis season proves successful
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
October 28, 2011
After months of practicing four days a week for at least an hour and a half, the women’s tennis season finished in a week-long marathon of championship matches. JC came out in third place in the B conference. Championships began on Oct. 17, and varsity players had matches every day to... Read More
Dance Academy Expands Performing Arts Department
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
October 26, 2011
At age seven, Associate Director of Enrollment Kim Brueggemann danced around in her tiny tap shoes, beaming as she learned the most basic of dance moves. At age nine, her passion for performing arts progressed as she auditioned for her first community theater production. Today, she is the... Read More
Abingdon kidnapping attempt causes administration concern
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
October 25, 2011
According to ABC 2 News, as a 14-year-old boy walked to his Abingdon bus stop yesterday morning, he was approached by a dark van with no windows other than the window on the driver’s side. The driver pulled up alongside the boy and threatened that he would hurt him if the boy didn’t get... Read More
Teacher Spotlight: Rachel Harkins
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
October 21, 2011
Religion teacher Rachel Harkins strummed the strings of her harp in an elegant ball gown, as she competed for the prestigious title of Miss Maryland. Harkins competed in this pageant for two years, 2009 and 2010, and even though she never won the crown, she placed in the top 10 both years. After... Read More
First alumni weekend acheives success
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
October 20, 2011
Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Relations Laura Lang, after a year of planning, emailing, promoting, and advertising, finally got to have her cake and eat it too at the first annual Alumni Weekend, which kicked off Friday, Sept. 30. “An all-alumni weekend was something we had... Read More
Students lunge into national fencing competition
Brianna Glase, Managing Editor
September 21, 2011
Attack! Parry! Lunge! The referee shouts “point” and the crowd roars. In the matter of a few seconds, a fencing bout is won. Every step, every move, and every decision counts. Senior James Mews, junior Morgan Jones, and sophomore Erika Lipford all felt this pressure this summer... Read More
Steakhouse tries and doesn’t succeed
Brianna Glase, Reporter
July 11, 2011
Carsins’ Steak and Seafood Grill has all the right ingredients for a great dining experience: a relaxing atmosphere, beautiful photographs decorating the walls, and excellent service. Unfortunately, the ingredients in the entrees aren’t as satisfying. My family and I walked into the restaurant... Read More
Sophomore reflects on March for Life
Brianna Glase, Contributing Writer
February 17, 2011
Four degrees was the outside temperature flashing on the Rosedale Federal bank sign as I rode through Bel Air, almost dreading the fact that I would be standing outside in Washington D.C. for hours on end. I arrived at JC at 7 a.m., yawning in the empty hallways and bundled up in layer after... Read More