Technology Department tests new network monitoring program
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
May 17, 2012
Youtube is available on and off, students are required to log in to the internet, and websites are blocked and unblocked depending on the day. This is due to the temporary replacement of SonicWall MS8 3100 with Cymphonix Network Composer as the program that controls the flow of traffic on... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Junior exasperated by lack of exam privileges for juniors
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
May 15, 2012
For me, being a junior in senior classes wasn’t a problem until exam week arrived. During senior exam week, the underclassmen got the raw end of the deal. For underclassmen in senior classes, privileges are not extended to anybody other than the seniors, which makes exams far worse for... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Europe trip provides fullfilling experience
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
May 2, 2012
Over spring break, I went on a trip with American Council for International Studies (ACIS) to Scotland and England, which turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at JC. This experience also gave me the opportunity to give advice to anybody looking for a perfect... Read More
Junior travels with Theater Department to NYC
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
May 1, 2012
No matter how many times you go to New York City, rounding a corner and seeing the famous skyline always takes your breath away. I’ve been to NYC with the theater department five times, and more than that on my own, but I never tire of the Big Apple. On Wednesday, April 25, the group of... Read More
Academic team finishes with best record in JC history
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 27, 2012
“Richard Roundtree played this private dick who’s a sex machine to all the chicks,” the judge said. The question hung in the air for a moment as senior Adam Kuester hurriedly scribbled his response on his paper. He then held it out to academic team captain senior Nick Henninger to answer. ... Read More
Principal takes hard stance on cyber-bullying
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 20, 2012
The website HSMemes has not only been blocked by the administration before spring break, but publicly condemned by Principal Madelyn Ball in a school-wide meeting on April 16. The site allows users to make memes, concepts that spread via the Internet through pictures and captions, about their... Read More
Love One Another club hosts Day of Silence
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 19, 2012
Love One Another, a new student-run equality group, is hosting a Day of Silence this Friday, April 20, and fundraising throughout the week to benefit the Trevor Project. The Day of Silence will take place during the school day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. There are collection jars in the cafeteria... Read More
I starve myself
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 4, 2012
A quarter of a Pop-Tart for breakfast, four croutons for lunch, and a piece of meat the size of a quarter and a few peas for dinner doesn’t seem like a healthy diet. For one JC student, that was what she ate every day through much of eighth grade while she was struggling with an eating... Read More
College fair fails to meet expectations
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 4, 2012
The JC College Fair, held on March 28, had good intentions that were quickly dashed against the rocks of annoyance. While there was some good that came out of it, there are some definite ways to improve it for next year. For students like me, who want to get as far away as possible from Harford... Read More
Academic Team triumphs in close victory
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 2, 2012
Seniors Ana Beain, Nick Henninger, and Adam Kuester stared at the picture of the sculpture on the screen in front of them. They had been in last place since the first round, but these questions in the last round were worth more points than before. With lights and cameras trained on their... Read More
Dorms rededicated as St. Joseph Hall
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
April 2, 2012
After the former convent is made into dormitories for international students, it will be renamed St. Joseph Hall. “It will be named in honor of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the order that was considered the founding order of John Carroll,” President Richard O’Hara said. O’Hara... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Students should embrace Lent as spiritual enlightenment
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
March 16, 2012
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard somebody say, “I’m giving up chocolate or sweets or soda for Lent,” I would be pretty well-off. There’s nothing wrong with this per se, but I have to wonder if Lent is simply a replacement for New Year’s resolutions. Lent originally... Read More
Dorms to be provided for international students
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
March 14, 2012
Dormitories will be available to house international students starting in the 2012-2013 school year. The dorms will be built in the former convent and will be home to about 16 international students, according to President Richard O’Hara. “We are planning to renovate the former convent... Read More
Women’s basketball takes IAAM conference title, first time in 28 years
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
February 23, 2012
With 2.6 seconds left in the IAAM B Conference championship game, St. Mary’s player Stephanie Lazo stepped up to take her foul shot. This was the shot that would make or break JC’s two point lead, 40-38. With the fans screaming along with the pep band, she took the shot and missed. ... Read More
Women’s basketball wins IAAM Conference title
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
February 22, 2012
The women’s basketball team won the IAAM B Conference championship on Feb. 18, 2012. They beat St. Mary’s 42-38, with freshman Ashley Hunter scoring the last two points in the last 1.7 seconds of the game. The top scorers from JC were seniors Emily Soller with 15 points, Miranda Ripken... Read More
National Letters of Intent signed for soccer, basketball
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
February 15, 2012
For senior Gina Maiorana, signing her National Letter of Intent (NLI) with Seton Hall on Feb. 1 marked a new beginning in sports after a crippling injury to her ACL on Dec. 28 last year. Playing soccer at Seton Hall is a dream come true for Maiorana, who has been playing the sport since she... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Spread the love this Valentine’s Day
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
February 15, 2012
Singles’ Awareness Day is right around the corner, bringing stress upon everybody, whether they are in a relationship or not. It seems that Valentine’s Day has turned into a day of mourning for those without a significant other or a day of stress for those dating somebody. Although... Read More
‘Smash’ establishes itself as a hit
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
February 10, 2012
Take “Glee,” subtract the fake high school, add incredible talent like Katharine McPhee, and original music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and you have the new show “Smash.” The pilot of “Smash” premiered on Feb. 6, but all it takes is one episode to be hooked on to this riveting... Read More
Pro V Con: Respect Life Day leaves opposing views underrepresented
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
January 27, 2012
Respect Life Day, which was attended by barely more than half the student body who didn’t attend the March for Life, was supposed to be a day for celebrating life and learning about abortion. Obviously, there wasn’t the option of having a regular school day with 160 students on the March,... Read More
Pro V Con: Administration should not have blocked Twitter
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
January 12, 2012
This is the con argument for whether the administration should have blocked Twitter. To read the pro argument, click here. The administration has attempted another round of Whack-a-Mole by blocking Twitter. While the behavior that caused the block cannot be condoned, the block has only... Read More
‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime’ levels the field for summer reading
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
January 11, 2012
The Patriot has reviewed several of the summer reading options for this year. A student committee has been formed to allow for student opinion in choosing the summer reading book for 2012. To read more about changes to the summer reading program, click here. “The Curious Incident of... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Make a change this new year
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
January 6, 2012
The ball dropped, the couples kissed, and the calendar flipped. It’s 2012, and everybody is making New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions typically involve either bettering oneself or making life better for others. Most resolutions fall into the first category, but resolutions that fall... Read More
Women’s basketball defeats NDP rivals
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
December 16, 2011
When senior Emily Soller hit a 3-point shot early in the first quarter, the cheering crowd had no idea that she would go on to dominate the rest of the game. With a personal best of 20 points scored, Soller would help lead the women’s varsity basketball team to victory. On Friday, Dec. 16,... Read More
Martha’s Musings: School Mass should aim for retreat-like setting
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
December 16, 2011
As a non-Catholic who had not attended Mass before I came to JC, my best experience by far has been the Mass on junior retreat. One of the main factors of Mass being so enjoyable was the environment. We sat in comfortable chairs in a small room, and the intimate feeling helped keep my attention. While... Read More
Bolden to play with Ravens marching band
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
December 16, 2011
Instead of cheering for the Ravens in the stands, music teacher Marc Bolden is going to be on the field blaring his trumpet. Bolden has joined the Ravens marching band as a trumpet player and could be playing at his first game as soon as Christmas Eve. “It seemed like a fun opportunity,... Read More
Teacher Spotlight: Tony Del Puppo
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
December 15, 2011
For a man who once made a black bear run away in terror, Tony Del Puppo spends a lot of his time in pursuit of academic glory. Del Puppo is busy studying for his degree in applied economics, although he already has a master’s degree in history. On top of being a full-time history teacher,... Read More
Harkins’ class wins second in Qdoba contest
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
December 7, 2011
The smell of both victory and Qdoba drifted into the hallway from religion teacher Rachel Harkin’s classroom on Wednesday, Nov. 30. One of Harkins’ classes entered a competition set up by Qdoba to win a pair of Ravens tickets. The class entered a picture of themselves making a human... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Police Brutality Unacceptable
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
November 30, 2011
Whether or not you recognize the name John Pike, you’ve definitely seen him. He’s the police officer from the now viral video of University of California, Davis students being drenched in pepper spray. These students were peacefully protesting with the Occupy Davis movement when Pike... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Increased respect needed at pep rally
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
November 17, 2011
Screaming. Cheering. Mayhem. Those words pretty much sum up the pep rally. I love class color day, I really do. The rivalry between the juniors and seniors, tagging freshies, covering themselves in tape - it’s all fun. However, the pep rally, at least with the way it’s currently... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Exotic animals unnecessarily slaughtered
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
October 28, 2011
The lions, tigers, and bears (oh my) were just slaughtered by the Ohio police. 49 exotic animals were killed after being set free by Terry Thompson, their suicidal owner. While Thompson, who had been charged with animal cruelty and abuse several times, was obviously not capable of caring... Read More
Martha’s Musings: Purple Friday discriminates against non-Ravens fans
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
October 27, 2011
It’s Friday, and I’m not wearing purple. Every Friday since the beginning of school, students have been allowed to wear purple apparel over their uniform. “Purple Fridays” are one of the things that Principal Madelyn Ball has brought back since becoming our principal, and it’s... Read More
Respect Life Club remains silent to protest abortion
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
October 25, 2011
No matter what happened, sophomore Megan Greig wasn’t saying a word. She chose to take part in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity on Oct. 19 with the Respect Life Club. The Day of Silence, a protest against abortion, entailed wearing a red ribbon or piece of tape as the Respect Life... Read More
“Cryin’ Out Loud” rocks local music scene
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
September 29, 2011
Junior Elliott Weinberg faced the crowd for the first time. He had been waiting for this moment since July. This was his debut as the bass player of the band “Cryin’ Out Loud.” “It’s pretty exciting to see everyone cheering for you and they get really into it,” Weinberg said. Weinberg... Read More
Everest climber stuns assembly
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
September 21, 2011
Paul Deegan is on top of the world. He’s just climbed Mt. Everest, reached the world’s highest point, and has a decision to make. He, like the rest of his climbing group, could choose to climb atop the summit. Instead, he kneels. “I decided I didn’t want to stand on the summit. ... Read More
[UPDATED] Abortion protesters stir controversy near JC
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
September 3, 2011
[Updated 9/6] – Photo added. As President of the Respect Life Club Nick Henninger pulled into JC on what seemed to be a normal Friday morning of school on Sept 2, graphic images of bloody aborted fetuses splayed out on poster boards made Henninger do a double take. He and his mother... Read More
[UPDATED] Hurricane causes minor damage, closes JC
Martha Schick, Managing Editor
August 29, 2011
[UPDATED 8/29] – JC is to close on Aug 30. Any chance of having school on Aug 29 was gone with the wind in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Harford County Public Schools called for a code green “due to county-wide damage caused by Hurricane Irene.” A code green signifies that... Read More
O’Hara selects Ball as new principal
Martha Schick, Contributing Writer
June 9, 2011
The search for a new principal is over. President Richard O’Hara has named Madelyn Ball the principal of JC for the 2011-2012 school year. O’Hara announced his decision at a faculty meeting after school on Tuesday, June 3. Days after the decision was announced, Ball met with Principal... Read More
Students and alumni take home the gold at local film fest
Martha Schick, Reporter
October 28, 2010
With JC students and alumni directing or starring in eight of the 10 films shown in the student film division, the second annual Bel Air Film Festival was a hot set. Senior Brooke Basta entered two videos, “Don’t You Wish This Could Actually Happen?” and “Super Fresh Love” in the... Read More
Bell system test causes classroom disruption
Martha Schick, Reporter
October 27, 2010
Buzzing and beeping filled the air as a bell system test disrupted classes in the last 10 minutes of mod nine Wednesday. “The students were extremely rowdy,” history teacher Jake Hollin said, referring to the period of time when the static and ringing from the intercom system made... Read More
“The Lovely Bones” spins the concept of a murder mystery
Martha Schick, Contributing Writer
February 8, 2010
A murder mystery. This concept seems unoriginal. It feels like once you’ve seen one, you have seen them all. “The Lovely Bones” took that basic concept and added a spin to it that changed the very core of “the murder mystery.” This movie will intrigue you and keep you on the edge... Read More