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The MedallionNotre Dame Academy 1073 Main Street Hingham, MA 02043 Fall 2008
Page 1 of 8
Words to the WiseColleen Sharry ‘09
I would like to start off the year with a welcome. Welcome back to many, to the returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors and to our returning faculty and staff. But, on behalf of the Medallion, the senior class, and the entire Notre Dame Academy community, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new students—freshmen and transfers—and to new faculty and staff members.
It is scary, starting at a new school; that much is for sure. But, let me reassure you it gets better—I can’t tell you the work gets easier, that would be a lie, but everything else only gets better. I would like to offer up a few words to the wise, a collection of advice from an upper classman who has walked the same halls as you in my black or brown shoes or predominantly white sneakers (no backless shoes, you will get a demerit at some point):
1. Now, I am sure that all of you have looked around and noticed that there are no boys in the hallways, a fact that may have distressed you and something that you will lament over for years to come when proms and semi-formals roll around. Get used to it and attend as many dances as possible to get your boy fi x.
2. Beware on “chicken fritter” and “buff chick calzone” days. Food turns girls crazy.
3. No matter how fast you have to run, get to Mr. Bianchi’s class on time.
4. Take advantage of study halls. Socialization is preferable to studying, but you will need the extra homework time.
5. Otis Spunkmeyer cookies are delicious, but do not be surprised if your jeans don’t forgive you for the 3 cookies a day.
6. Freshmen have probably already had the “freshman year counts” assembly. Freshman year actually counts; it turns up on your transcript and everything.
7. Embrace the yoga in Mrs. Perry’s gym class. You may look and feel foolish, but you will have a lot more fun that way.
8. Make as many acquaintances as possible. You will be surprised who ends up being your closest friends over the next few years.
9. In my freshman year, I never had my books dumped, I was never told that there was a pool on the roof or that math was in the back building (neither are true), and I was never beaten up by a senior. We’re all talk. If you’re ever lost and ask me for help, I promise that I will send you in the right direction.
10. Don’t get too caught up on grades, pop quizzes, or teachers who you think hate you. Study hard, have fun, and try to learn a thing or two this year.
The staff of The Medallion would like to welcome Mrs. Colin back to Notre Dame as principal. Congratulations and here’s to a
successful year.
New FacesThe Medallion staff extends our warmest
welcome to the freshmen, transfer students, faculty and staff
New StudentsDylanne Axelson
Briana Burg
Danielle Burton
Julianna Fay
Gabrielle Ferro
Molly Gorman
Stephanie McQuillan
Angela Nguyen
Brianne Whitley
Jessica Langella
New Faculty and StaffMs. Ayre - Theology Mrs. Miller - Director of
Mrs. Capitummino - Social Studies Communications
Mrs. Maloney Dowden - Director of Mr. Norman - Building and
Alumni Relations Maintenance
Ms. Gatto - Annual Fund Ms. Russillo - English
Coordinator Mrs. Smith - Assistant Director of
Ms. Hayes - Guidance Conselor Communications
Mr. Himelrick - Building and
Maintenance
Mr. MacDonald - World Language
Summer 2008 Olympics Fun Facts-The Games opened with a bang in Beijing with a spectacular fireworks display and a show involving 14,000 performers. The opening ceremonies were watched by 840 million viewers worldwide.
-The top three medal-winning countries were the United States with 110, followed by China with 100, and Russia with 72.
-On the third day of the Olympics, five new world records were set in swimming.
-Perhaps the biggest story of the Olympics was US swimmer Michael Phelps stellar performances. Phelps broke seven world records and set a new record by winning eight gold medals in a single Olympics. He also holds a record for career golds with an astounding total of fourteen.
-Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the US Woman’s Beach Volleyball team won their second consecutive gold medal and 108th straight match. Also taking the beach volleyball gold were US Men’s teammates Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser.
-China displayed their world dominance in table tennis, taking home all three medals.
-After a disappointing performance by the “Dream Team” US Men’s basketball team in the 2004 Olympics, the “Redeem Team” stepped up and brought home the gold, beating Spain in the finals 118-107.
-Despite controversy regarding the age of China’s female gymnasts, US gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson were still able to take the golds in all-around and balance beam, respectively.
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World Youth Day 2008, My Australian Adventure!Sarah Shaughnessy ‘09
Where can you pet koalas, dance with Belgians, and celebrate mass with the Pope and 500,000 other people all in the same week? World Youth Day, of course! This past summer I traveled to Sydney Australia with 12 other members of my group from Immaculate Conception Parish in Weymouth to attend the 23rd World Youth Day, a gathering of Catholic youth from around the world. WYD is a weeklong celebration of our shared faith and the mixing of different cultures, culminating in an overnight vigil and mass with the Pope. It encourages the future leaders of our church to be unafraid to stand firm in their convictions in an increasingly secular society.
Our journey began at Logan Airport at 9:30 AM on Saturday, July 12. After 32 plus hours of planes and airports we finally arrived in Sydney at 11:30 AM Monday, July 14 (we completely lost Sunday somewhere in the twilight zone). After showering and attempting to mask the fact that most of us hadn’t slept in over 24 hours, we gathered for opening dinner with the rest of the Boston pilgrims and Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Despite the sleep depravation we sang songs and chatted energetically about the upcoming events. Walking the streets of Sydney both that first night and throughout the week was amazing. The spirit and energy that pervaded the city was palpable. Pilgrims sang and danced in the streets, waving their countries’ flags, and saying hi to one another. We quickly realized that our Boston sweatshirts merited the same reaction from pilgrims whether they were from Papa New Guinea, Ireland, or Italy…”Boston! Red Sox! Celtics! World Champions!” Our sports teams certainly are world famous.
Throughout the week we attended masses, catechises (teaching sessions), and concerts. We also had the opportunity to tour Sydney by bus and boat; the city is absolutely gorgeous, and its residents are friendly and welcoming. We had plenty of chances to mingle with groups from other countries. We danced and sang in French with some Belgians, chatted with cute Australian and New Zealand boys and sang “Sweet Caroline” while playing bongo drums for an Italian News Station! “
The atmosphere on Thursday for the Papal arrival was electric. The incessant chants of “Benedicto” were reminiscent of the energetic screaming and jumping around usually reserved for rock concerts. His inspiring and powerful words encouraged young people to be proud of their Catholic faith. The closing mass and candlelight vigil on Saturday and Sunday were surely the highlight of the week. Sleeping under the stars at Randwick Racecourse with over 300,000 other pilgrims was an awesome feeling. The night was spent peacefully; there were no incidents or need for police discipline all week (the Australian authorities were stunned)! Bidding goodbye to World Youth Day and Sydney was a difficult task, but all the members of my group tried to bottle up the spirit of WYD to bring back and share with our parishes at home. We’ve already begun a countdown until the next one. I hope to see some of you in Madrid, Spain in 2011!
An International Summer
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/11/sports
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/21/sports
http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.
www.nba.com
From the Editor’s DeskKara Dunford ‘09
The time has come to trade in your flip-flops for your predominantly white sneakers. The last footprints in the sand fade, as students make their way back to class, books in tow. The final pages of summer reading novels are frantically turned, the last summer sunset dips below the horizon. The familiar sound of school bells rings in the ears of eager students. The wardrobe of knee socks and polos, long forgotten in the heat of the summer, is once again embraced. The struggle in the locker room once again becomes a topic of conversation, as does the lunch menu. “Homework,” “test” and “essay” find their respective places in students’ vocabularies, replacing “beach,” “sleep” and “relaxation.”
A new school year has begun.
This past summer has been marked by controversy, conflict and crisis. In light of events such as the Summer Olympics, Russia’s invasion of Georgia and the end to a bitter primary season, as well as the continued fighting in the Middle East and the continued genocide in Darfur, the warmer months of 2008 have seemingly already etched their place in history. Students decades from now will be reading about the historic battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the smog-filled city of Beijing playing host to the world’s greatest athletes and Vladimir Putin’s threat to democracy in Georgia. The major players have joined together, collectively deciding to diverge from the script of convention and act out before the world’s residents what could be called the greatest improv of all time. Unexpected twists and turns have left the audience on the edge of their seats, breathlessly awaiting the next line. No need to shell out ridiculous sums of precious, hard-earned cash to see the summer’s biggest blockbuster. In every corner of the world, history is playing for free.
But to simply be an audience member would go against the very values that are being taught at this school. Notre Dame’s mission is to “educate young women to pursue the opportunities of the 21st century,” while developing “a shared vision of social justice for the global community.” NDA preaches active participation; the education provided here is about helping each student find her voice. Students cannot simply watch what is going on; students must actively engage in the events of the world by expressing their opinions and acting on these opinions in a way that will better serve the community, both globally and locally.
The new opinion section of The Medallion is dedicated to publishing the perspectives of the students. Submit what is on your mind. Whether it is about the increased lunch prices or the upcoming November elections, The Medallion wants to hear what you’re thinking. Consider this segment an interactive debate. With your help, this space can be a lively forum of different attitudes and beliefs vying for space in the spotlight.
Opinion
What’s on your mind? We want to hear from you.
Send in your letter to the editor.Email
Letters may be edited for clarity, length and grammar.
Negative Attack Ads: Where’s the Benefit?Kara Dunford ‘09
As has become quite popular in election campaigns, voters around the country have been inundated with mudslinging ads defaming one of the two highly publicized presidential candidates and, with the recent announcements of running mates, the vice-presidential candidates. This is not a partisan issue; both the Democrats and the Republicans have ruthlessly attacked the other candidate. During the primary season, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama went after each other, trying to prove who would be the better Democratic nominee, a move some say may have damaged the party’s unity and chances to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the new year.
The question arises: what exactly is the benefit of negative attack ads? Obviously, the candidates think these advertisements will enlighten the public’s eyes as to who is ready to serve come January or the campaigns would not spend millions of dollars to air these commercials. The public waits for the great epiphany. Will John McCain telling me that Barack Obama is not patriotic or Obama reminding me that McCain does not know how many houses he owns prove to me who is the better candidate to be the chief executive of this country?
When did political campaigns become second grade fights on the playground, with each side desperately trying to one up the other with statements aimed at defaming the opponent’s character? How will endless insults tell voters what really needs to be known about the candidates? The continuous condemnation of each candidate from the opposing campaigns has left some voters claiming they do no really know who the candidates are. Yes, voters know what the candidate thinks of his opponent, but how will that help voters make an educated, well-informed decision that will impact our country for the next four years?
McCain and Obama need to focus on the positive in future pleas to voters for support. Voters need to know about the candidates themselves, not about how the candidates feel about his challenger. McCain and Obama should stop telling voters how unqualified his rival is and instead prove to voters that he would be the best person for the job.
The Medallion2008-2009, Issue I
Editor-in-chief: Kara Dunford
Editors: Molly Burke
Colleen SharryKristen Kennedy
Advisor:Mrs. Pepe
What to Look for in our next issue:2008 Presidential Election
Three Cups of Tea Greg Moretenson: The Interview
www.dallasnews.com
“The press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and imporving him as a rational, moral and social
being.” Thomas Jefferson
Do you like to write, critique, or photograph?Are you a poet, artist, or athlete?
Are you interested in being a part of The Medallion?
There is something for everyone. Come and share your talent and join The Medallion today! We have brief meetings every Wednesday at 2:30 in the small board room in the new wing.
You may email your articles, pictures, artwork, etc. to:
Amy and Julie Kearns Traveled to Paris (above) and Switzerland (below)
Ms. Malinowska traveled to Seville, Spain Mrs. Beldotti Traveled to Croatia
Summer Travels
