Swim Team Making a Splash

This season the Purple Roses have made a big splash in their swim season! The Roses were successful in their back to back meets this Monday and Tuesday against Ranney and Barnegat. The freshman have been an amazing addition to the team; Sam Urspruch swims the 100 Fly, Abigail Gammond swims for the Barracudas, and Jack Gould who swims with the Atlantic Club. Speaking of new additions, Mr. Iatesta, a new math and business teacher, has jumped aboard the coaching staff, standing alongside Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Miller. The team was overjoyed to welcome Mrs. Miller back from her hiatus. The key to their success has been working hard in and out of the pool and keeping their spirits high. The team went through a routine change in the start of their season, moving their practice pool to Swim Quest in Tinton Falls from the Atlantic Club and changing their practice time to after school instead of 8:45. Their upcoming meet against Raritan will be their senior day! This years Senior Swimmers are Colleen Hull, Alex Fazzari, Lauren Denci, Ethan Coakley, Alex Bonanno, Bridget Burrus, Caroline Smith, Olivia Belezza, Megan Peropat, Megan Merkler, Luke Winkleman, Mike Kinsel, Ethan Bodine, Riley Maypother, Brody Maypother, Will Gannon, Peter Jourlia, and David Lawrence. Today, January 31, the girls swim team is anticipating a difficult meet against the Trinity Hall Swim team. With the end of the season approaching towards the end of February, try and make it to a meet and support the Purple Roses! They have meets at the Neptune Aquatic Center, located at the Neptune High School, as well as at The Atlantic Club in Brielle. Kayleen Buerck, also a senior, is the swim team manager; if you have any questions about upcoming meets, she will be able to help you! Mr. Thompson and Mr. Iatesta will also tell you about upcoming meets. Go Purple Roses!

By Katherine Flynn ’18

Course Selection

Gear up everyone because the 2018-2019 course selection process is about to begin! This is a time to get excited to be able to pick out the classes that you are interested in or have always wanted to take. However, the fast pace of moving up to the next year in your high school career can be complicated when you are trying to figure out the right classes to take that could better you on your path to college. So in order to help you start off your course selection process, it is important to know what is coming your way. Firstly, the junior class is the first grade to choose their courses, and this begins with their course selection meeting on January 31. Following this the juniors will pick their classes, and have individual meetings with their guidance counselors to approve their choices and receive a course approval form, which is due back no later than February 6. Next, in a similar way the sophomores will pick their classes, following the same procedure except with their course meeting on February 13, and their course form due date is set for February 20. Lastly, the freshman class have their course approval sheet due on March 2 following their meeting on February 27.
When choosing your seven courses for next year it is most important to consider what the Saint Rose required classes are. Saint Rose requires 4 full years of Religion, English, and Mathematics in order to graduate at the end of your senior year. However, some class requirements are less, for example you are only required to take 3 years of a science and social studies, 2 sequential years of a world language, and 2 and a half years of physical education, health, and drivers education. Also, when deciding your classes it is a good idea to consider all the options you have. Saint Rose offers a variety of classes such as anatomy, statistics, and U.S. history. Nevertheless, there are so many options in courses and electives including some new additions in last few years such as AP government, and macroeconomics. This process does go fast so get ready for it now by preparing yourself for the weeks to come and Good Luck!

By Ashley Bock ’18

Catholic School Week Mass

Being at the top of your class may seem like a far reach, but for the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, it is a dream come true. These students get the honor of being 1st and 2nd in the top 10 of this years Class of 2018. The Valedictorian is top of the class with the highest GPA overall, and will give the closing speech at the graduation ceremony for the seniors in June. The Salutatorian follows them close behind with the second highest GPA, and will give the opening speech at graduation. These two titles are very prestigious and are only given to the students who have achieved the highest amount of academic achievement among their classmates. Here at Saint Rose, we hold a special mass for these students to give them the recognition they deserve. The mass was held on January 29th in the Saint Rose Church with all students of Saint Rose showing support for our seniors. The Salutatorian is announced first at the end of the mass, with the Valedictorian coming behind. The parents of the top ten recipients are notified early on their child’s accomplishments, and are invited to celebrate the mass with the rest of us. Even though the parents know who will be announced, the students themselves do not, as it is kept a secret until the mass as a big surprise for the students and teachers alike. Alex Fazzari was named the Valedictorian, becoming the top of the Class of 2018. Alex is a well rounded student, having taken the most challenging classes for herself throughout the years. She has also participated in Ambassadors, the girls swim and lacrosse teams, and has been a great friend to her classmates. Sheila Magrini was named the Salutatorian, earning the second highest spot in her class. Sheila has worked very hard in her 4 years at Saint Rose to achieve this title, balancing challenging classes, being a member of the track team, and spending time with her family. Both Sheila and Alex have left a lasting impression on our school and will be remembered by their peers as two of the best. We congratulate these two girls in all their accomplishments and look forward to hearing them speak at graduation at the end of the year.

By Sam Apple

Catholic School Week Schedule

As there are many benefits to attending a Catholic school, once a year a whole week is dedicated to appreciating the importance and and excellence of a Catholic education.  This year, Catholic Schools Week starts on Monday, January 29th and will end on Friday, February 2nd. 1st.

The activities start of Monday with a school wide mass.  This is an especially important mass for some members in the senior class as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are announced.  These two students’ hard work from their time here at Saint Rose will pay off and all their knowledge from this Catholic school will pay off as they’re announced first and second in their class.

Tuesday is Teacher Appreciation Day, where the teachers and faculty are thanked for all their time dedicated to furthering students education by gifting them all bagels.

Midway though this fun week is Student Appreciation Day.  The students are rewarded for choosing a Catholic school by having a well deserved dress-down day.  As an extra bonus, Wednesday will be a half day running on an early dismissal schedule.  The students will also be given bagels to celebrate a Catholic education!

As we are celebrating our amazing Catholic education during this week, Thursday will involve a mini assembly during all religion classes for Vocation Day.  Saint Rose is welcoming two members of the Catholic community who will talk with the Saint Rose students about their call to their vocations of being a Sister and Brother.  A vocation is a person’s employment or main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication.  God calls all of us to vocation, we just have to listen to where he is leading us.

This is an excited week for the Saint Rose community as we get to celebrate together the wonderful education we get from choosing Catholic education!

By Emily Brown ’18

New Year, New Club Schedule

With the upcoming new semester following midterms, Saint Rose High School will adopt a new set of clubs for every other Tuesday of the month. School offered a wide array of clubs last semester, ranging from science and math-oriented groups such as Health Science Club to entertainment clubs like Card Club and Board Game Club. The club schedule, a new addition to Saint Rose this year, was met with widespread enthusiasm from the student body, and it appealed to students with varying interests. Saint Rose implemented a club schedule this year to help students get more involved and become more well-rounded individuals, as well as to accommodate interests across a spectrum of different subjects. In the second semester, students will have the opportunity to pick two new clubs, an A and B, to join and further expand their interests and explore their passions.

Freshman Cooper Williams took part in Film Club and STEM Club last semester, and heartily enjoyed his time creating film projects under the guidance of Mr. Falgares.Gianna DeMaio ‘19 is really looking forward to next semester and the endless opportunity to join the new clubs that await. She took part in Student Council and Monopoly Club last semester, which piqued her interest and made every-other Tuesday less dull. On her time in Monopoly Club, run by Mrs. Marks, Gianna says, “I didn’t like it, I loved it!” She is anxiously awaiting all the clubs next semester has to offer and is hoping that the club list will be announced soon.

Clubs will be picked following midterms, and will follow the same format as the first semester: Seniors will pick first, followed by Juniors and so on. Popular favorites from first semester’s club list include Film Analysis Club, moderated by Mrs. Carlotz, and the Intramural Basketball and Volleyball Clubs, run by Mr. Devaney. Some clubs rumored to be coming in the second semester are Homework Club and Hawkins A.V. Club, a group for all fans of Stranger Things.

It hasn’t been announced yet what the official club list will be comprised of, but it seems as if the possibilities for the upcoming semester and its combination of available clubs are endless. Keep an eye out for further information on Schoology and the offered clubs following midterms. When the list is posted, be sure to check it out and get first pick for the 2018 clubs that most interest you!

By Caitlin Wilson ’18

 

 

Service that helps ourselves and others

We as children learn to love and serve others, but do we ever explain why? Service is not just something nice to do, it is an important piece of our Catholic identity. We believe that every human life is sacred because each person is created and loved by God. We are committed to uphold the dignity of every person, without distinction. This love of neighbor manifests itself in many different ways in our Catholic tradition.

Our relationship with God is the basis of our relationships with others. The Ten Commandments are not rules to avoid punishment; they are guides for preserving and strengthening our relationships. The first three commandments help us to grow in relationship with God; the last seven help us to grow in our relationships with others.Because we recognize the dignity of the human person, we must care for our neighbors’ physical needs. We must feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the imprisoned, and bury the dead.

Our schools gives us an opportunity to help those in need, in this case I spent my time with my teammates by hanging out with a little six year old girl named Zoe. Zoe has been diagnosed with cancer since she was two. Spending time with Zoe made me realize how important life is and how the little things like giving her toys makes a big difference in the world. Giving Zoe the time of her life makes me want to help others more and value my time on earth more. I have seen and heard many students do acts of kindness and many different things for there service projects. But, Service Projects should not remind us to give to the poor and clothe the naked. We should do these things from our heart and because it is necessary in our world especially during these cold winter months.

Some ideas that you can look at are looking for service projects that benefit your local community. Help children understand that there are people in their own neighborhood and school who need their love and compassion. Focus on the person, discuss who will benefit from the service project, how they may have ended up in their situation, and how we can encounter God in that person. make sandwiches for those who are hungry, donate or make blankets for homeless shelters, hold a clothing drive or tie-dye clothing to donate, create care packages to send to the homebound of your parish, send rosaries, Bibles, or books to prisoners; walk through a nearby cemetery to pray for the dead. Or even, encourage children to reflect upon the Ten Commandments as a way to prepare for Reconciliation. You can do so much to help our world, so why not start today!

By Elizabeth Marsicano ’18

Sports Update

The Boys and Girls Varsity track team recently participated in the State Relays for the Non Public B Group on Friday, January 19th. The team came together and gave the coaches the amazing results they were hoping for. The meet started off with seniors Dan Rose and Connor McKeown placing 3rd in the high jump relay. Connor broke his personal record and soared over the bar at 6’2”, which he has been trying to accomplish since his sophomore year. Jill Haggerty and Sheila Magrini placed 2nd in the high jump relay for the girls. Next came the 55 meter hurdle relays, with both the boys and girls earning spots on the board. The girls team, Sam Apple, Kaylee Apple, Kristen Doran, and Kavi O’Keefe, placed 3rd overall with a great time. The boys, Dan Rose, Connor McKeown, Pat Antonucci, and John O’Hearn placed 2nd overall with their best time of the season. The team also participated in the Sprint Medley, 4×200 relay, and the 4×400 relay to round out the night at the Toms River Bennett Sports Center. Their next meet is on Friday, January 26th in Jersey City. This is another special meet that the team gets to travel to every year. The track season is rapidly coming to a close with the team improving with every meet. We wish the team luck in their future endeavors, and hope they beat the clock! Some other sports updates include many basketball games, bowling matches, and swim meets.

Starting off the week on Monday January 22nd, coming off a huge wins over Rutgers Prep and Keyport, the Girls Varsity basketball team has a game against Point Pleasant Beach away, with the JV team leading off at 4:00. The Boys JV and Varsity Basketball teams are home that day against Point Beach themselves right after school. The Varsity Bowling team is also matching up against Point Beach away after school, and the Girls and Boys Varsity Swim team will be traveling to Ranney after school for their meet.

On Tuesday, January 23rd, just the swim team has a meet against Barnegat High School away right after school. After that on Wednesday, January 24th, the bowling team has a match against Manasquan High School away.

On Thursday, January 25th, both JV and Varsity Girls Basketball teams have a game against Asbury Park home after school starting with JV at 3:45, while both boys teams are away at Asbury. The bowling team is also away at Asbury that day, after school.

On Friday, January 26th, both boys basketball teams are home against Keansburg, starting at 3:45 with JV. The Varsity Girls Basketball team will be traveling to Keansburg after school, and lastly the Varsity Boys Ice Hockey team has a game home against Marlboro at 8:15.

Come out and support all our sports teams this week in the Belmar Zoo!

By Sam Apple ’18

Starting Semester 2

Going into the second semester comes with so many advantages for each and every student! Half of the school year is complete and only a few months are left to prove ourselves and bring our work ethic into full swing. Because we know what to expect from many classes and different teachers, we are officially settled in and prepared for anything that comes at us. Although the year is coming to an end so soon, giving up and letting go of grades is not how you want this next semester to go. It is just as important as the first, if not more, especially because more difficult material will be brought upon us. There are so many ways to prepare for these next few months to ensure a successful end to a great year!

Organization is key for an easier homework and note process. Set aside everything from September to midterms and create all new sections and folders for the next semester. Never get rid of past stuff, just keep it separate from all the new and upcoming notes and handouts. This allows for less clutter and an easier way to find each thing. By taking neat and detailed notes, you will come to find studying and homework to be a lot easier.

The year isn’t over yet, so continue to study and put in the hard work. Especially underclassmen, these grades matter most for your future years. The second semester gives you opportunity to bring up any grades that may have been low, or continue to maintain grades you are proud of. Some study tools to help this may be making a quizlet with class notes, highlighting anything important as you learn a lesson, or even getting with friends and creating study groups. Senior Katherine Flynn says, “I prepare for second semester by planning out my schedule and just making sure I leave enough time to do my homework and study.” The time you put in now will be so worth it when you’re going into summer with the best grades.

Because you are used to coming to school each day, learning from the same teachers, semester two gives you the perfect opportunity to succeed with a fresh start, due to finally being settled in. Create all new sections in your books, take the best notes, and work out your time management to ensure a successful semester. It will be so worth it in the end, when you can use all those tools for finals. The year is almost over, but don’t give up yet! Cross the finish line with all the hard work you possibly can!

 

By Brittany Lopes ’18

Winter Sports Update

Saint Rose High School Winter sports have been doing extremely well! Some of our school’s Winter sports teams include Swim, Basketball, Track & Field, and Cheerleading. All participants for each team are determined to make this year the best yet!

The swim team consists of both boys and girls, ranging from all grade levels. They are doing really well this season, recently placing eighth overall in the Monmouth County swim championships. They have a couple other wins this year as well. Alex Fazzari, Saint Rose High School Senior, shares her thoughts on the team as a whole, “This year our coaches are being
very supportive and pushing the team really hard to reach our goals of placing in important meets such as shore conference and meet of champions. Another huge goal of ours is making it far in the state tournament and hopefully advancing even farther than last year, which will allow
us to swim until March!” The swim teach has recently switched home pools to a new facility in Tinton Falls called Swim Quest. As stated by some of the team members, “The best part about our new pool is we now get to practice right after school, which is much more convenient with homework and our studies!”

The Girls and Boys Basketball teams are Saint Rose High School’s most favorited Winter sports. The Varsity Girls team has been doing very well so far. They have only lost one game against a team called Pickering from Ohio, which was in the Delaware Christmas tournament. Elizabeth Marsicano, Saint Rose High School Senior, expresses her team’s goals for this
season, “We take our goals one win at a time! We hope to win our conference, states, and tournament of champions games. We are practicing really hard everyday in order to make each other better and achieve our goals for this year!” The Varsity Girls team practices everyday for 2 hours in the Saint Rose High School gym. This weekend they beat,  in a nail biting game, Rutgers Prep!

In addition to the basketball games, the Saint Rose High School cheerleaders are a very important part of our school’s sporting events. They share their enthusiasm and dedication to not only the school, but to the students here as well. They practice Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the St. Rose Grammar School Annex from 4p.m.- 6p.m.. Thursdays the team has conditioning
workouts in the basement of the red brick building at Saint Rose High School. Senior, Dara Johnson, shared her thoughts about the team, “This season has been one of the best for us!

We’ve had so many more girls join than in past years, which is allowing us to do more exciting things and better stunts as a group! We’re so excited for the rest of the season to keep practicing and working together as a team!”

As for Track & Field, the Saint Rose High School team has practice immediately after school on the days they don’t have meets. Depending on the weather they either have practice indoors or outdoors. Practices indoors include the weight room, running stairs, or doing hurdles/starts in the 500 and 600 hallways. Occasionally they are able to practice in the Toms River Bubble, which is where most of the meets take place. Their next meet is on Friday and it is the State Relays. Sheila Magrini, Saint Rose High School Senior, states, “So far our season has been going very well and we have been lowering our times in multiple races while working hard in practice. Jill Haggerty (Senior) and I won the Monmouth County High Jump Relay which St. Rose hasn’t won in many years. We were very excited about winning the high jump and are hoping to place in the top 6 and maybe even win the State Relay on Friday!”

Don’t forget to come out and support these Winter Sports teams this year before it’s too late! Go Roses!

By Madison Kinnevy ’18

Midterm Prayers            

 

Midterms are here and for the students that need peace at mind listen up. Being nervous for your midterms is normal so I am going to show you three different prayers that you can pray on your own or with friends to gain confidence before you take your tests.

The first prayer is for your success on your exams and to find guidance from God.

The second prayer is to calm you down and to set your mind straight and alert for your exams.

The third and last prayer I am showing you is for anyone with anxiety. This prayer will help you with your clutter and sharpen your thoughts and help you recall everything you studied.

God will guide you to your best self and to be successful. Midterm week will be easy if you study what you know, take your time, and walk into your exam with confidence. Good luck and God Bless!

 

Prayer for exams success

Father,

I pray that you would help me pass this exam. Thank you for your guidance in leading me to this study and for sustaining me as I have worked for this qualification. I ask now that your spirit would lead me. Come sharpen my thinking and help me to excel in this test of my learning and understanding. May I be able to recall everything I need from my studies and answer each question well.

Amen.

 

Prayer before exam

Father,

Be with me as I take this exam.

Keep my mind alert and my memory sharp.

Calm my nerves and help me concentrate.

I know that you walk with me,

Guiding my path and inspiring my heart.

I pray that I would feel you with me,

And that your friendship would soften the pressure I feel.

I pray that I would pass this exam and go on to new things with you.

Thank you for your peace and your love in my life.

Thank you for your kindness and care for me.

Amen.

 

Prayer for exam anxiety

Heavenly Father,

Only your peace can sustain me through the anxiety and stresses of exam nerves. Your peace surpasses all understanding. I ask for this gift and choose to lean upon you at this time.

Lord, come and remind me of your unfailing love.

Remind me that you hold me safe, you understand me, and you cherish me.

I lay down my fears before you.

I leave them at the foot of the cross, for you have overcome the world.

I choose to give you all my concerns, worries and fears of failure.

I trust that your loving hand will hold me through these exams and lead into a bright future.

Amen.

By Elizabeth Marsicano ’18